Wi No Coolidge in 1924?

Hi all,

The title says it all I guess-in OTL, 'Silent Cal' ran for his own presidencial term in 1924, having succeeded to the presidency after Harding's death.

But back then it wasn't overly common for a VP who became president in these circumstances to run (and be nominated) themselves, besides TR. Also, Coolidge lost his son at around the time he was nominated in OTL-I understand it happened at the WH and Coolidge blaimed himself for that reason.

So what if Coolidge had simply decided he didn't need the stress of the presidency (granted the 1920's weren't too stressful, but still) and stepped aside?

Firstly, which Republican is nominated instead? Does this in any way affect the Dems convention? I'm imagining the Republican is still favoured to win under these circumstances, especially if the Democrats still take over 100 balletts and end up nominating Davis to get it all over with?

What happens from there? The Depression still hits in some manner, but with a different president in the years before the crash, is it less severe (or moreso) than OTL?
 
Well, it's not very original or exciting, but the obvious choice would seem to be Hoover. His work during WW1 is that much fresher in the mind, and he has kept himself clean all through the Harding years.

$64,000 question is whether coming in four years earlier makes him either able or willing to take any measures that might head off the Depression. Thoughts anyone?
 
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I agree Hoover is the obvious choice. hHe serves two terms and some other Republican loses to Roosevelt in 1932. hHe is still blamed for the depression.
 
Calvin Coolidge Jr. died from blood poisoning on July 7 '24. I don't think anyone would fault the man from withdrawing.

I would hope for LaFollette, General Wood or TR II, but it will probably be Hoover or Hughes

What about the veep?
 
What about the veep?

Well, OTL both Coolidge and Hoover had Midwestern VPs, respectively Charles G Dawes (Illinois) and Charles Curtis (Kansas). Quite possibly still one of those.

If it is Hughes instead of Hoover, if anything this becomes more likely, as they'll probably want a Midwesterner to balance a New Yorker. Not that it really matters given the state of the Democratic Party.
 
Well, it's not very original or exciting, but the obvious choice would seem to be Hoover. His work during WW1 is that much fresher in the mind, and he has kept himself clean all through the Harding years.

$64,000 question is whether coming in four years earlier makes him either able or willing to take any measures that might head off the Depression. Thoughts anyone?

I agree it's most likely Hoover, though that's questionable considering how close he came to not obtaining the 28 nomination in OTL.

With an extra term, he theoretically could have done more to prevent the GD, but I'm not sure about that-noone was thinking of an impending depression in 1925. As a businessman, Hoover might have had the forsight to do something Coolidge didn't do, though I don't know enough about economics to say whether he'd be able to soften it (preventing it at this stage is dificult imho).

If Hoover's the nominee in 1924, does he run again in 1928? I heard it said that Hoover didn't like the presidency and only ran in 32 to save face-and that in different circumstances he'd have stepped aside after 1 term. Personally I don't see that happenning-I suspect Hoover hated being president mostly because of those current circumstances and that he'd run again in 1928, with the economy as a backdrop.
 
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