fighting_eagles
December 21st, 2009, 05:30 AM
Hello Everyone!
Just a short introduction:
I am new to this board, having joined just two days ago. I have read the timelines on here and you guys have done fascinating work, all of you have contributed well to this site. So first off, a sincerely applaud you all for great work!
I am a senior in high school and history is without a doubt my favorite subject. My career ambition is to become a Governor or U.S. Senator for my homestate of Utah someday, so I am also very interested in politics. Put both my interests together and - you got it - I am addicted to political history. I wanted to put together and write a timeline myself, based on not just one, but many different questions i've always aked myself while studying - What if Eisenhower and Stevenson stayed with thier initial decisions not to run for President in 1952? What if the conservative movement of the early 1960's led to sucess at the polls for thier candidates during the 60's, instead of 20 years later? What if anti-war Eugene McCarthy won the Democratic nomination for president in 1968?
These are just a few of the many questions I have decided to tackle in this timeline, and hope to create one that will fuse many "what ifs" into reality. I understand many people will have differences of opinion in this timeline, seeing as how so many questions need to be answered. But I will try to make this a realistic as possible, given the circumstances the timeline provides.
The only rule I have given myself is this - a person who served as president in real life cannot serve as president in this timeline, but are eligible for cabinet positions and other offices. For example, Jimmy Carter cannot be elected nor appointed president in this timeline, but can be appointed to a cabinet post. I did this so that more in depth thinking would be needed and involved, a sort of challenge for myself I guess :)
Every now and then, a "what if" question will be asked at the beginning of a section, but not every section. As stated before, this is more of a fusion of many different questions.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy this timeline, and any suggestions, comments, questions, and thoughts are much appreciated!
-
A Chaotic Beginning: 1952's Race for the Nominations
(Question: What if Eisenhower and Stevenson opted not to run in '52?)
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/graphics/harrystruman.jpg
President Truman shocked the nation and both parties when he announced he would not run for re-election in 1952.
As 1952 came along, the upcoming election was on the mid of many voters. Many wondered which direction the nation would turn after the Korean War, and if another four years under the fiesty, iron-willed President Harry S. Truman were in the horizon. But President Truman surprises the nation by deciding not to seek re-election in 1952, thus leaving the Democratic Party without a front-runner, as many believed Truman would run again. Despite falling approval ratings and the hardships of the Korean War, no other Democrat had actively sought to challenge Truman, for he had made indications a few times that he would run again. The Democrats then take plan B and try to persuade General Dwight D. Eisenhower to seek the nomination, hoping that his popularity and military experience will lead to another Democratic victory. Eisenhower however announces that his views are not in line with the Democratic Party and declines the nomination. This then leads the Republicans to pursue Eisenhower as a candidate, and the General informs the party that he would “need some time to consider the option”. Soon after, there are premature, but un-confirmed reports that Eisenhower would announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination – but these reports soon are proven false as two weeks later, Eisenhower again declines the option to run, preferring to stay in retirement. Thus, for the first time in many years, both major parties are left without clear front runners.
After two consecutive defeats in 1944 and 1948, Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York surfaces as, yet again, a potential Republican candidate. There were those in the party who wished to see him run again and believed that 1952 was the year he could win, but Dewey himself believes that the past three elections are enough, and decides ultimately not to run. With both parties wide open, the citizens of the country are left in a state of uncertainty as it appears that candidate lists on both sides will appear to be slim. But as time passes, the names finally emerge.
On the Democratic side, the first major name to place their name in candidacy was Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver, who gained national prominence and fame as the crime-fighting, coonskin-hat wearing chair of the Senate Crime Committee. Soon to follow was Oklahoma Senator Robert S. Kerr, Georgia Senator Richard Russell, Jr., and former Secretary of Commerce W. Averell Harriman of New York. There was talk and rumors that Illinois Governor Adlai E. Stevenson – the grandson and namesake of the former Vice President – was considering a bid. President Truman reportedly favored a Stevenson candidacy, and with Truman’s name in favor, Stevenson seemed to be a strong potential candidate. The news mulls for some time, but after a two week period, Stevenson announces that he wishes instead to run for re-election to the Governorship of Illinois, thus declining to run for President.
The Republican party, however, had a less simpler time. Dewey had been the party’s prime heralder for nearly eight years, and now the GOP is left to find a new leader. Two perennial candidates, Ohio Senator Robert A. Taft and former Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen, both announce their candidacies for president. Taft was the leader of the Republican party’s conservative wing, and Stassen was an outspoken member of the liberal wing. This seemed dangerous however, for as the two both represented opposite sides of the party, there was a chance they would stalemate with no third candidate to act as a compromise. Thus, popular California governor Earl Warren, a notable moderate and Dewey’s running mate in 1948, entered the race. This led to one candidate representing each of the party’s three establishments. It would still be a tight and complicated race, but this now ensured that if a stalemate were to occur between any wing, that another could emerge.
But the entire race’s biggest shock and surprise came from the stunning announcement that incumbent Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson, a former Kentucky congressman, would seek the Democratic nomination. After failing to convince Adlai Stevenson, Truman turned to Vinson, a longtime close friend and ally, and had reportedly convinced him to run. Vinson confirmed this rumor and announced his candidacy. Truman immediately endorsed Vinson, and the race was on. Despite Vinson’s candidacy, however, there still was no clear front runner.
The Democratic Nomination
http://www.crosswordese.com/Images/estes.jpg
Popular Senator Estes Kefauver was successfully painting an image of himself as a common man who could appeal to voters, but Chief Justice Vinson's support from party bosses was a far stronger factor.
The Democratic primaries proved to be exciting and vigorously entertaining as each candidate tried to fight out of the virtual deadlock. During the primary season, two front runners finally emerged - Kefauver and Vinson. In backing out of the race before the New Hampshire Primary, Truman left Kefauver to win the primary easily over Vinson. But Vinson countered with a win in Florida and West Virginia. Kefauver then took the Wisconsin and Pennslyvania primaries, but then was upset by none other than Vinson in the Illinois primary. This back-and-forth routine led to Kefauver losing states he was initially expected to win. Kefauver, however, finished strong with wins in California and Oregon to seemingly take the drivers seat. With a collective lead in all the primaries, the senator from Tennessee seemed poised to do well in the convention. The convention was held in Chicago from June 26-30, and the welcoming speaker was rumored candidate, Adlai Stevenson. There was a last-ditch effort to draft Stevenson as a candidate, but once again, Stevenson declined to run or accept any nomination. The convention revealed what was only known within the big circles, however: Due to the fact most states chose thier delegates through state conventions, party bosses - governors, mayors of large cities - would have the power to ultimately choose anyone they wished as the nominee. Kefauver had the unfortunate disadvanage of having little support from these bosses, as well as the fact that Truman, a party boss himself, endorsed Vinson. So, despite finishing well in the primaries, Kefauver's bid for the nomination looked grim. It would indeed prove so, as on the second ballot, Chief Justice Vinson was nominated by the Democrats, aided by Senator Kerr's drop-out and delegate swing to Vinson's total. This led to Vinson naming Kerr as his Vice Presidential running mate, as well as the fact that Kerr could attract Western voters. Vinson gained the distinction of becoming the first sitting Chief Justice to be nominated by a major party for President, and he now aimed to be the first to become president.
http://www.findagrave.com/photos250/photos/2003/173/1063_1056379905.jpghttp://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/K/images/KE011.jpg
The Democratic Ticket: For President - Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson, Kentucky. For Vice President - Senator Robert S. Kerr, Oklahoma.
The Republican Nomination
http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/time/1444-1.jpg
Indeed, Senator Robert Taft was certainly "Mr. Republican". What wasn't certain were his chances of winning the nomination - ultimately proved by support for Warren that Taft could not match.
The "three-winged race", as it was now being called, became one of the hardest fought in Republican party history. With no other major candidates emerging, it remained a race between the three ideological factions - the Liberals, the Moderates, and the Conservatives. The biggest issues the Republicans tried to tackle was the legacy of the New Deal policies and whether to be interventionists of isolationists in foriegn policy. Stassen and the liberals favored intervention and accepted the New Deal policies, whereas Taft and the conservatives rejected the legacy of the New Deal, stating that the policies "brought us closer to socialism than we've ever been", according to Taft. Taft also spoke out against foreign intervention, saying that "if it isn't our problem, we can't afford America's freedoms and safety in trying to fix it". Warren's stances were different. He did accept the New Deal legacy, but stated that "those programs are unnecessary now", and was against intervention, only on the terms that America was not directly harmed. If America was harmed, however, he believed that America had the right to it's defense.
The primary season started with a bang, with Warren upsetting Stassen in the Pennslyvania and New Jersey primaries, both expected to vote Stassen. This proved that Warren's support was more widespread than others had thought, and that he didn't only appeal to the West. Stassen would then go on to take Minnesota and Massachusetts, while Warren won in Oregon and California, his home state. Taft would sweet the midwestrn and southern primaries, as expected.
The Republican National Convention was also held in Chicago, from July 7-11, just a few weeks after the Democrats nominated the Vinson/Kerr ticket. Warren's suprise victories in the east created great suspense and interest, and further complicated the race even more. With Stassen having lost the support he needed in the east, it seemed as if it would now be a two-man race between Warren and Taft. Tensions built over time and bitterness reigned as small outburts from either side towards the other occured. Conservative Senator Everett Dirksen of Illinois, a Taft supporter, pointed at Governor Dewey (who was now a Warren supporter), and shouted: "YOU led us down the road of defeat!!" on the convention floor, in the middle of the tally. This caused a small delay, but the tally went on. Eventually, and to the dismay of the conservatives, Warren's new-found strength in the East, coupled by his support in the West, swamped the lesser populated support of Taft in the midwest and south. At the completion of the first ballot, Governor Earl Warren was nominated by the Republicans for president. Always in favor of compromise, the classy Warren sought immediately to give the conservatives a voice in thier ticket, and named another governor - conservative J. Bracken Lee of Utah - his vice-presidential running mate. In accepting the nomination, Governor Warren uttered what would become one of the greatest and most admired of speeches in convention history, and ultimately define his campaign:
"Where there is injustice, we should correct it. Where there is poverty, we should eliminate it. where there is corruption, we should stamp it out. Where there is violence, we should punish it. Where there is neglect, we should provide care. Where there is war, we should restore peace. And wherever corrections are achieved....we as Americans - proud and dignified - should add them permanantly to our storehouse of collections!"
http://www.findagrave.com/photos250/photos/2006/201/1072_115346950623.jpghttp://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/Pictures/p0000116.jpg
The Republican Ticket: For President - Governor Earl Warren, California. For Vice President - Governor J. Bracken Lee, Utah.
Just a short introduction:
I am new to this board, having joined just two days ago. I have read the timelines on here and you guys have done fascinating work, all of you have contributed well to this site. So first off, a sincerely applaud you all for great work!
I am a senior in high school and history is without a doubt my favorite subject. My career ambition is to become a Governor or U.S. Senator for my homestate of Utah someday, so I am also very interested in politics. Put both my interests together and - you got it - I am addicted to political history. I wanted to put together and write a timeline myself, based on not just one, but many different questions i've always aked myself while studying - What if Eisenhower and Stevenson stayed with thier initial decisions not to run for President in 1952? What if the conservative movement of the early 1960's led to sucess at the polls for thier candidates during the 60's, instead of 20 years later? What if anti-war Eugene McCarthy won the Democratic nomination for president in 1968?
These are just a few of the many questions I have decided to tackle in this timeline, and hope to create one that will fuse many "what ifs" into reality. I understand many people will have differences of opinion in this timeline, seeing as how so many questions need to be answered. But I will try to make this a realistic as possible, given the circumstances the timeline provides.
The only rule I have given myself is this - a person who served as president in real life cannot serve as president in this timeline, but are eligible for cabinet positions and other offices. For example, Jimmy Carter cannot be elected nor appointed president in this timeline, but can be appointed to a cabinet post. I did this so that more in depth thinking would be needed and involved, a sort of challenge for myself I guess :)
Every now and then, a "what if" question will be asked at the beginning of a section, but not every section. As stated before, this is more of a fusion of many different questions.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy this timeline, and any suggestions, comments, questions, and thoughts are much appreciated!
-
A Chaotic Beginning: 1952's Race for the Nominations
(Question: What if Eisenhower and Stevenson opted not to run in '52?)
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/graphics/harrystruman.jpg
President Truman shocked the nation and both parties when he announced he would not run for re-election in 1952.
As 1952 came along, the upcoming election was on the mid of many voters. Many wondered which direction the nation would turn after the Korean War, and if another four years under the fiesty, iron-willed President Harry S. Truman were in the horizon. But President Truman surprises the nation by deciding not to seek re-election in 1952, thus leaving the Democratic Party without a front-runner, as many believed Truman would run again. Despite falling approval ratings and the hardships of the Korean War, no other Democrat had actively sought to challenge Truman, for he had made indications a few times that he would run again. The Democrats then take plan B and try to persuade General Dwight D. Eisenhower to seek the nomination, hoping that his popularity and military experience will lead to another Democratic victory. Eisenhower however announces that his views are not in line with the Democratic Party and declines the nomination. This then leads the Republicans to pursue Eisenhower as a candidate, and the General informs the party that he would “need some time to consider the option”. Soon after, there are premature, but un-confirmed reports that Eisenhower would announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination – but these reports soon are proven false as two weeks later, Eisenhower again declines the option to run, preferring to stay in retirement. Thus, for the first time in many years, both major parties are left without clear front runners.
After two consecutive defeats in 1944 and 1948, Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York surfaces as, yet again, a potential Republican candidate. There were those in the party who wished to see him run again and believed that 1952 was the year he could win, but Dewey himself believes that the past three elections are enough, and decides ultimately not to run. With both parties wide open, the citizens of the country are left in a state of uncertainty as it appears that candidate lists on both sides will appear to be slim. But as time passes, the names finally emerge.
On the Democratic side, the first major name to place their name in candidacy was Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver, who gained national prominence and fame as the crime-fighting, coonskin-hat wearing chair of the Senate Crime Committee. Soon to follow was Oklahoma Senator Robert S. Kerr, Georgia Senator Richard Russell, Jr., and former Secretary of Commerce W. Averell Harriman of New York. There was talk and rumors that Illinois Governor Adlai E. Stevenson – the grandson and namesake of the former Vice President – was considering a bid. President Truman reportedly favored a Stevenson candidacy, and with Truman’s name in favor, Stevenson seemed to be a strong potential candidate. The news mulls for some time, but after a two week period, Stevenson announces that he wishes instead to run for re-election to the Governorship of Illinois, thus declining to run for President.
The Republican party, however, had a less simpler time. Dewey had been the party’s prime heralder for nearly eight years, and now the GOP is left to find a new leader. Two perennial candidates, Ohio Senator Robert A. Taft and former Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen, both announce their candidacies for president. Taft was the leader of the Republican party’s conservative wing, and Stassen was an outspoken member of the liberal wing. This seemed dangerous however, for as the two both represented opposite sides of the party, there was a chance they would stalemate with no third candidate to act as a compromise. Thus, popular California governor Earl Warren, a notable moderate and Dewey’s running mate in 1948, entered the race. This led to one candidate representing each of the party’s three establishments. It would still be a tight and complicated race, but this now ensured that if a stalemate were to occur between any wing, that another could emerge.
But the entire race’s biggest shock and surprise came from the stunning announcement that incumbent Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson, a former Kentucky congressman, would seek the Democratic nomination. After failing to convince Adlai Stevenson, Truman turned to Vinson, a longtime close friend and ally, and had reportedly convinced him to run. Vinson confirmed this rumor and announced his candidacy. Truman immediately endorsed Vinson, and the race was on. Despite Vinson’s candidacy, however, there still was no clear front runner.
The Democratic Nomination
http://www.crosswordese.com/Images/estes.jpg
Popular Senator Estes Kefauver was successfully painting an image of himself as a common man who could appeal to voters, but Chief Justice Vinson's support from party bosses was a far stronger factor.
The Democratic primaries proved to be exciting and vigorously entertaining as each candidate tried to fight out of the virtual deadlock. During the primary season, two front runners finally emerged - Kefauver and Vinson. In backing out of the race before the New Hampshire Primary, Truman left Kefauver to win the primary easily over Vinson. But Vinson countered with a win in Florida and West Virginia. Kefauver then took the Wisconsin and Pennslyvania primaries, but then was upset by none other than Vinson in the Illinois primary. This back-and-forth routine led to Kefauver losing states he was initially expected to win. Kefauver, however, finished strong with wins in California and Oregon to seemingly take the drivers seat. With a collective lead in all the primaries, the senator from Tennessee seemed poised to do well in the convention. The convention was held in Chicago from June 26-30, and the welcoming speaker was rumored candidate, Adlai Stevenson. There was a last-ditch effort to draft Stevenson as a candidate, but once again, Stevenson declined to run or accept any nomination. The convention revealed what was only known within the big circles, however: Due to the fact most states chose thier delegates through state conventions, party bosses - governors, mayors of large cities - would have the power to ultimately choose anyone they wished as the nominee. Kefauver had the unfortunate disadvanage of having little support from these bosses, as well as the fact that Truman, a party boss himself, endorsed Vinson. So, despite finishing well in the primaries, Kefauver's bid for the nomination looked grim. It would indeed prove so, as on the second ballot, Chief Justice Vinson was nominated by the Democrats, aided by Senator Kerr's drop-out and delegate swing to Vinson's total. This led to Vinson naming Kerr as his Vice Presidential running mate, as well as the fact that Kerr could attract Western voters. Vinson gained the distinction of becoming the first sitting Chief Justice to be nominated by a major party for President, and he now aimed to be the first to become president.
http://www.findagrave.com/photos250/photos/2003/173/1063_1056379905.jpghttp://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/K/images/KE011.jpg
The Democratic Ticket: For President - Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson, Kentucky. For Vice President - Senator Robert S. Kerr, Oklahoma.
The Republican Nomination
http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/time/1444-1.jpg
Indeed, Senator Robert Taft was certainly "Mr. Republican". What wasn't certain were his chances of winning the nomination - ultimately proved by support for Warren that Taft could not match.
The "three-winged race", as it was now being called, became one of the hardest fought in Republican party history. With no other major candidates emerging, it remained a race between the three ideological factions - the Liberals, the Moderates, and the Conservatives. The biggest issues the Republicans tried to tackle was the legacy of the New Deal policies and whether to be interventionists of isolationists in foriegn policy. Stassen and the liberals favored intervention and accepted the New Deal policies, whereas Taft and the conservatives rejected the legacy of the New Deal, stating that the policies "brought us closer to socialism than we've ever been", according to Taft. Taft also spoke out against foreign intervention, saying that "if it isn't our problem, we can't afford America's freedoms and safety in trying to fix it". Warren's stances were different. He did accept the New Deal legacy, but stated that "those programs are unnecessary now", and was against intervention, only on the terms that America was not directly harmed. If America was harmed, however, he believed that America had the right to it's defense.
The primary season started with a bang, with Warren upsetting Stassen in the Pennslyvania and New Jersey primaries, both expected to vote Stassen. This proved that Warren's support was more widespread than others had thought, and that he didn't only appeal to the West. Stassen would then go on to take Minnesota and Massachusetts, while Warren won in Oregon and California, his home state. Taft would sweet the midwestrn and southern primaries, as expected.
The Republican National Convention was also held in Chicago, from July 7-11, just a few weeks after the Democrats nominated the Vinson/Kerr ticket. Warren's suprise victories in the east created great suspense and interest, and further complicated the race even more. With Stassen having lost the support he needed in the east, it seemed as if it would now be a two-man race between Warren and Taft. Tensions built over time and bitterness reigned as small outburts from either side towards the other occured. Conservative Senator Everett Dirksen of Illinois, a Taft supporter, pointed at Governor Dewey (who was now a Warren supporter), and shouted: "YOU led us down the road of defeat!!" on the convention floor, in the middle of the tally. This caused a small delay, but the tally went on. Eventually, and to the dismay of the conservatives, Warren's new-found strength in the East, coupled by his support in the West, swamped the lesser populated support of Taft in the midwest and south. At the completion of the first ballot, Governor Earl Warren was nominated by the Republicans for president. Always in favor of compromise, the classy Warren sought immediately to give the conservatives a voice in thier ticket, and named another governor - conservative J. Bracken Lee of Utah - his vice-presidential running mate. In accepting the nomination, Governor Warren uttered what would become one of the greatest and most admired of speeches in convention history, and ultimately define his campaign:
"Where there is injustice, we should correct it. Where there is poverty, we should eliminate it. where there is corruption, we should stamp it out. Where there is violence, we should punish it. Where there is neglect, we should provide care. Where there is war, we should restore peace. And wherever corrections are achieved....we as Americans - proud and dignified - should add them permanantly to our storehouse of collections!"
http://www.findagrave.com/photos250/photos/2006/201/1072_115346950623.jpghttp://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/Pictures/p0000116.jpg
The Republican Ticket: For President - Governor Earl Warren, California. For Vice President - Governor J. Bracken Lee, Utah.