Hooked on a feeling
The 1974 Oil Crisis, as it became known to History, would last close to a year, ending on September 14th 1974. It's effects on the average american daily life were brutal, changing basic notions in the life of the United States citizen. The peace that finnaly came to the Middle East, after almost a entire year of violence, would see Israel in a advantageous position, at the cost of Syrian and Egyptian territorial possessions. It would only come after the armies of all involved nations were severely demoralized, and after extensive and relentless insistance of the Kennedy Administration for a end to all hostilities.
While the first term o President Kennedy Administration was a very succesfull one on all accounts, the second one was plagued by a series of unfortunate events that would shake confidence on the White House. Kennedy had won 1972 in what all consider to be a landslide, and what came after was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the rise in tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, the crisis in the Middle East, the Oil Crisis, and the fall of Vietnam. America was not enjoying the current course of events, and come November, that would become quite clear.
The Midterm's would not be the apocalyptic event for the Democratic Party that many predicted. Governor Reagan declaration that the american people should: "Give Washington a clean slate, a fully Republican time", would not in fact materialized. The Democrats had, to that point, held a significant majority in both House and Senate, a majority that was not easly brought down. But if 1974 was not the collapse of the Democratic party, it certainly was a defeat.
In the previous elections to the House, the Democrats had managed to win another victory in top of Kennedy's reelection. The Democrats won 7 more seats, constituting a house of 270 Democrats, 160 Republicans, and 5 American Independents. This massive majority gave the Democrats a lot of room, and was, by all means, a historical situation. In 1974, the situation would change considerably.
The Democratic Party would loose 54 seats in the House, ending with 216 seats. Most of these would go to Republicans, while 10 would go to the American Independent Party. The final situation would be 216 seats for the Democrats, 204 for the Republicans, and 15 for the American Independents. This historical situation meant that, while the democrats still held a majority, a colaboration between the American Independent Party and the Republican Party could overcome democratic numbers. For the first time in the twentieth Century, a third Party held a significant leeway in the House of Representatives.
In the Senate the situation proved more problematic for the Democratics. Republicans secured the majority, winning 14 seats. The Republicans would hold 59 seats, opposed to 40 democrats and one Independent, Secretary of Commerce Harry F. Byrd Jr., who held close ties to the Democratic party.
Then came the gubernatorial race, with several victories for the Republican Party, and several defeats for the Democratic Party.
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From these, 3 reelections are worth mentioning. The First one is Ronald Reagan's landslide victory in California, securing for himself a third term with almos 60% of the vote. Reagan had become the predominant voice within the Party after the defeat of Rockefeller moderates in 1972. He now was the main voice of the opposition to President Robert Kennedy, and many suspected Reagan was arleady planning to run in 1976.
The Second election of note was that of George Wallace for a second term as a American Independent. Wallace had easly won the victory, and arleady pledged to combat the immoral policies of Kennedy, as well as any Republican in 1976.
Finally, Governor Presley won his reelection in Teneessee, the first governor of the state to be reelected. The State constitution being changed in 1973 to end term limits for the governorship. Presley won with a landslide, although not one as large as his 1970 victory. Presley infrastructure reforms, along with his extremeley popular persona, were certainly major factors.
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By 1974, the United States had, for the First time, a significant Third Party, one that controlled not only one, but two states. Ross Barnett, former Dixiecrat and notorious segregationist had joined the American Independet Party in late 1970, and successfully won the gubernatorial campaign for Mississippi the following year. This is regarded today as a result of the failed Southern Strategy, that culminated in the South becoming a frequent battlezone between the three parties, with no party securing a solid control of the area for decades to come.
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Governor Ross Barnett of Mississippi
The field was now very different, when compared to the early 1970's. The Republicans were gaining momentum, while the Democrats prepared to recuparate. The American Independents were gaining proiminence. Great hope for the future was replaced by tension and uncertainty. President Kennedy was confident the situation would change in the near future, a future, of course, no one can truly predict.
History of the Democratic Party, from Jackson to Clinton, Michael A. Cormack
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Happy new Year everyone! I jumped straight to the Midterms, and will try to update more often in this uncertain future that is 2018. Thoughts? Comments? suggestions? All welcome!