Eisenhower Drops-Out in 1956- Nixon vs. Harriman (user search)
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  Eisenhower Drops-Out in 1956- Nixon vs. Harriman (search mode)
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Author Topic: Eisenhower Drops-Out in 1956- Nixon vs. Harriman  (Read 2041 times)
Lincoln Republican
Winfield
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« on: March 21, 2006, 03:27:59 PM »

The Democrats had been in power 1933-1953, 20 years, having won the presidential elections of 1932, 1936, 1940, 1944, 1948.

The very popular General Dwight Eisenhower had just been elected in 1952.  With Eisenhower dropping out of the 1956 race due to health concerns, with the economy going strong, as it was in 1956, and with Vice President Nixon promising to build on the Eisenhower/Nixon record, Richard Nixon, 43, would have won a convincing victory over Averell Harriman, 65, in the 1956 election.

It is very unlikely the voters would have turfed out the Republican administration after just one term, after 20 previous years of Democratic administrations.

Even in 1956, at age 43, Richard Nixon was well experienced, a Congressman, a Senator, Vice President for four years, and had a reputation as a strong leader who would stand up to Communism, which, in 1956, was a definite asset.  Even in 1956, I believe, Nixon would have been seen by the electorate as "up to the task" of becoming President.   

Both of your Vice Presidential candidates, by the way, Christian Herter and Stuart Symington, are impressive, and are excellent picks.

Nixon would not likely have received the 457 electoral votes that Eisenhower got in 1956, however, I believe Nixon would have received anywhere in the high 300's to the low 400's.

This scenario, of course, with Nixon elected as President in 1956, would prove extremely interesting in 1960, with incumbent President Richard Nixon facing Senator John F. Kennedy.  Perhaps, with four successful years in the Presidency, with the economy doing well, with President Nixon known to America as a defender of freedom against Communism, and with the power and prestige of the Presidency behind him, this may have been enough to re-elect Nixon in 1960.  This would have sent Kennedy back to the U.S. Senate. 

Or perhaps, John F. Kennedy would have taken a pass in running in 1960, letting Lyndon B. Johnson go down to defeat instead, and Kennedy would have waited until 1964, when no incumbent was running, and when America would be more likely to change the administration.   

     
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Lincoln Republican
Winfield
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« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2006, 05:28:32 PM »

Walter, I would agree that your map is accurate.

LBJ and HHH would have been the two main competitors for the Democratic nomination in 1960. They would have battled it out for the 1960 Democratic nomination, to see which of them would carry the Democratic ticket to defeat against incumbent President Nixon.

This would leave the ever shrewd JFK as the clear front runner, and likely winner, of the Democratic nomination in 1964, and the victor against the Republican candidate, Barry Goldwater, in the ensuing election.

It is highly unlikely that the 69 year old Vice President, Christian Herter, would be seeking the GOP nomination in 1964.  If he did, it is even more unlikely that he would be nominated. 
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Lincoln Republican
Winfield
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« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2006, 03:19:29 PM »

Just to throw another wrench into this scenario:

Would the Republicans have nominated Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona in 1964, or, after 8 years of Nixon in the White House, would they have gone for the more moderate Governor William Scranton of Pennsylvania?

Then, in 1964, there would have been a JFK v Scranton contest.

Just speculating.
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