Nixon in 1960 and '68

DominusNovus

I just had this one particular one stuck in my head for awhile: Nixon wins in 1960, loses in 1964, and then runs and wins again in 1968. In and of itself, it doesn't sound like a particularly crazy idea.
- Nixon nearly won in 1960
- 12 years of one party in the White House is likely to produce strong headwinds
- The 60s were pretty crazy as it was, so whomever is elected in '64 might end up a one term president.

So, who is the most likely to run against him in '64, and what consequences do you see with such a set up? Beyond that, what do you see happening in '72? Nixon would be term limited by this point, so someone else has to run.
 

Red_Neptune

I don't see why 12 years of one party would produce strong headwinds -- so long as the economy is good, the country is at relative peace but also fighting Communism, and the administration is relatively stable Nixon should win reelection. After all, voters had just given the Democrats 20 years in control of the White House, with Truman winning four years even though WWII had ended.

Say there are some kind of major scandals in the Nixon administration, or the economy enters recession in 1964 (OTL, it was a major reason why Nixon lost in 1960). Or if Nixon runs a weak campaign, maybe. He will still have to lose by a very narrow margin - and preferably win the popular vote - but yes, he could probably run in 1968. IMO if Kennedy had lost in 1960 then the candidates in 1964 would either be Adlai Stevenson, Hubert Humphrey, or (possibly) LBJ is back. I think Stevenson would probably get the nod, though he'd die in the first year of his term. In any case, unless he chooses an absolute dove as VP (unlikely) the US is going to enter Vietnam; especially given the probability that Nixon escalates the war, though he'd have to not to do so to the extent of LBJ if he wants to win in 1968.

Nixon would certainly get the nod, and defeat the Southerner who is likely Stevenson's Vice President if there's isn't too much bad blood over Nixon's first term. It's more than likely that Reagan - or, if not him, a moderate-type - is the nominee in 1972, and how he goes against the Democratic candidate is anyone's guess.
 
interpoltomo

interpoltomo

Yeah, the 8 years and you're out thing is obviously only a post watergate, more likely post cable news-era thing. It doesn't apply to worlds diverging before then.
 
Gracchus Tiberius

Gracchus Tiberius

I had a similar idea to what you proposed:

Presidents
Richard Nixon - 1961-1965
Def. 1960: Lyndon Johnson
John Kennedy - 1965-1973
Def. 1964: Richard Nixon
Def. 1968: Barry Goldwater
Richard Nixon - 1973-1977
Def. 1972: Terry Sanford

Vice Presidents
Nelson Rockefeller - 1961-1965
Terry Sanford - 1965-1973
Gerald Ford- 1973-1977
 
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raharris1973

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Gracchus Tiberius said:
I had a similar idea to what you proposed:

Presidents
Richard Nixon - 1961-1965
Def. 1960: Lyndon Johnson
John Kennedy - 1965-1973
Def. 1964: Richard Nixon
Def. 1968: Barry Goldwater
Richard Nixon - 1973-1977
Def. 1972: Terry Sanford

Vice Presidents
Nelson Rockefeller - 1961-1965
Terry Sanford - 1965-1973
Gerald Ford- 1973-1977
Click to expand...

George Lucas' American Graffiti would be the campaign movie for this universe's Nixon. "Where were you in 1962?" Nixon sells himself as the candidate of nostalgia after socially and culturally tumultuous Kennedy years.

 
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