WI: Theodore Roosevelt wins in 1912?

Gan

Banned
As the tin says; what if Teddy Roosevelt had won the Presidential Election in 1912? How would World War I have gone with him in office? If he dies in 1919 as our timeline, how would Hiram Johnson have handled things after? How would this affect domestic American politics in the following years and decade?
 
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I've speculated before on how TR winning in 1912 might butterfly away WWI.

I also see a less racist administration (no segregation of federal government, etc) and an attempt at passing national healthcare; if the later fails, TTL is still likely to see much more success at the state level.
 
He signs the same progressive legislation Wilson signed. I think World War I still happens. He gets in political trouble for being too pro Entente. He loses in 1916. He does not go to Brazil, so his health is better. He can be reelected in 1920.
 
He signs the same progressive legislation Wilson signed.
Yeah, things like the Income Tax, the Federal Reserve, and a anti-Child Labor law will still pass. (Possibly -- possibly mind you -- different justices on the Supreme Court could mean the last is actually upheld.) TR also won't be as avid a trust buster as Taft and Wilson were otl.
 
As the tin says; what if Teddy Roosevelt had won the Presidential Election in 1912? How would World War I have gone with him in office? If he dies in 1919 as our timeline, how would Hiram Johnson have handled things after? How would this affect domestic American politics in the following years and decade?



Hiram Johnson wouldn't be VP.

In order to have any chance of winning (and it's not assured even then), TR must first win the Republican nomination, and if the party bosses are saddled with him in the top spot, they are certain, as in 1904. to insist on a conservative for second place. TR's former vice, Charles Fairbanks, would be an obvious possibility, or Warren Harding might be another.
 
Yeah, things like the Income Tax, the Federal Reserve, and a anti-Child Labor law will still pass.

Is that certain? Presumably, if he wins as a Republican (and winning on a third-party ticket is ASB) then a Republican Congress will have been voted in with him, which will be far more conservative than the Democratic one of OTL.


(Possibly -- possibly mind you -- different justices on the Supreme Court could mean the last is actually upheld.) TR also won't be as avid a trust buster as Taft and Wilson were otl.
Would there be enough vacancies? In 1913-17 there will be only two, as Hughes won't leave the Court in 1916, and even if TR uses the European war as an excuse to seek yet another term then (and the voters let him get away with it) no vacancies arose in 1917-21. So he probably only gets two appointments in his second Presidency.
 
In order to have any chance of winning (and it's not assured even then), TR must first win the Republican nomination, and if the party bosses are saddled with him in the top spot, they are certain, as in 1904. to insist on a conservative for second place. TR's former vice, Charles Fairbanks, would be an obvious possibility, or Warren Harding might be another.
Harding, the failed Ohio gubenatorial candidate? Joseph B. Foraker is a bigger man in Ohio politics at the time, though he is a lot older, and may still resent TR.

Agree a big name conservative Republicans from outside the Northeast is what they need around this time, but can't say I can think of any.
Is that certain? Presumably, if he wins as a Republican (and winning on a third-party ticket is ASB) then a Republican Congress will have been voted in with him, which will be far more conservative than the Democratic one of OTL.
OTOH, the Republicans won't have split with their Progressives, so the GOP caucus will be more liberal than OTL; it will be even easier if TR can work with Wilson-liberal Democrats (though yeah, that's something of an "if").
Would there be enough vacancies? In 1913-17 there will be only two, as Hughes won't leave the Court in 1916, and... no vacancies arose in 1917-21. So he probably only gets two appointments in his second Presidency.
Forgot about Hughes. Fair point there.
 
Harding, the failed Ohio gubenatorial candidate? Joseph B. Foraker is a bigger man in Ohio politics at the time, though he is a lot older, and may still resent TR.

Agree a big name conservative Republicans from outside the Northeast is what they need around this time, but can't say I can think of any.

That defeat was in 1910, when Republicans everywhere were going down like ninepins, so it's no particular disgrace. I agree, though, that the ideal would be a conservative Midwesterner who managed to keep his seat while all about him were losing theirs. Not sure who fits the bill, though.
 
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