AHC: Reagan As The Youngest US President

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Hi all,

We're all aware that Ronald Reagan is to date the oldest person to serve as US president, taking office just before his 70th birthday.

Your challenge, should you choose to except it, is to enable him to become the youngest president, with as late a Pod as possible.

He can either be elected in his own write or become president through succession, though you get bonus points if he's elected in 1948 (which I think is the earliest possible oppertunity, given presidencial rules).

He can either be elected as a Democrat or Republican, ideologically to the left or right, just as long as it's plausible.
 
He was born in 1917 so earliest he could be POTUS was 1952. I think 56 would still make him the youngest.

He got divorced in 1948- not an issue in 1980 but in the 50's I dont think it could happen unless he didnt divorce- perhaps a widower instead could work.

I suppose he could have started as a congressman in the late 40's, then a senator in mid 50's then a pick to balance the ticket in 56 for Stevenson. Ike has a mild heart attack and Nixon as president is too scary so Stevenson wins, then he dies in late 50's.
 
Touting his youth and vision for America's future, President Harry S. Truman selects Illinois Representative Ronald Reagan (born 2-6-1911) as his running mate in 1948. On November 1, 1950, Puerto Rican nationalists Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo assassinate President Truman in Blair House. Vice President Reagan is inaugurated as the 34th POTUS late that evening. At age 39 years, 9 months of age, Reagan is the youngest President in American history.
 
He was born in 1917 so earliest he could be POTUS was 1952. I think 56 would still make him the youngest.

He got divorced in 1948- not an issue in 1980 but in the 50's I dont think it could happen unless he didnt divorce- perhaps a widower instead could work.

I suppose he could have started as a congressman in the late 40's, then a senator in mid 50's then a pick to balance the ticket in 56 for Stevenson. Ike has a mild heart attack and Nixon as president is too scary so Stevenson wins, then he dies in late 50's.

Correction, he was born in 1911. Kennedy was born in 1917.

Reagan's problem is you have to cram in a political career in his life that early, which likely means no Ronald Reagan 'The Actor'. Or some horrific, apocalyptic dystopic stuff going on to make electing an actor with no political experience who wants to be president to the White House.
 
Since Theodore Roosevelt can't be butterflied away as Reagan isn't born until 1911, he has until about November 1953 or so to become president.
 
Touting his youth and vision for America's future, President Harry S. Truman selects Illinois Representative Ronald Reagan (born 2-6-1911) as his running mate in 1948. On November 1, 1950, Puerto Rican nationalists Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo assassinate President Truman in Blair House. Vice President Reagan is inaugurated as the 34th POTUS late that evening. At age 39 years, 9 months of age, Reagan is the youngest President in American history.

Yes. He could also be Stevenson's VP, but Stevenson has to die before November '53.
 
Correction, he was born in 1911. Kennedy was born in 1917.

Reagan's problem is you have to cram in a political career in his life that early, which likely means no Ronald Reagan 'The Actor'. Or some horrific, apocalyptic dystopic stuff going on to make electing an actor with no political experience who wants to be president to the White House.

Oops. Misread that dob. Regardless I think you need to butterfly the divorce away. I don't see a divorced man winning as vp in the 50s
 
Oops. Misread that dob. Regardless I think you need to butterfly the divorce away. I don't see a divorced man winning as vp in the 50s

Reagan's divorce was brought on, or at least his marital issues were exasperated, by his first wife suffering a miscarriage in, I think, 1947 or 48. So, butterfly away that and, given a political career, they might stick it out. Or, if we are changing his life at that early of a date, have him marry someone else.
 
Here's something I'd written along those lines a while back. Bear in mind, it's not very good, but...


A WAAAAY EARLY PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN

by vultan

Late 1937, in rural northwest Illinois

Ronald Reagan was angry. Very, very angry. For one thing, he’d been out of a job- a long bout with the cold last year had ruined his radio career in Iowa, causing him to return meekly to his home town of Dixon, where he’d been reduced to working odd jobs. And when the jobs weren’t forthcoming there, he headed south for Macomb, thinking that maybe the farmers would be a’hiring. But that wasn’t the only reason his blood was boiling, oooooh no.

And to think he’d once been an admirer of Franklin Delano Roosevelt! Well, no longer. One of the jobs he’d fallen into was with one Anton J. Johnson, a dairy farmer. Mr. Johnson had taken a liking to “Dutch” (as Ronald still went by), and when the young man was out milking cows, Johnson would come out to talk. But inevitably, the conversation (if you could call it that- Ron was too busy with the work to get in more than a word or two at a time) would drift to politics, where Mr. Johnson would rant on and on about how President Roosevelt was trying to turn the country into a communist state, how his “court-packing” plan was merely an excuse to turn the United States into a dictatorship. And the more Ron listened…

Early 1938

He’d been attending McDonough County Republican Party meetings regularly now, and to his own surprise he found himself volunteering. Then one day Mr. Johnson prodded him into going up to speak (“Tell ‘em ‘bout why you decided to join the G-O-P, Dutch”). While he started off a bit nervous, Ron dove right in, and they couldn’t have asked for a better speaker. I guess all that radio work paid off, Ron thought to himself as he articulated another point. As the audience sat there, enraptured, the young man eventually transcended politics in his speech, ending it on a simple enough note. “See, I suppose what I’m saying is I’ve come to see that the Republicans are the very best party to represent the common men in American. And as for myself, personally, I’ve come to see that it’s the party that agrees with my basic beliefs, which is that I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph. And there's purpose and worth to each and every life. Thank you for letting me speak”.

The Chairman asked if he wanted to get paid to speak like that. They both chuckled…

Mid 1938

Horrible news: Mr. Anton J. Johnson had been killed when the roof of his barn collapsed in on him. He was sixty years old. But more importantly, he had been the presumptive nominee of the Republicans to challenge Chester C. Thompson for control of Illinois’ 14th Congressional District. The local party officials had been convened in the City Building in downtown Macomb, and Ron had showed up to help organize. At nearly 12 o’clock at night, Ron was abruptly awoken from his slumber in a chair in the lobby in the building by the McDonough County Republican Party Chairman. He must have been asleep for hours as the party heads were discussing what to do. “Hey kid-KID- you twenty-five?” A still-tired Ron wondered what was going on. “Yessir, I turned twenty-five years old a couple-“

“Great”, interrupted Mr. Chairman. “Now what I need you to do is go in that room and talk. Just talk like you did at that one meeting we had a couple months ago. Give a good speech.” The young Reagan agreed, still confused as to what was happening…

Late 1938

Illinois House of Representatives election, District 14:
Chester C. Thompson (D)(inc)- 49.6%
Ronald "Dutch" Reagan (R)- 50.4%

---

Early 1944

Former Congressman Ronald Reagan got off the bus at his hometown of Dixon. While his career in Washington was looking good for a while- his great oratory skills had one him reelection by a wide margin in 1940, and his passionately conservative beliefs had one him national attention- he couldn't stay home while America's boys were going of to war, so off he went as well.

Of course, due to his eyesight, they wouldn't let him go overseas, so they just stuck him in "public relations", which essentially amounted to him going around to various army posts, giving speeches (his status as a former politician also made it unlikely that he would be put into anything TOO dangerous).

But suddenly, just a couple months ago, he had been honorably discharged. But the funny thing was, they didn't give him a reason. They just said that he would be of no further use to the country in this fashion at the time. Now, Ron was just a regular guy, but he knew they couldn't just do that, right? Even after he repeatedly tried to reenlist? Well, they told him to go back home, so here he was...

While staying at his mother's house, he got a very special phone call: it was Dwight Green, Governor of Illinois! Turns out, the good Governor may or may not have pulled some strings to get him out of the military, which for the smallest fraction of a moment absolutely disgusted Reagan- this man was the one who made his career fighting the Chicago machine- but Green waved aside these concerns, saying that "Dutch" could better serve his country back in Washington. But instead of running for his old seat...

Late 1944

Illinois Senate election, 1944:
Scott W. Lucas (D)(inc)- 48.2%
Ronald "Dutch" Reagan (R)- 51.4%

...

Nearly four years later...

Senator Ronald Wilson Reagan of Illinois (known as "Dutch" by now to his constituents and supporters), was about to give the keynote address to the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was a warm June night, the first of the convention, and there was a bitter divide between the conservative, pro-Taft delegates and the liberal, pro-Dewey delegates (Stassen was a much weaker force by now). There was a dangerous possibility that there wouldn't be a nominee on the first ballot...

Well, Dutch thought to himself, it's my job to not let that happen. He'd become renowned across the country for the strength of his speeches, and he was going to make sure that this would be the best of his career by a mile.

Across the convention hall, Senator Robert Taft waited contently. Ronald Reagan was one of the most conservative members of the Senate. Hell, if you took race out of the mix, he was farther right than many of the Dixiecrats Thurmond was whipping into a frenzy down South. At the very least, Reagan could win over enough delegates to make it a long, drawn out fight. At best, we could be seeing President Taft come...

Wait, what? What? "THAT BASTARD!" Taft screamed, standing up, which surprised many in the hall, even among Taft's staff; the Senator was known for being an austere figure. But how could he stay calm now when that two-faced son-of-a-bitch Reagan was endorsing Dewey?

In the end, though, Reagan did what he thought was right. He was in agreement with the Taft faction on domestic policy, but he couldn't abide by their isolationism. A nice long conversation with diplomat George F. Kennan had convinced him of the danger that the Soviet Union posed, and how could he support a candidate who wouldn't fight that?

It worked; Dewey narrowly won on the first ballot. However, he noted the popularity of Reagan among the delegates at the convention. In a way, he really was something of a unifying candidate: he shared the domestic beliefs of the Taft faction, but the internationalist beliefs of the Dewey faction. Even with the semi-public falling out Taft and Reagan had, putting Reagan on the ticket would be a good way to unite the badly divided party. Dewey badly, BADLY wanted California Governor Earl Warren on the ticket... but in the end, the man wasn't much of a campaigner, and Dewey's advisers told him not to risk the election by making a gaffe on the campaign trail. Reagan could be the speech-giver; the attack dog, if you will.

And in the end, Reagan was an average American from an average background. That had a way of resonating with voters.

On July 25th, the last day of the convention, Dewey nominated Reagan to be the Vice Presidential nominee of the Republican Party in 1948...

---

Yeah, the way I put it in sort of presupposed having Reagan essentially be something of an earlier Goldwater, rather than the more left-wing Democrat Reagan probably would be if he'd pursued politics in early life. Wanted Dutch to be recognizable by OTL standards.

Thoughts?
 
How about this?

While still in college, 21 year old Ronald Reagan becomes the Democratic nominee by default for a seat in the Illinois House of Representatives in a rural district in 1932. FDR's coattails carry Reagan to victory. While serving in the legislature, Reagan goes to law school.

After two terms in the state legislature and passing the bar, Reagan is elected to Congress in 1936 at the age of 25 as President Roosevelt wins 46 of 48 states in a landslide. A staunch New Dealer, Congressman Reagan is an effective spokesman for the farmers and small businesses in his district. He breaks with Roosevelt on his attempts to pack the Supreme Court.

In his third term in the House, the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor and Congress declares war. Reagan resigns from Congress to enlist in the Army. He is assigned to JAG which leads to joining the staff of General Eisenhower. Due to butterflies, World War II is over by July 4, 1944.

Honorably discharged with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, 33 year old Reagan returns home to Illinois and the Democrats recruit him to run for Governor. Reagan wins that race while Senator Claude Pepper is elected President (FDR chose to retire instead of seeking a fourth term).

Reagan would go on to serve two terms as Governor. Meanwhile, a recession and backlash against 16 years of Democratic rule sends Thomas Dewey to the White House in 1948. In 1950, Dewey is assassinated by Puerto Rican terrorists. Earl Warren is the new President of the United States.

Warren decision to govern to the left of Dewey and his mishandling of the Korean War cause a rift with the conservative wing. In 1952, President Warren manages to win a first ballot victory over Robert Taft. The Democrats nominate 41 year old Governor Ronald Reagan who campaigns on a platform of an honorable peace in Korea. Reagan out-campaigns Warren and he wins a landslide victory with his running mate, former MLB Commissioner Albert "Happy" Chandler.

On January 20, 1953, thousands watch outside Capitol Hill and millions more watch on TV hear the words:

"I, Ronald Wilson Reagan, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God."

Ronald Reagan's Presidency is viewed very favorably by historians. The highlights of his two terms include a reorganization of the military led by Dwight Eisenhower who becomes Secretary of Defense (he would resign after the 1956 election and retire to his farm in Pennsylvania), the National Highway Act and his mediation of the Suez Canal Crisis in which he shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1958 with Secretary of State Dean Acheson.

When Reagan left office on January 20, 1961, he enjoyed job approval ratings of 70 percent.
 
Dewey didn't like Earl Warren. That's pretty much my only complaint. Although I don't think Reagan would be so conservative never having been rich himself first...
EDIT: That's also good.
 
One problem in getting an early Reagan presidency is that a lack of overseas service during WWII will damage him severely if he was running for major political office in the immediate post-war era.

Reagan can always get a sympathetic doctor to ignore the nearsightedness, or he can do an LBJ.
 
Dewey didn't like Earl Warren. That's pretty much my only complaint. Although I don't think Reagan would be so conservative never having been rich himself first...
EDIT: That's also good.

Well, it never said Dewey liked Warren, just that he wanted him on the ticket, which is a fair assessment IMO.
 
Love all the Reagan-related scenarios here, I wonder what he'd do after his presidency finishes? If he dies on schedule he'll have a minimum of 43 years retirement (though obviously he won't be doing any active work for the last 10 years of his life).

That still gives him 30 years after his presidency ends-he'll be leaving before his 50th if my calculations are write.

I might use an earlier Reagan presidency in an up and coming TL I'm planning.
 
I quite like the idea of a 1950s Ronald Reagan presidency, where he deals with the onset of the Cold War and the beginning of the Space Race.
 
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