I still have to post these random updates throughout the night until tomorrow morning. Oh God.
The Bright Sunshine: The Presidency of Hubert H. Humphrey (OLD)
- Thread starter 20thCenturyBoy
- Start date
9:30 (yeah screw it from now on I’m doing it like I always do)
Chet: NBC will now Project New York will go to Humphrey. It offers 43 to Humphrey. Also, Maryland and DC go to Humphrey for 13 more. Now 56 votes given to Humphrey. Texas, is too close but Humphrey is leading. This and Michigan are the two states Wallace could use to throw the balance. California, too early, but a narrow race with Nixon in a slight lead. Illinois is ever closer with 43% in and Humphrey leading by 1%. Ohio, Nixon’s lead has shrunk dramatically. If you remember, 4% lead and now .4% lead. Humphrey is surging. With 50% in, Humphrey can make a play. Missouri, Humphrey in the lead. Louisiana, will go to Nixon. A Wallace state was swooped up by Nixon and 10. This is probably due to a debate failure and Happy Chandler. Georgia also went the way of Louisiana and gave 12 to Nixon. North Carolina, 12 to Nixon, South Carolina, 8 to Nixon. And Michigan goes further Humphrey. Now:
Nixon: 93
Humphrey: 103
Wallace: 17.
Chet: Humphrey takes his first lead of the night. And many more are projected. Humphrey may be able to pull out after all. Now back to you David.
(In California)
Nixon: Crap. We’re down.
Buchanan: we may be able to pull through.
Nixon: maybe but it’s gonna be narrows.
Buchanan: remember, we stuff Illinois Ballots.
Nixon: so does Daley. God I hope a miracle happens.
Chet: NBC will now Project New York will go to Humphrey. It offers 43 to Humphrey. Also, Maryland and DC go to Humphrey for 13 more. Now 56 votes given to Humphrey. Texas, is too close but Humphrey is leading. This and Michigan are the two states Wallace could use to throw the balance. California, too early, but a narrow race with Nixon in a slight lead. Illinois is ever closer with 43% in and Humphrey leading by 1%. Ohio, Nixon’s lead has shrunk dramatically. If you remember, 4% lead and now .4% lead. Humphrey is surging. With 50% in, Humphrey can make a play. Missouri, Humphrey in the lead. Louisiana, will go to Nixon. A Wallace state was swooped up by Nixon and 10. This is probably due to a debate failure and Happy Chandler. Georgia also went the way of Louisiana and gave 12 to Nixon. North Carolina, 12 to Nixon, South Carolina, 8 to Nixon. And Michigan goes further Humphrey. Now:
Nixon: 93
Humphrey: 103
Wallace: 17.
Chet: Humphrey takes his first lead of the night. And many more are projected. Humphrey may be able to pull out after all. Now back to you David.
(In California)
Nixon: Crap. We’re down.
Buchanan: we may be able to pull through.
Nixon: maybe but it’s gonna be narrows.
Buchanan: remember, we stuff Illinois Ballots.
Nixon: so does Daley. God I hope a miracle happens.
Chapter 12: Humphrey’s the one.
Humphrey had won the key states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio in a close race. He also won Illinois and California. It was close but Humphrey was considered President Elect at 3:57 in the morning with Illinois being called. Humphrey won. The goal he had long seeked, was finally his. He was asleep when he won but woken at 4:30 along with Ed Muskie. They both arrived to their hq where Humphrey gave his victory speech:
Excerpt:
“Thank you all. It has been a divisive few years. Riots, drugs, and war. But those were the problems of the past. The past is but that. Past. It’s gone. Let’s look forward to the future. Let’s get past our missteps. It’s time for us to move out of the shadow of hate and divisiveness. And into THE BRIGHT SUNSHINE of Love and Peace.”
Also, Nixon, at 7:00 the next morning, gave a speech he knew all too well.
“Perhaps, my time has passed, lord knows I wish it hasn’t and I know you all don’t. But I graciously concede to Humphrey and wish him luck on his journey.”
While Nixon was gracious, Wallace wasn’t.
“I am displeased with these results as you all are. 6%. We deserved higher. But segregation will not die. I will be back. Segregation forever!”
Shortly after that speech, a 18 year old man named Arthur Bremer shot Wallace. He did it for attention and now Wallace was crippled. Things went sour for one man but for another man it didn’t. Humphrey was now president. Now he had to assemble his cabinet.
Humphrey had won the key states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio in a close race. He also won Illinois and California. It was close but Humphrey was considered President Elect at 3:57 in the morning with Illinois being called. Humphrey won. The goal he had long seeked, was finally his. He was asleep when he won but woken at 4:30 along with Ed Muskie. They both arrived to their hq where Humphrey gave his victory speech:
Excerpt:
“Thank you all. It has been a divisive few years. Riots, drugs, and war. But those were the problems of the past. The past is but that. Past. It’s gone. Let’s look forward to the future. Let’s get past our missteps. It’s time for us to move out of the shadow of hate and divisiveness. And into THE BRIGHT SUNSHINE of Love and Peace.”
Also, Nixon, at 7:00 the next morning, gave a speech he knew all too well.
“Perhaps, my time has passed, lord knows I wish it hasn’t and I know you all don’t. But I graciously concede to Humphrey and wish him luck on his journey.”
While Nixon was gracious, Wallace wasn’t.
“I am displeased with these results as you all are. 6%. We deserved higher. But segregation will not die. I will be back. Segregation forever!”
Shortly after that speech, a 18 year old man named Arthur Bremer shot Wallace. He did it for attention and now Wallace was crippled. Things went sour for one man but for another man it didn’t. Humphrey was now president. Now he had to assemble his cabinet.
Cabinet:
President: Hubert Humphrey
Vice President: Edmund Muskie
Secretary of State: Cyrus Vance
Chief of Staff: Walter Mondale
Attorney General: Fred Harris
Treasury Secretary: Sargent Shriver
Secretary of Defense: Eugene McCarthy
Secretary of Interior: George McGovern
Secretary of Labor: Abraham Ribicoff
Secretary of Agriculture: John Connally
Secretary of Commerce: Mike Mansfield
Secretary of Transportation: Steve Young
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: George Smathers
Secretary of Health, Education,and Welfare: Terry Sanford
Most of Humphrey picks were logical choices. He chose Eugene McCarthy for the anti war wing. He chose McGovern and Shriver for their appeal to the Kennedy wings of the party. John Connolly was selected by Johnson and was ok’ed by Humphrey as an act of goodwill towards his boss. Most picks were approved across the aisle. But one pick was a shock to everyone.
Phone call between LBJ and President-Elect Humphrey:
LBJ: don’t pick him. Little twat.
Humphrey: I’m president now. I’ll make the decisions.
LBJ: are you sure?
Humphrey: yes. Absolutely.
United States Trade Represenative: Richard Nixon
“I think it went well.”
Vice President-Elect Ed Muskie reportedly gave a deadpan sarcastic response to a reporter which has gone down in political lexicon as a humourous way for reducing controversy of a bad move.
Humphrey was serious in bringing America together and he felt that asking his former rival would be key to this. He wanted to use Nixon’s foreign policy expertise and trade was the way to go. Nixon, when asked, accepted figuring it was as close as he would get to making another comeback maybe. One day. Nixon knew his time had passed so accepted the position as goodwill. The move was lauded by the far extreme of each party but praised by moderates. Humphrey had assembled his cabinet and now was Innauguration Day.
President: Hubert Humphrey
Vice President: Edmund Muskie
Secretary of State: Cyrus Vance
Chief of Staff: Walter Mondale
Attorney General: Fred Harris
Treasury Secretary: Sargent Shriver
Secretary of Defense: Eugene McCarthy
Secretary of Interior: George McGovern
Secretary of Labor: Abraham Ribicoff
Secretary of Agriculture: John Connally
Secretary of Commerce: Mike Mansfield
Secretary of Transportation: Steve Young
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: George Smathers
Secretary of Health, Education,and Welfare: Terry Sanford
Most of Humphrey picks were logical choices. He chose Eugene McCarthy for the anti war wing. He chose McGovern and Shriver for their appeal to the Kennedy wings of the party. John Connolly was selected by Johnson and was ok’ed by Humphrey as an act of goodwill towards his boss. Most picks were approved across the aisle. But one pick was a shock to everyone.
Phone call between LBJ and President-Elect Humphrey:
LBJ: don’t pick him. Little twat.
Humphrey: I’m president now. I’ll make the decisions.
LBJ: are you sure?
Humphrey: yes. Absolutely.
United States Trade Represenative: Richard Nixon
“I think it went well.”
Vice President-Elect Ed Muskie reportedly gave a deadpan sarcastic response to a reporter which has gone down in political lexicon as a humourous way for reducing controversy of a bad move.
Humphrey was serious in bringing America together and he felt that asking his former rival would be key to this. He wanted to use Nixon’s foreign policy expertise and trade was the way to go. Nixon, when asked, accepted figuring it was as close as he would get to making another comeback maybe. One day. Nixon knew his time had passed so accepted the position as goodwill. The move was lauded by the far extreme of each party but praised by moderates. Humphrey had assembled his cabinet and now was Innauguration Day.
After all I’ve done for you people, I’m taking a break for a few days. I’ll be back soon.
I'm back and will post either tomorrow or Sunday. So look out for that. I'm just trying to get the final details down so as to accurately use events from our timelines.
Gentleman Biaggi
Banned
Yes.
On any Wikipedia article there is a "edit source" button. Click it, edit the source, and then use the snip tool to snip the box.
I recommend you make the box in incognito mode so that there's no purple lettering.
Chapter 13: The Best Society
It was January 20th. Johnson was on his way out and Humphrey on his way in. Humphrey was filled with vision and hope although cautious seeing how his bosses political career was destroyed in front of his own eyes. Johnson and Humphrey rode down capital hill fulfilling much of the inauguration traditions. Eventually, Humphrey went to the east portico of Capitol Hill where he and Muskie were sworn in. Finally, Humphrey had realized his dream had been accomplished and now he was giving his first speech as president of the United States. The 38th.
Excerpts from Humphrey’s inauguration speech:
“Thank you all. Mr. Warren, Mr. Johnson, and all Americans. This is truly a new day for America. The last four years, have been filled with controversy, War, divisiveness, and hate. But I want us to look past that. Look last all the hate, the rancor. Get past it and look at us. We have a great economy. A stable economy. We have jobs and a low unemployment rate. Some countries are not as lucky as we are. We may complain about our country but we are no doubt the most advanced and the best.(Applause)”
“I will make a few promises for what you should see here over the next few years. First and foremost, we shalll end the conflict in Vietnam. We will try to start the peace talks back up. We are serious about ending this war and want to end it and the deaths and carnage and riots affiliated with it. Second, we will improve our civil rights conditions. Many black Americans were upset by Martin Luther King Jr’s death as was I. We lost a hero to the movement. But I will continue on his legacy. We will further make it equal for blacks. We will help them to get ahead, help them fight discrimination and give all of them a chance to succeed.”
“Now my next vision is a big one. We our prospering like no one else. No doubt about that. But I believe we can do better. Poverty is on its final legs. We still need universal health care. We are doing well, but we can do even better. Lyndon Johnson promised a great society. He delivered that. But I, promise the best society. (Applause).”
The speech really set a tone for the administration incoming. They had set up 3 major goals: End Vietnam, Improve Civil Rights, and Build the Best Society. It was an ambitious agenda in a divided age but Humphrey fully intended to do these 3 things along with other things. Now, his first 100 days had began. His impression had to be made. The challenge was on.
It was January 20th. Johnson was on his way out and Humphrey on his way in. Humphrey was filled with vision and hope although cautious seeing how his bosses political career was destroyed in front of his own eyes. Johnson and Humphrey rode down capital hill fulfilling much of the inauguration traditions. Eventually, Humphrey went to the east portico of Capitol Hill where he and Muskie were sworn in. Finally, Humphrey had realized his dream had been accomplished and now he was giving his first speech as president of the United States. The 38th.
Excerpts from Humphrey’s inauguration speech:
“Thank you all. Mr. Warren, Mr. Johnson, and all Americans. This is truly a new day for America. The last four years, have been filled with controversy, War, divisiveness, and hate. But I want us to look past that. Look last all the hate, the rancor. Get past it and look at us. We have a great economy. A stable economy. We have jobs and a low unemployment rate. Some countries are not as lucky as we are. We may complain about our country but we are no doubt the most advanced and the best.(Applause)”
“I will make a few promises for what you should see here over the next few years. First and foremost, we shalll end the conflict in Vietnam. We will try to start the peace talks back up. We are serious about ending this war and want to end it and the deaths and carnage and riots affiliated with it. Second, we will improve our civil rights conditions. Many black Americans were upset by Martin Luther King Jr’s death as was I. We lost a hero to the movement. But I will continue on his legacy. We will further make it equal for blacks. We will help them to get ahead, help them fight discrimination and give all of them a chance to succeed.”
“Now my next vision is a big one. We our prospering like no one else. No doubt about that. But I believe we can do better. Poverty is on its final legs. We still need universal health care. We are doing well, but we can do even better. Lyndon Johnson promised a great society. He delivered that. But I, promise the best society. (Applause).”
The speech really set a tone for the administration incoming. They had set up 3 major goals: End Vietnam, Improve Civil Rights, and Build the Best Society. It was an ambitious agenda in a divided age but Humphrey fully intended to do these 3 things along with other things. Now, his first 100 days had began. His impression had to be made. The challenge was on.
Chapter 14: The Quagmire
Humphreys first goal was to end the war in Vietnam. The war had only grown in unpopularity and Humphrey was very much opposed to American interference. He thought the war was another Korea. He was right. His first step was to halt the bombing. He wanted to do this as a symbolic peace gesture. He figured that was the first step for negotiations. He tried to open ties with the North Vietnamese government but they never reciprocated. The North Vietnamese quite simply did not want to negotiate. Humphrey did not want to bomb. There were issues due to these two conflicting philosophies. Humphrey, although right in his thought she about the war, was wrong in thinking ending it would be easy. Humphrey knew this would be a long battle that would not be done like he planned. Now he had to focus on issues at home. He tried to focus first ane foremost on expanding Civil rights . He decided to make his first push at desegregating schools. He decided to further enforce Brown Vs. Board of education. Fred Harris made every promise to enforce it. Humphrey, while working also wanted a bill to end busing, a law he was never a fan of. He sent a bill to congress which specified that busing would be stopped immediately. The law failed in the senate due to liberal opposition. Most liberal senators refused to support such a bill and were upset for Humphrey not being with them. With Vietnam and difficulties with congress, Humphrey had ways to go but he was determined to do it. Humphrey tried again in early February to gradually stop busing. The bill got farther but was narrowly defeated in the senate floor. Humphrey then, on Valentine’s Day made a final push. He re unforced the same bill and got the help from his senators in his cabinet. This got the bill narrowly assed. Humphrey had achieved one piece of legislation. It was a good piece but in the age of turmoil, there was still plenty of work left to do to pick up the pieces of the puzzle known as America.
Humphreys first goal was to end the war in Vietnam. The war had only grown in unpopularity and Humphrey was very much opposed to American interference. He thought the war was another Korea. He was right. His first step was to halt the bombing. He wanted to do this as a symbolic peace gesture. He figured that was the first step for negotiations. He tried to open ties with the North Vietnamese government but they never reciprocated. The North Vietnamese quite simply did not want to negotiate. Humphrey did not want to bomb. There were issues due to these two conflicting philosophies. Humphrey, although right in his thought she about the war, was wrong in thinking ending it would be easy. Humphrey knew this would be a long battle that would not be done like he planned. Now he had to focus on issues at home. He tried to focus first ane foremost on expanding Civil rights . He decided to make his first push at desegregating schools. He decided to further enforce Brown Vs. Board of education. Fred Harris made every promise to enforce it. Humphrey, while working also wanted a bill to end busing, a law he was never a fan of. He sent a bill to congress which specified that busing would be stopped immediately. The law failed in the senate due to liberal opposition. Most liberal senators refused to support such a bill and were upset for Humphrey not being with them. With Vietnam and difficulties with congress, Humphrey had ways to go but he was determined to do it. Humphrey tried again in early February to gradually stop busing. The bill got farther but was narrowly defeated in the senate floor. Humphrey then, on Valentine’s Day made a final push. He re unforced the same bill and got the help from his senators in his cabinet. This got the bill narrowly assed. Humphrey had achieved one piece of legislation. It was a good piece but in the age of turmoil, there was still plenty of work left to do to pick up the pieces of the puzzle known as America.
I read an article about busing just now, and boy, well, Humphrey was right IOTL and ITTL to be against it. Great work on this TL! Please continue with this work...
So that means the anti-busing bill gets 67 votes to invoke cloture (since the cloture requirement was still at 67 votes by this time). And Humphrey can certainly achieve more stuff by working with liberal Republicans and by reducing the cloture requirement to 60 ITTL.
So that means the anti-busing bill gets 67 votes to invoke cloture (since the cloture requirement was still at 67 votes by this time). And Humphrey can certainly achieve more stuff by working with liberal Republicans and by reducing the cloture requirement to 60 ITTL.
If someone here wants to add some ideas, just tell me privately. I have some ideas but I don’t want to move this timeline too fast and would appreciate the help.
Chapter 15: The Better Society
Humphrey was beginning to get used the presidency. He was used to using executive power as he was against busing and resolved the issue. Next was his plan for the better society. He was committed to it and was beginning to make good on his promise. He decided to star bold. He wanted to pass universal healthcare. He always supported it as something of a fundamental right. But, however, congress had issues with the bill. For one, some of the more conservative senators such as newly elected Kansas Senator Bob Dole opposed it attacking its possibility to raise taxes. Dole was committed against tax raises and was thus opposed to healthcare reform. Other senators such as Storm Thurmond opposed it for largely similar reasons. Despite democratic majorities, it was not meant to be. The bill could not catch on and was at risked of being filibustered. Humphrey decided to back off for a while. But while focused on healthcare, he settled for other aspects. He focused heavily on civil rights and worked to make it equal for all Americans. He signed an executive order on March 3rd to make it that Native Americans had further protections on their reservations. He also made it so job discrimination was illegal and would result in immediate termination. Finally, with the help of Ed Muskie, the environmental protect act of 1969 was passed. It increased tax rates on corporations polluting. The bill passed comfortably in the senate and was put into action. Corporations were unsafisifed but it was the first step to progress. But whi,e Humphrey had decent domestic success and an approval rating of 59%, the war in Vietnam lingered like a rainy cloud. Humphrey had taken a long enough break. Now to focus on getting the troops back home and maybe winning the war.
Humphrey was beginning to get used the presidency. He was used to using executive power as he was against busing and resolved the issue. Next was his plan for the better society. He was committed to it and was beginning to make good on his promise. He decided to star bold. He wanted to pass universal healthcare. He always supported it as something of a fundamental right. But, however, congress had issues with the bill. For one, some of the more conservative senators such as newly elected Kansas Senator Bob Dole opposed it attacking its possibility to raise taxes. Dole was committed against tax raises and was thus opposed to healthcare reform. Other senators such as Storm Thurmond opposed it for largely similar reasons. Despite democratic majorities, it was not meant to be. The bill could not catch on and was at risked of being filibustered. Humphrey decided to back off for a while. But while focused on healthcare, he settled for other aspects. He focused heavily on civil rights and worked to make it equal for all Americans. He signed an executive order on March 3rd to make it that Native Americans had further protections on their reservations. He also made it so job discrimination was illegal and would result in immediate termination. Finally, with the help of Ed Muskie, the environmental protect act of 1969 was passed. It increased tax rates on corporations polluting. The bill passed comfortably in the senate and was put into action. Corporations were unsafisifed but it was the first step to progress. But whi,e Humphrey had decent domestic success and an approval rating of 59%, the war in Vietnam lingered like a rainy cloud. Humphrey had taken a long enough break. Now to focus on getting the troops back home and maybe winning the war.
Chapter 16: Nam Nam Nam Nam (its a Beatles reference)
Humphrey was working towards peace yet, the North Vietnamese were not willing to negotiate. They were not receptive to anything the Americans could offer. They were upset at the Americans for the persistent bombing and were not ready to come around for any terms.
Phone call between Secretary of Defense Eugene McCarthy and President Hubert Humphrey.
McCarthy: Hello Mr. President
Humphrey: hello Mr. McCarthy. How are the overtures going?
McCarthy: not well. They seem to reject all of our offers for peace and ceasefires. They just want war.
Humphrey: I see. Will anything make them change their minds?
McCarthy: no not that I know of.
Humphrey: I see. Well thank you.
Humphrey decided to send Secretary of State Cyrus Vance to South Vietnam to talk a new strategy. Humphrey was trying to avoid having to continue bombing and had tried to discuss with South Vietnamese how to prevent the fall of the government. Cyrus Vance had spent a week there but came back with very little. The trip, was a bust. Humphrey was disheartened by it. He realized, he was going to have to try a new approach.
Humphrey was working towards peace yet, the North Vietnamese were not willing to negotiate. They were not receptive to anything the Americans could offer. They were upset at the Americans for the persistent bombing and were not ready to come around for any terms.
Phone call between Secretary of Defense Eugene McCarthy and President Hubert Humphrey.
McCarthy: Hello Mr. President
Humphrey: hello Mr. McCarthy. How are the overtures going?
McCarthy: not well. They seem to reject all of our offers for peace and ceasefires. They just want war.
Humphrey: I see. Will anything make them change their minds?
McCarthy: no not that I know of.
Humphrey: I see. Well thank you.
Humphrey decided to send Secretary of State Cyrus Vance to South Vietnam to talk a new strategy. Humphrey was trying to avoid having to continue bombing and had tried to discuss with South Vietnamese how to prevent the fall of the government. Cyrus Vance had spent a week there but came back with very little. The trip, was a bust. Humphrey was disheartened by it. He realized, he was going to have to try a new approach.
Hello. Update. I will release a new chapter to,morrow in honor of thanksgiving. But afterwards I don’t know. It’s probably a good time to admit I have no sort of vision and I have no idea how to do anything. I lack just about any sort of reasonable understanding of foreign policy. I knew how to make an election winnable but I am no policy wonk. If someone wants to co write or something that would be cool. But yeah I have no idea. This is not the end. I plan to do things with this timeline but I don’t know how I’m going to do it. I’ll try. I’ll do more research. Thanks for reading. Peace.
Chapter 17: A new promise
On March 7th, the Soviet Union tested out a nuclear bomb. The event was simply a test but brought up a key point. The world was nuclear. Nukes were an ever present threat which had scared the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. Humphrey, in lieu of such an event, gave a speech that night.
“My fellow Americans, earlier today, a nuclear weapon was tested by the U.S.S.R. It was indeed just a test but still, it is a sobering reminder of one fact. The ever growing use of nukes is a threat to the world. A nuclear bomb could wipe out our whole country should one come here. Which is why I promise to you, the people of America, I will fight for a de-nuclearized world. Because, even when we’re fighting abroad in Vietnam, we still have to worry about the Cold War becoming hot.”
Humphrey brought up a good point and wanted to work with leaders to help de-nuclearize the world. He was sincere about preventing the ever looming threat of nukes. He decided as a plan of action to act upon this, he’d meet with several world leaders at Camp David to open talks about de nuclearization. He invited leaders, from the UK, Italy, France, China, and West Germany. China refused to attend due to balking at the idea. The other countries, although hesitant, showed up if only as a courtesy. The talks would begin on March 16th. The main subject: Nukes.
On March 7th, the Soviet Union tested out a nuclear bomb. The event was simply a test but brought up a key point. The world was nuclear. Nukes were an ever present threat which had scared the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. Humphrey, in lieu of such an event, gave a speech that night.
“My fellow Americans, earlier today, a nuclear weapon was tested by the U.S.S.R. It was indeed just a test but still, it is a sobering reminder of one fact. The ever growing use of nukes is a threat to the world. A nuclear bomb could wipe out our whole country should one come here. Which is why I promise to you, the people of America, I will fight for a de-nuclearized world. Because, even when we’re fighting abroad in Vietnam, we still have to worry about the Cold War becoming hot.”
Humphrey brought up a good point and wanted to work with leaders to help de-nuclearize the world. He was sincere about preventing the ever looming threat of nukes. He decided as a plan of action to act upon this, he’d meet with several world leaders at Camp David to open talks about de nuclearization. He invited leaders, from the UK, Italy, France, China, and West Germany. China refused to attend due to balking at the idea. The other countries, although hesitant, showed up if only as a courtesy. The talks would begin on March 16th. The main subject: Nukes.