WI: Roosevelt doesn't go on his South American Expedition

I can't see Wilson sending Roosevelt to Europe in any circumstance. He's simply not going to allow one of his chief rivals a chance to further his celebrity. Now, assuming Roosevelt does not take his ill-fated trip to South America AND assuming his son is not killed, the Bull Moose will most likely be running for President in 1920. In 1920: The Year of Six Presidents there is litterally a chapter titled "He is the Only Candidate." That was a quote by a conservative Republican, whose name I cannot remember. The party was prepared to hand Roosevelt the nomination on a platter, and with it, the Presidency. His running-mate will either be Harding or Coolidge depending on how well Harry Daugherty (Harding's campaign manager) works the delegates. Regarldess, the Republican ticket will cruise right past Cox and the Democrats. Debbs might see his support up-tick with less Germans supporting Roosevelt, but that will have a neglible impact.

Teddy's job gets a lot harder once he's in office. Lodge and the conservatives aren't going to role over and let Roosevelt pass a second "Square Deal." He'll be forced to play hardball if he wants to get any major progressive legislation through Congres. The most likely outcome is that he sucessfully moves America from a wartime to peacetime economy, manages the recession of 1920-21 well, and gets credit for much of the early '20s prosperity. Roosevelt's foreign policy will be tougher towards Germany than Harding or Coolidge's was, possibly pushing that nation towards radicalism sooner. Regardless, Roosevelt will only help his legacy with another term in office.

The long-term ramifacations of a Roosevelt presidency in the 1920s, as is always the case in alternate history, are tougher to predict. It's unlikely that the Great Depression or Adolf Hitler are suddenly butterflied away. But you're going to have different Presidents in charge, and potentially significantly different polices in place. Assuming that Roosevelt does not run in 1924 due to his age and health, the Republicans will still be the overwhelming favorites to win. The battle for that party's nomination will be between some very strong candidates. Herbert Hoover may be the strongest, especially if Roosevelt throws his weight behing him. An earlier Hoover Presidency would be interesting to see. He was naturally a progressive, but of a very different mindset than FDR. His election may push the Republican's further to the left. Anyway, he'll win in 1924 and win reelection in 1928. If the Depression is not averted, than the Democrats will be favored to win in 1932. But an FDR presidency is not preordained. A lot of factors, not the least of which being his cousin's victory in 1920, could change Roosevelt's career trajectory. So, as I said at the beginning of this paragraph, we really can't predict anything after 1932.
 
Taft and TR became friends again just before TR dies. Doe TR get Taft in the Supreme court sooner? I can see TR staying for 2 terms. 21-29. This may keep the Republican party has the liberal party the way Lincoln wanted it. While the Democratic stays conservative and sticks to its Dixie roots. So FDR may wish to switch over to the GOP. So TR is 68 years old in 1929. Hoover takes over and there is no great depression. Or do the right wingers fight back and get Coolidge elected in 28?


The latter. The Congressional GOP is dominated by conservatives, which is why nothing much got done in the final year of TR's OTL term.

Basically, William Jennings Bryan got in first. He established the Democratic Party, irreversibly, as America's progressive party, and the defection of Cleveland Dems in the Northeast and Border States clinched it by reinforcing the conservative wing of the GOP. All TR could do was rattle the bars a trifle. There was never going to be a realignment.
 
After thinking it over, I agree that Wilson is not sending TR to war. Although his heroic foolish death described in the AH story I read does provide a dramatic finish to the TR story. I see his possible post 1921 presidency as very frustrating. Times had changed, congress and the voting public were more conservative. In 1924, he may pass on a fourth term, which would mean Herbert Hoover is the likely next president.
 
Was Lodge and TR friends? I thought I read that somewhere. I agree that TR would want Hoover to take his place. But would the righties allow it? FDR is a very good question. I can't see him running against his Cousin in 20 has a VP. So outside of Al Smith And FDR who has a realistic chance at a Dems nomination after TR? Garner is from the South no one from the South has a real chance at that time period.
 
Anthony Bergen said:
”I must go,” said Roosevelt, “but I will not come back.”

Roosevelt’s emotional declaration dramatically silenced his fellow Republican statesmen at the table. Hughes, who would later become Secretary of State and then Chief Justice of the United States, solemnly looked at Roosevelt (who had once said that the sober, reticent Hughes was a “bearded iceberg”) without saying anything. It was Root, who had served in Roosevelt’s Cabinet throughout almost all of TR’s Presidency, who finally spoke up.

“Theodore, if you can make Wilson believe that you will not come back, he will let you go!”
From this little piece at Dead Presidents. I think it gives us an idea the circumstances that would get TR into WWI.
 
If TR was healthly and won in 1920, would had been victim of the "Zero-year curse"? In OTL Warren G. Harding who got elected in 1920, passed away in 1923.
 
If TR was healthly and won in 1920, would had been victim of the "Zero-year curse"? In OTL Warren G. Harding who got elected in 1920, passed away in 1923.
Although possible, I think TR would make it through his term. Death already had to take him asleep, and as president he'll be awake more often.
 
Although possible, I think TR would make it through his term. Death already had to take him asleep, and as president he'll be awake more often.

Maybe he dies in his 2nd term. FDR made it barley through his 4th term in OTL. Or if he breaks the curse, does it butterfly it?
 
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