alternatehistory.com
1982 Midterms
'Brezhnev dead of heart attack! Andropov in control in Moscow'
- New York Times, July 10th, 1982
"Brezhnev has been a failure to our country. His so-called reforms have not improved this nation. I am committed to rolling back the things he has done, winning the war in Afghanistan, and solidfying our alliances with our communist brothers in Europe."
- Yuri Andropov to aides, July 15th, 1982
'Preparations for the raid on Sdot Micha will begin as soon as possible. I hereby authroize you to use whatever means necessary to train a force that will be able to carry out the guidelines I have set forth here.'
- Major General Mohsen Rezaee to Qasem Soleimani, August 6th, 1982
'It has been a long time since any Mississippi governor has had much fame outside of that state. Incumbent governor Cliff Finch is quickly becoming a national player. His political career stretches back to 1960 when he was first elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives. He exploded onto the state scene in 1975 when won the governorship, campaigning as a common man, working alongside manual laborers of all races. His coalition pushed him into the Governor's Mansion. Mr. Finch pushed for protections for unions and the working man. In 1979, he handily won reelection with the backing of the same coalition. His supporters followed on his coattails, giving Finch a highly receptive Senate and House of Representatives. According to sources close to the Governor, Mr. Finch considered challenging President Carter for the Democratic nomination, but decided against it. Since the election of Ronald Reagan, Governor Finch has decried the President's attacks on unions and has expressed dissatisfaction for the war in Iran. Candidates throughout the south have adopted what is becoming known as "Finchism", and people such as former Governor George Wallace and Senator Russell Long have met with Finch, whose fame has spread to neighboring Alabama and Louisiana. Already, there is talk of Finch running for President in 1984.'
- New Yorker Magazine, August 23rd, 1982
'A doped-up junkie dropped into Tehran from the gutters of the most depraved American city would find himself at home in what is still called a capitol. Tehran is nothing but the center of a conspiracy - a conspiracy created in the halls of Washington, some half-baked plan to invade a far-off place for the personal gain of the President. A feeling of timelessness hangs over the entire city. Each day, cars explode. Anyone with any sense, and by extension, without a commission knows that that winning is losing for them.'
- Hunter Thompson, Rolling Stone, September 1982
'McCloskey slams Reagan in campaign speech'
- Los Angeles Tribune, September 24th, 1982
'Defense Department looking at reinstating draft: Rumsfeld denies allegations'
- Chicago Tribune, October 5th, 1982
'McCloskey: "I will not send our boys to die without cause"'
- Los Angeles Times, October 7th, 1982
'As you are likely aware, a force comprised of upwards of one-hundred and twenty well-armed PLO and Quds Force fighters attacked our base at Sdot Micha. Most of the attackers had suicide vests, which accounts for the low number of captives we hold. Nevertheless, a few vests malfunctioned, which has allowed us to detain several of the attackers. Interrogation has revealed that the aim of this attack was the stockpile of nuclear warheads at the base. The attack was a failure, but surprising, and could, with additional resources have possibly succeeded in its aim of taking a warhead. This episode illustrates that the Iranian government and its allies are willing to expend any resources, and, try, at any cost, to win this war. It is the opinion of the nuclear wing that additional resources must immediately be diverted to the protection of the nuclear stockpile. If Iran was to ever get its hands on a weapon of an atomic nature the effects would be disastrous. Analysts agree that, in that eventuality escalation would be almost inevitable. To defend civilization we must endevour to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of our enemies.'
- From memo to Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Arens, October 25th, 1982
"You've read the reports from Israel, I presume?
The Iranians'll stop at nothing, they're nothing but a bunch of barbarians led by a hopped-up Colonel.
The Israelis are asking for our help defending their stockpile. It's a good idea....
Fuck, yes. If they ever got one and used it I wouldn't hesitate to glass over every nation those little sand n..."
- Secretary of State Alexander Haig to Secretary of Defense Ronald Rumsfeld, October 26th, 1982
Democratic- 60%
Republican- 39%
Other 1%
- 1982 Senate voting intentions, November 1st, 1982
'Democrats take Senate, expand lead in House by 46 seats'
- New York Times, November 3rd, 1982
'Senator Moonbeam!'
- Oakland Tribune, November 3rd, 1982
1982 United States Senate Elections:
Democratic: 51 (+6)
Republican: 49 (-5)
Independent: 0 (-1)
1982 United States House of Representatives Elections:
Democratic: 289 (+46)
Republican: 146 (-46)
View attachment 279832
1982 House of Representatives elections in infobox form.
View attachment 279833
1982 Senate elections in infobox form.
'Further intelligence-gathering suggests that acquiring a nuclear weapon by force will be so hard as to make it nearly impossible. It now seems that the best course of action is to purchase fissile material and use our own scientists to develop bombs. The bombs will be crude, but will be a shock to our enemies.'
- From report by Major General Mohsen Rezaee to Qasem Soleimani, early November 1982
"I've never been so conflicted before. I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution. I'm supposed to obey the President, but, frankly, he's making some strange decisions. I thought he had a vision and compassion, but this cabinet seems to be pushing him to his worst. Ever since Donald's been at Defense, things are getting worse. I don't know if I can keep on like this in good conscience."
- Secretary of State Alexander Haig to his wife, Patricia Antoinette Fox, November 16th, 1982
'Coup in Baghdad: Early this morning, Kamel Sajid, head of the Republican Guard, the elite fighting force in Iraq was proclaimed temporary head of state. The Republican Guard took President Uday Hussein, eldest son of the former President, widely regarded as a young, incompetent leader, into custody while occupying various points of importance in the city. A statement was issued from Radwaniyah Palace that Kamel Sajid had assumed the role of President and that the Ba'ath Party had acknowledged his legitimacy, followed by his joining of the party. Sajid later said he would step down when Uday is competent enough to hold the Presidency. The United States Department of State has declared Sajid as legitimate President of Iraq. There are unsubstantiated reports of fighting between Republican Guard forces and Hussein loyalists.'
- New York Times, December 6th, 1982
Likely Democratic Contenders:
- Walter Mondale
- Gary Hart
- Jesse Jackson
- Robert Byrd
- Cliff Finch
- Alan Cranston
- George McGovern
- Fritz Hollings
- Jerry Brown
- Time Magazine, late December, 1982
- New York Times, July 10th, 1982
"Brezhnev has been a failure to our country. His so-called reforms have not improved this nation. I am committed to rolling back the things he has done, winning the war in Afghanistan, and solidfying our alliances with our communist brothers in Europe."
- Yuri Andropov to aides, July 15th, 1982
'Preparations for the raid on Sdot Micha will begin as soon as possible. I hereby authroize you to use whatever means necessary to train a force that will be able to carry out the guidelines I have set forth here.'
- Major General Mohsen Rezaee to Qasem Soleimani, August 6th, 1982
'It has been a long time since any Mississippi governor has had much fame outside of that state. Incumbent governor Cliff Finch is quickly becoming a national player. His political career stretches back to 1960 when he was first elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives. He exploded onto the state scene in 1975 when won the governorship, campaigning as a common man, working alongside manual laborers of all races. His coalition pushed him into the Governor's Mansion. Mr. Finch pushed for protections for unions and the working man. In 1979, he handily won reelection with the backing of the same coalition. His supporters followed on his coattails, giving Finch a highly receptive Senate and House of Representatives. According to sources close to the Governor, Mr. Finch considered challenging President Carter for the Democratic nomination, but decided against it. Since the election of Ronald Reagan, Governor Finch has decried the President's attacks on unions and has expressed dissatisfaction for the war in Iran. Candidates throughout the south have adopted what is becoming known as "Finchism", and people such as former Governor George Wallace and Senator Russell Long have met with Finch, whose fame has spread to neighboring Alabama and Louisiana. Already, there is talk of Finch running for President in 1984.'
- New Yorker Magazine, August 23rd, 1982
'A doped-up junkie dropped into Tehran from the gutters of the most depraved American city would find himself at home in what is still called a capitol. Tehran is nothing but the center of a conspiracy - a conspiracy created in the halls of Washington, some half-baked plan to invade a far-off place for the personal gain of the President. A feeling of timelessness hangs over the entire city. Each day, cars explode. Anyone with any sense, and by extension, without a commission knows that that winning is losing for them.'
- Hunter Thompson, Rolling Stone, September 1982
'McCloskey slams Reagan in campaign speech'
- Los Angeles Tribune, September 24th, 1982
'Defense Department looking at reinstating draft: Rumsfeld denies allegations'
- Chicago Tribune, October 5th, 1982
'McCloskey: "I will not send our boys to die without cause"'
- Los Angeles Times, October 7th, 1982
'As you are likely aware, a force comprised of upwards of one-hundred and twenty well-armed PLO and Quds Force fighters attacked our base at Sdot Micha. Most of the attackers had suicide vests, which accounts for the low number of captives we hold. Nevertheless, a few vests malfunctioned, which has allowed us to detain several of the attackers. Interrogation has revealed that the aim of this attack was the stockpile of nuclear warheads at the base. The attack was a failure, but surprising, and could, with additional resources have possibly succeeded in its aim of taking a warhead. This episode illustrates that the Iranian government and its allies are willing to expend any resources, and, try, at any cost, to win this war. It is the opinion of the nuclear wing that additional resources must immediately be diverted to the protection of the nuclear stockpile. If Iran was to ever get its hands on a weapon of an atomic nature the effects would be disastrous. Analysts agree that, in that eventuality escalation would be almost inevitable. To defend civilization we must endevour to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of our enemies.'
- From memo to Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Arens, October 25th, 1982
"You've read the reports from Israel, I presume?
The Iranians'll stop at nothing, they're nothing but a bunch of barbarians led by a hopped-up Colonel.
The Israelis are asking for our help defending their stockpile. It's a good idea....
Fuck, yes. If they ever got one and used it I wouldn't hesitate to glass over every nation those little sand n..."
- Secretary of State Alexander Haig to Secretary of Defense Ronald Rumsfeld, October 26th, 1982
Democratic- 60%
Republican- 39%
Other 1%
- 1982 Senate voting intentions, November 1st, 1982
'Democrats take Senate, expand lead in House by 46 seats'
- New York Times, November 3rd, 1982
'Senator Moonbeam!'
- Oakland Tribune, November 3rd, 1982
1982 United States Senate Elections:
Democratic: 51 (+6)
Republican: 49 (-5)
Independent: 0 (-1)
1982 United States House of Representatives Elections:
Democratic: 289 (+46)
Republican: 146 (-46)
View attachment 279832
1982 House of Representatives elections in infobox form.
View attachment 279833
1982 Senate elections in infobox form.
'Further intelligence-gathering suggests that acquiring a nuclear weapon by force will be so hard as to make it nearly impossible. It now seems that the best course of action is to purchase fissile material and use our own scientists to develop bombs. The bombs will be crude, but will be a shock to our enemies.'
- From report by Major General Mohsen Rezaee to Qasem Soleimani, early November 1982
"I've never been so conflicted before. I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution. I'm supposed to obey the President, but, frankly, he's making some strange decisions. I thought he had a vision and compassion, but this cabinet seems to be pushing him to his worst. Ever since Donald's been at Defense, things are getting worse. I don't know if I can keep on like this in good conscience."
- Secretary of State Alexander Haig to his wife, Patricia Antoinette Fox, November 16th, 1982
'Coup in Baghdad: Early this morning, Kamel Sajid, head of the Republican Guard, the elite fighting force in Iraq was proclaimed temporary head of state. The Republican Guard took President Uday Hussein, eldest son of the former President, widely regarded as a young, incompetent leader, into custody while occupying various points of importance in the city. A statement was issued from Radwaniyah Palace that Kamel Sajid had assumed the role of President and that the Ba'ath Party had acknowledged his legitimacy, followed by his joining of the party. Sajid later said he would step down when Uday is competent enough to hold the Presidency. The United States Department of State has declared Sajid as legitimate President of Iraq. There are unsubstantiated reports of fighting between Republican Guard forces and Hussein loyalists.'
- New York Times, December 6th, 1982
Likely Democratic Contenders:
- Walter Mondale
- Gary Hart
- Jesse Jackson
- Robert Byrd
- Cliff Finch
- Alan Cranston
- George McGovern
- Fritz Hollings
- Jerry Brown
- Time Magazine, late December, 1982
- Baconheimer
- Word Count: 1.2k