Ford ELECTED as Vice President

WI Gerald Ford had been elected as VP in 1972 (either Nixon dropping Agnew or maybe being running mate in 1968)

I suspect that Watergate issues would come to a head a bit earlier than in OTL. That might mean that the absolute evidence might have been not so clear.

I think that Ford would be in a stronger position.

In OTL he came surprisingly near to being elected in 1976. Maybe he would have won that election.
 
Putting aside the fact that Ford has NO desire to be VP or even President prior to the fall of '73, the OTL would probably not be changed by Ford already being VP rather than Agnew's replacement. The only way Nixon resigns (or gets impeached/convicted) earlier is if the tapes or some other direct evidence of Nixon's involvement in the cover-up comes to light earlier. Nixon saw himself as a gladiator in the arena, one who was going to fight to the death. That wouldn't change w/Ford as his VP.
 
If I recall correctly the House Committee voted 27-11 to impeach a few days BEFORE the final incriminatig tape got out.

This included enough Republicans to give just about the two thirds. As I understand it had the case got to the Senate after the tape he would have been lucky to get 10 votes for acquital.
 
If I recall correctly the House Committee voted 27-11 to impeach a few days BEFORE the final incriminatig tape got out.

This included enough Republicans to give just about the two thirds. As I understand it had the case got to the Senate after the tape he would have been lucky to get 10 votes for acquital.

Yes, that's the way I remember it as well. My point is that Nixon would have stonewalled, persisted and fought to remain in office even if Ford had been his VP since '69. Ford's presence did nothing to speed up the (judicial or political) process. How to you imagine that the Watergate issues may have come to a head sooner w/Ford as VP earlier?

Thinking off the top of my head, if Ford, as VP in the weeks after the break in found out about it and about the cover up, he likely would have told Nixon, "you fire those guys, turn over everything you have on the matter to the Justice Department and tell the nation why they've been fired or I resign in 48 hours."
 
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