1968 if not Agnew then who? 1972 if not Agnew then who?

[Lincoln Republican]

Fact, 1968, Republican Presidential nominee Richard Nixon picked Maryland Governor Spiro Agnew as his Vice Presidential running mate.

Fact, 1973, Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned and then pleaded no contest to criminal charges of tax evasion while Governor of Maryland.

What If

Scenario 1

1968, Nixon was giving consideration to Agnew for Vice President, but had heard rumors of possible criminal activities engaged in by Agnew, so he decided not to pick Agnew for Vice President.

Who does Nixon pick for Vice President in this case?

What If

Scenario 2

1968, Nixon finds out after Agnew became the Vice Presidential nominee, say September 1 1968, of Agnew's criminal past, who does Nixon then replace Agnew with as the Vice Presidential nominee?

What If

Scenario 3

February 1 1972, Vice President Agnew's criminal past becomes known, Agnew resigns from office on February 2, 1972, who does President Nixon replace Agnew with as Vice President?

(Most likely this person would as well be the 1972 running mate with Nixon on the Republican ticket)

[Kingpoleon]

Nelson Rockefeller, Gerald Ford, John Connally, and John Eisenhower come to mind. Thomas Dewey, if he lives longer, as his death was largely bad luck.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

In '68, Nixon considered--I believe--Volpe, Hatfield, Baker, Rumsfeld, and Bush.

[SingingAnalyst]

Rockefeller, Ford, or Hatfield may have been objectively better choices, with the benefit of 50 years hindsight, but Nixon had to compete for the Wallace vote. Any of these choices would have driven Nixon's numbers down in the South, especially NC-SC-TN, and may have thrown the election into the House.