Cathcon's Mini-TL Corner

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Upon taking office, President Ford, despite isolationist leanings, immediately took advantage of  the nation’s anti-isolationist sentiment, and, with Secretary of State Wilson and Secretary of War Newton Baker, went about attempting to “save Europe for Democracy”. By that point, the French had become near completely over-whelmed, and it seemed as if England would be the only safe place in Europe. The first real piece of legislation concerning Europe was the Lend-Lease Act, signed by President Ford on March 20th. It formally began trade with Western Europe in order to arm them against the Central Powers. Following the sinking of American ships  in April, Congress signed a Declaration of War  and America was launched into the Great European War, which would subsequently be known as the Great Western War. With American troops landing on the French side of the English Channel in Central Powers-controlled France, the first American boys died. However, the first battles were soon won as well as America, after quite a few faltering steps due to their scaled down military, soon found itself on level footing in Europe and, with Britain and French rebels, began marching back towards Central Europe.

In domestic affairs, Ford signed numerous tax cuts and de-regulation bills with the help of laissez-faire members of both parties. However, his biggest project was an attempt to turn labor and business into one simple unit through labor-relations bills, tax cuts, and incentives to businesses. However, Ford’s entire legacy would remain incomplete as on February 26th, 1922, he was shot by a German-American who was angry at the President for going against the Central Powers. The young Franklin D Roosevelt would take the reigns of power. During Ford’s Presidency, in order to give the young insider Roosevelt more experience, Ford had him re-appointed to Secretary of the Navy which was constitutionally feasible.

With another Roosevelt as President, and this one to the Right of his distant cousin, Democrats would continue the course set by Ford. Over the next two years, the war in Europe would come to a close, with the final blow being delivered via a defector inside the German Army named Adolf Hitler. He would later write “As much as I despised the American Imperilaists, it was time for Germany, the country which had not loved, had not respected, and had not responded to me, to fall.” Many would credit the lack of respect other members of the military had for Hitler as the reason he had become fed up with Germany as a whole.

Also, the nation would have yet another President’s funeral to attend with the death of former President Teddy Roosevelt. He had a long political career reaching back to the 1880’s and had served in different political offices until 1917. Many would credit him and his predecessor, President McKinley, with putting America on the path to becoming an international superpower.

1924
With a recovered economy and a close to the war that had been prolonged so long, President Roosevelt, like his cousin twenty years before, was favored for re-election. There were rumors circulating of the party’s more Progressive wing in the form of former Agriculture Secretary William Jennings Bryan who had served briefly in the Ford/Roosevelt Administration (1921-1923), and whose appointment had been to appease Liberal Democrats. However, Bryan declined the offer of a challenge, instead focusing on other parts of his life and his retirement. For Vice-President, Speaker John W Davis was selected. He himself was an ally of FDR and the two were friends.

The Republicans would face an immense battle between the Conservative, Moderate, and Progressive wings of the party. On the Right were Governors Lowden and Coolidge, on the Left were former President Johnson, Senator Charles August Lindbergh, and Senate Minority Leader La Follette. Representing the sole voice of the center was humanitarian Herbert Hoover who had been one of the more famous bankrollers of the Liberty Brigade and at the time was head of Food Relief in Europe. Eventually after many, many ballots, Coolidge was nominated for President and in order to unite the party, chose Senator Irvine LenRoot of Wisconsin as his running-mate.

Historians would cite 1924 as the high point for American Conservatism as both tickets espoused limited government, fiscal responsibility, and deregulation. In fact, the only major differences were over tariffs and foreign policy. On election day, Roosevelt was given his own term.

President Franklin D Roosevelr (D-NY)/Speaker John W Davis (D-WV) 318 electoral votes, 56.3% of the popular votes
Governor Calvin Coolidge (R-MA)/Senator Irvine Lenroot (R-WI) 213 electoral votes, 43.2% of the popular vote

With that, President Roosevelt won election in his own right. He would bring into the cabinet his good friends James Farley and Al Smith, both of New York. Farley, a Conservative Democratic political mind who had served in the State Senate, would be made postmaster general. Smith, who had served as Senator from New York (1917-1922), and Governor of New York for just over one term (1923-1925), would become Treasury Secretary.

During Roosevelt’s second term, the Great Western War would close with the treaty of Bern, the capitol of Switzerland. There, Germany and the newly created nations of Austria and Hungary would have to pay reparations for the damages caused in multiple countries because of the war. Following this triumph, President Roosevelt would work towards the dreams of Secretary of State Wilson, successfully creating an international group entitled the League of Nations. While many isolationists were at first resistant, the nation as a whole grew to embrace the concept.

1928
With the economy growing by the day, it seemed as if the nation would experience “never ending prosperity”. Wall Street was bustling with activity and the economic good times had spread across the country. Despite this, President Roosevelt announced that he would not run for another term, instead hoping to leave the spot open for his Vice-President Davis, who had been preparing for that moment for four years. Davis was easily nominated and, in order to capitalize on Roosevelt’s popularity, chose Treasury Secretary Al Smith for Vice-President. Smith was more moderate than FDR and Davis, as well as an isolationist, but was a popular FDR ally nonetheless.

The Republicans would once again face a slug fest as to who they would nominate. Finally, the moderate Herbert Hoover would win out. The convention nominated Senator William E Borah of Idaho for Vice-President. Despite Hoover’s attempts to criss-cross the country, the so-called never ending prosperity of the Democrats would ultimately win the day.

Vice-President John W Davis (D-WV)/Treasury Secretary Alfred E Smith (D-NY) 427 electoral votes, 58.4% of the popular vote
Businessman Herbert Hoover (R-CA)/Senator William E Borah (R-ID) 104 electoral votes, 40.8% of the popular vote

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Davis' term would start off well, but would turn sour as the economy did as well with the Stock Market Crash of October 1929. While the dowturn would be quick and sharp, it woudl have a residual affect as unemployment stayed high for the rest of Davis' term despite evidence that business was rebuilding after the crash.

In foreign affairs, the good neighbor policy would be pioneered by the more moderate Vice-President Smith, as well as by former President and by that point Secretary of State Franklin D Roosevelt who both saw it as beneficial, coupling free trade with aiding struggling nations in South America. During Davis' term, Prohibition would also be repealed in 1930.

1932
President Davis would face no challenge despite high unemployment numbers going into the 1932 election. At the Democratic National Convention, he and Vice-President Smith would be re-nominated at the lackluster gathering. With twelve years of Democratic rule behind him, Davis knew how unlikely his own re-election would be. As one Democratic boss would point out, "It's not fair! Between 1860 and 1920, sixty years, Democrats got the Whitehouse for a total of eight years, and here now we have people complaining about twelve consecutive years of Democratic rule. It's just not fair."

The Republicans on the other hand, would go into the election with their first serious chance of victory since 1916. Senator William E Borah of Idaho would be nominated at the Republican National Convention, and Senator Joseph France of Maryland was selected as his runningmate.

Senator William E Borah (R-ID)/Senator Joseph France (R-MD) 295 electoral votes, 54.2% of the popular vote
President John W Davis (D-WV)/Vice-President Alfred E Smith (D-NY) 236 electoral votes, 44.9% of the popular vote

With that, William E Borah and Progressive Republicans would once again take control of the Federal Government. Among Borah's cabinet appointments would be Herbert Hoover to Secretary of State, Wendell Willkie to Secretary of Commerce, Henry Wallace to Secretary of Agriculture, and Theodore Roosevlet Jr. to Secretary of the Navy. Overall, Borah's foreign policy would be isolationist and favorable of the protective tariff, except for hsi continuing of the Good Neighbor Policy, advised by Secretary of State Herbert Hoover.

Borah's main focus, however, would be domestic policy, where he vigorously expanded child labor laws, workers' rights, industry regulations, and even made a push for African American voting rights. He would develop several new programs, including American Retirement Funding, the National Health Protection Act, and farm subsidies. Borah, during the course of his Presidency, would, with his popularity, be able to push the country significantly to the Left.

1936
Borah's immense popularity insured his re-election over former Vice-President Smith who himself had fought House Minority Leader John Nance Garner and Senator Cordell Hull for the nomination. For Vice-President, Smith was forced to choose Louisiana Senator Huey Long to appease both Southerners and Liberals.

President William E Borah (R-ID)/Vice-President Joseph France (R-MD) 411 electoral votes, 58.6% of the popular vote
Former Vice-President Alfred E Smith (D-NY)/Senator Huey Long (D-LA) 120 electoral votes, 31.2% of the popular vote

Despite Borah's popularity, a number of his victories in Southern states as well as other states were the result of Smith's Catholicism. While the South ahd voted solidly for Smith for Vice-President, those were Democratic years and 1936, a non-Democratic year combined with Borah surrogates distributing anti-Catholic literature throughout the South, caused some more vulnerable Southern states to vote for Borah despite Borah having earlier pushed for Civil Rights.

With Borah's re-election, Progressive Republicans re-affirmed their control over the country's electorate. During Borah's second term, he pushed for much of the same that he had in his first term, even managing to pass a Civil Rights bill that garnered the endorsement of former Vice-President Smith. Much of the prosperity first gained under Presidents Ford and Roosevelt seemed to be back and with it the chance for Republican dominance. However, the Republicans lost a potential front-runner with the death of Vice-President France in 1939.

1940
For the Republicans, the theme was "Peace, Progress, and Prosperity", the same theme used in 1928 by the Democrats and the same theme to be echoed many times later by both parties. Borah was a popular Progressive icon who had kept America out of foreign wars, it was reasoned by his supporters. At the Republican National Convention, the perceivedly strong ticket of Senate Majority Leader Charles McNary and Agriculture Secretary Henry Wallace would be nominated to much applause by the majority of the delegates. In the corner however, the Conservatives, represented by Senators Vandenberg, Taft, and Bridges, could be seen stewing, and obviously angry. However, Republicans would be met with surprise as their dream ticket went down the drain as at the dead-locked Democratic convention, after the thirty-fourth ballot, former President Roosevelt decided to step in and run for a third term.

While the Democratic victory wouldn't be as big as President Roosevelt's previous race, he would be elected to a third term by the American people fairly easily.

Former President Franklin D Roosevelt (D-NY)/Senator Cordell Hull (D-TN) 314 electoral votes, 55.7% of the popular vote
Senate Majority Leader Charles McNary (R-OR)/Agriculture Secretary Henry Wallace (R-IA) 217 electoral votes, 43.9% of the popular vote

"Many could claim that the Roosevelts experience "unending Presidencies", men who felt pushed to continue in seats of power after having already left office. Theodore Roosevelt himself considered running for President in 1912, and would serve as Secretary of the Navy for four years. Franklin D Roosevelt would serve as Secretary of State for four years after his original tenure. Yes, the Roosevelts were men who could not leave the trappings of poer behind them." wrote one historian. And it was true, it seemed that neither FDR nor his cousin could really truly quit the Presidency. New cabinet appointments in the third term of FDR would be Vice-President Hull to Secretary of State, former President Davis to Attorney General, former Vice-President Smith to Commerce, and former Post-Master General Farley to be the new Secretary of War. In Many ways it was a rehashing of Roosevelt's old gang which he brought into the Whitehouse in 1925.

In terms of legislation, there was little as President Roosevelt was at that poitn concentrated mostly on making himself into a widely respected diplomat in the international community. What there was however, was general deregulation and cutting of taxes as well as working to consolidate agencies. This was mainly undertaken by members of the Democratic Congress to curve the debt and deficit under the Borah years. During the period from 1941 to 1944, the economy stayed the course despite some general market disruptions due to change of economic policy.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

1944
Early on, President Roosevelt announced that he would most definitely not seek a fourth term as President. There were no foreign crises beyond worry about the Soviet Union, there was no economic crisis, and the Democratic party was solidly unified behind front-runner War Secretary James Farley. With Roosevelt's declining health and rather uneventful third term, he had no desire to continue what had become called an "Imperial Presidency". Therefore, Democrats nominated War Secretary James Farley of New York and Senator Harry Truman of Missouri from President and Vice-President.

The Republicans on the other hand faced a very divided convention as for the first time since 1924, Conservatives faced a good chance of winning the nomination. They had united behind Senator H Styles Bridges of New Hampshire. Meanwhile the Progressives were in a dis-array. Their votes were split between former Agriculture Secretary and 1940 Vice-Presidential nominee Henry Wallace, former War Secretary and New York Governor Theodore Roosevelt Jr., and Senate Robert La Follette Jr. Eventually, however, Senate Alf Landon of Kansas was nominated as a compromise candidate, and the convention selected Robert Taft for Vice-President in order to appease Conservatives as well as to bring back a Republican dynasty.

The general election for the most part would be uneventful. However, polling would show no significant lead by either candidate and newspapers themselves infamously printed "Landon defeats Farley" in preparation for a Republican win on election night.

Secretary of War James Farley (D-NY)/Senator Harry S Truman (D-MO) 282 electoral votes, 49.7% of the popular vote
Senator Alfred Landon (R-KS)/Senator Robert Taft (R-OH) 249 electoral votes, 49.2% of the pouplar vote

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Farley's first term went without incident. Despite some unrest overseas, in the country of Germany where more and more riots would occur in the country due to continued anger from the ending of the Great Western War, Farley would refuse to intervene and the incidents would only grab attention in German-American burrows of large cities. While some interventionists on both sides of the aisle warned that Germany and possibly Russia were turning into powder kegs that would soon blow like Europe had in the past in the 1910's and 1920's, Farley ignored these voices.

1948
At the Democratic National Convention, Farley would be easily re-nominated. The convention also marked the last public appearance of former President Theodore Roosevelt who was rumored to be in poor health. At the Republican National Convention, a large floor fight took place between Governor Henry Wallace of Iowa and Governor Thomas Dewey of New York. Wallace, representing the Progressives and Dewey representing the moderates, could not seem to come to terms with each other. Finally, Dewey agreed to be Wallace's Vice-President, but a lot of bad blood would exist between the two throughout the campaign.

President James Farley (D-NY)/Vice-President Harry S Truman (D-MO) 383 electoral votes, 53.7% of the popular vote
Governor Henry A Wallace (R-IA)/Governor Thomas Dewey (R-NY) 148 electoral votes, 45.8% of the popular vote

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Bump. For the rare few who give a sh**t, update should be coming tonight.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Scratch that.

[Vosem]

I was about to bump this and then I saw the above. So what about tonight, Cathcon?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I was about to bump this and then I saw the above. So what about tonight, Cathcon?

Maybe. Depends on how I handle homework.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

As Farley eased into his second term, his Presidency would take a turn for the worse. He found himself caught in the dilemma that President Hiram W Johnson found himself with thirty years ago. As storm clouds built in Europe, Farley would ignore them, focusing mainly on a few small initiatives that would fall flat in Congress as recession sat in and internationalists rose in protest to his ignoring of the international situation.

As Farley's Presidency continued to self-combust, a moment of sadness was felt throughout the nation with the death of former President Franklin D Roosevelt in 1951. He had had a long and successful political career beginning in 1910 with his election to the New York States Legislature. From there on he would serve as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of the Navy, Governor of New York, Vice-President of the United States, and finally President of the United States, serving from 1922 to 1929, and later from 1941 to 1945, the longest serving President in American history. As well, he also served as Secretary of State in John W Davis' administration.

1952
As Europe grew continually stormier, thanks to chaotic revolution in Germany and the Soviet Union pressing against its own borders and enveloping Eastern Europe, the Republicans wanted to nominate a surefire winner. That winner would be 1948 Vice-Presidential candidate and three-term New York Governor Thomas Dewey who would win against a wide field of candidates, ranging from the Conservative Bob Taft to the moderate Harold Stassen to the Liberal Earl Warren. The Vice-Presidential nomination would be even more hectic. However, at the end, Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon would be nominated.

As for the Democrats, the embattled Vice-President Truman would face challenges as well from the Right and the Left as the remaining Liberal wing, led by Huey Long, would attack him for being not in line with true Democratic principles, and former Governor Strom Thurmond would attack him for not believing in "respected Democratic traditions of States' Rights, balanced budgets, and liberty". However, Truman would survive the convention, choosing fellow moderate Adlai Stevenson for Vice-President.

Truman and Dewey weren't really very different. They were both hawkish on foreign policy and believing in a significant government hand in the economy. However, they would be strangely pitted against each other in the election, and Truman would be at a disadvantage due to the economy and calls for American intervention overseas. The Democrats would be further marginalized with the publication of Secretary of State Joe Kennedy's comment "Democracy is done here in Eastern Europe. I suspect it may soon be here in America as well." On election night, there would be an obvious referendum for the Republicans.

Governor Thomas Dewey (R-NY)/Senator Wayne Morse (R-OR) 394 electoral votes, 56.7% of the popular vote
Vice-President Harry S Truman (D-MO)/Governor Adlai E Stevenson (D-IL) 137 electoral votes, 42.9% of the popular vote

For the first time since 1936, a Republican would win the Presidency. Dewey would immediately go to work on both the economy, passing what he would call "American Economic Management Packages", as well as tax hikes on the rich to pay for new domestic programs. On foreign policy, he assembled a very hawkish team of advisers. Secretary of State Charles Dulles, Secretary of War Douglas MacArthur, and Secretary of the Navy Richard Nixon. Together, these three would go to work rebuilding the American military after the eight years Farley had had in office. By 1954, America would be ready for war. However, Dewey was unsure as to how to enter the conflict. Finally, at a summit with the French government, the Paris Accords were signed, immediately involving America in the conflict. In the famous American landing on the beaches of Estonia, the fight would truly begin.

1956
As fighting in Europe and the Soviet Union heated up, the 1954 mid-terms would take place, paving the way to the 1956 Presidential election. For the moment, Europe would be a favorable point for Republicans. Stealing the 1920's Democratic phrase "making the world safe for Democracy", Dewey would head into the election with head held high. At the Republican convention he would face no challenge and he and Vice-President Morse would be unanimously re-nominated.

For the Democrats, the last four years had not been kind. Losing the Senate in 1952 and the House in 1954, they had seemingly recessed and were wandering in the wilderness soul searching even as the election approached. At the convention, a number of low profile candidates would enter the balloting including Governor Orval Faubus of Arkansas, 1952 Vice-Presidential candidate and former Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson, Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri, and others. However, finally the convention would shape up into a two-way battle with the entry of Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin on the seventeenth ballot. He would immediately narrow the field down between him and Stevenson. The differences between the two were obvious. Stevenson called for a "dynamically conservative" domestic policy which involved fiscal conservatism but a still definitively liberal outlook, coupled with a "realistic" foreign policy. McCarthy on the other hand would rail against Dewey's stances on Civil Rights, social programs, Planned Parenthood, and even the war which McCarthy had initially supported. "We've gotta be going in there with everything we've got. When I first heard of the Paris Accords, I had hoped for the use of hydrogen and atomic weaponry to wipe the Godless communists from the face of the earth. Instead, I saw American troops die in battle. What type of war are we fighting here, Dewey!?" He would finally be nominated on the twenty-third ballot, choosing Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina for Vice-President.

President Thomas Dewey (R-NY)/Vice-President Wayne Morse (R-OR) 484 electoral votes, 60.3% of the popular vote
Senator Joseph McCarthy (D-WI)/Senator J Strom Thurmond (D-SC) 47 electoral votes, 38.4% of the popular vote

With a resounding landslide victory, breaking popular vote records, President Thomas Dewey would be re-elected with a mandate for Liberalism.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

During Dewey's second term, even as the war continued, his focus mainly went to the development of the hydrogen bomb, part of Charles Dulles' "New Look" which would forge a future of deterring fights due to the threat of nuclear retaliation.

The War in Europe, which would be termed the Second Great Western War, continued on, victories slowing in pace. as the Soviet Union lost ground, they began to employ the same tactics that were employed hundreds of years ago in the fight against Napoleon. However, American forces, headed by Walter Greunther knew enough not to make Napoleon's mistake, choosing to let the Soviets flee back into their homeland At a meeting of a League of Nations, it would finally be decided that all trade be cut off from the Soviet Union by all participating members until reparations be paid which, of course, the Soviet Union did not agree to. By all accounts, the Second Great Western War had been won as of 1958.

On domestic policy, Dewey would have Attorney General William P Rogers and Labor Secretary Irving Ives crack down on Labor improprieties and racketeering like he himself had during his days as New York Governor. Dewey would also pass the American Food Act, guaranteeing every American the right to decent meals. While attacked by Conservative Democrats, they were for the large part in the minority. At that point in time, Senators H Style Bridges, John W Bricker, and William F Knowland announced their departure from the Republican Party while Dewey found a new ally in former Democrat Hubert H Humphrey.

1960
With victory in Europe and a good economy, President Dewey declined to run for a third term, though it was believed it could be easily won. Therefore, Vice-President Morse seemed to have  an easy ride to the nomination, despite rumors that John W Bricker or Hubert Humphrey might try to challenge him. Eventually, Senator Jacob Javits of New York would be chosen for Vice-President despite concerns that his being Jewish could hurt him.

On the Democratic side, a large race was taking place. Despite Republican popularity, it was hoped that the Democrats could easily win should they slip in the right candidate. Therefore, a number of Democrats stepped into the field. They included Senate Minority Leader Lyndon Johnson, South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond, former Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson, Missouri Senator Stuart Symington, as well as three new younger Senators representing the new wave of Conservative Democrats ready to take power, Senators Barry Goldwater of Arizona, John F Kennedy of Massachusetts, and George Smathers of Florida. However, after the dis-heartening loss of 1956, now was not their time and the moderate Stevenson who "Couldn't hurt a fly but couldn't excite a crowd" was nominated, choosing Senator Kennedy to help bite into Catholics, hawks, and Conservatives. Despite Kennedy's charisma, Stevenson was an anathema to the Conservative base.

In the four scheduled debates, the first to be held on the medium of television, both Stevenson and Morse would perform well. However, Morse came off as too Liberal even for the Liberal time that was the 1960 election, and Stevenson came off as far too intellectual, explaining things such as Chinese culture, interest rates, the value of the dollar, and so forth. Because of the peculiarities of the two candidates, the race would remain close, despite President Dewey's full backing of his Vice-President. No-one had any idea who the winner might be on election night.

Vice-President Wayne Morse (R-OR)/Senator Jacob Javits (R-NY) 270 electoral votes, 49.5% of the popular vote
former Governor Adlai Stevenson II (D-IL)/ Senator John F Kennedy (D-MA) 267 electoral votes, 49.6% of the popular vote

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The nation was in an uproar over the fact that Morse had not won the popular vote yet still officially won the election. Even people like Strom Thurmond and the out of office Joe McCarthy (who had been defeated for re-election in 1958) rushed to Stevenson's aid to try to try to prevent a third consercutive Republican term. However, Morse would be sworn in on March 4th, just as every other elected President had. He, however, would attempt to create a more balanced yet overly Liberal cabinet. He would move to the Left on foreign policy, dumping people such as MacArthur, Nixon, and Dulles, bringing on his former rival Adlai Stevenson in order to attempt to re-unite the country after 1960. Stevenson would become the nation's next Secretary of State and devote much of his time to trying to de-escalate the growing rivalry between the United States and the People's Republic of China that had emerged after the Soviet Union's retreat.

In domestic policy, Morse would govern far to the left, pushing for the Civil Rights Act of 1961, the Human Rights Act, the Guaranteed Employment Act, and the American Preservation Act. Not all would be successful, with the Guaranteed Employment Act falling by the wayside. However, Morse would emerge victorious on the issue of Civil Rights, passing a revised version in 1962 which guaranteed voting rights for people of every religion, color, gender, and background.

He would continue on his Liberal path until November 22nd, 1963, while on a visit to New Hampshire to mend fences with the  with the remaining Conservative Republicans, he was shot by a protester who claimed he did it in the name of the Live Free or Die State. Vice-President Jacob Javits would be sworn in as the 37th President of the United States of America. Himself a devout Liberal and the nation's first Jewish President, he would continue Morse's Liberal agenda.

1964
While many called on Secretary of State Stevenson to run, he would decline, citing his duties as the nation's chief diplomat, his age, and the fact he didn't want to run against his own boss. The moderate wing would thus be comprised of Senator Thomas Dodd of Connecticut, a man the media had been billing as the Democrats' only hope that year of every winning. Conservatives had been hoping to lay the groundwork for the reluctant Barry Goldwater since Stevenson's loss. However, Goldwater would only enter the field in September of 1963, two months before Morse's death. Representing the South would be former Governor George Wallace of Alabama, a devout segregationist. Finally, representing the West came the moderate-to-conservative Senator Henry M Jackson of Washington. Neither Senator John F Kennedy of Massachusetts, nor his brother, Governor Bobby Kennedy of New York, would run for the Presidency. The primaries would be split as Dodd had the North-East, Wallace had the South, Goldwater had the South-West and Mid-West and Jackson had the upper West and industrial areas. There would be no clear front-runner until Goldwater's upset win over Jackson in the California primary. From there, Goldwater would seize enough momentum to even win at the convention, beating out his rivals, even Senate Minority Leader Lyndon B Johnson who had decided to not run in the primaries. For Vice-President, Congressman William E Miller of New York was chosen, mainly because "Javits can't stand Miller".

As for the Republicans, Javits would easily be re-nominated despite token opposition from the far Left and far Right of his party. In order to balance out Javits' regional appeal, one-term Congressman George W Bush of Texas would be nominated for Vice-President, a surprise pick. Bush's strong support for Civil Rights, abortion rights, and opposition to what he called "foolish Democratic voodoo economics" would be balanced out by his support for fiscal conservatism, hawkishness, and belief in gun rights.

During the campaign, Javits would use everything he could against Goldwater, from Goldwater's off-hand remarks about shutting down famous and popular federal institutions such as the Borah Dam in Nevada, to Goldwater's suggested use of hydrogen bombs in Cambodia and Vietnam where the Chinese were advancing, to his alleged support of the Far Right John Birch Society, to the memory of the popular President Morse, and more. With rumors that even Lyndon Johnson preferred Javits over the "radical" Goldwater, and that Congressman James Roosevelt of California had kept his mouth shut over endorsements, Goldwater appeared to be fighting a losing battle.

President Jacob Javits (R-NY)/Congressman George HW Bush (R-TX) 439 electoral votes, 58.6% of the popular vote
Senator Barry Goldwater (D-AZ)/Congressman William E Miller (D-NY) 99 electoral votes, 40.5% of the popular vote

"Ultimately, we can attribute the loss of Barry Goldwater in 1964 to many things. For one, Goldwater absolutely refused to run ads against Javits that targetted him for being a Jew. Goldwater was himself half Jewish. This would also result in low turnout among anti-semites in certain areas, leading to Republican victories in traditionally non-Republican states. The good economy, Goldwater's perception as an out of touch radical Conservative, and sympathy for Javits after the death of Morse contributed significantly to the 1964 Republican landslide win." wrote one historian.

During Javits' second term, it seemed a mandate for Liberalism had been given. However, Javits soon ran into trouble, as South-East Asia exploded in incendiary fire as Chinese tanks rolled into Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, intent on winning the war for Indochina before it began. Knowing the traps that had befallen isolationists Hiram Johnson and James Farley, Javits authorized use of force against the Chinese, deploying 5,000 troops in Vietnam in mid-1965. However, General John Eisenhower immediately demanded more men to fight the onslaught as many men had been killed in the first few months of fighting.

"No, I will not authorize use of the Hydrogen Bomb!" shouted President Javits at a cabinet meeting. Secretary of War Richard Nixon, newly appointed following the beginning of the conflict with China (after having served as a member of the Naval Reserve 1942-1945, Congressman 1945-1953, Navy Secretary 1953-1961, and Senator from California 1963-1965) had suggested use of immense force in countering the Chinese onslaught. "Jake- Jake we all know you wanted those bastards dead. They need to be shown that we are willing to give their chink asses hellfire. If not, they're going just keep on coming." "What we need to do is defend the men and women of those countries, Dick, and bring peace to the world!" Javits would many a time run into disagreement with Nixon until Nixon's resignation in 1966 and subsequent exile from the White House.

Meanwhile, domestic disruptions would also come to fruition. Javits' ordered bussing program had been met with resistance everywhere from Mississippi to Massachusetts, and did not make constituents there happy. The continued domestic spending as well as the new influx of military spending had caused severe contractions in the stock market even as inflation rose. It seemed that the American consensus of the Centre-Left created by Thomas Dewey was failing.

1968
"After 1964, Conservatives had become dis-heartened following 1964. All through the stormy second term of Jake Javits, you could sense, though, that they were trying to re-build. It was during that time in Missouri I ended up somehow attending a Democratic fund-raiser dinner party with Henry M Jackson. During that mingling following, I approached him and blatantly said "Sir, if you're planning a campaign in 1968, I want in." From his days working for FDR as Secretary of the Navy to then, one of America's greatest Senators, I had admired him. It was there that I was given an appointment at his Washington DC office." -Right from the Beginning, by Patrick J Buchanan

Come 1968, the Democrats faced a more crowded field than ever. Senator Henry M Jackson though seemed to have the lead over the field. With the death of Senator John F Kennedy in 1967, the Kennedys seemed occupied elsewhere and so Jackson would easily take front-runner status. His rivals would include George Wallace, George Smathers, John Connally, William Miller, and Paul Fannin. However, while lacking in charisma, Jackson beat them in organization, and was able to score big in debates due to his knowledge of foreign policy. At the convention, his acceptance speech would be greeted with much applause. For Vice-President, Senator George Smathers of Florida was chosen, a Kennedy friend and a Southerner.

For the Republicans, they faced an incumbent in trouble. Senator Eugene McCarthy, one of the few Republican Catholics, squared off against the formerly popular President in the primaries, running on an anti-war, pro-social justice, and socially liberal-libertarian platform. Javits, however, still controlled party machinery and while losing a majority of the primaries, re-secured his nomination at the convention. Vice-President George Bush would face a similar challenge from South Dakota Senator George McGovern. However, Bush would easily secure re-nomination on the first Vice-Presidential ballot.

Senator Henry M Jackson (D-WA)/Senator George Smathers (D-FL) 300 electoral votes, 53.5% of the popular vote
President Jacob Javits (R-NY)/Vice-President George HW Bush (R-TX) 238 electoral votes, 46/2% of the popular vote

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Anybody reading?

[I Am Feeblepizza.]

Anybody reading?

I am!

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Anybody reading?

I am!

Thanks!

[Captain Chaos]

I bet with Senator Lyndon Johnson not becoming President, he may live past 1973.

[Pingvin]

Anybody reading?

I am!

Thanks!

[Pingvin]

Anybody reading?

I am!

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

As Jackson came in, it did not necessarily indicate a mandate for Democratic policies. It was a mandate against the Republicans. Jackson knew he would have to walk a narrow path and chose to focus first and foremost on foreign policy, a less partisan issue than economics and social issues. Defense Secretary William F Buckley, formerly the Mayor of New York City and a famed Conservative writer, would ramp up defense spending and send in a new attachment of 30,000 American troops. Cutting off Chinese supply lines in Northern Indochina, native geurillas in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia soon went to work on the dwindling numbers of Chinese troops who had been cut off from home. A much more aggressive American strategy would help to finish off the Chinese invasion by January 0f 1972.

In domestic policy, Jackson would follow a moderate path. His connections with companies like Boeing would further fuel the military-industrial complex. However, he would prove labor friendly and support limited anti-poverty programs. On social issues, Jackson vigorously opposed busing, but left other operations, including the White House opposition to Roe v. Wade, up to Attorney General Robert F Kennedy. Kennedy had worked for Joe McCarthy and for his brother John F Kennedy in the Senate until running John's 1960 campaign which would actually win a plurality of the primaries. Following John's loss, Kennedy would go on to be elected Governor of New York in 1962 in an upset over Congressman John Lindsay. Kennedy's staunch conservatism was uncharacteristic of New York politicians. However, using a Populist tone, Kennedy had been able to unite urban Catholics as well as tie in traditionally Conservative upstaters to former a winning coalition. After being re-elected by a land-slide in 1966, many would call on him to run in 1968. However, he would absolutely rule out the possibility following his brother Jack's death in 1967. Upon Jackson's election, Kennedy began to serve as the United States Attorney General, working on taking down everything from big business to unions to the mob in a non-partisan fashion.

1972
Jackson, popular throughout his term, would have his approvals skyrocket upon victory in the Indochina War which was never really a declared war in the first place. This would cause several up-and-coming potential front-runners such as Senators Nelson Rockefeller and Mark Hatfield to drop out after the New Hampshire primary. Jackson's popularity would further cement with Americans landing on the moon in June of 1972. The Republican primaries would be hectic. However, at the end, Senator George McGovern of South Dakota would win the nomination, choosing Governor Spiro T Agnew of Maryland for Vice-President.

In the general election, Jackson, himself a boring and unpersuasive speaker, would be aided by the speeches of Patrick J Buchanan to properly portray McGovern as an out of tough radical who held the most radical of ideals, would endanger America through his dovish foreign policy, and not please the rich, the working class, or the middle class and would endanger all aspects of American life. Despite holding his own rather well in the debates with Jackson, McGovern's campaign would be permanently sunk with news of Vice-Presidential nominee Spiro T Agnew's tax evasion and charges of bribery. McGovern's perceived radicalism, Agnew's scandals, and Jackson's own accomplishments including victory in Indochina and landing on the moon, would eventually doom McGovern to "the ash heap of history".

President Henry M Jackson (D-WA)/Vice-President George Smathers (D-FL) 528 electoral votes, 60.1% of the popular vote
Senator George McGovern (R-SD)/Governor Spiro T Agnew (R-MD) 10 electoral votes, 39.4% of the popular vote

In the biggest ever electoral landslide, and the second biggest ever popular vote landslide (overshadowed only by Tom Dewey's 1956 victory over Joe McCarthy), President Jackson had been elected with a clear mandate against radical liberalism. However, it was clear that the election had been less about Democrat vs. Republican and more about Jackson vs. McGovern. The Democrats took the House of Representatives, but failed to win the Senate. With the retirement of Lyndon Johnson, his colleague John Tower would be elected Senate Minority Leader.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Jackson's second term would be marked by the American Responsibility Act, which would begin the process of breaking off pieces of Dewey's, Morse's, and Javits' large spending programs into privately owned corporation functions. While decried from his party's right as "outright corporatism" as opposed to the preferred method of outright abolishing the programs, he would manage to string together a chain of moderate Democrats and Republicans to pass it through both the House and the Senate. In a surprise, former Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B Johnson would endorse it despite his criticisms of the past more Liberal administrations. A number of other "Statist Democrats" including Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York, Senator John Tower of Texas, and Ronald Reagan of California would ensure its passage. Treasury Secretary John Connally also endorsed its passage.

In foreign policy, victory in South-East Asia had led to the new battlefield of the Middle East. Ordering American funded insurgencies in the Soviet ally of Iraq as well as operations in Palestine and Syria, Jackson found himself jumping from one international battlefield to another, slowly but surely beating back communism. This strategy of pushing it backwards, or "rolling it back" would become known as Rollpolitik.

Economically, the ARA had created small stimulus in the economy. However, it became clear in 1975 that without continued government "injections" into the economy, by way of either government packages or tax cuts, the economy would easily dip into recession. Treasury Secretary Connally organized the raising of the US debt ceiling, newer tax cuts, as well as large purchases from American arms manufacturers to keep the economy propped up, but it was clear to all that the system as it was was clearly not sustainable.

1976
With Attorney General Bobby Kennedy running for Senate in New York, Vice-President George Smathers saw him as having a clear path to the nomination. However, this was not to be as news of his extra-marital affairs began to break in mid-1975. With news seemingly to practically unfold before the press's  eyes, a new group emerged to challenge the maritally troubled Vice-President. Former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter emerged as the leader of the insurgents. With his humble appearances, his popularity with the Christian Right and the endorsement of Jerry Falwell, as well as his pledge "I'll never lie to you", he easily gained traction against Smathers. Setting up groundwork in Iowa, he plugged ahead, finally beating the Vice-President by over five points. In New Hampshire, favorite son Governor Meldrim Thompson would clean up rather nicely. On March 2nd in Vermont and Massachusetts, Smathers would only win Vermont as Carter did surprisingly well among Massachusetts Catholics and blue collars disgusted by Smathers' philandering ways. In Florida, Smathers would score only his second victory of the five races. Finally in Illinois, Carter crushed the Smathers campaign permanently, having the endorsements of the Daleys as well as Senator Adlai Stevenson III. At the convention, Carter would be greeted with incredibly applause from the emerging Religious Right. His Populist campaign which managed to bring together blue-collars, farmers, Evangelicals, and even Catholics had beaten the establishment candidate. In order to appeal to a region outside the South, a short list including Stevenson, Thomspon, William Buckley, Ted Kennedy, Moynihan, and Reagan was released. Finally choosing the charismatic Reagan who himself had some Irish roots to appeal to the "Boston Machine", the Democrats left the convention enthusiastically.

On the Republican side, things would be just as heated as House Minority Leader Gerald Ford, Senator Mark Hatfield, Texas Governor and former Vice-President Bush, Senator Charles Matthias, Senator Frank Church, and Governor Walter Mondale battled it out for the nomination. A wide field ranging from moderate to liberal Republicans, the wide field could produce anybody. In the cold of Iowa, the field would hit the campaign trail. However, the winner, leading in the polls early on, woudl be obvious. Walter Mondale from the neighboring state of Minnesota had most people going to bed early. Even a week before the caucus, many candidates found themselves re-assigning resources to the even colder New Hampshire. Despite Bush's New England roots, Senator Mark Hatfield with his Libertarian leanings would poll very well against Bush. Finally beating him on election night, Hatfield would quickly march to the front of the pack. Following the Illinois primary, there still would be no obvious winner. Ford had taken Illinois, Bush had taken Vermont, and Mondale surprisingly had taken Florida. With candidates trading blows left and right, the presumptive nominee could only be declared on May 25th with Hatfield cleaning up in the multiple primaries. With Bush already having served as Vice-President, the short list was narrowed down to Ford and Mondale. Ford was a fellow moderate, but had much more appeal in the Mid-West and Industrial North-East. Mondale on the other hand could shore up Hatfield's support with the die-hard Progressives. Other names floating included the rather Conservative Senator Bob Dole of Kansas, the Mondale supporter Patrick Lucey of Wisconsin, and the retiring Senator Eugene McCarthy who could help with Catholics. However, when it came down to it, Hatfield chose Ford who could win the swing states of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.

The general election would be declared one of the "most religious in history". With the two famous evangelicals Carter and Hatfield facing off, some claimed they wouldn't be surprised if God himself had to step down to settle the race. However, God did not step down and it was left up to the voters.

Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR)/House Minority Leader Gerald R Ford (R-MI) 278 electoral votes, 50.1% of the popular vote
Former Governor James E Carter (D-GA)/Senator Ronald Reagan (D-CA) 259 electoral votes, 49.7% of the popular vote

In the closest election in recent memory, the western evangelical would beat the Southern evangelical. With the election hinging on the tossup states of Iowa, Ohio, Nevada, and New York, all would fall to Hatfield on an election night where Carter was predicted the winner. Carter's concession would be brief. In his speech to his supporters, he would say "Now, when I began this campaign over fourteen months ago, I promised never to tell a lie, and I must admit that this does more than just hurt a little. However, Senator Hatfield is your President and the nation must unite behind her President if we are to be successful. Now, this campaign can't end without giving credit where credit is due. This is to the best damn running mate a candidate could ask for, Ronald Reagan!" Cheers would go up, but the Democrats would have to get their happiness elsewhere, their best news of the night hailing from New York where US Attorney General Bobby Kennedy would be elected, easily beating Republican nominee Bella Abzug.

Hatfield's administration would be a strong one. With foreign policy headed by Frank Church at State and John Eisenhower at defense, and domestic policy controlled by monetarist Treasury Secretary William Simon and, surprisingly, Agriculture Secretary Jimmy Carter, many would say the administration would be set on a stable and sure course. This, however, was sadly not to be as without Jackson and Connally's market manipulations, the economy would collapse but weeks following Hatfield's inauguration. Working quickly, Hatfield chose not to prepare some sort of stimulus package as had been the norm during Jackson's second term. Instead passing a families relief package couple with large cuts to the military budget, he would attempt to get the nation's economy back on track with, ironically, a more conservative approach than Jackson. Cutting as well pieces of the domestic budget, a large middle class tax cut was also passed. However, Hatfield seemed caught in the middle. The liberal Republicans demanded direct middle class relief funded by the upper classes. The Democrats were split between "Conservative Keynesians" and economic and fiscal libertarians. Hatfield received criticism from all sides. While historians will definitely say that economic recovery began under Hatfield, the American people weren't feeling it. One of Hatfield's greatest accomplishments economy wise actually came from a foreign policy accomplishment. Defusing bad relations with oil rich middle eastern states, the price of gas fell dramatically. However, for the most party, the American people demanded new leadership.

In foreign policy, aside from defusing tensions between the Middle East and America, as well, Hatfield signed the SALT, or Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, with China. Hatfield hoped in his second term to lead to full nuclear disarmament. However, with the economy still lagging in recovery, many inside and outside his administration doubted he would even be around for a second term. Under Hatfield, significant withdrawals of American troops took place in the Middle East.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

1980
On the Democratic side, a tough battle took place to determine the future of the party. Many potential front-runners, including former VP George Smathers, Senator Reagan, Jimmy Carter, and John Tower declined to run, leaving one obvious front-runner. Senator Bobby Kennedy of New York, a charismatic darling of the Northern Conservatives and supported by many figures of the establishment would be the first major candidate to step into the race. Following him would be Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas, a favorite of the party's Libertarians. Representing the evangelicals was Senator Marion "Pat" Robertson of Virginia. Finally, representing the "Statists" as they were negatively referred to, came Senator Adlai E Stevenson III of Illinois. Economically moderate having voted for most of Jackson's proposals, he would make up the last third of the Democratic triangle. Each received different endorsements. Kennedy got his family's support, support from Reagan, Robert Byrd, Moynihan, the Buckleys, as well as various other Northern Conservatives such as Illinois Governor Jim Thompson and Delaware Senator William V Roth. Stevenson received the endorsements of John Connally, Birch Bayh, Lyndon Johnson, and other "big governmetn Conservatives". Bentsen received the party's Libertarian endorsement: Congressman Ron Paul, Governor Jerry Brown, and the much coveted endorsement of Barry Goldwter. Robertson received the endorsements of Jerry Falwell, Jimmy Carter, and George Wallace. The campaign would begin in Iowa where Robertson would win, followed by Kennedy and Bentsen close behind. Stevenson underperformed. In New Hampshire, Kennedy would win easily with Bentsen, the Libertarian, taking second in the "live free or die state". In the Massachusetts Primary, Kennedy would again score big, this time with Stevenson in second place. Finally South Carolina turned into the contest between two Southerners, with Robertson winning by a hair over Bentsen. Despite Kennedy leading in nationwide polls, specific contests proved tough. It was only until April 1st with victories in both the Kansas and Wisconsin primaries following Kennedy winning a majority of the more recent primaries. From there on, despite three other large candidates, Kennedy dominated. At the convention, he would be nominated on the first ballot. With Stevenson being a fellow Northerner, he chose Bentsen who could win in the West. Robertson would've brought nothing geographically to the ticket. The Kennedy/Bentsen ticket left even more enthusiastically than the Carter/Reagan ticket four years earlier.

President Hatfield faced a challenge from his party's left. Former Governor Patrick Lucey, at first written off as joke candidate, won narrowly in the Iowa caucuses launching him into the spotlight. Hatfield would win the vast majority of primaries, however the Mid-West would be a Lucey stronghold and Lucey, claiming Hatfield was not Progressive enough, announced an Independent candidacy with Congressman John Anderson as his running-mate.

In the general election, Kennedy started out leading by a wide margin. Having the South already nailed down, the North solidly his, and the South-West leaning in his favor, Hatfield seemed boxed in as Lucey ate at his left flank. Hatfield would perform up to par in the three party debate, but that would not save him.

Senator Robert F Kennedy (D-NY)/Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) 411 electoral votes, 53.2% of the popular vote
President Mark Hatfield (R-OR)/Vice-President Gerald R Ford (R-MI) 116 electoral votes, 40.2% of the popualr vote
Former Governor Patrick Lucey (I-WI)/Congressman John Anderson (I-IL) 11 electoral votes, 6.3% of the popular vote

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Coming into office, Bobby Kennedy faced m ore enthusiasm from the Right than even Scoop Jackson's land-slide victory eight years ago. With a friendly Congress headed by Senate Majority Leader John Tower and Speaker Tip O'Neil, and a qualified cabinet that included Bill Buckley at State, John Connally at War, and in a surprise moderate Republican Bob Dole at Treasury, Bobby Kennedy was ready to make his place in history as a great Conservative voice. Within his first one hundred days, he accomplished massive tax cuts and market de-regulation, a re-arming of American troops stationed in the Middle East and IndoChina. With a united Right, the Democrats passed a large amount of their initiatives. The Republicans, on the other hand, were in a dis-array. "Establishment Progressives" such as Minority Leader Walter Mondale were trying to pick up the pieces while battling people like "Liberal Centrist" Gary Hart of Colorado and "True Progressive" Ralph Nader of Connecticut. With moderates signing onto a number of Kennedy's plans, rallying the opposition proved harder than ever.

1984
With the economic recovery, begun under Hatfield, fully blossoming in 1984, President Kennedy faced little challenge to his "throne". Unanimously re-nominated by his own party, the Democrats were still waiting for the Republicans to nominate someone at their convention. The Republican primaries had dis-solved into a large battle between former Vice-President Gerald Ford (backed by the Mid-West and Industrial States), Senate Minority Leader Walter Mondale (backed by the Rural Mid-West and New England), Senator Gary Hart (backed by the Mountain West and Pacific Coast along with some of the South), and former Texas Governor George Bush who had also served as Vice-President 1965-1969 (backed by Texas and the South). With the entrances of various other candidates on the twentieth ballot as well as a "Draft Hatfield" movement that was gaining steam, the Republicans didn't know who to nominate. Finally, in a  large surprise, Senator George McGovern of South Dakota, the 1972 nominee, was nominated. Despite criticisms that his campaign slogan should be "He'll do better this time", he seemed a pleasing choice. "An honorable man to go down honorably" one delegate somberly commented. With a good economy and a restored American confidence, McGovern had his work cut out for him.

President Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY)/Vice-President Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) 474 electoral votes, 58.5% of the popular vote
Senator George McGovern (R-SD)/Senator Gary Hart (D-CO) 64 electoral votes, 41.1% of the popular vote

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

List of Presidents thus far
27. William Howard Taft (R-OH)/James Sherman (R-NY), Hiram Johnson (R-CA) 1909-1917
28. Hiram Johnson (R-CA)/Charles Evan Hughed (R-NY) 1917-1921
29. Henry Ford (D-MI)/Franklin D. Roosevelt (D-NY) 1921-1922
30. Franklin D. Roosevelt (D-NY)/vacant, John W. Davis (D-WV) 1922-1929
31. John W. Davis (D-WV)/Alfred E. Smith (D-NY) 1929-1933
32. William E. Borah (R-ID)/Joseph France (R-MD) 1933-1941
33. Franklin D. Roosevelt (D-NY)/Cordell Hull (D-TN) 1941-1945
34. James Farley  (D-NY)/Harry S. Truman (D-MO) 1945-1953
35. Thomas Dewey (R-NY)/Wayne Morse (R-OR) 1953-1961
36. Wayne Morse (R-OR)/Jacob Javits (R-NY) 1961-1963
37. Jacob Javits (R-NY)/vacant, George Bush (R-TX) 1963-1969
38. Henry M. Jackson (D-WA)/George Smathers (D-FL) 1969-1977
39. Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR)/Gerald R. Ford (R-MI) 1977-1981
40. Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY)/Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) 1981-?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Bobby Kennedy's second term would be marred by scandal. Despite a good economy and what many on the Right deemed a successful though uneventful foreign policy, he would be doomed to fall. In late 1985, it was revealed that America throughout the early eighties had been funneling money to organizations and regimes throughout Asia--both in the Middle East and in Indochina--in order to fight against regimes and governments that were seen as hostile to America. While only an illegality, it soon became moral issue as it was revealed that a number of the organizations were involved in the deaths of democratically elected officials and of massive human rights violations. In testimony before Congress, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North who had been the main American operative of the money transfers and negotiations, coldly replied to questioning, "I did what I did in the name of international freedome, liberty, and in the name of America, and God help me if that is seen as wrong." North, who had been serving as Under Secretary of Defense, would resign his position. However, that would not be the end of it as it was revealed that North had been receiving orders from higher up, from President Kennedy himself through aid and adviser Pat Buchanan. In an emotional moment for the Kennedy family, Bobby Kennedy resigned the office of the Presidency on June 19th, 1986. He and his family were escorted to Marine One to fly back to their New York home.

With that, Vice-President Lloyd Bentsen was sworn in as the nation's 41st President of the United States. Thanks to a constitutional amendment following the death of President Morse in 1963, Bentsen was permitted to appoint a Vice-President. In order to unite the party, Bentsen appointed former Georgia Governor and Agriculture Secretary Jimmy Carter. The 1976 Democratic nominee, Carter was a respected icon among the Religious Right and on good terms with a majority of the party. Carter, in taking the office, vowed to serve only one term and not run for re-election in 1988.

Bentsen's first major job was to restore confidence to government. His appointment of Carter had been a step towards that. Carter's entire 1976 primary campaign had been about honesty in government and rallying against high up elected officials, such as Vice-President Smathers, who were morally bankrupt and ignored "American values". Carter's plain looks and plain spoken attitude went a long way in helping repair the image of government. However, it was not enough. Bentsen proceeded to call for the resignation of War Secretary Connally and State Secretary Buckley. Though Buckley himself had been barely involved at all, and Connally only a minor portion, creating a new foreign policy team was paramount to "saving the image of the government". Ironically, both men would be replaced by politicians from their political home states. Buckley would be replaced by Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York. Having served in the Senate since 1975 and being a member of Jackson's cabinet, involved with both domestic and foreign policy, Moynihan was consumately qualified for the job. Replacing Connally was fellow Texan former Majority Leader John Tower who had headed the Tower Committee in 1985 and 1986 to investigate what was being called the "Tehran-Beijing Conspiracy" due to the funding of American operatives and allies in both those cities in order to install American friendly leaders. As well, it symbolized the expanse of the operations.

As for policies, there wasn't much Bentsen could do. Domestically, the economy was still good despite large market disruptions during the period of November 1985 to July 1986. However, following that, the market continually grew steadier and went back up to its pre-November 1985 levels. In foreign policy, his main act would be ending the operations overseen by Oliver North. Following that, his main action would be to publicly endorse the Democratic movement in the Iranian Civil War that began in 1986.

1988
With Bobby Kennedy's resignation, a number of Republican candidates were willing to step forward. The main two were two of the major candidates from last year. Senator Gary Hart of Colorado and, since 1987, Senate Majority Leader Walter Mondale of Minnesota. As well, freshman Connecticut Senator Ralph Nader, formerly an E.P.A. agent and consumer advocate, entered the race, representing McGovern's "movement Progressives" as opposed to Hart's "moderate Progressivism" and Mondale's "Establishment Progressivism". With Nader's grassroots and Populsit campaign style, he could prove a threat to Mondale who formerly had the Progressives under his wing, and as well to Hart who had previously held a corner on the youth vote. The two last Republicans to enter were Governor Tom Bradley of California and the moderate, business friendly, Pete duPont of Delaware. While it would be difficult to gain a lead in the strange and well qualified '88 field, Hart managed to wade through. Showing the horrible defeats that people like McGovern had experienced, he made the case that middle America was no longer responding kindly to the ever so popular Liberalism of the 1950's and 1960's. "Ever since the seventies, a good, honest Progressive has had it tough in America. This country has moved to the Right. We used to be able to run Borahs and Deweys and Morses and Javitses. However, this is a different nation than we'd like to believe it is, and we have to be more political realistic than we were in the past." Hart successfully made his case and soared to the front after only the first few primaries. In order to symbolize the new spirit of moderation, Governor Tom Bradley of California was chosen for Vice-President.

Despite rumors, President Bentsen faced no challenge for the nomination. However, the Vice-Presidential nomination would prove a difficult selection. The three major candidates were the Conservative former Senator Paul Laxalt of Nevada, the Populist one-term Governor Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, and the Libertarian two-term Senator Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts. They each had their advantages. Laxalt could compete in the West against Hart. Casey could easily win the Rust Belt, and Tsongas could help the Democrats stay competitive in the North-East. Bentsen, who wasn't on good terms with the Christian Right, selected Casey for the job.

The general election would prove contentious. However, thanks to the good economy, Bentsen restoring an image of honesty to the Oval Office, and the right geography, the Democrats would pull off a win.

President Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX)/Governor Robert P. Casey (D-PA) 302 electoral votes, 50.2% of the popular vote
Senator Gary Hart (R-CO)/Governor Tom Bradley (R-CA) 236 electoral votes, 49.5% of the popular vote

[Jerseyrules]

Opinions?

Options for the future:
1. TR in 1912
2. JFK lives
3. George Romney in '68
4. The rise of the Conservative Party
5. The rise of the Libertarian Party
6. Work on your actual timelines, you lazyass!

I pick the 2 and 4-6

[Pingvin]

BUMP!
I want to see Bentsen's Second Term!