RFK defeats Nixon barely. Nixon retires from politics, finally, forever, cross-his-heart and hope to die.
RFK pulls out of Vietnam: a move that angers conservatives but is highly popular with everyone else. His policies legitimize the liberal social agenda. The United States goes the way of Europe, with socialized medicine and an expanded central government. This becomes mainstream politics.
RFK easily defeats Ronald Reagan in 1972, in what is seen as a national referendum on the "New Society" programs of the Kennedy Administration. Reagan retires from politics, never to be heard from again.
1976 sees a realignment, with Republicans somewhat accepting the social-democratic policies of the Democrats, but setting themselves apart on moral issues such as abortion and the sexual revolution. Bob Dole defeats Gene McCarthy, but his poor handling of the sagging economy and the Iran hostage crisis sweeps Jimmy Carter into office in 1980!
Today, the Democrats and GOP are more like the Labour and Conservative parties in the U.K. in policy position and relative strength.
That sounds amazing. I wish that happened.
