Would he became a ''Lion'' like a Ted Kennedy, or would he reitre after two trems?
Or after Senate he could be tapped for Cabinet, or even for President pro Tempore?
Yours,Pingvin99.
It would probably increase his Presidential chances in 1980. However, his rise could be sooner. He was, after all, a friend of Presidents Nixon and Ford and with experience in the Senate, could be tapped for Vice-President in:
1968, when Nixon's choosing a VP
1972 as a replacement to Agnew on the ticket
1973, after Agnew resigns
1974 after Ford takes office
1976 when he could replace Rockefeller
That could give him a couple chances for a different "rise to power" for him. In 1980, I think he'd definitely have a better chance if he'd been a Senator the last sixteen years.