WI Alfred E. Smith won?
- Thread starter tom
- Start date
Grey Wolf
Donor
http://search.eb.com/elections/etable2.html
http://search.eb.com/elections/micro/552/38.html
Interesting... I would expect Smith to be far more pro-active than Hoover and try to sort things out by intervention. But considering that he is stuck in the middle of a worldwide depression I rather think he may be seen to have failed and thus lose the 1932 election
Of course the major result of this is no FDR and no New Deal, and a Republican administration in 1933 (i.e. taking up office then, having won in 1932). I guess either Hoover would come back for a second attempt at the presidency, or maybe they would go for someone else (any suggestions ?) - it wouldn't be Landon in 32 because OTL he owed his 1936 nomination to the years 1932-36
The really interesting thing is what happens if this Republican government also fails to sort things out. No New Deal, worse unemployment and social ravages. It could look good for the Socialists in 1936, and we could see a President Norman Thomas...
Or perhaps a proto-fascist party is formed and draws off support from the Republicans and the Democrats. After all up to 1860 these two monolithic parties did not exist in that form, and who is to say that they are permanent institutions ?
Grey Wolf
http://search.eb.com/elections/micro/552/38.html
Interesting... I would expect Smith to be far more pro-active than Hoover and try to sort things out by intervention. But considering that he is stuck in the middle of a worldwide depression I rather think he may be seen to have failed and thus lose the 1932 election
Of course the major result of this is no FDR and no New Deal, and a Republican administration in 1933 (i.e. taking up office then, having won in 1932). I guess either Hoover would come back for a second attempt at the presidency, or maybe they would go for someone else (any suggestions ?) - it wouldn't be Landon in 32 because OTL he owed his 1936 nomination to the years 1932-36
The really interesting thing is what happens if this Republican government also fails to sort things out. No New Deal, worse unemployment and social ravages. It could look good for the Socialists in 1936, and we could see a President Norman Thomas...
Or perhaps a proto-fascist party is formed and draws off support from the Republicans and the Democrats. After all up to 1860 these two monolithic parties did not exist in that form, and who is to say that they are permanent institutions ?
Grey Wolf
Grey Wolf
Donor
Justin Green said:
Well, he didn't know that lol
And, of course, in an ATL he could die earlier or later, earlier is always a good bet if he gets elected as the additional stress could do him in earlier
Of course, if he IS elected in 1932 and dies before his term is up we have a VP who will probably be weak. This could set up a win for the Socialists or a proto-fascist alternative even better
Grey Wolf
Al(cohol) Smith
I am very surprised that Straha missed this. Smith was opposed to Prohibition. It should end earlier with him as President. Al Smith was a Catholic--and antiCatholic prejudice worked against him. If he succeeds in overcoming it and then somebody else who was Catholic were to run later it would be much less of an event.
I am very surprised that Straha missed this. Smith was opposed to Prohibition. It should end earlier with him as President. Al Smith was a Catholic--and antiCatholic prejudice worked against him. If he succeeds in overcoming it and then somebody else who was Catholic were to run later it would be much less of an event.
This certanly would be weird. You have Smith do four years(1929-1933), than Curtis is elected and things dont get much better. Lets say he dies on schedule in January of '36. Who would his Veep be? Landon? He would be the best for the job. Btw Wendell Wilkie was a Dem till Roosevelt enacted the Tenessee valley project. He could be a Democratic candiate.
I think a TL would be better if Harding had lived, the republicans kept onlosing voters to thier scandles, Smith had won the democratic nomination in '24(he tried and failed) and have him win the presidency in '24.
Grey Wolf
Donor
OK, advancing it a bit
What happens in 36 if Norman Thomas defeats both the incumbent VP and the Democratic candidate ? I would assume he would get in the same way that Wilson did in 1912, i.e by a simple majority not an overall majority.
Would a Socialist administration in these circumstances be able to implement New Deal-like projects ?
Grey Wolf
What happens in 36 if Norman Thomas defeats both the incumbent VP and the Democratic candidate ? I would assume he would get in the same way that Wilson did in 1912, i.e by a simple majority not an overall majority.
Would a Socialist administration in these circumstances be able to implement New Deal-like projects ?
Grey Wolf
I do not see an actual Socialist getting elected. I suspect that, amongst other problems, the US Communist party taking orders from Stalin would have sabotaged things
Grey Wolf
Donor
Hmmm, well the Socialist Party is not the Communist Party
Some of the more vehement right-wing newspapers might fail to make the distinction, but I doubt it would be generally viewed that the Socialist Party was in the pay of Moscow
After all, it wasn't thought to be the case anywhere else - even in Britain and despite the thingy note, the right-wing hysteria soon died down, and the Labour Party could get on with being a full member of the political scene
Grey Wolf
Some of the more vehement right-wing newspapers might fail to make the distinction, but I doubt it would be generally viewed that the Socialist Party was in the pay of Moscow
After all, it wasn't thought to be the case anywhere else - even in Britain and despite the thingy note, the right-wing hysteria soon died down, and the Labour Party could get on with being a full member of the political scene
Grey Wolf
Grey Wolf said:
Al Smith was the only other Catholic presidential candidate beofre Kerry.