1956: Nixon vs. Stevenson

[Lincoln Republican]

Stevenson makes it closer than against Ike, but not nearly close enough.  America had already had 20 straight years of Democratic administrations, and the Republicans had only been in power since 1953. 

Nixon wins a comfortable mandate, promising to carry on the work begun by the enormously popular deceased President, Eisenhower.

No way the voters turn out the Republicans after just one term, following 4 terms of Democrats.

Stevenson was simply not going to become President.   

Nixon/Stassen            337
Stevenson/Kennedy   194

[Lincoln Republican]

I agree, no way Nixon picks Stassen for Vice President.

How about Nixon makes a bold, unexpected pick, like, for example

Senator Margaret Chase Smith, one of the most successful politicians in the history of Maine, who had served as a Congresswoman from 1940 to 1949, and had been serving as a U.S. Senator since 1949.  In 1956, the choice of a woman for Vice President would have turned a lot of heads.  In this case, she would have had an excellent chance, perhaps an almost certain chance, of being elected Vice President.  Nixon and Smith would have been far ahead of their time.

Or maybe

Sinclair Weeks, successful businessman, briefly served as an appointed Senator from Massachusetts in 1944, and had been Secretary of Commerce in the Eisenhower administration since 1953.  This would have given Nixon a Vice President with excellent business credentials and economic skills.

Or maybe

Venerable Illinois Senator Everett Dirksen, Congressman 1933 to 1949 and U.S. Senator since 1951.  He was a favorite of Republicans everywhere, and well thought of in the nation in general.

[Lincoln Republican]

Well Stassen was only an idea peoples.

Yes, and a good idea at that.

I was only speculating on who some of the outside,  in fact virtually impossible, VP nominees could be.