Question about 1952 and Nixon

[Lincoln Republican]

In 1952, if Republican nominee Dwight Eisenhower had not chosen Senator Richard Nixon as his Vice Presidential running mate, would Nixon have gone on to become the Republican nominee at some future date for President anyway, and been elected President at some point,  or would he simply have gone on to become a notable Senator?

Please discuss.

Thanks. 

[WalterMitty]

i doubt he would have gone on to be president if he hadnt been tapped by ike.

notable senator?  that is also questionable.  nixon really didnt have the legislative personality.

two likely scenarios:

1.  he would have served a term or two in the senate and then ran for governor of california

and/or

2.  gone on to serve in a presidential cabinet, perhaps as sec. of state.

[Lincoln Republican]

Good points, but one thing you have to consider is the unquenchable drive and ambition for power Nixon possessed.

Personally, having read somewhat on his life, I doubt he would let anything or anyone stand in his way of seeking his ultimate goal, the Presidency.

He was on the fast track from when he was first elected to the House in 1947, and with his prominent role played on the House Un-American Activities Committee, and then being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1950.

I'm not saying he would necessarily have won the Presidency, although that would still have been a possibility, but I do believe he would most certainly have run for the Republican presidential nomination at some point.     

[Snefix]

Legislative record didn't really matter anyhow.  Not like Kennedy did anything terribly notable as Senator and he ran and won.

[johnpressman]

Interesting question.  If you remember, Nixon was ALMOST dumped by Eisenhower BOTH in 1952, as a result of the fund scandal; Nixon saved his candidacy by the "Checkers Speech", and in 1956 by due to the "Dump Nixon" movement brought on by Ike's heart attack and his fear of  possibly leaving the country in the hands of someone he didn't respect or like.  Ike even asked Nixon to "chart his own course".   Basically asking him to step down and take the job of Secretary of Defense.

Considering that Eisenhower would have won in 1952 and 1956 without Nixon, and speculating on his  Vice Presidential choices, the pickings for the Republicans in 1960 were pretty slim.  Eisenhower's hand-picked successors; Robert Anderson or General Alfred Gruenther have little political appeal. I see the hard-working Nixon, rallying the party faithful, winning the 1960 nomination over outsiders like Rockefeller or Stassen.

[polier]

Nixon was one of our most ambitious presidents. He was a political opportunist. Had Kennedy won in 1960, he would've probably ran in 1964, and if he didn't win, he would've run again in a later election.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Prescott Bush was instrumental with helping Nixon, he choose him to run for Congress, and he's actually creditted for convincing Ike to choose him as a running mate. Nixon paid back the work by making Prescott's son George UN ambassador.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Nixon was one of our most ambitious presidents. He was a political opportunist. Had Kennedy won in 1960, he would've probably ran in 1964, and if he didn't win, he would've run again in a later election.

Kennedy did win in 1960.
Or do you mean had Kennedy not been killed the same day Nixon was in Dallas?

[polier]

I mean, had he both won the election and been alive to run again in 1964.