Final answer:
Unionists were divided in their attitudes towards O'Neill's attempts to build a closer relationship with the Irish Republic in the 1960s due to differing beliefs about the political and constitutional status of Northern Ireland, concerns about their own political power and influence, and varying opinions on the potential benefits of closer ties with the Irish Republic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The division among unionists in their attitudes towards O'Neill's attempts to build a closer relationship with the Irish Republic in the 1960s can be attributed to various factors.
Firstly, there were unionists who strongly opposed any form of closer relationship with the Irish Republic due to their staunch belief in maintaining the political and constitutional status quo of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom. They feared that any closer ties with the Irish Republic would undermine their identity as British citizens and eventually lead to a united Ireland.
Secondly, there were unionists who were more open to the idea of building a closer relationship with the Irish Republic, believing that it could help ease tensions and promote stability in Northern Ireland. They saw potential economic benefits and believed that a more cooperative approach could lead to better relations between unionists and nationalists.
Lastly, there were unionists who were skeptical of O'Neill's motives and saw his attempts to build closer ties with the Irish Republic as a threat to their own political power and influence. They believed that O'Neill's actions were driven by a desire for personal political gain rather than genuine concern for the future of Northern Ireland.