Richard Nixon never went away until the day he died. He was America's constant from the time he started politics all the way to the end, going away but always coming back. This scenario assumes a similar period of 1968 to 1980, with the difference being it is not Nixon in the White House from 1969 to 1974. What if Nixon had not become president in 1969, but had instead become president in 1981, taking Reagan's place in history?
WI: Nixon in the 1980s
- Thread starter Emperor Norton I
- Start date
Assuming nothing but the 1970s are comparable to the OTL situation, but it's not Nixon's bag. Throw Reagan in there if it makes you guys happy. But my jaded tenured self feels that then we get to the point of splitting hairs on every small detail of 1968-1974, derailing the topic, and focusing on the anal retentiveness and making it not work instead of just going with it. I'm not laying that on you. I just know what can happen which is why I want to just roll with it.
I saw a timeline once where he was in his fifth term in 1985 and the Vietnam War was still going...
What about this:
Vice President: 1953-1961
Republican Candidate: 1960 (loses as in otl to Kennedy)
Governor of California: 1963-1971 (beats Pat Brown in '62 and Ronald Reagan '66)
Senator of California: 1971-1975 (replacing George Murphy (R) and beating John V. Tunney (D)
Ambassador to Britain: 1975-1979 (appointed by democratic president)
President: 1981-1989
Vice President: 1953-1961
Republican Candidate: 1960 (loses as in otl to Kennedy)
Governor of California: 1963-1971 (beats Pat Brown in '62 and Ronald Reagan '66)
Senator of California: 1971-1975 (replacing George Murphy (R) and beating John V. Tunney (D)
Ambassador to Britain: 1975-1979 (appointed by democratic president)
President: 1981-1989
Actually in Watchmen he is still President in 1985, but the Vietnam War was won in 1971 and people are calling for Vietnam to become the 51st U.S. state. (Crazy, crazy Moore...)
Would he really wait that long? I've heard he was never really content with private life. In fact he was doing campaigning for others in '66. Some even say so he could call in his markers for his inevitable return in "68. If he's somehow compelled to sit out '68, what keeps him out in '72 and '76, but makes him return in '80?
He manages to get the nomination and win the election in this 1980, and did not successfully do so in this 1968, 1972, or 1976. Say he lost 1968 to Reagan, stayed out of 1972 because it was a bad year (or another Republican was in office), and perhaps tried to get the nomination in 1976, but failed to do so, but laid the groundwork for getting the nomination in 1980. But, there's been more focus on 1968-1980 (and Watchmen) than in the 1980s in this topic, which is about the 1980s. Not that there is anything wrong with some focus on that, but there's been really nil focus on what is the primary focus. Richard Nixon was younger than Ronald Reagan, by the way (born 1913 versus 1911).
Drug War isn't militarized (Watergate forced him from creating programs to treat addiction to cracking down hard in an attempt to divert attention from Watergate), Universal Healthcare likely happens, religious right doesn't co-opt the Republicans, no military buildup to challenge the ailing Soviets meaning no record deficit spending/debt increase. Does China still open up to the West without his earlier visit? Does it wait until the 80s? That will impact manufacturing and the economy. Will journalism be as determined to question government without Watergate? Will we still abandon the gold standard? Vietnam's conclusion will be determined by whoever follows Johnson with butterflies galore. Detente or will it wait for Nixon? Does the Shah still fall without Carter (Jimmy was the electorate's reaction to Dick; he isn't winning and bumbling things here)? Lots of possibilities.
I think someone was planning a Nixon in the 1980s TL called "The Elder Statesman" but as far as I know it wasn't started
POD: Senator Thomas Kuchel runs for Governor of California and Nixon runs for his old senate seat in 1962.
1962: Former Vice President Richard Nixon runs for his old senate seat and narrowly defeats his Democrat oponant 53-47%, thanks in part to the public perception of him as a senior statesman whose services in the Senate are needed during the Cuban Missle Crisis.
Kuchel loses to Pat Brown 49%-50%.
1963: Nixon returns to the Senate and plans to be a favorite-son presidential candidate from California in 1964 and use this block of delegates to be a power broker in deciding who the nominee will be.
To Be Continued
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1964: Nixon runs unopposed as a favorite-son presidential candidate from California and trys to work with Rockefeller, Romney, and Scranton to Stop Goldwater. This effort ultimately fails and Goldwater narrowly wins the nomination on the first ballot at the Republican National Convention in San Francisco. Nixon wins over 100 votes and places third, evan though he had never been an active candidate.
Nixon campaigns hard for Goldwater and other Republicans in the general election and while the GOP loses in a landslide, one bright spot is the Republicans winning the other Senate seat from California with the election of George Murphy.
1965: Nixon generally opposes Johnson's domestics policies and leads several efforts (some successful and some not) to amend or defeat Johnson's bills.
1966: The Republicans make major gains in the midterms and Nixon is a major beneficiary of this success since he has campaigned harder than anyone else for the GOP around the country. Nixon's stock is particularly high in California, where is efforts helped the GOP sweep the state. Nixon had backed George Christopher over Ronald Reagan for Governor, but after Reagan won the primary, he campaign actively on his behalf.
1967: Nixon prepares for a run in 1968 with California, center-right Republicans, and party county and state chairmen as his base on support.
Nixon also offers Reagan a deal. If Reagan will endorse and support Nixon in 68', Nixon will back Reagan in 72' or 76', also if Nixon fails to win a majority on the first two ballots at the Republican National Convention in 1968, he will step aside for Reagan. Reagan agrees.
In the fall, Nixon is struck by taxi in New York City and spends three months in a wheelchair and physical therapy. These critical lost months of campaigning will cost him dearly in 1968.