I know this is a stupid question since none of the characters on mad men existed in real life. But I am more interested in them as a social milieu. They seem like a very mixed bunch, from different backgrounds and of different economic statuses, but all tend to have similar political leanings. What would draw people like them to the republican party of the 1960s?
Who—other than Henry Francis—is ever identified as Republican or Democrat? From what do you get the impression that they all have "similar political leanings?"
I guess we can make an assumption about Paul Kinsey, based on his travel as a Freedom Rider. But the politics of New Yorkers in the 1960s were not one-sided or even particularly predictable based on things like wealth or social liberalism, so that I hesitate to guess how even Pete Campbell voted in 1964.
As a related question, what significance if any did the Southern Strategy have to northern Republicans during this time period?
Edit: I’ve never had a follow-up get this many downvotes.