Reagan vs. Lindsay, 1972

[Rooney]

On April 9, 1971 President Richard Nixon is rushed to George Washington University Hospital with what is believed to be food poisoning. However, the supposed food poisoning turns out to be severe kidney failure. The president dies in early morning hours of April 10, 1971, Richard Nixon passes away at the age of 58.

Vice-President Spiro T. Agnew takes office. After appointing Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird to the vacant office of veep to appease the Goldwater-wing of the GOP. President Agnew, however, appeases no one during the term. The Democrats appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the president's financial affairs and allegations of corruption in his earlier career in Baltimore County. The rising tide of neo-conservative Republicans intellectuals at first are delighted by the idea of President Agnew, but soon find that he is little more than a clone of President Nixon in terms of Vietnam strategy. Conservative Republicans find that Agnew, founder of Draft Rockefeller in 1968, is not willing to take on Democrats on the issue of spending or liberals on the issues of culture. By December 1971 Agnew has a 31% approval rating and announces he will not seek a full term in office. This announcement, however, does not stave the tide of investigations into his earlier career by Special Prosecutor Ramsey Clark, LBJ's attorney general.

On the Republican side Governor Reagan easily defeats Vice-President Laird, Governor Rockefeller, Senator Dole and a few other rivals. At the GOP Convention he allows the convention to select a running-mate and they choose Senator Clifford Case of New Jersey.

The Democrats, seeing the chaos on the GOP side, reject most of the reforms offered by the McGovern-Fraser Committee and leave the decision of the nominee generally in the hands of the bosses who controlled the 1968 process. The free-for-all primary produced former Republican New York City Mayor John Lindsay as the Democratic nominee. At the convention Lindsay selects Arkansas Congressman Wilbur Mills for vice-president.  

Governor George Wallace, having been shot in Laurel, Maryland, by Arthur Bremmer, announces that he will not run for the office as an independent and surprises many by endorsing Reagan for president.

The 1972 race is thus Reagan/Case (R) vs Lindsay/Mills (D)   A former Democrat against a former Republican. Who do you like?

[tpfkaw]

John Lindsay had a 6% approval rating in NYC in 1972 (and for good reason).  His campaign was quite rightly viewed by everyone as a complete joke.

[Rooney]

John Lindsay had a 6% approval rating in NYC in 1972 (and for good reason).  His campaign was quite rightly viewed by everyone as a complete joke.

That is correct, I know, but I found the idea of the conservative former Democrat and the liberal former Republican as just too good. Can we not dream silly things and expect silly answers?

[Jerseyrules]

John Lindsay had a 6% approval rating in NYC in 1972 (and for good reason).  His campaign was quite rightly viewed by everyone as a complete joke.

That is correct, I know, but I found the idea of the conservative former Democrat and the liberal former Republican as just too good. Can we not dream silly things and expect silly answers?

NO!  Creativity is a lie perpetuated by false hope! 

[ask_not]

he was heckled(lindsay) with signs that said sheba come home.