Harry Truman Returns to the Senate, 1952

Of all the Republican senators elected in the 1946 GOP sweep, few were so vulnerable in 1952 as James P. Kern of Missouri. It was essentially a Democratic state (though it did go narrowly for Ike in 1952 [1]), and Kern was easily defeated by the Democratic candidate Stuart Symington, 54-46. https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=261573

Question: What if Kern had faced Harry Truman instead?

"As Truman had confided to Eisenhower, he was interested in running for the U.S. Senate in Missouri. Republican incumbent James P. Kem was up for reelection in 1952 and if Truman had taken him on it would have been no contest. But on April 3, Truman took himself out of the running. 'I shall not be a candidate for the United States Senate from Missouri', he said at a White House press conference. 'That satisfies you, doesn't it?'

"'President Truman would have liked very much to have been returned to the Senate of the United States, [Truman's Kansas City friend Tom L.] Evans recalled, 'because that's where he enjoyed himself and enjoyed the work more than anything that he had ever done. It's my personal opinion that Mrs. Truman was opposed to it and that is probably why he didn't'...." https://books.google.com/books?id=AbcQpkhgvFIC&pg=PA238

So suppose Truman does run and defeats Kern? What are the consequences of having Truman back in the Senate? (Is Symington's Senate career aborted--or merely delayed for six years?)

[1] It would narrowly go for Stevenson in 1956.
 
Is it wroing that I now want to image Truman playing an 20th century John Q Adams now (yes I know Adams was in the House, but still...)
 

James G

Gone Fishin'
There was an issue with Truman and his (relative) poverty post presidency IIRC. Would the pension arrangements still come in for ex presidents if he was getting a senate salary?
 
Truman wouldn't be the first former president to be elected to the senate after his time as president. The first was Andrew Johnson but he died shortly after.
 
Theoretically, Truman could stay in the Senate a long time--1958 and 1964 were good years for the Democrats. But I am pretty sure that at some point, probably by 1958, The Boss is going to put her foot down.
 
President Alben Barkley, serving from 4 January to 20 January 1953.


I think it's much more likely that Truman will simply wait until January 20 to take his Senate seat. (This will not affect control of the Senate, which in OTL went to the Republicans anyway, because Wayne Morse, though he had declared his independence of the GOP, was not yet caucusing with the Democrats.) Given the tense international situation, three presidents in three weeks is not a situation most people will want if it can be avoided, despite sentimental affection for "the Veep" (Barkley).
 
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