Talk Elections

1919: An investigation into the Newport Sex Scandal finds complicity on the part of Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin Delano Roosevelt, forcing him to resign in shame.  Democratic Presidential candidate James Cox, who is on the verge of choosing Roosevelt as his running-mate, suddenly changes his mind and chooses New York Governor Al Smith instead.  Roosevelt's chances of a political career are shattered.  Smith calls his complicity a "tragic dismissal of what could be tremendous potential."

1920: James Cox and his running mate, New York governor Al Smith, loose the presidential election to the Republican Harding/Coolidge ticket.  

Same as OTL until 1928

1928: Herbert Lehman is elected governor of New York state.  Smith looses the presidential election to Hoover same as RL.  

Same as OTL until 1932.  

1932: The presidential election appears to be a shoe-in for the Democrats.  The only major candidates appear to be former New York governor and 1928 nominee Al Smith and Texan Speaker of the House John Nance Garner.  Due to Tammany Hall-related scandals that rock Smith, Garner wins the nomination, but makes Smith his running mate.  He runs to the right of Hoover in the general election, calling for corporate tax cuts, looser labor laws, and lower tariffs.  In the end, Garner wins with 45% of the vote, compared 42% for Hoover, and 12% for Socialist Norman Thomas.  Turnout is also very low.  Without being appointed Secretary of Agriculture, Henry A. Wallace runs for Governor of Iowa and wins.

...And the depression continues....

But then we have the natural result, revolution!

USSA, maybe? :P

So...same as OTL?

Nope.  Stay tuned...

1933-1936: Garner's deregulations and corporate tax cuts cause even more unemployment.  His military break-ups of strikes cause massive public outcry.  Meanwhile, Iowa governor Henry A. Wallace defies the federal government by putting high taxes on the wealthy and on corporations, increasing social spending dramatically, and putting a state-wide minimum wage of $1.50/hour in place.  Agriculture co-operatives are encouraged throughout the state.  Many are already calling for Wallace to challenge Garner in the 1936 election for the Democratic nomination. 

In b4 Huey Long

        On the 12th of August, 1935, Governor Wallace finds himself beaten to the position of challenging President Garner by Louisiana Senator and former Governor Huey Long.  Long makes the announcement in Baton Rouge:
        "My friends, I have watched for two and a half disastrous years as President Garner has given more and more wealth to those at the very top, on Wall Street, and elsewhere, the people who caused this catastrophe, while the poor, who have suffered horrendously, have had the few ounces of wealth which they hold taken away.  And I have fought these as hard as I could.  But the only way for this to stop is for change at the top.  Therefore, I am announcing that I will stand against the rich-lovin' bastard Garner for the Democratic nomination for President of this country.  Join me, so we can share our wealth, and bring true prosperity to those who so desperately need it!".
        Socialist front-man Norman Thomas dismisses Long as a "phony, a utilitarianist attempting to bait the working classes to save capitalism, and a dictator." Immediately, Garner points out the authoritarian tendencies of his challenger with this statement:
        "If you are a Democrat, and you want a Hitler, a Stalin, or a Mussolini taking over this land of liberty, then be my guest and vote for Senator Long in next year's primary.  If you want to see what this man can do, look at the way he still controls his state.  He submits bills to the legislature easily in spite of being a federal senator, and has Governor Allen taking his orders like a loyal pet.  And consider, my fellow Democrats, the way in which he usurped all the powers from the Louisianian municipalities and gave them all to himself.  If he is ever president, he will take powers up to the next level above that in a similar fashion.  My friends, if this is what you want, Long is your man."
        August 16th: Father Charles Coughlin endorses Senator Long for President.  Immediately, cartoons appear in newspapers showing Long as President, in the oval office, bowing down to the Pope.  Long calls it a "desperate attempt to play on bigoted attitudes against our fellow God-fearing Christians."
        August 23rd: A Gallup poll is released showing that among registered Democrats, Long is preferred 63-37.  Cartoons appear in newspapers lamenting the fact that the two candidates are an unfettered free-market capitalist incumbent and a dictator.  When asked if he will be the "dream candidate" that many Democrats hope for on the 25th, Iowa Governor Henry A. Wallace says the following:
        "We are more than a year from the election and more than half a year from the convention.  I'm not ruling anything out.  But that doesn't yet mean I'm running."

This is getting interesting, despite my disagreement over the whole economic setup of the US at this time. Wallace is the man I would've imagined to challenge Garner, although remember that in OTL, another progressive, William E. Borah, ran in the Republican primaries and won the plurality of states as I recall (though the convention chose Landon, if I remember correctly). How will Wallace deal with that? Also, a 1936 map would look quite interesting.

        September 3rd: Long returns to Baton Rouge for political business, in particular the gerrymandering of boundaries for district courts to eliminate his long-time rival, Benjamin Pavy.  President Garner immediately takes advantage of this. 
        "Anyone who is in doubt that Long is a dictator need only look at his current business.  If he's president, anyone who represents you who dares to oppose him will no longer have a place.  He'll just remove 'em."

September 8th, 1935: Huey Long is assassinated by the son-in-law of Judge Pavy, Carl Weiss.  Immediately, outrage sweeps the nation.  Many suspect that Long's assassin was motivated by more than just dedication to his father in law, and many even quietly whisper that Garner may have put him up to it, yet few speak of these suspicions to more than just family for a few days.  
        September 11th, 1935: In his Sunday radio sermon, Father Coughlin eulogizes Long and says "the nation has lost a great, and courageous leader, who had the potential to bring about salvation to this country." He then goes on to say that "The American people all have a feeling, in their gut, in their mind, that there is more to this tragedy than what we are being told.  This feeling whirls around through their heads, yet never escapes their lips.  Well, today, it'll escape mine.  Does anyone truly believe that Mr. Weiss killed Mr. Long simply because he was angry about his father-in-law being redistricted out of the district court?  Brothers and sisters, men are sinful.  Some men, a few of them, are sinful to the point where they may commit murder.  But I know of few who would commit murder because their father-in-law had his district carved up.  Let us think about this.  Who most feared Mr. Long.  Judge Pavy?  No.  He only had the position of district court judge to loose to him.  The President of the United States and his Wall Street allies all knew that their power and wealth was at stake because of him.  Mr. Weiss was put up to it by the the federal government.  You know, brothers and sisters, that feeling in your gut is telling you it's true.  That feeling in your gut is the voice of God telling you it's true.  Let them do a federal, impartial investigation into this event if they want to prove to us that it's not.  Let them try!"

Very interesting, but I see one problem.

Henry Wallace was a Republican and did not join the Democratic Party before after he joined FDR cabinet. Why would he became a Democrat after Garner, a man who as more conservative candidate than freaking Herbert Hoover, became President?

I think more plausible would be to have Wallace remaining a Republican and the GOP as whole becoming more liberal party.

Oh wait, I forgot to mention that.  I think Wallace would've left the Republicans 'cause of Hoover anyway.  He might've regretted it when they'd have picked Garner, but to go back again would be kinda pointless.  But yeah, overall, the Republicans become the more liberal of the two main parties.   

        September 12th: President Garner pays a rare tribute to Long, calling him "a fighter for the underprivelleged, and a man who did what he believed to be right." He also vehemently denies any hand in his death, and announces that an independent investigation into the murder will be conducted.  Socialist forebearer Norman Thomas calls Long "a man with honorable aims and intentions, if dishonorable methods, in many respects."
        September 18th: In is radio sermon, Father Coughlin predicts the investigation will be rigged.  "Make no mistake, the President will ensure that nothing substantial is found linking him to the murder, but we all have.  With a name like Weiss, is there any doubt that the assassin was a servant of Wall Street, a member of the wealthy, filthy elite?" The clear anti-Semitism of the remark leads to the discrediting of the conspiracy theories.  

        October 7th, 1935: Senator William Borah announces his candidacy for the Republican Nomination for President.  With an incredibly progressive platform, he wins a massive following.
        October 16th, 1935: Kansas Govornor William E. Borah announces his candidacy for President, calling for social welfare programs, greater education and infrastructure funding, but also maintaining tough laws against labor unions.  
        December 3rd, 1935: After waiting for what seemed like an eternity (due to not wanting to be perceived as winning political capital from Long's death), Iowa Governor Henry A. Wallace announces his candidacy for President as a Democrat.  Having been preparing his campaign for some time, he enjoys a lead of 70%-30% against Garner in the beginning.  He begins to prepare for the New Hampshire primary (since the Iowa caucuses came after New Hampshire back then, plus he'd have Iowa in the bag.)  Many in the SPA's right-wing are keen to support Wallace.  Old guard faction bigwig Louis Waldman remarks that as Governor, Wallace is in the process of "re-creating Iowa as an agrarian socialist paradise in the middle of a capitalist hell." However, a few of the "militant" Marxists oppose any endorsement of Wallace by the party.  

        Early 1936: Borah consistently beats Landon in nearly every Republican primary/caucus.  Wallace also consistently beats Garner, in almost every state.  
        June 9-June 12, 1936: At the RNC, with the party's electorate having solidly chosen Borah, the conservative party bosses, unwilling to have him as their candidate, are afraid of the backlash that will occur if they pick Landon.  Senate minority leader Charles McNary, of Oregon, is picked as a compromise candidate due to his support among both conservatives and progressives.  
        July 23-July 27th: At the DNC, a similar dilemma is faced.  However, a big stigma for the party bosses is not only Wallace's social democratic views, or even his religious beliefs, but the fact that nominating him would require stabbing an incumbent, who they liked personally, in spite of his massive unpopularity, made them re-nominate Garner and Smith.  Outraged, Wallace and his supporters walk out of the convention.  
        July 31st: Wallace announces his departure from the Democratic Party, and the formation of the new party.  
        "Ladies and gentlemen, I speak to you today, not angry, but disappointed, in the decision of the dictators of our Undemocratic Party to deny the decision of the people and renominate a rejected President.  I am disappointed for all the Democrats who desired a change at the top, who wanted something other than a repeat of the last four years.  I am disappointed for the worker, struggling to earn enough money to survive.  I am disappointed for the child, who can't go to school and go on to make something of himself because his parents don't have the financial means to do so.  I am disappointed for the farmer, struggling just to sell enough food to survive.  The decision of the so-called Democratic party's bosses to renominate a man who has caused devastation to all three of these people proves that the interests of the worker, the farmer, and the child, cannot be advanced within either of the two establishment parties.  For this reason, I am forming a Progressive Party, and I invite fellow progressives in both main parties to join me."  
        September 17th: A proposal for a merger between the two parties is announced on a platform shared by both Thomas and Wallace.  
        September 26th: At a snap convention of the Socialist Party, a resolution in favor of a merger with the Progressives is passed after an impassioned speech by Norman Thomas:
        "Comrades, shall we not ally with our fellow enemies of the capitalist system which has destroyed this country, and the world?  How many more children must starve to death before we put aside our tribal differences over party and work with other socialist comrades?  How many more must die before we welcome new people who can be of use to our cause?"
        The resolution is passed by a 70%-30% margin.  
        September 28th: A snap convention of the Progressive Party is held.  The resolution in favor of the merger is passed 67%-37%.  
        September 30th: A founding convention of the new Socialist Party of America (which keeps this name temporarily to maintain ballot access) is held.  The rules of the new party are made, and they decide to nominate their tickets all at once.  For this election, it is decided that Wallace is to be nominated for President, and Thomas for VP.  

Election day's gonna be interesting. :P Go McNary I suppose, though I'd have preferred a successful Cactus Jack.

      November 3rd, 1936: President Garner is re-elected in what is the most exciting election since at least 1912.  Garner wins 39% of the vote, while Wallace gets 33%.  McNary gets 28%.  Garner's electoral college victory is far more convincing, however, with Garner getting 438 of 531 votes.  Wallace wins 56, while McNary gets 37.  
Garner's victory speech:
Thank you, ladies and gentleman!  
      We are in the midst of a crisis which has caused devastation left and right.  And it is one which we knew would get worse before it got better, even if we enacted the right measures, which our administration has done.  But I want the American people tonight, not only for their strong endurance throughout these difficult years, but for making a smart decision in a time when less sensible options were fare more appealing to them.  But Americans have once again shown their commitment to sanity, even as a tide of extremism sweeps Europe.  Today, Americans have chosen moderation over radicalism!  Today, Americans have chosen reason over madness!  Today, Americans have said that allthough we are suffering as a nation, we will stick with the policies that made us great before, and will make us great again!  We are in it for the long haul!  Thank you very much!  May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America!" (*dodges rotten tomato)*.  
      

Map?

()
Red is Garner, blue is McNary, green is Wallace.  I suppose that I should change the color scheme since red was the socialist party's color...

1936 version...
()

Though I'd recommend giving Oregon and Maine to McNary, Ohio to Garner (unless the Mid-West as a whole is revolting), and MA to either McNary or Garner.

Interview with Wallace after his speech:
Reporter: Congratulations on your showing, Governor!
Wallace: Thank you very much!
Reporter: Do you interpret this result as a victory or a defeat?
Wallace: I interpret it as a victory without question.  We were very late getting started, and were dealing with two other candidates who both had the backing of money from the big businesses and Wall Street.  And, more obviously, we were running as a third party against two much-better-established parties' candidates.  So this is a victory for us, the fact that we broke the two party system.  And it's a victory which will lead to greater ones in the future.  
Reporter: You've said that you've broken the two-party system as a third party candidate.  I'm sure that you know this of course, but Theodore Roosevelt broke it too in 1912, but nothing came out of it.
Wallace: Well, that was because he rejoined the Republicans.  And I know for certain that I will not be rejoining the Democrats, and none of the other people in this party who came from either the Democrats or Republicans will rejoin their old homes.  Instead, I'm very sure that our movement will continue to grow, instead.  
Reporter: How is the party getting along?  Are the two factions blending together well?
Wallace: It's very good.  Those who were in the Socialist Party before the Progressives came have been incredibly welcoming to us.
Reporter: Is their any conflict between various factions?  For instance, between supporters of yourself and Mr. Thomas, who lost to you in the primary?
Wallace: None whatsoever.  We are united as a party, and Mr. Thomas and I, as well as our supporters, are proud to be part of the same socialist, social democratic, and progressive movement.  
Reporter: Lastly, Governor, I realize you probably don't particularly wish to answer this question, but do you plan to run again in 1940?
Wallace: I'm not making any decisions with regards to four years from now.  
Reporter: Thank you for your time, Governor.
Wallace: Thank you.  
Wallace:

I figured that being a swing state, Ohio would go for the moderate candidate.  And MA had a large working-class population even then, didn't it?

OH is a big state though, so unless you're a big national presence, (which this timeline's Republicans aren't), it'd be hard to take. It'd be really close to say the least. And MA was only beginning to start voting Democratic (after decades of voting for Republicans since 1856, interrupted only by the 1912 election), and from what I've understood, that was thanks mostly to the Catholic working class and the progressive/activist/intellectual types consolidating under one party (and even then, Republicans could still take MA, see Ike's victories). It'd be split in this election, me thinks. Overall, I see Republicans taking New England and maybe a few Mid-Western states and maybe Oregon. Wallace might take large swaths of the West. I'm thinking that MT, WY, ID, states that today vote heavily Republican, back then might cast their votes for Wallace. But hey, it's your timeline.

I know, but you do seem to know more than me about the demographics of that time.  The Catholic working class is why I think MA would go that way.  And I'm figuring that Oregon would've been very progressive at the time anyway, but I could be wrong.  If NYC were a state, Wallace would win it big time, but I'm guessing the upstate part of it would've balanced it out enough that Garner still would've won. 

1937: With unemployment rising and more and more deaths occurring as a result of starvation, the Socialists appear to have bright prospects in the midterm elections.  Fiorello La Guardia, a former Republican and member of the "Progressive" faction of the party, is elected mayor of New York City on the Socialist ticket.  Garner suddenly begins to turn left, partially reversing his corporate and top-rate income tax cuts.  He also abruptly announces a number of new public works projects.  It is widely seen as a bad attempt at gaining political points.  
1938: In the midterm elections, the SPA scores a fantastic victory across the board.  They are especially strong in the Northeastern cities (with the exceptions of the ones in Vermont and New Hampshire), the rural Progressive midwestern states, the Northwest and in the major cities of California.  They become the largest faction in the House of Representatives, earning a total of 192 seats, compared to 165 for the Democrats, and 78 for the Republicans.  They also become a significant senate faction in the Senate with 21 seats.  Socialist candidate Upton Sinclair is elected Governor of California in his third bid for the office.  In addition, the Socialist Charles Solomon is narrowly elected Governor of New York against Republican incumbent (and former Democrat) Herbert Lehman, who refused to join the Progressives and then the Socialists due to their mistrust of big banks, such as his own.  Philip La Follette, who has joined the Socialists, is re-elected as Governor of Wisconsin.  Norman Thomas is elected as a Senator for New York as well.  In the new Congress, the Socialists manage to work with a number of left-leaning Republicans to pass labor legislation, civil rights bills, and agriculture programs (having to compromise in many areas), but some of this is vetoed by Garner.  However, he does sign a bill that creates a small agriculture subsidy program and some big business regulations.  His slight left turn continues to be seen by many as an attempt to make it possible for Smith to be elected in 1940, though it appears to be to no avail.  

      September-October 1939: Former Iowa Governor and 1936 nominee Henry A. Wallace and New York Senator Norman Thomas both announce their candidacies for the Socialist nomination for President.  Surprising many, Vice-President Smith announces that he will not contest the presidency in 1940.  
      "To be frank, I've had enough of politics in my life.  It's been a pleasure to serve as Vice-President, but it's the last office I'll ever hold.  I know that we Democrats have a strong field of potential candidates for President next year, and I am sure that we will pick the right one, and that whoever he is, he'll be in the White House in a little over a year from now."
      North Dakota Senator Gerald Nye announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination, as does Manhattan District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey.  Wall Street industrialist Wendell Wilkie, a former Democrat, also announces his candidacy.  All three campaign as "non-radical progressives."
      Michigan Senator Arthur Vandenburg is the first Democrat to announce his candidacy, while conservative Senate icon Robert Taft remains silent, privately believing it to be unwise to run in an election which seems unwinnable for a Democrat.  Senator Richard Russel also announces his candidacy.  Virginia Senator Robert Byrd also declares his candidacy, appearing to be the most moderate of the four candidates, he openly criticizes some of Garner's measures, though he praises his recent turnarounds.  Many Democrats perceive Bird as the only one with even a snowball's chance in hell.  

How did Vandenberg and Taft become Democrats? Even if Republicans were heading off in a progressive direction, they still wouldn't up and switch parties.

November 1939: As the Socialist primary heats up, Wallace and Thomas make their positions known yet again.  Wallace favors the state setting up co-operatives (and nationalization of large utilities) which will employ workers until they abandon big businesses, while Thomas favors nationalization of all industries.  Wallace also wants to prepare the US for war should it come to that, while the pacifist Thomas opposes any involvement in the newly-begun war in Europe (or Asia).  Due to the urgency of the Depression, the general belief of the American public is on the side of Thomas, and that achieving social and economic justice at home is more important than a war in Europe.  While few in the Socialist rank-and-file are bothered by it themselves, many fear that recent revelations about Wallace's New Age spiritual beliefs may Play into the hands of the Democratic and Republican candidates.  In addition, some now feel that the nation has now been radicalized enough that either Wallace or Thomas could win, and that therefore it'd be safe to opt for Thomas.  While many believe that California governor Upton Sinclair, Wisconsin Governor Phillip La Follette, or New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia, but none jump in.  
December 4th, 1939: A key figure from the right-wing "Old Guard" of the pre-1936 Socialist Party, Louis Waldman, endorses Wallace, saying he wants a "socialism that can win." However, many perceive the move as an attempt at revenge against Thomas, who, by allying with the "Militants" at the 1934 SPA convention in Detroit, ended the Old Guard's long-standing dominance of the party, and the endorsement has a neutral-to-negative effect on Wallace's chances.  

Well, given that Wallace switched parties in OTL, I think that they would have switched because of the rapidly changing nature of the two main parties. 

Early 1940: Thomas manages to unite with anti-war Socialists in the "Progressive" faction that joined the party in 1936, now commonly referred to as the "36ers." Wisconsin Governor Phillip La Follette, for example, endorses him resoundingly in spite of preferring Wallace in 1936.  This proves to be decisive, giving Thomas's campaign not only a key 36er component, but also a key mid-Western component, which he desperately needs when facing an Iowan.  And it is perceived as heartfelt and sincere, whereas Waldman's endorsement of Wallace is perceived as having been made out of bitterness and a desire for factional revenge.  Thomas wins nearly every major primary and caucus (except for Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, California, Vermont, and New Hampshire), even though many are by narrow margins.  He clinches the nomination soon afterward.  La Follette appears to be the likely running-mate, and it is well known that Thomas wants to give him the spot.  However, it is clear that such a move would alienate the pro-war factions of the party.  Some suggest La Guardia, but having only been mayor of New York City for less than three years, he would need more experience.  It soon becomes clear that there is only one "pro-war" 36er with the name recognition, the charisma, and popular appeal to be Thomas's running mate: Henry A. Wallace.  While it appears bizarre to name a former nominee as a running mate, it also appears to be the only option to keep the SPA's fragile coalition together.  So Thomas is named the Socialist nominee for President, and Wallace is named the nominee for Vice-President.  At the convention, Milwaukee mayor  Daniel Hoan makes a passionate plea for pan-factional unity and comradery among the party's members. 
"We are so close.  We have waited so long for the moment at which we can achieve a revolution at the ballot box and make Socialism a reality in this country.  Through the blood, sweat, and tears of Eugene V. Debs, Morris Hilquit, Samuel Gompers, and our allies, Robert La Follette, Floyd B. Olson, and Hiram Johnson, and so many others, and so much of our own, we have managed to get to a point where we have a Socialist administration can become a reality in the United States!  WE MUST NOT allow it all to go to waste because of petty factional wars! WE MUST NOT throw all of their hard work to waste!"
The convention unites and Thomas and Wallace are both applauded after their speeches.  The convention ends very united. 

Now for the Democrats:
Byrd wins massive victories in almost every state, due to massive anger at President Garner's administration.  Taft and Russell win only in their home states.  By early April, it is clear that Byrd will be the Democratic nominee.  At the convention, he is chosen overwhelmingly, and he chooses the even-more-left-leaning businessman-turned-diplomat William Averell Harriman as his running mate.  

Republicans:
Nye's anti-big business tirades make him popular among the Republican grassroots, but cause many in the middle-class to consider him too left-wing and socialistic.  He wins in the Midwestern primaries/caucuses, but Dewey gains the upper hand virtually everywhere else.  Wilkie's Wall Street background fatally handicaps his campaign throughout.  Dewey takes the nomination, promising the "sanity, competence, and level-headed-ness that has made this party great in the past and will again this year." He chooses Washington Governor Clarence D. Martin as his running-mate.  

Great TL, keep it coming Peter! :D

Thanks! 

Good tl, but awful matchup. Socialist, Liberal, and Dixiecrat. :P Willkie or Taft were probably the only reasonable choices.

      November 5, 1940: New York Senator Norman Thomas is elected the first Socialist President of the United States, with 45% of the vote.  Virginia Senator Robert Byrd, the Democratic nominee, comes in a very distant second place with only 27%, just a sliver ahead of the Republican nominee, Manhattan district attorney Thomas E. Dewey's 25%.  In the electoral college, Thomas wins 307 votes.  Byrd takes 180, while Dewey takes 44 (all thanks largely to strong regional variation between the candidates).  

()

()

Snippet from Thomas's speech:
"Ladies and gentlemen, comrades, and fellow citizens,
      Today, we have made history!  The American people have chosen to take the path which we so desperately must take, and I will be honored to be carrying out the tasks of this journey for our nation as the first Socialist to achieve the office of President of the United States!
      Before anything else, it is incumbent upon me to thank my wonderful wife Violet for her support.  She is the source of so much of my energy, and so much of my resolve, and I cannot thank her sufficiently.  I must also thank all six of my children for their incredible support.  I am so proud of each of them, and it is also my hope for them that has motivated me throughout the years!
      Of course, I am also obliged by morality to thank all those, dead and alive, on whose shoulders the Socialist Party and I now stand.  Mr. Eugene V. Debs is no longer with us.  But I know that somewhere, he is watching, and without his work, the Socialist Party would be nothing, so I thank him from the bottom of my heart for his blood, sweat, and tears, and his hand in making this historic day a reality.  Morris Hillquit, whose leadership kept the party from destruction after Debs left us, is also no longer with us, but he also deserves our heartfelt thanks.  To those who weren't members of the Socialist Party in the days of Hillquit and Debs, but have fought for the same principles throughout the years and their forerunners, Robert La Follette, Burton Wheeler, and so many others, I thank them wholeheartedly, as all as everyone who brought their movement into our party and gave us the lifeblood to make this day possible!  And my running mate, my partner in the mission of our shared vision, Governor Wallace, has fought with every ounce of his energy to bring a socialist revolution at the ballot box a reality, and has worked every step of the way since the convention to help me, and I thank him sincerely for that!  And I know that I will be able to rely on him at every moment as my Vice-President!
      We have fought long and hard for this day.  So many have had to give up so much of what little they had to bring democratic socialism to this country.  So many have died, given dinner table money, and worked tirelessly, to bring us to this point.  I want to tell them now that I do not take their trust lightly, and I vow to them that their sacrifices have not been in vein.  I know that salvation will not come easily, but I promise, to the worker, struggling to earn a living for his family, the farmer, struggling to sell enough food to survive, the child, with so much potential so easily lost through the lack of an education, the person of color, subjected to discrimination and humiliation daily because of his the color of his skin, and the woman, who in spite of having the vote, still struggles to be heard, and to have the opportunities of a man, that their hopes for a better future, for equality, for better democracy, for peace, for social and economic justice, and a fair future for all, will come true!  
Thank you, may God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America!"

The Socialists also make massive gains in Congress, taking 202 seats in the House (compared to 149 for the Democrats and 84 for the Republicans,) and 41 seats in the Senate (compared to 32 for the Democrats and 27 for the Republicans.)  

Oh and yeah, the Democrats have changed their color to yellow by this point. 

Ah, nevermind my complaint. I'd assumed the GOP nominated Nye. Eh, my new complaint about the GOP nominee would be that he's too inexperienced. But interesting. Wonder how this affects WWII. Was Thomas isolationist?

He was at first, but when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor he supported the war.  He did oppose the use of the atomic bombs, though. 

So I'm guessing no Lend-Lease or Arsenal of Democracy type programs? (I think Cactus Jack was also an isolationist) Assuming that Thomas doesn't refuse to sell certain metals to the Japanese, there may be no U.S. entry into WWII at all! :P

EDIT: Or at least until after Hitler crushes Europe.

There will be.  Thomas wanted no connection economically with any of the big powers of the war, seeing them as threatening to drag us in. 

Immediately, members of the so-called "Militant" faction of the SPA begin to propose radical economist Scott Nearing for the position of Treasury Secretary.  Every other section of the party opposes the idea of him in that position, quite vocally.  It also becomes clear that the Senate, in which the Socialists hold 41 seats, will not approve him (many Socialist Senators even threaten not to vote for him.  His advocacy of simple living causes him to be ridiculed as eccentric.  A newspaper cartoon shows Wallace laughing with Thomas, saying, "And people thought I'dbe the oddest person in your administration!" The militants, however, do not let up or halt their aggressive pro-Nearing campaign.  Thomas is forced to disavow his former allies against the Old Guard faction and instead nominates the young but rising socialist economist Abba P. Lerner.  Being both Keynesian and genuinely Socialist, he is liked by the main factions of his party, but at first still appears likely to be rejected by the Senate.  Thomas then reveals to the press that his second choice is Maynard C. Krueger, a radical economics professor who has advocated arming the working class.  It is seen as a threat to the Senate that blocking Lerner will lead to gridlock.  Some Republican Senators then agree to abstain, and 11 agree to vote for him.  

California Senator (and former Governor) Hiram Johnson is nominated for Secretary of State.  His confirmation appears to be a given, due to his appeal among left-leaning Republicans.  
      Wisconsin Senator Phillip La Follette is nominated for Secretary of War.  His nomination appears to be less certain, but after Johnson half-jokingly proposes after Jesse Wallace Hughan as an alternative in a newspaper interview, many of the more liberal Republicans agree to back La Follette.  
      New York Attorney General Jacob Panken is nominated for federal Attorney General.  Many Liberal Republican Senators are well aware that while they would have chosen someone else, opposing him would be pointless.  
      Louis Waldman is nominated for Postmaster General.  The move is widely seen as an olive branch extended by Thomas.  Knowing his pragmatic social democratic roots Democrats and Republicans realize he is their best offer, and he appears likely to be confirmed.  
      Recommended to Thomas by Johnson, the little-known Chicago politician (and 36er) Harold Ickes is nominated for Secretary of the Interior.  As fellow former Republican, his path through confirmation appears to be as smooth as Johnson's.
      Farm leader and activist George A. Nelson is nominated to be Secretary of Agriculture.  His nomination appears uncertain, but by this point, most Republicans appear to believe that obstruction of the process will only lead to gridlock.  
      Harry Hopkins is nominated for Secretary of Commerce.  Being a 36er and very moderate, he appears to be among the likeliest to be confirmed.  
      Initially, the position of Secretary of Labor appears to be likely to go to Arturo Giovanitti, Max Hayes, or Walter Reuther, Thomas nominates the 36er Frances Perkins, believing that it is time for a female cabinet member.  Knowing that Thomas may propose Charles Zimmerman in the event of her rejection, the majority of Republicans agree to vote for her.  

      January 17, 1921: President Garner gives his farewell address, which soon becomes infamous.  
"My fellow Americans,
       8 years and 40 days ago today, you elected me as your President.  I was the first man from Texas to be elected to the highest office.  I promised you, when I took office, that I would alleviate the pain of this crisis.  I was clear about my belief that my methods would take a considerable amount of time to bear fruit.  But I was also clear that I believed that they would deliver prosperity, that they would create a better quality of life, and give this country an economy as great as its people.  And I promised you that I would not fail you.  
      I was blinded by ideology, by conviction, and indifferent to practicality and evidence of failure of my methods when put into practice.  I was convinced that the continued downturns of our economy were merely a case of things getting worse before they got better.  That the pain would give way to prosperity within a short time.  
      Nothing that I said would become reality.  I have not successfully made good on any of the promises I made to you 8 years ago, or four years ago.  I have not alleviated the pain of this crisis.  My methods have not delivered prosperity, nor have they created a better quality of life.  And this country does not have an economy that is worthy of any comparison to the greatness of our people.  
      And most tragically of all, I have failed you.  I have failed to deliver prosperity.  I have failed because for too long, I was too concerned with lending a hand to those who I believed had the most wealth to offer everyone else.  To those who I believed could deliver jobs to the jobless, food to the starved, and houses to the homeless.  I failed to realize that it was the people who had no wealth to offer who needed it most.  And by the time I did, my measures were not strong enough.  
      I have failed you.  It need not be put in less simple terms than that.  I have failed you.  I ask not for forgiveness.  But I do apologize with all of my heart for every person that died or suffered because of my inability to see the failure of my ideology when put into practice.  
      I wish my successor, the President-elect, all the best of luck in accomplishing the feats at which I so marvelously failed.  And I ask him not to make the same fatal mistake which I did.  That mistake which I ask him to avoid is not, to give the relief to those who need it least, which I know he will not do, but to ignore the failure of the ideology to which he is committed when put into practice, should it fail.  Once again, I wish him the best of luck, and I pray for the betterment of the collective quality of the lives of this nation's great people.  We are a young country which has accomplished much in our short life so far, and I know that we can accomplish far more through unity, through hard work, and strong moral values.  
      Thank you,
      May God bless you,
      And may God bless the United States of America."

      Surprisingly, Garner goes down in history in a manor not unlike Carter did in RL: as a far better human being than he was a President.  The nation begins to feel an odd sorrow for him after his farewell address, and Thomas removes many of the repudiations of Garner that had been in his inaugural speech before he gives it.  
      January 20, 1941: President Thomas takes office, as does Vice-President Wallace.  
A small excerpt from Thomas's inaugural speech:
      "Friends, we have no reason to say that this crisis cannot be ended.  We have no reason to say that we cannot overcome the crisis which is the trademark of capitalism.  We can stand in solidarity, in unity, to create a democratic and socialist paradise in which every man and woman can live up to their God-given potential, regardless of class-background, gender, or color.  We cancreate a society in which we can all prosper as people.  In which the people control the economy, rather than a select few.  We can build a more democratic political system.  We can rebuild this country on the same values upon which it was founded, so that everyone can have life, without fear of starving to death; where everyone can have liberty, and not be bound to the will of a select fortunate few; in which everyone can pursue happiness without being hampered by poverty."

Initial cabinet of President Thomas:
Secretary of State: Hiram Johnson
Secretary of the Treasury: Abba P. Lerner
Secretary of War: Phillip La Follette.  
Attorney General: Jacob Panken
Postmaster General: Louis Waldman
Secretary of the Navy: Matthew M. Neely
Secretary of the Interior: Harold Ickes
Secretary of Agriculture: George A. Nelson
Secretary of Commerce: Harry Hopkins
Secretary of Labor: Frances Perkins
Secretary to the President: Harry Laidler

      January 21: President Thomas enacts an executive order that reduces the annual Presidential salary from $75,000 to just $9,500.  The salaries of the Vice-President and the cabinet are also reduced to $9,500 per year.  He also enacts an executive order ending all government sales of airplanes, parts, machine tools, and aviation gasoline to Japan on humanitarian and isolationist grounds.  He had privately hoped to end all oil exports to Japan as well, but it was revealed that he was talked out of it at the last minute by La Follette, who convinced him that such a move would be equivalent to a declaration of war in the eyes of the Japanese.  
      January 28th: Representative Charles Zimmerman's Public Banking Act, which would have brought the Federal Reserve and all Wall Street banks under federal control is defeated narrowly in the House.  However, Congress does pass the Congressional Salaries Reductions Act, proposed by President Thomas, which reduces Congressional salaries to $9,500 per year. 

I can't believe I have missed this so far! This is good, and it is really interesting (and somewhat scary) to see a true Socialist in the Oval Office.

Thank you!  I'm scared of the idea of Thomas in the White House too, not because he was a socialist, but because of his outright pacifism and his inability to stand up to the communists in the SPA.  I'd actually have preferred to see Wallace as President, but I have a feeling that it would've worked out this way.  The reason why Thomas ends up being a failure is because of his inability to take drastic measures to end the war with Japan. 

      The rest of Thomas's First Hundred Days: Thomas passes a modified version of the Glass-Steagal Act of 1933, which had been vetoed by Garner.  He also passes another bill which holds all banks on Wall Street accountable to other regulations, including limitations on interest rates of loans.  A bill which he proposes to Congress which would nationalize US Steel is defeated in the House.  Thomas then realizes that he cannot push what he sees as socialism (public control of the means of production).  So, he decides to focus on temporary relief measures to alleviate the situation for the time being, with his eyes mainly on winning majorities in both houses of Congress in the 1942 midterms.  A list of the things done by the bills that he signs in the remainder of his first hundred days:

*The creation of the Social Security system, far more extensive than in OTL.  
*The imposition of a minimum wage of $0.60 per hour (having compromised with Republicans after he failed to get them on board with $.80 per hour)
*The creation of a Public Electricity Corporation, which provides power to the whole country.  
*The creation of the Conservation of Lands Program, known as COLP, which employs people on conservation projects, primarily in the West.  
*The creation of a Public Health Corporation, which provides a free health service to all in need of it.  It is a single-taxpayer system.  
*The reorganization of the cabinet, so that the Department of War is renamed the "Department of Self-Defense," and so that the Department of the Navy is merged into the Department of Self-Defense.  
*The creation of the Department of Health Services
*The creation of the Department of Social Welfare
*The creation of the Department of Education
*The creation of the Department of Transportation
*The creation of the Public Works Administration
*The creation of the Construction Works Administration (overseeing larger projects)
*New labor protections
*The creation of the American Housing Authority
*The establishment of rent controls
*The creation of the Co-operative Assistance Program, which gives financial assistance to newly-founded co-operatives
Thomas also proposes a ban on all segregation, and the bill passes the House, but is narrowly voted down in the Senate.  

For the new cabinet positions:

John Dewey is the first one to be offered the post of Secretary of Education, but being 81, he declines.  The Educational director at the Rand School of Science, Algernon Lee, is then offered the post.  He is confirmed by the Senate.  

Due to his health care activism, Harry Hopkins is offered the position of Secretary of Health.  He resigns as Secretary of Commerce to accept the position.  He is confirmed by the Senate without any trouble.  Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney of Wyoming is then nominated and confirmed as the new Secretary of Commerce.  

Economist and welfare advocate Edwin E. Witte is nominated for Secretary of Social Welfare, and is confirmed by the Senate.  

Milwaukee mayor Daniel Hoan is nominated for Secretary of Transportation, thanks to his extensive work on the issue in his city.  The Senate also confirms him.  

The new cabinet:
Secretary of State: Hiram Johnson
Secretary of the Treasury: Abba P. Lerner
Secretary of Self-Defense: Phillip La Follette
Attorney General: Jacob Panken
Postmaster General: Louis Waldman
Secretary of Health Services: Harry Hopkins
Secretary of Education: Algernon Lee
Secretary of the Interior: Harold Ickes
Secretary of Agriculture: George A. Nelson
Secretary of Social Welfare: Edwin E. Witte
Secretary of Commerce: Joseph C. O'Mahoney
Secretary of Labor: Frances Perkins
Secretary of Transportation: Daniel Hoan
Secretary to the President: Harry W. Laidler

Thomas's next move is a $10,000,000 education investment package, which includes new schools and teacher trainings.  A particular emphasis is put on black neighborhoods, though the effects of the project are felt throughout the country. 

Overall, the public sector grows substantially as doctors are hired to train others for the PHC, teachers are hired to train more for the Education Initiative, and workers of all skill levels are hired for the PEC, COLP, the CWA, and the AHA.  He then passes a repeal of prohibition and enacts a bill forcing integration of all public restaurants, parks, other public places, and, most importantly, all public schools.  The part which bans school segregation is then struck down by the Supreme Court soon. 

Thomas then turns to raising taxes on the wealthy.  The new tax code has a top tax rate of 85% for all earning over $3 million a year. 

How involved is SCOTUS so far? Or are they just waiting for the right moment to pounce? Enjoying the TL thus far!

Thanks again!  SCOTUS at this point is more than aware that almost all of the measures which Thomas is enacting are so popular that striking them down would spark unrest, especially since the "Militant" faction of the SPA (who are for all-out revolutionary socialism) would take the opportunity to call for a revolution against the Supreme Court.  But there is a sense that a lot of the bank and steel nationalizations which didn't pass Congress would've been struck down by the SCOTUS had they passed.  The civil rights bill is the first time that they feel that they have enough support among the public to strike down one of Thomas's measures.  And after that, they start to get more involved.  Stay tuned...

Soon afterward, another case is brought to the Supreme Court: American Medical Association vs. United States.  The American Medical Association sues the federal government for creating the PHC on constitutional grounds.  A Gallup poll shows that 71% of Americans consider the PHC to be constitutional, and shockingly, 55% believe that "a revolution is necessary if the Supreme Court strikes it down."  Already, large protests erupt throughout every major American city, including a few in the South, against the anticipated strike-down of the PHC.  SCOTUS then upholds the program by a vote of 3-2, with 4 abstentions, prompting Senator Robert Taft to accuse the four abstainers of "cowardice." 

By July, the unemployment rate, which has been increasing rapidly since 1929( when it was 21% after the stock market crash, to 45% when Thomas took office), has now stabilized, and shows signs of decreasing.  A poll shows that 70% of Americans approve of Thomas's performance thus far. 

A November report shows that unemployment has fallen to 40%.  Poverty rates are also shown to be lower than they were at the beginning of the year.  

      December 7, 1941: The Japanese Navy conducts a naval attack on the Base of the US Pacific Fleet in San Diego.  The attack has mixed-to-positive results, after a key sighting of the fleet in the Pacific causes an alert to be sent to the San Diego base at almost literally the last minute.  Having been a  "surprise attack" (only due to a communications failure), the attack causes a massive shift in American political opinions.  Congress immediately passes a declaration of war, and it is signed at 4:10 pm by President Thomas.  Self-Defense Secretary La Follette also abandons his previous outright pacifism.  The next day, Thomas makes a speech declaring war on the Japanese Empire, with Vice-President Wallace and House Speaker Clarence Senior behind him.
"Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives,
      Not in the past 22 years have we fired one bullet at a fellow nation, or her military.  Not in 22 years have we made a single provocation.  Yesterday, Sunday, the 7th of December, 1941, a provocation was made against us, and the amount of bullets which were fired at us is probably too great to ever be counted.  And, I regret to tell you, that many American lives were lost to those bullets.  But the men, and the women, (the nurses), who were lost from physical form, will never be lost from our hearts and our memories.  May God bless their souls.  They were killed because of an unprovoked, indefensible, and vicious attack which was carried out by forces with no motive besides aggression.  We have not declared war.  We have declared defense.  We have declared that should any of our boys in uniform, or any of us who are not, be intentionally killed or wounded, we will not hesitate to strike back.  We will not hesitate to defend our sovereignty, our security, our livelihoods, and our dignity, against an attack which threatens all of them...."

Germany and Italy both declare war on the US the same day. 

      December 9, 1941: Secretary of State Hiram Johnson resigns at the bequest of President Thomas after he unveils plans to round up all Japanese immigrants living in the United States and relocate them into "internment camps."  Washington Senator Homer T. Bone is nominated and confirmed as his successor.  

Somehow I'm not surprised at Thomas aping FDR here. Question: is Hoover still running the FBI or did Thomas get someone more to his ideological liking?

It's the Congressional arithmetic that forces him to.  Oh, and I totally forgot about Hoover.  Thomas replaces him with Miles Poindexter.  

January 20, 1942: An Gallup poll shows that 82% of Americans approve of Thomas's first year as President.  World War II advances from here more or less in the same way that it does in OTL, though Churchill's relationship with is far more strained than the one he has with FDR in RL.  Nonetheless, Thomas and Wallace both have private meetings with Clement Attlee, in which they are persuaded to form a "Western Allied" bloc with Britain. 

Meanwhile, Thomas's administration begins to dish out massive agricultural subsidies to farmers in exchange for wartime food.  State-owned military equipment factories are also set up, in which experiments regarding industrial democracy are introduced. 

By March, 1942, unemployment is at 16% due to mass military enlistment, but also thanks to the federal programs enacted thus far by Thomas.  There is a widespread sense that the Socialists are in for a massive victory in the midterms.  

      November, 1942: The Socialists win the midterms, now having 256 seats in the House and 52 in the Senate.  Thomas now decides that when the new Congress sits, he will push forward with nationalization. 

      February 6, 1943: President Thomas signs the Public Banking Act, which has now passed both houses of Congress.  J.P. Morgan and Co. files a lawsuit against the government, which makes it to the supreme court very quickly.  The ruling on J.P. Morgan and Co. vs. United States declares, by a vote of 4-3, that a government takeover of a private bank is unconstitutional.  House Speaker Senior makes a controversial public statement condemning the ruling.
      "Today, the Supreme so-called "Court" of the United States has proven that it is a bourgeois institution which acts only in the interests of the greedy financial elite, and against the interests of the American people.  They are merely a safeguard of Wall Street in the guise of a court of law.  They never ruled against the actions of the bankers when they acted, clearly illegally, to cause misery to the masses for the betterment of their own conditions.  They only acted now, against the public interests, in the guise of the law, to save their banking friends.  So, today, I call upon the American people to rise up against this so-called Court, and end their supremacy!  Only a revolution can stop them from preventing the onset of socialism!  Only a revolution can bring justice!"

      Immediately, Thomas and Wallace hold a meeting with the SPA Congressional caucus, and agree that Senior must become the first Speaker of the House to be removed.  A vote for speaker is forced, and the SPA caucus votes overwhelmingly for Max S. Hayes, and he overcomes the vote splitting caused by Senior's few loyalists.  Hayes becomes Speaker of the House, and Senior announces his departure from the Socialist Party, becoming an independent member of the House. 

So the SCOTUS is moving very carefully- only against things which they think public sentiment can either be pro- or at worst manageably outraged.

Yeah, but now they're starting to intervene even against the bank nationalization, which is favored by most, mainly because the success of Thomas's programs thus far has convinced them that his agenda is working and that further socialist measures will be beneficial.  The strikedown of the bank nationalization does cause outcry, which does result in many demonstrations calling for the replacements of all the conservative justices. 

Next, Representative Mary White Ovington's proposition for a constitutional amendment dealing with voting reform passes both the House and the Senate.  Its proposals include:
*The abolishment of the electoral college in all presidential elections.  
*The implementation for a two-round system of voting for all presidential, gubernatorial, senatorial, mayoral, and other elections for public office in the United States

Initially, the Socialists had wanted to include a switch to a parliamentary system (in federal, state, and municipal/local government) in the amendment, but knowing full well that they could not get three quarters of state legislatures to ratify it, they opt for a two-round system as a "temporary fix."  It then goes to the state legislatures.  

I'm mixed on the 2-round system and OK with EC abolition. When you say parliamentary do you mean the Westminster model or do you mean the current French system with a President/PM duo?

Westminster model, without the monarch.  With MMP voting. 

Ah. Should be fun.

Once the amendment goes to the state legislatures, representative Samuel Friedman proposes a bill which nationalizes US Steel.  It passes both Houses of Congress and is signed by President Thomas in July.  As expected, at the end of the year, the Supreme Court rules, in the case of U.S. Steel vs. United States, that the seizure of a private business by a federal, state, or municipal/local government for reasons besides halting or investigating illegal activities is unconstitutional, by a 5-3 margin.  Protests against the "obstructionism" of the SCOTUS become nationwide once again.  In a shock to the nation, Justices George Sutherland and Owen Roberts both announce their retirement two days later, giving no reasons.  It is later revealed that they both felt that they could not continue to vote with their consciences while keeping free of fears that such votes would cause massive, unneeded social unrest.  Seymour Stedman and Frank Murphy are nominated and confirmed as their successors.  
      Thomas decides to take another stab at civil rights.  In September, a bill banning all racial segregation passes both houses of Congress and is signed by President Thomas.  After a lawsuit makes it to SCOTUS at the speed of light, they rule by a margin of 5-4 that skin color is not an indication of personhood, that all segregation is unconstitutional, and that any state government which fails to enforce the law against segregation is in violation of the law.  

      Yet another stab is taken at the nationalizations bill.  This time, a single bill is passed nationalizing the Fed, Wall Street, and US Steel.  Thomas signs it in September, and it isn't long before J. P. Morgan, the Bank of America, and US Steel sue the federal government.  While the lawsuit makes its way to SCOTUS, Thomas passes a bill creating a new cabinet department: The Department of Citizens Equality, which is to be concerned with African-Americans' civil rights, women's rights, and immigrant/ethnic minority rights.  Congressman and civil rights activist A. Philip Randolph is nominated and confirmed for the position. 

Are the shattered remnants of what the TL's textbooks probably call the Ancien Regime picking up the pieces and attempting to organize any sort of political counteroffensive? Sort of like how IRL the GOP took the offensive in FDR's second term?

The Dems are probably hit hardest because their Southern backbone snapped like a twig when class solidarity overwhelmed race solidarity. Poor and middle class whites teaming up with poor blacks against the aristocracy... their worst nightmare. With the GOP's progressive wing disappearing, can they make a deal with the Dixiecrats if only temporarily?

The Republicans and Democrats are both in disarray right now.  The Republicans have shifted a bit to the left of Hoover.  I suppose they'd be considered "liberal" to "left-liberal" in the European sense.  The Dems are somewhat ironic.  They're becoming a Southern-based, conservative party, socially, and economically, opposing Thomas's economic agenda left and right, even though Democratic southern governors are putting many social programs in place in their own states.  When asked, they simply say that such programs should be "up to states, in cases in which they are essential."  

And the only alliance will be in elections, after the first round has been held. 

      Late September through October, 1943: Wall Street businessman Wendell Wilkie announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the Presidency once again.  Manhattan borough President Thomas E. Dewey (who in this TL ran for borough president in 1942 because he knew Governor Solomon was invincible) is the next to declare his candidacy. 
      Next, the Democrats start to enter the race, with Michigan Senator Arthur Vandenberg becoming the first to declare his candidacy after former Vice-President Al Smith rules out any presidential run on account of his age.  All eyes turn to Ohio Senator Robert Taft, who again appears mum about a presidential bid, with many once again seeing him as unwilling to risk any political capital to run for an office which he can't win.  Next, Georgia Senator Richard Russell, Jr. once again declares his candidacy.  North Carolina Senator Josiah W. Bailey enters the race soon afterward. 
      Washington Governor Clarence D. Martin enters the Republican race next.  Soon, eyes turn to the party's young, rising star, Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen.  He is best known for overcoming a massive Socialist tide in 1942 to win the gubernatorial office in 1942, after narrowly loosing it in 1938.  While he appears unlikely to enter the race himself, his endorsement becomes very sought-after. 

      November, 1943: Left-leaning Republican Senator Harry Truman, of Missouri, announces his candidacy for President.  Having made headlines for himself in the Senate blasting big businesses and monopolies, he appears to be the only Republican or Democrat with any hope of beating the popular President Thomas.  One crucial Achilles Heel which holds him back, however, is his well-documented connections to the political machine of Tom Pendergast.  However, his liberal inclanations earn him the endorsement of North Dakota Senator Gerald Nye.  His insurgent campaign picks up speed very quickly.  He then wins the endorsement of Governor Stassen.  
      Former House Speaker Clarence Senior announces a primary challenge to President Thomas, calling him a "revisionist warmonger." However, he appears to have little-to-no chance of accomplishing anything besides dividing the party.  
      Vandenberg is the clear Democratic front-runner, though this status is threatened by the "will he or won't he?" speculation about Taft.  In contrast to the Republican field, where ideological differences between the candidates are well-documented, the Democratic one appears to be almost identical.  Regional elements come into play, as Vandenberg campaigns as the "candidate who can expand our party past our Southern base."  Never taken seriously due to his age, Senator Bailey drops out before the primaries even begin.  
      December, 1943: A Supreme Court ruling overturns the previous rulings against the constitutionality of bank and steel nationalizations.  Meanwhile, as the Republican race heats up, Dewey attacks Truman as a product of patronage.  Truman responds by blasting Dewey's "inexperience," saying "he was an inexperienced candidate in 1940, and he's had a chance to get some experience since then.  And well, he decided to take a very good shot at getting some experience that would qualify him for the White House.  Aiming with skill, with patience, and with practice, he aimed, boy did he aim.  He took a shot, and boy, he sure got the Bronze that he was aiming for!" The crowd bursts into applause and laughter.  One man in the audience yells,
"Give 'em hell, Harry!"  
"I'm doing it right now!" Truman replies.  
"He could've run for Governor.  He decided to run for the president of a borough.  He could've run for mayor in 1941, but he was afraid of "Little Flower" La Guardia.  He could have run for Governor in 1942, but he was afraid of Solomon!  So now he's running for President of the United States again, because he's the President of the borough of Manhattan!  He must figure he can be President of anything!" 

      Borough President Dewey fires back the next day. 
      "Senator Truman does not know Manhattan, quite clearly!  The borough of Manhattan has a higher population than the state of Washington, and no one questions if that population gives Governor Martin enough executive experience.  And to be accused by Senator Truman of lacking executive experience is very interesting!  Not only does he have none!  But every political position I have held, I fought for, and won fairly.  Senator Truman is in the Senate because Tom Pendergast handed him the race on a silver platter!  He even asked Mr. Pendergast if he could run for a seat in the House of Representatives, but Pendergast had already promised it to someone else!  He's known as the "Senator from Pendergast," he ran because Pendergast wanted him to, and if he's President, you can bet he'll remember that he owes it to Pendergast!"

      As the Dewey/Truman catfight rages, the Democratic race is hit by a big surprise.  Businessman and former White House economic adviser Joseph P. Kennedy announces his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for President.  Kennedy is known for having advised President Garner to sponsor some relief efforts while the latter was in office, and having quit due to the President's refusal to consider them.  He is also expected to be bogged down by his comments that the European front of the war was "not about democracy," and all eyes will be on how he explains or gets past the issue.  While these are the first issues that come up, there is a far bigger "elephant in the room": his Roman Catholicism will make him very unattractive as a candidate in the South, which is now the Democrats' core region.  Ironically, were it not for religion, he'd be quite popular in the South, where support for social programs and stimulus projects is high among poor whites.  While anti-Catholic bigotry is lower in the North, Kennedy's fiscal stances put him at odds with the much more fiscally conservative Northern Democrats.  As his son John would later say, "Everywhere he went, there was something that hurt him.  It was just different wherever you went." 
()

Kennedy's candidacy certainly does add some fire to the previously-dull Democratic race, and lays the foundations of a future multi-party political dynasty. 

Rooting for Truman to win the Republican nomination and take the country to a more sane stance, though of course not quite where I'd want it. :P As well, should be good for handling WWII and the aftermath. And I'm guessing since both parties are rivals of the Socialists, there'd be less a chance of Truman allowing anything close to "commie infiltration" of the State department.

As for the Dems, Kennedy makes it interesting and it'd be cool to see him head or get the back end of a ticket. What is Vandenburg's stance on the war?

He was an isolationist before the war, but quickly turned into an internationalist after it started. 

      At the end of the year, attention comes back to the bank and steel nationalizations.  Joseph Kennedy calls it an "outrage, a validation of statism, and potentially a pathway to overturning other liberties."  Dewey calls it "a political ruling by a court which is supposed to be above politics." He says that "anyone who knows anything about the law and legal affairs will tell you that this is illegal." Wilkie calls it "a destructive blow to private enterprise, and dirt on the cause of noble, social justice-oriented, and fair minded businessmen." Vandenburg and Russell both vow that they will privatize the institutions "on day one" of their presidencies." Controversy is caused when Senator Truman says in an interview that he won't privatize US Steel until the war is over," saying "public ownership of the steel industry is wrong, but also necessary until peacetime, when we won't need to be directing its operations." Dewey pounces on the opportunity, saying Truman "has proven that he is not a capitalist.  He believes the government is better fit, in wartime, to manage the economy than the private sector."  

      After Allied Commander Douglas MacArthur rules out a run due to his war duties, Dewey begins to win the early primaries.  Wilkie backs out after a poor showing of 8% in New Hampshire.  A major blow comes for Truman when he, a Midwestern populist, narrowly looses the state of Wisconsin, and soon Illinois.  Martin drops out and endorses Dewey.  Wilkie then endorses him too.  
      On the Democratic side, Kennedy appears to be the frontrunner after winning New Hampshire, but looses Wisconsin and Illinois to Vandenberg.  Realizing that it is crucial to sure up delegates in the North and West, he campaigns heavily to win the remaining Northern primaries.  Russell decides to drop out and endorse Vandenberg, giving him the crucial bump he needs.  Kennedy surprisingly looses Pennsylvania (by 53 votes), and after that, it becomes clear that Vandenberg is the favorite.  
      Thomas consistently wins each primary by a landslide, and Senior is little on the minds of most voters.

Link to the primary schedule. Would love to see a primary map. Can't find one for the Dems though. Ourcampaigns used to have them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States)_presidential_primaries,_1944

I know.  I might get around to a primary map later, but for right now, I'm gonna press on.  Remind me if I don't do it by the end of the week. 

Vandenburg/Kennedy '44!

      At the Socialist convention in Indianapolis, Thomas wins the nomination with 91% of the vote.  Wallace is renominated as his running mate.  Hoan's successor as Milwuakee mayor, Frank Zeidler, manages to impress the crowds with his address.  The keynote address, however, is given by social activist and feminist Elanor Roosevelt, a candidate for Congress in New York. Tennessee congressman Estes Kefauver also gives a rousing speech which catches the eyes of many.  There is also a large tribute to Eugene V. Debs, and Thomas's rousing speech concludes a very successful convention.  
      Vandenberg goes into the Democratic convention in Charlotte with the hope of uniting the various wings of the party.  He decides to make Senator Russell his running mate, believing that any Southern-based party should have a Southerner on the ticket (sorry, Cathcon). He does, however, promise to make Kennedy his Treasury Secretary.  Former President Garner has a small role in the convention, and is mainly forgotten by the end.  However, Senator Taft's commanding presence at the convention reminds the delegates that Vandenberg is a sacrificial lamb, and that the party's best player is on the sidelines.  
      The Republican convention in San Diego begins with grandeur and a bang.  Dewey is nominated by the convention and chooses his 1940 rival, Gerald Nye as his running mate, since Truman would be far too hostile.  California attorney general Earl Warren gives a major speech which puts him on the radar.  Besides Dewey's speech, the other big story from the convention is Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen's keynote address.  
      Thomas goes into the general election with a commanding lead in the polls, with 55% after the conventions, and Vandenberg follows with 23%, with Dewey just behind him at 21%.  

So far so smooth for Thomas. But could there be a twist somewhere? ;)

      Vandenberg and Dewey make an issue out of Thomas's refusal to round up any Japanese-Americans who are not personally suspected of contacts with or spying for the Japanese government.  Vandenberg points out the collaboration of ethnic Japanese citizens of the Philippines collaborating with invading Japanese forces.  Thomas responds by pointing out "Japanese-recruitment" programs, aimed at rallying Japanese-Americans to the American cause, which have been put in place both by the federal government and Governor Sinclair's administration in California.  The issue isn't enough to change the election.  Final result:

Norman Thomas/Henry A. Wallace–56%
Arthur Vandenberg/Richard Russel, Jr.-22%
Thomas E. Dewey/Gerald Nye-21%

()

      The Socialists also manage to make even further (though slight) gains in both Houses of Congress.  In the lame duck session of Congress, Thomas passes an affordable housing bill and a workplace compensation bill. 
      January, 1945: After taking the oath of office for the second time, Thomas focuses all efforts to the war.  He decides, secretly, to put more funding toward the Manhattan project, which he had initially only put in place because of the persistence of Einstein.  The war in Europe ends basically the same as RL.  Italy surrendered in 1943, and an Ally government was in place.  Thomas focuses efforts towards Germany, hoping to make them do the same. 
      May, 1945: Germany surrenders and falls into four zones of occupation as in OTL.  Thomas decides to blockade Japan and bomb government buildings with full force short of the atomic bomb.  He gives specific instructions to "avoid civilian casualties wherein at all possible." He considers bombing the Emperor's Palace, but as he would later confess, he "couldn't contemplate the idea that those bombs would be falling on a building with children in it."  With a general sense that the war will go on for years, Clement Attlee, now the British Prime Minister, pledges full support to America. 

      June, 1945: Thomas rules out a land invasion of Japan for the time being, citing estimates that it could cost up to 800,000 American and 10 million Japanese lives.  He decides to continue the strategy of bombing the strategic military bases.  When Hopkins privately recommends reconsidering the use of the atomic bomb, now completed, Thomas refuses, saying the current bombing campaign is the best solution.  Every key military base throughout Japan is leveled to the ground.  Some recommend a paratrooper invasion of the islands, but knowing full well how any captured Allied soldiers will be treated should they be captured (which surely many would), Thomas rejects it for the time being.  At the time, the American people are unaware of the Manhattan project, and are resigned to the fact that the war against Japan may drag on for years.  The idea of a bombing campaign has far more appeal to Americans at this point, due to the fear of the massive loss of American lives that would result from a land invasion.  

      May, 1945: As tensions rise between the Western and Eastern allied forces in Europe, Thomas briefly turns his attention to the economy again.  He proposes a bill to Congress that nationalizes the coal mining industry, and it passes pretty quickly.  Harry Hopkins retires as Health Services Secretary due to his battle with stomach cancer.  Thomas nominates Wilbur J. Cohen as his successor. 

      July, 1945: Because of Stalin's agreement to declare war on Japan and invade Manchuria within three months of the Japanese surrender, Thomas decides to blockade the West Coast of Japan in collaboration with the British, and invade Korea.  Meanwhile, the bombing of Japan appears to be getting nowhere thus far, though it appears early to say whether it is a success or failure.  Plans for a land invasion are already drawn up, though they are reserved for backup. 

      August 10, 1945: As expected, the Soviets invade Manchuria and the part of Korea which is yet to be liberated by the Americans (the Northern third).  Fearing that the Russians may try to join the bombing campaign in Japan and become a nuisance in the East as well as the West, Thomas puts a significant amount of Air Force jets over the Hokkaido island, as a signal that the Americans have things under control. 

      October 15, 1945: Thomas authorizes the bombings of civillian areas and the homes of the top military rulers in great personal agony.  He does tell the Air Force to "aim for the streets," but his personal pain is strong nonetheless.  He looses weight quickly and clearly, and is clearly loosing sleep over it (as demonstrated by dark circles seen under his eyes in public at one event).  

      November 8, 1945: Thomas institutes a "softening by submarine" program which would send American submarines into the many small Japanese rivers to strike blows to the bases to soften them up.  At that point, the plan is to present a terms of surrender document to Emperor Hirohito. 

So Hirohito's survived the Tokyo raids along with the imperial family and the government? Anyhoo, keep it up- Downfall or no Downfall, 'tis the question.

Err, yeah, I made the edit that it's other military officials besides him whose residences get bombed. 

November 9, 1945: The terms of surrender are rejected by Emperor Hirohito, who gives a public address (since the bombings have stopped) defying the US, saying that it is the duty of every citizen of Japan to die rather than surrender.  
()

      November 15, 1945: The air raids resume again, and the submarine softening campaign also intensifies.  Thomas's weight loss and sleep depravation becomes even more apparent when in public as he lays awake at night, contemplating the use of the atomic bomb and whether such a move would be preferable to invasion.  Many grow impatient with Thomas's unwillingness to "invade already," unaware that another option is on the table (which, if it were known, would be wanted even more). 

      February 8th, 1946: Thomas gives a state of the Union address in which he says that "any option which can limit loss of lives must be used.  Why, some may ask?  Because we are Americans.  Because we are humane.  We will show the Japanese the mercy, the humanity, and the benevolence which they never showed to us.  We will demonstrate honor.  Not the false so-called "honor" of the samurai, but the true honor of the pioneer..."
      After the speech is finished, as Thomas is stepping off the podium, he faints and collapses from exhaustion.  He is rushed to a hospital immediately, causing a state of panic among the nation.  The next day, Vice-President Wallace arrives at the White House to lead a cabinet meeting, to give the impression to the Japanese (and, to a lesser extent the Soviets,) that the government is still fully functional, operational, and resolute.  
()

February 13, 1946: Thomas awakens from his long, nonstop sleep, later revealing that it was filled with nightmares depicting the deaths of Japanese civilians.  He returns to the White House, with the dark circles under his eyes gone, but still very gaunt. 

April 5, 1946: Thomas signs a bill that begins a paratrooper invasion of Hokkaido.  The plan is designed to take the island swiftly and to show to the rest of Japan how quickly the US can invade.

      April 10, 1946: The paratrooper invasion of Hokkaido begins.  Thomas gives a radio broadcast to the nation before it begins:
      "We are embarking upon a mission to show Japan's rulers that defeat is imminent.  We will show them  how swiftly we can take their island of Hokkaido, to make it clear that the sooner they surrender, the more lives they save." A Gallup poll shows that 57% of Americans believe that it should be an invasion of all of Japan.  It also shows that while 55% still approve of President Thomas's work, 58% believe that his first term was better than his second. 

April 17, 1946: A new report is published showing a slowdown in economic growth to less than 2%. 

      May 17th, 1946: The invasion and takeover of Hokkaido becomes complete.  Thomas warns that "in a matter of months, the rest of Japan can also be invaded and conquered by the forces of freedom." He once again presents a terms of surrender to Hirohito, requiring the abdication of the monarchy, the military disarmament of Japan, and the compensation of all surviving victims of Japanese aggression.  As expected, Hirohito once again defies Thomas and declares that Japan will "fight to the last man standing, as according to the code of the samurai." 

Rooting for U.S. forces. Wondering if the Dems will take the House in '46 like the Republicans did OTL, especially with the economic slowdown. Victory in WWII might bolster Socialist chances but I have a feeling that 1948 will bring a change in leadership.

      June 6, 1946: Thomas authorizes a paratrooper invasion of Tokyo.  
      June 9, 1946: The paratrooper invasion of Tokyo begins, with most of the first boots to hit the ground landing around the perimeter of the city to prevent Emperor Hirohito from escaping.  

Thomas will loose the midterms, and 1948 will be a change in leadership.  But virtually all of the past Thomas supporters who abandon him will go to the Republicans, since they are the more liberal of the non-socialist parties.  So the Republicans and Democrats together will retake both Houses of Congress in '46.

      June 10th: As of 14:46 local military time, the city of Tokyo is fully under American control.  In spite of a message from General Eisenhower urging President Thomas to use the atomic bomb on at least one Japanese city, Thomas refuses to do so, stating that such a move would trigger the Russians into attempting to build one themselves, potentially ending all mankind.  On that day, Generals MacArthur and Eisenhower are granted an audience with Emperor Hirohito on the condition that they pledge not to attack either the Emperor, his family, or anyone else in the Imperial Palace.  The Emperor himself also pledges that he will not order an attack on either of the generals.  They return from the meeting with the message that the Emperor and his government are willing to agree to a ceasefire, but not a surrender.  Any ceasefire which he would accept would require a withdrawal of Allied forces from Japan, and would not include any reductions in Japan's military size or arsenal, and would not guarantee the end of hostilities between the two nations at later dates.  After much personal agony, Thomas decides to reject these terms. 

An interesting twist would be guerrilla warfare, guess we'll see if that happens.

      June 12th: Clusters of bombs are dropped on Osaka's government buildings to reinforce the idea that Osaka could be next for a paratrooper invasion.  Thomas decides to turn to the economy temporarily at this point, putting new money into infrastructure projects in an attempt to revive the seemingly-stagnant economy.  He rejects the advice of Abba Lerner that the nationalizations of the mining and steel industries caused the slowdown, and that they should be handed over to either worker co-operatives or private individuals.  

      June 28th, 1946: A bitter confrontation with Stalin over the reunification of Korea causes the Soviet forces to withdraw military support to the United States in its battle over Japan.  Thomas sends both SoS Homer T. Bone and Vice-President Wallace (known for his suspicious relations with the USSR) to Moscow to attempt to persuade Stalin otherwise, but Stalin refuses to listen. 

      August 12th, 1946: A paratrooper invasion of Osaka begins in the same manner as Tokyo.  As of 5:30 am the next day, the Allied control over the city is complete.  Privately, it becomes known among government circles that Emperor Hirohito is willing to sign a surrender agreement so long as he is not required to give up the throne. 

      August 25th, 1946: Thomas passes a bill that gives statehood status to Washington D.C.  On the same day, he authorizes a paratrooper invasion of Kyoto.  The invasion is actually half-paratrooper.  The other half is comprised of marines who land on the city shores through submarines.  As of 11:37 that night, the city is under American control. 
      August 31st, 1946: The city of Hiroshima is paratrooper-invaded.  By 9:45 that night, the Americans have full control over the city. 
      September 5, 1946: A paratrooper invasion of Miyazaki begins, and is completed by 10:07 in the evening. 

      October 7, 1946: Generals Eisenhower and MacArthur visit the Emperor once again.  He confides in them that he no longer wants war, and would be willing to surrender should he keep the throne.  However, he tells them that his military government ministers are unwilling to budge, and that for a supposed absolute monarch, he has little sway over his government.  When word of the meeting gets to President Thomas, he decides that should more cities fall to the Americans, he may be able to force the military rulers of Japan to surrender, though he also hopes that it will also convince Hirohito to give up the throne in a surrender agreement. 

October 10, 1946: A paratrooper invasion of all un-occupied parts of the island of Kyushu begins. 
October 13, 1946: As of 9:34 am, the entire island of Kyushu is under American control. 
     

      November 5, 1946: The Socialists take a major blow in the midterm elections, loosing their majorities in both houses of Congress.  Their number of seats in the House falls to 152 compared to 147 for the Republicans and 128 for the Democrats.  Their Senate count falls to 46, compared to 33 for the Democrats and 22 for the Republicans (Washington D.C. has only one Senate seat.)

      Mid-October–December 1946: With an end to the war against Japan in sight, Thomas now realizes that the lame duck session of the current Congress is his last chance to accomplish anything substantial.  In addition to passing an education booster bill and a collective bargaining rights bill, he also passes more civil rights bills for women, African-Americans, and Native Americans.  Most notably, he passes a bill that redirects the vast majority of US Steel activities from military manufacturing to civilian products, due to his fear that the economy may become dependent upon military equipment if such a move is not taken.  It proves to be a fondly-remembered decision.  The Industrial-Military complex that killed JFK in RL never develops in such a powerful way thanks to Thomas's promotion of automobile manufacturing as an alternative to weapons-building. 

      January 3, 1947: As the new Congress is called into session, the Democrats decide to back the Republican candidate, Joseph W. Martin, Jr., for House speaker.  He is elected, making it even clearer how difficult it will be for Thomas to get anything done. 

      February 8, 1947: The city of Kobe is paratrooper-invaded and taken over quickly. 
      February 12, 1947: A paratrooper-invasion of the island of Shikoku begins. 
      February 14, 1947: As of 3:56 pm, the island of Shikoku is fully under Allied control. 
      February 23, 1947: Thomas vetoes a bill that privatizes US Steel, Wall Street banks, and the coal industry, and returns the Federal Reserve to its previous state of being independently operating within the government, but independent of it. 
      February 27, 1947: A Democratic-sponsored repeal of Thomas's anti-segregation laws fails to pass the House. 
      March 14, 1947: A simultaneous paratrooper invasion of Sendai, Yokohama, Nagoya, Akita, and Aomori begins.  Codenamed "Operation Liberty," it becomes clear to Japan's government that if this operation is lost, it signals the end of the war.  They fight in a more dedicated and brutal way than ever before.
      March 19, 1947: The invasions are all completed. 
      March 21, 1947: Emperor Hirohito signs the Treaty of Surrender, in which he agrees to abdicate the throne in favor of a provisional republic within 48 hours, with the understanding that the provisional republic is to be replaced by a democratic one. 
      ()

Republic of Japan... gulp. Apart from that, still very much enjoying this TL.

      March 22, 1947: Hirohito announces his abdication in a radio address to his people.  
()
"To all of my subjects,
      Yesterday, as you all know, I signed an official surrender to the American and Allied forces, at 12:34 pm.  In signing it, I agreed that Japan would reduce the size of its military to that of one for crucial self defense.  I also agreed that within 48 hours of my signing of the treaty, I would step down as your Emperor and bring about the end of the Empire, and the monarchy.  It is to be replaced with a Republic in which elections are free, and opinions can be voiced clearly.  Signing it was not a decision which I made out of cowardice or dishonor.  I did it out of a desire to see our country thrive.  It would never have thrived again had the war continued.  I would have wanted to see the Empire live on and expand, and it was always my dream to see the rest of the world ruled by the Empire of the Sun.  But for us to continue to fight for it would be to destroy the future of this nation of the sun...."

      Match 23rd, 1947: Mosaburo Suzuki takes over as the interim President of Japan.  Jotaro Kawakami takes the position of acting Prime Minister.  As Thomas would later explain, "they weren't chosen because they were socialists.  They were chosen because we needed people who were respected and capable, who hadn't supported the war, and weren't communists.  As it turns out, the socialists were the only ones who fit the job requirements."
()

      April 15, 1947: The Ku Klux Klan is refounded by white Southern veterans returning home, angry due to finding the world which they once knew completely changed to something to which they are vehemently opposed. 
()

      April 16, 1947: President Thomas makes a surprise radio address to the nation, confirming the reliability of the reports of the Klan's return. 
"To my fellow Americans,
      Yesterday, we learned that what is perhaps the most vile, disgusting, disgraceful, and contemptible organizations this country has ever known was resurrected.  It pains me to tell you that the reports of the revival of the Ku Klux Klan are accurate and veritable.  For many of you in this nation, the news brings fear and horror.  And for me, it brings not only fear for those of us who are black, Catholic, Jewish or of any other demographic whom the Klan has targeted with their vile hatred.  It also brings sorrow for the fact that there still exists the vile element of intolerance in this nation to the degree that such an awful group can be brought back from hell. 
      Twice the Ku Klux Klan has besmirched our nation.  Both times, it died out.  And now, it has returned to defile our country yet again.  As is my duty as President, I will work to protect all people of this nation, regardless of color, ethnicity, religion, gender, or any other divides among our population.  And it is why today, I am sending the National Guard to all Southern states to protect any potential targets of the Klan's terror.  We will not be intimidated.  We will not be bullied into submission to terrorism.  We will swiftly confront any violations of the law and appropriately punish the violators.  We have defeated fascism in Germany, Italy, and Japan, and by God, we will do it in our own country as well."

      April 17th: The National Guard is sent into all Southern states, as well as much of the Midwest.  There is to be a ratio of 4 per population of 500 people, but with no less than 3 per town, or villiage.  Thomas says that their mission is to "protect all potential targets of the Klan's terror, and arrest any perpetrators of all failed or successful acts of terror."
()

      April 25th: After a very tense 8 days, a lynching is attempted in the Klan's birthplace of Pulaski Tennessee.  The targets are a black family living on the city's outskirts.  The 38 national guard members patrolling the streets are able to stop it before it starts.  The 22 Klansmen are charged with attempted murder. 

      Late April-early June, 1947: The lynching attempts continue, with most being thwarted.  A poll is released showing that, surprisingly, the American people blame mainly Thomas, for pushing an issue that the nation "wasn't ready for."  

      June–August, 1947: The vast majority of lynching attempts are thwarted.  Immediately, a sense develops that KKK activities are a lost cause, and the organization's membership declines.  
      August 8, 1947: Democratic Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy gives a soon-to-be famous speech in the Senate:
      "Friends and colleagues, there is no doubt that America has an administration which is hellbent on bringing communism to this nation.  We have Communists working at every level and department of government, operating under the guise of socialism, or even so-called "social democracy."  But the true fact of the matter is that communism, socialism, social democracy, and every other one of these ideologies are essentially the same ideology, the same goals, and the same danger.  We have an administration which is rapidly changing the system and laws of the state and knocking over checks and balances to impose the same system of which Stalin has imposed in Russia.  Let me make that clear: the "socialism" which they espouse IS communism.  And anyone who thinks differently need only look closely at the ideologies and compare.  They are both atheist philisophies.  They reject God, morality, and decency in favor of the state.  And look what faith in the state has lead to in Russia!  Every member of the current cabinet is an avowed communist.  So are 46 Senators and 152 members of the House of Representatives is a communist.  They are not merely enemies from within.  They are enemies at the top.  So for the sake of defending Chrisianity against the advances of atheist Communism, we God-fearing Christians in Congress will and must stand up in both Houses to fight this government's statist agenda and restore morality to this great nation!"

()
      

So he federalizes all the Guards? Interesting. Almost a second Reconstruction.

      August 10, 1947: Senator McCarthy denies accusations of scaremongering, saying that the federalization of the National Guards and the actions of sending them into the Southern states represented the beginning. 
      "The President has consolidated the power of the states and taken them to the federal government.  He has sent in the military to perform the duties of the police forces of the states.  All of this is part of his strategy to achieve complete control of America to enforce his communist agenda.  He has used the actions of the Ku Klux Klan as an excuse to send the domestic wing of the military to impose, what is, essentially, martial law in the Southeast.  To those who still say that I am fearmongering or dellusional, I will soon be investigating senior officials in our current administration, for suspected links to the Soviet Union, communist sympathies, or Communist Party membership, past or present.  I am confident that we will prove this administration to be doing the bidding of the Soviet Union."

Interesting that McCarthy crops up even in a much more left-wing TL, where WI Progressives should be stronger. Keep it coming Peter. :)

      August 15, 1947: Senator McCarthy's resolution to create a Senate Standing Committee on National Loyalty.  He is elected Comittee Chairman.  He announces that the first target of his investigations will be Vice-President Wallace.  

Interesting. I'd hate to say "Go Joe", but in the case of this world, there might be some legitimate threat where he's looking. Obviously a government much more likely to embrace the Soviet Union.

Well, Thomas was always quite clear about defining the difference between socialism and communism, and in rl, he even accused FDR of being too hesitant to attack Stalin's human rights record, even though he ironically sided with pro-Soviet radical idiots in the SPA to overthrow the Old Guard (the social democrats led by Morris Hilquit and later Waldman).  Wallace, however, was quite stupidly head over heals for the Soviets, of course. 

      August 16, 1947: McCarthy suddenly announces a change in tactics.  He announces that the Secretary of State, Homer T. Bone, will be the first target.  The decision is seen as bizarre, though many speculate that he is saving Wallace up for last, since he is by far the most widely suspected member of Thomas's administration of Soviet ties.  As it is later revealed, he was persuaded by Senator Taft to keep Wallace free from distractions so that Wallace could run for President, since he is far easier to portray as a communist than any other potential Socialist candidates. 

Is Alger Hiss in any low level State Department/foreign policy position?

He briefly had a stint there, but he was kicked out by Bone, who, along with Thomas, wanted to prove the administration to be anti-communist.  Plus, McCarthy is after far bigger fish in this TL. 

      August 19, 1947: Democratic Senator Robert Taft of Ohio is the first to announce his candidacy for President.  Echoing McCarthy's rhetoric, he repeatedly refers to the Thomas administration as communist, saying that the "final goal of the current Socialist administration is to "overturn the constitution, achieve absolute power for themselves, end the place of Christianity in our society, and ultimately, to impose a system in which the state tells the citizens, every moment of every day, what to say, what to do, what to think, what to feel, and how to act.  One need only look at how their comrades have governed the Soviet Union as a model.  Anyone who dissents against the orders of the state is sent to die a slow, painful death in a gulag.  I don't want such a system to prevail here.  I am running for President to defend liberty, economic and political, and to protect our national religion, Christianity, against the onslaught of godlessness and statism!" 

()

This is really good. I applaud your efforts.

Go Taft Go!

      August 21, 1947: Maryland Senator Millard Tydings throws his hat into the Republican race, becoming the first Republican to do so.  
      "We've had 8 years of deregulation, income and corporate tax reductions for the wealthiest, and social devastation, in the misplaced hope that the banks and the big businesses would end the crisis themselves.  Now, we've had 6 years of government control over the entire economy, massive and inefficient spending projects, and tax rate increases to strangling rates, in the belief that the state can make things better.  I am here to tell you that it will take a co-operation between the people and limited government intervention to grow our economy.  I am standing for the sensible middle that we have lost these past 14 years.  
()

Thank you!  It's been tricky, but I really want to do it.  It's really fun to do these! :)

      August 23, 1947: Former Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen announces his candidacy for the Presidency, joining Tydings in the Republican race.  He promises to maintain the PHC as well as all of Thomas's education investments, his welfare programs, his civil rights legislation, the minimum wage, his labor laws, his conservation programs, and all other such programs.  He does, however, vow to privatize US Steel and the mines, saying that nationalization "has strangled the economy."  He does, promise, however, that the privatizations won't be "no-strings-attached givaways," saying that if the former owners or anyone else wish to buy these corporations, they must agree to regulations that forbid bad business practices. 
()

      August 24, 1947: California governor Upton Sinclair denies speculation that he will challenge Vice-President Wallace in the Socialist primary, saying, "I support fully the current administration.  I have not the will, the energy, nor the health needed for the Presidency.  And I am sure that Mr. Wallace will make a fine President.  
()
      On the same day, South Carolina governor Strom Thurmond announces his candidacy for President, becoming the second Democrat to throw his hat into the ring.  He says that the South "has been unduly invaded yet again," and that "we have had troops of our own country forcing our churches, our swimming pools, our restaraunts, our bus seats, our parks, and our schools, but I have a message for them: They will never succeed in their attempts to integrate us with inferior races.  They will never be able to send enough troops–they can send the entire army–but they will not overcome the wrath of the White South.  We white Sotherners are TIRED of being the victims in this country!"  
()

      August 25, 1947: Former House Speaker Clarence Senior announces his candidacy yet again for the Presidential nomination, saying he wants to "revolutionize the state institutions" and "save this party from itself." 
()

      August 27, 1947: Civil Rights Secretary A. Phillip Randolph condemns Governor Thurmond's remarks in very strong terms. 
     "Governor Thurmond, I have a very simple message for you.  On Sunday, the twenty-fourth of August, 1947, you, speaking on behalf of all white Southerners, in your view, claimed to be the victim of the advancements that have been made throughout this country's history in the field of civil rights.  You claimed that equality for all people, as ensured by our constitution and bill of rights, regardless of color, is an attack on white Southerners.  You call yourself the victim.  I want you to tell every family which has lost a relative to the terror of the Ku Klux Klan, that you and the white population of the South are victims of their assaults on yourself.  Tell the race which was forcibly brought here as slaves by racists such as yourself that you are the victim.  Tell the race which has been forced into second-class citizenship that you are the victim.  You will get a response which I am sure will interest you." 
()

      August 28, 1947: Republican Senate leader Scott W. Lucas of Illinois announces his candidacy for President, calling for "a return to fiscal responsibility, but the maintenance of the social justice that has finally been achieved in recent years. 
()

      August 30, 1947: A Gallup poll on potential and declared candidates is released.  

Senator Robert Taft of Ohio–28%
Governor Strom Thurmond of South Carolina–15%
Businessman Joseph Kennedy of Massachusetts–13%
Senator Richard Russell, Jr. of Georgia–10%
Senator Arthur Vandenberg of Michigan–8%
Governor Benjamin Travis Laney of Arkansas–5%
Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin–4%
Undecided–11%
Another candidate–6%

Governor Harold Stassen of Minnesota–22%
Senator Millard Tydings of Maryland–16%
Senator Harry Truman of Missouri–13%
Senator Scott W. Lucas of Illinois–11%
Representative William Joseph Martin, Jr. of Massachusetts–9%
Senator Irving Ives of New York–7%
Borough President Thomas E. Dewey of New York–5%
Undecided–10%
Another candidate–7%

Vice-President Henry A. Wallace of Iowa–42%
Governor Charles Solomon of New York–27%
Another candidate–21%
Former House Speaker Clarence Senior of Kansas–8%
Undecided–5%

      September 1, 1947: Joseph Kennedy rules out another Presidential run.  "I've already run once, and while I enjoyed the idea of the Presidency, I will not contest it again.  I'm not at a stage in my life where I'm willing to run a second political campaign for myself.  I'm finished with politics, as far as I can see."  He even goes as far as to say that he feels disaffected with the rightward turn of the Democratic Party, saying he now feels "more comfortable on the right-wing of the Republican Party."
      Governor Solomon also rules out a run for the Presidency in 1948.  "I support Vice-President Wallace.  In my opinion, he'll make a fine President, and I will support him fully not only in this primary against Mr. Senior, but in the general election as well." 

Go Taft!

      September 2, 1947: Senator Harry Truman rules out another run for the Presidency.  "I've had my turn at a candidacy, and I lost it.  I'm not going to make another attempt at the White House.  Too much of my energy was used up in the last campaign.  I think we have a new generation in our party, ready to take over the reigns and carry it to great heights.  I think that Harold Stassen represents that generation well and is quite fit and ready to lead that generation in renewing America."

      September 3, 1947: Vice-President Wallace announces his candidacy for President, saying he wants "to keep this great administration alive, to keep building as we have in the past eight years."  "We cannot simply settle for keeping the great achievements we have made in the past eight years.  They have been fantastic achievements, without a doubt, but we have more to accomplish.  We can only accomplish them with a continuation of the Socialist administration." 
()

      September 4, 1947: Senator McCarthy laughs off the idea of a Presidential run in 1948, saying "I have only two years of Senate experience and my name in the newspapers.  If that is sufficient for the Presidency, I think we've sunk to very low levels as a nation." 
      Meanwhile, Senator Irving Ives confirms his candidacy for President.  He calls for "an end to pointless and undeserved animosity."  He also says it is "time for us to build partnerships rather than conflicts.  We need to help to reconcile the interests of labor and business, and between government and society, while calling out and punishing the illegal and unethical actions of any of these groups."
()

      September 5, 1947: Senator Richard Russell, Jr. announces his third candidacy for the Presidency.  In his speech, he promises to repeal Thomas's civil rights legislation, and to de-nationalize the economy.  He also vows to roll back many of Thomas's other programs, while keeping some in place.  He vows to end all welfare entitlements and public works jobs for blacks.  
()
      The same day, Thomas E. Dewey rules out another Presidential run, saying that it is best for another candidate to to pick up the Republican mantle.  He says that he is withholding his endorsement for the time being. 

      September 6, 1947: Senator Arthur Vandenberg announces another bid for the White House.  "We who warned that state control of the economy was dangerous were dismissed.  We were told that we would not be taken seriously due to our party's history.  And now we've been proven right.  The economy has been strangled by government ownership!  And together, we can unshackle it and return it to prosperity!"
()
      Many speculate, given his poor poll numbers, that he is hoping to be a compromise candidate should the supporters of Taft and Thurmond be unable to unite.  
      September 7, 1947: Republican House Leader Joseph William Martin, Jr. announces his candidacy for the Presidency.  "We need to achieve a strong and fair economy, but also a free one.  We need to find the right balance between unfettered crony capitalism and statist socialism.  We also need a strong national defense, but also a diplomatic foreign policy.  We need to build our society, and build our country, from the ground to the sky, and I believe that I am the right man for the task.  For that reason, I am asking for your vote!"  
()

      September 7, 1947: Arkansas Governor Benjamin Travis Laney announces his candidacy for the Presidency.  "After much consultation with my family and friends, I have decided to run for the Presidency in 1948.  I believe that the states of this country deserve to be given back the rights which they have had taken from them.  I believe it is time for the people of this country to be returned their rights which have been usurped by the Thomas administration.  I seek to continue the crusade of my great party's founder, Jefferson, on behalf of people and states against the authoritarian power-grabs of the federal government!" 
()

Talk about an alt-1972. Keep it coming Peter!

      September 9, 1947: Senator Taft unexpectedly condemns Governor Thurmond's "victim" comment.  "Any white Southerner would have plenty of reasons to feel invaded.  The law enforcement duties of the states have been usurped by the President, who simply sent in the national guard to enforce the laws which have always been up to the state to enforce.  He did not bother to consult or work with the Southern Governors to ensure that the law was being enforced against terrorist forces.  He simply doubted that they would bother to enforce the law, displaying a level of bigotry against white Southerners only matched by the level of bigotry against African-Americans by the Klan itself.  Governor Thurmond is right that white Southerners are a victim of bigotry, of having so-called "civil rights" forced upon them by the federal government, and of many other things.  But it is insensitive not to acknowledge that the victims of the Klan are far greater victims than any other demographic." 

This is shaping up quite nicely. Will we see the primaries unfold? Great work!

      September 12, 1947: Secretary of State Homer T. Bone is called to answer questions from McCarthy's Standing Committee on National Loyalty.  The questioning goes as follows:
      Joseph McCarthy: Good morning, Mr. Bone.  I would like to start by thanking you for taking time out of your–uh–doubtlessly busy schedule to be here with us today.  I'd like to start by asking a very upfront and direct question.  Are you, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist Party?
      Homer T. Bone–No sir.  I have never been a member of the Communist Party.  
      JM: And can you give us a list of the political parties of which you have ever been a member.  
      HB: I have been a member of the Socialist Party, of the Republican Party, and then of the Socialist Party again.  
      JM: Have you ever employed people in your office with Communist backgrounds, sir?
      HB: I have never knowingly employed anyone in my office with either membership in it ties to the Communist Party.  
      JM: What is your department's policy with respect to employment of known Communist Party members?
      HB: The United States Department of State requires all new employees to sign a pledge stating that they are not and have never been members of the Communist Party, and will not pass any state information to any individuals to whom they are not authorized to communicate such information.  The pledge also states that they understand that if they break the commitment, they have committed a federal offense.  
      JM: Uh–what...precautions...do you have in place to ensure the sincerity of those who sign the pledge?  
      HB: We forbid their passing of any information to unauthorized individuals and monitor their communications with unauthorized individuals.  
      JM: In what ways do you monitor such communications?
      HB: Sir, if I were to tell you that, the Soviets' job would be made a hell of a lot easier, pardon my language.  (laughter)
      JM: I understand, sir.  Eh–have you yourself ever had any Communist sympathies?  
      HB: No, sir.  Since my childhood, I have always considered myself a democratic socialist.
      JM: And, eh–how would you distinguish, or, eh–define, the difference between the ideology of democratic socialism, as you say, and communism?
      HB: The names of the ideologies speak for themselves sir.  I think I have done what I have been asked–
      JM: How so?
      HB: Excuse me?
      JM: How do the names speak for themselves, Mr. Bone?
      HB: Senator, I was called here to answer questions about potential Communist infiltration within my department, and I have done so.  But now–
      JM: And I thank you for doing so, but–
      HB: But now, I am being asked–
      JM: But there are still more questions to be asked–
      HB: But now–if you'll excuse me, Senator–I am being asked philosophical questions about my political philosophy and how I contrast it with communism, and–
      JM: And your objection to that, Mr Bone?–
      HB: Senator, as I was about to say before you interrupted me yet again, the differences between democratic socialism and communism are well known and self-explanatory through their names.  If you wish to learn more about them, I suggest you read the works of Karl Marx and then read the works of Edouard Bernstein, and I'll think you'll find quite a difference.  
      JM: I would like to hear how you would define it, with all due respect.
      HB: Senator, I will define it, not so that you get an answer you could easily find elsewhere, but so that the corporate newspapers don't say that I got testy and walked out of here after refusing to answer your question and making me out to be a communist on those grounds.  Democratic Socialism is the belief that both the state and the economy should belong to the people, and in the liberation of the proletariat class through these means.  Communism as defined by Marx is the belief that the state ought to be eradicated and private property abolished, and that the economy and all material things should belong collectively to all the people.  Communism as defined by Stalin is the belief that the state should control the people, and the economy, and it leads not to the liberation or dictatorship of the proletariat, but simply the broadening of it to include all the people besides the dictators.  I hope that answers your question, Senator, and good day to you.

()

      Immediately, Bone becomes revered within Socialist ranks for the ease with which he demolished McCarthy.  Some even begin to promote him as an alternative to Wallace in the election, and he is forced to publicly deny any presidential ambitions.  Meanwhile, McCarthy vows to go on with his questioning of State Department officials below Bone, as well as other cabinet secretaries.

      September 24, 1947: General Alexander Papagos, head of the Hellenic Army, finally hands an official surrender, after two years of bloody fighting, to General Markos Vafiadis, head of the Democratic Army of Greece.  Vafiadis proclaims the Democratic Republic of Greece.  He is to serve as Premier, while Nikos Zachiardis is to serve as President. 

()

      September 25, 1947: Senator Vandenberg condemns the Thomas administration for having "failed to do anything to prevent the red flag from flying over Greece."  Governor Stassen, Senator Tydings, and the other Republican contenders also accuse Thomas for not sending aid to the monarchist side.  Senator Taft, however, refuses to join in the chorus of condemnations, saying that "while more aid should have been sent, we must be careful not to keep involving ourselves in the petty affairs of the world." 

      September 28, 1947: An opinion poll shows the nation to be divided on the question of whether more aid should have been sent to the Greek monarchist forces.  47% say there should have been more, and 44% say there shouldn't have been more aid. 

      October 3, 1947: Turkish President Ismet Inönü signs a new and revised Treaty of Non-Aggression with the Soviet Union that allows for the building of Soviet military bases in Turkey.  Declaring it to be within the best interests of both countries, he points to the social and economic benefits that the building of the bases will bring, and insists that Turkey will not be a "slave to any other power," in an attempt to reassure the angry Kemalists within his party, to little avail.  Now, the expansion of the Soviet sphere of influence to Turkey and Greece is fully complete. 

()

      October 4-7, 1947: Secretary of State Bone and President Thomas fly to New Delhi to meet personally with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to convince him that remaining either Allied with America or being unaligned would give India far more benefits than alignment with the Soviet Union.  They promise more financial aid packages to India should it remain out of the Soviet sphere of influence and remain a democratic nation.  Nehru assures them that India will maintain good relations with the United States.  Bone and Thomas then fly to Tehran and meet personally with Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi.  There, they give him a stark condition: He must agree to hold free, fair, and transparent elections within 9 months, and appoint the government chosen by the elected parliament, and agree to the loss of status of absolute monarch should the new government demand it.  If he does not comply, he will loose all American political and economic aid.  Knowing how reliant his country is on American aid, the Shah is forced to agree to elections in June of 1948. 
      The steps are considered bizarre and drastic, but as Thomas would later say, "democracy is the only way to defeat communism."  The moves ultimately pay off, though they are considered a huge gamble, as there is little to no reliable opinion polling in Iran, and many Americans fear that the Tudeh Party may win the June elections. 

      October 8, 1947: Stassen attacks President Thomas for having "displayed bold recklessness and sheer ignorance of the threat posed by Communism."  Taft calls it "rude and dangerous to enforce our will, no matter how honorable, upon another nation."  Governor Thurmond calls Thomas "not just a carpetbagger enforcing the will of the North upon the South, but also his own strategy upon a foreign country; a strategy which could likely lead to a takeover of Iran by the Tudeh Party."  

      October 10, 1947: Thomas, Bone, and their negotiating team fly to London for easy work: to convince Prime Minister Attlee and Foreign Minister Bevin to speed up the decolonization process, beginning with Home Rule of all African and Middle-Eastern colonies beginning in 1948, followed by independence in 1951.  The reason they give: Independence movements would develop anyway, and could easily be hijacked by the Soviets if they were given time to be.  They also make the case that it is the morally correct thing to do.  Attlee and Morrison both agree, and actually consider it a relief that the financial burden of maintaining the colonies would be lifted. 

Hey guys, I'm really sorry about the lack of an update in such a long time.  I've had a lot of sh*t to deal with lately and haven't been able to focus it, but expect another update in the next few days.

I was meaning to bump this at some point.

      October 13, 1947: Thomas, Bone, and Greene fly to Paris and find that Prime Minister Ramadier, their fellow Socialist, is quite unwilling to negotiate any decolonization of French-held territories.  Furthermore, the unrest going on in the country at the time causes Ramadier to caution the Americans that within a month or so, there may be a new Prime Minister, likely from the center or the center-right. 

      November 4, 1947: President Thomas and Secretary Bone announce that a Conference on the Future of Colonial Territories will be held starting on the 6th of February, 1948.  In the meantime, meetings would be held among tribal leaders to coordinate the positions of the colonial peoples, so that the conference would run as smoothly as possible.

Among the many disputes that needed to be solved were:
The question of whether there should be a Jewish state in Palestine, and what the boundaries of such a state should be. 
The question of whether all Arab peoples should be unified under one state, or if there should be multiple states based on tribal and/or sectarian lines
Boundary disputes among African tribes

It's back! The 1948 election should definitely be interesting.

      Secretly, the Americans were proposing a binational state for the Jews and Arabs in Palestine, though neither side was very receptive to their plan.  The Jews didn't want to live with the Arabs, nor the Arabs with the Jews.  Partition would be messy, and would have a large chance of resulting in a major loss of life.

November 24, 1947:
     Unable to contain the unrest, Ramadier resigned on November 24, and was replaced by the center-right Christian Democrat Robert Schuman.  In his first speech as Premier, he flatly ruled out any full independence for French territories overseas.  He expressed openness to a greater degree of autonomy for the territories in Africa, but offered no more concessions.
      
      

I didn't read the whole thing, because the scenario made no sense after this post, so I'll startr here.

Garner Reduces taxes & Tariffs back to Coolidge levels, and gets rid of Hoovers interventions in business. He also cuts back on the budget. (He basically does what Harding did after inheriting an economic mess from Wilson). By 1935 the countries economic health is restored, unemployment drops to 4-5%, and budget surplusses are the norm again. Garner is easily re-elected in 1936.