With a POD no earlier than 1960, your mission is to have Elvis Aron Presley eventually elected president of the United States. Have fun.
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AH Challenge: President Presley
- Thread starter QuoProQuid
- Start date
Basically, redirect him from music to politics really early on, then get him into the right position to win. Perhaps have him end up with a somewhat similar route to Carter - i.e., young 'New South' governor, works out how to navigate the new Democratic primary process in '76 when nobody else does? He'd be young if he ran in '76 - just 41 years old - but it's not unreasonable. Hopefully, he'd be in much better health than OTL - less access to drugs, ideally.
Most likely a moderate Democrat, though he could be a moderate Republican depending on when he gets into politics and who is influences/mentors are.
He liked Stevenson and Kennedy, and supported Bobby early in '68. Nevertheless he didn't like the anti-war left and was of course famously friendly with Nixon.
Time didn't really tell if he had any solid political beliefs, or if he was a friendly bipartisan sort that would have similarly stood beside Reagan and Clinton. If writing a TL, probably easiest to bring him up through the Democrats, though as long as you keep him reasonably moderate, either party wouldn't be ASB.
He liked Stevenson and Kennedy, and supported Bobby early in '68. Nevertheless he didn't like the anti-war left and was of course famously friendly with Nixon.
Time didn't really tell if he had any solid political beliefs, or if he was a friendly bipartisan sort that would have similarly stood beside Reagan and Clinton. If writing a TL, probably easiest to bring him up through the Democrats, though as long as you keep him reasonably moderate, either party wouldn't be ASB.
wolf_brother
Banned
"That'll Be the Day," a short-story by Jack Haldeman and Barbara Delaplace featured in Alternate Tyrants has a POD of an earlier *26th Amendment in 1954 leading to Elvis being elected President in '56; and then things go (very) wrong. Doesn't fit the OP due to restrictions on POD, but only just.
It's easily on of my favorite alt histories, and it (and the anthology it's apart of) are what got me into the genre.
It's easily on of my favorite alt histories, and it (and the anthology it's apart of) are what got me into the genre.
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Was Elvis not a Republican? Either way, it would be more interesting if he entered politics at some point after a successful musical career rather than in the stead of one.
I'll be sure to look into that timeline. Thank you for the info.
This was more what I was looking for. Having him become a politician, after he enters the public eye as the 'King of Rock and Roll' would cause some interesting reactions.
Plus, his campaign ads would be phenominal.
I don't know a whole lot about Elvis, but his career did go downhill in the 60's, though he was still famous, which paved the way for his '68 comeback special. Maybe instead of trying to get back into music, he tries politics like Reagan did after his movie career.
Okay hows this...
In '68, Elvis gives his support to Bobby Kennedy, which launches him back into the public spotlight as a political figure. After Bobby is assassinated, as in OTL, Elvis is heartbroken (pun somewhat intended
) and soon decides to entre in politics to continue Bobby's work. He gets elected as Governor/Senator of/for Tennessee, and soon begins to develop a a good political career.
Though he is a Democrat, he manages to still be on friendly terms with President Richard Nixon, and he helps bridge the divide between Republicans and Democrats. Things go about the same way with Watergate, and many people suspect Elvis will make a run for the presidency. However, Elvis declines to run, and Carter beats Ford as in OTL. Things go about as badly for Carter as the did in OTL, and though Elvis wants very much to run for President, he decides not to out of party loyalty. Reagan, how has himself been fallowing a similiar career, is elected President instead in '80.
Reagan's term as President takes a turn for the worst however, when his Alzhiemers sets in a bit earlier than it did in OTL, and after a series of misteps and and mishaps, he begins to be discredit himself. Finally, in '84, Elvis finally decides to throw his hat in the ring, and wins the Democratic Nomination for President from former VP Walter Mondale. He picks Senator Gary Hart as his running mate, and under the campaign slogan "You ain't nothin' but a hound-dog"(directed at Reagan), the Presley/Hart ticket wins a landslide victory. The two are re-elected four years later, becoming the first President and Vice-President to serve two full terms since Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon.
Here is a list...
(R)Richard Nixon, 1969-1974
(R)Gerald Ford, 1974-1977
(D)Jimmy Carter, 1977-1981
(R)Ronald Reagan, 1981-1985
(D)Elvis Presley, 1985-1993
Any thoughts?
Okay hows this...
In '68, Elvis gives his support to Bobby Kennedy, which launches him back into the public spotlight as a political figure. After Bobby is assassinated, as in OTL, Elvis is heartbroken (pun somewhat intended
) and soon decides to entre in politics to continue Bobby's work. He gets elected as Governor/Senator of/for Tennessee, and soon begins to develop a a good political career. Though he is a Democrat, he manages to still be on friendly terms with President Richard Nixon, and he helps bridge the divide between Republicans and Democrats. Things go about the same way with Watergate, and many people suspect Elvis will make a run for the presidency. However, Elvis declines to run, and Carter beats Ford as in OTL. Things go about as badly for Carter as the did in OTL, and though Elvis wants very much to run for President, he decides not to out of party loyalty. Reagan, how has himself been fallowing a similiar career, is elected President instead in '80.
Reagan's term as President takes a turn for the worst however, when his Alzhiemers sets in a bit earlier than it did in OTL, and after a series of misteps and and mishaps, he begins to be discredit himself. Finally, in '84, Elvis finally decides to throw his hat in the ring, and wins the Democratic Nomination for President from former VP Walter Mondale. He picks Senator Gary Hart as his running mate, and under the campaign slogan "You ain't nothin' but a hound-dog"(directed at Reagan), the Presley/Hart ticket wins a landslide victory. The two are re-elected four years later, becoming the first President and Vice-President to serve two full terms since Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon.
Here is a list...
(R)Richard Nixon, 1969-1974
(R)Gerald Ford, 1974-1977
(D)Jimmy Carter, 1977-1981
(R)Ronald Reagan, 1981-1985
(D)Elvis Presley, 1985-1993
Any thoughts?
The PoD I'd want to use is easier to find: Presley rejects the use of drugs.
Instead, he becomes a highly respected member of the armed forces, earning honors in Vietnam. Although already well known for his musical talent, Presley's heroic rescue of seven injured soldiers in an intense gunfight that bluffed the NVA into retreat earned him the Silver Star.
When Elvis returns to the States, he is quickly sought by Nashville's mayor as a potentially critical political figure in local politics. Presley thusly joins Nashville's city council, beginning a rise to political prominence.
in 1992, Bill Clinton decides that he'd like a Tennessee Man to win the state. Governor Elvis Presley is a highly popular man with nationwide appeal, and an excellent choice for Vice President. Eight years later, Elvis defeats George W. for the Presidency in his own right.
Instead, he becomes a highly respected member of the armed forces, earning honors in Vietnam. Although already well known for his musical talent, Presley's heroic rescue of seven injured soldiers in an intense gunfight that bluffed the NVA into retreat earned him the Silver Star.
When Elvis returns to the States, he is quickly sought by Nashville's mayor as a potentially critical political figure in local politics. Presley thusly joins Nashville's city council, beginning a rise to political prominence.
in 1992, Bill Clinton decides that he'd like a Tennessee Man to win the state. Governor Elvis Presley is a highly popular man with nationwide appeal, and an excellent choice for Vice President. Eight years later, Elvis defeats George W. for the Presidency in his own right.
Al Gore was a Senator from Tennessee; not sure that Presley being governor butterflies away that. And he had had presidential ambitions, and was a prominent national figure.
Probably better to pair Presley with a northerner - perhaps Tsongas? I do like the idea of going with a war hero in '92, given that the Gulf War had just been fought (assuming it's not butterflied away).
Probably would need to give Presley a somewhat less successful music career for him to give it up for military service.
Probably better to pair Presley with a northerner - perhaps Tsongas? I do like the idea of going with a war hero in '92, given that the Gulf War had just been fought (assuming it's not butterflied away).
Probably would need to give Presley a somewhat less successful music career for him to give it up for military service.
In OTL, he served in the military between 1958 and March 1960 before being honorably discharged. He was worried that being a regular soldier would ruin his music career, but his manager convinced him that serving would give him the popular respect needed to make himself appealing to a wider audience.
During this period, he also met his future wife in Friedburg.
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More plausible is Ford wins in '76 and Elvis wins in '80. Or maybe John Connally replaces Agnew instead of Ford and he wins in '76.I don't know a whole lot about Elvis, but his career did go downhill in the 60's, though he was still famous, which paved the way for his '68 comeback special. Maybe instead of trying to get back into music, he tries politics like Reagan did after his movie career.
Okay hows this...
In '68, Elvis gives his support to Bobby Kennedy, which launches him back into the public spotlight as a political figure. After Bobby is assassinated, as in OTL, Elvis is heartbroken (pun somewhat intended
Though he is a Democrat, he manages to still be on friendly terms with President Richard Nixon, and he helps bridge the divide between Republicans and Democrats. Things go about the same way with Watergate, and many people suspect Elvis will make a run for the presidency. However, Elvis declines to run, and Carter beats Ford as in OTL. Things go about as badly for Carter as the did in OTL, and though Elvis wants very much to run for President, he decides not to out of party loyalty. Reagan, how has himself been fallowing a similiar career, is elected President instead in '80.
Reagan's term as President takes a turn for the worst however, when his Alzhiemers sets in a bit earlier than it did in OTL, and after a series of misteps and and mishaps, he begins to be discredit himself. Finally, in '84, Elvis finally decides to throw his hat in the ring, and wins the Democratic Nomination for President from former VP Walter Mondale. He picks Senator Gary Hart as his running mate, and under the campaign slogan "You ain't nothin' but a hound-dog"(directed at Reagan), the Presley/Hart ticket wins a landslide victory. The two are re-elected four years later, becoming the first President and Vice-President to serve two full terms since Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon.
Here is a list...
(R)Richard Nixon, 1969-1974
(R)Gerald Ford, 1974-1977
(D)Jimmy Carter, 1977-1981
(R)Ronald Reagan, 1981-1985
(D)Elvis Presley, 1985-1993
Any thoughts?
Elvis did reject the use of drugs, which is why he hated the Beatles and adored Nixon. If you mean prescription drugs, then Elvis could have never rejected them because he didn't know they weren't just his "medicine."
Also, regardless of his RCA contract, etc, Elvis would never have joined the city council in Nashville. It's as unlikely as him running in Tupelo or Honolulu. Elvis was and will ever be a Memphis man, and the Memphis city council isn't much of a springboard for massive political success. Maybe Vegas later on, however... that might be very cool. But by then, he's on drugs, divorced, overweight, and barely functional.... Viva Las Vegas, eh?
I like the idea of him going to 'Nam, though. Maybe coming back and doing some more war movies.
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He liked guns and vegas so he would have been a Reaganite Republican by 1980.
Cuāuhtemōc
Banned
You made me hate Elvis a lot more. Maybe a Reagan/Presley ticket. No doubt having Elvis would at least attract a lot of Boomers to vote Republican.
Reagan's problem was placating the Eastern Establishment and getting some foreign policy gravitas, hence Bush.
Instead of making a musical comeback in 1968, Presley run's for Mayor of Memphis as a celebrity figure candidate (ala Schwarzenegger), he wins against former Mayor Henry Loeb and serves until 1971 when he becomes the Congressman for Tennessee's 9th district after defeating Republican Congressman Dan Kuykendall in the 1970 midterms. During this time, Elvis makes friends with many prominent Republicans and Democrats including President Nixon, in 1976 he is elected House Majority Whip. He spends many years hoping to be Tip O'Neill's successor but realises his career is being wasted. He leaves the House in 1982 when he is elected Governor of Tennessee and is re-elected in 1986, leaving office in 1991.
By now a veteran Democratic leader, Presley defeats Paul Tsongas and Tom Harkin for the Democratic nomination in 1992. Presley chooses Bill Clinton as Vice President and together they run and defeat the Bush/Quayle ticket. President Presley is credited with fixing the slumping US economy; bringing peace to Kosovo and the Middle East and bringing public healthcare to the US after using old Congressional connections to pass it. He is re-elected in 1996 and leaves office in 2001.
By now a veteran Democratic leader, Presley defeats Paul Tsongas and Tom Harkin for the Democratic nomination in 1992. Presley chooses Bill Clinton as Vice President and together they run and defeat the Bush/Quayle ticket. President Presley is credited with fixing the slumping US economy; bringing peace to Kosovo and the Middle East and bringing public healthcare to the US after using old Congressional connections to pass it. He is re-elected in 1996 and leaves office in 2001.
Tennessee seems more plausible, but Mississippi would be more interesting.