Nixon became president in 1953

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Wouldn't Eisenhower be the second-shortest-serving US President in history here?
Looking at it from a historical angle, this plane crash would be as traumatic as the Kennedy assassination and/or 9/11.
As brucejoel pointed out, Nixon would be unready. I think he'd rely a lot on older politicians and people to guide his policymaking as chances are high he'd realize this. 1956 might be winnable for the GOP still, though an experienced D stateman might make the race very hard for the GOP win if things went their way.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Wouldn't Eisenhower be the second-shortest-serving US President in history here?
Looking at it from a historical angle, this plane crash would be as traumatic as the Kennedy assassination and/or 9/11.
As brucejoel pointed out, Nixon would be unready. I think he'd rely a lot on older politicians and people to guide his policymaking as chances are high he'd realize this. 1956 might be winnable for the GOP still, though an experienced D stateman might make the race very hard for the GOP win if things went their way.

I could see John Foster Dulles, Henry Cabot Lodge, and Thomas Dewey having the most notable impact on the young president. 1954 elections would probably be a disaster, but with Nixon eventually steadying himself and establishing a governing philosophy, and him being more Keynesian than Eisenhower, he could probably have the economy and national support needed for re-election, albeit perhaps narrowly.

Which Dems would run in 1956? And which one would do the best electorally?

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Wouldn't Eisenhower be the second-shortest-serving US President in history here?
Looking at it from a historical angle, this plane crash would be as traumatic as the Kennedy assassination and/or 9/11.
As brucejoel pointed out, Nixon would be unready. I think he'd rely a lot on older politicians and people to guide his policymaking as chances are high he'd realize this. 1956 might be winnable for the GOP still, though an experienced D stateman might make the race very hard for the GOP win if things went their way.

I could see John Foster Dulles, Henry Cabot Lodge, and Thomas Dewey having the most notable impact on the young president. 1954 elections would probably be a disaster, but with Nixon eventually steadying himself and establishing a governing philosophy, and him being more Keynesian than Eisenhower, he could probably have the economy and national support needed for re-election, albeit perhaps narrowly.

Which Dems would run in 1956? And which one would do the best electorally?

I wouldn't have much reason to think it'd be different from how it went down in our timeline--though perhaps with a much more beatable opponent, Kefauver or someone with a bit more energy and bit less "retread" vibe is able to win the nomination. I'm not very much up on the respective pros and cons of folks like Kefauver, Harriman, etc.

How would you consider Nixon's legacy to be here? As president from 1953 to 1961, taking office at an astoundingly young age? Would he have any future electoral career?