President Reagan - in 1968
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Good update, Historico!Any Thoughts, Comments, Replies...pet suggestions?
Keep it up!
A Ballad for Susan: The 1996 US Presidential Election
The 1996 Republican Nomination
After a fairly successful first term and with approval ratings floating around the mid-50’s…President Maureen Reagan looked forward to a challenge free road to the nomination. That would prove not be the case, as on October 10th 1995, when her father’s former Advisor/Speechwriter and popular Conservative Commentator Patrick J. “Pat” Buchanan of DC announced his intention to seek the Presidency. Buchanan felt as if the President had moved to far from her initial base of Social Conservatives, and her negligence to support the Defense of Marriage Act, Interventionist Foreign Policy and Pro-Amnesty stance on Illegal Immigration Reform had weakened America on all fronts. The Conservative guru received endorsements from Reverend Pat Robertson of Virginia, Senator David Duke of Louisiana and Representative Robert K. “Bob” Dornan of California.
Time Cover on Patrick Buchanan's insurgent campaign for the Presidency
With that being said, It was fairly easily for the Reagan/Warner reelection campaign to paint the Buchanan group as a dangerous group of Right-Wing Extremists. Buchanan focused on rallying evangelical support in the few months leading up to the February contests, which would prove not to be enough. On February 12th in Iowa, Pat only won 25% of the vote, followed by New Hampshire on the 20th with 30% of the vote. After failing to receive 20% of the vote in Delaware, Arizona, North Dakota, and South Dakota, Buchanan hoped his support amongst southern Social Conservatives would allow him a much needed comeback. On March 2nd, President Reagan won the South Carolina primaries with 57% of the vote to Buchanan’s 43%. Low on funds, Patrick Buchanan dropped out the night of the South Carolina Primary and begrudgingly endorsed President Reagan.
The attempt to usurp a sitting President failed, Maureen Reagan and John Warner came into the 1996 Republican National Convention in San Diego, California to a fairly united party through August 26th-29th. Much to the ire of former Buchanan supporters, most of the high level speaking spots was given to Moderate Republicans. Those included; retiring Senate Majority Leader George H.W. Bush of Texas, Governor William Weld of Massachusetts, former Vice President Howard Baker of Tennessee, Representative Susan Molinari of New York, Governor John Engler of Michigan and Congressman JC Watts of Oklahoma. President Reagan and Vice President Maureen Reagan were re-nominated by acclamation in which both in their acceptance speeches promised a continuation of the successful policies in of the Reagan administration and victory in November.
Congressman J.C. Watts of Oklahoma, Keynote Speaker for the 1996 Republican National Convention
The 1996 Democratic Nomination
With Vice President Bayh’s decisive loss in the 1992 Presidential Election, so went the era of the Democratic Triumvirate. For over a decade, President’s Kennedy, Finch, and Bradley dominated the political spectrum and laid the groundwork for the Post-Cold War Era. In the years, following the GOP takeover in 1993, The Democratic Party had yet to find a sole leader in opposition to President Reagan’s popular policies. In the race for the Democratic nomination in 1996, three figures emerged, each representing a core constituency of the Party to make claim for the nomination. The first to announce their candidacy for the nomination was that of incumbent Governor Ann Richards of Texas on May 6th 1995. One of the last Yarborough Democrats, Richard’s successful revitalization of the Texas Economy, Reconstruction of the Penal System and sweeping Education reform placed her almost instantaneously as the frontrunner to the nomination. The 63 year old Governor, received stirring endorsements from; former Vice President Birch Bayh of Indiana, Senator Al Gore of Tennessee, Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, Governor Zell Miller of Georgia, former Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas, Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, and Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia.
However, the wispy haired embodiment of down-home Texas charm’s path to the nomination was anything but clear. In Galveston, Texas on Juneteenth 1995, 130 years after General Granger freed the Slaves of Texas…Governor Jesse Jackson of Illinois announced his candidacy for the Presidency of the United States. Jackson target base, in a massive grassroots campaign that emerged following his announcement was to extend his coalition of Minorities and Blue Collar whites which garnered his success in Illinois outward to the rest of the America. The man who sought to become the Second African American man nominated by either party, received endorsements from Senator Fritz Hollings of South Carolina, Representative Bill Clay of Missouri, Senator Harvey Gantt of North Carolina, former Governor Jerry Brown of California, Senator Joseph P. Kennedy II of Massachusetts, and former President Tom Bradley of California. The final candidate to enter the race was that of Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who sought to become the first Jewish Presidential nominee of either party. Although he lacked, the charisma of both Richards and Jackson…Lieberman made up for it in his considerable foreign policy experience as he represented the Neoconservative wing of the party. His support from those considered the party establishment included; Governor Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, former Secretary of State Jeanne Kirkpatrick of Oklahoma, Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, Representative Lee Hamilton of Indiana, and Senator Dianne Feinstein of California.
Campaign Bumper Sticker for Senator Joe Lieberman of Conneticut
After months of hand shaking, digestion of chicken dinners, and baby kissing, the three candidates awaited the returns on February 12 of the Iowa Caucus. With 40 percent of the vote, Governor Richards won a narrow victory over her opponents as Jackson took 30% to Lieberman’s 25%. Ann’s populist campaign rhetoric sparked a fuse in America’s heartland, which she hoped would translate into the upcoming New Hampshire Primary. That would not prove to be the case, as on February 20th…Senator Lieberman, in his home region of the Northeast pulled off a strong comeback victory in the Granite state with 52% of the vote. Lieberman’s own momentum was stunted by Governor Jackson only four days later, who pulled off an upset win in Delaware largely due to high black voter turnout. Yet it would be during the last round of primaries in the month of February, which Governor Richards pulled off strong wins in Arizona and the Dakotas.
With no clear cut Presumptive nominee as of yet, all three candidates looked forward to the string of “Mini Tuesdays” held during the third month of the Georgian year as a chance to take the nomination. In the close race of the South Carolina primary on March 2nd, Jackson prevailed against Richards 35 to 30 vote margin. After Jackson’s win in South Carolina, all three candidates amped up the character assaults on one another. Senator Lieberman portrayed Governor Jackson support for the formation of Palestinian State and drastic Department of Defense cuts as “The delusions of a dangerous Radical, who doesn’t know a single thing about foreign affairs.” Governor Jackson would respond in kind, “If it were up to Joe, he would have moved the Knesset over Capitol Hill a long time ago.” Governor Ann Richards was able to remain somewhat above the fray as she said “Well, all I can tell you is that Boys will be Boys and that I can take a couple of licks…and give a few too.” The Results on March 5th emerged with Richards taking only Colorado; Jesse in Georgia, Puerto Rico, and Maryland; Lieberman in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The Senator from Connecticut won an incredibly narrow victory over Governor Jackson in New York on the 7th of March. Despite his successes in his home region, many voters found Lieberman’s clamminess unpalatable as his poor performance in the “Southern” primaries on March 19th proved. Richards and Jackson would split the remaining Southern states with Ann taking Oregon, Oklahoma, Tennessee plus her home state of Texas; while Jesse ran away with victories in Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi.
Governor Jesse Jackson of Illinois on the Campaign Trail
Depleted on funds, Senator Lieberman officially suspended his campaign during the primary night much to the dismay of voter’s who felt Richards and Jackson were of the same cloth when it came to Foreign Policy. In the lead up to the Delegate rich primaries on March 26th, Joe endorsed Governor Ann Richards for the nomination in Los Angeles, California, where he said “Governor Jesse Jackson is a gifted and eloquent man who I think can do great things for our country in the years ahead, but, my friends, eloquence is no substitute for a record, not in these tough times for America. I urge all of those whom supported my campaign to welcome Governor Richards open arms.” The Lieberman bump not only added to Richard’s increasing Delegate lead over Jackson but also ensured her victories in California, Ohio, Nevada and Washington. Mainly due to union support, the former Reverend won over working class voters Michigan, Wisconsin and his home state of Illinois. Despite Richards lead in Delegates, Jackson vowed to continue to fight at least until the end of the Primary season. In the lead up to the April 23rd crucial Pennsylvania Primary, Richards in order to distinguish herself from Jackson focused her Populist strategy in rural communities while Jackson focused on the industrial cities of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania. Richards prevailed in the hotly contested race on a 51 to 49 vote margin.
The final two months of the 1996 Democratic Primary Race, became fully submerged in the “Silly Season” for character attacks against one another. Rumors circulated about Governor Jackson being a lukewarm Anti-Semite and Governor Richards being a closeted Lesbian were released by various lower members of the two governor’s campaign staff. By the night of June 4th, many Superdelegates within the party felt comfortable in declaring Governor Ann Richards as the Presumptive nominee with wins in Indiana, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Idaho, Montana and New Mexico. Governor Jesse Jackson only secured victories in the District of Columbia, North Carolina, Alabama and a narrow win in New Jersey. Seeing the writing on the wall, Governor Jackson graciously conceded the race and at Unity event in Unity, New Hampshire fully endorsed the Wispy-haired Governor for the nomination.
Final Results of the 1996 Democratic Primaries
However, the catharsis felt by many Jackson delegates was somewhat amplified when Governor Richards released her short list for Running mates on July 4th. The list included Senator Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts, Governor Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Senator Bob Graham of Florida, District Attorney John F. Kennedy Jr. of New York, Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska and Governor Bob Miller of Nevada. Many within the Jackson campaign felt as if due to his strong second place finish, Governor Jackson was owed the No.2 spot on the topic. Governor Richards flatly refused as she said in Private “There is no way in hell, America is going to elect a ticket with a White Woman and a Black Male!” The 62 year old surprised many when she announced that she chose Dark Horse candidate Senator Bob Kerrey as her running mate. With his decorated Military Background and his strong support for liberal social issues in the Senate, Kerrey was seen as complimentary at best to Richards. Despite some feeling of Catharsis by the Jackson Delegation, the Richards/Kerrey ticked was nominated by acclamation at the Superdome in New Orleans on August 12. In her widely acclaimed acceptance speech, Governor Richards said “I'm really glad that our young people missed the Depression, and missed the great big war. But I do regret that they missed the leaders that I knew. Leaders who told us when things were tough, and that we would have to sacrifice, and these difficulties might last awhile. They didn't tell us things were hard for us because we were different, or isolated, or special interests. They brought us together and they gave us a sense of national purpose. America, on January 20th 1997…I will begin on my mission to live up to those great Leaders!”
Governor Ann Richards of Texas giving her Acceptance Address at the 1996 Democratic National Convention
The 1996 Reform Nomination
The nascent party was enthusiastic about its first true election while it was gearing up for the campaign in 1995. Due to Ross Perot’s Cincinnatus-like decision to not run for a second time, the third party was ineligible to receive matching funds from the Federal Electoral Commission on a technicality. However, high level fundraising from major players such as Donald Trump, Steve Jobs, Michael Bloomberg, and of course Perot himself ensured the party had full coffers going into the General Election. At the Reform Party National Convention in New York City, during the July 4th weekend, two major candidates emerged to take the nomination. The first to announce was that of former Governor/Volpe Secretary of Agriculture Dick Lamm of Colorado. A self-styled Progressive-Conservative with strong Western values, Lamm’s populist rhetoric made him very popular in the South and his home region of the Midwest. While on the stump prior to the Convention, Lamm frequently said “Now I’ve worked for both parties, and let me tell you that both political parties are controlled by special interest money, and I've had enough of it…the Democrats are too close to the trial lawyers and the National Education Association, and don’t let me get started on those Morally Abolitionist Republican’s!”
Former Governor/Secretary of Agriculture Dick Lamm of Colorado
However, Dick Lamm’s string of losses in his home state during the ‘80’s did weaken his claim to the nomination. The second candidate to announce was that of Incumbent Governor Eunice Groark of Connecticut. Survivor of the 1944 Hartford Circus Fire, and second Female Governor who was elected in her own right in 1994, Eunice quickly emerged as a confident rival to Dick. Despite her passage of a controversial earned income tax, her popularity amongst Suburban voters in the Northeast/Pacific Coast who were concerned by the Reagan Administration’s strong pro-globalization stance. After several round of balloting in the Convention Hall, Governor Groark clinched the nomination after she was able to secure delegates from the Industrial belt. Former Secretary Lamm begrudgingly accepted a spot as Groark’s running mate to ensure party unity. Thus the Groark/Lamm ticket pledged in the acceptance address to hold firm on the issues of major Campaign Finance Reform, Anti-Free Trade, and Congressional Term Limits in order to bring true reform to America.
The 1996 General Election
For the first time in the history of the United States of America, all of the major parties Presidential nominees were female. However, both Ann and Eunice had the displeasure of having to run against a popular incumbent in President Maureen Reagan. Initial Gallup/Rasmussen polling following the Republican National Convention had Reagan in the lead 45% of the vote, Richards with 35% and Groark at 20%. However, President Reagan was assured by her campaign staff to not take her lead for granted and run on a passive “Rose Garden” Strategy. With the Republican coffers rebounded quickly from Maureen’s early defeat of Pat Buchanan in the Primaries, President Reagan invoked the spirits of progressives the likes of Teddy Roosevelt, Earl Warren and Nelson Rockefeller as she embarked on a 50 state campaign across the nation in September. Making use of America’s sprawling high speed rail system, Maureen’s Millennial Whistle-stop tour also brought about strong usage of the growing internet as well as
America’s sprawling High Speed Rail linkups…initiated by the Republican Administrations of the Seventies.
While President Reagan hit the rails, both Governor’s Groark and Richards attempted to play catch up. Richards Campaign advisor James Carville decided to play to Ann’s strength and formulate a unique Electoral Map for the Texas Governor. Richards furiously campaigned in the traditional Republican Mid-West turned Reform leaning states in which she pushed new Government subsidies for Corn Ethanol Production, trust busting of firms that dominated the growing GMO food industry as well as promising to introduce her “Robin Hood” Education Reform plan on a national scale. Carville also had Richards run slightly to the right, to lock up her support in the South by endorsing increased infrastructure plans as well as being Pro-Flag Desecration Amendment, Pro-Death Penalty etc. On the other hand, Groark Campaign advisor Dick Morris had the lesser known Eunice adopt a strategy dubbed “Triangulation”. Eunice keeping with the Perot strategy of 30 minute Infomercials articulated her ideology as being above and between the polarity of the Democratic and Republican parties. The Connecticut Governor fused Democratic Rhetoric on Anti-Free Trade with Republic Rhetoric on Deregulation. Morris figured that this unique approach would appeal to a more diverse group of voters tired of Washington partisanship.
Governor Eunice Groark, 1996 Reform Party Presidential Nominee out on the campaign trail
All three candidates’ unique campaign styles came to a head in a series of three debates; One Vice-Presidential debate and two Presidential debates were held in the month of October. The first Presidential Debate was held on October 6th, moderated by PBS’ Jim Lehrer over the topic of Foreign Policy. Both Governor’s Groark and Richards attacked Maureen on her interventionist foreign policy to the point where Eunice said “While Maureen is away fighting little squabbles in third world nations, Totalitarian Regimes like that in China are allowed to continue Human Rights violations with as to much of a mention.” However, Maureen managed to win the Debate through the acquired diplomatic knowledge learned in her four years as President, and vowed to continue to end Genocide wherever they might arise. Three days later, the Vice Presidential Debate was held between Vice President John Warner of Virginia, Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, and former Governor Dick Lamm of Colorado. Lamm, was seen to have won the debate largely due to his bombastic personality reminding viewers of Ross Perot attacked Warner as being senile and accused Bob Kerrey of leading the Thanh Phong massacre. Kerry responded to the accusations, in which he said “You can never, can never get away from it. It darkens your day. I thought dying for your country was the worst thing that could happen to you, and I don't think it is. I think killing for your country can be a lot worse.” In the final Town-Hall style debate held on October 16th in St. Louis, Missouri…Groark, Reagan and Richards highlighted their respective viewpoints. Due to the debate style, Ann Richards was perceived as having won, as she portrayed Eunice and Maureen as one of the same for the support of Supply Side Economics. Yet, President Reagan solidified support amongst her constituents when she replied, “I’m not sure if Ann got the memo…but tell her that the Eighties are long gone and the Era of Big Government is over.”
Last Minute Campaign swing through the Midwest by Governor Richards
During the aftermath of debates, more investigations went in on Democratic vice Presidential Nominee Bob Kerrey’s involvement in the killings of women and children in the Vietnam War. Governor Eunice Groark would also face her own Running mate problem as Lamm made a series of Gaffe’s in the lead up to November 5th. Gallup/Rasmussen polling had Maureen still in the lead with around 45% of the vote. As all three campaigns awaited the returns in their respective homes, The results showed that race was a little tighter than expected especially in the South between Richards and Reagan didn’t truly appeal to their more conservative values. Yet, by the morning it was apparent that President Reagan had indeed won her second term on a comfortable margin, and a decent plurality of the popular vote.
Maureen Reagan/John Warner: 354 Electoral Votes
Ann Richards/Robert Kerrey: 141 Electoral Votes
Eunice Groark/Richard Lamm: 43 Electoral Votes
The 1996 Republican Nomination
After a fairly successful first term and with approval ratings floating around the mid-50’s…President Maureen Reagan looked forward to a challenge free road to the nomination. That would prove not be the case, as on October 10th 1995, when her father’s former Advisor/Speechwriter and popular Conservative Commentator Patrick J. “Pat” Buchanan of DC announced his intention to seek the Presidency. Buchanan felt as if the President had moved to far from her initial base of Social Conservatives, and her negligence to support the Defense of Marriage Act, Interventionist Foreign Policy and Pro-Amnesty stance on Illegal Immigration Reform had weakened America on all fronts. The Conservative guru received endorsements from Reverend Pat Robertson of Virginia, Senator David Duke of Louisiana and Representative Robert K. “Bob” Dornan of California.
Time Cover on Patrick Buchanan's insurgent campaign for the Presidency
With that being said, It was fairly easily for the Reagan/Warner reelection campaign to paint the Buchanan group as a dangerous group of Right-Wing Extremists. Buchanan focused on rallying evangelical support in the few months leading up to the February contests, which would prove not to be enough. On February 12th in Iowa, Pat only won 25% of the vote, followed by New Hampshire on the 20th with 30% of the vote. After failing to receive 20% of the vote in Delaware, Arizona, North Dakota, and South Dakota, Buchanan hoped his support amongst southern Social Conservatives would allow him a much needed comeback. On March 2nd, President Reagan won the South Carolina primaries with 57% of the vote to Buchanan’s 43%. Low on funds, Patrick Buchanan dropped out the night of the South Carolina Primary and begrudgingly endorsed President Reagan.
The attempt to usurp a sitting President failed, Maureen Reagan and John Warner came into the 1996 Republican National Convention in San Diego, California to a fairly united party through August 26th-29th. Much to the ire of former Buchanan supporters, most of the high level speaking spots was given to Moderate Republicans. Those included; retiring Senate Majority Leader George H.W. Bush of Texas, Governor William Weld of Massachusetts, former Vice President Howard Baker of Tennessee, Representative Susan Molinari of New York, Governor John Engler of Michigan and Congressman JC Watts of Oklahoma. President Reagan and Vice President Maureen Reagan were re-nominated by acclamation in which both in their acceptance speeches promised a continuation of the successful policies in of the Reagan administration and victory in November.
Congressman J.C. Watts of Oklahoma, Keynote Speaker for the 1996 Republican National Convention
The 1996 Democratic Nomination
With Vice President Bayh’s decisive loss in the 1992 Presidential Election, so went the era of the Democratic Triumvirate. For over a decade, President’s Kennedy, Finch, and Bradley dominated the political spectrum and laid the groundwork for the Post-Cold War Era. In the years, following the GOP takeover in 1993, The Democratic Party had yet to find a sole leader in opposition to President Reagan’s popular policies. In the race for the Democratic nomination in 1996, three figures emerged, each representing a core constituency of the Party to make claim for the nomination. The first to announce their candidacy for the nomination was that of incumbent Governor Ann Richards of Texas on May 6th 1995. One of the last Yarborough Democrats, Richard’s successful revitalization of the Texas Economy, Reconstruction of the Penal System and sweeping Education reform placed her almost instantaneously as the frontrunner to the nomination. The 63 year old Governor, received stirring endorsements from; former Vice President Birch Bayh of Indiana, Senator Al Gore of Tennessee, Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, Governor Zell Miller of Georgia, former Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas, Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, and Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia.
However, the wispy haired embodiment of down-home Texas charm’s path to the nomination was anything but clear. In Galveston, Texas on Juneteenth 1995, 130 years after General Granger freed the Slaves of Texas…Governor Jesse Jackson of Illinois announced his candidacy for the Presidency of the United States. Jackson target base, in a massive grassroots campaign that emerged following his announcement was to extend his coalition of Minorities and Blue Collar whites which garnered his success in Illinois outward to the rest of the America. The man who sought to become the Second African American man nominated by either party, received endorsements from Senator Fritz Hollings of South Carolina, Representative Bill Clay of Missouri, Senator Harvey Gantt of North Carolina, former Governor Jerry Brown of California, Senator Joseph P. Kennedy II of Massachusetts, and former President Tom Bradley of California. The final candidate to enter the race was that of Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who sought to become the first Jewish Presidential nominee of either party. Although he lacked, the charisma of both Richards and Jackson…Lieberman made up for it in his considerable foreign policy experience as he represented the Neoconservative wing of the party. His support from those considered the party establishment included; Governor Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, former Secretary of State Jeanne Kirkpatrick of Oklahoma, Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, Representative Lee Hamilton of Indiana, and Senator Dianne Feinstein of California.
Campaign Bumper Sticker for Senator Joe Lieberman of Conneticut
After months of hand shaking, digestion of chicken dinners, and baby kissing, the three candidates awaited the returns on February 12 of the Iowa Caucus. With 40 percent of the vote, Governor Richards won a narrow victory over her opponents as Jackson took 30% to Lieberman’s 25%. Ann’s populist campaign rhetoric sparked a fuse in America’s heartland, which she hoped would translate into the upcoming New Hampshire Primary. That would not prove to be the case, as on February 20th…Senator Lieberman, in his home region of the Northeast pulled off a strong comeback victory in the Granite state with 52% of the vote. Lieberman’s own momentum was stunted by Governor Jackson only four days later, who pulled off an upset win in Delaware largely due to high black voter turnout. Yet it would be during the last round of primaries in the month of February, which Governor Richards pulled off strong wins in Arizona and the Dakotas.
With no clear cut Presumptive nominee as of yet, all three candidates looked forward to the string of “Mini Tuesdays” held during the third month of the Georgian year as a chance to take the nomination. In the close race of the South Carolina primary on March 2nd, Jackson prevailed against Richards 35 to 30 vote margin. After Jackson’s win in South Carolina, all three candidates amped up the character assaults on one another. Senator Lieberman portrayed Governor Jackson support for the formation of Palestinian State and drastic Department of Defense cuts as “The delusions of a dangerous Radical, who doesn’t know a single thing about foreign affairs.” Governor Jackson would respond in kind, “If it were up to Joe, he would have moved the Knesset over Capitol Hill a long time ago.” Governor Ann Richards was able to remain somewhat above the fray as she said “Well, all I can tell you is that Boys will be Boys and that I can take a couple of licks…and give a few too.” The Results on March 5th emerged with Richards taking only Colorado; Jesse in Georgia, Puerto Rico, and Maryland; Lieberman in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The Senator from Connecticut won an incredibly narrow victory over Governor Jackson in New York on the 7th of March. Despite his successes in his home region, many voters found Lieberman’s clamminess unpalatable as his poor performance in the “Southern” primaries on March 19th proved. Richards and Jackson would split the remaining Southern states with Ann taking Oregon, Oklahoma, Tennessee plus her home state of Texas; while Jesse ran away with victories in Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi.
Governor Jesse Jackson of Illinois on the Campaign Trail
Depleted on funds, Senator Lieberman officially suspended his campaign during the primary night much to the dismay of voter’s who felt Richards and Jackson were of the same cloth when it came to Foreign Policy. In the lead up to the Delegate rich primaries on March 26th, Joe endorsed Governor Ann Richards for the nomination in Los Angeles, California, where he said “Governor Jesse Jackson is a gifted and eloquent man who I think can do great things for our country in the years ahead, but, my friends, eloquence is no substitute for a record, not in these tough times for America. I urge all of those whom supported my campaign to welcome Governor Richards open arms.” The Lieberman bump not only added to Richard’s increasing Delegate lead over Jackson but also ensured her victories in California, Ohio, Nevada and Washington. Mainly due to union support, the former Reverend won over working class voters Michigan, Wisconsin and his home state of Illinois. Despite Richards lead in Delegates, Jackson vowed to continue to fight at least until the end of the Primary season. In the lead up to the April 23rd crucial Pennsylvania Primary, Richards in order to distinguish herself from Jackson focused her Populist strategy in rural communities while Jackson focused on the industrial cities of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania. Richards prevailed in the hotly contested race on a 51 to 49 vote margin.
The final two months of the 1996 Democratic Primary Race, became fully submerged in the “Silly Season” for character attacks against one another. Rumors circulated about Governor Jackson being a lukewarm Anti-Semite and Governor Richards being a closeted Lesbian were released by various lower members of the two governor’s campaign staff. By the night of June 4th, many Superdelegates within the party felt comfortable in declaring Governor Ann Richards as the Presumptive nominee with wins in Indiana, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Idaho, Montana and New Mexico. Governor Jesse Jackson only secured victories in the District of Columbia, North Carolina, Alabama and a narrow win in New Jersey. Seeing the writing on the wall, Governor Jackson graciously conceded the race and at Unity event in Unity, New Hampshire fully endorsed the Wispy-haired Governor for the nomination.
Final Results of the 1996 Democratic Primaries
However, the catharsis felt by many Jackson delegates was somewhat amplified when Governor Richards released her short list for Running mates on July 4th. The list included Senator Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts, Governor Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Senator Bob Graham of Florida, District Attorney John F. Kennedy Jr. of New York, Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska and Governor Bob Miller of Nevada. Many within the Jackson campaign felt as if due to his strong second place finish, Governor Jackson was owed the No.2 spot on the topic. Governor Richards flatly refused as she said in Private “There is no way in hell, America is going to elect a ticket with a White Woman and a Black Male!” The 62 year old surprised many when she announced that she chose Dark Horse candidate Senator Bob Kerrey as her running mate. With his decorated Military Background and his strong support for liberal social issues in the Senate, Kerrey was seen as complimentary at best to Richards. Despite some feeling of Catharsis by the Jackson Delegation, the Richards/Kerrey ticked was nominated by acclamation at the Superdome in New Orleans on August 12. In her widely acclaimed acceptance speech, Governor Richards said “I'm really glad that our young people missed the Depression, and missed the great big war. But I do regret that they missed the leaders that I knew. Leaders who told us when things were tough, and that we would have to sacrifice, and these difficulties might last awhile. They didn't tell us things were hard for us because we were different, or isolated, or special interests. They brought us together and they gave us a sense of national purpose. America, on January 20th 1997…I will begin on my mission to live up to those great Leaders!”
Governor Ann Richards of Texas giving her Acceptance Address at the 1996 Democratic National Convention
The 1996 Reform Nomination
The nascent party was enthusiastic about its first true election while it was gearing up for the campaign in 1995. Due to Ross Perot’s Cincinnatus-like decision to not run for a second time, the third party was ineligible to receive matching funds from the Federal Electoral Commission on a technicality. However, high level fundraising from major players such as Donald Trump, Steve Jobs, Michael Bloomberg, and of course Perot himself ensured the party had full coffers going into the General Election. At the Reform Party National Convention in New York City, during the July 4th weekend, two major candidates emerged to take the nomination. The first to announce was that of former Governor/Volpe Secretary of Agriculture Dick Lamm of Colorado. A self-styled Progressive-Conservative with strong Western values, Lamm’s populist rhetoric made him very popular in the South and his home region of the Midwest. While on the stump prior to the Convention, Lamm frequently said “Now I’ve worked for both parties, and let me tell you that both political parties are controlled by special interest money, and I've had enough of it…the Democrats are too close to the trial lawyers and the National Education Association, and don’t let me get started on those Morally Abolitionist Republican’s!”
Former Governor/Secretary of Agriculture Dick Lamm of Colorado
However, Dick Lamm’s string of losses in his home state during the ‘80’s did weaken his claim to the nomination. The second candidate to announce was that of Incumbent Governor Eunice Groark of Connecticut. Survivor of the 1944 Hartford Circus Fire, and second Female Governor who was elected in her own right in 1994, Eunice quickly emerged as a confident rival to Dick. Despite her passage of a controversial earned income tax, her popularity amongst Suburban voters in the Northeast/Pacific Coast who were concerned by the Reagan Administration’s strong pro-globalization stance. After several round of balloting in the Convention Hall, Governor Groark clinched the nomination after she was able to secure delegates from the Industrial belt. Former Secretary Lamm begrudgingly accepted a spot as Groark’s running mate to ensure party unity. Thus the Groark/Lamm ticket pledged in the acceptance address to hold firm on the issues of major Campaign Finance Reform, Anti-Free Trade, and Congressional Term Limits in order to bring true reform to America.
The 1996 General Election
For the first time in the history of the United States of America, all of the major parties Presidential nominees were female. However, both Ann and Eunice had the displeasure of having to run against a popular incumbent in President Maureen Reagan. Initial Gallup/Rasmussen polling following the Republican National Convention had Reagan in the lead 45% of the vote, Richards with 35% and Groark at 20%. However, President Reagan was assured by her campaign staff to not take her lead for granted and run on a passive “Rose Garden” Strategy. With the Republican coffers rebounded quickly from Maureen’s early defeat of Pat Buchanan in the Primaries, President Reagan invoked the spirits of progressives the likes of Teddy Roosevelt, Earl Warren and Nelson Rockefeller as she embarked on a 50 state campaign across the nation in September. Making use of America’s sprawling high speed rail system, Maureen’s Millennial Whistle-stop tour also brought about strong usage of the growing internet as well as
America’s sprawling High Speed Rail linkups…initiated by the Republican Administrations of the Seventies.
While President Reagan hit the rails, both Governor’s Groark and Richards attempted to play catch up. Richards Campaign advisor James Carville decided to play to Ann’s strength and formulate a unique Electoral Map for the Texas Governor. Richards furiously campaigned in the traditional Republican Mid-West turned Reform leaning states in which she pushed new Government subsidies for Corn Ethanol Production, trust busting of firms that dominated the growing GMO food industry as well as promising to introduce her “Robin Hood” Education Reform plan on a national scale. Carville also had Richards run slightly to the right, to lock up her support in the South by endorsing increased infrastructure plans as well as being Pro-Flag Desecration Amendment, Pro-Death Penalty etc. On the other hand, Groark Campaign advisor Dick Morris had the lesser known Eunice adopt a strategy dubbed “Triangulation”. Eunice keeping with the Perot strategy of 30 minute Infomercials articulated her ideology as being above and between the polarity of the Democratic and Republican parties. The Connecticut Governor fused Democratic Rhetoric on Anti-Free Trade with Republic Rhetoric on Deregulation. Morris figured that this unique approach would appeal to a more diverse group of voters tired of Washington partisanship.
Governor Eunice Groark, 1996 Reform Party Presidential Nominee out on the campaign trail
All three candidates’ unique campaign styles came to a head in a series of three debates; One Vice-Presidential debate and two Presidential debates were held in the month of October. The first Presidential Debate was held on October 6th, moderated by PBS’ Jim Lehrer over the topic of Foreign Policy. Both Governor’s Groark and Richards attacked Maureen on her interventionist foreign policy to the point where Eunice said “While Maureen is away fighting little squabbles in third world nations, Totalitarian Regimes like that in China are allowed to continue Human Rights violations with as to much of a mention.” However, Maureen managed to win the Debate through the acquired diplomatic knowledge learned in her four years as President, and vowed to continue to end Genocide wherever they might arise. Three days later, the Vice Presidential Debate was held between Vice President John Warner of Virginia, Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, and former Governor Dick Lamm of Colorado. Lamm, was seen to have won the debate largely due to his bombastic personality reminding viewers of Ross Perot attacked Warner as being senile and accused Bob Kerrey of leading the Thanh Phong massacre. Kerry responded to the accusations, in which he said “You can never, can never get away from it. It darkens your day. I thought dying for your country was the worst thing that could happen to you, and I don't think it is. I think killing for your country can be a lot worse.” In the final Town-Hall style debate held on October 16th in St. Louis, Missouri…Groark, Reagan and Richards highlighted their respective viewpoints. Due to the debate style, Ann Richards was perceived as having won, as she portrayed Eunice and Maureen as one of the same for the support of Supply Side Economics. Yet, President Reagan solidified support amongst her constituents when she replied, “I’m not sure if Ann got the memo…but tell her that the Eighties are long gone and the Era of Big Government is over.”
Last Minute Campaign swing through the Midwest by Governor Richards
During the aftermath of debates, more investigations went in on Democratic vice Presidential Nominee Bob Kerrey’s involvement in the killings of women and children in the Vietnam War. Governor Eunice Groark would also face her own Running mate problem as Lamm made a series of Gaffe’s in the lead up to November 5th. Gallup/Rasmussen polling had Maureen still in the lead with around 45% of the vote. As all three campaigns awaited the returns in their respective homes, The results showed that race was a little tighter than expected especially in the South between Richards and Reagan didn’t truly appeal to their more conservative values. Yet, by the morning it was apparent that President Reagan had indeed won her second term on a comfortable margin, and a decent plurality of the popular vote.
Maureen Reagan/John Warner: 354 Electoral Votes
Ann Richards/Robert Kerrey: 141 Electoral Votes
Eunice Groark/Richard Lamm: 43 Electoral Votes
I had already read that on the US election forum, but I'm still impressed. With three Female candidates, these US are such a great place...
Wellstone '00!
Wellstone '00!
President Al Bundy
Banned
Any chance that we will people well known IOTL? Like Obama or George W. Bush or else? Because I'm not too familiar with all these women here
Hey, I just want to let everyone know that this timeline, is back offically online with me being on Winter Break. Next update on the first two years of Maureen's 2nd term will be here in a few days(Maybe by Christmas)...Till then a little treat
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1996 US Congressional/Gubernatorial Elections
Despite President Reagan’s resounding Reelection victory, the Republican Party’s filibuster proof majority was fractured by the unique campaign strategies of Ann Richards and Eunice Groark. This was mostly evident due to several through Republican Parties, where the growing Social Conservative movement of the GOP fought to “purge more moderate candidates. Democratic Pickups included Winston Bryant in Arkansas, Tom Strickland in Colorado, Mary Landrieu in Louisiana, Joseph P. Kennedy III in Massachusetts, Tim Johnson in South Dakota and Kathryn J. Whitmire in Texas. In a sole net gain for the Reform party, was the narrow victory of Candidate Becky Shaw in Montana. Conservatives could find solace in the victories of new coming Senators Jeff Sessions in Alabama, Guy Milner in Georgia, Sam Brownback in Kansas, Chuck Hagel in Nebraska, Gordon H. Smith in Oregon and Michael B. Enzi in Wyoming. These Results left Senate totals at 53 to 44 to 3 giving Senate Majority leader Trent Lott of Mississippi the displeasure of holding his President’s fractious coalition of Moderates from the three parties together. Speaker of the House Dick Cheney held a three seat majority over House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt’s Democrats. In the Governor’s Races, Eleven seats were up for grabs and largely followed the Parties nominees victories in those respective states. Republican Victories included Steve Goldsmith in Indiana, Robin Hayes in North Carolina and Cecil Underwood in West Virgina. Democrats won with Tom Carper in Delaware, Mel Carhan in Missouri, Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire, and a narrow victory for the nation’s 1st Asian American Governor in Gary Locke of Washington. The Reform Party also secured yet another win on the nation scene, with former Socialist Party member Mary A. “Mal” Herbert in Vermont.
)...Till then a little treat**********
1996 US Congressional/Gubernatorial Elections
Despite President Reagan’s resounding Reelection victory, the Republican Party’s filibuster proof majority was fractured by the unique campaign strategies of Ann Richards and Eunice Groark. This was mostly evident due to several through Republican Parties, where the growing Social Conservative movement of the GOP fought to “purge more moderate candidates. Democratic Pickups included Winston Bryant in Arkansas, Tom Strickland in Colorado, Mary Landrieu in Louisiana, Joseph P. Kennedy III in Massachusetts, Tim Johnson in South Dakota and Kathryn J. Whitmire in Texas. In a sole net gain for the Reform party, was the narrow victory of Candidate Becky Shaw in Montana. Conservatives could find solace in the victories of new coming Senators Jeff Sessions in Alabama, Guy Milner in Georgia, Sam Brownback in Kansas, Chuck Hagel in Nebraska, Gordon H. Smith in Oregon and Michael B. Enzi in Wyoming. These Results left Senate totals at 53 to 44 to 3 giving Senate Majority leader Trent Lott of Mississippi the displeasure of holding his President’s fractious coalition of Moderates from the three parties together. Speaker of the House Dick Cheney held a three seat majority over House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt’s Democrats. In the Governor’s Races, Eleven seats were up for grabs and largely followed the Parties nominees victories in those respective states. Republican Victories included Steve Goldsmith in Indiana, Robin Hayes in North Carolina and Cecil Underwood in West Virgina. Democrats won with Tom Carper in Delaware, Mel Carhan in Missouri, Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire, and a narrow victory for the nation’s 1st Asian American Governor in Gary Locke of Washington. The Reform Party also secured yet another win on the nation scene, with former Socialist Party member Mary A. “Mal” Herbert in Vermont.
Blessed are the Caregivers: The 2nd Term of Maureen Elizabeth Reagan
On a snow covered day, the recently turned 56 year old 42nd President of the United States of America…Maureen E. Reagan was sworn in by Chief Justice Mario Cuomo for a second term. Despite subzero temperatures, Maureen ushered one of the strongest speeches of her career as she emphasized her stirring legislative achievements of her first term. She also promised to continue her Idealist foreign Policy, as well as increased streamlining of the federal government. The most touching and memorable moment of Maureen’s last Inaugural address came when spoke of the struggles of her Alzheimer-stricken father, “And to our wonderful former first lady and my step-mother Nancy, I blow a kiss to thee because there is a special place in heaven for caregivers. I hope to someday with that same blessing spread love and good will for not only to our nation but for everyone across the planet.” President Reagan’s second administration in actuality; saw a major cosmetic makeover, due to the retirement of several members from her first cabinet.
Secretary of State: Richard G. “Dick” Lugar
Secretary of Treasury: Barbara Hackman Franklin
Secretary of Defense: William S. Cohen
Attorney General: William P. Barr
Secretary of Interior: Ben Nighthorse Campbell
National Security Advisor: Madeline Albright
Secretary of Commerce: Elaine Chao
Secretary of Labor: Robert “Bob” Martinez
Secretary of Agriculture: Dirk A. Kempthorne
Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare: Lamar Alexander
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Jack Kemp
Secretary of Energy: William Reiley
Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs: Jesse Brown
Secretary of Transportation: Peter V. Ueberroth
In examination President Maureen Reagan 2nd administration one would only have to look back to a commencement address given in 1995 at her father’s Alma Mater Eureka College in which she said “When you get to the top, stay there and make sure other women join you!” The nation’s first female President took her own statement to heart, as women were given more powerful roles in her administration. To replace the well respected former Secretary of Treasury Arthur Laffer, after forever aligning the Reagan Presidency with Supply Side-Economics, decided to return back to the Private sector for the rest of the decade. After looking at numerous candidates for the vacant position President Reagan decided on CEO Barbara Hackman Franklin of investment consulting firm Barbara Franklin Enterprises as the nation’s 1st Female Treasury Secretary. Her work in foreign markets, especially that China became increasingly visible during her role in the sanctions imposed on the Communist nation during the Bradley Administration. Although many Democrats were staunchly against such a Pro-Globalization pick, such as Senator Dianne Feinstein of California whom said, “If American’s want to blame someone for the reasons why so many of their jobs are being shipped overseas…Ms. Franklin would be the lady to point the finger at.” Yet, with the GOP still holding a surmounting majority in the Senate and no illegalities being found…Barbara H. Franklin was confirmed by the senate on a 80-20 margin. Another high level pick was for the replacement of the 73 year old former Vice-Admiral and Defense Secretary James B. Stockdale. Under the advice of Vice-President Warner and Secretary Lugar, Maureen tapped the highly popular former Senator William Cohen of Maine. Ironically, the recently retired Cohen initially declined the offer in December of 1992 to join the Reagan Cabinet, largely due to a desire to see through his final term in the Senate and now looked forward to one last hurrah on the arena of Foreign affairs. Due to his Bipartisan approach to reaching across the isle, William S. Cohen was almost unanimously confirmed by his former Senate colleagues.
Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen of Maine
In the first months of Reagan’s second term in her replacements of several less visible members of her cabinet, it was apparent that Maureen attempted to extract concessions from the Social Conservatives of her party. That would largely be seen her for her picks for Attorney General and Secretary of Agriculture. Both Janet Reno and George W. Bush (Largely in anticipation to fill in for his father’s retirement from the Senate) had been courted by draft movements in the respective home states to run in the Midterm elections of 1998. Maureen nominated Conservative Boy Wonder…The 46 year old William P. Barr Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Barr’s strong belief in Presidential Power and harsh Prison sentences for habitual offenders endeared him further to the right, and despite Democratic efforts was quickly confirmed. The 42nd President slight shift to the right was also seen by her nomination of newly minted Senator Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho as Agriculture Secretary. A staunch fiscal conservative, Kempthorne accepted the nod largely because he felt he would gain more national prominence to Americans as a Cabinet member in a popular administration rather as a just being another Senator from the Gem state.
However, Maureen placation to the Conservative wing of her party did not hinder the continued trend of inclusive and bipartisan administrations. To replace the retiring former Senator Paul Laxalt of Nevada at Interior Secretary, President Reagan tapped moderate-to-conservative Democrat Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado. The first Native American to be appointed to the position, Campbell’s record of rolling back the tide of overzealous Environmentalism in the West made him a prime candidate. In replacement of the outgoing Reform Party Commerce Secretary Lowell Weicker of Connecticut, President Reagan chose United Way of America CEO and Heritage Foundation Fellow, Elaine Chao as the first Asian Pacific American to be the guiding light in the Reagan administration’s push for globalization. Lastly to replace her dear elderly friend in March Fong Fu at Transportation Secretary, President Reagan nominated Reform Party architect Peter Ueberroth of California. Still highly popular for bringing the Olympic Games to Maureen’s home state in 1984, the former MLB Chairman was happy to get back into the Public eye in hopes to further his chances in California state politics in the ensuing years.
Reform Party Co-Founder and Secretary of Transportation Pete Ueberroth
With everything mostly quiet in the world in terms of foreign policy, President Reagan focused much of her energy in the first two years of her final term in office on Domestic issues. At the State of the Union address, Maureen unveiled several pieces of legislation under her continued mantra of a “Future For America” plan that she wanted to get passed before the 1998 Midterm elections. These new points added to the plan would be; Immigration Reform, Repeal of the Full-Employment Act, dissolution of the IRS, a Whistleblower Protection Act, Public Internet Usage across America and CAFTA. What wasn’t noticeably included in her plans was an endorsement of the Defense of Marriage Act which, the President had still remained increasingly mull about her opinion of it. Personally, Maureen felt as if the issue of Gay Marriage was a State issue, in which the Federal Government had no business regulating. Yet she also knew that it was an extremely volatile issue for members in both parties, and simply put President Reagan wanted to continue to cement her legacy as an “undoctrinate conservative” Presidency.
The easiest portion of Maureen’s agenda was that of the economy, as although Unemployment in January of ’97 was at an all time low of 2%. Reports from the Fed showed that economic growth and innovation was almost nonexistent and that the dollar had began to falter against the Euro and the Yen. This meant that although large government agencies had insured American’s a job under the Full Employment Act of 1983, many American’s felt as if their was no incentive to venture into the risky world of the private sector. After almost 15 years of loss of competition against the Government, Financial Institutions begged the Republican controlled Congress and the Reagan Administration to roll back the regulations which were strangling the economy of the 1990’s. Luckily, Wall Street had a close ally in Monetarist Libertarian Republican Alan Greenspan at FED Chairman, whose knowledge of the American Economic system was a Professor to even seventy year old Senators. Greenspan worked with Treasury Secretary Barbara Franklin, Commerce Secretary Elaine Chao, and HUD Secretary Jack Kemp to design the best approach to help jumpstart the economy. That approach was taken by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Phil Gramm of Texas and introduced as The Gramm-Leach-Bailey Act(GLBA) or Financial Services Modernization Act of 1997. The GLBA was divided into two key sections, one was a repeal of the Depression area Glass-Stegall Act of 1933 which would free up the market for securities, insurance and banking companies. The second portion of the act was a full repeal of the Full-Employment Act of 1983, which was targeted by major cuts to the burlesque Triumvirate era Domestic Programs. After a rigorous Debate through congress, the GLBA was passed on a party line at 60 to 37 margins and was signed into lay by President Reagan on May 2nd 1997.
Senator Phil Gramm of Texas and Senator John McCain in support of the GLBA
As Congress recessed for summer, President Reagan and her administration furiously worked to try to design a sweeping bill for Immigration Reform. Largely due to sensitivity of the Immigration issue, the Democratic Administration’s of Kennedy, Finch, and Bradley pushed any serious change to US Immigration policy put on the back burner. Yet as public debate over increased waves of immigration across the porous US-Mexican Border due to the passage of NAFTA, many in both parties felt as if something had to be done to mitigate the issue. Maureen’s initial vision chiefly designed by Secretaries Martinez, Campbell and Chao in the first quarter of 1997…was to make it illegal to knowingly hire/recruit immigrants without the proper paper work, required employers to report their employees' citizenship status, and granted amnesty to illegal immigrants whom entered the United States before January 1, 1993 and whom made no attempt to move back to their native country. The Act also granted a path towards legalization to certain agricultural seasonal workers and immigrants who had been continuously and illegally present in the United States since January 1, 1993
When Congress reconvened in August, Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona and the “Lioness of the Senate” Shirley Chisholm of New York introduced the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1997 to debate. The “Fair and Balanced” Measure was highly praised by Liberal Democrats, and Moderate Republicans, yet Conservatives within Reagan’s own parties were adamantly opposed to the IRCA. Newly elected Speaker of the House (Dick Cheney served as Speaker since the GOP took over the House in 1990, but stepped aside in February of ’97 due to Health Issues) Gary Bauer of Kentucky declared that the bill did not go far enough to punish those who entered the US illegally. Under Speaker Bauer’s watch, House Republicans designed an opposition Bill which called for a rapid militarization of the INS for automatic deportation for any Illegal Immigrant found in the US, as well as a multi-million dollar Wall to be built along the United States’ Southern Border. Although this bill was laughed off by the President, it was supported by ancient Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. For almost an entire month, he and a group of Republicans talk non-stop, trying to defeat the Bill. They fail, and on December 5th, the Senate votes 60-40 for cloture; on December 13th, it votes 54-43 to pass the Bill. Due to the narrow GOP holding of the House, a coalition of Democrats and Reform Party Representatives pass the bill on a relatively strong margin. Surrounded by Hispanic Civil rights Activists, as well as Senator’s McCain, Chisholm and Vice President Warner…President Maureen Reagan signs the IRCA into Law Christmas Day, 1997.
Senator Shirley Chisholm of New York, The Lioness of the Senate
The next major policy proposal on the Reagan administration’s agenda was that of Social Security reform. In her 1998 State of the Union address, Maureen unveiled a plan “that would save a system headed straight for bankruptcy, and ensure our children and grandchildren the same reward that we and out parents shared.” The broad proposal called for a semi-privatization of the institution, in which after a phase-in period, workers currently less than 55 years old would have the option to set aside four percentage points of their payroll taxes in individual accounts that could be invested in the private sector, in "a conservative mix of bonds and stock funds". Workers making such a choice might receive larger or smaller benefits than if they had not done so depending on the performance of the investments they selected. A bipartisan Congressional Committee lasted for the next three months, in which unveiled a major issue in which the President’s proposal’s in that it did not address the projected shortfalls in Social Security. During the summer recess, President Reagan spent much of the summer campaigning across the country for Social Security Reform. Yet an aggressive Anti-Reform Campaign was launched by the AARP and AFL-CIO which incited many angry town hall meetings across America, usually from those who were uniformed about the extent of the Reform and felt as if any attempt reform would cancel their chances to cash in to the system. Gallup Polls during July showed that only about 43% of American’s supported their President on the measure. However, Speaker Bauer pushed through Social Security Reform Act of 1998 in August, and after weeks of debate a coalition of a united Democratic Front and Reform Party Representatives(Mainly due to it not going farther enough to address it’s long term funding problems) defeated the SSR on a narrow margin. Due to her own visibility and support for the SSRA, Maureen Reagan’s approval ratings dropped down below 50% for the first time in her Presidency as it stood at 46% in December of ’98.
Graph used by Congressional Democrats to showcase the Problems of the SSRA of 1998
Defeated on her push for Social Security Reform, Maureen Reagan understood that growing power of the Social Conservative wing within her own party and the newfound strength of the Liberal wing of the Democratic Party it would make it much harder for the President to push through her Moderate Domestic Agenda. In 1998 Reagan turned to the Lugar Doctrine in order to shape a lasting legacy in the World. This would mainly be seen in President Reagan’s passage of an executive order in June of 1998 to authorize “Regime Change” in Iraq due to fears that Saddam Hussein was attempting to secure nuclear weapons. In order to stop Hussein’s capability to use the weapons, the United States issued a weeklong campaign to bomb Anti-Air installations under Operation Scorpion in October, 1998. Yet, while having to deal with the unslain dragon from the previous Bradley Administration…Maureen Reagan continued to face against her administration’s signature battle against Terrorism both at home and abroad. On August 7th 1998, a bomb was set off at the Kenyan US Embassy in Narobi in which 212 people were killed including twelve Americans. Once it was verified that the attacks were made by members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, with strong ties to that of Al-Qaeda…the Afghanistan Terrorist organization. A day after the bombing, President Reagan announced in a televised address, that she would be giving the green light to Operation Iron Fist. Iron Fist largely comprised of Cruise Missile Strikes to Terrorist-affiliated sites in Sudan, Egypt, and Afghanistan. However, the Operation failed to bring in the man responsible for the deaths…Osama Bin Laden as he escaped into the mountainous region of Northern Pakistan. President Reagan’s failure in capture of Bin Laden inturn was used by Democrats as a major campaign issue in the 1998 Midterm elections.
The Aftermath of US Embassy Attack in Nairobi, Kenya...A taste of things to come?
I can not confirm nor deny lol..Im not sure when Ill have the next reply up guys...Im really excited about my new Nixon TL, and go alot of things instore for this timeline. Yet this is my longest running project so I will finish this TL, whenever my Intrest Pendulem swings back to Out of the Blue. Any other thoughts, comments, suggestions, or replies?
Yay, it's alive! This made my favorites list, btw. I kiss your butt out of love.
Orville_third
Banned
One wonders if Iraq destroyed its weapons in TTL, as they did in OTL. One also wonders if Hussein Kamil defected as he did in OTL. (Perhaps 1. They didn't 2. He did...and he's staying here...unless we want him to take over Iraq...)
The 1998 US Congressional/Gubernatorial Elections
Despite the relative popularity of the President herself and the revived economy, the ’98 midterms showed that the American People did not hold those same feelings for those within her party. With 1996 Democratic Presidential Nominee Ann Richards’ unique electoral strategy, The Democrats had finally been able to come up with a strong message to counter that in the Grand Old Party. As by the fall of ’98 many American’s had felt the brunt of Reagan’s “trickle-down” economics as a large result of the President’s streamlining of the Federal Government caused many American’s to loose job’s they had for over a decade. Running on a platform of Jobs, Anti-NAFTA and stronger American efforts against Islamic terrorism…The Democrats were able to pick up a net gain of 8 seats, pushing them to a 51 to 45 to 3 majority. Those Pickups include Bill Clinton in Arkansas ( no Net gain due to Bumpers’ retirement), Julian Bond in Georgia, Evan Bayh in Indiana, Scotty Blaester in Kentucky, Chuck Schumer in New York, John Edwards in North Carolina, Jay Nixon in Missouri and Patty Murary in Washington. However, Democratic Successes did not trickle down to the House level, as Speaker Gary Bauer was able to narrowly keep his majority. As the 106th Congress entered the capitol in the last year of the millennium, The 74 year old George H.W “Poppy” Bush of Texas passed down the title of Senate Majority Leader he had served for eight years to Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland.
In the Gubernatorial elections, it proved to be a very good year to be an incumbent as members from all three parties were able to secure the hold on Governor’s mansions across the country. Holds to the office of Governor included Fife Symington in Arizona, Angus King in Maine, John Engler in Michigan, Dan Barkley in Minnesota, Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire, George Pataki in New York, Tom Ridge in Pennsylvania and Howard Dean in Vermont. Both Democrats and Republicans almost split their victories evenly; Democrats include Don Seigelman in Alabama, Gray Davis in California, Gail Schoetller in Colorado, Glenn Rashod in Illinois, Tom Vilsak in Iowa, Lee Fisher in Ohio, and Jim Hodges in South Carolina. Republican Pick ups were the following; John E. “Jeb” Bush in Florida, Linda Lingle In Hawaii, Ellen Sauerbrey in Maryland, Paul Callucci in Massachusetts, Mike Johanns in Nebraska, Kenny Guinn in Nevada, and Lincoln Almond in Rhode Island.
However, one of the more exciting aspects of the ’98 Midterm elections was its history making ramifications. Hispanic American’s watched closely on three hotly contested races in California, New Mexico and Texas which all featured high profile Hispanic Gubernatorial nominees. In the Golden State…Speaker of the California State Assembly Cruz Bustamante, after declining an offer to run as Lieutenant Governor with Gray Davis, won his party nomination for Alan Cranston’s old seat and fought it out against incumbent Senator Bruce Herschensoln. Bruce was a vocal critic of President Reagan’s policies and his stance as an ardent Conservative made Senator Herschensoln unpalatable to voters of a state that was growing leftward by the day. Speaker Bustamante defeated the incumbent Senator on a 55 to 43% margin of victory. In New Mexico, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Joseph Chavez trounced Reform Party Incumbent Governor Mondragon in a split race against the more libertarian-minded Republican Nominee Gary E. Johnson. Many pundits believe that Chavez was able to pull of the victory because he was able to successfully portray himself as a Centrist between the leftist Mondragon and Paleoconservative Johnson to win the Race on a 45% of the vote, while Mondragon and Johnson both held 30%. Republican State Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, of Texas emerged from a squeaker against Democrat Texas Comptroller John Sharp. The State AG held the backing of Poppy Bush’s supporters and was a close personal friend of his son form Reagan Agriculture Secretary George W. Bush. John Sharp on the other hand effectively inherited the political machine of two term Governor Ann Richards, however this connection to the former Democratic Nominee proved not be as helpful as it might have four years earlier. Gonzales and his campaign manager Karl Rove were able to pain him as running for “The Liberal Granny’s Third Term. Since the Reform Party did not put up a gubernatorial candidate in Texas that year, the two way race was largely left up to the voters, and AG Alberto Gonzales was able to pull of a incredibly narrow 51% victory over Comptroller John Sharp’s 49%. In analysis o the race afterwards, Many pundits believed that the Bradley effect came into play in the Lone Star State as most polls had Gonzales up by Seven to Eight points going into November.
Cruz Bustamante of California, The first Latino Senator in over 30 years
Despite the relative popularity of the President herself and the revived economy, the ’98 midterms showed that the American People did not hold those same feelings for those within her party. With 1996 Democratic Presidential Nominee Ann Richards’ unique electoral strategy, The Democrats had finally been able to come up with a strong message to counter that in the Grand Old Party. As by the fall of ’98 many American’s had felt the brunt of Reagan’s “trickle-down” economics as a large result of the President’s streamlining of the Federal Government caused many American’s to loose job’s they had for over a decade. Running on a platform of Jobs, Anti-NAFTA and stronger American efforts against Islamic terrorism…The Democrats were able to pick up a net gain of 8 seats, pushing them to a 51 to 45 to 3 majority. Those Pickups include Bill Clinton in Arkansas ( no Net gain due to Bumpers’ retirement), Julian Bond in Georgia, Evan Bayh in Indiana, Scotty Blaester in Kentucky, Chuck Schumer in New York, John Edwards in North Carolina, Jay Nixon in Missouri and Patty Murary in Washington. However, Democratic Successes did not trickle down to the House level, as Speaker Gary Bauer was able to narrowly keep his majority. As the 106th Congress entered the capitol in the last year of the millennium, The 74 year old George H.W “Poppy” Bush of Texas passed down the title of Senate Majority Leader he had served for eight years to Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland.
In the Gubernatorial elections, it proved to be a very good year to be an incumbent as members from all three parties were able to secure the hold on Governor’s mansions across the country. Holds to the office of Governor included Fife Symington in Arizona, Angus King in Maine, John Engler in Michigan, Dan Barkley in Minnesota, Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire, George Pataki in New York, Tom Ridge in Pennsylvania and Howard Dean in Vermont. Both Democrats and Republicans almost split their victories evenly; Democrats include Don Seigelman in Alabama, Gray Davis in California, Gail Schoetller in Colorado, Glenn Rashod in Illinois, Tom Vilsak in Iowa, Lee Fisher in Ohio, and Jim Hodges in South Carolina. Republican Pick ups were the following; John E. “Jeb” Bush in Florida, Linda Lingle In Hawaii, Ellen Sauerbrey in Maryland, Paul Callucci in Massachusetts, Mike Johanns in Nebraska, Kenny Guinn in Nevada, and Lincoln Almond in Rhode Island.
However, one of the more exciting aspects of the ’98 Midterm elections was its history making ramifications. Hispanic American’s watched closely on three hotly contested races in California, New Mexico and Texas which all featured high profile Hispanic Gubernatorial nominees. In the Golden State…Speaker of the California State Assembly Cruz Bustamante, after declining an offer to run as Lieutenant Governor with Gray Davis, won his party nomination for Alan Cranston’s old seat and fought it out against incumbent Senator Bruce Herschensoln. Bruce was a vocal critic of President Reagan’s policies and his stance as an ardent Conservative made Senator Herschensoln unpalatable to voters of a state that was growing leftward by the day. Speaker Bustamante defeated the incumbent Senator on a 55 to 43% margin of victory. In New Mexico, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Joseph Chavez trounced Reform Party Incumbent Governor Mondragon in a split race against the more libertarian-minded Republican Nominee Gary E. Johnson. Many pundits believe that Chavez was able to pull of the victory because he was able to successfully portray himself as a Centrist between the leftist Mondragon and Paleoconservative Johnson to win the Race on a 45% of the vote, while Mondragon and Johnson both held 30%. Republican State Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, of Texas emerged from a squeaker against Democrat Texas Comptroller John Sharp. The State AG held the backing of Poppy Bush’s supporters and was a close personal friend of his son form Reagan Agriculture Secretary George W. Bush. John Sharp on the other hand effectively inherited the political machine of two term Governor Ann Richards, however this connection to the former Democratic Nominee proved not be as helpful as it might have four years earlier. Gonzales and his campaign manager Karl Rove were able to pain him as running for “The Liberal Granny’s Third Term. Since the Reform Party did not put up a gubernatorial candidate in Texas that year, the two way race was largely left up to the voters, and AG Alberto Gonzales was able to pull of a incredibly narrow 51% victory over Comptroller John Sharp’s 49%. In analysis o the race afterwards, Many pundits believed that the Bradley effect came into play in the Lone Star State as most polls had Gonzales up by Seven to Eight points going into November.
Cruz Bustamante of California, The first Latino Senator in over 30 years
Very nice updates. It looks like Reaganomics 2.0 is starting to wear on the voters. I expect that the unions are going to be quite active as well in helping make sure the Dems take back the White House in 2000 (with an expanded base, of course, thanks to the repeal of Taft-Hartley), and I'm still hoping that Paul Wellstone becomes the nation's first Jewish President in two years.
It's alive! Aliiive!!!
I totally missed this 4 days ago. BTW, I set you up a wiki page for your TL. Edit as you will.
I totally missed this 4 days ago. BTW, I set you up a wiki page for your TL. Edit as you will.
Huh. If I wasn't so lazy I probably should add my TLs to that thing. Cool.