Blood, Sweat, and Fire

I'd take what he says with a grain of salt. We still don't know how the convention is going to turn out, so don't be suprised if this goes where you aren't expecting it to.

Indeed. To be honest, we have several ideas on where to take this timeline, MacArthur winning being one of the more blatant ones, of course. But a Nominee Stassen or Taft direction would be equally intriguing, if not more.

And I've edited the update to show Mac himself isn't at the convention. Kevvy pointed out that he wouldn't be there in person, and I concurred.
 
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I'm afraid I don't understand. The name of the authors is largely a homage to fictional characters I like.

Oh, OK. I imagined a Japanese historian writing the history of American elections because America itself has been devastated by a nuclear holocaust.
 
Oh, OK. I imagined a Japanese historian writing the history of American elections because America itself has been devastated by a nuclear holocaust.

Understandable, but unlikely. Even in the 1950s, the Soviets didn't have the power to utterly decimate the US if a Nuclear War took place, and MacArthur was an ass, but wasn't utterly insane. He might use nukes in Korea (which would open up an interesting precident for both great powers, and set a scramble to aquire tem amongst secondary powers ... see For All Time), but I doubt that MacArthur would seriously challange the Soviet Union once they had demistrated they can go blow for blow.
What really intrigues me is that MacArthur was a civil rights supporter. Unlike Eisenhower who played a moderate, MacArthur would likely stand up for the rights of African-Americans in the 1950s, which would be ... intruiging.
One small point (yes, it deals with the La Follette family. I'm sorry; I don't want every post I make to deal with them, but I'm a Wisconsin historian at heart :p) Bob Jr., was never a supporter of MacArthur; if anything, he would have supported Stassen or Dewey (in fact, in my own timeline, I have him serve as Dewey's Vice-President). It was Phil, the former governor, who was head of MacArthur's campaign; at this point Bob and Phil were not talking much, for a series of reasons.
 
Understandable, but unlikely. Even in the 1950s, the Soviets didn't have the power to utterly decimate the US if a Nuclear War took place, and MacArthur was an ass, but wasn't utterly insane. He might use nukes in Korea (which would open up an interesting precident for both great powers, and set a scramble to aquire tem amongst secondary powers ... see For All Time), but I doubt that MacArthur would seriously challange the Soviet Union once they had demistrated they can go blow for blow.
What really intrigues me is that MacArthur was a civil rights supporter. Unlike Eisenhower who played a moderate, MacArthur would likely stand up for the rights of African-Americans in the 1950s, which would be ... intruiging.
One small point (yes, it deals with the La Follette family. I'm sorry; I don't want every post I make to deal with them, but I'm a Wisconsin historian at heart :p) Bob Jr., was never a supporter of MacArthur; if anything, he would have supported Stassen or Dewey (in fact, in my own timeline, I have him serve as Dewey's Vice-President). It was Phil, the former governor, who was head of MacArthur's campaign; at this point Bob and Phil were not talking much, for a series of reasons.

Was he? My apologizes. I'll go edit the update(s) to reflect that. Thank you for pointing that out.
 
Capable administrator as his time in Japan shows, lacking in political and military judgement as his war record attests. Interesting.
 
Blood, Sweat, and Fire


(1948-2017: Sixty-Nine Years that Changed the World)


Part One, Interlude One:


From My Cold, Dead Hands

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...The 'split' of the Democratic Party in 1948 is a rather interesting case. The creation of the States' Rights Democratic Party, or 'Dixiecrat' as they were more commonly known, essentially split the Party into two, North vs South. Much like the Civil War did nearly a hundred years ago. However, it seems the Democratic Elite did not learn their lesson very well from the Civil War. The Northern segments of the Democratic Party scoffed at the idea that these 'racist hicks' would ever sway the American Populace, as a majority, to their side. And they were right, to a certain extent. However, what the Liberal and Moderate Democrats did not count on was just how persistent Dixiecrats would become in the following years...”

Lor E. Sturges, author of, The Unabridged History of the Democratic Party (circa 1992)


...Mark my words, President Truman has just earned himself a special, special place in Dante's Ninth Circle of Hell.”

An anonymous quote passed around by the Southern Delegates after the Democratic National Convention of 1948


The year of 1948 was not a good one for President Harry S. Truman. He was polling at an all time low with the American People; his own Party had made an attempt to have him oust as their nominee; the Republicans had gained control over both the House and the Senate; all national polling indicated that Truman would lose in a landslide against the Republican Nominee; and the former Vice President under FDR, Henry A. Wallace, had formed a new party of his own, called the “Progressive Party”, that was sure to take votes away from the President come November. All in all, these events created a perfect storm against President Truman and the Democratic Party.​

Still, Truman trudged on. After General Eisenhower refused the Democratic nomination, Truman managed to refute all other attempts to unseat him, so there was at least one good thing for him amongst the bad.​

Unfortunately for the successor to FDR's legacy, the Democratic National Convention of 1948 would only bring him more trouble and disaster.​

It all started when an upstart from Minnesota—Minneapolis Mayor Hubert Humphrey—led a group of Northern Liberals to push for a platform that promoted civil rights for blacks. The entirety of the Southern Delegation was up in arms against this at once, but despite their best efforts, this platform did pass (mostly due to Big City Party Bosses who wanted the growing black population in their cities to vote for Democrats). Ironically enough, President Truman and his staff themselves had mixed feelings on the issue, but it was added to the platform anyway.​

The Southern Delegates did not like this at all. To say the least.​

As one, nearly three dozen delegates from the South (led by South Carolina Governor Strom Thurmond) rose to their feet and left the DNC. The Southern Delegates that remained nominated Senator Richard Russel Jr of Georgia as the Democratic Nominee, as a rebuke toward Truman and the Northern Liberals. Nonetheless, President Truman gained a majority of the remaining delegates in the first ballot, and selected Kentucky Senator and Keynote Speaker Alben W. Barkley as his running mate, no doubt in an attempt to placate the Southern Democrats.​

The damage was already done, however.​

The Southerners who had bolted from the Convention promptly met at the Municipal Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama, and formed a political party of their own. They named it the States' Rights Democratic Party.​

It would later be more popularly known as the “Dixiecrat Party”.​

South Carolina Governor Thurmond was universally nominated as the Dixiecrat nominee for President. Mississippi Governor Fielding L. Wright received the Vice Presidential Nomination. And thus, the Dixiecrats set out to win themselves an election. Or at the very least, toss the election to the House come November, and wrangle some concessions out of Truman...​
 
Blood, Sweat, and Fire


(1948-2017: Sixty-Nine Years that Changed the World)


Part One, Chapter Three:


Having a Ball

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...This was it. The moment of final judgment. The fate of the entire country, perhaps the entire world, would be decided in that Convention. Millions of Americans across the country were glued to television sets, and anxiously awaited to see who their next President just might be. Would it be Governor Dewey of New York? Or perhaps former Governor Stassen of Minnesota? Or would Senator Taft of Ohio would come from behind at the last moment, and steal the nomination? Or maybe, just maybe, General MacArthur, Hero of the Pacific, would rise above them all, and claim the White House for himself...”

Matsuda Kururugi, author of, An Electoral History of the United States (circa 2003)


...This is it, men. It's showtime...”

A quote attributed to an eager Governor Dewey, shortly before the Convention began

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In the first round of voting, Governor Thomas Dewey held the majority of delegates. In second place came Senator Robert Taft; and in third, General Douglas MacArthur. The remaining candidates either had very slim numbers, or no delegate votes at all. Of course, this divided split amongst the delegates was to be expected. After all, few Conventions (unless nominating an incumbent President) ever decide on a candidate in the First Ballot.​

And so, after the First Ballot was conducted, the top three candidates went into a frenzy, trying to collect votes. Senator Taft had another Ballot or two before he would have to fall back on MacArthur's plan, so he hoped to pull a last minute win during this ballot. And if he could, he just might force MacArthur to be the one to support him, instead of the other way around.​

Dewey, confident in his victory, did not do much to persuade delegates to his side; after all, he was the nominee four years earlier and, despite the best efforts of the Anti-Dewey League, he would be again. Most of the Moderates and Businessmen in the Party supported him, and that would be all he needed to clinch the nomination after another Ballot or two. After all, it was highly unlikely his opponents had been able to reach a compromise on who to support amongst them. They were much to vain to let that happen.​

And the representatives of the good General (as MacArthur was still in Japan at that moment) were using every trick in the book to gain votes, in order to make Taft, Stassen, and Vandenberg make good on their deal as soon as possible. This would be Mac's one and only chance to clinch the nomination, as no doubt either Patton or Eisenhower would run in '52 or '56, depending on how things went. So Douglas would have to ensure his victory as swiftly as possible.​

Some time later, the Second Ballot began. Dewey still had the lead, but it was slipping now, much to his shock; Taft remained in second place, but only barely so. Of the three top tier candidates, MacArthur was the only one who rose in the delegate count, taking votes away from Taft and Stassen. Still, after the end of this round, none of the candidates had the necessary majority to declare themselves nominee.​

It was at this point that Governor Dewey started to get very worried. Before the next Ballot began, he campaigned once more to get the delegates on his side, as did the other Presidential contenders. Senator Taft was quite desperate himself, as he knew that if he couldn't get a majority over Dewey in the next Ballot, he would likely have to surrender to General MacArthur's deal. And the spokesmen of MacArthur went to work with much glee, courting as many delegates as they could.​

Finally, the time for the Third Ballot arrived. When the results came in, they were not pretty for Dewey and Taft. Both retained their places as first and second respectively, but they were losing it quite badly, while MacArthur was on the rise, only a few dozen votes away from stealing second place. After the ballot ended, Senator Taft, former Governor Stassen, and Senator Vandenberg knew what they had to do.​

And so, just as the Fourth Ballot began, Taft, Stassen, and Vandenberg threw their support behind MacArthur, essentially giving him the nomination. Once the final tally came up, MacArthur had more than enough votes to declare himself the nominee, much to Governor Dewey's dismay.​

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After it was made official, General MacArthur accepted the nomination via telegram, and announced he would be leaving Japan for the States at once. Furthermore, he nominated Senate Majority Leader Wallace White as his Vice Presidential Nominee. Their was some grumbling from the Anti-Dewey League at this, as they had all wanted to be Mac's VP, but White was confirmed nonetheless.​

After all, who would be a better running mate for the General, than a man who had been in Congress since 1917? That would definitely help add experience to the ticket.​

And so, the Republican Party finally had its nominee for the General Election. General Douglas MacArthur and Senator Wallace White would go on to face President Truman and his running mate for the general election. And while the polls predicted that any GOP Nominee would win against Truman, anything could still happen. After all, this was America. The Land of Many Opportunities....​
 
Great update, but I'll have to google Wallace White.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_White

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Background
White was born in Lewiston. His grandfather, William P. Frye, was also a prominent political figure, having served as a Senator from Maine and President pro tempore. In 1899, White graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick. After graduating, he became the assistant clerk to the Senate Committee on Commerce and later secretary to his grandfather. White studied law and was admitted to the bar, afterward beginning to practice in Lewiston.
[edit] Career

The political career of White began when he was elected as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1916. He took office on March 4 of the following year and served until March 3, 1931 (65th71st Congresses).[1] He left the House in 1931 after being elected to the Senate in late 1930.
In Congress, White served as chairman of the House Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Justice (66th Congress), the House Committee on Woman Suffrage (67th through 69th Congresses), the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries (70th and 71st Congresses), and the Senate Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce (80th Congress). He also served as a presidential appointee on a variety of commissions.
White was reelected in 1936 and 1942 and served from March 4, 1931, to January 3, 1949. He was elected minority leader by his colleagues (1944–1947), and became majority leader when his party held a majority in the 80th Congress (1947–1949). According to John Gunther's 1947 book Inside U.S.A., as the titular party floor leader, "his chief function is to hold the balance between two much more dominant and vivid men, Taft and Vandenberg...Everybody likes White; few people pay much attention to him."
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1948. White died in Auburn and is interred at the Mt. Auburn Cemetery.
[edit] Family

White was by all accounts a soft-spoken and gentlemanly figure, but his family were colorful and dramatic, and in the news nearly as much as himself. His wife, Nina Lunn, was a divorcee who brought him a son and daughter from a previous marriage. The daughter, also Nina Lunn, became a Washington (and later Hollywood) society figure, especially after writing a book entitled Physical Attraction and Your Hormones (Doubleday, 1950), and working on another, apparently unfinished, entitled Venus was an Amateur. She divorced her first husband, a Pittsburgh broker, in 1942 for having squandered her assets.[2]
White's step-granddaughter, also named Nina Lunn, became an even more famous Washington socialite, divorcing (at the age of 24) her first husband during an affair with the Argentine Ambassador, and marrying (and divorcing) twice more. She also had small parts in stage plays and later movies (including The Senator was Indiscreet) but was most famous as a hostess and party-goer.[3] Nina (3) also named a daughter from her last marriage Nina.
White affectionately referred to the three Nina Lunns as "the Three Furys". They were often together, and their movements were closely followed by gossip columnists. The two younger Ninas called the oldest "Queenie", and White's colleagues called her "Madame Senator".[4]
 
Blood, Sweat, and Fire


(1948-2017: Sixty-Nine Years that Changed the World)


Part One, Chapter Four:


Poor, Unfortunate Soul

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...I remember the day we left Japan. While Douglas was moving on to bigger and better things, leaving Japan did cause him some sadness. After all, he'd been helping the Japanese to rebuild their nation since the end of World War Two. But at least his successor, Matthew Ridgway, would help continue on his work. And so, after having one last tea ceremony with the Emperor (who insisted on meeting with Douglas one last time before he left), we all boarded a plane and left for the United States. I only hoped that Douglas hadn't given up his (as of yet) greatest job in vain.”

Natalie V. Henderson, author of, Through the Eyes of a Secretary: The Untold Story of Douglas MacArthur (circa 1977)


...Can I fire him over this?”

Sir, General MacArthur has already resigned as Occupation Governor of Japan. Technically speaking, he doesn't work for you anymore.”

Damn. Well, at least it isn't that nut-job Patton out to steal my job...”

A conversation attributed to President Truman and an unnamed confidant


Within a few days after being nominated as the Republican Candidate for the Presidency, MacArthur took swift action. He resigned from his job as Military Governor of Japan, gathered up his family and staff, and boarded a plane, first landing in Honolulu, Hawaii, and then in Sacramento, California. In both Honolulu and Sacramento, the General was given a warm welcome home by many well wishers and supporters. Most surprisingly of all, President Truman welcomed MacArthur in Sacramento himself, meeting up with him at the airport not long after his flight had landed.​

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Good to see you again, General.” Truman said, giving a slight nod as he and his escort service walked over to the man of the hour. MacArthur looked briefly surprised at the sudden appearance of his former superior, but he rolled with it and gave a nod back, politely smiling at the President as well.

Likewise, Mister President. To what do I owe the honor of meeting you here, today?” MacArthur inquired, his smile never dropping.

I just want to congratulate you, General. Everyone expected Dewey to be the nominee again, this year, but you proved them all wrong.” Truman replied.

Thank you, Sir. I always do my best to exceed expectations.” the General stated, his smile turning a tad smug. Truman shook his head and offered his hand. MacArthur eagerly accepted it, and they shook.

Well, may the best man win, General.”

MacArthur gave a curt nod, and the two disengaged. As he left the President, MacArthur muttered under his breath,

I intend to.”

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After a few days spent to rest, MacArthur went straight to campaigning. Interviews were being scheduled with all the big name reporters; rallies for the MacArthur/White ticket were being planned across the country; and, of course, MacArthur went to work crafting speeches to sway the public to his side. Unlike any other of the potential nominees, he would not let the press prediction that Truman would lose to the ghost of President Harding in the election get to his head. He wouldn't take it safe at all; he'd fight, fight and fight until the Presidency was finally his. Just like he had with the Japanese, MacArthur would give this contest his all. He'd treat it just like a military campaign, and give the enemy (in this case, President Truman) hell.​

Of course, MacArthur wouldn't need to fight all that hard. Public Opinion was against Truman in nearly all polling, and nearly the entirety of the Press was predicting a landslide for the General. Adding more heartache to the Truman Reelection Campaign, Dixiecrat Nominee Strom Thurmond was taking away much needed support in the South, which had been a Democratic Stronghold since the end of Reconstruction.​

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While reluctant at first, many Southerners were giving Governor Thurmond and the Dixiecrat Party another look, as approval for President Truman dropped. Thurmond was now painting the addition of Civil Rights for Blacks in the Democratic Platform as a violation of States' Rights, as only the States should pass any legislature giving Blacks rights. Or so he argued. This endeared him to the hearts of many in the South, whether or not that was why they believed African-Americans should not have Civil Rights. In polling across the whole of the Deep South, Thurmond continued to rise above President Truman, which pleased the Dixiecrats to no end.​

Outside of the Deep South, the Dixiecrats suffered poorly, and were labeled as “racist hicks” by many in the North. Truman himself polled much better in the Midwest and Desert States, beating out Thurmond and MacArthur by large margins.​

The rest of the country, however....it was not a pretty picture for President Truman.​

From the East to the West, MacArthur reigned supreme in nearly all polling, aside from the already aforementioned states. Being a popular War Hero did not hurt him either, which made it very difficult for Truman and Thurmond to question the General's record.​

Soon enough, Election Night was just around the corner, and the President was still struggling to catch up with MacArthur. Unfortunately for him, there was little that could save him now...​
 
Wait, so Patton wasn't killed in the car crash? :confused:

Either way, this will be interesting. Awaiting further developments with much interest. :)

Marc A
 
Cool. Maybe Patton or Eisenhower could be in his cabinet.

We'll see. We'll see. And that assumes Mac wins the race. ;)

Are you gonna concentrate on the pop culture aspects of this TL (when it is time to)?

Good TL so far.

Probably. I know I definitely will devote a few paragraphs for Star Wars and Star Trek, when it comes time for them to air. Anything other than that, I'd have to consult with Kevvy.

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoy it, thus far. :)
 
Blood, Sweat, and Fire


(1948-2017: Sixty-Nine Years that Changed the World)


Part One, Chapter Five:


Rainbow High

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...The massive upset that was the Presidential Election of 1948 proved startling to many in America, for several different reasons. Let us focus on the most important one of them all, however. Before Election Night, no one thought that the Dixiecrats stood any chance whatsoever. After Election Night, however...while they would wither as a third party, the Dixiecrats would not remove their fangs from the Democratic Party, now that they had latched on with Governor Thurmond's strong finish. Unfortunately for the Liberals and Moderates in the Party, this was only the beginning for the Dixiecrats...”

Matsuda Kururugi, author of, An Electoral History of the United States (circa 2003)


...God help us all. That maniac has actually become President.”

A quote attributed to General Dwight D. Eisenhower, upon being informed of the results of the Presidential Election of 1948


President Truman defeated in a massive upset on Election Night! Governor Thurmond makes shocking second finish! General MacArthur is elected as the new President-elect!

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MacArthur/White: 340 (red)
Thurmond/Wright: 106 (orange)
Truman/Barkley: 85 (blue)

On election night, the results were both unexpected, and surprising. As the Media had been predicting for months on end, Douglas MacArthur swept through Election Night, and won with a massive upset, beating out President Truman in very wide margins. What wasn't foreseen, however, was just how good of a finish Governor Thurmond would do. The Dixiecrat Nominee had taken the entirety of the Deep South away from Truman, giving him a good (if distant) second finish. Thurmond had seized on the addition of Civil Rights for Blacks in the Democratic Platform, and over time had swayed much of the Deep South to his side, thus ensuring his strong finish.

As many pundits would say in later days and weeks, it was the Presidential Election of 1912 all over again. Just like here, in 1912 the incumbent President had been greatly hampered by disunion from a split in the Party, leading to the opposing nominee to be elected President.​

True, General MacArthur didn't win by the large margins that former President Woodrow Wilson did, but it was close enough for him.​

And so, General Douglas MacArthur was now President-elect Douglas MacArthur. Within a few months' time, he'd be officially sworn in, and become the 34th President of the United States of America.
 
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He did it. Let's see who he picks for his cabinet. Wonder how big he was on civil rights. He'll probably give the dixicrats a run for their money.
 
He did it. Let's see who he picks for his cabinet. Wonder how big he was on civil rights. He'll probably give the dixicrats a run for their money.

Aside from who he picks as Sec of Defense, I won't focus all that much on the MacArthur Cabinet, unless the majority of my viewers want me to.

As for Civil Rights....wait and see. ;)
 
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