Vice-President McGovern under Nixon would have been the ONLY way to “restore our Republic”. No doubt since the original 1787 wording of the U.S. Constitution provided for that and we mustn’t EVER tamper with what the framers came up with. ;-)
Some other fun ones:
Vice President Charles Evans Hughes in Wilson’s 2nd term, when he suffers a massive stroke.
Vice President William Jennings Bryan in a McKinley administration. He would have taken oath in 1901 and veered this country on the path to socialism, 12 years BEFORE the “progressive era” the anti-17thers are screaming about.
Vice President Horace Greeley in a Grant administration
Vice President John C. Breckinridge in an Lincoln administration (talk about a Civil War!)
Vice President Winfield Scott in a Pierce administration
Also, if the 12th was repealed: we have gotten a President Winfield Scott Hancock in 1881, a President Thomas Dewey in 1945, and a President Nixon in 1963.
Greeley died before they even counted the Electoral Votes.
James Cox becoming President with Harding’s death in 1923 (instead of Coolidge). Theodore Roosevelt becoming Vice President again in 1912 under Wilson (since Taft placed 3rd).
You would’ve had the pompous “perfumed prince” McClellan taking the Presidency with Lincoln’s assassination (now he definitely would’ve been impeached and Lafayette Foster would’ve become President probably before 1866 rolled around, with Ben Wade next in line had he lasted until 1867).
Winfield Scott Hancock becoming President with Garfield’s assassination in 1881...
It’s curious to realize how much more dangerous the role of President would’ve become with your electoral enemy VP waiting to succeed you if any harm were to come to you. I think there would’ve been countless assassination attempts and retaliations (McClellan alone would’ve been a marked man after John Wilkes Booth, and probably considered a spiritual conspirator).
Yes, indeed, a very destabilized place we would be today. Thank heavens we could amend our Constitution to correct such unforeseen errors.