How can you mend a broken heart
Harry Byrd Jr. named Secretary of Commerce
The White House has announced today that recently elected Independent Senator Harry F. Byrd Jr. has been made Secretary of Commerce. The Virginian politician, although a independent, is very closely associated with the Democratic Party. Byrd is the third southern politician to be named to a Cabinet position in the last 2 months, at what many analysts are calling a "necessary reshuffle" of the Cabinet if the Party is to remain strong.
Presindent Kennedy has proclaimed that "
the Democratic Party had a great victory last year, and, if we all try too cooperate, this could turn out a great victory to the american people".
If President Kennedy's attempt at obtaining the Southern democrats cooperation after the deadlocks of 1970 is to succeed, only time will tell.
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Senator Harry F. Byrd Jr. of Virginia
The Washington Post, March 2nd, 1971
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By all accounts, Kennedy was not very happy in early 1971. Having to fire three of his cabinet members and replace then with southern democrats was a blow to his morale. He also worried about how it would play out with the Media. "Kennedy betrays his progressive views in favor of political power". In the end, the reshuffle was a necessary move.
His administration had the Guaranteed Minimal Income Bill in place, besides the Schools of Tomorrow, the Affordable Healthcare proposal, and the increase in funding for a number of different agencies. It would be a couple of busy years, but the realities of politics would continually get in Kennedy's way. Each of this proposals were a grand endeavour on their own. The hope was that each would be passed before elections in 1972.
The GMI Bill would go through numerous drafts. What started as a radical welfare proposal, called a socialist endeavor by many, ended up as a more moderate, if yet quite left-leaning bill. The Bill would ensure that every unemployed citizen that matched a number of criteria such as proof that he seeked a job on a monthly basis, or that had children enrolled on a public school, would receive basic government support.
The Schools of Tomorrow Bill would increase public spending on education, and seek to captivate children's interest on science, through a number of different programs.
The Affordable Healthcare Act was a toned down version of the Kennedy's failed Healthcare bill of 1970. Kennedy still desired a victory on Healthcare. And he would continue to fight for one until he got it.
And besides all of the above, the president still desired to increase funding for a number of agencies, most notoriously, NASA.
Created in 1958, and gaining fame during the administration of his brother, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration had accomplished in little more than a decade, a monumental feat for all of mankind. Everyone remembered the moon landing two years earlier and Kennedy's speech at that historical occasion. Since then the space race had slowed down, but the public interest continued. The so called "Space Age" was a very popular concept in popular culture, present in everything, from tv shows to literature and movies. The near tragedy of Apollo 13 resulted in the famous quote from the president:
"We cannot let the events of the previous days hamper our resolve when it comes to space. The safe return of our three astrounauts from their mission is proof that, when Americans put theirs mind together, they can accomplish anything. We must continue to invest in the exploration of the space if we're to move foward as a society."
As a result, the Kennedy administration would not budge a single inch when it came to NASA.
All of these proposals, of course, would depend on the administration capacity to gain the support of the southern democrats. If it worked, then a large majority in the House and Senate would ensure a easy ride for the bills. If it worked.
And it certainly did.
By the end of midterms, many southern democrats were arleady going back to the fold. Many that did not completly sever their links and moved to the American Independent Party, would come to see Kennedy's more moderate image as acceptable enough. The president proposals were attractive to many, and having southerners in his cabinet proved that the bostonian could play ball. And so, the GMI got passed by May, with relative easy, and the Schools of tomorrow by July. The second one had a much greater support, with public education being a primary concern for many democrats, regardless if they were northern or southern.
Kennedy would face much greater resistance on his Healthcare Bill once again, and the proposal would be delayed to the following year.
Kennedy's victory in securing funding for NASA, ensured that the Agency would continue to operate and advance a number of it's projects. the Apollo Program would continue, along with plans for the first space station.
All considered, if 1970 was a disapointing year for the administration, 1971 was one of considerable success. Groundbreaking legislature had been passed, and by the years end, he was confident that his reelection campaign was going to go quite well.
History of the Democratic Party, from Jackson to Clinton, Michael A. Cormack
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The schism in the party that had taken shape in 1970, by the end of the following year was far from totally healed. Even if many had gone back to supporting the administration's bills, Kennedy was still far from ideal to many. And so, by November 20th 1971, John Connaly would proclaim he was running for President. The Texan had been serving on private practice since leaving the governors mansion in 1969. He had hoped for a Cabinet position, but had not been chosen. Now he was aiming for the White House, much for the presidents distaste.
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Fmr. Governor John Connaly of Texas, 1971.
The American Independent Party would once again support George Wallace, now governor of Alabama. The southerner segregationist announced his Candidature by august of 1971, completely unoposed in the Party. The AIP had grown considerably after the midterms, with representatives on the House and a governorship. Now Wallace seeked to capitalize on the precarious democratic standing on the Southern states. He had taken most of them by 1968, and now he would take all. At least that's what he wished for.
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Governor George Wallace of Alabama, 1971
As for the Republicans, there wasn't a doubt about who the frontrunner was. After the debacle of 1968, and the failed Nixon campaign, Nelson Rockefeller and his progressive faction had grown to have a massive support within the party. The governor of New York had announced he would run again in September, and there were very few seriously oposing him. At least, by late 1971.
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Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York, 1971
History of the Republican Party, from Lincoln to Cheney, Michael A. Cormack
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Sorry for the delay. Here's 1971 on the political scene. Also i apologize to the states of Maine and Pennsylvania for leaving them blank on the midterm elections. They both went for the democrats just like IOTL. next update will come probably wednesday and won't be about U.S. politics. And next weekend i'l focus on the primaries. Suggestions, praise, critiques, all welcome below.