WI Lodge beats JFK in '52?

70,000 votes, less than 1%. If Joe McCarthy makes one appearance, that would tip the scales amongst blue-collar Bostonians. So, does JFK run again, or are his Presidential hopes dashed?
 
He could always run later for the Senate, or possibly run as a Governor in some other state (since he didn't think much of being Governor of his own state). However, I think this would delay his Presidency for a few years, to '64 or later depending on who wins in '60.
 
I don't see what other state he could've run for. Unlike RFK, who at least had roots in other states (born in NY, lived there until age 12, wife from CT), JFK was inextricably tied to the Bay State. Another idea would be to run for Saltonstall's seat, historically "reserved" for Brahmins. Same as Lodge or Keating: popular, Rocky Republican New England incumbent who's hard to beat. I agree with you on the Presidency.
 
Leverett Saltonstall, the Republican, was up for reelection in 1954, and he held the seat by a very narrow margin IOTL (Wikipedia :rolleyes: gave me the only numbers I can find, 50.5-49.0). JFK almost certainly would have run for this seat and won handily. However, he would have had to run for reelection in 1960, probably setting his presidential ambitions back until 1964.
 
Don't bash the Genocide for electoral statistics. That's how I created Cradling Camelot amongst other things. ;) Another butterfly is that this pushes RFK back into the civilian world he then preferred. That can take any number of routes. If anyone does the ghastly "Chief Justice RFK" rube I will sic Hash on you. Sitting at a desk is not in his personality.
 
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