Paul V McNutt
Banned
What would change? It depends on when it happens. Earlier in 1973 would change nothing. Gerald Ford would still be the ideal candidate. If it is fall 1972, it hurts Nixon but does not defeat him. He beats McGovern 55 percent to 43 percent. McGovern carries Massachusttes, Rhode Island, District of Columbia, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and Oregon. It is not a historic landslide. The big butterfly is John Conally as Agnew's replacement. There are three ways to do that. First have Agnew resign before 1972, when Conally became controversial as head of Democrats for Nixon. If it happens before the Republican Convention, Nixon can have Conslly nominated as Vice President and name someone to fill out the remainder of Agnew's term. If it is after the convention, Nixon can have the RNC name Conally as the Vice Presidential candidate. Private citizen John Conally was indicted for bribery on August 8, 1974, the day Nixon resigned. So ITTL President Conally has to deal with a bribery scandal and has to resign in October 1974, after Nelson Rockefeller is confirmed as Vice President. 1974 is bigger Democrstic landslide. Bill Clinton is elected to Congress. President Rockefeller brings another big butterfly. Reagan defeats him in the 1976 Republican primaries. Reagan loses the 1976 election and is not nominated in 1980.
