So, it’s pretty well known that during the Republican National Convention in 1980, Ronald Reagan held talks with former President Gerald Ford about Ford taking the VP slot on the Republican ticket — the so-called “dream ticket.” There were tensions, and Ford ultimately said no, but it got very close to happening.
( Good account of that here: https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/09/the-dynasty-that-almost-wasnt-213150 )
Now, a Reagan-Ford ticket’s not gonna make much of a difference in the fall election (the Reagan Revolution will come all the same) but some things I’m unsure of:
1) The effect of a former POTUS in the Vice Presidency
2) The working relationship of Reagan and Ford (Reagan and Bush didn’t like each other during the election, but warmed after Reagan’s near death experience)
3) What happens to Bush. Does he take a place (State Department? Energy?) in the Reagan Cabinet, or does he go back to Texas? Or retire from politics altogether?
And more consequentially
4) Who runs as Reagan’s successor in ‘88? Without becoming Vice President, Bush won’t become nearly as attractive a candidate, especially for the Reaganite Camp, as he was IRL. And with Ford at the age 75 in 1988, and having already been there, he might not even want to take a swing at the top job.
What do y’all think?
( Good account of that here: https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/09/the-dynasty-that-almost-wasnt-213150 )
Now, a Reagan-Ford ticket’s not gonna make much of a difference in the fall election (the Reagan Revolution will come all the same) but some things I’m unsure of:
1) The effect of a former POTUS in the Vice Presidency
2) The working relationship of Reagan and Ford (Reagan and Bush didn’t like each other during the election, but warmed after Reagan’s near death experience)
3) What happens to Bush. Does he take a place (State Department? Energy?) in the Reagan Cabinet, or does he go back to Texas? Or retire from politics altogether?
And more consequentially
4) Who runs as Reagan’s successor in ‘88? Without becoming Vice President, Bush won’t become nearly as attractive a candidate, especially for the Reaganite Camp, as he was IRL. And with Ford at the age 75 in 1988, and having already been there, he might not even want to take a swing at the top job.
What do y’all think?