Eisenhower Resigns

Delta Force

Banned
What would have happened if Eisenhower's 1955 heart attack had been more severe or he his cardiologist had recommended that he leave office in order to better recover? Would he run for president in 1956 and then resign after the inauguration to avoid another highly contested nomination? Would he keep Nixon as his vice president or might he switch him out for someone else?
 
Depends. I reckon if the heart attack is bad enough to make him resign, he'll probably do it straight away. This would leave Nixon as the encumbent and therefore, the money would be on him winning both the 56 GOP nomination without too much ranker and ultimately, the election.

That's what happens in my Fallen Leader TL (which I need to finish)-though in that case the heart attack kills Eisenhower.

If Ike rounds out his term, I still can see Nixon as having a strong advantage in obtaining the 56 nomination, though if Ike backs someone else (like Warren?), then I think that person will be favoured for it in the end. Whoever the GOP candidate is, they probably win Ike's second term in 1956-Eisenhower himself is popular and the sympathy from his resignation would give that a boost, plus the Dems were in for 20 years before 1953.
 
I agree if the heart attack is that badm then he resigns right away. President Nixon wins in 1956 and assume that the heart attack happened after Januray 20 so Nixon is still can run in 1960. He would likely to win. He is the incumbent and he has run for president before and knows not campaign in all 50 states. I think Kennedy might be elected in 1964. I assume the Goldwater could still win the nomination.
 

Delta Force

Banned
Who would Nixon choose for his vice president and key cabinet positions? The prominent secretaries of state and defense in the 1960s were all Democrats, and if Nixon chooses Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. as his vice presidential candidate in 1956 he will need someone to replace him. It seems more likely that without Lodge's extensive foreign policy experience and the need to run against Kennedy in his home state that Nixon would choose someone else for vice president anyways.
 
Nixon as president 1955-1965

I agree if the heart attack is that badm then he resigns right away. President Nixon wins in 1956 and assume that the heart attack happened after Januray 20 so Nixon is still can run in 1960. He would likely to win. He is the incumbent and he has run for president before and knows not campaign in all 50 states. I think Kennedy might be elected in 1964. I assume the Goldwater could still win the nomination.
If the heart attack that President Eisenhower suffered in Denver in September 1955 killed him and Nixon became president at that time, then Nixon would have won in the 1956 election because of the sympathy vote. (Theodore Roosvelt won in 1904, Calvin Coolidge won in 1924, Harry Truman won in 1948 ... all three men being elected after the death of a president. ) **IT ALSO HAPPENED IN 1964 FOR Lyndon Johnson** Nixon would have been re-elected in 1960 over Kennedy, judging how close that election really was when Nixon was just a vice president. (Keep in mind that no incumbent Vice president had won the presidency since Martin Van Buren won in 1836. ) ** In real time, Nixon lost in 1960 while Hubert Humphrey, the incumbent VP, lost in 1968. It was not until George H. W. Bush won in 1988 that a VP won the presidency since 1836.**
In regard to 1964, I do not see JFK running BECAUSE his father suffered a stroke in December 1961. Papa Joe was the driving force and wanted the presidency for his son MORE than JFK wanted it. In this case, Senator John F. Kennedy in 1964 may retire from politics in January 1965 when his second six year term ended at that time and he may become a writer, WHAT he wanted to do all along. Barry Goldwater, IMO, would not be the nominee in 1964. Nixon's vice president since 1957 ... (REMEMBER no vacancy was filled until 1973 with Gerald Ford) ... whoever that might be would most likely be the nominee in 1964 (Lodge ?). With the republican party in the White House since 1955, I see the democrats winning in 1964, possibly Hubert Humphrey as the president-elect.
 
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