lbj/hhh vs. george aiken/bill scranton vs. wallace/lemay 64

[WalterMitty]

instead of nominating ultra conservative barry goldwater in 64, the gop nominates progressive senator george aiken of vermont.  aiken chooses pennsylvania governor, and fellow moderate, bill scranton as his running mate.

oddly enough, the republican candidate is anti-war and pro-civil rights.

with both parties nominating 'liberals'.  the conservative segregationist george wallace enters the race as an indy.  he chooses curtis lemay as his running mate.

discuss

[WalterMitty]

lbj/hhh: 249
aiken/scranton: 212
curtis/lemay: 77

the election is thrown to the house. 

but in a surprisng move, two days after the election, lbj comes on television that he will immediately resign the presidency.  he sees his failure to win a mjority in the electoral college as a personal rebuke.

since there is no VP, speaker of the house john mccormack of massachusetts is sworn in as president.

a constitutional crisis begins...

next poster add something.

[Lincoln Republican]

The nation is still reeling from the shock of President Johnson's resignation. 

For the first time in the history of the United States, someone other than the Vice President assumes the office of President.  A visibly shaken and emotional John McCormack, 73, Speaker of the House, takes the oath of office as President of the United States on November 5, 1964. 

The new President addresses the nation that same day.  "I want to assure the United States of America, and the world, that the government of the United States continues to function fully and without interruption, at this unusual and historic time in our history.  I have asked the cabinet of former President Johnson to continue in their capacaties until this constitutional situation is resolved.  All have graciously and without reservation agreed to do so.  I wish to publicly express my sincere thanks to each of them.  At this time, I would like as well to take this opportunity to thank the congressional leaders, from both parties, who have all expressed to me their best wishes for success in this time of transition.  They have all, each and everyone of them, regardless of party, pledged to me their full hearted coopertion in resolving this constitutional matter.  I especially want to thank Americans from all across this great land, who have expressed to me their kind and generous best wishes.  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart."

"I have asked congressional leaders to work to resolve this situation as quickly as possible.  Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield, Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen, New House Majority Leader Tip O'Neill, and House Minority Leader Charles Halleck have begun discussions, and I have instructed them to report progress made to me as soon as possible.  I would like at this time as well to express my congratulations to new House Speaker Carl Albert, and wish him all the best in his new responsibilities."

Public pronouncements of coopertion aside, behind the scenes, the rough and tumble wheeling and dealing between the camps had begun in earnest.  There was nothing less than the Presidency of the United States at stake.

By resigning the Presidency, Lyndon Johnson had taken himself out of the equation for consideration as a Presidential candidate to be voted on by the House of Representatives.  This left Republican nominee Senator George Aiken, 72, of Vermont, and independent nominee Governor George Wallace, 45, of Alabama, for consideration by the House.

A deal was worked out.  A solid majority of the House would not countenance George Wallace as President.  Therefore, most House Republicans and most House Democrats would vote for Senator Aiken for President.  In return, most Senate Republicans would go along with most Senate Democrats and vote for Senator Humphrey for Vice President.

One hour before the voting is to take place, however, a trembling and tearful aide to Senator Aiken, Republican nominee, bursts into Republican Minority Leader Senator Dirksen's office.  "Senator, Senator," blurts out the aide, his voice shaking.  "Senator Aiken has been found in his office, slumped over his desk.  He has suffered a heart attack.  He has been taken to emergency.  He is alive, but it is too early to tell the extent of the damage."

Senator Dirksen is shocked.  "That's tragic!" exclaims the Senator.  He dispatches an aide to Democratic Majority Leader Senator Mike Mansfield's office, and phones House Majority Leader Tip O'Neill and House Minority Leader Charles Halleck, to reschedule the voting to a future date..........

[WalterMitty]

12 hours after suffering the heart attack, senator aiken dies.

the us faces a unique challenge.  once again, president mccormack takes to the airwaves to reassure the american public that the government is still running smoothly.

in a surprise announcement, bill scranton anounces that he doesnt want to stand for election.  instead, he encourages republicans in the house to casts their votes for vermont's other senator winston prouty.

[Lincoln Republican]

With Senator Aiken now out of the running, George Wallace mounts a legal and constitutional challenge.

His lawyers contend that with President Johnson withdrawing, and that with Senator Aiken now deceased, this leaves him, Governor Wallace, as the only candidate still in the running to be voted on by the House. 

His lawyers point out, quite correctly, that the constitution states that if no candidate for President receives an absolute electoral majority, then the new House of Representatives is required to go into session immediately to vote for President.  In this case, the House of Representatives chooses from the three candidates who recieved the most electoral votes.

One question now being considered by the House, and by constitutional scholars, is, even though Lyndon Johnson has resigned the Presidency, does this disqualify him from consideration by the House?  The constitution does not stipulate that the candidate must be willing to have his name voted on, only that they must have finished in the top three in the electoral vote.  Johnson finished first in the electoral vote. 

Another question being considered is that, even though Senator Aiken is now deceased, can his name still be voted upon by the House?  The constitution does not stipulate that the candidate must be living, only that the candidate must have finished in the top three in the electoral vote.  Aiken finished second in the electoral vote.

A new deal is hammered out by House Democrats and Republicans.  To keep Wallace from winning the Presidency in the House, the first part of the deal is that most House Democrats and most House Reupublicans will vote for Johnson for President, even though he would be an unwilling candidate.  At least he is still living.  The constitutional challenges that could be mounted by Wallace about the House voting for the deceased Aiken are simply too controversial to become involved in.

The second part of the deal is that most Senate Democrats and most Senate Republicans will vote for Hubert Humphrey for Vice President.  Bill Scranton has withdrawn himself from the running anyway, so that leaves only Humphrey who still wants the Vice Presidency.  The constitution states that the Senate must vote on the Vice Presidential candidates who finished in the top two in the electoral vote.

Constitutional authorities have advised that only candidates in the election can be considered, therefore, both the House and the Senate have ruled that Senator Prouty's name cannot be put forward in the House or Senate.

After the votes take place, the understanding is that Lyndon Johnson will  not accept the Presidency, and that the new Vice President, Hubert Humphrey, will become the new President.

With the ruling that only candidates in the election can be voted upon by the House and the Senate, there is a growing sentiment amongst Senate Republicans to persuade Bill Scranton to reconsider, and to let his name stand for Vice President.  After all, the original arrangement was to have the House elect Aiken as President and have the Senate elect Humphrey as Vice President.  With Aiken now out of contention, the Republicans would lose both ways.

A delegation of prominent Republican Senators, led by Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania, Scranton's home state, persuade Governor Scranton to re-enter the Vice Presidential vote in the Senate, and if successful, to serve as Vice President.  Scranton agrees.

Another plan is devised, this time by Senate Republicans.  They will try to persuade all Seante Republicans, and enough Senate Democrats, not happy with Johnson or Humphrey, to vote for Scranton for Vice President.

They are successful in persuading enough Senators to put Scranton over the top in the Vice Presidential vote.

The House votes, as expected, for Johnson for President.  Wallace places second.  The Senate votes for Scranton for Vice President.  The vote in favor of Scranton over Humphrey, by only four votes, caught most Senate Democrats off guard.

The nation is now faced with a President from one party who no longer wants to be President, and a Vice President from another party, who had previously announced that he did not want to stand for election in the Senate, and only changed his mind after being persuaded to do so.

George Wallace and his supporters are furious.  They believe they have been unlawfully and unconstitutionally sidelined.  They launch further legal and constitutional action. 

America is wondering what happens next?  The leaders they now have, in the eyes of many Americans, are reluctant to serve.

Many are asking, even though most do not share his views, if Governor Wallace was indeed unconstitutionally sidelined.

Many Americans are starting to question those they have elected.

[Gabu]

Then Joseph Stalin starts a nuclear war and everyone dies, resolving the controversy.

[Lincoln Republican]

What exactly is it with you with your obsession with nuclear war and assassination, anyway?

Just curious. 

[Lincoln Republican]

Then Joseph Stalin starts a nuclear war and everyone dies, resolving the controversy.

Since Joseph Stalin died in 1953, this nuclear war was revealed to be a hoax.

Even though elected by the House, Lyndon Johnson refuses to become President. 

William Scranton, duly elected as Vice President by the Senate, is sworn in as Vice President, then is sworn in immediately after as President.

[WalterMitty]

Then Joseph Stalin starts a nuclear war and everyone dies, resolving the controversy.

Since Joseph Stalin died in 1953, this nuclear war was revealed to be a hoax.

Even though elected by the House, Lyndon Johnson refuses to become President. 

William Scranton, duly elected as Vice President by the Senate, is sworn in as Vice President, then is sworn in immediately after as President.

now scranton must pick a vp.  who does he pick?

also, what happens to john mccormack?

nice story, winfield.

[Yates]

Winfield, you are quite the author!

[Lincoln Republican]

Winfield, you are quite the author!

Thanks.  Much appreciated.

Have you read the story I wrote on General Schwarzkopf and the one I wrote about America's black President?

Kevin, on the forum, came up with the idea of a Schwarzkopf candidacy for President for the 1996 election.

[Lincoln Republican]

Then Joseph Stalin starts a nuclear war and everyone dies, resolving the controversy.

Since Joseph Stalin died in 1953, this nuclear war was revealed to be a hoax.

Even though elected by the House, Lyndon Johnson refuses to become President. 

William Scranton, duly elected as Vice President by the Senate, is sworn in as Vice President, then is sworn in immediately after as President.

now scranton must pick a vp.  who does he pick?

also, what happens to john mccormack?

nice story, winfield.

Thank you Walter.

In reality, the 25th amendment to the constitution, authorizing the President to nominate a Vice President if there was a vacancy in that office, was only adopted in 1967.  If this story had actually happened, President William Scranton would serve out this term with no Vice President, at least until 1967.

As you know, LBJ served as President without a Vice President from November, 1963, following the assassination of JFK, to January 1965, when LBJ was sworn in as President and HHH was sworn in as Vice President.

For the purposes of this "what if" story, however, two days after taking office, President Scranton asks Congress to introduce an amendment to the constitution immediately to this effect, and urges speedy passage by the Congress and by the states.  No significant opposition is voiced from any quarter over this amendment, and the amendment passes within 1 month.

Recognizing the dedicated and selfless service that John McCormack, now former President and former Speaker of the House, has given to the country, as a member of the House of Representatives since 1928, President Scranton nominates John McCormack himself for Vice President.

McCormack, though 73, is in robust health, is a skilled and effective administrator and legislator, and is fully knowledgeable and capable of administering the duties of Vice President of the United States.  President Scranton wishes at this point in time as well to send an olive branch to the Democrats, and to bring a bi-partisan nature to his administration.

McCormack accepts the nomination "in all humility."  Hearings are held in the House and the Senate, mostly, though, lauding McCormack's service to his country.  Questions asked are respectful and not partisan.

John McCormack wins both House and Senate approval within 2 weeks, with opposition coming only from 12 southern Democrats in the House and from 3 southern Democrats in the Senate.

John McCormack is then sworn in as the 38th Vice President of the United States, serving the nation and the administration nobly and faithfully until his term expires in January of 1969.  McCormack then retires from public life, and writes his memoirs. 

He is remembered as a great public servant, and as an outstanding member of the House of Representatives, a place he loved.  He is as well remembered for his dedicated and effective service as Vice President, and for guiding and calming the nation through a time of constitutional upheaval, with a steady hand, during his time as the 37th President of the United States for a short, but memorable and historic time in the history of the nation.