The incumbent Republican president was a social conservative who repeatedly threw red meat to his base. Lacking respect for the truth and the rule of law, he was distrusted by the left and some genuine conservatives alike. He successfully pressured the Fed to lower interest rates. His relationship with the press was fraught, to say the least. He was a uniquely divisive figure, loved by some, hated by more.
The Democrats responded by nominating a candidate who was well to the left of the political mainstream. They were crushed in the ensuing election, as you might expect.
Is it 1972 or 2020? We’ll know soon enough.