Preview: In Eclipse

Here's a project I might or might not continue in the future. Let me know what you think...

In Eclipse

RFK EDGES LBJ IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
NASHUA, Mar. 10, 1964

“In a widely unexpected result, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy won 28,717 write-in votes for Vice President to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s 25,564 write-in votes for President in the New Hampshire primary. Despite Mr. Kennedy’s repeated denials of an interest in the Vice Presidential nomination, his supporters have handed him a major momentum boost in the contest. White House reaction has been muted, with the President refusing all comment at his weekly press conference. Kennedy, for his part, thanked his supporters for their “enthusiasm and loyalty” but emphasized that “no decision has been made on my part.”

WHITE HOUSE TAPES, 11/03/64

JOHNSON: “George, the press is absolutely going nuts with Bobby winning 3200 votes more than I did in New Hampshire. There’s pressure from everyone to put that little runt on the ticket.”
GEORGE REEDY: “Let’s just wait and see what happens, Mr. President. This is only one primary.”
JOHNSON: “Have you seen the polls? He’s leading Hubert 3-1, with Adlai back at 18% and no one else with a pulse.”
REEDY: “I don’t see how you can mute the press. There’s simply nothing else to discuss.”
JOHNSON: “You know who thinks Bobby would be a great Vice President? Dick Daley. He thinks that the kid would be the best to excite the base. Not as if I need that little runt when Goldwater is the Republicans’ nominee.”
REEDY: “You might not need him, but you might want him. If you want to deny him the 1972 nomination…”
JOHNSON: “You might have something there, George. I still cannot stomach the idea of the kid being my Vice President.”
END OF RECORDING

“You can’t get along with him unless you kiss his behind all the time.”- Robert Kennedy, Mar. 19

WHITE HOUSE TAPES, 08/04/64
JOHNSON: “Did you see today’s Times? Bobby did it again in Wisconsin; he won nearly as many votes as Reynolds did, and Wallace won 266,000 votes- a third. This is embarrassing to me and the Democratic Party. Bobby won 430,000 votes: nearly 50% of the Democratic voters- double what Wallace got. This has to be shut down before it gets too serious.”
REEDY: “He’s going to do well in every primary except Florida.”
END OF RECORDING

“I think this vice-presidential thing could turn out better than I thought. I’m not going to announce my candidacy, but exercise your best judgement John.”
Robert Kennedy to John Seigenthaler, Apr. 11

KENNEDY, ROCKEFELLER ILLINOIS WINNERS
CHICAGO, Apr. 15, 1964

“New York Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller won a major primary victory in Illinois with 59% of the votes against Arizona Senator Barry M. Goldwater’s 40%. Gov. Rockefeller hailed “Illinois’ repudiation of extremism within the Republican Party.” While Rockefeller continues his string of primary victories, the biggest winner was Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who won nearly 55% of the Democratic vote in Illinois. Some have taken this as an endorsement from Mayor Richard J. Daley, though the Mayor’s office has heatedly denied all such rumours.”

WHITE HOUSE TAPES, 16/04/64
JOHNSON: “Dick, did you organize Bobby’s landslide in Illinois? I can’t think of a soul other than you who’d have done that?”
DALEY: “Lyndon, if they nominate Rockefeller, you might want this fellow on the ticket. He excites the Catholics, the North, young people and liberals. Those are the people who are still suspicious of you. If the Republicans nominate that Arizona kook, then you can forget this conversation, as will I.”
JOHNSON: “If this was anyone else, I’d agree with you Dick. I don’t want that runt on my ticket, and I’m 99% sure he doesn’t want to be on my ticket either. Particularly if he thinks it’s going to get him the 1972 nomination.”
DALEY: “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
END OF RECORDING

“Well, after my victories in New Jersey and over 80% of the Mass vote, the momentum is building to a head. Lyndon can still say “no”, which I think he will. But like Jack did in ’56, I am still positioned as a potential future nominee regardless of whether I live in the Naval Observatory for the next eight years. So this is a win-win situation, my favourite kind. Lyndon has probably spent the past six months trying to devise a way to keep me off the ticket. I think he’s just sick at the prospects of having me.”
RFK Diaries, May 2

W.H. TAPES, 25/05/64
JOHNSON: “George, this is reaching a critical stage. If Rockefeller wins in California next week, he’s their nominee. I might have no choice but to take that little snot-nosed kid for Vice President.”
REEDY: “Have you seen the Post? They’ve written an article saying he’d be the best-qualified.”
JOHNSON: “Hubert’s just as qualified as he is, and is much less offensive in the South.”
REEDY: “If Rockefeller’s the nominee that becomes irrelevant.”
JOHNSON: “Let’s just hope that Barry wins and I don’t need to take the man I hate more than anyone else. Whoever it is, I want his pecker in my pocket. My definition of loyalty is someone who will kiss my ass in Macy’s window and say it smells like roses. We both know he would never do anything of the sort.”
END OF RECORDING

“There’s little to worry about in the meantime: we’ve swept all the primaries, but just awaiting news on California. If Rockefeller wins here, then there’s a much greater chance of me becoming VP and President in 1972. Ethel has finally agreed to support me, but I’m not going to declare my candidacy. I want Johnson to squirm and hate himself for taking me. Apparently Goldwater’s got the most fanatical supporters: they literally knock on doors until their hands bleed. That can’t be easily countered by the usual bromides about national and party unity.”

“In mid-1964, the Democrats were in effect allowing the Republicans to determine their ticket. If Goldwater won, Humphrey would likely be Johnson’s choice. If Rockefeller won the Republican nomination, then there would be enormous pressure on LBJ to pick Robert Kennedy for the Vice Presidency.”
Campaign ’64 by Tom Wicker
 
Very good, I'm interested to see where it might go. To be honest, I thought it migt have something to do with Twilight. :eek:

But It would be interesting to see how LBJ and RFK get along whilst in office together, so I say go for it!:)
 
Take away the pillar. That about sums it up. :) IOTL Daley reportedly suggested that RFK be nominated for the Presidency, which I doubt.
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Hmm...With the major interest in a President Goldwater we've had on the board last couple of weeks to mee this seems like a start of Goldwater TL. If he manages to win enough delegates to challenge the nomination of Johnson himself for President, and looses it will make Johnson look hella weak going in to the General. Keep it comming RB
 
“We are awaiting the results from the California Republican primary, where Gov. Rockefeller and Sen. Goldwater are statistically tied at the moments. As results are entering into the NBC studio, we can say that Sen. Goldwater is currently leading, but Rockefeller is only 40,000 votes behind him. Remember, California is the only winner-take-all primary: whoever wins will effectively clinch the Republican presidential nomination… Now Rockefeller is leading by a little over 15,000 votes…”
ROCKEFELLER WINS CA SQUEAKER
LOS ANGELES, June 3, 1964

“New York Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller won a harrowing victory in California, with a 36,000 vote margin over Sen. Barry M. Goldwater of Arizona. Rockefeller has now earned enough delegates to win a first-ballot victory, therefore becoming the presumptive Republican nominee. Democrats are increasingly anxious as pressure builds on President Johnson to pick Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy as Vice President. Democratic sources say that Kennedy is reportedly on the President’s shortlist, along with Senator Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota and UN Ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson.”

California primary, (R), June 3
Nelson A. Rockefeller: 50.2%
Barry M. Goldwater: 49.8%

“Now I’m in it up to my goddamn ankles. I have no choice but to ask the kid to be Vice President. Neither of us wants to, but against Rockefeller, this thing might turn out to be a contest after all.”

“Six or half a dozen”- Gov. George Wallace (D-AL) on Rockefeller or Kennedy

W.H. TAPES, 22/06/64
FEHMER: Mr. President, the Attorney General is here.
JOHNSON: “Let him in.”
JOHNSON: “Bobby, I just have one question for you. Do you want to be Vice President?”
KENNEDY: “Mr. President, I have been considering such a prospect for many months, as I’m sure you have. After much debate, I’ve concluded that this would enhance my viability as a future candidate. I accept your offer and look forward to the campaign.”
JOHNSON: “Do you want to tell the press or should I?”
KENNEDY: “I think you should Mr. President. If I might make some suggestions, the statement should emphasize the need for intra-party unity in the face of the Rockefeller nomination.”
JOHNSON: “I agree with you, but let’s not tell them for a while- keep them guessing.”
KENNEDY: “That’s fine with me.”
END OF TRANSCRIPT

Republican National Convention, July 13th, Cow Palace
Nelson Rockefeller: 808
Barry Goldwater: 505

“Fellow Republicans, let me introduce someone whom we all know. He has managed to turn his state’s previously decaying industry in his state and rebuild the Republican Party. I give you Governor William Scranton of Pennsylvania!”
Gov. Rockefeller addressing the GOP Convention
rockefeller_cow_palace.jpg

Gov. Bill Scranton: unanimous voice vote

KENNEDY VP PICK: WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 29, 1964

“President Lyndon B. Johnson announced today his choice of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy as his vice-presidential selection. “He is quite obviously the man best qualified for the vice-presidency and will be nominated in Atlantic City in August.” Many observers were astounded at Kennedy’s selection, given the well-known lack of rapport between Messrs. Johnson and Kennedy. “Johnson only took Bobby because Rockefeller was nominated. You can rest assured that their personal antagonism has not softened one bit.”

“In August, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was discarded before reaching the Senate floor on the strong urging of Undersecretary of State George Ball. In the interim, both Johnson and Kennedy were preparing for the Democratic Convention in Atlantic City. Many Democrats were unenthused about the site selection, which had been the brainchild of New Jersey Gov. Richard Hughes. “Atlantic City was the seediest convention location I ever attended. You might as well have held it in New Orleans or Las Vegas” Robert Kennedy later said.”
Postwar Liberalism by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Democratic National Convention, Atlantic City, Aug. 26

President Lyndon Johnson: unanimous voice vote

“Most Americans believe that the Tennessee Valley Authority should remain publicly owned. Senator Goldwater does not. Most Americans believe that Social Security should remain publicly owned. Senator Goldwater does not. If his privatization proposals were enacted, then your water bill would increase by over 20%. If you want higher utilities payments, vote Republican. If you want to see the death of Medicare as we know it, then vote Republican. The Republicans wish to bankrupt America’s elderly for the experience of an ideological climax, and that, my fellow citizens, is unacceptable!
Acceptance address of Attorney General Robert Kennedy, Aug. 27, 1964

Vice-presidential balloting
Attorney General Robert Kennedy: unanimous voice vote

Robert Kennedy listening to President Johnson's acceptance speech
kennedy-53-bobby-kennedy-0110-lg.jpg


“I’ve been campaigning throughout the country by myself. Johnson is just unbelievable: like Gramps, he does the Irish switch: shaking two hands at once while chatting to someone else. Such agility seems absolutely remarkable in my opinion. There’s a good deal of Rockefeller support in the North, but the Midwest is lukewarm and the South hates his guts. Reportedly he put sugar on his grits, which is a mortal sin down there. I put some additives in my coffee, so I can sympathize.”
RFK Diaries, Sept. 10


KHRUSCHEV OUSTED, RED CHINA EXPLODES ATOMIC DEVICE
LONDON, Oct. 17, 1964

“Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev was ousted by his own Politburo colleagues in a late-night Central Committee vote, according to Moscow sources. Alexei Kosygin has become Premier with Leonid Brezhnev as President. Mainland China has also exploded their first atomic device in northern China, according to senior intelligence sources…”

UK general election, Oct. 17
630 Commons seats

Conservative: 327 seats
Labour: 280 seats
Liberal: 15 seats
Other: 8 seats

Incumbent Prime Minister: Sir Alec Douglas-Home (Con)


U.S. presidential election, Nov. 3
genusmap.php

(D) Lyndon B. Johnson/ Robert F. Kennedy: 381 EV, 57.8%
(R) Nelson A. Rockefeller/ William W. Scranton: 157 EV: 42.1%
Incumbent President: Lyndon Johnson (D)

House results
Democratic: 291 seats (+ 36)
Republican: 144 seats

Incumbent Speaker: John McCormack (D-MA)

Senate results
Democratic: 67 seats (no change)
Republican: 33 seats
Incumbent Majority Leader: Mike Mansfield (D-MT)

“Well, I theoretically don’t have to give up Justice, and I don’t want a Cabinet post even though I could have one. If I get too involved in something, it will all blow up in my face without leaving me room for the 1972 presidential nomination. Perhaps I’ll reconsider in the second term.”
RFKDiaries, Nov. 30

Jan. 20, 1965: “I, Lyndon Baines Johnson, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States and will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.”
“I, Robert Francis Kennedy, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of Vice President of the United States and will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.”

Johnson I Cabinet
Vice President: Robert Kennedy

Secretary of the Treasury: Henry Fowler
Secretary of State: Dean Rusk
Attorney General: Nicholas Katzenbach
Secretary of Defence: Robert McNamara
Secretary of H.E.W.: John Gardiner
Secretary of H.U.D.: Robert Weaver
Secretary of Labour: Willard Wirtz
Secretary of Commerce: Luther Hodges
Secretary of the Interior: Joseph Califano
 
RogueBeaver said:
“Fellow Republicans, let me introduce someone whom we all know. He has managed to turn his state’s previously decaying industry in his state and rebuild the Republican Party. I give you Governor William Scranton of Pennsylvania!”

Surely this should read

RogueBeaver said:
“Fellow Republicans, let me introduce someone whom we all know. He has managed to turn his state’s previously decaying industry around and rebuild the Republican Party in his state. I give you Governor William Scranton of Pennsylvania!”
?

And oh yes, can't wait for the sparks to start flying!
 
Hmm... interesting prospect, RogueBeaver. I don't entirely know where you are going with this, except for one thing: We are going to see some fighting between RFK and LBJ! I look forward to this.
 
Hey, In Bobby's Acceptance Adress, you were referring to Sen. Goldwater as if he was the nominee instead of addressing Rocky. And Mississippi and Alabama going for Rocky I find extremley implausible. Most likeley we would see a third party State's Rights ticket or atleast unpledged electors instead of going with the "Worse of Two Evil" strategy. Maybe someone like Fabus runs or something...I can definatley still see a Goldwater Presidency come January 1969...Keep it comming.
 
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