Oh so close but still missed. I was there and the date was 1970 at Eastern CT State College (now U). Young Republicans president Scott Goslin gave a speech to the CT GOP convention laying out a coalition between Racist Dixiecrats and business tycoons to turn the GOP into The Party of God.
As you said, after desegregation AND Nixon AND Vietnam AND Watergate - the GOP was headed for the graveyard of history, destined to be the party of opposition until it became the party of insignificance. But you cannot defeat GOD AND $$$$ in one package!
CT seems a tiny place, but the entire Bush family, the Rockefellers and all the NYC fat-cats, with mansions in Fairfield County, were there and it was the life ring they desperately needed. I was warned it could never be stopped, and we're here. BUT!! It's destined to crash, then we build better.
America's a phoenix. It'll come back stronger.