Challenge Truman reelected in 1952

The challenge is, with POD after FDR's death, is to have Harry Truman be renominated and reelected in 1952.

Oh and what would that have done to the Republican Party?
 
When the communist offensive in Korea stalled in March, 1951, General MacArthur wished to escalate the war with a naval blockade of China, the bombing of China's military factories, and an invasion of China's mainland by Chaing Kai-shek. Truman disagreed. He didn't want to frighten other UN allies or diminish American troop strength in Europe. Neither did he want to risk that the Soviets would enter the conflict as a result. Gen. Omar Bradley called said that MacArthur's strategy would "involve is in the wrong war, at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and with the wrong enemy."

MacArthur went public and stirred up a political fight in Washington by writing to the Minority Leader of the house to complain that Truman was refusing "to meet force with maximum counterforce." He ended with the line, "there is no substitute for victory." Truman quickly fired MacArthur for his insubordination.

IF (and it's a big one) MacArthur doesn't go public and he and Truman reach a compromise. A naval bockade is instituted, there is some troop redeployment from Europe to Korea, and perhaps Truman threatens to bomb chinese military facilities. The war (er, it was a "police action" wasn't it?) is bloodier, but the communists are driven off the Korean peninsula. MacArthur wins the war, retires a hero, and Truman's approval rating doesn't plumett to the low 20% range.

Instead of the big sigh of relief felt in OTL when he decided not to run in '52, his announcement that he intends to run for one more term to "cement the the new deal of FDR and to bring new prosperity to all Americans", is greated with "give 'em more hell Harry!"

Oh yes, regretably, in early April 1952, General Dwight Eisenhower falls and breaks his hip. This knocks him out of the running for the GOP nomination. Earl Warren gets the nod instead. Truman beats Warren in the Electoral College 299 to 193.
 
The challenge is, with POD after FDR's death, is to have Harry Truman be renominated and reelected in 1952.

Oh and what would that have done to the Republican Party?

The GOP survives to win in 1956 when the situation in Korea either worsens or becomes costlier and without a resolution, and the U.S. economy worsens. President MacArthur from 1957-?? then faces an even bigger Eastern Bloc to conted with in Europe as Germany has fallen to the Reds.
 
The GOP survives to win in 1956 when the situation in Korea either worsens or becomes costlier and without a resolution, and the U.S. economy worsens. President MacArthur from 1957-?? then faces an even bigger Eastern Bloc to conted with in Europe as Germany has fallen to the Reds.

Or maybe a deal is done roughly along OTL lines in Korea, the US gets a sane health system.

After the court orders desegregation the Southern VP campaigns for Civil Rights, is murdered by a racist and the reaction ensures that Civil Rights are achieved more quickly than in OTL.

Republicans nominate a "wing nut" who tries a "Southern Strategy", Aldai Stevenson wins taking one of the many Moderate Republicans who had defected as VP.

Truman and later Stevenson are more skeptical of military advice over Vietnam (Truman having been a real soldier and Stevenson being inclined that way anyhow)

Ho ends up being an Asian Tito, but without the same effects of his death than happened with Yugoslavia
 
Or maybe a deal is done roughly along OTL lines in Korea, the US gets a sane health system.

I don't see Truman making a breakthrough in Korea. Ike managed to do so by bluffing along the lines of what MacArthur wanted to do.

After the court orders desegregation the Southern VP campaigns for Civil Rights, is murdered by a racist and the reaction ensures that Civil Rights are achieved more quickly than in OTL.

Republicans nominate a "wing nut" who tries a "Southern Strategy", Aldai Stevenson wins taking one of the many Moderate Republicans who had defected as VP.

This seems unlikely. The GOP had no support in the Deep South in 1948, and only some support in the Upper South by 1956. Also, A more radical and unconstitutional healthcare scheme on top of some just civil rights legislation being enacted close together could backfire terribly for the incumbent.

Truman and later Stevenson are more skeptical of military advice over Vietnam (Truman having been a real soldier and Stevenson being inclined that way anyhow)
Well, after losing Korea, I could see Truman, if he hasn't caused a disaster in one Asian country, could try to make up for it by sending more forces to Vietnam earlier.
Ho ends up being an Asian Tito, but without the same effects of his death than happened with Yugoslavia
Ho would want a united Vietnam, and giving him such would cause problems for the U.S. in Europe even if Vietnam was finlandized.
 
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