1952: name the 2 tickets....

[Lincoln Republican]

Walter, in 1952, any credible Republican ticket would win.

This must be a pretty poor Republican ticket you are thinking of.

I know this is wrong, but......

How about

Democrat
House Speaker Sam Rayburn of Texas for President
A young Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota for Vice President

Rayburn is highly respected, and would sweep the south.  Rayburn could  conceivably be well liked in Kansas.
Humphrey would help in Minnesota and New England

Republican
Two former unsuccessful Vice Presidential nominees
Governor Earl Warren of California for President
Senator John Bricker of Ohio for Vice President

This ticket would sweep the west and Warren's brand of Republicanism would go over well in parts of the northeast.

[Lincoln Republican]

Is the Republican Vice Presidential nominee by chance Tom Dewey, which would make a reversal of the 1948 Republican ticket? 

[Lincoln Republican]

Are you by chance thinking of Dwight Eisenhower himself running as a Democrat for President in 1952?

Eisenhower grew up in Kansas.

[Lincoln Republican]

OK, the Democrat VP candidate remains a mystery.

Ike didn't persuade then Congressman Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania to jump ship, did he?  I'm sure not.

How about, Harry Truman himself, knowing he could not be re-elected President in 1952, ran as Ike's VP, and stayed in public office thanks to Ike's coat tails?

[Lincoln Republican]

A good pick for Eisenhower, a well established and respected Democrat.

But I have read that Truman briefly toyed with the idea of persuading Eisenhower to run as the Democrat Presidential nominee in 1952, with himself, Truman, as the VP candidate.

Have you ever heard of this temporary lapse into insanity of Truman's?