1976 Party Primaries

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1976 Party Primaries

« on: April 15, 2013, 09:04:12 PM »

President McGovern's landslide re-election was met with hope by many liberals throughout the nation who had not seen such power and popularity since the days of Franklin D. Roosevelt. In his second term, McGovern would see both victory and defeat in his domestic and foreign agenda. Busing would become in large a moot point that was doomed to unpopularity in certain areas of the country and thus McGovern's HEW Department would instead follow through with a more moderate and much more quietly implemented plan. On economics, McGovern would face some of the toughest challenges any President had. Over time, as Socialist welfare state-type programs grew, were modified, and became a greater part of the national economy, their budgets too grew. The 1960's had seen one of the high points of both domestic and military spending, spurring the economy but also incurring inflation in later years. While in his first term McGovern had dealt with economics mainly through federal interest rates and had trimmed the budget thanks to cuts in the military, at the beginning of his second term, it was clear that, should programs not be seriously reworked, the United States economy would be jeopardized by what conservatives were calling the worst inflation in national history. While several of those same conservatives in Congress were calling for a complete repeal of the Socialist welfare state, and some to McGovern's left claimed no modification was needed, the President worked tirelessly throughout late 1973 and all of 1974 with House Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford. While military spending indeed underwent further cuts and taxes were raised, domestic programs were also reworked in ways that angered much of McGovern's own base. As recession set in and Republicans made gains in Congress, it looked like the President's progress would be doomed. However, Ford held his caucus together and on a bi-partisan vote, what was entitled the Entitlement Reform Act of 1975 was passed narrowly. While unpopular at the time by some both on the right and left, historians would praise McGovern's bravery on the issue and it would be stated that through this, the American economy of the late 70's and early 80's was saved, and the Socialist welfare state was kept intact. What happened in short was a simplifying of several programs, combining them, making them more direct and efficient. On foreign policy, meanwhile, what was being termed as detente was progressing smoothly.

Nevertheless, the nation is facing higher gas prices than it is accustomed to, and larger amounts of funding for alternative energy research are not yet waylaying the burdens of a number of Americans, and a recession hit the country in the last quarter of 1975 and the first of 1976.

Running to succeed McGovern in his own party are a wide array of candidates. Among them are reform governors such as Jimmy Carter and Jerry Brown, both of which are running on platforms dedicated to honesty in government, maintaining McGovern's brave record of reform, and so on. Henry M. Jackson on the other hand provides a perfect foil to McGovern, having opposed the Entitlement Reform Act of 1975 and also being a harsh critic of McGovern's foreign policy. Frank Church is running as the foreign policy expert of the field, having worked in the Senate as McGovern's greatest ally and having been considered for Secretary of State a number of times. Vice President Shirley Chisholm, no surprise, is running. McGovern's history making choice for Vice President, she is now seeking to become the first Chief Executive to be both African-American and female. She is running on a platform of "peace, progress, and prosperity" and is working to increase focus on minority and urban issues.

For the Republicans, the leading contender seems to be de facto party leader Gerald R. Ford, who has chosen to seek the nomination. However, the Right, long denied its nomination, is well represented in former Governor Ronald Reagan of California. To Ford's left, meanwhile, are such famous faces as the Empire State's former executive, Nelson Rockefeller. As well, the Republicans could choose to battle Chisholm on her own turf by nominating Edward Brooke, a liberal Massachusetts Senator, for President. The Senate's version of Ford is no doubt Howard Baker, who despite lacking an official leadership role, led a caucus of moderate, centrist, and fiscally conservative Republicans in voting for the ERA of 1975.

For third parties, both the American Independent party and the Libertarians are prominent following their 1972 results. AI candidates include Georgia's former Governor Lester Maddox, who also served as Carter's Lieutenant Governor, and former Congressman John R. Rarick. The Libertarians meanwhile look poised to nominate Roger MacBride, who most notably cast a faithless elector for the party during its first run four years ago.

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