This is my third timeline attempt, and hopefully, it works out well. If anyone has any comments, complaints, or questions, feel free to say so, and enjoy! I'll update later. Enjoy!
=========================
INDEPENDENT
The Election and Presidency of
President H. Ross Perot
by
DUDEALMIGHTY947
New York Times Editorial – June 15, 1992
WHO WILL BE OUR PRESIDENT NEXT JANUARY?
“That is the question we continually ask ourselves, as the presidential campaign this year goes on. In the primaries, it's pretty much been decided: President George Bush, being the incumbent, won all of the Republican primaries and 72.84% of the vote for the Republican nomination. Meanwhile, the Democrats, seeking to unseat the president, has seen Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton sweep 39 of the 50 primaries, the other eleven going for other minor candidates. Most likely, we will see President Bush and Governor Clinton fighting for the presidency this November. Yet still, there is one obstacle both candidates must overcome.
Last February, billionaire and president of IBM Henry Ross Perot, best known as Ross Perot or H. Ross Perot, announced that, if his supporters could get his name on the ballot in all fifty states, he would run for president as an Independent. Luckily for him, he has many supporters, who managed to do just that. Mr. Perot formally announced his candidacy in April. And, not too long ago, Mr. Perot announced that his running mate was to be the former Vice Admiral in the United States Navy and hero of the Vietnam War, James Stockdale, residing in California. This further boosted his popularity among registered voters. Thus, the polls stand at a surprising stance: 39% of those polled are in favor of Perot's candidacy, while 31% are in favor of President Bush and 25% are in favor of Governor Clinton. Needless to say, this is extremely historic, due to the fact that Mr. Perot is not a Republican nor a Democrat.
Of course, there are three levels of affection that Perot's candidacy will have on this election.
First of all, Perot is mainly popular among former Bush voters. Although Perot is attracting many Democratic voters, Perot is mainly attracting Bush voters, and if he takes most of them, that will give Governor Clinton the popular vote and, most likely, the presidency. Most likely, if his candidacy only did this to the Bush campaign, the Independent ticket would only win small states, probably ones it has been in the lead in the longest, such as Maine and Kansas.
Second, Perot might have a candidacy that will win electoral votes. By this, I mean he wins as many states as a regular, Democrat or Republican candidacy would receive. This would definitely throw the election to Congress, as it does whenever no candidate receives the 270 electoral vote majority. It's impossible to say if the Democrats will keep the house or if the Republicans will take it, but most likely, the House of Representatives would vote on a president-elect sometime in late November or December, and due to the Democratic majority, that would mean Governor Bill Clinton would most likely be elected our 42nd President.
Third, Perot may attract more votes as he campaigns, and if he struggles hard, he may win the 270 majority or more, and Perot may win the presidency without the dilemma of a Congressional vote. This, of course, would be truly historic.
It's impossible to say which of these paths will occur, but all three ways will determine the future of our nation in ways radically different from the others.”
- The New York Times, June 15 1992
“The campaign was going really well for Mr. Perot. Of course, there was the famous poll in early July that showed Perot ahead of both George Bush and Bill Clinton, with 41% approving of Perot, 31% approving of Bill Clinton, and 28% approving George Bush. I admit that, for a long time, it seemed certain Perot would be elected president of the United States. Then, the Democratic National Convention rolled around, and that's when the Democrats became more popular.”
“I was raised to believe the American Dream was built on rewarding hard work. But we have seen the folks of Washington turn the American ethic on its head. For too long those who play by the rules and keep the faith have gotten the shaft, and those who cut corners and cut deals have been rewarded. People are working harder than ever, spending less time with their children, working nights and weekends at their jobs instead of going to PTA and Little League or Scouts. And their incomes are still going down. Their taxes are still going up. And the costs of health care, housing and education are going through the roof. Meanwhile, more and more of our best people are falling into poverty even though they work 40 hours a week. Our people are pleading for change, but government is in the way. It has been hijacked by privileged private interests. It has forgotten who really pays the bills around here. It has taken more of your money and given you less in return. We have got to go beyond the brain-dead politics in Washington and give our people the kind of government they deserve, a government that works for them. A President, a president, ought to be a powerful force for progress. But right now I know how President Lincoln felt when General McClellan wouldn’t attack in the Civil War. He asked him, 'If you’re not going to use your army, may I borrow it?' And so I say: George Bush, if you won’t use our power to help America, step aside. I will.”
1992 Democratic Nominee for President: Governor William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton (D-AR)
1992 Democratic Nominee for Vice President: Senator Al Gore (D-TN)
(Writer's Note: This is an actual excerpt from Clinton's nomination acceptance)
Presidential Poll July 21, 1992
Who Will You Vote for this November?
Bill Clinton (D) - 36%
Ross Perot (I) - 35%
George Bush (R) - 28%
Other – 1%
“After the Democratic convention ended, our lead had diminished somewhat. The convention had been really thought-out, and the Democrats had made it look like it was a party for the people, so naturally, he gained in the polls. Still, we were neck-to-neck with Bill Clinton. We looked at individual states towards the end of July to see which states to focus on. In New York, we were in a near third, just below George Bush and about five points below Bill Clinton; in Ohio, we were ahead of Clinton and Bush by a three-point margin; and in California, we were tied with Bill Clinton exactly at 38.5% to 38.5%, with George Bush placing a far-off 23%. Ross correctly predicted that the election would probably depend on either Ohio or California. We started campagning more and more in those states, and it seemed to sort of pay off. I think Perot just had an air about him that just made him very likeable, and that's why people voted for him.”
“The president was getting very worried before the Republican convention. He wasn't worried about not being nominated; that was assured. He was worried about his trailing Clinton and Perot in the polls by around a 7% margin. That was scary. If we didn't make up that trail, we would be assured a defeat in November. So, we knew we had to make the best we could out of the convention.”
The New York Times September 17, 1992
RNC OPENS!
PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT AT RNC '92
Pres. George Bush – 2165
Pat Buchanan – 20
VICE PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT
Vice Pres. Dan Quayle – Renominated by Voice Vote
“Ladies and gentlemen, the distinguished president of the United States is the man to vote for. The president has shown courage during the Gulf War, experience as vice president under my administration, and selflessness in his presidency so far. Let me tell you; President Bush, as my vice president, was a great man, seeking only to further his service to our great nation. Mr. Clinton has not shown a bit of that courage and selflessness, instead running on a platform wrongly accusing our president as mishandling our recent war and accusing him of wrongdoings. Meanwhile, a businessman is running against the president, trying selfishly to win the presidency for himself, for selfish reasons. Here's the truth, folks: He's just another businessman wanting your tax money to pay for his own salary. Let's give the president a round of applause, and re-elect him on the Third of November.”
Presidential Poll August 22, 1992
With the Recent Republican convention, who will you vote for this November?
Bill Clinton (D) – 34%
Ross Perot (I) – 33%
George Bush (R) - 33%
“After the August 22 poll, we knew that it was going to be tough trying to win the presidency. We were tied with President Bush, and Perot told me immediately: 'I am not going to place third. Not after I held a lead for a while.' The campaigning went well, but we knew we had to take advantage of something else – and that something was the debates. Perot spent a lot of time practicing for the debates, and it really proved helpful toward his campaign.”
Ross Perot at a Campaign Rally, September 14, 1992
FAMOUS TRANSCRIPT OF THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE OF 1992
OCTOBER 11, 1992
JIM LEHRER: Mr. Perot, President Bush has just accused you of inexperience in running the economy. How do you respond to the president on these charges? You have one minute.
ROSS PEROT: Well, Mr. President, I understand – I have no experience in running a nation. I wasn't a congressman, a governor, or senator. I am a businessman – I am the owner of a big company, that is making billions of dollars. Does that not tell you how I handle my money? And look at the nation's deficit right now. We are now in debt, when we shouldn't be. While I have owned this company for a long time, you have been a congressman – which has no experience in running a national deficit – and you have been the vice president of an administration that has started this near-recession. No, we need change in America, and if the president is going to accuse me of experience, I'll just point to his record. You have no way of saying that you have run a good business, while I do.
“After the debates, which Perot did pretty well in, his approval started going up. In the second debate, Perot did even better. And the third debate was a total success for Mr. Perot. And after rally after rally, I could see it in Ross Perot's eyes, that he was extremely happy. His eyes gleamed during the rallys, and he spoke strongly and significantly better than his first rallys. But the happiest I ever saw him was on Election Day, after the race was called.”
- The Most Remarkable Years: Memoirs of a White House Chief of Staff by Clay Mulford
Businessman Ross Perot (I-TX) / Fmr. Vice Adm. James Stockdale (I-CA) – 277 EVs
Gov. Bill Clinton (D-AR) / Sen. Al Gore (D-TN) – 210 EVs
Pres. George Bush (R-TX) / Vice Pres. Dan Quayle (R-IN) – 51 EVs
“It was about 12:30, at midnight, when Ross Perot made his acceptance speech on a platform in Houston, Texas. He was almost dancing around, he was so happy; this was only about a half hour after CNN called California for Ross Perot, putting him ahead of the 270 mark. Still, we were able to convince him to make the speech he needed to make. It was then that the president-elect of the United States beckoned for the crowd to stop its noise. 'Well, folks,' he said, with that gleam in his eyes, 'It's been a long, good year. Since that March day that I began my campaign, we have gone through so much. And by voting me into office tonight, we have proved that we can admit our mistakes and set them right. By electing me your next president, I am going to show that I am not like other politicians – I will do what I promise, unlike the many politicians who have run for president and not done what they were elected to do. I promise universal health care and a better America in general.'”
“Before I say anything about the past year, I would like to congratulate the president-elect of the United States, Henry Ross Perot. I would like to promise the president-elect that I will aid him in the transition period until January 20th, and I will work with Mr. Perot over the next few months to get him in the mood of being the president. I'd like to thank not only our next president, but Governor Clinton as well, for a well-dealt campaign. I'd like to thank everyone who voted for me, and for those who did not vote for me, I hope you will be satisfied with Mr. Perot in his presidency. To my supporters, I say this: We did the best we could. And we did a great job. We voiced our opinion in this election that exercises the American freedom, and that's what mattered.”
TO BE CONTINUED
=========================
INDEPENDENT
The Election and Presidency of
President H. Ross Perot
by
DUDEALMIGHTY947
New York Times Editorial – June 15, 1992
WHO WILL BE OUR PRESIDENT NEXT JANUARY?
“That is the question we continually ask ourselves, as the presidential campaign this year goes on. In the primaries, it's pretty much been decided: President George Bush, being the incumbent, won all of the Republican primaries and 72.84% of the vote for the Republican nomination. Meanwhile, the Democrats, seeking to unseat the president, has seen Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton sweep 39 of the 50 primaries, the other eleven going for other minor candidates. Most likely, we will see President Bush and Governor Clinton fighting for the presidency this November. Yet still, there is one obstacle both candidates must overcome.
Last February, billionaire and president of IBM Henry Ross Perot, best known as Ross Perot or H. Ross Perot, announced that, if his supporters could get his name on the ballot in all fifty states, he would run for president as an Independent. Luckily for him, he has many supporters, who managed to do just that. Mr. Perot formally announced his candidacy in April. And, not too long ago, Mr. Perot announced that his running mate was to be the former Vice Admiral in the United States Navy and hero of the Vietnam War, James Stockdale, residing in California. This further boosted his popularity among registered voters. Thus, the polls stand at a surprising stance: 39% of those polled are in favor of Perot's candidacy, while 31% are in favor of President Bush and 25% are in favor of Governor Clinton. Needless to say, this is extremely historic, due to the fact that Mr. Perot is not a Republican nor a Democrat.
Of course, there are three levels of affection that Perot's candidacy will have on this election.
First of all, Perot is mainly popular among former Bush voters. Although Perot is attracting many Democratic voters, Perot is mainly attracting Bush voters, and if he takes most of them, that will give Governor Clinton the popular vote and, most likely, the presidency. Most likely, if his candidacy only did this to the Bush campaign, the Independent ticket would only win small states, probably ones it has been in the lead in the longest, such as Maine and Kansas.
Second, Perot might have a candidacy that will win electoral votes. By this, I mean he wins as many states as a regular, Democrat or Republican candidacy would receive. This would definitely throw the election to Congress, as it does whenever no candidate receives the 270 electoral vote majority. It's impossible to say if the Democrats will keep the house or if the Republicans will take it, but most likely, the House of Representatives would vote on a president-elect sometime in late November or December, and due to the Democratic majority, that would mean Governor Bill Clinton would most likely be elected our 42nd President.
Third, Perot may attract more votes as he campaigns, and if he struggles hard, he may win the 270 majority or more, and Perot may win the presidency without the dilemma of a Congressional vote. This, of course, would be truly historic.
It's impossible to say which of these paths will occur, but all three ways will determine the future of our nation in ways radically different from the others.”
- The New York Times, June 15 1992
“The campaign was going really well for Mr. Perot. Of course, there was the famous poll in early July that showed Perot ahead of both George Bush and Bill Clinton, with 41% approving of Perot, 31% approving of Bill Clinton, and 28% approving George Bush. I admit that, for a long time, it seemed certain Perot would be elected president of the United States. Then, the Democratic National Convention rolled around, and that's when the Democrats became more popular.”
- The Most Remarkable Years: Memoirs of a White House Chief of Staff by Clay Mulford
“I was raised to believe the American Dream was built on rewarding hard work. But we have seen the folks of Washington turn the American ethic on its head. For too long those who play by the rules and keep the faith have gotten the shaft, and those who cut corners and cut deals have been rewarded. People are working harder than ever, spending less time with their children, working nights and weekends at their jobs instead of going to PTA and Little League or Scouts. And their incomes are still going down. Their taxes are still going up. And the costs of health care, housing and education are going through the roof. Meanwhile, more and more of our best people are falling into poverty even though they work 40 hours a week. Our people are pleading for change, but government is in the way. It has been hijacked by privileged private interests. It has forgotten who really pays the bills around here. It has taken more of your money and given you less in return. We have got to go beyond the brain-dead politics in Washington and give our people the kind of government they deserve, a government that works for them. A President, a president, ought to be a powerful force for progress. But right now I know how President Lincoln felt when General McClellan wouldn’t attack in the Civil War. He asked him, 'If you’re not going to use your army, may I borrow it?' And so I say: George Bush, if you won’t use our power to help America, step aside. I will.”
- Governor Bill Clinton (D-AR) Accepting the Democratic National Convention, 1992
1992 Democratic Nominee for President: Governor William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton (D-AR)
1992 Democratic Nominee for Vice President: Senator Al Gore (D-TN)
(Writer's Note: This is an actual excerpt from Clinton's nomination acceptance)
Presidential Poll July 21, 1992
Who Will You Vote for this November?
Bill Clinton (D) - 36%
Ross Perot (I) - 35%
George Bush (R) - 28%
Other – 1%
“After the Democratic convention ended, our lead had diminished somewhat. The convention had been really thought-out, and the Democrats had made it look like it was a party for the people, so naturally, he gained in the polls. Still, we were neck-to-neck with Bill Clinton. We looked at individual states towards the end of July to see which states to focus on. In New York, we were in a near third, just below George Bush and about five points below Bill Clinton; in Ohio, we were ahead of Clinton and Bush by a three-point margin; and in California, we were tied with Bill Clinton exactly at 38.5% to 38.5%, with George Bush placing a far-off 23%. Ross correctly predicted that the election would probably depend on either Ohio or California. We started campagning more and more in those states, and it seemed to sort of pay off. I think Perot just had an air about him that just made him very likeable, and that's why people voted for him.”
- The Most Remarkable Years: Memoirs of a White House Chief of Staff by Clay Mulford
“The president was getting very worried before the Republican convention. He wasn't worried about not being nominated; that was assured. He was worried about his trailing Clinton and Perot in the polls by around a 7% margin. That was scary. If we didn't make up that trail, we would be assured a defeat in November. So, we knew we had to make the best we could out of the convention.”
- Managing the Bush Campaign by Frederic Malek
The New York Times September 17, 1992
RNC OPENS!
PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT AT RNC '92
Pres. George Bush – 2165
Pat Buchanan – 20
VICE PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT
Vice Pres. Dan Quayle – Renominated by Voice Vote
“Ladies and gentlemen, the distinguished president of the United States is the man to vote for. The president has shown courage during the Gulf War, experience as vice president under my administration, and selflessness in his presidency so far. Let me tell you; President Bush, as my vice president, was a great man, seeking only to further his service to our great nation. Mr. Clinton has not shown a bit of that courage and selflessness, instead running on a platform wrongly accusing our president as mishandling our recent war and accusing him of wrongdoings. Meanwhile, a businessman is running against the president, trying selfishly to win the presidency for himself, for selfish reasons. Here's the truth, folks: He's just another businessman wanting your tax money to pay for his own salary. Let's give the president a round of applause, and re-elect him on the Third of November.”
- Keynote Address by Former President Ronald Reagan, August 18, 1992
Presidential Poll August 22, 1992
With the Recent Republican convention, who will you vote for this November?
Bill Clinton (D) – 34%
Ross Perot (I) – 33%
George Bush (R) - 33%
“After the August 22 poll, we knew that it was going to be tough trying to win the presidency. We were tied with President Bush, and Perot told me immediately: 'I am not going to place third. Not after I held a lead for a while.' The campaigning went well, but we knew we had to take advantage of something else – and that something was the debates. Perot spent a lot of time practicing for the debates, and it really proved helpful toward his campaign.”
- The Most Remarkable Years: Memoirs of a White House Chief of Staff by Clay Mulford
Ross Perot at a Campaign Rally, September 14, 1992
FAMOUS TRANSCRIPT OF THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE OF 1992
OCTOBER 11, 1992
JIM LEHRER: Mr. Perot, President Bush has just accused you of inexperience in running the economy. How do you respond to the president on these charges? You have one minute.
ROSS PEROT: Well, Mr. President, I understand – I have no experience in running a nation. I wasn't a congressman, a governor, or senator. I am a businessman – I am the owner of a big company, that is making billions of dollars. Does that not tell you how I handle my money? And look at the nation's deficit right now. We are now in debt, when we shouldn't be. While I have owned this company for a long time, you have been a congressman – which has no experience in running a national deficit – and you have been the vice president of an administration that has started this near-recession. No, we need change in America, and if the president is going to accuse me of experience, I'll just point to his record. You have no way of saying that you have run a good business, while I do.
“After the debates, which Perot did pretty well in, his approval started going up. In the second debate, Perot did even better. And the third debate was a total success for Mr. Perot. And after rally after rally, I could see it in Ross Perot's eyes, that he was extremely happy. His eyes gleamed during the rallys, and he spoke strongly and significantly better than his first rallys. But the happiest I ever saw him was on Election Day, after the race was called.”
- The Most Remarkable Years: Memoirs of a White House Chief of Staff by Clay Mulford
Businessman Ross Perot (I-TX) / Fmr. Vice Adm. James Stockdale (I-CA) – 277 EVs
Gov. Bill Clinton (D-AR) / Sen. Al Gore (D-TN) – 210 EVs
Pres. George Bush (R-TX) / Vice Pres. Dan Quayle (R-IN) – 51 EVs
“It was about 12:30, at midnight, when Ross Perot made his acceptance speech on a platform in Houston, Texas. He was almost dancing around, he was so happy; this was only about a half hour after CNN called California for Ross Perot, putting him ahead of the 270 mark. Still, we were able to convince him to make the speech he needed to make. It was then that the president-elect of the United States beckoned for the crowd to stop its noise. 'Well, folks,' he said, with that gleam in his eyes, 'It's been a long, good year. Since that March day that I began my campaign, we have gone through so much. And by voting me into office tonight, we have proved that we can admit our mistakes and set them right. By electing me your next president, I am going to show that I am not like other politicians – I will do what I promise, unlike the many politicians who have run for president and not done what they were elected to do. I promise universal health care and a better America in general.'”
- The Most Remarkable Years: Memoirs of a White House Chief of Staff by Clay Mulford
“Before I say anything about the past year, I would like to congratulate the president-elect of the United States, Henry Ross Perot. I would like to promise the president-elect that I will aid him in the transition period until January 20th, and I will work with Mr. Perot over the next few months to get him in the mood of being the president. I'd like to thank not only our next president, but Governor Clinton as well, for a well-dealt campaign. I'd like to thank everyone who voted for me, and for those who did not vote for me, I hope you will be satisfied with Mr. Perot in his presidency. To my supporters, I say this: We did the best we could. And we did a great job. We voiced our opinion in this election that exercises the American freedom, and that's what mattered.”
- President George Bush's Concession Speech, November 3, 1992
TO BE CONTINUED
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So is the POD just a better run campaign?
