1956 Without Ike

[BL53931]

Not many remember this but Eisenhower came close to not running in 1956 following his heart attack. If he doesn't who runs and who gets nominated?

My guess would be Stevenson and Nixon. Any ideas? Who wins?

[Kingpoleon]

283: Adlai Stevenson II/Stuart Symington - 50.8%
248: Richard Nixon/Thomas Dewey - 47.3%
Others - 1.9%

Adlai Stevenson II starts out down quite a bit. Despite overwhelming support of the Western and upper Southern Democratic parties, Truman's coalition of 1948 is not fully unified until Symington, a strong Truman ally, is tapped for the bottom of the ticket. Symington's strong foreign policy experience and time in the house make him an effective ally. Despite Dewey's persistent campaigning, Nixon sometimes seems outshined by his experienced and somewhat more popular running mate.

[Mr. Smith]

Estes Kefauver (D-TN)/Ernest McFarland (D-AZ)
Bill Knowland (R-CA)/Henry Cabot Lodge Jr (R-MA)
Harry F. Byrd (I-VA)/Orval Faubus (I-AR)

[TheElectoralBoobyPrize]

I say Nixon (or whoever the GOP nominee is) wins because a) the country was doing well and b) there was no "fatigue" factor or anything since the GOP had only been in for one term...remember how uncommon it is to kick a party out after just one term.

[Lechasseur]

The country was firmly Democratic in the 1950s. Eisenhower won because he was Eisenhower not because he was a Republican. I think Stevenson would have beaten anyone other than Eisenhower fairly easily, so had Eisenhower not ran for reelection he would have been succeeded in the White House by Adlai Stevenson.

[BL53931]

I agree that almost any Democrat would have won if Ike had not run.

Stevenson was regarded by many on the Right as a sort of squishy Liberal but I think he would have been centrist. Interesting to speculate on the course we would have taken under him. I doubt he would have been proactive on Civil Rights- neither was JFK but circumstances forced him to lead. Adlai would have done that too, maybe a lot earlier than 1961 or so.  

In real life Stevenson died at age 65; if re-elected in 1960 he may not have lived out that term.

[dercook]

Not sure about the Republicans, but Stevenson probably would've run anyway since the Democrats had to get someone nominated regardless of whether Ike was there.

[dercook]

Perhaps Harold Stassen would be nominated. He had been an active candidate for years, facing challenges especially from Dewey and Ike, and without the latter he could've got on top more easily.

[MeanBeanMachine]

Nixon would've won a closer election, but would Democrats have nominated Stevenson without Ike running again.  From my understanding both parties were very supportive of Eisenhower.  It may have been too early for Kennedy to run for Democrats. I would've much preferred the era where both parties worked together.  Actually I could've seen myself as a Democrat until the 60's.

[GoTfan]

Nixon would've won a closer election, but would Democrats have nominated Stevenson without Ike running again.  From my understanding both parties were very supportive of Eisenhower.  It may have been too early for Kennedy to run for Democrats. I would've much preferred the era where both parties worked together.  Actually I could've seen myself as a Democrat until the 60's.

Maybe Humphrey or Johnson?