Rosa Luxemburg
Banned
I started a timeline exploring this topic a few months back, however, it unfortunately didn't progress past an introduction. This is my attempt at a redo for that. The point of departure is, as in the previous timeline, is the assassination attempt of then President-elect Roosevelt being successful, therefore allowing John Nance Garner to be inaugurated as the 32nd POTUS instead. I hope you guys enjoy this attempt at a timeline.
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When looking at the history of the 1936 election, it is important to first understand the past four years. With the assassination of President-elect Roosevelt on February 15, 1933 (less than a month before his would be inauguration) by Giuseppe Zangara, Vice President-elect Garner would be elevated to the office of the President that March. Going into office, Garner would inherit a tough situation. He was faced now with the Great Depression as well as an increasingly tumultuous foreign situation. Garner came into office with a noticeable lack of support. Republicans were anxious with a Democrat in the highest office in the nation and Roosevelt Democrats were uncomfortable with a conservative in charge. It was these conditions that made it hard for Garner to pass legislation, effectively causing him to be seen as a lame duck President. By the time 1936 finally rolled around, the President hadn't done a lot to stop the Depression and although the economy had gone up a little bit, it was considered to be far too insufficient by most of the American public.
It would be under these conditions that Senator Long would announce his candidacy for President, challenging the incumbent Garner for the Democratic nomination. Long's rise to power in Louisiana had been historic. Elected Governor in 1928, Long would soon consolidate power, getting rid of the existing political machine in the state, only to replace it with his own. Many in the country decried him as a dictator or a socialist or a fascist, but his popularity among the people, especially in his home state was undeniable. Although Garner insisted that he would be renominated by a party moving increasingly further away from him, the early primaries favored Long and his liberal policies. In fact, the first primary to be won by the President would be Maryland, after six other states had already voted. By then, it was clear that Garner would lose the nomination. Despite the seemingly inevitable loss ahead, he would stay in the race until the convention, winning eight more states to Long's total of twenty nine wins. As his Vice Presidential candidate, Long would chose fellow Senator and long time ally, Burton K. Wheeler for the nomination .
The Republicans felt confident going into the election. Despite the fact that the unpopular incumbent had been defeated for the nomination and the unavoidable public opinion that the Republicans had caused the Depression, many within the party felt as though they had a solid chance at winning. The race in general although seen as a three way race between Alf Langdon, William E. Borah, and Frank Knox, would effectively become a two way fight for the nomination. Save for the win in New Hampshire by Knox, the primary race would see Langdon and Borah trading one win after another. In the end, Langdon would win after an endorsement and subsequent Vice Presidential selection of Knox. The general election could now begin, pitting Alf Langdon versus Huey P. Long.
The general election would not live up to Republican expectations. From the very beginning, Langdon was shown to be an ineffective campaigner against the charismatic Long. Furthermore, Long's accusations pinning the Depression on the Republican party would be successful whilst Langdon's accusing Long of being a socialist and attempts to compare him to the fascist Fuhrer of Germany, Adolf Hitler largely fell flat. The final nail in the coffin for the Republican party would come in October of that year when the economy saw a large spike. In the end, Long would win in the largest electoral landslide since Monroe in 1820. Despite his landslide victory, two Texas electors would vote for President Garner and one New Jersey elector would vote for Henry Skillman Breckinridge.
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When looking at the history of the 1936 election, it is important to first understand the past four years. With the assassination of President-elect Roosevelt on February 15, 1933 (less than a month before his would be inauguration) by Giuseppe Zangara, Vice President-elect Garner would be elevated to the office of the President that March. Going into office, Garner would inherit a tough situation. He was faced now with the Great Depression as well as an increasingly tumultuous foreign situation. Garner came into office with a noticeable lack of support. Republicans were anxious with a Democrat in the highest office in the nation and Roosevelt Democrats were uncomfortable with a conservative in charge. It was these conditions that made it hard for Garner to pass legislation, effectively causing him to be seen as a lame duck President. By the time 1936 finally rolled around, the President hadn't done a lot to stop the Depression and although the economy had gone up a little bit, it was considered to be far too insufficient by most of the American public.
It would be under these conditions that Senator Long would announce his candidacy for President, challenging the incumbent Garner for the Democratic nomination. Long's rise to power in Louisiana had been historic. Elected Governor in 1928, Long would soon consolidate power, getting rid of the existing political machine in the state, only to replace it with his own. Many in the country decried him as a dictator or a socialist or a fascist, but his popularity among the people, especially in his home state was undeniable. Although Garner insisted that he would be renominated by a party moving increasingly further away from him, the early primaries favored Long and his liberal policies. In fact, the first primary to be won by the President would be Maryland, after six other states had already voted. By then, it was clear that Garner would lose the nomination. Despite the seemingly inevitable loss ahead, he would stay in the race until the convention, winning eight more states to Long's total of twenty nine wins. As his Vice Presidential candidate, Long would chose fellow Senator and long time ally, Burton K. Wheeler for the nomination .
The Republicans felt confident going into the election. Despite the fact that the unpopular incumbent had been defeated for the nomination and the unavoidable public opinion that the Republicans had caused the Depression, many within the party felt as though they had a solid chance at winning. The race in general although seen as a three way race between Alf Langdon, William E. Borah, and Frank Knox, would effectively become a two way fight for the nomination. Save for the win in New Hampshire by Knox, the primary race would see Langdon and Borah trading one win after another. In the end, Langdon would win after an endorsement and subsequent Vice Presidential selection of Knox. The general election could now begin, pitting Alf Langdon versus Huey P. Long.
The general election would not live up to Republican expectations. From the very beginning, Langdon was shown to be an ineffective campaigner against the charismatic Long. Furthermore, Long's accusations pinning the Depression on the Republican party would be successful whilst Langdon's accusing Long of being a socialist and attempts to compare him to the fascist Fuhrer of Germany, Adolf Hitler largely fell flat. The final nail in the coffin for the Republican party would come in October of that year when the economy saw a large spike. In the end, Long would win in the largest electoral landslide since Monroe in 1820. Despite his landslide victory, two Texas electors would vote for President Garner and one New Jersey elector would vote for Henry Skillman Breckinridge.