New Nixon Scenario

So I came up with this little scenario just to see what people's thoughts were.

Eisenhower chooses someone else for Vice President in 1952 keeping Nixon in the Senate. Becoming a rising Republican star Nixon claims victory again in the 1956 California Senate Election. Assuming the events in OTL happen just as they did, does Nixon run against Kennedy in 1960 as a stronger candidate or does he hold out for '64 or '68?
 
Depends on who Eisenhower's Veep is. If it's someone who will run, Nixon won't run in 1960. If the Veep won't run, Nixon is part of a wide field of Republicans.
 
Nixon was the cockroach of American politics of his day; no matter how much RAID one pointed his way, he still emerged. Hell, I can see a Nixon dumped by Ike in '52 who failed in the Checkers speech emerging as a nominee anywhere between 1960 and 1972. He wanted it that badly -- and had the skill to get there,
 
So who should we have as Ike's VP? If it's someone like Earl Warren who is Ike's age, I don't see them running in 1960 leaving the field open to Nixon and whoever.

If not 1960, is Nixon strong enough to beat Johnson in 1964? Personally, I doubt it, but anything was possible with Dick Nixon.
 
Nixon was a recommendation to Eisenhower based largely on his anti-communist stances, his ability to win elections and his relative youth. One possible alternative: Illinois senator Everett Dirksen, who was allied with the Taft forces at the time. The potential for comedy with Dirksen would have been significant, given his Foghorn Leghorn-like voice, but I can't see that he would have been a detriment to the Eisenhower administration. Another: NJ governor Alfred Driscoll. Problem: Driscoll was pretty colorless and wouldn't have brought much to the table.

Let's say Dirksen gets the nod over Nixon, and go from there...
 
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