WI: Clinton Assassinated in 1994

October 29, 1994: Francisco Martin Duran fired at least 29 shots with a semi-automatic rifle at the White House from a fence overlooking the north lawn, thinking that Clinton was among the men in dark suits standing there (Clinton was in the White House Residence watching a football game). Three tourists, Harry Rakowsky, Ken Davis, and Robert Haines, tackled Duran before he could injure anyone. Duran was found to have a suicide note in his pocket and was sentenced to 40 years in prison

Here's a new topic that really hasn't been discussed on the board before, but lets say that Slick Willie wasn't in the Residence at that time. If Clinton was indeed one of the men in dark suits standing outside overlooking the North Lawn and was hit directly by Duran rifle fire, I doubt that the 42nd POTUS would make it.

So how would a Al Gore Presidency look like in the aftermath of the tragic death of Clinton? Does the GOP still manage to take over both chambers in wake of the President's death? Who does Al nominate as his Vice President(Might he go for an Minority or Woman)? Will Dole still run or win the nomination against Gore? Or does the Non-Charismatic Gore even win reelection in '96? What will Hillary's carrear shape out to be? How might the last 15 years have been different without Slick Willie?
 
It'd be an incredible stroke of bad luck if he did kill Clinton. As I recall the attempt wasnt planned. Basically he just walked past the White House hoping to spot him and opened fire on the first figures he saw. He didn't manage to hit anyone at all.

He claimed to have been motivated by a talk radio host call for "cleansing the nation." So if he succeeded a backlash would hit right wing radio at least as great as that vs militias over Oklahoma City. Potentially "conservatives" (I use the term losely, since many are further to the right) lose their dominance of the genre. The 94 "angry white men" backlash is muted.

Clinton was essentially a caretaker pres, not interested in using the office much beyond what was necessary to get re elected. Gore would actually be slightly more activist.

I really can't see Hillary not getting into the senate and running for pres herself after Gore is out in 2000. A Clinton and Bush dynasty rematch.
 
A lot of sympathy for Clinton (and the Clintons) no Republican revolution, Gore would cruise to victory in '96. It would be '63 all over again - the memory of a lacklustre President who could make no domestic progress would, in death, serve to fuel the Presidency of his successor, certainly at least until the second term. Gore will certainly push for healthcare again ('do it for Bill' etc) and will at the very least get something moderately signifigant out of it.

I wouldn't rule out the Republican Revolution coming later, though - maybe in '98 instead of '94, if Gore over-reaches himself.
 
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Vice President Hilary Clinton appointed and probably elected President in 2000

Hilary as VPOTUS? I can't see her getting it in 1994, she had no real experience at that point and frankly, it would smack of nepotism. Perhaps Dick Gephardt would be Gore's preferred choice for the position, he did have the legislative know how and would be a good pick with regards to maintaining a strong position for the Democrats in Congress.
 
Vice President Hilary Clinton appointed and probably elected President in 2000

Na. Far too mushy/direct. Especially at a time of national crisis. Hillary was already becoming a hate figure amongst Republicans. Gore will be wanting to reassure, not ramping up the partisan spirit. And remember, Hillary was still seen as just a first lady at this point - one who had only been in office for less than two years I might add. A strong first lady, to be sure, but just a first lady. If Gore nominated her, the response would probably be 'wtf?' Plus, doesn't she want time to mourn? Her husband's just been murdered ffs.

Dick Gephardt was just another member of the House who nobody had heard of for the last six years at this point. Won't be him. Plus, Gephardt's big ambition was to be Speaker. He'll be staying in the House.

My suspicion is that it would be an elder statesman-style figure. With a dead President, people will be looking very carefully at the next VPs qualifications, and there might be a perception of Gore being 'untested'. Combine that with the fact that Gore won't want to be seen to be using this as an excuse to favour any one wing of the party too directly.

Maybe Warren Christopher - he was on good terms with Gore IIRC. George Mitchell, who was retiring from the Senate at this point, is another strong possiblity I think, and in his case provides good geographical balance. In either case, they could both stand down from the VPship in 1996 without fuss for a younger successor.
 
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What about Joe Biden as a veep? Doesn't seem to have any major personality clashes, former presidential nominee so probably wants it and reasonably experienced. Only problem could be it seeming a little Northern (then again, Gore was in the HR for TN but he wasn't born there).
 
This looks like something that a timeline should be made of. I might try this - my first two TLs were utter failures, though.
 
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