WI Nixon picked Bush in 68

Apparently, George HW Bush was heavily considered for Vice President in 1968.

1) If Nixon picked Bush, could bush have simultaneously run for his House seat?
2) If Nixon wins, how does this affect things? Assuming watergate still happens, is Bush scarred by the image of Nixon more than Ford because he has been Nixon's Veep all along? Does this lead him to pardon or not pardon Nixon post-resignation? What effect does that have?
3) If Nixon loses, how does that change Bush's career and American history?
 
Apparently, George HW Bush was heavily considered for Vice President in 1968.

1) If Nixon picked Bush, could bush have simultaneously run for his House seat?
2) If Nixon wins, how does this affect things? Assuming watergate still happens, is Bush scarred by the image of Nixon more than Ford because he has been Nixon's Veep all along? Does this lead him to pardon or not pardon Nixon post-resignation? What effect does that have?
3) If Nixon loses, how does that change Bush's career and American history?

1)Unless Texas law says otherwise, yes he could run simultaneously for the house.

2) I don't think Bush winning affects much with regards to Nixon's Presidency. The biggest change comes when Nixon resigns. I doubt Bush would be scared by Watergate anymore than Ford was, as Nixon probably would've kept him out of the loop, and yes Bush does pardon him for the same reason Ford did, and gets the same backlash Ford got. I do think that Bush would have a tougher time as President than Ford did. Bush wasn't in congress long and the Vice Presidency at that time was not as active or influential as it is today, Ford was in congress for over two decades before being appointed VP and later ascending to the Presidency and he had a hell of a time getting anything through a Democratic congress. With Watergate, a bad economy, the fall of Saigon, and a grossly inexperienced President Bush, Reagan most likely wins the nomination in 1976 and it probably won't be that close either. The question after Carter beats Reagan in the general is, who runs in '80?

3) If Nixon loses, Bush's career is very different. Every position he had outside of the house (RNC chair, ambassador to the UN, ambassador to China, CIA director) was given to him by Nixon or Ford, and President Humphrey elected in 1968 certainly prevents that. Bush may have a better shot at the Senate in 1970 under a President Humphrey, but even then, the powers in Texas put a stop to that when they had Lloyd Benson run against Bush instead of Senator Yarborough.
 
A freshman congressman was definitely not on the VP shortlist. He was one among many names Thurmond considered acceptable, and no way would Nixon pick Bush. Bush's slightly better chance is in '74.
 
A freshman congressman was definitely not on the VP shortlist. He was one among many names Thurmond considered acceptable, and no way would Nixon pick Bush. Bush's slightly better chance is in '74.

That's true. If a nominee picks a running mate from the house, said person is in the house for over a decade (Ex: Paul Ryan, Jack Kemp). VPs are usually from the Senate or are Governors, or have held other important government positions such as Secretary of Defense (Cheney), or CIA director (Bush Sr.)
 
A freshman congressman was definitely not on the VP shortlist. He was one among many names Thurmond considered acceptable, and no way would Nixon pick Bush. Bush's slightly better chance is in '74.

That's contrary to the new reports in Meacham's biography of Bush. The biography details the '68 convention. Bush was not just any freshman congressman- he was a well known name in GOP circles thanks to his father and he gained reputation from his hard fought 64 senate race. The Southern Associatoon of Repuvlican State Chairmen presented Nixon with three names: Reagan, Tower, and Bush. Bush flew to Miami and ran a campaign, national news media said Bush was heavily considered, and Nixon himself told Bush he was considered but ultimately not chosen because of his experience.

He was very seriously considered according to Meacham's new book
 
interesting idea to have Bush as Vice president for Nixon

Like Spiro Agnew, George HW Bush is space flight enthusiast
Agnew Proposed in 1969 the The Intergraded manned Program Plan
While Bush proposed as President in 1989 OTL, the Space Exploration Initiative

both wanted huge infrastructure in Space
Shuttle, space tugs, Space station, Lunar Station, Moon Base, Manned Mars mission.
both proposal had staggering price tag of 500 billion in today dollar !

on his future career after Vice President
sure he will President of USA after Nixon has to resign, but will he pardon him ? certainly yes !
Will he elected as President in 1975, I think not, Nixon made hell of mess in Watergate
the votes will goes for new men democrat Jimmy Carter
but chance is high Bush could win election in 1980
that he was already president, he has only one term left, so his vice president will run for president in next election in 1984.
 
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