April 2, 1981: President George Bush announces his Vice Presidential pick, Former President Gerald Ford. The Senate confirms him 79-21. When asked in an interview as to why he picked Ford, Bush had this to say:

"In a time when our country has been burdened with circumstances such as these, there is no man better suited for the job of Vice President than a man who assumed the Presidency under unusual circumstances. Former President Ford is an honorable man who served his county when the Constitution called on him to do so. I have been called to do the same, and he will help guide us all through these troubled times. Gerald Ford is an intelligent, good man, who will do an excellent job as Vice President of these United States."
Ford gets another chance. I like it!!
 
Why would Ford accept the Vice Presidency in 1981 when he wouldn't in 1980?

Ford had wanted a co-Presidency with Reagan. Ford planned to run foreign policy.

But foreign policy is even more of interest to Bush than to Reagan. Bush doesn't have a domestic policy interest to fall back on if the idea is that the co-Presidency happens.

Unless the idea is that the terms are reversed and Bush follows Ford's lead domestically-Bush has no more interest in the co-Presidency proposal than Reagan had in 1980.

On the other hand Ford and Bush are closer ideologically than Ford and Reagan were. Ford's policies are unlikely to differ much from Bush's.
 
Why would Ford accept the Vice Presidency in 1981 when he wouldn't in 1980?

Ford had wanted a co-Presidency with Reagan. Ford planned to run foreign policy.

But foreign policy is even more of interest to Bush than to Reagan. Bush doesn't have a domestic policy interest to fall back on if the idea is that the co-Presidency happens.

Unless the idea is that the terms are reversed and Bush follows Ford's lead domestically-Bush has no more interest in the co-Presidency proposal than Reagan had in 1980.

On the other hand Ford and Bush are closer ideologically than Ford and Reagan were. Ford's policies are unlikely to differ much from Bush's.
I'm pretty sure he will choose someone else for reelection.
 
If Ford demanded a co-Presidency with Reagan in 1980 why wouldn't he make the same or a similar demand of President Bush less than a year later?

Even if we presume that Ford would be dropped in 1984, a Co-Presidency is not the sort of thing I can see any President consenting to however brief the timeframe.
 
I disagree. An assassination event is pretty major and I'd say the public liked Reagan enough to make him the new JFK.
Remember, though, that his presidency only would've lasted for 69 days, which would be the second-shortest in history (after William Henry Harrison's), while JFK's presidency was nearly three years. If anything, he would be the next Robert Kennedy - someone who did nothing significant, but might have if he had the chance.

He would definitely be popular among the general population in the years following his assassination, but I think that within a few decades his fanbase would largely be relegated to conservative history buffs imagining how great the world would've been if he had survived.
 
Remember, though, that his presidency only would've lasted for 69 days, which would be the second-shortest in history (after William Henry Harrison's), while JFK's presidency was nearly three years. If anything, he would be the next Robert Kennedy - someone who did nothing significant, but might have if he had the chance.

He would definitely be popular among the general population in the years following his assassination, but I think that within a few decades his fanbase would largely be relegated to conservative history buffs imagining how great the world would've been if he had survived.
But it's an assassination. JFK wasn't that great but he was idolized forever after he died. Imagine Reagan, who is already idolized by conservatives and was popular at the time among people in contrast with Carter.
 
The other issue is that early on Bush is going to be compelled to pass Reagan's tax plan.

Reaganite tax cuts will be associated with Reagan in a way not even the great liberal accomplishments of the 1960's were associated with Kennedy.

Reagan may therefore be remembered for inspiring the 1981 tax cut. Bush will not receive any credit for that-given that he campaigned against the policy and will everything he can to reverse course when he has the leeway to do so.

Reagan will leave a policy legacy-or at least be personally associated with a new conservative vision that was more or less unique to him.

The extent to which Reagan is remembered for that reason depends on whether that ideology will be as dominant among Republicans with Reagan dead.

In the 1980's-particularly in the second term Reagan will be a stick conservative critics will use to hit Bush with on any number of issues.

"Reagan would never have let Tip O'Neil raise taxes! "

"Reagan would never have spoken with Gorbachev!"

etc.

That tendency will keep the memory of Reagan around for awhile.
 
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