That’s true, but in terms of reviewing the history of the modern morals voter, it’s a reaction to the Nixonian era, but not the “silent majority” of Nixon, but rather the “moral majority” of Jerry Falwell and Ronald Reagan who really brought it into mainstream republicanism.
During the FDR, Truman, Eisenhower era if a politician had come on the scene touting gay marriage and abortion, they wouldn’t have just hustled him out of the room. They’d have tarred and feathered in copious quantities.
True, and to clarify even more - Reagan did do outreach to social conservatives, but the tenor of his main campaign, his big speeches, his debate answers, his written works prior to his running, did not emphasize the social issues. That was just not the flavor of his platform. It was in there, and he would be unabashed about it, but it was not the lead.