President Patton TL

[M]

Pieced together from a thread on the history forum.

 After not being allowed by Ike to start a war with the Soviets, or by Marshall to transfer to the pacific, Patton is lucky enough NOT to die in a car crash at the end of '45. He is later refused to fight in Korea. In '52, Patton- MacArthur (R) run against Eisenhower-Kefauver (D) in what becomes known as the Year of the Generals. Ike would almost deifinitely win this one, but campsigns hinge on little things. So let's have him lose. And voila, President Patton. Let the world tremble.

Patton forces a win in Korea but does not cross the Yalu. He will later back the Israeli-European alliance in the Sinai war, leading to an Israeli Sinai and a continued European canal zone. Patton sends troops to support Hungarain revolution on the recommendation of Sec of State John Foster Dulles; is disappointed when the Soviets do not respond militarily. Patton cuts many New Deal programs. He gets the USA into a war it wins in Cuba, and begins involvement in Vietnam. MacArthur hates being Veep, though he agrees with Patton on most issues he feels Patton hogs the glory.

In 1960, McArthur-LeMay defeats Kennedy-Johnson narrowly, and invades North Vietnam with force, crushing it. Soviet rule over Eastern Europe is growing tenuous- Yogoslavia under Tito, Romania under Ceausescu, and Albania under Hoxha exit the Warsaw pact. Romania and Yugoslavia become truly neutral, Albania allies itself withj China.

In 1964, citing failing health MacArthur does not run for reelection. LeMay loses the nomination to Goldwater. Goldwater-Thurmond defeat McCarthy-Muskie narrowly. Goldwater backs  the Czechs during the Prague spring, resulting in a restoration of Czeckoslovak independence and continued federation. At a secret NATO conference, Finland, Ausrtia, Hungary, and Czeckolovakia join. The USSR is outraged and, it is later discovered, nearly went to war. Goldwater also continues the Israeli alliance, backing them in a war in which Israel occupies Damascus, Amman, and Cairo, retreating to a Suez- Jordan- Golan line in exchange for peace with the Arabs. Israeli Arabs flee en masse again, as in 47-49 war.

The dems nominate Scoop Jackson. Jackson-Kennedy (Bobby) are able to defeat Goldwater, using his and Thurmon's opposition to civil rights and a neeedfor a change of party after 16 years of GOP dominance. In this TL, American military use has had tangible results, so most leaders in both parties, including this dem team, are quite hawkish. Civil Rights passed. Great Society does not happen. Jackson visits China, reopens relations. Pressure is put on South Africa.

Jackson defeats Howard Baker narrowly in 1972. Poland's Solidarity under Lech Walesa eventually forces a Communist withdrawal. Poland collapses, joins NATO. Soivets fear to war with USA, but attempt to regain prestige by allowing border conflicts to escalate into non-nuclear war with China. Soviets do well, taking much of Sinkiang, Inner Mongolia, and Manchuria before the front stabilizes. A Middle East coalition led by Israel, Sadat's Egypt, and Reza Pahlavi's Iran deposes the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq. Pakistan and India negotiate differences, notably solving the Kashmir problem along religios borders.

Reagan-Baker elected in 76 over Kennedy-Carter. Escalates tensions with the Soviets, while at same time attempting to make peace between USSR and PRC. Eventually the Soviet Union collapses, and by 81 Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, albania, Mongolia, and China have collapsed as well. Various communsit factions in Africa officially realign themselves. In this era Reagan also won reelection in 80 against Miondale-Dukakis. Reagan also starts the WTO, its goals to reduce world tarriffs and quotas.

Howard Baker and his veep, James Baker, continue this policy after beating Gary Hart in 84. In 88 the Bakers lose an election to John Glenn and his running mate, Joe Lieberman.

Glenn finally abolishes the peacetime draft in 1993, this is what his presidency is most known for, other than continuing to advance free trade and cooperation worldide, and of course the space program. (See below)

On September 11th, 2001, President Lieberman and other world leaders shake hands at Manhattan's WTC as the world officially eleimnates the last rade barriers and adopta a common currency. The world is also in an official military alliance. Many are pushing for an eventual loose world government by the end of the decade. Lieberman and his veep, Jim Woolsey, sympathize with this point of view.

Presidents:
52-60 Patton
60-64 MacArthur
64-68 Goldwater
68-76 Jackson
76-84 Reagan
84-88 Baker
88-96 Glenn
96-?? (term ends 04) Lieberman  

Also, our space program never stopped, we landed on Mars in 1980, currently have permanent habitations and spaceports at L5 and thee Tycho Crater. We are preparing to build one on Mars. International corporations have done heavy resource minig, etc in Antarctica, the Moon, Mars, and the asteroids, under the WSA's (world space agency's) aegis. Space is a major topic of inspiration to most people, and sci-fi literature is even bigger now than at the height of Heinlein, Asimov, Clarke, and Bradbury. The WSA (headquarters in Houston) is one of the world's most respected organizatrions. It has been headed by:

Yuri Gagarin 1980-1983
Alan Sheppard 1983-1987
Neil Armstrong 1987-1990
Buzz Aldrin 1990-1993
Arthur C. Clarke 1993-1997
ex-Pres John Glenn 1997-2000
Ilan Ramon 2000-???

Neil Armstrong and Nolan Ryan are currently GOP senators from Texas. Tim McGraw, the governor of Alabama, has recently wrapped up the Republican nomination and his opponent will be Sen Al Gore, who has beaten Vice President Woolsey. (Vice Presidents have never come to be viewed as heirs apparent in this TL. His first lady could be the Jackie of the 2000s, being considerably more attractive and just as glamorous.

Insider hint: I have it on good authority Gore has selected Evan Bayh as his running mate, and McGraw has selected Governor Giuliani of New York. We'll see how this plays out.
 

[M]

Comment, please.

[ilikeverin]

Happyness, much happyness...