Challenge: Atheist President

Okay, Ike should be quite popular. So a POD where he somehow became an atheist should be easily electable. That may steer the GOP in a very interesting direction, to say the least.
 
Would this senator work?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Gore
Of course, he not only held other controversial views but was blind as well...

I like that idea, a "President Gore" 80 years earlier. But not only was he blind, atheist, and held controversial views... he was also from Oklahoma. Which everyone seems to agree is an unelectable state (no one knows why).

Gore's views as an atheist though, were apparently private (and may not have been accurate). So he doesn't really fit the challenge. If he can finagle his way to win the 1920 primary, he can build up more concurrent time in the Senate. He was a notable opponent of Roosevelt's New Deal, so if he changes his tune, he might get himself a cabinet post OR if Garner steps out early (he hated the Vice Presidency), Roosevelt may choose Gore as his Vice President in 1936.

Then Gore can keep the post in 1940, maybe in 1944. In 1944, Wallace was ousted for a number of reasons that don't really apply to Gore (Russian spiritualist, left-wing). But his age and health might be enough to have them "move up a state" again and choose Truman, or someone else. If Roosevelt somehow keeps Gore, then Gore becomes President in 1945.

He probably wouldn't run in 1948, due to being 78 years old, but if he does, he'll be stonewalled Alben Barkley-style. The Dems might be able to get Eisenhower to run this year (as they tried in OTL), since they don't have an incumbent.

Eisenhower wasn't baptized until 1953 (as a Republican President). This Democratic President Eisenhower might not get baptized at all. But he'd probably still be seen as a non-denominational Protestant, as he was most of his military career.
 
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