Challenge: President LBJ, in 1968

How could this occur with a 1962 POD?

1. Kennedy is not assassinated as per OTL. He goes on to win re-election easily over Goldwater in 1964 and pushes civil rights, the space program, economic growth, and downplays and de-escalates U.S. involvement in Vietnam. As a result, he's popular and the country looks like its heading for bright days, plus or minus a sex scandal from the Oval Office. Johnson clears the field in 1968 as a result, and then goes on to beat Rockefeller or Nixon.

2. Kennedy is assassinated as per OTL, but LBJ takes a different route on Vietnam. De-escalation or something, I would surmise. Civil Rights and the Great Society swing into effect, and without Vietnam dragging him down, Johnson is much more popular. He goes on to beat his Republican opponent in 1968.

3. Everything goes as OTL, but Johnson decides not to drop out of the 1968 Presidential Race. Despite a strong showing by McCarthy, he takes the nomination with the help of the party's old guard, and then manages a small victory over Nixon in the electoral college, despite a loss in the popular vote.
 
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