Possible second non-consecutive terms (for presidents other than Cleveland)

I actually think Gerald Ford in '84 is a possibility too. As already recapped, Ford remained fairly popular during Carter's term, was considered the co-frontrunner for the 1980 nomination with Reagan, and was still the erstwhile leader of moderate Republicans. Had Reagan lost in 1980, I wouldn't rule out Ford being a candidate in 1984. There'd be a backlash to the conservative wing of the party and Ford might still be the most prominent non-Reaganite. I don't think George Bush, Sr. would be that compelling a candidate, having been Reagan's (losing) VP candidate and having never been elected to anything other than a Texas congressional seat.
 
Outside shot: Taft and TR patch things up during Wilson’s first term and Wilson doesn’t put Taft on SCOTUS (or Taft turns it down.) He runs again in 1916 and wins CA, giving the Presidency to him.
 
I don't think it's very likely that JFK would lose to Goldwater in 1964 (though his victory margin would be somewhat less than LBJ's in OTL).
Agreed. I could see a far closer race if JFK's infidelities became public, but I'm not sure how inclined the media of 1964 would be to air that kind of dirty laundry.
 
(8) Gerald Ford in 1980? Possibly, especially if Reagan died or decided not to run. And even with Reagan running, a September-October 1979 Harris poll showed Ford actually leading Reagan 27-26. https://theharrispoll.com/wp-conten...ND-AS-FORD-EDGES-THE-FORMER-GOVER-1979-10.pdf Most likely, though, Ford's only chance against Reagan would be if the other "moderate" candidates dropped out early to support Ford, something I doubt would happen.

One other possibility: Ford in 1984? POD: Reagan not only defeats Ford for the GOP nomination in 1976 but goes on to narrowly win in November. He does badly enough in office to be defeated by a Democrat (Kennedy? Mondale?) in 1980--who in turn does badly enough to look vulnerable in 1984. In 1984, Ford is 71, but after all Reagan was older than that in OTL when he sought re-election that year. After disillusionment with first Reagan and then the Democrats, voters look back to the Ford administration of 1974-6 more favorably than they once would have done. Ford gets the support of Bob Dole for the nomination by promising him the vice-presidency and backing Dole to succeed him in 1988...
 
Outside shot: Taft and TR patch things up during Wilson’s first term and Wilson doesn’t put Taft on SCOTUS (or Taft turns it down.) He runs again in 1916 and wins CA, giving the Presidency to him.
Taft didn't gain the Supreme Court during Wilson's tenure. He was appointed Chief Justice by Warren Harding in 1921.
 
Taft didn't gain the Supreme Court during Wilson's tenure. He was appointed Chief Justice by Warren Harding in 1921.

Then everything else I said, possibly making it easier since Taft isn’t on SCOTUS. I also found it somewhat insane that TR and Taft couldn’t handle their differences like men in the first place and that they had to end up mortal enemies, to the point where TR ran just to fuck over Taft’s chances to win.
 
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