Unbought & Unbossed: Shirley Chisholm for President

[Progressive]

June Primaries: The Final Frontier

Montana
Shirley Chisholm     69%   (X)
George Wallace       24%
Uncommitted          7%

Ronald Reagan        57%   (X)
Gerald Ford             43%

Rhode Island
Shirley Chisholm      75%   (X)
Uncommitted           18%
George Wallace         7%

Gerald Ford              68%   (X)
Ronald Reagan         32%

South Dakota
Shirley Chisholm      55%  (X)
George Wallace        45%

Gerald Ford              57%  (X)
Ronald Reagan         40%

California
Shirley Chisholm     77%  (X)
George Wallace       13%
Uncommitted         10%

Ronald Reagan        68%   (X)
Gerald Ford             32%

New Jersey
Shirley Chisholm     80%   (X)
Uncommitted          12%
George Wallace        8%

Gerald Ford             75%   (X)
Ronald Reagan        25%

Ohio
Shirley Chisholm      60%   (X)
George Wallace        27%
Uncommitted          13%

Gerald Ford             56%    (X)
Ronald Reagan        44%

Analysis: Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm has made history tonight! She is the first woman and Black person to be featured on a major party ticket. The world was watching tonight as Chisholm clinched the necessary number of Delegates to be called the presumptive Democratic nominee. George Wallace's attempt to stop Chisholm's momentum has failed-- miserably. Wallace is vowing to stop Chisholm from receiving the nomination officially at the convention in Chisholm's home city of New York.

In a statement released by Chisholm to the Wallace campaign:

I'm from Brooklyn. My knees don't shake when I get challenged.

The Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford primary challenge will go on to the convention in Kansas City, Missouri.



The next installment:

The party conventions and summer polling

[Vazdul (Formerly Chairman of the Communist Party of Ontario)]

Very good updates. Keep it coming!

[Niemeyerite]

Very good updates. Keep it coming!

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Very good updates. Keep it coming!

[Progressive]

The Democratic National Convention, 1976

Despite a clear-cut victory for Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (NY), some Democratic party members refuse to allow Chisholm to officially accept the nomination without a fight. Some protesters stood outside of Madison Square Garden protesting Chisholm's "anti-life, anti-family" platform. Others, led by George Wallace, protested Chisholm's ability to "lead all of the American people."

According to Wallace:

"This isn't about race or nothing but are families from the heart of Alabama gonna' be able to look at her and say, 'Ms. President.' She leads the people of Brooklyn A-OK. But Brooklyn ain't America. And that's a valid grievance."

Regardless of naysayers, Chisholm had many supporters on her side.
The list of speakers included:

Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY): Talking about Chisholm's commitment to her constituents in New York
Former Gov. Jimmy Carter (D-GA): Keynote address; will address Chisholm's ability to "heal America."
Gov. Jerry Brown (D-CA): Will set platform on economic and energy issues.
Amb. Sargent Shriver (D-MD): Will set platform on foreign policy.
The Kennedy Family: Including all of the elected Kennedy's and their spouses will appear with Rep. Chisholm and her spouse Conrad. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) will officially nominate Chisholm.

Tally at convention:
Shirley Chisholm     2,079
Jimmy Carter             195
George Wallace           194


Now the official Democratic nominee, Chisholm addresses the DNC.

Thousands gather outside of Madison Square Garden to support Chisholm.

The Vice Presidential nomination:

Coretta Scott King and civil rights activist John Lewis introduce the preferred vice presidential choice as a "leader on civil rights among many other issues."

Senator Ted Kennedy, who wins the official tally for Vice President.

But southern Democrats are outraged.

George Wallace leads a rally just outside of the convention:

"The Democratic Party has ceded the Solid South. Hail Republican victory. Down with the damned Democrats!"


The 1976 Democratic Ticket:

Chisholm-Kennedy'72
UNBOUGHT AND UNBOSSED

[feeblepizza]

I'm predicting Reagan/Schweiker will be the GOP ticket.

[Progressive]

Next installment coming SOON!

[Progressive]

The Republican National Convention, 1976

Kansas City, Missouri.

Some RNC members argued that in order to defeat Chisholm, Ronal Reagan, California's governor would have to be the Republican nominee. Other party insiders argued that Chisholm's enthusiasm bubble would hugely deflate and that Gerald Ford, the President, would win a massive landslide election.

Gerald Ford won the popular vote 50.1% to 49.0% in the Republican primary.

First Tally:

Gerald Ford                    1,056
Ronald Reagan               1,051
Unccommitted/Other     188

Second Tally:

Ronald Reagan              1,196
Gerald Ford                   1,099

1976 Republican presidential nominee: Governor Ronald Reagan, California

Senator Bob Dole         1,774
Senator Jesse Helms       334

1976 Republican vice-presidential nominee: Senator Bob Dole, Kansas

Reagan
Dole
Conservative Principles to Change America...

Polling indications as of September 1st, 1976 among registered voters:

Shirley Chisholm (D):    45.4%
Ronald Reagan (R):       44.6%
Other/Und:                  10.0%

Stay tuned for the next installment: September-November!

[tmthforu94]

Could we possibly see the Republican map? Thanks This is really good.

[Progressive]

Could we possibly see the Republican map? Thanks This is really good.

Thank you so much!! And sure, I'm actually posting Republican and Democratic Primary maps in the next installment. Glad you like it!

[Progressive]

Finalized Primary Results

Note: Although not all states reported primary vote tallies in this TL, the maps below indicate complete primary results.

Democratic Primary
Red: Shirley Chisholm
Blue: Jimmy Carter
Green: George Wallace

Republican Primary
Red: Ronald Reagan
Blue: Gerald Ford

General Election: State Leanings
Red: Chisholm
Blue: Reagan

Beginning of campaign: George Wallace, Alabama Democratic Governor, has created the "States First" movement. Many states have raised homebred candidates, and Ronald Reagan fears that this will hurt his campaign as many of these homebred candidates are "anti-Chisholm."

These state leanings show Reagan with a slight lead.

Next installment will be a rundown of the debates and the campaign.

[Progressive]

Campaign 1976: September-November

The 1976 Presidential Election shapes up to be turbulent and quite entertaining. Focus on economic issues and post-Vietnam ideas led to great battles on both sides of the aisle.

In a debate Reagan accused Chisholm of being willing to "pander to foreign interests" and even "compromise Americans' safety to avoid declaring war." Chisholm responded: "My fellow Americans, my brothers and sisters, the only thing I want to avoid is stepping down to Mr. Reagan's insulting level."

Chisholm also says that she wants to give unions a place in the federal government to protect the rights of workers.

In the vice presidential debate, as expected, Senator Edward M. Kennedy defeated Senator Bob Dole according to pundits.

Meanwhile, George Wallace has endorsed candidates in key swing states as well as southern states to run in their respective states only. For example, the Oregon First party will have a candidate only in Oregon to run. Wallace says that while these candidates can not win the White House, they will raise the issue of states' rights.

Final poll:
Chisholm 46%
Reagan   44%
States Rights: 8%
Other: 2%
Next installment: 1976 General Election Results

[Niemeyerite]

I hope chisholm wins. Teddy would be an awesome president and chisholm would make a great presidency, and racists like wallace and thurmond would have to eat theu¡ir hats hahaha

[Progressive]

This is definitely one of the most unique presidential match-ups I've seen on here. I would never have fathomed a Chisholm / Reagan race. I really like it, but find it a little hard to stretch my mind to imagine an American electorate, as close to the Civil Rights era as it was, electing the first female African-American, much less over with Reagan's electoral record. Despite that, I'm enjoying it, and looking forward to the election results.

I hope chisholm wins. Teddy would be an awesome president and chisholm would make a great presidency, and racists like wallace and thurmond would have to eat theu¡ir hats hahaha

Thanks for the comments!

1. A Chisholm presidency is certainly a stretch for the imagination in the 1970s. But keep in mind that Chisholm managed to meet people of different backgrounds through her work as DCCC. Additionally, Ted Kennedy's mass appeal may help boost Chisholm. Nevertheless, the map that I posted previously actually shows a slight win for Reagan, according to polls.

2. It certainly would!

[Progressive]

1976 General Election Results

Shirley Chisholm     46%   (X)
Ronald Reagan        43%
States Rights          11%



Shirley Chisholm greets her supporters the morning after victory. George Wallace's states rights candidates win 3 states, LA, AL, and MS. States rights candidates allowed Chisholm to reach a plurality of votes in California, Florida, and a variety of states. The United States of America has just elected its first African American and female president. Despite the joy felt by many, riots ensue in many parts of the country.


Just outside of Charleston, South Carolina, a mob of White men harass a Black truck driver on the road. Many news agencies including CBS news record numerous acts of violence towards the Black community.

Democrats lose 11 seats in the House, seats held in southern rural areas that faltered with a Black female on the top of the ticket. The Senate remains unchanged.

Next up....
The inauguration of President-elect Shirley Chisholm and Vice President-elect Ted Kennedy.

[Progressive]

I'm probably going to end it here at her willing the election unless people think I should do otherwise. I don't know much about the 1976-1980 era in American history.

[feeblepizza]

I guess I should've seen this coming, but it's still very sad to me .