AHC and WI: President Benedict Arnold

How could President Arnold happen and what would his presidency look like?

He doesn't have to be the first president, although that would be interesting.
 
First and foremost -- he doesn't switch sides in the war, but should still be behind victories like Saratoga; so let's say, for a PoD, he doesn't suffer injuries as serious, so he doesn't meet Peggy Shippen?
 
His best option would have been patience and to have put up with a few career setbacks as he would have probably regained a prominent position after his temporary downfall over expenses. He wouldn't have become the commander in chief but he would have finished the war with the potential of a career as the third or fourth president after regaining a position possibly out of necessity. I did try a thread speculating on his becoming a major naval figure founding the navy after his delaying action at Valcour Island.

However being the person he was Arnold wasn't prepared to wait. He might also have been less liable to defect if he hadn't been besotted with Peggy Shippen
 
Having "President Benedict Arnold" is trivial. Have him go into commerce, and become president of a bank or something.

Presumably you meant President of the US, which would be harder.

I agree with others, keep him away from Peggy Shippen. Have ?Gates? die and let Arnold receive all (or most of) the credit for ?Saratoga?.

He seems to have been reasonable competent as a general, so if we can get his boss out of the way, and keep him from trying to switch sides, he could get pretty famous.

OTOH, he does seem to have a pretty thin-skinned ego, and it's hard to see him doing well as a politician.

I could certainly see him as one of the early Presidents of the Continental Congress (who, OTL aren't recognized as Presidents, which I don't really understand).

If he served in that role and if those Presidents counted, then the challenge is filled.
 
Having "President Benedict Arnold" is trivial. Have him go into commerce, and become president of a bank or something.

Presumably you meant President of the US, which would be harder.

I agree with others, keep him away from Peggy Shippen. Have ?Gates? die and let Arnold receive all (or most of) the credit for ?Saratoga?.

Actually Schippen was involved with several American officers despite being married to a loyalist. Arnold is the one that got her (and she was considered a catch). I believe others included a young Aaron Burr. As for Gates, if Gates dies and Arnold goes south instead that would be his opportunity.

He seems to have been reasonable competent as a general, so if we can get his boss out of the way, and keep him from trying to switch sides, he could get pretty famous.

OTOH, he does seem to have a pretty thin-skinned ego, and it's hard to see him doing well as a politician.

I could certainly see him as one of the early Presidents of the Continental Congress (who, OTL aren't recognized as Presidents, which I don't really understand).

If he served in that role and if those Presidents counted, then the challenge is filled.

His thin skinned ego was pretty typical of the era when a person's worth was judged on his professional reputation and so this jealous and petty defense of ones rank and all the squabbling you see about seniority in the Continental Army/Navy is directly related to that and the culture of the time. So I don't think his ego is the issue it is the respect that he should have been accorded but wasn't if the Congress can see through Gates' shameless self promotion and more or less take Knox's word for it then we will see a very different Arnold.

Now as to the OP: I think a President Washington Vice-President Arnold is extremely likely especially if he goes south and is just as successful as Greene and he manages to out promote himself vis a vis Gates
 
I wouldnt be surprised if there was a state named after him. Arnold was extremely popular until his betrayal.

He might gain the presidency 2nd (no way on earth he was gonna beat Washington).

If he doesn't beat Adams or Jefferson, he might have a chance against Madison. I wonder how President Arnold would do in the War of 1812?
 
Actually Schippen was involved with several American officers despite being married to a loyalist. Arnold is the one that got her (and she was considered a catch). I believe others included a young Aaron Burr.

Can't say mnuch for her taste in men Burr is nearly as bad as Arnold perhaps if he had turned traitor it would have got rid of him!
 
He could of course beat Washy if Washy dies first... Then it would be Arnold against....Hamilton? Jefferson?

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
I wouldnt be surprised if there was a state named after him. Arnold was extremely popular until his betrayal.

He might gain the presidency 2nd (no way on earth he was gonna beat Washington).

If he doesn't beat Adams or Jefferson, he might have a chance against Madison. I wonder how President Arnold would do in the War of 1812?

If he follows Washington his second term is dependent on his politics which is nearly impossible to speculate since he left America in 1783 way before the political infighting of Washington's 2nd term. So to say if he was pro or anti- federalist is hard to say.
 
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