Who would be sworn in as president? The electoral college had not yet voted and could split Kennedy's votes between Johnson and a northerner like Stevenson. Who would be the vice president? Could Nixon win? What would be the effects on the 60s?
There's no way Nixon could win. None of the Democratic electors would vote for him, and the majority of House delegations were controlled by Democrats.
I dunno, all it takes is the Massachusetts delegation to pick Bobby, and the Texas delegation to go 'Hell no' ...
I don't think the law to assign a replacement vice president was in place yet. Besides it seems convoluted to nominate Nixon and Johnson, when electors could just vote for Johnson and an alternative vice president. I'm wondering more so if the situation could be thrown to the house and end up with someone other than Johnson winning.I highly doubt anyone would want to alter the results of the elections due to an assassination. Nixon would not accept the office under those circumstances and no Democrat is going to try and supplant Johnson as VP.
If need be I think Nixon could accept being formally elected president by either the Electoral College or House with Johnson as vice president and then immediately resign after taking the oath so that LBJ would be president. Congress could then appoint a replacement VP.
What is the plausibility of the what you described happening, but with the Massachusetts delegation pledging in favor of Bobby Kennedy or the Illinois delegation pledging in favor of Stevenson, thereby throwing it into the house between Nixon-Johnson-Byrd or Nixon-Johnson-Stevenson?Michigan's 20 EV are pledged to Kennedy -- thanks to their faithless elector law, they literally cannot count electoral ballots for anyone else, oops.
So there are only 283 EV left in play, and you need 269 to win. If 14 or more electors in other states don't pick the same replacement candidate as everyone else, the election will fall to the House. There will be a Democrat elected President, but anybody's guess who.
(Not even 14, if the 5 unbound Kennedy electors in Mississippi change to Byrd).
What is the plausibility of the what you described happening, but with the Massachusetts delegation pledging in favor of Bobby Kennedy or the Illinois delegation pledging in favor of Stevenson, thereby throwing it into the house between Nixon-Johnson-Byrd or Nixon-Johnson-Stevenson?
Good point, Symingtom seems much more likely. Another question is would the south try to squeeze concessions out of Johnson while it's in the House, and who would be the other vice presidential candidate voted on by the Senate.David T pointed out how unlikely Bobby is in 1960 (vs 1968). Stevenson was a has-been by 1960; he and Stuart Symington both only got 5% of the convention votes.
It'd be more likely that Missouri went for Symington (losing 13 EV), and two of the Mississippi electors switched to Byrd, losing 2 more and throwing the election to the House even though everyone else switched to LBJ.
David T pointed out how unlikely Bobby is in 1960 (vs 1968). Stevenson was a has-been by 1960; he and Stuart Symington both only got 5% of the convention votes.
It'd be more likely that Missouri went for Symington (losing 13 EV), and two of the Mississippi electors switched to Byrd, losing 2 more and throwing the election to the House even though everyone else switched to LBJ.