In the 1952 presidential election , Dwight D. Eisenhower selected Nixon to be vice-president . People accused him of receiving illegal money contributions to his campaign and some people wanted Eisenhower to pick a different vice president , but Eisenhower still kept Nixon . Republicans , including some within Eisenhower 's campaign , pressured Eisenhower to remove Nixon from the ticket , but Eisenhower realized that he was unlikely to win without Nixon .