Ford in 76 - a Democratic '80s?

deanna

Banned
If Ford squeaks out a win in 1976, what does the (presumed) Democratic presidency of the eighties look like?
 
If Ford squeaks out a win in 1976, what does the (presumed) Democratic presidency of the eighties look like?

This has been done before on this forum, but I'm interested in the concept so I'll give my two cents. A 1980s Democratic Presidency would probably be somewhere between New Deal Liberalism and Clinton's Third Way on domestic policy - strongly supportive of traditional progressive programs while also open to neoliberal reforms. A good reference would be Bob Hawke's Government in Australia - a push for universal health care combined with efforts toward deregulation.

In foreign affairs, I imagine that a Democrat would be open to negotiating with the Soviets much earlier than Reagan, and the excesses of Reagan's Cold War policies (in particular Iran-Contra) wouldn't have happened. But the Berlin Wall and the USSR still come down, even if butterflies mean that happens differently.

Hopefully that answers your question.
 
Can we assume that the Dems quietly abandon their support for school busing? If they don't their return to power may be short-lived.
 

Marc

Donor
Something to consider: Democratic versus Republican approaches to Central America during the 1980's. The current situation in that region of the Western Hemisphere arguably is a direct evolution from American policies implemented during the Reagan-Bush years.
You may think it not that important, but a great deal of current American politics is predicted on what has happened there since the 1980's; i.e. the "Wall".
 
Last edited:
. . In foreign affairs, I imagine that a Democrat would be open to negotiating with the Soviets much earlier than Reagan, . .
And without going through the early Reagan stand-tough phase, which carried real risk.

But all the same . . . a Democrat who negotiates with the Soviets is going to catch a heck of a lot more grief than Ronnie Reagan did.

This is the only-Nixon-could-go-to-China effect. Or, the only-Bill-Clinton-could-do-welfare-reform effect.
 
And without going through the early Reagan stand-tough phase, which carried real risk.

But all the same . . . a Democrat who negotiates with the Soviets is going to catch a heck of a lot more grief than Ronnie Reagan did.

True, but the Democrats probably win again in 1984 even if they receive criticism for continuing detente.

Most Likely Ted Kennedy would be the front runner for 1980 iirc.

I don't think Kennedy would run. He only ran in 1980 as a protest against Carter. And even if Kennedy did run for the nomination, it's not certain that he wins. Kennedy had a tremendous force of personality and was popular with the Democratic base, but his personal baggage would damage his chances.
 
Hugh Carey, Lloyd Bentsen, Jerry Brown, Reubin Askew, or Walter Mondale would be likely contenders for 1980 if Ford wins in 1976. Brown or Mondale mean a closer win, but a win none the less. Carey would be the best option IMHO.
 
Hugh Carey, Lloyd Bentsen, Jerry Brown, Reubin Askew, or Walter Mondale would be likely contenders for 1980 if Ford wins in 1976. Brown or Mondale mean a closer win, but a win none the less. Carey would be the best option IMHO.

A Carey/Bentsen ticket would be a winner.
 
Hugh Carey, Lloyd Bentsen, Jerry Brown, Reubin Askew, or Walter Mondale would be likely contenders for 1980 if Ford wins in 1976. Brown or Mondale mean a closer win, but a win none the less. Carey would be the best option IMHO.

I agree with this list, but I’d also throw Birch Bayh onto it and imo Jerry Brown would be a top tier candidate in any race from ‘76-‘84. He just had an energy about him that could make him an Obama-esque “hope” figure at that time. If he won and the economy started to shape up like IOTL? Get ready for every politician between 1980 and today modeling themselves after the young, hotheaded and rebellious 43 year old Jerry Brown with a pecular mix of ideas: a love of space exploration (part of what earned him the nickname Moonbeam), an obsession with a balanced budget, and an intense rejection of luxury, with the goal of leading by example (as can be seen with his small apartment near the state capitol and gas-efficient car as governor). Jerry Brown is the sort of outsider that people must have wanted Jimmy Carter to be, and if he has the good luck of Republican fatigue, an economy that’s about to boom, and the sort of political connections and experience you can only get from both being the governor of the largest state in the country and being part of a political dynasty. I’m actually not really a huge fan of his, but wow, he would have done well to be elected President in 1980.

He’d definitely have his obsticles. Despite his conservative leanings as far as budgetary restraint goes, he was very much a social liberal and would be an activist president in a time where Reagan’s social conservatism was very popular. His legacy would also lack the mystic, and so the power, of Reagan’s. Brown didn’t fully retire from politics until this past January. I guarantee he would run for the Senate sometime in the 1990s like IOTL and if he won, he’d be the first former President to be a Senator since Andrew Johnson over a hundred years before.
 
I'm interested in getting back into mid century political TLs and this looks like a great POD. I'll need to do more research on Democratic candidates before I status writing though.
 

deanna

Banned
This has been done before on this forum, but I'm interested in the concept so I'll give my two cents. A 1980s Democratic Presidency would probably be somewhere between New Deal Liberalism and Clinton's Third Way on domestic policy - strongly supportive of traditional progressive programs while also open to neoliberal reforms. A good reference would be Bob Hawke's Government in Australia - a push for universal health care combined with efforts toward deregulation.

In foreign affairs, I imagine that a Democrat would be open to negotiating with the Soviets much earlier than Reagan, and the excesses of Reagan's Cold War policies (in particular Iran-Contra) wouldn't have happened. But the Berlin Wall and the USSR still come down, even if butterflies mean that happens differently.

Hopefully that answers your question.

It's quite possible that the fall of the Warsaw Pact and USSR is a bit more messy and violent in a Democratic Party eighties. Collapses are usually proceeded by ugly ripping noises. We were incredibly lucky in our universe.
 
Top