Hubert Humphrey's Foreign Policy

Hi AltHistorians,

It's basically what it says on the tin. I want to know what direction Hubert Humphrey's election would have on American foreign policy. Also, how would he view the civil rights movement?
 
Same as Nixon's, really. He even has Kissinger. Probably no Pinochet coup and other questionable stuff too.

Positively. Lyndon Johnson and Hubert Humphrey are the politicians most responsible for civil rights in the US.
 
Same as Nixon's, really. He even has Kissinger. Probably no Pinochet coup and other questionable stuff too.

Positively. Lyndon Johnson and Hubert Humphrey are the politicians most responsible for civil rights in the US.

What about an earlier end to Vietnam?
 
Humphrey was the quintessential Cold War liberal. He was a strong supporter of the New Deal, Great Society, War on Poverty, etc. along with being a strong anti-communist. If Humphrey is elected President in 1968, he probably takes a similar policy to Nixon in Vietnam, minus the expansion of the war into Cambodia. In fact, he'd probably follow a similar course to Nixon overall, though I doubt he would have gone to China (politically difficult for a liberal Democrat). Domestically, Humphrey will continue the policies of Johnson. That means more spending on housing, job creation, welfare, education, etc. It's possible HHH makes a big push for a national health insurance plan, but that would require a major legislative push. Overall, Humphrey is one of the easier alternate Presidents to pinpoint. He was a reliably liberal voice on most issues, and would have governed as such. It's unlikely that he could have held the New Deal coalition together in the long run, but his victory would have been a "last hurrah" for FDR-style liberalism.
 
Domestically, Humphrey will continue the policies of Johnson. That means more spending on housing, job creation, welfare, education, etc. It's possible HHH makes a big push for a national health insurance plan, but that would require a major legislative push.

Some form of health bill would be likely. Nixon liked the idea too and there was just too much disagreement between him and Congress on how to carry it out (Nixon wanted the equivalent of Obamacare, iirc, while the Democrats preferred a NHS-style system). A Democratic Presidency and Congress could easily pass health care reform.

Would Humphrey have tried a major national push for desegregation busing?
 
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Some form of health bill would be likely, since Nixon liked the idea too and there was just too much disagreement between him and Congress on how to carry it out (Nixon wanted the equivalent of Obamacare, iirc, while the Democrats preferred a NHS-style system).

Would Humphrey have tried a major national push for desegregation busing?

It's difficult for the President to do that. Busing is really an area for DOJ, the states, and the local municipalities. That being said, I would expect Humphrey to appoint an Attorney General who would take a proactive approach in supporting busing and pushing school districts to implement it. I wouldn't be surprised if Ramsey Clark remains AG and does just that.
 
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