A Second Chance

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

List of United States Secretaries of States
54. Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME) January 29th, 1961-January 20th, 1965
          President: Richard M. Nixon
55. Henry M Jackson (D-WA) January 20th, 1965-January 20th, 1973
          President: John F. Kennedy
56. Nelson Rockefeller (R-NY) January 20th, 1973-January 20th, 1977
          President: Spiro T. Agnew, George HW Bush
57. Zbigniew Brzezinski (D-NY) January 20th, 1977-January 20th, 1981
          President: Robert F Kennedy
Vacant January 20th, 1981-January 21st, 1981
58. William F. Buckley (R-CT) January 21st, 1981-?
         President: Ronald Reagan

List of United States Secretaries of the Treasury
57. Charles A. Halleck (R-IN) January 20th, 1961-January 20th, 1965
          President: Richard M. Nixon
58. Robert McNamara (R-MI) January 20th, 1965-January 20th, 1965
          President: John F. Kennedy
59. Gerald R Ford (R-MI) January 20th, 1973-July 8th, 1974
          President: Spiro T. Agnew, George H. W. Bush
Vacant July 8th, 1974-July 10th, 1974
60. John G. Tower (R-TX) July 10th, 1974-January 20th, 1977
          President: George H. W. Bush
61. George W. Romney (R-MI) January 20th, 1977-May 21st, 1979
          President: Robert F. Kennedy
Vacant May 21st, 1979-May 23rd, 1979
62. Robert McNamara (R-MI) May 23rd, 1979-January 20th, 1981
          President: Robert F. Kennedy
63. Robert Finch (R-CA) January 20th, 1981-?
          President: Ronald Reagan

List of United States Secretaries of Defense
8. Dogulas MacArthur (R-NY) January 20th, 1961-November 7th, 1962
          President: Richard M. Nixon
Vacant November 7th, 1962-November 21st, 1962
9. Walter H. Judd (R-MN) November 21st, 1962-January 20th, 1965
          President: Richard M. Nixon
10. James Roosevelt (D-CA) January 20th, 1965-January 2nd, 1967
          President: John F. Kennedy
11. John B Connally (D-TX) January 2nd, 1967-January 3rd, 1973
          President: John F. Kennedy
Vacant January 3rd, 1973-January 20th, 1973
12. Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) January 20th, 1973-July 15th, 1974
          President: Spiro T. Agnew, George H. W. Bush
13. John Eisenhower (R-NY) July 15th, 1974-January 20th, 1977
          President: George H. W. Bush
14. James E. Carter (D-GA) January 20th, 1977-May 30th, 1979
          President: Robert F. Kennedy
15. Stansfield Turner (D-GA) May 30th, 1979-January 20th, 1981
          President: Robert F. Kennedy
16. John Warner (R-VA) January 20th, 1981-?
          President: Ronald Reagan

List of United States Attorneys General
64. John V. Lindsay (R-NY) January 20th, 1961-January 20th, 1965
          President: Richard M. Nixon
65. Robert F. Kennedy (D-MA) January 20th, 1965-December 18th, 1972
          President: John F. Kennedy
Vacant December 18th, 1972-January 20th, 1973
66. John M. Ashbrook (R-OH) January 20th, 1973-July 19th, 1974
          President: Spiro T. Agnew, George HW Bush
67. Edward Brooke (R-MA) July 19th, 1974-May 5th, 1979
          President: George H. W. Bush, Robert F. Kennedy
68. Gary Hart (D-CO) May 5th, 1979-January 20th, 1981
          President: Robert F. Kennedy
69. Robert Taft Jr. (R-OH) January 20th, 1981-?
          President: Ronald Reagan

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

The Cabinet of President-Elect Ronald Reagan (Pt. 2)

Secretary of the Interior

Walter Hickel (R-AK)
2nd Governor of Alaska (1966-1974)

“A Hatfield supporter, Governor Wally Hickel of Alaska would be called into the cabinet to head the Interior Department. Previous other Republicans heading it had been Robert Finch and John Tower. Both had inconsequential roles in the long run, the high point of Tower’s career being as Treasury Secretary and later Secretary of Defense. However, Hickel, in partnership with Hatfield, would practically become Hatfield’s right-hand man in land preservation as well as development, two things not often seen as side-by-side goals.”

-Republicans in Revolution, Bob Woodward, ©2007

Secretary of Agriculture

Robert D. Ray (R-IA)
38th Governor of Iowa (1969-1981)

Ray's status as a four-term Governor of a state known for farming had already put him on the Vice-President short-list in 1980 when Reagan needed competitiveness with McCarthy and Kennedy in the Farm Belt and the North-West. With the small amount of national attention he had received there along with his previous efforts, he rose to the top of Reagan's list for Agriculture Secretary. Known as an active and energetic Governor, supportive of Civil Rights, fiscal Conservatism, and Conservation, he would take these skills with him to Washington.

Secretary of Commerce

John B. Connally (D-TX)
39th Governor of Texas (1963-1967)
11th United States Secretary of Defense (1967-1973)
United States Senator from Texas (1973-1979)
20th United States Secretary of Commerce (1979-?)

With the White House changing hands, Connally had prepared for his retirement, welcoming it with open arms. However, Reagan asked his fellow Conservative to stay on as Commerce Secretary, at least until the end of the year. With Connally’s clout among Conservative Democrats, Reagan had hoped to secure them into a working coalition. Combining them with Conservative Republicans as well as Hatfield’s strength among the moderate wing, many have remarked the idea that Reagan was “scheming” to set up the Republican party for victory after victory as absurd. “The stuff of fringe Republican wet dreams” one historian remarked, “Connally was chosen due to his experience as an executive, his experience in the Senate, and the fact that he had already been running the department for nearly two years by the time Reagan stepped in.”

Secretary of Labor

Ben Fernandez (R-CA)

Making millions in the stock market is hardly a qualification for Secretary of Labor, regardless of whether the current administration wants to show off a Hispanic businessman or not!

Secretary of Health and Human Services

Gerald R. Ford (R-MI)
Congressman from Michigan's 5th District (1949-1974)
16th United States House Minority Leader (1965-1973)
41st United States Treasury Secretary (1973-1974)
40th Vice-President of the United States of America (1974-1977)

“With the election of Ronald Reagan to the Presidency came a new wave of Republican Senate gains, not seen since 1970, ten years earlier. It seemed Republicans were on top of the world. We had beaten the Kennedys, we had re-gained the Presidency after the scandalous Spiro Agnew and the unlucky George Bush, we had the Senate, and we’d elected two of our greatest icons to the Presidency and Vice-Presidency respectively. On election night I called to congratulate Ron—I consider myself lucky to have even gotten through—and he said to me “Look Jerry, now that the election’s over Mark [Hatfield] and I need to start looking for a team that can truly lead the nation. We want you on board.” I’d said of course, I’d be willing to help. I imagined that if he did want me on board it’d be for some sort of advisorial appointment. I was surprised to see myself heading a cabinet administration. While definitely not even close to the most exciting of cabinet positions, I found it just right for my liking.”

-A Life in American Politics, Gerald R. Ford, ©1990

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

William Thaddeus Coleman Jr. (R-PA)

“William T. Coleman was one of the many talented minds inside the cabinet I found myself in. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, he had worked in every Republican Administration after Herbert Hoover, becoming a trusted advisor and the type of man the President would assign to head various sub-cabinet tasks with competence. Probably one of the better men Nixon, Agnew, and Bush found themselves around, I was glad to have him seated next to me at cabinet meetings. Yes, Strom Thurmond as usual, called it “White House Affirmative Action”, but hardly anyone on our side of the aisle listened to him.”

-A Life in American Politics, Gerald R. Ford, ©1990

Secretary of Education

Elizabeth Dole (I-KS)
2nd United States Secretary of Education (1973-1977)

It looks like Senator Dole's wife has finally got back into her old job! It seems it should be fully expected that it would happen. Every administration in the last God knows how many years has been worried about propping up dynasties and families, so why not this one?

By then a registered Independent, away from the Democrats but not entirely sure about joining her husband's party, Hanford Dole was re-appointed to her position as Secretary of Education. With her previous experience she made an easy confirmation and would prove to be one of the more active Secretaries of Education and, obviously, one with the best relations with the Senate where her husband worked in the Republican leadership.

Secretary of Transportation

George W. Romney (R-MI)
43rd Governor of Michigan (1963-1969)
United States Senator from Michigan (1971-1977)
61st United States Treasury Secretary (1977-1979)

“Having been Hatfield’s 1968 running-mate, no-one was surprised the affable Michigan auto-executive would be going to work in an Administration Hatfield would have a large hand in, especially considering he was technically speaking out of a job at that point. Having worked as an auto-executive, a businessman, a Governor, a Senator, and a Treasury Secretary didn’t help either. All in all however, his time in that position was merely another chapter of Mr. Romney goes to Washington. Perhaps the high point of his time at that position would be his negotiations, along with Labor Secretary Ben Fernandez, with the Air-Traffic Strikers.”

-Land of My Father, Mitt Romney, ©2003

Secretary of Energy

James E. Carter (D-GA)
Georgia State Senator from the 14th District (1961-1967)
United States Congressman from Georgia's 3rd District (1967-1971)
76th Governor of Georgia (1971-1975)
14th United States Secretary of Defense (1977-1979)
1st United States Secretary of Energy (1979-?)

I- I doubt anyone was as surprised I was retained at my position more than me. I suppose, like people are now saying, it was a political appointment to dis-arm a potential 1984 challenge. However, at the time, I was elated that I was keeping my job and with that there would be a sympathetic voice in the White House, though I never heard much of Ron’s views on energy policy outside of the debates over Three-Mile Island in 1979.

...

Being kept on as Secretary of Energy was a surprise to many. Carter, a moderate and consistently rated as one of the most popular members of the Kennedy Administration, had been considered a possible candidate for Vice-President in 1980 or as was later seen, a candidate for President in 1984. It was believed by many that keeping him on was in the hope of dis-arming a potential Carter candidacy. Keeping him on was easily justifiable though with his moderate and accomplished record and lack of controversy surrounding the quiet and humble Georgian.

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

It was pure accident that so many Treasury Secretaries be Michigan Republicans, and also that every Treasury Secretary be Republican. I didn't know McNamara was a Republican until after he'd been made Treasury Secretary.

[Captain Chaos]

How ironic that Jimmy Carter will be working for the Reagan administration.

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

The Cabinet of President-Election Ronald Reagan (Pt. 3)

Ambassador to the United Nations

George H. W. Bush (R-TX)
Congressman from Texas' 7th District (1967-1971)
United States Senator from Texas (1971-1973)
41st Vice-President of the United States of America (1973-1974)
38th President of the United States of America (1974-1977)
President of the International Council on Foreign Relations (1978-1981)

“By 1980, George, having left behind any hint that he might run for President that year, had become akin to Nixon: The President that had gone down to a Kennedy, yet had been able to recuperate his reputation and become known as a master statesman. Working for the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, he already practically lived in the state and taking the job of Ambassador to the U. N. would be no big move. He had hardly even visited Texas since the primary season ended and had spent Fall in Kennebunkport fishing.

It has oft been rumored that Agnew had wanted Nixon to be his Ambassador to the U. N. Nixon, a supporter of Angew after the abortive 1972 primary campaign for the nomination, had by then recuperated his reputation as well. However, as the legend goes, Nixon had no desire to be officially subservient to any man, even the President. Choosing to stake out his position as an unofficial advisor of Republican Presidents, he served in that position under both Spiro and George, having been one of the chief advisors, along with Kissinger and Rockefeller, for the 1974 visit to China.

However, George would end up in a much more public role. Agreeing to the position of Ambassador to the United Nations, he would be America’s diplomat to the world, second only to the President and the Secretary of State, who were both at the time concentrated much more on policy than negotiations. Making his official residence in New York City, George’s reputation as a diplomat—having served on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, heading Agnew’s foreign policy, being the first President to recognize Red China, and his work heading the International Council of Foreign Relations—had garnered him respect in the international community. During Reagan’s Presidency he would become known as “the world’s preferred President”, though that would change shortly after Reagan’s reign.”

-What the Man was Made of, James Baker, © 1999

National Security Advisor

John Eisenhower (R-NY)
White House Chief of Staff (1961-1965)
United States Secretary of the Army (1973-1974)
13th United States Secretary of Defense (1974-1977)

“Joining the foreign policy team of the Reagan White House would be John Eisenhower. George’s Secretary of Defense after Goldwater begged to be allowed to resign, Eisenhower had been the chief conductor of the Palestinian War in its first two years as well as head of efforts to re-suit American troops to fight in various types of terrain and various different environments. The scion of the late President Eisenhower, John was no great public speaker nor any sort of politician. However, as Eisenhower’s son and an American military leader he was popular with the American people and with the media, his name reminding the country of simpler times. His experience with Palestine as well as with re-constructing the army would prove useful to Reagan and his successor as American military might would need to be restructured and reformed to be successful. Difficulties in Vietnam and Palestine—despite victories—had demonstrated that.”

-What the Man was Made of, James Baker, ©1999

Secretary of the Navy

James Stockdale (I-CA)

A man of boundless courage and determination which need not be mentioned; a man who was one of our bravest fighting in Vietnam both inside and outside the confines of the P. O. W. camps, and a leader of our Navy in the Palestinian War; a Medal of Honor Recipient and a man who has given more for this country than most of us can even imagine, Admiral James Stockdale will be our nation’s next Secretary of the Navy.

Special Advisor to the President

Patrick J. Buchanan (R-VA)
White House Communications Director (1973-1974)
Special Assistant to the President (1974-1975)

“Fresh off the campaign trail and the 1980 victory, it seemed no surprise to me that I would be called back to work under the President. I was still feeling guilt from the 1972 primaries, primaries that Reagan had won and yet had been denied at the convention. Accompanying the President-Elect back to his home on election night, I made the passing comment “If we’d been able to win in 1972, we’d be nowhere near our current mess.” “Don’t worry about it” the Gipper told me. “We, and you especially tried the best we could have. It was thanks to Nixon and Rockefeller and all the rest. Don’t worry about it.”

Coming back into the White House, this time as an advisor as opposed to Communications Director or Assistant, there was something much different about. Under Agnew, there was always this feeling of playing dirty, of fighting for every inch, whatever it was. This feeling of constantly being attacked. Under Bush, it was much different. A feeling of despair mostly. Of coming off Agnew’s resignation already behind in the race—what race, I don’t know, most likely the Presidency—and merely just trying the best to play a fair and honest game. Under Reagan and his successor, there was a much better feeling. Even in the worst of times, even after the despair of 1981, there was always this feeling of hope, of pushing forward, of fighting a winning battle. This year, however, Republicans seem to have lost that hope.”

-Right From the Beginning, Patrick J. Buchanan, ©1988

White House Chief of Staff

Edwin Meese (R-CA)

“Meese, Reagan’s long-time assistant and Chief of Staff during his days in the Senate and his official legal adviser from 1978 to 1980, encompassing his Governorship and his Presidential run, was perhaps the chief leader of the California gang. Others were of course Caspar Weinberger at Treasury and William J. Casey and Bill Clark as advisors. A man who would later be rebuked by the party as against the grain reached the height of his power during the Reagan Presidency. He would find the loss of it a devastation and his party’s rejection of what he viewed as Reagan’s wishes worse.”

-Republicans in Revolution, Bob Woodward, ©2007

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

How ironic that Jimmy Carter will be working for the Reagan administration.

Si.

[defe07]

1960

Vice-President Richard M Nixon (R-CA)/Ambassador to the United Nations Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (R-MA); 270 electoral votes, 49.9% of the popular vote
Senator John F Kennedy (D-MA)/Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B Johnson (D-TX); 248 electoral votes, 49.6% of the popular votes
Unpledged Electors; 13 electoral votes; .5% of the popular vote

1964

Senator John F Kennedy (D-MA)/Governor Terry Sanford (D-NC); 273 electoral votes, 43.7% of the popular vote
President Richard M Nixon (R-CA)/Vice-President Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (R-MA); 212 electoral votes, 42.1% of the popular vote
Senator Strom Thurmond (DI-SC)/Governor Orville Faubus (DI-AR); 53 electoral votes, 14.5% of the popular vote

1968

President John F Kennedy (D-MA)/Vice-President Terry Sanford (D-NC); 273 electoral votes; 43.9% of the popular vote
Governor George Romney (R-MI)/Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR); 212 electoral votes; 42.7% of the popular vote
Former Governor George Wallace (DI-AL)/General Curtis LeMay (DI-CA); 53 electoral votes; 13.1% of the popular vote

1972

Governor Spiro T Agnew (R-MD)/Senator George HW Bush (R-TX); 278 electoral votes, 48.7% of the popular vote
Vice-President Terry Sanford (D-NC)/Senate Minority Leader Hubert H Humphrey (D-MN); 242 electoral votes, 46.1% of the popular vote
Congressman John Schmitz (I-CA)/Congressman John Ashbrook (I-OH); 18 electoral votes; 4.7% of the popular vote
Others (Socialist, Libertarian, People's); 0 electoral votes, .3% of the popular vote

1976

Senator Robert F Kennedy (D-MA)/Senator George McGovern (D-SD); 281 electoral votes, 51.2% of the popular vote
President George Bush (R-TX)/Senator Ronald Reagan (R-CA); 257 electoral votes, 48.7% of the popular vote
Others; 0 electoral votes, .3% of the popular vote

1980

Governor Ronald Reagan (R-CA)/Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR) 332 electoral votes, 50.8% of the popular vote
President Robert F. Kennedy (D-MA)/Vice-President George McGovern (D-SD) 178 electoral votes, 34.7% of the popular vote
Former Senator Eugene McCarthy (FL-MN)/Senator Maurrce R. "Mike" Gravel (I/L-AK) 28 electoral votes, 14.2% of the popular vote
Others (Libertarian, Socialist) 0 electoral votes, .3% of the pouplar vote

Question: how did Schmitz come up with 18 electors if he won 16 according to the map? Did he win 2 electoral votes from 2 unfaithful electors?

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

Yeah. Some electors in MS voted Sanford while some in LA voted Schmitz.

[Dallasfan65]

Very solid and diverse line-up in the Reagan administration. I'll go out on a limb and say that Buckley's confirmation hearings were quite heated, though he's quick enough on his feet to do alright.

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

A Non-Serious Update: What-if?

Kennedy Victory
In the dream world where no news of the bugging of Bob Gates' office come out, or where it doesn't even happen, and the War in Palestine is won by 1979. The economy gets mildly better and McCarthy launches neither a third party challenge, nor an independent bid. In this fantasy scenario, RFK sends the radical Reagan and the equally radical (for different reasons) Mark Hatfield packing.


McCarthy Victory
In an even wilder fantasy world, a world where McCarthy fans' dreams of a 1980 Independent victory come true, McCarthy is somehow able to beat out both the fascist Reagan and the fascist Kennedy for the Presidency in a true victory for the people.

[pillage the village, trash the scene]

Combined map of Anderson victory from Miracle and McCarthy from Second Chance.

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

"Following the election, the White House seemed to lack the prestige it once held as I entered it with Jack in 1965. It seemed more a museum of my frustrations than any Presidential residence. I had worked more than any President to streamline the government, both the military and the domestic agencies, bureaus, and departments. I had de-regulated business much in need of de-regulation. I had won the Palestinian War. I had defended international human rights. I had legislated equality. I had done all these things and yet, none of it could over shadow the fact that I had not been rewarded for all this.

It didn't help that Jack was hospitalized a week before Christmas. The former President lay in a hospital bed while doctors rushed around him. No, he wouldn't be dying, not then. However, it only seemed to cast such a larger shadow over the office we had mutually held. As the transition of power began, I was surprised to see a few people staying. John Warner, Secretary of the Navy, would become the nation's next Secretary of Defense. Jimmy Carter and John Connally, the Energy and Commerce Secretaries respectively, would be staying in their positions. One thing was sure, looking over the new Reagan cabinet. He would be devoted as I to fighting international communism. However, I was sure he wouldn't be a devoted to fighting American poverty.

When I woke up on January 20th, it was as if I was in a haze. Nothing seemed real as I strode with President-Elect Reagan towards Chief Justice White, ready to give up the office I had fought for. Nevertheless, this was America and I was bound to have a peaceful transition of power go through. I clenched my fists as I heard Reagan utter those words "I, Ronald Wilson Reagan, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God." That was it, the Presidency had been relinquished and I would be headed back for Massachusetts. Boarding what had formerly been Marine One, I gave the White House one last furtive look over."

-In My Defense, Robert F. Kennedy, ©1984

January 20th, 1981
Following the Inauguration of President Reagan, former President Kennedy strides, arm in arm with his wife Ethel, towards Marine One, glancing back at the White House. Ethel boards the helicopter as the former President continues to look. A Secret Service agent beckons him to board.
Agent: Mr. President, we should get going. It's a long flight back to Hyannis Port.
Kennedy: Give me a moment Bob.
The agent sighs, leans back, counts to three, and turns back towards Kennedy.
Agent: We really should be going Mr. President.
Kennedy: Alright Bob.
Kennedy climbs the steps into the helicopter, sitting opposite his wife. His children have already left, taking a different helicopter following the inuaugration. Kennedy looks out the window as the White House disappears from view. Leaning forward, he looks at his wife.
Kennedy: Ethel, did I do what was right as President?
Ethel: Oh Bobby. I'm sure.
Kennedy sighs. Regardless, it is over.

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

January 22nd, 1981
A television address by the newly inaugurated President Ronald Wilson Reagan. Ringing him are Senate Majority Leader Howard H. Baker Jr. (R-TN), Congressman Silvio Conte (R-MA-1), and Vice-President Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR)

    Reagan: My fellow Americans, I am addressing you today for only the second time as your President. Much has happened the last four years. The fates seem to have guided America along a strange path, riddled with scandal, economic instability, uncertainty overseas, and, in spit of all this, most of all, hope. Through any of the darker times in our nation's history, there has always been hope. America, since its very founding, has been a nation of optimism, willfully charging forward when needed and always able to overcome its obstacles. That spirit, tracing back to Columbus setting forth on the Atlantic in 1492, to the American Revolution, to the recovery from the Great Depression, is the type of spirit that has made America the greatest nation in the world.
    However, that spirit has always been backed up by more than a few petty words. It has been back up in deeds. Going beyond merely offering their grievances to England, America revolted in the name of Independence and Liberty. Rather than offer weak words claiming the Confederacy shouldn't be seceding, Lincoln was the leader of the charge to re-unite America, both during the Civil War and following Reconstruction. Instead of choosing to condemn the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt chose to act in kind.
    So it is today. America has a choice. Though certainly in no way greater than some of the crucial decisions upon which our nation's future has hinged, it may prove just as important to the many families who today work long hours for little pay, who fill the unemployment lines, who are stuck at the gas station, glancing at the price sign and seeing numbers beyond belief. Our economy today, while having moved beyond the inflation that possessed a strangelhold on the seventies, it has not moved beyond the staggering unemployment that came with the inflation. Unemployment today stands at 9.8%, having lowered then risen throughout last year. That is why I shall be submitting the Economic Recovery and De-Regulatory Act of 1981 to Congress within my first one hundred days. Each day we wait to pass the needed legislation to finally bring our economy around to its status in the fifties and sixties, to normalcy and prosperity, is another family unemployed, another family left without food, and another day of recession.
    This act shall entail my campaign promises of middle-class tax cuts, de-regulation, deficit reduction, business tax cuts, and the beginning of the process of stream-lining government agencies and increasing their effectiveness on the people they were intended for. As we speak, Senators, Congressmen, aides, and legislative assistants are producing the legislation that will put America back on track and back into the era of prosperity that the previous decade was so sadly denied. Thank you.

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

January 28th, 1981
Inside the Oval Office, the leaders of President Reagan’s foreign policy team; Bill Buckley, John Warner, George Bush, and John Eisenhower; as well as Senator Barry Goldwater, Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, sit with the President, discussing how to deal with upcoming foreign policy issues.
    Bush: One of the uh… major pressing issues we’re going to be dealing with is Palestine…
    Goldwater: That ship has sailed, I’m glad to say. We all know we were justified going in there. That much was obvious with Scoop’s death. The fact is, however, we took out the perpetrators. We took out the perps behind the perps for Christ’s sake. Just because I left the position only months before we went in doesn’t mean I wasn’t paying attention. We don’t need to be… to be handing out an American flag t-shirt to every god little Palestinian girl and boy.
    Bush: Look, I- I beg to differ. When we pulled out, we hadn’t done nearly enough. There were so many issues in the newly constructed Palestine, I’m surprised it lasted past election day. Now we have, we have riots in the streets, radicals from the left and right… 
    Reagan: Now calm down George. You too Barry. Our job in Palestine is done. Regardless of the job we did, going back in would be too much of a breach of our declaration of victory. The first officially declared war America’s waged since World War II. We don’t need to be going back on it now. John, speak.
    Eisenhower: The most looming issue is Afghanistan. We are, for the most part, at a time of relative peace in the Cold War. Vietnam is over, Palestine is a closed book. Korea is forgotten. However, the next step, and RFK saw this, will be behind the scenes wars, as were waged under my father. The Soviets, in one desperate attempt at showing their muscle, lurched into Afghanistan. While it is doubtless they will fail, the question is how long it will take. Every day we wait for them to fail is another day of Afghans displaced onto the Pakistani border and villagers running from Soviet tanks and ‘copters. I’ve received some very interesting information from the DCI, Califiano on the subject. When the invasion began in 1979, we had already decided, thanks to Charlie Wilson of Texas, to send in funds to the Mujahedeen after them. Kennedy kept in under wraps. What are we going to do about it?
    Reagan: We’re going to keep funding it, as of now at least. However, send a message down to Joe, and to Wilson, have the CIA run a full evaluation of how the money is being spent. Don’t need it going towards shady arms deals with Iran or something do we? Now, the next topic my Administration will have to address is the state of our missile arsenal. Other John?
    Warner: You see, Mr. President, when JFK was campaigning in 1960 on some sort of missile gap, he was completely wrong. There was none. The Soviets had just begun ICBM production in the fifties. It was only in the mid-sixties we were near having to worry about much of anything. Incidentally, they near surpassed us around the time of SALT (looks nervously at Bush and Eisenhower). However, in 1976 we had put them somewhat comfortable behind us, though a mere decimal point of our lead back in 1960. We’ve successfully led them, but only by hairs since then.
    Buckley: One thing we have to keep in mind, as always, is quality over quantity. We’ve got the best production facilities on the globe. Also of note, the Soviet Union is surrounded by enemies. We successfully alienated China from their fellow communist nation in 1974, now we have the world against them. It’s only a matter of whether we want a quick or slow decline. I feel safe in suggesting that all in the administration, minus of course our own Vice-President, favor a quick decline.
    Reagan: You can poke your fun at Hatfield when he’s in the room. However, I will make this clear. I am intent on ushering in a fast decline while I am in office.
    Goldwater: All very well and good Ron. But there are always other ways to handle this than just nuclear deterrence. Now I know all here have read Conscience (mild laughter), but what I’m suggesting is a funneling of every Soviet enemy on the ground we have inward, against the center. The Mujahedeen in Afghanistan. Pushing Iran against Soviet backed Iraq. Increase tensions between China and Russia. Hell, the CIA’s been getting despite what they did in Iran. (strange looks from the other members of the conversation) Hell! Everyone in this room knows what Kennedy had the CIA do for the Shah. Let’s not pretend here. The point I’m making, is that the closer to actually fighting we get without the danger of nuclear weapons, the quicker of a decline we’re going to be creating. Not to get away from the principles of the “New Look” (glances towards Eisenhower), but there are other ways to heighten the Cold War.
    Reagan: Understood. This will, of course, be worked on a lot more in-depth in meetings with the CIA and the Deputy Secretary of Defense and so forth. Good meeting.

...I think, I think that had Reagan stayed in office, had the "Reagan Doctrine" as it was called in those days, actually been implemented, we could've seen the demise of the Soviet Union ten years earlier. Ironically enough, I think many of my Democratic colleagues would agree with me. Hell, they hold him in high esteem today compared to modern Republicans.l

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

Another list of the Presidents, Because

35. Richard M. Nixon (1961-1965)

36. John F. Kennedy (1965-1973)

37. Spiro T. Agnew (1973-1974)

38. George H. W. Bush (1974-1977)

Robert F. Kennedy (1977-1981)

40. Ronald Reagan (1981-?)

[ask_not]

Have ted Kennedy be president in 1992  and defeat Bill Clinton for the nomination.

[ChairmanSanchez]

Have ted Kennedy be president in 1992  and defeat Bill Clinton for the nomination.

At this point, another Kennedy looks highly unlikely...and thank God!

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

Have ted Kennedy be president in 1992  and defeat Bill Clinton for the nomination.

The Kennedys at this point aren't eyeing the Presidency. Bobby has tarnished the name so to speak.  His Presidency marked by scandal, a rough economy, and a war he pledged to end continuing into the middle of his last year in office, Bobby has no plans on running for another term in the future and Ted's best hopes lie in a fruitful career in the Senate, where he shall remain. For now.

[Proud Lieberal from Northeast]

Nice painting of Spiro. Gubernatorial portrait perhaps?

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

"It is to me a mystery why I am the one tasked with writing this book on Ronald Reagan. Perhaps it is our twelve years of service in the Senate. However, we were at times uneasy allies. He a staunch and proud Conservative of the Barry Goldwater wing, and I, a conciliatory centrist whose job it was to sadly moderate some of his proposals. However, we were friends, he and I, and when he was swept into office in 1980, I couldn't have been any gladder to work as Senate Majority Leader under his command. Reagan's, or Ron's if I may, is a story I have at times been entirely in awe of. I came from politics. My father was a Congressman from Tennessee. My father-in-law, the father of my first wife, was Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen. After leaving the Senate, I would marry Nancy Landon Kassebaum, not only a three-term Senator from Kansas, but as well the daughter of Alf Landon, the 1936 Republican Presidential nominee. I was a born and raised Republican. Ron on the other hand, though his father had been politically active, never had any intention of going into politics. Nor was it "in his blood". He wanted to become an actor, a speaker, someone who could command the audiences. In the end I guess, he became both a performer and a politician. However, that was never his intention. Instead, he become a Hollywood rising star. He was born a Democrat and had supported Harry Truman in 1948. It would only be with Richard Nixon's election in 1960 that Reagan would enter politics. Appointed Commerce Secretary due to his work with General Electrict, four years later Ron would be a Senator serving alongside Barry Goldwater, Everett Dirksen, Hugh Scott, and two years later, myself. I a born politician and he a made politician, one could always expect a good brawl for the heart and soul of some pieces of legislation. However, it was always friendly and never turned sour, such as the sad crumbling relationship between Nixon and Reagan for example, which deteriorated following Goldwater's 1964 attempt to unseat the incumbent Nixon.

Our opposing styles would clash in the much remembered Republican primaries of 1980. Sadly for my candidacy, despite the backing of Nixon and several members of the Establishment, I would be caught between two dedicated idealists and two former colleauges. Mark Hatfield and Ronald Reagan, both candidates in primaries previous, would be facing off for the heart and soul of the party. Hatfield led the upper West and the North-East while Reagan had the South-West, the South, and some of the industrial states. Despite the titanic clash, there would never be a true victory for either side until four years later. Instead, Hatfield joined Reagan on the 1980 ticket and here we sit. Sweeping into the Presidency with over fifty percent of the popular vote in a three-way race, Reagan represented a sweeping change to the "Centrist Decades" of the fifties, sixties, and seventies which had been ruled over by Eisenhower Republicans and Kennedy Democrats. Instead, Reagan aimed for a revolution. It was a revolution the Gipper would sadly never live to see.

Reagan, and his Administration, was rearing and ready to begin the change of power upon entrance into the White House. Sitting down some of the great Republican policy wonks, as well as even a few Democrats including Louisiana's indispensable Russel Long, Reagan was determined to have one solid piece of legislation to hand over to Congress for approval. One single act with which he could slowly erase the years of stagnation that would soon lay thankfully behind us. As well, the debate about the bill would not be closed. Vice-President Hatfield, a man whom many predicted would only serve as a political instrument used to attract Libertarians, Liberals, and Centrists to the party, would be one of the biggest administrators as to the bill's reconstruction. He didn't want some programs to be cut, but he knew that the economic and financial woes of the nation came first and that, following a recovery, many of the programs he would rather be defending wouldn't be as necessary.

President Reagan with Vice-President Hatfield and two Republican Congressmen

The Economic Recovery and De-Regulatory Act of 1981, the center-piece of Reagan's first one hundred days and his plans for the recovery, was a hard fight to say the least. It take the political firepower of the White House, the Vice-Presidency, and my own office to slowly keep the moderates in line and, following that, to reach and cajole moderate Democrats of every stripe over to our side. In the House, the job was much more difficult. Donald Rumsfeld, elected House Minority Whip, faced quite a tough job and it took many rides in Air Force One and consultations between moderate Democrats in order to finally pass the bill. A major aim of some members of the Administration was to attach as little "pork", as it was termed, to the bill as possible. In a private meeting between Treasury Secretary Cap Weinberger and Senate Minority Leader Robert Byrd (a man dubbed by our side as the "King of Pork"), Cap spoke plainly, "our goal is  more balanced budget, not a less balanced one", and so the fight would continue. However, on March 3rd, the White House could shout the triumphant cry of "Success!" as it passed through the House of Representatives. This was the first of the Gipper's triumphs as President and sadly, it would be the only one of notability, thanks to the work of one man."

-Howard Baker, introduction to Reagan, ©2011

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

Nice painting of Spiro. Gubernatorial portrait perhaps?

Not sure. Has to be either that or Vice-Presidential. Found it thanks to Google Images. Sadly, I doubt I'll be able to provide portraits for some of the future Presidents thanks to a lack of paintings of them, though there must be something.

[Proud Lieberal from Northeast]

Nice painting of Spiro. Gubernatorial portrait perhaps?

Not sure. Has to be either that or Vice-Presidential. Found it thanks to Google Images. Sadly, I doubt I'll be able to provide portraits for some of the future Presidents thanks to a lack of paintings of them, though there must be something.

Does Vice President gets official portraits? All I know for sure they're getting Senate busts.

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

April 30th, 1981
On the one-hundredth day of his Presidency, President Ronald Reagan has chosen to speak at the University of Virginia, the college originally founded by the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. His speech, concerning mostly the principles of liberty and America's founding, was well received by the attendees. He is now exiting the building. Here he comes now!

President Ronald Reagan wades through the crowd of reporters, flanked by the Secret Service on either side, making sure to protect the nation's fortieth President. Meanwhile, the reporters mob him for statements on various issues, including the on-going issue of the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, as well as the current state of the economy and Reagan's effect on it.
    Reporter: Mr. President! How do you react to Treasury Secretary Weinberger's comments on the needed cuts in order to close the deficit?
    Reporter 2: Do you plan on meeting with the Soviets on arms control talks?
    Reporter 3: Mr. President! Over here! What do you make of George McGovern's comments on your administration?
    Secret Service Agent: The President doesn't have time for questions now. If you want to ask them, ask them at a press conference.
    Someone: Mr. President! **BLAM** **BLAM**
    Secret Service: He's hit!
                               Get the gun, get the gun!
                               Rawhide is down! I repeat, Rawhide is down!

The shooter is quickly dis-armed and toppled. Meanwhile, Secret Service agents rush Reagan into the limousine, taking him to the closest medical facilities. In the next few minutes to follow as Reagan is rushed into the hospital, Vice-President Hatfield is notified...
    Secretary: Mr. Vice-President, it's Edwin Meese on the phone.
    Hatfield: What is it now? I don't need this right now... Hello?
    Meese: Uhm, Mr. Vice-President, have you turned on your TV?
    Hatfield: No...? (Hatfield walks across the small home office to the television set, turning it on to see news of Reagan's shooting breaking.
    Meese: The President's been shot. We have no idea how it'll end up. We need you in the White House. We have a helicopter prepared to take you there.
    Hatfield: I'll be right there.
    Meese: We'll be expecting you on the South Lawn.
    Hatifeld: No. Only the President lands on the South Lawn.

[ChairmanSanchez]

Have you read Rawhide Down by any chance? Very good book . Great update. I cant remeber if any assassinations have taken place so far, but I remeber RFK was shot at one point in time. Ill have to reread parts of this epic timeline

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

Have you read Rawhide Down by any chance? Very good book .

No, I haven't. I'm guessing it's about "What if Reagan was assassinated?"

Great update. I cant remeber if any assassinations have taken place so far, but I remeber RFK was shot at one point in time. Ill have to reread parts of this epic timeline

Thanks! Agnew was shot at on July 4th, 1973, by Arthur Bremer. He was in the hospital and Bush was made Acting President for a few weeks. It was alluded to that both Nixon and JFK had numerous assassination attempts against them though obviously none succeeded. I don't remember having RFK shot at however.

ALSO: Expect the next eight years or so to hopefully move more quickly than RFK's term. I don't like to go through these pace changes, but I'm hoping to combine both a quicker story line, and the idea of getting the "feel" that said individual, in this case Reagan (or not?) is President before moving into an election.