Thanks, guys.
Um, I'm not quite sure what you're referring to...
Maybe. Of course, there's other potential candidates, too.Lyndon Baines Johnson!
TLIA(F)D: A Bucket of Warm Spit (or: Second Place Ain't Bad)
- Thread starter Superman
- Start date
Nelson Rockefeller died in 1979 in OTL of a heart attack, while in the, uh, presence of a certain Megan Marshack, an aide 55 years his junior. The ambulance only came about an hour after the heart attack.
This is proving entertaining so far; keep it up!
Can't wait to see what you do with HHH, given jpj's take on him in "Shuffling the Deck after a Bad Hand".
Lyndon B. Johnson
Democratic
1961-1964
A New Deal senator from Texas, Lyndon Johnson was a perfect compromise candidate between the (mostly conservative) Southerners and (most Northern) liberals within the Democratic Party. Johnson had been in Congress for decades, and contrasted the relatively inexperienced President Nixon. In the 1960 presidential election, Johnson took advantage of Nixon's unpopularity, and used it to propel himself to victory.
Johnson met with civil rights movement leader Malcolm Little multiple times, and developed a personal friendship. However, the conservative Republican Congress prevented him from actually carrying out any pieces of civil rights legislation.
Johnson also reversed many of the cuts Nixon had made to the Department of Social Welfare and restored New Deal policies to the best of his abilities. Though taxes went up, so did spending for social programs. Johnson pushed for a government-funded "universal healthcare" program, similar to ones operating in much of western Europe now. This, too, was blocked by many Congressmen, who felt that Johnson was too liberal and too socialist.
President Johnson met with Soviet Premier Molotov, with who he hoped to improve relations. Talks between Johnson and Molotov were successful. Both nations agreed to reduce their nuclear stockpiles by a certain amount, and the Johnson years are seen by many people today as a period of peace and "detente" in the Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union. [1] Johnson was a very popular president, especially compared to Nixon.
Unfortunately, President Johnson had been plagued by heart problems for years now, and in 1964, while working on his reelection campaign, he collapsed while giving a speech, in Dallas, Texas. President Johnson was rushed to a hospital, but it was too late. He died the following day, leaving his vice president in charge of a grieving nation...
[1] Of course, this is ironic, since IOTL, both Johnson and Molotov are seen as much more hawkish when compared to their contemporaries...
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Only Johnson could go to Moscow?
Wow, the Republicans are already conservative by the early '60s? Did I miss an early Southern Strategy?
Wow, the Republicans are already conservative by the early '60s? Did I miss an early Southern Strategy?
Only Johnson could go to Moscow?
Wow, the Republicans are already conservative by the early '60s? Did I miss an early Southern Strategy?
Not quite, though Nixon certainly tried. It's more that the GOP was already headed towards the right post-Rockefeller, and they support civil rights, but feel that it's not the federal government's place to force it.
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By 1956, Nixon would be a Senator. Nixon getting the nomination from the House is very unlikely. The last sitting Representative to be nominated was James Garfield (and he was a Senator-elect).
1) ITYM "intraparty"
2) A coup against Stalin? Only if the old boy had become so senescent that he no longer bothered ordering weekly purges. Stalin purged the USSR of anyone who might even think about opposing him in the 1930s. He was quite prepared to do it again if it seemed necessary. Backing down over Berlin would not endanger his hold on power; the disasters of 1941 didn't. (Stalin retreated to his dacha, fearing a coup - but his henchmen were too conditioned to loyalty.)
The OSS was disbanded in 1945, a few weeks after Japan surrendered. I don't see any butterflies affecting that. Though the name might be revived if a new intelligence agency is created.
I was thinking butterflies would've kept him out of the Senate, but I could fix that. It doesn't affect things much, anyways.
Thanks, I'll fix that.
Stalin's health was already declining, and he's not in the best shape, physically or mentally. Also, Molotov hadn't been purged yet, but Stalin had still fired him. ITTL, he never reconciles with him, so he's willing to go through with the coup.
The POD's during 1944, so I just had it survive a longer, taking the place of OTL's CIA.
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Hubert H. Humphrey
Democratic
1964-1973
With President Johnson's death, the nation now fell into the hands of his vice president, Hubert H. Humphrey. Humphrey, formerly the liberal governor of Minnesota, had been chosen to serve as a Northern foil to the Southern Johnson to balance the ticket. As Vice President, Humphrey had mostly remained in the shadow of his larger-than-life superior, and was virtually unknown to the average American. Many people (outside of those living in Minnesota, of course) were shocked when they realized that this "nobody" was going to succeed the late, great Lyndon Johnson as President of the United States.
In the few months remaining in Johnson's first term, Humphrey focused more on dealing with the fallout from Johnson's death and continuing his social welfare policies. Johnson also met with Premier Molotov, as Johnson had, and reaffirmed his beliefs supporting detente and peace between the two superpowers. As election day came closer, Humphrey's campaign ran as "Johnson's Second Term", winning over nearly all of Johnson's former supporters, and even some former Republicans. Humphrey was reelected in a landslide, and promised "happier days for America's future".
Elected president in his own right, Humphrey gradually began to step outside of Johnson's shadow. Humphrey used the sympathy from Johnson's death to his advantage, and pushed for a comprehensive Civil Rights Act, which would be seen as Humphrey's greatest achievement. The Civil Rights Act of 1965 outlawed all forms of discrimination based on race, religion, or sex, and included provisions for "affirmative action" to be taken to ensure equal treatment of minorities. This was deeply unpopular in many Southern states, and was opposed by both conservative Republicans and Southern Democrats. Still, it had enough support to pass unaltered, and President Humphrey signed it into law.
President Humphrey was hopeful about maintaining cordial relations with the Soviet Union. However, communist uprisings in Cuba and the Dominican Republic strained relations between the two superpowers. Humphrey attempted to meet with Molotov as Johnson had, but was never able to. Following his failures, Humphrey took a hard line against communism. He supported the anti-communist government forces in Cuba and the Dominican Republic, and increased US aid to Vietnam for the same reason. Under the Humphrey administration, an incredibly close call brought the world to the brink of war when an American jet, flying over Soviet airspace from Japan to Turkey, was forced to land in the Kazakhstan by Soviet authorities. After nearly a week of intensity, the pilot was released to Turkey, bringing an end to the Airspace Crisis of 1967. Relief over being spared the ravages of war was enough to overcome the slowing economy and get Humphrey through another reelection in 1968.****
Humphrey’s second term was not nearly as popular as his first. Not having to worry about reelection again, Humphrey used his authority to push for more liberal and anti-communist policies, which were not guaranteed to be popular. Though Humphrey was able to introduce a limited national health care service for the elderly and people with disabilities, Congress blocked his suggestion for a completely government funded health care system for all people. The resulting “Humphreycare” [1] was a watered down version of Humphrey’s ultimate goal, but it was all he was able to get through Congress, and signed it into law anyways.
In the few months remaining in Johnson's first term, Humphrey focused more on dealing with the fallout from Johnson's death and continuing his social welfare policies. Johnson also met with Premier Molotov, as Johnson had, and reaffirmed his beliefs supporting detente and peace between the two superpowers. As election day came closer, Humphrey's campaign ran as "Johnson's Second Term", winning over nearly all of Johnson's former supporters, and even some former Republicans. Humphrey was reelected in a landslide, and promised "happier days for America's future".
Elected president in his own right, Humphrey gradually began to step outside of Johnson's shadow. Humphrey used the sympathy from Johnson's death to his advantage, and pushed for a comprehensive Civil Rights Act, which would be seen as Humphrey's greatest achievement. The Civil Rights Act of 1965 outlawed all forms of discrimination based on race, religion, or sex, and included provisions for "affirmative action" to be taken to ensure equal treatment of minorities. This was deeply unpopular in many Southern states, and was opposed by both conservative Republicans and Southern Democrats. Still, it had enough support to pass unaltered, and President Humphrey signed it into law.
President Humphrey was hopeful about maintaining cordial relations with the Soviet Union. However, communist uprisings in Cuba and the Dominican Republic strained relations between the two superpowers. Humphrey attempted to meet with Molotov as Johnson had, but was never able to. Following his failures, Humphrey took a hard line against communism. He supported the anti-communist government forces in Cuba and the Dominican Republic, and increased US aid to Vietnam for the same reason. Under the Humphrey administration, an incredibly close call brought the world to the brink of war when an American jet, flying over Soviet airspace from Japan to Turkey, was forced to land in the Kazakhstan by Soviet authorities. After nearly a week of intensity, the pilot was released to Turkey, bringing an end to the Airspace Crisis of 1967. Relief over being spared the ravages of war was enough to overcome the slowing economy and get Humphrey through another reelection in 1968.****
Humphrey’s second term was not nearly as popular as his first. Not having to worry about reelection again, Humphrey used his authority to push for more liberal and anti-communist policies, which were not guaranteed to be popular. Though Humphrey was able to introduce a limited national health care service for the elderly and people with disabilities, Congress blocked his suggestion for a completely government funded health care system for all people. The resulting “Humphreycare” [1] was a watered down version of Humphrey’s ultimate goal, but it was all he was able to get through Congress, and signed it into law anyways.
Humphrey’s second term was also when the infamous McCarthy Act [2] was passed with bipartisan support. Named after anti-communist Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, who was its loudest champion in Congress, the act banned the Communist Party and made membership in the party punishable by up to three years in prison. The McCarthy Act also included provisions for detaining suspected “subversives” for up to a year without a trial, and allowed the federal government to revoke their citizenship, blacklist them, and deport them. For many people, the worst part of the McCarthy Act was its limits on the First Amendment. The act prohibited criticism of the government during war, states of emergency, and other times of “national crisis” to be determined by the federal government. This last part was not revoked until the 1971 Supreme Court case Reagan v. United States, which found the acts limits on free speech unconstitutional and struck them down, but allowed the rest of the act to stay. The act as a whole would remain in effect for over a decade before being revoked.
The McCarthy Act, coupled with the economic recession that occurred near the end of his term, resulted in Humphrey leaving office with very low approval ratings. The nation looked eagerly towards his successor, hoping that he would be the champion for hope, change, and a return to American values that he campaigned as.
[1] Basically Medicare and Medicaid rolled into one
[2] A later McCarran Act. I am not kidding, this basically existed IOTL, and Humphrey was a supporter. I just made it worse
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Thought there needed to be some way of making the Happy Warrior scary. I'm not too happy (pardon the pun) with this one, because I thought it was too long, but thoughts?
Maybe...
George Bush
Republican
1973-1981
After nine years under Hubert Humphrey, and especially in the last four, the American people wanted change. The economy was in a recession, and many essential freedoms had been limited by the Humphrey Administration. In 1972, Texas Governor George Bush won the Republican nomination, and easily won in a landslide against his Democratic opponent, Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts.
As President, Bush almost immediately began reversing many of the changes that Humphrey had brought. Bush cut taxes, and cut spending for many of Humphrey's social programs. "Humphreycare" remained in place, but was significantly defunded. While many of Bush's detractors accused him of being similar to Richard Nixon, allegations which Bush himself denied, he did carry out similar policies to Nixon. This time, however, "low taxes, low spending" was actually popular with the American people, especially after eight years of overspending, high taxes, and budget deficits. Bush's policies of deregulating industries which he claimed "had their hands tied behind their back by government bureaucrats" resulted in lower prices, and stimulated the economy. The American economy was beginning to recover, and Bush remained popular.
A war hero, Bush was very focused on foreign policy. Though he promised to be "hard on communism", Bush hoped to work with the Soviet Union to promote peace and a return to detente. Bush increased US aid to Vietnam, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, but also pressured local dictators to open up and grant basic civil and political rights to their people. Bush's greatest foreign policy crisis occurred when Arab nationalist-socialist Egypt invaded Israel. Bush sent troops to Israel to assist them, and helped repel the Egyptians back into their own country. While this pushed Egypt further into the Soviet camp, it gave the US a loyal ally in Israel.
Bush also ended the highly unpopular draft. A former soldier himself, he did not like forcing people to go oversees and risk their lives fighting for a cause they might not even believe in. Though he was a strong supporter of the military, and increased defense spending significantly, Bush believed that volunteers would be much more motivated and willing to fight for America than conscripts.
Easily reelected, Bush did not reverse all of Humphrey's policies. He supported equal rights, and enforced the Civil Rights Act of 1965 whenever it was violated. Bush also appointed the first woman to the Supreme Court, and was generally well-liked as a moderate-conservative. He left office with high approval ratings, and left the nation in the capable hands of...
As President, Bush almost immediately began reversing many of the changes that Humphrey had brought. Bush cut taxes, and cut spending for many of Humphrey's social programs. "Humphreycare" remained in place, but was significantly defunded. While many of Bush's detractors accused him of being similar to Richard Nixon, allegations which Bush himself denied, he did carry out similar policies to Nixon. This time, however, "low taxes, low spending" was actually popular with the American people, especially after eight years of overspending, high taxes, and budget deficits. Bush's policies of deregulating industries which he claimed "had their hands tied behind their back by government bureaucrats" resulted in lower prices, and stimulated the economy. The American economy was beginning to recover, and Bush remained popular.
A war hero, Bush was very focused on foreign policy. Though he promised to be "hard on communism", Bush hoped to work with the Soviet Union to promote peace and a return to detente. Bush increased US aid to Vietnam, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, but also pressured local dictators to open up and grant basic civil and political rights to their people. Bush's greatest foreign policy crisis occurred when Arab nationalist-socialist Egypt invaded Israel. Bush sent troops to Israel to assist them, and helped repel the Egyptians back into their own country. While this pushed Egypt further into the Soviet camp, it gave the US a loyal ally in Israel.
Bush also ended the highly unpopular draft. A former soldier himself, he did not like forcing people to go oversees and risk their lives fighting for a cause they might not even believe in. Though he was a strong supporter of the military, and increased defense spending significantly, Bush believed that volunteers would be much more motivated and willing to fight for America than conscripts.
Easily reelected, Bush did not reverse all of Humphrey's policies. He supported equal rights, and enforced the Civil Rights Act of 1965 whenever it was violated. Bush also appointed the first woman to the Supreme Court, and was generally well-liked as a moderate-conservative. He left office with high approval ratings, and left the nation in the capable hands of...
So, what did you think?
As for who's next, I won't guarantee that everybody will have the same political parties as IOTL, but here's who's eligible to run in 1980 out of everyone that's left:
Spiro Agnew (b. 1918)
Gerald Ford (b. 1913)
Walter Mondale (b. 1928)
Dick Cheney (b. 1941)
Joe Biden (b. 1942)
Right, if the Republicans are winning next election, and the next president is capable, that leaves...uh...Ford?
(Yeah, I read the bit about political parties not necessary staying the same.)
(Yeah, I read the bit about political parties not necessary staying the same.)
I'm guessing its a Republican deck and when your 2 out of 3 are Agnew and Cheney...
I will not hesitate to have President Joe Biden as a Republican in 1980 just to throw people off. But then, I might not.Right, if the Republicans are winning next election, and the next president is capable, that leaves...uh...Ford?
(Yeah, I read the bit about political parties not necessary staying the same.)
It's an interesting read so far.
Humphrey actually did have dangerously authoritarian tendencies IOTL (internment camps for communists and other "subversives"), so I decided to subvert the usual "Happy Warrior means Happy Nation" trope by making him, well, TTL's Humphrey.
And thanks.
Zeldar155
Banned
True, Humphrey's policies on Communism was rather extreme, it is often strange that nowadays he is portrayed as some Liberal superhero, without this "dark side" of his that he had with Communism and subversives.
'Course, I still like him despite that side of him.
Why not? It'll still be Joe Biden.
So, what do you think of TTL's Humphrey?True, Humphrey's policies on Communism was rather extreme, it is often strange that nowadays he is portrayed as some Liberal superhero, without this "dark side" of his that he had with Communism and subversives.
'Course, I still like him despite that side of him.
Also, I was originally going to have Humphrey and Johnson's roles be the opposite of what they are here to avoid having Humphrey being Johnson's VP, as IOTL, but then I realized that Johnson would've been even more convergent, and switched them. I decided to to kill him off to preserve his legacy, unlike IOTL.