Why didn't Nixon consider John Tower in 1968?
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  Why didn't Nixon consider John Tower in 1968?
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Author Topic: Why didn't Nixon consider John Tower in 1968?  (Read 1707 times)
pragmatic liberal
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« on: August 19, 2007, 02:23:10 PM »

Nixon, as you all know, named Maryland Gov. Spiro Agnew as his running mate in 1968. He first offered the position to his close friend and former campaign manager, Robert Finch, the lieutenant governor of California. (Since Nixon was at the time a legal resident of NY, such a ticket would not have violated the constitution.) Finch turned him down and after looking at such men as Gov. John Volpe of Massachusetts, he picked Agnew.

Why wasn't John Tower, Republican senator from Texas, considered as a possible running mate?
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Joe Republic
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« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2007, 02:36:05 PM »

How do you know that he wasn't considered?
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Robespierre's Jaw
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« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2007, 04:15:01 PM »

In Nixon's memoirs he stated that John Tower was considered to be a possible running mate. As well as George H.W. Bush, Rogers Mudd, George Romney, Mark Hatfield ect.
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johnpressman
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« Reply #3 on: August 20, 2007, 10:06:34 PM »

In "The Making Of The President 1968" It seems that the Liberal Repbulicans nixed Tower and the Conservative Republicans nixed  Sen. Percy of IL.  A better question is "Why was Sen. Howard Baker not picked instead of Spiro Agnew?  Baker was from a Border State, a Centrist, leaning to the right, young, handsome and personable, Agnew was a little-known Gov. of a Border State and not the handsomest, most personable  dude!
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Lincoln Republican
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« Reply #4 on: August 21, 2007, 12:43:35 AM »

Tower was considered, but was opposed by the more moderate and liberal elements in the Republican party.

Senator Tower voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and against the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

I do not believe that Nixon wanted to take these controversial positions from Tower into the campaign with him anyway, and so would never have ultimately consented to a Tower Vice Presidential candidacy.

I will agree Agnew was not the best choice Nixon could have made for VP, far from it.  Howard Baker, however, at the time, was very short on political experience, having only been elected to the U.S. Senate in 1966.  Agnew, however, had only been elected Governor of Maryland in 1966 as well.  So either one would have brought the same amount of high level political experience to the campaign and to the Vice Presidency.

I believe, however, Nixon felt more of a political affinity for Agnew and that Nixon believed that Agnew shared his views for the direction in which he wanted to take the nation.  Nixon was also impressed with Agnew's speaking abilities and with his presence on stage and on camera.

As mentioned, Lieutenant Governor of California and Nixon confidant Robert Finch was the favorite.  Finch was Nixon's favorite and was the favorite of many of the party leaders.  Finch turned down the offer, twice.

Think of it, Robert Finch could have been President of the United States.

Other potential Vice Presidential nominees discussed were Mayor John Lindsay of NYC, Senator Chuck Percy of Illinois, Governor George Romney of Michigan, Senator Richard Hatfield of Oregon, Governor Ronald Reagan of California, Senator John Tower of Texas, Congressman George Bush of Texas, Senator Howard Baker of Tennessee, Congressman Gerald Ford of Michigan, Governor John Volpe of Massachusetts, Governor Spiro Agnew of Maryland.

As we all know, Agnew got the nod, but even though Nixon was forced from office, Agnew never became President, as he himself was forced from office before Nixon. 
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