Not Just A Power, A Promise

[rpryor03]

Not Just A Power, A Promise

America is not just a power, it is a promise. It is not enough for our country to be extraordinary in might; it must be exemplary in meaning. - Nelson Rockefeller

Nelson Rockefeller/George Romney - 297
Robert Kennedy/Ed Muskie - 196
George Wallace/Curtis LeMay - 45

[rpryor03]

The 91st United States Congress

Senate


Democratic Party: 57 (-6)
Majority Leader: Mike Mansfield (MT)
Majority Whip: Ted Kennedy (MA)


Republican Party: 43 (+6)
Minority Leader: Everett Dirksen (IL)
Minority Whip: Hugh Scott (PA)

House


Democratic Party: 243 (-5)
Speaker: Mike McCormack (MA)
Majority Leader: Carl Albert (OK)
Majority Whip: Hale Boggs (LA)


Republican Party: 192 (+5)
Minority Leader: Gerald Ford (MI)
Minority Whip: Leslie Arends (IL)

(Note: The only difference from RL is a GOP victory in IA, so there is no map, and there was no RFK assassination)

[DKrol]

You have my interest.

[rpryor03]

A Summary of the 91st Congress of the United States

Domestic Policy

During the campaign, Rockefeller described his policy ideas being "for the betterment of society," eventually becoming known as the "Better Society," in contrast with Johnson's "Great Society." With the Union Oil Spill as a major event at the beginning of his Presidency, he worked with Senator Gaylord Nelson to protect the environment, including legislation on coal mining, creating guidelines on environmental policies for the Executive Branch, improve environmental quality, the creation of a Department of Environmental Protection (which would later come to include energy), control of air pollution, and the creation of Earth Day. Increased funding for space exploration, as well as science education was a bipartisan effort after the landing of Apollo 11 on the Moon. Domestic terrorism was also a big issue that was never really worked out, due to the Weathermen and the Students for a Democratic Society. This time also saw the creation of "Amtrak," a national passenger rail system. President Rockefeller appointed Warren Burger to Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and Walter Mansfield as an Associate Justice. Both were confirmed.

Foreign Policy

Rockefeller's foreign policy focused on the ending of the war in Vietnam, including the withdrawal of troops from the region, as well as ending the draft. As such, he focused more on creating new relationships with other countries.

[rpryor03]

1970 Congressional Elections

Senate

Democratic Party: 52 (-5) - Led by Sen. Mike Mansfield (SML), Sen. Robert Byrd (SMW)
Republican Party: 47 (+4) - Led by Sen. Hugh Scott (SmL), Sen. Robert Griffin (SmW)
Independent: 1 (+1) - Sen. Harry Byrd, Jr.

The 1970 midterms were oddly in favor of the President's party, with no Vietnam backlash and environmental work, as well as the dispatching of Vice President Romney to multiple states around the country to help gain seats. The independent gain was Sen. Harry Byrd in Virginia, who was re-elected as an Independent, despite serving as a Democrat for his first term.

Senate Freshmen
Lawton Chiles (D-FL)
Hubert Humphrey (D-MN)
William Roth (R-DE)
Robert Taft (R-OH)
Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX)
John Tunney (D-CA)
Adlai Stevenson III (D-IL)
Lowell Weicker (R-CT)
John Beall (R-MD)
Bill Brock (R-TN)
Richard Roudebush (R-IL)
John Danforth (R-MO)

House

Democratic Party: 249 (+6) - Led by Speaker Carl Albert (OK), HML Hale Boggs (LA), HMW Tip O'Neill (MA)


Republican Party: 186 (-6) - Led by HmL Gerald Ford (MI), HmW Leslie Arends (IL)

[rpryor03]

A Summary of the 92nd Congress of the United States

Domestic Policy

Major domestic policy acts included increasing funding for cancer research, election reforms, fighting workplace discrimination, reducing water pollution, protecting marine animals, and regulating noise pollution. This time also saw the ratification of the Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the Constitution, which reduced the voting age to 18. During this Congress, President Rockefeller appointed Caspar Weinberger and William Rhenquist to replace Hugo Black and John Harlan on the Supreme Court. Both were confirmed.

Foreign Policy

With Vietnam over, President Rockefeller worked on mending relationships with foreign countries.

[rpryor03]

1972 Elections

President

President Nelson Rockefeller/Vice President George Romney - 305, 50.3%
Congressman Morris Udall/Senator Frank Church - 233, 49.7%

Senate

Democratic Party: 54 (+2)
Republican Party: 45 (-2)
Independent: Harry Byrd

House
Democratic Party: 234 (-15)
Republican Party: 201  (+15)

[rpryor03]

A Summary of the 93nd Congress of the United States

Domestic Policy

This time saw major domestic policy shifts, with public services being a major focal point of the time, as well as the environment. The Equal Rights Amendment was passed, but not ratified, with another few years to go, currently at 22 states.

Foreign Policy

President Rockefeller worked to increase influence of the US in the global sphere through foreign visits, including a China trip.

[rpryor03]

1974 Elections

Senate

Democratic Party: 55 (+1)
Republican Party: 44 (-1)
Independent: Harry Byrd

House

Democratic Party: 238 (+4)
Republican Party: 197 (-4)

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

There was a lot of stuff happening back then. Given how "big" of a figure Rockefeller was, how ambitious he would have acted if in office, is it fair to him, or to history, to propose that his term could be summarize in a few sentences? How, specifically, do his policies regarding, say, the minority business administration, differ from Nixon's?