President John Connally

I just read that one of the first leaks that Mark Felt gave Bob Woodard came in 1971.It was a tip that the FBI was investigating Spiro Agnew for bribery. The FBI did not turn up any evidence on Agnew in 1971, but what if they had? If Agnew had to resign two years earlier, I think Nixon would have been able to pick John Connally as his replacement. He had not yet headed Democrats for Nixon and was not as controversial. Connally would have been nominated to run with Nixon and elected Vice President and would have been serving when Nixon resigned. President Connally would have immediately faced the bribery allegation. OTL he was indicted the day Nixon resigned, I think Congress would have had the courtesy to hold off until Connally's vice president. I presume Nelson Rockefeller, was confirmed. When the House Judicary Committee began its hearings, the would have heard a taped conversation that Connally's jury did not hear:
Connally says to Nixon:"It's on my honor to make sure that there's a very substantial amount of oil in Texas that will be at your discretion," the treasury secretary said. "Fine," said Nixon. "This is a cold political deal," Nixon continued. "They're very tough political operators." "And they've got it," Connally said. "They've got it," Nixon agreed. "Mr. President," Connally concluded, "I really think you made the right decision."
I don't know if that was enough of a smoking gun to force Connally from office but it would have left him with a cloud. If he remains in office, Ronald Reagan defeats him for the Republican nomination. Likewise Reagan would defeat Nelson Rockefeller. I think Reagan could have won the 1976 election by cutting into Carter's Southern support, though I am not sure. One possibility is though with a President Rockefeller is that he dies in office. I could see the stress of the office particularly after the battle for a national health program he would wage and the blow of losing the nomination would be too much for his weak heart. I believe that Vice President Ronald Reagan would then take office as president.
 
1969 - 1974 Richard Nixon
1974 John Connally
1974 - 1976 Nelson Rockefeller
1976 - 1981 Ronald Reagan
1981 - 1989 Walter Mondale
1989 - 1993 Hugh Carey
1993 - 2001 Jack Kemp
2001 - 2009 Lamar Alexander
2009 - Barack Obama

1969 - 1974 Richard Nixon
1974 John Connally
1974 - 1976 Nelson Rockefeller
1976 - 1977 Ronald Reagan
1977 - 1981 Jimmy Carter
1981- 1989 George HW Bush
1989- 1993 Bob Dole
1993 - 2001 Bill Clinton
2001 - 2009 George W Bush
2009 - Barack Obama
 
what the actual fuck - Barack Obama is not destined to be President. There are some people, Jimmy Carter comes to mind, who get elected based only on the events immediately leading up to their election. How can people take you seriously if you have Obama as President in everything?!
 
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