Big Bill in The White House

Harding or Thompson, who wins the nomination

  • Harding

    Votes: 8 36.4%
  • Thompson

    Votes: 14 63.6%

  • Total voters
    22
1919
Theodore Roosevelt Was Dead. The Bull Moose lay dead in his home that day, January 6th, 1919. It was unbelievable that the expected nominee for 1920 had died, the Republican party was in a scramble, all candidates could step forward, but no one Expected Senator William Hale Thompson to declare his candidacy a week after Roosevelt's passing. Thompson during his senate bid two years prior was criticized for Flip Flopping on The Great War, Initially Opposing it before changing his opinion after receiving donations from pro war organizations. Thompson Announced his campaign in the Chicago City Hall, where he had served as mayor for 4 years before his election to the Senate. But he had many campaign rivals in the form of Moderate Warren g Harding and progressive Leonard Wood. Thompson would be even more conservative than Harding, believing in a complete undoing of much of Wilson's New Freedom, saying Roosevelt and Taft had done enough. He Also called for America to not join the "European Dominated" League of Nations, Saying America should establish a sphere of influence in the Americas and Pacific, even cooperating with Japan. But focus mainly at home.
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Thompson declares his candidacy, 1919

Big Bill's Campaign
Thompson's bombastic campaign style was in full display as he was determined to win Iowa and New Hampshire. His Slogan was adopted as "Putting America first." he also favored America lower government spending overall. he would even hold a mock debate in Detroit with Two Parrots representing his opponents, saying "They Just keep repeating themselves!" in the fall of 1919. With more candidates entering the race, many wondered if this eccentric would win.
 
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Early 1920
The New Hampshire Primary was a disaster for Thompson, as General Leonard Wood destroyed him on home turf...But Big Bill had a plan to make a come back and secure the midwest. He campaigned on a plan to "return to normalcy" during early march in The Great Lakes region. Thompson was poised against Harding, a man with as corrupt a core as Himself. Thompson knew he wouldn't be able to win in Ohio, so he skipped the state. He focused on the South Often during the Primary, using his Conservative "Small Government" Demeanor to scoop up votes there. he began winning contests in Rural States in the Midwest, scooping up the South too. he would win the Illinois Primary on April 13th, causing the suspension of Frank. O. Louden's campaign. But harding wouldn't give in, so Thompson began hiring private investigators to find any dirt to leak to the press. Using a form of Campaign Espionage that would define his presidency, which he confessed to on his deathbed in 1944. Thompson began using his connections to organized crime to help him in his endeavours, calling in favors and the like. Even endorsing a pro-mafia candidates in exchange for them ruffing up opposing voters. Of course, none of this was directly connected to him. Thompson would arrive at the Republican National Convention in June, his presence cut through the air. He finally met Harding face to face. The two men rushed to gain support with the Party elite. the convention was in a chaos with smokey backroom dealings. Promising cabinet positions. And it was unclear to who would secure the nomination until the voting began. Harding Vs. Thompson.



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Big Bill Thompson for president? A very wealthy man with "populist" appeal, emphasis on infrastructure ("Big Bill the Builder"), strident "America First" rhetoric, ties with organized crime, ethnic slurs (Cermak the "Bohunk"), and who won an election (1927) where virtually all the "respectables" opposed him?

I just can't see the GOP nominating someone like that! :p
 
Late 1919
The Room was quiet, then applause and shouting erupted in the stadium, Thompson had been just announced the Republican Nominee for the Presidency. Big Bill was on his way to the White house. Harding was shocked, he said he won't withdraw yet. Thompson, hoping to avoid a confrontation, offered Harding the Vice Presidency, Harding accepted. The Ticket was decided. Thompson for President and Harding for Vice President. A Conservative Republican Ticket was on the campaign trail. Meanwhile at the Democratic Convention, James Cox and Franklin Delano Roosevelt were nominated. The Campaigning was vigorous on Thompson's part. Using new media to his advantage. Radio Broadcasts, Silent Films and more were used with great priority during his campaign. Thompson was incredibly popular as an alternative to the progressives. But it was unknown fully whether this would pay off
 
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IMO Big Bill's opposition to the War ("The closer you get to Wall Street, the more flags you see" and "This war is a needless sacrifice of the best blood of the nation on foreign battlefields") would doom him with the national Republicans. (Chicago was a different story, with its large number of antiwar Germans, Scandinavians, and Irish. Even in Illinois as a whole, Thompson was unable to win office, losing the 1918 senatorial primary--though he did carry Chicago. https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=381139)

Anyway, the 1920 nomination was not decided by primaries, and the national leaders of the GOP had little use for Thompson. If they were going to choose anyone from Illinois, it would be Lowden.
 
IMO Big Bill's opposition to the War ("The closer you get to Wall Street, the more flags you see" and "This war is a needless sacrifice of the best blood of the nation on foreign battlefields") would doom him with the national Republicans. (Chicago was a different story, with its large number of antiwar Germans, Scandinavians, and Irish. Even in Illinois as a whole, Thompson was unable to win office, losing the 1918 senatorial primary--though he did carry Chicago. https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=381139)

Anyway, the 1920 nomination was not decided by primaries, and the national leaders of the GOP had little use for Thompson. If they were going to choose anyone from Illinois, it would be Lowden.
The POD of this tl is Big Bill is not anti war due to political donations from pro war groups
 
Big Bill Wins! November 1920-March 1921
William Hale Thompson awaited in his study reading the paper, he opened it to see the news, His Campaign tactics had been successful, Cox Lost by an Electoral Landslide. He was now President elect of these United States. Of Course, Thompson had received word that he won beforehand via telegram. He began Planning his first 100 days in full, his main goal was the complete destruction of Wilson's Domestic Policy (aka New Freedom) as well as the implementation of prohibition as policy. Thompson Would journey to DC from his Chicago home, awaiting his transition to office on March 4th. He had big plans to help American Farmers and Small Business owners. Luckily he would preside over the roaring twenties. he met with his predecessor many times during those months. He would take the oath of office on March 4th.


"My Fellow Americans, Our Nation has done much...But with the rapid progress, we must go back to simpler time of Free Enterprise and less government intervention, we should not pursue league of nations entry, as America should develop its own sphere of alliances and influence, rather than rely on The British and French run League of Nations. America shall take up a new role in Pacific and Pan-American Diplomacy. As well as fostering our traditions of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness by keeping taxes low, I promise that the Budget will be used responsibly, I promise an America like the one we grew up in all those years ago. I promise to Make America Great Again!"
 
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Your grammar was probably fine but English is not my first language so must have misunderstood. Was hoping he was against prohibition.
 
The First 100 Days Begins!
William Hale Thompson's First 100 days began with the Passing of Prohibition in Congress, Thompson knew Prohibition would never be enforced unless they had the funding, Thompson gave enough funding to the Bureau of Prohibition to fund about 5,000 agents, still not enough to look after every American, but alas. Thompson immediately began killing much of Woodrow Wilson's administration, helping kill America's entry into the League, In addition he made his anti british sentiment known, Demanding they withdraw from the Americas, much to the dismay of the country. He began an Effort to help German recovery after the war. Approving a plan to help them rebuild after the war and pay their debts, Thompson also ended Wilson's policy of Segregation in the federal government. Thompson however at this time began Embezzling massive amounts of money from the country, it is estimated by the end of Presidency, 3,000,000 Dollars were stolen and transferred to an Offshore account.
 
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