Good Morning, Robert: Coolidge-Hughes '32

[Beauchamp]

CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS?
January 6th, 1933

President-Elect Calvin Coolidge passed away suddenly yesterday at 10:32 AM from coronary thrombosis, sparking a possible constitutional crisis.

Following his landslide victory over incumbent President Harrison in November, Former President Coolidge has been mostly silent, as may be expected. Sadly however, the Former and almost Future President has passed away three months before his inauguration was to take place.

When the Former President arose yesterday morning, he complained to his wife of a worsening pain in his chest before stepping out, on his way to his dressing room he remarked to a carpenter working on his house, “Good morning, Robert”. To our knowledge, these are the President’s last words before his tragic passing. Mr. Coolidge was found shortly after in his dressing room by his wife, Grace, with what has been described as a peaceful, almost serene look, implying what was, we all hope, a painless death.

This places the government in a peculiar situation, as the Constitution makes no specific reference to such a situation.

The simplest and perhaps most obvious answer, would be to simply pass the torch on to Vice President-Elect Charles Evans Hughes but due to his advanced age at 70, there is some reasonable worry over the wisdom of this solution.

Some opponents of Mr. Hughes and the Republicans have already demanded a new election be held, which would be a first for a Presidential election in the nation’s history, while supporters reason that since the Electoral College has already met, voted and confirmed Mr. Hughes as Vice President-Elect, there’s no question to be asked about his ascension.

The closest situation we have to compare this to is Horace Greeley in the 1872 Presidential Election, in which he died before the electoral college met but even this is a loose connection considering Mr. Greeley lost the election regardless.

All things considered, the current government under President Harrison does seem to be headed for an interesting last few months or perhaps an interesting next four years...
​

 

[Beauchamp]

1928 Presidential Election​

The United States presidential election of 1928 was the 36th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 6, 1928. Democrat Senator Pat Harrison defeated Republican Frank Lowden, former Governor of Illinois. The election is often considered to be a monumental upset, as most pundits gave Lowden a comfortable majority due largely to the popularity of the incumbent President Calvin Coolidge but Lowden’s failure to capitalize on his advantage is often credited as the decisive factor in his loss, in addition to the comparatively energetic campaigning of Harrison and Roosevelt.

​

Harrison-Roosevelt (D) - 313 EV - 19,588,121 (50.1%)
Lowden-Hoover (R) - 218 EV - 19,001,650 (49.3%)

After incumbent President Calvin Coolidge declined to seek re-election, his Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover quickly emerged as the favorite to receive the nomination but his inter-party opponents managed to gradually coalesce around Lowden and by the time of the Convention itself, the nomination was undecided.

Eventually however, Lowden secured the subtle endorsement of President Coolidge and Hoover offered to withdraw his name from consideration in exchange for the Vice Presidential spot. Lowden agreed and was nominated on the first ballot.

The Democratic National Convention went much the same way, with Franklin Delano Roosevelt eventually conceding to Pat Harrison to receive the Vice Presidential slot.

Most experts considered Lowden the favorite to win by far, but as the election neared, an increasing wave of enthusiasm for Harrison and Roosevelt drowned out the popularity of the incumbent Republican Administration.

Both Vice Presidential nominees, Hoover and Roosevelt, would themselves eventually go on to serve as President.​

 

[Beauchamp]

Sorry if that last one isn’t formatted correctly I had to post it off of my phone. I’ll check it out when I can get to my computer later tonight

 

[Beauchamp]

Congress Calls Special Election! Constitutional?
January 13th, 1933

Former Justice, Secretary of State and now-Presidential candidate Charles Evans Hughes
​

In what has been described by Republicans as an almost legal coup d’etat, Congress, in a vote that went nearly straight along party-lines, Democrats in the House and the Senate voted to call for a new election for the Presidency, to be held next month. In the House, it narrowly squeaked by with a vote of 215 to 213 - with the notable defection of House Speaker John Nance Garner voting in negation. In the Senate, the measure once again squeaked past with a 49-48 vote in favor, with Vice President Franklin Delano Roosevelt wielding his tie-breaking power.

President Harrison signed the new legislation almost immediately - with Mr. Hughes taking his case to the courts in an effort to save his potential Presidency.

Barring Court intervention, a new election will be held February 3rd to determine the future of the nation. The Court is expected to hear the case soon, given the monumental nature of this case.

The results of such an election are of course, unknown but with most of the nation being against the call for a new election, it’s possible that such an election could result in an even greater Republican victory...

 

[Beauchamp]

HUGHES V. UNITED STATES
February 23rd, 1933

The Supreme Court Building c. 1933

In a rare case of the Supreme Court claiming “original jurisdiction”, Hughes V. United States has been heard almost immediately and it does indeed appear that Mr. Hughes will be the next President of the United States.

The Court ruled in a 7-2 decision that Congress cannot order special elections for the Presidency and further confirmed that in the case of a death of a President-Elect, the Vice President-Elect does indeed ascend to the office.

As for President Harrison, his last month in the Presidency may well make him go down as a villain in history. Though he’ll certainly be remembered.

Luckily for now President-Elect Hughes, when he enters office on March 4th, he does so with a new Republican majority in both houses of Congress, making his job perhaps much easier than it could be. With the nation still suffering from a great economic panic, the new administration will have much work to do if they wish to ease the nation’s hard times.
​

 

[Beauchamp]

1932 Presidential Election
The United States presidential election of 1932 was the 37th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 6, 1932. Republican former President Calvin Coolidge of Massachusetts defeated incumbent President Democrat Pat Harrison. While the Democrats were in a rather demanding position electorally, holding both houses of Congress and with an incumbent President, they were widely expected to lose considering the lukewarm approval ratings of President Harrison and the poor economy. The election is notable for its aftermath when the victor, Coolidge, passed away after the electoral college had met but before he was due to be inaugurated. Congress and President Harrison pushed to hold a do-over election to prevent the Vice President-elect from ascending to the Presidency but their bet ultimately failed when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Vice President-elect Hughes.

Coolidge-Hughes (R) - 388 EV - 21,914,877 (56.8%)
Harrison-Roosevelt (D) - 143 EV - 14,167,654 (36.72)
--
Thomas-Maurer (S) - 0 EV - 1,581,882 (4.1%)
​

With a stagnant economy still suffering the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and subsequent Great Depression, with unemployment still hovering at 17% and a worsening economic outlook, President Harrison had, by his own admittance, "next to no chance" to win re-election but faced an uncontested Convention to receive re-nomination. Coolidge never actively sought the nomination, a point he stresses in his Addendum to the Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge, and in fact expressed on several occasions that he had no true desire to receive any such nomination. Nevertheless, when he received the nomination on the first ballot at the Republican National Convention, he stated in his brief acceptance speech that

If the nation calls upon me to serve, then I shall serve. Therefore I must declare that I do choose to run for President in 1932... There will be nothing more today.
​

Coolidge won 35 of the 48 states, even making strong inroads into the Democratic South, winning Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia and taking 56.8% of the popular vote. Harrison saw his share of the popular vote decline to 36.72% from his previous 50.1% in 1928. Socialist Party nominee Norman Thomas won 4.1% of the popular vote.

 

[Anarcho-Occultist]

Interesting start. Don’t think I’ve seen a scenario like this before

 

[Beauchamp]

Interesting start. Don’t think I’ve seen a scenario like this before

The idea hit me a while back and I rolled with it, I've got a decent bit plotted out already but we'll see how it goes. Regardless, cheers lad

 

[Beauchamp]

First Inauguration of Charles Evans Hughes

32nd President Charles Evans Hughes (Left) with unidentified man (Right)​

The first inauguration of Charles Evans Hughes as the 32nd President of the United States was held on Saturday, March 4, 1933. The inauguration marked the commencement of the first four-year term of Charles Evans Hughes. It was the last inauguration to be held on the constitutionally prescribed date of March 4; the 20th Amendment, ratified in January 1933, moved Inauguration Day to January 20. As a result, Hughes’s first term in office was shorter than a normal term by 43 days.

Participants:​

President of the United States,
Charles Evans Hughes
Assuming office

Chief Justice of the United States,
Hugo Black
Administering oath​

The inauguration took place in the wake of Republican Calvin Coolidge’s victory over Democrat Pat Harrison in the 1932 presidential election.

With the nation still suffering from the Great Depression, the new President’s inauguration speech focused on easing the nation’s fears and set the stage for Hughes’s efforts to aid the economy.

The swearing-in ceremony took place on the East Portico of the United States Capitol, with Chief Justice Hugo Black administering the oath of office. Hughes wore a dark long coat and trench hat for the inauguration, and took the oath with the Lincoln Bible, which would be used to inaugurate three later Presidents as well as Hughes once again in 1937.

 

[Beauchamp]

First Hughes Cabinet

​

President - Charles Evans Hughes

Vice President - vacant (1933-1937)

Secretary of State - Charles Curtis (1933-19??)

Secretary of Treasury - Ogden Mills (1933-19??)

Secretary of War - Henry Lewis Stimson (1933-19??)

Attorney General - Thomas Day Thacher (1933-19??)

Postmaster General - Walter F. Brown (1933-19??)

Secretary of the Navy - Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. (1933-19??)

Secretary of the Interior - Gifford Pinchot (1933-19??)

Secretary of Agriculture - Charles Deere Wiman (1933-19??)

Secretary of Commerce - Herbert Hoover (1933-1937)

 

[Beauchamp]

Presidency of B. Patton Harrison
​

The presidency of B. Patton Harrison began on March 4, 1929 when Byron Patton ‘Pat’ Harrison was inaugurated as President of the United States and ended on March 4, 1933. Harrison, a Democrat took office after an unexpected victory in the 1928 Presidential Election over Republican Frank Lowden of Illinois. At the time of his election he was serving as the senior United States Senator from Kentucky, a position he had held since March 1919. Harrison, the 31st United States president, was defeated when he ran for re-election against Calvin Coolidge of Vermont in the 1932 Presidential election.

President Pat Harrison

Harrison’s surprise victory in 1928 brought the Democratic Party back to the White House following eight years of Presidents Harding and Coolidge, both Republicans. Harrison’s Presidency marked a turning point from the hands-off, conservative approaches of his predecessor to a more direct and progressive form of governance. Numerous efforts were made to address workers’ rights, including the nation’s first federal minimum wage (at 18 cents an hour), an eight-hour workday and the banning of “yellow dog” contracts.​

​

When the Wall Street Crash of 1929 struck eight months into his presidency, Harrison took immediate measures to reassure the confidence of the public and took measures to keep the banks afloat by establishing a guarantee on some of the holdings of private individuals; in addition to establishing numerous federal agencies such as the Public Works Administration. While most economists are in general agreement that the Depression could have been significantly worse without Harrison’s measures, by the end of his presidency there was still nearly 18% unemployment and the nation’s GDP had fallen by an estimated 12%.​

​

Harrison’s presidency is subject to significant debate. Among his supporters, he is credited with the passage of the Costigan Bill, which established a federal ban on lynching, though this is subject to debate, and his efforts to promote workers’ rights and address the Depression were what was necessary, even if they could be seen as unpopular. To his detractors, he is viewed as having artificially kept the economy “afloat” by bailing out big business and establishing millions of low-pay, low-skill jobs that accomplished little in actuality and that his attempts to “steal” the 1932 election outweigh any positive effects he may have left. According to most rankings of the Presidents, Harrison is usually kept in the bottom-middle range.



(This is supposed to be like a pseudo-wikipedia article)​

 

[Beauchamp]

The time between the last one and this new post is about how long it should take for an update from now on, the one-a-day thing wasn't meant to last so expect roughly weekly updates, perhaps half-weekly.

I'd love some feedback on this if you've got anything to offer. Any criticism would be well-taken if you've got any thoughts. Thanks!

 

[Beauchamp]

Early Days
​

One of Charles Evans Hughes’s first priorities as President was an aggressive campaign in Congress for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1933, which established guidelines for the banning of discrimination in federal institutions on the basis of race or religion.

His highest priority however was of course to deal with the economic malaise of the past four years and help the millions of unemployed Americans find comfort, or at least work. Despite his initial reluctance to do so, he used the numerous federal agencies established under his predecessor to accomplish his goals.

The Public Works Administration oversaw the construction and improvement of millions of bridges, railways, highways (the first truly national system of highways would be well underway at the end of his presidency in 1940), dams and buildings.

With the aid of his “National Business Council,” Hughes kept the nation on the long path to recovery that had begun under Harrison. The business council’s goal was to bring together top economic experts and the heads of several major companies to assist in advising the President. Through a series of government subsidies the economy gradually set off towards a slow but steady recovery meanwhile across the seas, dark ideas began taking hold...

 

[Anarcho-Occultist]

Seems interesting so far. I’m wondering if TTL will see early civil rights. It’d be a nice change of pace

 

[Beauchamp]

Seems interesting so far. I’m wondering if TTL will see early civil rights. It’d be a nice change of pace

Not toooooo early. Hughes’s ardent support pushes it ahead a bit further of course, no details yet but this will cause a good deal of tension with a certain region of the States.

 

[Beauchamp]

Fear and Loathing

Marshal Ferdinand Foch, a frequent source of admiration from President Hughes
​

... but our problems I fear, pale in comparison to those of our friends in Europe. Thirteen years shows the World has learned nothing. Monsieur the Marshal Foch said of Versailles, This is not a peace. This is an Armistice of twenty years. [sic] Recent developments I feel may show Monsieur Foch was correct in his assessment. I pray that I am wrong. - October 12th, 1934

...The Fuhrer [sic] preys on fear and loathing, it’s there for all to see. The Germans were injured. Their pride, their people, their economy. He thrives on such fear. He’ll lead Hell to the world. He brought them a scapegoat and gave them their pride. Now the goats will be slaughtered and the pride emboldened. - August 7th, 1940

A novel, entitled Fear and Loathing, compiled by C.E. Hughes Jr., son of the late President, provides insight into Hughes’ foreign policy, specifically in regard to Hitler’s Germany. The novel consists entirely of brief excerpts from the President’s journals throughout his Presidency from 1933 to 1940.

Hughes’ journal excerpts show a direct correlation between Hughes’ personal thoughts and the eventual outcome of Hitler’s regime. His tendency to move from recounting the various mundanities of his daily routine to philosophical musings on the future of the world and quotes from his favorite figures show the high intelligence and work ethic of the man. For every day of his Presidency he wrote two entries into his journal, some going into heavy detail and only one shorter than 800 words - his last one - detailing only a quote from one of his idols, Ferdinand Foch, scribbled onto the inside back cover of the journal and one sentence of his own underneath it.


Parce qu’un homme sans mémoire est un homme sans vie, un peuple sans mémoire est un peuple sans avenir - Monsieur the Marshal, Ferdinand Foch

Make them remember Herbert.

English Translation: Since a man without memory is a man without a life, a people without memory are a people without a future

Are Hughes’ last written words one final warning about Hitler’s regime, implying Hughes had insight or at least some kind of educated guess into the atrocities uncovered five years later? Are they warning about the devastation seen in the First World War? Hoover himself believes it to be in regards to the latter; warning against long, drawn out war and a warning to the German people. The world might not know for certain ever exactly what the warning was about but the Presidents of the United States have had it in their Office ever since beneath a photo of Mr. Hughes.

 

[Beauchamp]

I’ve been trying to figure out how I wanted to go about bringing this back so I went for a fluff update. With luck I can get this on a regular course soon

 

[David T]

1928 Presidential Election​

The United States presidential election of 1928 was the 36th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 6, 1928. Democrat Senator Pat Harrison defeated Republican Frank Lowden, former Governor of Illinois. The election is often considered to be a monumental upset, as most pundits gave Lowden a comfortable majority due largely to the popularity of the incumbent President Calvin Coolidge but Lowden’s failure to capitalize on his advantage is often credited as the decisive factor in his loss, in addition to the comparatively energetic campaigning of Harrison and Roosevelt.

​

View attachment 409398​

Harrison-Roosevelt (D) - 313 EV - 19,588,121 (50.1%)
Lowden-Hoover (R) - 218 EV - 19,001,650 (49.3%)

After incumbent President Calvin Coolidge declined to seek re-election, his Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover quickly emerged as the favorite to receive the nomination but his inter-party opponents managed to gradually coalesce around Lowden and by the time of the Convention itself, the nomination was undecided.

Eventually however, Lowden secured the subtle endorsement of President Coolidge and Hoover offered to withdraw his name from consideration in exchange for the Vice Presidential spot. Lowden agreed and was nominated on the first ballot.

The Democratic National Convention went much the same way, with Franklin Delano Roosevelt eventually conceding to Pat Harrison to receive the Vice Presidential slot.

Most experts considered Lowden the favorite to win by far, but as the election neared, an increasing wave of enthusiasm for Harrison and Roosevelt drowned out the popularity of the incumbent Republican Administration.

Both Vice Presidential nominees, Hoover and Roosevelt, would themselves eventually go on to serve as President.​

I've seen some implausible presidential election scenarios but this takes the cake. Let's leave aside the fact that (1) the Democrats are extremely unlikely to nominate Harrison (even southerners were pretty much resigned to Smith's nomination by 1928--and if a southerner were to be nominated, there were others like Cordell Hull who would be a bit more plausible, Mississippi being too associated in the public mind with the Klan, though Harrison was not a Klansman) and (2) Lowden because of his backing for farm relief would not be attractive to the sort of Old Guard Republicans who opposed Hoover. Let's somehow assume the race takes place. Your map and your result are utterly implausible.

Harrison beats Lowden in Lowden's own state of Illinois?! Why? Illinois had not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1856 except in 1892 and 1912--and even in 1912 Wilson only got 35 percent, just ahead of TR. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_Illinois,_1912 In the close race of 1916 Hughes had easily carried the state. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_Illinois,_1916 In 1924, John W. Davis, who had many things in common with Harrison (conservatism, to some extent southernness) got a dismal 23.36 percent of the vote in Illinois. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1924 (I see no reason why La Follette voters would vote for Harrison but even if they did, it would make no difefrence. Coolidge got almost 60 percent in the state). Why are Illinoisans suddenly voting Democratic? Farmer dissatisfaction? But Lowden actually had a better record in addressing that than Harrison. And while at least a few African American leaders came out for Smith, none would come out for Harrison--nor would Catholics in Chicago be very happy that Smith had been rejected once again.

Having MA, CT, and RI go for Harrison is equally fanciful. The reason they went for Smith or came close to doing so in OTL in 1928 was because the Democrats nominated the northeastern, urban, Catholic, wet Smith. Harrison would do about as well in those states as Davis had done.

Above all, Harrison is not going to win New York. If even Smith couldn't do it, the immensely less congenial (to New Yorkers) Harrison isn't going to, regardless of his running mate. (Even FDR running on his own for governor just barely won.)

BTW, if there is anything FDR would hate it would be to be nominated as a sacrificial lamb for VP a second time!

Oh, yes, and Kansas goes for Harrison--even though in OTL every Democratic presidential candidate there in 1920, 2924, and 1928 finished in the mid-20's...