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Nixon 1960

1960
In the 1960 Presidential election, Vice-President Nixon chose Congressman Gerald R Ford of Michigan for Vice-President in order to help him in the North-East, Mid-West, and the Great Lakes area. Senator John F Kennedy, the Democratic nominee, chose Senate Henry M Jackson as Vice-President in order to help him in the West and with military hawks.
The election was close, and the unrest among Southern delegates didn't help Kennedy as he was unable to carry all of the Deep South even.

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Vice-President Richard M Nixon (R-CA)/Congressman Gerald R Ford (R-MI) 273 electoral votes, 48.6% of the popular vote
Senator John F Kennedy (D-MA)/Senator Henry M Jackson (D-WA) 249 electoral votes, 48.3% of the popular vote
Faithless electors (1 for Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ), and 14 for Senator Harry F Byrd) 15 electoral votes, .5% of the popular vote

During President Nixon's first term, his greatest accomplishments were in foreign policy. In Vietnam, a war between North and South Vietnam had been going on since the mid-fifties with President Eisenhower sending military advisers over there. Nixon, realizing that the United States might become more drawn in, chose to end the conflict right there with the nuking of North Vietnam. He had been advised by Secretary of Defense Goldwater, and Secretary of State Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. hadn't objected.

In Cuba, another hotspot, Operation Bay of Pigs proved to be a success. Ousting Castro, an interim government headed by former Treasury Secretary Robert P Anderson was set up and after the last of the communists were rooted out elections were planned for 1963 or 1964.

Nixon was also able to establish what become known as "eldercare", which used the free market to help pay for the the healthcare of the elderly.

1964
By 1964, Nixon's approval ratings were a solid 60%. The Democrats nominated Senate Majoriy Leader Lyndon B Johnson over Senator Henry Jackson, and Johnson chose Senator John F Kennedy for Vice-President in order to keep Northern Democrats in line. On election day "Landslide Lyndon" would lose in a landslide.
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President Richard M Nixon (R-CA)/Vice-President Gerald R Ford (R-MI) 417 electoral votes, 59.3% of the popular vote
Senate Majority Leader Lynson B Johnson (D-TX)/Senator John F Kennedy (D-MA) 121 electoral votes, 40.2% of the popular vote

With Nixon's landslide re-election, other victories came too. In Texas, former Nixon Secretary of the Navy George Bush was elected to the Senate defeating Ralph Yarborough. In Ohio Congressman Robert Taft Jr. was elected to the Senate. In California former UN Ambassador Ronald Reagan was elected to the Senate. All in all Republicans were in the majority and in 1965 Hubert H Humphrey was elected Senate Minority Leader.

Only in Nixon's second term would things heat up. In 1965 war in Cambodia was made public. Since 1962 the Nixon Administration, through Director of Central Intelligence E Howard Hunt had been funding an insurgency against the neutral yet communist-leaning government there. However, only in 1966 did it become public. The American people, who had become accustomed to peace time, struck back with large Republican losses in the 1966 mid-terms.

As the war deepened, Nixon made only one serious accomplishment on the domestic front witht the passing of the 1967 Civil Rights Act which was a lot more effective than its 1950's counter-part.

1968
President Nixon's approval ratings were down to 43% in the beginning of 1968, though they picked up as the year went on.
The candidates for the Republican nomination included California Senator Ronald Reagan, Ohio Governor Jim Rhodes, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, and Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield. While there had been a calling for former Secretary of Defense Goldwater to run (he had resigned in 1966), he was instead running for Senate from Arizona. Rockefeller easily won the nomination, choosing Jim Rhodes for Vice-President. Vice-President Gerald Ford had declined running, instead choosing to run for Senate in 1970.
For the Democrats, the battle came down to Senator Henry M Jackson, Governor Robert F Kennedy, and Senator Hubert H Humphrey. After Governor Kennedy dropped out, Senator John F Kennedy announced his new endorsement of his former running mate Henry M Jackson. In exchange, Bobby would be placed at the bottom of the ticket.
In bad news for the Democrats, Governor George Wallace of Alabama announced an Independent ticket with General William Westmoreland as his running mate. They would run under the banner of the "American Party".
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Senator Henry M "Scoop" Jackson (D-WA)/Governor Robert F Kennedy (D-MA) 302 electoral votes, 52.5% of the popular vote
Governor Nelson Rockefeller (R-NY)/Governor James Rhodes (R-OH) 183 electoral votes, 43.2% of the popular vote
Former Governor George Wallace (A-AL)/General William Westmoreland (A-MS) 53 electoral votes, 14.1% of the popular vote

With the election of Henry Jackson, Democrats held the Whitehouse for the first time since January, 1953. He swept into office promising victory in Cambodia, the restoration of Law and Order, and new programs designed to help the poor.

By 1970, after a "troop surge" as well as the shipping over of 50,000 more American soldiers, it appeared that Cambodia would no longer be the quagmire that it had been denounced as by some in 1968.
Meanwhile, on the domestic front, Jackson was popular as well with his clear statement of Law and Order that the hippies had so come to despise. He also had Congress pass The American Infrastructure and Urban Renewal Project, handing over millions (later billions) of dollars to various departments to rebuild America's urban landscape as well as to rebuild and repair the miles of road sprawled throughout America. By 1971, Jackson was just as popular as his predecessor had been eight years ago.

1972
Despite an attempt to primary the President by Senator George McGovern, Jackson was easily re-nominated, as well as Vice-President Robert F Kennedy who at times was more popular than his own boss.
For the Republicans, former Senator and by that point Governor Reagan chose to stay out of the field that year as his friend Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona ran for the nomination. To carry the banner for the moderates, Governors George Romney and Spiro T Agnew, and Senator Mark Hatfield were also candidates. Finally, representing the Liberal wing was Congressman Pete McCloskey and Senator Jacob Javitts.
Despite the fact that Goldwater had been involved in the US entrance into Cambodia, his record in Cuba and Vietnam, as well as Conservative aspirations won the day at the convention. In order to tie over moderates, former Governor George Romney was selected as his running mate.
In the general, Goldwater did worse than expected. His frequent gaffes, his ties to Nixon's failure in Cambodia, and Jackson's popularity were more than enough to ensure his loss. However, it seemed that Jackson's luck had gone into overkill as not only was victory announced in Cambodia, but in June of 1972 the United States became the first nation to set foot on the moon. That sealed the deal for Goldwater's electoral landslide that year.
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President Henry M "Scoop" Jackson (D-WA)/Vice-President Robert F Kennedy (D-MA) 532 electoral votes, 61.8% of the popular vote
Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ)/Former Governor George Romney (R-MI) 6 electoral votes, 37.9% of the popular vote

After Goldwater's devastating loss and President Jackson's monumental victory over him, Democrats beleived that the stage was set for years of victory ahead of them.

From the outset, Robert F Kennedy's tenure as President didn't go "swimmingly". Dealing with inflation and an incredible deficit which was the result of massive amounts of military and domestic spending alike, it was seen as his job to basically reign in government over the next four years. Starting with massive military programs, a large number were cut. In domestic spending, President Kennedy attempted to craft "Welfare Reform" to reform the entitlement system to actually lead to a path out of poverty as opposed to paying people to stay where they were. However, Kennedy was unable to see that dream lived out, for in 1978 he was assassinated by an unknown assailant.

Vice-President Jimmy Carter, upon hearing the final announcement that the President was indeed dead, took the Oath of Office. Not having the vision or charisma of his predecessor, Carter was just barely to push the first part of Welfare Reform through Congress. The only reason the Democrats were able to keep the Senate and House in 1978 was because of the death of President Kennedy and many predicted that had Kennedy not died, he might have faced a Republican controlled Congress in 1979.

The remained of Carter's term was spent attempting to deal with energy problems, the deficit, the economy, and the problem of Iran. Iran, heading OPEC, had decided to draw the reins tight on oil and had increased its prices dramatically. Many believed it was because of very active and vocal support of Israel the last eighteen years. Failing to push his energy program through Congress was Carter's final failure before the Democratic primaries began.

1980
While some expected Ted Kennedy, who previously had served as Massachusetts Attorney General, Governor, and since 1976 Senator, to run, he declined. From Carter's right came former Defense Secretary John Connally, from the Liberal end came George McGovern, and from a more Libertarian-oriented wing of the party came Governor Jerry Brown, who had been elected in 1978. While Carter eventually won the nomination, the primaries had hurt him badly and put him in a worse position than before. In order to keep the Democratic base together, he selected Senator Ted Kennedy for Vice-President.

For the Republicans, the nomination was a fight between former Governor Reagan of California, Senator Lowell Weicker of Connecticut, Senator George Bush of Texas, and Senator Bob Dole of Kansas. Eventually, however, Reagan won. In order to help in the Mid-West, he selected Senator Donald Rumsfeld of Illinois who had been elected to Congress in 1962 and elected to the Senate in 1974. He was a friend of Senators Hatfield, Bush, Laxalt, and Dole, and had good relations with former Vice-President Ford.

In protest, the Progressive Senator Lowell Weicker announced an Independent candidacy, choosing Senator Charles Matthias Jr. as his running mate. The ticket severely harmed Reagan in the East. However, the Republicans would not be denied their first landslide since 1964.

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Former Governor Ronald Reagan (R-CA)/Senator Donald Rumsfeld (R-IL) 389 electoral votes, 49.3% of the popular vote
President James E Carter (D-GA)/Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) 121 electoral votes, 40.2% of the popular vote
Senator Lowell P Weicker (I-CT)/Senator Charles "Mac" Matthias Jr. (I-MD) 28 electoral votes, 10.8% of the popular vote

Despite having been elected in an electoral landslide, Reagan still had not won the popular vote and did not come in with much of a mandate despite Republicans having control of the Senate. He immediately set out working on the economy. One of his most controversial acts as President was the decision to keep Paul Volcker as Chairman of the Federal Reserve and continue the Kennedy-Carter policy of keeping a tight money supply. Many would say that this act saved his Presidency.

For Vice-President Rumsfeld, his assets were his experience on the House and Senate Armed Services Committee, his work on the House Space Committee, and his work on the Senate Energy Committee. In dealing with Iran, he helped draft a new energy plan taking from Carter's own plan as well as other proposals. It involved the opening of a new Alaskan pipeline scheduled to be completed in 1987, the opening up of verious parts of the shoreline for drilling, as well as government investment in new technologies. Despite the perceived failure of nuclear power in the 1970's with a disaster on three-mile island, Rumsfeld's plan would push for further nuclear investment but with even tighter regulations. It would be instrumental in helping to break OPEC's stranglehold on America's economy.

By 1983, many claimed that the economy had bottomed out and that it was from there on out a recovery. These claims proved to be true as the economy shot up in mid-late 1983 and into 1984.

1984
In the 1984 election, President Reagan faced only a weak challenge from Congressman John Anderson of Illinois, an established Liberal Republican who was endorsed by both Weicker and Matthias. However, after a failure to gain traction in North-Eastern primaries, Anderson dropped out.

For the Democrats, not many were willing to be the sacrificial lamb. Many called on Senator Ted Kennedy to run. However, he was unwilling to risk his political career on a year that Democrats would likely lose in. Senate Minority Leader Walter Mondale was the early favorite. However, the two economically moderate Senator Paul Tsongas was able to make headway. Despite having agreed with a large amount of President Reagan's policy proposals, the Democrats were tired of years of nominating economic Liberals such as Jackson and Johnson. Tsongas, who was compared by some to the last President Robert F Kennedy, was able to just barely take the nomination. He chose two-term Governor and former Congressman Jerry Brown for Vice-President who had endorsed him in the primaries for Vice-President.
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President Ronald W Reagan (R-CA)/Vice-President Donald Rumsfeld (R-IL) 522 electoral votes, 59.3% of the popular vote
Senator Paul Tsongas (D-MA)/Governor Edmund G "Jerry" Brown Jr. (D-CA) 40.2% of the popular vote

With Reagan's landslide re-election, he felt compelled to finally carry out the rest of his policies. His popularity was only helped with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1985 and fall of the Soviet Union in 1987.

As the Cold War was winding down, Vice-President Rumsfeld became an important factor in the Reagan Administration's attempts to close the deficit. His good fiscal record in the House and the Senate carried over to his Vice-Presidential duties as he became the head of Reagan's spend cutting team. Working with Senate Majority Leader George Bush and Senator Barry Goldwater, the Goldwater-Nichols Act was passed, not only re-organizing the military but also helping to cut costs. Domestically, not much headway was made. However, a number of government services were handed off to the states.

In space, Reagan found an unlikely ally in Senate Minority Whip Ted Kennedy in starting a program to put man on Mars by 2005. People from both sides of the aisle including former Governor Jerry Brown supported the program and it was voted on and confirmed in the fall of 1987.

1988
The 1988 Republican nomination was a battle between Vice-President Rumsfeld, Senate Majority Leader George Bush, Congressman Jack Kemp and one term Governor Clint Eastwood. Despite Eastwood winning in New Hampshire, Jack Kemp winning in Nevada, and George Bush winning in South Carolina, Rumsfeld carried the day, choosing Governor Eastwood in order to help in the West and with Libertarians who had been turned off by the Reagan deficits.

The Democrats, after their defeat in 1984, weren't in good shape just as the Republicans hadn't been in good shape after 1972. However, they didn't have the advantages of inflation and the deficit had lowered since 1976. The field was comprised of former Senator Gary Hart, Senate Minority Leader Walter Mondale, and the Southern candidate Al Gore of Tennessee. While Gore would carry the South and Hart would do well in the West, Mondale, who was a traditional Liberal, carried most states and the nomination. Ted Kennedy it seemed had resigned himself to a career in the Senate. For Vice-President, Mondale chose Congressman Julian Bond of Georgia to help with the South and with urban voters.
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Vice-President Donald Rumsfeld (R-IL)/Governor Clinton Eastwood (R-CA) 343 electoral votes, 53.1% of the popular vote
Senate Minority Leader Walter Mondale (D-MN)/Congressman Julian Bond (D-GA) 195 electoral votes, 46.4% of the popular vote

Rumsfeld's term as President began uneventfully. His main goal at the beginning was to help close the deficit which had decresed in both 1987 and 1988. However, in late 1989, Under-Secretary of Defense Oliver North ran into a scandal involving the illegal selling of arms to Iraq in the Iran-Iraq war that had taken place from 1981 to 1988. This had happened during the Reagan Administration. However, Reagan as was seen had nothing to do with it. Rumsfeld who had taken an active interest in foreign policy and the Pentagon had been an overseer of many operations and had been at more than one time referred to as "Actual Secretary of Defense". It turned out that United States funding to that day was going towards Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein who had been known for killing his won civilians, human rights violations, and ethnic cleansing. While in court nothing illegal was proven, it tainted the rest of Rumsfeld's Presidency and resulted in the resignations of Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, DCI Bob Gates, and Under-Secretary of Defense Oliver North. Secretary of State George Bush, who himself had nothing to do with the scandal, stayed on.

Following the scandal, Vice-President Clint Eastwood who had not been involved in the scandal (most people considered guilty by the public were in the Pentagon or CIA) announced that while he would stay on as Vice-President for the remainder of his term, he would not be seeking re-election with a man who he said had "violated the trust of the American people and taken part in the funding of merciless dictatorships".

1992
For Rumsfeld, he faced a primary challenge from the non-interventionist Congressman Ron Paul who started off the primary season winning in New Hampshire and Nevada. However, his candidacy would not go far as Rumsfeld won South Carolina and all the primaries after that. For Vice-President Rumsfeld chose Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole was chosen.

For the Democrats, there were many willing to challenge the President such as former Governor Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, Senator Al Gore of Tennessee, and Governor Douglas Wilder of Virginia. However, Senator Joe Biden would win the nomination. He had first been elected to the Senate in the landslide year of 1972 and had stayed there since. For Vice-President, Senator Al Gore was chosen in order to bring in Southern states.
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Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE)/Senator Albert Gore Jr. (D-TN) 347 electoral votes, 53.9% of the popular vote
President Donald Rumsfeld (R-IL)/Senate Minority Leader Robert Dole (R-KS) 191 electoral votes, 45.6 of the popular vote

Joe Biden's first term started off with a "pledge to restore the confidence that the American people should have in government". Biden began with an attempt at a sweeping reform of the Pentagon and national defense related beaureas and departments. The reform included auditing and reviewing of all the functions and activites in the Pentagon and other key areas.

During the end of Rumsfeld's Presidency, the economy had begun veering towards a recession. Biden was determined to stop that, and with an economic stimulus package passed in the fall of 1993, it was believed by many that he had.

In the 1994 Congressional election, Conservatives failed in their attempted "counter-revolution". While Conservative media personalities and talk show hosts were talking about a "comeback bigger thatn 1978 and 1980", that comeback had failed. Biden retained control of both Houses of Congress and was able to continue pushing his agenda.

1996
Biden had the advantage of incumbancy on his side, as well as a reputation of honesty and openness while President. The downside of his re-election campaign was frequent gaffes and "stupid comments" he often made. Some even went as far as to compare his problem to that of Goldwater's. However, Goldwater's gaffes were much more politically harmful and radical-seeming. Biden had popularity and a good economy on his side.

For the Republicans, Vice-President Clint Eastwood, despite having "deserted" Rumsfeld in 1992 and having only six total years in political office (California Governor 1987-1989, Vice-President 1989-1993), was the favorite of the Libertarians, and of some moderates. He was endorsed by the then-California Governor Pete Wilson, Massachusetts Governor William Weld, and the "Texas Twins" of Congressmen Ron Paul and Ross Perot. Representing the more socially Conservative wing of the Republican Party were former NATO Ambassador Pat Buchanan (appointed by Reagan in 1987, left in 1990), and former Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole (who had also been the 1992 Vice-Presidential nominee. Both Dole and Eastwood fought for the "right to the throne" while Buchanan picked away at Dole with victories in the Southern primaries. Eventually, Dole dropped out and Eastwood won the nomination, choosing Texas Congressman Ron Paul as his running mate.

In protests, former Ambassador Buchanan announced a third party bid, with Congressman Bob Dornan as his Vice-Presidential pick. The ticket quickly gobbled up undecided Conservative Republicans in the south and, according to many, doomed Eastwood, though Conservatives would say that Eastwood wouldn't have won anyway.

While Democrats had good momentum going into the race and had strength in the South not felt since 1976, Eastwood quickly out-polled the Democrats in the West. Thus, what the Democrats had hoped for as their first landslide since 1972, ended up being less of an electoral margin of victory than four years before.
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President Joseph R Biden (D-DE)/Vice-President Albert Gore Jr. (D-TN) 327 electoral votes, 54.2% of the popular vote
Former Vice-President Clinton Eastwood (R-CA)/Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) 211 electoral votes, 44.3% of the popular vote
Former Ambassador Patrick J Buchanan (I-MD)/Congressman Robert K Dornan (I-CA), 1.3% of the popular vote

The remainder of Biden's Presidency went well. The only black mark on his Presidency was the resignation of Attorney General Bill Clinton over a sex scandal in 1998. He would be replaced by Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman.

During his last four years, the economy stayed stable. However, in 1998 the Republicans took control of Congress. Congressman and former Vice-Presidential candidate Ron Paul attempted a bid for Speaker. However, he was stopped by Congressman Jack Kemp who promised to serve only two years as Speaker before retirement in 2000.

2000
The Democrats easily nominated Vice-President Al Gore in a small field made up of the Vice-President, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, and Reverend Al Sharpton. For Vice-President, Gore chose Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota.

The Republicans instead had a very long and arduous primary season between former Treasury Secretary Elizabeth Dole (who had served in the Kennedy, Carter, Reagan, and Rumsfeld Administrations), Congressman Ron Paul, Senate Majority Leader John McCain, and Florida Governor Jeb Bush. In the crowded field McCain won the nomination as the major moderate candidate. He selected Illinois Governor Hillary Rodham, who was married but had not changed her last name. This became an issue in the campaign with social Conservatives but did not cause a third party Conservative ticket.

The only major Independent candidate was former Energy Secretary Ralph Nader who had been booted from Biden's administration in 1995 for, in Nader's own words, "working too hard to tell the truth". Biden's own reasons were because of Nader's "radicalism and far too extreme Liberalism". Nader selected Congressman Bernie Sanders of Vermont for Vice-President.

In the general, Nader was able to gain traction because of the moderation of the Democrats the last eight years. He pointed out that in 1996, the Republican ticket had been more socially Libertarian than the Democrats. This was helped with the fact that Al Gore was pro-life and was economically moderate and Biden had been a socially moderate President.
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Vice-President Albert Gore Jr. (D-TN)/Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) 273 electoral votes, 49.2% of the popular vote
Senate Majority Leader John S McCain III (R-AZ)/Governor Hillary Rodham (R-IL) 266 electoral votes, 46.5% of the popular vote
Former Energy Secretary Ralph Nader (G-CT)/Congressman Bernard Sanders (G-VT) 3 electoral votes, 3.2% of the popular vote

Al Gore's Presidency started off without event, and that's how it continued. The only thing that he would be known for was a failed attempt at a climate change and energy policy package in 2009. Despite slight Democratic gains in Congress in 2000, in 2002 Republicans came back even though hindered by scandals of top ranking Republicans such as former House Majority Leader Newt Gingrich and House Speaker Tom DeLay.

In terms of environmental policy, by 2002 even many Democrats claimed that Al Gore had "gone off the deep end". The focus of his Presidency mostly was on that though few bills made it out of sub-committee and even fewer were successful. What he had ended up promising in early 2001 to be "the main goal of my Presidency" had crashed to a grinding halt by 2004 and many on the Left saw him as a failure for that.

In 2003, the economy which had been very good from 1994 to 2002, took a turn for the worst and many Conservatives claimed that the economy was on "the road to a recession". By mid-2004 it appeared that the claims were true and Al Gore's attempt at a stimulus package fell short of passing Congress.

2004
Al Gore, who many had hoped would have his own legacy and accomplishments by 2004, was challenged for re-election from the Right and the Left of the party. From the Right and the "old school Democrats" came Georgia Senator Zell Miller who was a Conservative Democrat. From the Left came former Energy Secretary Ralph Nader whose Independent ticket had taken Vermont in 2000 and made the election so close. Al Gore won re-nomination, but announced that he would be choosing former Vermont Governor Howard Dean for Vice-President instead of Tom Daschle in order to secure the North-East.

The Republicans would nominate former Illinois Governor Hillary Rodham who was among the most prominent of the North-Eastern Conservatives. She won in a field that included former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Congressman Ron Paul of Texas, Senator Dan Quayle, and Senator Lincoln Chaffee. For Vice-President she chose Bush to help her in the "Biden/Gore Southern States".

Former Energy Secretary Ralph Nader announced the he would once again run as the Green Party Presidential candidate, choosing his old running mate Bernie Sanders who had helped him win a state.

For the nomination of the American Party, a relatively unknown Conservative third party, Congressman Bob Barr who was called a "true Conservative" by several radio talk show hosts announced he would be seeking the Presidency. Conservative activist and Reagan Administration diplomat Alan Keyes would be the Vice-Presidential nominee.

In the general election, Nader and Barr were not allowed in the debates because neither of them were polling above fifteen percent. However, protests would occur outside of all four debates (three Presidential, one Vice-Presidential) in favor of allowing the extra candidates to enter. Gore would be seen as the loser of the debates, and Jeb Bush would perform well against Howard Dean.
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Former Governor Hillary Rodham (R-IL)/Former Governor John E Bush (R-FL) 306 electoral votes, 50.3% of the electoral vote
President Albert Gore Jr. (D-TN)/Former Governor Howard Dean (D-VT) 231 electoral votes, 44.9% of the popular vote
Former Energy Secretary Ralph Nader (G-CT)/Congressman Bernie Sanders (G-VT), 1 electoral vote*, 2.3% of the popular vote
Congressman Robert Barr (A-GA)/Activist Alan Keyes (A-DC), 1.7% of the popular vote

*A faithless elector in California cast his vote for Ralph Nader and Bernie Sanders. This is the most recent instance of a faithless elector in American Presidential elections.

Many Conservatives and Republicans hailed Rodham's victory as "a true defeat of the Progressive Spirit of the nineties". Her term would begin easily enough and she promised "a true economic recovery reminiscient of the Reagan era". In her first one hundred days she signed a large amount of tax cuts to the wealthy and the middle class and worked to gut a large amount of government programs, "putting them through the same scrutiny we put the Pentagon through in 1993", alleging that corruption and waster were to be found.

In defense matters she would considerably strengthen the United States military. However, she would also repeal what was called the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and allow gays to openly serve in the military. Education Secretary George Bush, who was the Vice-President's brother and had been a successful Texas Governor (1995-2005) as well as a Congressman (1979-1987), proposed the "No Child Left Behind" policy that would supposedly strengthen American education. Despite being passed, the act would come to have a bad legacy and many Presidents would seek to pass a reformed or fixed version of it in later years.

2008
The Democratic field which in 2005 had been full of hopefuls such as Senator John Kerrey, Governor Mark Warner, and Governor Mike Huckabee, came down to:
Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean
Senator John Edwards
Senator Evan Bayh
None were seen as very good candidates. Dean was seen as too Liberal and was of course from Vermon which was seen as one of the most Liberal states in the union. Edwards was seen as too economically Liberal or Populist as well as being a Southerner which the Democrats had long grown tired of. Evan Bayh was seen as far too Centrist and an uncharismatic candidate.
Eventually, Edwards would win the nomination in a crowded field. In order to appease Northerners he would choose Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts for Vice-President.

President Rodham would face zero opposition despite Ron Paul having planned on a third Presidential run that year. She would be easily renominated at the Republican National Convention as would Vice-President Bush.
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President Hillary Rodham (R-IL)/Vice-President John E Bush (R-FL) 354 electoral votes, 54.7% of the popular vote
Senator John Edwards (D-NC)/Senator John F Kerry (D-MA) 184 electoral votes, 44.8% of the popular vote

In what was greeted as "a triumph of Conservatism" by Rush Limbauch, President Hillary Rodham was re-elected by the largest electoral and popular vote margin since 1984. It was seen as a mandate to continue her policies.

One of the milestones of Rodham's Presidency was the United States being the first nation to land on the planet of Mars. President Rodham claimed it to be a great leap for the United States to further explore the solar system and the universe.

Over the next four years the economy continued its recovery. There was some disturbance following turmoil and the eventual United States entrance into the Middle East in 2009 and 2010. However, the economy had recovered from that by 2011 and was said to have leveled out at around 2012.

In energy policy, Rodham looked back onto the works of Presidents Gore, Rumsfeld, Reagan, Carter, and Kennedy in order to find a permanent solution. By her second term, the United States was eighty percent on American energy, whether it was oil, nuclear, solar, hydro-electric, or wind. However, that 20% which was mostly made up of Middle Eastern oil, still had an effect on the economy and Rodham worked to make the United States "100% run on American", a goal she never acheived.

2012
For the Republicans in 2012, a year that they were expected to do well in, Vice-President Jeb Bush easily won the nomination against Massachusetts Senator Mitt Romney, Congresswoman Sarah Palin, and Senator Gary Johnson. For Vice-President, Mitt Romney was chosen.

The Democrats had a difficult time finding their candidate. The field was dominated by moderates including Brian Schweitzer, Evan Bayh, and Mark Warner. However, former Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico won the nomination choosing Mark Warner as his running mate.
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Former Governor William Ricahrdson (D-NM)/Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) 277 electoral votes, 52.4% of the popular vote
Vice-President John E Bush (R-FL)/Senator Willard "Mitt" Romney (R-MA) 261 electoral votes, 47.2% of the popular vote

List of Nixon 1960 Presidents

35. Richard M Nixon (R-CA)/Gerald R Ford (R-MI) 1961-1969
Henry M Jackson (D-WA)/Robert F Kennedy (D-MA) 1969-1977
Robert F Kennedy (D-MA)/James E Carter (D-GA) 1977-1978
James E Carter (D-GA)/vacant 1978-1981
Ronald W Reagan (R-CA)/Donald Rumsfeld (R-IL) 1981-1989
Donald Rumsfeld (R-IL)/Clinton Eastwood (R-CA) 1989-1993
Joseph R Biden (D-DE)/Albert Gore Jr. (D-TN) 1993-2001
Albert Gore Jr. (D-TN)/Thomas Daschle (D-SD) 2001-2005
Hillary Rodham (R-IL)/John E Bush (R-FL) 2005-2013
William Richardson (D-NM)/Mark Warner (D-VA) 2013-Present

The End

This'll be a short one that I've been intending to do for a while.

George Romney in '68

In 1968, against Governor Ronald Reagan of California, Governor Jim Rhodes of Ohio and former Vice-President Richard Nixon of New York, Michigan Governor George Romney won the Republican nomination. There were concerns over his Mormon faith as well as the fact his parents weren't born in America. However, that situation was handled with the Supreme Court ruling in August that as long as one's parents were American citizens and one had met all other requirements, one could run for President.

At the Repbulican National Convention, in order to appease Conservatives, Romney chose Arizona Senator Paul Fannin as his running mate. For the Democrats, Vice-President Hubert H Humphrey was only able to win the nomination after several rounds of balloting between himself and Senator Robert F Kennedy of New York. For Vice-President, Humphrey chose Senator George Smathers of Florida.

Former Alabama Governor George Wallace of Alabama ran as an American Independent with General Curtis LeMay as his running mate.

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Governor George Romney (R-MI)/Senator Paul Fanninf (R-AZ) 292 electoral votes, 42.6% of the popular vote
Vice-President Hubert H Humphrey (D-MN)/Senator George Smathers (D-FL) 192 electoral votes, 42.4% of the popular vote
Former Governor George Wallace (AI-AL)/General Curtis LeMay (AI-CA) 54 electoral votes, 14.5% of the popular vote

Romeny on election night became the first member of the Jesus Christ Church of Latter Day Saints to be elected President.

Romney filled his cabinet with so-called qualified people. Secretary of State was given to New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller. Secretary of Defense was given to "peace-nik Republican" Mark Hatfield, Martin Luther King Jr. was confirmed Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Congressman George Bush was made Secretary of the Navy, Sargent Shriver became Ambassador to the United Nations, Professor Henry Kissinger became National Security Adviser, and Senator Howard Baker was made Secretary of the Treasury.

Romney's first term was marked first and foremost by an end to the Vietnam War in 1971. By then a complete withdrawal had been negotiated and he had, according to himself, "saved the lives of millions of our nation's servicemen". South Vietnam fell by 1972.

1972
After a largely successful first term, Romney was challenged only by Conservative Congressman John Ashbrook of Ohio. Romney easily won the nomination and he and Vice-President Fannin went on to face former Senator George Smathers and Senator John Connally.

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President George Romney (R-MI)/Vice-President Paul Fannin (R-AZ) 369 electoral votes, 54.6% of the popular vote
Former Senator George Smathers (D-FL)/Senator John Connally (D-TX) 45.2% of the popular vote

The second half of the Romney Presidency would focus on domestic issues as the United States was going through a recession. In order to help alleviate the deficit Romney cut parts of military and domestic programs. However, he also cut taxes for the middle class and for businesses. On the issue of Roe vs. Wade, Romney was against the Supreme Court's decision to say that abortions constitutionally were legal nationwide, even though a number of his own justices had helped write the majority decision. Romney believed in the right to life as sated by his Mormon faith and spoke out against the decision. However, nothing was ever done. On the issue of gay rights, President Romney attempted to pass a bill that allowed homsexuals to serve openly in the army. It was supported by Defense Secretary Hatfield but was never passed due to the perceived homophobia of Congress. Despite not having been able to completely stop the recession, Romney ended his term with good approval ratings, having been able to alleviate certain parts of the recession.

1977
For the Republicans, the major candidates were Vice-President Paul Fannin (endorsed by former Governor Ronald Reagan and Senator Barry Goldwater), Secretary of Defense Mark Hatfield (endorsed by Congressmen Pete McCloskey and John Anderson) and Senator Bob Dole of Kansas (endorsed by Whitehouse Chief of Staff and former Navy Secretary George Bush and Army Secretary John Eisenhower). President Romney refused to endorse any candidate, saying he would endorse whoever the nominee was. Many suggested it was because privately he wanted Mark Hatfield to win but didn't want to betray his Vice-President. Nevertheless, Vice-President Fannin won the nomination choosing Congressman John Ashbrook as his running mate.

The Democrats nominated Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson out of a crowded field included Jerry Brown, Jimmy Carter, George Wallace, and John Connally. For Vice-President, Congressman Morris K Udall was chosen, the second Mormon to be on a Presidential ticket.

In the debates, both candidates would perform well, citing their strengths and their opponents' weaknesses. However, Jackson won on issue of national security, slamming the Romney Administration for the amount of growth that the Soviet Union had gone through during the last eight years, as well as the slowing in missile production and the multiple arms reductions signed by Secretary of State Rockefeller.
The general election would turn into a battle for the West as Jackson was from Washington, Udall was from Arizona, and Fannin was from Arizona.
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Senator Henry M "Scoop" Jackson (D-WA)/Congressman Morris K "Mo" Udall (D-AZ) 280 electoral votes, 51.3% of the popular vote
Vice-President Paul A Fannin (R-AZ)/Congressman John Ashbrook (R-OH) 258 electorla votes, 48.2% of the popular vote

Many on both the Right and the Left would look back on Jackson's first term as a failure. Domestically, Jackson greatly expanded Great Society programs that had been shrunk the last eight years. Jackson also stopped forced integrated bussing, much to the pleasing of the Southerners. However, Jackson would also face a bad economy and a rising deficit and debt.

In foreign policy Jackson was far more hawkish than his predecessor. He greatly expanded the military as well, pushing for more funds for missile construction and deployment across the world. More missiles were sent over to Europe and to American allies while the defense budget ballooned.

In 1979, the Shah of Iran who had been an American ally in the Cold War faced revolt. President Jackson sent American troops into Iran to calm down the protesters but to no avail. When diplomats were taken hostage by the Iranian revolutionaries, Operation PEACEFUL RESISTANCE was put into play, killing the hostage takers and rescuing most of the hostages save two who had been killed. Despite the deaths of two hostages, President Jackson's handling of the crisis was hsi greatest triumph and it helped him win re-nomination over former Senator Eugene McCarthy in 1980.

1980
Facing a bad economy, it looked like Republicans' year to come back after the close election of 1976. However, the favorite, Senator Ronald Reagan of California (elected in 1976) faced a challenge from Texas Governor George Bush and former Defense Secretary Mark Hatfield. Hatfield had been waiting four years since 1976 for the 1980 election which he believed would be his. This time, without Vice-President Fannin running, President Romney openly endorsed Hatfield, and Hatfield won the nomination. For Vice-President, Hatfield chose Massachusetts Governor Elliot Richardson (elected 1974) for Vice-President. The ticket was a success for Libertarians and Moderates.

During the debates, Jackson who was not a charismatic speaker was forced to use hard facts to debate, comparing the condition of the Soviet Union between 1976 and 1980, economic growth in certain areas, and calmed racial relations. Meanwhile, Hatfield's call for a "complete and total nuclear freeze" didn't go as well with the public as he had hoped.

With no major Conservative third party ticket emerging, foreign policy hawks in the Republican Party defected en masse for Jackson, believing that in the Cold War Jackson was a better choice than the pro-nuclear freeze, anti-war Hatfield. Also, with the endorsement of Senator Ted Kennedy, Jackson was able to hold down Rhode Island and Massachusetts, states that might otherwise have gone to Richardson. Throughout his Presidency Jackson had been able to keep good relations with big labor and that proved invaluable in his holding down of New York and Pennsylvania.
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President Henry M "Scoop" Jackson (D-WA)/Vice-President Morris K "Mo" Udall (D-AZ) 276 electoral votes, 49.8% of the popular vote
Former Secretary of Defense Mark Hatfield (R-OR)/Governor Elliot Richardson (R-MA) 262 electoral votes, 49.6% of the popular vote

Historians would often cite Jackson's second term as much better than his first. However, that didn't mean much. The economy only experienced slight signs of a recovery and the large deficits that had marked Jackson's first term only continued. However, Jackson had foreign policy successes as it seemed the Soviet Union was weakening by the month. In Afghanistan, an attempted Soviet Invasion was halted in its tracks by 1983 mainly due to Jackson's re-inforcing of the Afghans and use of the Northern Alliance to help repel the Soviets. History would credite the efforts of Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson as the "main man" in helping to deliver the blow that many said helped destroy the Soviet Union.

However, Jackson's second term would be cut short as he died of an aneurysm in 1983 leaving Vice-President Udall with the Presidency. Turning to the task of a Vice-President, President Udall chose the anti-communist Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan to help with Catholics and "Jackson Democrats". Moynihan had spent eight years as Labor Secretary in the Romney Administration, and four as Ambassador to the United Nations before election to the Senate in 1980.

1984
After Hatfield's defeat, the moderates seemed mainly discredited. Senator Ronald Reagan, who declined a third bid for the Presidency (his first two being 1968 and 1980), endorsed former California Governor Barry Goldwater Jr. for the Presidency. Goldwater had been elected Governor in 1974 and had previously served six years in the House of Representatives. Other candidates included Texas Governor George Bush, Kansas Senator Bob Dole, and Congressman Phil Crane. Goldwater, twenty years after his own father had won the Republican nomination, would carry the day. For Vice-President, Michigan Governor and former First-Lady Lenore Romney was chosen to appease moderates and to bring back happier memories for the Republican Party.

For the Democrats, President Udall would face a challenge from former Governor Jerry Brown who tore down the last eight years as "An era of a limitless mindset in a world of limits", citing the deficit and the lack of a recovery despite large amounts of deficit spending. However, Udall narrowly secured the nomination.

While at first it appeared as if Udall could make the election close and even win re-election, Goldwater quickly out-paced Udall on the campaign trail, and slammed the President in the debates. The Conservatives and Libertarians in the party were rejuvenated, and for the first time since 1964 when Goldwater's father had run for President, had a candidate who represented them.
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Former Governor Barry Goldwater Jr. (R-CA)/Senator Lenore Romney (R-MI) 470 electoral votes, 56.3% of the popular vote
President Morris K "Mo" Udall (D-AZ)/Vice-President Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) 68 electoral votes, 43.3% of the popular vote

"Finally!", Conservatives and Libertarians alike said. A Goldwater had reached the Presidency. While those early in the campaign claimed that his social positions and border-line Paleo-Conservative policies would alienate the anti-communist socially conservative Middle America, by focusing on economic issue, Goldwater was able to win over members of Middle America.

Upon taking office, President Goldwater vowed to "unleash the doors of the free market long held closed by the forces of big government and the welfare state". Goldwater signed some of the largest tax cuts in American history, also negotiating privatizations or outright elimination of several government beauracracies. Treasury Secretary Murray Rothbard and economic adviser Arthur Laffer proved valuable in the shaping of Goldwater's economic agenda. Also, Goldwater would tighten the money supply with the help of Democratic Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker. While this led to a double-dip recession in 1986 and 1987, (losing the Republicans majorities in both Houses of Congress) by 1988 the economy had fully recovered.

In foreign policy, Goldwater, like his father, was an anti-communist. However, as far as he was concerned, after the Cold War American needed a more humble foreign policy. To finally win against the "Evil Empire", he recruited Senator Ronald Reagan of California to become Secretary of State. However, he also recruited former Defense Secretary Mark Hatfield to take up his old role at the Pentagon. The two near opposited heading Goldwater's foreign policy team would often clash and result in poor calculations in foreign policy goals. Goldwater's stated goal with the two appointments was for Hatfield to handle the down-sizing of the military while Reagan would hold the line against the Soviet Union. In 1987, with the Soviet Union's final collapse, Reagan announced he would resign in January 1989, citing his work done. "It's time for me to pass the torch of Conservatism to a new generation of Americans". Among Goldwater's foreign policy triumphs was the launching of the Global Defense Initiative which was instrumental in the USSR's final buckling.

1988
President Barry Goldwater Jr. and Vice-President Lenore Romney were unanimously re-nominated for their respective positions. Former Senator Barry Goldwater, in a humorous moment with former President Romney, would say "You never expected the names Goldwater and Romney to be side-by-side on a national ticket, did you?". The former President would reply "No, I didn't.".

While several Democrats were calling for Senator Ted Kennedy or former Vice-President and by that point Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, both declined. Instead, Senate Majority Leader Walter Mondale was nominated, and with him Civil Rights Leader Jesse Jackson. One person joked at the convention "It's bringing a new meaning to the phrase "Jackson Democrat".
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President Barry Goldwater Jr. (R-CA)/Vice-President Lenore Romney (R-MI) 512 electoral votes, 58.3% of the popular vote
Senate Majority Leader Walter Mondale (D-MN)/Activist Jesse L Jackson (D-DC) 26 electoral votes, 41.2% of the popular vote

The Presidency of Barry Goldwater Jr. continued with much success as the recovery came to an end and the economy stabilized.
In foreign affairs Goldwater pursued an isolationist foreign policy. With his new Secretary of State, former Congressman Andre Marrou, Goldwater issued the recall of thousands of United States troops from overseas. In fulfilling a campaign pledge to balance the budget in his second term, he passed the first balanced budget in several years in 1990.

1992
With Goldwater having a 56% approval rating at the beginning of the primary season, a candidate to carry on his legacy became important. That candidate was Ron Paul, the Texas Senator who had been elected in the Republican landslide year of 1984 nad was called by many the "First Friend" because of his friendship with the President over those eight years. Before that Paul had served in the United States House of Representatives 1976-1985. In the primaries Paul beat other candidates such as Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker and Congressman Jack Kemp. To hold onto "Reagan Conservatives", Paul selected Kemp as his running mate.

For the Democrats, the early front-runner was Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska. However, he faced an insurgent Jesse Jackson who had been the 1988 Vice-Presidential nominee. While Kerrey won Iowa, his "thunder" was taken away by Paul Tsongas in New Hampshire. While Democrats had tried to spin Tsongas as "A re-packaged version of Goldwater", Tsongas' fiscally Conservative message had stuck in New Hampshire. Finally, a front-runner emerged in Virginia Senator Chuck Robb who won the South Carolina primary and began to sweep the South along with pieces of different other regions until he had amassed enough delegates to win the nomination. In order to keep Liberals voting with him, Robb chose New York Governor Mario Cuomo for Vice-President.

Early on, Paul faced a massive deficit in the polls. However, as one supporter would say "like all deficits Paul faced he closed it". The week before the election it was a pure toss-up. On election night the election came down to Georgia and its thirteen electoral votes. Despite Georgia's Democratic tradition, Paul would pull off what many called a miracle.
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Senator Ronald E Paul (R-TX)/Congressman Jack F Kemp (R-NY) 276 electoral votes, 49.8% of the popular vote
Senator Charles Robb (D-VA)/Governor Mario Cuomo (D-NY) 263 electoral votes, 49.4% of the popular vote

While at the very beginning, Paul had his honeymoon period, he feel from grace in months, beginning with the bombing of the World Trade Center and other continued terrorist activities. While Paul promised to secure the border and make cities more secure, that was all he did. People on the Left and the Right criticized him. Conservatives wanted complete pursuit of the terrorists while Democrats such as former Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton wanted the terrorists prosecuted. However, Paul's paleo-conservative leaninigs didn't allow for "lengthy quagmires in unknown territory". By 1992 after large losses to pro-national security Democrats in the 1994 mid-terms, the Democrats were ready to take back the Whitehouse.

1996
For President Paul, he faced a strong primary challenge from the pro-war Republican Congressman and former Army Secretary Oliver North of Virginia, Paul survived that challenge with campaigning by former President Goldwater who was much more popular than his successor.

The Democrats faced a three way race between Governor Robert Casey of Pennsylvania, Senator Chuck Robb of Virginia, and Senator and former Vice-President Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York. Moynihan, with establishment support and experience dating back to the 1950's (he worked as an aide during the fifties, and as a social scientist during the sixties; His political offices since then were Labor Secretary 1969-1977, Ambassador to the United Nations 1977-1980, Senator from New York 1981-1983, Vice-President 1983-1985, and Senator from New York 1987-Present). Despite Robb having been the nominee the last time around, Robb was chosen for Vice-President to help carry the South, which was a region that the Democrats seemed to be losing strength in for the past twelve years. Robb was glad to be chosen as it offered a life-line on his political career and gave him a chance to win the nomination in 2000 or 2004.
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Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY)/Senator Charles Robb (D-VA) 333 electoral votes, 54.2% of the popular vote
President Ronald Paul (R-TX)/Vice-President Jack Kemp (R-NY) 205 electoral votes, 45.3% of the popular vote

In the aftermath of the election, Vice-President Kemp would often joke that both times he had been on a national ticket, he had faced a fellow New Yorker.

With his large victory in the 1996 election, President Moynihan faced what he beleived to be a mandate to govern.
Among his accomplishments in his first term was the creation of a program that would be called "Kindercare" which would provide healthcare for those under the age of thirteen. He would also sign the partial birth abortion ban and order complete securing of the borders because of the possibility of future terrorist attacks.
While he never was able to accomplish health care reform or universal healthcare, a sub-committee that he had opened was able to go a long way in finding a way to finance healthcare and would be instrumental in the future.

2000
Much to everyone's surprise, President Moynihan announced that he would be running for re-election despite his age. He faced no challenger in the primaries.

The Republicans, after the large defeat in 1996 were still struggling to come up with a front-runner. Names came forward such as New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson or business mogul Donald Trump. However, eventually Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, who had formerly served as the first Administrator of the Bureau of Veteran Affairs* in the Goldwater Administration would win the nomination. For Vice-President Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire was chosen. It was a decidedly moderate ticket in contrast to the Conservative-Libertarian tickets of the past four elections. The ticket was reminiscient of twenty years ago when the moderate former Defense Secretary Mark Hatfield won the nomination.

In the general, Moynihan went in with the advantage of a still good economy and restored national security without having to go to war. Accusations that he might be too old for the Presidency were made, however, he brushed them off**
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President Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY)/Vice-President Charles Robb (D-VA) 382 electoral votes, 55.4% of the popular vote
Senator Charles Hagel (R-NE)/Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) 156 electoral votes, 45.1% of the popular vote

*The alternative to the department of Veterans' Affairs. Goldwater wanted something to deal with the issue, but didn't want to create another department. However, he did eliminate or merge other departments.
**Like Reagan in 1984.

Moynihan's second term would start off well. However, on September 11th, 2001, while on a diplomatic mission to Iran, the President would be shot and killed. It was only the start of the problems. After Vice-President Robb took office, more acts of terrorism would occur with attacks on ambassies and army bases across Northern Africa and the Middle East. President Robb vowed to respond with force, and in December of 2001 American boots would hit the ground in the first American military confrontation since withdrawal from Vietnam.

At the funeral, one attendee would say to the other in what would become an almost infamous gaffe, but also hold true "Ironic that one who so admired Scoop Jackson and was elected twenty years after he was would fall prey to the same curse that he did". This remark was caught on video by accident and the media didn't know what to think of it.

However, Robb's popularity would not last as news of the war throughout 2002 and 2003 would become less than good. While approval of continued military operations after the fall of Tehran in February of 2003 would dip, Robb still maintained over 50% approvals and the public by-and-large supported the war.

At the same time, the economy was beginning to slow from its economic roar lasting from 1987 to 2001. Not only was the boom subsiding, but at the same time the market had been thrown into chaos by the conflict in Iran and oil prices were shooting up as control over the Persian Gulf was thrown into question.

2004
All the chaos set the stage for the 2004 race for the Republican nomination. There was a pluthura of candidates including Senator Oliver North of Virginia, Governor George W Bush of Texas, Senator John McCain of Arizona, and Governor Gary Johnson of New Mexico. After a shaky win in the caucus state of Iowa despite an insurgent Bush, Johnson would score a solid victory in New Hampshire. From there on out he became the front-runner, with North and Bush splitting the Southern primaries which Johnson lost by wide margins. To appease moderates, Senator Susan Collins of Maine would be chosen for Vice-President. She would also be the first female Vice-Presidential nominee in the nation's history.

For the Democrats, President Robb would be unanimously re-nominated and Vice-President Bill Bradley, who had been chosen by Robb in 2001, would run with the President on the Democratic ticket.

In the general election, despite the war, President Robb would have the advantage with Johnson's lack of charisma and failure to galvanize the Republican base despite receiving endorsements from former Presidents Goldwater and Paul and from other Libertarian minded Republicans. Eventually, Johnson's call for complete de-criminalization of marijuana and complete withdrawal from Iran proved to be too much for middle America. Despite Johnson's loss, however, inroads would be made in both Washington and the North-East, losing Connecticut by a narrow margin.
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President Charles E Robb (D-VA)/Vice-President Bill Bradley (D-NJ) 318 electoral votes, 52.3% of the popular vote
Former Governor Gary E Johnson (R-NM)/Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) 220 electoral votes, 46.9% of the popular vote

At the behest of Roosevelt

At the 1916 Republican National Convention, at the behesting of former President Roosevelt, Senator and Roosevelt friend Henry Cabot Lodge, the Senator from Massachusetts, entered the balloting for the Republican nomination. Upon winning the nomination, California Governor Hiram Johnson would be nominated for Vice-President, which appeased both the Progressives and the Isolationists.

Lodge would go on to defeat President Wilson by a narrow margin in the general election, thus returning Republican power after only four years of absence.
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Senator Henry Cabot Lodge (R-MA)/Governor Hiram Johnson (R-CA) 279 electoral votes, 49.6% of the popular vote
President Woodrow Wilson (D-NJ)/Vice-President Thomas R Marshall (D-IN) 252 electoral votes, 47.8% of the popular vote

Upon taking office, Lodge would make several popular cabinet appointments, such as the appointment of former President Roosevelt to Secretary of War*, businessman Henry Ford to Secretary of the Treasury, Supreme Court Justice Charles Evan Hughes to Attorney General (whom he replaced by appointing former President Taft to the court), and businessman Herbert Hoover to Commerce.

Lodge's tenure would be marked by the wrapping up of the Great War. However, no attempt at any "League of Nations" would be made as it was seen as a giving up of American sovereignty. Instead, Lodge would position the military to control the Central Powers while being re-constructed and it would once again usher in the not-so-long-ago age of "American Imperialism".

1920
With a good economy and a victory in the Great War, America would re-elect President Lodge over former State Secretary William Jennings Bryan and California Governor William McAdoo.
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President Henry Cabot Lodge (R-MA)/Vice-President Hiram Johnson (R-CA) 356 electoral votes, 55.3% of the popular vote
Former Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan (D-NE)/Governor William McAdoo (D-CA) 175 electoral votes, 43.8% of the popular vote

With the twenties came not only a second term for President Lodge, but newfound prosperity. Before, Lodge had been working to keep the economy going, but from 1922 on it seemed that he needn't work to help the economy. While some had advised that he hold a large conference on the limiting of arms and naval ships, Lodge's imperialistic streak wouldn't let him do it, and he wanted America to be prepared for any possible attack in the near future.

1924
With Lodge more popular than ever, it seemed like the Republicans' year to pick up a third term. Because of that, there was a large number of Republicans willing to try, including Vice-President Hiram Johnson, Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover, Treasury Secretary Henry Ford, and Wisconsin Senator Robert La Follette. However, eventually, Governor Alvan T Fuller of Massachusetts, who had become well known for deficit cutting initiatives, and, was of course from the same state as the President himself, won the nomination after receiving support from former Governor Coolidge, as well as a number of minor candidates. For Vice-President, Treasury Secretary Henry Ford would be nominated.

For the Democrats, after a large number of ballots, Senator Carter Glass of Virginia, a Conservative, would win the nomination. In order to attract Northerners and Catholics, Senator John F Fitzgerald of Massachusetts, who had been elected in 1916 after Lodge left to become President, would win the Vice-Presidential nomination, supported by New York Governor Al Smith.

In a surprise, Vice-President Hiram Johnson announced that he would be running once again as a Progressive, and this time at the top of the ticket. Joining him would be Senator Robert M La Follette of Wisconsin.
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Governor Alvan T Fuller (R-MA)/Treasury Secretary Henry Ford (R-MI) 331 electoral votes, 43.6% of the popular vote
Senator Carter Glass (D-VA)/Senator John F Fitzgerald (D-MA) 144 electoral votes, 41.5% of the popular vote
Vice-President Hiram Johnson (P-CA)/Senator Robert M La Follette (P-WI) 56 electoral votes, 14.2% of the popular vote

With that Republicans would gain a third straight term, or so they thought. Only days after the election, President Lodge would be found dead, the twenty year curse having struck again, and Vice-President Johnson, still registered as a Progressive would take office.

*I admit, this one I copied from NiK (or is it N!K?), who in his Charles Evan Hughes TL had TR made Secretary of War.

Throughout Alvan Fuller's first term, the prosperity of the Lodge and Johnson (well in his case months) continued. The economy grew even more, and by 1928, it was soaring.

One notable event during that time was the death of former President Roosevelt who during his life had been New York City Police Comissioner, a member of the New York State Senate, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Leader of the volunteer army the Rough Riders, Governor of New York, Vice-President, President, and, following Lodge's victory, Secretary of War, a position he held until 1925.

1928
Despite a weak challenge from former Senator Robert La Follette, President Fuller was near unanimously re-nominated.

For the Democrats, Senator Joseph T Robinson of Arkansas would win the nomination, rallying the Southern delegates after Glass' defeat in 1924. For Vice-President, Governor A Victory Donahey of Ohio would be chosen.
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President Alvan T Fuller (R-MA)/Vice-President Henry Ford (R-MI) 467 electoral votes, 58.3% of the popular vote
Senator Joseph T Robinson (D-AR)/Governor A Victory Donahey (D-OH) 64 electoral votes, 41.4% of the popular vote

With that, Republicans would win a fourth consecutive term to the Whitehouse. However, it would not be all pretty as in mid-1929, a recession would begin, the natural backlash from years of prosperity. This recession would prove cripling to Fuller's Presidency, and in 1930, Democrats would take control of both Houses of Congress. Congressman John Nance Garner would become Speaker of the House.

1932
With the recession continuing, the Republicans' chances looked bleak at best. There were a couple of candidates running that year, but noticably absent was that of Vice-President Henry Ford who instead announced that he would be returning to the business world. The candidates included:

Four term Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover who had worked for Presidents Lodge, Johnson, and Fuller (1917-1932)
Calvin Coolidge, who had been Massachusetts Governor (1919-1923), Labor Secretary (1925-1927), and elected Senator from Massachusetts upon the retirement of John F Fitzgerald in 1928
Former President Hiram Johnson who, since 1929, had been serving in the Senate
Senator Arthur H Vandenberg of Ohio, who had been elected as well in the wave year of 1928

Eventually, Hoover's popularity would win out at the convention, and he would be nominated with the more Conservative Coolidge as the Vice-Presidential nominee.

For the Democrats, the race would be between:

Franklin D Roosevelt of New York who had been in the New York Senate (1911-1913), Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1913-1917), Assistant Secretary of War (1917-1920), and, since 1921, Senator from New York
House Speaker John Nance Garner who represented the Conservative wing of the party, he had served in the House since 1903, House Minority Leader (1929-1931), and House Speaker since 1931
Governor Huey Long of Louisiana, leader of the Populist wing of the party; he had been elected Governor in 1924

In the primaries, only Long and Roosevelt would run, with Long winning the South and Roosevelt winning the North. However, at the convention, Garner, with his clout among the party, would be the victor, choosing Roosevelt for Vice-President.

In a surprise, Senators William E Borah of Idaho and George Norris of Nebraska would announce a third-party bid under the Progressive banner, following up Teddy Roosevelt's 1912 campaign and Hiram Johnson's 1924 campaign.
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Speaker of the House John Nance Garner (D-TX)/Senator Franklin D Roosevelt (D-NY) 348 electoral votes, 53.6% of the popular vote
Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover (R-CA)/Governor Calvin Coolidge (R-MA) 136 electoral votes, 31.8% of the popular vote
Senator William E Borah (P-ID)/Senator George Norris (P-NE) 47 electoral votes, 14.2% of the popular vote

For the first time in sixteen years, a Democrat would be in the Whitehouse. "Cactus Jack's" trem began with the passing of what was called the "Fair Deal" through Congress. While primarily focused on tax cuts and farm aid, Vice-President Roosevelt made sure that it would include criteria for cities, labor, and industry. Among Garner's cabinet appointments were Senator Cordell Hull to War and businessman Jesse Jones to Treasury.

On foreign affairs, Garner had no inclination towards diplomacy and building up good international relations. That was left to Vice-President Roosevelt who was also serving as Secretary of State, something which was constitutionally permissible. It was Roosevelt who met with countries such as England and France who were readying for possible war with Germany; and it was Roosevelt who worked to establish ties with Latin America and build up good relations.

1936
President Garner, despite near record popularity after his Fair Deal, would be challenged from the Left of his party, and surprisingly, from someone from his own region. Former Governor Huey Long, a well known Populist, would run against Garner in the primareis. However, he only won two of all the primaries.
It was after this defeat that Long announced a third party bid on the Populist ticket, with Senator Emler Benson, a member of the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party, as his Vice-President.

The Republicans, after a primary battle with Senator Arthur Vandenberg, would nominate Governor Henry A Wallace of Iowa-the first Progressive nominated by the Republicans since the Teddy Roosevelt era. For Vice-President, Governor Alf Landon of Kansas would be nominated. Wallace was the son of thd late Agriculture Secretary Henry C Wallace (1917-1924), and had been assistant Secretary of Commerce under Herbert Hoover (1928-1932), Commerce Secretary (1932-1933), and Governor of Iowa since 1935.

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President John Nance Garner (D-TX)/Vice-President Franklin D Roosevelt (D-NY) 480 electoral votes, 57.3% of the popular vote
Former Governor Huey Long (Pop-LA)/Senator Elmer Benson (MFL-MN) 31 electoral votes, 9.8% of the popular vote
Governor Henry A Wallace (R-IA)/Governor Alfred Landon (R-KS) 20 electoral votes, 32.7% of the popular vote

With Roosevelt's landslide eleciton, it seemed he had been given a mandate to govern as he saw fit, and he did. Among cabinet appointments was that of Vice-Presidet Cordell Hull to Secretary of State, continuing the tradition set by Garner of appointing the Vice-President to a cabinet position. Also, he appointed Progressive Republican Governor Henry Wallace to Secretary of Agriculture, a position his father had held twenty years ago.

Roosevelt's Presidency would be interrupted by events overseas as German aggression after years of being under American control would break out and there would be fighting and riots throughout Europe. A radical named Adolf Hitler headed the ensuing chaos and beat back American troops stationed there.

This lead Roosevelt's Presidency to switch drastically from that of a peace-time President to that of a foreign affairs dominated Presidency. American troops would be shipped overseas to Germany and Austria and the Second World War began.

1944
President Roosevelt, facing levels of popularity greater than Presidents Lodge, Fuller, Johnson, or Garner, would be unanimously renominated for President. Vice-President Hull had planned on retiring, however, in order to help ensure victory for the Democratic ticket, he decided to stay on-a choice that would prove crucial only months after the election.

After the defeat of a very Conservative ticket in 1940, the moderates and Liberal seemed poised to win the nomination. Eventually, California Governor Earl Warren and former Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen would be nominated. Stassen's presence on the ticket would help because of the fact he had resigned from the Governorship a year before to fight in World War II.
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President Franklin D Roosevelt (D-NY)/Vice-President Cordell Hull (D-TN) 481 electoral votes, 58.2% of the popular vote
Governor Earl Warren (R-CA)/Former Governor Harold Stassen (R-MN) 50 electoral votes, 31.6% of the popular vote

Despite President Roosevelt's massive victory in 1944, he would sadly die in June of 1945 and Vice-President Cordell Hull would take office. Hull, an aging man over seventy, would mainly concentrate on winning World War II by any means possible. However, no need was seen for the use of the atom bomb because victory in Germany was within sights and the only conflict that Japan had at that time was with China and Russia, not the United States.

After the resolution of World War II, President Hull announced that he would not be seeking re-election in 1948 and vowed to focus the rest of his term on re-building Europe, and helping the economy which seemed to be in decline.

1948
For the Democrats, Secretary of State George Marshall would easily win the nomination against a weak field. For Vice-President, Senator Harry Truman of Missouri would be chosen.

The Republicans would have a much more divided primary, but at the same time a stronger field. Comprised of former Governor Harold Stassen (MN), Senator Arthur Vandenberg (MI), Senator Robert Taft (OH), Governor Earl Warren (CA), and Governor Thomas Dewey (NY), it seemed that any of the candidates could be the next President. However, only one would with the nomination of Senator Robert Taft of Ohio. He was the son of President William Howard Taft, who had been defeated in a landslide in 1912. For Vice-President, another member of a political dynasty would be chosen with the nomination of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. for Vice-President.
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Senator Robert Taft (R-OH)/Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (R-MA) 277 electoral votes, 51.3% of the popular vote
Secretary of State George Marshall (D-PA)/Senator Harry Truman (D-MO) 254 electoral votes, 48.4% of the popular vote

In all irony, Senator Robert Taft had been elected to the Presidency forty years after his won father had been elected to the Presidency. He didn't intend to go down in the same landslide that William Howard Taft had gone down in.

Taft's first priority was working to dismantle some of the more Liberal legislation of the past eight years. He instead, was devoted to allowing the "invisible hanf of the free market" repair the economy, the same way that there had been prosperity in the 1920's. This involved not only tax cuts, which were supported by Congress, but also cutting social programs, which didn't receive as much support in Congress. This would lead to several battles over how to repair the economy. He would co-operate with Southern Conservative Democrats as well as his own Northern and Western Conservative Republicans in order to "stop this horrible perversion of the free market". However, he had little success. Meanwhile, it seemed that former Agriculture Secretary Henry Wallace was determined to take down Taft. Despite Wallace having joined the Roosevelt Administration, he remained a Republican. Among notable events, Secretary of State Arthur Vandenberg would die in 1951 and be replaced with war hero Dwight D Eisenhower.

1952
In 1952 there seemed to be only very little economic recovery, and with Taft's Isolationist stance, America seemed to have turned against his idea not to intervene in Communist attempts to take over Korea. However, he would win a close re-nomination battle with his opponent Wallace.

The Democrats nominated Missouri Senator Harry Truman, who had been the 1948 Vice-Presidential nominee. He chose ally Adlai E Stevenson for Vice-President.

In a surprise, there would be two other parties to take electoral votes in the election. One was yet another incarnation of the Progressive Party, this time with former Agriculture Secretary Henry Wallace and former Governor Harold Stassen, both known Liberals. The other would be the States Rights Party, with the ticket of Richard Russell and Stom Thurmond. The Progressive Party would run because of Taft's Conservatism, and the States Rights Party would run in response to the Democrats putting a Civil Rights plank onto the platform at the Democratic National Convention.
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President Robert Taft (R-OH)/Vice-President Henry Cabot Lodge (R-MA) 272 electoral votes, 43.2% of the popular vote
Senator Harry S Truman (D-MO)/Governor Adla E Stevenson III (D-IL) 181 electoral votes, 39.5% of the popular vote
Senator Richard Russell Jr. (S-GA)/Former Governor James Strom Thurmond (S-SC) 57 electoral votes, 12.4% of the popular vote
Former Agriculture Secretary Henry A Wallace (P-IA)/Former Governor Harold Stassen (P-MN) 5.2% of the popular vote

Taft was lucky. He had barely survived re-election by winning New York by200 votes. The excessive vote splitting, luckily for him, had mainly ripped apart the Democrats with Wallace taking the Progressives and Liberals, Truman getting the Liberals and Moderates, and Russell getting the Conservatives. However, Wallace was able to take Progressive Republicans, and Thurmond was able to take Conservative votes in the South. Without a mandate, President Taft grimmly looked ath the four years ahead of him. Nevertheless, he was determined to press on and stave off Congress just long enough to show them that his plans for economy recovery had worked. However, he would, sadly, never see that day, as he died in 1953. Vice-President Lodge took over, once again handing power to a political dynasty.

Lodge, a moderate, proved much better at dealing with Congress than Taft. However, it was this finesse that allowed Conservative bills that Taft would've supported to pass through Congress. In the 1954 elections, with the death of a President and a visible economy recovery, Republicans would make gains. However, they weren't enough to capture either House of Congress.

In foreign affairs, Lodge would trust two conflicting voices-those of War Secretary Douglas MacArthur and State Secretary Dwight D Eisenhower. Lodge would restrain from missile production, following Eisenhower's advice of fiscal responsibility, however, he would also work to make the military more efficient and effective, and poured a lot of money into space research.

1956
"Robert Taft would be proud to see this day", spoke President Lodge at the Republican National Convention. The economy had recovered, and it appeared that America's brightest days were ahead of it. For Vice-President, the convention would, after a tough fight with Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon, nominate the Conservative California Governor Richard Nixon to the Presidency.

The Democrats, who four years ago had seen the Presidency as theirs, seemed much mroe lost in 1956. Finally, the convention settled on Senator Estes Kefauver of Tennessee and Senator Hubert H Humphrey of Minnesota.
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President Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (R-MA)/Governor Richard M Nixon (R-CA) 415 electoral votes, 53.6% of the popular vote
Senator Estes Kefauver (D-TN)/Senator Hubert H Humphrey (D-MN) 116 electoral votes, 46.9% of the popular vote

For the first time since 1928, the Republicans would have their landslide, a victory for Conservative Republicans. Meanwhile, for Senator Hubert H Humphrey, the future appeared bright.

On the issue of Vietnam, President Lodge decided to take the advice of War Secretary Douglas MacArthur and instead of sending in more troops as was recommended, or doing as Vice-President Nixon advised and "drop a few nukes on the place", President Lodge decided to de-escalate the conflict. Secretary MacArthur had long warned of a needless quagmire that would prove nothing except America's weakness, and Lodge didn't want that to happen.

Among Lodge's acheivments would be the first satellite launched into space, officially putting America ahead in the space race. This would encourage even more money for NASA funding, despite the advice of State Secretary Eisenhower of fiscal responsibility.

Economically, things would continue to improve and many would call it "only the beginning of the Golden Age". Also, in 1957, construction of the Interstate Highway System, which Eisenhower had advised on building, would begin. Eisenhower reasoned that not only would it improve transportation and possibly stimulate the economy, but it was a matter of natioanl security, as it would ease military transportation in case of an invasion or attack.

1960
With twelve years of Republican rule behind them, the Republicans doubted their ability to win a fourth term. However, they pressed on. There were three major candidates for the Republican nomination that year-Vice-President Richard Nixon of California, Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona, and Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York. While Nixon was the natural heir to the last eight years of success, there was no guarantee of a coronation. Goldwater seemed to represent the Cosnervatives after Taft's death in 1953, and Rockefeller represented the Liberals who last won the nomination in 1944 and lost by a landslide. Eventually, Nixon won the nomination, choosing Senator Prescott Bush of Connecticut for Vice-President.

The Democrats had four major candidates for the nomination: Senator Hubert H Humphrey of Minnesota, Former Governor Adlai E Stevenson of Illinois, Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B Johnson of Texas, and Senator Joseph P Kennedy Jr. of Massachusetts. Despite Kennedy's charisma and financial support, and victories in a plurality of the primaries, he proved unable to win the nomination as the convention nominated Johnson, who chose Humphrey as his runningmate.

In the campaign, Johnson promised a return to hsi fellow Texan's "Fair Deal", saying "Finally, every man will have the dignity he deserves and the food and clothing as well". Nixon would resopnd with speeches claiming "Johnson's plans will bankrupt the nation and only result in an altogether weaker nation". On election night, it would be close...
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Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B Johnson (D-TX)/Senator Hubert H Humphrey (D-MN) 291 electoral votes, 49.6% of the popular vote
Vice-President Richard M Nixon (R-CA)/Senator Prescott Bush (R-CT) 246 electoral votes, 49.2% of the popular vote

Johnson's Presidency was much more hawkish than those of Presidents Taft and Lodge. Among those in his cabinet who shared his more militaristic world-view, there was Secretary of State Henry Jackson, Secretary of War Joe Kennedy Jr., and Secretary of the Navy (who was also a close Connally friend) John B Connally.

Economically, Johnson proposed what was called "The American Lifestyle", a series of programs Johnson claimed would work to help the poor, improve health, and eliminate poverty. There would be easily passed in Congress.

1964
For the Republicans, it seemed that Prescott Bush, having been the Vice-Presidential nominee, might be the heir-apparent to the Republican nomination, however, he would face a serious challenge from the right of the party in the form of Senator Barry Goldwater. Goldwater's campaign ran on the ideas that A) there could be no compromise on "The American Lifestyle", it would add massively to the deficit as well as basically crush the human spirit and leave people reliant on the government rather than their own skills and wits; and B) that Johnson wasn't truly serious about besting the Russians-he was only adding to the deficit with wasteful military projects. However, the Party was not yet ready for someone that far to the right to win the nomination, and Prescott Bush was chosen. For Vice-President, Nelson Rockefeller would be nominated.

In the general, Bush appeared stiff, wooden, and un-charismatic against the "Raging Populist" Johnson, who had labor unions behind him as well as the "Solid South". The election would be historical because for the first time, Washington DC would be allowed to vote in a Presidential Election. While Bush was concentrated more on holding down Western states, Johnson promised a new era of Civil Rights to the people of Washington DC.
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President Lyndon B Johnson (D-TX)/Vice-President Hubert H Humphrey (D-MN) 398 electoral votes, 54.3% of the popular vote
Former Senator Prescott Bush (R-CT)/Governor Nelson Rockefeller (R-NY) 140 electoral votes, 45.4% of the popular vote

Despite Johnson's re-election, there were notable Repbulican gains:
In Texas, George Bush, son of Prescott Bush, was elected to the Senate.
In New York, Conservative Party nominee William F Buckley would win in a tight election due to Liberal vote-splitting between the Republican and Democratic candidates.
Also, in 1961, when Johnson left his office of Senator to become President, Texas Republican John G Tower was elected in a special election.

Notable in Johnson's second term was the passing of the 1965 Civil Rights Act, the landing of America on the moon in 1968, and Johnson being the first President to establish diplomatic ties with the communist nation of Japan despite the protests of American ally China.

However, Johnson would also face the problem of inflation. His deficits incurred from both his military spending and his domestic spending were becoming a problem for the economy. At the same time, support for Israel in the Six-Day War had cost Americans money as gas prices rose throughout the country. 1968 would be tough year for Democrats...

1968
The Democrats faced a large amount of candidates in 1968 despite inflation and decreasing popularity. From the left came Senator Eugene McCarthy, from the New South came former Governor Terry Sanford, from the Deep South came former Governor George Wallace, from Northern moderates came the economically moderate and foreign policy hawk War Secretary Joe Kennedy Jr., and there was of course Vice-President Humphrey. Eventually, Humphrey would be nominated with Governor Sanford.

The Republicans also faced a number of candidates including Senator Goldwater of Arizona, Senator George Bush of Texas, Governor George Romney of Michigan, and Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York. With the moderates and libersl splitting between Romney, Bush, and Rockefeller, Goldwater was able to carry the entire Conservative base (despite slight bleeding to Bush), and use that to win at the convention. For Vice-President, Goldwater selected one of his own kind in Senator William F Buckley of New York for Vice-President.
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Vice-President Hubert H Humphrey (D-MN)/Former Governor Terry Sanford (D-NC) 313 electoral votes, 50.8% of the popular vote
Senator Barry M Goldwater (R-AZ)/Senator James L Buckley (R/C-NY) 225 electoral votes, 48.9% of the popular vote

Despite a comfortable electoral vote, the popular vote was surprisingly close and some races were almost contested. However, Humphrey had won.

(I edited the 1968 election into the last post)

Dealing with inflation proved to be Humphrey's biggest difficulty as President. the Johnson years of increased military and domestic spending had done damage to the United States economy and to the US dollar. His first task would be lowering the military budget. However, when approached by a number of moderates including Senators George Smathers and John F Kennedy (brother to former War Secretary Joe Kennedy Jr.) to lower domestic spending, Humphrey refused, fully believing that the domestic spending was necessary.

Among the few bright spots of the Humphrey Administration was the landing of Man on the Moon in June of 1969. This was only one of many signs of United States military superiority over the Soviet Union since the end of World War II.

1972
President Humphrey would receive his share of challengers. From the Populist end of the party came Governor George Wallace of Alabama. From the Left of the party came former Senator Eugene McCarthy who claimed that Humphrey wasn't doing enough to cut the military budget and that even some domestic spending would have to be cut in order to ensure economic prosperity. However, Humphrey and Vice-President Sanford would secure re-nomination just the same.

For the Republicans, 1972 would be the year of the "Comeback kid" Richard Nixon who since leaving the Vice-Presidency had been elected to the Senate in 1962 and since 1970 has been serving as Senate Majority Whip. He had a long political career trailing back to 1946. He had been Congressman (1947-1951), Governor (1951-1956), Vice-President (1957-1961), and since 1963, a Senator. He had a long and accomplished career of public service. However, he would be faced with challenges from four tern (eight year) Arkansas Governor Winthrop Rockefeller, Kansas Senator Bob Dole, and Congressman John Ashbrook. Ashbrook would surprisingly do well in the primaries with the endorsements of Senators Goldwater and Buckley. However, Nixon would come out on top and choose Rockefeller as part of his "Southern Strategy" which was to cement the GOP in the south and extend their base of support.
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Senate Majority Whip Richard M Nixon (R-CA)/Governor Winthrop Rockefeller (R-AR) 376 electoral votes, 54.6% of the popular vote
President Hubert H Humphrey (D-MN)/Vice-President Terry Sanford (D-NC) 162 electoral votes, 44.8% of the popular vote

Nixon went on to become one of the nation's greatest Presidents in terms of foreign policy acheivments and popularity. It seemed that after twelve years out of office the Republicans had officially regained steam. One of his greatest accomplishments internally was the blending of the State, Navy, and War departments to create the Department of National Security.

1976
The Republicans were glad to renominate the successful President Nixon. However, Vice-President Winthrop Rockefeller would be stepping down from the ticket, given his battles with cancer the last four years. He even declined the cabinet position of Agriculture Secretary, saying he was done for good. In his place Nixon chose his good friend National Security Secretary John Connally of Texas, a former Democrat.

The Democrats, after the defeat of their "Happy Warrior" four years ago, were left without a true leader. Their Congressional leaders Mike Mansfield and Carl Albert didn't seem interested in the Presidency, and such Governors as Jimmy Carter and George Wallace didn't make the cut. Eventually, a leader was able to emerge in the form of Senator Frank Church of Idaho, a favorite of the Liberals and the establishment alike. For Vice-President, retiring Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota would be chosen.
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President Richard M Nixon (R-CA)/National Security Secretary John Connally (R-TX) 395 electoral votes, 56.2% of the popular vote
Senator Frank Church (D-ID)/Senator Eugene McCarthy (D-MN) 143 electoral votes 43.6 % of the popular vote

Richard Nixon, who had spent his entire political life working to acheive higher office, had at last been re-elected by a landslide to the greatest American political office of all, the Presidency. His rise had been a long one, from Congressman, to Governor, to Vice-President, to Senator. However, he had acheived it. Sadly, Nixon would not live to see the completion of his dream, as he was assassinated in 1977.

With John Connally's ascension to the Presidency less than a year after his predecessor had won re-election, he hoped he would be able to live up to the hopes of the American people. He himself had had an interesting political rise. He had been Johnson's chief of staff while Johnson was still majority leader, and had been Navy Secretary from 1961 to 1967. In 1968 he was elected Governor of Texas and won re-election in 1970. In 1973 he had stepped onto Nixon's cabinet as War Secretary and later National Security Secretary until stepping down in 1977 to take the reigns of the Vice-Presidency, where he had been when Nixon died.

Over Connally's term as President, things did not go "swimmingly" for the Texan. His economic policies, while Conservative when surrounded by Democrats, were moderate at best for the Republicans, who objected to his allowing of wag and price controls, and a massive increase of the debt ceiling in order to provide "economic stimulus". Many, such as Senators Goldwater, Heston, and Buckley, rejected the idea of "Big Government Conservatism", a phrase coined by Buckley. As the deficits grew and protests erupted on the right and left from a declining economy, it seemed that America needed a new leader, and new leadership.

1980
The Democrats, seeing 1980 as their chance to "re-affirm" their leadership of the country, faced a crowded field including Senators George McGovern, Eugene McCarthy, and Walter Mondale; and Governors Jimmy Carter, Jerry Brown, and Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Eventually, Jerry Brown, campaigning as the "new face" of the Democratic party in; contrast to McGovern's progressivism, Moynihan's Old School, New Deal Liberalism, and Carter's folksy Southern appeal; would win the nomination. In a very Western friendly ticket (reminiscient of 1976), Senator Mike Gravel of Alaska would win the Vice-Presidential nomination.

President Connally found himself facing challenges from both sides when looking for the Republican nomination*. On the right stood Senator Charlton Heston of California, like Connally, a former Democrat. He had been elected to the Senate in 1970. On the left was Congressman Pete McCloskey, also of California, who was far more Liberal than either the President, or the Senator. In a three-way battle for the Presidency, Connally would barely come out politically alive. For Vice-President, Connally chose Senator John Chaffee of Rhode Island, who was at the time the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services committee. With both Connally's and Chaffee's m ilitary experience, they hoped to drastically outdo the "unexperienced" Democratic ticket of Brown and Gravel.

As far as third parties went, a far right ticket of Congressman John Schmitz of California and Phil Crane of Illinois would run under the "America First" banner.
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Governor Edmund G "Jerry" Brown Jr. (D-CA) 370 electoral votes, 57.1% of the popular vote
President John B Connally (R-TX)/Senator John Chaffee (R-IL) 168 electoral votes, 41.5% of the popular vote
Congressman John Schmitz (AI-CA)/Congressman Phil Crane (AI-IL) 0 electoral votes, .9% of the popular vote

In 1980, Jerry Brown would be elected the first Roman Catholic President the nation had. Ironically, he would also govern as a Libertarian, generally cutting taxes, lowering the deficit, ending the war on drugs, lowering the military budget and generally ushering in hies "era of limits" Against the expectations of economists and politicians, mostly in Brown's own party, his economic strategy would work and by 1983 the economy and deficit would both be in much better conditions.

1984
Despite rumors of a far left challenge, the popular Brown would be re-nominated unanimously.

The Republicans on the other hand, were thrown into chaos. The fight came down to Senator George Bush of Connecticut, Senator John Tower of Texas, Governor Charlton Heston of California (elected in 1982), and Senator and 1980 VP candidate John Chaffee of Rhode Island. Eventually, after severl concession including appointments to State and Defense, Chaffee and Tower would bow out to make way for Bush, who chose Senator Paul Laxalt of Nevada for Vice-President.
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President Edmund G "Jerry" Brown Jr. (D-CA)/Vice-President Maurrice R "Mike" Gravel (D-AK) 453 electoral votes, 59.1% of the popular vote
Senator George Bush (R-CT)/Senator Paul Laxalt (R-NV) 85 electoral votes, 40.6% of the popular vote

As 1984 progressed to 1985 and no economic issues seemed to grab the public attention, the newly re-inaugurated President Brown would turn towards social and foreign policy issues. Secretary of National Security Mark Hatfield and Ambassador to the United Nations George McGovern were both pushing for nuclear freeze negotiations with the Soviet Union and had waited all through Brown's first term when the President was concentrated near wholly on economic issues.

However, Brown and his foreign policy team, finally agreeing that it might not be the best time to work towards a nuclear freeze, agreed to focus mainly on human rights and to push for nuclear containment. In the summer of 1987 those negotiations would finally come to a head with the the Arms Production Ban Treaty, the "nuclear freeze" that President Brown wnated seemed to have arrived.

On social issues Brown would push for the full legalization of gay marriage in all fifty states. Meeting up with stiff opposition, Brown would not be dettered, saying "It is high time equality be legalized". However, the congressional battle would not be an easy one. Eventually, as the 1988 election approached, congressional powers would be at a stalemate.

1988
For Vice-President Gravel, he would see enemies from both the Conservative and Liberal factions of the party for his belief in full fifty-state abortion legalization and his calling for a flat tax. Eventually, Governor Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York would become his greatest rival for the nomination, representing both those that were pro-life in the party as well as those that were more fiscally liberal. Gravel would prevail, however, with the support of President Brown. Instead of reaching out to Moynihan or another rival, Gravel chose Massachusetts Senator Paul Tsongas for Vice-President.

The Republicans would also face a tough primary season. Two-term Governor and former Senator Charlton Heston of California seemed to be the rightful nominee after two failed bids and coming in second place for the nomination. “The party’s Liberals have failed” he would say, referring to the 1984 defeat. Former Senator and 1984 Vice-Presidential nominee Paul Laxalt would also run, but he failed to gain traction, having failed to even bring in his home state in 1984. The man that was Heston’s major rival for the nomination was House Minority Leader John Anderson of Illinois. Being a representative of the GOP’s Liberal wing, he had become known as “President Brown’s greatest ally in Congress in terms of social and foreign policy issues”, and the only major difference between Brown and Anderson was that Anderson supported raising taxes to balance the budget while Brown had focused more on cuts to government. Heston won the nomination, choosing the moderate Senator Howard Baker of Tennessee for Vice-President.

Anderson, disgusted by “Heston Conservatism”, announced an Independent run, allying with the even more Liberal Senator Pete McCloskey of California, who had been elected in 1982 taking Heston’s place.
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Governor Charlton Heston (R-CA)/Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker (R-TN) 291 electoral votes, 46.6% of the popular vote
Vice-President Maurrice K “Mike” Gravel (D-AK)/Senator Paul Tsongas (D-MA) 240 electoral votes, 45.5% of the popular vote
Congressman and former House Minority Leader John B Anderson (I-IL)/Senator Pete McCloskey (I-CA) 7 electoral votes, 7.5% of the popular vote

In an incredibly close election where Heston won California only by 34%, Republicans would return to the Whitehouse.

As President, Heston would follow the plans of Secretary of National Security William F Buckley, and the "Buckley Doctrine". It stated that while the United States could no longer engage in the production of nuclear weaponry, that didn't stop it from using proxy-wars in Warsaw Pact countries in order to drive out or wear down Soviet forces and puppet governments there. With this as Heston's guide a new phase of the Cold War would begin. No longer would there be negotiation and publicized missile reduction summits, but indtead fighting in the mountains and cities of Soviet puppet governments.

Domestically, Heston would "stay the course" that Brown had charted in terms of the economy, with defenders saying "It worked the last eight years and it will work now. The fundamentals of our economy are strong." Under Heston's watch the economy continued its growth and Americans were happy with their leader.

1992
For President Heston, despite rumors of a challenge from former Senator Lowell Weicker of Connecticut (who had been defeated in the Republican primary in 1988 by Joe Lieberman), those rumors dissipated after Weicker polled an incredibly weak 3% in a hypothetical Republican poll between the President and Weicker.

The Democrats on the other hand were struggling to define themselves. Under Brown they had been steered down the road of fiscal Conservatism combined with social and foreign policy Liberalism, a near 180 from the Johnson years. Representing the Populist wing would be Governor Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, representing moderates was Governro Al Gore of Tennessee, representing Liberals was the popular Governor Mario Cuomo of New York, and representing the Brown wing was Senator Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts. Eventually, the Brown wing would once again obtain victory, but it was by no means a satement of the party's place in the future, and he was forced to choose the pro-life Governor Al Gore of Tennessee.
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President Charlton Heston (R-CA)/Vice-President Howard Baker (R-TN) 412 electoral votes, 56.3% of the popular vote
Senator Paul Tsongas (D-MA)/Governor Albert Gore Jr. (D-TN) 126 electoral votes, 43.3% of the popular vote

The only good news for the Democrats would be surprising gains in the North-East as they captured not only New Hampshire, which had gone for both Brown and Gravel, but also Vermont and Main by close margins. They had made significant gains in that area since 1980 and it appeared that the gaining control of the NorthEast might be complete. However, that was the only thing as Heston had been able to gain large chunks of working class voters, delivering New Jersey to him and almost giving him Pennsylvania and West Virginia. This coined the term "Heston Democrats", or Democrats that felt Republicans, at least that time around, better represented the American people.

The rest of Heston's term would be marked by continued economic prosperity that had existed since the early '80's. Meanwhile, in foreign events, the Soviet Union collapsed in 1995 after having been unable to sustain its fighting of various proxy-wars in their own countries. Heston was hailed by some in the party as "the greatest defender of Conservative values since Henry Cabot Lodge Senior!"

1996
Vice-President Baker, a member of the party's moderate wing, would be the early front-runner for the nomination. He would soon be joined by Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, Governor Barry Goldwater Jr., Congressman Lincoln Chaffee, and White House Communications Director Patrick J Buchanan. Baker, after narrowly defeating Dole in Iowa and beating back Goldwater and Buchanan in New Hampshire, would cruise to victory. For Vice-President, Senator Joseph Lieberman, a moderate, would be chosen. He would be the first practicing Jew on a major party ticket.

The Democrats would nominate the popular two-term Texas Senator Ann Richards, who had beaten back the challenges made by Senator Joseph Kennedy III (son of War Secretary Joe Jr.), Governor Mario Cuomo, and Senator Gary Hart.

"We stand four years away from a new century. Now, we must choose a leader he can lead us in the right direction. On one hand, we face a Republican moderate who will only give ground to the Democrats in the terms of social issues and will aise taxes if he views it is needed. On the other hand we see a Populist Democrat who wishes to expand government into every corner of one's life. There needs to be a third option." spoke Patrick J Buchanan, White House Communications Director and Conservative activist. Running with Congressman Ron Paul of Texas, he would spoil Baker's chances.
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Senator Ann Richards (DE-TX)/Governor Mario Cuomo 356 electoral votes, 48.6% of the popular vote
Vice-President Howard Baker (R-TN)/Senator Joseph Lieberman (R-CT) 169 electoral votes, 41.2% of the popular vote
Whitehouse Communications Director Patrick J Buchanan (I-DC)/Congressman Ronald E Paul (I-TX) 13 electoral votes, 10.3% of the popular vote

Richards, despite being popular, did not come into her term with a lot of momentum. Republicans, despite losing the Senate, had held the House of Representatives, and House Speaker Dick Cheney (elected to Congress in 1982 after serving three years as as Whitehouse Chief of Staff), was unwilling to give way. Along with that, the economy was winding down as the boom years between 1982 and 1997 were coming to an end. Fifteen years of immense prosperity were finally sunsetting and Richards would bear the brunt of it. Despite that, fighting multiple factors, she remained personally popular.

2000
After four years of stalls in Congress as law makers were unable to compromise, Richards would face a challenge in the form of former Brown administration Environment Secretary Ralph Nader, a hard leftist. However, she would emerge very much politically alive and ready to go into the 2000 election with all guns firing.

The Republicans on the other hand, seemed unable to decide whose turn it was as people debated whether their loss had been Baker's or Buchanan's fault. Finally, the charismatic Governor Jack Kemp of New York, former Urban Secretary for the Heston Administration and before that a Congressman, was able to lay claim to the nomination. He chose House
Speaker Dick Cheney, a popular figure among the base and a fellow insider, for Vice-President.

Finally, Ralph Nader, claiming that neither party was qualified to "stand up to corporations, special interests, and theocrats", announced his own independent bid. Choosing Maine Congressman John Eder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Eder), a former Democrat and by that point an Independent who had been elected in 1996, for Vice-President.
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Governor Jack Kemp (R-NY)/Speaker Dick Cheney (R-WY) 271 electoral votes 48.8% of the popular vote
President Ann Richards (D-TX)/Vice-President Mario Cuomo (D-NY) 267 electoral votes 46.7% of the popular vote
Former Environmental Secretary and Activist Ralph Nader (I-CT)/Congressman John Eder (I-ME) 0 electoral votes, 4.1% of the popular vote

The effect that Nader had on the race was significant as North-Eastern states that had a chance of going for Richards given the right circumstances were thrown to the Republicans, and for years to come, Democrats would blame Nader and his supporters for throwing the election.

Kemp, like Richards, would also come into office popular. However, unlike Richards, would be able to maintain that popularity. The economic recovery that followed would only help the popular President. Kemp's anti-poveryt initiatives, seen not only as more effective than Richards', but also more committed, would help to strengthen the economy and unemployment, after months hovering around 7 or 8%, would go down to between 5 and 6%.

2004
With President Kemp's popularity, the Democrats would nominate, from a weak field, Governor Howard Dean of Vermont, a "true Progressive". In order to balance the ticket, former Richards National Security Secretary Wesley Clark would be chosen for Vice-President. While Dean initially had a lot of momentum, even leading Kemp in a couple of polls, a string of gaffes and his famous "I have a Scream" speech sunk him in the polls. Kemp, working to organize every faction of the Repbulican party, from moderates to Conservatives to Libertarians to Populists, worked hard to crush Dean, and did so come election day.
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President Jack Kemp (R-NY)/Vice-President Dick Cheney (R-WY) 405 electoral votes, 56.8% of the popular vote
Governor Howard Dean (D-VT)/Former National Security Secretary Wesley Clark (D-IL) 133 electoral votes, 42.9% of the popular vote

With that, Kemp finally received his mandate to govern, continuing his "war on poverty" as well as working to pass legislation relating to national security, abortion, and immigration. Hailed by some as "the Second President Heston", Kemp worked instead to try to create his own legacy. Despite remaining popular throughout the remaineder of his term, Republicans would still face an uphill battle because of the twenty year "era of Republican dominance".

2008
With Vice-President Cheney choosing not to run because of his age, a number of other candidates stepped in including former Governor Ron Paul of Texas, Governor Jeb Bush of Connecticut, Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, National Security Secretary Colin Powell of Pennsylvania, and former Governor Robert Taft II of Ohio. After a rough early weeks of 2008, Powell's campaign would recover with an unexpectedly easy victory in Iowa. Bush won an expected victory in New Hampshire following his fellow Connecticut resident and former opponent Joe Lieberman's endorsement. However, what wasn't expected was the close margin of victory. In Nevada, Paul would claim his first victory. South Carolina would be the deciding primary as Powell battled the "North-Eastern Conservative" Jeb Bush and the Libertarian Ron Paul for first place. From there on out, Powell had the advantage. Finally becoming the presumptive nominee, Jeb Bush would join him on the ticket in a very strongly North-East ticket.

The Democrats also faced a tough primary. Senator Rudy Guiliani of New York would become an early frontrunner following the endorsement of former Vice-President Mario Cuomo. However, former President Richards would have her own endorsement of North Carolina Senator John Edwards. The third major candidate was New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson who had the possibility of becoming the first Hispanic President of America. In Iowa, Richardson would win out while Guiliani as the resident North-Easterner would follow suit in New Hampshire. Richardson received his second victory in Nevada before South Carolina, where Edwards won. Ricahrdson, in carrying crucial Western states of Texas and California, would narrowly win the nomination, choosing Senate Majority Leader Joe Biden for Vice-President.

In a crucial battle of "who will be first?", for the first time, an African American was on a ticket, and for the first time a Hispanic was on a major party ticket. The election, because of this was very competitive and resulted in a very strange electoral map.
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Governor Will Richardson (D-NM)/Senate Majority Leader Joseph R Biden (D-DE) 304 electoral votes, 50.8% of the popular vote
National Security Secretary Colin L Powell (R-PA)/Governor John Ellis Bush (R-CT) 234 electoral votes, 48.9% of the popular vote

With that, in a very historic election, one of the most historic in America's history, America would elect its first Hispanic President. After Powell conceded the eleciton, relations remained cordial and Powell in fact stayed on in Richardson's cabinet, continuing his role as Secretary of National Security.

List of "At the Behest of Roosevelt" Presidents

29. Henry Cabot Lodge (R-MA)/Hiram Johnson (R/P-CA) March 4th, 1917-November 9th,1924
30. Hiram Johnson (P-CA)/vacant November 9th, 1924-March 4th, 1925
31. Alvan T Fuller (R-MA)/Henry Ford (R-MI) March 4th, 1925-March 4th, 1933
32. John Nance Garner (D-TX)/Franklin D Roosevelt (D-NY) March 4th, 1933-January 20th, 1941
33. Franklin D Roosevelt (D-NY)/Cordell Hull (D-TN) January 20th, 1941-June 5th, 1945
34. Cordell Hull (D-TN)/vacant June 5th, 1945-January 20th, 1949
35. Robert Taft (R-OH)/Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (R-MA) January 20th, 1949-July 31st, 1953
36. Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (R-MA)/vacant, Richard M Nixon (R-CA) July 31st, 1953-January 20th, 1961
37. Lyndon B Johnson (D-TX)/Hubert H Humphrey (D-MN) January 20th, 1961-January 20th, 1969
38. Hubert H Humphre (D-MN)/Terry Sanford (D-NC) January 20th, 1969-January 20th, 1973
39. Richard M Nixon (R-CA)/Winthrop Rockefeller (R-AR), John B Connally (R-TX) January 20th, 1973-October 19th, 1977
40. John B Connally (R-TX)/vacant October 19th, 1977-January 20th, 1981
41. Edmund G "Jerry" Brown Jr. (D-CA)/Maurrice K "Mike Gravel (D-AK) January 20th, 1981-January 20th, 1989
42. Charlton Heston (R-CA)/Howard Baker (D-TN) January 20th, 1989-January 20th, 1997
43. Ann Richards (D-TX)/Mario Cuomo (D-NY) January 20th, 1997-January 20th, 2001
44. Jack Kemp (R-NY)/Dick Cheney (R-WY) January 20th, 2001-January 20th, 2009
45. William Richardson (D-NM)/Joseph R Biden (D-DE) January 20th, 2009-Present

The End

Camelot's Completion:
A World Withou Chappaquiddick

Ted Kennedy, having risen in the Senate since the death of his brother Bobby, and finally looking to complete the dream of his two brothers, announced in mid-1971 that he would be running for President in 1972. Competing against George McGovern, George Wallace, and Shirley Chisholm, the endorsements of both Hubert H Humphrey, Henry M Jackson, and Edmund Muskie would help him greatly in the primaries. By the time he got to the convention, he had gained a large amount of momentum and was only a few points behind Richard Nixon in the polls. For Vice-President, Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, a moderate, would be chosen.

Despite a post-convention bump, Kennedy would face an uphill battle against President Nixon. However, on election day, he would succeed.
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Senator Edward M Kennedy (D-MA)/Governor James E Carter (D-GA) 270 electoral votes, 49.8% of the popular vote
President Richard M Nixon (R-CA)/Vice-President Spiro T Agnew (R-MD) 268 electoral votes, 49.5% of the popular vote

With that incredibly close victory, even closer than in 1960, President Nixon would be crushed. Retiring to his home in Yorba Linda California, he would be described as "an angry, lonely, bitter man, who feels that opportunity was yanked mercillesly away from him by the Liberal North-Eastern elite."

As for Ted Kennedy, he was elated. In his cabinet would be Secretary of State Frank Church, Secretary of the Treasury Hubert H Humphrey, and HUD Secretary Shirley Chisholm. President Kennedy's first priority would be to end the war in Vietnam. Finally agreeing on a resolution with the North-Vietnamese leader Le-Duch-To, Kennedy declared victory and began shipping American troops home. Among Kennedy's domestic accomplishments would be the pardoning of all draft-dodgers, a final end to the draft, and becoming known as "the greatest school desegregator in American history".

1976
With all those accomplishments behind him, Kennedy faced no opposition to his re-nomination. The Republicans on the other hand faced a vicious battle between former Vice-President Agnew, former Governor Ronald Reagan, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, and Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield. Finally, Agnew claimed victory, choosing Congressman John Ashbrook of Ohio as his runningmate.
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President Edward M Kennedy (D-MA)/Vice-President James E Carter (D-GA) 378 electoral votes, 54.7% of the popular vote
Former Vice-President Spiro T Agnew (R-MD)/Congressman John Ashbrook (R-OH) 160 electoral votes, 44.8% of the popular vote

"We now stand at the end. The end of the generation of the Kennedys. Since 1960, that name has captivated and captured America. Since then, we have seen more than one Kennedy rise to power, and over half of the last twenty years have had a Kennedy as President. For now, at least for now, it seems that the Kennedys have made their mark and we shall see instead new faces leading the Democratic party and the country"

1980
Vice-President Jimmy Carter, with the full support of President Kennedy, would face many challenges in the primaries. Among them were Senator Henry M Jackson of Washington, Governor Jerry Brown of California, Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas, and Senator George McGovern of South Dakota. However, Carter would narrowly beat all of them. In order to attract working and middle class voters who were turning towards the Republicans because of the bad economy, Carter chose Senator Adlai Stevenson III of Illinois for Vice-President.

The Republicans would also have a crowded field which included Governor George Bush of Texas, Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker of Tennessee, Congressman Phil Crane of Illinois, Congressman John Anderson of Illinois, Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon, former Treasury Secretary John Connally of Texas, Senator Bill Armstrong of Texas, and former Governor Ronald Reagan of California. However, the frontrunner had yet to enter. Finally, former Vice-Presidential candidate and by then one-term Ohio Governor John Ashbrook, who since 1976 had become one of the Conservative standard bearers, would enter the race, winning Iowa and New Hampshire. Finally claiming the nomination despite regional victories by Baker and Anderson, George Bush.
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Governor John Ashbrook (R-OH)/Governor George Bush (R-TX) 333 electoral votes, 52.3% of the popular vote
Vice-President James E Carter (D-GA)/Senator Adlai E Stevenson III (D-IL) 205 electoral votes, 47.3% of the popular vote

On January 20th, 1981, John Ashbrook would take the Oath of Office, becoming the 39th President of the United States of America. Among his cabinet, former Vice-President Spiro T Agnew would become Attorney General, Texas Governor George Bush would become Secretary of Defense, former Senator James L Buckley would become Secretary of State, and former Governor Ronald Reagan would become Secretary of Commerce.

Sadly for President Ashbrook, he would be killed on March 29th by a crazed John Hinckley Jr., and Vice-President George Bush would become the 40th President of the United States. With the more moderate George Bush in office, it seemed that the "Ashbrook Revolution" would be halted, at least for the moment. For Vice-President, Congressman Jack Kemp would be chosen in order to draw in "Ashbrookites" (a world that did not flow well), and to keep moderates happy.

In foreign policy, Bush would continue the hawkish foreign policy begun by Ashbrook, and become a respected world leader for his facing down of Leonid Brezhnev. In economic policy, however, it seemed Bush would not focuse that much of his attention, instead barely getting into disputes with Congress. His domestic policy would instead be led by Vice-President Kemp and Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker.

1984
Despite rumors that a Conservative such as Phil Crane might try to challenge the President, George Bush would be unanimously renominated by the Republicans, who felt he was their man in 1984 after a successful economic recovery.

The Democrats would face very few willing to enter the race. However, former Senator Adlai E Stevenson III would step up to be the party's sacrificial lamb that year. For Vice-President, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm of New York would be chosen.
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President George Bush (R-TX)/Vice-President Jack Kemp (R-NY) 488 electoral votes, 56.3% of the popular vote
Former Senator Adlai E Stevenson III (D-IL)/Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (D-NY) 50 electoral votes, 43.2% of the popular vote

Bush's second term would be marked by foreign policy successes and economic stabilization. However, Republican fatigue and a loss of the senate in 1986 would lead to an early starting point for the 1988 election as both Democrats and Republicans kicked into high gear in early 1987.

1988
The first man to enter the 1988 Democratic primaries would be former Senator Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts. Claiming to be the "reasonable alternative" to "Kennedy Liberals and Ashbrook Conservatives", Tsongas would have early appeal, especially in the early primary state of New Hampshire. However, his maverick New England style would soon be overshadowed by the presence of Governor Mario Cuomo of New York. A Liberal Catholic, Cuomo was an early favorite and threw his hat into the race in October. Other candidates were Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, Senate Majority Leader Walter Mondale, and Tennessee Senator Al Gore Jr. Cuomo would begin with an early win in Iowa, with Mondale coming in a close second due to being from the neighbroing state of Minnesota. In New Hampshire, Tsongas' victory would be offset by Cuomo's close second. Coming into the south, Gore would dominate, but Cuomo at the end of the season would emerge the winner by a large amount. For Vice-President, Gore would be chosen.

For the Republicans, Vice-President Kemp would face challenges both from the Right and the Left of the party as Congressman Phil Crane, a friend of the deceased Ashbrook, stepped in from the Right and Senator Lowell Weicker of Connecticut stepped in from the Left. In Iowa, the charismatic and popular Kemp would do well. However, New Hampshire, surprisingly enough, would be the major battleground state as Crane and Weicker went to work tearing each other apart. The two represented different ends of the New Hampshire Republican party. Crane represented the rural fiscal Conservatives of the "live free or die" state, while Weicker made himself the standard bearer of New England Liberal Republicanism. Eventually, Kemp came in a narrow third with Crane on top. After the rest of the primary season unfolded, the Vice-President found himself surprisingly in second as Crane charged forward with the "Ashbrook vote". However, things would turn out okay for Kemp as Bush put his 1984 political machine to work for his Vice-President. In order to help with moderates and hold the state of California, one-term Senator Maureen Reagan, daughter of former Governor (1967-1975) and Commerce Secretary (1981-1987), and who had been elected in 1982 to the Senate, would be chosen for Vice-President. Despite her father's image as a champion of Conservative ideals in the 1976 Presidential campaign, his daughter was much more moderate, especially on social issues.
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Governor Mario Cuomo (D-NY)/Senator Albert Gore Jr. (D-TN) 277 electoral votes, 49.8% of the popular vote
Vice-President Jack Kemp (R-NY)/Senator Maureen Reagan (R-CA) 261 electoral votes, 49.3% of the popular vote

The election would come down to Ohio, where Cuomo, using trade as a large issue, would carry the day. In Georgia, former Vice-President Jimmy Carter, who after hsi Vice-Presidency returned to the Governorship from 1983 to 1987, would throw a large amount of support financially and politically into his home state to guarantee a Democratic victory there. In Cuomo's cabinet, Governor Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts would become Treasury Secretary. Congressman Dick Gephardt of Missouri would become Labor Secretary. Former Governor and Vice-President Jimmy Carter who had worked extremely hard for the ticket would be given the pleasure of becoming Secretary of State.

Cuomo's tenure as President would be marked with the halting of any and all free-trade legislation, the raising of taxes to bridge the deficit, and thawing of relations with the Soviet Union. However, the economy would slow down under his watch and his popularity with the middle class would wain as his taxes didn't help the economic situation. By 1992 a once popular President would face a challenge in the primaries from former Senator Paul Tsongas who was still bitter from the 1988 defeat and was campaigning once again on fiscal conservatism.

1992
While Cuomo would repeat his win in Iowa, Tsongas would have a much more convincing margin of victory in New Hampshire, and with no other opponents, Tsongas would carry all of New England and some Western states. However, he would never be able to completely overtake the incumbent President Cuomo.

The Republicans faced a large field in the wake of hearing that the Democratic incumbent would be challenged from within his own party. Candidates include Congressman Phil Crane and former Senator Lowell Weicker, both of whom were looking to make due on their campaign promises from four years ago. Other candidates included Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole, Texas Senator Phil Gramm, and businessman Steve Forbes. Crane, running on Conservative energy, would eventually win the nomination, choosing former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney, who had worked in the House of Representatives (1977-1983), been Director of Central Intelligence (1983-1986), and had served as President Bush's final Defense Secretary (1986-1989) before returning to Wyoming. The reason Cheney had been appointed Secretary of Defense originally was after the resignation of then-Secretary of Defense John Tower (1982-1986) when allegations about womanizing and drunken behavior were made public.

In what was not so much of a surprise, former Senator Weicker announced an Independent bid for President, choosing former Massachusetts Governor Elliot Richardson for Vice-President. They would challenge Crane greatly in the North-East.

In the general election, Crane would make due on the "Ashbrook Revolution" of twelve years ago, receiving endorsements from famous Conservative politicians such as South Carolina Governor Carrol Campbell, former Commerce Secretary Ronald Reagan, Nevada Senator Paul Laxalt, and California Governor Barry Goldwater Jr.
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Congressman Phil Crane (R-IL)/Former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney (R-WY) 314 electoral votes, 48.6% of the popular vote
President Mario Cuomo(D-NY)/Vice-President Albert Gore Jr. (D-TN) 209 electoral votes, 41.2% of the popular vote
Former Senator Lowell Weicker (I-CT)/Former Governor Elliot Richardson (I-MA) 15 electoral votes, 10.8% of the popular vote

Okay, I'm rebooting this after seeing how much fun I had with "at the behest of President Roosevelt". I will not be continuing the Ted Kennedy in '72 tl, however, and am hoping of starting fresh. I'm doing this mainly to distract from my other tls which will require much more research and time to update properly. This timeline as well will start in the 1910's and hopefully get completed.

1912
Despite rumors circulating that in 1912, President Roosevelt would challenge his own protege President Taft for the Republican nomination, Roosevelt instead hartily endorsed Taft, whose only primary challenge proved to be from the Progressive Robert LaFollette. At the Republican National Convention, Taft was re-nominated by a large margin. For the Democrats, Speaker of the House Champ Clark was selected, choosing Woodrow Wilson in order to win over the support of William Jennings Bryan.

In October, Vice-President Sherman died, leaving the Republicans in a dis-array. In order to quickly choose a qualified successor, one-term Progressive Governor of California Hiram Johnson was chosen for Vice-President.
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President William Howard Taft (R-OH)/Governor Hiram W Johnson (R-CA) 305 electoral votes, 54.6% of the popular vote
Speaker Beauchamp "Champ" Clark (D-MO)/Governor Woodrow Wilson (D-NJ) 226 electoral votes, 42.9% of the popular vote

Despite not winning as much as he had the previous year, Taft was happy as he was re-elected. Governing mostly as a moderate, the income tax and the Federal Reserve were created under his watch. In foreign affairs, Taft governed mostly as an isolationist, avoiding the storm clouds building in Europe as war threatened.

1916
In 1916, rumor once again abounded that Roosevelt might try for a third term. By 1916, Roosevelt was serving as Secretary of the Navy after his predecessor’s retirement. However, Roosevelt declined running, saying he was happy with his life, but that he would accept a cabinet appointment from the next Republican elected. At the convention, Vice-President Hiram Johnson, who was supported by Roosevelt, La Follette, and Taft, faced off against Conservative opposition, headed by former Vice-President Charles W Fairbanks. Eventually a compromise was reached with the Vice-President heading the ticket and Charles Evan Hughes being put on the bottom of the ticket.

At the Democratic National Convention, Woodrow Wilson, 1912 Vice-Presidential nominee, was able to win the nomination on the promise that the Populist Oscar W Underwood be chosen for Vice-President. Wilson’s attempt was successful and he emerged from the convention triumphant.

In the general, the main issue was foreign intervention. Wilson espoused an interventionist foreign policy, especially concerning Europe where England, France, Germany, Russia, and Austria-Hungary were at war. Since 1914 and the beginning of the war in Europe, America had done nothing despite Teddy Roosevelt’s urgings to do so. Hiram Johnson was determined to continue that course.
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Vice-President Hiram Johnson (R-CA)/Associate Justice Charles Evan Hughes (R-NY) 324 electoral votes, 55.1% of the popular vote

Governor Woodrow Wilson (D-NJ)/Senator Oscar Underwood (D-AL) 207 electoral votes, 43.7%of the popular vote

Despite questions over continued Republican rule, Wilson proved unable to beat Republican strength in the North-East and Mid-West, and despite making in-roads in the West, was unable to beat out Johnson. Republican dominance would continue.

Johnson’s cabinet would represent his ideology and his campaign promises. Robert La Follette, a Progressive icon and a Johnson supporter, would be made Secretary of State. Former President Taft, a follower of isolationism, would head the War Department. As for Treasury, Albert B Cummins, formerly the Governor of Iowa, would be selected. As for Theodore Roosevelt, after talks with Johnson, decided he would retire from his position as Secretary of the Navy. In his place he left his distant cousin and Democratic protégé Franklin D Roosevelt who had served in the New York State Senate (Jan 1st, 1911-Dec 19, 1913) and Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Dec 19, 1913-Mar 4, 1917). FDR, as he was called, himself an interventionist like Teddy, would often run afoul with President Johnson until his resignation on June 3rd, 1918 to run for Governor of New York. FDR would be replaced by Senator Frank B Kellog.

Across the Atlantic Ocean, the war effort would worsen for the Allied Powers as Russia would drop out of the war due to the Communist Revolution that had overtaken the country. Without two fronts to fight, the Central Powers would march forwards, breaking the stalemate in France. While Johnson continually declined any attempts by Congress to send the country to war, volunteer efforts would start up all over the country. Some were even led by Johnson’s former mentor, Teddy Roosevelt as he campaigned for what would be called the “Liberty Brigade”, a volunteer army to fight the imperialist expansion in Europe.

In domestic policy, Johnson would continue the trust-busting of Roosevelt and Taft. However, on other issues he would push much farther to the Left, flinging aside Taft’s belief in limited government and TR’s corporatism. However, the Progressive era was ending as recession set in and economic stagnation took effect. Johnson’s Presidency was in danger.

1920
Johnson would face a large challenge by Illinois Governor Frank Lowden of the party’s Conservative wing. A man who had balanced his state’s budget and had helped organize Illinois’ Liberty Brigade, Lowden stood in stark contrast to the President and was able to win a number of North-Eastern and Mid-Western primaries. However, Johnson and the Progressives retained control over the party and Johnson was easily re-nominated. In a last blow to the party’s Conservatives, Charles Evan Hughes would be replaced by Senator Charles August Lindbergh of Minnesota, a through-and-through Johnson supporter.

The Democrats would in turn go towards Conservatism. Senator Henry Ford of Michigan and Governor Franklin D Roosevelt of New York would be the party’s nominees for President and Vice-President that year. Both sons of the Democratic year that was 1918, they seemed to represent the future of the party. FDR, though also an interventionist, was much different from his cousin in domestic policy. Incidentally, Woodrow Wilson, the so-called evil genius of the convention, was behind both nominees.

The race was immediately tilted towards the Democrats. With the popular and innovative Henry Ford and the charismatic and young Franklin Roosevelt campaigning against 24 years of Republican rule that included a bad economy and a large push for foreign intervention. With Conservatives fleeing the Republican ticket and Progressives in a dis-array, Henry Ford was swept into office.
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Senator Henry Ford (D-MI)/Governor Franklin D Roosevelt (D-NY) 356 electoral votes, 54.7% of the popular vote
President Hiram W Johnson (R-CA)/Senator Charles A Lindbergh (R-MN) 175 electoral votes 44.8% of the popular vote

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

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

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

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

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

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

Historians would cite 1924 as the high point for American Conservatism as both tickets espoused limited government, fiscal responsibility, and deregulation. In fact, the only major differences were over tariffs and foreign policy. On election day, Roosevelt was given his own term.
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President Franklin D Roosevelr (D-NY)/Speaker John W Davis (D-WV) 318 electoral votes, 56.3% of the popular votes
Governor Calvin Coolidge (R-MA)/Senator Irvine Lenroot (R-WI) 213 electoral votes, 43.2% of the popular vote

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

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

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

The Republicans would once again face a slug fest as to who they would nominate. Finally, the moderate Herbert Hoover would win out. The convention nominated Senator William E Borah of Idaho for Vice-President. Despite Hoover’s attempts to criss-cross the country, the so-called never ending prosperity of the Democrats would ultimately win the day.
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Vice-President John W Davis (D-WV)/Treasury Secretary Alfred E Smith (D-NY) 427 electoral votes, 58.4% of the popular vote
Businessman Herbert Hoover (R-CA)/Senator William E Borah (R-ID) 104 electoral votes, 40.8% of the popular vote

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

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

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

The Republicans on the other hand, would go into the election with their first serious chance of victory since 1916. Senator William E Borah of Idaho would be nominated at the Republican National Convention, and Senator Joseph France of Maryland was selected as his runningmate.
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Senator William E Borah (R-ID)/Senator Joseph France (R-MD) 295 electoral votes, 54.2% of the popular vote
President John W Davis (D-WV)/Vice-President Alfred E Smith (D-NY) 236 electoral votes, 44.9% of the popular vote

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

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

1936
Borah's immense popularity insured his re-election over former Vice-President Smith who himself had fought House Minority Leader John Nance Garner and Senator Cordell Hull for the nomination. For Vice-President, Smith was forced to choose Louisiana Senator Huey Long to appease both Southerners and Liberals.
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President William E Borah (R-ID)/Vice-President Joseph France (R-MD) 411 electoral votes, 58.6% of the popular vote
Former Vice-President Alfred E Smith (D-NY)/Senator Huey Long (D-LA) 120 electoral votes, 31.2% of the popular vote

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

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

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

While the Democratic victory wouldn't be as big as President Roosevelt's previous race, he would be elected to a third term by the American people fairly easily.
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Former President Franklin D Roosevelt (D-NY)/Senator Cordell Hull (D-TN) 314 electoral votes, 55.7% of the popular vote
Senate Majority Leader Charles McNary (R-OR)/Agriculture Secretary Henry Wallace (R-IA) 217 electoral votes, 43.9% of the popular vote

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

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

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

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

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

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

Truman and Dewey weren't really very different. They were both hawkish on foreign policy and believing in a significant government hand in the economy. However, they would be strangely pitted against each other in the election, and Truman would be at a disadvantage due to the economy and calls for American intervention overseas. The Democrats would be further marginalized with the publication of Secretary of State Joe Kennedy's comment "Democracy is done here in Eastern Europe. I suspect it may soon be here in America as well." On election night, there would be an obvious referendum for the Republicans.
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Governor Thomas Dewey (R-NY)/Senator Wayne Morse (R-OR) 394 electoral votes, 56.7% of the popular vote
Vice-President Harry S Truman (D-MO)/Governor Adlai E Stevenson (D-IL) 137 electoral votes, 42.9% of the popular vote

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

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

For the Democrats, the last four years had not been kind. Losing the Senate in 1952 and the House in 1954, they had seemingly recessed and were wandering in the wilderness soul searching even as the election approached. At the convention, a number of low profile candidates would enter the balloting including Governor Orval Faubus of Arkansas, 1952 Vice-Presidential candidate and former Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson, Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri, and others. However, finally the convention would shape up into a two-way battle with the entry of Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin on the seventeenth ballot. He would immediately narrow the field down between him and Stevenson. The differences between the two were obvious. Stevenson called for a "dynamically conservative" domestic policy which involved fiscal conservatism but a still definitively liberal outlook, coupled with a "realistic" foreign policy. McCarthy on the other hand would rail against Dewey's stances on Civil Rights, social programs, Planned Parenthood, and even the war which McCarthy had initially supported. "We've gotta be going in there with everything we've got. When I first heard of the Paris Accords, I had hoped for the use of hydrogen and atomic weaponry to wipe the Godless communists from the face of the earth. Instead, I saw American troops die in battle. What type of war are we fighting here, Dewey!?" He would finally be nominated on the twenty-third ballot, choosing Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina for Vice-President.
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President Thomas Dewey (R-NY)/Vice-President Wayne Morse (R-OR) 484 electoral votes, 60.3% of the popular vote
Senator Joseph McCarthy (D-WI)/Senator J Strom Thurmond (D-SC) 47 electoral votes, 38.4% of the popular vote

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the four scheduled debates, the first to be held on the medium of television, both Stevenson and Morse would perform well. However, Morse came off as too Liberal even for the Liberal time that was the 1960 election, and Stevenson came off as far too intellectual, explaining things such as Chinese culture, interest rates, the value of the dollar, and so forth. Because of the peculiarities of the two candidates, the race would remain close, despite President Dewey's full backing of his Vice-President. No-one had any idea who the winner might be on election night.
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Vice-President Wayne Morse (R-OR)/Senator Jacob Javits (R-NY) 270 electoral votes, 49.5% of the popular vote
former Governor Adlai Stevenson II (D-IL)/ Senator John F Kennedy (D-MA) 267 electoral votes, 49.6% of the popular vote

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

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

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

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

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

During the campaign, Javits would use everything he could against Goldwater, from Goldwater's off-hand remarks about shutting down famous and popular federal institutions such as the Borah Dam in Nevada, to Goldwater's suggested use of hydrogen bombs in Cambodia and Vietnam where the Chinese were advancing, to his alleged support of the Far Right John Birch Society, to the memory of the popular President Morse, and more. With rumors that even Lyndon Johnson preferred Javits over the "radical" Goldwater, and that Congressman James Roosevelt of California had kept his mouth shut over endorsements, Goldwater appeared to be fighting a losing battle.
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President Jacob Javits (R-NY)/Congressman George HW Bush (R-TX) 439 electoral votes, 58.6% of the popular vote
Senator Barry Goldwater (D-AZ)/Congressman William E Miller (D-NY) 99 electoral votes, 40.5% of the popular vote

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

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

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

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

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

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

For the Republicans, they faced an incumbent in trouble. Senator Eugene McCarthy, one of the few Republican Catholics, squared off against the formerly popular President in the primaries, running on an anti-war, pro-social justice, and socially liberal-libertarian platform. Javits, however, still controlled party machinery and while losing a majority of the primaries, re-secured his nomination at the convention. Vice-President George Bush would face a similar challenge from South Dakota Senator George McGovern. However, Bush would easily secure re-nomination on the first Vice-Presidential ballot.
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Senator Henry M Jackson (D-WA)/Senator George Smathers (D-FL) 300 electoral votes, 53.5% of the popular vote
President Jacob Javits (R-NY)/Vice-President George HW Bush (R-TX) 238 electoral votes, 46/2% of the popular vote

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

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

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

In the general election, Jackson, himself a boring and unpersuasive speaker, would be aided by the speeches of Patrick J Buchanan to properly portray McGovern as an out of tough radical who held the most radical of ideals, would endanger America through his dovish foreign policy, and not please the rich, the working class, or the middle class and would endanger all aspects of American life. Despite holding his own rather well in the debates with Jackson, McGovern's campaign would be permanently sunk with news of Vice-Presidential nominee Spiro T Agnew's tax evasion and charges of bribery. McGovern's perceived radicalism, Agnew's scandals, and Jackson's own accomplishments including victory in Indochina and landing on the moon, would eventually doom McGovern to "the ash heap of history".
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President Henry M Jackson (D-WA)/Vice-President George Smathers (D-FL) 528 electoral votes, 60.1% of the popular vote
Senator George McGovern (R-SD)/Governor Spiro T Agnew (R-MD) 10 electoral votes, 39.4% of the popular vote

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

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

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

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

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

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

The general election would be declared one of the "most religious in history". With the two famous evangelicals Carter and Hatfield facing off, some claimed they wouldn't be surprised if God himself had to step down to settle the race. However, God did not step down and it was left up to the voters.
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Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR)/House Minority Leader Gerald R Ford (R-MI) 278 electoral votes, 50.1% of the popular vote
Former Governor James E Carter (D-GA)/Senator Ronald Reagan (D-CA) 259 electoral votes, 49.7% of the popular vote

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

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

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

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

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

In the general election, Kennedy started out leading by a wide margin. Having the South already nailed down, the North solidly his, and the South-West leaning in his favor, Hatfield seemed boxed in as Lucey ate at his left flank. Hatfield would perform up to par in the three party debate, but that would not save him.
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Senator Robert F Kennedy (D-NY)/Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) 411 electoral votes, 53.2% of the popular vote
President Mark Hatfield (R-OR)/Vice-President Gerald R Ford (R-MI) 116 electoral votes, 40.2% of the popualr vote
Former Governor Patrick Lucey (I-WI)/Congressman John Anderson (I-IL) 11 electoral votes, 6.3% of the popular vote

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

1984
With the economic recovery, begun under Hatfield, fully blossoming in 1984, President Kennedy faced little challenge to his "throne". Unanimously re-nominated by his own party, the Democrats were still waiting for the Republicans to nominate someone at their convention. The Republican primaries had dis-solved into a large battle between former Vice-President Gerald Ford (backed by the Mid-West and Industrial States), Senate Minority Leader Walter Mondale (backed by the Rural Mid-West and New England), Senator Gary Hart (backed by the Mountain West and Pacific Coast along with some of the South), and former Texas Governor George Bush who had also served as Vice-President 1965-1969 (backed by Texas and the South). With the entrances of various other candidates on the twentieth ballot as well as a "Draft Hatfield" movement that was gaining steam, the Republicans didn't know who to nominate. Finally, in a large surprise, Senator George McGovern of South Dakota, the 1972 nominee, was nominated. Despite criticisms that his campaign slogan should be "He'll do better this time", he seemed a pleasing choice. "An honorable man to go down honorably" one delegate somberly commented. With a good economy and a restored American confidence, McGovern had his work cut out for him.
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President Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY)/Vice-President Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) 474 electoral votes, 58.5% of the popular vote
Senator George McGovern (R-SD)/Senator Gary Hart (D-CO) 64 electoral votes, 41.1% of the popular vote

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

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

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

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

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

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

The general election would prove contentious. However, thanks to the good economy, Bentsen restoring an image of honesty to the Oval Office, and the right geography, the Democrats would pull off a win.
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President Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX)/Governor Robert P. Casey (D-PA) 302 electoral votes, 50.2% of the popular vote
Senator Gary Hart (R-CO)/Governor Tom Bradley (R-CA) 236 electoral votes, 49.5% of the popular vote

Bentsen would focus primarily on trade and inter-American activities during his second term. Free trade, a long standing tradition of the Democratic Party since the days of its founding (though not always agreed upon), would become a big issue for the Texan's second term. In order to "advance America into a post-Cold War world" and at the same time build America's diplomacy and global strength, Bentsen engineered a trade pact with the quickly reforming Russia. At the same time, he, with several other American leaders, crafted IATP, the Inter-American Trade Pact, which declared trade between all countries of the Americas to be completely tariff free. Bentsen saw it as a great moment to expand America's economy by creating lower prices domestically. "Republicans, as usual, will argue for protectionism. What they don't see is that lower prices here, by means of purchasing goods manufactured elsewhere, creates a better economy at home, making it easier to open up markets here and all around a better business environment." His opponents, however, didn't see it that way, and even Vice-President Casey voiced some concern. However, the Pact was ratified.

1992
With twelve years of Democratic rule coming to a close, the so-called Kennedy-Bentsen era, the country was all in all satisfied. However, they were looking for new leadership and a new Progressive spirit took hold of the country. With a drive for progress being affordable in good economic times, ironically, the Democrats were hurt. In the Republican field, the aging Tom Bradley, by far the favorite, was beaten out in the primaries by the campaign of the young, energetic, and favorite of labor Congresswoman Hillary Rodham of Illinois. Rodham came from a working class Chicago family and had decided to join with the Republicans in 1964 and 1968. She had worked for the Mondale campaign in 1976 and in 1978 had been elected to the State Senate. By 1982 she had been elected to the U.S. Congress. Despite charges of not being experienced enough, the savvy Rodham had been able to outdo the financially unstoppable Bradley campaign. Rodham chose Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota to please the Western wing of the party. For the Democrats, Vice-President Bob Casey just barely survived a challenge by Senator Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts of the libertarian/liberal wing of the party. In order to unite the party, and also in an effort to beat out Rodham in her strongest spot--the industrial mid-west and north-east, Casey chose Tsongas for Vice-President.
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Congresswoman Hillary Rodham (R-IL)/Senator Tom Daschle (R-SD) 299 electoral votes, 49.7% of the popular vote
Vice-President Robert P. Casey (D-PA)/Senator Paul Tsongas (D-MA) 239 electoral votes

The first Republican elected in sixteen years, the first labor backed Republican to be elected since 1968, and of course the first female President, "Hillary" as she was called, went straight to business. Moderate on economics but at the same time a favorite of labor, she increased the top federal income tax brackets, lowered middle and lower class taxes, and went about trying to re-instate protectionism. However, the IATP was a monster to repeal and would severely damage inter-American relations, and the trade pact with Russia was crucial to U.S. plans to eventually completely surround China with enemies and break it. However, on the matters of trade to Indo-China and Africa, Hillary was firmly against. "The Democrats would love to see their billionaire friends mass produce toys that say "Made in Vietnam" on them. Heck, they'll even bill it as vital to national security that through this selling out of American manufacturing, we're somehow strengthening Vietnam against China. Well I'll tell you, we can strengthen South-East Asia against China without compromising America's industry, the industry which was the dream of every Republican since this party was formed nearly 140 years ago."

1996
Hillary was as popular as ever come 1996 and she faced no challenge. Meanwhile, however, the Democrats were in chaos. Among the candidates running were Senator Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts, Governor John F. Kerry of Massacusetts, Bentsen protege Senator Bill Clinton of Arkansas--who had made his reputation as Senate Minority Whip and a chief opponent of Rodham's economic agenda, and former White House Communications Director Patrick J. Buchanan--who had worked under the Jackson, Kennedy, and Bentsen administrations as an advisor and assistant. In Iowa, Clinton's rural appeal him the Western and Southern caucuses, assuring him the nomination, whereas Tsongas came in second with New England. With that, Bill Clinton became the Democratic nominee, choosing Nevada Governor Bob Miller for Vice-President.
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President Hillary Rodham (R-IL)/Vice-President Tom Daschle (R-SD) 388 electoral votes, 54.7% of the popular vote
Senator William J. "Bill" Clinton (D-AR)/Governor Robert Miller (D-NV) 150 electoral votes, 44.9% of the popular vote

Strangely enough, despite Republican gains in Appalachia, and taking Industrial states by huge margins and the re-taking of New England, Democrats were the ones to make gains in the West, taking Arizona, Nevada, and Montana. Soon and very soon, America was up for a geographical and political re-alignment, reminiscent much more of the 1890's than that of recent decades.

Hillary's second term would be marked by foreign policy. Having won re-election with labor's support and support for a good economy, her focus was nevertheless soon turned away by larger, more pressing issues. Iraq, a long-time rival of the neighboring Iran and a Chinese ally, commenced with the invasion of Iran and the beginning of the Iran-Iraq War in December, 1996. Iran and its royal family had long been allies of the United States and the world soon found itself drawing in on a proxy-war. Iraq drew its allies from heavily anti-Western quarters that, despite not being supporters of communism, saw the West as a greater threat. Meanwhile, Iran received monetary and weapon support from the reforming Russia, from India, and the United States. Rodham was determined to turn the proxy-war into the war that defeated Communist China. With Chinese tanks rolling into the fight, America itself soon mobilized. While no formal declaration of war was granted, to the American public, the government, and the world, the country was clearly in a state of war. By the summer of 1997, the United States was embroiled in what would become one of the greatest foreign policy achievements of the century. With American and Chinese forces continually upping the ante between the two countries, it was clearly obvious that it was a matter of who had the most money and men to lose. Sadly for China, it was not them. With Russia coming in on the side of the West and India also backing Iran, Iraq was beaten back by August and on September 11th, the Iraq-Iran peace accords were signed by both nations. At the signing, President Rodham spoke, claiming "these two countries, and the entire world, will forever remember the historic date of September 11th." However, the conflict did not end there. Instead, it wound its way into a series of negotiations between the United States and China. While Hillary hadn't expected to be a foreign policy President, aided by State Secretary William E. Cohen, she found herself surprisingly adept at it. Rodham's approvals sat in the sixties for the rest of 1997 and 1998. "It's a shame this didn't happen before the election", she whispered to Chief of Staff Barack Obama, "We would've crushed that adultering bastard Clinton in one of the biggest landslides in this nation's history."

2000
With a good economy and foreign policy success, the Republicans were expected to win by large margins in 2000. However, a bloody primary between Texas Governor George W. Bush, West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller, and Vice-President Tom Daschle badly split the party. Despite difficulties, Daschle emerged the winner, choosing Bush for Vice-President to try to help in the West. Meanwhile, the Republicans nominated former Governor Bob Miller of Nevada for President and Congressman Newton L. Gingrich of George for Vice-President. Despite some moderation on social issues by the head of the ticket, the economic platform was staunchly conservative. Meanwhile, from the middle of the nation's political spectrum came a cry. Admiral John McCain III, a naval hero of the country's most recent conflicts, tracing back to the 1960's, announced an independent bid. McCain, a former moderate Democrat who had supported them in 1992 and previously, focused mostly on the issues of the gap between the rich and poor, campaign finance reform, and foreign policy. Attracting a large following, McCain was proving to be a spoiler for what seemed a pretty straightforward election. McCain chose former Governor John F. Kerry of Massachusetts for Vice-President. Kerry, a member of the more labor friendly populist wing of the Democratic party that had twice been denied the nomination in 1996 and 2000, agreed to split from what he saw as the rise of the "Radical Republicans and Business Democrats".
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Vice-President Tom Daschle (R-SD)/Governor George W. Bush (R-TX) 278 electoral votes, 36.7% of the popular vote
Former Governor Robert Miller (D-NV)/Congressman Newton L. Gingrich (D-GA) 178 electoral votes31.3% of the popular vote
Admiral John S. McCain III (I-VA)/Former Governor John F. Kerry (I-MA) 82 electoral votes, 21.3% of the popular vote
Others: .7% of the popular vote

With that, Republicans were able to win a third term, but just barely, and the election would be filled with controversy from bitter Democrats for decades, who pointed out that the majority of McCain's support came from the Scots-Irish of Appalachia--a Democratic voting block, from the West where Democrats were gaining ground, and from Industrial workers which in the election were previously split fifty/fifty. And so began the twenty-first century, the first decade of which would be referred to as the "era of weakness" by historians from the Right and Left.

2004
While Daschle was able to quickly secure re-nomination, the Democrats faced a much bloodier battle. Congressman Newt Gingrich, the leader of House Democrats against Daschle and the 2000 Vice-Presidential nominee, found challenges from Senator Brian Schweitzer of Montana and Governor Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. Schweitzer represented a growing Western wing, Santorum represented the blue collar Casey wing, and Gingrich represented the traditional Southern Democrats. The three contenders duked it out over the course of a number of primaries and caucuses. However, Gingrich's name recognition and visibility since 2000 put him over the top with key primaries in states like Indiana, West Virginia, and California. Gingrich viewed the Casey wing as dying and chose to instead Schweitzer for Vice-President. With the tides turned against Daschle and the Republicans, Gingrich was able to pull off an upset victory.
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Congressman Newton L. Gingrich (D-GA)/Senator Brian Schweitzer (D-MT) 317 electoral votes, 49.8% of the popular vote
President Thomas Daschle (R-SD)/Vice-President George W. Bush (R-TX) 221 electoral votes, 49.6% of the popular vote

Gingrich took office proclaiming a return to the balanced budgets of the nineties. However, he too would face his fair share of trials. The first came from new Senator Barack Obama of Illinois. A Clinton protege who had peaked in his power under her as White House Chief of Staff in her second term, he had returned to Illinois to build a political organization based on his mentor's. Come 2004, he had gained enough name recognition and media talk to launch a successful Senate campaign, replacing retiring Republican Senator Carol Mosley Braun. Obama, despite being only days into his first term, gave a stirring speech in defense of many of the unsuccessful items on Daschle's agenda and promised to "defend and keep Middle America, as Presidents Rodham and Daschle attempted to do before me." Gingrich, who had been a thorn in Rodham's side all eight years, was receiving his payback. However, the item to sink his Presidency was unearthed in 2006 with the revelation of not just one but several extra-marital affairs that the President was having inside and outside the Presidency. With Gringrich being known for talking about "family values", the President was ridiculed by the media. Throughout 2007, rumors started to die down until several of the President's mistresses came forward in the summer. With that, many suggested the President resign and allow Vice-President Schweitzer to take over. At last, the President relented, "for the good of the party and the country" and stepped down on September 9th, 2007. With that, President Schweitzer was left to pick up the pieces of the Presidency and the 2008 Democratic campaign.

2008
President Schweitzer faced no challenge for the nomination, leaving him able to put money towards the general election. The Vice-Presidential nominee went to Senator Al Gore of Tennessee. However, the Republicans, much like the Democrats four years earlier, were facing a long and bloody primary. The main contenders were former Vice-President George W. Bush of Texas, Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, and Governor William Weld of New York. The primaries began with quite a few close victories for all the contenders. However, after a string of victories in the Rural and Industrial Mid-West, Wellstone--also a member of Minnesota's Farmer Labor Party--found himself the nominee. With calls for a cautious foreign policy, and a pro-working class domestic platform, the Republicans set out to win. For Vice-President, Bill Weld was nominated to appease the socially liberal New Englanders.
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Senator Paul Wellstone (R-MN)/Governor William Weld (R-NY) 359 electoral votes, 52.3% of the popular vote
President Brian Schweitser (D-MT)/Senator Albert Gore Jr. (D-TN) 179 electoral votes, 47.1% of the popular vote

Wellstone took office with much popularity. Promising an end to the spirit of economic and social de-regulation that had taken place over the last four years, and a much less aggressive foreign policy, he soon went about attempting to finish Daschle's healthcare projects as well as work on new regulations and programs to help what had been his main constituency in Minnesota: Farmers and Laborers. However, all of Wellstone's work came to an end on October 25th, 2009, when the President died in a storm while Air Force One was over the Atlantic Ocean. He, the First Lady, and his daughter Marcia Wellstone where reported missing and never found. After a long period of national mourning and much searching, William Weld took the Oath of Office. However, Weld was no great champion for the working man. Much more socially liberal and much more economically moderate, he focused on compromising with the Democrats in Congress in order to pass some of Wellstone's initiatives. He fast found himself losing the support of his own party and many times he could be seen crossing party lines in order to pass things such as his initiative to clean out inefficiency in the federal government.

2012
President Weld entered the 2012 primaries facing a large challenge in the form of former Vice-President Bush. Bush, unlike his father and grand-father, seemed to have embraced the way the Republican Party was turning. Having adopted pro-family and economically moderate to liberal stances while campaigning in Texas during the nineties, he soon took those to the national stage."This joker wants to be a new Teddy Roosevelt", said the President to Treasury Secretary Mitt Romney as he looked over a picture of his cowboy boot wearing opponent, "well I'll kick this joker's ass." This proved not to be true as "Dubya" went about winning a number of Western, Mid-Western, and Southern primaries. Weld had to suffice with winning states on the two coasts, Wisconsin, and Illinois. However, at the convention, Wellstone quickly used establishment contacts to swing delegates from states like Kansas, South Dakota, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania his way and was re-nominated narrowly on the first ballot. the convention chose Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia for Vice-President.

The Democrats, however, seemed unified when their candidate emerged. Former President Schweitzer of Montana entered the race after a divided field split the first few primaries. Within weeks, the party was unified and ready to face the belleagured Republicans on the field of battle.
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Former President Brian Schweitzer (D-MT)/Governor Robert Casey Jr. (D-PA) 447 electoral votes, 56.2% of the popular vote
President William Weld (R-NY)/Senator John D. Rockefeller IV (R-WV) 91 electoral votes, 43.2% of the popular vote

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Alexander Mitchell Palmer took office on March 4th, 1921, becoming the 29th President of the United States. Finding the nation still in the post-war recession and one that many people credited to the Democrats--Palmer had only won the electoral, not the popular vote--Palmer soon turned to blaming anarchists and even immigrants for the nation's woes and now used the constitutional amendment instituting prohibition as another tool of law enforcement. One of marks of his Presidency that seemed to have a positive note were his attempts to appeal to organized labor. He refused to use the government against labor strikes and went to great lengths to break up the "McKinley Coalition" that had been in place since 1896.

Selected members of the Cabinet
Secretary of State: William G. McAdoo
Attorney General: John W. Davis
Secretary of War: Newton D. Baker
Secretary of the Navy: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Secretary of Agriculture: Charles W. Bryan
Secretary of Labor: James Cox
Deputy Head of the Burea of Investigation: J. Edgar Hoover

In 1922, the Republicans made massive gains in the House of Representatives and the Senate, nearly as much as had been made in 1920. It was obvious that the Palmer Presidency was in danger of ending earlier than the President wanted it. However, it would end sooner even than his opponents expected as an anarchist bomb exploded in the Bureau of Investigation while Palmer was visiting. This resulted in two political elevations as Franklin D. Roosevelt assumed the Presidency, and as J. Edgar Hoover became Director of the Burea of Investigation in 1923.

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The young Roosevelt, one of the scions of one of the nation's most prominent political families, quickly went to work attempting to right the economic problems of the country. Like his cousin, he put forth a Deal to the American people, referring to it as a New Deal for them. Working with Progressive Republicans and keeping every member of his party in line, he passed major public works projects. This jolt to the economy was enough to raise his prospects for re-election. However, the assault on America's perceived enemies did continue as he repeatedly would defend them, saying they were "necessary to protect America from radicalism and socialism". His new Attorney General, Joseph V. McKee--an ally from New York--aimed the federal sights on Tammanny Hall, which would win him alies with some of the Progressive Republicans, but alienate him from his own North-Eastern Democrats. Going into mid-1924, the election geared up and the President would find himself in a three-way race for re-election.

1924

The Democratic Nomination
From the North-East hailed the Tammanny Opposition as it was called. Lead by former one-term Governor of New York Alfred E. Smith, who, despite his losses in New York in 1920 and 1922, garnered significant support from Catholics, urban Liberals, Lutherans, and oppositions of prohibition. However, this mattered little at the convention.

Democratic Primary Map
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Blue-President Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York
Yellow-Secretary of State William G. McAdoo of California
Red-former Governor Alfred E. Smith of New York
Green-Governor Charles W. Bryan of Nebraska

At the convention, Smith's delegates were but a piddling compared to the President's and in fact Roosevelt's only worry was that his own Secretary of State, William McAdoo might rally the delegates in one last "Drop Roosevelt" attempt. However, no such movement occured and the convention was a coronation for the President, a man many Americans had mixed feelings about. The Vice-Presidential nomination surprisingly went to Arizona Governor George W. P. Hunt. A popular figure in Arizona, he was also a progressive on many issues and hopefully could appeal to Progressive Republicans and counter-act any talk among liberals about Roosevelt's Justice Department.

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The Republican Nomination
The Republicans faced even more confusion as the primary season led to little signs of a clear front-runner for the nomination. Senators Howard K. Sutherland and John W. Weeks were perceived to be the best shots at capturing the White House, but Sutherland was quickly confined to the Mid-West while Weeks chose to bow out of the nominating process. At last a front-runner emerged on the first day of the convention when Governor Theodore Roosevelt Jr. of New York introduced the name of Governor Leonard Wood of New Hampshire. Wood was a friend of the late and elder Roosevelt and had been a contender for the nomination four years previous. However, after numerous ballots--beginning with Wood's near victory and ending with a sad decline for his hopes--Wood bowed out. At last, the convention chose one-term Governor Joseph P. Kennedy of Massachusetts for President. A recent convert to the party due to the Democrat's opposition to both Wall Street and to Catholics, Kennedy was not at first a popular choice. However, seeing the Democratic convention and the disappointment of urban Catholics, Kennedy was at last seen as a compromise between the business Republicans and their newfound strategy of appealing to those the Palmer and Roosevelt Administrations had alienated. Himself an outspoken opponent of socialism, there was little room to attack him on. For Vice-President, the Mid-West got their way and Howard Sutherland was nominated on the first ballot. The Republicans had their ticket, but not their unity.

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The Progressive Nomination
While combining immigrants and business, and including the Mid-West in the deal--what many called an attempt at shocking the McKinley Coalition back to life--one part of the party had been forgotten, the Western Progressives. Whereas Republicans might have otherwise had the ability to shoot for a land-slide, the Progressives hurt the Republicans badly. Nominating Senator Robert LaFollette of Wisconsin and Senator George Norris of Nebraska, many were hoping the run could have a lasting impression or even win, given the choice of candidates the voters were presented with.

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The General Election
The election of 1924 can be marked as one of the strangest in history for its forming of new coalitions, its closeness, its inclusion of a third party, and its controversy. Were it not heavily overshadowed by many of its successors, it would mark as one of great historical significance. In the North-East, there was a strange grouping of WASP Republican, pro-business newspapers and Tammany Hall-run, immigrant newspapers that turned into what Democrats labeled the "Kennedy Machine". The Democrats, on the other hand, combined with nativists and labor unions. "Protect the American Country and its Worker" became a common Democratic slogan. Roosevelt himself never engaged in these activities, staying in Washington for the most part. The boost to the economy was still being held up by infrastructure spending--especially in the South-West where Democrats were hoping to hold ground and make gains--and he was choosing to now focus on foreign policy. Meeting with the leaders of England and France, an alliance was made that, on the surface was meant to "keep peace in our time". Trumpeted as a success for FDR, behind closed doors it was a pact to keep both Soviet Russia and the now depressed but still angered Germany in their place. "We've got to make sure we're in charge" the President stated to the French Foreign Minister. On November 4th, 1924, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was re-elected.

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President Franklin D. Roosevelt (D-NY)/Governor George W. P. Hunt (D-AZ) 281 electoral votes
Governor Joseph P. Kennedy (R-MA)/Senator Howard Sutherland (R-WV) 191 electoral votes
Senator Robert LaFollette (P-WI)/Senator George Norris (P-NE) 59 electoral votes

Ending the current mini-tl to focus on a different one that's been chugging along in a different thread. Right now I don't feel like seriously updating any of my current timelines, so I may be concentrating just on this. It's an alternate version of my ongoing timeline "Where've you gone, General Washington?"

1789
With Washington stepping out of consideration following ratification of the Constitution, the main amount of support coalesces around John Adams, recently returned from Great Britain. It is agreed upon by the majority of electors that James Madison, one of the principle supporters and authors of the Constitution, will be elected Vice President.
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Former Ambassador to Great Britain John Adams (Massachusetts) 62 electoral votes
Former Delegate to the Constitutional Convention James Madison (Virginia) 38 electoral votes
Governor John Hancock (Massachusetts) 11 electoral votes
General George Washington (Virginia) 8 electoral votes
Former Governor John Rutledge (South Carolina) 7 electoral votes
Governor George Clinton (New York) 6 electoral votes
Former Governor Edward Telfair (Georgia) 4 electoral votes
Former President of the Continental Congress Samuel Huntington (Connecticut) 3 electoral votes

1792
Among Adams' cabinet are Secretary of State John Jay, Treasury Secretary John Hancock, and Attorney General John Marshall. During his first term, President Adams presides over the federal bailout of the states in 1791--engineered by freshman Congressman Alexander Hamilton of New York, the creation of the cabinet and federal departments, passing of a number of pieces of legislation, and the establishment of the national capital on a peninsula in Maryland, overlooking the Potomac. In 1792, the Republican party forms, and Vice President James Madison, like Adams a centrist and a nationalist, is assaulted from both the right and the left for the Vice Presidency, but survives easily. Madison himself is a Republican, but not as severe as some of the fringe elements of his party might like him to be. President Adams, on the other hand, faces a minimal challenge to his Presidency, with a small number of electors voting for Senator (since 1791) Thomas Jefferson who himself isn't running.
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President John Adams (Massachusetts) 116 electoral votes
Vice President James Madison (Republican-Virginia) 100 electoral votes
Secretary of State John Jay (New York) 22 electoral votes
Senator Thomas Jefferson (Republican-Virginia) 20 electoral votes
Governor George Clinton (Republican-New York) 6 electoral votes

1796
Over Adams' second term, a number of things are accomplished, including creating the Department of the Navy, establishing a border with Spain in the South, and making peace with France following a short Quasi-War. In 1793 with the death of Treasury Secretary John Hancock, Adams appoints Congressman Alexander Hamilton of New York to the post. A brilliant mind, he continues the work he started in Congress, trying to build a strong national economy. In 1794, Hamilton is placed in charge of crushing the whiskey rebellion, a revolt against the newly passed excise taxes.

Come 1796, Adams absolutely refuses to run for another term given the past four years of the Senate being filled with debate over whether to go to war with France or with England. Instead, Vice President James Madison runs as a Republican with Massachusetts Governor Samuel Adams. Meanwhile, the Federalist party, begun by Hamilton, runs Hamilton himself as the leader of the party, and Supreme Court Associate Justice John Marshall. With the leading economic and legal minds of the Federalists, it is hoped they will win the first truly two-way Presidential election. However, the Republicans pull off a narrow victory.
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Vice President James Madison (Republican-Virginia) 80 electoral votes
Governor Samuel Adams (Republican-Massachusetts) 70 electoral votes
Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton (Federalist-New York) 66 electoral votes
Associate Justice John Marshall (Federalist-Virginia) 46 electoral votes

Following election in 1796, Madison went about promising "A revolution as important and moving as our first, twenty years ago." In practice, however, he was much more pragmatic. He appointed Senator and mentor Thomas Jefferson to the position of Secretary of State, Pennsylvania Senator Albert Gallatin to Treasury, George Clinton as Attorney General, and in a surprise, John Quincy Adams Secretary of the Navy. Throughout his first year, the major focus would be on slowly down-sizing the army and cutting domestic taxes while at the same time strengthening the Navy, creating the Marine Corps, and keeping Hamilton's tariffs in place. Then, in early 1798, a number of Southern Native American tribes, namely the Creek and Cherokee, backed by the British and in collaboration with Tennessee Senator William Blount, attacked both Spanish and American settlements in the South-West of the country and South Florida. With Vice President Samuel Adams reading a letter written by Blount aloud on the Senate floor explaining the plan, the House and Senate voted to impeach and censure him. Soon, talk of war with the British began and nearly every Republican began calling for such a war, and some nationalist Federalists were beginning to agree. Over the past few years as America had secured peace with France, British attacks on American ships had continually escalated and now tensions seemed at a boiling point. In June of 1798, organized American retaliation against the Cherokee and Creek began. Lead by American military men and veterans of the North-West Indian Wars Andrew Jackson and William Clark, the Americans were effective in practically committing genocide. While historians would judge this as a grave over reaction, not much was thought of it at the time.

Internationally, Spain found itself considering and then going to war with France, and America was readying to come in on Spain's side. With the American Navy, growing stronger by the day, beginning retaliations against British ships on the North-Atlantic coast, war seemed imminent. In Spetember, 1798, American troops crossed from the North-West Territory into Canada. While met with resistance by a number of Indian tribes that had fled there following the North-West Indian Wars, Americans soon found themselves against Canadian troops instead. In October, a formal declaration of war was ratified against Britain and President Madison himself was escorted on one Naval mission and saw the sinking of some British ships firsthand. While in Canada, America seemed to be losing the land war, Madison soon re-strengthened the army and effective military leaders like Clark and Jackson were sent to work there. Thanks to the work of Adams and Madison, the Navy was strong and soon it seemed America was winning the Naval battle and was seeing a draw in the land war in Canada.

1800
With many New England Federalists publicly against war and some even siding with the British, the Federalists were given a bad name and were seen mainly as traitors. Therefore, few even allowed themselves to be drafted to run and in December, 1799, American troops had been forced to put down rebellions against the government in Connecticut and New Hampshire. By 1800, Madison was the hero of the nation and Federalists seen only as traitors and Anglophiles. The Federalists at last nominated two of the few respectable men left in their ranks, Former Secretary of State John Jay and Former Secretary of War Charles Pinckney. Hamilton and Marshall both absolutely refused to run, and Hamilton himself had led some of the military action against New England secessionists. For the Republicans, Madison was re-nominated without question and Senator Aaron Burr of New York was nominated as his running-mate.
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President James Madison (Republican-Virginia) 107 electoral votes
Senator Aaron Burr (Republican-New York) 96 electoral votes
Former Secretary of State John Jay (Federalist-New York) 27 electoral votes
Former Secretary of War Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (Federalist-South Carolina) 24 electoral votes
Former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton (Federalist-New York) 3 electoral votes

In Madison's second term, American continued the war with Great Britain. Despite fighting off both Indians and the British in Canada, America was able to make headway there, while on the sea, with the aid of the Spanish and utilization of privateers, America was able to hold its own. At last, Britain, Spain, and America came to the bargaining table. Waging a second war along with the war raging in Europe against the French had cost the Empire much, and they agreed to give away portions of Southern Canada in exchange for an end to hostilities. Meanwhile, Spain was left alone in Florida and even gave away portions of the territory Louisiana to America in thanks for their aid. Madison came out of the deal to be seen as one of America's all time greatest Presidents. Meanwhile, at home in places like New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, American Industry was expanding thanks to war-time American boycotts of English goods.

1804
The Republicans, surprised to see Madison refuse a third term, much in the tradition of Adams eight years earlier. Instead, Republicans nominated the hero of the negotiations with Britain and author of the Declaration of Independence, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. He was paired with incumbent Vice President Aaron Burr of New York. The Federalists, hoping to at least put out a good showing in order to recover from the debacle four years earlier, nominated Alexander Hamilton, who in 1801 was elected Governor of New York, and Ohio Governor Arthur St. Clair who had served as a military leader and Governor of the North-West Territory during what was now being called the Anglo-Indian War by America. St. Clair's record as Governor was questionable, but he was seen as a hero by the nation. Despite hard work by the Federalists, the Republicans secured a third term with ease.
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Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson (Republican-Virginia) 98 electoral votes
Vice President Aaron Burr (Republican-New York) 90 electoral votes
Former Governor Alexander Hamilton (Federalist-New York) 78 electoral votes
Governor Arthur St. Clair (Federalist-Ohio) 78 electoral votes
President James Madison (Republican-Virginia) 8 electoral votes

1808
Jefferson presided over, for the most part, an era of peacetime and prosperity. With industry bolstered following the Anglo-Canadian War and a feeling of great national pride by a majority of the nation (but for a few sulkers in New England), the time was dubbed an "Era of Good Feelings". During Jefferson's four years, a needed reform to the electoral system was passed, making it so a President and Vice President were elected together as opposed to the Vice Presidency going to the second place finisher in an election. In 1808, Jefferson declined another term and retired from politics. The election came between the Federalist, former New York Governor and war hero Alexander Hamilton, and the Republican, Vice President Aaron Burr.
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Former Governor Alexander Hamilton (F-NY)/Former Secretary of War Charles Pinckney (F-SC) 104 electoral votes
Vice President Aaron Burr (R-NY)/Congressman Nathaniel Macon (R-NC) 70 electoral votes

Coming into office, Hamilton was the first President elected from the Federalist Party. The Republicans had held the office for twelve years and the Vice Presidency for twenty. Hamilton's cabinet would be filled with qualified individuals. Former Ambassador Governour Morris would be appointed Secretary of the Treasury while War Secretary and former Senator John Quincy Adams would head the State Department. The bulk of Hamilton's work would be on foreign policy. While Adams went about helping to expand America's landmass using diplomacy, Hamilton's eye would be on the economy. During his first year he chartered the National Bank, expanded infrastructure building, and raised tariffs back to their levels during the Adams Presidency. With the Panic of 1810 came Hamilton's first true test. The result of over-speculation and a contraction from the enormous growth experienced from 1802 to 1809 (the post-war boom), several companies found themselves in danger of going under even as families were evicted from their homes. Passing a bail-out of the companies within the first month following the Panic, Hamilton proceeded to lay out an economic recovery package that included the Federal Government buying up large pieces of failing companies and selling them to investors and better off companies. As well, the National Bank helped to fun the recovery and Hamilton was seen as a hero for it.

1812
The Republicans, for the first time out of the incumbency sine 1796, were unsure of who to nominate. With Hamilton's popularity following the Panic of 1810, people such as Senator James Monroe of Virginia--the likely heir to the Jefferson and Madison legacies, decided to sit the election out. Instead, the already weakened former Vice President Aaron Burr was put forth again, this time with little to no prospect of winning. In order to add some semblance of strength to the ticket, Monroe agreed to be nominated for Vice President. Because of geographical concerns, Hamilton's electoral ceiling had almost been reached four year earlier, and there was little room to expand. He did, however, narrowly take Kentucky thanks to the work of young Federalist, Speaker of the House Henry Clay and the various infrastructure projects Hamilton had sponsored out West.
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President Alexander Hamilton (F-NY)/Former Senator John Eager Howard (F-MD) 148 electoral votes
Former Vice President Aaron Burr (R-NY)/Senator James Monroe (R-VA) 70 electoral votes

Hamilton's second term failed to go as smoothly as his first. While the economy did recover and industry was again chugging along, it failed to reach a large majority of Americans. As well, disputes inside D.C. doomed the Federalist party as arguments over funding of internal improvements, tariff levels, and foreign policy prepared to boil over. Hamilton had alienated a number of New England shippers who still seemed to side with the British and liked free trade in order to continue their business with America's former enemy. Despite this, Hamilton was also positioned against the Western Federalists, led by Henry Clay, who argued for more extensive internal improvements that reached the common man. Meanwhile, the Republicans themselves were arguing over whether to continue the Nationalist streak that Madison had started them on, or whether to pursue a more ideological path, one that hadn't helped them in the past. With the election of 1816 coming up, America's first two-party system was about to break up.

The At-Large Delegate

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"It was one of the greatest miracles I've ever seen. On the first ballot, Edmunds had scored a measly 93 votes. However, on the second, the shifts began to occur. By the third ballot, all of Arthur's Northern support had gone over to Arthur, giving Edmunds 214 votes. On the fourt ballot, somehow the support of John Sherman's 25 votes had been wrested from him and by the sixth, Edmunds had made great gains with Arthur's southern votes and with a number of delegates uneasy about Blaine. It took quite a while, but Edmunds was able to win on the tenth ballot. And it was all thanks to one man, then but a delegate and a state assemblyman from New York, and a man who's now in the headlines every day it seems, Theodore Roosevelt."

-Attorney General William McKinley, 1897

Edmunds, nominated with War Secretary Robert Todd Lincoln, went onto defeat the Democratic nominee Grover Cleveland by a close margin, typical of the period, and become the 22nd President of the United States of America.
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Senator George F. Edmunds (R-VT)/Secretary of War Robert Todd Lincoln (R-IL) 233 electoral votes
Governor Grover Cleveland (D-NY)/Congressman Thomas Hendricks (D-IN) 168 electoral votes

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Coming into office, Edmunds promised to continue the reforms led by Arthur. The main issue of the period was Civil Service Reform and Edmunds attempted to make the system as meritocratic as possible. Joining him in his cabinet was Secretary of State John Sherman of Ohio. Under the foreign policy laid down by Edmunds and Sherman, American plans for the Nicaragua Canal began rolling. As well, American fishing rights off the coast of Canada were defended, due mainly to Edmunds' own New England roots, and he withdrew from the Senate the Berlin Conference Treaty which was favored by many of the pro-business elements in his party.

In economics, the first piece of anti-trust legislation was introduced under Edmunds and he supported it. The issue of currency proved a controversial one, as Southern and Western politicians were in favor of silver and North-Easterners in favor of gold. The Mid-West for its part was an area where support for either and both were favored. Edmunds, himself a North-Easterner but a liberal one at that, stood firm on promoting gold as the standard for currency.

As for the young delegate Theodore Roosevelt, he left the New York Assembly following the convention and headed West, becoming a rancher. However, hearing of the commencement of the Nicaragua Canal building, he shipped south and became a foreman for American operations down there. Returning home in 1888, Roosevelt was made Civil Service Commissioner.

1888
With President Edmunds declining to seek a second term, the nomination appeared wide open. The main front-runner was former Secretary of State and Senator James G. Blaine of Maine. However, Edmunds took control of the convention and made sure Blaine wouldn't come near the nomination. Instead, he promoted his own Secretary of State John Sherman, a moderate bi-metallist and political ally. Sherman, with the popularity of the Nicaragua Canal plans, the Mid-West supporting him, and having earned respect from the North-East over the issue of fishing rights, was easily nominated. For Vice President, Robert Todd Lincoln insisted he not be nominated. Instead, Civil Service Commission President Dorman B. Eaton was nominated in the wake of the popularity of reform.

For the Democrats, it seemed that the conservative Bourbon Democrats were still in control as Senator Thomas F. Bayard of Delaware won the nomination. Governor Isaac P. Gray of Indiana was nominated for Vice President in order to compete in the Mid-West. The election marked a significant gain for the Democrats in the North-East, not seen since 1852. With Democrats putting out threats that Sherman, a bi-metallist, wouldn't protect the Gold Standard, and immigrants coming out in full force of Bayard who straddled the issue of Civil Service Reform, Democrats captured states like New Hampshire and New York they hadn't seen success in, on a presidential level, in years.
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Senator Thomas F. Bayard (D-DE)/Governor Isaac P. Gray (D-IN) 223 electoral votes
Secretary of State John Sherman (R-OH)/Civil Service Commissioner Dorman B. Eaton (R-VT) 178 electoral votes

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Democrats celebrated as they had won the White House for the first time since the year 1856 and Bayard was their first President in 28 years. With Democrats happy following this victory, they felt no need to pursue Civil Service Reform despite the urgings of Attorney General Grover Cleveland. Instead, both Dorman B. Eaton and Theodore Roosevelt, active and Republican members of the Civil Service Commission, would find themselves without jobs come March, 1889. Patronage returned with Democrats entering a number of lower level positions. Though filling of the positions was meritocratic, it was made sure that the successful applicants were Democrat.

In domestic policy, Bayard promoted the Gold Standard and decreased the silver supply. While Eastern businesses rejoiced at Bayard's stand on currency, Bayard also lowered the tariff rates dramatically, much to the ire of Eastern Republicans. This had a good effect on the economy as businesses were helped by defense of the gold standard and at the same time, there was much greater competition with more foreign products entering the market. The biggest opponents were the Western silverites and Mid-Western and Eastern labor supporters. Among Bayard's chief opponents was Ohio Congressman William McKinley who was a large supporter of tariffs and labor and was moderate on the gold standard.

In foreign policy, Bayard took a conciliatory and anti-interventionist stand. While he liked and encouraged trade, he did not view the purpose of the government or the military to be to clear the way for companies across the globe. Instead, that was the job of the companies in the President's mind. A rare point of Bayard using the military came in 1891 with the Baltimore Crisis. In Chile, American sailors on leave were arrested following tensions between the US and Chile. These tensions had been caused by the Ambassador to Chile giving refuge to Chileans seeking refuge from the ongoing civil war. Bayard threatened to deploy the Navy and cut off diplomatic relations with Chile and the prisoners were released, war averted.

1892
President Bayard found himself at the peak of his popularity. With a good economy, the Gold Standard popular, and peace continuing, there was little reason to vote against him. That is, if you were in the East. In the West, however, farmers were still struggling from debt. They had indeed been helped by lowering of tariffs. However, pro-silver Western politicians had begun to "raise Hell" over currency issues and farmers, laiden down with debt they'd like to be able to easily pay off, rallied with them. Therefore, when the 1892 election rolled around, the Republicans found their convention in chaos. Ultimately, four major candidates came forth. From the West came silverite Henry M. Teller. From the Mid-West came former Secretary of State John Sherman. Some had pushed for Congressman William McKinley, however, he stepped aside in favor of his state's favorite son and instead would find himself nominated for Vice President. From New England came 1888 Vice Presidential nominee Dorman B. Eaton campaigning on Civil Service Reform and pushing a moderate agenda. Finally, defending Eastern business interests was Governor Levi P. Morton of New York. With the pro-silver, bi-metallist, and pro-gold candidates going head to head, Eaton who at first was favored to win, found himself pushed aside despite his popularity. Eventually, with Sherman losing support in the Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan delegations, Teller was able to cobble together a majority.

While some would say that another candidate, say Dorman Eaton or even John Sherman would've stood a chance against Bayard, Teller had no geographical base outside the West and was attacked as a liberal radical. Even with an entire geographic region locked up, there were little electoral votes to be found out in Colorado and Teller went down to defeat.
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President Thomas F. Bayard (D-DE)/Vice President Isaac P. Gray (D-IN) 304 electoral votes
Senator Henry M. Teller (R-CO)/Congressman William McKinley (R-OH) 140 electoral votes

Beginning his second term, Bayard and the nation were struck with a severe recession in early 1893 caused by over speculation. While support for gold had, in hindsight, helped lessen the damage of the panic, it was still a sharp downturn from the previously good economy. With Bayard refusing to act in response to the recession, the economy was left to recover on its own. In response to this, the call for the coinage of free silver was as strong as ever. With Republicans having seemingly cemented themselves, for the time being at least, as the pro-silver party following 1892, they were a constant and painful thorn in the side of the President. Led by William B. Allison of Iowa, the Senate came within a few votes of passing a large silver purchase.

1896
With political opportunists rallying on both sides in preparation for a year that as bound to be an election of importance, 1896 was a much awaited campaign. With President Bayard stepping down, the pro-gold mantle would be taken up by Senator John Palmer of Illinois. However, the pro-silver Democrats won the day. Delegate and former congressional candidate William Jennings Bryan successfully won the nomination for former Congressman Richard P. Bland of Missouri. Bryan who himself had no official political experience but was a valuable asset to the campaign, was given the Vice Presidential nomination.

As for the Republicans, they were in an even greater state of chaos than four years before. Governor Theodore Roosevelt of New York, a proponent of the Gold Standard but with great appeal to the West due to his former residence there as well as his short stint as Senator from North Dakota, had waged an incredible, odds-defying campaign against William McKinely preceding the convention. The Illinois convention had proved the biggest battle ground. McKinley had been positioning himself for four years in preparation for 1896, boosting his resume with his election to the Governorship in 1893 and re-election in 1895. He had prepared a populist campaign prepared to fight the party bosses for the nomination by first gaining the support of the people. However, his show was stolen as Roosevelt burst onto the scene, narrowly gaining the support of Illinois' delegation at its state convention. At the national convention, the contest was between the Eastern Roosevelt, the Mid-Westerner McKinley, and the silverite Westerner William B. Allison. Despite the support of some party bosses, Allison ultimately failed in his bid for the nomination as did McKinley. Roosevelt not only was able to take in his home state of New York and the surrounding delegations as well as Illinois, he also managed, on the second ballot, to win the support of both the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana, and Minnesota. On the third ballot, he was nominated, having gained much of Allison's support as well as winning the Michigan and Indiana delegations. In order to appease the party bosses and select an older and more experienced statesman for Vice President, former Secretary of State John Sherman was chosen under the assumption he would serve only one term.

The general election was filled with barn-storming on both sides. Roosevelt did his own campaigning and proved to be an eloquent defender of the Gold Standard and Republican principles. While he made much less stops than the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Bryan did, Roosevelt spoke to much larger audiences. Bryan for his part criss-crossed the Mid-West several times, getting his message out. However, Roosevelt had geography on his side when it came down to election day. His support in the North-East, the support from the Mid-West thanks to Sherman's presence and its Republican tradition, and support in the West due to his image as a "cowboy" and his former residency and career there helped him win the election handily.
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Governor Theodore Roosevelt (R-NY)/Former Secretary of State John Sherman (R-OH) 274 electoral votes
Former Congressman Richard Bland (D-MO)/Delegate William Jennings Bryan (D-NE) 173 electoral votes

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Coming into office, Roosevelt's cabinet was a combination of allies and rivals. With friends Thomas B. Reed and Henry Cabot Lodge taking Secretary of State and War respectively, 1896 rival William McKinley headed the Justice Department and William B. Allison became Agriculture Secretary.

His term would be recognized as one that acted as a pivot for American history. America would no longer be staunchly isolationist and confined to its own continent. Instead, within his first one hundred days, Roosevelt ordered a build-up of the Navy under friend and fellow expansionist, Navy Secretary William Howard Taft. As well, following the Spanish-American War in late 1897 and the resulting massive gains of American territory in both the Pacific and the Carribean, he announced the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine where-in any European attempts to expand in the Western Hemisphere would be decided by the United States and Latin America especially would fall under U.S. jurisdiction. Of note would be Roosevelt's own performance during the Spanish-American War. Headquarters were temporarily re-located to Cuba so as to be as close to "the action" as possible. Roosevelt himself, never having had the privilege of serving in the military, decided to engage in battle, joining Leonard Wood's Rough Riders on the beaches of Cuba. The photo of the President himself, only in his thirties still, charging up a hill made Roosevelt an American and international legend.

In domestic policy, the Gold Standard was established much to the chagrin of Silverites in both parties. However, Roosevelt also signed off on some of the first anti-trust legislation in the United States, and the first since the Edmunds Presidency. As well, tariffs were raised moderately. Throughout all this, the American economy began picking up again and wheels that had been spinning without traction for a while now found solid earth to kick off on. With the Gold Standard set in stone, Eastern businesses began expansion again leading to greater employment and lower prices.

1900
With the enactment of the Gold Standard, the return to prosperity, and American victory in the Spanish-American and subsequent American expansion, President Roosevelt was a shoo-in for re-election. With the death of Vice President John Sherman in 1900, it was clear that a VP had to be nominated. While some were thinking to nominate Leslie M. Shaw of Iowa as a reliable Progressive, the third most popular man in the nation, Leonard Wood, was instead nominated. Head of the volunteer "Rough Riders" in Cuba and formerly Roosevelt's personal doctor, the only two people more popular than him were of course President Roosevelt and Admiral Dewey.

The Democrats found themselves nominating Congressman (since 1899), delegate, and 1900 Vice Presidential nominee William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska out of sheer desperation and lack of an actual front-runner. While Bryan worked hard, it was obvious there was little chance of him winning. In the end, Roosevelt won a resounding landslide.
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President Theodore Roosevelt (R-NY)/Colonel Leonard Wood (R-NH) 290 electoral votes
Congressman William Jennings Bryan (D-NE)/Former Attorney General Grover Cleveland (D-NY) 157 electoral votes

Riding high following his land-slide re-election, Roosevelt decided to embark on a world-wide tour with the newly refurbished Navy. Bringing the entire Roosevelt immediate family as well as some of the extended family including his distant relative Franklin Roosevelt who at that point was a student at Harvard and who looked up to the vigorous and aggressive leadership style of his fifth cousin. While in Germany meeting with the government there, a member of the crowd, angered at Roosevelt for his foreign policy--which the Germans had been against--shot the nation's 24th President twice. Roosevelt, a strong man, survived the immediate shooting and in fact lept over the balcony to pursue his shooter. Catching the man, Roosevelt beat him severely a few times before collapsing, dead, on August 3rd, 1901. This left Vice President Leonard Wood in charge of a country in mourning.

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President Leonard Wood however found himself unprepared for the Presidency. While he was courageous on the battlefield, in the U.S. Senate he found himself lost. Instead, the Republican controlled House and Senate were practically in charge and Secretary of State Thoms B. Reed was the nation's strongest executive. During Wood's Presidency, a small number of anti-trust laws were passed and tariffs were hiked to their pre-Bayard levels. For the most part though, the Wood administration was laissez-faire.

1904
In the minds of many Democrats, the liberals and populists had shown their weakness and inability to win and thus the power at the convention returned to the hands of the Bourbon Democrats in the form of Judge Alton Brooks Parker of New York. The Republican National Convention on the other hand was a chaotic affair. However, following the fifth ballot, President Leonard Wood announced he would step down. As well, he proclaimed he intended to re-enter military affairs where he felt more at home. Instead, Senator Josaph B. Foraker, a Conservative, won the nomination on the seventh ballot with Progressive Governor Leslie M. Shaw of Iowa as his main rival.
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Justice Alton B. Parker (D-NY)/Senator Murphy J. Foster (D-LA) 263 electoral votes
Senator Joseph B. Foraker (R-OH)/Governor Robert M. La Follette (R-WI) 213 electoral votes

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The Parker administration proved to be uneventful. Parker stood his ground against a liberal congress attempting to pass various forms of Progressive legislation including conservation and anti-trust acts. Despite continued prosperity that had started in 1898, the uneventful presidency left the country wanting more from a President.

1908
In order to give the country a safe nominee, former Secretary of the Navy William Howard Taft was nominated by the Republicans. One of the most active members of the Wood Administration during the Wood's rather low key term, Taft was known as a great legal mind of the Progressive movement. For Vice President, Governor Curtis Guild Jr. of Massachusetts was nominated to help hold down New England and the East.
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Former Secretary of the Navy William Howard Taft (R-OH)/Governor Curtis Guild Jr. (R-MA) 343 electoral votes
President Alton B. Parker (D-NY)/Vice President Murphy J. Foster (D-LA) 140 electoral votes

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During his time as President, Taft was dubbed "The Great Trust Buster". During his first term alone, over 90 large trusts were broken. As well, the first conservationist President was inaugurated as a large amount of acres out West were set aside to create national parks. However, Taft did run into trouble with some more adamant Progressives who wanted an even larger amount of land set up. As well, Taft lowered tariffs a moderate amount as part of a compromise with the Democrats. Among Taft's cabinet were Secretary of War, former President Leonard Wood, Secretary of State Philander C. Knox, and Secretary of the Treasury Elihu Root.

Of note was the beginning of the career of Franklin Roosevelt. An admirer of his cousin's administration, Roosevelt himself intended to follow in his footsteps. While not the physical equal of his uncle who had worked his entire life to turn himself from an asthmatic young boy to a powerful man, Franklin intended to be his political equal. Working with a New York Wall Street firm, Franklin began working to make connections. He attended the 1908 Republican Convention as a delegate and was elected State Senator from the 26th District. By 1912, Roosevelt was working under fellow New Yorker, Secretary of State Elihu Root.

1912
President Taft was re-nominated resoundingly at the convention despite grumblings from the party's conservative wing and complaints from the most ardent progressives. America was experiencing prosperity and the first Progressive reform in decades. For Vice President, Albert B. Cummings of Iowa was nominated. As for the opposition party, Senator John W. Kern of Indiana was nominated with incredibly little fanfair. Governor Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey, the Vice Presidential nominee, was the real star. His speech attempted to directly challenge Taft on Progressivism, instead bringing up what he called "the Triple Wall of Privilege" of tariffs, trusts, and banks.
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President William Howard Taft (R-OH)/Governor Albert B. Cummings (R-IA) 370 electoral votes
Senator John W. Kern (D-IN)/Governor Woodrow Wilson (D-NJ) 161 electoral votes

Taft's second term would be marked by turmoil overseas. Being a protege of the inimitable Theodore Roosevelt and himself an expansionist, Taft called for intervention in Europe to help halt the Central Powers. However, domestic troubles would take precedent as he ran into troubles with Congress. The Progressives, led by Robert La Follette of Wisconsin, finally turned on Taft. Done with his talk of restraint and adherence to Constitutional and legal limits on government, a Progressive Bloc made up of both Republicans and Democrats worked to block any and all legislation supported by Taft. This all played a large part in the lead up to the 1916 election.

1916
With "Fighting Bob" La Follette the best known contender for the Republican nomination, the rest of the party found itself reacting in response to him. Taft found himself pushing the moderate Senator Charles W. Fairbanks of Indiana while the Eastern Conservatives from the banking and business sectors pushed Senator John W. Weeks of Massachusetts. La Follette swept a number of Western primaries where he was supported by his fellow Progressives. However, at the convention, Weeks and Fairbanks had the advantage. After rounds and rounds of balloting, Weeks was finally nominated, but only with his promise to include Secretary of State Philander C. Knox as Vice President.
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Green-La Follette
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Meanwhile on the Democratic side, a similar large fight was shaping up. Congressman and 1900 nominee William Jennings Bryan, who had continued to be active in the party and was seen as the greatest champion of the Western and Mid-Western farmers in the party, found himself in a battle with Governor Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey and former Vice President Murphy J. Foster of Louisiana. Foster represented the South and the Bourbons, Wilson represented the intellectual Progressives and the internationalists who supported entry into the war in Europe, and Bryan represented the old isolationists Populists who had long been pushed out of power in the party. Wilson's star had risen, however, and he was able to win the nomination. Supporting what he called a global "New Freedom", both Bourbon and Populist isolationists found themselves appalled. For Vice President, Former Cleveland Mayor Newton D. Baker was nominated with a rousing and emotional speech that focused on the need for peace and Democracy to spread across the globe.
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Blue-Wilson
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However, the nominations did not end there. Frustrated with the party establishments, La Follette met Bryan shortly after the Democratic National Convention and the two agreed to run on a third "People's Party" ticket extolling isolationism and trust-busting, championing the farmer and the laborer, and in opposition to the two major party nominees. La Follette would head the ticket and Bryan would be nominated for Vice President.

With a three-way race underway, America was due for one of its most exciting elections in decades. Weeks defended business and promised a continued national prosperity. Wilson, meanwhile, was able to eloquently make the case for American internationalism to what was a very isolationist nation. the People's Party nominees meanwhile took the West out of contention of the other two parties, complicating matters.
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Senator John W. Weeks (R-MA)/Secretary of State Philander C. Knox (R-PA) 273 electoral votes, 38% of the popular vote
Governor Woodrow Wilson (D-NJ)/Former Mayor Newton D. Baker (D-OH) 180 electoral votes, 39% of the popular vote
Senator Robert La Follette (P-WI)/Congressman William Jennings Bryan (P-NE) 78 electoral votes, 18% of the popular vote

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Entering the White House, is was known that Weeks had lost the popular vote. Nevertheless, Weeks was a capable and honest administrator and intended to serve as a faithful executive. He appointed Henry Cabot Lodge, his Senate colleague, Secretary of State. Filling the Secretary of War position Wood had left, former Governor of Cuba Charles Magoon was appointed. To head the nation's financial system, the conservative Andrew W. Mellon was appointed. As well, former Assistant Secretary of State (1912-1913) Franklin Roosevelt was appointed Ambassador to Great Britain.

The main issue of 1916 and 1917 was the war in Europe raging between the Allies and the Central Powers. Weeks had no intention of entering into European affairs until it began affecting American markets. With America's trading partner, Britain, under attack, a wall of protective tariffs was put in place. Meanwhile, Weeks agreed to sign the Lend-Lease Act, which let Britain, France, Russia, and their allies borrow weaponry, guns, and war-ships. As well, privateers were soon contracted to make sure the shipments were safe and protected from German sub-marine warfare. However, their efforts did not succeed as in early 1918, a large shipment of not only weaponry, but civilian passengers was sunk. As well, news that Germany had attempted to lure Mexico into the war was brought forward. Following a new wave of unrestricted sub-marine warfare, a Declaration of War was signed on June 5th, 1918. By Fall, Americans had liberated the German-held Paris and with the help of the reconstructed French Army, had driven back the German advance by Winter. With that American push, the balance tipped in favor of the Allied Forces and by Spring, 1919, a peace agreement had been made.

While domestic policy had been pushed to the backburner by mid-1918, before that, Weeks had managed to push through Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon's economic plans which included the lowering of business taxes and the raising of income taxes. As well, Weeks continued Taft's moderate conservationist streak with the creation of "National Forests" in New England. While the economy had suffered in 1918, by the time the war was over, the economy had reached its high point, a point that would be sustained past the 1920 election. With American production in full force and normal tariffs restored by summer of 1919, "Boom Time" had come.

1920
The 1920 Democratic National Convention seemed like a rematch between two old foes. On one side was William Jennings Bryan who was calling for a renunciation of "American Imperialism" and a return to Progressive and pro-farm economic policies. On the other end was 1916 nominee Woodrow Wilson who saw the recent war as a chance for America to join the international community and form a "League of Nations". Wilson, however, chose to run a surrogate in his place, 1916 Vice Presidential nominee Newton D. Baker. Coming up the middle was a newer face, Massachusetts Senator John F. Fitzgerald, one of the first Catholics to run for President. He called for a lowering of tariffs in the wake of the end of the war, a "Return to Normalcy" in foreign policy, and a lowering of income taxes. The Democrats, in a fit over who to nominate, eventually chose Oklahoma favorite son Senator Robert Latham Owen. For Vice President, Governor Alfred E. Smith of New York was nominated as a compromise with Fitzgerald.

The Republican National Convention, four years ago plagued with conflict, was instead a standing ovation to President Weeks' success. Where-as four years ago President Taft had been a center of controversy, the former President--now Chief Justice of the Supreme Court--was looked upon as a successful party elder. As well, former President Leonard Wood who had redeemed himself through his commanding of American forces in France in what was now dubbed "The Great War", was himself in a place of honor and seen as, like Taft, a respected party elder. The Vice Presidential nomination went to Senator Howard Sutherland of West Virginia.
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President John W. Weeks (R-MA)/Senator Howard Sutherland (R-WV) 373 electoral votes, 54.6% of the popular vote
Senator Robert Owen (D-OK)/Governor Alfred E. Smith (D-NY) 158 electoral votes, 42.5% of the popular vote

The momentum that came with Weeks' land-slide re-election soon dissipated with the so-called Panic of 1922. The prosperity of the last twenty-four years finally had its backlash with the incredible up-swing in 1919. The massive surge in speculation and over-extension of businesses that resulted from the war and resulting "super-prosperity" had back-fired and come back on the Weeks Administration. With that, America turned inward, trying to solve its own problems. Weeks, though conservative, was also pragmatic. Acting quickly, Weeks authorized a new string of public works projects not seen since the days of the Trans-Continental Railroad. At the same time, Weeks' experience and connections with banking and industry allowed him to have a certain amount of leeway in convincing the banks to step in and finance a recovery. Meanwhile, companies agreed to continue hiring--funded mainly by government subsidies--thus making the recovery a ball that kept rolling. In theory. For the most part, it actually worked. However, the economy was far from well. While a disaster had been averted and Weeks had been given great credit for it, unemployment was still at 11% and a number of companies and banks had closed down. Weeks had been smart and lucky in the face of crisis, but that combination did little to save the Republican party in the 1922 and 1924 elections.

In terms of cabinet re-adjustments, Andrew Mellon was dismissed in late 1922 and replaced by mining engineer, businessman, humanitarian, head of Food Relief in Europe during the Great War, and "financial genius" Herbert Hoover. Hoover's actions in collaboration with Weeks in the face of the crisis earned him renown. Secretary of State Henry Cabot Lodge also left the cabinet, by his own accord, in 1922 and was replaced by Ambassador to Britain Franklin D. Roosevelt.

1924
Following the Panic of 1922, Republicans' chances seemed ruined for the election. Competing for the nomination, nonetheless, were former Illinois Governor Frank O. Lowden, Vice President Howard Sutherland, and Secretary of State Franklin D. Roosevelt. However, the nomination was won by none other than Senator Robert La Follette of Wisconsin. Despite his temporary bolting from the party eight years earleir, La Follette now seemed like the only statesman left to save the party. Meanwhile, Senator John F. Fitzgerald of Massachusetts was nominated over rivals such as Senator Carter Glass of Virginia and Governor Charles W. Bryan of Nebraska. To act as a geographical counter-balance, Senator John W. Davis of West Virginia was chosen.
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Senator John F. Fitzgerald (D-MA)/Senator John W. Davis (D-WV) 420 electoral votes, 56.3% of the popular vote
Senator Robert M. La Follette (R-WI)/Governor Frederick W. Steiwer (R-OR) 111 electoral votes, 42.2% of the popular vote

()

The Fitzgerald Presidency proved to be an important and effective one. Not only of course had a Catholic been elected President and a Democrat won in the midst of Republican unpopularity, but also for the first time in many many years, national momentum was swinging back towards the Democrats. With a competitiveness in New England not seen since the Bayard Presidency and Democratic gains in the Mid-West and West, it seemed a new era in politics was about to be embarked on.

In assembling his cabinet, Fitzgerald found himself appointing close personal friends to more low key positions that were closer to the President. Meanwhile, large appointments went to more universally acceptable nominees. For Secretary of State for example, popular former rival, former Congressman William Jennings Bryan was appointed. (Fitzgerald and Bryan generally agreed on the issue of American involvement internationally) As well, the popular Herbert Hoover was made Secretary of the Treasury and Alabama Senator Oscar W. Underwood was appointed Attorney General. Meanwhile, his own son-in-law, Joseph P. Kennedy would be appointed Secretary of Commerce and ally Alfred E. Smith became the Secretary of Labor. As well, a new West Wing "Council on Economic Recovery" was set up containing a number of Fitzgerald allies from Boston as well as being co-chaired by Smith and Kennedy.

In policy, Fitzgerald governed rather moderately. While setting up a new regulatory agency in order to keep better track of the goings-on of Wall Street and forming what was called the "Social Safety Net", he also cut both tariffs and income taxes, the two taxes that had been highest during the Weeks Presidency. With the Wall Street turmoil of the early 1920's having subsided and the momentum of the Fitzgerald Presidency providing a new stroke of public confidence, the economy found itself kicking back into gear. "While we definitely won't be calling this 'The Roaring Twenties'", commented Commerce Secretary Kennedy, "In 1928 people are definitely going to be looking back and saying they're better off now than they were four years ago."

1928
Despite his popularity, President Fitzgerald nonetheless found himself facing opposition for the Democratic nomination in the former of Governor Huey P. Long of Louisiana. A populist liberal who had been elected four years previous in 1924, Long called for what he referred to as "A New Deal" for the American people. As opposed to the President's moderate course on the economy, Long called for the nationalization of the banking firms that in his mind had cause America's economic troubles to begin with. As well, he advocated a 100% income tax on all those making over $200,000 a year. With a number of people still struggling despite the obvious re-mobilization of the economy, Long began to pick up support, especially in the rural West.
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Red-Fitzgerald
Green-Long

At the convention, Fitzgerald was re-nominated almost unanimously. In order to hold down any attempts by Long to win the support of Western and Southern delegates, Speaker of the House John Nance Garner of Texas was nominated for Vice President.

Meanwhile, the Republicans couldn't seem to decide on a nominee. The nomination came down to an incredibly weak field, considering the position of power the party had held only eight years ago. Among this field were former Governor Frank Lowden of Illinois, Senator William E. Borah of Idaho, Senator Joseph B. France of Maryland, former Governor Calvin Coolidge of Massachusetts, and Senator Frederick Hale of Maine. Among the potential major candidates who declined running were former Secretary of State and Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York, former Vice President Howard Sutherland of West Virginia, and Senate Minority Leader Charles Curtis of Kansas. Hale eventually took the nomination on the fourth ballot when Lowden and Coolidge both dropped out to endorse him. The Vice Presidential nomination was much less contested. While some called on agricultural advocate, newspaper editor, and Borah supporter Henry A. Wallace (son of Weeks' Agriculture Secretary Henry C. Wallace, 1919-1924) to run for Vice President, he declined and instead supported the nomination of Curtis.

In the general election, "Fitz" faced an easy re-election in the face of the uninspiring and unenthusiastic Republican ticket. While Hale kept a healthy schedule on the campaign trail, he drew few crowds and even fewer supporters as he attempted to spell out just what exactly the Republicans stood for. With confusion as to which wing of the party he represented, the Progressives under Borah, or the Conservatives under Arthur Vandenberg, people came to his speeches with questions and left with even more. With the ticket still trying to decide whether they wished for more government intervention, less, or a modified version of what existed, it is no wonder that they lost in a land-slide to a popular incumbent in the wake of an economic recovery.
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President John F. Fitzgerald (D-MA)/Speaker John Nance Garner (D-TX) 480 electoral votes, 58.2% of the popular vote
Senator Frederick Hale (R-ME)/Senator Charles Curtis (R-KS) 51 electoral votes, 39.4% of the popular vote

The second term of President Fitzgerald would be marked by complete economic recovery as well as a new focus on foreign affairs. With the death of Secretary of State Bryan in 1926, Fitzgerald had appointed Henry Ford, the famous automobile manufacturer and fellow isolationist, to the spot. During that time, Ford had aided in the expansion of American industry overseas, entering into trade agreements with a number of nations. However, come 1929, Ford had decided to retire. To fill the appointment, Fitzgerald was left with a wide array of options. After considering many options, Fitzgerald decided to choose someone he could trust, Senator David I. Walsh of Massachusetts, to take the position. A fellow isolationist, it was believed by Fitz's foreign policy team that America should expand only through trade and not through arms, and that America should concentrate on solving its own problems before solving those of the world. During Fitz's second term, the United States oversaw the international ratification of Non-Aggression Pact, swearing a number of nations to not only not attack one another, but as well to limit their arms. With Fitzgerald looking for a balanced budget at home, he saw the pact as a good opportunity.

1932
For the Democrats, eight years of national recovery and international peace had already passed and it was believed by many that the Democrats now had the opportunity to begin their own period of dominance, akin to the 16 years the GOP had experienced, 1909-1925 and the 24 years they'd experienced 1861-1885. Therefore, when Vice President Garner, representative of the last eight years of national progress, decided to campaign for the Presidency, the party welcomed him with open arms, pairing him with Governor William Comstock of Michigan.

Three candidates dominated the 1932 Republican National Convention. Finally once again ready to run, now-Senator Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York found his path to the nomination blocked by the Progressive William E. Borah and the Conservative Arthur H. Vandenberg. Roosevelt himself was a moderate on domestic policy, supporting Progressive measures such as anti-trust laws and public works projects, but also possessing a "Hamiltonian" like view on economics. With both Conservatives and Progressives fired up to win the nomination following the "moderate failure" Frederick Hale, Roosevelt's stance as the senior statesman in the room didn't helpl him. Instead, they fought tooth and nail for the nominaiton. Eventually, with fatigue from Progressive Republican policies and them controlling the party, Vandenberg was nominated, choosing Congressman Joseph W. Martin of Massachusetts for Vice President.

While the economy continued along the path of prosperity, the public soon grew bored of the Garner Presidency. Despite the peace and economic well being, the people wanted more of a leader than someone just to preside over a good time, and that's what they went looking for in the 1936 election.

1936
Coming into the 1936 election, the Republicans seemed to have one obvious choice left: Senator Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York. A leader in the party since 1924 and a loyal agent of it since 1910, he was also the natural heir to his late cousin's political dynasty. Like Teddy, he was an enemy of both the Progressive and Conservative wings. However, his enthusiastic campaign in the preceding primaries, his savviness with the party leadership, and his sheer personal magnetism when speaking at the convention, led him to be nominated on the first ballot with massive applause, beating Progressive Henry Wallace and Conservative Robert Taft. However, Roosevelt was forced to make a concession in the nomination the progressive Iowa Governor for Vice President. In the general election campaign, Roosevelt successfully made the case that not only was it time that America re-invested in itself through building of new roads and schools, but also that it was time to make America once again a known presence across the globe.
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Senator Franklin D. Roosevelt (R-NY)/Governor Henry A. Wallace (R-IA) 328 electoral votes, 54.8% of the popular vote
President John Nance Garner (D-TX)/Vice President William Comstock (D-MI) 203 electoral votes, 44.3% of the popular vote

()

The inauguration of the second President Roosevelt--on the twentieth anniversary of the first President Roosevelt--was the most energetic since John Fitzgerald's twelve years before. With members of his 1936 campaign lining the streets and filling up the national mall, he read his inaugural address to an adoring and accepting crowd. "It is time for the government to make a New Deal to the American people. A New Deal to ensure the national health, the national education, and the national prestige. While the world swarms around us, America has receded into itself. We have in us the opportunity to become like a shining city upon a hill, one filled with trade, commerce, and prosperity, or we can choose to look backwards and become a backwards nation. I'd like to say that last November, America made the first choice!"

During his first 100 days, President Roosevelt had scheduled a trip to Europe. Much like his cousin's, 35 years later, this one was to help America re-enter the international stage. After all, during the first Roosevelt Presidency, international diplomacy had helped make America's first entrance, and then to ensure the rapid and massive expansion of American business and commerce across the globe. As well, the public relations work that it did for FDR, mainly having the American people think he was "setting the standard for American Democracy in a land of monarchies" did wonders for the already popular President.

In Europe, which Roosevelt saw much of the sunny side of, something darker was brewing. The economic collapse that hit the world in the early 1920's hadn't fully recovered in many places such as Eastern Europe and Russia. Nationalist controlled Germany and Communist controlled Russia both held an inherent distrust in London finance and viewed the Western banking establishment as a mutual enemy of their two countries. Seeing the former Allied Powers as mutual enemies, a non-aggression pact was signed in 1935 ensuring that they would not attack each other. Meanwhile, England and France were in the works of signing a treaty that agreed that if Germany decided to again flex its imperialistic (and now supposedly greatly weakened) muscles again, they would react in kind. Meanwhile, President Roosevelt's trip had worked hard to help renew the earlier trade that had gone on between England and the United States, tying them closer together. In 1938, when Germany invaded France, international Hell broke loose. With Britain and France on one side and the "Commu-Nazis" on the other, Europe was torn in half once more.

President Roosevelt and his internationalist allies in Congress were able to successfully pass a second Lend-Lease Act. This was only the first of various measures Roosevelt was intent on passing in order to unofficially oppose what were now called the Axis Powers. On a trip to China with Ambassador Herbert Hoover, a deal to sell a large amount of newly minted American weaponry was forged in order to strengthen the weak nation against both Russian and Japanese aggression. As well, the President chose to retain, not set free, the Philippines and bolster their defenses as well.

Roosevelt's second term saw the conclusion of what would be termed as "The Second Great War". Commu-nazi expansion had been halted, and bombing runs by the Allies had destroyed German industry and Russian agriculture, leaving the citizens of the two countries crying out for an end to the war. meanwhile, Russia had also found itself in a newly made war with Japan over imperialist ambitions in China. Finding itself fighting a new front, Russia was the first to cripple and the official surrender was made in November, 1942. With its ally now out of the war, Germany soon capitulated. With the peace agreement finalized in February of 1943, it was one of the greatest international triumphs the globe had seen in decades. Roosevelt was now firmly fixed as an American hero in the eyes of many citizens. It was assured that he'd be running for a third term. Then tragedy struck.

While on vacation on Campobello Island in Canada in August, 1943, on a two week span before a scheduled visit with the Canadian Prime Minister, the President contracted Polio, paralyzing him from the waste down. While he could still function well mentally, and physically above the waste, he would not feel the freedom of movement again. Immediately carted home to the White House, he was attended to by White House doctors, but to no avail. The rest of his presidency would be concentrated on therapy as he was resigned mostly to signing bills that came his way. After months of strange silence from the White House, on January 12th, 1944, President Roosevelt went to the same radio mic he had spent many nights on, consoling America about the war, and told the nation what had happened. He finished up with a very sincere acknowledgement of the doctors he'd worked with over the past months, his family, and to the American people who'd been patient with him. As he ended the speech, he made clear he would not be seeking a third term for the Presidency.

1944
"Dammit! Roosevelt is more dangerous to us like this than he ever was as a candidate!", raged former Governor Joseph Kennedy, a contender for the Democratic nomination. At the Democratic National Convention, Kennedy wasn't the only one who'd set his sights on the Presidency. Richard B. Russell, the esteemed Senator from Georgia, was the main contender. A supporter of the war effort, he now stood as one of the few men in his party who "got it right". As well, a proven conservative, he had the support of "Cactus Jack", the old former President and the only one who had offered his endorsement that season. After the failure of his son-in-law four years earlier, President Fitzgerald was refusing to step in for him this time. However, old Joe was not done yet. His years as Fitzgerald's protege had helped him to learn a few things about the inside of the political process. He was able to goad both his former running mate, the progressive Burton K. Wheeler, and his Massachusetts ally David I. Walsh into putting their names into contention. With the field becoming more and more crowded, especially with the introduction of names like General MacArthur, it was obvious a compromise candidate was needed. With Wheeler dropping out to support his former running-mate (in exchange for a guaranteed appointment to Secretary of State), Walsh throwing in the towel (he would be getting Secretary of the Treasury, hypothetically), and Russell having long lost strength, Kennedy, a tried and tested nominee already, and the heir to the Democrats' last truly successful President, was nominated. In his acceptance speech, he lambasted the Republican's "patty cake playing" with Russian communism, "They think that one surrender makes them our best friends." No mention of course, was made of Roosevelt, a nationally loved figure. The Vice Presidential nomination was made with regional balance in mind. Senator Harry S. Truman, a moderate from the moderate state of Missouri, was chosen.

The RNC on the other hand was a coronation for Vice President Landon. With the President pulling the strings to make sure no one challenged him, a unanimous first ballot nomination of Landon was the greatest gift they could give him. For Vice President, popular Governor Thomas Dewey of New York was nominated.

The general election marked one of the last "old time" elections, where campaigns would be done primarily by train. With Kennedy failing miserably in the Reader's Digest poll, the former Governor embarked on a whistle stop tour throughout the mid-west and the West. Never mind his status as an easterner, his fiery rhetoric against communism was able to whip up a crowd easily. As well, Truman was able to do the same, discussing economic issues including the lagging economy that had come into effect since the end of the war. While it was unclear whether the Democrats were running as conservatives or liberals, it worked. Meanwhile, both Landon and Dewey were awful campaigners. Landon's only comments of note on the campaign trail were vary vague platitudes combined with references to President Roosevelt. While another pair might have easily won the election, those two through it away.
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Former Governor Joseph P. Kennedy (D-MA)/Senator Harry S. Truman (D-MO) 291 electoral votes, 49.2% of the popular vote
Vice President Alfred Landon (R-KS)/Governor Thomas Dewey (R-NY) 240 electoral votes, 47.7% of the popular vote

In terms of domestic policy, Kennedy's presidency was uneventful. Some deregulation took place, and some farm programs were made in order to appease the South and West of the party, but other than that, it seemed foreign policy would be the main focus of the next four years. In the Soviet Union, where the Allied Forces were preparing to lend large amounts of money for re-building, President Kennedy took the stand at the Allied headquarters and announced that there would be no American money for reconstruction unless the old Communist party was abolished and reparations and repayment plans were set in place. He soon gained the support of a number of smaller members of the Allies, including the newly inducted member, China, which had been most directly affected by Russian aggression, as well as Eastern European countries. Eventually, with the help of new Secretary of State John Dulles, other countries were convinced to sign off on the "Kennedy Plan", and it came to a vote at the Allied Headquarters and passed. However, it was required to be ratified by the United States Senate and that was where Kennedy met difficulty.

Henry Wallace, formerly Vice President of the United States and now in the Senate, began to filibuster the plan, claiming that Soviet policy should not be based on "the radical anti-socialist ideology of the White House". Wallace gained the support of a small caucus of internationalist and liberal colleagues and proceeded to continue his filibuster. Eventually, Wallace fainted and his small caucus dispersed. Following that, the plan was free to pass. However, Wallace remained a thorn in the President's side. Kennedy, sick of Wallace's attempts to block legislation, ordered Attorney General J. Edgar Hoover to begin investigating Wallace. On a hot summer night in 1947, an agent of the Justice Department was caught breaking into Senator Wallace's office. The subsequent investigation revealed a paper trail leading up to Hoover's office, and possibly even to the President.

1948
Despite him being charged by the media with thing like "running a secret government from within the White House" and being referred to as "an Imperial President", President Kennedy was re-nominated at the Democratic National Convention, beating back two liberal challengers. Vice President Harry Truman as well stayed on the ticket.

The Republicans faced an incredibly split convention. The liberal Henry Wallace was attempting to win the nomination and had been hoping that news of the break in and the President's corruption would help him. However, he was seen as far too radical to ever be the nominee. Instead, the front-runner was Thomas Dewey, the 1944 Vice Presidential nominee and two-term Governor of New York. Competing against him were conservative Robert Taft of Ohio and liberal Harold Stassen of Minnesota. After several ballots and no nominee, a man, who had chosen to watch the convention form the back of the suite, finally answered calls to be wheeled onto the stage. Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a national icon and four years retired, agreed to be nominated. Despite his illness, he was still strong mentally and physically, above the waste, and answered the calls of the delegates to be nominated. The Vice Presidential nomination went to Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. of Massachusetts. Furious, Wallace chose to split from the party and run his own campaign.
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Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt (R-NY)/Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (R-MA) 337 electoral votes, 53% of the popular vote
President Joseph P. Kennedy (D-MA)/Vice President Harry S. Truman (D-MO) 194 electoral votes, 45% of the popular vote
Senator Henry A. Wallace (P-IA)/Senator Glen Taylor (P-ID) 2% of the popular vote

1964
The race between Vice President Russo and Governor Nelson Rockefeller proved to be one of the closest and most contentious. On one hand was the Italian Catholic Democrat Russo whose entire political life had been campaigns against men like the well-born WASP Rockefeller. Meanwhile, Rockefeller was dealing with a new coalition of Republicans. In the West, states that had largely voted in favor of Democrats in the past were favoring the Republicans, largely due to Republicans campaigning there against Humphrey's "brash overreach of the federal government". In 1962, Barry Goldwater, who had run a third party campaign in 1960, officially switched over to the Republican Party--the party that had typically been in favor of a strong federal government. With that, Rockefeller was given the challenge of attempting to unite the West with the North-East, the Mid-West, and the growing Republican strength in Appalachia. While in large part he succeeded, Democratic strength in the South and their growing strength in the Farm Belt--due mainly to Humphrey's support for popular farm programs and the nomination of South Dakota Governor George McGovern for Vice President--carried the day for the Democrats.
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Vice President Joseph Russo (Democrat-Massachusetts)/Governor George McGovern (Democrat-South Dakota) 304 electoral votes, 49.4% of the popular vote
Governor Nelson Rockefeller (Republican-New York)/Governor Paul Laxalt (Republican-Nevada) 234 electoral votes, 49.0% of the popular vote

1968
Despite his charisma and status as the third Catholic President, Russo's presidency did not fare well. His decision to involve America in the conflict between businessmen and pro-nationalization forces in the Middle East, while at first initially popular, began losing public support due to the failure of American forces to properly keep the peace and protect property in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Humphrey's agriculture policies had inflated food prices, leading to President Russo enacting a new tariff on wheat and corn in order to protect American farmers and their rising prices. With wheat and corn prices nonetheless continuing to rise, causing other foods such as beef and milk to follow suit, many citizens were feeling the pain at the dinner table. With the conflict in the Middle East heating up, President Russo announced in November 1967 that he wouldn't be seeking re-election.

1968
For George McGovern, he faced challenges from the anti-war Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota and the Russo surrogate Congressman Mario Procaccino of New York. However, McGovern was able to eek out a majority at the convention. Meanwhile, the 1968 Republican National Conventions was just as hectic, with John Volpe of Massachusetts being endorsed by Rockefeller, and Goldwater the new icon of the party's growing conservative wing endorsing Paul Laxalt. Meanwhile, a number of smaller candidates including Congressman John Lindsay, Governor Louie B. Nunn, and Senator Edward Brooke all vied for support. Eventually, Laxalt was able to claim a majority and Volpe was selected for Vice President.
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Governor Paul Laxalt (Republican-Nevada)/Governor John Volpe (Republican-Massachusetts) 332 electoral votes, 52.6% of the popular vote
Vice President George McGovern (Democrat-South Dakota)/Senator Albert Gore Sr. (Democrat-Tennessee) 206 electoral votes, 46.8% of the popular vote

The Arnold Schwarzenegger Story
A Very Hackish Story

2008
After sixteen years of Democratic rule--the last eight plagued by war, economic recession, and natural disasters--the Republicans are soul-searching for a savior. In 2000, Vice President Al Gore was narrowly elected to the Presidency, defeating George W. Bush, the Governor of Texas. The close election left a cautious feeling for the country. However, Gore was given his true mandate with 9/11 and subsequent Democratic gains in 2002. The invasion of Afghanistan and subsequent war however proved a hard battle to win.
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Vice President Albert S. Gore, Jr. (D-TN)/Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) 270 electoral votes, 48.4% of the popular vote
Governor George W. Bush (R-TX)/Former Defense Secretary Richard B. Cheney (R-WY) 267 electoral votes, 47.8% of the popular vote
Abstaining: 1 electoral vote, 0% of the popular vote
Activist Ralph Nader (I-DC)/Activist Winona LaDuke (I-CA) 0 electoral votes, 2.7% of the popular vote

Come 2004, things would find themselves returning to their pre-9/11 status quo. The War in Afghanistan was not going well, and rumors of unrestrained "Weapons of Mass Destruction" and outside funding for Al-Qaeda persisted. Meanwhile, Senator John McCain of Arizona narrowly claimed the nomination against Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Senator Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, Congressman Ron Paul of Texas, and Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas. In order to shore up the conservative base, he chose supporter Fred Thompson for Vice President. Despite an enthusiastic Republican campaign, Gore was able to rally the Democratic base with his talks about environmentalism and a newly-passed economic stimulus package.
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President Albert S. Gore, Jr. (D-TN)/Vice President Joseph I. Lieberman (D-CT) 291 electoral votes, 50.1% of the popular vote
Senator John S. McCain III (R-AZ)/Senator Fred Thompason (R-TN) 247 electoral votes, 49.3% of the popular vote

However, Gore's second term would prove a disastrous one. The mishandling of Hurricane Katrina, the slow decline of the economy, the collapse of the housing market, and the decline of America's status in the war in Afghanistan all contributed to Gore's unpopularity as the 2008 election approached. As well, his failure to advance many of his key issues including that of battling climate change, contributed to continue disillusionment with the Gore administration by the party's liberals. Thus the stage was set for 2008...

In 2004, in a rather stupid effort to appease the Hispanic community, President Gore had supported a constitutional amendment allowing those not born in America to run for and even hold the office of President. The official amendment was passed in 2006, set to take effect in time for the 2008 election. In that same year--2006--Arnold Schwarzenegger was re-elected as Governor of California by a comfortable margin. With this victory, people began talking about a possible Schwarzenegger candidacy. After all, the last Republican president to be re-elected was himself a former actor and California Governor. Finally, on July 5th, 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination. It would not be easy. The previous election's also-rans Ron Paul, Mike Huckabee, and Lincoln Chafee would be joined by 2004 Vice Presidential nominee Fred Thompson, and Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts. However, Schwarzenegger had one advantage: he was pretty awesome.

On the Democratic side, Vice President Lieberman was being challenged by Senator Hillary Clinton who promised a return to the prosperous days of the 1990's, and liberal Senator Barack Obama who spoke about giving the nation a way forward. Obama was able to eek out a narrow win in the Iowa Caucuses. Lieberman was able to catch his breath with a narrow New Hampshire win. However, despite winning Florida, it was Clinton who was able to pick up the anti-Obama vote and on a coalition of the South-West, Mid-West, Appalachia, and the North-East, won a decisive primary victory over Obama. Lieberman dropped out shortly after his failure to gain traction on Super Tuesday. Before the convention, Obama dropped out and endorsed Hillary, in return receiving the Vice Presidential nomination. Lieberman however, was not so happy with the state of the party...
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Red - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York
Green - Senator Barack H. Obama of Illinois
Blue - Vice President Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut

Meanwhile, Arnold Schwarzenegger was fighting his own battles. In Iowa, Mike Huckabee was able to beat out other contenders and become he main alternative to the California Governor for the party's right-wing. Meanwhile, the Romney campaign was collapsing and Chafee failed to gain traction, leaving Schwarzenegger with the center and left of the party, and thanks to his charisma and past as a movie star and several photos with Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, much of the right.
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Blue - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California
Red - Former Governor Michael Huckabee of Arkansas
Green - Governor Willard "Mitt" Romney of Massachusetts

In order to appease conservatives and the South, as a shout-out to George H.W. Bush who he'd been in at least one photo with, and as a strategic reminder of both the extremely close election of 2000 and the 1980's, Senator and former Governor Jeb Bush of Florida was chosen for Vice President. Thus, the election was set.

Talk Elections

Presidential Elections - Analysis and Discussion => Election What-ifs? => Topic started by: FEMA Camp Administrator on March 16, 2011, 06:46:13 PM