TLIA(F)D: A Bucket of Warm Spit (or: Second Place Ain't Bad)

[Zeldar155]

Why not? It'll still be Joe Biden.

I think the idea of working-class Biden in that party seems rather odd to her, even for AH. It certainly does to me.

So, what do you think of TTL's Humphrey?

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.

Well, his term was pretty good, all things considered, also yeah; Johnson would have been largely the same as OTL, glad you went with Humphrey to give the Happy Warrior his chance. Though the "Reagan v. United States" part seemed like a bit of wish fullfillment stuff to me, but whatever.

 

[Turquoise Blue]

Why not? It'll still be Joe Biden.

Republican domination?

Oh wait! Spiro Agnew was originally a Democrat! Flip him to balance it out!

 

[Superman]

I think the idea of working-class Biden in that party seems rather odd to her, even for AH. It certainly does to me.



Well, his term was pretty good, all things considered, also yeah; Johnson would have been largely the same as OTL, glad you went with Humphrey to give the Happy Warrior his chance. Though the "Reagan v. United States" part seemed like a bit of wish fullfillment stuff to me, but whatever.

I was waiting for someone to catch that. ITTL, Reagan remains a Democrat, and, since IOTL he was rumored to have applied for CPUSA membership at one point, I thought it would be a nice bit of irony for him to be blacklisted for alleged communist sympathies, and then publicly challenge the law as a relatively well-known public figure (ex-actor). It wouldn't be struck down yet (the SCOTUS only finds the limits on free speech unconstitutional), but helps weaken it.

 

[Whanztastic]

I was waiting for someone to catch that. ITTL, Reagan remains a Democrat, and, since IOTL he was rumored to have applied for CPUSA membership at one point, I thought it would be a nice bit of irony for him to be blacklisted for alleged communist sympathies, and then publicly challenge the law as a relatively well-known public figure (ex-actor). It wouldn't be struck down yet (the SCOTUS only finds the limits on free speech unconstitutional), but helps weaken it.

OMG I was afraid to ask but great detail. I approve since rule of cool wins in TLIADs.

 

[Statesman]

Ford and Agnew in quick succession? Followed by Joe Biden to restore the nation?

 

[Deleted member 16736]

This is a fun timeline, for sure. My bet for next up is Joe Biden, who remains a Republican in this timeline. It's an outside shot, but I have a gambling problem I suppose.

 

[glenn67]

It is so ironic ITTL that Bush enacted "voodoo" economics.

 

[Superman]

OMG I was afraid to ask but great detail. I approve since rule of cool wins in TLIADs.

Thanks

Ford and Agnew in quick succession? Followed by Joe Biden to restore the nation?

This is a fun timeline, for sure. My bet for next up is Joe Biden, who remains a Republican in this timeline. It's an outside shot, but I have a gambling problem I suppose.

Maybe...I have a plan, but I'm not going to give out any more hints.

It is so ironic ITTL that Bush enacted "voodoo" economics.

What I thought was more ironic was that he actually stuck to his campaign pledge of "No new taxes".

 

[Superman]

Gerald R. Ford, Jr.
Republican
1981

Gerald Ford, the President that Never Was, remains a popular, yet surprisingly controversial, figure in modern day America. A war hero from World War II, Ford was a favorite of both the Republican establishment and of President Bush himself. Ford stood almost unopposed for the Republican nomination in 1980, and easily won the general election, defeating "some hick peanut farmer", according to the Microsoft Network, one of America's most popular news channels.

Ford inherited a good economy and a patriotic nation from his predecessor, and essentially campaigned as "Bush's Third Term". Unfortunately, whatever plans he had for the nation were abruptly halted when, barely five minutes after being inaugurated, President Ford was shot on January 20, 1981. The assassin was quickly apprehended, but the damage was done. Ford died from his wounds the next day, leaving the nation in the hands of his vice president.

Today, the Assassination of Gerald Ford remains a controversial topic that has spawned numerous conspiracy theories, including the claim that the assassination was ordered by former President Richard Nixon. Not even president for a day, Ford broke the record previously held by William Henry Harrison for the shortest presidency in history, and his death would have far-reaching consequences for years.​

 

[jpj1421]

Man, Gerald Ford really can't catch a break anywhere in the multiverse. I see we were on the same wavelength about the guy, getting him killed before he could take office in our respective TLIAs. I suppose this is where Agnew steps onto the world stage, as Ford would have needed to shore up conservative support.

 

[Superman]

Man, Gerald Ford really can't catch a break anywhere in the multiverse. I see we were on the same wavelength about the guy, getting him killed before he could take office in our respective TLIAs. I suppose this is where Agnew steps onto the world stage, as Ford would have needed to shore up conservative support.

Don't forget Cheney. He's possible, too.

 

[jpj1421]

Don't forget Cheney. He's possible, too.

I prefer to forget Dick Cheney, heh. I don't know which would be worse, honestly. I suppose Cheney does have some of that malevolent competence that sets him above Agnew. If I'm going to have someone I consider evil, I'd rather they have at least some Machiavellian skill.

 

[Whanztastic]

Are you writing this along the way, adapting depending on responses, or is it pretty much set? Just curious the process. TLIAD writers do it in different ways.

 

[Superman]

Spiro T. Agnew
Republican
1981-1985

Spiro T. Agnew was elected alongside Gerald Ford in 1980. In the aftermath of President Ford's assassination, the former Maryland governor was suddenly thrust into the most powerful position in the country. Agnew presented a serious, yet confidant, attitude in his inaugural speech, focusing on the need for, in his own words, "unity in these troubled times". Though many people were still fearful of having a president that they had not elected, due to bad experiences from the Humphrey years, President Agnew was determined to lead America down a better future.

Agnew continued aid to Israel, and attempted to improve relations with the Jewish state. However, perceived American support for Israel at the expense of the Palestinians isolated many of Israel's Arab neighbors, and pushed them closer towards the Soviet camp. A major repercussion of this was the Oil Crisis of 1982 and resulting recession, where several Arab countries, which happened to be major producers of oil, embargoed the United States and drove oil prices through the roof.

By the following year, President Agnew had to deal with a majority Democratic Congress, and was unable to get many of his own policies passed. He was forced to raise taxes to alleviate the oil crisis by subsidizing prices, and his popularity dropped, especially when the economy did not appear to be recovering.

As tensions with the Soviet Union rose, Americans looked towards someone else. While Agnew had believed that he had a good chance of winning reelection in 1984, the results on Election Night would prove him wrong. In January, Agnew handed off the presidency to...​

 

[Statesman]

Mondale and then Cheney or Quayle is my prediction.

 

[Whanztastic]

Mondale and then Cheney or Quayle is my prediction.

Hmmm... maybe a young Gore or Biden...

 

[Superman]

Walter Mondale
Democratic
1985-1993
​

Walter Mondale had previously been known as a stalwart ally and supporter of former president Hubert Humphrey. However, following his narrow victory over President Agnew, Mondale was determined to be seen as his own man, and to move out of Humphrey's shadow.

As president, Mondale was known to be stiff and uncharismatic. Though he was elected by a majority of the American people, he was not well liked, and was often seen as "a big bore", according to MSN.

Still, Mondale persevered. The Democratic majority in Congress that Agnew had had to deal with had remained in power after the 1984 elections, and President Mondale was able to continue many of the new taxes without appearing to be a hypocrite. The economy slowly but surely began to recover, and Mondale's popularity rose. Mondale easily won reelection, and continued to have a Democratic majority in both Houses of Congress.

However, President Mondale had to deal with rising tensions with the Soviet Union. The USSR appeared to be winning the Cold War. Pro-American rebels were currently losing a proxy war in Kashmir against the Soviet-backed government, and Mondale was not able to send enough support to the rebels through friendly India. In addition, tensions with the Arab nationalist-socialist states of Egypt, Syria, and Iraq continued to deteriorate, as oil price rose. President Mondale attempted to negotiate an end to the oil embargo and lessen America's dependence on oil from the other oil-rich Middle Eastern countries such as the Gulf monarchies of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, but failed here as well. Oil prices continued to remain high during Mondale's second term, and his popularity continued to drop.

After handing off the presidency to his successor in 1993, President Mondale retired to his home state of Minnesota, and faded into obscurity. While many people today see him as a weak and ineffectual leader, he is seen as a man who tried his best to do what was right. Mondale was also successfully able to move out of Humphrey's shadow, and gain a reputation as a supporter of human rights, as opposed to Humphrey's erosion of those freedoms. Walter Mondale remains out of politics today, and only makes occasional public appearances.

 

[Superman]

Richard B. Cheney
Republican
1993-2001

Walter Mondale left office with mediocre approval ratings and the image of being an old, weak president. His incoming successor, by contrast, was a comparatively young war hero. Richard Cheney had served in the Dominican Republic during the Humphrey administration, and had been wounded in combat. After returning, he had been elected to the US House of Representatives as a Congressman from Nebraska, and later served as the White House Chief of Staff under George Bush. Many Americans saw Cheney as the best candidate to come out ahead of the Soviet Union in the Cold War, and he defeated Democrat Michael Dukakis in a landslide.

As President, Cheney brought back many of Bush's deregulatory economic policies, and allowed for increased drilling for oil in American territory. This lessened the dependence on foreign oil, and gas prices dropped significantly. The Oil Embargo finally ended when Egypt, Syria, and Iraq continued to be in recession, while the American economy recovered significantly.

Cheney's term was not completely uncontroversial, however. Environmentalist Democratic Senator Jefferson Blythe [1] of Arkansas (who would be Cheney's opponent in the 1996 presidential election) led attacks against the President for knowingly causing significant amounts of environmental damage, and accused him of being in bed with oil companies. President Cheney denied these accusations, and would begin a long rivalry with Blythe.

Cheney also presided over a military buildup, and promised to be hard on communism. According to various sources, the Soviet economy could not compete with its American counterpart, and would not be able to handle another arms race. Abandoning Kashmir as a lost cause, Cheney instead increased military aid to India to assist in fighting their own communist rebels. President Cheney was also the biggest proponent of the Asia-Pacific Cooperation Organization [2] in an attempt to contain and eventually push back against Soviet communism.

The recovering economy and the feeling that America was "getting her strength back" propelled Cheney to an easy victory over Blythe in 1996.

Cheney's second term was much more controversial and scandal prone than his first. First came the discovery of various DUIs and other misdemeanors from Cheney's youth. This was followed up by allegations of rape and sexual harassment by various women that President Cheney denied having met before. Though there was not enough evidence to convict him for the rape and sexual harassment charges, his reputation was tarnished, and hurt the GOP's chances in 2000.

Today, President Cheney remains a controversial figure. His supporters look towards his instrumental role in ultimately winning the Cold War, as well as the recovering economy during his terms. His detractors, on the other hand, point out the various scandals and the rising poverty rate that began under Cheney. Richard Cheney died in 2004 of a heart attack at the age of 63, three years after leaving office. How much long term impact his actions have had on the world remains to be seen.

[1] Guess who this is
[2] Consists of the USA, South China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand
​

 

[Statesman]

Does Dan Quayle only get one term? Predicitng that TTL me (if he exists) is living through the Gore Administration.

 

[Superman]

Does Dan Quayle only get one term? Predicitng that TTL me (if he exists) is living through the Gore Administration.

Butterflies are likely to eliminate you from the timeline. Heck, I'm not even sure if George W. Bush exists (or at least not OTL's GWB), let alone you. That's all I'm going to say.