Yes, another one of these.
I've had the urge to do an American political TL for a long time. My ultimate dream is one that starts right at the beginning, in the 1780's, but that's a long way and a lot of research off. Rather, I'd like to do one that captures the essence of what I would try to do with the 1780's one, just without the exhaustive research of doing an in-depth TL spanning centuries. Instead, this one would start in the 1920's and be taken to about the 1960's. Detail will be rather low and I'm still trying to work out format. While the 1920's American political TL's have made a habit of using news headlines to communicate what's going on, I might try something different.
So, to get to the point. I've already chosen my PoD; Calvin Coolidge's son will wear shoes for the fatal game of tennis that killed him IOTL. As a result, Coolidge will not feel so worn out by Washington politics come 1928 and will decide to run for a second term as president. My goal is to use this as a spring-board for preventing the series of political train wrecks that turned the crash of 1929 into the Great Depression. The idea is that it will be a short but sharp recession, quite like that which occurred at the beginning of the 1920's under Harding. I've been doing a lot of reading on the economics behind the Great Depression and I believe I have enough of a handle to prevent it.
But...where to go from there? Who runs in the 1932 election? If the 30's are going to be a 'Roaring 30s' in the same vein as the 20's were, how is this going to effect American politics? I've started looking around for possible candidates and so far I like William Borah the best. However, will the international situation remain stable enough for someone so isolationist to get elected? Any other ideas? I'm looking to drive a balance between the progressivism that was on a low tide at the time and the arch-conservativism that was just starting to ebb away as people became more secure in their wealth, so laissez-faire free traders are the ideal. Even a moderate progressive is acceptable, as long as they stay strong on free trade.
Also, do you think it's possible for Coolidge to remain alive longer than he did? An idea I had was to use him as a 'face' for a civil rights movement that starts up in the late 30's. He'd be remembered fondly by most of the population and would be the consummate elderly statesman, and his own views on race sync right up with giving moral support to black equality. He did die of a heart attack, so maybe the more active life-style he would have being president from '28-'32 would give him the kick he needs to make it to 70 or 75?
Thoughts on how an America that remains prosperous throughout the 30's in general are also welcome. Similarly, how would the situation in Europe evolve if there is no Great Depression? No Nazis, or at least not yet, I presume?