On August 31, 1967, Governor George Romney of Michigan was considered the front runner for the Republican nomination for president. Until he said something in an interview that was picked up by the New York Times:
Romney Asserts He Underwent 'Brainwashing' on Vietnam Trip
Probably not very many people saw the interview, since there were only three national television networks, and they each had a half hour news program every evening. And of course, there was no YouTube. Now there is, and if you want to see what Romney said before there was an internet, watch it here.
Following this, the Detroit News called on Romney to get out of the presidential race, asking "how long does a brainwashing linger?" Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota was asked about Romney's claim that he had been brainwashed, and he quipped that in Romney's case brainwashing would not have been necessary, but
that "a light rinse would have done it."
Most people didn't hear McCarthy say that, either. If they wanted to follow what was going on, they probably could have scanned the headlines in the New York Times, which would have given them some sense of what lay ahead in 1968.
Here's some of what they would have seen:
September 1967
RADICALS CONVENE TO PLAN '68 DRIVE; 2,000 at Chicago Parley Hope to Insure Johnson Defeat
Romney Asserts He Underwent 'Brainwashing' on Vietnam Trip
NEW POLITICS GROUP URGES END OF DRAFT
BAILEY SAYS ROMNEY OWES APOLOGY TO 2
Romney Ready to Run? Well, He's Walking Fast
MISSISSIPPI MARCH BY NEGROES HALTED
MACHINE 'HEARS' SPOKEN ZIP CODE; Experimental R.C.A. Device Designed for Post Office
ROMNEY GETS AIDE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE; Ex-State Chairman to Head Campaign in Primary
Reagan Will Give 6 More Speeches in 5 States
November/December 1967
Edward Kennedy Urges Shift in Vietnam Policy
Reagan Denies Report by Drew Pearson of Homosexual Ring Involving Staff
Romney's Foes, or Friends, Expected to File Court Test of His Citizenship
JOHNSON ASSERTS WAR PROTESTERS DO NOT AID PEACE; At Impromptu News Parley, He Calls Them No Help in ...
A VIETNAMESE NUN IS SUICIDE BY FIRE
THE ROMNEY STYLE DISPLAYS RESOLVE; Governor's 10-State Tour Is Called a Success by Aides
SENATE APPROVES A REDWOOD PARK; Amendment to Block Land Trade Is Rejected, 51-30
Pearson Dares Reagan Sue Over Report on Deviants
M'CARTHY PRESSES FIGHT ON JOHNSON; May Enter Primaries in Bid to Repudiate War Policy M'CARTHY PRESSES ...
A CASCADES PARK VOTED BY SENATE; Jackson Terms Washington Area 'Scenic Masterpiece'
ROMNEY CANCELS NATIONAL TV TALK; But Says He Will Announce Decision on '68 Soon
WALLACE EXUDES AIR OF CONFIDENCE; Ex-Alabama Governor Sure He'll Be Next President
JOHNSON BUOYED BY PRIVATE POLLS; Crossley Declines to Reveal Who Commissioned Them
Dowling Paces Bulldogs To Overwhelming Victory; YALE WINS, 56-15, FROM DARTMOUTH
NIXON SAID TO BAR STREET CAMPAIGN; Aides Spread Word of Limit in New Hampshire Race Consistently Contrary ...
POLL SHOWS LOSS BY JOHNSON EASES; Gallup Reports Leveling Off of Popularity Decline
Backers of Kennedy Say He Beat Johnson in Poll
Shriver to Quit Poverty Agency Unless He Gets Funds to Do Job; Bars 'Delusion of Poor' Shriver Threatens ...
Goldwater Predicts War Will Be Ended in a Year
High Court in Jersey Overturns A Ban on Homosexuals in Bars
6 in G.O.P. Top Johnson in Poll; Rockefeller Strongest, 52 to 35%
RUSK SEES PERIL IN OPEN SESSIONS; Asserts Public Hearings on Vietnam War Are Unwise
ALABAMA ATTACKS JAIL INTEGRATION; Tells Supreme Court Racial Outbreaks Might Result
Johnson Signs Bill Creating Nonprofit TV Agency
4 Burn Draft Cards Here As 5 Face Grand Jurors
SELMA WHITES HELD IN KILLING OF NEGRO
M'CARTHY FEARS INVASION BY U.S.; Says There Is 'Possibility' of Drive Into North Vietnam
JOHNSON APPEALS FOR UNITY ON WAR; REPROVES CRITICS; Says G.I.'s Cannot Discuss Vietnam From Comfort ...
MANSFIELD TALKS OF 'UNEASE' IN U.S.; Says House Reflects Mood of Country on New Bills
Hanoi Says McCain's Son Terms U.S. 'Isolated'
REAGAN REPEATS DENIALS ON STAFF; Says He Has No 'Evidence' About Resigned Aides
Galbraith Tells Labor Leaders War Can't Be Won
U.S. Aides Say Foe's Strength And Morale Are Declining Fast
Vietnam Fighting Grows in Highlands With 2 New Battles; FIGHTING EXPANDS IN THE HIGHLANDS
Reagan Says Indecisive Action in War Is Immoral; Asserts It Is Time to Win in Vietnam or to Inform the ...
LEROI JONES TO GET CORE'S LEGAL HELP; McKissick Calls Writer a 'Political Prisoner'
GAVIN SEES TROOPS IN VIETNAM IN 70'S; Says Johnson Policy Means a Stay of Five or 10 Years With or Without ...
Liberal Democrats in California Urge NcCarthy to Be Candidate
Bunker Sees the President; Predicts Saigon Gain in '68; BUNKER PREDICTS SAIGON RURAL GAIN
HUMPHREY APPEALS FOR WAR SUPPORT
ANTIWAR PICKETS AT FARM SESSION; Johnson Had Canceled Talk to Grange in Syracuse
CONFEREES AGREE ON CLEAN-AIR BILL; $428-Million Authorized for 3-Year Pollution Fight
Reagan Will 'Not Talk Further' About Report on Homosexuals
Kennedy Puts Off Making a Comment On McCarthy Race
2 Romney In-Laws Fight With Mother Of Rejected Suitor
SENATE UNIT ASKS A CONGRESS ROLE IN SENDING TROOPS; Unanimous Resolution Calls on President to Get Prior ...
Haiphong Shipyard Raided By U.S. for the First Time; SHIPYARD STRUCK IN HAIPHONG RAID
Draft Protested in Boston
HERSHEY ASSAILED ON ORDER TO AIDES; Draft Appeal Agents Told to Turn In Violators
Edward Kennedy Reported Weighed As Johnson Stand-In
Romney Defied by Own Party; Recess Holds Up Housing Bill
JOHNSON RETORTS TO CRITICS OF WAR; SCORES ROWDYISM; Backs 'Responsible' Dissent at News Conference, ...
EDUCATORS SCORE HERSHEY ON DRAFT; Heads of Brown and Cornell Deplore Antiprotest Order
BIG ENEMY DRIVE IS ON, THIEU SAYS; He Links Fighting at Dakto to a General Offensive
Nixon and Reagan Lead in a Poll of '64 Delegates; California Governor Shows Support in All 50 States ...
M'CARTHY ASKED TO SHUN PRIMARY; Kennedy Backers Urge Him to Avoid New Hampshire
KENNEDY ASSERTS A BID BY M'CARTHY WOULD AID PARTY; Says Minnesotan's Entry in Primaries Could Channel ...
ROMNEY DECLARES HE IS IN '68 RACE; PREDICTS VICTORY; Opens Campaign for G.O.P. Nomination for President ...
WALLACE CHEERED IN SOUTH CAROLINA; 2,000 Greet His Campaign --Supporters Divided
NIXON AIDES HOPE FOR A BIG SLATE; Believe a Large Wisconsin Field Will Hurt Romney
The Student Scene: Angry Militants; The Student Scene: A Feeling of Powerlessness Provokes Anger Among ...
WAR OF ATTRITION CALLED EFFECTIVE BY WESTMORELAND; He and Bunker Foresee a Reduction in U.S. Role if ...
Kennedy Assails Health Plans; Will Urge Congressional Study
Senator Hatfield 'Not Ready' To Endorse Romney in '68
New Hampshire Democrats Endorse Johnson for 1968
Lindsay Disavows Any '68 Ambitions With Strong Noes; LINDSAY DENIES ANY '68 AMBITIONS Rockefeller's Position
Westmoreland Says Ranks Of Vietcong Thin Steadily; Westmoreland Asserts Vietcong Decline Steadily
U.S. TROOPS TAKE TOP OF HILL 875; DEFY FIERCE FIRE; Flamethrowers Are Used Against Foe's Last Line on ...
A Draft Resister Defends Tactics of 'Disruption'; Columbia Student Puts Cause of Peace Above the Need ...
ROCKEFELLER URGES FULL HEALTH PLAN; Calls for Compulsory U.S. Insurance Program
REAGAN SEEKING TO BYPASS COURT; Asks Legislature to Let Him Cut Medical Aid Program
MANSFIELD PUTS OFF TEST OF WAR POWERS
Nixon Calls Makeup On TV a Big Factor In His 1960 Defeat
Edward Kennedy Backs McCarthy's Right to Run
HOPE FOR NEGROES FOUND DWINDLING; Rights Panel Urges Priority for Attack on Slums Purpose of Report ...
ROMNEY SAYS PRESS DISTORTS HIS VIEWS
OLYMPICS BOYCOTT VOTED BY NEGROES; Athletes Attend Coast Parley --Disturbance Erupts 'Has to Be Exposed' ...
Romney and Wife in Phoenix For 'Week of Complete Rest'
December '67
Eisenhower's Grandson to Wed a Nixon Daughter; Eisenhower Grandson to Marry a Nixon Daughter Wearing ...
M'CARTHY TO FIGHT JOHNSON POLICIES IN 5 OR 6 PRIMARIES; Will Oppose Role in Vietnam in an Attempt to ...
ROCKEFELLER SEES A NIXON PROBLEM; Says Reagan May Draw His Supposed Support Asked About Romney
CONNALLY SCORES RACE BY M'CARTHY; Terms Him 'Stalking-Horse' for Kennedy Candidacy Action Deplored Arrives ...
PARLEY IN BOSTON BACKS PRESIDENT; Democratic State Committee Supports War in Vietnam Edward Kennedy ...
M'CARTHY DENIES A KENNEDY PLOT; No Conspiracy on Johnson Renomination, He Says Conference Is Optimistic ...
M'CARTHY RACE UPHELD BY BURNS; State Chief Says That His Campaign Will Aid Party Disagreement Cited
McCarthy Massachusetts Race Said to Pose Johnson Dilemma; Word Not Given Senate Race a Factor 1960 Campaign ...
Dr. King Planning To Disrupt Capital In Drive for Jobs; Campaign Called 'Risky' Dr. King Plans Campaign ...
PRESIDENT DENIES OTHERS IN CABINET INTEND TO LEAVE; He Asserts That Rumors of Impending Changes Were ...
JUSTICES TO RULE ON OPEN HOUSING; Interracial Couple's Suit in Suburb Puts Issue Up to Court for First ...
McNamara Shift Comes as Relief To Military Leaders in Vietnam; Large Scale Differences
POLL FINDS JOHNSON TOPS M'CARTHY, 4-1
Reagan Keeps Smiling at Yale Despite Sneers and Hostile Air; Bitterness Noted
ROMNEY EXPLORES PLAN TO END WAR; Finds Support in Paris for a Neutral Southeast Asia Purpose of Tour ...