Richard Nixon Never Resigns?
- Thread starter Sirion
- Start date
Nixon's public image had been rehabilitated by the end of his life, maybe it wouldn't be if he had not at least resigned with grace.
Nixon would be impeached and convicted by the time of the midterm elections. So instead of the only President to resign, he'd be the only President to be removed from office.
Impeachment and removal from office, followed by criminal charges, and prison. Ford doesn't pardon him.
(There are two schools of thought on how this would play out in 1976. On one hand, Ford would not be haunted by the Pardon. On the other, the Nixon Trial would overshadow everything else Ford tried to do).
(There are two schools of thought on how this would play out in 1976. On one hand, Ford would not be haunted by the Pardon. On the other, the Nixon Trial would overshadow everything else Ford tried to do).
If Ford doesn't take one for the team and pardon Nixon, he gets primaried by Reagan (who the kingmakers wanted anyway). The GOP nominating committees can be incredibly vindicative.
When was the first election year there was a primary election in every state?
But most prominent conservatives, including Barry Goldwater, supported Ford over Reagan. Not to mention the party establishment, which viewed Reagan as too right wing for the general election. In any case, without the pardon Ford would remain a popular President - even as his approvals inevitably decline with time - and he is elected in 1976.