On the Knifehead of History: Jackson in 76'

This is my first attempt at a TL, so be brutal.
The POD is that Hubert Humphrey makes it very clear that he will not run for president in 1976, so Labor Unions that probably cost Henry M Jackson the dem nomination in 1976 support him, and that Jackson enters early enough to compete in New Hampshire.

On The Knifehead of History: Scoop in 76'

"Humphrey Says No Run in 1976"
"Minnesota Senator Hubert H. Humphrey declared yesterday that he would definitely not be seeking the Democratic Nomination for President. This comes as a disappointment to Labor Unions, who had seen Humphrey as their man. It is speculated that Humphrey declined to run so he may run for Senate Majority leader. There had also been rumors of Health problems, but nothing confirmed from Humphrey himself."
Excerpt from the New York Times, 11/6/1975


"Jackson announces Challenge to Carter in New Hampshire"
"Carter, who had just come back from narrowly defeating Morris Udall (D- AZ) in the Iowa primary got an expected challenge from Washington Senator, Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson in the New Hampshire primary. Jackson had previously skipped the Iowa Caucus, but has chosen to contest New Hampshire."
Excerpt from the New Hampshire Gazette 2/17/1976


"Jackson opposes Busing because it destroys neighborhood schools, and increases violence in schools, not because of racism, and if Jimmy Carter would look at the facts, he would find a very strong civil rights record.
- Jackson Campaign Spokesman Rudolph W Giuliani, responding to Carter Campaign charges of racism. 2/20/1976


"Scoop, Reagan by an inch"
"On the Democratic Side, Senator Henry M Jackson (D- WA) narrowly defeated early frontrunner Jimmy Carter (D-GA) yesterday 31% to 29%. Exit polls revealed a small backlash against Carter after Carter charged the Washington Senator with racism due to the senator's opposition to federal busing. Carter declared he intends to challenge Jackson in Massachusetts, with the Jackson campaign replying similarly. Over to the GOP, a narrow upset for President Ford allowed former California Governor Ronald Reagan, a conservative idol, to win 49% to 48%. The Ford Campaign provided no response to the Globe."
-An excerpt from the Boston Globe 2/25/1976



Questions, Comments, Concerns?
 
Last edited:
Ah, interesting to see another timeline sprouting from the 1976 Presidential Election (which I'll have to admit, was open to just about anyone on either side), and even more interesting to see the original neoconservative making a bid for the Presidency. :D
 
Rudy Giuliani staying a Democrat in 1976 should be interesting.

Yes, I have plans for our buddy Rudy.

"Jackson defeats Carter, Ford edges Reagan"
"Henry M Jackson of Washington defeated Carter comfortably in Massachusetts 35% to 27% for Carter. Jackson mostly campaigned In Boston on the Busing issue, gaining support from many Irish Catholics. Ford bests Ronald Reagan 56- 44%, although a 12 point victory, political commentators label the primary as a disappointment to the Ford campaign, as Ford should have wiped Reagan off the map in liberal Massachusetts.
-excerpt from the Boston Sun Times 3/3/ 1976


"Labor Warms up to Jackson"
"A Gallup poll released shows Democratic Presidential Candidate with a firm lead over Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter when it comes to Union Workers. Jackson took 54 of Labor's votes; Carter took 23%, and 7% still voted for Hubert Humphrey, even though the Minnesota Senator said he was not running in November….."
-excerpt from the New York Times 3/5/ 1976


"Mark Hatfield blasts Reagan"
Oregon Senator says Reagan would take GOP back 50 years.
- Headline of the Manchester Union leader, 2/6/1976

"Wallace edges Jackson, Carter in Florida, Reagan defeats Ford"
"The Alabama Governor slimly defeated Henry Jackson and Governor Carter in the Florida Primary yesterday. Wallace took 35% of the vote compared to Jackson's 30%, and Carter's 31%. George Wallace in his concession speech, labeled Carter as a "Fake Southerner", and reminded voters to "Vote for the candidate for the South, not just from the South." Ronald Reagan again defeated President Ford 54- 45 in the Sunshine State. There was no response from the President's campaign except that "The President was confident of victory in Illinois.""
Excerpt from the Florida Courier, 3/10/1976


"Ford: Illinois is "Vital""
-Headline from Manchester Union Leader, 3/10/1976
 
Small update, ill probably post the Illinois primary tomorrow.

"McGovern: Jackson "A Warmonger""
"1972 Democratic Presidential Nominee George McGovern announced today his endorsement of Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, calling Frontrunner Scoop Jackson "a warmonger, who stands against every value of the Democratic Party." This endorsement gave Carter a much needed boost in the upcoming Illinois primary, with young voters and college students now flocking to the Carter campaign."
-Excerpt from The Chicago Tribune, 3/11/ 1976


"I think after what happened in 1972, Democrats shouldn't listen to George McGovern."
-Jackson Campaign spokesman Rudolph W Giuliani, responding to McGovern attack, 3/11/ 1976
 
Last edited:
"Carter edges Jackson, Reagan inches President"
"Jimmy Carter narrowly defeated the frontrunner for the Democratic Nomination Henry M Jackson 52% to 45% in the Illinois Primary yesterday. In his victory speech, the Georgia gov. thanked his campaign team "for this much needed victory." But the major headline today is in the Republican Primaries, where California Governor Ronald Reagan defeated President Ford by a 53% to 46% margin. Gerald Ford declined to comment on the news."
-excerpt from The Chicago Tribune 3/17/1976


"Ford to drop out"
-Headline from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 3/18/1976

"Hubert Humphrey endorses Jackson"
"Hubert Humphrey, the Minnesota senator, has come out today to support Henry Jackson, Washington Senator and proposed frontrunner for the Democratic Nomination. Humphrey said of Jackson, "Jackson is a good Democrat; he will defend the common man, and keep us safe." Humphrey also called on Jackson's primary opponent Jimmy Carter to drop his campaign "for Party unity in November".
Excerpt from the New York Times 3/ 20/1976


"We were confident after Ford announced his withdrawal that Reagan would be the Republican nominee for President, we had kinda shut down our primary campaign, we spent a lot of time thinking about how to handle Jackson, or Carter, we didn’t know yet. That's why we were unprepared for when THAT happened."
-John Sears quoted in 1976: Why and How it Happened, Dick Morris
 
Yeah, Ronnie winning NH ITTL gave him a bit more momentum, just enough to close the gap in Illinois. Ford realized if he couldnt win Illinois, there was no way in hell he could even compete in North Carolina, so he gives up.
 
On the eve of the NC primary, a (Hopefully) interesting twist occurs......


"Mathias: My hat is in the ring"
"The Senator from Maryland, Charles Mathias announced that he would challenge Ronald Reagan for the Republican Presidential Nomination. Mathias commented: "Reagan's brand of Conservatism is too extreme for the Republican Party and too extreme for America, we need Reasonable Conservatism in the White House, and I am the one to bring it to her." Mathias commented he would not be contesting the North Carolina Primary, but would contest upcoming Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania."
Excerpt from the Los Angeles Times 3/ 20/ 1976


"Wallace drops Campaign"
"Alabama Governor George Wallace dropped his presidential campaign after disappointing showings in Illinois. Wallace has not yet endorsed a candidate, but polls indicate that a majority of Wallace voters would prefer Scoop Jackson to Jimmy Carter."
Excerpt from The New York Times, 3/ 21/1976


"It was pretty obvious how President Ford would react. Ford, an incumbent president had been decisively defeated by Actor turned Governor Ronald Reagan. Ford's political career was probably over, and in Ford's mind, it was Reagan's fault……"
Excerpt from 1976: Why and How it Happened, Dick Morris

"Ford endorses Mathias"
Headline of the Boston Sun Times, 3/22/1976
 
Interesting. I was actually thinking you were going to bring in Hatfield as a filler for the 'liberal Republican' role, but Mathias is a nice fit, too. Any chance we may see Hatfield grab the Veep spot on a Mathias-led ticket?
 
Wont Tell :D
I was thinking Hatfield at first, but Hatfield was pretty well liked in the GOP (somewhat) Mathias in 1976 is hated by GOP conservatives, and he was punished harshly throughout his Senate term. I wanted someone who could bring Civil War to the GOP convention, and Mathias fit the bill.
Ill try to balance this with my Humphrey timeline, but no promises......
 
Ah, interesting to see another timeline sprouting from the 1976 Presidential Election (which I'll have to admit, was open to just about anyone on either side), and even more interesting to see the original neoconservative making a bid for the Presidency. :D

Scoop wasn't a Neocon. His foreign policy views were taken by the Neocons. However, his domestic and social views were not at all.
 
Any chance we may see Hatfield grab the Veep spot on a Mathias-led ticket?

While I would love to see a Mathias/Hatfield ticket nominated by the Republicans in this alternate reality the nomination of such a ticket would never happen. The conservatives of the Republican Party, who had gradually been gaining influence since the nomination of Barry Goldwater in 1964 would never have allowed it. Mathias was loathed by the conservatives, and adding a moderate-to-liberal in Mark Hatfield would only cause more hatred to ensue between the feuding liberal and conservative wings of the Republican Party. Thus, in my personal opinion the nomination of Charles Mathias along with President Ford endorsing Mathias for the Presidency, which in my view would be an act of political suicide, is highly implausible.
 
While I would love to see a Mathias/Hatfield ticket nominated by the Republicans in this alternate reality the nomination of such a ticket would never happen. The conservatives of the Republican Party, who had gradually been gaining influence since the nomination of Barry Goldwater in 1964 would never have allowed it. Mathias was loathed by the conservatives, and adding a moderate-to-liberal in Mark Hatfield would only cause more hatred to ensue between the feuding liberal and conservative wings of the Republican Party. Thus, in my personal opinion the nomination of Charles Mathias along with President Ford endorsing Mathias for the Presidency, which in my view would be an act of political suicide, is highly implausible.

I realize endorsing Mathias would be politically dangerous, you gotta remember that Ford has just came off a defeat from Reagan, he feels his political career is over with anyway, so he endorsed Mathias to "get back" at Reagan, who embarrassed him.
 
Hmm This is an interesting timeline, I wonder how Scoop will handle the Iranian Hostage Crisis...Keep it comming
 
Ooo I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out!

Funnily enough my first thoughts on seeing the title were that you meant Jesse Jackson. I was like "That's awesome! But I'm not sure how plausi- oh, Scoop."


:D
 
Top