AHC: Barbara Jordan, 40th President of the United States

Imagine that Barbara Jordan and not Ronald Reagan succeeded Jimmy Carter as President of the United States making her the first female, african american and gay PotUS. How will she deal with the problems of the 1980s? And will she serve two terms?
 
Imagine that Barbara Jordan and not Ronald Reagan succeeded Jimmy Carter as President of the United States making her the first female, african american and gay PotUS. How will she deal with the problems of the 1980s? And will she serve two terms?

Barbara Jordan being elected POTUS in 1980 is not going to happen because by the end of the '70s Jordan's mobility and stamina were (increasingly) compromsed by MS - to the point that she did not run for re-election to the House in 1980. Given her health, there's a reasonable likelyhood that, had Carter selected her to be his running mate in 1976, she would have served as VPOTUS for that one term only. Jordan's MS can't be hand waved away. These health issues aside, unless Jordan is the VP during Carter's 1st term and he dies in office or resigns, Jordan will not be the Democratic nominee in 1980, she simply doesn't have the political clout or standing to pull it off.
 
She would not have been elected because her political views were far to the left of even most Democrats. IIRC she even got on board with the Bella Abzug "ban the GOP and all conservative parties" agenda, at least in terms of lip service. I doubt that would have gone down well.

The issue of her gender and race may have been a factor too, but mostly it would have been her ideology being far too liberal for a national election
 
Maybe not Barbara Jordan..but how 'bout this?

As much as I would love to see it..Barbara Jordan '80? No.

But imagine this...

Democratic National Convention -- New York City, NY
July 15, 1992

"Mr. Chairman...My name is Barbara Jordan..and I am proud to be from the great Lone Star State of Texas. I was proud to serve as a congressperson from the great Lone Star State of Texas.. We are proud of OUR champions for the common people. Like our proud Ann Richards, and my good friend Senator Mickey Leland(1), who happily replaced Phil Gramm in 1990 thank to efforts of Millions of dedicate Progressive Texans from Galveston to El Paso."

"Now we Texans have more to do...Mr. Gramm is a little lonely living in Houston, so lets give him a neighbor by sending George Bush back down to there to move in come November!!!"

"Mr. Chairman the Texas delegation throws all of it votes behind a man who has a pledged to fight for the dreams of all Americans and has inspired as all -- Texas casts all of its 231 delegates votes to the Governor of California and the next President of the United States --- Harvey Bernard Milk!(2)"

(1. Mickey Leland plane landed safety in Ethopia -- 7 August 1989)
(2. Harvey Milk ducked the bullet on 27 November 1978 -- Dan White was caught with the gun in his hand and was escape out of the office. The police caught White...as White had shot San Francisco Mayor George Moscone moments before. White was executed for the murder in 1980. In 1982, amid concerns among Southern California Democrats who felt that we need a Southern Californian who can appeal to likely Dukemejian voter. Harvey Milk ran a maverick campaign for the nomination...That pulled off a shocking victory over Tom Bradley, who didn't take the loss well.
Milk high-energy campaign turned the Orange Curtain cold, but an energized coalition of black-hispanic-and progressive whites, plus a shrewd nasty campaign ran by Willie Brown led to a 50-49 cliffhanger win.
Milk as governor basically updated the Jerry Brown playbook for the 80s, and was a stedfast opposition against Reaganomics..part of the "Leftyfornia Revolution) in the 1980s which actually made a California a greener, more liveable state than the OTL, and gave a real shot in the arm to the Democratic Party nationally. Reagan won the '84 election, but not without a serious fight by another "Leftyfornian" Senator Alan Cranston, who came back from a 37 point hole coming out of the conventions to making Reagan sweat to the final week. Milk won a second term in 1986..And wanted to run again in 1990, but he changed his mind in '88. The Democratic Party's rightward turn in 1988 upset him. In an open letter in the New York Times, a week after George Bush's landslide win over Michael Dukakis. Milk dubbed the Dukakis campaign "A Betrayal to the progressive tide which brought new voters in our tent and a new spirit in our country."

After his term ended in 1990. He heartily endorse Dianne Feinstein to take over in Sacremento. She beat Pete Wilson by 17 points.

And Harvey Milk began his quest, to regain the Democratic Party...and regain the country)

Milk '92: It Does A Nation Good!" ;)
 
Barbara Jordan being elected POTUS in 1980 is not going to happen because by the end of the '70s Jordan's mobility and stamina were (increasingly) compromsed by MS - to the point that she did not run for re-election to the House in 1980. Given her health, there's a reasonable likelyhood that, had Carter selected her to be his running mate in 1976, she would have served as VPOTUS for that one term only. Jordan's MS can't be hand waved away. These health issues aside, unless Jordan is the VP during Carter's 1st term and he dies in office or resigns, Jordan will not be the Democratic nominee in 1980, she simply doesn't have the political clout or standing to pull it off.
And you've mentioned the two PoDs that would make this TL possible:
- Carter stepping down near the end of his first term or shortly after the beginning of his second (stroke? heart attack?)
- Jordan did not have MS and could become Carter's VP
 
And you've mentioned the two PoDs that would make this TL possible:
- Carter stepping down near the end of his first term or shortly after the beginning of his second (stroke? heart attack?)
- Jordan did not have MS and could become Carter's VP

You can't really keep her from having MS and then keeping her as she was since that would more likely than not be playing with genetics, thus while she is still in her mother's womb. You can't alter something like that and expect her to follow her path from OTL history to the letter, let alone have it be recognizable.

Now with Carter in the mix we also have a problem. If for whatever reason Jordan were picked to be Carter's running mate, it could very well have resulted in his defeat by alienating a great many Southerners (not a massive amount of course, but enough to swing a couple states), thus giving the election to Ford. That keeps her from office anyway. Now if Carter is able to keep his silver foot out of his mouth than he may be able to pull it off in a squeaker, but he is going to need to play to the Liberals.

Carter, fortunately for him, had no health problems unless you can be killed by hemorrhoids, so unless that Assassination attempt succeeds, which is doubtful, then Jordan would never be elevated to the first office. There is even chance she may resign during this First Term due to her MS, and she is definitely not running again in 1980.

All in all, it does not seem like a Scenario that is likely to happen.​
 
While not likely (Probably even less likely than Bush's pretzel killing him) I had the vision of Carter drowning while trying to fight off the swamp rabbit that attacked him in 1979 :p.
 
While not likely (Probably even less likely than Bush's pretzel killing him) I had the vision of Carter drowning while trying to fight off the swamp rabbit that attacked him in 1979 :p.

Personally, Jody Powell would have to be a complete and total idiot to let his own Boss drown in the River. :p

But even if Carter did drown, I think by this point Jordan would already have resigned from her Office for Health Reasons. Even if she does become President, there is a good chance she would simply name another Vice President and then resign. Not sure who she would pick though.​
 
Carter would have lost many votes had Barbara Jordan been VP candidate. But she would also have electrified the base. He might still win, though probably with a different mix of states carried
 
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