1924: Davis defeats Coolidge

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July 12, 1923: During a conversation with his close Ohio companion, Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty, President Warren G. Harding mentioned, that there's a significant possibility that an "useless" (in his own words) Vice President Calvin Coolidge of Massachusetts would be dropped off the ticket in 1924.

August 2, 1923: President Harding died suddenly in the middle of conversation with his wife, Florence, at 7:35 p.m. in San Francisco, California.

August 3, 1923: Vice President Calvin Coolidge sworn-in as the 30th President of the United States in his Vermont family home, in a light of paraffin lamp.

August 17, 1923: Washington Naval Treaty proclaimed.

January 1924: Due to series of revealed scandals within his deceased predecessor administration, Coolidge decided to take a sharp action and asked all cabinet members to resign. While many of these dismission were welcomed, in order to make "general cleaning" (and not appear as "weak") Coolidge effectively fired as respected and beyond any suspicions figures like Secretary of State Charles E. Hughes and Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover. These actions caused a lot of "bad blood", within the GOP.

March 6, 1924: Senator Hiram W. Johnson of California announced he'll challenge President Coolidge for this year presidential nomination. Johnson called Coolidge a man without experience and judgement needed to be President. Former 1912 Theodore Roosevelt's running-mate quickly gained a support among Republican progressives, such as Robert M. La Follette (who considered running before this), Herbert Hoover, and even some conservatives, like Hughes, who simply could not forgive Coolidge his undeserved (as he and a lot of people thought) dismissal.

May 1924: World War I veterans' Bonus Bill passed over Coolidge’s veto.

June 13, 1924: President Coolidge is nominated in a third ballot of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, after two deadlocked votes between him and Senator Johnson. California delegation walked out.

June 14, 1924: Former Budget Director and Illinois banker, Charles G. Dawes, nominated for Vice President.

June 20, 1924: This is a time to bring back old Bull Moose!, Senator Johnson proclaimed in San Francisco. I'm not going to sit here and watch White House and the Republican Party hijacked by out-of-touch, inexperienced man, who's killing our progressive traditions and have no ideas, what to do with this country.

Johnson announced he will be a candidate of newly-former Progressive Party for President. Next day, he choose Herbert Hoover as his running-mate. La Follette and Democratic Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana stood behind Johnson during speech.

June 24, 1924: Democratic National Convention begun in New York. Former Treasury Secretary William G. McAdoo and Governor Al Smith of New York were considered leading candidates for the nod.

July 7, 1924: President’s son, Calvin Coolidge, Jr., gets better after potentially dangerous blood poisoning.

July 9, 1924 After multiple deadlocked ballots and, finally, McAdoo drop-out, Party choose little-known former Congressman, Ambassador and Solicitor General in Woodrow Wilson administration, John W. Davis of West Virginia as a compromise candidate. An confirmed conservative, he defeated Smith, who enjoyed a support of liberal base, in a final ballot. Nebraska Governor Charles W. Bryan, a brother of legendary William Jennings Bryan, was chosen to balance the ticket.

September 12, 1924: Former Assistant Secretary of the Navy and 1920 Democratic vice presidential nominee Franklin D. Roosevelt passed away in his Hyde Park, New York, estate on pneumonia complications. Largely forgotten in later years, Roosevelt memory was refreshed during World War II, in regard to his action in preceding "great war".

July-November 1924: Due to his own lack of campaigning and deep break within a Republican Party, compared to active vote-seeking efforts that has been made by both Davis and Johnson, Coolidge chances for "reelection" seemed to be doomed.

November 4, 1924: John W. Davis was elected President of the United States in a three-way race, which saw epic loss of the Republican Party, which comes third in popular vote (albeit very narrowly), after Progressives.

Former Ambassador John W. Davis of West Virginia/Governor Charles W. Bryan of Nebraska (Democratic): 277 ev, 41% pv
President J. Calvin Coolidge of Massachusetts/Former Budget Director Charles G. Dawes of Illinois (Republican): 168 ev, 29% pv
Senator Hiram W. Johnson of California/Former Secretary of Commerce C. Herbert Hoover of Iowa (Progressive): 86 ev, 30% pv

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The Presidency of John W. Davis


John William Davis (D-WV), 31st President of the United States
March 4, 1925 - ...

January 10, 1925: Progressive leaders announced that they are determined to make newly-ressurected party a permanent force. After millions of Americans show us such a great trust last November, this is simply our duty to keep movement alive, Hiram Johnson explained.

February 2, 1925: As number of a progressive Republicans in Congress decided to join new party (plus one Democrat, Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana), they became third force in the Senate and second in House, as Democrats retained a majority in both chambers.

Senators from the Progressive Party:

William E. Borah (ID)
Hiram W. Johnson (CA)
Burton K. Wheeler (MT)
Robert M. La Follette (WI)  
Lynn Frazier (ND)
Robert N. Stanfield (OR)

March 4, 1925 John William Davis and Charles W. Bryan are inaugurated as 31st President and 31st Vice President of the United States respectively.

In his inaugural address, a famed orator Davis promised to maintain "our glorious prosperity" and accented his support for state’s rights and opposition to the progressive measures.

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I need an interesting POD to make a timeline.

Just like Cox defeating Harding in 1920 or Reagan in 1968 - all impossible.

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I tried to balance it in modification

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I doubt Davis would be a substantially better President than Cal. He was colorless and conservative. He might've been more sympathetic to farmers and urban workers, but it's doubtful.

Thanks for comment, Dr. Cynic. Despite his colorlessnes, Davis election will change landscape

Btw, no one noticed former Assistant Navy Secretary death so far

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March 4, 1925: Along with Davis/Bryan inauguration, the new, 69th, Congress begun it's first session.

United States Senate:

Democratic Party: 50
Republican Party: 39
Progressive Party: 6
Farmer-Labor Party (caucused with Progressives): 1

President pro tempore: Oscar W. Underwood (D-AL)
Majority Leader: Joseph T. Robinson (D-AR)
Majority Whip: Peter G. Gerry (D-RI)
Minority Leader: Charles Curtis (R-KS)
Minority Whip: Wesley L. Jones (R-IL)
Progressive Leader: Robert M. La Follette (P-WI)
Progressive Whip: Burton K. Wheeler (P-MT)

United States House of Representatives:

Democratic Party: 223
Republican Party: 149
Progressive Party: 59
Farmer Labor: 3
American Labor: 1
Socialist: 1

Speaker of the House: Finis J. Garrett (D-TN)
Majority Leader: John N. Garner (D-TX)
Majority Whip: William A. Oldfield (D-AR)
Minority Leader: Nicholas Longworth (R-IL)
Minority Whip: Albert H. Vestal (R-IN)
Progressive Leader: Melville C. Kelly (P-PA)
Progressive Whip: Franck R. Havenner (P-CA)

March 4 – March 29, 1925: President Davis completed a formation of his cabinet, which includes mostly Southern Democratc and one Conservative Republican.

Noteworthy, William G. McAdoo, who after his own bid failed helped Davis to beat Smith at the DNC, returned to serve as the Treasury Secretary.

Vice President: Charles W. Bryan (D-NE)
Secretary of State: Thomas F. Bayard, Jr. (D-DE)
Secretary of the Treasury: William G. McAdoo (D-CA)
Secretary of War: James W. Wadsworth, Jr. (R-NY)
Attorney General: J. Morris Sheppard (D-TX)
Postmaster General: Frank Polk (D-NY)
Secretary of the Navy: William W. Brandon (D-AL)
Secretary of the Interior: Frank L. Houx (D-WY)
Secretary of Agriculture: Samuel M. Ralston (D-IN)
Secretary of Commerce: Cary A. Hardee (D-FL)
Secretary of Labor: George L. Berry (D-TN)

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March 12, 1925: Within just few days in office, President Davis nominated his successor as Solicitor General in Wilson administration, Alexander Campbell King, to be the next Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, in a place of retiring Joseph McKenna.

March 23, 1925: The Isle of Pines Treaty is finally ratified by the Senate.

April 2, 1925: Former Commerce Secretary and 1924 Progressive vice presidential nominee Herbert C. Hoover, who resumed his business and humanitarian interest, was asked by a journalist about his future plans, replied: I’ll continue to fight for Progressive caucuses. Hoover is considered a potential candidate for President in 1928.

April 26, 1925: Former Chancellor Wilhelm Marx (Centre Party) is elected President of the German Reich in a place of deceased Social Democratic incumbent Friedrich Ebert. He defeated Communist Ernst Thaalman in a runoff, after a movement to draft retired Field Marshall Paul von Hindenburg as a conservative candidate failed.

May 2, 1925: Governor Al Smith of New York, during a speech to large audience in Bronx, warned Davis administration against alienating working-class and progressive Democratic base.

May 5, 1925: John T. Scopes, a Tennessee teacher, was arrested for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution.

May 10, 1925: During a speech in his hometown in Clarksburg, West Virginia, President Davis delivered a some kind of response to Smith warning, accenting his administration support of state’s rights and, as he called "maintaining a right direction of American economy, which can reach never-ending prosperity as long, as stays away from any form of radicalism".

May 13, 1925: Archibald King took an oath as Associate Justice.

June 20, 1925: Senator Robert M. La Follette of Wisconsin died.

June 30, 1925: Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana replaces La Follette as Senate Progressive Leader, while Lynn Frazier of South Dakota became a Whip.

July 1925: Scopes has been found guilty and fined with $100. Vice President brother and three-time Democratic presidential nominee William J. Bryan acted as a part of prosecution team. Despite guilty verdict, Bryan has been humiliated during the trail by defense attorney Clarence Darrow, which hurts position of his brother, who, to all fairness, stayed away from the whole affair.
President David issued a short statement expressing respect for Tennessee law, but voicing a concern about a "great emotions" surrounding the case. Privately, he told his nephew and adopted son, Cyrus Vance, few years later: “Those fools are making us a world laughstock and are hurting the Democratic Party".

July 26, 1925: William J. Bryan passed away. Both President and Vice President attended funeral service.

August 8, 1925: The Ku Klux Klan holds a massive political demonstration in Washington, D.C. Possibly the largest Klan parade in history. President Davis was very concerned about the events, as he, while remaining state‘s rights firm believer and segregation supporter, he personally opposed the organization. However, due to Klan strength in the Democratic Party and South, his prime base, he was very reluctant to take any action against Klan.

September 18, 1925: During a speech before Senate, Hiram Johnson called President Davis "a Democratic version of Coolidge: a man without action, new ideas, who just prefer to maintain the same situation for ever". "The only major difference perhaps", Johnson ironized, "is that Coolidge supporters did not wear white robes".

September 30, 1925: 30-year old Robert M. La Follette, Jr., a son of deceased Progressive leader, took his father old Senate seat.

January 27, 1926: The Senate adopts a resolution allowing the United States to join the World Court, which was quickly accepted by Davis administration. I’m really sorry President Wilson left us before he could see this, Davis commented during joining ceremony.

February 26, 1926: Revenue Act signed into a law.

April 29, 1926: France and the United States sign an agreement canceling 60% of France’s World War I debt.

May 9, 1926: First successful flight over the North Pole.

May 10, 1926: U.S. begun military intervention in Nicaragua.

May 20, 1926: Air Commerce Act passed.

October 10, 1926: Explosion of naval ammunition depot at Lake Denmark, New Jersey after strucking by the lighting.

October 14, 1926: After severe public criticism, considered as inexperienced Secretary of the Navy William W. Brandon resigns. In order to restore morals in Navy, Davis decided to nominate former Wilson Secretary Josephus Daniels. However, according to the legend, Davis lamented: "what’s a pity young Roosevelt is no longer among us. He would be perfect for this job".

October 25, 1926: The Supreme Court ruled that the President has the right to remove cabinet members at his own discretion, thus nullifying a "Tenure of Office" Act.

October 30, 1926: House rejects a bill which would provide U.S. citizenship to Native Americans.

November 3, 1926: Democratic Party won Congressional elections, enlarging their majority in each chamber. Progressives also made several gains.

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February 18, 1927: The United States and Canada establish diplomatic relations independently from the British Crown.

February 27, 1927: Federal Radio Commission created.

March 4, 1927 The New Congress convenes.

United States Senate:

Democratic Party: 52
Republican Party: 35
Progressive Party: 12
Farmer-Labor (caucused with Progressives): 1

Senate leadership remained unchanged, with an expection that Senator Key Pittman (D-NV) replaced retired Oscar Underwood as President pro tempore.

House of Representatives:

Democratic Party: 231
Progressive Party: 104
Republican Party: 97
Farmer-Labor: 2 (caucused with Progressives)
Socialist: 1 (caucused with Progressives)  

March 7, 1927: As the United States Supreme Court rules that a Texas law prohibiting blacks from voting in Democratic primaries is unconstitutional, President Davis once again found himself on thought spot due to outrage of White Southern Democrats. The White House refused to comment.

March 10, 1927: Asked by a friends if he’s going to run for President as a Progressive in 1928, Herbert Hoover replied: No, I’m not going to. Davis is just too popular now to beat him. Our time shall arrive, but not now.

April 1, 1927: London-based respected TIMES published an in-depth article on John W. Davis administration. There are some excretes:

Mr. Davis, a well-manered old school gentleman, choose rather low key, despite his considerable oratorical skills, profile in public. He seems to be a true follower of Woodrow Wilson path: economically and socially a conservative, is nothelessly much more friendly toward farmers and unions than the Republicans. An avid internationalist, he's willing to bring United States to the League of Nations, despite congressional oppositions. He already opened more ties with Great Britain and France and allow U.S. to join International Court. As of other domestic issues, it's near impossible to expect deeper reform, as he seems to believe in non-interventionism as a key to maintain "Non-Stop-Prosperity-For-Ever", a slogan Democrats successfully stole from GOP. A brilliant legal mind, he would use judicial judiprudence to prevent racial integration and anti-discriminatory measures not only due to his sincere believe in state’s rights, but to not irritate his base, as he did as Wilson Solicitor General, denouncing KKK.

May 21, 1927: Charles Lindbergh killed during his attempt to make first transatlantic flight. Remains never found.

May 30, 1927: After Lindbergh was officially found dead, President Davis ordered two days of national mourning.

August 2, 1927: President Davis publicly confirmed that he will run for reelection next year.

August 27, 1927: Despite massive protest at home and abroad, anarchist Sacco and Vanzetti were electrocuted in Massachusetts. President Davis privately asked Governor Alvan T. Fuller to grant a commutation in order to calm down a rapid Anti-American protests worldwide. Fuller declined.

November 1, 1927: New York Governor Al Smith made a stunning declaration that he’s leaving Democratic Party and is joining a Progressive Party.

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January 19, 1928: Vice President Charles W. Bryan confirmed the speculations that he will not seek renomination. Largely powerless, isolated by conservative establishment and broken by his brother death, following a public humiliation in Tennessee, Bryan was determined to retire from politics once and for all after his term would expire.

February 20, 1928: President Davis asked privately New York liberal Senator Royal S. Coopeland if he'd be interesting in joining a ticket. Davis clearly wanted to balance ticket once again, but Coopeland declined.

June 12 – June 15, 1928: Republican National Convention in Kansas City nominates Senate Minority Leader Charles Curtis of Kansas for President and Senator Guy D. Goff of West Virginia for Vice President. This is already a sacrificial lamb ticket, former President Coolidge predicted bitterly while talking to his wife, Grace.

Among other competitors (with not so,  many, as elections were inndeed already considered lost by Republican leaders) for the nod were former Illinois Governor Frank Lowden, Governor Alvan T. Fuller of Massachusetts and Senator James Eli Watson of Indiana.

June 26 – June 28, 1928: Democratic National Convention in Houston, Texas easily renominated President John W. Davis. The great shock was caused by his selection for Vice President. Although a staunch women suffrage opponent, in order to find an unambitious and low-key Vice President and gain women votes, he allowed Convention to choose former Governor Nellie Ross Taylor of Wyoming. Our Southern base may be displeased, but they will stay with us anyway, he said to his advisors.

August 3 – August 5, 1928: With such first tier leaders as Johnson, Hoover and Wheeler abstaining from the unwinneable, as it seemed, race, the first Progressive National Convention in New York City selected Governor Al Smith, who was credited with bringing a number of progressive Democrats with him. His lone opponent, Senator George Norris of Nebraska, became vice presidential running-mate.

August 27, 1928: So-called Bayard-Braind pact signed, substituting diplomacy and world opinion for armed conflict.

November 6, 1928: President Davis comfortably won re-election.

President John W. Davis of West Virginia/Former Governor Nellie Ross Taylor of Wyoming (Democratic): 370 ev, 53% pv
Governor Alfred E. Smith of New York/Senator George H. Norris of Nebraska (Progressive): 126 ev, 36% pv
Senate Minority Leader Charles Curtis of Kansas/Senator Guy D. Goff of West Virginia (Republican): 35 ev, 11% pv

While Smith lost even his home state, his presence in the ticket is widely credited with bringing Massachusetts and Rhode Island to the Progressive, until then mostly Western, column.

Miserable performance of Republicans, on the other hand, is considered as a symbolic moment, when they ceased to be a major power and began to decline.  

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Presidents:

29th: Warren G. Harding (R-OH), March 4, 1921 – August 5, 1923
30th: J. Calvin Coolidge (R-MA), August 5, 1923 – March 4, 1925
31st: John W. Davis (D-WV), March 4, 1925 – present

Vice Presidents:

29th: J. Calvin Coolidge (R-MA), March 4, 1921 – August 5, 1923
Vacant, August 5, 1923 – March 4, 1925
30th: Charles W. Bryan (D-NE), March 4, 1925 – March 4, 1929
31st: Nellie Ross Taylor (D-WY), March 4, 1929 – present   

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Second term of John W. Davis

January 1, 1929: Albert Ottinger, a Progressive-leaning Republican was sworn-in as 44th Governor of New York. He is the first Jewish-American ever to hold that position. Ottinger replaced Al Smith, who just lost his presidential bid.

January 10, 1929: Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party, after a years of caucusing, finally decided to merge with Progressives.

March 4, 1929: John W. Davis inaugurated for a second term as President of the United States. Nellie Ross Taylor inaugurated as first female Vice President.

The new, 71st Congress convenes as well. Badly reduced Republican caucuses did not elects their whips for “organizational reasons”.

United States House of Representatives:

Democratic: 275
Progressive: 123
Republican: 37

Speaker of the House: John N. Garner (D-TX)
Majority Leader: Arthur H. Greenwood (D-IN)
Majority Whip: John McDuffie (D-AL)
Minority Leader: Franck R. Havenner (P-CA)
Mnority Whip: William Lemke (P-ND)
Republican Leader: Nicholas Longworth (R-OH)

United States Senate

Democratic: 56
Progressive: 31
Republican: 9

President pro tempore: Key Pittman (D-NV)
Majority Leader: James T. Robinson (D-AR)
Majority Whip: Morris Sheppard (D-TX)
Minority Leader: Burton K. Wheeler (P-MT)
Minority Whip: George H. Norris (P-NE)
Republican Leader: Charles Curtis (R-KS)

March 4 - April 14, 1929: Second cabinet of John W. Davis formed

Vice President: Nellie Ross Taylor (D-WY)
Secretary of State: Thomas F. Bayard, Jr. (D-DE)
Secretary of the Treasury: John Burke (D-ND)
Secretary of War: Henry S. Breckinridge (D-NY)
Attorney General: William L. Frierson (D-TN)
Postmaster General: Clem L. Shaver (D-WV)
Secretary of the Navy: Charles Edison (D-NJ)
Secretary of the Interior: Frank L. Houx (D-WY)
Secretary of Agriculture: Samuel M. Ralston (D-IN)
Secretary of Commerce: Cary A. Hardee (D-FL)
Secretary of Labor: George L. Berry (D-TN)

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April 15, 1929: NYC police raid the Birth Control Clinical Research Center established by Margaret Sanger.

May 16, 1929: The first annual Academy Awards are presented.

May 20, 1929: Aware that despite Democratic majority the Senate still would not approve joining the League of Nation, President Davis suggested French and British Governments to sign an additional pact, which would establish a cooperation in a field of war prevention.

May 27, 1929: Use of the pocket veto by the President for the purpose of blocking legislation upheld by the United States Supreme Court.

June 1, 1929: Electric chair became a method of executions in the District of Columbia.

June 15, 1929: Agricultural Marketing Act signed into a law.

July 3, 1929: One day before Independence Day, Herbert Hoover told a friend in a deep confidence, that he'll seek Presidency as Progressive in 1932.

August 13, 1929: After a conference with Secretary of State Bayard, President Davis told his cabinet he’s intending to establish a diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union. No matter how we disagree with their ideology, this is too large country to ignore. I’m not talking, of course, about any alliance or friendship. Just normal, useful, contacts.

October 22, 1929: New York Stock Exchange experiences a collapse in stock prices as 13 million shares are sold. Great Depression begun.

January 1930: 4.3 percent of the population are illiterate, according to U.S. Census report.

February 3, 1930: Former President and, since 1921, Chief Justice of the United States William Howard Taft retires.

February 24, 1930: Davis choice for next Chief Justice, somewhat suprise pick of Senator Walter George of Georgia, who has been approbed with 60 to 36 margin by Senate.

March 8, 1930: Former President and incumbent Chief Justice of the United States William Howard Taft passed away shortly in his retirement.

April 1930: Idea of London Naval Treaty abandoned due to disagreements between key powers.

June 17, 1930: Despite a number of concerns from economists, President Davis sign a the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act into a law.

July 3, 1930: Creation of the Veteran’s Administration.

September 1930: A bank panic begun.

October 12, 1930: Wilson last Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby became first United States Envoy to the Soviet Union. Davis appoints Colby, who turned to Progressives, mostly due to his merits.

November 5, 1930: Due to poor economic situation and thus anti-administrations sentiments, Progressives for the first time gained a majority in the House of Representatives and narrowed Democratic majority in Senate.  

December 4, 1930: Davis ask outgoing Congress to fund for public works projects in order to stem the growing tide of unemployment. Only 90 millions dollars assigned in a lame duck session.

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January 4, 1931: Just four days into a new year, Herbert Hoover delivered his famous speech in Iowa. He attacked Davis administration for "letting people suffer" and doing nothing to prevent depression from spreading. "In situation like this", Hoover said, "Government, despite a lack of precedences, have to take an active role!"

January, 7, 1931: The President's Emergency Committee reports that the number of unemployed is nearly five million.

February 3, 1931: A leader of German National Socialist Party, Adolf Hitler, is assassinated during a rally in Berlin by a communist gunman.

February 27, 1931: Bonus Loan Bill passed and signed into a law.

March 3, 1931: The Star Spangled Banner adopted as official U.S. National Anthem.

March 4, 1931: 72nd Congress convences.

United States Senate:

Progressive Party: 48
Democratic Party: 42
Republican Party: 6

President pro tempore: William E. Borah (P-ID)
Majority Leader: Burton K. Wheeler (P-MT)
Majority Whip: George H. Norris (P-NE)
Minority Leader: Joseph T. Robinson (D-AK)
Minority Whip: Morris Sheppard (D-TX)
Republican Leader: Charles Curtis (R-KS)

United States House of Representatives:

Progressive Party: 220
Democratic Party: 181
Republican Party: 34

Speaker of the House: Franck R. Havenner (P-CA)
Majority Leader: William Lemke (P-ND)
Majority Whip: Knud Wefald (P-MN)
Minority Leader: John N. Garner (D-TX)
Minority Whip: Arthur H. Greenwood (D-AL)
Republican Leader: Bertrand Snell (R-PN)

June 20, 1931: Davis administration proposes a one-year moratorium on debt payments owed America in return for Europe returning the favor on U.S. debts. Although passed, the act doesn't make a big difference in easing depression worldwide.

June 30, 1931: Asked if she have any future political plans, Vice President Nellie Ross Taylor replied: Of course not.

August 1, 1931: Hoover affirmed he'll seek Progressive Party nomination.

September 1931: Begun of massive bank closures.

October 17, 1931: Al Capone is convicted of income tax evasion and sentenced to 11 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

October 20, 1931: United States, France and Great Britian signed futher treaty, which would establish a some kind of cooperation between their governments in solving international crisis, which can evole into a war.  

December 7, 1931: "Hunger marchers" arrives to the Washington. Delegations meet with President Davis, but without any real results.

December 10, 1931: Senator Cordell Hull of Tennessee decided to seek 1932 Democratic presidential nomination.

December 31, 1931: During a talk with fellow lawmakers, former Speaker and now Minority Leader John N. Garner also indicated presidential ambitions.

January 22, 1932: Reconstruction Finance Corporation, an agency designed to lend money to banks, insurance companies, and other institutions to stimulate the economy, established with a budged about 4 billion dolars.

February 3, 1932: Despite Hoover status as a frontrunner for Progressive Party nomination, Senator Norris once again decided to throw a hat into a ring.

April 3, 1932: President Davis indicated to Democratic leadership, that’s he’s preffering Hull’s candidacy over Garner, however, knowing his unpopularity, he’s publicly abstaining from the process.

June 14 – June 16 1932: Republican National Convention took place in Chicago, Illinois nominates former Senator Joseph I. France of Maryland as a presidential candidate and retiring Senator John J. Blaine of Wisconsin for Vice President.

June 27 – July 2 1932: After three deadlocked ballots at the Democratic National Convention, also held in Chicago, Garner eventually won nomination. Senator Royal Coopeland of New York became vice presidential nominee after beging put under a huge preassure to accept for the "party's sake". Severeal other minor candidates beside Garner and Hull includes Governor George White of Ohio, Governor William A. Murray of Oklahoma and Governor Albert Ritchie of Maryland.

July 10 – July 14, 1932: Hoover defeats Norris at Progressive National Convention, held in New York City. Republican-turned-Progressive Governor Albert Ottinger of New York received and accepted Vice Presidential nomination.

November 8, 1932 Hebert C. Hoover elected President of the United States, becoming the first Progressive to attaing the office.

Former Secretary of Commerce Herbert C. Hoover of California/Governor Albert E. Ottinger of New York (Progressive): 398 ev, 53% pv
House Minority Leader John N. Garner/Senator Royal S. Coopeland of New York (Democratic): 124 ev, 34% pv
Former Senator Joseph I. France of Maryland/Senator John J. Blaine of Wisconsin (Republican): 9 ev, 13% pv

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Comment, thoughts?

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Presidents:

29th: Warren G. Harding (R-OH), March 4, 1921 – August 5, 1923
30th: J. Calvin Coolidge (R-MA), August 5, 1923 – March 4, 1925
31st: John W. Davis (D-WV), March 4, 1925 – March 4, 1933
32nd: Herbert C. Hoover (P-CA), March 4, 1933 - present

Vice Presidents:

29th: J. Calvin Coolidge (R-MA), March 4, 1921 – August 5, 1923
Vacant, August 5, 1923 – March 4, 1925
30th: Charles W. Bryan (D-NE), March 4, 1925 – March 4, 1929
31st: Nellie Ross Taylor (D-WY), March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933
32nd: Albert E. Ottinger (P-NY), March 4, 1933 - present 

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Comment, thoughts?

Very cool. The Alternate Hoover Presidency will be very interesting.

It certainly is a topic of fascination of mine and it should be interesting to see how this Hoover presidency is different to my timeline based on a similar concept, which can be found here. Be warned, its not that good and yet another version is the pipeworks .

Anyway, I concur with Barnes; so far, so good, although you could use the butterfly effect a bit more, then again I do say that to everyone these days. The developments in the Weimar I expect should be most interesting, more so due to the election of Hoover and the Progressives in November.

Yup, Marx is President of the German Reich (forgot to ass his reelection in 1932) and Adolf get shot. Doesn't mean Nazi dissapeared

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Yup, Marx is President of the German Reich (forgot to ass his reelection in 1932) and Adolf get shot. Doesn't mean Nazi dissapeared

Damn! It would have been interesting to see the Weimar Republic survive without the threat of fascism, but rather that of the Soviet Union, and thus the revolution of the proletariat would remain mainstream, despite Trotsky's exile. Any drastic changes in Great Britain and the rest of Europe or will such changes remain dormant for the time being?

I didn't say they will take power. Obviously Marx would never appoint neither Adolf or any of nazis as Reich Chancellor. But movement may remain and be troublent.

Britain and France goins for now as in OTL, for now

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The Presidency of Herbert C. Hoover

Herbert Clark Hoover (P-CA), 32nd President of the United States
March 4, 1933 - ...

January 5, 1933: Former President Calvin Coolidge dies in his Massachusetts home. Dubbed frequently as a "Man who buried the Republican Party", Coolidge said shortly before his death: "I no longer fit to this time".

March 4, 1933: Herbert C. Hoover is inaugurated as the 32nd President of the United States and Albert E. Ottinger became 32nd and the first Jewish Vice President.

In his inauguration address Hoover, who never was known as a great orator, surprised many by his strong performance. From this day we began a new, revolutionary in many way, chapter in American history. Laisser-faire is dead and I don't want to bring back it to life again. Government have a moral and political obligation to fight depression actively and provide fully understable help to other suffering, not just to look from comfortable distance. We will enter a true Progressive Era, not the fake one!.

The new, 73rd, Congress convenes as well. For the first time this was truly Progressive-Democratic legislature, as Republicans, who never regained a traction after 1924 disaster, after which most of their conservative base just goes to Democrats, nearly disappeared from both presidential electoral map and Congress. They did not even elected formal leadership.

United States House of Representatives:

Progressive: 276
Democratic: 150
Republican: 9

Speaker of the House: Franck R. Havenner (P-CA)
Majority Leader: William Lemke (P-ND)
Majority Whip: Knud Wefald (P-MN)
Minority Leader: Arthur H. Greenwood (D-IN)
Minority Whip: Ross A. Collins (D-MS)

United States Senate:

Progressive: 62
Democratic: 31
Republican: 3

President pro tempore: William E. Borah (P-ID)
Majority Leader: Burton K. Wheeler (P-MT)
Majority Whip: George H. Norris (P-NE)
Minority Leader: Joseph T. Robinson (D-AR)
Minority Whip: J. Hamilton Lewis (D-IL)

March 4 – April 3, 1933: President Hoover completes his cabinet:

Vice President: Albert E. Ottinger (P-NY)
Secretary of State: Joseph Grew (I-MA)
Secretary of the Treasury: William H. Woodin (P-PA)
Secretary of War: Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. (P-NY)
Attorney General: Floyd B. Olson (P-MN)
Postmaster General: Frank Knox (P-IL)
Secretary of the Navy: Theodore F. Green (P-RI)
Secretary of the Interior: Alf Landon (P-KS)
Secretary of Agriculture: Henry A. Wallace (P-IO)
Secretary of Commerce: Wendell L. Willkie (P-NY)
Secretary of Labor: Joseph V. O'Leary (P-NY)

March 5, 1933: Seven-day "“Bank holiday" declared.

March 9, 1933: Emergency Banking Act passed and immediately signed into a law.

March 12: More than 1000 banks reopened.

March 31, 1933: Conservation Act passed, which includes a creation of public labor system for both reforestation and reduce of unemployment.

April 1, 1933 An infamous accident took place, when Senator J. Thomas "Cotton Tom" Heflin (D-AL) called President Hoover at Senate floor "Red Herbie", and warned, that if he ever come to Alabama, local population would "hang him for treason".

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April 10, 1933: Heflin censured by the Senate for his "hanging" remarks.

April 19, 1933: United States off the gold standard by presidential proclamation.

April 20, 1933: During his first press conference, President Hoover declares that recovery and security will be a key points of his agenda. "Recovery is obvious thing we all need, but we also need to give American people a clear guarantees that in times like such, if these ever come, we would assist him with their struggle".

May 12, 1933: With unemployment at 14 million, Federal Emergency Relief Act passed and signed into a law.

May 18, 1933: Farmer Assistance Act, a brain child of two most left-leaning cabinet members, Agriculture Secretary Wallace and Labor Secretary O'Leary passed. Act designated a large sums to help recession-stricken farmers and stimulate this part of economy.

May 27, 1933: Federal Securities Act passed.

June 16, 1933: Public Works Administration created. Also Hoover cabinet and Congress established a program of social security.

July 1, 1933: Final bill of "recovery and security" early period passed: Stimulation Act of 1933.
 

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After our friend Silent Cal sacked Hoover back in 1924, he really turned into a left. In fact OTL Herbert was unable to deal with recession and take needed steps, but he was not laisse-fairer either. Beside, progressives needed someone outside their "traditional" base. That's why in unwinneable 1928 they run newly-converted Smith, who delivered two NE states. By the way, Robert La Follette Jr., who, I can assure you, will play a very important role here, is just 37 year old.

As you can see, anyway, Hoover still is not "radical" like FDR (who's dead in TTL). On the other hand John W. Davis as diffrent than Coolidge in some ways: for example he was much more union/farmers friendly and allowed bonus bills to go on. Also, perhaps more importantly for future, he took relatively active role in foreign affairs.

At least Rocky can't complain about lack of butterflies

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July 14, 1933: With a some signs of recovery, snap election to the Reichstag significantly weakened two anti-system parties: Communist and Nazis (now led by Hermann Goering, who aspired that they can be an "important part of the system", instead of, as he said privately, "a tool of Adolf obsessions"). President Marx, re-elected in 1932, decided to allow Chancellor, General Kurt von Schleicher, to continue his mission. "We will return to Reichstag government, but still it’s urgent situation", he explained to the public.

November 8, 1933: Civil Works Administration established by President Hoover executive order.

December 5, 1933: Prohibition officially ended with Utah Legislature approval, as the 36th state, to ratify amendment.

December 6, 1933: A ban of James Joyce's novel "Ulysses" is confirmed by a federal court, despite a number of protest against censorship.

December 10, 1933: Senate Committee on the District of Columbia, after a hearings in which famed attorney and a noted death penalty opponent Clarence Darrow participated, approved a project of a bill which would abolish death penalty here. Bill was narrowly passed in next January.

January 5, 1934: President Hoover, a devoted Quaker who routinely commuted federal death sentences since taking an office, signed a bill which abolished capital punishment in D.C.

January 30, 1934: Gold Reserve Act passed and signed, allowing the President to fix the value of the U.S. dollar at between 50 to 60 cents in terms of gold.

February 2, 1934: President Hoover left the country for a godwill trip to Latin America in order to promote trade and peaceful relationships. Trip lasted until February 20.

March 2, 1934: Just within one year (without two days) in office, Vice President Ottinger, formerly a famous crime-fighting NY Attorney General and one of few Governors during the dark days of Depression, which accomplished a lot in a field of fighting effects statewide, died suddenly on a heart attack while preparing for opening a session of the Senate.

His death put Secretary of State Joseph Grew, a non-partisian career diplomat, as the first person in the presidential line of succession.

March 9, 1934: Former Vice President Albert Ottinger was buried in New York City. The funeral was attended by President Hoover, former President Davis (his first public appearance since leaving office) and former Vice Presidents Bryan and Taylor.

He will be truly missed, Hoover said in an eulogy.

April 27, 1934: Home Owners Loan Act signed into a law.

May 1, 1934: After over a year of quiet retirement, former President John W. Davis, announced that he will resume his high-profile law practice. Considered one of the most brilliant legal minds of his age, Davis said: I always been a lawyer and always remain one.

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I do solemly swear I'll faithully update this timeline today

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May 10, 1934: Although basically successfull during his first year in office, President Hoover suffered from him well-known problems with working inside Washington specific political world. On that date he formally asked veteran Progressive Harold L. Ickes of Chicago to serve as his gatekeeper or, in other words, "Chief of Staff". Ickes, who despite a lot of speculations, did not join Hoover cabinet back in 1933, but acted as a trusted, albeit informal advisor, helping in crafting many "Recovery and Security" initiatives.

May 29, 1934: The United States and Cuba sign a treaty releasing Cuba from the Platt Amendment, effectively releasing the island country from a U.S. protectorate status.

June 1, 1934: In his radio message, President Hoover announced he's intending to ask Congress to consider passing a congressional amendment which would enable President to nominate a new Vice President, in a case of vacancy in the office, who would be a subject of Senate confirmation. We cannot allow a situation when President, who is mortal like everyone else, don't have a clear, well-known, prepeared replacement. Hoover had no idea how propethic his words will turn in future.

June 12, 1934: Congress passed both Reciprocal Trade Agreement Act, allowing the President to cut tariffs by as much as 50 percent, and Securities Exchange Act, creating the Securities Exchange Commission.

June 13, 1934: President Hoover signs both acts into a law.

June 20, 1934: TIME Magazine runs an analysis of Hoover policies.

The President is acting like a model Progressive. His actions to fight the great depression are, as of now, successfull, leading to recovery, even if this is slow process and we are still experiencing serious problems. Yet, no one can deny the situation is much better than a year ago.

His accomplishments so far includes stopping bank system from collapsing, passing a conservation act, something Teddy Roosevelt would love to see in his lifetime, which reduced unemployment, helping homeowners and farmers by energetic acts and interventions, curbing a wild stock exchange. Still, he rejected many radical projects, such like George Norris's pet Tennessee River Energy project, or is not as friendly to the unions, as many his supporters would like to see.

Whatever we may think one is beyond discussion: Hoover gave people a hope and without hope recovery is impossible. Now the President indicate, while keeping active government role, he would focus on fighting the waste of resources, which are not use properly.

July 3, 1934: The eve of Independence Day turned into a nightmare for the American people. President Hoover was visiting Orlando, Florida, and participated in an open meeting with mayor and Florida Governor, David Scholtz. While he was giving a remarks, gunshot was heard and Hoover collapsed, bleeding. Attempts to save his live failed.

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Presidents:

29th: Warren G. Harding (R-OH), March 4, 1921 – August 5, 1923
30th: J. Calvin Coolidge (R-MA), August 5, 1923 – March 4, 1925
31st: John W. Davis (D-WV), March 4, 1925 – March 4, 1933
32nd: Herbert C. Hoover (P-CA), March 4, 1933 - July 3, 1934
33rd: Joseph C. Grew (P-MA), July 3, 1934 - present

Vice Presidents:

29th: J. Calvin Coolidge (R-MA), March 4, 1921 – August 5, 1923
Vacant, August 5, 1923 – March 4, 1925
30th: Charles W. Bryan (D-NE), March 4, 1925 – March 4, 1929
31st: Nellie Ross Taylor (D-WY), March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933   
32nd: Albert E. Ottinger (P-NY), March 4, 1933 - March 2, 1934
Vacant, March 2, 1934 - present

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The Presidency of Joseph C. Grew

Joseph Clark Grew (P-MA), 33rd President of the United States
July 3, 1934 - ...

July 3, 1934: Secretary of State Joseph C. Grew was appearing before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee, when the news about President Hoover death reached D.C. Within half of an hour he was sworn-in the hearing room by called ad hoc federal judge.

A 54-year old model and career diplomat, Massachusetts intellectual and blueblood, educated at Gorton and Harvard, and avid traveler who wrote Theodore Roosevelt favourite book, Grew served in Republican, Democratic and Progressive administrations, certainly was a public servant, but not a politician. He only recently formally registered as a Progressive.

A man without political base and experience became suddenly President in a mids of the worst national crisis.

July 4, 1934: Normally President would address the Nation of joyful occasion of Country birthday, but President Grew first Radio speech centred on his sudden accession and equally stunning death of the predecessor. The first person ever to succeed the highest office of the land without being a Vice President, fully acknowledged the situation.

My fellow Americans, I wish I could give you a hope in this tragic moment, but I can't. I have no experience in this work, no preparations and I’m just as shocked as you are. Knowing my limits, I shall serve as a caretaker, doing whatever I can to maintain a course set by our geniuely Progressive leader, before we will find together a man, who can carry on this great work.

In the speech, Grew pledged to keep all Hoover programs and people in the government, as well as pushing vice presidential replacement amendment. He did not ruled an option to appoint "the man" to Secretary of State and them resign, if process take too long.