Final answer:
Richard Nixon's appeal to the 'silent majority' was a strategic move to secure the votes of working- and middle-class Americans during a time of social change and unrest. By promising law and order and criticizing social policies, he attracted voters who felt their perspectives were undervalued by current political discourse.
Step-by-step explanation:
Richard Nixon appealed to those he described as the silent majority of working- and middle-class Americans who viewed the protesters of the time with contempt. Nixon coined this term to acknowledge that the voices of moderate, mainstream Americans supporting his policies, particularly the Vietnam War policies, were often not heard in the public discourse. These were generally northern, blue-collar workers and middle-America suburbanites who felt that their opinions were overlooked in the political process and were concerned about the social changes taking place in the country. Aligning with the silent majority's combined fear of social unrest, such as antiwar protests and urban riots, and their desire for stability and law enforcement, Nixon's call for a return to law and order and his critique of the Great Society found strong resonance. In addition, his strategy also attracted Southern whites who sought to maintain their status in the face of integration and civil rights movements.