FWIW, looking back I became a Republican in the early 50s during the McCarthy hearings.
At that time, Stalin was in power and even a teenager could understand that Communism was ruthless. I despised Stalin and Communism even then. Anyone who hated Communism had to be ok in my book. Thank you, McCarthy, you made me a Republican then. I've only ever voted for one Democrat in my entire life and that was for a county supervisor that I knew.
Now, I almost wish I had that vote back. Forgive me, Lord.
I'll bet you felt vindicated when Alger Hiss was exposed by Whitaker Chambers.
I was a college freshman during the 72 elections and a guy I really liked drove a bunch of us to Western Michigan University to hear McGovern. I thought he was pandering to the crowd and was struck by his insincerity. I voted for Nixon. But I was never really politically active or even aware until about 1980 when I was strongly influenced by two things: I read "Atlas Shrugged" after a recommendation by someone I admired, and I started listening to a local conservative/libertarian talk show host named Mark Scott. But what laid the groundwork for my belief systems was having read the book "Animal Farm" when I was in the fourth grade. The Orwellian principles stayed with me all those years, and I quickly recoginized the totalitarian tendencies of the left (Democrats) and the freedom loving principles of Ronald Reagan.