In order to get Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (b. December 24, 1905) elected President after WWII it’d have to be a POD in the 1930s or early 1940s, in order for him to get interested in politics before or during WWII in the first place. Hughes suffered from OCD, which got much worse after two plane crashes (1943 and 1946); thus, you’d have to get rid of the plane crashes in order to increase his mental health as well. Plus, according to the 2004 movie “The Aviator,” dating Katharine Hepburn also helped ease the effects of OCD. With all that in mind, I think that a scenario like this could work:
---In 1937, Howard Hughes uses his influences within Hollywood to get Hepburn a big role in an upcoming movie. The film revives her career, and she finally agrees to marry Hughes as she is no longer considered to be box office poison. They marry in 1939.
---In 1940, Hughes gets into politics due to the candidacy of Wendell Willkie, a successful businessman, like himself. Hepburn convinces him to become involved in Willie’s campaign. Eventually, Hughes and Willkie develop a friendship, despite Hughes seriously disapproving a Willkie’s heavy smoking and poor health/diet choices.
---In 1941, Willkie convinces Hughes to become more involved in the war effort. As a result of working with the US Air Force to develop better aircraft technology, he is not in any plane crash in 1943. In 1944, Willkie suggests Hughes run for the US Senate seat held by Sheridan Downey; however, Hughes refuses to enter any public office until the war is over. Plus, he and Downy agree on several issues. Willkie dies in late 1944 like in OTL, but Hepburn, others and his work help keep Hughes from entering a depression over it.
---On August 6, 1945, US Senator Hiram W. Johnson dies in office like in OTL. Governor Warren ultimately appoints 39-year-old Hughes to the vacant seat 22 days later. Hughes soon settles in to the slow pace of the job that allows him to still work on aviation ideas. With Hughes serving in Washington DC, Glenn Odekirk is given more control of Hughes Aircraft, and as a result, Hughes is not in any plane crash in 1946 either. Instead, Hughes wins the 1946 primary over William F. Knowland, then wins a full term in 1946.
---After successfully flying the H-4 Hercules in late 1947, Hughes is confident enough to run for President in 1948… and he wins…
My questions:
Who would be Hughes’ running mate?
What would the results of the 1948 election look like?
How would a Hughes presidency turn out?
Would he have served one term or two?
What laws would he pass?
How would his relationship be with the rest of DC?
How would he respond to world events?
What would his views be on foreign and domestic issues?
Would his OCD become too noticeable due to the stress/pressures of the US Presidency, leading to a move to remove him from office, or would Hughes be protected by the friends and allies he’s made over past decade or so?
Also, would Howard Hughes and Katharine Hepburn have any children together?
---And here’s my wild guess at what his cabinet might look like:
President: Howard Hughes
First Lady: Katharine Hepburn
Vice-President: Harold Stassen?
Secretary of State: Christian Herter or John F. Dulles
Secretary of Treasury: Robert Bernard Anderson or Thomas E. Dewey
Secretary of Defense: Neil H. McElroy?
Attorney General: Noah Dietrich
Secretary of the Interior: Kenneth Wherry
Secretary of Labor: Fred A. Hartley Jr.
Secretary of Transportation and Technology (new office): William John “Jack” Frye
He might also strengthen the power of the office of the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, or maybe even make a separate cabinet office, Secretary of Sanitation.
Supreme Court Appointment: Earl Warren
Just contributing, that’s all…
To The Comment Below:
Because he was a businessman (and was a supporter of Richard Nixon later in life), I'm guessing he was a Republican. In the scenario I gave, coming into contact with Willkie shapes his political views, making him either a liberal Republican or a left-leaning centrist Republican. He'd be pro-business/industry, for sure, but I'm not entirely sure what his opinions on other issues would be.
Would anyone know?