A Second Chance - CONCLUSION

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

May 9th, 1972
The Race Goes On!
As the primaries progress on both sides, it is still diffictult to find a clear frontrunner, as it seems the Democratic nomination is coming down to Terry Sanford and George Wallace, whiel large candidates for the Repbulicans such as Nixon and Rockefeller are becoming marginalized in the race of two different Conservative candidates, Agnew and Reagan. However, the nomination is still up for grabs as the race goes on. Tonight, more primaries were held. For the Republicans, it was only the Nebraska Primary while the Democrats hosted the Nebraska and West Virginia Primaries.

For the Democrats, tonight's races made it increasingly clear that the nomination is still up for grabs and that while Sanford and Wallace lead, it is hardly a two man races as Heston racked up a third victory in the Plains State of Nebraska. Between the Conservative Wallace, the Moderate Heston, and the Moderate to Liberal Sanford, this appears to be a fight to the finish.

Red-Sanford
Light Green-Gravel
Dark Red-Wallace
Blue-Heston
Pink-Humphrey

For the Republicans, today's single races was an exercise in strength of the growin Western Conservative wing of the Republican Party with Senator Reagan's large victory in the plains state.

Blue-Nixon
Light Green-Hatfield
Red-Agnew
Dark Blue-Reagan
Light Blue-Rockefeller

With these latest races, pundits are expecting announcements from the Hatfield, Rockefeller, Gravel, and Humphrey campaign headquarters soon with endorsements, because it doesn't appear that any of these campaign have managed to do any good beyond their first wins.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Well, that's it for tonight.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I predict Reagan wins the Republican nomination by dominating the midwest and west. On the Democratic side, Wallace has shown surprising strength, and I think it will come down to the wire, with Sanford eventually winning the nomination. Wallace may run as an Independent.

In the general, Reagan/Agnew defeats Sanford/Heston.

We shall see ...So far, I'm not deviating from the plan I set out with when I started the primaries, though I am admittedly ad-libbing them.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Because I'm impatient and bored, another update may be forthcoming tonight...

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

May 10th, 1972
Humphrey Drops Out! Others Are Still In!
After having won a grand total of one primary, Senate Minority Leader Hubert H Humphrey has conceded and has as of now ended his candidacy for the 1972 Democratic nomination. He endorsed frontrunner, early favorite, and friend Vice-President Terry Sanford for the Presidency citing his role in the Kennedy Administration and his experiences as Governor of a state.

Senate Minority Leader Hubert H Humphrey withdrawing his candidacy for President. "I thought I could do better" he said

No word has yet been received from the Rockefeller, Gravel, Hatfield, or any other campaigns, with all confirming that they still believe they are in the race. For Hatfield, there may be a small glimmer of hope as his home state, Oregon, is holding its primary on the 23rd. But aside from that, it seems that with Rockefeller and Hatfield splitting the moderate vote, neither of them will gain a hand over their other opponents. For Gravel, he has small hopes as well as he is polling well in Oregon and South Dakota. However he is nowhere near to winning the nomination.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

May 16th, 1972
Rockefeller gains Momentum! Both Parties Still Undecided!
As the primary races are drawing closer to the end, both parties seem to face an inability to unite as neither has decided on a nominee yet.

For the Republicans, moderate favorite Nelson Rockefeller narrowly won the Michigan Primary despite the endorsement of Senator George Romney going to Senator Hatfield. In the Maryland Primary, Agnew easily won his home state.

Blue-Nixon
Light Green-Hatfield
Red-Agnew
Dark Blue-Reagan
Light Blue-Rockefeller

For the Democrats, the results were mixed. In Michigan, Heston fought off a stiff Wallace challenge and came away with victory, while in Maryland Wallace won easily as the Southern candidate in the race.

Red-Sanford
Light Green-Gravel
Dark Red-Wallace
Blue-Heston
Pink-Humphrey

With Heston's recent surge, this puts Sanford in jeopardy, especially with crucial Western primaries approaching in the last round of the primaries on June sixth. However, if he can score in Rhode Island, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Oregon, he should be able to build up enough momentum to win at the convention. However, Gravel has been polling well in Oregon and South Dakota, and Heston's strength lies in the West.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Any chance we can get delegate counts?

I'm not really sure how to find out who gets what per primary. I was t hinking of introdcuing a random large number to the frontrunner, and giving the rest somewhere below that. Help with this would be appreciated, given that I don't think wikipedia has anything.

Speed up the primary season, it's getting tedious!

Only two more primary dates to go, then the conventions, etc.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

May 23rd, 1972
The End is Nigh!
Today, the second to last round of the primary season took place with primaries held in Oregon and Rhode Island. With the end of the primaries approaching, it seems that both parties will have to go to the conventions to decide on a nominee. There, candidates such as Reagan and Hatfield will be at a disadvantage.

For the Democrats, Wallace's momentum seems to have stoppes while Vice-President Terry Sanford was the only winner in today's matches. While Heston was polling ahead in Oregon, on May 17th, when Hubert H Humphrey pulled out of the race, Sanford received nearly all of his support in the state. In Rhode Island, while Sanford had a narrow lead, with Humphrey's dropping out, he won the state with over forty percent.

Red-Sanford
Light Green-Gravel
Dark Red-Wallace
Blue-Heston
Pink-Humphrey

For the Republicans, on the other hand, the two moderate candidates got their big breaks today when Rockefeller scored big in Rhode Island, and Hatfield won with over fifty percent in his home state of Oregon. However, the last round does not bode well for them as it favors Reagan.

Blue-Nixon
Light Green-Hatfield
Red-Agnew
Dark Blue-Reagan
Light Blue-Rockefeller

With the largest amount of primaries two weeks from now in the West, it looks like Reagan may have the last laugh. On the Democratic side, Heston looks to do well, however, his leads are shaky in every state that he is leading in besides California.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

June 6th, 1970
Reagan and Sanford the Frontrunners!
In today's primaries, the winners were clear. In the last round of the primaries, while the two candidates initially favored to win the nomination were expected to do well, this does not mean that either of them has won.

In the three Republidcan Primary races, California Senator Ronald Reagan scored big, winning all three primaries and cementing himself as the frontrunner going into the convention. In California, South Dakota, and New Mexico, he won by large margins. However, facing multiple opponents, a number of them might decide to unite in order to stop his momentum. A possible teaming up of Agnew and Nixon or Hatfield and Rockefeller may take shape.

Blue-Nixon
Light Green-Hatfield
Red-Agnew
Dark Blue-Reagan
Light Blue-Rockefeller

In the Democratic primaries, Sanford won two of the four races held today. Despite Heston's victory in California and Gravel's victory in South Dakota, Sanford holds a narrow lead over both Wallace and Heston while Gravel lingers far behind, having only won two primaries.

Red-Sanford
Light Green-Gravel
Dark Red-Wallace
Blue-Heston
Pink-Humphrey

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Well, the primaries are done. I hope you're all happy. If anyone wants to help me with the delegate totals, I'd be glad to accept.

Any predictions or preferred candidates?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

June 24th, 1972
Former President Richard Nixon, whose attempt at a comeback seems to have failed, persists in campaigning and meeting with local leaders to draw in support. Walking beside him is his campaign manager, former Governor Robert Finch of California.
    Finch: Look, Mr. Nixon, you only won two primaries. How do you think they'll accept you?
    Nixon: Bobby, Bobby. When it comes down to the wire, it'll be Reagan vs. Rockefeller with Agnew coming in from the center. They won't be able to reach a compromise after the first two rounds of balloting. I'll talk to Agnew, who is actually good friends with Rockefeller. If Agnew can endorse me and talk to Rockefeller and Reagan, I should be the nominee by the fourth round.
    Finch: The plan seems shaky at best, but it looks like it's all we've got.
    Nixon: Of course it's all we've got! But don't tell the reporters that. Get the press people to make all optimistic. Don't show fear and never give in. People may hate you, but they only win if you hate them back.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Well, the primaries are done. I hope you're all happy. If anyone wants to help me with the delegate totals, I'd be glad to accept.

Any predictions or preferred candidates?

I'd help with the delegate counts, except that I don't know how to do it either.

I stand by my earlier prediction, but I can't be too confident about it. I do think the Republican, whoever it is, will win the general.

Everything rests on the convention...(cue ominous music) Reagan would've had the nomination in the bag right now if not for Nixon and Agnew taking the Conservative/Centrist vote, and Rockefeller would've been one of the biggest contenders if Hatfield hadn't taken away Oregon and New Hampshire.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Going into the convention, Reagan was very optimistic. He had the endorsements of prominent Conservatives such as Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, New York Senator James L Buckley, writer William F Buckley, and Nevada Senator Paul Laxalt. All he felt he needed was the first ballot. By all reasoning, according to the Reaganite lot, 1972 was their turn. The Centrists had been discredited by Nixon, and the Moderate to Liberals had been discredited by Romney. He had the strength of nearly the entire Western delegation and strength in the Mid-West. 1972 was going to be the year of Conservatism, the year that they took back not only the management of America, but political alginment of America and set everything straight.

-Reaganland, Richard Perlstein, (c) 2007

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

WIth the 1972 Republican National Convention coming up, I was surprised when a friend and I had been lucky enough to obtain tickets to it. We were going to see Reagan speak! The weeks leading up to the convention were hectic, and at the convention, we were thrown the biggest curveball you possibly could have.

-Courage and Consequence; The Life of a Conservative in the Fight, Karl Rove, (c) 2009

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

June 30th, 1972
Because of the continued and utter Liberalism of the Democrats, and because of consistent pandering to them by the Republicans, and because neither party has shown the guts or the intelligence to stand up to Big Government spending, I am declaring my candidacy for Presidency of the United States as an Independent!

...Spoke Congressman John Schmitz, a former Republican who has been disgusted by the policies of Richard Nixon on the foreign front, and by the domestic policies of the Kennedy Administration. While he has received no official endorsement from famous Southern Democrats such as Alabama Governor George Wallace and South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond, should Wallace's bid for the Democratic nomination fail, it is expected that the Dixicrat party will endorse him. He has yet to announce a running mate. However, should Ronald Reagan, a Senator from Schmitz's very state, win the Republican nomination, Reagan may become the de facto Southern candidate and outshine Shmitz's campaign.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

June 1st, 1972
In the offices of the Agnew for President campaign headquarters, Maryland Governor Spiro T Agnew sits with his campaign manager.
    Manager: Look, Spiro, your best bet is to draw a strong second and endorse Reagan. Then, you'll get the Vice-Presidency as a 'fellow Conservative', and a Southerner.
    Agnew: Look. We're in this to win. If we give this all we've got, then we'll end up in a good place, either in the Vice-Presidency, or if we're lucky the Whitehouse. Rockefeller, he doesn't want Reagan, Nixon, he's too bitter because Reagan endorsed Goldwater in 1964. Neither of them will endorse Reagan, and Hatfield won't likely be endorsed either because he stole New Hampshire and Oregon. They won't be able to unite.
    Manager: Yes. I've thought about that myself. If we can get all prospective delegates from Nixon and Rockefeller onto us, you have the nomination.
    Agnew: Rockefeller is a friend of mine. See if he can reconcile. Call him.
    Manager: The call is already being made.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Would the people that voted "No", "I don't care" and "Hell no!" please step forward?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

June 9th, 1972
Reagan Leads Sanford!
With the 1972 Democratic National Convention approaching rapidly, new polls have been released showing that California Senator Ronald Reagan leads Vice-President Terry Sanford by eight points. Both candidates are the presumed nominees of their respective parties, however they may face resistance at the conventions. With this recent trend in the polling, it is wondered if Vice-President Sanford will be able to pull out with a victory, at the convention and in the general. Certain groups might try to draft Senators Ted Kennedy or Hubert h Humphrey, or maybe Attorney General Robert F Kennedy in order to stop Sanford and 'save the party'. However, Sanford as of now is the presumed nominee.
Who do you prefer for President?
Ronald Reagan 48%
Terry Sanford 40%
Undecided/Other 9%
John Schmitz 3%

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Next up will be the Democratic National Convention.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Shameless Bump. With Finals (for my school) coming up and the amount of homework being sent home, I don't have the time for updates as dedicated as the DNC, or in the case of America and Onward, the first term of President Bob Casey.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

For the record, I fully intend to continue this, and I have a lot of ideas for advancing this. However, the entire election is kind of a roadblock to that.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I'm thinking of just diong one huge update on the 1972 election from the Point of View of someone in the future. I'm really more at home telling a story like this from past tense, however, I will attempt to keep the format.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

July 10th, 1972
Miami Beach, Florida...
    Sanford: I want you to be on the ticket...
    Humphrey: Look, Terry, I only won one primary. We're relatively similar in beliefs. What could I bring?
    Sanford: An end to everything Wallace stands for in the Democratic Party. I could choose a SOutherner like Eagleton or Carter, however, I want you. You! The Happy Warrior! The single most dedicated man in the Senate, and the biggest fighter for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties!
    Humphrey: I'll have to think about it. If I'd been asked in 1964, I'd have had no problem accepting. However, now I'm the Senate Minority Leader, and I have a duty to lead the Democrats out of this slump...
    Sanford: And this is how you can do it! Look at thos delegations out there, from Illinois, from Wisconsin, from all other states! This party needs us, otherwise it'll forever remain the party of Wallace and Thurmond and States' Rights and Slavery! Do you want the Republicans to continue to claim to be the party of Civil Rights?

Sanford Chooses Humphrey!

Today, with the opening of the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Miami Beach, Florida, Vice-President Terry Sanford who is currently the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, made an announcement as to who his Vice-President would be, and he chose Senate Minority Leader Hubert H Humphrey who has been a large advocate for Civil Rights and a member of the Senate Democratic leadership. Since 1971 with the swearing in of the Republican controlled Senate, he has led the Democrats in support of the policies of the Kennedy Administration. He is seen as a qualified choice, though as expected, Southern Democrats protested and Liberals lobbied for Sanford choosing Gravel, McGovern, McCarthy, or Church. However, balloting has yet to take place and though Sanford and Humphrey are the likely nominees, we do not yet know for sure who will be nominated.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

...Well that's day one...

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Oh, yes, I've talked with Governor Wallace a couple times. The Dixiecrat Party has talked of endorsing me, however, they may go with their own candidate. Fact is, I'm here to oppose these goddamn foreign wars, to oppose this ignorant Civil Rights mentality, to oppose the blatant Statism of the Kennedy Administration, and to put true Conservatism in the Whitehouse. I do not yet know who I will choose as my running mate, however, if he can unite behind those principles, and he will join me on the ticket, I'd be glad to accept this hypothetical person. Whether it's George Wallace or Robert Taft Jr.

-Quote from July 10th, 1972 interview with Congressman John Schmitz