THE BEATEN PATH: One Bicentennial and Counting

[Enigma-Conundrum]

“Now that results have had a chance to come in, we can project several states on the eastern seaboard. New Jersey, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Virginia have went to Ronald Reagan; while Washington DC, Georgia, North Carolina, West Virginia, and South Carolina have went to Jimmy Carter. New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maryland, Rhode Island, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky are still too close to call.”

ABC News Broadcast on Election Night, 8:10 PM EST, November 2nd, 1976


“Major news coming from the east coast - we can now confirm that Charles Mathias has become the first third party candidate to win a state since George Wallace. He’s carried his home state of Maryland, as well as Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Meanwhile, we also have reports that Ronald Reagan has carried Michigan and Maine, while Jimmy Carter has claimed Florida. However, New York is still a bitter three-way contest, and Pennsylvania and Ohio are contested by Carter and Reagan. Polls are about to close in the central time zone, so we should be getting the next round of results soon…”

ABC News Broadcast on Election Night, 8:47 PM EST, November 2nd, 1976


“It appears that Jimmy Carter has claimed Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas. This is undoubtedly good news for the Georgian, but it appears that Tennessee and Kentucky are too close to call at the moment, so that good feeling may not last…”

ABC News Broadcast on Election Night, 9:23 PM EST, November 2nd, 1976


“Ronald Reagan has carried both Iowa and Indiana, and it appears that he’s won Ohio too. This momentum may continue, as the plains states will be closing their polls soon, and Governor Reagan has been polling incredibly well there…”

ABC News Broadcast on Election Night, 9:36 PM EST, November 2nd, 1976


“Before we move onto the next round of poll closings, we have a major announcement - Jimmy Carter appears to have carried New York, providing 41 electoral votes to the Governor. This is undoubtedly good news for the Democrats, who were briefly worried that Carter would remain limited to the south…”

ABC News Broadcast on Election Night, 9:59 PM EST, November 2nd, 1976


“It appears that Ronald Reagan has carried the states of Illinois and Wisconsin, providing a major boost in quite a few battleground states. In addition to this, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Kentucky are all tilting his way. Meanwhile, Minnesota is too close to call with Carter leading, Missouri is anyone’s game, and Texas is tight but tilting Carter.”

ABC News Broadcast on Election Night, 10:09 PM EST, November 2nd, 1976


“As expected, Ronald Reagan has swept the Great Plains, claiming Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah. Meanwhile, Carter’s lead has narrowed significantly in Minnesota, but he still has a thousand votes on Reagan…”

ABC News Broadcast on Election Night, 10:31 PM EST, November 2nd, 1976


“Polls have closed on the west coast, and we can report that Ronald Reagan has carried his native California, while Jimmy Carter has Washington. This is no doubt due to Senator Jackson, who remains popular in his home state. However, on the coast, Oregon still remains in play, as Charles Mathias is performing very strongly there.”

ABC News Broadcast on Election Night, 11:22 PM EST, November 2nd, 1976


“We can now project that, by the skin of his teeth, Jimmy Carter has carried Texas. No Democrat in modern memory has won an election without Texas, so this is sure to help calm the Carter camp. In addition, Ronald Reagan has claimed Oklahoma.”

ABC News Broadcast on Election Night, 12:26 PM EST, November 2nd, 1976


“News out west has been very good for Ronald Reagan, as he has claimed Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, and New Mexico. This puts him within swinging distance of the Oval Office, as he only needs to win one of the remaining states to win the necessary 270 electoral votes. At the moment, Jimmy Carter can only hope that a hung electoral college leads to Congress electing him President.”

ABC News Broadcast on Election Night, 1:47 AM EST, November 2nd, 1976


“Breaking news, no, monumental news: we can now officially say that Missouri and Pennsylvania, by about a thousand votes each, have went Republican. With this, Ronald Wilson Reagan has been elected President of the United States.”

ABC News Broadcast on Election Night, 4:45 AM EST, November 2nd, 1976


“We can finally project the last remaining states, at 6:38 AM in the studio. Ronald Reagan has won Minnesota, Tennessee, and Alaska, while Jimmy Carter has claimed both Hawaii and Kentucky. Despite Governor Reagan’s win in the electoral college, it appears that Governor Carter has defeated him in the popular vote total, at this moment holding just under a million more votes than Gover—President-Elect Reagan. This is apparently due to a record number of close states, as well as commanding margins in the south for the Democrat. This also makes Ronald Reagan the third president to win office without a majority of the popular vote, after Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876 and Benjamin Harrison in 1888.”

ABC News Broadcast on Election Night, 6:38 AM EST, November 2nd, 1976

FINAL VOTE TOTALS:
DEMOCRATIC: James Earl Carter Jr. / Henry Martin Jackson: 42.14% (34,357,409), 180 EVs
REPUBLICAN: Ronald Wilson Reagan / Howard Henry Baker Jr.: 40.81% (33,273,039), 327 EVs
LIBERAL: Charles McCurdy Mathias Jr. / Jacob Koppel Javits: 16.02% (13,061,360), 31 EVs
OTHER: 1.03% (839,775), 0 EVs

 

[Sceonn]

How is this going to effect the Electoral College?

 

[Enigma-Conundrum]

How is this going to effect the Electoral College?

It might not change anything, but it is worth noting that presidential electoral reform is becoming a major issue on the left decades earlier than OTL due to the fact that Reagan won despite 59% of the country not voting for him, and a plurality voting for Carter.

 

[Enigma-Conundrum]

“LANDSLIDE LITTON:” 6TH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN VICTORIOUS IN SENATE RACE

Democratic Representative Jerry Litton has defeated Republican State Attorney General John Danforth to become Missouri’s next Senator. A close election was expected here, with Litton and Danforth polling nearly even, with Litton pulling ahead in the last days of the race. Despite the close nature of the Presidential vote, with Ronald Reagan only defeating Jimmy Carter by 1,276 votes, Litton carried nearly 55% of the overall vote, defeating Danforth by a wide margin. This is largely attributed to heavy support for Litton from both organized labor and typically Republican rural voters, with a large number of Reagan-Litton votes in rural parts of the state.

THE KANSAS CITY STAR, November 3rd, 1976

Above: Senator-Elect Jerry Litton (D-MO).


LYSEN ELECTED SENATOR

State Representative King Lysen has been elected to replace Scoop Jackson in the US Senate. The reform-minded state legislator won the Democratic primary in an unexpected upset in the spring, becoming the Democratic choice to succeed Senator Jackson. He defeated Republican George Brown last night with 52% of the vote, and has stated that he plans on continuing his championing of environmental causes and openness in government…

THE SEATTLE TIMES, November 3rd, 1976

Above: Senator-Elect King Lysen (D-WA).


TAFT RE-ELECTED OVER METZENBAUM

In a rematch of the 1970 election, Senator Taft has emerged victorious against Howard Metzenbaum once again. The conservative Senator was largely aided by Ronald Reagan’s presidential performance in the state...

THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, November 3rd, 1976

Above: Senator Robert Taft Jr. (R-OH).


The Reagan years continue to be one of the most bizarre periods in recent memory, so it is worth setting the stage as to what he was facing in Washington D.C.

Ronald Reagan was not even president yet, and he was already against a monumentally difficult Congress. Despite his presidential win, the lack of Liberal candidates down-ballot in 1976 led to Democratic holds on most fronts, as liberals who did not vote for Jimmy Carter voted for congressional Democrats. Specifically, this led to the Democrats retaining a 289-seat majority in the House and maintaining their Senate majority of 62 seats. However, both Carl Albert and Mike Mansfield retired that year, completely changing the leadership in both bodies - but the end results of the leadership elections were barely in question.

In the House, Tip O’Neill held more than enough sway to become the next Speaker. The competitive race there would be for Majority Leader, where after one ballot, the famously-abrasive Richard Bolling defeated Texas congressman Jim Wright and Majority Whip John McFall, and after a second ballot, McFall. Filling John McFall’s vacant post was Indiana Representative John Brademas, the first Greek-American elected to Congress. Of course, the conflicts between Reagan and O’Neill are the stuff of political legend now, but it is worth mentioning Bolling and Brademas, as they were also instrumental in supporting O’Neill’s vocal opposition to the White House.

Within the Senate, everybody knew Robert Byrd would take charge. The West Virginian held near-Johnsonian levels of control over the caucus by the time Mike Mansfield retired, allowing him to sweep aside a challenge from Ernest Hollings. Initially, Hubert Humphrey considered challenging Byrd as well, but he decided against this in favor of leveraging his position as an elder statesman to aid Walter Mondale’s bid for Majority Whip. Mondale ultimately defeated Alan Cranston for the post by one vote, beginning the liberal Minnesotan’s long career in Congressional leadership. While Byrd was more willing to compromise with Reagan, the union-backed Mondale was vital in killing some of the most dangerous legislation towards the American poor.

The only bright spot for the President-Elect in Congress was in the Republican Senate caucus. Moderate leader Hugh Scott had retired, and with that Minority Whip Robert Griffin of Michigan was elected unanimously to replace him. Griffin and Reagan were fairly like-minded, especially on the topic of organized labor (with the pro-corporate Griffin highly opposed to unions in any form), and this ideological consensus would provide a bit of relief in a very difficult situation.

A PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 2nd edition written by Howard Zinn in 2009


With President Ford defeated, Dick Cheney was able to begin hunting for another path of employment beyond this now-limited White House. In particular, he looked back to his native Wyoming, where a Democrat had uncharacteristically been the state’s sole representative. Cheney threw his hat in the ring for this election, and ultimately emerged victorious, entering the body for which he has gained his (in)famous reputation.

THE POLITICS OF POWER: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Dick Cheney, published in 2009


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTIONS

Democratic: 289 (-2)
Republican: 146 (+2)

Speaker of the House: Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill (D-MA-8)
House Majority Leader: Richard Bolling (D-MO-5)
House Majority Whip: John Brademas (D-IN-3)

House Minority Leader: John Jacob Rhodes (R-AZ-1)
House Minority Whip: Robert Michel (R-IL-18)


SENATE ELECTIONS

Democratic: 62 (-)
Republican: 35 (-)
Liberal: 2 (-)
Independent: 1 (-)

Senate Majority Leader: Robert Byrd (D-WV)
Senate Majority Whip: Walter Mondale (D-MN)

Senate Minority Leader: Robert Griffin (R-MI)
Senate Minority Whip: Ted Stevens (R-AK)


Alabama
- John Sparkman (D)
- James Allen (D)

Alaska
- Ted Stevens (R)
- Mike Gravel (D)

Arizona
- Barry Goldwater (R)
- Incumbent Paul Fannin (R) retired, Dennis DeConcini (D) defeats Sam Steiger (R). D gain.

Arkansas
- John McClellan (D)
- Dale Bumpers (D)

California
- Alan Cranston (D)
- S. I. Hayakawa (R) defeats incumbent John V. Tunney (D). R gain.

Connecticut
- Incumbent Lowell P. Weicker (R) re-elected over Gloria Schaffer (D). R hold.
- Abraham Ribicoff (D)

Colorado
- Floyd K. Haskell (D)
- Gary Hart (D)

Delaware
- Incumbent William Roth (R) re-elected over Thomas Maloney (D). R hold.
- Joe Biden (D)

Florida
- Incumbent Lawton Chiles (D) re-elected over John Grady (R). D hold.
- Richard Stone (D)

Georgia
- Sam Nunn (D)
- Herman Talmadge (D)

Hawaii
- Daniel Inouye (D)
- Incumbent Hiram Fong (R) retired, Spark Matsunaga (D) defeats William F. Quinn (R). D gain.

Idaho
- James McClure (R)
- Frank Church (D)

Illinois
- Charles Percy (R)
- Adlai Stevenson III (D)

Indiana
- Birch Bayh (D)
- Richard Lugar (R) defeats incumbent Vance Hartke (D). R gain.

Iowa
- Dick Clark (D)
- John Culver (D)

Kansas
- James Pearson (R)
- Bob Dole (R)

Kentucky
- Walter Dee Huddleston (D)
- Wendell Ford (D)

Louisiana
- J. Bennett Johnson (D)
- Russell Long (D)

Maine
- Incumbent Edmund Muskie (D) re-elected over Robert A. G. Monks (R). D hold.
- William Hathaway (D)

Maryland
- Paul Sarbanes (D) defeats incumbent John Glenn Beall (R). D gain.
- Charles Mathias (L)

Massachusetts
- Incumbent Ted Kennedy (D) re-elected over Michael S. Robertson (R). D hold.
- Edward Brooke (R)

Michigan
- Incumbent Phillip Hart (D) retires, Don Riegle (D) defeats Marvin L. Esch (R). D hold.
- Robert Griffin (R)

Minnesota
- Incumbent Hubert Humphrey (D) re-elected over Gerald W. Brekke (R). D hold.
- Walter Mondale (D)

Mississippi
- Incumbent John Stennis (D) re-elected unopposed. D hold.
- James Eastland (D)

Missouri
- Tom Eagleton (D)
- Incumbent Stuart Symington (D) retires, Jerry Litton (D) defeats John Danforth (R). D hold.

Montana
- Lee Metcalf (D)
- Incumbent Mike Mansfield (D) retires, John Melcher (D) defeats Stanley C. Burger (R). D hold.

Nebraska
- Carl Curtis (R)
- Incumbent Roman Hruska (R) retires, Edward Zorinsky (D) defeats John Y. McCollister (R). D gain.

Nevada
- Incumbent Howard Cannon (D) re-elected over David Towell (R). D hold.
- Paul Laxalt (R)

New Hampshire
- Thomas J. McIntyre (D)
- John A. Durkin (D)

New Jersey
- Incumbent Harrison Williams (D) re-elected over Donald Norcross (R). D hold.
- Clifford Chase (R)

New Mexico
- Pete Domenici (R)
- Harrison Schmitt (R) defeats incumbent Joseph Montoya (D). R gain.

New York
- Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D) defeats incumbent James Buckley (R). D gain.
- Jacob Javits (L)

North Carolina
- Jesse Helms (R)
- Robert Burren Morgan (D)

North Dakota
- Incumbent Quentin N. Burdick (D) re-elected over Robert Stroup (R). D hold.
- Milton Young (R)

Ohio
- John Glenn (D)
- Incumbent Robert Taft Jr. (R) re-elected over Howard Metzenbaum (D). R hold.

Oklahoma
- Dewey F. Bartlett (R)
- Henry Bellmon (R)

Oregon
- Mark Hatfield (R)
- Bob Packwood (R)

Pennsylvania
- Richard Schweiker (R)
- Incumbent Hugh Scott (R) retires, John Heinz III (R) defeats William J. Green III (D). R hold.

Rhode Island
- Claiborne Pell (D)
- Incumbent John Pastore (D) retires, John Chafee (R) defeats Richard P. Lorber (D). R gain.

South Carolina
- Strom Thurmond (R)
- Ernest Hollings (D)

South Dakota
- George McGovern (D)
- James Abourezk (D)

Tennessee
- Jim Sasser (D) defeats incumbent Bill Brock (R). D gain.
- Ross Bass (D) appointed to fill Howard Baker’s (R) vacant seat.

Texas
- John Tower (R)
- Incumbent Lloyd Bentsen (D) re-elected over Alan Steelman (R). D hold.

Utah
- Jake Garn (R)
- Orrin Hatch (R) defeats incumbent Frank Moss (D). R gain.

Vermont
- Incumbent Robert Stafford (R) re-elected over Thomas P. Salmon (D). R hold.
- Patrick Leahy (D)

Virginia
- Incumbent Harry F. Byrd (I) re-elected over Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr. (D). I hold.
- William L. Scott (R)

Washington
- Warren Magnuson (D)
- Incumbent Scoop Jackson (D) retires, King Lysen (D) defeats George M. Brown (R). D hold.

West Virginia
- Incumbent Robert Byrd (D) re-elected unopposed. D hold.
- Jennings Randolph (D)

Wisconsin
- Incumbent William Proxmire (D) re-elected over Stanley York (R). D hold.
- Gaylord Nelson (D)

Wyoming
- Clifford Hansen (R)
- Malcolm Wallop (R) defeats incumbent Gale McGee (D). R gain.


GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS

Arkansas
- Incumbent David Pryor (D) re-elected over Leon Griffith (R). D hold.

Delaware
- Pierre DuPont (R) defeats Sherman Tribbitt (D). R gain.

Illinois
- James Thompson (R) defeats Michael Howlett (D). R gain.

Indiana
- Incumbent Otis R. Bowen (R) defeats Larry Conrad (D). R hold.

Missouri
- Incumbent Kit Bond (R) re-elected over Joseph Teasdale (D). R hold.

Montana
- Incumbent Thomas Lee Judge (D) re-elected over Robert Woodahl (R). D hold.

New Hampshire
- Incumbent Meldrim Thomson (R) re-elected over Harry Spanos (D). R hold.

North Carolina
- Jim Hunt (D) defeats David Flaherty (R). D gain.

North Dakota
- Incumbent Arthur A. Link (D) re-elected over Richard Elkin (R). D hold.

Rhode Island
- John Garrahy (D) defeats James Taft (R). D hold.

Utah
- Vernon Romney (R) defeats Scott Matheson (D). R gain.

Vermont
- Richard Snelling (R) defeats Stella Hackel (D). R gain.

Washington
- Dixy Lee Ray (D) defeats John Spellman (R). D gain.

West Virginia
- Jay Rockefeller (D) defeats Cecil Underwood (R). D gain.

———————————————————

END OF PROLOGUE​

 

[Enigma-Conundrum]

COMING SOON

THE BEATEN PATH: ACT ONE​

 

[glenn67]

Litten-Lysen in 1980.

 

[Enigma-Conundrum]

Litten-Lysen in 1980.

That’s a hell of a ticket ngl. I had to actually check if Lysen would be eligible . For the record, at the moment he’s one of the youngest senators, currently 34 years old. He also has impeccable mutton chops. Right now he does have the youth issue, especially when even Litton is pushing it (39 as of his election to the Senate). Who even knows if either of them will run though? Right now, Litton is still largely only a known quantity in Missouri, and Lysen is more concerned with his signature issues of government reform and environmentalism.

That being said, who knows what the plan for 1980 is beyond that already-stiff opposition to Reagan will undoubtedly manifest itself unless Ronnie can change that attitude towards him.


This is all way in the future though, first Reagan has to staff his cabinet and whatnot. That’s the pressing concern, he and the various Democrats have about three years to spar before considering that.

 

[Enigma-Conundrum]

Next time on THE BEATEN PATH:

 

[Enigma-Conundrum]

ACT ONE

“Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem.”

- President Ronald Reagan

———————————————————​

Chief Justice Warren Burger: I, Ronald Reagan, do solemnly swear...
President-Elect Ronald Reagan: I, Ronald Reagan, do solemnly swear…
WB: That I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States…
RR: That I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States…
WB: And will to the best of my ability…
RR: And will to the best of my ability…
WB: Preserve, protect, and defend...
RR: Preserve, protect, and defend…
WB: The Constitution of the United States…
RR: The Constitution of the United States…
WB: So help you God?
RR: So help me God.
WB: Congratulations, sir.

Transcript of Ronald Reagan’s oath of office, January 20th, 1977


From time to time, we have been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. But if no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else? All of us together, in and out of government, must bear the burden. The solutions we seek must be equitable, with no one group singled out to pay a higher price.

We hear much of special interest groups. Our concern must be for a special interest group that has been too long neglected. It knows no sectional boundaries or ethnic and racial divisions, and it crosses political party lines. It is made up of men and women who raise our food, patrol our streets, man our mines and our factories, teach our children, keep our homes, and heal us when we are sick—professionals, industrialists, shopkeepers, clerks, cabbies, and truck drivers. They are, in short, "We the people," this breed called Americans.

Well, this administration's objective will be a healthy, vigorous, growing economy that provides equal opportunity for all Americans, with no barriers born of bigotry or discrimination. Putting America back to work means putting all Americans back to work. Ending inflation means freeing all Americans from the terror of runaway living costs. All must share in the productive work of this "new beginning" and all must share in the bounty of a revived economy. With the idealism and fair play which are the core of our system and our strength, we can have a strong and prosperous America at peace with itself and the world.

So, as we begin, let us take inventory. We are a nation that has a government—not the other way around. And this makes us special among the nations of the Earth. Our Government has no power except that granted it by the people. It is time to check and reverse the growth of government which shows signs of having grown beyond the consent of the governed.

It is my intention to curb the size and influence of the Federal establishment and to demand recognition of the distinction between the powers granted to the Federal Government and those reserved to the States or to the people. All of us need to be reminded that the Federal Government did not create the States; the States created the Federal Government.

Now, so there will be no misunderstanding, it is not my intention to do away with government. It is, rather, to make it work—work with us, not over us; to stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it.

If we look to the answer as to why, for so many years, we achieved so much, prospered as no other people on Earth, it was because here, in this land, we unleashed the energy and individual genius of man to a greater extent than has ever been done before. Freedom and the dignity of the individual have been more available and assured here than in any other place on Earth. The price for this freedom at times has been high, but we have never been unwilling to pay that price.

It is no coincidence that our present troubles parallel and are proportionate to the intervention and intrusion in our lives that result from unnecessary and excessive growth of government. It is time for us to realize that we are too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams. We are not, as some would have us believe, doomed to an inevitable decline. I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing. So, with all the creative energy at our command, let us begin an era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength. And let us renew our faith and our hope.

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we are in a time when there are no heroes just don't know where to look. You can see heroes every day going in and out of factory gates. Others, a handful in number, produce enough food to feed all of us and then the world beyond. You meet heroes across a counter—and they are on both sides of that counter. There are entrepreneurs with faith in themselves and faith in an idea who create new jobs, new wealth and opportunity. They are individuals and families whose taxes support the Government and whose voluntary gifts support church, charity, culture, art, and education. Their patriotism is quiet but deep. Their values sustain our national life.

I have used the words "they" and "their" in speaking of these heroes. I could say "you" and "your" because I am addressing the heroes of whom I speak—you, the citizens of this blessed land. Your dreams, your hopes, your goals are going to be the dreams, the hopes, and the goals of this administration, so help me God.

Excerpt from Ronald Reagan’s inaugural address, January 20th, 1977


The first step for Ronald Reagan, as for any president, was to fill his cabinet. This task was marginally more difficult, however, as there were over 60 Senators who would fight him on every level. As such, Ronald Reagan did what earned him his greatest legislative victories: he rolled his sleeves up and walked right into Senator Byrd’s office, ready to play hardball. With one exception, this would ensure smooth sailing on all fronts.

However, I would like to comment on the one exception: why would Ronald Reagan do that? Personally, I see this as a move to ensure that the rest of his appointments made it through. He knew that there would be some issues. The Democrats would find something wrong with every single candidate, so by giving them one target to zero in on, he could fully staff his cabinet.

THE CASE FOR RONALD REAGAN: Why The Gipper Deserves Another Look, written by Newt Gingrich in 2002


REAGAN NOMINATES BUSH FOR STATE DEPARTMENT

In his first announcement of a major cabinet official, President Reagan has indicated that he will be nominating George Bush for the position of Secretary of State. Bush has previously served as UN Ambassador for the Nixon administration, special liaison to the People’s Republic of China, and CIA Director for the Ford administration. Reagan has stated that “George is a committed public servant and an experienced leader on international affairs. He’ll serve this country proud.”

THE WASHINGTON POST, January 21st, 1976

Above: President Ronald Reagan on the South Lawn with Secretary of State Bush.


REAGAN ANNOUNCES SLEW OF CABINET PICKS

Today, President Reagan submitted multiple Cabinet nominations to the Senate for confirmation. Included is Donald Regan for the Treasury, Nixon Defense Secretary Bill Clements returning to Defense, Maine Governor James Longley for Commerce, current Secretary of Agriculture John Knebel, Congressman William Steiger for Transportation, Samuel Pierce for HUD, and Margaret Heckler for HEW. Chief of Staff Caspar Weinberger has stated that “we’ll be submitting the last few major names in a few days.”

THE WASHINGTON POST, January 25th, 1977


REAGAN BRINGS FELLOW CONSERVATIVES INTO WHITE HOUSE

Despite his prior moderate selections, President Reagan has begun to skew back towards his conservative base with his next slew of cabinet appointments. Among these are former Senators Bill Brock of Tennessee and Paul Fannin of Arizona for Secretary of Labor and the Interior respectively. Both were noted conservatives in the upper body of Congress, with Brock losing re-election and Fannin retiring in 1976. In addition to these, the President has named California Representative Barry Goldwater Jr., a noted budget hawk and son of the famous Arizona Senator, as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

THE NEW YORK TIMES, January 27th, 1977


ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINEE SPARKS OUTRAGE AMONG SENATORS

Ronald Reagan’s selection of Solicitor General Robert Bork to head up the Department of Justice has caused a very severe reaction in Congress. Senate Minority Whip Walter Mondale said of Bork’s appointment, “of course we’re going to fight this! When the President drudges the muck of Watergate up and raises it on a pedestal, we must fight it!” Liberal Senator Charles Mathias also expressed horror, stating that “this is only the natural end result of the rise of hard-line conservatism in this nation. I will be opposing Mr. Bork, absolutely.” Bork’s confirmation hearings are scheduled to begin on February 4th, where a contentious battle with the Democratic Senate is expected.

THE WASHINGTON POST, January 29th, 1977


Sen. Charles Mathias: ...Mr. Bork, in 1964 you wrote this article in The New Republic opposing the Civil Rights Act, yes?
Robert Bork: That is correct.
CM: You wrote that “It is not whether racial prejudice or preference is a good thing but whether individual men ought to be free to deal and associate with whom they please for whatever reasons appeal to them” in this article.
RB: Yes.
CM: So, how can you defend the liberties of all Americans as its top law enforcement officer if you purport that the right to discriminate is more important than defending the constitutional rights of all Americans?
RB: The “right to discriminate” is guaranteed by the Constitution. The tricky thing about freedom is that it can be used in ways we abhor. I am no fan of segregation or discrimination, but that does not mean we can infringe on the liberties afforded to all Americans by the Constitution...

Sen. Joe Biden: ...Mr. Bork, you served as Solicitor General in the Nixon administration, correct?
RB: Yes, this is correct.
JB: Just to state this for the record, on October 20th, 1973, after Elliot Richardson and William Ruckelshaus resigned, you fired Archibald Cox on President Nixon’s orders to interfere in the Watergate investigation. How, then, do you justify firing a man investigating the President on the President’s orders, especially when we now know there was wrongdoing by Nixon?
RB: While you may not agree with it, Senator, it was a lawful and appropriate order from the President. The President has the power to do so if he chooses, and I simply carried out that order-
JB: [POUNDS FIST ON TABLE] You were just following orders?! We haven’t heard that excuse since Nuremberg!
Sen. Strom Thurmond: Mr. Chairman, I think Senator Biden’s remarks comparing Mr. Bork to an SS officer are out of order. I fought the Nazis in Normandy, and the mere fact that Senator Biden would liken a patriotic American like Robert Bork to them is nothing short of abhorrent.
Chairman James Eastland: Mr. Biden, I will remind you to remain calm and to not speak out of turn.
JB:[INAUDIBLE GRUMBLING] Understood. Now, Mr. Bork...

Sen. Ted Kennedy: ...my question is, Mr. Bork, how would you define “your America?” That is to say, what do you envision as the top law enforcement officer in this country?
RB: I envision a free society, first and foremost. One where every American has the freedom of choice to do as they wish. The rights guaranteed by our Constitution are inalienable, and my goal is to defend the Constitution as Attorney General. Americans must be given the greatest of freedoms without government intrusion at every level.
TK: But do you not disagree with the Roe v Wade decision that guarantees the right to choose? Is this not an intrusion by the state into one’s personal choice?
RB: There is no specific constitutional provision defending the practice of abortion. I disagree with it on a wholly philosophical level, Senator.
TK: But it is the law of the land. Would you have the ability to uphold this decision and enforce it as Attorney General?
RB: I will not ignore the ruling of the Supreme Court, no. But as an American citizen, I am allowed the freedom to state that I disagree with the Court in this instance. However, this will not influence my ability to serve as Attorney General...

Excerpts from Robert Bork’s confirmation hearings, February 4th, 1977

Above: Attorney General nominee Robert Bork being sworn in in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.


BORK CONFIRMED 51-49

Attorney General Robert Bork was confirmed by the Senate yesterday, ending a partisan battle over his nomination. The controversial Solicitor General only passed by a two-vote margin, largely due to a bloc of southern Democratic Senators such as James Eastland (D-MS) and John McClellan (D-AR) defecting. Notably, Republican Senators Lowell Weicker (R-CT) and Edward Brooke (R-MA) voted against Mr. Bork’s confirmation.

February 11th, 1977


THE REAGAN CABINET, 1977

President: Ronald Reagan
Vice President: Howard Baker
Secretary of State: George Bush
Secretary of Treasury: Don Regan
Secretary of Defense: Bill Clements
Attorney General: Robert Bork
Secretary of Interior: Paul Fannin
Secretary of Agriculture: John Knebel
Secretary of Commerce: James B. Longley
Secretary of Labor: Bill Brock
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare: Margaret Heckler
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Samuel Pierce
Secretary of Transportation: William Steiger

CABINET-RANK OFFICIALS IN THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, 1977

Office of Management and Budget Director: Barry Goldwater Jr.
Trade Representative: Bud Brown
EPA Administrator: James G. Watt
National Security Advisor: William P. Clark
Director of Central Intelligence: William J. Casey
UN Ambassador: James Baker

WHITE HOUSE STAFF IN THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, 1977

Chief of Staff: Caspar Weinberger
Deputy Chief of Staff: Michael Deaver
Communications Director: Ed Rollins
Press Secretary: Lyn Nofziger
White House Counsel: Antonin Scalia

 

[Enigma-Conundrum]

Next time on THE BEATEN PATH:

 

[Enigma-Conundrum]

HAROLD WILSON TO RESIGN

THE GUARDIAN, March 16th, 1976


LABOUR PARTY LEADERSHIP ELECTION: CALLAGHAN LEADS FIRST BALLOT

James Callaghan: 93
Michael Foot: 90
Roy Jenkins: 51
Tony Benn: 37
Denis Healey: 29
Anthony Crosland: 14

THE GUARDIAN, March 26th, 1976


LABOUR LEADERSHIP ELECTION: FOOT PULLS AHEAD IN SECOND BALLOT

Michael Foot: 133
James Callaghan: 112
Denis Healey: 67

THE GUARDIAN, March 31st, 1976


LABOUR LEADERSHIP ELECTION: FOOT TO ENTER No 10

Michael Foot: 164
James Callaghan: 149

THE GUARDIAN, April 6th, 1976

Above: U.K. Prime Minister Michael Foot upon learning of his victory over James Callaghan.


POLITICAL REFORM ACT PASSES, SUAREZ CALLS FOR FIRST GENERAL ELECTION IN 41 YEARS

EL PAIS, November 18th, 1976


GANDHI ENDS STATE OF EMERGENCY

THE TIMES OF INDIA, March 21st, 1977


One of Hua Guofeng’s first moves as Chairman, and arguably his most significant, was the arrest of the Gang of Four. On October 6th, 1976, Hua ordered for the four hardliners, led by Jiang Qing, to be detained. Not only would this remove the worst elements from the Chinese Communist Party, it would also mark the end of the Cultural Revolution and beginning of Hua’s attempts to undo the worst policies of the Great Leap Forward...

MAO’S FORGOTTEN SUCCESSOR, published in 2010


“UPHEAVAL:” LIKUD WINS IN LANDSLIDE, MENACHIM BEGIN TO FORM GOVERNMENT

For the first time in Israeli history, the dominance of the Alignment and Mapai has been shaken, as Likud won the Knesset elections last night. Alignment lost 19 seats, placing Likud in the position of majority party...

THE JERUSALEM POST, May 18th, 1977

Above: Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin.


REAGAN SAYS “UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES” WILL UNITED STATES GIVE UP CANAL

...the President stated that “the canal is ours, we bought it and we paid for it, and why Democrats are saying that we should hand it over to a socialist like Omar Torrijos is beyond me.”

THE NEW YORK TIMES, August 24th, 1977

 

[Enigma-Conundrum]

Just wanted to get a quick one out to show the state of some key players around the world - obviously in some spots OTL remains untouched, and in obvious others the pretty little butterflies have began to flap their wings.

 

[Sceonn]

Where has butterfly effects been seen? I'm not quite as familiar with it all.

 

[Enigma-Conundrum]

Where has butterfly effects been seen? I'm not quite as familiar with it all.

Prime Minister Foot, for one - Callaghan didn't win Labour leadership here. Honestly, TTL is just really rude to left-leaning politicians named Jimmy...

Either way, this might end up flushing the Lib-Lab Pact down the toilet - not like Foot is their favorite person, after all.

 

[Ariosto]

REAGAN SAYS “UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES” WILL UNITED STATES GIVE UP CANAL

...the President stated that “the canal is ours, we bought it and we paid for it, and why Democrats are saying that we should hand it over to a socialist like Omar Torrijos is beyond me.”

THE NEW YORK TIMES, August 24th, 1977

.... Huele a quemado.

Might need to read on Noreiga to understand that phrase in this context.​

 

[Enigma-Conundrum]

.... Huele a quemado.

Might need to read on Noreiga to understand that phrase in this context.​

Hey hey hey, Manny hasn’t had his chance to enter stage left yet. That being said, he’s sure to absolutely love a continued US presence in Panama and will never attempt to do anything to the canal (should he ever come to power).

He absolutely loves it.

 

[Enigma-Conundrum]

Next time on THE BEATEN PATH:

 

[Enigma-Conundrum]

The minute Ronald Reagan was sworn in, the Democrats were ready to fight. In their eyes, their man had just lost the most winnable election in recent history to a Goldwaterite, and they were ready to do everything they could to punch at him to compensate. However, once the Bork hearings concluded with his confirmation through the reactionary Senatorial collective known as Dixie, the jockeying for party power had truly begun. While the Presidential shadow primary didn’t truly begin until 1979, three factions were already battling for control of the party’s future.

First among these was the aforementioned anarchic political machine in the South. While the Boll Weevils were content to spend their time in Congress dreaming of pork, the Governors were far more active. While some agreed with Ronald Reagan, a significant majority did not - the so-called “New South” Carter belonged to. These New Southerners recognized that Carter’s campaign (only rivaled in competency by Alf Landon) had dealt a massive blow to them. The logic was “if they can’t even beat Ronald Reagan, how could they win elsewhere?” However, they did not give in to this. Instead, they harkened back to their oldest roots as Southern Democrats - populistic bluster. This strategy of economic populism, pro-state rhetoric (with an indifference to civil rights, seeing as Ronald Reagan was far from trying to impose desegregation), and a general resistance to Reagan’s economic plans to help “the little guy, regardless of color” was initially spearheaded by just one man - then-Governor of Florida Reubin Askew. As his campaign against the federal government proved effective, he began to discuss this strategy and his long-term plans with other Southern Governors - George Busbee of Georgia, Dolph Briscoe of Texas, and even the odious George Wallace of Alabama. In other words, Harry Byrd’s “Massive Resistance” had taken on a colorless face.

Next, and by far the best poised for a takeover, was labor. They were the natural heirs to the party after the past two elections. In 1972, the New Left had blown their chance in a 49-state landslide. In 1976, the New South had lost the easiest election to win, specifically through Union Democrats voting for Ronald Reagan. This view was vindicated by the results of statewide races, where union-backed Democrats won states Jimmy Carter lost. Jerry Litton won Missouri, Hubert Humphrey won handily in Minnesota, Bill Proxmire won a landslide in Wisconsin, and even in Montana John Melcher was carried to victory on the backs of the mineworkers while Reagan won a veritable landslide on the Presidential level. In the eyes of many leaders within the party, they needed to win these voters back, and fast. However, who should take the union mantle was another matter entirely. The largest faction here belonged to the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party of Minnesota, where Hubert Humphrey reigned supreme. Humphrey’s health was declining, though, with the progressive icon succumbing to the cancer that had haunted Humphreys past for generations. Despite his 1978 death, Hubert Humphrey’s political influence would not pass with him, as he had an heir in the Senate, the very man who filled his seat when he ran for Vice President: Walter Mondale. “Fritz” had already made a name for himself with his successful run for Majority Whip, now serving as Bob Byrd’s second-in-command and making a name for himself as a fierce advocate for liberalism in a way the politically flexible Byrd was not. Now, though, he had become the uncrowned emperor of Minnesota and had the ability to flex his Farmer-Labor muscles to the fullest, and with that change the direction of the party in Congress - coordinating with Tip O’Neill’s resistance far more than Bob Byrd ever did.

Finally, we must touch on the “longhairs” and “bums” - the New Left. Richard Nixon may have toppled their champion, George McGovern, but that’s the funny thing about the activists - when one icon falls, several rise in their place. Already, in the 1976 primaries, three current and future darlings of the young Democrats had shown their faces: Birch Bayh, Mo Udall, and Jerry Brown. Bayh, then a Senator from Indiana, had not lasted long on the national level, but he had already become a favorite due to his uncompromising liberalism and willingness to engage with students (unlike some of his counterparts, who stayed far from campus after the McGovern Incident). Bayh already had the distinction of being the only non-Founding Father to write multiple constitutional amendments, and he certainly was not done. In fact, seeing that he could get Amendments through entirely around President Reagan, he only furthered his push for the ERA and the Bayh Amendment. Next up, Mo Udall. The endlessly-witty left-wing congressman from Arizona was certainly an odd one. He had single-handedly taken a sledgehammer to the Good Ole Boys in the House, railing against the old system of leadership. He had worked across the aisle to fight for environmental causes and his own social-democratic vision of America. Through all of this, he still remained relatively low-profile. Despite this low profile, he ran for President. Udall’s quixotic bid for President ultimately yielded multiple victories, something nobody truly expected from him. As it turned out, Americans very much liked being able to feel good about government, and this towering Arizonan reformer absolutely aided disaffected young people in feeling this way as he cracked joke after joke. Finally, we have the largest oddity of the party - Jerry Brown. “Moonbeam” was simultaneously the most left-wing and right-wing Democrat in the nation, and his unique nature and new ideas were a headache to the party establishment but endearing to some. While he entered late in 1976, mostly as a Stop-Carter candidate, he was genuinely successfully and won a few late states handily. This taste of national victory left the first-term Governor craving more and already began working with activist groups and his gang of Californians to attempt to succeed Ronald Reagan yet again.

Despite the squabbles between these factions, they all had one common goal: stopping Ronald Reagan. Whether it was defeating him in Congress, defeating the federal government, or defeating him at the ballot box in 1980, all factions shared this goal, and hurt feelings were forgotten (this selective amnesia was highly encouraged by a few mediators in party leadership, such as Speaker Tip O’Neill) in the name of Reagan’s defeat.

A NEW PATH FOR AMERICA: The Creation of the Sixth Party System, published in 2009


FOREWORD - Wednesday, November 3rd, 1976

The doomed Carter campaign may have been the single most potent force for change in the Democratic Party. Yes, you heard me correctly. Now, let me paint a picture of why: one of the campaign’s surrogates in a battleground state was a Senatorial candidate with a public access TV show. By chance, at a campaign event in St. Louis, this Congressman had a chance meeting with one of the chief campaign strategists, and their contacts were traded. The strategist figured that, in a few years, this candidate could be a leader in some capacity during and after the Carter administration, seeing as it was clear that he had a plethora of natural political abilities, including but not limited to charisma, wit, intellect, and that elusive skill of connecting to everyday Americans on their level versus talking down to them. The nation had other ideas, though. It elected the other guy, and with that, the plan the strategist had gone down the toilet. Despite this, this candidate, now a Senator-Elect, picked up the phone when he got a call from the strategist the day after. Their conversation led to the Senator-Elect giving the strategist a job offer and a long-term plan. Despite the fact that this call caught the strategist off-guard, he saw the opportunity for what it was. With that, I became Senator Jerry Litton’s Chief Strategist, and began reaching out to my contacts at PBS on his behalf.

AN UNELECTED OFFICIAL’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING WASHINGTON, written by Timothy Kraft in 2010


DIALOGUES WITH LITTON: SENATOR ANNOUNCES NATIONWIDE PROGRAM

Senator Jerry Litton (D-MO) has made a major announcement: his program, Dialogues with Litton, is leaving Missouri Public Access and reaching the nation at large. This program, in which Senator Litton and a guest from Washington hold an unscripted town hall with the public. During his term in the House of Representatives, Litton kept this localized to Missouri, but he has recently announced that PBS will be showing his biweekly shows. When asked, Litton stated that “I’m absolutely excited for this. Bringing the government to the people is something I’m very passionate about, and the launch of this nationwide show is sure to help inform Americans of who’s running their country.” The first showing of Dialogues With Litton will be on PBS at 7:00 PM on Friday, July 22nd, with Senator Birch Bayh (D-IN) as his guest.

THE WASHINGTON POST, June 30th, 1977


BAYH INTRODUCES CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ELIMINATE ELECTORAL COLLEGE

Sen. Birch Bayh is attempting to break his own Constitutional records. The Indiana Democrat, who authored the 25th Amendment, the 26th Amendment, and the Equal Rights Amendment, has introduced his fourth proposal for a constitutional amendment. This amendment, simply referred to as the Bayh Amendment, would remove the Electoral College and allow for the election of the President and Vice President by a direct popular vote. The text of the Amendment is as follows:

Section 1. The President and Vice President shall be elected by the people of the several States and the district constituting the seat of government of the United States.

Section 2. The electors of President and Vice President in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislature, except that for electors of President and Vice President, the legislature of any State may prescribe less restrictive residence qualifications and for electors of President and Vice President, the Congress may establish uniform residence qualifications.

Section 3. The persons joined as candidates for President and Vice President having over 50 per centum of the votes for President and Vice President shall be elected. If no person obtains over 50 per centum of the votes, a run-off election will be held exactly twenty-eight days from the prior election with the candidates for President and Vice President who obtained the two greatest shares of the vote present on the ballot.

Section 4. Each elector shall cast a single vote jointly applicable to President and Vice President. Names of candidates may not be joined unless they shall have consented thereto and no candidate may consent to the candidate's name being joined with that of more than one other person.

Section 5. The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any candidate for President or Vice President before the day on which the President-elect or Vice President-elect has been chosen, and for the case of a tie in any election.

Section 6. Sections 1 through 5 of this article shall take effect two years after the ratification of this article.

Section 7. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Senate Minority Leader Robert Griffin has already decried this proposal as “the Carter Amendment,” arguing that this is motivated by “sore losers on the other side of the aisle.” However, Senator Bayh has disregarded this, hinting that he is only a few votes shy of the two-thirds ratification required by both houses of Congress. Speaker O’Neill and Senate Majority Leader Byrd have not indicated if or when they will put this up for a vote.

THE NEW YORK TIMES, July 20th, 1977

Above: Sen. Birch Bayh (D-IN) introducing his electoral reform Amendment at a press conference


Jerry Litton: So, Senator, you’ve introduced a constitutional amendment recently.
Birch Bayh: Yep. The amendment is designed to ensure that every voice is heard completely equally in our presidential elections. Our archaic electoral system simply doesn’t function properly anymore, and this leads to results like last November. Take the example of Georgia. Nearly 70% of Georgians voted for Jimmy Carter, right? But yet, any voters it has over 50% just don’t count. Meanwhile, New York could be decided by a couple of thousand votes and have more power due to having a higher population, and one that, mind you, had a clear majority of that population opposed to its results.
JL: But wouldn’t we be able to limit this by splitting by congressional district? So any candidate carrying a district gets that electoral vote, and the state’s winner gets the two senatorial electors.
BB: Not quite. I considered that too, but that also has a flaw. You’ve seen the gerrymandered maps that they come up with, right?
JL: Yep. The representatives choosing their voters.
BB: Well, this would allow gerrymandering to have an influence on the presidential election.
JL: Making this system even worse and keeping democratic results further from the actual vote.
BB: And that’s exactly why there’s no good compromise for the electoral college.
JL: I see. There’s just no alternative to fix it that doesn’t have a severe consequence. Plus, I think I speak for everyone when I say I don’t want our congressional maps to get even uglier.

Birch Bayh on Dialogues With Litton, July 22nd, 1977


What Birch Bayh did on Dialogues with Litton was nothing short of genius. I mean, really, he went on there, after putting out a flashy new proposal a day or two before, and fielded softballs from Jerry Litton, a true believer, to justify it to the public. He sold it like a used car! But that’s not the brilliance. The brilliance was in his examples. He knew liberal northern states would vote to abolish the Electoral College, no doubt about it. He knew the Democrats would take over the Midwest in the few areas they didn’t have control soon, and he’d get more ratifications. What he needed was one of two other areas - the south or the plains. His decision was to pit the South against the North on this one by choosing Georgia and New York. By making it seem like a bunch of stuck-up Yankees were getting a fairer shake than the Good-Ole-Boys, Birch Bayh managed to shake the south’s voters into line with the Carter Amendment.

Comments made by Lee Atwater to Michael Wolff in 1982, later published by Wolff in "Three Days in the Lion's Den" in 2015 following Atwater's death


POLL: MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT ABOLITION OF ELECTORAL COLLEGE

Question: Would you support the removal of the electoral college in favor of a national popular vote system, as Senator Birch Bayh has proposed?

Yes: 56%
No: 42%
Unsure: 2%

GALLUP POLL, July 25th, 1977


Dan Rather: So, let’s shift into the post-election party. Senators Mathias and Javits were largely isolated in Congress, right?
Lawrence Hogan: Oh yes. Bob Griffin hated their guts for rebelling, and Bob Byrd hated their guts for keeping Jimmy Carter out of the White House.
DR: So, then, what did you do?
LH: Well, the Senators and I realized we needed to form a real party apparatus. The Liberal Party was largely a vehicle for their presidential ticket, but now they were in it in Congress and had no real allies. In that case, we realized we needed to make our own allies.
DR: What did that entail?
LH: It meant we needed a real organization. I became the party chair and focused on 1978, while the Senators worked night and day with their fellow liberal Republicans in both houses of Congress, trying to eat away at their party loyalty. Robert Bork alone had already made them wary of Reagan. He looked like a reactionary appointing reactionaries in sensitive places, right? They felt as isolated as Mathias did, and he knew he would have to leverage that.
DR: Who are you referring to?
LH: Oh, some I'm sure you know, but I’d rather not say. We had a list of targets, though, and all we needed was an inciting incident to drive them off. Bork had shaken them loose, but we needed one more earthquake to bring them all tumbling down.

60 Minutes interview with Fmr. Mathias Campaign Chairman Lawrence Hogan, 1987


REAGAN ENDORSES KEMP-ROTH TAX CUTS

The President has indicated his support for the Economic Recovery Tax Act, a tax cut bill sponsored by Rep. Jack Kemp of New York and Sen. Bill Roth of Delaware. The ERTA would be one of the largest tax cuts in American history, with such changes as the top marginal tax rate dropping from 70% to 50%. Democrats have already come out against the Kemp-Roth bill...

THE WASHINGTON POST, September 7th, 1977


“This administration thinks it can rejuvenate the economy by cutting taxes, as well as boosting government revenues. I sure don’t want Ronald Reagan handling my wallet, because I don’t know of anyone who can make more money out of less income! It’s just a bunch of economic voodoo, plain and simple!”

Sen. Walter Mondale arguing against the Kemp-Roth bill on the Senate floor, September 10th, 1977

Above: Sen. Walter Mondale (D-MN) argues against the Kemp-Roth Bill.


KEMP-ROTH FAILS IN CONGRESS: HOUSE 232-198, SENATE 54-44

THE WASHINGTON POST, September 12th, 1977


Another point that liberals point to with Ronald Reagan is his ineffectiveness - with Kemp-Roth as a key point. His key economic policy, tossed into the trash by Congress! However, it was just the same tactic as Robert Bork - Ronald Reagan liked to talk a tough game, then work out a deal in private to get a reduced version. It may not have made him look great, but he got reduced versions of what he wanted by the end of the day. Nobody ever mentions the Rostenkowski-Dole Act, which cut taxes by a more modest amount and passed Congress following Kemp-Roth. At the end of the day, the Gipper did not mind looking like he quote-on-quote lost in the mainstream media’s eyes if it meant he got more than he wanted negotiated down to most of what he wanted.

THE CASE FOR RONALD REAGAN: Why The Gipper Deserves Another Look, written by Newt Gingrich in 2002


DEMOCRATS TAKE NJ, VA, LIBERAL GAIN IN NYC: 1977 ELECTIONS

NJ Gubernatorial Race
Brendan Byrne (Democrat): 56.8%
Ray Bateman (Republican): 40.7%
Other: 2.5%

Governor Brendan Byrne, a relatively popular incumbent, faced no serious challenge to his re-election.

VA Gubernatorial Race
Henry Howell (Democrat): 50.0%
John Dalton (Republican): 49.6%
Other: 0.4%

Henry Howell, in his third bid for the job, has finally entered the governor’s mansion in Richmond. The brash former lieutenant governor’s “Keep the Big Boys Honest” campaign has finally proven effective, winning by less than half of a percent. Exit polling indicates that a combination of overwhelming African-American and rural support has driven Mr. Howell to his victory. Rural voters in the typically-Republican state tend to vote for the Republican candidate, so Henry Howell’s victory among them cut quite deeply into Lieutenant Governor Dalton’s support base. Notably, Florida Governor Reubin Askew made several campaign appearances for Howell, in which he joined the now Governor-Elect in railing against “the big boys across the Potomac putting us down in favor of their rich buddies,” which is ultimately believed to have helped Howell cross the finish line.

NYC Mayoral Election:

Bella Abzug (Liberal): 47.3%
Mario Cuomo (Democrat): 46.6%
Roy Goodman (Republican): 6.1%

Mayor Abe Beame was deeply unpopular, facing five separate Democratic challengers. These included Ed Koch, Herman Badillo, Bella Abzug, Percy Sutton, and notably, Mario Cuomo. In an utter humiliation, Mayor Beame did not even make it to the second round of the primaries, as Ed Koch and Mario Cuomo took the top two places, with Secretary of State Cuomo ultimately winning by a couple hundred votes. Meanwhile, Cuomo also competed for the Liberal nomination, but Bella Abzug ultimately proved triumphant due to one factor: Jack Javits. The prior Liberal Vice-Presidential nominee fully planned on helping his new party. The popular Senator campaigned vigorously for Abzug, turning the race into a dead heat between Cuomo and Abzug, and by the time the votes were tallied, Mr. Cuomo was just short. The national Liberal Party had claimed their first electoral victory, and also put the first woman in Gracie Mansion.

THE AP, November 9th, 1977

Above: Governor-Elect Henry Howell (D-VA) reading a panicked op-ed about him to a crowd of laughing supporters.

Above: New York City Mayor Bella Abzug (L-NY).


FLORIDA RATIFIES ERA

This makes Florida the 34th state to ratify the amendment, with Idaho’s move to rescind ratification of the amendment narrowly failing in February. Governor Askew praised the move, stating “This is a great step forward for equality. I’m sure all folks can agree, this recognition of gender equality in our Constitution is long overdue.”

THE TAMPA BAY TIMES, November 13th, 1977

Above: Gov. Reubin Askew (D-FL) at a press conference following the ratification of the ERA. Gov. Askew had been a major proponent of the amendment's ratification.


Reporter: “Mr. President, would you support extending the deadline of the ratification of the ERA if Congress votes for such?”
Ronald Reagan: “They set their own deadline for this. If they can’t make it, then they shouldn’t be given help in avoiding the consequences of that. I’m sure every classroom would vote to extend the due date on their homework if they could.”
[LAUGHTER]

President Reagan at a press conference, November 14th, 1977


LITTON-ANDREWS AGRICULTURE BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

...to be blunt, this bill shows that Jerry Litton is more than just a talk-show host, as he won a major legislative victory for Missourians. His first major piece of legislation, the Litton-Andrews Agricultural Restoration Act (named for its sponsors, Senator Litton and Rep. Mark Andrews of North Dakota), the ARA for short, notably provides for the restoration of Henry Wallace’s Ever-Normal Granary program, as well as additional supports for small farmers. President Reagan stated “America’s farmers are vital to this country. America was built on the backs of small farmers, and we must remember that.”

THE KANSAS CITY STAR, December 3rd, 1977

Above: President Reagan appropriately signs the ARA at his ranch in Santa Barbara.


A lesson: Washington is built on a foundation of Quid Pro Quos. Assume that the other guy doing something you like means someone on your side agreed to do what he wants.

AN UNELECTED OFFICIAL’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING WASHINGTON, written by Timothy Kraft in 2010

 

[Unknown]

Good update; wonder what's going to happen next...

 

[Enigma-Conundrum]

Good update; wonder what's going to happen next...

Thank you! As for what's next, well that'll have to wait. Expect a teaser in a few days