Opposition research wasn't much discussed, not to the extent it's been since Bill Clinton, but it was there.
Perhaps you are correct.
But I deeply despise the very idea of
professional politicians--who are willing to do just about anything in order to get elected--and who therefore wish to denigrate their respective opponents. (If plumbers, electricians, and carpenters ran for office--including even
high office--they would have no reason to consider it a major downturn in their respective careers if they lost; and would therefore be less likely, I think, to play dirty. This is just another reason, in my opinion, to seriously desire
the total destruction of The Political Class.)