1940 Primaries

President Vandenberg's first two years in office were extremely challenging. It was essentially a state of constant gridlock between President Vandenberg (who vetoed the National Labor Relations Act and a new universal healthcare proposal) and the WP-dominated Congress (who killed all of his efforts to undo the economically progressive legislation of the LaGuardia administration). The only accomplishment of note was the bipartisan passage of a constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote. Other than that, nothing but pure gridlock (sound familiar Tongue

). President Vandenberg opted to take his case to the voters and engaged in an unprecedented public speaking tour across the country in an effort to convince voters that the Worker's Party was responsible for the gridlock and campaign for Unionist candidates for House and Senate. Much to the surprise of many observers, given that the President was always considered a rather dull public speaker, he was extremely successful. Although the WP kept control of both houses, they still suffered devastating losses. President Vandenberg had brought the Unionist Party back from death's doorstep.

The next two years were a bit easier for the President and although he still couldn't get Congress to pass his beloved Balanced Budget Amendment and his opposition to any new civil rights legislation had pushed a number of African-Americans solidly into the WP camp, most Americans approved of his refusal to provide any arms or other form of assistance to any country involved in the War of 1939, which broke out in Europe following Germany's invasion of Poland. While President Vandenberg expressed sympathy for Britain and France, he stressed that "...this war is a European problem and the United States would do well to let the nations of that continent sort out their own affairs. We must not journey down the treacherous path to unnecessary foreign entanglements." President Vandenberg used his newfound political capital from the midterms to push through a major income tax cut and block a so-called "cash and carry" provision that Senate Minority Leader Wagner tried to slip into the Neutrality Act of 1939.

However, it was Vice-President Borah who pulled off the political masterstroke of President Vandenberg's administration. President Vandenberg sought to not only re-nationalize the oil industry, but put a stop to that pesky nationalization idea for good with a constitutional amendment. His advisors knew there were simply not enough Unionist and anti-nationalization WP votes. However, Vice-President Borah worked tirelessly to negotiate a Bull-Moose-Unionist merger. Ultimately, he was successful and the American Union (the symbol remained the Bull-Moose) was born, but only after the Bull-Meese extracted some major concessions:

1. President Vandenberg would abandon his efforts to repeal the estate tax.

2. The Unionists would agree to the creation of a decidedly more powerful than RL version of the EPA (to be headed by former PA Governor Gifford Pinochot).

3. President Vandenberg would agree to drop his opposition to the environmental legislation the Bull-Meese supported (it's kind of their thing) and promise to the creation of environmental standards for the oil industry as a condition for de-nationalization.

4. Include a call for the return of the "Coolidge Quota" immigration restrictions as a plank in the 1940 AU platform.

5. Appoint noted environmentalist Bull-Moose lawyer William O. Douglas to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left open by the unexpected retirement of Justice Brandies (which occurred during the negotiations). By January 1941, the Court will consist of Chief Justice Charles E. Hughes, an unknown arch-conservative Root appointee, two unknown arch-conservative Vandenberg appointees, Owen Roberts, Harlan Stone, William O. Douglas, John W. Davis, and Pierce Butler if I've calculated things right.

6. Agreeing not to push for the abolition of social security.

7. The appointment of Bull-Moose House Minority Whip John N. Garner (the leader of the Southern-wing of the old B-M) as Vice-Chairman of the American Union National Committee and House Minority Leader.

Although the support of the Bull-Meese (who had been caucusing with the WP) actually gave the newly formed American Union a razor-thin Senate Majority, they ultimately failed to pass a constitutional amendment banning business nationalization. Additionally, Speaker Hoan wouldn't bring the Senate's bill to de-nationalize the oil industry to be brought to a vote in the House). However, most expect President Vandenberg to be easily re-elected now that the Bull-Meese have been added to his coalition.

The Vandenberg/Borah ticket faces primary opposition from firebrand conservative and noted isolationist Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio (who is mainly furious over how much the President gave away in negotiations with the former Bull-Meese, specifically that he appointed someone as liberal as Douglas to the Supreme Court although Senator Taft is also attacking President Vandenberg for his opposition to any type of public housing program), Manhattan District Attorney and Moderate Hero Thomas Dewey who is running on his "gang-busting" record, and progressive businessman and vocal interventionist Wendell Wilkie of New York. Despite having never run for office before, Mr. Wilkie hopes to stand out from the rest of the AU field as the only decidedly non-isolationist candidate.

The WP has a number of options, although sadly, Upton Sinclair isn't one of them. There is former Vice-President Matthew Neeley of Virginia who is running as a generic WPer except that he is an extremely pro-civil rights Southerner and has this weird idea to make Washington D.C. a state. There is Speaker of the House Daniel Hoan of Wisconsin who is running as the establishment candidate and has considerable support from organized labor; he is calling for a national public housing program to reduce homelessness, the passage of the previously vetoed National Labor Relations Act, legislation to require business owners in all fields to allow their workers to unionize and go on strike without retaliation, a higher minimum wage, and an ambitious collection of internal improvements/public works projects. He also fiercely opposes any immigration restrictions. There is former Secretary of Agriculture and champion of the radical left Henry A. Wallace of Iowa who is calling for closer relations with the USSR, more nationalization, legalizing inter-racial marriage, banning segregation, and generally scares the hell out of the WP establishment. Senator Cordell Hull of Tennessee is running as the obligatory arch-racist and anti-semetic candidate and has support from many ex-populists. Maryland Senator Millard Tydings is running as a Moderate Hero and though widely considered far too conservative to win, hopes a strong showing will get him the VP spot for ideological balance and stuff. Lastly, party-switching former New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt is running yet again and promising a "New Deal for the American people" or something like that.

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