The basic scenario is this:
Richard Nixon's 1962 effort to become Governor of California proves successful. Despite this national political history is more or less the same as historical reality.
Barry Goldwater is still the nominee and still loses a lopsided defeat. Ronald Reagan still gives a convention speech that makes him Goldwater's heir as the darling of the Conservative Movement.
However-in 1966 the Governor of California will be a Republican. Nixon will presumably seek reelection that year. He may hate being Governor-but I'm not sure Nixon would willingly step aside for Reagan. So what do Reagan and his backers do?
Do they try to run Reagan against Nixon in the Republican primaries? This is a strategy with some risk. There's no guarantee Reagan can win. Indeed such a victory would seem downright improbable early on.
Do they wait two years and run Reagan against Kuchel? If so how would Reagan maintain conservative enthusiasm without running a campaign in 1966?
Or would they perhaps run him for a House seat intending for him to run against Kuchel in 1968?
Or might they wait longer than that-until 1970 when the Governor's race becomes open again. Although this would mean Nixon's not running for a third term and that Reagan can defeat Nixon's designated successor. Or in the case of Nixon still winning the Presidency-Reagan would have to defeat an incumbent Governor.
With Nixon as Governor would the conservatives be more able to push some other candidate for the Presidency in 1968?
That is would Nixon's 1966 reelection effort prevent him from campaigning for other Republicans-and thereby prevent him from developing the institutional strength that led to his nomination?
In turn might that lead to Reagan's displacement as the darling of the conservatives?
Nixon wins in 1962-what happens to Reagan?
Richard Nixon's 1962 effort to become Governor of California proves successful. Despite this national political history is more or less the same as historical reality.
Barry Goldwater is still the nominee and still loses a lopsided defeat. Ronald Reagan still gives a convention speech that makes him Goldwater's heir as the darling of the Conservative Movement.
However-in 1966 the Governor of California will be a Republican. Nixon will presumably seek reelection that year. He may hate being Governor-but I'm not sure Nixon would willingly step aside for Reagan. So what do Reagan and his backers do?
Do they try to run Reagan against Nixon in the Republican primaries? This is a strategy with some risk. There's no guarantee Reagan can win. Indeed such a victory would seem downright improbable early on.
Do they wait two years and run Reagan against Kuchel? If so how would Reagan maintain conservative enthusiasm without running a campaign in 1966?
Or would they perhaps run him for a House seat intending for him to run against Kuchel in 1968?
Or might they wait longer than that-until 1970 when the Governor's race becomes open again. Although this would mean Nixon's not running for a third term and that Reagan can defeat Nixon's designated successor. Or in the case of Nixon still winning the Presidency-Reagan would have to defeat an incumbent Governor.
With Nixon as Governor would the conservatives be more able to push some other candidate for the Presidency in 1968?
That is would Nixon's 1966 reelection effort prevent him from campaigning for other Republicans-and thereby prevent him from developing the institutional strength that led to his nomination?
In turn might that lead to Reagan's displacement as the darling of the conservatives?
Nixon wins in 1962-what happens to Reagan?
) in his book 'The Greatest Comeback' - Nixon intended to only serve one term and to run in 1968 for the Presidency.