Vice, Virtue, and Independence (A Different Path, Chapter 2)

[MillennialModerate]

You sly fox, you said you weren't using Chappaquiddick!!!

I guess Ted Kennedy won't be the nominee in 1972, but RFK is still possible...

Will Martin Luther King run a pro-civil rights campaign?

Read closer ....

Ted Kennedy Has Accident in Chappaquiddick; None Injured

[MillennialModerate]

You sly fox, you said you weren't using Chappaquiddick!!!

I guess Ted Kennedy won't be the nominee in 1972, but RFK is still possible...

Will Martin Luther King run a pro-civil rights campaign?

Read closer ....

Ted Kennedy Has Accident in Chappaquiddick; None Injured

That doesn't mean someone Mary Jo wasn't in the car with him, just that she wasn't injured/killed.

Yeah but it was the whole woman dying and not reporting the accident thing that derailed his presidency chances, not because he was in the car with Mary Jo.

[MillennialModerate]

You sly fox, you said you weren't using Chappaquiddick!!!

I guess Ted Kennedy won't be the nominee in 1972, but RFK is still possible...

Will Martin Luther King run a pro-civil rights campaign?

Read closer ....

Ted Kennedy Has Accident in Chappaquiddick; None Injured

That doesn't mean someone Mary Jo wasn't in the car with him, just that she wasn't injured/killed.

Yeah but it was the whole woman dying and not reporting the accident thing that derailed his presidency chances, not because he was in the car with Mary Jo.

Doesn't mean the affair didn't happen...

True but an affair isn’t enough to derail someone’s chances of the Presidency.

Nor should it be IMO, if you have an affair the only person who should care is your wife.

(unless it’s a John Edwards situation, having an affair with your wife on her death bed is a bad look 9 times out of 10)

[MillennialModerate]

bump

[MillennialModerate]

This is terrificly written!

Looking foward to mid-terms

[MillennialModerate]

May 4, 1970
Robert

“Hello, New Yorkers! I know I might not be your favorite Kennedy brother, but give me a chance…”

Bobby was giving a speech he’d prepared for since he left the DOJ last year. He’d always had big ambitions, and he was taking the next step to see those ambitions come to fruition.

“...so today, I’m announcing that I will be a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor of New York! We must build a fairer New York, a New York that takes care of its poor and gives everyone a chance to succeed…”

It was a little early to make such an announcement, seeing as the primary wasn’t until later in the year, but he wanted all the publicity he could garner. Taking on Governor Rockefeller, who had announced his reelection campaign several days ago, would be tough. He was popular, for a New York Republican, and he was liberal enough to satisfy many in the state. Plus, Bobby had only moved to New York in 1967, drawing allegations of carpetbagging. And, of course, the was the question of whether RFK would ditch New York to seek the Presidency in 1972.

“...it is no secret that I am an ambitious man. Many will ask, ‘how do I know you won’t try to trade in the Governor’s mansion for the White House in 1972?’ New York, I stand before you today a candidate for the Governor’s mansion, and if I am lucky enough to be elected, I promise I will not seek the Presidency in 1972.”

The announcement would shake the political world in a number of ways. Which is exactly what Bobby wanted.

This means, either:

A: Ted Kennedy is running in 1972.
B. RFK will lose in 1972 and will run for President in 1976.
C. Top Democrats think Goldwater is unbeatable, and won't run (much like H.W Bush in 1992), leading to a dark horse like McGovern winning the nomination).

He’s running in ‘70 for Governor, what would he be losing in ‘72?

Just because this timeline was centered around JFK, doesn’t mean further Kennedy victories are a sure thing (even though I hope for them and they would be good for the country)

However at this point I’d say they’d be the overwhelming favorites to run against Goldwater.

I for sure don’t think option C makes much sense because Goldwater seems very beatable. A war effort going off the rails, someone who was viewed with suspicion from the start.

If I was a betting man I’d say Bobby loses a close one to Rockefeller but it ends up being a blessing in disguise in the long run. We shall see. Love this timeline

[MillennialModerate]

Notice I didn't say McGovern would lose in 1972.

True. That’d be disappointing however.

Go from greatness to Goldwater to McGovern. McGovern is bad, Goldwater is worse.

Give me RFK or Muskie... hell give me Rockefeller or Reagan at this point.

[MillennialModerate]

I'm back from PR. Very tired ATM, will release an update in the next couple days though.

You did a great, self-less thing by going there, props to you for that

Look forward to an update!

[MillennialModerate]

Whoah! Dems sweep congress but all eyes on a recount in NY :0

Every update is interesting, especially the election races

[MillennialModerate]

I have a feeling I know what comes next!

BTW, interesting Teddy and Muskie atop Dems choice, not RFK & Muskie.

[MillennialModerate]

Two things:

1. Another great update

2. Oh come on. Another break?!

[MillennialModerate]

So in this scenario we are trading Goldwater & LBJ for JFK, RFK & MLK?

Deal. Where do I sign up?

[MillennialModerate]

Anyone find it extremely narcissistic of Reagan to make an announcement about his future career moves in politics in a Oval Office type speech after a day of wreckoning like that?

[MillennialModerate]

A few things I’d find shocking:

That LeMay wasn’t in a jail cell.

That Ted Kennedy wouldn’t be running away with the Dem nomination.......And if he wasn’t &  that Muskie wasn’t the one with a firm control of next in line.

Goldwater definitely benefiting off of sympathy for the attack on him

[MillennialModerate]

That LeMay wasn’t in a jail cell.

OK so this is fun because I don't actually know what the procedure would be for punishing LeMay for that, simply because it's never happened IRL. Indicting him for murdering the Vietnamese? Violating the Geneva Conventions? If anyone can clear this up for me I'd love to lock LeMay up for the rest of this TL.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

He doesn't have Chappaquiddick ITTL, but he does have an affair with Mary Jo, oops. That doesn't play well. Also Muskie and him struggled to differentiate themselves from each other. Muskie successfully paints Teddy as a privileged playboy and since he actually is a privileged playboy it hurts his campaign

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Normally he would be the one to benefit from Kennedy's downfall if not for Kennedy and the Union-Leader smearing his wife and causing the same crying fiasco as IRL. Additionally, he doesn't have the boost of having been a former VP nominee like IRL (something to keep in mind). Humphrey benefits from Kennedy's downfall too, plus he's got more experience, a great civil rights record, and almost total support from unions and the traditional establishment. Not really sure who Muskie's base is who's not also in Humphrey's base.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Somewhat, yes, and a divided opposition (Lindsay to the left, Ashbrook to the right)

On the Teddy thing, yes he was a playboy but so weren’t all the Kennedy boys. But they all put their country first, they all loved America and they all held positions generally believed by most Americans - they were the one family that didn’t get critisized for nepotism. There was almost always an appetite for the next in line - Chappiquidick was literally the exception to the rule. Without that you surely see Teddy win POTUS IRL.

As for Muskie, I don’t think he needs the boost of being a former VP nominee - but being attacked from the Kennedy machine is likely a fatal blow when competing against a strong foe like Humphrey

And LeMay surely could be charged with executing an action on behalf of the United States without having the authority to do so. He was not next in line in the chain of command.

[MillennialModerate]

Ugh not good odds for a return to Camelot in 76 if things stay the same

[MillennialModerate]

Give me a major role for Teddy, RFK or JFK JR

And a Biden Win...

And I’ll be happy