John Fredrick Parker
Donor
Say Ronald Reagan never goes into politics; who does the right wing of the GOP turn to and/or rally around following Goldwater's defeat in 1964?
Say Ronald Reagan never goes into politics; who does the right wing of the GOP turn to and/or rally around following Goldwater's defeat in 1964?
Interesting that without Reagan, the Right's biggest young star would be Third Party candidate -- that seems, to me, to confirm that without Reagan, his "Revolution" would not have happened...
But yeah without Reagan we most likely see moderate Republicans dominate at the presidential level for at least a generation. Nixon in '68 and '72. Ford in '76 (assuming Watergate doesn't get butterflied), and then Bush, Baker or Dole in '80 and '84. Probably the best the conservative wing of the party can hope for is to get someone like Roth or Kemp as Vice President, which would set them up to run for President in 1988.
I'd love to see a Kemp of Buckley Presidency. However, in order to make Buckley credible in 1980, he'd have to win re-election. The only way I can see that is if Congresswoman Bella Abzug wins the 1976 Democratic nomination for Senate. Buckley (according to wikipedia) was originally believed to be safe for re-election until Moynihan made a last minute entry into the New York Democratic Senate primary. Maybe by 1980 Buckley is seen as credibly enough to run and possibly win.)
Possible leaders of Conservatism sans Reagan:
James Rhodes
Paul Laxalt
Bob Dole
the Buckley Brothers
Jack Kemp
Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater Jr.
Donald Rumsfeld (stays in Congress, becomes major Republican leader, possibly elected Speaker of the House at some point)