Here are 12 random 20th century poltical POD's. These all relate to American politics.
1) William McKinley's first VP, Garret Hobart, does not die in 1899. This immediately puts him, instead of Roosevelt, in line to become President when McKinley is assassinated. What does a world w/o a TR Presidency look like?
2) Warren Harding does not die during his Presidency. With the Teapot Dome Scandal looming Harding does not check out and is faced with the crisis of whether or not to try to remain in office or to resign in disgrace. To make it interesting, let's say he tries to stay. What happens?
3) In 1948 Thomas Dewey wins the Presidency over Harry Truman.
4) In 1952 Dwight Eisenhower declines the Republican nomination for the Presidency.
5) In 1968, at his wife's urging Richard Nixon decides not to run for the Presidency.
6) In the 1960s, Al Gore dies in Vietnam when a bar he is in is bombed by a VC terrorist.
7) George W. Bush never reforms from his alcoholism and, therefore, is not a viable candidate to be Gov of Texas let alone President of the US.
8) In 1978, then Arkansas Governor David Hampton Pryor decides he will not run for his state's open Senate seat that year. Instead he runs for Gov and is reelected. This decision blocks the Arkansas Attorney General Bill Clinton from running for Gov. Even if Pryor loses in 1980 (as Clinton did) he comes back in 1982.
9) In 1980 Ronald Reagan selects Gerald Ford as his running mate instead of George Bush. (Ford was considered, by many, to be the odds on favorite to be Reagan's running mate.)
10) In 1982, Bill Clinton does not win back the Governorship of Arkansas.
11) In 1988, the "Donna Rice scandal" never breaks and Gary Hart runs as the Democratic candidate (instead of Dukakis).
12) In 1992 Mario Cuomo, not Bill Clinton, is the Democratic nominee.
1) William McKinley's first VP, Garret Hobart, does not die in 1899. This immediately puts him, instead of Roosevelt, in line to become President when McKinley is assassinated. What does a world w/o a TR Presidency look like?
2) Warren Harding does not die during his Presidency. With the Teapot Dome Scandal looming Harding does not check out and is faced with the crisis of whether or not to try to remain in office or to resign in disgrace. To make it interesting, let's say he tries to stay. What happens?
3) In 1948 Thomas Dewey wins the Presidency over Harry Truman.
4) In 1952 Dwight Eisenhower declines the Republican nomination for the Presidency.
5) In 1968, at his wife's urging Richard Nixon decides not to run for the Presidency.
6) In the 1960s, Al Gore dies in Vietnam when a bar he is in is bombed by a VC terrorist.
7) George W. Bush never reforms from his alcoholism and, therefore, is not a viable candidate to be Gov of Texas let alone President of the US.
8) In 1978, then Arkansas Governor David Hampton Pryor decides he will not run for his state's open Senate seat that year. Instead he runs for Gov and is reelected. This decision blocks the Arkansas Attorney General Bill Clinton from running for Gov. Even if Pryor loses in 1980 (as Clinton did) he comes back in 1982.
9) In 1980 Ronald Reagan selects Gerald Ford as his running mate instead of George Bush. (Ford was considered, by many, to be the odds on favorite to be Reagan's running mate.)
10) In 1982, Bill Clinton does not win back the Governorship of Arkansas.
11) In 1988, the "Donna Rice scandal" never breaks and Gary Hart runs as the Democratic candidate (instead of Dukakis).
12) In 1992 Mario Cuomo, not Bill Clinton, is the Democratic nominee.