If Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton failed

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Let's assume that:

1966: Incumbent Governor Pat Brown defeated Republican opponent Ronald Reagan in a coming-from-behind victory

The same year, George H. W. Bush failed to win, despite pro-Republican wave, congressional race in Texas.

1970: Jimmy Carter lost his second attempt to win Democratic nomination for Governor of Georgia

1982: Bill Clinton failed, despite pro-Democratic wave, to regain Arkansas governorship

So:

1. Would these figures, despite these loses, still rise to the national politicis and if so, to which level?
2. How would the presidential list look without him, if not?

[CPT MikeyMike]

Do all these happen in the same time continuum?

Anyhow...

Let's assume that:

1966: Incumbent Governor Pat Brown defeated Republican opponent Ronald Reagan in a coming-from-behind victory

First Reagan probably never runs for office again, thus the Republican Party doesn't shift as far right as it has.  Likely we would see either Bob Dole or Howard Baker as president during the 1980s.

On the other hand, Pat Brown might have even been a presidential nominee in either 1968 or 1972.

The same year, George H. W. Bush failed to win, despite pro-Republican wave, congressional race in Texas.

I think he'd still try to run for the senate in 1970 and lose again.  With his connections to the Republican party, Bush may still have a change for future positions that he had like UN Ambassador or Chairman of the RNC although he would have a tough road ahead of him.

1970: Jimmy Carter lost his second attempt to win Democratic nomination for Governor of Georgia

A two-time loser, he's done.

As for 1976 elections, maybe Birch Bayh or Frank Church gets the nomination and probably defeats Ford.

1982: Bill Clinton failed, despite pro-Democratic wave, to regain Arkansas governorship

See Carter as a two-time loser.  Plus he and Hillary probably divorce within 5 years.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Interesting. I guess the whole American story would have been totally different... Could be the subject of a new TL !

[Mechaman]

With the event described I predict a few things:

A. Reagan probably never runs for political office again. Nevermind that he ran for President only a year after becoming governor and then ran two more times after that, his race for Governor is what I believe made his political career. When watcing a documentary on Reagan I get the impression that he felt kind of forced into running for Governor and if he loses he would turn around and say "see, I told you me and politics don't work".
B. Pat Brown gets some hardcore cred and runs for president, pretty much what CPT said. He leaves office in 1971 and is succeeded by a Republican. His son Jerry Brown still is elected Attorney General and still goes on to get elected in 1974 to the governorship. See D for more details on Jerry Brown.
C. There would be no stopping the Bush, who has pretty good connections with the Republican Party heads. If he couldn't win House or Senate he would become part of a presidential cabinet under Nixon or Ford that would give him some momentum for a presidential run. However, if Baker runs in 1980, I don't see Bush winning the nod.
D. Pretty much what CPT said about Jimmy Carter, except that I don't think Frank Church or Birch Bayh would win the nomination, in fact I think the nation would be interested in what a young Jerry Brown had to offer (I will admit this is not likely to happen, but would be interesting). Brown goes onto a close victory over Ford in the election (mostly due to him being single and being around Hollywood too much due to his relationships to several high profile women, as well as his unconventional views maybe even seeing some liberal Democrats vote for Ford). However, just like Jimmy Carter Brown becomes unpopular and in 1980 is defeated by a Republican ticket of probably Baker/Dole.
E. Bill Clinton probably either tries to run for a congressional seat or even the senate, I don't think he would give up that easily. However, since he would be out of politics I really don't see Hillary staying much longer with him, especially if he still is banging other chicks like he did IRL (I can't blame the guy, hell if Hillary was my wife I'd be banging supermodels behind her back all the time) and she leaves him and takes Chelsea with her within 5-8 years (if he fails to get into office that is). He probably doesn't become president but I can see him making it to the US Senate or becoming US Attorney General still.

[Dr. Cynic]

1. The Republicans never shift so far rightward. Reagan never runs again and stays in entertainment, maybe picking up a show somewhat like Robert Stack's Unsolved Mysteries. We would likely see the Republicans stick to Dole like policies. Brown becomes Presidential timber

2. Bush continues looking for office.

3. Carter's career is finished. I think we could see the rise of Morris Udall in 76. If not him, then Humphrey might be more willing to run, dispite his cancer. Ted Kennedy could win in 1980 if Ford wins.

4. Clinton might just go on being a lawyer. He probably divorces Hillary, since their marraige was purely political. She only started using the last name Clinton when it was becoming politically costly for him.