WI: Wendell Willkie Takes Up the Liberal Party Banner

Historically, Wendell Willkie had planned with other leaders of the Liberal Party of New York to make it a national presence, himself running for the mayor of New York under its banner. Taking a train from Indianapolis to New York, he then proceeded to suffer more then twenty heart attacks. Passengers implored that he get off the train and go to a hospital, but he wanted to see his personal doctor. He made it to New York alive, but died in a hospital two days later.

Let us say that after the second heart attack (honestly, how could you go through more than TWENTY HEART ATTACKS and not go to the nearest hospital) he agrees to visit a hospital, and does not die. Could he have successfully made the Liberal Party a national party?
 
Anwsering my own question, I believe that he could, though it would not be the great success that he had hoped. He could easily win the election in New York City to become its mayor, which is akin to the governorship in other states. After his victory there, the running of candidates in elections for Congress would be the next step. 1946 may or may not prove to be a great success for the Liberal Party, since it is in essence a union of New Deal Democrats and Progressive Republicans.

If it is a success, then the now mostly Conservative Democratic and Republican parties will unify to form the Conservative Party. Basically, the political situation becomes what it is now. If not, then there is an equal division in support between the three parties, though the Liberals are largely cornered into the Northeast and become a regional party. Wendell Willkie is nominated for President in 1948, and carries most of the Northeast, but not much else. Willkie dies a little over a year later, during the first term of the Taft administration.


Edit: The funny thing about this whole idea is that it was put forward by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Besides offering Willkie the Vice Presidential slot (I researched and he actually did. Willkie, however, hesitated in accepting the offer), he had planned to form with him the Liberal Party which was to be made up by members of the New Deal Coalition and Progressive Republicans. Wendell Willkie was supposed to be the "young face", since FDR himself did not expect to live long. He was suprised when he learned that Willkie had died (When President Roosevelt was informed, he screamed "What the hell was wrong with him?!")
 
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Let us say that after the second heart attack (honestly, how could you go through more than TWENTY HEART ATTACKS and not go to the nearest hospital) he agrees to visit a hospital, and does not die. Could he have successfully made the Liberal Party a national party?

First, I'm assuming this would be after the 1940 election, otherwise it seems your going to get some major butterflies (I mean, WI FDR ran against someone who stood a chance?); otherwise, it seems plausible that he could be a successful local politician, and the LP could survive as carrying his legacy I suppose, but I don't see how it grows into anything more.
 
First, I'm assuming this would be after the 1940 election, otherwise it seems your going to get some major butterflies (I mean, WI FDR ran against someone who stood a chance?); otherwise, it seems plausible that he could be a successful local politician, and the LP could survive as carrying his legacy I suppose, but I don't see how it grows into anything more.

So you imagine the Liberal Party being about as strong nationally as the Independence Party is in Minnesota?
 
So you imagine the Liberal Party being about as strong nationally as the Independence Party is in Minnesota?
I'd Say More Like The DFL Party, Actually ...

Like them it would Never have The Strength to Run a National Campaign, All on its Own ...

HOWEVER, Much Like The DFLers, they'd be Able to Achieve FAR More as a Local Partner of The Democratic Party!

:D
 
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