Were a lot of Texans protestant at the time? Not pleased with a catholic president?
Further southwest (Arizona), they just did not like his pappy and it was goldwater country.
That probably was part of it. I’m not sure how much that really played into things, as I was only 12 at the time, but as I understand it, most folks my age don’t realize how big a deal Catholicism was as it grew in our nation.
Of course dad was a monster. His treatment of his wife was abominable. He used to bring his movie actress girl-friend(s) home to have dinner with his wife and the kids. Now there’s some real class for ya.
Bill Clinton modeled his life on J. F. K., and we can see what that led to.