1968: Kennedy vs. Nixon vs. Wallace

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Here's a what if! In 1960, heeding on the advice of Democratic leaders Senator John F. Kennedy (Mass.) decides not to run in 1960, leaving Hubert Humphrey as the 1960 Democratic nominee, Lyndon B. Johnson becomes his running mate. The Humphrey/Johnson ticket wins against the Nixon/Lodge ticket in a close election. On November 22,1963, President Humphrey is assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald and V.P. Johnson becomes America's 36th President. In the 1964 Presidential campaign President Johnson surprisingly selects Senator John F. Kennedy as his running mate, the Johnson/Kennedy ticket easily defeats the GOP ticket of Goldwater/Miller. So we've come to 1968, President Johnson announces he won't run for re-election in 1968 due to the growing Vietnam War, the next day Vice President Kennedy announces his candidacy for the '68 Democratic nomination and wins vowing to end the Vietnam War. Senator Kennedy selects Montana Senator Mike Mansfield as his running mate.

1968 Presidential Tickets:
R: Richard Nixon/Sprio Agnew
D: John F. Kennedy/Mike Mansfield
I: George Wallace/Curtis Lemay

How would this election turn out? Discuss with maps.

[Lincoln Republican]

With the Vietnam War expanding, civil unrest, riots in the streets, and racial tensions at home, America turns to Nixon for new leadership after 8 years of Democratic administration.

In 1968, Nixon is seen as offering new leadership, not more of the same.  Sorry, JFK, but 1968 would simply not be your year.  1960 was your best chance.

Mike Mansfield is an excellent Vice Presidential pick for Kennedy, as far as leadership quality, but does not bring in the Republican west for Kennedy.  The Montana icon brings Montana into the Kennedy column.  (I know this is unrealistic, but I am giving Mansfield the benefit of the doubt as to whether he could swing Montana from it's solid Republican voting pattern)

Too bad Nixon didn't choose better than Agnew.

Wallace and LeMay hold much the deep south.

Nixon wins a fairly close contest.

Nixon/Agnew                 281
Kennedy/Mansfield        212
Wallace LeMay                45

[johnpressman]

 Nixon chose Agnew in 1968 in a process of elimination.  Nixon sold his soul to Strom Thurmond who nixed Lindsay, Percy and Mark Hatfield, the man Nixon wanted to run with.  The liberals (there were such things in the Republican Party then), nixed Reagan and Tower.  It all came down to a choice between Sen. Howard Baker and Agnew.  They went with Agnew as he fit the  "hatchet man"  campaign role better as the  "New Nixon "wanted to stay above the fray.   

[DownWithTheLeft]

Nixon wins but Wallace takes everything south of the Mason-Dixon line

[Lincoln Republican]

Nixon wins but Wallace takes everything south of the Mason-Dixon line

You give Wallace far too much credit, and you give southerners far too little credit.  It would have been an impossibility for Wallace to win everything south of the Mason-Dixon line.  There is no way many of those states would ever give their electoral votes to Wallace.  The Republicans especially were strong in at least 6 of those states in 1968, and remain so.

The only states south of Mason-Dixon firmly for Wallace are Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.  Arkansas and Georgia are considerably less solid for Wallace, although he does win them.

Wallace would take nothing else.