A female U.S. President in the 1980’s?

Bomster

Banned
Great Britain had Margaret Thatcher for Prime Minister throughout the 1980s. Could America have a female President elected in 1980? If so, who could it be? Let’s imagine two scenarios, one where Ford wins in 1976 and a woman is nominated by the Democrats, or another where Carter still wins and a woman is nominated by the Republicans. Who could the Republicans nominate, and who could be nominated by the Democrats?
 
Shirley Chisholm tried for the Democratic nomination in 1972. Perhaps Carter picks her as his 76 running mate she gets the 84 nomination like Mondale did. Then the only issue is how to have her win in 1984.

George Wallace's wife was Governor of Alabama. Maybe shenanigans could happen there.


Have Margaret Chase Smith as somebody's Vice President and have her climb up from there.

Reagan/Smith is a fairly balanced ticket, but Smith is far too old in 1980. Reagan/Smith 68 followed by Smith 76 (if she only serves in January of 1980, that's still a women president in the 80's no?). Reagan considered Ed Brooke as a running mate in 1968 IIRC, so Smith isn't that off as an idea.


Otherwise, how about Ford/Reagan in 1980, Kirkpatrick still being appointed UN Ambassador in 1981, and Jeanne Kirkpatrick ends up Republican nominee in 1984 with Reagan deciding he is too old to run? She picks Jack Kemp as her running mate (thus uniting Foreign Policy and Economic conservatism) or Donald Rumsfeld (a supply sider who was good with Ford and has plenty of cabinet experience) and wins handily.
 
If Carter loses and the Democrats are in a populist mood by 1980, I could see Dixy Lee Ray possibly getting the nomination.
 

Bomster

Banned
Shirley Chisholm tried for the Democratic nomination in 1972. Perhaps Carter picks her as his 76 running mate she gets the 84 nomination like Mondale did. Then the only issue is how to have her win in 1984.

George Wallace's wife was Governor of Alabama. Maybe shenanigans could happen there.


Have Margaret Chase Smith as somebody's Vice President and have her climb up from there.

Reagan/Smith is a fairly balanced ticket, but Smith is far too old in 1980. Reagan/Smith 68 followed by Smith 76 (if she only serves in January of 1980, that's still a women president in the 80's no?). Reagan considered Ed Brooke as a running mate in 1968 IIRC, so Smith isn't that off as an idea.


Otherwise, how about Ford/Reagan in 1980, Kirkpatrick still being appointed UN Ambassador in 1981, and Jeanne Kirkpatrick ends up Republican nominee in 1984 with Reagan deciding he is too old to run? She picks Jack Kemp as her running mate (thus uniting Foreign Policy and Economic conservatism) or Donald Rumsfeld (a supply sider who was good with Ford and has plenty of cabinet experience) and wins handily.
Shirley Crisholm could actually be a very interesting President in the 80s, I don’t know if she could be nominated let alone elected, but after Watergate and Ford’s mediocre 2 terms, the people would vote even for her over a continued Republican presidency.
 
There was a movement to get Patricia Schroeder to run in 1988. At that point she had been a member of the House of Representatives for sixteen years and was well known. It would not be a stretch to have her elected.
 
Top