alternatehistory.com

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.
Top