WI: Humphrey Won in 1968

- Would the absence of Earl Butz reduce obesity?
- Would he get re-elected in 1972?
- Would he "go to China"?
- What would happen in Vietnam?
- What direction do the parties go in?
 
This has already been done several times, but Humphrey would try to end the war earlier than Nixon. Maybe he'd get a peace agreement in 1969, and he'd use Vietnamization instead of an outright withdrawal to end US involvement. Reelection depends on how (or if) he ends the war, the state of the economy, and Humphrey's domestic accomplishments. He won't go to China, that was Nixon's idea and no Democrat would do it after ending the war. China will have to wait until the next Republican gets elected. SV still collapses, but maybe two years earlier than OTL. I could see the evacuation being handled more competently than under Ford. Democrats will stay New Dealers for a little while longer, but once neoliberalism becomes popular in the late 1970's and 80's (stagflation and the Oil crisis would still happen IMO) eventually they will shift to a more centrist brand. The Republicans could remain centre-right instead of shifting to the far right if President Nixon is butterflied. I don't think Reagan would get elected President in this scenario. He'll be running either as President or VP against a popular Humphrey in 1972, a year in which Humphrey can easily win by touting his ending of the war and tarring Reagan as a right-wing extremist. (Basically, the ideological opposite of OTL 1972).
 
Top