Abe Lincoln Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Here's an interesting scenario idea. At the 1968 republican convention presumptive nominee and former vice-president Richard Nixon is assassinated. In the aftermath of the assissination, formerly second place candidate Ronald Reagan wins the nomination and, with Nelson Rockefeller as his VP, is elected President narrowly. Alright that's the scenario, so how do you all think Reagan's term in officer would turn out and what the issues would be for a '72 presidential election with him as the incumbent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrestlingking235 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Well, I don't think Vietnam would have ended so quickly. And the Nixon recession might have still happened, but maybe with less of an impact thanks to Reaganomics, but that would also mean the National debt has increased by leaps and bounds already. And I would say the whole friendlier U.S. - Soviet relations wouldn't have happened, neither U.S. and China. Probably a large military build up also Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwkulcsar Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 To be honest, Reagan is a lot like Goldwater and Goldwater hated Rockefeller. Rockefeller would probably not be the VP, maybe John Tower or some other notable center-right Republican from a safe GOP state? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Lincoln Posted August 7, 2009 Author Share Posted August 7, 2009 To be honest, Reagan is a lot like Goldwater and Goldwater hated Rockefeller. Rockefeller would probably not be the VP, maybe John Tower or some other notable center-right Republican from a safe GOP state? I named Rockefeller because he was the 3rd place candidate and Reagan would likely have needed his support in the convention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanDream Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 I agree that the chances of Reagan picking Rockefeller would be slim and the chances of Rockefeller accepting from somebody like Reagan even slimmer as he was known to be a man of extreme principle. I think in all likelihood, Reagan would have either picked a center-right candidate or a known Rockefeller ally/supporter instead, like George Romney (who also tried running for President in '68) or Walter Hickel. I think that Reagan wouldn't have had near the popularity of Nixon or he himself did later on as the national party was much more moderate then then it would be just 8 years later, and of course Nixon himself was actually fairly moderate in economic and foreign policy, two areas where Reagan was particularly hard-line right on. I think that the general would actually be fairly competitive with Reagan having a much lesser advantage than what Nixon did. I also think a lot more bigger-named Democrats would come out of the wood works. Here's some candidates that might have run: Democrats: Ted Kennedy (actually did try to run against Reagan in 1980, and expected by a lot of people to run in 1972 even after the primaries had started) Hubert Humphrey (as more than just an anti-McGovern candidate and probably entering sooner then he actually did) George Wallace Ed Muskie Eugene McCarthy (with probably a better standing then in real life) George McGovern (I don't think McGovern would have run if Kennedy did as the Kennedy family and McGovern were close, but maybe) Jimmy Carter (Southern Governor who could still likely sweep the South and could compete against Reagan as a centrist) Scoop Jackson And of course the other minor candidates like Shirley Chisolm and John Lindsay. Republicans: Of course Reagan, but I would consider putting in an off candidate like Rockefeller challenging him from the left as in real life 1972 was the only year the incumbent President DIDN'T get a serious challenge in the primary (Johnson v. Wallace, Johnson v. McCarthy, Ford v. Reagan, Carter v. Kennedy) in that period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwkulcsar Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 I like the enthusiasm with this, since this is just a alternate history one. How about throw in Mondale, it would splinter McCarthy and make it harder for him to carry a state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liberalkid Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Mo Udall Sam Harris for the Democrats anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Lincoln Posted August 8, 2009 Author Share Posted August 8, 2009 Here's the candidates so far, also fyi the new VP for Reagan is George Romney Republicans Ronald Reagan Nelson Rockefeller Democrats Ted Kennedy Hubert Humphrey George Wallace Ed Muskie Eugene McCarthy George McGovern Jimmy Carter Scoop Jackson Mo Udall Sam Harris Walter Mondale Stephen M. Young Thomas C. Lynch American Party John G. Schmitz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwkulcsar Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 I think Nelson Rockefeller is a good pick for the GOP alternate, he is like the William Jennings Bryant of the 20th Century. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deldem Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 How about Spiro Agnew as another Republican? He'd be in between Rockefeller and Reagan ideologically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwkulcsar Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 I personally like John Tower; he is a Southerner but has some moderate qualities. I also recommend John Connally, he was a Democrat for Nixon and served as Secretary of the Treasury under Nixon. Maybe we would change colors when the chance for the White House arose? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanDream Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 I like the enthusiasm with this, since this is just a alternate history one. How about throw in Mondale, it would splinter McCarthy and make it harder for him to carry a state. I like this idea. Mondale would be a good Richardson 2008-style candidates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwaz Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 If you add Kennedy your going to have to put something in about Chappaquiddick. That was one of the main reasons he didn't run in 72. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederico Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 If its alternative history why not put Robert F Kennedy up for the Democrats in '72 had he lost the 68 nomination narrowly he would be the presumptive in 72. Plus a Reagan-Robert Kennedy general election seems like an exciting prospect. Or leave him as a off-by-default candidate. Just an idea. Also if, as AmericanDream said, Reagan had nowhere near Nixon's 72 popularity is it inconceivable that Agnew would have run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.C Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Here's the candidates so far, also fyi the new VP for Reagan is George Romney Republicans Ronald Reagan Nelson Rockefeller Democrats Ted Kennedy Hubert Humphrey George Wallace Ed Muskie Eugene McCarthy George McGovern Jimmy Carter Scoop Jackson Mo Udall Sam Harris Walter Mondale Stephen M. Young Thomas C. Lynch American Party John G. Schmitz Add Libertarian Party canidate John Hospers,in the 1972 he won a electoral vote,and remeber,he was only on the ballot in Colorado,Washington and I think Virginia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkmoon72 Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 There is no "Sam Harris". You guys mean Fred Harris, Senator from Oklahoma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwkulcsar Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Governor Claude Kirk of Florida. Been reading Nixonland and he was heralded as a GOP VP candidate in 68. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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