alternatehistory.com

The Point of Divergence here is that Robert Taft, not Dwight Eisenhower is the Republican nominee. Like Eisenhower, Taft chooses Senator Richard Nixon as his running mate. Now, there is a chance that Nixon will be booted from the ticket thanks to the Checkers Affair, but let's say Nixon makes it to the Vice Presidency here. Now Taft isn't going to live long, he dies in 1953 of cancer. Vice President Nixon becomes President Nixon, more than a decade before he historically did.

What policies would President Nixon pursue between 1953-1956?
How does President Nixon deal with McCarthy?
This doesn't lead to the Soviet American War somehow, does it?
In 1956, who would Nixon pick for his running mate? Who would the Democrats nominate to run against Nixon? I mean, for all the powers of incumbency Nixon is a manifestly weaker candidate than General Eisenhower. If the Democrats think they have a chance, do the pick Stevenson again? Would Nixon be reelected? Assuming he is, what happens in 1960 if the American public doesn't "have Nixon to kick around anymore" How does President Nixon spend his retirement? I mean, running for Governor after having been President doesn't seem right. But it's hard to see Nixon slipping into retirement at age 48. But if Nixon isn't involved in the political arena, and the law bores him to death, what can he do?
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