The RNC disaster of 1976

[Unknown]

In OTL, Kemper Arena in Kansas City was the arena where the Republican National Convention was held in 1976.

Three years later, in June of 1979, the roof of the Kemper Arena partially collapsed after a severe storm in the Kansas City area.

So, let's move the storm that collapsed the Kemper Arena roof...to August 19, 1976, and the roof collapses when Reagan shakes Ford's hand.

The portion of the roof that collapses is right on the nomination stage.

Ford, Reagan, Rockefeller, Dole, and others are very, very dead.

Thoughts? (I'm surprised no one's done this as a TL.)

[Ariosto]

Senator Buckley gets the nomination, assuming Helms and others are still alive.

Speaker Carl Albert of Oklahoma also becomes the sitting President for the time being.

[Noravea]

Conspiracy theories would flourish in this situation.

[CaliBoy1990]

Originally Posted by Noravea

Conspiracy theories would flourish in this situation.

Soviet weather control machines, anyone?

[Paul V McNutt]

Originally Posted by Ariosto

Senator Buckley gets the nomination, assuming Helms and others are still alive.

Speaker Carl Albert of Oklahoma also becomes the sitting President for the time being.

Buckley was busy unsuccessfully running for reelection. I not sure who wins the nomination. Even if Carl Albert is president, the Republicans still get the blame for the bad economy and Jimmy Carter still wins.

[Lord Grattan]

Originally Posted by Unknown

In OTL, Kemper Arena in Kansas City was the ... snip ... Ford, Reagan, Rockefeller, Dole, and others are very, very dead. Thoughts? (I'm surprised no one's done this as a TL.)

Too much handwavium and coincidence.

[Ariosto]

Originally Posted by Paul V McNutt

Buckley was busy unsuccessfully running for reelection. I not sure who wins the nomination. Even if Carl Albert is president, the Republicans still get the blame for the bad economy and Jimmy Carter still wins.

There was a very strong movement lead by Jesse Helms to nominate Buckley as a compromise candidate once Reagan had announced Schwiecker was to be his running-mate. If Helms is still alive I don't see this changing.

[eliphas8]

The more important thing here is what happens in the 80s now that Reagan is dead.

[Cathcon1]

Already discussed this on a different forum. I'd like to see a Baker/Buckley ticket or even a Buckley-led ticket. He could probably get all the Reagan support & not be as offensive to Northerners as Helms. I think the GOP wins due to, not just a presidential death, but so many deaths, & the new candidate probably doing better than Ford in the debates.