Nixon's legacy sans Watergate

Yes, that is what is so strange.

The modern rise of Christian Dominianism and the populatity of economic lawlessness is something actual republicans from before the Reagan revolution would be quite appalled at.

The Religious Right was the last addition to the conservative coalition of fusionism, but it's roots are there in the late '50s and early '60s in Orange County, California, Kansas, and Texas. The Gospel of Wealth was widespread by propaganda schools such as the Christian Anti-Communist Crusade (of which Ronald Reagan was a prominent speaker).
 
Huh? OTL:
1969-1974: Richard Nixon* (Republican)
1974-1977: Gerald Ford (Republican)
1977-1981: Jimmy Carter (Democratic)
1981-1989: Ronald Reagan (Republican)
1989-1993: George H. W. Bush (Republican)

Granted, the Democrats controlled the House of Representatives, and the Senate except 1980-1986. It's really Carter's fault for his failures than anything else.

In those cases, Republicans never held the presidency for more than 12 years. One can tire of one leader or party by ten, but after eight, years. That explains why Bush's election in 1988 and loss in 1992 actually support what Cook said.

Now, it's been speculated before that President Nixon might have implemented some fom of uniersal health care system haf there not been a Watergate scandal. That presents an interesting set of possibilities for the future, if it were to happen.
 
The Religious Right was the last addition to the conservative coalition of fusionism, but it's roots are there in the late '50s and early '60s in Orange County, California, Kansas, and Texas. The Gospel of Wealth was widespread by propaganda schools such as the Christian Anti-Communist Crusade (of which Ronald Reagan was a prominent speaker).

I know, the funny thing is that "The Gospel of wealth" is contradicted pretty solidly by well, you know,

The four Gospels.
 
Yes, that is what is so strange.

The modern rise of Christian Dominianism and the populatity of economic lawlessness is something actual republicans from before the Reagan revolution would be quite appalled at.

Barry Goldwater, among others, was warning about the rise of the Xian right. He had the right idea re Falwell and his like - boot to the ass (nya-nya). (I wonder who'll get that last little tack on...)
 
Actually its'

Boot to the head".

Only if you exclude Barry Goldwater's quote on where every good America should kick Falwell from the mash up. ;)

(There's a wicked if ASB AHC - an Arizona senator cuts a record w/ a Canuck comedy troupe. Butterflies and whatnot result in the group being named the Fantics. Extra ASB points if Goldwater has an awesomely rich, seductive bass voice.)
 
Only if you exclude Barry Goldwater's quote on where every good America should kick Falwell from the mash up. ;)

(There's a wicked if ASB AHC - an Arizona senator cuts a record w/ a Canuck comedy troupe. Butterflies and whatnot result in the group being named the Fantics. Extra ASB points if Goldwater has an awesomely rich, seductive bass voice.)

I just think that the takeover of the Republican party by the religious fundamentalists is something that has to be avoided at all costs.
 

Ford1976

Banned
If Watergate never happend, or if it happens and Nixon doesn't cave into Haldeman's demands to issue a cover up, and comes out with a clean image, then his legacy is one for the history books. He will go down as a great Foreign Policy President and a decent Domestic Policy president.

Ford still get's the Veep in 1973, and runs in 1976, winning w/out the Pardon over his head. He is re-elected in 1980 and retires after inauguration day 1985. There would be no Carter or Reagan if Dick was without Watergate. The GOP would remain much like it did for years with the John Birch Society still looked upon as the crazies of the party and the Nixonian, Ike and Ford Repulicans remaining the establishment.

It would pretty much look like this IMO:

1969-1977: Richard Nixon (R), 37th President
1977-1985: Gerald R. Ford (R), 38th President
1985-1993: Dick Gephardt (D), 39th President
1993-2001: Dale Bumpers (D), 40th President
2001-2009: John McCain (R), 41st President

With the possibilty of George H.W. Bush and Governor Tommy Thompson somewhere in there. G.H.W. Bush ran as a Moderate Republican when he challenged Reagan for the Nomination in 1980.
 
If Watergate never happend, or if it happens and Nixon doesn't cave into Haldeman's demands to issue a cover up, and comes out with a clean image, then his legacy is one for the history books. He will go down as a great Foreign Policy President and a decent Domestic Policy president.

Ford still get's the Veep in 1973, and runs in 1976, winning w/out the Pardon over his head. He is re-elected in 1980 and retires after inauguration day 1985. There would be no Carter or Reagan if Dick was without Watergate. The GOP would remain much like it did for years with the John Birch Society still looked upon as the crazies of the party and the Nixonian, Ike and Ford Repulicans remaining the establishment.

It would pretty much look like this IMO:

1969-1977: Richard Nixon (R), 37th President
1977-1985: Gerald R. Ford (R), 38th President
1985-1993: Dick Gephardt (D), 39th President
1993-2001: Dale Bumpers (D), 40th President
2001-2009: John McCain (R), 41st President

With the possibilty of George H.W. Bush and Governor Tommy Thompson somewhere in there. G.H.W. Bush ran as a Moderate Republican when he challenged Reagan for the Nomination in 1980.


I would love this, old school republicanism with a nice flavor of moderate centrist to keep things mellow.

And the John Birtchers and their ilk told to sit at the Manchildren's table and hush up..
 
The problem with Nixon forcing his party leftward is this: where do social conservatives go? If they get the boot from the Democrats after McGovern, and don't latch on to Nixon's partisans, what candidates do voters focused on those issues vote for? There's a case to be made for them going Republican anyway.
 
The problem with Nixon forcing his party leftward is this: where do social conservatives go? If they get the boot from the Democrats after McGovern, and don't latch on to Nixon's partisans, what candidates do voters focused on those issues vote for? There's a case to be made for them going Republican anyway.

Then the American Independent Party would remain a major third party for years to come, with George Wallace as its standard bearer.
 
Then the American Independent Party would remain a major third party for years to come, with George Wallace as its standard bearer.

It was meaningless as a party after 1968. Like it or not, Nixon's "Law and Order" message and southern strategy laid the groundwork for the rise of social conservatives in the GOP. Couple this too with McGovern and the New Left, and a trend is made propelled further by the ffenzied reaction to Roe v. Wade if that decision still happens.
 
The problem with Nixon forcing his party leftward is this: where do social conservatives go? If they get the boot from the Democrats after McGovern, and don't latch on to Nixon's partisans, what candidates do voters focused on those issues vote for? There's a case to be made for them going Republican anyway.
Social COnservativism is all about total strangers wanting to tell other total strangers how to ru ntheir private lives. If they get the rightful boot from both major parties, then I guess it's time for them to grow the heck up and learn to mind their own Major Framing Business, isn't it?
 
Social COnservativism is all about total strangers wanting to tell other total strangers how to ru ntheir private lives. If they get the rightful boot from both major parties, then I guess it's time for them to grow the heck up and learn to mind their own Major Framing Business, isn't it?

Tell me how you really feel.

While social conservatism is at times excessive and annoying, you are treating it, in my opinion, as if it were a totally spontaneous aberration when the historical record suggests otherwise.
 
Tell me how you really feel.

While social conservatism is at times excessive and annoying, you are treating it, in my opinion, as if it were a totally spontaneous aberration when the historical record suggests otherwise.

Maybe in an extreme case, the party could splinter.
 
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