TLIAW: Rendezvous with Destiny

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Ronald Reagan – Progressive (1969-1977)
The Man Who Brought Progressivism Back

The Progressive Party had been in the wilderness ever since the downfall of President Rogers; the moderates within the party had always held sway thanks to influence of the grandees (Henry A. Wallace and the La Follette brothers), however they’re influence had been gradually diminishing since the apparent failings of Rogers and the gradual loss of the grandees to their own mortality. By the time of the 1968 elections, the Radicals within the party had found themselves to be on the rise and looked set to take over the party leadership, administration and even the nomination itself.

The 1968 United States Presidential Election was filled with accusation that the Progressive Party was, more than ever, little more than a vehicle for socialists and communists wishing to bring about the end of American democracy. Both the Republicans, now marred by the apparent do-nothing Knowland, and the Democrats, themselves on the rise due to the Republicans’ fall and now positioning themselves as the party of social conservatism but still appealing to the working man, believed that the Progressives had doomed themselves. They were far from the truth. In Representative Ronald Reagan, they had found a charismatic man who whole-heartedly believed in the need for strong and radical progressivism in order to the restore the national economy and see an end to the problems that had been created by the Knowland administration.

Taking a majority of the votes, thanks to the Twenty-third Amendment, Reagan would set work on restoring American pride in the same form as a previous president; Franklin D. Roosevelt. Reagan sought to embark on a series of federal-sponsored programs to boost the American economy by creating large works programs to help reduce unemployment and by taking direct control of many national major industries; this was a measure that would be met by large amounts of hostility within Congress.

Although the Progressives had seen their numbers dramatically increase in the 1968 Congressional Elections, they were not able to pass the more radical elements of Reagan’s works programs or initiate any nationalisations. The Republicans and the Democrats both argued profusely and denounced Reagan’s policies as ‘unmitigated socialism; pure & simple.’ The Progressives, on the other hand, were mixed on Reagan’s wishes – although the Radicals had managed to find themselves now in major key party positions, they did not have the complete control over the party apparatus and there were many Moderates who would not vote along the party lines unless they felt they were absolutely necessary.

Progress was slow, but some of the policies were being passed through Congress and seeing improvements. Aware that domestically it was almost impossible to make any changes that he felt would have any real impact, Reagan would move his attention to America’s relations with her allies.

Initially, Western European leaders were anxious over dealing with President Reagan; his own official party policy regarding the Soviet Union was to try & work with them in establishing a workable peace, however Reagan took a different take on this view. Reagan was an ardent anti-communist, but was against the use of nuclear weapons in any scenario; during the 1968 debates, he caused controversy by stating that he would never use nuclear weapons under any circumstances. Nevertheless, his strong support for the CDS and an increase in military aid & involvement in Western European was enough to sate many that he would be willing to defend Europe from communist expansion even if he would not be the one to start the fight.

Events at home soon took a priority though. A series of attack on government officials along the West Coast, mostly in California, would bring attention to the ‘Manson Family’; a group of individuals who sought to prepare themselves for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ who they believed that reconciled himself with Satan. The casualties during the summer of 1969 were exceedingly high as ‘The Family’ caused panic in many cities. Reagan would see an increase in federal spending for law and order, whilst also allowing the FBI to begin a process of identifying all individuals who had come into contact with members of ‘The Family’ to determine potential, hidden members.

This tough approach was condemned by some members of his own party; Senator Frank Church argued that Reagan was creating a system where the government would watch innocent people in the belief they may be guilty. The White House replied ‘If they are innocent, they have nothing to fear.’ The words were seen as deadening to many social liberals, however support for Reagan did increase including amongst some social conservatives.

The 1970 and 1972 elections would see gains for the Radical Progressives and re-election for President Reagan. With a strong mandate and the ability to make policies with fewer blockades in Congress, Reagan would begin his ‘Reagan Reconstruction’ in earnest. National amenities were soon placed under government control, whilst the major industries would see large shares in their companies bought up by the government as a provision made in Congress to prevent further nationalisation. Unemployment continued to drop and the economy was now improving dramatically as GDP rose 3.1% quarterly.

The Security Act of 1969 would allow government surveillance to work unabated and unhindered by state governments with official statements that although many members of ‘The Family’ had been detained, the leader of the organisation, Charles Manson, remain at large. Censorship was not official policy, however those states with Radical Progressive legislatures and governors often found themselves under pressure to aid state & federal investigations through their reports, in addition to making reports in favour of the government.

As the country reaches 1976, the Progressives have found themselves controlled by the more radical members of their organisation, whilst the Democrats have almost succeeded in supplanting the Republicans as the main conservative political force in the country. President Reagan has made his mark on America, and the question now facing them is whether the next President will continue in Reagan’s path or try to bring the nation back to real freedom.

Fin​
 
How is the space program doing ITTL?

Ooh, good question... It's running quite a bit behind OTL; Stevenson began large amounts of funding to it during his term, mostly as the Cold War was heating up during his presidency, however that dropped off again going into Rogers' term.

Lodge and Knowland would both see its increase, the Soviet had already launched Sputnik and Laika (Or TTL equivalents) into orbit. By the time Reagan comes into office, America is a long way off sending anyone to the moon with the Soviets looking like they'll be doing it before the end of the decade.
 
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