I have posted alternate US elections since the 1960s (as POD diverges greatly from that), but I incompetently ignore the population of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Panama, all of which as severely unrepresented fairly in this non-American-focused TL. I am truly sorry for American readers if that's the case of this TL's absurdity. But here is the entire US Election TL since the 1960s with revisions all across the previous posts regarding this topic.
US Presidential Elections Since 1960 - 1984
1960
The 1960 Election was conveyed with a slightly different perspective ITTL that truly diverged the upcoming Elections compared to OTL. Indeed, the Cold War and Sputnik have sprouted the new frontier of the perpetual struggle between two superpowers. Nixon, undoubtedly, was the most experienced candidate, serving 8 years as Vice President. However, his campaign was poorly managed as he injured his knee in North Carolina, conveying a frail posture during the first presidential debate. Kennedy, inexperience in federal office, yet showed great charisma and posture especially in the debates, gaining a 'strong figure' positivism to the national populace.
In this debate, the Civil Rights issue was also addressed. Kennedy pursued a more intense operation of the Space Race, with many thinking America should retaliate with great strength to appease the world to the United States. He criticised the Eisenhower Administration's blunders in the Cold War, gaining the Soviets the time for Sputnik and other milestones. Nixon, however, took a more domestic stance, appeasing voters that the 'Eisenhower Era' was greatly admired by the people and that he will continue that era of prosperity. This time too, Kennedy announced that Europe should not be exaggeratively sighted by the American people. As any superpower ought to do, we should expand our influence to all continents, especially combating the communist influence in Asia's battleground. Kennedy pursued that the Eisenhower Administration did not do enough against the breakup of Koreans. In defence, Nixon rebutted Kennedy, stating that it would jeopardize a nuclear war.
1960 was an extremely close election as both candidates showed wonderful campaign promises to the populace. Nevertheless, Senator Kennedy won the popular vote by a slim 0,15% and won the Electoral College of 294 votes. 23 votes unpledged to Kennedy's victory in those states, and picked the Harry Bryd/Thurmond ticket. 2 Oklahoma electors elected a Bryd/Goldwater ticket as opposed to Nixon/Lodge.
1964
The 1964 Election was Kennedy's second event to continue appeasing the populace to maintain his presidency. The Civil Rights Act, unfortunately, halted his promise in the second term, which later proved to be the right choice (. He has shown astounding progress in Asia, liberating many 'potential communist nations into staunch American allies. That was not opposed to Europeanist critics, as the newly pro-American Germany has expanded to core Warsaw Pact provinces, therefore killing off debates on that matter. Kennedy's weakness, however, was France, but that never was realized as his campaign propaganda heavily publicised American success in Germany. To combat Kennedy's policies, Goldwater attacked Kennedy on domestic issues, stating that he was 'too involved' in matters outside rather than inside. He also attacked newly created France, but Kennedy responded by saying the French have 'their teenage tantrum' and the infamous 'they will come back' answer. The Goldwater Campaign heavily stressed this Kennedy's snobbish remarks, but that didn't sway enough voters to him, sadly.
Another of Kennedy's achievements was the admittance of Puerto Rico and Cuba to statehood. The latter was condemned as a blatant land grab for some American politicians as well as the United Nations, but Kennedy's portrayal of statehood was supported by a 'high' Cuban population that wanted to join the Americans. With Castro disposed of and killed, Cubans supported Kennedy as Cuba was having a great construction. With the Cuba Referendum in 1963, Puerto Rico was finally admitted as the reasonable choice here. The Kennedy Administration revoked the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929, changing the seats of Congress and Senate to 441 and 104 respectively.
It seemed that foreign policy was enough for Kennedy to win the election. In addition to great achievements in Space Race, Kennedy successfully won many of the populace even with relatively stagnate domestic policies. Of course, with Goldwater, a deeply conservative Republican, as Kennedy's candidate rival, he eventually won the popular vote of 57.37% and a total of 464 electoral votes.
1968
The 1986 Election, as opposed to the previous, was, was fully a domestic issue with Kennedy finally passing the Civil Rights Act. Many conservative Southerners are enraged with a Democratic candidate rallying, not with the original voters, who then gave Wallace's American Independent Party a chance to run and win the Deep South. Nixon, in this matter, returned to the candidacy to retry his shots, but almost withdraw from the Democratic hope of renominating the Kennedy clan into candidacy. However, with Robert Kennedy shockingly assassinated, the Democratic Convention elected McCarthy, a weak and radical left candidate, to fight Nixon and Wallace.
McCarthy advocated expanding Kennedycare and revitalizing a welfare state with a good healthcare program. Ironically, Nixon used Kennedy's old tactics, saying that it was time to return to Europe, securing dominance while Asia is secured. Nixon disagreed with Kennedy's erratic Asian Approach, but still congratulated him despite extreme luck. Especially with France as a new communist state, Nixon argued that maybe the President's 'Asian Approach' was not great after all. McCarthy, as an anti-war supporter, opposed the South East Asian wars which indirectly attacked his party. Nixon won the debate as he was the better candidate in economic plans, therefore securing greater swing voters to his side. Nixon tried for the 'Southern Strategy', but later did not continue with the Deep South too entrenched in Wallace.
EDIT:
Nixon, in the nearing months of the campaign, eventually soften on pro-Northern conservatives that both agreed with Kennedy's policies such as the Kennedy Care and the expanded government act. However, Nixon maintained his stress on improving the police, as the 'Hippie' movement and a few of the assassinations in the nation had plagued the safety of the nation. The lack of popularity in McCarthy among Hispanic voters caused the vote to be given to Nixon, giving him the adequate boost to become the president. As Ohio and Pennsylvania both flipped blue, the Democrats were extremely oblivious to how they have fared poorly in 1968.
Nixon managed to secure a sizable victory of 297 electoral votes. Nixon achieved 43.76% in the popular vote, yet he was 3% above his contender McCarthy. He successfully appeased Cuban and Puerto Rican voters who were deeply anti-communist from previous endeavours. For Wallace and his party, it was the largest third-party electoral win in history after 1948.
1972
1972 was a complete mess for President Nixon. Firstly, his European Strategy failed at completing his objective, of appeasing France back as a friendly European ally. Instead, France has become a contender in the Cold War, a third superpower as one might argue. The United Kingdom, his early target of reconciliation, maintained a distance from the US from their involvement in Indonesia, killing his strategy. He bit his tongue as he pursued a cordial relationship with the People's Republic of China, presenting hypocrisy from the President himself. With popularity shrinking, he finally resorted to his old 'Southern Strategy'. However, he soon finds many problems with his idea.
Firstly, Nixon lost in a superdelegate match in his own Republican Party, led by the liberal wing. As the party lost to a Democratic supermajority in 1970 on both chambers, the Republican opposition, the Rockefeller Republicans, finally threw the President under the bus, electing Shafer. Nixon was infuriated, form the Conservative Party with his policies and the government become fully-fledged conservative. This elated the Democratic Party, who thought their nominee Sanford would sweep the election with the split Republican vote. But, oh boy, they were very wrong.
In essence, Sanford was not the perfect candidate for this matter because they finally realized that Shafer was more liberal than the Democratic nominee itself. Moreover, Sanford's ascension, as later files were disclosed, was proven as Nixon's strategy to win his second term. Sanford pursued a lack of coherent policy, which many considered as the 'unattractive and dull' between the two. Many independents were also astonished by Shafer's promises.
Shafer pushed for continuing Kennedy's legacy, much to McCarthy and Nixon, as neither show any interest in that matter. He initially criticised the government's involvement in the questionable transition of power in many states, especially Latin America (Banana Wars, and such). In domestic policy, he agreed with many on Kennedy's welfare state but still expressed that his administration would still curb attempts on increasing taxes from the implementation of these programs. In foreign policy, he was the most radical, contemplating that America should stand as the democratic beacon, nothing more and nothing else. No authoritarian regimes should we endorse, but we persuade them to follow American values. As 1972 opened the third televised debate in US history (in 1968, the candidates did not agree on a debate), Shafer roared superiorly on two delegates, showing that maybe this time, the splintered Republicans splinted the Democrats themselves. Finally, Sanford transitioned from a candidate attacking the Republican party to attacking Nixon's Southern Strategy.
At the debates, Nixon struggled to display himself as charismatic while Terry Sanford completely failed at every one of them. Shafer, miraculously, ended as the '1972's Kennedy', showing great vigour, posture and maybe attractiveness towards the voters. Furthermore, as President Nixon stumbled with distrust and suspicion towards staff members, many of his promises are cold and unappealing towards many independent voters. Instead, Shafer had taken the extreme ounce of opportunity he can not only to attract possibly all voters into his base while reducing the Democrats' portion with Terry Sanford as the nominee.
The election was the most contentious one, with the highest number of candidates written on unpledged electors. 1 DC elector voted for Shirley Chisholm while two Massachusetts electors vote for Ted Kennedy. With pure luck and happenstance, many of the states were evenly split between their three parties, and most of them were won by Shafer. Rockefeller as Shafer's VP had soared New England and Midwest to flip blue, as most of them were appalled by both Sanford and Nixon. Alas, the incumbent faltered on 202 votes, while the Republican challenger won 281 Electoral votes. Shafer won 40.35% of the popular vote, but still the highest than Sanford or Nixon. The third-party Conservative managed to receive higher votes than the 1968 American Independent. This was an extreme blow to the Democrats, a supermajority Congress that received 75 EVs. Nixon's strong third party was mainly from Cuba and Puerto Rico still staunchly anti-communist regions, supporting Nixon fully.
1976
1972's chaos continued to 1976. As the president was assassinated in 1975, the nation was in chaos as Haldeman succeeded with a questionable history. He then resigned due to impending impeachment. That led the Democrat Jimmy Carter, a newly picked moderate candidate to unite the Democrats from a poor proportion in the House, to lead as the successor of the 1975 chaos. The nation became increasingly polarized by Shafer's stubbornness and Nixon's growth in the conservative group of the United States. This growing splint did not resurrect the Republicans by absorbing the Conservatives, it by contrast divided them poorly. Bush, the Connecticut Senator, was chosen to continue Shafer's legacy. Yet it later changed with concerning issues.
The United States was having the lowest confidence in the government. Not only did the Republican President withdraw all American troops from unnecessary wars, but it also prolonged them greatly to an extent that destroyed the promises of peace. The Indochinese War was one example. During Shafer's Presidency, the Rockefeller Scandal happened and he resigned for Haldeman. During Haldeman as the president, Shafer's policy quickly rotated 180 degrees, showing the inconsistency of the American government. He was also later found guilty of many charges, crippling the GOP's popularity. Bush, Shafer's successor intended for a continuation of the predecessor's legacy, but it was trashed with revolutionary forces of third nations taking advantage of the US anti-pragmatism on foreign policy. With the Soviets fighting back in the Cold War and Space Race, many of the Republicans were losing voters. The anti-communist mob was shifted to Nixon's 'tough on communist' initiative with also 'tough on crime' as the Conservative's campaign promises. Yet, another candidate promised a decent option. Carter promised for resolving the growing Energy Deficit that the US had been increasing, with the more 'environmentalist' promises he wished America to be the new icon of a future world, a promise that enticed considerably. Healthcare returned as well, Carter promising a better Kennedycare to finish the ordeal for years. Carter being inside the White House for a few months already showed significant changes that the country needed in malaise.
It seemed that Nixon could finally win the race, only to lose with the three contested states (Iowa, Illinois and Ohio) all elected Carter from Bush's split votes. With the save of these states, Carter assumed the presidency by 283 electoral votes. In the worst upset in a three-way presidential race, New York had shockingly flipped blue, despite Carter having shown to have a safe lead on the state. Moreover, amid this fiasco, Carter soon found himself, not a popular candidate (lower than Nixon-Reagan). One unpledged elector in Oregon cast his ballot for Reagan. The election was the first for Maine to have split EV from their congressional district voting system, giving 3 to Bush and 1 to Carter.
1980
Carter withdraws some of the troops from the wars America was involved in, concealing their defeats by launching many domestic policies in the promise of the 1976 election. He turned the stagnated economy into a national boom with new jobs regarding renewable energy and a new approach to foreign supremacy. He reduces America's reliance on fossil fuels, many of which were owned by American rival spheres. He was the first to open ties with France under the popular Francoise Mitterand. He finally secured Germany and their EA organization as American spheres. Andropov's slight reformation of the country was better for Carter to expand anywhere without threats of losing to the Soviet Union. His small hiccup was Thailand and Myanmar's dictatorship that he acknowledged as irrational, costing him most of Indochina. But, with the First Island Chain secured, Carter was winning both in Europe and Asia. In domestic policy, the Carteraid was beneficial to everyone. The Conservative candidates Nixon and Reagan retired from politics and were desperate to find new successors. Buckley Jr. became the most prominent one that criticised high taxes. However, both Carter and Buckley Jr. evened out in debates that pushed neither to have better chances. Carter, fortunately, retained the Southern voters for much of his liking, giving him the landslide of this term.
483 votes were given to Jimmy Carter with the remaining to Buckley. Carter successfully acquired California, Nevada and Arizona, deeply conservative states from Nixon and Reagan's popularity in the state. 61.32% voted for the incumbent, noting him as one of the successful Democratic presidents of the 20th century.
1984
Carter Era was ending as the most prominent era since FDR. Although Glenn struggled in debates, he was at the right time and the right place for the United States to continue the age of supremacy with better technology and pro-environment appraisals. Glenn continued the Carterian policies by granting more pensions for the elderly and increasing unemployment relief. Glenn also wished to increase the science spending of NASA, the organization that was slightly stagnating in politics since the 1970s. Schlesinger opted again for criticising the taxes and a better fight for the communist in the Soviet Union, China, and India. Although the Continental Communist Power was scaring some Americans, it was not enough for Schlesinger to gain popularity.
As President Carter was still popular after 9 years of presidency, Glenn had used that opportunity to continue Democratic leadership and attract the people. However, Schlesinger was a formidable foe for Glenn during the debates so the election results were more competitive than what they expected. Glenn won with a decent 52.10% of the popular vote.
For additional reference, here is the temporary list of the Presidents of the United States after Eisenhower (POD diverges heavily from ITTL after him)
35. Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy (D-MA) - Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson (D-TX) January 20, 1961 - January 20, 1969
def. 1960 (289-223; 49.67% - 49.52%) Vice President Richard Milhous Nixon (R-CA) - Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (R-MA)
def. 1964 (464-84; 57.37% - 40.81%) Senator Barry Morris Goldwater (R-AZ) - Representative William Edward Miller (R-NY)
36. Governor Richard Milhous Nixon (R-CA) - Governor Spiro Agnew (R-MD) January 20, 1969 - January 20, 1973
def. 1968 (297-189-62; 43.76% - 40.31% - 15.49%) Senator Eugene Joseph McCarthy (D-MN) - Senator Stephen Marvin Young (D-OH); Governor George C. Wallace Jr. (AI-GA) - General Curtis E. LeMay
37. Governor Raymond Philip "Ray" Shafer (R-PA) - Governor Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (R-NY) [1] January 20, 1973- April 15, 1974
def. 1972 (281-202-75; 34.35% - 33.59% -31.41%) Fmr. Governor James Terry Sanford (D-NC) - Senator Henry Martin "Scoop" Jackson (D-WA); President Richard Milhous Nixon (C-CA) - Sec. of Treasury John Bowden Connally Jr. (C-NJ)
37a. Governor Raymond Philip "Ray" Shafer (R-PA) - VACANT April 15, 1974 -July 15, 1974
37b. Governor Raymond Philip "Ray" Shafer (R-PA) ✞[2] - Fmr. Chief of Staff Harry Robbins "Bob" Haldeman (R-CA) July 15, 1974 - January 31, 1975
38. Vice President Harry Robbins "Bob" Haldeman (R-CA) [3] - VACANT January 31, 1975 - November 21, 1975
39. Speaker James Earl Carter (D-GA) - VACANT November 21, 1975 - January 20, 1977
39a. President James Earl Carter (D-GA) - Senator Frank Forrester Church III (D-ID) ✞[4] January 20, 1977 - July 15, 1981
def. 1976 (283-185-90; 36.36% - 36.93% - 26.31%) Fmr. President Richard Milhous Nixon (C-CA) - Governor Ronald Wilson Reagan (C-CA); Representative George H. W. Bush (R-CT) - Governor Andrew Lamar Alexander Jr. (R-TN)
def. 1980 (467-91; 56.32% - 42.93%) Governor William Frank Buckley Jr. (C-CT) - Representative Donald Henry Rumsfeld (C-IL) [5]
39b. President James Earl Carter (D-GA) - VACANT July 15, 1981 - October 15, 1981
39c. President James Earl Carter (D-GA) - Senator John Herschel Glenn Jr. (D-OH) October 15, 1981 - January 20, 1985
40. Vice President John Herschel Glenn Jr. (D-OH) - Former World Bank President Robert Strange McNamara (D-CA) January 20, 1985 - TBA
def. 1984 (357-195; 52.10% - 47.74%) Senator James Rodney Schlesinger (C-RI) - Representative Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole (C-KS)
[1] Resigned due to tax fraud allegations which made the Representatives pass an impeachment proceeding.
[2] Assassinated
[3] Resigned due to being impeached for the Langley Scandal.
[4] Died of pancreatic cancer.
[5] After the death of the Republican Party, the Conservatives adopted the blue colour as their own.
Puerto Rico and Cuba were admitted before the 1964 Election as part of Kennedy's policy, while Nixon tried to copy by admitting Panama in the 70s. Consequently, the 70s went through an overhaul on apportionment, increasing the Senate and House seats to 106 and 449 respectively. The total was fixated on 558 Electoral Votes.
