Reading Amerigo Vespucci's TL again, I came across this passage:
Now, either way, regardless whether Kennedy survives the war or Johnson (or someone else on the line of succession) succeeds him, how would civil rights come about in a United States heavily damaged by Soviet nuclear weapons? Would the US government do as Johnson did, and issue such an executive order in order to assist the rebuilding efforts and increase the available manpower, which would be sorely needed? How would the South react? Would the US government have any patience for the antics of Wallace, Thurmond and others in light of the nuclear devastation? Might there be a military crackdown on the KKK and other white supremacists, culminating in a lot of people being put up against the wall and summarily shot? Sort of like "Reconstruction a'la William T. Sherman"?
August, 1963 — From his office within Mount Weather, President Johnson issues an
executive order making segregation on racial or religious grounds illegal in the United
States. The order, intended to assist rebuilding efforts and increase available manpower,
instead alienates his conservative political base.
To counter his loss of support, Johnson announces his intention to hold the 1964 elections
on schedule. As a first step before the election, he will convene the 88th Congress on
January 1 at a location to be determined. The move is enormously popular with the
American public, which is struggling through an unseasonably cold year.
Now, either way, regardless whether Kennedy survives the war or Johnson (or someone else on the line of succession) succeeds him, how would civil rights come about in a United States heavily damaged by Soviet nuclear weapons? Would the US government do as Johnson did, and issue such an executive order in order to assist the rebuilding efforts and increase the available manpower, which would be sorely needed? How would the South react? Would the US government have any patience for the antics of Wallace, Thurmond and others in light of the nuclear devastation? Might there be a military crackdown on the KKK and other white supremacists, culminating in a lot of people being put up against the wall and summarily shot? Sort of like "Reconstruction a'la William T. Sherman"?