It's all relative, isn't it? Richard Nixon cosied up to one of the most violently left-wing radical governments in world history (China during the Cultural Revolution), founded the EPA, enhanced safety regulations, funded methadone clinics, increased social welfare spending till it amounted to more than 150% of defense spending, and tried to implement universal health care. All of which were, in his time, moderate policies, likely to appeal to many Republican voters.
To me Nixon was a corrupt progressive trying to be an opportunist riding on the backs of conservatives.
