In TL-191, Theodore Roosevelt was overly confident in his reelection chances and waited until the last few months to campaign for President. What if he actually started campaigning earlier and was able to defeat Upton Sinclair? How well would his third term be? Considering he died in 1924, how would his successor (can't remember if he dropped McKenna or not) govern?
TL-191 WI: Teddy's Third Term
- Thread starter Tresckow
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The South likely have no choice, but to hand over Kimball to avoid war. Confederate voters will undoubtedly be upset about seeing their government cave to the US once again. (See rise of Freedom Party.)
Domestically, Teddy cuts an deal with the Socialists in Congress once they realize they are stuck with him for the next four years. (He support their domestic policy priorities like old age pensions, unemployment insurance, and greater business regulations, in exchange for them going along with his foreign and defense policies.)
His foreign policy would undoubtedly be taking an hardline at the Confederate States, while supporting the rebels in Mexico that you see the Return of the Republic of Mexico and the Monarchy going into exile. He put the squeeze on Colombia or Nicaragua to get a US controlled Central American canal built at long last.
Back to the South, you may see an early rise of the Freedom Party to power, but it be a case of Featherston overplaying his hand and what could have happen in 1936. (Featherston cancelling reparations, Teddy invades Dixieland and start beating them nine ways till Sunday till the military overthrows Featherston and the CSA is forced to hand over Tennessee.)
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Yeah, most likely. A lot of it'd probably be policy he'd have approved of anyway, both IRL and ITTL - IRL, we all know what he was like, and ITTL he seems to have kept OTL's dislike of unregulated business and wants to ensure the citizenry are cared for, he just disagrees with the Radical Socialists. Plus, the US was taking a lot of cues from Germany, and the Kaiserreich had a lot of similar legislation (Bismarck's efforts to cut Socialism off at the knees by meeting workers' needs). Add to that a more powerful central government in the TL-191 US anyway, and I can see a modus vivendi like this being reached.
Agreed. All of which are aims that I'd agree with...
This could actually be seriously good TL...
EDIT: Here, this could also be good for the TL-191 Socialist Party. A Grand Compromise with TR could sideline any of the more Radical elements, empower the more moderate parts. Which would work out to their advantage in future elections and in shaping policy.
Pretty much.
The canal and Mexico would be the most important ones aside from dealing with the CSA. An canal would bring in an untold amount of wealth while being able to deal with Japan in an far greater sense. Mexico would box in the Confederate States at their southern border. (I guess the House of Maximilian would flee to Austria.)
Yes it would. The population would be unimaginable angry at the military. (Overthrowing Featherston, and again caving in to the Yankees.)