Hughes President at start of WW1. Who do dems run 1920?

If there had been a different result in the 1916 election, a modest swing in California would have done it, what happens in 1920.

In otl being linked to the declaration of war did Wilson's party great damage. On the other hand Hughes would not have run on the slogan 'he kept us out of the war'.

I assume that the Democrat nomination would have more value than otl.

Do they run a conservative or moderate guy? if not what about Bryan?

Any other suggestions?
 
There'd probably be a backlash against the Reps as there was against the Dems. Even before the war ended, the American people were looking forward to a return to normal, and the out party, whichever it was, would have represented that.

First question is whether Wilson is fit enough to run again. Without the stresses of his second term, he may have avoided his 1919 breakdown. In that case he is likely renominated (after all, he comfortably won the popular vote in 16, and would have lost only by the quirks of the electoral college) though he might well not make it to 1924. Much, of course, then depends on who is his VP.

If his health excludes him, then it's wide open. Bryan is probably too shopworn and long in the tooth. and it's probably too soon for Al Smith, but either Cox or Davis is possible, as is McAdoo.
 
There'd probably be a backlash against the Reps as there was against the Dems. Even before the war ended, the American people were looking forward to a return to normal, and the out party, whichever it was, would have represented that.

First question is whether Wilson is fit enough to run again. Without the stresses of his second term, he may have avoided his 1919 breakdown. In that case he is likely renominated (after all, he comfortably won the popular vote in 16, and would have lost only by the quirks of the electoral college) though he might well not make it to 1924. Much, of course, then depends on who is his VP.

If his health excludes him, then it's wide open. Bryan is probably too shopworn and long in the tooth. and it's probably too soon for Al Smith, but either Cox or Davis is possible, as is McAdoo.

I agree, that if Wilson is healthy enough, he will be renominated.

I think the most likely nominee otherwise is McAdoo.

Whoever is elected president in 1920 will have a conservative presidency. It would not be to the extent of Harding, but still pretty conservative. With the good economy, McAdoo, or whoever is president, will win in 1924, and the Democrats will win again in 1928 due to the great economy. The Great Depression will still happen, and a progressive Republican will win the election in 1932.

This would also alter Prohibition. I'm unsure whether it would happen, but if it does, it would only affect hard liquor.
 
Wilson pulls a Cleveland IMO.

Herbert Hoover probably has a shot like OTL. I've been fond of Al Smith getting the nod but I'm not sure how plausible that is.
 
I've always thought this an interesting ATL situation.

Elect Hughes in 16 and you get a Democrat in 20, and then likely throughout the 20s since they'd benefit from economy.

Quite possibly resulting in a more progressive GOP and a more conservative Democratic party
 
I think Al Smith would be a good candidate.

1920 was definitely too early for the Democrats to have nominated a Catholic. Even in 1928 the only reason Smith won the nomination so easily was the widespread feeling in the party that Hoover was probably unbeatable anyway, so rather than risk a repetition of 1924, better to let Smith be nominated and take the blame. Precisely because this alt-1920 looks like a good year for the Democrats, they will try to avoid all unnecessary risks.
 
1920 was definitely too early for the Democrats to have nominated a Catholic. Even in 1928 the only reason Smith won the nomination so easily was the widespread feeling in the party that Hoover was probably unbeatable anyway, so rather than risk a repetition of 1924, better to let Smith be nominated and take the blame. Precisely because this alt-1920 looks like a good year for the Democrats, they will try to avoid all unnecessary risks.



So Smith couldn't get it in 1920 for the same reason that Bryan couldn't in 1912.
 
Teddy Roosevelt was asked to be vice-president for McKinley's second term. Had it not be for the tragedy of McKinley being assassinated, Teddy may never had been president.

There were liberal Republicans, especially out west, I'm just not sure they were ever a majority of the party.

Please understand, I do like the idea of a timeline where America is more liberal and the Republicans the more liberal of the two parties (especially since I'm liberal myself!). I'm just not sure how realistic it is.
 
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