WI:President John Connally

After checking in some of the earlier threads on the board, and Im suprised that this POD really hasn't been discussed. The former Democratic Governor of Texas was Nixon's first choice as a replacement for Agnew, however stiff oposition from the Democratic Congress pretty much snuffed that idea out. However, If we can perhaps get an earlier Agnew resignation or a delayed Watergate or perhaps a different POD how would Connally be as the 38th President?

How might a Connally Presidency differ from Ford's in OTL? Does he pardon his buddy Tricky Dick? Also how would Connally's tenure as Secretary of Treasury translate into dealing with the economic problems of the '70's? Does Reagan still challenge the sitting President in TTL? Who does Connally pick as a Running Mate? Who do the Democrats choose as their nominee in '76? And can Connally win in his own right and get a second term?
 
Connally was a recent convert to the Republican Party (having switched in 1973) but was more popular with conservatives than Ford so Reagan might not have challenged him. He probably would have pardoned Nixon. Part of the reason Ford was chosen was because he was a moderate; Connally most likely would have lost by a larger margin than Ford did due to his past support of Nixon.

In 1979 Connally actually did run for President but couldn't overcome Reagan's enormous popularity.
 
Connally was seen (not wrongly) as a weeller dealler a back room guy, were as Ford was seen a clean, Connally is likely to be investigated (think like what the GOP did to Clinton) the Dems will find a way to get him
 
It is true that he was seen as a Turncoat and a Johnsonesque Wheeler Dealer but I also feel as If he is able to win confirmation and later become President, I think he is finally able to sow up the Southern Strategy and we will probably see an ealier swing to the GOP in Texas in the '76. Also, would such a Johnsoneque politician be willing to throw away his political captial to pardon his buddy Nixon? Also, what policies might he enact to combat the '75 Recession? Might he appoint Volcker to combat the high inflation sooner as Fed chairman? What are some other posssible ripples to a Connally presidency?
 
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