Apparently Nixon’s anti commie schtick was just that, a gimmick. The only thing good about him is that he was HATED by liberals, as was Agnew. I think Spiro might have actually been conservative, he sure had lots of fun things to say about libs.
George W. Bush was also hated by liberals. As was John McCain. Apparently behaving as liberal as possible while still pandering to conservatives and being in the “wrong party” remains the cardinal sin to libs.
However, Nixon did nail Alger Hiss, and for that, he deserves kudos.
Spiro Agnew was a Nelson Rockefeller man until Rockefeller dropped out of the presidential race early in 1968. When he dropped back in again later in the year, Agnew had become a Nixon man. It is said that during his vice presidency, Agnew was reading National Review and other conservative publications, so his views may have been evolving.
I'd go soo far as to say Spiro was the best Governor MD had in my lifetime.