Nixon chooses Volpe instead of Agnew...

John Volpe, governor of MA in 1968, was Nixon's second choice for a running mate. Had he been chosen instead of Spiro Agnew, consider these:

  • If Volpe had had a greater voice in policy-making than did Agnew (who was pretty much consigned to attack dog duty), perhaps he might have been able to say "are you crazy?" to the proposals to the Watergate break-in and perhaps prevent it altogether.
  • If not, and Watergate plays out essentially as it does IOTL, Volpe succeeds Nixon in 1974 since, unlike Agnew, he was not obliged to resign for defalcations while governor. Volpe's presidency on the short term is probably not vastly different from that of Gerald Ford--whom, I suggest, Volpe would select as his vice president.
  • Does Volpe opt for a term in his own right in 1976?
    • If so, does he continue with Ford as a running mate? And should he beat Carter (presuming the Dem selection process is unaffected), could he handle the economic upheavals better? And would he not engage in the same meddling with the intelligence apparatus that allowed the US to be caught flatfooted by the takeover of Iran by the ayatollahs, thus averting the hostage crisis?
    • If not, who is the GOP nominee in 1976? Would that likely be Rockefeller, who was hoping to make a run that year? Whom would Rockefeller take as a running mate: perhaps Ford? Dole? And the same questions about Iran and the economy as posed for a Volpe administration apply to a Rockefeller administration, presuming he wins.
 
I don't know much about Volpe. I doubt he would have been able to prevent the Watergate break in. I doubt he would have been at the meetings were that was discussed. From what I know, the break in was the idea of people who worked for creep. I don't think Nixon knew about it. When he becomes president, he gets the same advice from Carl Albert about the selection of a vice president. If he wins the nomination, he would have to reach out to Reagan. Ford had been a conservative in Congress, so Reagan might approve of him. The 1976 election was close. He might win. While he will probably pardon Nixon, he probably won't say there is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe.
 
John Volpe would have considerable impact in NASA future in 1970s

Agnew was Space Fanatic he organize a Space Task Group in 1968 for NASA future
after 90 days study came the infamous "Integrated Manned Program" a today $500 billion proposal, with several Space Stations, Moon base and manned Mars Flights,
in end Nixon take little part of it: the Space Shuttle

I think that John Volpe responsible as Vice president for Space program will take very different road for NASA.
Most likely a permanent Space Station in Earth orbit for 1976, support by Big Gemini space craft launch by Titan IIIM.
also he could push NASA to launch afro americans Astronauts into space.
 
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