WI: President Reagan Assassination attempt succeeds?

I've always been curious about this, but my expectation is Bush comes in and enacts similar, but slightly more centrist versions of Reagan's policies - Bush authorizes lighter tax cuts which help, but economic improvements are mild, and increases defense spending - by less- to stay competitive with the Soviet Union. He lacks Reagan's charisma and charm, but manages to use his predecessor's memory to win narrowly in '84, but can't help his own conservative running mate win in '88.

I just imagine Bush as trying to emulate Reagan in hopes of keeping his memory alive - probably more out of hopes of electoral victory than anything else, ala Johnson in '64. He'd play a similar role but lack the charisma, attitude and optimism of Reagan, providing for similar achievements but lacking much of the memorable moments and mythical legacy. Again, kind of like Johnson, I think.

I wanted to do a TL on this but I really don't know much about eighties politics besides Reagan himself, and can struggle with butterflies. Not sure I could make it an engaging read for people - but you never know. Six years ago, I would've scoffed at the idea of reading an alternate history timeline to begin with :p
 
Bush follows Reagan's domestic policies but he engages the Soviet Union more and we have an earlier IMF treaty. In the good economic times of 1984, he also wins by a landslide. I don't who he would pick as Vice President or how his veep would do in building a national following. eEither the Vice President or Bob Dole wins in the good economic times of 1988. In the bad economic times of 1992, a Democrat wins.
 
Plus there is the fact that every president who was elected in a year that ends in a zero has died known as the Curse of Tippecanoe. From William Harrison to JFK they were all killed. Reagan was the first president to survive. So did Bush who was also a target of assassination. This will reinforce the curse and discourage a lot of people from seeking the 2000 election.
 

Robert

Banned
Bush becomes President, but doesn't push for the Tax Cuts because he is a Big Government Republican with no real agenda.

His Popularity reaches a high of 80% after the assassination, and he is firm on Foreign Policy which causes the left to agitate for fear of nuclear war.

Without the Tax cuts Bush's domestic economic program which is little more then negotiating a slower rate of wasteful government spending causes the recession to continue.

The Democrats fight for the nomination include former VP Mondale, Senator Gary Hart, and Jesse Jackson. Hart manages to steal the nomination from Mondale by offering Jackson the VP slot. They win a narrow election because the Soviet Union is still a concern for many Americans despite the poor economy.

Massive Government spending including economic aid to the Soviet Union disguised as "Trade" based on Barbara Tuchman's "Stuffed Goose" theory.

The Soviets take this as weakness. Gorbachev, who came to power as a reformer to counter Reagan's anti-communism crusade, retires. Yuri Andropov remains as General Secretary and in Good Health.

President Hart is shocked when the Soviet's invade Iran, taking Iraq's side in the war. He makes strong diplomatic protests but does nothing.

NATO breaks apart, and U.S. forces leave Europe. The Defense budget is slashed, and in an effort to preserve the peace President Hart agrees to a treaty that dismantles existing U.S. missiles in exchange for planned Soviet ones.

Soviet back Communism spreads through out the world. China becomes paranoid and a nuclear war breaks out between it and the Soviet Union. When President Hart refuses to back the Soviet pre-emptive strike on China Soviet Missiles strike the U.S., and Hart is killed when Washington, D.C. is destroyed.

President Jackson offers a surrender after the Soviet strike destroys the remaining few U.S. ICBMs.

Of course that's the best case scenario.
 
This will reinforce the curse and discourage a lot of people from seeking the 2000 election.[/QUOTE]

wWhite House ambition is a strong force. nNobody is scared off from running.
 
Bush becomes President, but doesn't push for the Tax Cuts because he is a Big Government Republican with no real agenda.

His Popularity reaches a high of 80% after the assassination, and he is firm on Foreign Policy which causes the left to agitate for fear of nuclear war.

Without the Tax cuts Bush's domestic economic program which is little more then negotiating a slower rate of wasteful government spending causes the recession to continue.

The Democrats fight for the nomination include former VP Mondale, Senator Gary Hart, and Jesse Jackson. Hart manages to steal the nomination from Mondale by offering Jackson the VP slot. They win a narrow election because the Soviet Union is still a concern for many Americans despite the poor economy.

Massive Government spending including economic aid to the Soviet Union disguised as "Trade" based on Barbara Tuchman's "Stuffed Goose" theory.

The Soviets take this as weakness. Gorbachev, who came to power as a reformer to counter Reagan's anti-communism crusade, retires. Yuri Andropov remains as General Secretary and in Good Health.

President Hart is shocked when the Soviet's invade Iran, taking Iraq's side in the war. He makes strong diplomatic protests but does nothing.

NATO breaks apart, and U.S. forces leave Europe. The Defense budget is slashed, and in an effort to preserve the peace President Hart agrees to a treaty that dismantles existing U.S. missiles in exchange for planned Soviet ones.

Soviet back Communism spreads through out the world. China becomes paranoid and a nuclear war breaks out between it and the Soviet Union. When President Hart refuses to back the Soviet pre-emptive strike on China Soviet Missiles strike the U.S., and Hart is killed when Washington, D.C. is destroyed.

President Jackson offers a surrender after the Soviet strike destroys the remaining few U.S. ICBMs.

Of course that's the best case scenario.
because of course Lord Reagan the Incorruptible and Unblemished single-handedly saved the world :rolleyes:
 
This will reinforce the curse and discourage a lot of people from seeking the 2000 election.[/QUOTE]

wWhite House ambition is a strong force. nNobody is scared off from running.
 
Top