A Ford, not a Lincoln (or a Reagan)

Rancho Mirage, California
March 15, 1980

Jerry Ford wanted to be President again. The thought sometimes surprised him, because prior to his short time in the Oval Office, he had not dreamt of becoming the Chief Executive of the nation. But, he thought he had done rather well, all things considered. The country had gotten back some of its confidence and patriotism after the ruinous experience of Watergate. And while Ford had lost narrowly in 1976 (thanks in part to Reagan virtually ignoring him after losing the GOP nomination that summer), he was looking better and better retrospectively as the American people experienced the dithering and indecision of President Jimmy Carter. America looked weaker than ever before, unable to stop Communist advances as close as Central America, and also unable to control its economy.

Ford was not a man of huge ego, but it often burned him up that he was out of office because of two men he had little respect for.

He had seriously considered running again, Reagan be damned. But to do so, he would have to go all out, starting before the midterm elections in 1978. He would also have to attend the various "cattle calls" that state parties liked to put on even before the 1980 primary season even began. He knew he could count on solid support from his fellow moderate conservatives in the NorthEast and Midwest, but was there any way he could crack the South and West, Reagan country? He could not do it in 1976, when he had the power and prestige of the Presidency behind him. Could he have done it in 1980, running as the underdog challenger to the presumed frontrunner? It would be such a damn nuisance to run anyway ... he was finally making some money and providing properly for his family. He didn't want to give that life up. He discovered he liked making money, damn it, and why not? He did his time.

Now, maybe if Reagan stumbled and the party seemed to be fracturing between him and Bush and Connally, Ford could make himself available as the unity candidate, saving a grateful party and leading it to victory in November.

But no, that wasn't happening. Bush was a good kid (funny that Ford considered him a kid, he was 55, but he sounded like a gee whiz college preppy) and he landed some blows, but Anderson for whatever reason ran and siphoned off some of Bush's votes in New England. Connally got nowhere. After a few losses, the Reagan campaign was steamrolling its way to the nomination. Like it or not, Ronnie would be the nominee, the party would be behind him, and Gerry would be a bit player in Ronnie's best role ever ... candidate for President.


After much indecision, Gerry Ford had decided to declare he would not be a candidate for the Republican nomination for President in 1980. He was sitting in his study at Rancho Palos Verdes beginning to draft a statement to that effect, which he would share in a few days.

There was a knock on the door. Betty, looking a little strange. "Honey, I think you need to turn on the TV."

A feeling of dread went through Gerald Ford. He had the same feeling right before he learned that President Kennedy had been shot and killed in 1963. Dear God, was this happening again?

"Did something happen to the President?" Ford asked his wife.

"Not the President, Jerry," responded Betty.

"Then what?" asked the former President.

"It's Ronnie Reagan," said Betty. "He fell down a flight of airplane stairs and broke his neck. He's dead, Jerry."

Ford sat stunned. He himself had been a figure of fun to many in the media and on TV (some show called Saturday Night Alive or whatever) for falling down a flight of stairs. Now it happens to Reagan and he dies from it?

"I think the world has turned upside down, Betty, or maybe right side up."
 
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A Change

I think instead of killing off Reagan I'll kill off Betty Ford. The idea of a titanic Ford-Reagan rematch appeals to me.

Say Betty had a drug/ alcohol OD in 1977. Jerry had wanted to retire to spend time with his family but that is much less appealing without Betty. Also, Jerry will try to reposition himself as somewhat more conservative than in 1976, recognizing that is where the GOP is going. Betty was outspokenly liberal on social issues which could have complicated matters.

I see Jerry staying as an orthodox, budget-balancing Republican on economic matters; moving somewhat to the right on social issues to fit in with the GOP drift (even in 1976, the GOP platform barely affirmed the ERA and opposed abortion); and becoming much more anti-Soviet on foreign policy in response to events in the late 1970s.
 
I think instead of killing off Reagan I'll kill off Betty Ford. The idea of a titanic Ford-Reagan rematch appeals to me.

I think I'd like to see that too. I'll be very interested to see how the second Ford Administration turns out.
 
Keep it the way you started. Remember Carter had the Kennedy challenge. Carter or Kennedy vs Ford in 80 that would be a different type race.
 
I'm with Duke. A no-Reagan world leaves huge windows for divergence as the "Regan Revolution" shifted the American political spectrum so much...
 
You guys are NOT making this easy.
Ultimately, I say do what you want. TLs are better if the author is actually writing what he/she wants, rather than submitting to what's popular. But, to be far, you did kinda leave the door open for suggestions/comments.
 
Put me down as favoring the Ford/Reagan rematch in 1980. Also, if the former president declared early, he would have a shot at culling the field of other moderate challengers. Remember, a huge factor in American presidential primary seasons is how many candidates are vying against each other for leadership of specific ideological camps within the parties. Carter won in 1976 against a divided liberal field, and George W. Bush for instance was helped immeasurably in 2000 by Liddy Dole's early withdrawal, precisely because they were vying for the same moderate-conservative voters. In 1980, a Ford candidacy early on might frighten off also-rans like Robert Dole, Howard Baker and perhaps even Bush. Also remember that at least to some the odds-on favorite for the Republican nomination in 1980 was actually Connally, who racked up a huge financial advantage against even Reagan, and was seen (once again, against even Reagan) as the candidate of big business and Wall Street.

My parents used to collect old Time magazines, and at one point I read them front to back for the political coverage of the late seventies and early eighties. Fascinatingly, the dominant narrative re Reagan in 1980 was his unelectability, almost right up to the point where he was. That's interesting in many different ways here, including that it provides Ford with his best argument to use against Reagan, albeit somewhat ironically given what happens in our timeline: the idea that there is no way he can become president, and that nominating him will destroy the Republican Party by alienating the Anderson and Bush crowd.

You may also want to look into the fascinating dynamic of Ford's and Reagan's negotiations re the vice-presidency at the 1980 Republican convention. Ford apparently angled for some kind of co-presidency, at least according to some reports. It might make for an interesting possibility to actually have a Reagan-Ford ticket, and then a different result to Hinckley's assassination attempt, making Ford the only person to succeed to the presidency in two separate terms of office.
 
I think it would be cool to have Gerry when the nomination outright, and serve out a full term in his own right. He probably sticks with alot of the mone if the monetarist policies he pursued IOTL, so Im not surethe '82-'83 Recession happens ITTL. But I definatley think coming off the carter years, who else can say "I told you so". I will also be looking intently to see if Teddy or Jerry has enough support to usurp President Carter in the Democratic Field...Keep it comming:D
 
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