Nelson's LBJ Mastermind book

[Robert Morrow]

Nixon was chosen by the elites to run in 1968. All evidence points to that, dating back to 1946 when Prescott Bush, Mr. Perry of Bank of American, Lansky, and Dalitz all were Nixon backers. You don't get support like that, especially being a political novice such as Nixon, unless those backing have bigger plans for you, and within 6 years "Tricky Dick " was Vice President. The New York governor entered the race way to late to have any sort of a chance. After a 47 U.S. House seat pickup in 1966 the GOP should have had a huge slate of candidates running for President in 1968, but in that year Nixon was virtually unopposed for the nomination.

Yes, Lyndon Johnson made a secret big push to support Nelson Rockefeller. Imho, it was because they were in the JFK assasination together. I think the Lyndon Johnson/Nelson Rockefeller alliance is extremely important. Also, note that Nelson Rockefeller did not support or campaign for Barry Goldwater in 1964. Again, I think there were hidden politics at play relating to the JFK assassination.

Astoundingly, Republican Nelson Rockefeller was the TOP (behind the scenes) choice of

Democrat Lyndon Johnson in 1968!

From Robert Dallek's book Flawed Giant, pp. 544-545]

Lyndon Johnson's deep alliance with CIA and Eastern Establishment

"Johnson's choice as his successor was New York's Republican Governor Nelson Rockefeller. The two men had a high regard for each other. Johnson saw Rockefeller as a sensible moderate who, in Lady Bird's words, "was a good human being, a person who was for the disadvantaged, who was a man of compassion, with a capable and effective mind, and capable of being effective, getting things done." He also believed that Rockefeller was the one man who could beat Bobby Kennedy, no small asset in Johnson's mind.
Rockefeller reciprocated Johnson's feelings. He saw the President as "a great statesman and great American patriot." Rockefeller said later: "He was a tremendous guy." They and their wives enjoyed a warm personal relationship. Nelson recalled how frank his wife Happy could be with Lyndon, telling him at the ranch not to drive so fast or drink too much. "She was successful in getting him to slow down, which I don't think most people were." …
Toward the end of April [1968], Johnson invited the Rockefellers to the White House for dinner, where he urged the governor to declare for the Republican nomination. "He was very friendly about '68, and very supportive of me for '68," Rockefeller said. Johnson also told him he would never campaign against him. Happy Rockefeller remembered how during that evening Johnson urged Rockefeller to run. "He did want Nelson to be President," she said. Johnson encouraged others to back Rockefeller as well. On April 7, after Irwin Miller, a prominent member of "Republicans for Johnson" in 1964 had asked whether the president would object to his chairing a Draft Rockefeller Committee, LBJ have Miller "a full speed go-ahead."
Rockefeller did not need much prodding. On April 10, following a brief conversation with Johnson at New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral, where they attended Archbishop Terence Cooke's installation, Rockefeller announced his "availability" for the Republican nomination. On April 30, after the White House evening, Rockefeller declared himself a candidate for the presidency." [p. 545, A Flawed Giant, Robert Dallek]