As opposed to JFK, Richard Nixon had a fairly solid lock on the GOP presidential nomination for the 1960 election well before primary season. His commanding lead had scared off high profile contenders like Nelson Rockefeller.
So... assuming that Nixon dies in a freak accident at some point between the 1956 presidential election and the beginning of his presidential campaign, who might run for the Republican presidential nomination, and who would likely get it? Would Nelson Rockefeller be the obvious favorite, or would some movement conservative (perhaps Barry Goldwater) have a chance to take the nod? How would the likely Republican candidate fare against JFK or any of the other plausible Democratic candidates that year (indeed, would the absence of Nixon meaningfully change the calculus among Democratic delegates in 1960)?
So... assuming that Nixon dies in a freak accident at some point between the 1956 presidential election and the beginning of his presidential campaign, who might run for the Republican presidential nomination, and who would likely get it? Would Nelson Rockefeller be the obvious favorite, or would some movement conservative (perhaps Barry Goldwater) have a chance to take the nod? How would the likely Republican candidate fare against JFK or any of the other plausible Democratic candidates that year (indeed, would the absence of Nixon meaningfully change the calculus among Democratic delegates in 1960)?