I wanna bump this topic since I think it deserves good discussion and it looks like it only made it to the tip of an iceberg:
I would peg Rockefeller as the man who would succeed Humphrey, whether in 1972 or later in 1976 (Rockefeller's 1979 death of the OTL is also not assured, as I believe it was cause by a heart attack while in mid-coitus). If 1972, he'd be young enough that it wouldn't be too greatly a radical "achievement", or whatever you may label it. If 1976, he'd be pulling a Reagan, but would still be some years younger than Reagan when he was elected (I believe Reagan was 69 when he became President, and Rocky would have been maybe 67 or so).
The question is can Humphrey get reelected in 1972, or is it unlikely?
I would peg Rockefeller as the man who would succeed Humphrey, whether in 1972 or later in 1976 (Rockefeller's 1979 death of the OTL is also not assured, as I believe it was cause by a heart attack while in mid-coitus). If 1972, he'd be young enough that it wouldn't be too greatly a radical "achievement", or whatever you may label it. If 1976, he'd be pulling a Reagan, but would still be some years younger than Reagan when he was elected (I believe Reagan was 69 when he became President, and Rocky would have been maybe 67 or so).
The question is can Humphrey get reelected in 1972, or is it unlikely?