alternatehistory.com

On May 4th, 1963 Governor Nelson Rockfeller of New York married Happy Murphy. Rockfeller was 54 and Murphy was 36. They both had children from a previous marriage. Rockfeller had been divorced for around a year and Murphy roughly one month. At that time Rockfeller was the leading candidate for the Republican nomination for President. The Gallop poll before the remarriage showed Rockfeller at 43% Goldwalter at 26% After the marriage it showed Goldwater at 40% and Rockfeller at 29%. Duing the time period before the remarriage Goldwater was was serioulsy thinking about not running for President and supporting Rockfeller. Yes they were opposite in many things even so they were in the same party. But Goldwalter had no great desire to be President. The conservative -liberal split that was in the GOp that went back to 1912 was doormat at this time. So my question, what happens if Rockfeller does not get remarried. Does he get the nomination? Can he give LBJ a race? I just can't see America having 3 Presidents in roughly one year. But does this hurt or help the conservative movement that got it's start in 64? Other consquences, how about Reagan running for Governor? Nixon moving to New York? Thoughts?
Top