Patrick J. Buchanan was faced with a daunting task when he stepped on the stage at the 1992 Republican National Convention on August 17. After eight months of campaigning against President George H.W. Bush, he was now facing a daunting task. Bush. His criticisms were numerous: Bush had increased taxes even though he had promised not to, Bush had neglected workers and the culturally conservative wing the Republican Party, and Bush had spent enormously on military adventures in Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere when the country was facing serious problems. Buchanan attacked the president at every turn throughout the country. Buchanan claimed that Bush’s differences are too great in his launch speech. It was delivered in New Hampshire on a cold December day. Although many people agreed with him, it was not enough to win the nomination. Buchanan was able to reach an agreement with Bush in Houston, Bush’s hometown, without losing sight or the ideals that he believed were the future for the party and the country.
These were not the only political problems. Buchanan flew cross-country to Washington, D.C. for open heart surgery, just a few days after June’s California primary. Buchanan’s campaign stated that the operation was elective. He had a deficient aortic valve and his doctor recommended that it should be replaced. The doctor also said that he would be able to return to health in time for the convention. Buchanan was in recovery for most of the summer, despite the fact that he had elective heart surgery. Buchanan had made promises to his supporters in New Hampshire that the fight would go all the way to Houston. But the campaign was effectively over. Buchanan was unable to return to the trail, and any points he might have made at that point would have been only rhetorical. He was able to walk by August without any difficulty. He could not run yet.
