WI: Rockefeller Is Chosen By Ford in `76
- Thread starter Israel
- Start date
Reagan would defeat him in the primaries. (Which came fairly close to happening, anyway.)
Strangely enough, Rocky's best chance of getting the GOP vice-presidential nomination in 1976 was as part of a Reagan-Rockefeller ticket! As I posted here some time ago:
***
But Sears' real first choice is shocking--Nelson Rockefeller! When asked what the reaction of Helms and other conservatives would be, Sears replied "They would have come off the ceiling in a day or two." Sears added, "I thought very strongly that he [Rockefeller] would have liked the irony of it, and he had firm control of his delegates. And, Mrs. Reagan liked him a lot. But you couldn't trust that others wouldn't talk him out of it, and you couldn't take that chance."
"Although Rockefeller controlled Dick Rosenbaum and Rosenbaum controlled the vast majority of the New York delegation, it is unknown whether delegates would have gone along with them and supported Reagan had Rockefeller joined the ticket. Still, it was no secret that Rockefeller and Rosenbaum were angry and dismayed over the treatment afforded Rockefeller by Ford and the President Ford Committee. The question is whether Reagan could hold his conservative delegates in the face of such a selection..." https://books.google.com/books?id=fPWPDH-0TZYC&pg=PA273
https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/whos-the-vp.379829/#post-11909568
***
But Sears' real first choice is shocking--Nelson Rockefeller! When asked what the reaction of Helms and other conservatives would be, Sears replied "They would have come off the ceiling in a day or two." Sears added, "I thought very strongly that he [Rockefeller] would have liked the irony of it, and he had firm control of his delegates. And, Mrs. Reagan liked him a lot. But you couldn't trust that others wouldn't talk him out of it, and you couldn't take that chance."
"Although Rockefeller controlled Dick Rosenbaum and Rosenbaum controlled the vast majority of the New York delegation, it is unknown whether delegates would have gone along with them and supported Reagan had Rockefeller joined the ticket. Still, it was no secret that Rockefeller and Rosenbaum were angry and dismayed over the treatment afforded Rockefeller by Ford and the President Ford Committee. The question is whether Reagan could hold his conservative delegates in the face of such a selection..." https://books.google.com/books?id=fPWPDH-0TZYC&pg=PA273
https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/whos-the-vp.379829/#post-11909568
Now Reagan -Rockefeller '76 is a fascinating what if?
However, I think it is too close to the "WI Reagan gets elected in 1976" posts that have appeared on this site.
The Reagan -Rockefeller ticket would probably win. Its an upgrade on charisma on Ford -Dole, and the OTL 1976 election was one of those close ones where just about anything changes the result.
If Carter wins anyway, Rockefeller still dies in 1978 and Reagan is still the Republican front runner in 1980. Defeating a sitting Presidents in the primaries would enhance his reputation, even if followed by a close general election defeat. IOTL, Ford considered running in 1980 after his close defeat. So not much really happens.
If Reagan wins and Rockefeller stays as VP, you really just get a 1977-81 Reagan presidency, and this has been done, especially as if he had won the Republican primaries he almost certainly would have picked a liberal such as Schweiker (sp?). The Vice President doesn't have alot of influence on the day to day operations of the executive branch, in fact this was increased quite a bit when Mondale held the office, which IITL doesn't happen. And Rockefeller might still die in 1978.
However, I think it is too close to the "WI Reagan gets elected in 1976" posts that have appeared on this site.
The Reagan -Rockefeller ticket would probably win. Its an upgrade on charisma on Ford -Dole, and the OTL 1976 election was one of those close ones where just about anything changes the result.
If Carter wins anyway, Rockefeller still dies in 1978 and Reagan is still the Republican front runner in 1980. Defeating a sitting Presidents in the primaries would enhance his reputation, even if followed by a close general election defeat. IOTL, Ford considered running in 1980 after his close defeat. So not much really happens.
If Reagan wins and Rockefeller stays as VP, you really just get a 1977-81 Reagan presidency, and this has been done, especially as if he had won the Republican primaries he almost certainly would have picked a liberal such as Schweiker (sp?). The Vice President doesn't have alot of influence on the day to day operations of the executive branch, in fact this was increased quite a bit when Mondale held the office, which IITL doesn't happen. And Rockefeller might still die in 1978.