WI: Rock Hudson instead of Reagen

What if Rock Hudson had been the one to go into conservative politics and eventually run for President, while still getting Aids??
 
Well, I don't know his political plans but he may still hide AIDs from public and at worst, he could be shot by Hinckley in which might lead to his death making his secret homosexual life and his sickness a notable conspiracy theory. Also, Jodie Foster's celebrity career would be changed because of Hinckley's obsession with her character in Taxi Driver.

As for Reagan, he might return to acting at one point after losing the election but only in few roles before he retired from acting (again!!) like his appearances in The Martian Chronicles and Back To The Future Part III.
 
If Rock Hudson had made it to the White House, it would have been a big shock, when the president was diagnosed with AIDS. I think Rock Hudson was too big a star to go into politics.
 
That Would be hell of scandal

President Rock Hudson is a Homosexual and has aids
Would be biggest Scandal in US History in 1980s.
 
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It AIDs came the same time as it did OTL, he would have been diagnosed during the election year of 1984. I doubt he could keep it a secret. He would have to step down.
 
I did some reading about him. He was married in the 50s and his wife divorced him charging mental cruelty. I think that scandal would hurt his political career. I also read that it was rumored that his wife was a lesbian who wanted his money. I think if he wanted a political career, he should have married a lesbian who wanted both his money and to stay with him.
 
I did some reading about him. He was married in the 50s and his wife divorced him charging mental cruelty. I think that scandal would hurt his political career. I also read that it was rumored that his wife was a lesbian who wanted his money. I think if he wanted a political career, he should have married a lesbian who wanted both his money and to stay with him.

That's how divorces work, though. When you list the reason(s), it's anything that flies or being forced to write down something and picking whatever reason is closest or acceptable.
 
There is a aspect we not reconsider !

Rock Hudson homosexuality, was one of best keep secrets of Hollywood.
as Politician, who far would his staff member goes to keep it secret ?
how many people would die, to keep this secret ?

for US politic would this be devastation,
in 1980s people just recover faith after Nixon abuse of power and now Hudson murdering people tot keep his secrets save ?
this breach of faith in US politic in 1980s would be monumental...
 
I reiterate, would Rock Hudson get involved in politics? Is there any history of him actively involves in politics, in someone's campaign or whatever it may be, or of anyone approaching him about running?

Not everyone wants to be President, not to mention the Senator, Congressman or Governor seat that leads to being President.

There is a aspect we not reconsider !

Rock Hudson homosexuality, was one of best keep secrets of Hollywood.
as Politician, who far would his staff member goes to keep it secret ?
how many people would die, to keep this secret ?

for US politic would this be devastation,
in 1980s people just recover faith after Nixon abuse of power and now Hudson murdering people tot keep his secrets save ?
this breach of faith in US politic in 1980s would be monumental...

Presidents don't murder American people...except Jack Anderson. But that was from our insane president Nixon.
 
snip

Presidents don't murder American people...except Jack Anderson. But that was G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt reacting to our increasingly paranoid and insecure President Nixon during one of his many "Henry II ~ Thomas à Becket" moments ("What miserable drones and traitors have I nourished and promoted in my household, who let their lord be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born clerk!").

Modified under authority granted by the Fairness and Accuracy Act.;)
 
To steer this back on topic ...

I reiterate, would Rock Hudson get involved in politics? Is there any history of him actively involves in politics, in someone's campaign or whatever it may be, or of anyone approaching him about running?

Not everyone wants to be President, not to mention the Senator, Congressman or Governor seat that leads to being President.

I agree completely; getting Hudson into politics and especially into the presidency seems very unlikely w/o a serious flapping of butterfly wings early in his life, butterflies that may erase his movie career and alter the way he faces his sexuality.


I'd have to find it in my book, but what I read says the idea came top down from Nixon.

I'm sure we could take many stories from the Nixon (and perhaps the LBJ) presidency and use them in a Rock Hudson presidency (or for that matter in any contemporary alt-presidency where the incumbent has much to hide and a lot to lose "if the truth comes out" and the "facts become known").
 
wiki claims, He was a staunch Republican

That doesn't mean the price of tea in China. Hudson's era was during the big tent parties. The only thing uniting the Democrats was blue collar and focus on labor, and the thing uniting the Republicans was white collar and focus on business.

What were his views as a Republican?

I managed to find this via wikipedia's citation, which does not say he was a staunch Republican, only that he voted Republican.
It also says he was no interested in being involved with politics and disliked politics. Therefore, Rock Hudson would not be president nor run for nor occupy any office.


Rock Hudson: His Story said:
These were the years of social and political upheaval in the country, and Rock actively disliked politics. He thought of himself as a patriotic American, and voted Republican. But he would never take part in a political discussion, let alone a movement. He did not endorse candidates or attend functions, and he never gave money to a campaign. He watched the Vietnam protests and civil unrest on television with bewilderment. The closest he came to any direct involvement was during the Watts riots of 1965.
 
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