President George Smathers in the 1960s?

There was some speculation in 1960 - and some on these forums - about the prospect of the Kennedy team choosing Florida Senator and family friend George Smathers as running mate in 1960, instead of Lyndon Johnson. This was compounded a few years later with an alleged promise by Bobby Kennedy to replace Johnson with Smathers on the ticket for re-election in 1964. Smathers was suspicious of desegregation efforts, having supported the 1957 Civil Rights Act but voted against the 1964 version. He did, however, support the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

How would the 1960s and beyond look if Smathers - a Southern conservative but no LBJ - was elected Vice President in 1960 and then elevated to the presidency after Kennedy was gunned down in 1963? I'm especially interested in the future of civil rights in this instance.
 

claybaskit

Gone Fishin'
If smathers was chosen in 1960 who is to say J.f.k would make that fate full trip. maybe a surving J.f.k would pick smatherS in 1964 in 68 he defeats George Romney to become president of the united states,.
 
Top