How many Jim Crow laws had there been as of 1889? I thought they didn't really get under way until the 1890s. Up till then wasn't it mainly a case of keeping enough fredmen away from the polls to ensure against the Republicans actually winning any statewide races - as distinct from the odd Congressional seat and a token presence in the Legislature?
Also (and more cynically) if Chamberlain is really as upright and honourable as this, has he any realistic chance of getting on a national ticket?
In OTL, it was - as I said, elections had sort of been glossed over, but it's probably true that things do stay pretty close to the same as OTL to this point.
About whether he could get close to a national ticket, that's why V.P might be the best spot for him. And, if he only has 4 ye3ars instead of 8 to mold things, that makes it better yet so the TL doesn't have equality too fast. And, the more I think about it, I think the gradual way it happens is probably most plausible, even with a Chamberlain Presidency.
Chamberlain then becomes more someone to keep any Jim Crow laws from passing, and influence things to get a little better. Which is still quite a good accomplishment. Perhaps a good phrase to throw in would be to mention things helped by "the work of Joshua Chamberlain...' that could mean as President, as a Senator, as a baseball club owner

)
Anyway, as noted, I think that's what I'm going with; thanks for the kind words, Darthi, it did seem better to do this than to start a whole new thread, since it's just for one small purpose.