1964: President Nelson Rockefeller

[Robespierre's Jaw]

In June 1961, President Kennedy's popularity was sky high after easily defeating the Cuban's in the American-Cuban War of 1961, which started after the Cuban's with the help of the Soviets launched an attack on the USS Maddox in the Gulf of Mexico. But by late 1963, his popularity had reached an all time low, because it was alleged that he was having an affair with an East German spy known as Ellen Romesch.

Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover had known about the affair as early as June 1962, but were planning to use the information about President Kennedy in the 1964 Presidential Election. Had Johnson and Hoover finally brought down Camelot?

President Kennedy in height of the scandal, he cancels his trip to Dallas on November 22, 1963 thinking that he'll be killed by a member of the John Birch Society. More shocking news were to come out in December 1963, when Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson announced he would challenge President Kennedy in the 1964 Democratic primaries. Vice President Johnson also announced that he would resign the Vice Presidency effective that afternoon.

On the Republican side: New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller announces he'll run for the 1964 GOP nomination. Governor Rockefeller's challengers are Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, Pennsylvania Governor William Scranton, 1960 GOP Vice Presidential nominee Henry Cabot Lodge and Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith. Governor Rockefeller easily wins on the first ballot and selects Michigan Governor George Romney as his running mate.

More soon!