Isolationist USA- Wilson incapacitated variant

WI Woodrow Wilson had suffered his stroke and become incapacitated on the October 1914 instead of the historic 1919.

How would this effect the newly started war in Europe?

Does Thomas R Marshall assume the presidency?

How does this effect the Entente now that the People making the decisions on US foreign policy are others then Woodrow Wilson?

One thing is certain the US government without WW would not have taken such a hard line with the CP and an easy one with the Entente.

Another bigger is with Bryan still as Secretary of State those Entente loans aren't going to get passed?

So what happens in the world now with an incapacitated Wilson and a VP who wont assume the presidency?
Does US foreign policy meander for a year and a half until a new president is elected?

Lets discuss?
 
The term "October Surprise" comes into play a whole lot earlier.

October 1914 is only 1 month prior to the mid-term elections for both the House and thanks to the 17th amendment the Senate as well. With the country and the democratic party effectively leaderless. I wouldn't be surprised if the GOP retakes not only the House of Representatives (which they nearly did in OTL) but the Senate as well.

Following their decisive defeat in the mid-term elections Marshall will undoubtedly be forced to assume the presidency "for the good of the party". However upon doing so he finds himself a lame duck due to the Republican controlled Congress. Perhaps by cooperating with them he manages to get some legislation passed.

In terms of foreign policy...Assuming a GOP controlled congress (which is very likely provided that Wilson is INCAPACITATED and not killed) and with Bryan as Sec. State I'd say that the Entente is going to have a much harder time getting those loans. In addition I'd wager that Marshall's going to try his darndest to keep the US out of the War.

Come 1916 the field is wide open again for both parties. For the Democrats I'd expect Champ Clark and William Jennings Bryan both to make their respective runs for the candidacy. Marshall might try to run but I doubt he'll get very far. As for the GOP, I don't see them shifting from their strategy of OTL (nominating a moderate) Perhaps Congressman James Mann (who becomes Speaker of the House in TTL) makes a successful bid, though he might be too liberal...

In the long run, I don't see the US entering WWI leading to an interesting peace to say the least.

Thoughts?
 
The term "October Surprise" comes into play a whole lot earlier.

October 1914 is only 1 month prior to the mid-term elections for both the House and thanks to the 17th amendment the Senate as well. With the country and the democratic party effectively leaderless. I wouldn't be surprised if the GOP retakes not only the House of Representatives (which they nearly did in OTL) but the Senate as well.

Following their decisive defeat in the mid-term elections Marshall will undoubtedly be forced to assume the presidency "for the good of the party". However upon doing so he finds himself a lame duck due to the Republican controlled Congress. Perhaps by cooperating with them he manages to get some legislation passed.

In terms of foreign policy...Assuming a GOP controlled congress (which is very likely provided that Wilson is INCAPACITATED and not killed) and with Bryan as Sec. State I'd say that the Entente is going to have a much harder time getting those loans. In addition I'd wager that Marshall's going to try his darndest to keep the US out of the War.

Come 1916 the field is wide open again for both parties. For the Democrats I'd expect Champ Clark and William Jennings Bryan both to make their respective runs for the candidacy. Marshall might try to run but I doubt he'll get very far. As for the GOP, I don't see them shifting from their strategy of OTL (nominating a moderate) Perhaps Congressman James Mann (who becomes Speaker of the House in TTL) makes a successful bid, though he might be too liberal...

In the long run, I don't see the US entering WWI leading to an interesting peace to say the least.

Thoughts?

Fl,
Interesting points I hadn't considered that you yanks have mid term elections I'd forgotten all about it.
I'd say that the Entente would get US government guaranteed loans so they would be a few basic points higher which would most likely mean more Entente equities being disposed of to fund the war effort.

The yanks would probably still sell all it could to the entente but as it is still 1914 I'd expect that with Wilson out of the way the US government might force GB to allow neutral to neutral trade in Europe at the risk of the US government cutting the entente off.
The result of this would be a very very leaky blockade with the Dutch and Swedes along with the US getting fat off both sides while the war grinds on.
 
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