The Great Reich

POD: 1908- Theodore Roosevelt announces his intention to run for re-election in an effort to get his 'Square Deal' plans passed. The business establishment of the Republican party fears another term of Roosevelt and backs Ohio senator and prominent opponent of the regulation of railroads, Joseph B. Foraker, for the nomination. A third prominent act entering the arena came from Vice-President Charles W. Fairbanks who attempted to capitalize on the situation by offering himself up as a moderate.

- The Republican convention continued throughout June 16th-19th and it quickly became clear that the nomination was deadlocked. Roosevelt stood well ahead of Foraker but Fairbanks took votes almost exclusively away from Roosevelt, leaving him just below the majority needed for the nomination. After ballot after ballot of deadlocked vote Foraker was urged to make a deal with Fairbanks by his business backers and so he did. Despite having many more supporters then Fairbanks himself, Foraker agreed to give Fairbanks his support in exchange for the VP spot.

- An outraged Roosevelt, believing he deserved the nomination, turns his back on the Republican party and announces his ambitions to run as an independent. Despite this 'independent' declaration, the little known Populist Party approached Roosevelt with an offer of their nomination if he would join their party. Roosevelt agreed and Thomas Edward Watson was made his VP.

- As the general campaign gets in full swing it becomes clear that Democratic nominee William Jennings Bryan, who essentially draws from the same support base as Roosevelt, is taking a back seat outside of the south.

- November 4, 1908, election night. William Jennings Bryan finishes a distant third in popular vote (22%) and wins 115 electoral votes (all from former confederate states). The remaining 338 EVs are left for a close battle between Roosevelt and Fairbanks, with 242 needed to secure the presidency. Roosevelt wins 163 of these giving him the major lead but not enough to secure victory. This leaves Fairbanks in last in EVs with 109 but second in popular vote (36%). Roosevelt receives 42% of the popular vote.

1908EV.jpg

Fairbanks-Red, Jennings-Blue, Roosevelt-Brown

- The election now has to head to congress. Here Democrats, along with many Republicans, decide to back Roosevelt with Jennings urging and Theodore is reelected.


This is the beginning. As a prelude it will eventually effect the outcome of World War 1 (thus the great reich ;) )
 

mowque

Banned
Despite this 'independent' declaration, the little known Populist Party approached Roosevelt with an offer of their nomination if he would join their party. Roosevelt agreed and Thomas Edward Watson was made his VP.

How well did you research this guy? I'd double check, if I was you. I'm using him as my catalyst for a re-birth of the KKK. He was a little...out there.
 
Hmm intriguing... a TL with a title that seems to suggest something to do with Germany but starts out with the reelection of TR. I'm guessing a German-American alliance come World War I? That would be something, especially with TR as President. Anyway I should follow this TL with much interest, any TR TL is worth following!

Although I hope it isn't too similar to the TL I'm planning about a more extensive Roosevelt presidential dynasty in which TR is reelected in 1912, leads America through WW1 and afterward, pursues a policy of reconciliation with the Germans, where he does something iconic, something as cool as "Ich bin ein Berliner" times ten.
 

yourworstnightmare

Banned
Donor
I am more guessing a US entry in the Entente 1914, knowing Teddy (if he still is president by then). He never liked the Germans and advocated US entry in the war early.
 
- Despite his successful presidential bid the Republicans dominate congress. With most of the progressive Republicans having left but few having organized runs behind the Populist Party quick enough the congressional majority appears hostile.

- On March 4th, the day of his inauguration to a third term, Roosevelt presents a series of bills based around his 'Square Deal' plan to congress. Congress, though, rejects every bill on the principle of 'defending the American businessman.' The debate causes a rift inside the Democratic Party between progressives (for the plan) and conservatives (against it).

- The progressive Democrat leaders then attempt to resubmit it, instructing their fellow party members to vote for it 'no matter what.' An outraged group of Democrats announce their disaffiliation with the party in response unless the leadership rescinds its 'demand.' The leadership refuses and a few days later the 'Conservative Party of America' (CPA) is formed. Congress now stands as follows:
Senate
Republicans- 51
Populist- 9
Democrats- 20
Conservatives- 12

House
Republicans- 199
Populist- 20
Democrats- 123
Conservatives- 49

- The now entirely pro-business Republicans hold a majority in both houses despite the popularity of the Populists, many of whom left the Republican party prior to elections but were unable to organize runs in enough time to take the presidency.
 
- The spring and summer of 1909 passed with an increasingly deadlocked political debate over the 'square deal.' Both Roosevelt and the majority Republicans refused to budge over the offers, while both sides simultaneous accused the other side of holding up debate. As summer passes into fall and winter many opposition figures have already begun to campaign for the next years congressional race.

- The Democrats, fearing that they are near the point of loosing any influence due to the Populist influence among progressives and the conservative party in the south, comes to Roosevelt with an offer of a political alliance. The Democrats would openly support and work with the Populists as, essentially, their southern party. The two sides agree to this and promise to represent the same cause and to never run candidate against one another.

- In February of 1910 Theodore Roosevelt announces he plans to go on a two month long speaking tour across the united states in an attempt to rally support of the Square Deal and the progressive cause. The tour only makes three stops, though, before Roosevelt is wounded in an assassination attempt in New York City. The assassin, a small businessman who felt threatened by Roosevelt's plans, stormed the stage where Roosevelt was speaking, firing off three shots before being gunned down himself. The first shot misses, the second strikes Roosevelt in the left shoulder, and the third grazes his right cheek. Roosevelt is transported to a nearby hospital for treatment and the remainder of the tour is called off.

- The attempted assassin, James Fly, is badly wounded when shot by security. He is transported to a different nearby hospital then Roosevelt himself. Word quickly spreads to the crowd, though, that the assassin is still alive and where he is. The enraged crowd rushes through the streets towards the hospital. Police, panicking, set up a barricade around the hospital. At first the crowd simply shouts and chants in anger but then a protester jumps onto the barricade and attempts to place a flag on it. This startles a nearby police officer though and he fires a pair of shots at the man, thinking he's attempting to storm the hospital, before realizing what was going on.

- Following the gunshots the crowd quickly descends into violence, rushing the police and the hospital and the situation quickly descends into chaos. Several policemen open fire on the crowd, which only causes the rioting to worsen. Before long some rioters storm the hospital itself and find out what room Fly is in. Fly, who is five stories up, is then famously grabbed by the rioters and thrown out the window, tumbling to his death.
 
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