Talk Elections

Table of Contents
The 1968 Election (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=128471.msg2744041#msg2744041)
The 1972 Election (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=128471.msg2763267#msg2763267)
The Downfall of Spiro T. Agnew (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=128471.msg2792511#msg2792511)
The 1976 Election (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=128471.msg2813076#msg2813076)
The 1980 Election (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=128471.msg2954512#msg2954512)
Rawhide Down (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=128471.msg3108994#msg3108994)

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The Whitehouse, August 9th, 1968
President Kennedy's best political friends and most trusted advisors were milling around the Oval Office, while a frustrated President Kennedy sat behind his desk, seething. Vice-President Terry Sanford was not present at the time, as he was busy campaigning in the South, making sure that it, like every year, went Democratic. Secretary of the Treasury Robert McNamara sat, reading a newspaper loudly. Secretary of Defense Connally leaned against a wall, listening.
    McNamara: 'Following his post convention bump, Republican nominee Michigan Governor George Romney is now leading President Kennedy by a narrow 48 to 47%, with five percent undecided. It is yet to be seen whether former Alabama Governor George Wallace, or some other Southerner will run on a third party ticket. It was expected that his selection of Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon would harm Romney with Conservatives, however Romney's definitve anti-war stance has expanded Republican ranks into the youth vote, which went by a large amount for Kennedy only four years ago' This is unaccaptable, dammit! The most powerful man in the world is being beaten in the polls by some bumbling Governor that can't get half his words right!
    Bobby: Well, it's obvious we need to step up the campaign, but I think we can hammer Romney in the debates. Did you see his speech last night? If this were football, and his words were the ball, we'd have scored big by now.
    Jack: I'm listening. It's this war that Nixon got us into that's put us in this position. If we had pulled out, we'd be in the clear right now, leading by seven points.
    Connally: It's not just 'blame the war', the fact is that we have to win this, otherwise, America will come across as weak, and the Soviets will only expand their influence. We have to set forth an agenda for victory.
    McNamara: Now listen, you had a whole four years to set 'and agenda for victory'! Why didn't you? You don't think that we all want to win this war and go home? The President's been practically trapped in the Whitehouse since 1967!
    Bobby: Look, now settle down. It's bad enough that we're losing in the polls, at least for the moment, but we can't have this pointless infighting.
    Jack: Well, obviously, we have to do something. I'll get Shriver on the phone after this. As of now, I want scheduled appointments with McCarthy, Humphrey, and McGovern. If Romney wants to go anti-war, we'll give him anti-war.
    Bobby: And, you, John, we're relying on people like you, Lyndon, and Sanford to help hold down the South. That's it, we also have to talk to Lydon about this.
    Connally: Sure thing. Lyndon and I can guarantee you at least Texas. As long as Wallace, Faubus, or Thurmond doesn't run, we can also guarantee a Solid South.
    Jack: Good. You can all go now. Bobby, on your way out, tell my secretary to get Senator McCarthy of Minnesota on the phone.
    Bobby: Sure.

---

In the upcoming election, who would you vote for?
Michigan Governor George Romney/Oregon Senator Mark Hatfiel: 48%
President John F Kennedy/Vice-President Terry Sanford: 47%
Undecided/Other: 5%

This looks very interesting.

The Whitehouse, August 9th, 1968
President John F Kennedy's secretary hands him the phone. Senator Eugene McCarthy is on the line.
    Jack: Hello, Senator!
    Gene: Hello, Mr. President.
    Jack: Look, the fact is that I need to ask a favor from you. And not just you, but from you colleague Humphrey and your friend McGovern.
    Gene: Well, what can I do?
    Jack: I need you to help me with the anti-war vote.
    Gene: What?
    Jack: That's right. I need you and your pals out campaigning this month, next month, the month after that, and in November. I need you to give a few speeches in fron of youth crowds, say stuff about how Romney isn't the candidate for peace, stuff like that.
    Gene: I'm sorry, I can't do that. I've actually been talking with Hatfield in the Senate, and with Romney on the phone, and we agree with a number of things. I'm not sure that I can endorse you.
    Jack: What?! Who're you going to endorse then, Wallace? The segregationist? Or maybe you'll endorse Romney, who can't even give a speech without messing up three times! That'll be the day!
    Gene: I'm sorry, Mr. President, it's your stances on things like the war, and the fact you've done barely anything for Civil Rights.
    Jack: Oh, well that's just great. I hope you'll have a fun time joining the RNC next year!

President Kennedy hangs up the phone, not giving Senator McCarthy time to respond. He leans back in his chair and sighs.

The Office of Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield; August 11th, 1968
As Senator Hatfield sits at his desk, looking over the newest tax cutting bill, there is a knock on the door.
    Hatfield: Come in.
    Reagan: Sorry to intrude, Senator.
    Hatfield: No problem, Senator, I was just looking over Kennedy's new tax cutting proposal.
    Reagan: May I sit down?
    Hatfield: Go right ahead. If you don't mind my asking, why have you come here?
    Reagan: After the convention, it should be somewhat obvious.
    Hatfield: What are you referring to?
    Reagan: Conservative support. Look, I'm not going to lie to you, Romney beat Goldwater fair and square at the convention, no lie. But the fact is, roughly two fifths of the people there went for Goldwater by the last ballot. Do you want to see that support go somewhere else? I'm not proposing anything, just saying that some people like Thurmond are thinking of going third party this year.
    Hatfield: I am aware of that. what do you propose? That the Republican ticket that I am on just suddenly flip on the war, on Civil Rights, on everything?
    Reagan: By no means. I'm only saying that the Republicans need Conservatives to win this year. Just remember that at the last ballot, Goldwater came damn close to grabbing that nomination. Just because Romney won doesn't mean that the Conservative faction will just be ignored, while at the same time continuing to vote Republican. Remember how Kennedy did in the debates in '64 against Nixon, and think of how he'll do with Romney. Romney honestly, won't survive the debates without a large base of support.
    Hatfield: You make a good point, but you seem to forget the fact that we're leading in the polls right now.
    Reagan: Oh, we're leading now. This is just after the convention, before the debates, before the long hall. I just hope you know what you're doing.
    Hatfield: Well, I'll certainly take what you said into consideration. However, I think we can win.
    Reagan: I'll be seeing you in the Senate tomorrow then, Senator.
    Hatfield: Bye.

---

Who do you prefer for President?
Michigan Governor George Romney/Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield: 48%
President John F Kennedy/Vice-President Terry Sanford: 46%
Undecided/Other: 6%

Comments, Questions, Critiques, Complaints, Compliments?

The Kennedy home; November 9th, 1960; 5:00 AM
The Kennedy home, in Massachusetts Senator John F Kennedy's bedroom.
    Jacky: Honey, wake up.
    Jack: **Groan**
    Jacky: Jack, you have to wake up!
    Jack: Not another day on that campaign trail...
    Jacky: No, yesterday was the election.
    Jack: How much did we wallop Nixon by, honey?
    Jacky: Honey, you lost...
    Jack: what?

()

Vice-President Richard M Nixon (R-CA)/Ambassador to the United Nations Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (R-MA); 270 electoral votes, 49.9% of the popular vote
Senator John F Kennedy (D-MA)/Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B Johnson (D-TX); 248 electoral votes, 49.6% of the popular votes
Unpledged Electors; 13 electoral votes; .5% of the popular vote

    Jacky: It took a very long time to find out who won. You should be proud of yourself.
    Jack: Well, I guess it's time to concede. I'll get dressed.
    Jacky: Oh, Bobby already called and conceded, but they're waiting for your official announcement.
    Jack: **Sigh**......

Austin Texas, The Governor's Mansion; September 19th, 1963
At 3:00, Governor John Connally meets with Massachusetts Senator John F Kennedy and Texas Senator Lyndon Johnson. Recently, President Nixon'x approval ratings have gone to an all time low of 41%. This is a result of the events since Nixon's messing up in the Bay of Pigs Operation in 1961. This was followed by the Cuban Missile crisis in 1962, which resulted in not a victory for Nixon, but a failure as it was publicized that America, in order to get Russian missiles out of Cuba, had agreed to withdraw missiles from Turkey. Recently, it seems that Nixon has messed up again with a second failure to take out Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. This was publicized as CIA agent E Howard Hunt was killed on television.
    Connally: I keep telling you, Jack, if this Nixon keeps messing up, 1964 will be our year. I got literal field armies out there, ready to go campaigning for the Democrats next year. Nixon's failures on the foreign front have really screwed him.
    Jack: C'mon, John, I've already been nominated. I'm old news now. And besides, I'm up for re-election in 1964.
    Lyndon: You know, if you don't run, then someone else will. If that person wins or loses, it doesn't help you. On one hand, someone will have taken what you could have. On the other hand, someone will have messed up what could have been a Democratic year. Now, I've always thought that if someone else had been heading the ticket in 1960, that could've been our year.
    Jack: Now, just a minute, are you suggesting that  somehow, you could've made it as close as I?
    Lyndon: I'm not saying anything, except for that in 1960, we lost.
    Jack: Oh, and you sure would've brought out the vote in 1960, I'm sure.
    Connally: Now calm down! We're all here for one purpose, and that is to make sure that 1964 is a Democratic year. I'm not saying whether either of you should run or not, I'm saying that in 1964, we need to do the best job we can to win the Whitehouse and stay there.
    Jack: You're right, John. 1964 will be our year. The only question is, who will lead us there?
    Lyndon: You haven't done the best of jobs so far...
    Jack: Well, I can say for sure, that if I win the nomination next year, I'm choosing a different Vice-President.
    Connally: **Sigh**...

---

Do you approve of President Nixon's performance in office?
Approve: 41%
Disapprove: 51%
Not Sure: 10%

Awesome man, keep it up. :)

What happened to Bobby Kennedy, Teddy Kennedy, and John Tower? With JFK still in the Senate, Teddy won't be able to make his entrance in 1962. Also, with LBJ still in the Senate, there wouldn't be a special election for Tower to run in. Might RFK run for New York Governor in 1962 or New York Senate in 1964? 

I'd like to have ted kennedy as president in a TL ;) but I think your TL will go in another direction. for the moment, I think it's a very interesting TL and I want another update soon =). kennedy was a good president, maybe he could have finished his 4 years of presidency if he had run in 1984...

Thanks.

I'm not sure what to do with the Bobby and Ted pre-1964, but after 1964, RFK becomes Attorney General and Ted is elected Senator of Massachusetts in his brother's place. As for Tower, He loses his election in 1960 as in RL, but in this, he is Connally's opponent for Governor in 1962, then he runs for Senate in 1964, and is beaten by George Bush in the primary. After Connally becomes Secretary of Defense, his Lieutenant Governor is made Governor. In 1966, Tower is elected Governor of Texas.

Keep you eyes out for the Kennedys. ;)

Updates will come, of course. They will come more frquently as they are usually just a short conversation between two or more "characters".


Heh heh.

August 24-27, 1964; The Democratic Nation Convention in Atlantic City New Jersey


()
Dark Red-Kennedy
Red-Wallace
Pink-Favorite Sons
Light Green-Unpledged Electors

After his incredibly close loss to then-Vice-President Richard M Nixon only four years ago, Kennedy has accomplished a great feat in winning seven of the fourteen Democratic primaries, against such opponents as Minnesota Senator Hubert H Humphrey and Alabama Governor George Wallace. However, it is yet to be seen if Kennedy can pull off a miracle at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey. After all, the establishment is not eager to give him the nomination again after his failure to win against Nixon in 1960. Despite that, 1964 is believed to be a Democratic year with Nixon's fumblings on foreign policy-his alleged stron suit-and the Democrats feel ready and willing to surge forward. Among Kennedy's opponents for the Democratic nomination are Alabama Governor George Wallace, Minnesota Senator Hubert H Humphrey, Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson, and California Governor Pat Brown. As of now it remains to be seen who will be the nominee as Johnson holds a large amount of establishment support.
 -Journalit Patrick J Buchanan for the St. Louis Globe Democrat, August 24, 1964

It is my opinion that the major issue going into the Presidential Election is that of guts. Who has the guts to stare down the Soviets, to defend this nation against the evils of communism, and to secure freedom for all time. I have a proven record in the Senate when regarding the defense of this nation, and I will set this nation's defense as my highest priority. We can not continue to sit around and watch the Soviets play us like chess pieces while they continue to advance their agends in Cuba, Vietnam, and Cambodia. I can not and will not stand by while President Nixon disgraces this nation further.
-Speech by Senator John F Kennedy of Massachusetts at the 1964 Democratic National Convention

---

Do you approve of the job President Nixon has done so far?
No-48%
Yes-47%
Undecided-5%
In a hypothetical matchup, who would you vote for, Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts, or President Nixon?
Kennedy-44%
Nixon-43%
Undecided/Other-13%

August 28th, 1964


Only yesterday, Massachusetts Senator John F Kennedy successfully won the Democratic nomination for President a second time in a row. As for Vice-President, one term North Carolina Governor Terry Sanford was chosen. Sanford, who was among Kennedy's first choices for Vice-President, is seen as a solidly Liberal ticket in a Southern state. It is believed that Kennedy wanted Sanford just for these reasons. It's hoped by many Democrats that Sanford can help hold together the South for the Democrats this time around.

Meanwhile, the Republicans have yet to recover from a divisive primary season and convention, which pitted the party between the Centrist President Nixon, the Liberal New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, and the Conservative Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater. It is expected the rocky convention has, at least semi-permanently, thrown the Grand Old Party into a lack of unity between its Western, North-Eastern, and Mid-Western factions.


()
Dark Blue-Goldwater
Blue-Nixon
Light Blue-Rockefeller
Light Green-Favorite Sons (James Rhodes-Ohio)

I'm going to assume you mean conservative Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, not Barack Obama, correct? :P

September 3rd, 1964

South Carolina Senator and known segregationist Strom Thurmond

This afternoon, segregatinoist Senator Strom Thurmond (D-SC) announced a third party bid, and the creation of the Dixicrat Party. He explained his decision, referring to President Nixon's Civil Rights Act of 1963, as well as Kennedy's pro-Civil Rights stances. He also announced that hsi running mate would be Arkansas Governor Orville Faubus, a fellow Southern Democrat.

In Kennedy's campaign headquarters, the new breaks.
    Shriver: Jack! you'll never believe what that bastard Thurmond just did to us!
    Jack: Don't tell me he's launching another damn third party bid!
    Shriver: Yeah, only this time, he has a chance of throwing the election to Nixon! If the race is close enough and he sweeps the Deep South, this might be your last time running for President!
    Jack: Dammit! Those damn Dixiecrats hold this entire damn election in their hands! At least some good can come from this, they'll no longer be in our party!
    Bobby: Does he know how much work we've put into this campaign? All for this? To throw the election to the Republicans? We might as well just give up now.
    Jack: Be calm, Bobby, we can see this through. All we need to do is re-arrange some funds. Sargent, call up the campaign treasurer and tell him to divert all funds going into Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana! I want that money pumped into Nevada, New Mexico, Florida, Washington, and Oregon!
    Shriver: Will do, Jack.
    Bobby: Damn...This is gonna take a heck of a lot more work...

---

Who do you intend to vote for in the Presidential Election?
President Richard Nixon/Vice-President Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.-45%
Senator John F Kennedy/Governor Terry Sanford-43%
Senator Strom Thurmond/Governor Orville Faubus-9%
Undecided/Other-3%

Woah! I completely missed that. My mind must have been somewhere else. What do you think of the TL so far?

This is great! :) Though the switching from `64 to `68 is a tad confusing. ;)

Also, I think thurmond will hurt more the republican nominee than kennedy. let's see...

Thurmond will obviously draw Conservative votes from Nixon, however, he harms Kennedy the most regionally. In this, it's mentioned that Nixon passed the Civil Rights Act of 1962, thus meaning the the South doesn't realign with the Republicans. The South would most likely have gone solidly for Kennedy in this scenario sans Thrumond, however, this throws Kennedy's hopes of winning using the South. Notice what states Kennedy diverted campaign funds to.

August 21st, 1968, a press conference hosted by Secretary of Defense John Connally
As Defense Secretary Connally steps into view, walking towards the podium, many reporters are wondering why the pres conference has been called. Many feel it will be a statement about the war in Vietnam.
    Connally: After months of research into the strategies of both the Vietcong the North Vietnamese, the Pentagon, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and myself are unveiling a new plan in order to fight the North Vietnamese and the Vietcong. It will employ a much more aggressive strategy than used before, as well as a more permanent route towards the sovereingty of South Vietnam.
    Reporter One: Mister Connally. I'm sure many of us here are at least considering the possibilty that this is being done in response the Governor Romney's accusations that President Kennedy's Administration, which you are a part of, hasn't done enough to either win the war, or to bring American troops home. Is this true?
    Connally: Absolutely not. This plan has been under...uh, construction for several months. Former CIA Director Shriver, who is now heading the President's re-election campaign, can assure you of that.
    Reporter 2: How can you sure the American people that this will truly help to win the war in Vietnam?
    Connally: Well, first of all, and this came up in the first questions, this is not a war. It is a police action to secure the future of Southern Vietnam and to stop the spread of international communism, which has existed as a threat since at least 1945. Second of all, eh, this plan has been looked over by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, by National Security Adviser Bradley, and by members of the National Security Council. Nothing can be assured, but it is highly likely.
    Reporter 3: What about the rumors that the President does not believe this war winnable, and is merely keeping American troops there in order to protect American integrity, at least in the short term?
    Connally: No. That is completely false. Those rumors have no foundation in reality. The President is entirely commited to victory in this war. That question doesn't even pertain to the subject of this press conference. Next Question.
    Reporter 4: What has caused this, and why now? Why have the Whitehouse and the Pentagon decided that now, in the middle of a close Presidential election, that there should be a radical change in strategy?
    Connally: As I have said before, this strategy has been underway for a while now, since the beginning of the year. The real change in strategy came in the firing of my predecessor, James Roosevelt, two years ago. Since then, the strategy has not been set in concrete because of an ever changing landscape in the war, and because of newer details concerning the strategies of both the Vietcong and North Vietnam.

Get ready for more. ;)

Oh yes, you're right. I forgot that in this TL NIXON passed the CRA

November 3, 1964; The Kennedy Campaing Headquarters; 11:57 PM, Eastern Time
Kennedy, and his group of close friends and political allies, including the head of his campaign, his brother-in-law Sargent Shriver; Texas Governor John Connally; Kennedy's brothers Bobby and Ted; Kennedy's wife Jacky; and his running mate, North Carolina Governor Terry Sanford are all sitting around a large television set, watching election returns.
    TV: ...And we are now able to call the state of Oregon for Senator Kennedy, giving him 273 electoral votes, beating President Nixon.
    Jack: Yes!
    Bobby: Ha! We beat that bastard Nixon despite Thurmond's run! You showed the Dixiecrats and thos damned Republicans!
    Jacky: You did it, honey!
    Ted: You bet he did! I just wish I'd seen Nixon's face when everything started falling towards you, Jack!
    Connally: Finally...
    Shriver: Nixon just called and conceded! The people outside want you to give a speech!
    Kennedy: Well, the public's waiting.
    TV: ...While Kennedy has indeed won, there are indeed other races. The most cheery for Republicans is actor Ronald Reagan's victory in California. He will now be joining the Senate. That was our last race to call for the night, folks.

()
Senator John F Kennedy (D-MA)/Governor Terry Sanford (D-NC); 273 electoral votes, 43.7% of the popular vote
President Richard M Nixon (R-CA)/Vice-President Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (R-MA); 212 electoral votes, 42.1% of the popular vote
Senator Strom Thurmond (DI-SC)/Governor Orville Faubus (DI-AR); 53 electoral votes, 14.5% of the popular vote

Very good so far.

November 4th, 1964
The day after the 1964 election, and the defeat of President Richard Nixon, Senator-elect Ronald Reagan, who endorsed Nixon in 1960, and Senator Barry Goldwater in 1964, receives a phone call from his close political ally, Barry Goldwater.
    Ronnie: Hello?
    Barry: Hello, Ron, it's Barry. Congratulations on you win yesterday. Impressive. I hope that we can work together in the Senate to bring about real change in the Senate.
    Ronnie: Well thank you, and congratulations on you re-election. Yes, I hope we can work together. But we have some real problems with the moderates in the Senate like Javitts that don't exaclty fit the Conservative mold.
    Barry: Yes. The Republican Party does seem to be rather confused as to what ideology it belongs to. Hopefully, in 1968, we can set in on the right course.
    Ronnie: Of course. By the way, has your boy, Barry Jr., has he decided what career he should take?
    Barry: Well, he hasn't decided yet, though he's had urging from some friends to go into politics. By the way, have you heard of Nixon's plans for the future?
    Ronnie: No, why? What does he have planned?
    Barry: Well, from what I've heard, Finch, you know, his Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, well, Nixon wants him to run for Governor of California.
    Ronnie: You don't say. What's he planning there? A run in 1968 or '72? Does Nixon want to "restore his legacy"?
    Barry: Well, that's what it seems like. And from what I've read, Finch is a bonafide Rockefeller Liberal, not even a Centrist like Nixon.
    Ronnie: Well, I certainly can't do anything about it. By 1966, I'll be too tied up in the Senate to be able to run for Governor. Maybe your boy could run, or there's a lawyer I know, named Edwin Meese, who was my campaign's legal adviser, that might have an interest.
    Barry: I just don't know right now, but we can't have Nixon's fingers reaching back at the party from his one term, dictating how the party will go. I'll be seeing you, Ron.
    Ronnie: Bye Barry.

OMG YES NIXON/REAGAN '72!!!!!!!!!! :D

Possible responses:
What?
No.
Hardly.
Why?
Nixon will not make a comeback after his failure in foreign policy during his first term.
He might try one later, but not as of now.

February 11th, 1968; somewhere in New Hampshire
As Senator Ronald Reagan walks down the street of a small New Hampshire town, he is hounded by reporters attempting to get him to answer serious questions on Presidential aspirations. He is candid as ever when answering.
    Reporter 1: Senator Reagan! Senator Reagan! Why are you here? Are you campaigning for President?
    Reporter 2: Senator, a recent poll shows you leading most likely Republican candidates, including your friend, Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater. How do you respond to that?
    Reagan: As I have said before, I am here fully on the behalf of my good friend Senator Goldwater of Arizona. And no, I do not intend suddenly enter the race and split the Conservative vote.
    Reporter 1: Senator Reagan! Do you have any plans for 1972? Will you accept a draft for Vice-President?
    Reagan: I think it would be premature to answer questions about the 1972 election when we are in this election. And no, I do not have plans for 1972 because I am sure this year will be a Republican year, and that that Republican will be Barry Goldwater.
    Reporter 3: What about Rockefeller, Senator? Do you see him as a threat to Goldwater's chances?
    Reagan: Governor Rockefeller shouldn't pose a threat at all. The time for his wing of the party has passed. 1968, I'm sure of it, will be not only a Republican year, but a Conservative year.

Senator Ronald Reagan today, has once again declined rumors that he is running for President. He has continued to state that he is merely visiting New Hampshire to campaign for his colleague in the Senate, Barry Goldwater of Arizona. He has also stated that he sincerely believes that 1968 will be, in his words, 'not only a Republican year, but a Conservative year.' He has also said that the Liberal wing of the Republican party, lead by New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, is in the act of dying out, and that its time has passed. Well, this writer can only hope so as I will be taking a temporary leave of my post to work for Senator Goldwater's campaign as Press Secretary.
                -Journalist Patrick J Buchanan for the St. Louis Globe Democrat; February 11th, 1968

November 4th, 1964; the Governor's Mansion in Lansing, Michigan
Michigan Governor George Romney is hard at work, looking for a compromise with the Democrat controlled Michigan State Legislature. At the moment, he is attempting union reforms in order to clean out corruption. His son Mitt, who is currently a student at the Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills.
    Mitt: Knock-knock.
    George: Oh, hi Mitt. How was school for the 'Lone Mormon'?
    Mitt: Hi Dad. Congratulations on re-election.
    George: Oh, yes. You know, I was afraid that Nixon would really drag the party down this year, but we didn't have that many bad losses. We even picked up a seat in California.
    Mitt: Dad, I'm not here to talk about last nigh't Kennedy victory. With Nixon out of the way, I think 1968 could be your year. You already bowed out of 1964 to support Rockefeller, and I was thinking that you should run in 1968.
    George: We'll see. Right now, though, I'm focused on finding common ground with those Democrats in the capital. Y'know, sometimes I-I wonder if it's really worth it, being in politics and all.
    Mitt: Just look at all you've accomplished! You've been in here less than two years, and your a better Governor and a better man than Rockefeller!
    George: What makes you think that, Mitt?
    Mitt: Well, it's just that all that Rockefeller's done as Governor is rack up deficits for New York, and all that Nelson's done as a man is get divorced. I think you can beat him four years from now. I have faith in you, Dad.
    George: We'll see son.

Comments, Questions, Critques, Complaints, Compliments?

Kind of stole the name of one of my timelines but its cool :p

January 18th, 1965
With only two days to go until Senator John F Kennedy becomes President John F Kennedy, he has unveiled his list of cabinet appointments. Certain members are seen as highly qualified, while others are seen as less experienced. The major issue with Senator Kennedy was naming a Secretary of Defense. While Texas Governor John Connally, a relentless Kennedy supporter who helped deliver Texas by a large margin to him, was Kennedy's first choice, Connally turned the opportunity down, instead choosing to focus on governing, at least for one more two year term. In his stead, Kennedy selected outgoing Congressman James Roosevelt for the job. Kennedy's entire list is seen below:

The Home of President-Elect John F Kennedy
Senator John F Kennedy is relaxing, talking to his brother and his closest adviser, Bobby, about the recent release of Kennedy's cabinet picks.
    Bobby: Now, are you sure about some of these people? I mean, James Roosevelt for Secretary of Defense, you haven't been exactly loved by the Liberals since that incident with McCarthy in the '50's.
    Jack: That's exactly why we need to have him with us. Otherwise, the Far Left will turn on us. It's appointments of people like Roosevelt and Udall that will allow us to operate with Congress on things like taxes and defense spending.
    Bobby: I'm not sure of Roosevelt's qualifications for the job. I mean, how's he to know the first thing about what goes on inside of the Pentagon? Connally wasn't exactly a five star general, but he had connections and a certain amount of knowledge about him that I don't see with Roosevelt.
    Jack: Calm down, Bobby. We don't even need Roosevelt for that long. Just until Connally finishes his second term in two years. After that, we have six more years to do the job right.
    Bobby: That's assuming you win re-election...

What name was that?

September 22nd, 1968; the campaign headquarters of Republican nominee George Romney
As the Governor talks to Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon, his running mate, in person and to Senator Ronald Reagan of California, representative of the Conservative wing of the party, by phone, his son, George Scott Romney, who goes by the name of Scott, walks through the doors and into Romney's informal conference room. Scott is currently a student at Harvard.
    Scott: Hi Dad.
    George: Scott! What brings you all the way out here to Michigan again?
    Scott: The polls. They showed you leading by a narrow margin until yesterday.
    George: Ah,yes. It was the new 'plan' that Kennedy unveiled yesterday the narrowly moved him back into first. That plan is...is nothing but what they've been trying to say for the last four years. Th-they're simply unable to win it, so they keep saying 'more guns, more money'...
    Mark: ...While more American boys go to die in foreign jungles.
    George: Oh! Yes, Scott, this is Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon, my running mate. Mark, this is my son, George, but we call him Scott.

Scott and Hatfield briefly shake hands.
    Mark: It's a pleasure to meet you.
    Scott: And a pleasure to meet you too, sir.
    Scott: (To George) You know, Mitt doesn't agree with you on all this. I talked to him by phone, and he was barely aware of your position on the war. He actually ended up getting into a fight with some of the French over support of the war. If you win, it'll be interesting to say which way he goes with this.
    George: Well, that's the first I heard about the fight, but I always knew his position. He's young, he hasn't cooled with age. Well, now, How are things going with you at Harvard?
    Scott: Just great, Dad. Anyway, I'm heading to the house. I'll see you there. Bye, and bye Senator Hatfield.
    George: Bye, Scott.

George turns back to the phone, where he's had Senator Reagan on hold. Senator Hatfield listens in on a second line.
    George: Now, listen, Reagan, I think w-we can hold down the West, whether or not I support the war. Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Oregon or all shoo-ins according to the latest polls. What are you worried about, California? That's going Republican like it has been for the last sixteen years.
    Reagan: No, George, it's more about precious swing states like Arizona and New Mexico that I think will go for Kennedy. Meanwhile, there the Dixiecrats. Now, I'd never support or endorse them, but they're liable to draw away precious Conservative votes in the places like I mentioned. While they harm the Democrats more in the South, they resulted in making states like Arizona and California closer than they had to be in 1964.
    George: L-look, Ron, we're doing just fine. We may be down in the polls, but support for the war is wearing away day-by-day. Look at all these bombing runs that Kennedy has planned! They won't work, as th-they haven't worked in the past. While you and Goldwater might be just fine with how Kennedy's going-
    Reagan: Now, I never said that-
    George: ...While you and George might be just fine with how Kennedy's going, there's a rather large portion of America that isn't happy, and I will not stand by while I watch American boys be killed in this war!
    Reagan: **Sigh**...The Kennedys, they really underestimate you. However, you're wrong. We'll talk tomorrow about this.

---

Who do you intend to vote for in the upcoming election?
President John F Kennedy/Vice-President Terry Sanford; 49%
Governor George Romney/Senator Mark Hatfield; 46%
Undecided/Other; 5%

http://www.uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=102992.0

Eliot Spitzer: A Second Chance

September 24th, 1968
This afternoon, former Alabama Governor George Wallace announced that he would joine the Dixiecrat Party. Having met with both Senator Thurmond and former Governor Faubus, he has become the unofficial nominee of the Dixicrat Party, having already run for the Democratic nomination, and winning two primaries. It is not yet known who he will chose for Vice-President, however, some names that have come up are General Curtis LeMay, Senator Harry F Byrd Jr. of Virginia, and Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, though all have declined to comment on whether they would be willing to join the ticket.

The Whitehouse
President Kennedy and his staff have just heard the news about Wallace's third party bid. The Kennedys, by now, are sick of discussions about the Dixiecrats, and how the Democrats can win without the Solid South.
    Jack: **Groan** Not again!
    Bobby: I know Jack. We're just going to have to pull this through another time.
    Jack: I am sick and tired of hearing these ceaseless demands from those damn Southern Democrats! Do they have to try to throw every damn election? I'll tell you what they are, they are mentally sick and physically incapable of handling the idea of Civil Rights.
    Bobby: We're just gonna have to pull this through one more time.
    Jack: Get Shriver on the phone...

and what's teddy keneddy doing at the moment?

Nice TL =)

Ted's in the Senate doing whatever it is he does in the Senate. JFK talks a lot more with Bobby than with Ted because RFK is his Attorney General and is hanging around the Whitehouse a lot more than Ted is.

November 5th, 1967; Detroit, Michigan
And, because of this long and arduous war in Vietnam, because of the Administration's inability to either win it or bring American troops back home, because of President Kennedy's inaction on Civil Rights, and because of his lack of concern for the poor, I am now declaring my candidacy for President! It will not be easy, but I believe that we can win!
-Michigan Governor George Romney announcing his candidacy for the Republican nomination; November 5th, 1967


New York City, November 5th, 1967
An apartment in New York City that Governor Nelson Rockefeller owns. His brother, Winthrop Rockefeller, and Governor of Arkansas, is visiting, taking leave of his duties as Governor. They have just finished watching Governor Romney's announcement.
    Nelson: Well, Winthrop, what do you think?
    Winthrop: I don't know if he can win. With Goldwater taking the Conservative vote, I think Goldwater can ride that wave to the convention.
    Nelson: He can't win. His anti-war stances are now taboo in the party. We need another candidate. I myself would run, but after 1964, I don't know if the party would accept me.
    Winthrop: You could find a candidate to run in you place. Someone like Scranton in Pennsylvania or that mayor, Lindsay.
    Nelson: Nah. They're all old news. I think we need someone else.
    Winthrop: Well, who do you want running?
    Nelson: I was thinking you.

January 20th, 1961
In his first day in office, President Richard Nixon has begun appointing cabinet members. Among those on his list for certain positions, some seem like obvious choices while others are seen as surprise picks. Some key appointments that have been revealed are listed below.


It is believed that some choices, such as those of House Minority Charles A Halleck, General Douglas MacArthur, and celebrity Ronald Reagan, are meant to appease Conservatives, while choices of Prescott Bush, Robert P Anderson, and John Lindsay, are meant to make peace with moderate. It is yet to be seen who Nixon's choice for Secretary of State is.

More to come...

My head hurts. Too much time warping. I think it's the pelvic thrust that really drives me insane.

Sorry. After the 1968 election, it will mostly be linear.

March 12, 1968; New Hampshire
In a tough primary race between three well known candidate, Michigan Governor George Romney, running on an ardently anti-war platform, has scarped by with victory in the North-Eastern state of New Hampshire, which is the first of the Republican Primaries. However, the road to the convention will still be hard, going against two other major candidates plus favorite sons.


To the State of New Hampshire, you have made this long shot dream at becoming the Republican nominee a success. To all you who have voted for me, I thank you, and I assure you that my campaign will go on all the way to the convention, where we will win!
          -George Romney's victory speech after his victory in the New Hampshire primary

    Barry: We shouldn't even have expected a win.
    Ronnie: Don't worry. This is the North-East, the concentration of the Liberal establishment. There are other primaries. You'll win big in Florida and the West. Heck, you would even take California if it weren't for Finch.
    Barry: You're right. We're going to win this. I can feel it. Third time's the charm in this business.

June 11, 1968
With the wrapping up of the Republican Primaries in Illinois, today, a win for Governor Romney, it's time to head to the Republican National Convention where the true winner of the Republican nomination will be decided. The three major candidates are Governor George Romney of Michigan, Governor Wintrhop Rockefeller or Arkansas, and Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona. The nomination will most likely go to one of those three, though some in the convention might try to push Governor Robert Finch of California, a favorite son, for the nomination.

()
Dark Blue-Goldwater
Blue-Rockefeller
Light Blue-Romney
Light Green-Favorite Sons (James Rhodes-Ohio, Robert Finch-California)

Does anybody want to see the map for the Democratic Primaries before I move on and get done with the 1968 Presidential Election?

I'd want to see it ;)

Okay, that'll come soon.

Given that people like Tmthforu and Vasdul have complained about all the time warping, I'll only give one more flashback to pre-1965, a couple more updates on the election, then it'll be mostly linear from there on.

June 11, 1968
At the same time that the Republicans are going to the convention with no clear winner, the Illinois Primary wraps up for Democrats with another win for incumbent President John F Kennedy. He has faced challenges from both the Right and the Left of his party as he has held of the insurgent campaigns of former Alabama Governor George Wallace and Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy.

()
Dark Red-Wallace
Red-Kennedy
Pink-McCarthy
Light Green-Favorite Sons (Ohio-Stephen Young)

At the Democratic National Convention, it is expected that President Kennedy will easily win by the third ballot because neither McCarthy or Wallace have establishment support and they are unwilling to 'join forces' against Kennedy given that they are from opposite ends of the party. With that in mind, Kennedy and Vice-President Sanford are expected to leave the convention successfully.

I like flashbacks and flashforwards. Flashforwards are in particular, very cool for TLs.

I like them too when done properly. This timeline, unfortunately, did it too often and with poor execution, in my opinion. I originally thought that the first post was a "teaser" for 1968, and that the timeline would be mostly linear from then on (a concept which I rather liked).

In this timeline, however, the overuse of flashbacks and flashforwards led to two major drawbacks:

1.) It made the events much more difficult to follow, and
2.) It eliminated suspense. For example, after the initial post and the first few updates, we already knew:
    A.)Nixon won in 1960.
    B.)Kennedy defeated Nixon in 1964.
    C.)Kennedy was involved in close reelection campaign against George Romney in 1968, and
    D.)What the hot issues were in the 1968 campaign.
Most of the rest of the updates since then were only filler- we knew what the end results would be.

So, in conclusion, while I agree that flashbacks and flashforwards can be interesting to add to a timeline, the author must be judicious in their use.

I'm sorry about all the confusion with the flashbacks. It gave me a certain amount of freedom to just write whatever I wanted when I saw fit.

My original intent with the first post was ti fulfill this "image" I had. In my head, the original setting was in the Presidential limo going into the Whitehouse while it's being mobbed by peace protesters, and McNamara or Bobby says something like "Romney's gaining". It was just really cool in my head.

From now on, I'll pop my head into the Nixon "era" only two more times, give a couple updates leading up to the 1968 Presidential election, and then it'll be linear, with a couple of flash-forwards (usually interviews with certain key figures).

Agreed. Have you checked out some TLs on Alternate History Discussion? There are quite a few on there that use flashbacks and flashforwards very effectively. Make sure to check out Fight and Be Right. It's by a guy called Ed Thomas. He is a master at using flashforwards to create intrigue; which is used very effectively.


Yes, it did make the TL redundant but I commend him for trying. Though it may have been best if the previous presidential campaigns of 1960 and 1964, even, more recently Kennedy's re-election were inferred in conversation. Speeds up the process, while being unique.


Agreed, again. Perhaps, you Vazdul showcase your own abilities at some stage :)

It'd be a lot easier to just refer to the elections in conversation, but I, as both a reader and a writer like to have the map for all to see.

By the way, I've noticed that for some reason, it's a lot more fun to do primary maps pre-1972. It's either the fact that there are only about fifteen states, or the colors I've been using.

**BEWARE**A flashback!**BEWARE**

January 21st, 1961
As President Richard Nixon sits in his new office, the Oval Office, he thinks about his most pressing issue, that being naming a Secretary of State. He has a couple of names, but no-one he's enthusiastice about. One name that floats around in his head, but he has only given to one adviser, continues to float. Taking his feet off of his desk, he picks up the phone. and calls New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller.
    Nixon: Hello, Nelson, I need a favor from you.
    Rockefeller: Well what is it?
    Nixon: I need you to help me fill my cabinet.
    Rockefeller: I'm quite tied up here in New York as it is.
    Nixon: No, no, I know. I just need your help convincing one of your so called 'group' to fill the position of Secretary of State.
    Rockefeller: What's his name?
    Nxion: Not 'his'...

January 23rd, 1961
This afternoon, new President Richard Nixon announced his choice for Secretary of State. After three days of no clear sign of announcing his choice, the name has come forth. It is Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine, who is not only the most prominent female politician of our time, but has also had a long career in Congress and worked on the House Naval Affairs Committee furing World War II. Response is mixed on the choice, but generally positive.

Correction: Smith was from Maine. Unless that was the dramatic POD: Smith moves to New Hampshire.

Sorry, in "America and Onward", Maine is taken over by Canada, so she escapes to New Hampshire. I got used to saying "Congresswoman Margaret Chase Smith of New Hampshire".

From the viewpoint of several Conservatives, 1968 was seen as our great failure. After years of being ignored by Eisenhower and Nixon, we had hoped that we could successfully lead a surge against the establishment Republicans, and then against the Kennedys who had been waffling on Vietnam and domestic policy for four years. However, the nomination in 1968 ended up falling once again to the moderate wing. Not in the form of Nelson Rockefeller, but in a new form, the anti-war candidate George Romney. Romney made no attempt to connect with the conservative wing of the party-aside from a few brief telephone conversationg with California Senator Ronald Reagan-and chose Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield as his running mate. This, I think, cememnted the divide in the Republican Party, never to be re-bridged until the late 1980's. However, 1968, in retrospect, was just another failed year. The Conservatives would have other years. Only time would tell what we would do with them.
                       -Excerpt from Right From the Beginning by Patrick J Buchanan, 1987

September 28th, 1968
Kennedy has failed. It is obvious. Now is the time for new leadership, for bold steps to securing America. America can not be disgraced like this! True patriots can not allow it. It is time to stand up for America! That is why I have selected General Curtis LeMay as my running mate, because, as a military man, he knows what it takes to stand up for America!
                                         -Dixicrat Presidential nominee and former Alabama Governor George Wallace

October 1st, 1968
In this tumultuos decade we call the sixties, when American boys are shipped overseas to fight in a battle that has been long lost, when at home we see riots on every street corner of every major city, when we see civil unrest and racial violence on the television and in our country, we can no longer tolerate it. President Kennedy, running on a message of restoring America's image and improving racial relations, has done nothing on either front. That is why we must push ahead, and that is why we are running.
                                    -Oregon Senator and Republican Vice-Presidential nominee Mark Hatfield

October 3rd, 1968
I will remind the Republican ticket this year that we are the party of Conservatism. If the Republicans continually fail to see this, and continues to go along the path of the Left, it will remain a losing party.
                                                          -California Senator Ronald Reagan

LoL Reagan

I have to agree with this. It seems that most Republicans ITTL do not share Reagan's opinion on the direction their party is going.

We shall see...

Lemay was certainly the perfect type of sociopath for the Wallace campaign.

Interesting work; keep it up. Hatfield is an interesting character for sure and probably my favorite Republican of the era all told (you can probably guess why ;p).

By the way, does anyone know how many ballots someone would have needed to be nominated for President and Vice-President at the 1968 RNC? I want to put up those numbers.

October 7th, 1968
The office of California Senator Ronald Reagan, where he talks with his colleague, political ally, and friend Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona. They are discussing the  upcoming election.
    Ronnie: Well, Barry. This election really puts us in a pickle. We agree more with the Dixiecrats and with the Democrats than the Republican ticket. We can't endorse either of them either, otherwise, if Romney wins, we'll be permanently marginalized in the party, and if Romney loses, they party would blame us.
    Barry: I know. The fact is that we'll have to sit this one out. If Romney wins, we'll do our best to make sure he selects Conservative cabinet members.
    Ronnie: Do you think we can make it in 1972? If Romney loses, Rockefeller, the New York one, will run again. He'll probably have the support of the entire Eastern establishment. We already have had two strong moderates in the field at the same time, and both made an impressive showing.
    Barry: Either we'll win it in 1972, or we'll see the death of this nation at the hands of the Rockefellers and the Romneys, and the McGoverns.
    Ronnie: Romney's leading again. Did you know that?

October 7th, 1968
While Senators Reagan and Goldwater are conversing about the fate of their party, the President is conversing with the fate of his Administration. In the Oval Office, he has gathered some of his most trusted advisors. Once again, Treasury Secretary McNamara reads from the newspaper.
    McNamara: 'Since the most recent unfolding events in the election, Michigan Governor George Romney once again has the lead. Wallace's campaign has hurt the President the most, for the most part because it has taken away the Deep South, a region that consistently votes Democrat, except in situations such as these where a segregationist Southerner runs independent of the Democrats. Romney is currently polling at 43%, Kennedy at 41%, and Wallace at 14%.' Jack! We can't let this happen. We can't be beaten just because of these damn Dixiecrats!
    Jack: I know, I know. We'll do what we did last time. You know how this goes, we shift funds. Sargent, I want all funds removed from the following places: Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. We're going to use these new funds to swing Nevada, New Mexico, Washington, and California our way.
    Sargent: California? You think we can take that place? That's Nixonland and Reaganland, and Finchland. How are we going to swing that?
    Jack: Sargent, the point's been made before. While these Dixiecrats hurt us in the South, they hurt Republicans more in the rest of the country. In places like California, the Conservative vote will split, and we'll have a very good chance at this.
    Sargent: Okay, I'll call the Treasurer, but from what I remember, we were barely spending anything down there anyway because either we'd get it handed to us, or the Dixiecrats woudl take it.
    Jack: John, you're connected with al the big businessman down there. We need more funds, and we need them in all the right places.
    Connally: Now, Jack, Texas might have a lot of oil, but it's dry in funds. My boys have done just about everything possible and gotten as much money as possible.
    Jack: Robert...
    Bobby and McNamara Which one?
    Jack: McNamara. Is there anybody back in Michigan willing to contribute?
    McNamara: I'm afraid not. They're going for their favorite son, Romney. I've talked with them like you asked, and they're not willing to do anything until you withdraw the proposal for the Environmental Protection Agency.
    Jack: That? Give me a break! We'll find the money, even if we have to drain Texas' oil. We're going to win this.

---

Who do you prefer for President?
George Romney-43%
John F Kennedy-41%
George Wallace-14%
Undecided/Other-2%

Romney `68!

**BEWARE**Flashback into relatively recent history**BEWARE**

August 25-28
Going into the Republican Convention, a winner for the nomination is till undecided. Different factions are vying for the nomination, and they each have their areas of strength among the delegates. For the Conservatives, there is Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona. For the Moderates, there is Governor Winthrop Rockefeller of Arkansas. And for a newly found anti-war voice in the Republican Party, there is Michigan Governor George Romney. While Romney has won a plurality of the primaries, Goldwater is the winner of the popular vote, and the establishment favors Rockefeller to win.

• Barry Goldwater: 502 delegates
• George Romney: 431 delegates
• Wintrhop Rockefeller: 328 delegates
• James Rhoads: 40 delegates
• Edward Finch: 29 delegates
• Edward Brooke: 2 delegates
• Margaret Chase Smith: 1 delegates

• Goldwater: 532 delegates
• Romney: 452 delegates
• Rockefeller: 349 delegates

• Romney: 722 delegates
• Goldwater: 611 delegates

---

• Mark Hatfield: 576 delegates
• Ronald Reagan: 546 delegates
• John V Lindsay: 102 delegates
• Spiro T Agnew: 76 delegates
• Edward Brooke: 33 delegates

• Hatfield: 752 delegates
• Reagan: 581 delegates

Does anyone want any more conversations before the election?

I like conversations, but I really want to see the election ;)

November 5th, 1968
...Tonight is election nigth. After months of hard fough campaigning by all three opponents, no-one has been able to predict a winner. Battling in the polls are President John F Kennedy and Michigan Governor George Romney, with former Alabama Governor George Wallace taking up a significant portion of each one's support. Romney has ridden a wave of anti-war sentiment while Kennedy has run on his economic record as well as claiming that the war is on its way to being won...

...And the first state to be called is Kennedy's home state of Massachusetts, where it has been determined in nearly no time at all that the President is the first to pick up electoral votes...

...With Romney's picking up of Vermont, he has taken the three most northeastern states, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine...

...We have called Georgia for Wallace, thus giving him all of the Deep South...

...And with the calling of California, President Kennedy has been elected to another term in the Whitehouse...

()
President John F Kennedy (D-MA)/Vice-President Terry Sanford (D-NC); 273 electoral votes; 42.9% of the popular vote
Governor George Romney (R-MI)/Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR); 212 electoral votes; 42.7% of the popular vote
Former Governor George Wallace (DI-AL)/General Curtis LeMay (DI-CA); 53 electoral votes; 14.1% of the popular vote

=) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) !!!

I actually like terry sanford, he could have been a great president or vicepresident. Let's see what happens with him in this TL ;)

No!!! :(

Romney was actually the most Liberal of the three candidates in the race.

November 6th, 1968
At a cabinet meeting, President John F Kennedy watches the last person sit down as he begins speaking. Among the people there, there are Attorney General Robert F Kennedy, Treasury Secretary Robert McNamara, Defense Secretary John Connally, and Secretary of State Henry M Jackson. Other people there with less significant roles are Labor Secretary Lloyd Bentsen (who was Adlai's replacement after his death), National Security Adviser Omar Bradley, and newly re-instated CIA Director Sargent Shriver.
    Jack: Well, boys, we did it. Four more years to get this damn war right. Scoop, how's the deal with Vietnam going?
    Scoop: Congratulations on your re-election, and not well, Jack. They still refuse to budge. I've said time and time again that they will only negotiate for victory. We need to pound them into the ground.
    Connally: Jack and I agree on this. The enemy continues to get stronger everyday that we aren't out there hitting them hard.
    McNamara: Personal feelings aside, the fact is, the American people are tired of this war. We either win or pull out. There's no room for middle ground in this.
    Jack: What do either of you propose?
    Sargent: From what everyone here has been briefed on this morning, we all know that the Ho Chi Minh Trail is the main supply line that gives weaponry to the Vietcong. However, there are other, smaller supply routes. Both the CIA and Army Intelligence are working on finding these. So far, the bombing runs have been ineffective.
    Connally: Not completely, though. We have continued to inflict serious damage on their manpower. However, they continue recruiting. Over all, we needa continually more agressive strategy to combat them.
    Bobby: Are you sure that diplomacy will fail, Scoop?
    Scoop: The only way for it to work is for us to convince them that without negotiating, they'd be dead. And by that point, we'd already have victory in our grasp and would have no need to negotiate.
    Jack: **Sigh**...Bradley, what do you think?
    Bradley: It's not just bombings. With bombings, the pilots can't even see what they're hitting. We need to develop a new strategy for ground troops that allows us to adapt to the terrain there. This isn't World War II anymore and we're not fighiting Nazi Germany.
    Jack: Gentlemen, I want to know just how many damn times we're going to have to revise our strategy.
    Connally: Jack, c'mon...
    Jack: I want to know! I want to win this, but every time something fails we have to develop a whole new strategy! What does it take?
    Bradley: This war needs to be fought differently. That's the answer. The entire military is out of line with the war we're fighting.
    Jack: Tell me what it takes...

With Kennedy's decision to begin excessive bombing of North Vietnam, several Democrats, myself included, began to wonder what party we were really in. I was in the Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern camp, those of us who opposed the war. We had already been upset enough by Kennedy's role in continuing the war, and when it was announced days after the '68 election that he woudl be escalating the conflict, several of us had to take a look around. I mean, Kennedy had been one of the two pro-war candidates in the race, and the "peace" candidate had been the Republican, George Romney. That's when, in our heads, we questioned who would be our voice in the future, the voice for peace.
                               -The Death of the Democrats, Mike Gravel, (c) 1996

February 3rd, 1969
On the floor of the Senate, President Kennedy's proposal, the creation of an environmental protection agency, is debated. The debate rages between two of the Senate's greatest voices, Senator Ronald Reagan of California, and Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts. The bill, called The Environmental Protection Act, has been authored by Senator Kennedy, a favor for his brother.
     Reagan: I can not and will not vote for this bill, this monstrosity which you, Senator Kennedy, have put before the American people. This will only lead to continued government expansion, which has continued and has not stopped since the Great Depression and President Roosevelt's New Deal. The money that it will take to fund this comes directly from the tax payers' pockets, and the only direct result they will get back is to be a little poorer after Tax Day.
    Ted: Apparently, Senator Reagan, you have not read the bill, which contains a tax not on the working class, but on the rich. Apparently, you do not have a notino of what this is for, and I'll tell you what it's for. This is to protect the environment from continued abuse by large corporations, pumping pollutants into the air. This can only result in good.
    Reagan: Well, 'apparently', you do not realize the implications of government growth or tax growth for that matter. With each cent taken from anyone, it is one that could have been used towards the purchase of a product, which have provided a company, which employs people, money. And you claim to be for the Middle class. The continued government expansion, tax or no tax, will only increase the deficit, leading to massive inflation. This will only be the beginnign of America's problems.

It was there, on that Senate floor, debating about the Environmental Protection Act, that Ronald Reagan's run for the Whitehouse began.
                                                            -Right From the Beginning, Patrick J Buchanan, (c) 1987

Around that point in 1969, Agnew began meeting with different leaders of the Republican party. This was after his failed 1968 bid for the Vice-Presidency, which ahd caused people to turn his way. After that, Agnew started to become a little more pretentious, meeting with some of the major names of the Conservative wing of the party, even abandoning his mentor, Nelson Rockefeller. Just about every month or so, one of us in the House of Delegates would go up to his office, and he'd be in there talking with someone. Oh, they were all there, Senator Reagan, Senator Goldwater, James Buckley, every one of those new 'leading Conservatives', a movement that Agnew seemed so willing to be part of. That was when it began.
                                                    -1975 interview with Maryland Governor Marvin Mendel

February 16th, 1969
With the passing of the Environmental Protection Act, we have ensured a future for out children. A future not filled with smoky air and murky waters, but filled with a bright sense of life, where in every corner of our country, life flourishes and our children can run in the grass and enjoy every cool breeze. That is the world I want for my children, and at last, we have helped to give them that world.
                             -President John F Kennedy after the passing of the Environmental Protection Act

February 17th, 1969
In the Oval Office, President John F Kennedy has agreed to speak with freshman Alaska Senator Mike Gravel, who was just elected in a tight race the previous year.
    Jack: Hello, Senator Gravel
(Gravel shakes Kennedy's outstretched hand)
    Gravel: Hello, Mr. President. Congratulations on the passing of the Environmental Protection Act. I was one of its biggest supporters.
    Jack: Thank you. It was one of the bills I really hoped to pass. I was worried there with that filibuster Reagan and Thurmond tried to pull. Luckily, we got it through. Now, according to my secretary, there's something you want to talk about?
    Gravel: Yes Sir. I'd like to talk about nuclear weapons.
    Jack: Anything specific?
    Gravel: A nuclear freeze. With the EPA, and your signing it, I knew that you knew as well as I the fragility of our world. I think that in this office, we can be part of something much bigger.
    Jack: (chuckles) I'm not sure what you mean.
    Gravel: With both America and the Soviets building their nuclear arsenals, and each side committed to destroying the other, we need a compromise. I propose that you meet with the Soviets and agree to a complete hault of nuclear arms production. This can help save our children President Kennedy. I hope you can understand this.
    Jack: I'm afraid not. I'm commited to peace as much as you, Mike, but the Soviets, I assure you, have no intention of giving up their nuclear arsenals. I've met with them several times and I know it won't work. Congratulations on your victory last year, that was a tight race.
    Gravel: Well, I guess I'll be going then, Mr. President.
    Jack: Goodbye. Good luck in the Senate. You're going to need it.

May 9th, 1969
In a rare interview with former Michigan Governor George Romney...
    Reporter: Well, first off, Mr. Governor I'd like to thank you for agreeing to this interview.
    Romney: O-of course. I myself wanted to take an opportunity to answer lingering questions about my candidacy.
    Reporter: To start everything off, when did you first decide that you shoudl run for President.
    Romney: It was in mid-1967 when Kennedy decided to send over 30,000 more troops to Vietnam. That's what really made me think about running for President.
    Reporter: Secondly, when did you decide that you though Senator Mark Hatfield would be the right choice for your running mate.
    Romney: I originally met Senator Hatfield in a 1966 Governor's convention when we were the only two of the Republicans to not vote in favor of the Vietnam War. Later, when he endorsed me for President in 1967 did I think of him as a political ally. I think the time where I decided who I wanted for Vice-President, though, was after the Oregon primary where he threw his support behind my candidacy, showing me local leaders and going out of his way to help me win.
    Reporter:  Why, Governor Romney, do you think you lost?
    Romney: W-well I think that I lost because most Americans really didn't fell ready for change, and because there was a large number of Democrats that despite Kennedy's stance on the Vietnam War, stuck with him. They were lead by Senator Hubert H Humphreys for the most part.
    Reporter: Lastly, do you have any plans for your political future?
    Romney: There's going to be a Seante seat open next year, and I've been seriously considering a run for that. However, I have no more plans to be a Presidential contender.
    Reporter: Well, thank you for your time Governor Romney.

May 27th, 1969
The room is a hotel over looking Washinton DC. The occupants are the so-called "Conservative Underground"; speech writer Patrick J Buchanan who worked as Goldwater's campaign Press Secretary, Attorney Edwin Meese who ran in the 1966 California Republican Gubernatorial Primary but lost to former HEW Secretary Robert Finch, and William F Buckley writer of the Conservative magazine the National Review. Buchanan is currently the speech writer for a number of Conservative politicians, and Meese is Senator Ronald Reagan's legal adviser.
    Buchanan: Now, I've talked with Reagan, Goldwater, Laxalt, and others. They think we can pull this off in '72.
    Meese: But will we? 1968 would've been the prime year for us, but we botched it. If we had contested a few more primaries, we could've built up enough momentum for the convention. Instead, we leave some primaries alone while favorite sons take up Ohio and California. After that, Finch endorses Romney, and Rhoads, who's supposed to be in the bag for us endorses Rockefeller!
    Buckley: In my opinion, Reagan could've won it. Reagan is a much better speaker, and a much better politician than Goldwater. That's my opinion.
    Buchanan: So, you're saying that Goldwater shouldn't run in '72? It should be Reagan? Fine. Goldwater's gaffes have gotten us in enough trouble.
    Meese: Ronnie's willing to run, I know that. In '72, he'll have eight years in the Senate and another two and a hald as Secretary of Commerce. He'll have the experience, and God knows he has the charisma.
    Buchanan: Some of the people I know, and Bill knows them too, they feel like giving up. They're almost ready just to go with the dman Dixiecrats. Those, uh, Nannering Nabobs of Negatism will see the light.
    Buckley: We better hope so.

June 13th, 1969
On the floor of the Senate, Senator Mike Gravel, Democrat of Alaska, introduces legislation co-authored by himself, Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR), and Senator George McGovern (D-SD).
    Gravel: With this Legislation, a group of Senators, including myself, proposes an end to hostilites in SouthEast Asia. American boys have dies long enough defending a dictatorship and over extending American authority. It's time to bring back our boys and welcome America home.
    Reagan: Senator, what you are suggesting is complete surrender in Vietnam.
    Gravel: If surrender is what it takes to save American lives, then surrender it shall be.
    Byrd: This is ridiculous! What you want is an outright forfeit of every American base and piece of land outside of mainland America to the Soviet Union!
    Hatfield: Senator Byrd, what you just said is ridiculous. You propose that we have American troops, the sons of our nation, die in every jungle, desert, and mountain range to battle the Soviet Union. America can not do that and will colapse trying to.
    Byrd: You want the Soviets to win, don't you Senator Hatfield, and you Senator Gravel. Let America hear it! Let it ring from valley to valley that our own American Senators want Soviet victory!
    President Pro Tempore Richard Russel Jr. Order! Order!

As the debate in the Senate desolves between Conservatives and Liberals, former President Richard Nixon sits at his home in Yorba Linda California. He is watching the news, which reports race riots, peace protests, and fierce debate within the government.
    Nixon: Pat, what do you think of this situation?
    Pat: I don't know, Dick. It looks awfully messy.
    Nixon: I think I could right it, Pat. 1972 could be the year of my vindication.

June 17th, 1969
I am sorry to say today that I can not endorse the Saigon Act proposed by Senators Hatfield, Gravel, and McGovern. It would indicate a total abandonment of the cause thousand of soldiers have died for. This woudl only increase communist strength and bolden them, while at the same time saying to thousands of dead Americans that we are not there to honor the cause they fought for. I will not endorse and it, and under the unlikely circumstances that it should ever reach my desk, I would veto it.
-President John F Kennedy on the Saigon Act, which proposed a complete withdrawal of American forces from Vietnam

July 3rd, 1969
Following the failure of the Saigon Act late last month, Senator Mike Gravel, now becoming a familiar face in the Senate after only half a year in office, has made headlines with his twenty hour filibuster in protest of Kennedy's actions in the Vietnam War, after which he collapsed onto his desk in utter exhaustion. While longer filibusters have happened before, this does not mean that this specific filibuster is not significant. Gravel is expected to return to the Senate tomorrow, fully recovered.


That first year in the Senate was very informative to me about how it really worked at the top. And I was disgusted by what I saw. Kennedy had no intention of ending the war, neither did practically any other Republican or Democrat in that chamber. By 1972, I had grown tired of the way the Senate worked and had set my sights elsewhere.
                                               -The Death of the Democrats, Mike Gravel (c) 1996

What we saw between 1964 and 1972 was a large amount of infighting in the Democratic Party. Each of the three sides of the party; the Liberals, Centrists, and Conservatives; seemed to be at odds with each other. While many Conservative Democrats, led by George Wallace, Orville Faubus, and Strom Thurmond, formed the Dixiecrats Party, this did not stop Kennedy's Centrists from engaging in near political war with George McGovern's Liberals, including Alaska Senator Mike Gravel and Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy. One of the Senators caught in between all of this infighting was Minnesota Senator Hubert H Humphrey who was an ally of both the Kennedys and the McGovern wing. All of this infighting of course, we utilized to advance the Conservative cause.
                                       -Right From the Beginning, Patrick J Buchanan (c) 1987

Comments, Questions, Critiques, Complaints, Compliments?

Continue! :)

Suuuuure, Agnew kept Centrists like Rockefeller around. He didn't completely abandon the moderate wing of the Republican Party. Agnew was determined to be all things to everyone in order to get on the good side of every different wing of the Republican Party. He took it upon himself to fill the role that Nixon had left in 1964, the uniter of the Liberal and Conservative wings. However, Agnew intended to pull it off with some success. He met with both Buchanan and Safire, talking about things such as segregation and the Vietnam War. Mainly, he wanted to know how to balance his rhetoric so that if you were pro-Segregation, he was your man, and if you were Pro-Civil Rights, he was your man. He began to pull it off very flawlessy when he went on visits out of state, mostly to the South. We in the Assembly watched this unfold over the news, both on paper on television.
                                                    -1975 interview with Maryland Governor Marvin Mendel

August 6th, 1969
As Congressman George Bush of Texas leaves his car to enter the capital, he is mobbed by reporters. During his short tenure as Congressman, having entered the House of Representatives in 1967, he has made his mark as a "maverick" on policy and has shown that whiel he supports the Conservatives in some places, he's willing to work with the other side too, and has voted for the Envirnomental Protection Act earlier this year. Now the debate turns to the Civil Rights Act of 1969.
    Reporter 1: Congressman Bush! Will you be voting for the Civil Rights Act? What about Conservative criticism?
    Reporter 2: You ahve been criticized as being a Rockefeller Republican and a Nixon protege. How do you respond?
    Bush: Yes, I will be voting for the Civil Rights Act this afternoon. The Conservatives in this country don't know what they're talking about. This act can give a ray of hope to those minority communities in reversing the trend of poverty.
    Reporter 3: Do you think this will be the final act? That this can accomplish what all the others have been leading up to?
    Bush: I really have no idea. We have had several Civil Rights Acts, each an improvement on the preceding. However, I don't know where we will move from here.
    Reporter 4: Are you planning on running for Senate again against Raph Yarborough in 1970?
    Bush: As of right now, I don't know. Right now, I'm concentrated on my duties as Congressman. Within six months, however, I'll know.

At that point in 1969, Bush was practically a political nobody. He'd had the limelight on him before, though. In 1964 he'd run against Ralph Yarborough and lost. In 1968 he was considered a possible Vice-Presidential pick. However, he was still just a second term Congressman and the son of a former Connecticut Senator. In 1970, we tried to change that. However, in 1969 we had no idea where we'd be taken.
                                      -What the Man was Made of, James Baker (c) 1999

As Peace Protests continue to mount whiel race riots leave cities such as  Chicago and Detroit in flames, some state governments have reacted oppositely. In states such as Texas, Ohio, and Maryland, their Governors are hard at work combatting any and all riots. Governors Tower, Rhoads, and Agnew have become known as some of the toughest Governors in the union. However, some question their methods when dealing with the protesters, several of which end up injured or in jail. Nevetheless, it appears these Governors are unwilling to give up.
-August Edition of Time Magazine; Article: The War at Home: A Profile of the Effects of the Vietnam War in America

August 27th, 1969
At a meeting with the National Security Council, including Secretary of State Henry M Jackson, Secretary of Defense John Connally, National Security Adviser Omar Bradley, and Director of Central Intelligence Sargent Shriver, President Kennedy plans his next move in the war with Vietnam.
    Jack: So, gentlemen, what have you gathered since yesterday?
    Sargent: A great deal, Jack. It's possible, and it would end the conflict in Vietnam by next year. This is our best shot. Either we do this, or we pull out. We're fighting a losing battle down there.
    Connally: This could be it, Jack. This is our best chance to settle the war once and for all.
    Bradley: In the land war, we still have training to do. If we are able to properly train our men, we could have the war done in two years without this.
    Jack: Scoop, how have the talks gone?
    Scoop: Jack, the talks continue to stall. I've reiterated several times that they want victory, and we better want it too.
    Jack: Do you think this coudl be victory?
    Scoop: Highly likely. This will restore American credibility, not only in South Easter Asia, but across the world. This will end the war and restore your credibility with the American people.
    Jack: If the majority of us are in agreement, John, call the Pentagon and request the initiation of Operation HANOI.
    Connally: Right away, Jack.

With the commencement of Operation HANOI, a ful linvasion of Northern Vietnam, we had had it. Kennedy cared no more for American lives than for anything else in his administration, which is to say very little. He was commited to this idea of continued American expansionism past the breaking point. A small group of Senators, including myself, Senator McGovern, Senator McCarthy, and even Senator Muskie to some extent became committed to the toppling of Kennedy. This of course, we attempted to realize in 1972 with the primarying of Vice-President Terry Sanford.
                  

I'm rather impressed that Gravel managed to return from the dead. :P I assume you meant "desk?"

Other than that minor detail, this is really good. (This qualifies as good usage of flash-forwards.) Keep it coming!

It was a medical miracle!

October 5th, 1969
...And in political news, Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusett, brother of President John Kennedy has been hosptialized by a near fatal accident. After a party attended mainly by Attorney General Robert F Kennedy's aides, the Senator agreed to give one aide, Mary Jo Kopechne, who is the Attorney General's personal secretary, a ride home. It is believed that Senator Kennedy's blood alcohol level was above the legal limit last night, and he ended up veering far off the side of the road in upstate New York. However, both he and the Kopechne are alive and recovering.

In the hospital, where Attorney General Robert F Kennedy visits his wounded brother.
    Bobby: You've got to stop this life-style. It'll only lead to ruin.
    Ted: **Groan**...You know I like a good time.
    Bobby: And it's these 'good times' that will only get you killed. Look, Ted you're married. You have children. You're a Senator of the United States. You can't go running off, getting drunk, and having your way with one of my aides, let alon my secretary.
    Ted: Look, Bobby. I can do this myself.
    Bobby: You better. Look at how far the family's come. We don't need your ways ruining it.
    Ted: Tell that to Jack...

Nice butterfly about Mary Jo Kopechne. Now Teddy may actually have a chance when he runs for POTUS.

December 5th, 1969
In the Oval Office, President Kennedy and his brother Bobby are alone, discussing who to replace UN Ambassador James Roosevelt with.
    Jack: It's obvious we need a qualified replacement fro Roosevelt. We need good international relations when dealing with this whoe situation in Vietnam.
    Bobby: I had my secretary draw up a list of possible picks.
(Bobby hands the list, which is on a single sheet of white paper, over to Jack)
   
List of possible replacements for Ambassador to the United Nations James Roosevelt:
    Director of Central Intelligence R Sargent Shriver
    Labor Secretary Lloyd Bentsen
    Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Daniel Patrick Moynihan
    Deputy Attorney General Gary Hart
    Senator Ralph Yarborough of Texas
    Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson of Texas
    UnderSecretary of State Richard Perle
    Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine
    Senator Mike Gravel of Alaska
   
This is a list of names of people that have been seen as either qualified for, or willing to take the job of Ambassador to the United Nations. Other names on this list are seen as able to retie knots with other wings of the Democratic Party.
       

The President looks up from reading the list
    Jack: Hmmm....Who's this Gary Hart?
    Bobby: A lawyer that joined my department in 1966. He's a good man and I would trust him with the office.
    Jack: I don't think any of the major Liberals on this list, such as Yarborough or Muskie would be willing to accept.
    Bobby: I didn't either, but we need to reforge a connection to the Liberal wing of the party, otherwise, Sanford won't have the support he needs in 1972 to win the nomination.
    Jack: Senator Gravel definitely won't accept. He's too much of an ideologue.
    Bobby: What about Lloyd?
    Jack: Nah, he's too valuable in his current position.
    Bobby: Well, you have to make a decision, Jack.
    Jack: I'll talke to you tomorrow.

Comments, Questions, Critiques, Complaints, Compliments?

I want to speed up this timeline, but at the same time, I want one of those epic TLs that span like 30 pages (some more). Right now, I'm not sure how to progress this to the 1970 mid-terms, which is right before candidates will begin gearing up for the election.

Are there any candidates that you would like to see?

Possible contenders for the Democratic nomination:
Sanford
Wallace
Liberal (McCarthy, McGovern, Gravel)

Possible contenders for the Republican nomination:
Hatfield
Reagan
Agnew
Rockefeller

May 12th, 1970
In the Whitehouse, spirits are running high as Operation HANOI makes headway. The invasion of Northern Vietnam has only gone slightly worse than expected and the President's approval ratings stand at 56%.
    Jack: Bobby, what do you think our next move should be? We've ended the Civil Rights debate, we've created the EPA, and we should win in Vietnam by 1972.
    Bobby: There is one glaring point that we need to tackle, and that is the war on poverty. We need to find a permanent solution to out inner cities and create a path to a better life.
    Jack: How do your propose we do that?
    Bobby: Educational reform and a jobs program.
    Jack: It could be one of the hallmarks of what we've done. It sounds like a good idea. I want an appointment with Moynihan tomorrow. You should be there.

I am still enjoying this. Keep it coming!

As for candidates for 1972, I think you've covered most of the logical choices. Right now I see Sanford (as the VP and logical successor to Kennedy's legacy) and Reagan (as a vocal opponent of the Kennedy administration) as the frontrunners for their parties' nominations. Both candidates will certainly see challenges from the left, and the Dixiecrats will likely make an appearance as well.

I'll come out with a full list when the primaries start, or before that. There'll be a couple favorite sons, as well as some minor candidates. Reagan isn't so much a vocal opponent of the Kennedy Administration, as an opponent of certain parts of it (EPA, sonn to be declared War on Poverty), and Kennedy as receiving the most grief from Liberal Democrats, as he seems to be for the most part governing from the center. Kennedy has yet to establish a true "legacy", having faced problems in his first term. However, he hopes to be the President who wins Vietnam, and be the President to declare War on Poverty.

Nixon might also try to make a re-appearance in 1972, depending on how well Kennedy fares for the next two years. If Finch survives his challenge from Charlton Heston, he'll be a candidate, but we shall see.

May 19th, 1970
At a press conference, President Kennedy unveils what he hopes will be the hallmark of his second term and also win him back public support from Liberals.
    Kennedy: After having talked with my domestic advisers, including Secretaries McNamara, Moynihan, and Bentsen, a new piece of legislation will be introduced near the end of this month. After having been President of this great nation for over six years, it is time that I give back to all those that elected me with a sens of hope and optimism. The Great Society; which is a final solution to poverty just as the Civil Rights Act of 1969 was the final solution to segregation and Operation HANOI is the solution to the war in Vietnam; will be introduced to Congress within three weeks. It will include fully payed dental and health coverage as well as the creation of the Office of Economic Opportunity, which will work with the inner cities to show a way out of the vicious cycle of poverty.
    Reporter One: What will this add to the deficit, which Republicans in Congress claim is spiraling out of control?
    Kennedy: As I answer your questions, aides and Congressmen alike are working to make this deficit neutral. This will entail the curbing of waste in several departments as well as imposition of new taxes on the top 5% income earners in the country.
    Reporter Two: How will you respond to such Conservatives as Senator Reagan and Goldwater who will most likely claim that this leads us on to the route of socialism and communism?
    Kennedy: Is it socialist to provide a road out of poverty? Is it in the style of our enemies to have a compassionate and caring government? Is it socialistic to provide opportunity and education to out inner cities? I think not. These claims which will doubtlessly come forth are naught but lies and desperate fear mongering. From this moment forth, my Administration, with the full power of the Whitehouse has declared War on Poverty!

Oh, by the way for you fans of the Kennedys, the sixties/seventies, and the Cold War, if I don't put in an update soon about the Space Race and/or the Moon Landing, remind me. I've always found the sixties-seventies-eighties era of politics very interesting and I wouldn't want to leave out important parts (stagflation, detente, growing terrorism, hostage crisises).

May 20th, 1970
Using the radio, his original form of communication, Senator Reagan embarks on what some see as a crusade as he attempts to destroy public support for Kennedy's Great Society.
    Reagan:...And I tell you listeners, that the only possible result of all of this can be socialism. That is the unequivocal end result. With this, President Kennedy does not attempt to ease the pain of the poor. No, he intends to reach government's greedy hand even more into your lives than he already has, by deciding what doctors, what medical coverage, you should have. And in order to pay for this massive beauracracy that Kennedy wants to use to do all this, he will require money. The way for the government to get money is, you guessed it, taxes. He can not get the money for this only from the rich. Once they are drained, who next is there to take money from? The Middle Class. And after that, he will tax the poor until there is nothing left to tax in order to fund this Holy War of his. When all is said and done, our economy will be in ruins, our lives under complete control by the government, and we will no longer live in the America we love.

May 23rd, 1970
As Conservative begin mobilizing against pieces of legislation, called the Great Society, which are soon to be introduced to Congress, another, older and now less upblic face rises to oppose the Kennedy Administration...For the first time using television to his advantage, former President Richard Nixon becomes one of the many voices united in opposition to President Kennedy...
    Nixon: This path that President Kennedy attempts to lead us down is down right foolish. It is constructed of the grandest Liberal fantasies, compiled into a financial monster that will take approximately one tenth of the entire United States budget to fund. Not only this, it will lead to beuracracy, massive government outreach, and will lead urban communities into complete dependence on the Federal Government. I can not and will not stand while this continues and President Kennedy sells our nation down the stream and into bankruptcy. Yes, I believe the government can provide healthcare, and yes I believe that we can work together to provide better quality of life for all. However, this is nowhere near how to do it, and is an outrage to all those proponents of limited government and fiscal responsibility, myself and former President Eisenhower included.

May 27th, 1970
Despite Conservative backlash against the Great Society programs, which are to be introduced by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) on the 28th, the President receives some support, with Liberals such as Vice-President Sanford (D-NC), Senator George McGovern (D-SD), and Senator Hubert H Humphrey (D-MN) supporting him. Another vocal supporter of Kennedy is actor and gubernatorial candidate Charlton Heston (D-CA)...
    Heston: Finally, the President has shown his ability to lead on certain issues, which my opponent, Governor Finch has not. Finally, we see a man willing to take up the reigns of leadership and make footsteps, which my future opponent Governor Finch has not. It is because of the greatness of men like President Kennedy that I am running for Governor of California.

Don't give up, Mr. Kennedy ;)

Hoping someone like Reagan will win in 72 :)

June 24th, 1970
In the Oval Office, certain higher up members of the cabinet are milling around, while Treasury Secretary Robert McNamara reads a newspaper.
    McNamara: (reading newspaper) 'In memos leaked from the Republican National Committee, and from RNC Chairman Edwin Meese, it has been found that apparently the Republicans don't want a Republican victory in New York'. It goes on to say how the RNC is beginning to get behind the Conservative candidate Buckley.
    Sanford: Jack, this could be our ticket top victory this fall! The Republicans are beginning to crack wide open!
    Bobby: Not only that, these two factions are growing physically more separated, especially in New York and the North-East. with Conservative Independent candidates running in some races, those seats could be ours for the taking.
    Jack: I'm not sure...This might not harm us as much as you think.
    Bobby: How so?
    Jack: If the Republican Party continues along this path, it might not hurt us this year, but in 1972, when you Terry are running, they might be more formidable a force than ever.
    Sanford: How?
    Jack: The south.
    McNamara: Republican? Places like Alabama and Mississippi won't be going Republican until Hell freezes over!
    Jack: Think about it. If the Republicans can get the South under their belts, by forfeiting the North Eastern Liberals, while at the same imte nailing down states like California, 1972 will be theirs for the taking.
    Mcnamara: The South will go along with the Dixiecrats, and whatever doesn't vote Dixiecrat is sure to go for us!
    Kennedy: Not with Civil Rights. Since re-election, we've been working to position ourselves as the party of Civil Rights. I don't know how that will affect us in the future. The Dixicrats, with continued loss, will surely collapse, and who's to take their place?
    Sanford: I never thought about it that way...

June 24th, 1970
Speechwriter Pat Buchanan paces his office holding a telephone and a newspaper, talking to Republican Nationanal Committee Chairman Edwin Meese who is on the other line.
    Buchanan: We can't have any more leaks! Do you want to sell them our entire electoral strategy?
    Meese: Look, Pat, I knwo what you mean. Right now, I'm firing people by the hour for being the least bit suspicious looking. I suspect it was one of the more moderate members that got into my office.
    Buchanan: Really. This can not happen again. I don't care if that sentence makes it sound like we're guarding some massive secret, just stop the leaks!
    Meese: You know I hate this as much as you do. I've cleared out all the correspondents, I've fired fifty newbies, I've gotten new janitors, and I'm currently wondering about my secretary.
    Buchanan: Well, id you ever consider that the people you just hired aren't spies? How about the more senior members? Anyone is worthy of suspicion. This could break the party apart, leaving us with neither momentum or a unified front in November.
    Meese: I know what you mean. This will not happen again.
    Buchanan: Make sure of it.

July 2nd, 1970
In the Oval Office, President Kennedy sits down with Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Treasury Secretary Robert McNamara, and of course Attorney General Robert Kennedy.
    Jack: After the last passing, I think we need to move forward again. We'll introduce the Excellence in Education Act next.
    Bobby: Are you sure? What about the whole 'Conservatives Unite Against Kennedy' thing?
    McNamara: Jack's right. This is the perfect time to do it, right when the Republican Party itself can't unite. You heard about the leak from the RNC right?
    Bobby: Yeah, but the South will never vote for this. What they value most is 'States Rights'. They'll never go for the 'Department of Education'.
    Moynihan: However, I think we can get anough moderate Republicans to vote for it merely to spite the Conservatives.
    Jack: That's what we're banking on.
    Moynihan: How is the draft of the EEA coming, anyway?
    Bobby: Tip is working on it.
    Jack: Right, then we'll have it introduced next week, if it's ready by then.

Comments, Questions, Critiques, Complaints, Compliments?

August 3rd, 1970
As President Kennedy attempts to leave the Whitehouse, protesters, despite success in Vietnam, mob his limousine, nearly stopping the car dead in its tracks and slowing its pace to a halt.
    Jack: Look at these kids. No matter what I do, they'll never be happy. They want surrender, as do those damn Liberals on capitol hill.
    Bobby: They probably come from some of those Northen colleges, nothing better to do but come down here, complain, and smoke pot.
    Jack: It's outrageous. I give them the Peace Corps, I give them the Great Society, and all ther minds are stuck on is Vietnam and drug fumes. Christ.
(As the limousine slowly winds out of the gates, a chant starts)
    Students: Hey, Hey JFK! How many kids did you kill today! Hey, Hey JFK! How many kids did you kill today!
    Jack: You hear that? I'm trying to win this damn war and all those f#cking hippies can do is talk about 'killing kids'.
    Bobby: With all those damn marijuana fumes floating around in their heads, thay probably haven't given themselves the chance to comprehend this war, or the Cold War. All they think about is what happens directly, if that.
    Jack: One day, these damn kids will control the world, damn them.
    Students: Hey, Hey, JFK! How many kids did you kill today! Hey, Hey, JFK! How man kids did you kill today!

---

Do you approve of President Kennedy's performance in office so far?
Yes-51%
No-43%
Undecided-6%

August 5th, 1970
Back home in Oregon, Senator Hatfield takes a rest from his Senate duties. His friend, Reverend Billy Graham who has served as a spiritual adviser to a number of Presidents, talks with him.
    Hatfield: This is just a mess in Vietnam. Carpet bombing, invasions, boys returning home in body bags.
    Graham: Yes. It's just a horrible situation all around.
    Hatfield: It's the fault of those Kennedys. If only someone were willing to stop it.
    Graham: I think you could.
    Hatfield: Really? The party wouldn't accept me. It's sold out to the Far Right. Reagan'll win the nomination this time around.
    Graham: Well, like you said, someone has to stop it.
    Hatfield: No. I won't run. I've never had an interest in the Presidency and I don't plan to.
    Graham: Wait until after the mid-terms to decide.

Any thoughts or opionions?

November 3, 1970
...And after calling the races in Nevada and Texas, which are both going Republican, we can project that when the Senate meets in January of next year, it will be controlled by Republicans!
()
Upcoming Congressional Balance of Power:
Republicans-51
Democrats-47
Conservatives-1
Independents-1

Notable Races:
California: Senator Ronald Reagan is re-elected against opponent George Tuney
Michigan: Former Michigan Governor George Romney, out of office for two years, and the 1968 Republican Presidential nominee, wins election to the Senate
Nevada: In a rematch with his 1964 opponent, Governor Paul Laxalt wins election to the Senate by a hair
New York: Conservative Party Candidate James L Buckley wins election to the Senate
Ohio: In a rematch with his 1964 opponent, Congressman Robert Taft Jr. win election to the Senate
Texas: In another 1964 rematch, Congressman George Bush beats his rival Ralph Yarborough
Virginia: Independent incumbent Robert Byrd wins re-election with 53% of the vote


Notable Gubernatorial Races
California: Actor Charlton Heston is elected, beating Republican Robert Finch
Maryland: Governor Spiro T Agnew is re-elected with 51% of the popular vote
New York: Governor Nelson Rockefeller is elected to a fourth term
Texas: Two term Governor John Tower, a Republican, is elected to a third term

November 3, 1970
In Texas, in Congressman George Bush's campaign headquarters where he and his campaign staffers are celebrating Bush's election to the Senate. His friend James Baker who has run for and won Bush's Congressional seat is there with him.
    Bush: Well, we did it.
    Baker: We certainly did.
    Bush: Well, in January, it'll be onto the Senate for me and onto Congress for you.
(As Bush speaks, an aide runs up to him)
    Aide: Congressman Bush! Secretary of Defense John Connally is on the phone in the other room!
    Bush: Hmm...What could he possibly want?
(Bush walks into an empty room where a phone is lying on a table. He picks it up.)
    Bush: Hello?
    Connally: Hello. This is John Connally.
    Bush: Yes. I know who you are.
    Connally: Congratulations on beating Yarborough. I'm glad he was finally defeated.
    Bush: Thank you Secretary Connally.
    Conally: Well, good luck in the Senate. Bye.
    Bush: Bye.

---

At the Reagan campaign headquarters, where crowds await after the announcement of victory, Reagan steps up to the podium where below at least one hundred people fill the room.
    Reagan: California, tonight, you have voted for six more years of continued representation! You have voted for a representative who believes in economic freedoms, victory in the Cold War, and in Liberty! I think you for your support, and we'll be seeing you six years from now, or maybe even sooner!

Reagan's allusions to "maybe sooner" are taken different ways be the media. His supporters, such as speechwriter Patrick J Buchanan try to downplay it, saying that he may be thinking of running for Governor in 1974. However, others think that he is alluding to the Presidency, which will be up for grabs in 1972, two years from now.

Gee, it sure is lonely here (our hero laughs nervously while staring out into the darkness).

I'm still here! Or perhaps I should say I'm back.

This is very good. Keep it coming!

Thanks, not just for this, but your support of all my timelines.

---

A note for those of you reading, I'm going to try to speed this up past the mid-terms, and get to 1972, when the primaries begin.

November 5th, 1970
With HUD Secretary Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Treasury Secretary Robert McNamara, Labor Secretary Lloyd Bentsen, and Attorney General Robert F Kennedy, President John Kennedy sits down to talk about the remaining weeks before the Senate will become controlled by the Republicans.
    Jack: Oaky. Down to business. We've got a few weeks to ram this through as best we can. Can we? We've talked through this before. Are the supporters still receptive?
    Lloyd: Jack, like before, the unions are all on board for this.
    McNamara: As usual, business isn't happy with whatever you do outside of tax cuts.
    Moynihan: I've talked with leaders of minority and urban groups, and they don't care what it takes. Their people are hungry.
    Jack: What about Congress?
    Bobby: Jack, a larg number of the Congressmen who were stalling are willing to go ahead, but we have a number of undecideds and a couple of defeated Congressmen who feel they have a civic duty not to pass this when they weren't re-elected. We don't know if we have enough. However, so far, we've gotten it past the Senate, and all we're worried about is the House.
    Jack: Good. Talk to Albert. I want a definite 'yes' by December.

December 13th, 1970
Healthcare Fails in the House!
The final voting on the implementation of universal healthcare today has yielded a suprising result. While it was expected that during the lame duck session the Democrats with Liberal Republican support would be able to pass the Universal Health Coverage Act. However, a rogue number of Liberals from both parties have surprisingly turned down a chance to pass a dream that has existed since the time of President Truman. In the 'Protest for Integrity', an essential number of Liberals voted 'No' in today's voting saying that it wouldn't be right to hold a vote after certain members of the chamber had failed re-election.

---

In the Oval Office, termpers run high because of the actions of a select few who are responsible for the first failing of President Kennedy's Great Society. Sitting on one of the Oval Office couches is Treasury Secretary Robert McNamara, reading out of a newspaper.
    McNamara: '...saying that it wouldn't be right to hold a vote after certain members of the chamber had failed re-election'. This is ridiculous Jack. We have to keep these people in line. Do you know what this damn 'protest for integrity' is doing to your agenda?
    Jack: Hell yes I know. You think I don't know?
(President Kennedy, who is behind his desk, standing up, leaning over it, leans back into his chair and sighs)
    Jack: Bobby, call Carl Albert and tell him that he has a job to do and that is to keep the party in line!
    Bobby: I'll get Ms. Kopechne right on it.
    Jack: Good. Pull no punches. We can't have this pipsqueak ruining all six years of our work while we sit back helplessly. Does he know how many earmarks we put in that damn thing!

For the record, I'm basing my dialogue of the Kennedy Administration more on "Nixon" directed by Oliver Stone than anything else. That's pretty much where I credit the inspiration of the first scene in this, though in my head it originally took place in the Presidential limo trying to enter the Whitehouse.

Coming up: The Democratic candidates, though I'm too lazy to put them up tonight. There'll be at least three.

Any preferred candidates?

I've been following this timeline for awhile now, and I must say, I like it a lot - though the continued capitalisation of 'liberal' and 'conservative' is annoying me a fair bit. Nevertheless, currently it's one of the better ones on these boards; an amazing feet for a relative newbie.

Anyway, a Heston/Reagan race would be really fascinating, though I doubt Heston would be able to attain the nomination due to his inexperience and running in a crowded field. So, I'm guessing it'll be a Sanford/Reagan race. Should be interesting times indeed!

Thanks for your comments! Heston will act aminly as the Reagan of 1972, as in a one term Governor runs against several other figures who are more likely to win. I'm not sure yet on how well Heston will do. I don't want to drop any hints, but I think the 1972 match-up will be interesting, though I haven't decided who the Democratic ticket will be yet.

A note on the Congressional races:
In Massachusetts, Attorney General Robert F Kennedy is running against incumbent republican Edward Brooke.

In Texas, Secretary of Defense John Connally is running for the seat that former Senator Majority Leader Lyndon B Johnson in retiring from. He is facing three term Texas Governor John Tower.

January 24, 1972
Iowa Caucuses!
()
Today, the Iowa Caucuses, which are now the first races in the nation that help determine who the nominee of the two major parties will be, commenced. The victories there were no suprprse, with former President Richard Nixon winning for the Republicans, and Vice-President Terry Sanford winning for the Democrats.

Republican Primary Map
()
Blue-Nixon

Democratic Primary Map
()
Red-Sanford

---

At the Sanford for President campaign headquarters, they are celebrating their victory. An aide walks up to Vice-President Sanford while he greets people in the crowd.
    Aide: Mr. Vice-President, they've declared Nixon the winner for the Republicans. It was a tight race against Rockefeller and Reagan.
    Sanford: If Nixon wins the nomination, then we've got this election in the bag.

Well, I don't plan on updating any more tonight, and if I'm a good person, I won't update tomorrow, so:
Merry Christmas!

Merry Christman, Cathcon, and.. GO SANFORD!

Notes, Reminders, Previews: upcoming, Munich Massacre (September) and Moon Landing Attempt (summer). Also, things involving foreign policy, maybe missile treaties, and Middle East.

These are mostly reminders for myself, but they can also serve as previews for the rest of you. When reading timelines in the sixties, seventies, eighties era, I always like notes on things such as foreign policy and things, because it adds to the "dystopia" feeling of the late seventies to include things like hostage crisises and missile treaties. Andy Jackson's "Mankind Forever" as a good example of what I'm talking about; detente, stagflation, foreign relations, hostages, the Middle East, and international relations (the Olympics included).

As another note, there will be parallels with my Nixon 1960 timeline. However, be lenient. This isn't meant to mirror my other timeline, it's just that things that I thought were good ideas ini my original, I'm using in here as well. (Reagan in Nixon cabinet, Henry Jackson as Sec State, John Connally Sec Def)

February 3rd, 1972
EPA Director Ralph Nader Announces he will not rule out a Presidential Bid
In a low key interview released yesterday, EPA Director Ralph Nader was asked about the candidates for both the Democratic and Republican nominations, when he himself alluded to a possible Presidential bid. The text of the interview is below:

Interviewer: How do you feel about the Republican field runnign for the nomination, Mr. Nader?
Nader: Well, I like Hatfield a lot given his positions on the environment. However, the rest of the field, especially the trio of Agnew, Reagan, and Nixon I don't really care for.
Interviewer: How about the Democratic candidates? It was after all President Kennedy who appointed you.
Nader: Sanford is a friend of mine and I'd like very much for him to win. However, I agree with a lot of what Gravel says. Both of them would be very good Presidents, along with Humphrey and Heston. Wallace would be a disaster, both for the party and the world. In fact, if he won and the Republican Party put up a Conservative candidate like Reagan, I might run myself.

With this interview, one can only wonder what would happen if Wallace and Reagan faced off.

---

Would you prefer a Democrat or a Republican to win this November?
Democrat-42%
Republican-39%
Undecided/Other-19%

February 7th, 1972
In a small meeting that includes Secretary of State Henry Jackson, Secretary of Defense John Connally, Attorney General Robert F Kennedy, and Director of Central Intelligence Sargent Shriver, President Kennedy attempts to forge a new strategy for the remainder of his Presidency.
    Jack: We've won Vietnam. Now we need a new focus. Now that we've gotten rid of the main disaster, we need to find some new step to help us win against the Soviet Union.
    Connally: We obviously have to continue the military  build-up. That way, we'll draw them into a conflict that will result in their being outspent.
    Scoop: Aside from that though, we need to focus on foreign affairs as well. The key will not be the Eastern bloc in the future. The key is the Middle East. That's where we'll have to wage new war. We basically defeated the communist networks in Indochina with the surrender of North Vietnam and the crumbling of the Vietcong. Now, the focus by the Soviet Union will shift, and the battleground that remains untouched is the Middle East.
    Jack: How can we use their infighting to an advantage?
    Scoop: Well first, we must be clear in our support for Israel. Moving beyond that point, we have to find America-friendly dictators in places such as Iraq or Iran.
    Jack: Who do you suggest?
    Shriver: Jack, the evidence from the CIA suggests that the Shah of Iran would be the most likely supporter, however we can also re-establish our foothold in Turkey, that we lost ten years ago during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
    Jack: Good. I want more information to be found on the major governments of the Middle Eastern countries. Sometime later this year, we'll schedule a Middle Eastern tour to find out who our friends are.

February 15th, 1972
As meetings continue about the changing face of foreign policy in a post-Vietnam world, the subject turns to the Far East.
    Shriver: What about approaching China? I heard Nixon once tried it.
    Jack: Hell no.
    Scoop: Do you want to make friends with the damn commies?
    Connally: You mean recognizing them instead of Taiwan?
    Bobby: Do you know how that would make us look?
    Shriver: I thought these meetings were all about making history. What would be more historic than Jack being the first President to recognize China? Do you know what it woudl do to relations with the Soviets? It would scare them. That's what it would do. Then both sides would want to get on our good side.
    Jack: It might be a good idea, but no. We're here to win the Cold War against all forms of communism, not just the Soviets. We won't play international puppet master.
    Shriver: Isn't that what you're planning on doing in the Middle East?
    Scoop: No. American friendly governments, no matter how bad, are better than communist governments because we have the ability to change them with out influence. Communism doesn't change. It stagnates.
    Shriver: Just thought I'd bring it up.

March 7th, 1972
The New Hampshire Primary!
In an advance of the continuing road towards the nomination, the New Hampshire primary was held today, yeilding surprising winners.

For the Republicans, in an upset over New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield claimed victory in today's contest.
()
Blue-Nixon
Light Green-Hatfield

In another upset victory, New Hampshire, which was thought to be won either by Hubert H Humphrey or by Terry Sanford, has gone ofr Alaska Senator Mike Gravel, dur to vote splitting. The campaign manager for Terry Sanford has reportedly remarked that Heston, Humphrey, and Sanford all split the Moderate-to-Liberal vote, giving the Far Left a victory. He blames the presence of both Governor Heston and Senator Humphrey.
()
Red-Sanford
Light Green-Gravel

With two of the most unlikely candidates both having victories under their belts, this leaves supposed frontrunners such as Hubert H Humphrey, Nelson Rockefeller, and Ronald Reagan fighting for second and third place tonight. However, all three and then some should be able to get primary victories some time in the future.

March 14th, 1972
Florida Primary!
For both Republicans and Democrats, the Florida Primary yeilded similar results as for both sides the "Southern Candidates" won on the home turf.

For the Democrats, George Wallace pulled off an easy victory winning 40% of the vote. In second was Vice-President Terry Sanford, followed by Governor Charlton Heston, Hubert H Humphrey, and in last place was Mike Gravel.
()
Red-Sanford
Dark Red-Wallace
Light Green-Gravel

For the Republicans, Maryland Governor Spiro T Agnew won by a slim margin, followed by Senator Ronald Reagan, former President Richard Nixon, Nelson Rockefeller, and Senator Hatfield. early on it was shown that Rockefeller and Hatfield were both decisively out of the race, even before precincts began closing. As the night wore on, Nixon's distance from Reagan and Agnew grew, until finally Agnew squeaked by a percentage point above Reagan.
()
Blue-Nixon
Red-Agnew
Light Green-Hatfield

With Ronald Reagan, Hubert H Humphrey, Nelson Rockefeller, and Charlton Heston all not having any states won, one must wonder if one or more of them will soon drop out. However, the primary is only just starting, and both Reagan and Heston are expected to do well in the West while Rockefeller takes much of the NorthEast and Humphrey does well in the MidWest. However, it remains to be seen.

March 21st, 1972
The Illinois Primary!
Today, in the Illinois Primary, both sides had narrow victories. This is the fourth major contest for both major party nominations, with the other three being Iowa, New Hampshire, and Florida.

The Republicans faced an upset victory by Senator Reagan of California in today's primary, beating the two favorites, former President Nixon and Governor Rockefeller.

()
Blue-Nixon
Light Green-Hatfield
Red-Agnew
Dark Blue-Reagan

However, for the Democrats, the results were expected as Vice-President Terry Sanford won the primary, with Senate Minority Leader Hubert h Humphrey in second place, followed by Governor Heston, Governor Wallace, and in last place Senator Gravel.
()
Red-Sanford
Light Green-Gravel
Dark Red-Wallace

Coming up is the Wsiconsin Primary on April 4th, which for the Democrats is expected to be a fight between Hubert H Humphrey and Terry Sanford. For the Republicans, it may be what Governor Rockefeller, the only major candidate without a win, needs to get his campaign back on track. However, after that is Massachusetts where Rockefeller is expected to win big, while Hatfield is the only othe rmajor contender for that state. In fact, the next three primaries, should Rockefeller win Wisconsin, may put Rockefeller ahead of the pack. However, he most likely needs Wisconsin to garner enough momentum, and Hatfield may hurt Rockefeller enough with the Moderate vote there.

March 22nd, 1970
In the Reagan for President Wisconsin headquarters, Senator Ronald Reagan takes a moment to talk with his friend and campaign manager Patrick J Buchanan.
    Buchanan: Well, we've won our first primary. However, we need more than that to win. Wisconsin will make or break Rockefeller. Sure, he'll most likely win the next two after that, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, however, he'll need momentum from Wisconsin to turn momentum from other states into a winning spirit. It was expected that he would do well in Illinois. He lost. If we can halt him in Wisconsin, then his campaign will be depressed.
    Reagan: Agreed. When next will we have a chnace to win a primary, after Wisconsin?
    Buchanan: On May 2nd, both Indiana and Ohio are up for grabs. If we want to win, we'll need a victory in at least one of those states.
    Reagan: Good. After Wisconsin, no matter what the outcome, move resources down into Indiana and Ohio. We'll set up a 'MidWestern Wall' that'll be impenetrable.

Any opinions or preferred candidates?

April 4th, 1970
The Wisconsin Primary
With the Wisconsin Primary held today, the news may make or break some campaigns, with top tier candidates being marginalized by their competitors.

Senator Ronald Reagan today expanded on his victory in Illinois with victory in this naeighboring state, making him the shaky frontrunner for the nomination. This is another upset as the state was believed to be the battle ground between Nixon and Rockefeller.
()
Blue-Nixon
Light Green-Hatfield
Red-Agnew
Dark Blue-Reagan

In the Democratic Wisconsin Primary, in a similar upset, Alabama Governor George Wallace beat out Senator Hubert H Humphrey from the neighboring state of Minnesota, and frontrunner Vice-President Terry Sanford. It is believed that Wallace won because of a high turnout of blue collar workers in the Milwaukee area.
()
Red-Sanford
Light Green-Gravel
Dark Red-Wallace

Recent primaries have led many to suggest that candidates such as Rockefeller, Humphrey, and Heston drop out. However, all are determined to win, and with Western and North-Easter primaries approaching, it may be a new lease on life for some failing candidacies.

Drat. I had an update on the Massachusetts and Pennsylvania primaries typed up, and my session timed out. However, I still have the Rrepublican map, so I hope to retype it soon.

:(

I know! Besides, why do some people only comment when something they don't like happens?

As a consolation prize, Jimi Hendrix doesn't die.

This is still going strong. Keep it coming!

April 25th, 1972
Heston Wins First Victory!
With the Democrats holding the Massachusetts Primary, and the Repbulicans holding the Pennsylvania Primary as well as the Massachusetts, there were two winners, one was expected and the other was himself surprised.

For the Republicans, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller received his first victories tonight with major Repbulicans in both states endorsing him, icluding Edward Brooke, John Volpe and William Scranton. The only other candidate to receive an endorsement from a high ranking Republican was Richard Nixon with the endorsement of former Vice-President and running mate Henry Cabot Lodge II. Though these victories are good news for the Rockefeller campaign, they may come too late as Rockefeller has already taken crucial losses in New Hampshire, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
()
Blue-Nixon
Light Green-Hatfield
Red-Agnew
Dark Blue-Reagan
Light Blue-Rockefeller

For the Democrats in Massachusetts, three weeks of campaigning by Humphrey and Sanford was put to waste with a surprise victory by Governor Charlton Heston of California. Despite having halted personally campaigning in order to handle riots in California, incurred by the death of guitarist Jimmy Page, this only helped Heston as he was seen as a 'Get Tough Governor', which made many undecideds and a right number of voters that would ahve otherwise voted for a different candidate vote for Heston. With Hubert H Humphrey being the only major candidate without a win, it remains to be seen if his only effect on the race is stealing votes from Sanford.
()
Red-Sanford
Light Green-Gravel
Dark Red-Wallace
Blue-Heston

May 2nd, 1972
Humphrey Gets on the Map!
With today's primaries, the message is clear that the race is still competitive. The primary maps for both parties have only become more confusing as a clear frontrunner seems hard to find.

For the Republicans, Governor Agnew re-emerged on the map with a win in Ohio, where he was endorsed by former Governor James Rhodes, and was appealing to blue collar workers in the area. In Indiana, Senator Reagan scored yet another victory as he creates what campaign manager Pat Buchanan calls a 'Mid-Western Wall'.
()
Blue-Nixon
Light Green-Hatfield
Red-Agnew
Dark Blue-Reagan
Light Blue-Rockefeller

In building on his momentum in Massachusetts, Governor Charlton Heston was able to narrowly take Ohio, while Wallace narrowly took Indianan. In the Washington DC Primary, the fight was mainly between Sanford and Humphrey and Humphrey won, running on his Civil Rights record.
()
Red-Sanford
Light Green-Gravel
Dark Red-Wallace
Blue-Heston
Pink-Humphrey

Thanks for the comments. If I do any more tonight, it'll most likely go up to May 9th to get those primaries out of the way.

May 4th, 1972
The Tennessee Primary
In a week full of primaries nearly every other day, that does not change today as people in Tennessee go to the polls to vote for who they want for the nomination.

Among Tennessee Republicans, former President Nixon scored his second victory when endorsed by Senator Howard Baker. It is believed that if he wins, Baker is a likely running mate or cabinet appointment.
()
Blue-Nixon
Light Green-Hatfield
Red-Agnew
Dark Blue-Reagan
Light Blue-Rockefeller

For the Democrats, Vice-President Terry Sanford scored another victory, recovering from the recent slowing of his campaign dur to losses in Wisconssin, Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio, and Washington DC.
()
Red-Sanford
Light Green-Gravel
Dark Red-Wallace
Blue-Heston
Pink-Humphrey

As for Hatfield and Gravel, the two candidates who got off good starts in New Hampshire, their fate remains to be seen as both of them have failed to gain traction since. However, a large number of Western primaries have yet to take place and they are where both candidates could score points.

if hatfield wins the nomination (I doubt it) I may support him =)

Who do you think will the nomination, on both sides?

May 6th, 1972
North Carolina Primary
Today, the North Carolina Primary for both parties took place, yielding expected results.

For the Republicans, former President Richard Nixon almost won, however in what was largely a three way race, he lost to the Southern Favorite Son, Governor Agnew of Maryland. Senator Ronald Reagan, the Conservative poster boy, came in a close third. The top three slots all had differences within one percentage point.
()
Blue-Nixon
Light Green-Hatfield
Red-Agnew
Dark Blue-Reagan
Light Blue-Rockefeller

For the Democrats, the victory of Vice-President Terry Sanford in his home state is no surprise. However, Governor Wallace of Alabama put forth a valient effort, garnering over 30% of the vote. However, it was nowhere near enough to beat Sanford.
()
Red-Sanford
Light Green-Gravel
Dark Red-Wallace
Blue-Heston
Pink-Humphrey

^^Oops. Accidently pressed "Post". I'll get the Dem primary map up shortly.

Fixed it.

May 9th, 1972
The Race Goes On!
As the primaries progress on both sides, it is still diffictult to find a clear frontrunner, as it seems the Democratic nomination is coming down to Terry Sanford and George Wallace, whiel large candidates for the Repbulicans such as Nixon and Rockefeller are becoming marginalized in the race of two different Conservative candidates, Agnew and Reagan. However, the nomination is still up for grabs as the race goes on. Tonight, more primaries were held. For the Republicans, it was only the Nebraska Primary while the Democrats hosted the Nebraska and West Virginia Primaries.

For the Democrats, tonight's races made it increasingly clear that the nomination is still up for grabs and that while Sanford and Wallace lead, it is hardly a two man races as Heston racked up a third victory in the Plains State of Nebraska. Between the Conservative Wallace, the Moderate Heston, and the Moderate to Liberal Sanford, this appears to be a fight to the finish.
()
Red-Sanford
Light Green-Gravel
Dark Red-Wallace
Blue-Heston
Pink-Humphrey

For the Republicans, today's single races was an exercise in strength of the growin Western Conservative wing of the Republican Party with Senator Reagan's large victory in the plains state.
()
Blue-Nixon
Light Green-Hatfield
Red-Agnew
Dark Blue-Reagan
Light Blue-Rockefeller

With these latest races, pundits are expecting announcements from the Hatfield, Rockefeller, Gravel, and Humphrey campaign headquarters soon with endorsements, because it doesn't appear that any of these campaign have managed to do any good beyond their first wins.

Well, that's it for tonight.

I predict Reagan wins the Republican nomination by dominating the midwest and west. On the Democratic side, Wallace has shown surprising strength, and I think it will come down to the wire, with Sanford eventually winning the nomination. Wallace may run as an Independent.

In the general, Reagan/Agnew defeats Sanford/Heston.

We shall see ;)...So far, I'm not deviating from the plan I set out with when I started the primaries, though I am admittedly ad-libbing them.

Because I'm impatient and bored, another update may be forthcoming tonight...

May 16th, 1972
Rockefeller gains Momentum! Both Parties Still Undecided!
As the primary races are drawing closer to the end, both parties seem to face an inability to unite as neither has decided on a nominee yet.

For the Republicans, moderate favorite Nelson Rockefeller narrowly won the Michigan Primary despite the endorsement of Senator George Romney going to Senator Hatfield. In the Maryland Primary, Agnew easily won his home state.
()
Blue-Nixon
Light Green-Hatfield
Red-Agnew
Dark Blue-Reagan
Light Blue-Rockefeller

For the Democrats, the results were mixed. In Michigan, Heston fought off a stiff Wallace challenge and came away with victory, while in Maryland Wallace won easily as the Southern candidate in the race.
()
Red-Sanford
Light Green-Gravel
Dark Red-Wallace
Blue-Heston
Pink-Humphrey

With Heston's recent surge, this puts Sanford in jeopardy, especially with crucial Western primaries approaching in the last round of the primaries on June sixth. However, if he can score in Rhode Island, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Oregon, he should be able to build up enough momentum to win at the convention. However, Gravel has been polling well in Oregon and South Dakota, and Heston's strength lies in the West.

Any chance we can get delegate counts?

Speed up the primary season, it's getting tedious!

I'm not really sure how to find out who gets what per primary. I was t hinking of introdcuing a random large number to the frontrunner, and giving the rest somewhere below that. Help with this would be appreciated, given that I don't think wikipedia has anything.


Only two more primary dates to go, then the conventions, etc.

May 23rd, 1972
The End is Nigh!
Today, the second to last round of the primary season took place with primaries held in Oregon and Rhode Island. With the end of the primaries approaching, it seems that both parties will have to go to the conventions to decide on a nominee. There, candidates such as Reagan and Hatfield will be at a disadvantage.

For the Democrats, Wallace's momentum seems to have stoppes while Vice-President Terry Sanford was the only winner in today's matches. While Heston was polling ahead in Oregon, on May 17th, when Hubert H Humphrey pulled out of the race, Sanford received nearly all of his support in the state. In Rhode Island, while Sanford had a narrow lead, with Humphrey's dropping out, he won the state with over forty percent.
()
Red-Sanford
Light Green-Gravel
Dark Red-Wallace
Blue-Heston
Pink-Humphrey

For the Republicans, on the other hand, the two moderate candidates got their big breaks today when Rockefeller scored big in Rhode Island, and Hatfield won with over fifty percent in his home state of Oregon. However, the last round does not bode well for them as it favors Reagan.
()
Blue-Nixon
Light Green-Hatfield
Red-Agnew
Dark Blue-Reagan
Light Blue-Rockefeller

With the largest amount of primaries two weeks from now in the West, it looks like Reagan may have the last laugh. On the Democratic side, Heston looks to do well, however, his leads are shaky in every state that he is leading in besides California.

June 6th, 1970
Reagan and Sanford the Frontrunners!
In today's primaries, the winners were clear. In the last round of the primaries, while the two candidates initially favored to win the nomination were expected to do well, this does not mean that either of them has won.

In the three Republidcan Primary races, California Senator Ronald Reagan scored big, winning all three primaries and cementing himself as the frontrunner going into the convention. In California, South Dakota, and New Mexico, he won by large margins. However, facing multiple opponents, a number of them might decide to unite in order to stop his momentum. A possible teaming up of Agnew and Nixon or Hatfield and Rockefeller may take shape.
()
Blue-Nixon
Light Green-Hatfield
Red-Agnew
Dark Blue-Reagan
Light Blue-Rockefeller

In the Democratic primaries, Sanford won two of the four races held today. Despite Heston's victory in California and Gravel's victory in South Dakota, Sanford holds a narrow lead over both Wallace and Heston while Gravel lingers far behind, having only won two primaries.
()
Red-Sanford
Light Green-Gravel
Dark Red-Wallace
Blue-Heston
Pink-Humphrey

Well, the primaries are done. I hope you're all happy. If anyone wants to help me with the delegate totals, I'd be glad to accept.

Any predictions or preferred candidates?

I'd help with the delegate counts, except that I don't know how to do it either.

I stand by my earlier prediction, but I can't be too confident about it. I do think the Republican, whoever it is, will win the general.

June 24th, 1972
Former President Richard Nixon, whose attempt at a comeback seems to have failed, persists in campaigning and meeting with local leaders to draw in support. Walking beside him is his campaign manager, former Governor Robert Finch of California.
    Finch: Look, Mr. Nixon, you only won two primaries. How do you think they'll accept you?
    Nixon: Bobby, Bobby. When it comes down to the wire, it'll be Reagan vs. Rockefeller with Agnew coming in from the center. They won't be able to reach a compromise after the first two rounds of balloting. I'll talk to Agnew, who is actually good friends with Rockefeller. If Agnew can endorse me and talk to Rockefeller and Reagan, I should be the nominee by the fourth round.
    Finch: The plan seems shaky at best, but it looks like it's all we've got.
    Nixon: Of course it's all we've got! But don't tell the reporters that. Get the press people to make all optimistic. Don't show fear and never give in. People may hate you, but they only win if you hate them back.

Everything rests on the convention...(cue ominous music) Reagan would've had the nomination in the bag right now if not for Nixon and Agnew taking the Conservative/Centrist vote, and Rockefeller would've been one of the biggest contenders if Hatfield hadn't taken away Oregon and New Hampshire.

June 1st, 1972
In the offices of the Agnew for President campaign headquarters, Maryland Governor Spiro T Agnew sits with his campaign manager.
    Manager: Look, Spiro, your best bet is to draw a strong second and endorse Reagan. Then, you'll get the Vice-Presidency as a 'fellow Conservative', and a Southerner.
    Agnew: Look. We're in this to win. If we give this all we've got, then we'll end up in a good place, either in the Vice-Presidency, or if we're lucky the Whitehouse. Rockefeller, he doesn't want Reagan, Nixon, he's too bitter because Reagan endorsed Goldwater in 1964. Neither of them will endorse Reagan, and Hatfield won't likely be endorsed either because he stole New Hampshire and Oregon. They won't be able to unite.
    Manager: Yes. I've thought about that myself. If we can get all prospective delegates from Nixon and Rockefeller onto us, you have the nomination.
    Agnew: Rockefeller is a friend of mine. See if he can reconcile. Call him.
    Manager: The call is already being made.

Would the people that voted "No", "I don't care" and "Hell no!" please step forward?

June 9th, 1972
Reagan Leads Sanford!
With the 1972 Democratic National Convention approaching rapidly, new polls have been released showing that California Senator Ronald Reagan leads Vice-President Terry Sanford by eight points. Both candidates are the presumed nominees of their respective parties, however they may face resistance at the conventions. With this recent trend in the polling, it is wondered if Vice-President Sanford will be able to pull out with a victory, at the convention and in the general. Certain groups might try to draft Senators Ted Kennedy or Hubert h Humphrey, or maybe Attorney General Robert F Kennedy in order to stop Sanford and 'save the party'. However, Sanford as of now is the presumed nominee.

---

Who do you prefer for President?
Ronald Reagan 48%
Terry Sanford 40%
Undecided/Other 9%
John Schmitz 3%

Next up will be the Democratic National Convention.

Shameless Bump. With Finals (for my school) coming up and the amount of homework being sent home, I don't have the time for updates as dedicated as the DNC, or in the case of America and Onward, the first term of President Bob Casey.

For the record, I fully intend to continue this, and I have a lot of ideas for advancing this. However, the entire election is kind of a roadblock to that.

I'm thinking of just diong one huge update on the 1972 election from the Point of View of someone in the future. I'm really more at home telling a story like this from past tense, however, I will attempt to keep the format.

Thats how I felt when I wasn't updating my timeline during exams...its forgivable! lol

July 10th, 1972
Miami Beach, Florida...
    Sanford: I want you to be on the ticket...
    Humphrey: Look, Terry, I only won one primary. We're relatively similar in beliefs. What could I bring?
    Sanford: An end to everything Wallace stands for in the Democratic Party. I could choose a SOutherner like Eagleton or Carter, however, I want you. You! The Happy Warrior! The single most dedicated man in the Senate, and the biggest fighter for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties!
    Humphrey: I'll have to think about it. If I'd been asked in 1964, I'd have had no problem accepting. However, now I'm the Senate Minority Leader, and I have a duty to lead the Democrats out of this slump...
    Sanford: And this is how you can do it! Look at thos delegations out there, from Illinois, from Wisconsin, from all other states! This party needs us, otherwise it'll forever remain the party of Wallace and Thurmond and States' Rights and Slavery! Do you want the Republicans to continue to claim to be the party of Civil Rights?

---

Today, with the opening of the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Miami Beach, Florida, Vice-President Terry Sanford who is currently the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, made an announcement as to who his Vice-President would be, and he chose Senate Minority Leader Hubert H Humphrey who has been a large advocate for Civil Rights and a member of the Senate Democratic leadership. Since 1971 with the swearing in of the Republican controlled Senate, he has led the Democrats in support of the policies of the Kennedy Administration. He is seen as a qualified choice, though as expected, Southern Democrats protested and Liberals lobbied for Sanford choosing Gravel, McGovern, McCarthy, or Church. However, balloting has yet to take place and though Sanford and Humphrey are the likely nominees, we do not yet know for sure who will be nominated.

...Well that's day one...

As a note, there is only won registered Dixiecrat in Congress, that is Harry F Byrd. The rest, such as Thurmond, all chnage their registration when they see a Dixiecrat candidates running. However, during the rest of the year, they are Democrats.

Any ideas on who Schmitz should choose as his Vice-President? I'm not sure myself right now. I'm thinking that if a moderate wins the nomination, a Conservative could step on, but right now all the major ones are turned off by Schmitz's racism.

July 13th, 1972
Following the balloting for Vice-President, it can be said decisively that Vice-President Terry Sanford is the Democratic Presidential nominee, and Hubert H Humphrey is the Republican Vice-Presidential nominee. Both of these were expected. The major ramifications are being felt with a 5% swing of support to the Schmitz campaign. Along with that, Republicans picked up 2%. It is as of yet unknown who Congressman Schmitz will choose for Vice-President. Some names that are floating around include Senator James L Buckley (C-NY) and Governor George Wallace (D-AL). However, Senator Buckley says that he has not yet been called by the Schmitz campaign.

---

Who do you prefer for President? (7-9-72)
Ronald Reaagn-48%
Terry Sanford-40%
John Schmitz-3%
Undecided/Other-9%
Who do you prefer for President? (7-13-72
Generic Republican-50%
Terry Sanford/Hubert H Humphrey-40%
John Schmitz/?-8%
Undecided/Other-2%

Coming up: The Triumph of President Moonbeam!

Anyone care to criticize my blatant historical innacuracy?

Any complaints about my lack of historical accuracy at this point?

Comments, Questions, Critiques, Complaints, Compliments?

August 29th, 1972
With the nomination of moderate-to-Conservative Governor Sprio T Agnew of Maryland on the Republican ticket as oppsed to Conservative Senator Ronald Reagan of California, Congressman John Schmitz has announced that his Independent ticket will have Conservative Republican Congressman John Ashbrook on it. Though he lacks name recognition, and is certainly weaker than possible picks such as George Wallace, he will attract Conservatives to the ticket.

---

Who do you prefer for President?
Vice-President Terry Sanford/Senator Hubert H Humphrey (D)-49%
Governor Spiro T Agnew/Senator George Bush (R)-43%
Congressman John Schmitz/Congressman John Ashbrook (I)-5%
Undecided/Other-2%

Any thoughts on the election? Sanford/Humphrey vs. Agnew/Bush vs. Schmitz/Ashbrook and a fourth option may enter.

Coming Up: The Munich Massacre

Interesting VP nominee... will he die before the election? xD

Which one? Ashbrook, Bush, or Hubert H Humphrey?

ashbrook hahaha,... I think he died while running for senate, am I right?

I don't know, but I do know he died in 1982, ten years later. And in real life, he ran for the Republican nomination in 1972, so I don't think he'd die.

Any other opinions?

You're right Julio. Ashbrook was campaigning for the Republican nomination to decide their candidate for the 1982 senate election in Ohio, and died suddenly aged only 53. Polls had him in the lead and stood a serious chance against Metzenbaum.

Any opinion of the recent developments?

Well, the next couple of days will be a hell of a ride for our favorite characters here at 'A Second Chance'.

September 5th, 1972
The War Room...
    Jack: F#ck!
    Connally: Only word in the state of Texas to describe the situation...
    Jackson: Or in Boeing...
    Kennedy: F#ck! At least it's not Americans.
    Bobby: Maybe it would be best to stay out of this. If we officially work to free the Israelis, then that opens up a whole pile of the stuff in the Middle East.
    Jackson: At least we have Jordan on board. We can not abandon Israel
 in this. We have to be their ally, because they don't have any.
    Connally: This is just a steaming pile of sh**t about as big as Texas.
    Jack: Well, we need a solution. We'll be in communication with Western Germany and Israel throughout this. We won't abandon Israel, and we'll have their backs in this. Palestine can't get away with this, or it'll be a disgrace.

Gah! This still happens! I am not impressed.

If anything, you could have at least given the Olympics to Madrid, Montrael or Detriot.

Still interesting, though.

??? My capitalizing "Conservative" and "Liberal"? Anyway, my plan was to go through with the Munich Massacre as in real life, at least as of yet (September 5th).

September 5th, 1972; Near Midnight

...And in a strange turn of events, President John F Kennedy, who has been one of the most vocal opponents of this terrorist action in Munich, has comissioned for NATO, in agreement with Munich and West German authorities, to send in troops to Munich to secure the city and make sure no 'unlikely escapes' are staged by the terrorists. United Nations Ambassador Gary Hart and Secretary of State Henry M Jackson had reportedly spoken with the governments of The Soviet Union, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Western Germany. Meanwhile, in Munich itself, the chaos unfolds...

    Bobby: Jack! I don't see why you're so concerned with this incident! Western Germany will handle this, and if need be, there will be action. America does not need a controlling hand in this situation.
    Jack: Bobby, I will not let this tiny Middle Eastern nation show the world that it can get away with the shame of our ally and friend Israel.

To me, it sounded like my dear brother had taken up 'America Uber Alles' as his theme song. Ironically enough, in 1979, a nearly unknown band called 'The Nixons' would release its hit 'Massachusetts Uber Alles' referring to my own actions.

September 6th, 1972; Much Later
...In what is seen as possibly the worst possible turn of events for the unfortunate situation in Munich, unfire erupted earlier today between West German police forces and the Palestinian hostage takers. It is reported that nearly all the hostages are dead, though specifics are unknown. Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir has claimed that all those responsible for this will face justice and President Kennedy has offered all possible aid to the Prime Minister. In Israel, West Germany, and parts of the Western World, days of prayer are being held for the dead.

---

(11/7/72) Do you approve of President Kennedy's performance furing the hostage crisis?
No-52%
Yes-43%
Unsure-5%

Any comments? Yes I know it is a tragic ending to the Munich Massacre. The idea is that Kennedy's over-zealousness to show case American power leads to the Palistinians getting nervous or feeling provoked, thus resulting in the "current" situation.

Gee. Makes we wonder how, ITTL, we rejected Goldwater in 1964 yet Kennedy was elected in 1960 and was considered wildly popular. Would Goldwater have done this?

Possibly. The thing about the Kennedy charm, is that with a full eight years of it, it's fading. That, along with battles with Congress, have caused much more dis-satisfaction with Jack. Part of Kennedy's "reason" for intervening could invlve an ego boost of some sort after victory in Vietnam. After eight years of being President with Addison's diseas dragging him down, he's not as cheerful or idealistic as the 1960 JFK.

Makes sense, though it does seem to be a bit of a stretch.

I'll admit it. As a consolation prize, JFK has attempted the Great Society, having created the Office of Economic Opportunity and the Department of Education, though Healthcare stalled in Congress over some ethical concerns. (Note: The Great Society isn't the same as LBJ's Great Society, it's kind of a merger of that and later 1970's government expansion, such as the Department of Education)

Any other comments? Right now, I'm thinking of wrapping up the 1972 election with a few more updates.

How long will this TL go on? I would be happy if it just went to January 20, 1973 but would like to see you continue it pass that.  Perhaps you could do an epilogue at Kennedy's last day. Maybe you could do a single long post of what would happen with Roe v. Wade and the abortion debate, what would happen in the USSR and the Cold War, the Conservative movement, the Space Shuttle, Terrorism, the internet and the future presidents and congressional leaders.

I intend to continue this to present day, though I predict it will take a while, especially since I'm on or around page 18 right now. However, I hope that I can completed this.

I think I could get the election done tonight or tomorrow, but as of now my gandpa's here, so I'll be obligated to do otherwise.

I'm hoping that either Agnew wins or Schmitz pulls off one of the most stunning upsets in all political history.

November 7th, 1972


...From NBC News in election headquarters in New York, this is NBC Nightly News, Tuesday November Seventh, reported by John Chancellor and David Brinkley.
    John Chancellor: And good evening to you all as we begin our coverage of the 1972 Presidential Election. David Brinkley and the rest of our team are here to cover the returns and contests for 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 33 in the Senate, and 18 Governorships and of coruse the Presidency, so let's begin with a look at the popular votes recorded so far for the Presidency.


    John Chancellor: With 2% of the vote in now, it is obviously very close. However, these are only from the East Coast where such states as New York, expected to go Democratic, take up the lion's share of the vote. John Schmitz, the independent candidate is polling 2%, a small number of votes. This pattern that you see on your screen now may be indicative of the night to come, with a very close election and Schmitz taking up a small, but usable amount of votes. We had a low turn out today in most of the populous states, and it looks like the public isn't as excited as usual about this election. Around the country, there were many polling places with only average amounts of people. In Michigan, there were short lines. In New York, the only long lines were up-state. In Illinois, people were unwilling to brave cold and rainy weather to vote. In Ohio, the vote was made smaller than usual because of trouble with voting machines. The leaders of both parties, the Republican and Democrat parties said that they were dis-satisfied with the low to average turn out.
    NBC News has a couple of winners to declare in this election and David Brinkley will report on that.
    David Brinkley: We will of course keep you updated all night on the popular vote as you've just seen. We uhm, we have been able to project three states, the outcome in three states. They give Mr. Sanford fourteen electoral votes. As everyone knows but often forgets, it is electoral votes that elect somebody President. The three states are Maine, where we project that Governor Agnew will win with 55% of the popular vote, New Hampshire, where Mr. Agnew will most likely win with over 60%, and Massachusetts where Vice-President Sanford, we project, will win resoundingly. That's three states settled so far.
    As everyone knows but often forgets, it takes 270 to elect a President, making you the most powerful person on earth. And so, when we have 270 votes, we will have the winner, and when we do, you'll be the first to know. John?
    John Chancellor: One final note, Harry's Bar in Paris, a common gathering for American expatriates, has held its annual straw poll today. Terry Sanford got 51% of the vote. Don't laugh, Harry's Bar is almost never wrong, though in the last few years, it called 1960 for Kennedy and 1968 for Romney. As the night goes along, we'll see if Harry's Bar can regain its reputation.

---

Later...
    John Chancellor: ...Spiro Agnew tonight voted in his home town in Maryland. Ron Nesson reports...
    Ron Nesson: Agnew and his wife voted in an Elementary school in Baltimore County, Maryland. Baltimore is where Agnew's political career first started when he was elected the County Executive. Since then, he has been elected to the Governorship twice and is of course the 1972 Republican nominee for President. Agnew humorously declined to say whether he voted Democrat or Republican.
    John Chancellor: Thank you, Ron. Another itneresting anecdote of this election night took place in Whittier, California, where former President Nixon filled out a newspaper sized ballot with over twenty state and local propositions, including a vote on the legalization of marijuana.
    We also are able to call more states as the night goes on. The first few states were Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Later in the night we were able to call Vermont, New Jersey, North Carolina, and others. We may now call a few more states...

Vice-Presidnet Terry Sanford (D-NC)/Senator Hubert H Humphrey (D-MN); 102 electoral votes
Governor Spiro Agnew (R-MD)/Senator George Bush (R-TX); 87 electoral votes
Congressman John Schmitz (I-CA)/Congressman John Ashbrook (I-OH); 0 electoral votes
Green: Too Close To Call
Gray: Still Open

    John Chancellor:...With these numbers, Vice-President Sanford is in the lead. However, with Deep South states and the West coming up, we still can not project a winner.

Well, there you go for now. I'll try to keep you in suspense. For the record, there's a video on youtube of the 1972 NBC highlights. If you check it out, you can see just how much I copied from them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJbpC7d7tyk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJbpC7d7tyk)

Comments, Questions, Critiques, Complaints, Compliments, Preferred tickets?

Question - Will this continue past 1976?
Compliment - Awesome TL :)
Preffered ticket(s) - Either Agnew/Bush or Schmitz/Ashbrook

Answer - Yes, I'm planning to take this all the way to the modern era. It might go past seventy pages, but that's only encouraging me. (I get to be the author of an epic TL!)
Response - Thank you
Response - Funny things will happen in the South. ;)

September 7th, 1972; Much later that night

    John Chancellor: ...While in the mountain areas polls are closing, only two so far have been callable. Along with those two, Wyoming and North Dakota, we are able to call several other states in the South and on the East Coast.

Vice-Presidnet Terry Sanford (D-NC)/Senator Hubert H Humphrey (D-MN); 183 electoral votes
Governor Spiro T Agnew (R-MD)/Senator George Bush (R-TX); 143 electoral votes

    David Brinkley: As you can see on the map, both candidates, Vice-President Sanford and Governor Agnew, have uhm, have made significant gains within the last half hour or so. In the 8:00 and 8:30 closings, little has been determined aside from Minnesota, Illinois, North Dakota and Wyoming. However, in places that closed much earlier we counted five, that's five states, where we were able to call. These five are Michigan, Kentucky, Florida, Washington DC, and Tennessee, all of which went for Mr. Agnew except for Tennessee. One of the places we were watching closely was Washington DC, where there is a large African American population. That population is largely split on how to vote, both parties having attempted to establish themselves as the Civil Rights parties. In 1964, when first given the chance to vote, it voted for President Nixon who passed the 1963 Civil Rights Act. In 1968 it voted for the pro-Civil Rights Republican George Romney. Once again, it goes Republican, but by a very, very close margin.

Okay, so far, after going over everything, the electoral votes are way off. I'm trying to fix them.

So right now, there are 20 missing electoral votes that I've got to find, unless there were only 518 electoral votes at the time.

Excuse me, nineteen missing electoral votes. There were 537 at the time.

Another correction. I forgot about the faithless elector that voted Libertarian.

I found the missing 20 votes! Now, I am free to continue.

November 7th, 1972; Much, Much Later
    David Brinkley: Well, with this latest round of callings, we are one step closer to declaring the President. As everybody knows but often forgets, poll closings are staggered based on the time zone of the state that is being voted in. Now, we are able to make a few more calls.

()
Governor Spiro Agnew (R-MD)/Senator George Bush (R-TX); 259 electoral votes
Vice-President Terry Sanford (D-NC)/Senator Hubert Humphrey (D-MN); 229 electoral votes
Congressman John Schmitz (I-CA)/Congressman John Ashbrook (I-OH); 0 electoral votes
Too close to call; 43 electoral votes
Still polling; 7 electoral votes

    John Chancellor: By now, unless the election is thrown to the House of Representatives, it is deemed impossible for Congressman Schmitz to be elected President. However, the Deep South is still up for grabs, and it is believed that there, in a tight three-way race, he may win. In some exit polling, he's above Vice-President Sanford in at least one state. For Vice-President Sanford, it will be hard as well, given that he will have to win nearly every remaining state to win the election. However, not every state is friendly to him. It appears this toss up election is getting closer and closer to the end.

No Schmitz upset, but hopefully we're getting closer and closer to an Agnew Administration :D.

(One little nitpick: wouldn't Hawaii's polls be closed by this time?)

Great round of updates, buddy! I wish we could've had Reagan as the GOP nominee though. :(

I'm not sure on the time zone and poll closings. If Hawaii's polls did close, for me it's a matter of more than just editing the map code, I have to go back into paint, edit the file, load it onto the galler again, etc. However, Hawaii and Alaska will be in the second update. Schmitz and Agnew are on the way also.


Thanks. Don't worry, though. Things will change (not necessarily for the better). You'll see Reagan's fate.

November 7th, 1972
    John Chancellor: Well, we are ready to project two very important things. For the first one, Governor Spiro T Agnew will be our next President come November. With the latest round of callings, he has surpassed the 270 mark and is our President-elect.

...And, while less important, more interestingly, Congressman John Schmitz has won pluralities of the popular vote in Mississippi and Alabama. Out of the sixteen electoral votes that Mississippi and Alabama have to offer, two faithless electors voted for Vice-President Terry Sanford. That puts the Congressman at fourteen. However, in Louisiana, where a plurality voted for Agnew, four of its ten electors have voted for Schmitz, giving Schmitz eighteen electoral votes altogether. Let's bring up the map...
()
Governor Spiro T Agnew (R-MD)/Senator George Bush (R-TX); 275 electoral votes
Vice-President Terry Sanford (D-NC)/Senator Hubert Humphrey (D-MN); 238 electoral votes
Congressman John Schmitz (I-CA)/Congressman John Ashbrook (I-OH); 18 electoral votes
Still Polling; 7 electoral votes

...With seven electoral votes to go, it is predicted that Hawaii will easily go to Sanford and Alaska will go to Agnew. However, the result is that Agnew will be our next President.

Coming up is the complete map that includes delegates and popular vote. However, the may have to wait until tomorrow.

For the record...
()

The "complete map" I hope to put up late tomorrow. I'll most likely be busy much of the day.

()

282-240-16

Though I was expecting something, more or less along these lines...

()

298-240

Thanks, though I might do one with popular vote, and showing the faithless electors.

Any other opinions?

What was the popular vote? 49-47-3?

Remember this when editing and/or creating EV maps:

1=Democratic
2=Republican
3=Green
4=Yellow

It's how I was able to include the Schmitz totals :) \

Though splitting Louisana, or any state that's split their EV totals, I would assume, would be quite a bitch. But it's close enough!


Even more changes would be nice; perhaps more reference to international affairs. You could worsen the 1970s shitstorm - always a fun thought!

YES! :)

Antonio V taught me how to transfer a map to paint, and that's what I did for this election, because I thought it would be too much of a pain to edit the map code for every update. My intention was to have the more Conservative independents, like Wallace, Schmitz, and Thurmond, in Brown/Orange. However, the Orange option on my paint, as you can see, sucked.

My plan for the "complete" map is to edit the 1972 map, and then to copy it to paint for the final touches before putting it up.


Oh, I do love the 1970's shitstorm. I'm going to try to go more into the Middle East. Right now, the major international difference is victory in Vietnam. This does more than just mean America isn't disgraced, it also makes America more confident, and as of now, we have no urge to practice detente.

I'll hopefluly get to that soon.

I'm afraid posting a final map will be harder than I thought. When you take the EV calculator map and convert it, edit it, and try to put it in the gallery an error occurs. I could always edit the map code, but that would count for faithless electors.

The "Official" Map

()
Governor Spiro T Agnew (R-MD)/Senator George HW Bush (R-TX); 278 electoral votes, 48.7% of the popular vote
Vice-President Terry Sanford (D-NC)/Senate Minority Leader Hubert H Humphrey (D-MN); 242 electoral votes, 46.1% of the popular vote
Congressman John Schmitz (I-CA)/Congressman John Ashbrook (I-OH); 18 electoral votes; 4.7% of the popular vote
Others (Socialist, Libertarian, People's); 0 electoral votes, .3% of the popular vote

I wonder how HWBush's attainment of the Vice Presidency in 1972 will effect him and his son's future.

We shall see...

Coming up, sometime during the week or maybe even later today, the Senate results.

Maybe it wasn't the right format. I think the AF gallery only accept PNG pictures if I well remember.

Yeah. How do you convert that?

It depends to how you save your pic. Normally, when you click on "save as" and get the window to choose where you save it, you have, below the file name, a list of different formats (bmp, jpg, png...).

The 1972 Senate Elections:

()

Dark Blue: Republican Hold
Light Blue: Republican gain
Dark Red: Democratic Hold
Light Red: Democratic Gain

Notable Races:
Massachusetts: United States Attorney General Robert F Kennedy beats out one term Liberal Republican Edward Brooke. In January, two Kennedys will represent the state of Massachusetts in the Senate. Previously, Robert F Kennedy was Governor of Massachusetts from 1963 to 1965.
Maine: Senator Margaret Chase Smith wins re-election. After finishing here tenure as Secretary of State in 1965, Smith spent the next two years mounting a campaign to get back in the Senate, which she pulled off successfully in 1966.
Texas: Defense Secretary John Connally (D) beats Governor John Toweer (R). Tower, though a successful Republican, is unable to beat out the popular former Governor. Connally will be replacing his mentor Senator Lyndon Johnson in 1973. Johnson, who has served as Senate Majority Leader in the past, chose to retire.
Rhode Island: Former Governor John Chaffee successfully beats Senator Claiborne Pell.
South Carolina: Democrat Strom Thurmond is re-elected.
North Carolina: Democrat Jesse Helms is elected to the Senate.
Minnesota: Upon accepting the Vice-Presidential nomination, Humphrey decided not to run for re-election to his Senate seat. Congressman Walter Mondale was easily nominated and is easily elected in the Democratic state.

Thanks. I'll try that.

The "Official" Map, Again

()
Governor Spiro T Agnew (R-MD)/Senator George HW Bush (R-TX); 278 electoral votes, 48.7% of the popular vote
Vice-President Terry Sanford (D-NC)/Senate Minority Leader Hubert H Humphrey (D-MN); 242 electoral votes, 46.1% of the popular vote
Congressman John Schmitz (I-CA)/Congressman John Ashbrook (I-OH); 18 electoral votes; 4.7% of the popular vote
Others (Socialist, Libertarian, People's); 0 electoral votes, .3% of the popular vote

Not everything is accurate, but this is the general idea.

Well this entire election has been a learning experience. Hopefully in the future I want go through so many maps just to get the "official" map. Coming up should be the first term of President Spiro Agnew, starting off with the cabinet.

You're welcome. ;)

I'm not sure who Agnew appoints Secretary of State. I think Rockefeller woudl be a good choice because Rockefeller was a friend of Agnew's and was his political mentor. However, Agnew will take the hard line on foreign policy, so I don't think he'd want one of the proponents of detente handling his foreign policy. Possibilities include:
Senator Ronald Reagan
Senator Barry Goldwater
Former Labor Secretary George Shultz
Secretary of State Henry M Jackson

Any thoughts or suggestions on this?

I think that Reagan or Goldwater would be choices for State Secretary.
And I think that HW's ascension to the Vice-Presidency would allow Dubya to win his House seat in '78.

I made Goldwater Secretary of Defense, and I was thinking the same thing about Dubya.

Now onto the rest of the story, which I will attempt to speed up, slowing only for juicy pieces of the scandalous 1970's shitstorm.

sh**tstorms are messy. :( Anyways, it appears Agnew is a Domestic Centrist and a Severe Conservative on Foreign matters.

Yeah. I'm basing it on Nixon and Rockefeller in domestic matters. I think I read on wikipedia that Agnew was Rockefeller's protege of sorts, so that was one piece of information I used. In another book, Boom by Tom Brokaw I think, Pat Buchanan is being interviewed and talking about working at the 68 RNC, trying to rally Republicans for Nixon, and he talked about the choice of the tough on crime Agnew for VP as a victory for Conservatives. He talked about how instead they could have chosen Hiram Fong instead. I kind of combined these two references and am trying to convert it into actual policy.

Well, Agnew's book is Not a Crook. Seems like it was quite the scandal in the 70s. Hopefully he got laid out of it with the sh**tstorm being "scandalous". Its going to be interesting how we deal with Vietnam and the USSR, that's for sure. I wonder if the Soviets will still even invade Afghanistan.

April 9th, 1973
On the Senate Floor...
    Hatfield: It seems that the President's agenda in foreign policy is the exact opposite of what is in America's best interests. Immediately after having wrapped up a terribly bloody war that we only won after several revisions in strategy, President Agnew has begun to pour troops and American weaponry into the Middle East. This will obviously ignite the powder keg in the Middle East, yet he persists in the name of 'American interests'. Another war is the exact opposite of America's interests!
    Reagan: I must whole-heartedly disagree with the Senator's comments. It seems he believes the only way to defeat American enemies is to run from them. Time and time again, that is not so. We won the Great War, not because we hid, but because we fought. We won World War II for the sames resons, because we had Presidents willing to take the appropriate steps in order to ensure victory. The only way we won in Vietnam was by re-vamping our strategy to take the fight to the enemy.
    Hatfield: Vietnam was a needless massacre! We had no interest in losing American lives in those jungles, except for President Kennedy's obsession with besting the communists! Had we never been in there in the first place, we wouldn't have needed to lose billions of dollars and forty million lives there!
    Reagan: Senator. You seem uncommited to the very idea of fighting communism. You seem much more content to sit back and wash the Soviet hand crawl even further outward, into Europe, Asia, the Middle East. What happens when there are no other nations to stand between them and us? Only then should we fight? By then they would have gathered strength enough to out-fight us. The only wise policy is to wear them down, and to not open  up an opportunity for them to do that to us.

Even in April, my attempts to hold together the erupting Republican Party were coming apart.

Really interested in seeing what happens with Kissinger. Is he too late to get up into the first tier of that Administration? The party still seems centrist enough to let a realpolitiker (or whatever is sexy and accurate to call a realist) be on the cabinent. 

He might just, should there be a change in power or an empty position.

June 27th, 1973
"And with the success of the Israeli-American coalition in tracking down those responsible for the Munich Massacre, President Agnew's approval ratings have soared" roars the TV "Here, President Agnew is shown on a helicopter in Israel, showing the peace sign with both hands and waving to troops. This was yesterday. One must wonder what the President will do with his newfound political capital. He's already passed two major stimuluses, cut taxes, and reduced the deficit. What will he do next?" Meanwhile, in the darkened Whitehouse late at night, the President sits eating dinner with former President Nixon, Secretary of State Rockefeller, Assistant Secretary of State Kissinger, and Defense Secretary Goldwater.
    Nixon: Congratulations, Spiro. you seem to be at the top of your game right now.
    Agnew: Thanks, Dick. I think it's time to move onto something bigger, but I'm not sure what. Maybe healthcare? We could steal the Liberals' thunder with that.
    Goldwater: Please, not healthcare. If you want to discuss that with people like Lindsay and Richardson. But not here.
    Nixon: Now look, Spiro. you've got a chance to accomplish something great here.
    Agnew: What, might I ask.
    Nixon: China...
    Goldwater: Oh, give me a break!
    Nixon: No, hear me out. If we visit China, you become the first President to recognize the nation. It's you who can claim to have done something like that. If we go to China, the Soviets, who fear war with China will be running scared. We can get good deals out of both of them by negotiating separately. Ultimately, we become the mediator and we control this.
    Agnew: (chuckling) Only you, Dick.
    Nixon: You don't even have to go! Send someone like me, or Rocky to do it.
    Rockefeller: It actually sounds like a good idea.
    Kissinger: Mr. President. It has come in my experience that such a move would work. We would be able to completely control the situation over there, and play both of the great nations into our hands.
    Goldwater: What are we fighting for? Is it for a safer world and liberty, or for power, Mr. President? The men surrounding me seem only concentrated on power.
    Nixon: This will work, Spiro.
    Agnew: (chuckling) Only you, Dick. Only you would go to China. Only Nixon would go to China.

Please just ignore the Wallace button that Bremer is wearing.

After the incident with Bremer, with approval ratings at around seventy percent, I knew I had to do something big. With gas prices rising, I announced plans for a new pipeline in Alaska as well as the construction of three nuclear power plants to help power populous areas of the United States.


Aside from that, I worked on handling inflation, I created the Whip Inflation Now, or WIN program. It encouraged personal fiscal responsibility as well as auditting certain government agencies for waste. One thing I regret doing is raising taxes. However, with the deficit still bein gterribly large, I had to handle inflation which was the most pressing economic concern of the time. Another way I helped to handle inflation was the finalization of getting the United States off the Gold Standard. The idea was brought to me by Senator John Connally, who reasoned that by doing so, the dollar would be free from the fluctuations of the market and from the hands of gold traders. That was accomplished in January of 1974.


However, I still felt I needed something big to make my Presidency stand out and to capitalize on my popularity. Only seven months in and I was worried about legacy. Finally, on September third of 1973, I had Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon propose the Complete Coverage Act, which was a deficit neutral program that would provide health coverage for every America. However, Congress rejected it, as they tend to reject grander ideas and I was left with an alienated party base.

After having taken political fall-out for the CCA, I was looking to recover and pull the base together. In meetings with California Senator Ronald Reagan and Defense Secretary Barry Goldwater, an idea emerged.
     Called the Strategic Defense Initiative, the idea was to send missile technology into space in order to be able to shoot down any Soviet attempt to bomb the United States. Proposed in Congress in November, the funding for research proved easy to obtain. However, by the time that plans were coming forth and I was ready to begin asking Congress for more funds, a much more trivial and what I thought was unimportant matter took center stage.


Two journalists, most likely working for the Democrats or some Liberal group began to report that I had been party to dishonest dealings as Governor and even as President, and that the American Economic Stimulus Act had been a dishonest give-away to companies who were bribing me. It was a ridiculous accusation, however, the Democrats in Congress, led by the Kennedy brother who had come to be stumbling blocks in everything I attempted, led the charge against me. That began in December. However, as of then, I was still popular. It wouldn't be until the next year that the American people would turn on me.

Comments, Question, Critiques, Complaints, Compliments?

If there are any groups any of you'd like an update on, post here or PM me.

I really like the way you write this TL now ^^. thanks, update soon =)

Thanks. If you don't mind my asking, what part of the format do you like?

January 19th, 1974
At a press conference, reporters are waiting to talk to President Spiro Agnew. He has announced the Press Conference in order to discuss plans for the development of the Strategic Defense Initiative. However, the issue that has come to dominate the media talk is that of reports by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein that Agnew has accepted bribes as Governor and President and is guilty of tax evasion.
   Whitehouse Communications Director Pat Buchanan steps out, because of the absence of the Press Secretary.
    Buchanan: The President will be out in a few minutes.

As the President steps out, the room erupts with questioning.
    Agnew: This press conference has been declared so as to inform you that the Strategic Defense Initiative will move forward with blueprints and further research, should it pass Congress.
    Reporter1: Mr. President!
    Agnew: Yes?
    Reporter1: How do you respond to accusations that as both Presidenat and Governor, you accepted bribes?
    Agnew: As I have said before, that is ridiculous and I deny such claims. Reporter over there.
    Reporter2: Mr. President, while the facts are not yet fully revealed, it looks as if companies that you have received campaign donations and funding from were the ones who received the most in cash from the AESA. How do you respond?
    Agnew: This is about the Strategic Defense Initiative! Not about this cooked up far left scheme of yours! Are there any reporters in the room who would like to ask a question regarding the SDI?
(One reporter raises his hand)
    Agnew: Yes?
    Reporter3: Mr. Agnew, is the Strategic Defense Intiative also a product of a bribe?
    Agnew: That's it! This is ridiculous! All of you are ann effete corps of impudent snobs who characterize yourselves as intellectuals!

Agnew storms off walks off stage to the sound of several camera clicks and the shouting of questions. Backstage, he consults Pat Buchanan.
    Agnew: Those motherfuckers! I cut their taxes, I cut their deficit, I work to defend this country! Goddammit!
    Buchanan: Look, Spiro. We're going to get through this.
    Agnew: We had better.

By March, it seemed that America itself had turned on me. As I attempted to get more Strategic Defense Intiative funding through, the two Kennedy brothers would continually pop up, continually calling for articles of impeachment to be brought against me.


In April, they were, and the investigations began. They were truly a sham if I do say so myself. Led by the Liberal Eugene McCarthy, they continually used Congress and the trials to play politics. In my opinion, there had never been such horrible sham trials since the days of the House UnAmerican Activities Committee, and even those weren't bad enough. For evidence, they brought in two crack pot, drug abusing reporters from the Washington Post, known for its Liberal bias. It sems funny that when people say the word "McCarthyism" today, they don't even mention the dirty tricks and dishonesty that Eugene McCarthy is guilty of. They only think of Joe McCarthy.


I attempted to ignore their attempts to play politics with the legal system by focusing on policy. By that point, my main two focuses were the War on Drugs, and funding for the Strategic Defense Initiative. Of course, as always, there was Liberal uproar over both things. Even members of my own cabinet, such as Secretary of Defense Barry Goldwater, went against me on the War on Drugs. Meanwhile, Vice-President Bush seemed to be focused on advancing his own political career. He said that I might have to resign should things get worse. He was only thinking of himself at the time, or course.

Around that time, Congressman Donald Rumseld brought up a proposition to end the draft, saying that after Vietnam, we shouldn't need it. I was personally taken aback. While I was being personally attacked by the Democrats, other Republicans wanted to push their own agenda. I was left with few friends during the final days. Finally, on May second,1974, I did end the draft, if only to keep the bastard Rumsfeld from hounding me. He too was another man looking only to advance his political career.


Generally, Whitehouse Chief of Staff Alexander Haig is credited with running the Whitehouse while the trials took place. However, he was himself one of those trying to boot me out, saying that it was for the good of the party. I realized that nowhere was safe by that point and I can tell you that Haig even threatened a military coup if I did not resign.


From the beginning of 1974, I had been hounded and haunted by the media, Congress, and the public in general. I could not believe it that less than twelve months ago I had been exteremly popular and looked at as a good President. I knew the end was near.

June 17th, 1974
In the Oval Office, President Agnew is conversing with those few who he still trusts. They are former President Nixon who is heading Agnew's special comission on drug abuse and trafficking, Secretary of State Nelson Rockefeller, and Assistant Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
    Agnew:...Now don't you start too, Dick!
    Nixon: Look, Spiro. Your approvals are sitting at 36%. 60% of the public believes that you're guilty. It's only a matter of time. Now, you can go gracefully, and have George pardon you, or you can be known as the man who single-handedly destroyed the Republican Party.
    Agnew: This is ridiculous! I'm the goddamn President of the United States! Congress can't treat me like this! I was elected!
    Rockefeller: Spiro, please. Dick has told you it. George has told you it. Haig has told you it. Barry's told you it. Multiple Senators including Reagan and Baker have told you. It's time to let go.
    Kissinger: Mr. President. My staff and I have come to the conclusion that you need to step down. For the good of the party and for the good of the country.

Agnew looks around the room at the three faces before putting his head on his desk.
    Agnew:...Alright. I've had enough.

It would have been cool to see him go on longer than Nixon did, but ehhhh...

Don't worry, he's done his damage. ;)

Next up should be one more update on the Bush Presidency, then the 1974 mid-terms.

Scratch that. There may be a couple more updates before the mid-terms. It depends on when I decide for a certain event to happen. I'll have to talk to some people. Between now (mid/late 1974) and the end of 1975, two major foreign policy events will happen.

nice update, cathcon... but I think the new cabinate won't work for bush =). Bush / Ford hahahaha... the two last republican presidents who couldn't survive a democrat challenger haha...

If not Ford, I most likely would've had Bob Dole be the Vice-President, but I didn't think his political career should end just yet. Ford, being in the twilight of his career, seemed a good choice. Also, Ford will not be on the 1976 ticket.

Hopefully I can get the 1974 mid-terms up soon, so I can end this year, but it turns out I have a rough draft of a paper due on Tuesday, and I have no time on Monday. Plus, I got math, which I hate and is getting worse, so I don't know how much I'll be able to do.

November 5th, 1974
With the mid-term elections, and the natural swing of things, Democrats take control of the Senate with 56 seats, a total of nine pick-ups, an astounding number. This in large part was caused by a bad economy, the resignation and further prosecution of a scandal ridden former President, and Republican dis-unity. This, coupled with a large amount of campaigning by Senator Robert F Kennedy (D-MA) was enough to give Democrats narrow wins in several states.

()

Dark Blue-Republican Hold
Dark Red-Democratic Hold
Light Red-Democratic gain

Senate Balance of Power:
Democrats-56
Republicans-42
Conservative-1
Independent-1

Notable Senate Races
1. Arizona: Senator Paul Fannin is re-elected by a large amount. He was first elected in 1968.
2. California: California Secretary of State Jerry Brown is elected to the Senate in a seat that his father was elected to six years earlier.
3. Colorado: Former Ambassador to the United Nations Gary Hart is elected to Congress.
4. Kansas: One term Senator Bob Dole is defeated for re-election.
5. Nevada: Lieutenant Governor Harry Reid is elected to the Senate.
6. New York: Senator Jacob Javitts is defeated for re-election by a narrow margin. He was one of the few who believed that Agnew was innocent until proven guilty, and he has received his reward from the people of New York.

Notable Gubernatorial Races
1. California: Governor Charlton Heston and Lieutenant Governor Jerry Brown are both re-elected.
2. New York: Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, who also served as Ambassador to India for a short time in the Agnew Administration, Daniel Patrick Moynihan is elected Governor.

^^

From what I read, he only won in a close margin in real life. Don't worry, he'll be back.

I like this timeline. Keep it up! :)

Thank you!

Gee. This is a much more neo-conservative 60s and 70s. In the late 70s, we will have to deal with Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq and Central America. Wonder how that will go.

I generally decided that the 1970's should become one of the worst decades in recent history, whether in the economy or in foreign policy. I decided a war against Palestine could be just the thing.

Besides the 2000s, weren't the 1970s the worst decade in recent history since the 1930s iotl?

Well, I'm making 'em worse.

It was close in RL just due to Watergate.

Since the Republicans (unrealistically) controlled the Senate for four years, I figured that it was time for some serious backlash.

I'm thinking of doing 1975 in just a couple big posts, then getting to 1976 and the election.

Okay, I'm not too sure about the next post, but I feel the need to advance the story, so here goes.

With the invasion of Palestine in 1975, a political and military firestorm was set off. President Bush's rationalization for taking out the Palestinian government was that it showed no attempted to hinder the actions of the terrorists in the Munich Massacre in 1972 and had taken no steps twoards finding the assassin(s) of Envoy Henry M Jackson. This, in his mind and in the minds of other members of the National Security Council, was sound reasoning. While Liberals as well as some Republicans such as Senator Robert Taft Jr. opposed the war, it was approved by a vast majority of the American people and by a majority of Congress despite the Democrat-controlled Senate.
However, in taking out the government of Palestine, which was soundly accomplished in May, a whole new problem was opened up. That was the problem of replacing the existing government. While American soldiers were trying to hunt down guerilla forces that had lasted after the fall of the government, the United States State Department was searching for an interim ruler to have head the government that it hoped to create.
A wise decision was made by Secretary of Defense John Eisenhower. While it had been suggested to him by some that he have the Palestinian military disbanded, Eisenhower resisted that call, saying that it would be too hard to completely rebuild a military.
Finding an interim ruler proved to be one of the hardest jobs for Rockefeller’s State Department as there were very few, if any pro-American Palestinians who had the capacity for ruling a country at war and the respect to keep that country together.
One member of the State Department suggested that Bush simply hand responsibility of Palestine off to the United Nations rather than keep the United States mired in war.
While the search for a suitable interim leader continued, American deaths continued to pile up in one of the fastest escalated and bloodiest wars that America had experienced in a long time.
On the home front, the economy continued to deteriorate while barely anything was accomplished with a completely Democrat controlled Congress. By November 1975, President Bush’s approval ratings stood at 47% and that was when New Hampshire Governor Meldrim Thompson Jr. announced his bid for the Republican nomination.

---

November 17th, 1975
Senator Robert F Kennedy (D-MA) walks down the streets of a small Iowa town campaigning for President. As he walks, reporters hound him as usual…
    Kennedy: (shaking hand of near-by potential voter) Hello! I’m Senator Bobby Kennedy!
    RandomDude: Wow, Mr. Kennedy! This is an honor!
    Reporter1: Senator Kennedy!
    Reporter2: Over here Mr. Kennedy!
    Reporter3: Mr. Kennedy, when will your brother, former President John F Kennedy formally endorse you?
    Reporter1: How does you brother, Senator Ted Kennedy feel about this?
    Kennedy: My family is just fine, thank you. And believe me, Teddy is perfectly okay with this.
    Reporter4: What do you plan to make as a central theme of your campaign, sir?
Kennedy: The economy, President Bush’s obvious lack of attention on it, this ill-conducted war, and the obvious scandals that have taken place the last four years. The American people deserve better.

Any opinions?

Also, if anyone is aware of a non-anti-American Palestinian, or a neutral Palestinian that I could use for the interim leader, please let me know.

I plan to reveal all the candidates soon.

Meldrim Thompsom Jr. was Governor of New Hampshire from 1973 to 1977, and from 1979 to 1981. In 1975, as President George Bush, who had taken over for President Agnew after his resignation, began to show weakness as Conservatives grew continually dis-satisfied with his tax raises and his recognition of Red China. Because of that, Conservatives began attempting to field a challenger. Possibles included California Senator Ronald Reagan and former Secretary of Defense Barry Goldwater, both of whom were well known Conservatives. However, Reagan was up for re-election that year and believed that a run would not successful, and if he won the nomination, it would be hard for him to win the general election. However, there were other Conservatives and eventually, a group of Conservatives including New York Senator James L Buckley and former RNC Chairman Edwin Meese agreed on the New Hampshire Governor.
Thompsom's campaign heavily relied on being able to win a decisivie victory in his home state of New Hampshire. It was there as well as portions of the South and West that he would focus his resources. Meanwhile, President Bush focused on Iowa where he hoped to pick up momentum. Thompsom also relied on endorsements, which he got from former Attorney General John Ashbrook, former RNC Chairman Edwin Meese, resigning Whitehouse Communications Director Patrick J Buchanan, former Secretary of Defense Barry Goldwater, New York Senator James L Buckley, and California Senator Ronald Reagan. With those, he hoped for a successful campaign.

---

December 13th, 1975
Haig: Mr. President, the latest poll has Thompsom crushing you in New Hampshire 62-38. Also, he's on the rise in Western states.
Bush: Relax. He's only a four year Governor who, once the people get to know him, will vote for me in droves. I'm not worried about him. In Iowa I'll kick his ass.
haig: You had better hope so.

Nice illustration of the story. This TL has been going on for almost 16 years good job. The other one has gone on for 56.

Thanks. I just hope that this doesnt' become too extended. After all, it's like 26 pages and There've only been foru Presidential elections so far. There are two similar paths I could take in 1980, but aside from that I'm pretty sure where I'm going.

Bump. I might try to put up an update tonight.

Well, I finally updated.

Really want to see this 1976 and 1980 election.

I'd like to see how a church presidnecy would affect idahoans vote in the future haha... imagine, if in RL, church was elected president. would idaho be a democrat state, or at least,a no-that-republican state? I think so, but I'm endorsing bobby or carter for the presidency (I may decide later, hahaha).

Carter or Clinton didn't make their states any more Republican. Bush might have made Texas more republican, but it probably was more of DeLay's doing. I'm sure if it wasn't for DeLay's "South by Southwestern" strategy, Kerry could have gotten into the low 40s and McCain would have had to campaign in Texas, though he would still win. ...but Bush's doing? Nahh... on the other hand, Georgia stayed with Carter in 1980 and voted for Clinton in 1992...and still has half of a functioning Democratic Party.

I didn't originally intend to have Hatfield in it, but I decided to make it more fun. ;D

March 23rd, 1976

By the end of March, we didn't know where we were standing. George had won four out of seven primaries, however, it was the other three we were worried about. All the time leading up to the primaries, we had been worried about Thomson, until December, when Hatfield entered the race late. Knowing that most early states were hopeless for him, he invested in the Vermont primary and won by a large margin. Meanwhile, in North Carolina, Thomson had pulled out a slim victory thanks to the local party bosses supporting him and a near-endorsement from the Democratic Senator Helms. Despite three losses, George was prepared to press on and so was I.

()

I had decided to sit 1976 out and let Gene run. Right away I knew that something was wrong. Kennedy was dominating nearly every poll. His Centrist, yet Liberal attracting platform had pushed Heston out of the race, at least for the moment, and he dominated every Northern primary but one leading up to the end of March. This wasn't the Democratic Party I knew that had been torn apart during the last four years of JFK's reign. This party was solidly unified behind the bastard's brother, who we all knew would continue the Kennedyesque pro-war policies despite his opposition to the 'hasty and ill-prepared launch in Palestine'.

()

April 27th, 1976

Bobby: Well, we won Pennsylvania alright. However, earlier this month Wallace got Wisconsin. He's still in the race.
Sargent: Well, with Jimmy Carter waiting in Georgia, he should be able to bite into Wallace's campaign in the Deep South.
Bobby: Let's hope so. In May, we shoudl have this wrapped up.

()

---

Bush: Well, looks like we're on solid ground now.
Baker: In May, with the sheer amount of primaries, we shoudl be able to totally secure our lead.
Haig: What do we have next?
Baker: the only real trouble spots I can see in May are Georgia, Nebraska, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Montana, and South Dakota. However, we should be able to push Thomson out of the race by then.
Bush: Good. Here's hoping we kick his ass.

()

May 5th, 1976
After having failed to win the Indiana primary, a primary ignored by most other candidates, California Governor Charlton Heston has announced he is dropping out of the race for President. He has endorsed Senator Robert F Kennedy who he says 'will be our nominee in November'.

()

---

Meanwhile, for the Republicans, it appears that Governor Meldrim Thomson Jr. is still in the race as he won the Indiana primary, despite having lost Georgia to Bush by a close margin. President Bush on the other hand has said that he has the nomination locked up and that 'there should be no question as to who will be the Republica nominee'. Where does this leave Hatfield? No-one knows. However, he has said that he is still in the race and that he will make his impact known. That leaves several Western and North-Eastern states in question as Hatfield has been laying groundwork there for months.

()

May 19th, 1976

For the Democrats, the only candidates to seem to have had any success are Senator Kennedy and Governor Wallace. Senator Kennedy yesterday won the Michigan Primary while Governor Wallace won the Maryland Primary. Despite Wallace sharing one half of victories today, he is nowhere near victory as Kennedy is continuing to gain victories. The only place that seems to be troubling for Mr. Kennedy is the West which is polling very well for Senator Church despite the Senator's lack of success.
()

Meanwhile, on the Republican side, President Bush yesterday won the Michigan and Maryland primaries, continuing his own strong lead. One must wonder; why is Hatfield still in the race? He's had nearly no success since Vermont except scoring second place in Massachusetts, Illinois, and Wisconsin. When people asked him, he said 'The anti-war wing of the party needs a true representative, and my campaign will continued to run until the season is over to make sure that happens.
()

Yes, the primary season was long and arduous. However, george overcame both challengers in the primaries. At the end, when looking over everything, we were damn glad that Reagan hadn't run. His charisma along with his name recognition could have destroyed us, especially with Hatfield drwing votes in Western areas and the North-East.
()

The nomination was easily wrapped up despite multiple opponents. Wallace had the potential to launch a large challenge against my campaign. However, with Jimmy Carter in the South taking away some precious votes, I was able to pick up West Virginia, and Wallace was denied both Arkansas and Georgia to boot. When I sit and think about everything that's happened since then, I wish that I hadn't been as successful, seeing where it got me. If only.
()

I honestly got really tired of posting all the primary maps. I decided to finish it in one post (above).

Oh great. I jus tnoticed that the primary maps aren't complete. They don't have the last two days that include California and Ohio.

don't mind cathcon =)

very interesting primaries, expected, but still interesting =)

Well, it's fixed.

July 12th, 1976
In the backrooms of the convention center in New York City, Liberals, a very strong faction of the Democratic Party, argue about the future.
    Gravel: No! I will not endorse the bastard Kennedy with his so-called "Invest and Grow" crap and his domestic fascism! On economics he's basically a regurgitated Goldwater.
    McCarthy: Look, fact is we failed. He's a hell of a lot better than the war-mongering Bush and he's the best chance we have to reclaim the Whitehouse. He has the delegates needed.
    Church: I ran the best campaign I could and now I'm going out there to endorse him no matter what fascism you speak of.
    Gravel: I'm talking about abortion. He denies that a woman has the right to choose and he wants that on the platform.
    McGovern: Look, that's a very big issue and I myself am conflicted on the issue.
    McCarthy: As am I.
    Gravel: Well, I seem to be surrounded by traitors.
    Mondale: If that's what you consider us. I agree with most of your positions, but I'll have the guts to go out there tonight and endorse Kennedy.

It seemed from my perspective that the New Left had lost its spine and that they were just as Conservative as the Kennedy-ites. By 1980 I had become fully fed up with the Democrats and was ready to go out on my own.

---

---

Meanwhile, in a different section of the convention center, Senator Robert F Kennedy of Massachusetts meets with his brothers, his brother-in-law Sargent Shriver, and Congressman Tip O'Neil.
    Jack: You haven't decided a Vice-President yet? Bobby, are you serious?
    Bobby: Yes, I am serious. I've narrowed it down to Frank Church, Adlai E Stevenson III, or George McGovern.
    Sargent: Looking at the West, I'd say that McGovern could more easily overturn South Dakota than Frank Church could Idaho. Besides, with Ford off the Republican ticket, we have no worries in Illinois.
    Tip: I'd say you go with Stevenson. He most agrees with you on the issues. McGovern will just scare off votes.
    Bobby: So...Church is off then?
    Ted: Bobby! You're picking the man to be your successor, and should something ever happen, to take over after you! This is big! I can't believe you waited until now to make a decision.
    Bobby: Okay, fine! we won't pick up Alabama anyway, so I have to worry about the New Left. McGovern it is then.
    Jack: Bobby, are you sure about this?
    Bobby: Look, I know you want me to pick Connally, and he's my friend too. However, we're not going to carry Texas anyway, and we were both in your administration. One cabinet member is enough.
    Ted: I'm going out to get another drink...
    Jack: Bobby, I'm just asking you, is this the man you want to succeed dare say something happen to you?
    Bobby: Well we could always pick Charlton. He, after all, endorsed me.
    Jack: Now we're back where we started! You have to pick someone, Bobby! Are you going to pick someone?
    Bobby: McGovern. That's it. I've made my decision. I might not like it, but it's made.

September 1st, 1976
Yesterday, before a group of supporters, Conservative candidate Meldrim Thomson Jr. who had previously decided to run on the American Conservative Party ticket, dropped out of the race citing a lack of funding, a grinding halt in the polls, and the fact that President Bush chose Senator Reagan as his running mate. In his closing statements, the Governor said "With Senator Reagan at the helm, you can rely on the Republicans to once again be the ticket for Conservatism". With that, he left the stage.

---

Who do you support for President?
Kennedy/McGovern-46%
Bush/Reagan-43%
Undecided/other-11%

There's been a small mix-up: Donald Rumsfeld stays in the House of Representatives (this will be important later), so that means Phil Crane isn't a Congressman. I made Crane be Thomson's running mate in his short lived campaign, so maybe Crane will have a different job.

I'm thinking of cutting right to the results. Any opinions?

I did 1972 in the format, and it took a lot out of me and a lot of writing. You can find it around the late teens or early twenties. I'm more interested in getting past this election.