What If: Nixon/Rockefeller vs. Kennedy/Johnson 1960

[johnpressman]

First, there was NO WAY that Nelson Rockefeller would accept the V.P. candidacy on a Nixon ticket. Nixon even prevailed upon Eisenhower to ask Rocky to take be the VP slot (Ike refused).  I am one that believes that, great campaigner that he was,  Rockefeller would not have been able to swing New York to Nixon and the Republican ticket would have lost. Also, he would have undermined Nixon's "common man" appeal vs Kennedy as the name "Rockefeller" is synonymous with great wealth, even eclipsing that of "Kennedy" who was not as well known at the time.  As for Henry Cabot Lodge, the less said the better.

Only a candidate with strong ties to the Midwest, running a regional campaign akin to LBJ's, could have tipped two or three of the crucial states; Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and/or Missouri to the Nixon column and given him the victory in 1960.  Everett Dirksen, anyone?