An interesting quirk in US history is that FDR and Wendell Willkie, opponents in 1940, discussed forming a new "Liberal Party" after WWII but both men died before this could happen. Roosevelt also offered Willkie the position of Vice President in 1944, but negotiations fell apart. This might seem like a far out idea, but I decided to get creative and speculate about the 1940 election. What if the isolationist Tom Dewey had been able to outmaneuver Willkie at the convention (perhaps he is elected NY Governor four years earlier, giving him the establishment support and experience needed to win as he did in 1944) and a disappointed Willkie refuses to endorse him on principle, being a staunch internationalist who supports aid to Britain. Rumors abound that Willkie may support Roosevelt. FDR's aides start a back channel to Willkie, aiming to get his support. Simultaneously (as in OTL) Roosevelt appoints Republicans to key cabinet positions. Willkie is willing to endorse FDR - but only if he is given a place in the government. Seeing that he needs to make a bold move in order to beat Dewey, FDR offers Willkie the Vice-Presidency on a bipartisan "Unity" ticket, like the one Lincoln formed in 1864. Willkie accepts, and FDR/Willkie goes on to face Governor Dewey in the election. Is such a scenario at all possible? If so, could being VP butterfly Willkie's very avoidable OTL death, allowing him to become POTUS on April 12, 1945? What would be the consequences of such a dramatic divergence from OTL political history?