Nixon picks Dole as VP in 1973

[Captain Chaos]

1973
After the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew, President Richard Nixon nominates Senator Robert Dole of Kansas for the Vice Presidency.

The House and Senate confirm Senator Dole and he is sworn in as the Vice President.

1974
The House of Representatives passes articles of impeachment against President Nixon.

Facing certain conviction by the Senate, President Nixon resigns on August 9. Dole is sworn in as President at the East Room of the White House. Dole must now find a Vice President.

Looking for someone who would be easily confirmed by Congress, President Dole nominates House Minority Leader Gerald Ford. A week later, Congress confirms Ford and he is sworn in as Vice President.

After Labor Day, President Dole issues his pardon of Richard Nixon. Dole's popularity ratings fall to 35 percent.

Election Day is a massacre for the Republicans as the Democrats increase their seats in Congress and Governorships. In a (double) black eye for Republicans, Governor Robert Docking of Kansas is elected to Bob Dole's Senate seat and Democratic activist Richard VanderVeen is elected to succeed Vice President Ford in the House.

1975
Former California Governor Ronald Reagan decides not to seek the Presidency in 1976.

Three years after divorcing his first wife, President Dole marries Elizabeth Hanford on December 6 in a quiet White House ceremony. Elizabeth Dole resigns her seat in the Federal Trade Commission a day before the wedding.

1976
While Jimmy Carter wins the Democratic primary in New Hampshire, President Dole wins the Republican primary but Senator James Buckley wins 28 percent of the vote. A week later and with little money to campaign, Buckley ends his long-shot bid for the White House.

President Dole is easily nominated in his own right at the Republican National Convention in Kansas City. Despite protest votes cast for Jesse Helms and John Ashbrook, Gerald Ford is nominated for his current office of Vice President.

Jimmy Carter and his running mate, Walter Mondale, are seen as winning their debates. But President Dole's reference to "Democratic Wars" and Vice President Ford's statement that there was no Soviet domination of Poland hurt their campaigns. Also, Dole's inability to project warmth and Ford's inability to walk down a flight of stairs (parodied by Chevy Chase on Saturday Night Live) make it impossible to overcome Carter's 20-25 point leads in the polls.

On Election night, Carter defeats Dole 58 percent to 40 percent. Dole wins only 6 states: Kansas, Alaska, Utah, Virginia, Idaho and Wyoming. The Democrats end up with 2-to-1 margins over the Republicans in the House and Senate.

1977
After Jimmy Carter is sworn into the Presidency, Bob and Elizabeth Dole move to an apartment at the Watergate Hotel. Two years later, they will move to Mrs. Dole's home state of North Carolina where she is considering a political career.

Gerald & Betty Ford return to their home in Michigan. However, the Fords will move permanently to California to spend their retirement.

1980
Elizabeth Dole defeats wheelchair-bound college professor John East in the Republican Senate primary. She goes on to defeat incumbent Senator Robert Morgan in November as Ronald Reagan defeats President Carter. Mrs. Dole is the first former First Lady elected to public office.

While Republicans win control of the Senate, Robert Docking turns back a challenge from Congressman Larry Winn and is re-elected to his second Senate term.

1983
On October 8, Senator Robert Docking of Kansas dies of emphysema a day before his 58th birthday. Former President Dole, Senate Minority Leader Robert Byrd and now senior Senator Nancy Kassebaum attend the funeral.

Governor John Carlin (Democrat of Kansas) appoints previous Governor Bill Roy to Docking's Senate seat. Roy will serve in the Senate until he retires in 1992.

1984
President Reagan is reelected in a 49 state victory.

Senate Republicans elect Alan Simpson of Wyoming as Majority Leader.

1986
While Democrats win back the majority in the Senate, Elizabeth Dole is reelected over former NC Governor Terry Sanford. He never runs for office again.

1988
On the eve of the Republican convention in New Orleans, George Bush selects Senator Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina as his running mate. Senator Dan Quayle gives the nominating speech for Dole, as she becomes the first female to be nominated on a Republican ticket.

George Bush defeats Mike Dukakis to win the presidency. Elizabeth Dole will become the first female Vice President.

1990
Governor John Carlin of Kansas announces that he will not challenge incumbent Senator Nancy Kassebaum this year.

Lt. Governor Thomas Docking, son of late Governor and Senator Robert Docking, defeats State House Speaker Mike Hayden to be elected Governor of Kansas.

While Senator Jesse Helms is reelected to his fourth term, appointed Senator Alex McMillan is elected in his own right to complete the term of Vice President Elizabeth Dole.

1992
President Bush is defeated for reelection by Bill Clinton.

In North Carolina, Sue Myrick is elected to the Senate. Alex McMillan decided not to run for a full six-year term.

In Kansas, former Governor John Carlin defeats Congressman Pat Roberts and is elected to the Senate.

1994
Republicans win the majority of the House and Senate. Newt Gingrich becomes Speaker of the House.

1995
Former Vice President Elizabeth Dole decides not run for President in 1996.

Senator Nancy Kassebaum announces she will not seek re-election in 1996. Congressman Pat Roberts announces his candidacy to succeed Kassebaum.

1996
The Republicans nominate former Tennessee Governor and Education Secretary Lamar Alexander for President. He selects Dick Cheney as his running mate.

President Clinton is reelected in a landslide. In Kansas, Pat Roberts is elected to the Senate in a close race over Congressman Jim Slattery in one of the few states carried by Alexander.

1998
Trial lawyer John Edwards defeats incumbent Senator Sue Myrick in an upset.

Jim Graves becomes the first Republican in 34 years to be elected Governor of Kansas.

2000
Former Vice President Elizabeth Dole wins the Iowa Republican caucuses. A month later, Senator John McCain wins the New Hampshire primary. However, Dole emerges victorious in the South Carolina primary. McCain's criticism of Bob Jones University and Dole's superior debating skills over George W. Bush (Governor of Texas) enabled her to win the evangelical vote in that state.

Elizabeth Dole is the big winner of Super Tuesday. She sweeps every Southern primary (Bush won in Texas) and become the front-runner for the Republican nomination.

Elizabeth Dole becomes the first woman in either major party to be nominated for President. She selects John McCain to be her running mate.

In November, Dole defeats Vice President Al Gore to become the first female President of the United States. She will also become the first President whose spouse previously served as President. Dole wins Florida by 15,000 votes.

2001
A week after Dole is sworn in as President, Dick Cheney dies of a heart attack at his home in Wyoming. He was 59.

After terrorists destroy the World Trade Center and part of the Pentagon on September 11, President Dole visits Ground Zero in New York City while Vice President McCain meets with Congressional leaders in Washington DC.

In October, coalition forces lead by the United States and the United Kingdom invade Afghanistan in order to destroy the terrorist camps and capture Osama bin Laden. After three weeks of combat, Northern Alliance troops march triumphantly into Kabul as the Taliban flee the city and bin Laden is killed in a battle with troops. The Loya Jirga meets to elect Hamid Karzai temporary president of Afghanistan until democratic elections are held.

2003
UN inspectors are unable to find WMDs in Iraq. President Dole decides that the USA will not invade Iraq and remove Saddam Hussein from power.

2004
Senator John Kerry selects House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt as his running mate but the Democrats are far behind President Dole in the polls.

The Republicans renominate President Dole and Vice President McCain.

Dole wins 40 states and 56 percent of the popular vote as she is reelected President. Senator John Edwards survives his reelection although Dole carried her home state with 68 percent of the vote.

2006
The Democrats gain seats in the House and Senate but not enough to win control of either chamber.

Kathleen Sebelius is elected Governor of Kansas. A split between the moderates and conservatives hurt the Republicans in Kansas.

2008
Unable to win the Iowa caucus or New Hampshire primary, Senate Majority Leader Jim Slattery of Kansas drops out (Hillary Clinton won both states).

Vice President John McCain and Senator Hillary Clinton clinch their parties’ nominations after Super Tuesday.

McCain selects Senator Mike DeWine of Ohio as his running mate. Clinton selects Senator Barack Obama of Illinois; he becomes the first African-American to be nominated to a major party ticket.

[CPT MikeyMike]

Very nice timeline.

I think the biggest obstacle is actually Dole getting the VP nod from Nixon.  I see two things that would hurt Dole's chances. First was the fact that he only had 4 years of Senate experience with the fact that many Democrats told Nixon that they would only accept a caretaker VP like John Sherman Cooper or Bill Rogers. Dole had ambition and I think, although in the end we would have been confirmed, the nomination process would have been a headache. The second problem would have actually been the fact that he was a divorced politician (and not remarried) and that image of him still wasn't universally accepted in 1973.

I also wonder if Dole's presidency would have gained more approval while Jimmy Carter was in office (like Ford's). People saw that Carter was totally inept and would have preferred his predecessor. I wonder if Dole might have tried to run again in 1980.

One a different note, I met the Doles (in the Watergate elevator) one-on-one about 10 years ago and they are very down to earth people. It is a shame that Americans didn't see that side of Bob Dole until he lost the '96 race. Had they seen it earlier, his career might have reached 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue at some point.

Again - well done!