1924: Davis defeats Coolidge

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I'm guessing Rockefeller's a New York Progressive? Maybe he got some job with the Progressive era (1933-1941) administrations.

Charles Lindbergh's dead, right? Also, how's his buddy, Henry Ford doing? Maybe by now he's a Democratic Senator from Michigan. He ran in 1918 in real life as a Dem.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Rockefeller held some mid-level positions in State Department during Progressive administrations indeed, being especially active in relations with Latin America.

Lindberg's dead indeed.

Didn't really though of Henry Ford but I shall follow this idea and make him a Senator from Michigan.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Rockefeller held some mid-level positions in State Department during Progressive administrations indeed, being especially active in relations with Latin America.

Lindberg's dead indeed.

Didn't really though of Henry Ford but I shall follow this idea and make him a Senator from Michigan.

Cool. Maybe Ford will be involved in the goings on of the Ely Administration.

[Mechaman]

In the bible prophesy that Camping made he made a grievous error, the date and the numbers he used in the bible do not correspond to the end of the world.  Instead they correspond with the date that all of the posters of this humble forum pay our respects to the superior TL skills of one Polish guy named Kalwejt and his supremely great Davis Defeats Coolidge TL!  This must be the greatest TL I've read since "By a Fluke of the Gods"!

Praise Eternal to the greatness of Kalwejt, the greatest TL writer since Pbrower and the father of all of your future wives' children!

[/for the record, I am in no way being sarcastic, well except for him being the father of your wives' children.  That would be your's truly.]

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

What's Cactus Jack up to?

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What's Cactus Jack up to?

Cactus Jack is old, two time presidential loser (1932 and 1936), no longer regarder of powerful among fellow Democrats.

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(...) during the first, hooveresque, phase of the "Recovery and Reform" program, despite later urban legend, a large number of Democrats was in fact highly supportive for the anti-crisis measures. The bipartisan support collapsed under La Follette and the Democrats firmly established themselves as a conservative party in the United States.

And indeed, a coalition of the Southern Base and loyalist, conservative machines from the North, which Ely-Tydings team symbolized best, enjoyed a control over party's policies and ideology. It it widely assumed that remaining party liberals, called McNutt's faction, or later "Democrats in the Name Only" (DINOs), were the only dissending force inside.

That's somewhat true. McNutt's faction continued to be a reduced, defiant but quite powerless opposition for years. But we have to make a distinction between those "rebels" and some part of the core Democratic establishment, who naturally opposed post-Hoover futher reforms by Progressives, but were highly sceptical toward rolling back of the Progressive Reforms, many Democrats vowed to. Arguably the most prominent of them was newly-elected Speaker of the House William B. Bankhead of Alabama.

 
Speaker of the House William B. Bankhead (D-AL)

Like fellow "mavericks", as they were called, Bankhead believed that initial reforms benefited his constituents (yes, mavericks were mostly a Southern Democrats, and the South was particularly affected by the Depression), and removing them would make a horrendous effect (...)

And so, at the very start of Ely's administration and Democratic-controlled Congress, there were strong disagreements within party's establishment (...)


From The Rise of the Fifth Party System, 1924-1944 by Fred R. Harris, 1971.

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February 14, 1941: Admiral Kichisaburo Nomura begins his duties as Japanese Ambassador to the United States.

March 11, 1941: President Ely signs the Arms Lend Act into a law, empowering the President to lend arms and other war material to any country deemed vital to American interests. Despite loud protest from the isolationists, the bill was passed comfortably by Congress controlled by an internationalist-minded Democrats and several maverick Progressives, mostly from "Blueblood" factions.

In order to reduce an opposition from those, who feared U.S. involvement in an Second Great War, reining already all across the Europe, the bill specifically prohibited aiding any European fighting nation. That cost administration an initial support from Neotammanist Progressive faction, that demanded aiding Irish against British occupation. Fighting for freedom in Europe is not only our moral duty, but also a national interest!, angry Senator Smith proclaimed at the Senate floor. And this administration is turning their back off the reality!

Smith and everyone else knew, of course, that the bill was aimed to help the Soviets, struggling with a new Japanese offensive in Siberia. As much as a despise the communism, President Ely was explaining his decision to the cabinet, We simply cannot just watch with our hands down as Japan Empire is growing, and growing, and growing, all the way to California.

March 22, 1941: Washington's Grand Coulee Dam begins to generate electricity.

March 30, 1941: British launch a ful-scale offensive on French mandates of Syria and Lebanon.

June 22, 1941: Senate President pro tempore Pat Harrison of Mississippi died.

June 26, 1941: For the first time in Senate history, the majority selected their most senior member for President pro tempore: a hardcore conservative Dean of the Senate and Agriculture Committee Chairman Ellison D. "Cotton Ed" Smith of South Carolina. A 74-year old Smith was one of the most prominent supporters of rolling back all Progressive reforms.

August 2, 1941: John W. Davis Presidential Library is opened in former President's hometown, Clarksburg, West Virginia. Since his retirement, Davis worked to establish such institution, the first of it's kind in U.S. history, believing, in his own words, that "Presidential papers were an important part of the national heritage and should be accessible to the public". While privately founded by wealthy Davis, he asked the National Archives to take custody of his papers and other historical materials and to administer his library.

Opening was a rare bipartisan event, attended by a fellow Democratic President Ely as well as two living former Presidents, Progressives Grew and Green.

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August 4, 1941: As the French offensive did not move much beyond Rhine, government of Prime Minister Edouard Daladier resigns, after surviving motion of no confidence by just two votes, which were politically just as damaging, as passing the motion.

August 7, 1941: A new, wartime government of national unity is appointed by President Lebrun in Paris, composing members of all major parties, excluding the communists. Daladier's longtime political nemesis and fellow Radical Party member, Paul Reynaud, became Prime Minister.

August 11, 1941: Meanwhile, as the most of German Army was focused on defeating an indrustial Rhine area, in less developed East Polish army seized control over left bank of Elba river.

August 12, 1941: A combined French and Polish armies could have easily defeat a weak Reichswehr, that had only 200,000 troops and almost no heavy armament before the war, TIME concludes. Even despite an energetic British aid in the last months. However, for a years French military doctrine was strictly defensive, focusing on building and maintaining strongholds. Thus, that's why we have another positional war with no possibility to predict an end anytime soon.

August 13, 1941: Meanwhile, the British were in far more comfortable situation. Although unable to threat French and Polish military dominance in Europe, they were firmly controlling Mediterranean sea, severing a ties between Metropoly and French Colonies in Maghreb and Middle East.

August 27, 1941: Meanwhile, in the Far East, Japanese offensive is stuck in Irkutsk region.

August 29, 1941: Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, Massachusetts, a 15-year old Robert F. Kennedy hit his 9-year old brother, Edward, known for family, as "Teddy". What annoyed Bobby so much? His little brother's words of praise toward Progressive. Daddy always hated those bastards!, Robert screamed. How dare you to insult his memory?! He was a great man! Teddy was stunned, but determined: Go to hell. I'll never be like you. You're not a real Kennedy!, Robert angrily reacted.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Already a split in the Kennedys. How long was Joe Governor for?

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Already a split in the Kennedys. How long was Joe Governor for?

1931-his death (mentioned, I too lazy to check back)

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

July 4, 1935: On the day of national holiday the tragedy struck one of the most powerful families in Massachusetts. Democratic Governor Joseph P. Kennedy (elected in 1931) and his two sons, Joseph Jr. and John, are killed when private aircraft crashed onto a sea near Martha's Vineyard. The remains are never found and the three are legally declared dead in September.

1931-his death (mentioned, I too lazy to check back)

So, basically January 8th, 1931-July 4th, 1935. It would go together nicely, except in RL, Joseph B Ely was Governor of Massachusetts at around the same time period January 8th, 1931-January 3rd, 1935. So, basically, I'd suggest as a way to work around this would be to have Ely be Kennedy's Lieutenant Governor, and serve from July 4th, 1935 to January 5th, 1939 or something like that. By then, he'd have around three and a half years of experience, just under the four he would've had.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

July 4, 1935: On the day of national holiday the tragedy struck one of the most powerful families in Massachusetts. Democratic Governor Joseph P. Kennedy (elected in 1931) and his two sons, Joseph Jr. and John, are killed when private aircraft crashed onto a sea near Martha's Vineyard. The remains are never found and the three are legally declared dead in September.

1931-his death (mentioned, I too lazy to check back)

So, basically January 8th, 1931-July 4th, 1935. It would go together nicely, except in RL, Joseph B Ely was Governor of Massachusetts at around the same time period January 8th, 1931-January 3rd, 1935. So, basically, I'd suggest as a way to work around this would be to have Ely be Kennedy's Lieutenant Governor, and serve from July 4th, 1935 to January 5th, 1939 or something like that. By then, he'd have around three and a half years of experience, just under the four he would've had.

Oh, I forgot it's efectivelly nullified Ely's RL tenure. Thanks for reminding me.

Frankly speaking, I didn't come up with idea of Ely as dark horse nominee before shortly until I wrote 1940 developments.

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(So, in order to clarify this)

Joseph B. Ely
From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Political positions

District Attorney for Massachusetts' Western District (1915-1920)
Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1924 and 1928
Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts (January 8, 1931 - January 7, 1937)
Acting Governor of Massachusetts (July 4, 1935 - January 7, 1937)
53rd Governor of Massachusetts (January 7, 1937 - January 5, 1939)
36th President of the United States (January 20, 1941 - ...

[Mechaman]

You killed the Kennedys?  When they were kids?

Asshole.

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Anyway, trust me, with Bobby-Teddy developments, you won't miss Jack or Joe.

The only minus is, you'll have to wait, because of their young age.

[Person Man]

IF this TL gets passed 1941, that is.

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September 1, 1941: President Ely is the best representative of what become the Democratic Party, after rise of the Progressives, TIME wrote. Mr. Ely was a trusted Lieutenant and protege of the late Massachusetts Governor Joseph Kennedy, one of the most powerful Northern Democratic bosses, and took his place as a key New England Democrat. Currently, the Democratic Party is dominated by an alliance of two forces: an usual Southern establishment and those Northern machines, that successfully resisted attempts of the Neotammanists and Bluebloods alike to lure them on Progressive side.

September 3, 1941: President Ely signs fiscal conservatives pet project, the Revenue Act of 1941, into a law. The Act provides the largest tax cut in recent history.

September 5, 1941: Via an executive order, President Ely withdraws funds for a government-owned companies established under a Progressive rule, most notably the Tennessee Valley Authority, thus effectively shutting them down. Business must be free, the President said. It's not up to the Government to make business.

September 10, 1941: Naturally, President Ely never was a big fan of radical Progressive reforms and he also need to govern according to his base wishes, TIME concludes. However, a lot of the people seems to forget that, along with many Democrats, including his patron Joe Kennedy, now almost canonized by the base, he supported the first "Recovery and Reforms" phase and thus, despite wishes of a loud minority, that includes Dixie's "Cotton Twins", we can't expect him to roll back the Progressive legacy. He's rather more likely to try to roll back those most courageous projects, such as TVA. He'll vocally attack Progressive legacy, make some visible, but minor attacks, to please the base and according to his own views on more limited Government, but there's not going to be any revolution, or rather counterevolution. This doesn't mean, of course, we won't see a great confrontation between two major parties.

October 7, 1941: Labor's John Curtin becomes the 14th Prime Minister of Australia, replacing Liberal Robert Menzies.

October 10, 1941: Soviet Union receives, through Alaska-Siberia route, the first major shipment of the American aid.

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October 14, 1941: Ohio State Senator Robert A. Taft, who until now played a very minor role, as a head of a seven-members Republican caucus in that body, shocked his friends and family with officially switching to the Democratic Party. We, the Republicans, much choose or continue to be a joke, a son of a former Republican President said. We should join the Democratic Party, that is now a major force for fiscal responsibility, and gain an influence to fought for our causes.

May 29, 2011: Cathcon wet his pants due to Taft's appearance TTL. After changing his clothes, he immediately asked about Goldwater's whereabouts

October 17, 1941: Prime Minister Reynaud approves plan of his protege, newly-promoted Brigadier General Charles de Gaulle, to organize armoured divisions, instead of keeping tanks divided among various infantry units.

October 18, 1941: General Hideki Tojo became Prime Minister of Japan.

October 31, 1941: Last day of carving on Mount Rushmore.

December 12, 1941: French Air Force break, for the first time, British line of defense and bombed London.

December 18, 1941: British retaliation air strike on Paris.

December 22, 1941: Czechoslovak forces entered a direct war with Germany, along with France and Poland.

December 24, 1941: Unknowingly to the general public, the new Japanese Government decided to cease an offensive in Siberia, which stucks anyway, for an unspecified period of time and to direct a main focus to the Pacific area.

December 27, 1941: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain dies from a colorectal cancer, which was totally concealed from the public opinion. At the evening, he was succeeded by Lord Halifax. Although Halifax could not, by a convention, address the House of Commons due to his peerage and, thus, seat in the Lords, he was granted this right via special act within a days.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

It was hard to find new pants as most of my stuff's in the laundry. Anyway, in accordance with my role to play here, how's Barry Goldwater doing?

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For now on, Goldy is busy with managing family business. He'll make important appearances TTL, be sure. I'm just not sure yet about specific developments.

[Person Man]

Ok. You updated. Its just...I wonder what the world map looks like and what side the US will take.

[Person Man]

It's just in this timeline, the geopolitics seems complex and the lines between good and evil seemed blurred.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Ok. You updated. Its just...I wonder what the world map looks like and what side the US will take.

Yes, instead of, we can say, confrontation with a total evil, Axis power were OTL, we have two imperial blocs, fighting for dominance in Europe, much like in WWII, and separate war in Asia.

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January 2, 1942: It was just one day after New Year eve, but there were little reasons celebrate for a small group that meet, without much publicity, in Springfield, Illinois. There was a sad agreement between members of the Republican National Committee and key (and, as we already know, very few) elected officials, that summoned here: their party had no future. Gentlemen, we have to face it, the party of Lincoln is no more, said Senator Styles Bridges of New Hampshire with his eyes full of tears. We're political fiction. There were, however, disagreements between them about which path to choose now. Finally, instead of joining one of the two major parties, it was decided to leave each member a free choice. By evening, a resolution of the Republican Party dissolution was passed.

January 1942: In the first month, most of the former GOP members already decided about their future. Some, like Senator Bridges choose to retire from the politics altogether, once their current terms in office expires. Some, like Congressman Joe Martin of Massachusetts, decided to align with the Democratic Party, due to their conservative profile, while remaining GOP Liberals, like Senator George Aiken of Vermont, choose more appropriate for themselves Progressive Party.

January 13, 1942: Prague Conference at Hradčany Castle, featuring the "Big Three" of New Entente: Prime Minister Paul Reynaud of France, President Kazimierz Sosnkowski of Poland and the host, President Edvard Beneš of Czechoslovakia, with attendance of President-Regent of Estonia, Konstantin Päts.

January 15, 1942: We have no conflict of interests with Japan in the East, Mr. Ambassador, a new British Prime Minister, Lord Halifax, told Japanese Ambassador, who paid him a visit at 10 Downing Street. We have absolutely no problem whatsoever with Japanese aspirations in Red Russian's Siberia, China or Manchuria. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, the Ambassador replied. The Emperor is very pleased with a great relationships, out two great empires, enjoys for so long.

February 7, 1942: Maritime Commission fleet operations transferred to Emergency Shipping Administration.

February 10, 1942: President Ely and Secretary of the Navy Carl Vinson orders partial mobilization of the reserve units, as there were more and more shipments to the Siberia.

February 14, 1942: Soviet Foreign Minister, Vyacheslav Molotov, arrives to Washington, after long and diffcult travel, to discuss futher U.S. aid with President Ely and Secretary Hull.

February 20, 1943: Secretary Hull meets with Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King in Ontario. We're a part of the Commonwealth, Mr. Secretary, King told Hull. And, yes, we have certain obligations, but Canada is no longer a colony. Hopefully, in next years, we'll be able to conduct fully independent foreign policy, according to our own interests.