I would like some advice on who the Democrats would nominate for President in 1944 if President Roosevelt decided not to run for a fourth term. Would they stick with Wallace? Would Harry Truman be a strong enough candidate to defeat Dewey in ’44? Would any Democrat other than Roosevelt be able to defeat Dewey? For that matter, under the circumstances, would Dewey even be the Republican candidate?
Here is a very brief rundown of the world situation, which could influence the choices for a candidate:
- After the fall of France and a complete disaster at Dunkirk, Germany and Great Britain sign a peace treaty in late 1940. Great Britain saves face by maintaining her Empire, while Germany gets a free hand in mainland Europe.
- Germany and the Soviet Union duke it out in 1941 and 1942. Moscow falls, and Germany keeps some territory, but not such a large amount that it would be too difficult to control. The Soviet Union collapses into a civil war, resulting in multiple nations being formed by 1949.
- Mussolini still controls Italy, but is seen by the world as always playing second fiddle to Hitler. With German military assistance, Italy managed to hold down Albania and Greece. It still holds territory in Africa.
- Franco still controls Spain. Talks of a German-Spanish-Italian “new Axis” alliance are being held.
- The United States and Great Britain still go to war with Japan in 1941. By November 1944, the war is still going on but to this point is has been very successful for the Allies, therefore making Roosevelt more relaxed with the idea of handing the Presidency over. Germany was never formally allied with Japan.