No 12th Amendment: Runner-up is Vice President of the US to the present day

I posted this timeline in another alternate history web site in which Congress fails to pass the 12th Amendment. As a result, the second place finisher becomes Vice President. I have since made minor changes. Hopefully, you will enjoy a twist of history. Without further ado.

1803:
On December 9, three Senators abruptly switch their votes, under pressure from Aaron Burr, who wants to stay Vice President. The 12th Amendment is voted down.

1804:
Due to
Jefferson's becoming President, despite Burr's efforts as an independent candidate, he is beaten out for the Vice Presidency by Governor George Clinton of New York.

1805:
Thomas Jefferson is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.


1809:
As James Madison is sworn in as President, Charles Pinckney becomes Vice President.

1812:
Charles Pinckney retires from politics. President Madison is reelected but New York Governor DeWitt Clinton gets the Vice Presidency.

1816:
Secretary of State James Monroe defeats Vice President DeWitt Clinton to win the Presidency.

1820:
President Monroe is reelected in a rematch against Vice President Clinton.

1825:
Andrew Jackson is sworn in as Vice President of the
United States, having lost to John Quincy Adams.

1829:
John Quincy Adams becomes the first President to be demoted to Vice President, as Andrew Jackson is inaugurated into the highest office.

1837:
Martin Van Buren is stuck with a Vice President, William Henry Harrison, who he despises.

1841:
Martin Van Buren becomes Vice President, instead of President.
Harrison takes office.

Harrison's death on April 4 leaves Van Buren back in the White House, much to the chagrin of the Whigs. They all resign from the cabinet, except Daniel Webster, Secretary of State.

1844:
Seizing on Whig anger, Henry Clay is nominated for President.

Democrats nominate James K. Polk for President, in place of incumbent President Martin Van Buren.

Polk trounces Clay, but Clay still gets the Vice Presidency.

1845:
Polk is sworn in as President, with Clay as Vice President.

Vice President Clay criticizes the annexation of
Texas, warning that it will mean "war for more slavery.”

1848:
The Whigs nominate Zachary Taylor for President.

The Democrats nominate Lewis Cass for President.

Taylor wins. Cass becomes VP.

1849:
President Taylor takes office a day late, due to Inauguration Day being a Sunday. (He refuses to be sworn in on "the Sabbath".)

1850:
President Taylor dies suspiciously on July 8. He is succeeded by Vice President Cass.

1852:
President Cass is nominated for a 2nd term by the Democratic Party.

General Winfield Scott wins the Whig nomination.

Scott defeats Cass, who again becomes Vice President.

1854:
President Scott dies unexpectedly. Vice President Cass succeeds him

1856:
The newly formed Republican Party nominates Colonel John C. Fremont for President.

James Buchanan is nominated for President by the Democrats.

Final results of the 1856 elections give Buchanan the White House.
Fremont becomes the first bastard to assume the Vice Presidency.

1860:
President Buchanan, Senator Stephen A. Douglas of
Illinois, Vice President Fremont, former Governor William H. Seward of New York, and Senator John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky all run for President.

On December 1, the House of Representatives barely breaks the Electoral tie, electing John C. Fremont as President, with Senator Breckinridge as Vice President. The South, while not pleased with the results, decides that it has enough influence in the Senate to justify delaying secession.

1861:
In a compromise reached by President Fremont, Vice President Breckenridge and the Congressional leadership, slavery will be preserved where it exists until 1890. It will not be introduced into any new territories nor exist in any new states. In 1890, each slave state’s legislature shall vote to either adopt a program of manumission, or secede peaceably from the
Union. The compromise is incredibly unexpected, but fairly popular as it shuffles the problem of slavery away from the current generation and seems a wise way to keep the peace. It is opposed by abolitionists and some Southern Congressmen, but many call it a brilliant solution

1864:
Fremont is defeated for a 2nd term by Governor Horatio Seymour of New York, who has united the Democratic Party behind him.

1865:
Horatio Seymour is sworn in as President. John Fremont is demoted to Vice President.

1868:
The Republicans nominate Senator Abraham Lincoln for President.

Abraham Lincoln is elected President.
Seymour will be demoted to Vice President.

1872:
President Lincoln announces that he will not seek reelection. Republicans nominate Secretary of State William Seward.

Democrats nominate Senator Andrew Johnson of
Tennessee for President.

William Seward dies of a heart attack on October 10. In a special convention, Republicans nominate Salmon Chase.

Salmon Chase is elected President. Johnson becomes Vice President.

1873:
On May 7, President Chase dies in
New York City. Andrew Johnson becomes President.

1875:
On July 31, President Andrew Johnson dies of a stroke at his home in
Tennessee. With the Presidency and Vice Presidency vacant, Senate President Pro Tempore Thomas Ferry (R-MI) becomes President.

1876:
President Ferry announces that he will not seek the Presidency in his own right.

New York Governor Samuel Tilden defeats Rutherford B. Hayes and becomes President.

1880:
President Tilden dies of a heart attack. He had been in declining health during his term of office. Hayes becomes President.

Retired General Winfield Hancock defeats Rutherford Hayes and is elected President. Hayes is demoted to the Vice Presidency.

1881:
President Hancock is assassinated by Charles Guiteau on July 2. Hayes returns to the Presidency.

1884:
Governor Grover Cleveland of
New York defeats James Blaine and is elected President. A few Republicans led by Theodore Roosevelt campaigned for Democrat Cleveland. Blaine takes the Vice Presidency as a consolation prize.

1885:
With a reputation for corruption, Vice President Blaine resigns the office on December 23 to avoid almost certain impeachment from Congress.

1888:
Benjamin Harrison follows in the footsteps of his father, William Henry Harrison, and is elected President. Grover
Cleveland is demoted to Vice President.

1892:
In a rematch, Vice President Cleveland defeats President Benjamin Harrison.

1896:
Vice President Harrison announces he is retiring when he completes his term of office. Republicans nominate Ohio Governor William McKinley. Democrats nominate Congressman William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska.

McKinley defeats
Bryan in a landslide and is elected President. Free silver Democrats will still have a voice in the new administration as Bryan will become Vice President.
 
1900:
In a rematch, President McKinley is reelected over Vice President Bryan. In
New York, Governor Theodore Roosevelt is easily reelected.

1901:
President McKinley is assassinated in
Buffalo, New York on September 14. Vice President Bryan becomes President. Upon learning the news, Senator Mark Hanna of Ohio laments “that damn Nebraska Cornhusker is president now.”

Mark Hanna introduces the 12th Amendment in Congress that was defeated in 1804. However, Democrats and anti-Hanna Republicans vote it down.

1904:
Senator Mark Hanna dies of typhoid fever on February 15. He had been considered the frontrunner for the Republican Presidential nomination.

Governor Theodore Roosevelt is nominated by the Republicans for President.

In a landslide,
Roosevelt defeats Bryan for the Presidency. Bryan will stay on as Vice President.

1908:
President Roosevelt defeats Vice President Bryan in a rematch.

1912:
President Roosevelt is elected to an unprecedented third term as President over New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson.

1916:
With the United States still fighting in World War I, Theodore Roosevelt announces that he is seeking a fourth term as President. He defeats Vice President Woodrow Wilson in a rematch.


1918:

Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany abdicates. His son succeeds him as the new Kaiser and requests an Armistice. It is granted by the Allies.

The Treaty of Versailles is signed officially ending World War I. Germany is allowed to keep its monarchy but it must be reduced to that of a figurehead, and demilitarize the Rhineland. Germany loses Alsace-Lorraine to France and its African colonies to France and the United Kingdom.

Vice President Wilson’s proposal for a
League of Nations becomes a reality. President Roosevelt agrees to amendments that Senate Republicans demanded for approval of the League of Nations treaty. Such amendments were opposed by Wilson but Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Henry Cabot Lodge could easily ignore a mere Vice President and work with President Roosevelt on the issue.


1919:
On January 5, President Theodore Roosevelt dies of a heart attack while vacationing in Oyster Bay, New York. Woodrow Wilson is sworn into the Presidency.

1920:
While the Democrats nominate
Wilson, it takes twelve ballots for the Republicans to nominate a candidate. Senator Hiram Johnson releases his delegates to dark horse candidate, Senator Warren Harding of Ohio.

With the country in a recession, Harding sweeps every state outside the South as he is elected President. Wilson returns to the Vice Presidency.

1923:
Albert Fall resigns as Secretary of the Interior on March 4 due to his involvement in the Teapot Dome scandal. Soon, other members of Harding’s cabinet will turn out to be implicated in corruption and scandal.

During a cross-country tour, President Harding dies on August 2 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Woodrow Wilson is sworn in for his second non-consecutive (and non-elected) term as President. Wilson immediately fires the entire cabinet, but keeps Herbert Hoover at Commerce. Wilson appoints Democrats to the remaining cabinet posts.

1924:

On February 3, President Woodrow Wilson is found dead in the Oval Office. With the Vice Presidency vacant, Secretary of State Cordell Hull becomes the new President.

Herbert Hoover resigns from the Cabinet and announces his candidacy for President. He is nominated by the Republicans on the first ballot.


Hoover defeats Hull in a landslide and is elected President. Hull is demoted to the Vice Presidency.

1928:
Vice President Hull announces that he will not run for President so he can practice law back home in
Tennessee.

Democrats convince Congressman Franklin D. Roosevelt to accept the party’s nomination for President.
Roosevelt had wanted to run for Governor of New York but many Southern delegates absolutely refused to nominate Al Smith due to his Roman Catholic religion. Although Hoover is heavily favored to win reelection, Smith would become Vice President and the first Catholic to be next in line for the Presidency.

President Hoover is reelected.
Roosevelt wins his home state of New York and sweeps every Southern state.

1932:
Vice President Franklin D. Roosevelt defeats Senator Charles Curtis for the Presidency. With the country in recession since 1930, Republicans had very little chance against FDR.

1936:
Vice President Curtis announces his retirement and will not seek any elected office. President Roosevelt is reelected over Kansas Governor Alfred Landon.

1940:
President Roosevelt decides to seek a third term, much to the relief of Democrats. On the other hand, Vice President Landon decides not to seek the Presidency because he wants to return home to
Kansas and spend more time with his family.

The Republicans nominate Wendell Willkie for President

Roosevelt is reelected President. Willkie becomes VP.

1941:
The Japanese attack
Pearl Harbor on December 7. President Roosevelt asks Congress for a declaration of war against Japan. Vice President Willkie gives his full support.

1944:
Citing heart disease, Vice President Willkie announces his retirement after completing his term. Republicans nominate Governor Thomas Dewey of
New York.

President Roosevelt is reelected. Dewey becomes Vice President.

1945:
On April 12, President Roosevelt dies of a stroke. He was 63. Dewey is sworn in as President.

On August 9, President Dewey orders atomic bomb drops on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Two days later, Japanese Emperor Hirohito announces Japan’s surrender. World War II is over.

1946:
Henry Wallace resigns as Secretary of Agriculture due to disagreements with President Dewey over policy toward the
Soviet Union.

Riding President Dewey’s post-war popularity, Republicans make gains in Congressional races but not enough to win control of either house of Congress.

1948:
President Thomas Dewey is reelected over Democratic nominee Henry Wallace and States Rights Party nominee, Governor Strom Thurmond of
South Carolina. Wallace does become VP much to the dismay of Dewey.

1950:
Acting on the recommendations of Secretary of War Dwight Eisenhower, President Dewey fires General Douglas Macarthur on May 16 and increases the number of troops. North Korean Communist leader Kim Il-Sung is killed when his military compound is bombed by US Navy planes. His death ends the Korean War and unifies
Korea.

1952:
Senator Harry S. Truman of
Missouri announces he will not seek reelection and retire after 3 terms in the Senate.

Dwight Eisenhower is elected President over Governor Adlai Stevenson of
Illinois.

1960:
Senator Barry Goldwater scores an upset victory over Governor Nelson Rockefeller in the
California primary and clinches the Republican Presidential nomination.

Vice President Stevenson defeats Barry Goldwater in a landslide. Goldwater wins only 4 states:
New Hampshire, Utah, Idaho and his home state of Arizona. But that is good enough to win the Vice Presidency. LOL

1961:
The
Bay of Pigs invasion is a disaster. Vice President Goldwater makes a speech criticizing President Stevenson over his incompetence.

1963:
On November 22, President Stevenson is assassinated during a campaign visit to
Dallas. To the dismay of Democrats, Barry Goldwater becomes President.

1964:
At his first State of the Union address, President Barry Goldwater advocates a National Right to Work Amendment and a privatization of Social Security and the Tennessee Valley Authority. With control of both houses of Congress, Democrats declare President Goldwater’s agenda dead on arrival.

On July 2, President Barry Goldwater vetoes the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and calls it an intrusion on states rights. The next day, the House and Senate override Goldwater’s veto by more than two-thirds margin. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 becomes law.

Over 50 Republicans announce their switch to the Democrats. The most prominent party switchers include Congressman John Lindsay, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, Senator Jacob Javits, and Massachusetts Attorney General Edward Brooke (in 1966, Brooke will become the first African-American since Reconstruction and first African-American Democrat to be elected to the United States Senate).

Democrats nominate former Senator John F. Kennedy for President. In his acceptance speech, Kennedy criticizes President Goldwater for starting a war with
North Vietnam even after the Senate defeated the Gulf of Tonkin resolution. Kennedy also proposes an income tax that Goldwater vetoed earlier this year and a voting rights act to end the Jim Crow laws in the South.

John F. Kennedy takes 63 percent of the popular vote and is elected the first Roman Catholic President. Goldwater wins only 6 states:
Arizona, Idaho, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia. Kennedy’s coattails enable Democrats to gain seats in Congress. In New York, John Lindsay is elected to the Senate as he defeats incumbent Kenneth Keating.

At the urging of Republicans, President Goldwater announces he will not return to the Vice Presidency when he completes his current term of office.


1965:
John F. Kennedy is sworn in as President. “In the long history of the world," he says in his Inaugural Address, "only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility, I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it. And the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

President Kennedy orders a phased withdrawal of troops and military advisors from
Vietnam.

On May 13, Congress passes and President Kennedy signs the Voting Rights Act into law. Blacks in the south are now able to vote for the first time in history.

Congress passes the largest tax cut in history, which President Kennedy signs into law. The legislation also includes an Earned Income Tax Credit for lower income taxpayers.

President Kennedy signs the Environmental Protection Act into law. The legislation creates the Environmental Protection Agency.

Secretary of State Stuart Symington informs President Kennedy that North and
South Vietnam have agreed to cease hostilities and end the Vietnam War.

Abe Beame is elected the first Jewish mayor of
New York City. He easily defeats his Republican opponent William F. Buckley.

On the eve of Thanksgiving, the Vietnam Peace Treaty is signed in
Melbourne, Australia. North and South Vietnam agree to unify by 1969.

1968:
Citing health problems related to Addison’s disease, President Kennedy announces he will not run for reelection.


Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York, a former Republican, wins the majority of primaries over Senator Hubert Humphrey and Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson to clinch the Democratic nomination for President. He easily defeats Senator Richard Nixon, who will become Vice President. Third party candidate George Wallace wins the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia.

1969:
Former New York City Mayor Robert Wagner defeats unpopular incumbent Abe Beame in the Democratic primary. Wagner will be elected to his fourth term as mayor this November and retire from politics in 1973.

1970:
Robert F. Kennedy, brother of former President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General in that administration, is elected to the US Senate from
Massachusetts. A month after becoming Governor of Maryland after the resignation of Spiro Agnew from income tax evasion charges, Marvin Mandel wins the election in his own right.

1971:
George Wallace announces he is not a candidate for President in 1972. He endorses Vice President Nixon.

1972:
On May 15 at a campaign stop in
Laurel, Maryland, President Rockefeller is shot by Arthur Bremer. He is pronounced dead a few hours later. Richard Nixon becomes the new President.

Senators George McGovern, Hubert Humphrey, Edmund Muskie and Henry Jackson announce their candidacies for the Democratic Presidential nomination.


President Nixon announces that he will visit China this year in hopes of restoring relations with that country.

In a divisive convention, George McGovern wins the Democratic nomination for President.
In November, President Nixon defeats George McGovern with 56% of the popular vote and 38 states. It is not an overwhelming landslide, but a victory nevertheless for Nixon. McGovern will become Vice President.

1974:
Facing certain conviction after being impeached by the House, President Richard Nixon announces in an August 8 address to the nation that he will resign the next day. “I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow. Vice President McGovern will be sworn in as President at that hour in this office.”

A month later, President McGovern announces that he will not issue a pardon to former President Nixon.

With McGovern’s ratings at 60%, the Democrats gain seats in the House and Senate.

1976:
Riding voter anger over inflation, recession and increased government, former Governor Ronald Reagan of
California defeats George McGovern; he will return to the Vice Presidency.

1979:
Citing longtime friendship with
Iran, President Reagan allows the exiled former Shah to enter the United States for medical treatment. Vice President McGovern and Senator Robert Kennedy criticize the decision. Days later, Iranian students storm the US Embassy in Tehran and take its staff hostage.

After the Thanksgiving holidays, Vice President McGovern announces that he will not seek the Presidency in 1980.

1980:
Senator Robert Kennedy defeats Senator Henry Jackson in the
New Hampshire Democratic primary.

Senator Robert Kennedy wins the
California primary and clinches the Democrat party nomination for President.

Unable to control inflation, end the recession or end the hostage crisis in
Iran, President Reagan is defeated for reelection by Senator Robert Kennedy. Reagan will be demoted to Vice President next January.

1981:
Former President John F. Kennedy dies of a heart attack at his home in
Boston on March 25. He was 64. He is survived by his wife Jacqueline and his children, John Jr., Caroline and Frank (born in 1965).

After John F. Kennedy’s body lies in state at the US Capitol building, it is flown back to
Boston for burial.

On March 30, Vice President Reagan stands in for President Kennedy at the Hilton Hotel to address an AFL-CIO conference. As he leaves the hotel, he is shot by John Hinckley but survives the assassination attempt.

1983:
Vice President Reagan decides not to run for President next year for health reasons.

1984:
President Kennedy is reelected over Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole.

1988:
Jack Kemp defeats Vice President Dole in the New Hampshire Republican primary. Dole’s refusal to sign a no new tax pledge really hurt.

Jack Kemp is elected President over Governor Michael Dukakis of
Massachusetts. Dukakis will become the first Greek-American Vice President.

1992:
Running on his record of winning the Persian Gulf War and economic recovery, President Jack Kemp is reelected over Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton. Vice President Dukakis decided not to run after his wife Kitty was treated for alcoholism. Bill Clinton will succeed Dukakis as Vice President.

1996:
Vice President Clinton is elected President over Senator John McCain.

2000:
After the Supreme Court refuses to order a recount of the votes in
Florida after he wins the state by just over 500 votes, President Clinton is officially reelected in a rematch over Vice President McCain.

2001:
On September 11, 4 planes crash into the
WorldTradeCenter, Pentagon and an empty field in Pennsylvania. When it is discovered that Osama bin Laden ordered the terrorist attacks, President Clinton orders military action to remove the Taliban from power in Afghanistan and destroy the al-Qaeda camps.

2003:
President Clinton refuses to send troops to
Iraq to overthrow Saddam Hussein because UN inspectors did not find Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) in that country. His decision is supported by Vice President McCain.

2004:
Vice President John McCain is elected President. Senator John Kerry of
Massachusetts becomes Vice President.
 
Your missing the way that the Presidential elections were developing before the system was changed via the 12th amendment. Each member of the Electoral College has TWO votes, therefore, those pledged to the Presidential Candidate also vote for another candidate. With Jefferson and Burr, there wasn't enough communication, and when they tied Burr refused to simply lay down, instead allowing the election to be forced into the House of Representatives. If Burr had been more far-sighted (like recognizing that every VP thus far in the country's history had become President) then he could have immediately bowed out, and the Electoral College strategy of having Electors use their second vote to get a member of the President's Party as VP continues.

Furthermore, this ends up affecting how Presidential contests are run, and how power within the various political parties is apportioned. It also ends up really heightening the importance of picking reliable electors to the Electoral College, so that these delicate negotiations between various factions can take place.

So the point of this post is that the person who comes in second in the vote won't necessary become VP, its the person who comes in second IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.
 
Well thought out, though as noted above, you did not take butterflies or the original nature of the Electoral College into account in your TL.
 
Not even butterflies, (which are overrated anyway) there are some severely implausible WIs and inconsistencies in here.

For example:

1861:
In a compromise reached by President Fremont, Vice President Breckenridge and the Congressional leadership, slavery will be preserved where it exists until 1890. It will not be introduced into any new territories nor exist in any new states. In 1890, each slave state’s legislature shall vote to either adopt a program of manumission, or secede peaceably from the Union. The compromise is incredibly unexpected, but fairly popular as it shuffles the problem of slavery away from the current generation and seems a wise way to keep the peace. It is opposed by abolitionists and some Southern Congressmen, but many call it a brilliant solution


This was well thought out. However, it's never mentioned again. I guess we can assume the compromise worked in 1890 because we don't hear of it again, but we saw a similar situation take place in 1786 with the Founding Fathers and as we all know, that's not exactly what happened. A little more detail would be nice in this area.

This is not an issue that would simply disappear. Think, 1890s, social issues combining with slavery would be a very interesting story. Possibly breaking down into a very disorganized and chaotic civil war using Pre-WW1 weaponry? Epic.

Over 50 Republicans announce their switch to the Democrats. The most prominent party switchers include Congressman John Lindsay, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, Senator Jacob Javits, and Massachusetts Attorney General Edward Brooke (in 1966, Brooke will become the first African-American since Reconstruction and first African-American Democrat to be elected to the United States Senate).

I don't know if that's an (OTL) Statement, or an ATL one, but if there's no mention of a Civil War like i've described above nor an OTL Civil War, then there's no Reconstruction? This completely changes the entire demographics. Just because the southern states freed the slaves (assuming the Compromise of 1861 took place without a hitch) then there'd be no incentive from EITHER the Republicans nor the Democrats to ever consider elected blacks to office or to bother giving them the votes.

MUCH Less the Democrats. The 1960s are FAR too OTL. The Democrats were the southern discrimination policy in the 1860s through 1950s. You don't do much to change that here except have them pass the Civil Rights legislation, which is as much ASB here as it was for the 1870s Democrats.

1918:
Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany abdicates. His son succeeds him as the new Kaiser and requests an Armistice. It is granted by the Allies.

The Treaty of Versailles is signed officially ending World War I. Germany is allowed to keep its monarchy but it must be reduced to that of a figurehead, and demilitarize the Rhineland. Germany loses Alsace-Lorraine to France and its African colonies to France and the United Kingdom.

Vice President Wilson’s proposal for a
League of Nations becomes a reality. President Roosevelt agrees to amendments that Senate Republicans demanded for approval of the League of Nations treaty. Such amendments were opposed by Wilson but Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Henry Cabot Lodge could easily ignore a mere Vice President and work with President Roosevelt on the issue.


I like how you take into account the Democrat/Republican push pull on Versailles issue, however I have to say that it looks like the League survives in this scenario and it would've been nice to hear more about it.

The second issue is that this create PROFOUND effects that completely rape the rest of your TimeLine. If the League survives with American support, especially with Roosevelt, then you could completely butterfly away World War II. Not to mention with Roosevelt as President for World War I, he could end the war a year early and send troops to Russia to head off the Revolution. Russia is stabilized, Americans aren't as afraid of government economic interference and the entire Roaring Twenties, Great Depression, and World War II can be butterflied away. In their place, you'd get an International Twenties, a Booming Thirties, and an Upsetting Forties.

One thing you don't mention is the map of Europe. Does Wilson's 14 Points go through? Or does President Roosevelt shoot them down? In which case the "International Twenties" are really profound and just as Roaring, but the government is more peaceably involved and a stock market is not quite as roller-coasting as it was in OTL.

Combine your socio-racial issues and your Rooseveltian World War I and you have the makings of a swell TimeLine. You just need to take into account how different they really do make history.
 
The POD for this has to be in the 1800 election, something like, "Aaron Burr decides to not commit political suicide"- in which case Burr continues to build up his powerful political machine in New York, and probably becomes President in 1808 instead of Madison. So instead of the War of 1812 being "Mr. Madison's War" its "Mr. Burr's War" and Mr. Burr, being a bit more military minded, might actually prepare for the war and end up with a better outcome for the US (maybe some of Canada? At least not having Washington DC burned to the ground). Mr. Burr was also a staunch abolitionist, something that might end up affecting how territories are organized under Jefferson and under his own Presidential regime. Also, the Clinton machine, which benefited greatly from Burr's political mistakes in 1800, isn't going to develop as it did OTL, since the federal appointments that gave it so much power are going to Mr. Burr's Tammany Hall.

I think that having Burr in the White House after Jefferson is going to have really big effects mainly because he will pursue a much more Whig-ish approach to government, that is heavy on internal improvements and federal control and all that. The man was a Democratic-Republican because Hamilton was a Federalist, not because he actually disagreed with the Federalists.

Anyway, huge, big, butterflies that will affect such important matters as the shape of the Jacksonian Era, the fate of the peculiar institution, and ultimately the history of the United States.
 
Hello!? Butterflies!?!!?

John McCain and John Kerry as presidential candidates with a POD in 180x?

After a while, one just can't account for all the butterflies, and the guy who'd be President today is probably some dude who lost a race for the U.S. House in Maryland in 1982 IOTL, and went back to his law firm (or even some guy who's parents never met IOTL), or something like that.
 
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So the point of this post is that the person who comes in second in the vote won't necessary become VP, its the person who comes in second IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

I didn't realize that. So in an election like 1980, when Reagan beat Carter 489-49, you could have had 270 electors vote for Reagan, 219 for Bush, and 49 for Carter (despite those 219 for Bush having been initially pledged to Reagan), thus electing an all-Republican, Reagan-Bush ticket. Yet in a close election, such as 2004, John Kerry would have taken the Vice-Presidency.
 
It occurs to me that in this system the looser is placed in a position where he is literally a heartbeat from the job that he just fought tooth and nail for.

I expect allot mot deaths in office. Not that the majority will act on that but I am almost sure some will
 
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