Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-10975360-20140428163406/@comment-10975360-20140430155048

why would he fail domestically? he didnt really fail in terms of domestic policy, he was strong on civil rights, and moderatly progressive, probably some form of medicare (though nowhere near as extensive as johnson), and he wouldve probably been successful at working with a democratic congress

Johnson wouldnt have run in '64, he wouldve been content as leader in the senate, he feared failure, and running in '64 wouldve been very risky. the 1961-65 term was a pretty good one for whoever the incumbent was, a strong economy, and nixon would be broadly successful in foreign affairs. He'd have been reelected with about 54-55% of the vote, not a landslide, but not as close as 1960.

I disagree, the kennedy's still had money, and a huge political organisation. RFK was the most natural politician of the brothers, he'd still enter the senate in '62 or '64. JFK would be dead by 1974 (maybe before), and ted would be happy in the senate.