Straha
Banned
Ike dies, 1956, of heart failure. Consequences?
Nixon President 1956-60. Thus Nixon bears full political blame for the near depression of 1958 and Kennedy wins easily in 1960 bringing larger Demo majorities in both houses. Less done on Civil Rights in Nixon's term but more than made up for with Kennedy.
Berlin crisis situation settled late in Nixon's term by western recognition of DDR in return for land corridor to Berlin, reversion of US occuppied Elban Zone to BDR and one year's free emmigration from east to west. Austria and Finland allowed to join EU. Nonagression pact between NATO and Warsaw Pact. US missles pulled out of UK, Italy, Turkey. Oh, and Nixon uses two month lame duck period in 1960 to send Marines to Cuba and overthrow Castro.
Essentially you get Detente with the Russians in the late 50's - early 60's. Much milder and much less military Cold War. Lesser arms buildups,slower use of unstable tech, probable switch to defensive tech such as ABM's and lunar or orbital weapons, first SALT agreements in late 60's, conventional force in Europe agreements by mid 60's.
Vietnam much less likely to develope into major US war - with nothing to prove to Khrushchev and his domestic critics over Berlin and Cuba, and no
Bay of Pigs JFK far more likely to follow Republican precident of Laos 1960 and except neutral, less militarized RVN in aftermath of Diem failure - several million Viet Catholics and fomer Diem / French / American supporters evacuated to Taiwan
along with bulk of heavy equipment of RVN Army and AF. Neutralist Buddhist - VC coalition tilting ever leftward a result. US line of defense for the 60's and 70's becomes Thailand.
Major changes on above from our TL -
1. Nikita NOT overthrown by military industrial complex -USSR does not fall in 1989 from effects of garrison economy plus Brezhnev kleptocracy.
2. No Vietnam war cost to make Great Society unaffordable. Much of economic chaos of 70's avoided. Breton Woods does not collapse spectacularly in 1973 - happens later and with softer landing.
3. No massive US commitment in Vietnam makes results of Indonesian coup
dicier - gives good chance of major Indonesian Civil War and some chance of Indonesian Peoples Republic which WOULD have prompted US intervention.
4. US does not take China's side in Sino Soviet dispute. Maoists have greater chance of winning post MAo political struggle and whole Dengist boom may thus never happen.
5. More speculative: depending on who you think hit JFK, it may never have
happened.
Nixon President 1956-60. Thus Nixon bears full political blame for the near depression of 1958 and Kennedy wins easily in 1960 bringing larger Demo majorities in both houses. Less done on Civil Rights in Nixon's term but more than made up for with Kennedy.
Berlin crisis situation settled late in Nixon's term by western recognition of DDR in return for land corridor to Berlin, reversion of US occuppied Elban Zone to BDR and one year's free emmigration from east to west. Austria and Finland allowed to join EU. Nonagression pact between NATO and Warsaw Pact. US missles pulled out of UK, Italy, Turkey. Oh, and Nixon uses two month lame duck period in 1960 to send Marines to Cuba and overthrow Castro.
Essentially you get Detente with the Russians in the late 50's - early 60's. Much milder and much less military Cold War. Lesser arms buildups,slower use of unstable tech, probable switch to defensive tech such as ABM's and lunar or orbital weapons, first SALT agreements in late 60's, conventional force in Europe agreements by mid 60's.
Vietnam much less likely to develope into major US war - with nothing to prove to Khrushchev and his domestic critics over Berlin and Cuba, and no
Bay of Pigs JFK far more likely to follow Republican precident of Laos 1960 and except neutral, less militarized RVN in aftermath of Diem failure - several million Viet Catholics and fomer Diem / French / American supporters evacuated to Taiwan
along with bulk of heavy equipment of RVN Army and AF. Neutralist Buddhist - VC coalition tilting ever leftward a result. US line of defense for the 60's and 70's becomes Thailand.
Major changes on above from our TL -
1. Nikita NOT overthrown by military industrial complex -USSR does not fall in 1989 from effects of garrison economy plus Brezhnev kleptocracy.
2. No Vietnam war cost to make Great Society unaffordable. Much of economic chaos of 70's avoided. Breton Woods does not collapse spectacularly in 1973 - happens later and with softer landing.
3. No massive US commitment in Vietnam makes results of Indonesian coup
dicier - gives good chance of major Indonesian Civil War and some chance of Indonesian Peoples Republic which WOULD have prompted US intervention.
4. US does not take China's side in Sino Soviet dispute. Maoists have greater chance of winning post MAo political struggle and whole Dengist boom may thus never happen.
5. More speculative: depending on who you think hit JFK, it may never have
happened.