The POD is RFK is never assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan. Despite winning most of the primaries he goes on to lose the nomination. But Kennedy's stand-out speech at the Democratic convention, which helps to calm the attendees and blunt the violence in Chicago, and his support for Humphrey in the fall campaign help HHH narrowly beat Nixon. In 1972 Humphrey loses to Ronald Reagan, who is narrowly re-elected in 1976. Come 1980, it's finally Kennedy's year and he beats Reagan's VP.

On January 20, 1981 Robert F. Kennedy is sworn in as America's 39th President. How does Kennedy handle the challenges of the 1980s? How might America change in both the short and long term as a result of the POD?
 
The New Deal Coalition would likely not die off like it did, the U.S. would be significantly more progressive (universal healthcare could occur), but it's hard to tell since a Reagan presidency from 1972 to 1980 could have a huge impact on Vietnam and other matters. Also, no Watergate.
 
It's hard to say who exactly Ronald Reagan would pick to serve as his vice presidential nominee in 1972, but one name that comes to mind is Howard Baker. He was speculated as a VP pick in 1968 and 1976, and he would balance the ticket ideologically as a moderate. Not to mention, Baker did run for President in OTL 1980. Him serving as Vice President throughout the 1970s would help him win the nomination in ATL 1980.

It is also hard to say who RFK would select as his VP nominee, but a name that comes to mind is John Glenn. He was speculated in 1976 and 1984, and would secure victory in Ohio and other Midwestern swing states.

Had RFK been elected in 1980, I imagine that there might have been a greater trend toward liberalization, rather than OTL's rightward shift. Probably slightly more foreign interventions if RFK takes a page out of his brother's book.
 
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Had RFK been elected in 1980, I imagine that there might have been a greater trend toward liberalization, rather than OTL's rightward shift. Probably slightly more foreign interventions if RFK takes a page out of his brother's book.

I doubt that RFK would have a more hawkish foreign policy than Reagan.
 
The New Deal Coalition would likely not die off like it did, the U.S. would be significantly more progressive (universal healthcare could occur), but it's hard to tell since a Reagan presidency from 1972 to 1980 could have a huge impact on Vietnam and other matters. Also, no Watergate.

Working class voters wouldn't have shifted to the GOP as heavily as they did under Reagan in OTL. RFK had a strong appeal to that demographic, and if Reagan is in charge during the poor 1970s economy then middle class voters are less likely to shift to the GOP. It's also worth noting that if President Reagan governs as a liberal on issues like abortion, divorce, and gay rights (as he was prior to 1976), then the GOP can't use cultural issues to win over Democrats to the extent of OTL. However, civil rights would still be a wedge issue in the South.
 
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