Let’s drop some books. A number of these can be obtained for free borrowing either via OpenLibrary or Internet Archive (they’re the same, but weirdly results differ in allowing borrowing).
In no order at all...
Now that I should give a read.That timeline has basically become our board's equivalent of the Room.
Well perhaps during the presidential race Johnson oversteps his boundaries in trying to win re-election. Maybe he pulls a Nixon and gets embroiled in a watergate-like situation. I don’t know I’m trying to think of ways to weaken Johnson during the election.Okay, I should rephrase that, IF RFK had run first and come as close as Mccarthy or beat him in new Hampishre he would of stayed in just to get back at him. I also think that if RFK was on the path to nomination he would of flown to chicago and taken it for himself, He almost did it in otl and was only pervented by the prauge spring.
It is...fascinating.Now that I should give a read.![]()
Bearing the weight of his father's ambition and his brother's stillborn but revered potential...hell yeah, this is an HBO epic series!!!RFK as a failed 1-term president would be interesting
He reveals Nixon's interfering in peace talks tainting Nixon but creating fear of a President who spies on his citizens?Well perhaps during the presidential race Johnson oversteps his boundaries in trying to win re-election. Maybe he pulls a Nixon and gets embroiled in a watergate-like situation. I don’t know I’m trying to think of ways to weaken Johnson during the election.
I did some research and I’m almost sure that LBJ would have still dropped out of the race even if RFK entered earlier. Although Johnson hated Kennedy’s guts, there was a far more influential factor that would decide whether or not he would run: his declining health. And Johnson had already made up his mind in 1967. He only participated in the early presidential race so that he could push legislation without being seen as a lame duck.How about a McCarthy POD? Say he turns down the offer or acts erratic enough during negotiations to scuttle the idea. No credible figure accepts it either after that. So it’s an RFK write-in campaign (?) in New Hampshire where whatever is the right size result to get LBJ to quit instead of fight RFK over spite takes place. LBJ rationalizes it as RFK not doing it personally, RFK views it as the same signal to enter as New Hampshire IOTL.
It costs so much time for RFK compared to your POD, but I don’t think LBJ would drop out in your scenario and he’d almost certainly win. So RFK gets no more time in this twist vs OTL, but also no McCarthy. I think he takes it.
Well.....OTL he was still very much interested. Heck he hatched an entire plot to take back the nomination, If kennedy had any sort of general chance I think LBJ would of gone through with it.I did some research and I’m almost sure that LBJ would have still dropped out of the race even if RFK entered earlier. Although Johnson hated Kennedy’s guts, there was a far more influential factor that would decide whether or not he would run: his declining health. And Johnson had already made up his mind in 1967. He only participated in the early presidential race so that he could push legislation without being seen as a lame duck.
Huh, that certainly is interesting. However I've been reading An American Melodrama and it mentions that if Johnson had tried to reign in the nomination aggressively (like he would have in this situation) it could have swayed many into the Kennedy camp. The book mentions that Johnson was losing control of his own party, and this could be one of the many reasons for why he didn't run. Personally I believe his health was the biggest factor, but that article sort of disproves that notion.Well.....OTL he was still very much interested. Heck he hatched an entire plot to take back the nomination, If kennedy had any sort of general chance I think LBJ would of gone through with it.
RFK as a failed 1-term president would be interesting