Should I do it?

Well?

  • Yeah!

    Votes: 11 61.1%
  • No!

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Maybe...

    Votes: 6 33.3%
  • Other...

    Votes: 1 5.6%

  • Total voters
    18
  • Poll closed .

Penelope

Banned
(Poll on the way)

For a few weeks, I have had an idea for a timeline swirling about in my head. I want to know if it's good, or, atleast, has potential. Mind you, this is before most researching and planning.

The Premise is, that Gerald Ford is assassinated (Not by Fromme.) in 1975. His Vice President, Nelson Rcokefeller, takes over, and when the 1976 Election rolls around, he selects the one and only Donald Rumsfeld to be his running mate...​

So, should I do it?​
 

Penelope

Banned
Why not by Fromme? By Sara Jane Moore, or someone else? A more political motive?

Fromme never wanted to kill Ford, she just wanted to get in prison with Manson.

Sara Jane Moore would be the killer.

And Norton, Rummy would be Veep for the same reason that Dole was. To please the Conservative wing of the party.
 
And Norton, Rummy would be Veep for the same reason that Dole was. To please the Conservative wing of the party.
But Dole wasn't a Conservative; Dole was rather a moderate and chosen for VP because he was sort of a bridge between the Conservative and Moderate wings because he had the respect of both. Rumsfeld is an extreme Conservative. Rockefeller would choose a moderate or moderate-conservative.
 
But Dole wasn't a Conservative; Dole was rather a moderate and chosen for VP because he was sort of a bridge between the Conservative and Moderate wings because he had the respect of both. Rumsfeld is an extreme Conservative. Rockefeller would choose a moderate or moderate-conservative.

Except that in the context of 1975 Dole was considered a conservative. He had run a very social-conservative / anti-abortion campaign to win re-election in 1974.

Rumsfeld was White House Chief of Staff at the time and had not served in elected office since 1969. I don't think he was considered a movement conservative while in the House -- he was a confidant of Ford when he was Minority Leader. And then he served various roles in the Nixon Administration. John Ashbrook he wasn't.
 

Penelope

Banned
Except that in the context of 1975 Dole was considered a conservative. He had run a very social-conservative / anti-abortion campaign to win re-election in 1974.

Rumsfeld was White House Chief of Staff at the time and had not served in elected office since 1969. I don't think he was considered a movement conservative while in the House -- he was a confidant of Ford when he was Minority Leader. And then he served various roles in the Nixon Administration. John Ashbrook he wasn't.

Exactly. Rumsfeld would simply be chosen to please Conservatives, since Rockefeller would probably be seriously worried about Reagan defeating him in the 76 Primaries.
 
Exactly. Rumsfeld would simply be chosen to please Conservatives, since Rockefeller would probably be seriously worried about Reagan defeating him in the 76 Primaries.

Why do you think Rumsfeld would appeal so much to conservatives in 1975? Are there articles in that era's National Review praising Rumsfeld as one their champions in the Nixon-Ford Administration?
 

Penelope

Banned
Why do you think Rumsfeld would appeal so much to conservatives in 1975? Are there articles in that era's National Review praising Rumsfeld as one their champions in the Nixon-Ford Administration?

No, I'm just making a case Rumsfeld's Veep Nomination. :eek:

Mind you, nothing is final besides Ford's assassination and Rockefeller being President.
 
Remember also that whoever gets picked has to be confirmed by both Houses of Congress. The Democrats had a better than 2 to 1 majority in the House and a 62-38 majority in the Senate. It isn't just Republicans' views that have to be taken into account. Especially with this being the third non-elected VP to be named in 3 years.
 

Penelope

Banned
Remember also that whoever gets picked has to be confirmed by both Houses of Congress. The Democrats had a better than 2 to 1 majority in the House and a 62-38 majority in the Senate. It isn't just Republicans' views that have to be taken into account. Especially with this being the third non-elected VP to be named in 3 years.

That is true...

Who would you suggest for Veep? (Mind you, he will be President in 79...:D)
 
Rumsfeld wouldn't necessarily be a bad choice -- if he's picked more on the grounds of continuity of the administration. Having 2 resignations and an asassination in one presidential term would certainly shake up the country and base political calculations might go out the window. Another possibility would be Howard Baker -- the Senate Democrats might be able to stifle any potential House Democrat opposition. And Baker might be the only non-incumbent Republican candidate who could stand a chance of winning the 1976 election -- which is why I think the Democrats would be unlikely to confirm him as VP.
 

Penelope

Banned
Rumsfeld wouldn't necessarily be a bad choice -- if he's picked more on the grounds of continuity of the administration. Having 2 resignations and an asassination in one presidential term would certainly shake up the country and base political calculations might go out the window.

This is what I was thinking, after an assassination, just about anyone is likely to be confirmed.
 
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