The Johnson Treatment: The Troubled Sixties And Beyond

[Bigby]

November 9th, 1960: Day After Election Night - Johnson Narrowly Beats Nixon!
WASHINGTON D.C., 12:30 PM - Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson of Texas narrowly secured the electoral vote by one point after an intense count of votes in Illinois. By securing an alliance of Southerners and Unions, Johnson has returned the New Deal coalition to power. He and Vice President-Elect Stuart Symington of Missouri will be sworn in on January 20th, 1961.

Lydnon Baines Johnson (D-TX)/Stuart Symington (D - MO): 269 EVs - Popular Vote TBD.
Richard Milhous Nixon (R-CA)/Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (R-MA): 268 EVs - Popular Vote TBD.

(EDIT: I forgot to switch Alaska and Hawaii to who actually won them ATL. This is now fixed. The narrative is unaffected as both Alaska and Hawaii have the same number of EVs.)


BREAKING NEWS: Headline Heartche! NEW YORK CITY, 1:45 PM. Before Midnight of November 8th, The New York Times declared Nixon the winner of the election. After the results for Illinois came in, the newspaper hurried to correct the headline. This is reminiscent of the "Dewey Defeats Truman" scandal that discredited the Chicago Tribune.

BREAKING NEWS: Nixon Contests Results! WASHINGTON D.C., 3:00 PM. Vice President Nixon, claiming a victory in the Popular Vote and fraud in Illinois, refuses to concede the election and will challenge the results. It has not been determined whether or not the vote count will be re-tallied in the state.

NEXT: Back in Time: A look at the 1960 Primaries, Conventions, and Congressional Races.

ALSO NEXT: The Daley Problem: Were 30,000 votes for Johnson fake? Is Nixon Wrong? Tune in and find out!

(Any thoughts? Opinions? Suggestions? The popular vote count is still being decided, and the electoral map may be subjected to change.)

[ElectionsGuy]

Great start! I would love to see a popular vote upset (meaning Nixon wins the PV)

[Bigby]

Great start! I would love to see a popular vote upset (meaning Nixon wins the PV)

Yeah, that is one of the things I am working on. I am trying to find a way to make the PV believable with the map I made, for one.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

The title doesn't imply a Johnson presidency as much as it implies his general influence, so I am enjoying the cliff hanger.

[Bigby]

- Excerpt from the Television Series Back in Time: The History Around Us -

Original Episode Date: Wednesday March 24th, 1993 at 6:00 PM.

Part 1 of "Too Close To Call: The Election of 1960."

Overall, the 1960 elections were not hotly contested. The Democrats maintained control of both chambers of Congress. The Republicans gained 26 seats in the House and gained 3 seats in the Senate, though Democratic control in both chambers were in no danger of being lost. However, these races were not the races that caused so much political heartache during 1960. The frustration that caused that year's turmoil was solely the Presidential race. (1)

To begin, let us examine the Democratic primaries. To the shock of almost everyone in the nation, Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Baines Johnson declared his intention to run on September 1st, 1959. Despite his firm hold on the Senate,he stated in a New York Times interview that the 1958 recession, his effectiveness as Majority Leader in the Senate, and the "threat to the New Deal" all motivated him to run. As a result of his early declaration to run, Johnson began his campaign run while working as Majority Leader. (2)

Johnson's early bid was mostly challenged by Senator Hubert Humphrey (D - MN), Senator Stuart Symington (D - MO), but most importantly, Senator John F. Kennedy (D - MA). Kennedy energized the Catholic and white ethnic vote, while Johnson and Symington split the establishment vote. After Kennedy barely won Wisconsin and Johnson handily won West Virginia, Humphrey dropped out and endorsed Johnson, solidifying the union vote. Kennedy would win in New Hampshire and his native state of Massachusetts, but Johnson won the Midwest, and even won Illinois after receiving an endorsement from Governor Adlai Stevenson (D - IL). Although Johnson held a plurality of delegates, Kennedy received enough delegates from Catholic voters to take the fight to the Convention. (3)



Senator John F. Kennedy, the main rival of Senator Johnson during the 1960 Democratic primaries.

At the Los Angeles Democratic Convention, the nomination fight became suddenly heated. Johnson decided to use his usual domineering demeanor that made him famous as Senate Majority Leader. During the Convention, which was the first televised party convention in history, Johnson remained loud and crass. He stood over the other candidates, violating their personal space. His voice boomed throughout the convention halls. By the end of the night, the other candidates, including Kennedy himself, were visibly shaking. All of the other candidates threw their support in for the furious Johnson, though Kennedy was the most reluctant to do so. Johnson nominated Senator Symington as his Vice Presidential nominee after gaining enough delegates. During Johnson's victory speech, it was obvious that several Catholic attendants were furious. Although they hardly disrupted the convention, many Catholics did not cheer Johnson on; some even walked out. A week after, Kennedy admitted in an interview on The Ed Sullivan Show that Johnson got away with "bullying" the other nominees into supporting him. The Massachusetts Senator went as far as coining the term "The Johnson Treatment" to describe Johnson's controlling attitude.



President-elect Johnson giving Senator Richard Russell (D - GA) "The Johnson Treament" on November 10th, 1960.



Johnson happily addressing his supporters after clenching the nomination.

Meanwhile, the Republican nomination process was a quiet one. Richard Nixon faced potential opposition from Governor Nelson Rockefeller (R - NY), though he declined to run. During the Republican Convention in Chicago, Illinois, Nixon won the nomination almost unanimously; Senator Barry Goldwater (R -AZ) won 10 votes from conservative delegates. Nixon picked Ambassador to the UN and former Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (R - MA) as his Vice Presidential nominee in order to strengthen his foreign policy credentials. This convention was far quieter than the Democratic convention, but at least the party was clearly more unified. Without one wing feeling betrayed, the Republicans felt far more optimistic than the Democrats.



Like the Democratic convention, the Republicans also held their first televised convention in 1960. It had less views due to its less chaotic nature, however.



Nixon celebrating his easy victory.

Part 2 coming to you after a word from our sponsors.

(Author's Note: I will sometimes use in-universe media, such as TV shows, lectures, gov't documents, internet sites, and gov't messages to both tell the TL's story and as a means to add flavor. At other times, I will stick to regular storytelling for this TL. Tell me if you prefer simple storytelling or using in-universe media more. I was going to do both parts in this post, but I want to hear your thoughts first.)

OOC Notes:

1. In this election, the 3 OTL Democrats who beat their Republican challengers in New York and the 1 Democrat who did the same in California lost ATL. In the Senate, replacement Senator Clarence Brunsdale (R - ND) decides to run and wins. Alvin M. Bentley (R - MI) narrowly wins the Michigan Senatorial race ATL.
2. OTL, Johnson waited until right before the Los Angeles convention to run against Kennedy. If anyone has a suggestion as for a specific reason for him running so early, I am willing to listen.
3. I'll admit I had trouble writing this section because A. I wanted a balance in between brevity and detail and B. Primaries before 1972 are hard to follow. If anyone feels like this section needs to be rewritten, I am willing to listen to suggestions.

(And as always, tell me what you think!)

[Bigby]

UPDATE: Since I am not as busy tonight as I thought I would be, I decided to go ahead and finish this update. I also took the time to fix a glaring typo I found in Part 1.

- Excerpt from the Television Series Back in Time: The History Around Us -

Original Episode Date: Wednesday March 24th, 1993 at 6:00 PM.

Part 2 of "Too Close To Call: The Election of 1960."

After both parties ended their conventions, the election became intense. Perhaps the largest piece of evidence of this fact was the first and only Presidential debate of the cycle. Not only was this debate the first televised debate between the two nominees for President, but this was the first debate between candidates for President period. However, the 1960 Presidential debate went down as one of the murkier events in political history. On television, both candidates appeared aged, tired, and generally uninterested. Although Nixon was younger than Johnson, he appeared pale and clammy on television, rendering the age advantage pointless through that medium. During the debate, Johnson kept creeping into Nixon's personal space to cause the Vice President to stutter and stumble. However, Nixon pushed back and got equally as intrusive as Senator Johnson. Not much later, the two began to yell at each other, throwing insults without any regard to the audience or the moderator. The debate ended inconclusively as both candidates were escorted out by security. No one considered either candidate victorious.

 

Senator Lyndon Johnson instigating Nixon into losing his cool.



Vice President Nixon yelling at Johnson one last time before being escorted out by security.

With the debate ending on a sour note, both candidates relied on addressing the issues and using whatever opportunity arose to give them an advantage. Johnson quickly assaulted Nixon and the Republicans on the Soviets. He claimed that the Republicans had allowed the Soviets to get ahead in the space race, and also that the Republicans were not spending enough effort on closing the missile gap between the United States and the Soviet Union. Johnson cited his involvement in the forming of NASA as his credentials for solving this issue. Nixon assured the American people that he would prevent the Reds from overpowering the United States, and also that he would support potential action against the Castro regime in Cuba. Johnson was less hawkish on Cuba, but he did promise to support the South Vietnamese. Overall, Johnson reigned supreme in the foreign policy debate. (1)

On the domestic front, the Nixon and Johnson campaigns both caused shifts in the electorate. Nixon, noticing the bitterness felt by Catholics after John F. Kennedy's primary defeat, made a move to drain middle class and wealthy Catholics from the Democrats. Along with his VP nominee Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., Nixon toured several Catholic cities and suburbs, promising them that their concerns would be met in his administration. Although he was Protestant, Nixon became close with the Catholic community; some journalists joked that Nixon's next move was to convert to Catholicism himself. JFK himself even spoke highly of Nixon after he began these meetings with Catholics; although he silently endorsed Johnson, JFK refused to campaign against Nixon and was even seen one more than one occasion with Lodge. This strategy was successful for Nixon, especially with Southern, Western, and New England Catholics, though he only gained 60% of the Catholic vote. LBJ siphoned off certain Protestants wary of Nixon's sudden coziness with the Catholic population. Furthermore, Johnson's strong New Deal rhetoric brought several working-class whites into his coalition, attracting both Anglo-Saxon and ethnic whites alike. The biggest shift was in the African-American vote. When Martin Luther King, Jr. was arrested during a protest in Georgia, LBJ refused to intervene; he did not want to lose his southern base. Nixon, after a few weeks of consideration, acted where Johnson did not and demanded King be released. As a result, King and his father publicly endorsed Nixon. Black turnout increased dramatically in the favor of Nixon. On a smaller level, this drew liberal and moderate whites sympathetic towards the Civil Rights Movement into the Republican camp. This helped Nixon in Northern and border states, especially those with significant black populations in cities, but it did not garner significant black support in the solidly Democratic South due to the poll tax and lack of voting rights in the Southern states; a 1990 study conducted by Brigham Young University revealed that if not for the racist policies of the South at that time, Nixon would have carried Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia while making the rest of the South save for Texas far closer. (2)



Nixon meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr. in Chicago, Illinois after King was swiftly released from jail in Georgia.

Ironically, the economy ended up a rather minor issue despite Johnson's best attempts. Johnson repeatedly brought up the Recession of 1958 and claimed it was proof that the Republicans cannot control the nation's economy; this tied in his pro-union and pro-New Deal message. Meanwhile, Nixon argued that the 1958 Recession was being reversed and that he would continue this repairing of the economy if elected. Nixon did address the 1958 Recession once Johnson made it an issue, though he dismissed it as "old news" and stressed Eisenhower had fixed it already. The economy did not significantly alter the outcome of the election, though it did cause Nixon to publicly consider himself as the successor of a successful Eisenhower and it did solidify Johnson's hold on lower-middle and lower class whites.

In summary, the constant shifts caused by the turbulent nature of the election led to interesting shifts in the voting blocs of both parties. Nixon secured the majority of middle and upper class Catholics, blacks, white Northerners, and Westerners while Johnson secured the majority of lower class whites (both Protestant and Catholic), socially conservative Protestants wary of Catholics influence, white ethnics, and (unsurprisingly) the South.

The election was close, though Johnson narrowly won thanks to a slight surge in Illinois. The closest states were, in order: Illinois, Delaware, New Jersey, Alaska, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Missouri, and New Mexico. There were a total of 70,953,350 votes cast for President; 65% of the total eligible voters cast a vote for President. Richard Nixon won exactly 50% of the vote and was the winner of the Popular Vote. Lyndon Baines Johnson came in second place in the Popular Vote with roughly 49.8% of the vote, but won the Electoral College by one elector.

Popular Vote Count:

Richard Milhous Nixon (R - CA)/Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (R - MA): 35,476,675 votes (50.0%)
Lyndon Baines Johnson (D - TX)/Stuart Symington (D - MO): 35,334,768 votes (49.8%)



Richard Nixon commented to President Eisenhower that "Johnson robbed me like a bastard" on Eisenhower's last day in office. He would harbor a deep resentment of LBJ for the rest of his days.

Since he won the PV count, Nixon believed that the election was rigged. He claimed Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago added 30,000 illegal votes to the Illinois election results. Despite objections from Daley-ally Judge Thomas Kluczynski, the Republican-dominated Illinois Board of Elections allowed a recount. They scheduled a recount for Tuesday, November 22nd, 1960. President-Elect Johnson now had to wait before he could consider himself victor.

Tune in for our special episode on the outcome of the recount!

Next: The Daley Problem: Were 30,000 votes for Johnson fake? Is Nixon Wrong? Tune in and find out!

(Author's Note: Alright, I was able to deliver Part 2 sooner than expected. I feel better about this section, personally, but feel free to comment on either part of this huge update. I will most likely style the next update with Richard Nixon and his team listening to the news about the Illinois recount, though if you have any suggestions for the style, please comment.)

OOC Notes:

1. Since neither candidate has been President yet ATL, no one knew about Johnson's actual foreign policy. We'll see if he maintains his positive reputation on foreign policy later on in this TL.

2. I know, I basically reversed the advantage on the black vote from OTL. With Johnson being more Southern-minded as a Southerner himself, and without JFK at the helm of the ticket, I doubt Johnson would have risked it. Nixon had less to lose ATL with this gambit.

[Mr. Smith]

Pretty sure Johnson would've won Massachusetts and Rhode Island at least....I don't disagree with the rest though,keep going

[Bigby]

November 22nd, 1960 - The Daley Problem and Aftermath.

WASHINGTON D.C., 8:00 PM.

Vice President Nixon has been nervous the entire day. Today was the day that they recounted the vote tally in Illinois, the state that decided the election. If enough voter fraud was discovered, the election would be tipped over and President-Elect Johnson would lose his new title to Nixon. He worriedly sits in front of the television in his office. His wife Pat, his VP nominee Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., and even President Dwight D. Eisenhower are all present. As they all watch the news, everyone else in the room can feel the weight pressing on Nixon's mind.



Douglas Edwards, the man who reported what would decide the election.

The TV was tuned in to Douglas Edwards With the News. After a brief introduction, Edwards clears his throat and begins speaking.

"My fellow Americans, after an investigation into the voter fraud incident in Illinois, the state's Board of Elections has found instances of voter fraud. All of them have been found in the Chicago precinct. The ballots were stuffed with extra Johnson votes."

Nixon grins and leaps up from his hair. He grabs Pat and begins dancing with her excitedly. "Yes, the Presidency is mine! I knew that hayseed son of a bitch rigged the election!"

However, this was not entirely good news for Nixon. Edwards continues to speak as he grabs his notes. "However, the Board of Elections has failed to find enough voter fraud to tip the results over to Vice President Nixon. Of the 30,000 votes in Johnson's favor, only 29,500 have been discovered be fraudulent. The remaining 500 votes in question have been deemed to be legitimate. So far, Major Richard Daley and several other Chicago officials have been implicated in this scheme. The Board has not discovered any evidence that can implicate Senator Johnson. As a result, Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson shall remain the President-Elect."

As soon as Nixon heard this, he went from belated to infuriated. He starts angrily grabbing items from his desk and begins slamming them into the floor, yelling as loudly as he can. "Motherer! Not enough cases of fraud have been found?! Bullsh**t! CBS News is allied with that yokel bastard! There is no way that Johnson won those last 500 votes fairly, and there is no way he's not involved! I'm gonna flay that fa-" He immediately quits his tantrum once he sees everyone else in the room glaring at him. He sits down and calmly grabs a shot of whiskey from his drawer. "I need to be alone for a while."

BREAKING NEWS - Johnson Declared Winner After Investigation! Not Enough Voter Fraud Found. Johnson To Give Victory Speech Thursday.

November 24th, 1960. WASHINGTON D.C., 12:00 PM.

Johnson grins widely as he fixes his tie and prepares his victory speech at the Lincoln Memorial. Tends of thousands of supporters are gathered, along with many of his fellow Senators, including Senator John F. Kennedy. Several cameras are in the crowd, and Johnson basks in the fact that his victory speech will be televised for all of America to see. Vice President-Elect Stuart Symington is standing to Johnson's right while Johnson's wife "Lady Bird" is standing to his left. Once he quickly prepares himself, he grabs the microphone and begins his speech.

"Good afternoon, y'all. After that little episode in Chicago, I can finally be called by my rightful new title: the President-Elect of the United States. Nixon tried to play victim and deprive the American people of their choice. Despite his little ploy, I won the election legitimately, thanks to you. Oh he wanted to cry wolf that I tampered with the results; that was entirely on Mayor Richard Daley, and that is something he must pay the consequences for. Still, I want to thank the people of Illinois, and the people of every other state too, for helping me achieve my goal. My victory proves that you can't take away the choice of the American people, for that choice must be respected."

The crowd begins cheering him on. After letting them clap and cheer, he raises his hands to silence them. "After all, this ain't about me; it's about y'all. As Senator, I served to benefit the people of America, and as President, I will do the same. I did not run for President for my own gain, but for the gain of the people. It fills me with joy to lead and serve a good society. Nay, a Great Society! As the number one nation on God's green Earth, America must look after its own. If the least among us are sick, then we are all sick. If the least among us are unhappy, then we are all unhappy. If the least among us are going without, then we are all going without. America can and will supply all of its citizens, not just the well-to-do ones. For this Great Society to work, we as Americans must be willing to work to eliminate poverty and elevate the status of our fellow countrymen. As President, I will work tooth and nail to achieve the ideal Great Society."

He smiles even more and continues to speak. "Not only will I fight for our Great Society, but I will also ensure the Reds do not trample this great nation. I will increase our military power, close the missile gap, and fund scientific research. Moreover, I will also continue to expand NASA. We must beat the Reds to space, and then to the Moon itself! It is America's destiny, and it will all happen while I am in office! Again, America is great, and I'll make damn sure it remains that way!"



Johnson giving what would become known as the "Great Society" speech.

WASHINGTON D.C., 4:30 P.M.

Meanwhile, Nixon was preparing for his concession speech. Unlike Johnson's victory speech, this speech would be held in a small auditorium with hardly anyone recording it. Unlike the tends of thousands present at Johnson's victory speech, only two to three thousand people would listen to Nixon. Withholding tears and with shaky hands, Nixon began his speech.

"My fellow Americans, despite the good fight, I lost a close one. It seemed for a second that Illinois was taken from me, and even with voter fraud discovered, Johnson seemed to have won fair and square anyway. I guess it's time for me to throw in the towel and admit I've lost. Well, I'm going to be an honorable man and do so now. Thank you to all of my supporters for sticking with me until the end. I concede the election and wish President-Elect Johnson the best. May God keep him."



Nixon on the verge of tears during his concession speech.

November 25th, 1960. WASHINGTON D.C., 5:30 PM.

After the Senate convened for the day, Johnson catches up with Senator Kennedy. He catches the man's attention and stands eerily close to him.

"Ah, there you are Johnny." Johnson fakes a smile; the phoniness of the smile is very obvious to Kennedy. "Mind if I talk with you? I am gonna be your new President soon, so what I got to say is mighty important."

Kennedy groans as silently as he can while returning his own non-genuine smile. "Of course, Mr. Senator." Kennedy chuckles and continues speaking in his thick Boston drawl. "Or should I say Mr. President-Elect. What do you need?" Kennedy is hardly hiding his strained tolerance for the President-Elect.

Johnson suddenly forms an angry expression and grabs Kennedy by his jacket. "Now Johnny, you listen here. You almost cost me the election by cozying up with Nixon and Lodge. What for again? Oh right, that bullsh**t feel-good campaign for Catholic voters. You pissed me off with that, you know." Kennedy gulps as he tries to break himself free, but Johnson keeps his tight hold on the man. "Now you REALLY need to listen to me here. We're both Democrats, sure, but apparently you hate me more than any Republican ever will. Get over the fact that you ain't President. You better obey every damn order I give you, as I just got even more authority over your Boston ass. You ain't gonna defy me, and you ain't gonna talk back. If you do either, I will eagerly break your goddamn ribs. Am I understood?!"

Kennedy just blinks for a few seconds. Johnson slams him into the wall and speaks up. "I said, are we clear?!" Kennedy coughs and nods. "Alright! Jesus, now let me go!" Johnson just chuckles as he releases Kennedy from his grip. Kennedy fixes his shirt and jacket as he is freed. Johnson walks off and winks at Kennedy. "See you later, Johnny!"

[Bigby]

I love how much of a complete and utter asshole Johnson is portrayed as.

He usually won't be THIS mean, but don't expect him to be nice either. He and JFK are off to a bad start ATL.

[NHI]

Very good TL.

[Bigby]

-SNIP-

Lydnon Baines Johnson (D-TX)/Stuart Symington (D - MO): 269 EVs - Popular Vote TBD.
Richard Milhous Nixon (R-CA)/Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (R-MA): 268 EVs - Popular Vote TBD.

I think the electoral college map is really good. Absolutely Johnson would had he actually been the nominee in 1960 he would have done poorly in places where Kennedy did really well. I commend you for a very well put together electoral college map given the nominated tickets.

My main reason for flipping several states was the fact that Johnson and Kennedy have different bases. Kennedy OTL appealed more to the Northern wing of the Democratic party, and he solidified that appeal by ensuring the majority of the Catholic vote. With Johnson, the base becomes far more Southern and Protestant. Add ATL Nixon's willingness to reach out to Catholics and Blacks and the circumstances of ATL become VERY interesting.

Anyway, I will post a new update either tonight or tonight. I'll go ahead and post Johnson's Cabinet and and his swearing in.

[Bigby]

January 20th, 1961 - The Inauguration of Jyndon Baines Johnson.

WASHINGTON D.C., 12:00 PM.

Today was the big day for Johnson. After resigning from the Senate in December of 1960 in order to concentrate on selecting his Cabinet and readying his full Presidential agenda, Johnson returned to D.C. for his inauguration. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue bustled with activity the entire day. Several key figures were there, including President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, and even Senator John F. Kennedy. Johnson was sworn in by Chief Justice Earl Warren.

"I, Lyndon Baines Johnson, 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 held me God."

After Johnson was sworn in, he addressed the audience with his Inaugural Address.

-EXCERPT FROM THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON, EXCERPT SUPPLIED BY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS-

"People of America, it is time for new leadership. As I've said before, I will fight for the downtrodden of this great nation. I will help the poor, the sick, and the disadvantaged. It is my duty as President to do so, and it is a duty I must succeed at no matter the cost. Not only will I protect Roosevelt's New Deal, but I will expand the laws to offer further protection. Not only shall I help the poor of this nation, but I shall work tirelessly to defend this nation from the wrath of Red Russia. We will close the missile gap, and we will also prevent the spread of communism globally. This is imperative for the health of the United States, and this is imperative for the health of democracy."

- END EXCERPT.-

Once his address ended, Johnson walked calmly to the Oval Office, preparing for his first term of the Presidency.

The Cabinet of Lydnon Baines Johnson.

President: Lyndon Baines Johnson (D - TX)
Vice President: Stuart Symington (D - MO)

Secretary of State: Adlai Stevenson (D - IL)
Secretary of the Treasury: Henry H. Fowler (D - VA)
Secretary of Defense: Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson (D - WA)
Attorney General: Wayne Morse (D - OR)
Postmaster General: J. Edward Day (D - IL)
Secretary of the Interior: LeRoy H. Anderson (D - MT)
Secretary of Agriculture: Leonard G. Wolf (D - IA)
Secretary of Commerce: Paul Douglas (D - IL)
Secretary of Labor: Arthur Goldberg (D - IL)
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare: Abraham A. Ribicoff (D - CT)

Director of the FBI: J. Edgar Hoover
Director of Central Intelligence: Allen W. Dulles

[Bigby]

(Sorry for the lack of updates. I have been busy, so I can only supply a small update.)

-Major Events from January 1st to June 30th of 1961.-

January 3rd: The 87th Congress is sworn in. The United States also breaks diplomatic ties with Cuba.
January 20th: President Lyndon Johnson and Vice President Stuart Symington are sworn in.
April 12th: The Soviet Vostok 1 mission fails. After liftoff, the Vostok 3KA spacecraft quickly caught fire and burned before it left the atmosphere. The sole cosmonaut assigned to the mission, Yuri Gagarin, died during liftoff. Soviet dreams of reaching space before the Americans were swiftly crushed.
April 17th: U.S. President Lyndon Johnson officially calls for a trade embargo against Cuba. Speculation regarding a potential invasion of Cuba circulates in the news and in government, though Johnson insisted Cuba should not be invaded.
May 4th: A group of protestors called the Freedom Riders took to US interstate bus rides to encourage the enforcement of the Supreme Court decisions Morgan v. the Commonwealth of Virginia and Boyton v. Virginia.
May 5th: The Cuban Embargo Act was passed by both chambers of Congress. All trade between the United States and Cuba was immediately halted. President Johnson signed the bill into law on May 8th.
June 29th: The Mercury-Redstone 3, later renamed the Freedom 7, successfully flew into space. The sole crew member of the Freedom 7, Alan Shepard, became the first man to be sent to space. The flight did not fully orbit the Earth, though it did fly in space for 21 minutes and safely landed near Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Major Special Elections:

Oregon Senate seat (vacated by Wayne Morse), May 17th, 1961:

Robert W. Straub (D): 51.0%
Earl T. Newbry (R): 48.9% - Appointee, lost special election.

Missouri Senate seat (vacated by Stuart Symington), May 22nd, 1961:

Warren E. Hearnes (D): 58.1% - Appointee, won special election.
Hazel Palmer (R): 40.9%

Washington Senate seat (vacated by Henry M. Jackson), June 7th, 1961:

Donald H. Magnuson (D): 56.6% - Appointee, won special election.
Gordon S. Clinton (R): 43.1%

Texas Senate seat (vacated by Lyndon B. Johnson), June 14th, 1961:

John Connally (D): 38.2% - Appointee, won special election.
John Tower (R): 34.6%
Maury Maverick, Jr. (D): 10.2%
Mike Gonzalez (D): 8.6%
Other Democrats: 6.3%
Other: 2.1%

Illinois Senate seat (vacated by Paul Douglas), June 22nd, 1961:

George P. Shultz (R): 50.2% - Ran after Appointee Leo E. Allen declined to run.
William T. Murphy (D): 48.1%
Other: 1.7%

Overall changes: R +1.

Up Next: Johnson's Embargo, No Cuban Invasion

Also Next: Alan Shepard, the First Man in Space!

[Bigby]

April 17th, 1961 - President Johnson Calls For Embargo!

WASHINGTON D.C., at the White House Press Briefing Room.

After a short introduction from his Press Secretary, President Johnson arrived to the podium. With several journalists listening and several cameras and recorders watching him, Johnson went straight to the point.

"Now, I know y'all understand the Batista regime has been replaced by Fidel Castro's goons for quite some time. Frankly we need to put some pressure on them. That is why I call on Congress to draft a bill that would place an embargo upon the Castro regime. We must be vigilant against the forces of Communism and prevent its spread."

After a few minutes of answering questions, Johnson received one particular question from a random reporter. The young man blurted, "Mr. President, will military action be taken against the Castro regime?" The room became silent for several minutes. President Johnson eventually broke the silence by answering the man. "Well I promise I won't do anything that causes the destruction of all life on this Earth." After his quip, Johnson chuckled nervously and then ended the conference.

BREAKING NEWS: Cuban Embargo Act Passes Both Houses, President Johnson To Sign Bill.

Immediately after President Lyndon Johnson called for am embargo against Cuba, Secretary of State Adlai Stevenson (D - IL) worked with members of both chambers of Congress to draft a bill. On April 24th, Senator J. William Fulbright (D - AR) introduced a bill that would place a blanket embargo on all American exports to Cuba, and also on all Cuban imports into America. The Senate passed the bill 92 - 5 with three abstaining votes on April 28th. On May 1st, the House sent an amended version back to the Senate that strengthened the punishments for violating the embargo along with adding a provision for the embargo to be renewed every 12 months. The amended bill passed in the Senate 85 - 14 on May 1st and then passed in the House 389 - 60 on May 5th. President Johnson signed the bill into law on May 8th.

Although the amended bill passed in both chambers by large margins, there were a few dissenting voices. Senator John Connally (D - TX) considered the original bill too soft in its punishment for violations of the embargo and only voted for the amended bill. Meanwhile, Representative Clifford McIntire (R - ME) offered his reasoning for opposing both versions of the bill on other grounds; he opposed the bill because "it would cause relations to worsen in between the US and Cuba."

LA HAVANA, CUBA, UNKNOWN TIME.

Fidel Castro and Che Guevara were watching television together in the conference room. The two were drinking together and sharing jokes, as usual in their casual chats. However, one of Castro's aides would dampen the mood by relaying some urgent news to Prime Minister Castro.

"Sir, I have some bad news." Castro's aide hands him a smuggled New York Times paper. On it, the front page reads, "Cuban Embargo Act Passes! All US-Cuban Trade Halted!"

Before Castro could respond, Guevara snarled and grabbed the paper. "Filthy Americans! Just like how they supported that bastard Batista, they aim to stop the Revolution by starving us! See Fidel, this is why we should get General Secretary Kru-"

Prime Minister Castro immediately stops Guevara from continuing his impassioned rant. "Relax Comrade Che, we have the Soviets to support us. All this will do is make the Americans miss our cigars. After all, Johnson only seems want trade restrictions. As long as he does not threaten us with invasion, I see no need in bringing Soviet missiles into Cuba. At the current time, such a move seems excessive."

Guevara rolls his eyes and replies to Castro's argument. "Come on Fidel, you were willing to liberate Cuba. We must show the Americans that we will not relent!"

Castro just replies with, "The Revolution is for naught if we bring about Armageddon. I mean it, Che. I promise you that I will ask Khrushchev for some missiles and military assistance if we discover any American attempt to invade. But you must look at this logically. The Americans and the Soviets are at each others' throats. If one side does something crazy, then the other side reacts in just as much of a crazy manner. As such, the Americans are not willing to upset the USSR. We already have that to use against them."

Guevara angrily glares at Castro before reluctantly calming down and nodding. "You win for now, Prime Minister. However, if Havana burns because you were not willing to make the Americans submit, you'll know why."



Castro and Guevara might be comrades of the Revolution, but will international politics spoil their friendship?

Next: Alan Shepard, the First Man in Space!

(Author's Note: Expect to see more confrontations between Castro and Cuba. Cuba will play a very vital role in US politics, but not in the way you'll expect.)

[Bigby]

(Update Time! Since being too detailed causes me to take too long with writing this, especially with college keeping me busy, I will write every 2 years once I finish with 1962 and then go back to focus on elections and huge events only. Instead of listing every single event, I'll only present non-election news if it will bring a major impact upon the story. I am likely to add minor changes in footnotes, though.)

- Excerpt from TIME Magazine, originally printed July 7th 1961. -



Shepard would eventually be named "Man of the Year" by TIME at the end of 1961. (1)

Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr. made history in his historic flight aboard the Mercury-Redstone 3 on June the 29th. He flew in space alone for 21 minutes and landed safely in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This historic flight was originally scheduled for May 5th, but NASA opted to delay the flight for further inspection when news of the failed Soviet flight Vostok 1 became public.  Shepard has become the first man to enter space and successfully return to Earth. This flight is not only the first successful American venture beyond the atmosphere, but for all humankind. After landing, Shepard was reported to say "This is the first among many victories for not only the United States, but for all of humanity itself. My trip is not the end of new advancements, but only the beginning." (2)

- End Excerpt. -

July 4th, 1961 - Johnson's Space Address.

Five days after the success of the Mercury-Redstone 3 mission, President Lyndon Johnson delivered an address from the Oval Office. The President was very brief in this address, but he set an ambitious goal for the American people:

"My fellow Americans, our boys at NASA have shown the Reds the what-for. We have shown the world the glory of our nation by sending astronaut Alan B. Shepard into space. We will conquer the final frontier, and we will ensure no other nation can take the glory that belongs to the United States. In fact, I want to see even more progress. By 1962, America will send the first man into orbit! And by the end of the decade, if not earlier, we will send a man to the Moon itself! It is the destiny of America!"

The speech later dubbed as the "Space Address" drew attention from the Soviets. Three days later, General Secretary Nikita Khrushchev released a televised rebuttal to U.S. President Johnson. He admitted that the Americans beat his people to space first fair and square, but he claimed that the Soviets would achieve orbit and reach the moon first.  The "Space Race" that began in 1957 with the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik now heated up. The Americans and Russians both began to increase space funding and research to defeat the other side and achieve victory first. Although the Soviets gained the initial lead, the Americans pulled ahead and surpassed the Soviets with the successful flight of Alan Shepard. (3)

(Author's Note: I hope this update went well despite the brevity. It had been a week since my last update, so I took time out of a busy schedule to ensure this TL eventually received another update. As stated earlier, I'll focus mostly on major events and elections only. If I need to add extra information, I will use footnotes.)

OOC Notes:

1. Decided to go ahead and add that even though I have not reached the end of 1961 yet.

2. Just a reminder that Yuri Gagarin's spacecraft burned upon liftoff ATL. When it became public, the Americans decided to make a few extra safety precautions and run more tests. This may or may not have an impact on future space-related events.

3. Since the PoD is September 1959, the Sputnik and Explorer 1 were both still launched.

[Bacon King]

Excellent read so far!

[Del Tachi]

Keep it coming!

[Bigby]

(Time for some Cold War events. Also, I added a little bit about D.C. voting rights. I probably should have added this earlier.)

August 13th, 1961 - The Berlin Wall Is Built.

BERLIN, GERMANY, 2:00 AM.

General Secretary Walter Ulbricht of the German Democratic Republic has begun construction of a large concrete wall around West Berlin to secure East Berlin and the rest of East Germany. The General Secretary has also ordered trenches, guard stations, and other defenses to be placed around the wall. The project has been nicknamed the "Berlin Wall," though Ulbricht has officially named the project the "Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart," claiming that West Germany has not been denazified and is spreading Nazism into East Germany as a means to weaken socialism. However, NATO officials claim this wall is being built to prevent supplies from being shipped into West Berlin and also to keep East Germans from fleeing into West Germany. Although none of the Western leaders have called for an end to the construction of the wall, they are demanding that the Soviets ensure supplies to West Berlin will not be blockaded by the wall.



East German laborers begin the state-sponsored wall. West Germany watches with antipathy.

August 16th, 1961 - President Johnson Addresses Berlin and Vietnam.

WASHINGTON D.C., Press Conference Room.

U.S. President Lyndon Johnson decided to give an official opinion on the Berlin Wall's construction. During the conference, Johnson scoffed at its construction, considering it to be "the biggest obstacle to world peace since the dilemma in Korea." Although he did not demand the East Germans to case construction, he demanded that the Warsaw Pact should not use this as a move to cripple West Berlin. He ended his discussion on the Berlin Wall by reaffirming American support for West Germany; he also announced that he would be willing to meet with the West German government in order to develop a strategy should West Berlin be in trouble.

Johnson also used this speech to discuss Vietnam. At this point, the Americans had not committed ground troops to the conflict. President Johnson public expressed his desire to change that. However, most Americans at that time were content to maintain only a relationship of sending aid and experts to the region. The conference ended with silence regarding Johnson's plea on Vietnam.

September 11th, 1961 - Vice President Symington Campaigns For D.C. Voting Rights.

After the Senate Joint-Resolution 39 proposal was narrowly rejected in Idaho and Maine on January 31st, the momentum going for the proposal began to falter. Minnesota's state legislature passed the proposal on the same day, though it then failed in New Mexico and Nevada on February 2nd. With four states rejecting the amendment, the surprisingly quick amendment process had been halted. In between February and September, no other state legislature has voted on the amendment. Vice President Stuart Symington has begun a campaign to restore interest, though local issues and the Cold War have captured former interest in the amendment. (1)



Vice President Stuart Symington shown speaking in Delaware as part of his tour to get Senate Joint-Resolution 39 passed as the 23rd Amendment.

OOC Notes:

1. I feel like I should have included information about the OTL 23rd Amendment earlier, but it's better late than never, I suppose. Arksansas passed the resolution ATL, though that is not enough.

[Bigby]

September 23rd, 1961 - Speaker of House Sam Rayburn Dies!

BONHAM, TEXAS, 6:00 AM.

U.S. Speaker of House Sam Rayburn has died of cancer at the age of 79 in his Bonham home. He will be granted a state funeral on Friday, with the President, Vice President, House Majority Leader, and Rayburn's family all attending. Although House Majority Leader John McCormack (D - MA) has declined to run for Speaker, the House will elect a new Speaker on Tuesday. President Johnson, when he heard of Rayburn's demise, gave a heartfelt remark commemorating his deceased friend. "You know, Rayburn  was in politics a lot longer than me. I looked up to him as a role model, and I don't regret it. At least he's in Heaven, enjoying a long break from the struggle that is politics."



Sam Rayburn, January 6, 1882 – September 23, 1961.

September 25th, 1961 - Cronkite Heads To Saigon.

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, 2:30 PM.

Journalist Walter Cronkite has scheduled a month long trip to Saigon, South Vietnam to report on the conflict between Ho Chi Minh's communist North and Ngo Dinh Diem's anticommunist South. There, Cronkite has scheduled interviews with Vietnamese soldiers, South Vietnamese officials, and American strategists. Cronkite refused to comment on President Johnson's desire for heavier US involvement in the war. According to him, he is sending himself to Vietnam to "find out the truth so America knows if sending our boys there is worth it or not."



Walter Cronkite on his Vietnamese tour.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Please turn JFK and RFK GOP to really tick off LBJ. Reagan/JFK make it so.

Keep up the good work.

[Bigby]

September 25th, 1961 - Carl Albert Chosen As Speaker of House.

WASHINGTON D.C., 1:30 PM.

After Majority Leader John McCornmack (D - MA) declined to run for Speaker, House Majority Whip Carl Albert (D - OK) was chosen to replace the deceased Sam Rayburn (D - TX). Albert quickly won the majority vote. Charles Vinson (D - GA) was chosen to replace Albert as Majority Whip. Albert publicly stated that "no one could ever replace Rayburn, but he would take the position in his old friend's honor." Albert has also stated that he will still refer to McCormack's advice and the new balance of power would not alter their relationship.



Carl Albert succeeded Sam Rayburn following Rayburn's death.

October 19th, 1961 - BREAKING NEWS - WALTER CRONKITE KILLED IN SAIGON BY BOMBING INCIDENT! PRESIDENT NGO DINH DIEM IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

SAIGON, 9:50 AM.

During his last days of his Saigon trip, Walter Cronkite scheduled in interview with South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem. After finishing the interview, a Vietnamese man intercepted Diem and shot at him with an assault rifle. However, the assailant missed and shot Cronkite and 3 guards. Diem survived, but is in critical condition. However, Cronkite did not survive the attack. As policemen arrested the perpetrator, he coyly remarked, "the Vietcong have won today." The South Vietnamese government claims that the shooter is a member of the Vietcong, but this is currently being investigated.

Cronkite's death has sparked wide-scale public outrage in the US. Many have called for sending more aid in Vietnam, while others have called for outright intervention. President Johnson has released an official statement that he will wait for an investigation to determine whether or not, but that he was also willing to do what the American people desired. Secretary of State Adlai Stevenson echoed the President's remarks and also offered American support to the South Vietnamese President.



Cronkite's sudden demise in Saigon would have a domino effect on America's stance on Vietnam. Support for increased intervenation sparked among both citizens and officials alike.

[President Johnson]

Excellent read so far!

I totally agree!

[Bigby]

(I'd like to apologize for my lack of updating in advance. College has kept me rather busy, since I'm in the last few weeks of this semester and all. I'll try make up for it by being more active during Christmas Break.)

December 1st, 1961 - Vietcong Linked With Cronkite Assassination!

WASHINGTON D.C., 3:40 PM.

President Lyndon Johnson, after meeting with South Vietnamese officials, has come to conclude that the man who accidentally assassinated Walter Cronkite was linked to the National Liberation Front, or the Vietcong. He along with Secretary of Defense Scoop Jackson and Secretary of State Adlai Stevenson have called upon Congress to draft legislation for potential retaliation. Jackson and Johnson have stated their desire for sending ground troops and more aid to South Vietnam. Meanwhile Stevenson has called only for am embargo on North Vietnam, who he claims is indirectly involved in Cronkite's assassination. President Johnson has promised once more that he wait until Congress drafts legislation to take action in Vietnam.

YEARLY GOVERNMENT APPROVAL RATING REPORT: (1)

APPROVAL RATING FOR PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON:

Legend: DATE: APPROVE - NO OPINION - DISAPPROVE

Gallup:

Feb. 10th - Feb. 15th: 49 - 5 - 46
July 3rd - July 8th: 59 - 3 - 38
Dec. 7th - Dec. 12th: 65 - 2 - 33

January 10th, 1962 - Congress Okays Push in Vietnam!

WASHINGTON D.C., 11:30 AM.

With South Vietnam and the United States both claiming Cronkite was assassinated by the Vietcong, American desire to intervene in Vietnam skyrocketed. In mid-December of 1961, consideration for intervention in Vietnam was granted. Eventually, House leadership sent forth what became known as the "Cronkite Resolution," in honor of the fallen Walter Cronkite. Both chambers of Congress passed the Cronkite Resolution without issue. In the House, the bill passed 420 - 5. In the Senate, the bill passed 90 - 4. Eugene Siler (R - KY), voiced his opposition eagerly by stating that "America has no right to interfere with the business of the Vietnamese." Senator Warren E. Hearnes (D - MO) also voted against the bill, but for different reasons; he claims that he simply did not fancy the language of the bill. The resolution did not include a formal declaration of war, but it did grant President Johnson and his administration the right to send whatever aid was necessary to prevent the victory of Communist forces; the use of US armed forces was also granted as acceptable. This resolution made it to where Johnson could do whatever he felt with the Vietnamese theatre.

Feburary 9th, 1962 - First US troops enter Vietnam.

CLASSIFIED LOCATION, CLASSIFIED TIME.

In what would become known as "Operation Domino," the United States Marines Corps has sent 4,000 troops to South Vietnam in order to aid the South Vietnamese against the Vietcong. Currently, it is unknown if the battalion will also face the North Vietnamese military. In addition to these 4,000 Marines, the US Air Force has sent two battalions of pilots for air raids against Vietcong forces.



A group of African-American Marines heading towards Saigon for duty.

March 2nd, 1962 - Gus Grissom Enters Space And Orbits the Earth.

After Alan Shepard's historic flight in June of 1961, the Americans once more set a milestone in the Space Race. Astronaut Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom became the second human to enter space. He also became the first man to orbit the Earth. Grissom's flight aboard the Mercury-Atlas 6, later nicknamed the Universal 1, lasted five fours and three minutes; Grissom orbited the Earth three times in his spacecraft. Grissom launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida and landed in the Atlantic Ocean. After he landed in the sea, Grissom was rescued by the USS Perry.



Gus Grissom, the second man to enter space and the first man to be in orbit.

OOC Notes:

1. At the end of every year, I'll give three listings of the current President's approval ratings by the start of the year, the middle of the ear, and the end of the year. The dates and timespan of the polls will change depending on the year. As the TL progresses, this list will include more pollsters and also Congressional approval ratings.

[Bigby]

March 8th, 1962 - Navy SEALs formed. (1)

DOVER, DELAWARE, 11:55 AM.

Although the organization has been in development since the Korean War, the Navy SEALs were formally announced by President Lyndon Johnson in Dover. The United States Sea, Air, Land Teams, or Navy SEALs for short, will serve as a special operations unit designed to navigate in shallow waterways that regular naval units are unable to. Furthermore, they will also conduct land operations, but Johnson remained vague on what that included. Since they are part of the US Navy, they answer directly to Chief of Naval Operations George W. Anderson, Jr. Since the Chief of Naval Operations reports to the Secretary of Defense, they also answer to current Secretary Scoop Jackson. After the first two teams were formed, one each on both coasts, the President commented that the SEALs are already trained for whatever situation they are needed in, including Vietnam.



The SEAL Trident, the insignia of the Navy SEALs.

March 26th, 1962 - Baker v. Carr Decided.

The Supreme Court has decided on a case involving the redistricting of US House seats. Plaintiff Charles Baker, a Republican from Shelby County, Tennessee, claimed that the state of Tennessee violated the Tennessee Constitution and the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. According to him, the state legislature has failed to redistrict the state's US House seats since 1901, according to the 1900 Census. As a result, although Shelby County has ten times the population of the rural surrounding areas, the rural districts had more representation and power in the House of Representatives. As such, he has requested the Court to intervene. Defendant Joe Carr, the Secretary of State in Tennessee, claimed that the issue was a political one, and not a judicial one.

The Court ruled in favor of Baker 6 - 3. Associate Justice Brennan wrote the opinion of the Court, stating that the issue was in fact a judicial one. The state of Tennessee was immediately ordered to fix the issue, and in due time, other states would have to do the same. Chief Justice Earl Warren agreed with Brennan, and also added that the belief in "one man, one vote," which he described as the concept that if one area has more population than another, then the more populous area deserves more representation in the House.

May 11th, 1962 - Justice Charles Whittaker Resigns!

Associate Justice Charles Whittaker has announced today that he will resign from his position in the Supreme Court. Citing an overall exhaustion with the Court's workload, he also commented that he feels he does not deserve his position because of his vote in Baker v. Carr. His resignation was immediate. President Johnson began to search for a replacement after receiving Whittaker's letter of resignation.

OOC Notes:

1. I know in OTL the SEALs were introduced on January 1st. Better late than never, huh?

[Emperor Charles V]

This is great! Keep it up!