"For in America throughout the twentieth century, and including four substantial wars abroad, conservatives had been steadfastly the voices of non-inflationary military budgets, and of an emphasis on trade in the world instead of American nationalism. In the two World Wars, in Korea, and in Viet Nam, the leaders of American entry into war were such renowned liberal-progressives as Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy. In all four episodes conservatives, both in the national government and in the rank and file, were largely hostile to intervention." Bill Kauffman, Not My America.
So what happened? Nixon happened, in part. But there was a lot more afloat. Somewhere along the line, Republicans--long practitioners of crony capitalism--jumped onto the industrial military complex wagon of crony capitalism, too.
