A new man in the 80's.

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Deleted member 99044

The 1976 Presidential Election
Gerald Ford was widely expected to seek another term for president. Unfortunately,for him a bullet put an end to that. Vice President Rockefeller had declined to seek another term due to health problems. He instead endorsed Howard Baker in the Republican primaries. Ronald Reagan also ran in the Republican primary and was one of Baker's main challengers.Baker and Reagan traded primary wins until Baker clinched the Nomination at the convention. The Democratic primaries were more interesting with big names like George Wallace, Scoop Jackson,Frank Church, losing to Florida Governor Ruben Askew. Howard Baker chose Reagan as his running mate in order to unite the party.Ruben Askew choose Walter Mondale to try and unite the party. The election was an Askew lean but tightened after the debates in which Baker hammered Askew on his inexperience in foreign affairs saying "If we are going to protect Europe from Soviet agression we need an experienced commander in chief". It also had Askew make an anti-abortion comment which lead to a small McCarthy surge. The deciding state was Wisconsin which Baker won with a margin of 500 votes. Eventually after multiple recounts his victory was certified and Askew conceded.
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Why and how does Baker beat Reagan? Sitting President Ford almost lost, and Baker is another moderate without the incumbency effect of the Presidency. Plus Baker is a mediocre at best campaigner.

How and why does Askew beat anybody?

Killing Ford means Reagan sweeps to victory in the primaries easily, it may change the Democratic nominee but Askew? He didn't even try in 1976.

I'm open but… I'll need some more details :).
 

Deleted member 99044

Why and how does Baker beat Reagan? Sitting President Ford almost lost, and Baker is another moderate without the incumbency effect of the Presidency. Plus Baker is a mediocre at best campaigner.

How and why does Askew beat anybody?

Killing Ford means Reagan sweeps to victory in the primaries easily, it may change the Democratic nominee but Askew? He didn't even try in 1976.

I'm open but… I'll need some more details :).

Well Carter wasn't expected to win and he still did and I thought the POD would cause another southern governor to run instead of him.
Baker beats Reagan because of Rockefeller and the Republican establishment backing him.
 

Deleted member 99044

The Baker Cabinet
President:Howard Baker
Vice-President:Ronald Reagan
Secretary of State:George H.W Bush
Secretary of Tresury:James Baker
Secretary of Defense:Henry "Scoop" Jackson
Attorney General:Richard Thornburgh
Secretary of Interior:Mo Udall
Secretary of Agriculture:Bob Dole
Secretary of Commerce:Jack Kemp
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development:Moon Landrieu
Secretary of Labor:John Dunlop
Secretary of Transportation:William Coleman
Secretary of Energy:James Schlesinger
 
Senate Composition

Deleted member 99044

John Tunney wins re-election against S. I. Hayakawa.

Al Gore is appointed by Tennessee governor Roy Blanton to fill President Baker's old senate seat.

Keith Sebelius is chosen by the governor of Kansas to succeed Bob Dole in the Senate.

This leaves the Democratic Party with 62 seats in the Senate and the Republican Party with 36 seats.

In the House the Democrats maintain their majority.

Under normal circumstances this would be bad for the Republicans but not with the great conciliator as president.
 
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Archibald

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These days that unfortunate Jerry Ford is taking a lot of deadly bullets in a host of different TLs. Maybe Lynette got a kalashnikov instead of a handgun :p
 
Inauguration

Deleted member 99044

January 20,1977: President Howard Baker gave his inaugural address. In it he talks about finding common ground with the Democratic Party and to seek energy independence by massively expanding nuclear energy and by providing tax incentives to have oil companies produce in America. He also talks about his plan to reform the tax system.
 
These days that unfortunate Jerry Ford is taking a lot of deadly bullets in a host of different TLs. Maybe Lynette got a kalashnikov instead of a handgun :p
What do you mean "a host of different TLs"? The only one I'm aware of is The Rock That Fell From the Ford.
 
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