DBWI: RFK Runs in 1968

Amadeus · Jun 20, 2019

Following his brother Ted's advice, RDK decided not to run for President in 1968. Instead he endorsed Eugene McCarthy after the New Hampshire primary. In his autobiography, Ted Kennedy said that the endorsement happened only after a crucial meeting with McCarthy, who agreed to support RFK's anti-poverty programs in the campaign. Had McCarthy refused, RFK would have run himself after LBJ's near defeat in New Hampshire.

The POD is McCarthy refuses to work with the Kennedys and RFK decides to run in 1968. How might this have changed the course of history?

Amadeus · Jun 22, 2019

Amadeus said:
Follower his brother Ted's advice, RDK decided not to run for President in 1968. Instead he endorsed Eugene McCarthy after the New Hampshire primary. In his autobiography, Ted Kennedy said that the endorsement happened only after a crucial meeting with McCarthy, who agreed to support RFK's anti-poverty programs in the campaign. Had McCarthy refused, RFK would have run himself after LBJ's near defeat in New Hampshire.

The POD is McCarthy refuses to work with the Kennedys and RFK decides to run in 1968. How might this have changed the course of history?

Bump. @Bomster any thoughts?

Don Corleone · Jun 22, 2019

RFK would have had a difficult time in 1968 with the eight-year itch. Especially with how bad the war and the economy were. No D was beating Nixon that year.

If he runs and loses, he's seen as an inferior copy of his brother and doesn't win in 1976. Definitely worked out for the best - I can't see anyone else being successful with that poison pill.

Bomster · Jun 22, 2019

Amadeus said:
Bump. @Bomster any thoughts?

Had he run that year, with McCarthy still in the race, I doubt he could have won the nomination. Having two anti-war candidates would have split the vote, leading to Humphrey winning the nomination. Now, he could have won, Mayor Daley was fond of him, but it would have been extremely difficult.

Mysterion · Jun 22, 2019

Landmass Wave said:
If he runs and loses, he's seen as an inferior copy of his brother and doesn't win in 1976. Definitely worked out for the best - I can't see anyone else being successful with that poison pill.

Agreed. Plus the RFK-Scoop Jackson ticket was unbeatable in -'76. The GOP never had a fighting chance against them.

Amadeus · Jun 22, 2019

Mysterion said:
Agreed. Plus the RFK-Scoop Jackson ticket was unbeatable in -'76. The GOP never had a fighting chance against them.

True. With Ford instead of the charismatic Reagan on the ticket in '76, the GOP would've been wiped out in a landslide.

Mysterion · Jun 23, 2019

Amadeus said:
True. With Ford instead of the charismatic Reagan on the ticket in '76, the GOP would've been wiped out in a landslide.

So, if VP Henry Jackson hadn't died in September of '83, do you think he might have been elected in '84 and carried on the legacy of RFK's eight years in office?

Amadeus · Jun 23, 2019

Mysterion said:
So, if VP Henry Jackson hadn't died in September of '83, do you think he might have been elected in '84 and carried on the legacy of RFK's eight years in office?

His replacement, Lloyd Bentsen, almost beat John Heinz in 1984. So maybe Jackson could've done it. Though by 1984 many voters really wanted change and Heinz, unlike George Bush in 1980, had the charisma to take on the Democrats despite the improving economy.

Don Corleone · Jun 23, 2019

Amadeus said:
His replacement, Lloyd Bentsen, almost beat John Heinz in 1984. So maybe Jackson could've done it. Though by 1984 many voters really wanted change and Heinz, unlike George Bush in 1980, had the charisma to take on the Democrats despite the improving economy.

Glad we dodged that bullet. He liked the Chicoms better than the US.

And his idiot son Neil was a disaster as governor of Louisiana.

Amadeus · Jun 23, 2019

Landmass Wave said:
Glad we dodged that bullet. He liked the Chicoms better than the US.

And his idiot son Neil was a disaster as governor of Louisiana.

Well, his son George W. Bush was an excellent MLB Commissioner. Politics was just never the Bush family's strong suit.

Amadeus · Jun 24, 2019

Bomster said:
Had he run that year, with McCarthy still in the race, I doubt he could have won the nomination. Having two anti-war candidates would have split the vote, leading to Humphrey winning the nomination. Now, he could have won, Mayor Daley was fond of him, but it would have been extremely difficult.

I believe that was part of the calculus at the time, and in the end it worked out for the best. By sitting out of the race, RFK was able to be a unifying figure at the convention and his support for HHH helped him win the popular vote in 1968. But because Nixon gained a majority in the EC he was still elected anyway.

If Nixon had won the popular vote in 1968, might Watergate have never happened?