Instead, in both theme and target audience, Trump offered a powerful echo of Richard Nixon almost 50 years ago. Bush’s “kinder and gentler nation” or even George W. Bush’s compassionate conservatism in Donald Trump’s speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination here Thursday night. Trump’s speech was the capstone to a chaotic convention that highlighted divisions within the Republican Party despite repeated efforts at unity this week. Trump’s speech proved once again that he would continue to throw out the traditional campaign rulebook that might dictate softer language and broader appeals. Another symbol of a conservative coalition in turmoil came hours before Trump’s speech with the news that Roger Ailes, the founder and chief executive of Fox News, was resigning under pressure.

Source: Washington Post July 22, 2016 00:35 UTC