He was getting pretty radical by the end of his life, the last speech he gave before his OTL death called for extending the right to vote to all freed slaves.
Don't think Grant could be eliminated from the running. Make it a Seward/Grant ticket. I mean, the south is still under occupation, soBut how do you remove Grant from the running?
I've read some reports withg support evidence postulating the Lincoln may have contracted syphilis some time during his life. If this was true I wonder how it might have changed his behavior as a lawyer or politician later on. Syphilis may also explain Mary Lincolns behavior was well so it is possible.I've heard it's surprising that he lived as long as he did. But, it's still interesting to speculate what would have happened if he'd lived a few decades longer.
How might Grant's actions have been in that situation when compared to his OTL presidency?Don't think Grant could be eliminated from the running. Make it a Seward/Grant ticket. I mean, the south is still under occupation, so
a balance between East/west is atm better than north/south
If not, Grant still gets a position in the cabinet, maybe Secretary of War?
Softer reconstruction but with enforcement of black rights. Lincoln would certainly live out 2nd term, and no way he runs for 3rd term. Lincoln was not "radical" on negro equality but would not tolerate the sort of "substitute slavery" that was developed in the post bellum south.
However, Lincoln will not overturn the Freemens Beureau, and although it will be a softer hand in punishment, it will be a stronger hand in moving forward towards more equality.How does softer reconstruction lead to enforcement of black rights? We got the Amendments we did because Johnson was so weak that the Radical Republicans pushed for them.
Grant won't be on the ticket. Lincoln surviving is enough of a reason for Grant to never seek the presidency; his only political ambition was to be mayor of Galena.
There's no "softer" Reconstruction that *can* enforce black rights.
Why should Lincoln's survival make any difference on that point?
Grant was elected in 1868, by which time (unless we're talking third terms, which is wildly unlikely) LIncoln would in any case be retiring. And he will still be a far more impressive candidate than anyone else the Republicans can put up.
Here here. This is one problem that always comes up in alternate history forums - this persistent hangover from the Dunnings school that the problem with Reconstruction was the radicals and not the terrorist violence of the white militias.
I've heard of that. It was suspected - and he did have some symptoms - but never proven.He was proven(?) a sufferer of a rare genetic disease involving a mutation fragging connective(?) tissues I think, Marfan 'disease'. I heard he had chances to die at random from a spontanously (and probably more chances under stress) breakdown of arteries like the aorta, like that.
Lincoln serves out his second term, and works out deals with Ciongress. The Union is reassembled, and Seward will be nominated and elected Lincoln's successor. After a tour of the West, President Lincoln goes on too see much of the world. He returns to Illinois thereafter to practice law and write his memoirs, which is eventually released in two volumes.