WI: Gerald Ford Assasinated in 1975

What if President Gerald R. Ford has been assassinated in California during the 1970's successfully? How would this add to the already tense turmoil the nation was in?
 
What if President Gerald R. Ford has been assassinated in California during the 1970's successfully? How would this add to the already tense turmoil the nation was in?

Presuming this occurs either with the Frome or Moore attempts of September 1975, you'd see President Rockefeller becoming the third President in two years and likely you'd see him not run in 76 due to health, age, rise of the conservatives so whoever takes over in Jan 77 would be the fourth president in two and a half years (Aug 74-Jan 77). The high turnover of Presidents would scar the nation's psyche, especially given two would be due to resignation and assassination
 
With Ford gone, I have no idea who will try to get the nomination for the GOP besides Reagan, but someone will. I can't see Ford's assassination butterflying away Reagan's campaign. Also, I believe Reagan will be the nominee. Likewise, Carter is the Democrats choice, as per OTL. Reagan VS Carter will be very interesting. For sure, Reagan carries Texas, and does somewhat better in the south than Ford did, but can he match Ford's success in the Midwest?
 
Saying Rockefeller wouldn't run because of his age is somewhat skeptical (Reagan was, what, 4 years younger than him? Ford was like 5 or 6 yrs younger?). If he wanted to run, he could certainly ride the sympathy wave pretty far. Ford's assassination would big, not nearly as Kennedy, but still. People would definitely be thinking less of Watergate and more so of the assassination.

Him winning could reinvigorate the liberal Republicans at the expense of the conservatives, if Rocky can survive the inevitable clash with Reagan.
 
Saying Rockefeller wouldn't run because of his age is somewhat skeptical (Reagan was, what, 4 years younger than him? Ford was like 5 or 6 yrs younger?). If he wanted to run, he could certainly ride the sympathy wave pretty far. Ford's assassination would big, not nearly as Kennedy, but still. People would definitely be thinking less of Watergate and more so of the assassination.

Him winning could reinvigorate the liberal Republicans at the expense of the conservatives, if Rocky can survive the inevitable clash with Reagan.

True that Ford and Reagan were only slightly younger, but both in relatively good health (Reagan's mental decline wouldn't come till the mid 80's) compared to Rockefeller who had heart problems, which in itself isn't a necessary blockade but counts against him, if not from the media then from himself to realise that his health issues might endanger himself if he had a full term.

On the political side, Rockefeller did have certain advantages in appealing to constituencies not usually Republican (labor, African Americans, urban voters etc) but I'd wager given Watergate and Carter's own stances, Rockefeller's appeal would be muted to these groups. Plus I doubt he could win against Reagan and the conservatives in the primaries, Ford did due to his moderate pragmatic nature that could be both conservative and liberal whereas Rockefeller, as the scion of the declining liberal wing, would have far lesser chance.
 
True that Ford and Reagan were only slightly younger, but both in relatively good health (Reagan's mental decline wouldn't come till the mid 80's) compared to Rockefeller who had heart problems, which in itself isn't a necessary blockade but counts against him, if not from the media then from himself to realise that his health issues might endanger himself if he had a full term.

On the political side, Rockefeller did have certain advantages in appealing to constituencies not usually Republican (labor, African Americans, urban voters etc) but I'd wager given Watergate and Carter's own stances, Rockefeller's appeal would be muted to these groups. Plus I doubt he could win against Reagan and the conservatives in the primaries, Ford did due to his moderate pragmatic nature that could be both conservative and liberal whereas Rockefeller, as the scion of the declining liberal wing, would have far lesser chance.

It's true that Nelson Rockefeller is in the worse health between himself, Ford, Reagan. Rocky is somewhat like LBJ in this scenario, with it being questionable whether he can make it through his term. While Johnson certainly couldn't, Rocky might be able to if he doesn't do any, *ahem*, strenuous activity while he is President, but he could still have a heart attack anyway. If he's lucky, he dies sometime after 1981. If not, damn, it would be depressing for Americans to see their last two Presidents die in office. :(

Moving to the nomination, Reagan would probably run against him anyway and not see him as very threatening. If Rockefeller did run, seeing it as his final chance to become President after previous attempts, it would be pretty interesting. Rockefeller has had more experience as an executive than Ford and can't faulted for things that OTL were blamed on Ford (Fall of South Vietnam, Helsinki Accords, ect.) Plus Rocky has the sympathy support, which would be his springboard in any campaign of his. Depends if Rocky can translate that into momentum against what looks like a Reagan steamroller otherwise.
 
If Rockefeller runs in 1976, Reagan defeated him for the Republican nomination. Reagan came close to defeating Ford, who had a record as a conservative. Many Republican primary voters were angry at Rockefeller. Reagan goes on to lose the general election. He is of the president's party in bad economic times and Carter (It would be him. ) could make use of Reagan's unpopular views like his opposition to Medicare.
 
There's a possibility that Rockefeller dies in office. Who would take over if Rocky dies?

He likely would have selected a vice-president for congressional confirmation (like he and Ford were). He likely would have done that before the end of 1975. His choice for vice-president likely would have been confirmed and sworn in by January of 1976. Former Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird was high on Ford's list before he chose Rockefeller. Laird was well respected within the Republican Party at the time.

Republicans would have wanted the process to move quickly considering Rocky was up there in age and they wouldn't want Democratic House Speaker Carl Albert a heartbeat away from the presidency for too long.
 
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