If Nixon won 1960, how would the space race go? Does the US still land on the moon? Do the Soviets get there first? What year would the first lunar mission be? How does NASA develop under Nixon being the 35th President?
I doubt it would have happened as early as it did, but it still would have happened. The Apollo Project was around before Kennedy got elected. Who knows, if there's no Cuban Missile Crisis it might turn into a joint project. But the US was already pulling ahead technologically.
If Nixon won 1960, how would the space race go? Does the US still land on the moon? Do the Soviets get there first? What year would the first lunar mission be? How does NASA develop under Nixon being the 35th President?
I doubt it would have happened as early as it did, but it still would have happened. The Apollo Project was around before Kennedy got elected. Who knows, if there's no Cuban Missile Crisis it might turn into a joint project. But the US was already pulling ahead technologically.
The Big difference is that Nixon didn't run on the "missile gap."
A 1961 President Nixon, likely has NASA and Military continue with the existing programs (with a information campaign to inform the public "we are doing something...", Projects, APOLLO and Project MERCURY (successor to the Air Force's "Man In Space Soonest"), with more (not a lot more) money, if the Democrat controlled Congress goes along.... There'd still be the media reaction (likely less), and but a the Nixon Administration wouldn't have the same pressure to "go big....
I agree it's still a issue, just not to the level it was under JFK, (OTL, I believe some that was in JFK's head, being the "young" President and the having campaigned on the "missile gap....") and President Nixon is in better position to "assure" the public that the Soviet manned mission does be we're behind were it counts. Also agree the Congressional (Democratic) leadership will try to use it, put it will look a lot more partisan and they may back themselves into a corner, support the President Nixon's plans (assuming Nixon goes for more money (accelerated programs) for MERCURY and APOLLO), or "be the men who ceded space to Soviets....").
So still tough/bad for President Nixon, just not the levels of the Real World.
Nixon as President in 1968 no care much about Space Program, Apollo was success, USSR never landed a Cosmonaut on moon.
but there other problem like Vietnam War were Nixon had to deal with, it took almost 5 years until He made a decision: the Space Shuttle.
Nixon in 1960 President has other bunch of challenge
Cuba, Berlin Wall Crisis, "the issue with Vietnam", the Soviet success in Space.
but here could things go a very different path
NASA had project Mercury to bring US pilot into space and Apollo a three man space ship with laboratory in service module, that had serve in Low orbit and conduct if needed lunar flyby mission.
USAF had Project Dyna Soar a Glider who original had to serve as Bomber-reconnaissance space plane.
and most notorious project Orion in form of USAF "Space Battleships" with each with 1500 nuclear warheads in very high orbit around Earth, ready to annihilate the USSR in case of War.
The Kennedy Administration killed Project Orion and Dyna Soar, the XB-70 and Apollo transformed into form we know and loved.
I guess under Nixon this would be different, Apollo is build like planed with option to launch it around the Moon in second half of 1960s with earth orbital rendezvous.
USAF would have still Dyna Soar program water down to X-20 research space plane, with option of "Manned Anti satellite weapon"
I have no Idea how president Nixon will react on SAC presentation of USAF "Space Battleships", what scared the hell out JFK and McNamara...