Written By: Eliza Berman
On Tuesday, Feb. 9, this year’s crop of presidential candidates will duke it It may look relatively mellow compared to the politics of today. But the 1968 New Hampshire primary, as it turns out, had its own fair share of crazy.
The major candidates in that year’s primary on the Republican side were George Romney and Richard Nixon—who would, of course, go on to become the 37th president of the United States. Despite Romney’s showing as the “most energetic by far of all the candidates,” the Michigan governor would collect less than 2% of votes. On the Democratic side, President Johnson had not yet decided whether to run (he ultimately would not) and Robert F. Kennedy had yet to announce his candidacy (he would be assassinated only months later), but Eugene McCarthy had already come out as a challenger.
But the most colorful stories from New Hampshire that year could be found with the lesser known candidates, in whom LIFE’s Assistant Editor Margery Byers took a special interest.
For example, there was Austin Burton, “a Republican who makes psychedelic posters in Greenwich Village.” Burton attempted (and was ultimately not allowed) to declare his candidacy under the name Chief Burning Wood, explaining that he was “one eighth Indian and was made a chief by three Oneida princesses on a TV show.”
There was also Don DuMont, a Republican Good Humor salesman from Chicago whose campaign cards described him as “a 64-year-old, up-to-date Good Humored square with rounded corners.” The only “false thing” about him, he said, were his brand new teeth. Meanwhile, Herbert F. Hoover, fourth cousin of the former president, was running an anti-war campaign but his slogan “Peace is Possible” was drowned out by detractors joking, “I thought you were dead.”
Then there was an Ozark farmer named Laurence Smith. If elected as vice president, Smith planned to “repatriate” black Americans to Africa.
Needless to say—considering that the governor of Michigan couldn’t even crack 2%—Smith, DuMont and their compatriots in the margins—barely registered on in the voting booths on that cold New England day.
Liz Ronk edited this gallery for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter @lizabethronk.
In Rochester, N.H. a Nixon volunteer pushes cookies.
Arthur Schatz The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Supporters of Richard Nixon during the 1968 New Hampshire primary.
Arthur Schatz The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Supporters of Richard Nixon during the 1968 New Hampshire primary.
Arthur Schatz The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
1968 New Hampshire Primary
Arthur Schatz The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
At the state university in Durham, George Romney pats a fraternity snowman.
Arthur Schatz The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
George Romney meets and greets during the 1968 New Hampshire primary.
Arthur Schatz The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Original caption: “Romney’s campaign style on a street in Portsmouth, N.H., is to collar and sales-talk individual voters— even reluctant ones.”
Arthur Schatz The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Original caption: “[Romney’s] most valuable ally is his wife Lenore, a onetime actress and a better public speaker than her husband.”
Arthur Schatz The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Republican candidate Austin Burton, who went by the name Chief Burning Wood.
Arthur Schatz The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Richard Nixon campaigning in Nashua.
Arthur Schatz The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Original caption: “Manning a receiving line were Pat Nixon, daughters Tricia, 22, and Julie 19, and David Eisenhower, 19—Ike’s grandson who is engaged to Julie.”
Arthur Schatz The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Original caption: “David, Julie and Tricia hike the streets of Exeter.”
Arthur Schatz The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Original caption: “David gives the girls an exuberant hug. All three attend college, but they hope to continue working part time for Nixon.”
Arthur Schatz The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Supporters of Richard Nixon during the 1968 New Hampshire primary.
Arthur Schatz The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
