Wi Dole Instead Of Ford?

So what if, Richard Nixon selects Bob Dole to be his Vice President, rather than Gerald Ford?

Where do we go from there? I assume this doesn't have any butterflies re Nixon's resignation, but does Dole still pardon Nixon?

What does Dole do from 1974-1977? Who is his VP? Is he primaried (successfully or otherwise) by Reagan in 1976? Assuming Dole is still nominated, does he beat Carter (or whoever the Dems nominate in this TL)?
 
I think Dole still pardons Nixon. Reagan still challenges him. If he wins the nomination, and still talks about Democratic wars, he loses by a larger margin.
 
I'm not sure Dole's viable here. Ford was chosen because he was essentially the only Republican the Democratic led Congress was willing to confirm. And Dole is the former head of the National GOP, with a reputation of being something of a Republican partisan pit bull at the time. It's very difficult for me to see Dole being approved of. Even if you pick an earlier point of divergence, say having the Agnew scandal hit a year earlier than it historically did forcing Nixon to dump Agnew, you are far more likely to end up with President Connally than President Dole.
 
I'm not sure Dole's viable here. Ford was chosen because he was essentially the only Republican the Democratic led Congress was willing to confirm. And Dole is the former head of the National GOP, with a reputation of being something of a Republican partisan pit bull at the time. It's very difficult for me to see Dole being approved of. Even if you pick an earlier point of divergence, say having the Agnew scandal hit a year earlier than it historically did forcing Nixon to dump Agnew, you are far more likely to end up with President Connally than President Dole.

Yes. Dole won't get picked. Period.
 
Although I do wonder who another viable option for Nixon may have been if Ford was not a possibility. I mean, if there's an unfortunate car accident and Ford dies before being nominated, who else could Nixon conceivably pick who would meet with the Democrats approval? Conceivably, you could have the scenario Albert was potentially planning for. Essentially, when it looks like Nixon's going to be forced out, he'd resign as Speaker and try to get the House to elect a Republican successor for both himself and consequently Richard Nixon. Either that, or he and James Eastland could resign, making the next President William Simon, which would be absolutely awful for New York City.
 
Last edited:
Well, I'll admit it's terribly unlikely but maybe they make him choose a Democtatic VP? Like I said, probably not but that would be funny and interesting :p
 
Well I am not sure the Democratic Congressional leadership would approve of that. After all, Albert wanted to make sure that a Republican took over after Nixon, to make sure the end result of the Watergate scandal wasn't to overturn the results of the 1972 Presidential election, which was a Republican landslide at least where the Presidency was concerned. Considering he was approved when Ford wanted his own Vice President, Nelson Rockefeller may have a slight advantage here. I'm not sure Nixon would be willing to nominate Rockefeller even if he's the only viable option, which he may not even be here.
 
That's something I never understood. Rocky has all the makings of a President but never seemed to clinch it. Too 'liberal' by the standards of the day? :confused:
 
That's something I never understood. Rocky has all the makings of a President but never seemed to clinch it. Too 'liberal' by the standards of the day? :confused:

Maybe too liberal for the Republican party. Teddy White, however, in the Making of the President 1964 said that if Rockefeller's marriage had not become an issue, he would have won the Republican nomination.
 
So do I take it we're at a bit of a loss for suitable candidates, in the absence of Ford?

BTW why would William Simon be such bad news for New York? Not because I don't think he would be, but because I've only vaguely heard of the guy.
 
Maybe too liberal for the Republican party. Teddy White, however, in the Making of the President 1964 said that if Rockefeller's marriage had not become an issue, he would have won the Republican nomination.

Only to lose to Jonson in that year, just like Goldwater did.

So is Rocky the only viable candidate here, besides Ford of course?
 
So do I take it we're at a bit of a loss for suitable candidates, in the absence of Ford?

BTW why would William Simon be such bad news for New York? Not because I don't think he would be, but because I've only vaguely heard of the guy.

He was incredibly opposed to Federal Intervention where that city's fiscal woes were concerned, and with Simon in the White House, there isn't going to be any kind of New York City bailout whatsoever. Remember, "Ford to City: Drop Dead", with President Simon, things are even worse.
 
Ok let's put this to rest:
1. The Democrats wouldn't let Dole be confirmed. He was the hatchet man for Nixon during Watergate. Without him Nixon would be gone earlier.
2. Nixon wouldn't nominate Dole. He would lose the most effective piece in the Senate. He would also be worried about being stabbed in the back for a power play by Dole. Which is likely.
3. Nixon's third choice, George Bush could get confirmed through Congress. Nixon's first, Connally, could not. Ford was second.
 
So the most likely outcome of Ford not being around is an early Bush Presidency?

I didn't think he had the necessary credentials to become VP (and later pres) at this stage.
 
Ok let's put this to rest:
1. The Democrats wouldn't let Dole be confirmed. He was the hatchet man for Nixon during Watergate. Without him Nixon would be gone earlier.
2. Nixon wouldn't nominate Dole. He would lose the most effective piece in the Senate. He would also be worried about being stabbed in the back for a power play by Dole. Which is likely.
3. Nixon's third choice, George Bush could get confirmed through Congress. Nixon's first, Connally, could not. Ford was second.

Interesting that Bush would be confirmed, considering his position at the time and the fact that he had served as something of a Nixon apologist in that role. It is hard for me to see the head of the Republican National Committee confirmed by a largely Democratic Congress, though I suppose in a world without Ford, Bush may never hold that thankless role.
 
If Ford says no and goes ahead with his plans to retire, then we get President George H W Bush 15 years earlier.If OTL 1988 is a guide, he runs a more aggressive campaign and wins in 1976.
 
If GHWB then it will be a very different GHWB than OTL's. A 2-term House backbencher from a safe district who got two consecutive Senate thumpings. No ambassadorial or CIA experience, so he won't be OTL's FP expert.

ITTL Bush will have a mixed reputation: ran as a Goldwaterite in '64 (including pledging to vote against the Voting Rights Act) but a very moderate House record and ran for Senate as a Generic Southern R in 1970. Reagan will probably still try to primary Bush.
 
Top