WI RFK-Nixon debate?

This might be a part of my TL. Any thoughts as to how this would work out ? Either in 1976 or 1968 for V2. With the '60 format. No Wallace. Potential flashpoints: blood donation (absurd) violence of institutions (earmuffs please) "law is an enemy" (debatable).
 
Last edited:
Bump. Any help here? I know many Nixon and RFK quotes, but any exchange that can be barbed yet witty? An American debate must not become a Canadian one, with derogatory remarks on sweaters and shouting matches :rolleyes:.
 
This might be a part of my TL. Any thoughts as to how this would work out ? Either in 1976 or 1968 for V2. With the '60 format. No Wallace. Potential flashpoints: blood donation (absurd) violence of institutions (earmuffs please) "law is an enemy" (debatable).

It would either be in 68 or 72 but I don't think it's likely that either side would be able to come to an argreement as to the time and format, so therefore it never takes place. But it sure would have been interesting.
 
Let's say Wallace is assassinated in Jan. '68. Or butterfly him. Now that the main obstacle is out of the way, then how would it turn out? IOTL Nixon challenged RFK to a debate while speaking at the National Society of Newspaper Editors on April 19. ASB then, but let's say he accepts after receiving the nomination.

FMI, why did the Dems have their convention so close to the traditional Labour Day campaign kickoff? Especially since it was unclear who their nominee would be until his murder.
 
Let's say Wallace is assassinated in Jan. '68. Or butterfly him. Now that the main obstacle is out of the way, then how would it turn out? IOTL Nixon challenged RFK to a debate while speaking at the National Society of Newspaper Editors on April 19. ASB then, but let's say he accepts after receiving the nomination.

FMI, why did the Dems have their convention so close to the traditional Labour Day campaign kickoff? Especially since it was unclear who their nominee would be until his murder.

I was not aware that Nixon did indeed challenge RFK to a debate on April 19,1968. I thought the POD was that RFK avoided assassination on June 5th 1968, not George Wallace in January of that year. All the same, I still think it will be one thing or another that will prenvent the debates from taking place; such as agreeing on a date.
 
Hypothetically, an agreement is reached. Nixon might try to get RFK over-emotional. Remember, Nixon's Mr. Cool on TV, which has good vibes, and RFK vice versa. With the potential flashpoints, I'd say RFK on substance, Nixon on style.
 
Nixon should be easy enough to fake as you have three debates from 1960, and a wealth of talking from him about everything.

RFK… hmm. Well there should be some papers from his Senate career where he had to debate people. Also you could watch his debate against McGovern in California.
 
Agreed on Nixon. The RFK-McCarthy debate was poorly formatted and showed nothing of value. When the two had an exchange over the Genovese affair in '65, Nixon clearly won, mainly because RFK's position was indefensible. Blood and Vietnam should be OK. Civil rights is very tricky for Nixon.
 
Top