President Ronald Reagan had originally considered former President Gerald R. Ford as his running mate but was unable to agree to being on the same ticket. Ford brought up in a televised interview the possibility of a co-presidency.
Ford brought up in a televised interview the possibility of a co-presidency.
Wouldn't that-you know-violate the Constitution ?
something like that would work up until the first disagreement they had (so maybe like 2-3 months in tops) and Reagan pulled out the, "well I'm the actual president so I automatically win" card. Ford probably wouldn't even stay the whole first term.
IF I remember correctly Ford was also insisting that Kissinger would be Secretary of State.
This. From what I understand Ford didn't particularly like Reagan, in part because Ford felt his loss in 1976 was partly due to Reagan nearly primarying him. Ford was also much more moderate than Reagan, so as you said there would be plenty of policy disagreements between them. In short it would have been like the relationship between JFK and LBJ. However I think Ford would have stayed on for the full term, if only to avoid creating controversy. Only two VP have ever resigned: John C. Calhoun in 1832 (who was incredibly ill-tempered and dogmatic, so basically the opposite of Ford) and Spiro Agnew in 1973 (to avoid criminal charges), so there's not much precedent. However Ford would almost certainly not accept any offers to be on the ticket in 1984.something like that would work up until the first disagreement they had (so maybe like 2-3 months in tops) and Reagan pulled out the, "well I'm the actual president so I automatically win" card. Ford probably wouldn't even stay the whole first term.