PPT Spiral
Spiral
Atlas Politician
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Posts: 4,530
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« on: October 24, 2014, 09:47:21 PM » |
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President Taft, despite having presided over the beginning of the nation’s economic recovery, could not survive the enthusiasm from his opponents to dethrone him. Upton Sinclair, a hero to many on the left, was able to mobilize voters to an extent that surprised many, winning the popular vote by high single digits. Labor leaders were absolutely determined to toss Taft out of office following the passage of the Hartley Act, and more voters were developing an interventionist mindset, both of which ultimately hurt Taft’s standing. One thing that was agreed upon by everyone was that with the new President, things would quickly change.
Within the first month of President Sinclair’s term, the United States declared war on the Axis powers. Sinclair called for “the swift death of fascism” and made it clear that he was serious about stopping the Third Reich and its allies from conquering Europe. Public opinion was stubborn initially, but the American people eventually mobilized around the government’s efforts abroad, willing to accept rations and buy bonds. 1945 and 1946 were particularly contentious years in the war, maintaining a virtual deadlock between the two sides. On June 4, 1946, a day that would later become known as D-Day, the Allies invaded Nazi-occupied France and suffered mass casualties, but it would be recognized as a turning point. From then on, the Allies steadily made advances, weakening Axis forces along the way as they continued to hemorrhage troops and territories. By late 1947, it was essentially the end for Germany, having seen the Allies liberate their territories and now close in on them in a fierce bombing campaign. Adolf Hitler, who could have conquered all of Europe for himself, would end up committing suicide during the Battle of Berlin, and the Nazi regime soon collapsed. With Germany’s unconditional surrender, the war in Europe was over and millions rejoiced.
However, the fighting was not yet over for the U.S. Japan, the one Axis country refusing to surrender, still engaged American forces in the Pacific War. Fearing the enormous costs and casualties of a full-scale ground invasion, President Sinclair reluctantly approved the use of atomic weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which caused Japan to cease fighting but which officially marked the beginning of the nuclear age. Sinclair’s presidency featured other significant development in foreign affairs following WWII: The United Nations would be formed in April—the U.S. delegation was notably headed by former President Arthur Vandenberg—with the stated goal of maintaining peace worldwide through cooperation. President Sinclair would also seek to establish closer relations with the Soviet Union, sympathetic toward the regime’s underlying goals and hopeful that a partnership would bring benefits for both nations. Notably absent from Sinclair’s list of accomplishments, however, was significant changes in domestic affairs. With the country so focused on the war abroad, Sinclair’s political capital for other matters was spread thin. The President’s major victory would be the passage of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, a sweeping consumer protection law on food safety, a pet issue of his. An effort to repeal the Hartley Act narrowly failed in the Senate, much to the dismay of many in the Workers’ Party. Sinclair ordered the full racial integration of the military shortly after ending the war, though, in a move heralded by civil rights advocates.
President Sinclair has decided to run for reelection, campaigning on his success in bringing WWII to a close and a desire to now focus on issues at home. Vice President Christensen will be retiring after the end of this term, citing his advanced age and declining health, making a spot on the ticket open for somebody else to claim at the convention. Sinclair’s only opposition is former Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace, the 1940 WP nominee who still has a small but devoted following, and South Carolina Governor Strom Thurmond, who is running mainly against Sinclair’s decision to integrate the military. Sinclair is expected to easily prevail and both Wallace and Thurmond have threatened possible third-party runs should they not get the nomination. Over at the American Union, an internal civil war has erupted in full force following the 1944 election. The party’s conservatives are largely united around former President Robert Taft, seeking to make a grand comeback through a rematch with Sinclair. A number of different governors who represent more of the liberal and internationalist wing are in the mix as well, including Thomas Dewey of New York, Harold Stassen of Minnesota, and Earl Warren of California. Respected war hero Douglas MacArthur, who led troops in WWII, is experiencing a draft effort that he has not turned down. However, not much is known about his politics.
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