What if, in lieu of Spiro Agnew, Nixon had chosen Governor Reagan to be his Vice Presidential candidate?
What if, in lieu of Spiro Agnew, Nixon had chosen Governor Reagan to be his Vice Presidential candidate?
Are we assuming Watergate, or an analogue, still happens?
I am confident that Watergate still happens. Agnew was not involved so why would anything change with a different vice president. Reagan as president would probably pardon. I reluctantly think it was the right thing to do and Reagan would have reached this conclusion like Ford did. The Nixon pardon, the bad economy and Reagan's unpopular views from earlier in his career like his opposition to medicare are too big of obstacles to overcome in the 1976. While Reagan would not have conceded the South as Ford did but Carter won every Southern states except Georgia, Arkansas and Tennessee without a white majority. Reagan would lose more Northern states that went for Ford OTL.
I disagree. People personally liked Ronald Reagan, regardless of his policies and political views. The current cult of Ronnie today arises from the fact that people personally liked him so much (which was confused for policy support by GOP myth makers in the 90s and still today). Ford has that likeability factor too, but was seen as a buffoon by many, or at least there was a perception that he was a bit of a bumbler. Reagan has the charisma and control enough to avoid such a thing.
In truth, it always boils down to the economy. Reagan won 1980 because he wasn't Carter, and the economy was very bad. If you either have a good economy, or a bad economy but one you can convince people you'll get the nation out of, you can win.
I am confident that Watergate still happens. Agnew was not involved so why would anything change with a different vice president. Reagan as president would probably pardon. I reluctantly think it was the right thing to do and Reagan would have reached this conclusion like Ford did. The Nixon pardon, the bad economy and Reagan's unpopular views from earlier in his career like his opposition to medicare are too big of obstacles to overcome in the 1976.