Many state constitutions provide for an election for their state's attorney general, rather than he or she be appointed by the Governor. Then inquiry here, then, is simple. What if, at some point during, say, the Progressive Era, the Congress amended the Constitution to provide for the direct election of the Attorney General?
I'm assuming that the Attorney General will be up for election in years that are the same of midterm Congressional elections, as not to distract attention from the Presidential race. Supposing such an amendment is ratified in 1914-1915, the first Attorney General election will be held in 1918. The Democrats would probably nominate either incumbent Thomas Gregory Watt of Texas, or opt for his OTL's successor, Mitchell Palmer, of the 'Palmer Raids' fame. The Republicans...? Maybe former Presidential candidate Charles Evans Hughes? He seems like a good fit for the position, which is a sort of stepping stone to the Supreme Court, or alternatively in this time line, the Presidency.
I also wonder how this would fundamentally alter the nation's history following it's inception. Who would the Democrats and Republicans have nominated in 2006, for example? John Edwards for the Democrats? (I would think that he would be reluctant to take the job, considering he'd want the Presidency in only two years...) For the Republicans? Alberto Gonzales?
Thoughts...?
I'm assuming that the Attorney General will be up for election in years that are the same of midterm Congressional elections, as not to distract attention from the Presidential race. Supposing such an amendment is ratified in 1914-1915, the first Attorney General election will be held in 1918. The Democrats would probably nominate either incumbent Thomas Gregory Watt of Texas, or opt for his OTL's successor, Mitchell Palmer, of the 'Palmer Raids' fame. The Republicans...? Maybe former Presidential candidate Charles Evans Hughes? He seems like a good fit for the position, which is a sort of stepping stone to the Supreme Court, or alternatively in this time line, the Presidency.
I also wonder how this would fundamentally alter the nation's history following it's inception. Who would the Democrats and Republicans have nominated in 2006, for example? John Edwards for the Democrats? (I would think that he would be reluctant to take the job, considering he'd want the Presidency in only two years...) For the Republicans? Alberto Gonzales?
Thoughts...?