All the Way for LBJ: An LBJ Wins 68' Collaborative Timeline

April 2nd, 1968: Amid intense opposition during primaries, President Lyndon Johnson announces his intentions to continue participating in the presidential race. "I'm not finished until I'm dead," Johnson purportedly said when deciding to continue running.'

April 4th, 1968: Civil Rights activist and minister Martin Luther King Jr. is rushed to the hospital after being shot in the left arm in an attempted assassination. He is released later that night after his wounds are tended to and doctors say he will: "be just fine".

April 5th, 1968: The Beatles pen a new song regarding LBJ's decision to continue running the Presidential race entitled: "See the Lahbahja Lag".

April 9th, 1968: Republican presidential candidate Richard Nixon scoffs at Johnson's decision to continue running for President, stating: "He has less of a chance of winning the damned Presidency than those hippies do of taking a bath once in a while."

April 11th, 1968: To show his gratitude to President Johnson for advancing the Civil Rights movement, Dr. King promises to campaign for him on his behalf, stating: "America needs a principled, dedicated leader who will fight against the monster that is institutional racism."
 
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Hadn't the Constitution disallowed 3rd term runs?

LBJ could have served another term as he only served a year of JFK's term plus one term, the 22nd Amendment only counts over half of a term as a term in its own right. LBJ could have run, while Gerald Ford could not have run in 1980 if he had been elected in 1976 and served Jimmy Carter's OTL term.
 
April 12th, 1968:
Robert Kennedy and George Smathers announce their intentions to primary President Johnson.

April 14th, 1968:


An announcement from St. Joseph's Hospital reveals that King will lack feeling in his left arm and will suffer intense impairment.

April 17th, 1968:
Eugene McCarthy and controversially, John Stennis announce their intention to run for the Democratic Nomination.

LBJ could have served another term as he only served a year of JFK's term plus one term, the 22nd Amendment only counts over half of a term as a term in its own right. LBJ could have run, while Gerald Ford could not have run in 1980 if he had been elected in 1976 and served Jimmy Carter's OTL term.
Ah, my mistake. I always think he serves the full 2.
 
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April 12th, 1968:
Robert Kennedy and George Smathers announce their intentions to primary President Johnson.

April 14th, 1968:

Despite the comments of an unidentified St. Joseph's Hospital doctor, Martin Luther King Jr. passes away from complications in his spinal cord.

April 15th, 1968:
Johnson, Nixon, and other major politicians pay their respects to MLK.

April 17th, 1968:
Eugene McCarthy and controversially, John Stennis announce their intention to run for the Democratic Nomination.


Ah, my mistake. I always think he serves the full 2.

MLK couldn't have died of spinal cord issues ITTL since he only gets shot in his left arm. May you please retcon this out?
 
February 27th, 1968:
President Johnson gives a press conference to the American people concerning the Tet Offensive and the hiring of the new Secretary of Defense, Clifford. He stresses that the past few months have been a major defeat for the Communists, and have proven that South Vietnam will not fall. He also outlines a new strategy where he will limit bombing campaigns for the following few weeks in an attempt to reach a peace settlement. His demeanour is determined and decisive, and he leaves Americans with renewed confidence in the government and the ongoing war.
 
LBJ would prob die in his third term

February 28th, 1968

Nation embrasses new LBJ's flow; agrees heavy drinking and smoking is the key to longevity

LBJ_Library_slideshow.jpg
 
March-April 1968: Negotiations with North Korea over the fate of the captive crew of the USS Pueblo begin to break down, as the North Koreans increase their demands and begin threatening the lives of the hostages if the US does not comply.

(There's no specific POD leading to this, it's just butterflies from previous changes.)
 
April 9th, 1968: Republican presidential candidate Richard Nixon scoffs at Johnson's decision to continue running for President, stating: "He has less of a chance of winning the damned Presidency than those hippies do of taking a bath once in a while."
April 10th, 1968: Republican presidential candidate, Nelson Rockefeller, Governor of New York, forms a strong campaign in the New England region with Margaret Smith along side him at most rallies.
 
It's going to take a lot for Johnson to get re- elected. Even if he secures the nomination, which isn't even a sure thing. he'll be hard pressed to win the general. I'll be keeping an eye on this one.
 
Nah I read he had health episodes in his presidency
On Inauguration Day (January 20, 1969), Johnson saw Nixon sworn in, then got on the plane to fly back to Texas. When the front door of the plane closed, Johnson pulled out a cigarette—his first cigarette he had smoked since his heart attack in 1955. One of his daughters pulled it out of his mouth and said, "Daddy, what are you doing? You're going to kill yourself." He took it back and said, "I've now raised you girls. I've now been President. Now it's my time!" From that point on, he went into a very self-destructive spiral.
— Historian Michael Beschloss
 
In order to get LBJ elected, this TL needs to have a better public response to the Tet Offensive. Having Johnson actually talk with people about it helps, but what would help even more is if the Offensive is even more of a victory for the USA than IOTL, and followed up not long after by peace talks.

If Vietnam can be resolved by November, you're looking at a much more winnable election. And if it looks like it's going in that direction, heavy hitters like Nixon may well drop out, making Johnson's job even easier.
 
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