What if Ford won in 1976?

[pragmatic liberal]

I sometimes feel that Ford's 1976 loss is overlooked as a potential inflection point in alternate history. A full Ford term from 1977-1981 could have had major implications for partisan control of the White House for the next several decades. Ford winning would likely prevent a Reagan presidency from ever occurring and would likely have produced a Democratic victory in 1980. That means that Democrats may have dominated the presidency during the '80s and Republicans during the '90s.

A second Ford term would likely have been just as economically difficult as Jimmy Carter's. Whatever domestic agenda Ford had would probably have run into opposition with the Democratic-controlled Congress. Ford would have pressed for arms reductions agreements with the Soviets, probably inducing a backlash among conservatives.

The big unknown is how Iranian history would have gone with Ford in the White House. The spark for the Iranian Revolution came from protests against the Shah that were inspired by Carter's call for linking U.S. foreign policy with human rights. Without that emphasis, does the Shah stay in power until his death? If that happened, maybe an Iranian Revolution still occurs, but maybe events turn out differently.

For this board, the most interesting counterfactual concerns White House control: after an economically troubled Ford term and twelve years of Republican rule, the Democrats would be heavily favored. Who do they run?

Ted Kennedy may run, but his heart never seemed to be in a race for the presidency, and his scandals would likely have hurt him.

Jerry Brown would probably have run.

Perhaps Gov. Hugh Carey of New York would have run and won the nomination? John Glenn? Fritz Hollings? Walter Mondale? Dale Bumpers?

[Attorney General, Vice Chairman, Editor & Sexgod Kalwejt]

I think Ford would be also hit by events and Democrats, also due to Republican fatigue, would win in 1980. No Reagan revolution. Damn you, Jimmy Carter!

[Mr.Phips]

I have always thought about this one.  We could well have seen President Ted Kennedy or President Jerry Brown from 1981 to 1989.  

[Mr.Phips]

I think Ford would be also hit by events and Democrats, also due to Republican fatigue, would win in 1980. No Reagan revolution. Damn you, Jimmy Carter!

Ford winning in 1976 would have just delayed the Republican/conservative trend. 

[Lahbas]

Hugh Carey would have been the next President. He had seriously considered the possibility, and almost ran against Carter. Kennedy was fine being in the Senate being mostly in his hands, with this Timeline likely being almost complete Democratic control.

For one, both Parties would be more centrist on all issues, since the Reagan Revolution would be prevented. That doesn't mean a Conservative couldn't come to power later on, likely a Republican in the 90's. Pat Robertson and Patrick Buchanan come to mind (though both unelectable), along with Phil Crane, Ron Paul, and Mike Huckabee.

At the same time, if the Democrat is not economically in tune, like Reagan was, and keep the price controls and other Nixon "ideas", a Republican could come into power as early as '84. There are tons of possibilities. I have to say though, it is also likely that a Republican could have won in '80, if the Iran Crisis does not occur, as arguably that was what really killed Carter's reelection (The image that he was not capable of handling the situation).

Realistically, this is what I see:

Hugh Carey (D-NY)/John Glenn (D-OH) 1981-1989

John Glenn (D-OH)/Ernest F. Hollings (D-SC) 1989-1997

Arlen Specter (R-PA)/Pat Dornan (R-CA) 1997-1999|Vacant 1999-2001

Orrin Hatch (R-UT)/Robert C. Smith (R-NH) 2001-2009

George Voinovich (R-OH)/Trent Lott (R-MS) 2009-Current

[Sasquatch]

I wish Ford would have won. Carter was a good guy, but not presidential material by any stretch.

[Cassius Dio]

I wish Ford would have won. Carter was a good guy, but not presidential material by any stretch.

True. He was a good guy with principles.....but he wasn't ready for politics in Washington.

[Goodbye Friends]

I would've welcomed Ford's re-election, but considering Reagan's Revolution I generally say thank you to Jimmy.

[President Thomas E. Dewey]

Hugh Carey would have been the next President. He had seriously considered the possibility, and almost ran against Carter. Kennedy was fine being in the Senate being mostly in his hands, with this Timeline likely being almost complete Democratic control.

For one, both Parties would be more centrist on all issues, since the Reagan Revolution would be prevented. That doesn't mean a Conservative couldn't come to power later on, likely a Republican in the 90's. Pat Robertson and Patrick Buchanan come to mind (though both unelectable), along with Phil Crane, Ron Paul, and Mike Huckabee.

At the same time, if the Democrat is not economically in tune, like Reagan was, and keep the price controls and other Nixon "ideas", a Republican could come into power as early as '84. There are tons of possibilities. I have to say though, it is also likely that a Republican could have won in '80, if the Iran Crisis does not occur, as arguably that was what really killed Carter's reelection (The image that he was not capable of handling the situation).

Realistically, this is what I see:

Hugh Carey (D-NY)/John Glenn (D-OH) 1981-1989

John Glenn (D-OH)/Ernest F. Hollings (D-SC) 1989-1997

Arlen Specter (R-PA)/Pat Dornan (R-CA) 1997-1999|Vacant 1999-2001

Orrin Hatch (R-UT)/Robert C. Smith (R-NH) 2001-2009

George Voinovich (R-OH)/Trent Lott (R-MS) 2009-Current

Orrin Hatch would have made an excellent President or, failing that, would have made a great Chief Justice of the United States.

He is a conservative who has the ability to work across party lines.

[Governor Sewer]

Hugh Carey would have been the next President. He had seriously considered the possibility, and almost ran against Carter. Kennedy was fine being in the Senate being mostly in his hands, with this Timeline likely being almost complete Democratic control.

For one, both Parties would be more centrist on all issues, since the Reagan Revolution would be prevented. That doesn't mean a Conservative couldn't come to power later on, likely a Republican in the 90's. Pat Robertson and Patrick Buchanan come to mind (though both unelectable), along with Phil Crane, Ron Paul, and Mike Huckabee.

At the same time, if the Democrat is not economically in tune, like Reagan was, and keep the price controls and other Nixon "ideas", a Republican could come into power as early as '84. There are tons of possibilities. I have to say though, it is also likely that a Republican could have won in '80, if the Iran Crisis does not occur, as arguably that was what really killed Carter's reelection (The image that he was not capable of handling the situation).

Realistically, this is what I see:

Hugh Carey (D-NY)/John Glenn (D-OH) 1981-1989

John Glenn (D-OH)/Ernest F. Hollings (D-SC) 1989-1997

Arlen Specter (R-PA)/Pat Dornan (R-CA) 1997-1999|Vacant 1999-2001

Orrin Hatch (R-UT)/Robert C. Smith (R-NH) 2001-2009

George Voinovich (R-OH)/Trent Lott (R-MS) 2009-Current

Realistically?


lol

[DS0816]

I don't know the numbers, but if Gerald Ford's approval rating average, in polls, was 45 percent or less one year from the date of Election 1976 … this thread is moot.

[Historico]

I think someone should really do a timeline based on this and try to make it the present day because I know many have tried to do it but never got to finishing it.

[hcallega]

I think a reasonable POD is that Ford either chooses Reagan as VEEP or keeps Nelly on. Either way I think the GOP wins. After that, 1980 is an interesting race. If Kennedy dosen't run (probably dosen't but if does he wins), than I agree that it's Hugh Carey or "You can do it!" Proxmire. Perhaps a Carey-Proxmire ticket?

Carey-Promxire (D): 1981-1985 Economic double-dip hurts Carey who is no Reagan in terms of charisma

Kemp-Dole (R) 1985-1993 Leads the Compassionate Conservative Revolution, where the party embraces a more middle-of-the road message on the economy, much like Huckabee in 2008.

Cuomo-Richards (D) 1993-2001 With it being an open election, Cuomo bites the bullet and runs, winning and running a solid presidency

Hatch-Quayle (R) 2001-2005 Another compassionate conservative, but Hatch fails to survive the post-dot com bubble burst and falls in 2005

Kerry-Gephardt (D) 2005-Present Or other way arround. Either way the Democrats continue with center-left liberalism.

[Darth Deldem]

No Reagan in that case, and no horrible financial crisis right now!

[Ebowed]

Orrin Hatch would have made an excellent President or, failing that, would have made a great Chief Justice of the United States.

He is a conservative who has the ability to work across party lines.

Or perhaps more importantly, he is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.