Vol. 1, No. 45
August 5, 1996
Cover Story
Against Conservative Cool
When Nixon met Elvis in 1970, it was in secret. Now, Republicans proclaim their devotion to the culture of rock. What happened?
By Diana West
Also in This Issue
- Bad News About Illegitimacy — Charles Murray
- Joe Klein II: Secondary Colors — Charles Krauthammer & Hadley Arkes
- The Rumsfeld Factor — Fred Barnes
This issue examined the Republican party's evolving relationship with popular culture, particularly rock music, through Diana West's cover story questioning how conservatives moved from Nixon's secret 1970 meeting with Elvis to openly embracing rock culture by 1996. The magazine also tackled Charles Murray's warnings about illegitimacy, engaged in the contemporary debate over Joe Klein's anonymous novel "Primary Colors," and assessed Donald Rumsfeld's role in reinvigorating Bob Dole's presidential campaign. Notable pieces included David Gelernter's essay on Pablo Picasso and discussions of homosexuality and World War II history.