1960 Republican Vice Presidential Choice
johnpressman:
Dr. Cynic, I don't know if JFK would have taken the vice presidential nomination in 1960, even though he wanted it badly in 1956. It's a hard one to call, as no one thought LBJ wanted the VP slot in 1960. However, I still believe that LBJ was the best choice, as the Northeast was in no danger of voting for Nixon in 1960 and JFK's religon was a liability in the South which would be a battleground outside of Symington's reach. LBJ helped prevent Texas, the Carolinas, etc. from voting Republican and JFK's absence on the ticket would probably switch Tennesee, Kentucky, Florida and Virginia from Nixon to the Democrats as well as keeping the Alabama and Mississippi unpledged electors from defecting.
Why did JFK nix Symington as his VP choice? In "The Making of the President 1960", JFK says that Symington and him were "too similar". I don't understand this. Symington was from the Midwest, more conservative than JFK, and MUCH older.
There was a surplus of possible Democratic Vice Presidential choices in 1960 but a dearth of Republican possiblities to run with Nixon. Who do you think Nixon should have chosen in 1960 and which selection could have made the difference in the election?
Dr. Cynic:
I dunno... It was just my gut reaction. When JFK said Symington was "Too Similar", he was thinking of views. Symington was not really a conservative, but a moderate. Their views on many vital issues mirrored one another. That would be my best guess to that one.
A good choice for Nixon would've been Nelson Rockefeller or Bill Scranton.
I think either of those running mates might've helped Nixon, and if he had, then Symington would need JFK in the Northeast. LBJ wouldn't have been a good balance for Symington at all.
johnpressman:
I've got to disagree with you, Cynic. Rockefeller would not take the VP slot with Nixon under any circumstances. Nixon tried hard to persuade him, leading to the "Compact of Fifth Avenue". As for Scranton, you must be thinking of 1964. In 1959 William Scranton was appointed by Ike as an advisor to John Foster Dulles and Christan Herter, he first ran for Congress in 1960, winning the PA governorship in 1962. Neither Rocky or Scranton were VP possibilities in 1960.
As for Symington, I still believe that the Northeast was in no danger of going Republican in 1960. PA and NJ were close. but NY, MA, CT, etc were safely in the Democratic fold. The Western and farm-belt states were safely Republican, that left the Midwest, Border, Pacific Coast and Southern States as the battleground. Symington, coming from a midwest/border state would need help in the South, where many states had defected to the GOP in 1952 and 1956. Also, he needed a charismatic runningmate who would be a strong campaigner to offset his bland personal style. LBJ all the way!! 1960 was an obvious Democratic year. Kennedy's Catholicism was the deciding factor in making the election as close as it was. Bringing him on the ticket would help Symington only in the Northeast and among ethnic Catholic voters in the large cities that were already solidly committed to the Democratic Party.
So, who could have Nixon realistically chosen to run with him in 1960 that could have made the difference against Kennedy/Johnson? Dirksen? Morton? Cooper? Ford? Judd?, it's an amazingly short list!
Dr. Cynic:
But LBJ wasn't charismatic... He had a style, but it wasn't really charisma. I think if Nixon chose a more well known northern running mate, then the North would be in danger of being lost... I think Symington would've been strong enough to hold the South.
I think Rockefeller would've been Nixon's best option, getting along notwithstanding. Dirksen would've been the next best choice. Other than that, there really was no one, I agree.
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