Comeback for Nixon in 1964?

[Lincoln Republican]

In January, 1964, a mere two months after taking office, a haggard looking  President Lyndon B.  Johnson stuns the nation and the world by announcing he will not be seeking a full term as President. 

"It pains me to the very core of mah being, that I will not be running for a full term as your President, but my health will simply not permit me to go through yet another political campaign, and in particular the rigors of a Presidential campaign.  Therefore, in order to allow other candidates to come forward, I am announcing my decision now.  God bless America."

Stunning as well, other top Democrats, Hubert HUmphrey, Stuart Symington, Henry Jackson, all announce they have no interest in the nomination.

Former Vice President Richard Nixon sees an opening, and decides to get back into Presidential politics fours years ahead of his original plan.

Nixon defeats Nelson Rockefeller and Barry Goldwater to win the Republican nomination, and makes a surprise pick for Vice President, former top notch executive and recently elected Governor of Michigan, George Romney.   

The Democrats turn to senior statesman, Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield of Montana as their Presidential nominee.  Mansfield as well makes a surprise pick for Vice President, persuading top labor lawyer and former Kennedy Labor Secretary to step down as an Associate Justice of the Supresme Court, to run with him on the ticket as Vice Presidential nominee.

Does Nixon make it to the White House four years ahead of schedule?

How does this election turn out?

Maps? 

[Boris]

I don't think Nixon would have done well at all in 1964. Not only is this just two years after he loses the California gubernatorial race, but his 'silent majority' doesn't exist yet. There aren't any official U.S. ground troops in Vietnam yet, racial riots and Vietnam War protests haven't shaken the nation, RFK and MLK are both still alive, etc. The Democrats could merely evoke the Kennedy/Johnson legacy and act in a gung-ho, militaristic manner come Gulf of Tonkin.

Interesting choice with Mansfield, though. Although he obviously voted for Gulf of Tonkin, he became a Vietnam critic as well as a proponent of the Nixon Doctrine.

This would actually be the perfect time for a segregationist third party candidate. Mansfield introduced the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Nixon had a pro-civil rights record as Vice President and re-affirmed his support for civil rights during the 1960 campaign. Given the opportunity, I doubt the south would vote for either of those two men.

[Lincoln Republican]

I neglected to name the Democratic VP candidate in  my original post, as you know, the former Labor Secretary and Associate Supreme Court Justice was Arthur Goldberg of New York.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

I neglected to name the Democratic VP candidate in  my original post, as you know, the former Labor Secretary and Associate Supreme Court Justice was Arthur Goldberg of New York.

I thought you meant, Byron 'Whizzer' White of Colorado.