Mech's "Alternate Presidential Elections" TL.

[Mechaman]

Where are such Idaho and Oklahoma statesmen like Harris and Church when they are needed now?

IDK.
In this timeline Oklahoma is a bit more libertarian and Idaho is a hell of a lot more progressive due to the Red Boogeyman never occuring (we sat on our asses until 1945 to intervene in the War in Europe, the USSR gets destroyed by Nazi Germany, Red China never rises to power, the only communist power to emerge was Vietnam and there was a civil war in Cambodia that is the equivalent to our Vietnam).

[Mechaman]

Okay, time to take a break.

Mech's list of presidents (only have info from 1840) up to 1977:
1.George Washington (VA) (None)/John Adams (Federalist) 1789-1797
2.Thomas Pinckney (SC) (Federalist)/Thomas Jefferson (VA) (Democratic Republican) 1797-1801
3.Thomas Jefferson (VA)/Aaron Burr (NY) 1801-1805/George Clinton (NY) (Democratic Republican) 1805-1809
4.James Madison (VA)/John Quincy Adams (MA) (Democratic Republican) 1809-1811*
5.John Quincy Adams (MA) 1811-1813/Daniel Tompkins (NY) (Democratic Republican) 1813-1817
6.James Monroe (VA)/William Smith (SC) (Democratic Republican) 1817-1825
7.William Crawford (GA)/Andrew Jackson (TN) (Democratic Republican) 1825-1829
8.Henry Clay (KY)/Richard Rush (PA) (National Republican) 1829-1833
9.Andrew Jackson (TN)/Martin Van Buren (NY) (Democratic) 1833-1841
10.Daniel Webster (MA)/John Tyler (VA) (Whig) 1841-1845
11.Martin Van Buren (NY)/John Fairfield (ME) (Democratic) 1845-1850*
12.John Fairfield (ME)/Franklin Pierce (NH) (Democratic) 1850-1853
13.Stephen Douglas (IL)/Jefferson Davis (MS) (Democratic) 1853-1857
14.John C. Fremont (CA)/Abraham Lincoln (IL) (Republican) 1857-1864*
15.Abraham Lincoln (IL) 1864-1865/Ulysses S. Grant (OH) (Republican) 1865*
16.Ulysses S. Grant (OH)/Schuyler Colfax (IN) (Republican) 1865-1873
17.Benjamin Gratz Brown (MO)/Andrew Curtin (PA) (Liberal Republican) 1873-1874/(Republican) 1874-1881
18.Andrew Curtin (PA)/Blanche K. Bruce (MS) (Republican) 1881*
19.Blanche K. Bruce (MS)/Marshall Jewell (CT) (Republican) 1881-1885
20.Grover Cleveland (NY)/Thomas A. Hendricks (IN) 1885/Adlai E. Stevenson I (IL) 1885-1893
21.Adlai E. Stevenson I (IL)/Arthur Gorman (MD) 1893-1897
22.William J. Bryan (NB)/Arthur Sewall (ME) 1897-1900/Thomas E. Watson (GA) (Democratic) 1900-1901
23.William McKinley (OH)/Thomas B. Reed (ME) (Republican) 1901*
24.Thomas B. Reed (ME)/Theodore Roosevelt (NY) (Republican) 1901-1902*
25.Theodore Roosevelt (NY)/Charles W. Fairbanks (IN) (Republican) 1902-1905
26.William H. Taft (OH)/Charles W. Fairbanks (IN) 1905-1909/James S. Sherman (NY) (Republican) 1909-1913
27.Theodore Roosevelt (NY)/Hiram Johnson (CA) (Progressive) 1913-1919*
28.Hiram Johnson (CA)/Burton K. Wheeler (MT) (Progressive) 1919-1921
29.Warren G. Harding (OH)/Calvin Coolidge (MA) (Republican) 1921-1923*
30.Calvin Coolidge (MA)/Frank O. Lowden (IA) (Republican) 1923-1929
31.Herbert Hoover (IA)/Charles Curtis (KS) (Republican) 1929-1933
32.Franklin D. Roosevelt (NY)/Robert M. LaFollette Jr. (WI) (Progressive) 1933-1937*
33.Robert M. LaFollette Jr. (WI)/Henry Wallace (IA) (Progressive) 1937-1945
34.Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.(MA) (Democratic)/Harold Stassen (MN) (Republican) 1945-1949*
35.Thomas E. Dewey (NY)/Earl Warren (CA) (Republican) 1949-1957
36.Lyndon B. Johnson (TX)/Ronald Reagan (CA) (Democratic) 1957-1961
37.Nelson P. Rockefeller (NY)/Hiram Fong (HI) (Progressive) 1961-1965
38.Richard Nixon (CA)/John Chafee (RI) (Republican) 1965-1969
39.Ronald Reagan (CA) (Democratic)/George McGovern (SD) (Progressive) 1969-1972*
40.George McGovern (SD) (Progressive) 1972-1973
41.Martin Luther King Jr. (GA)/Robert Taft Jr. (OH) 1973-1977
42.Frank Church (ID)/Fred Harris (OK) 1977-

*notes:
4. James Madison dies from heart disease. Vice President John Quincy Adams, a Jeffersonian Democrat, would succeed him. The family feud between John Q. Adams and his family of traditional Federalists would be infamous.
11. Martin Van Buren, the first "Great Emancipator" dies from something doctors would later discover to be lung cancer. His VP John Fairfield takes over.
14. John C. Fremont, the other "Great Emancipator" dies from a strong stomach virus. He would be succeeded by Abraham Lincoln who many called the "destroyer of the US Constitution".
15. Abraham Lincoln gets assasinated by John Wilkes Booth after winning his only election. His VP former Union General Ulysses S. Grant would succeed him.
18. Andrew Curtin accidently gets assasinated by KKK members who were trying to shoot Vice President Blanche Kelso Bruce. The result: The nation's first African American President.
23. William McKinley gets assasinated like IRL. His Vice President longtime former rival Thomas Reed takes over as president.
24. Thomas B. Reed dies from a heart attack. His Vice President and ally Theodore Roosevelt, former Representative from New York, assumes the presidency in a short yet active term. Unfortunately Roosevelt wouldn't make it past the next primary. On his way out of the White House he would shout: "You ain't seen the last of Teddy Roosevelt you sons of bitches!"
27. Theodore Roosevelt comes back to the White House with a vengeanc, taking scores of Republicans and Democrats with him into the new Progressive Party. This party would not be a simple third party that would shake things up for one or two election cycles, but a long lasting powerful Left Wing force that would dominate US politics for the better part of the first half of the century. Sadly Teddy wouldn't live to see it, as he would die of heart complications two years before the end of his second term. Vice President Hiram Johnson would finish out his term.
29. Warren G. Harding dies of a stroke. Vice President Calvin Coolidge takes over.
32. FDR's polio becomes a lot more severe earlier and he dies just two days before taking the oath of office. In his place is his Vice President and fellow Progressive legacy Robert M. LaFollette Jr.
34. Following an election where no party got an electoral majority, the election goes to the House and Senate. The House votes Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. of Massachusetts to be President and the Senate votes Harold Stassen of Minnesota to be Vice President. This would be the first bipartisan Administration since Thomas Pinckney/Thomas Jefferson in 1797. The collaboration between Kennedy and Stassen would become legendary.
39. Just like 1944, the election of 1968 results in no ticket getting an electoral majority. It once again goes to the House and Senate. The Democratic Majority House votes Ronald Reagan to be president while the Progressive Majority Senate votes George McGovern to be Vice President. This pairing, unlike the pairing of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr and Harold Stassen, would be pretty chaotic. It would last until early 1972 when Ronald Reagan gets assasinated by Arthur Bremer. George McGovern would assume the presidency until 1973.

Note: The word majority as it is used to describe the House and Senate doesn't mean the same thing as it does IOTL. It means what party has the most seats in each chamber, so it is quite possible for a party to have only 34 seats and still be in majority.

[Mechaman]

1978:

January 15th, 1978: Vice President Fred Harris makes a full recovery from his gunshot wound. His appearance without his arm cast results in a continuation of the very high approval ratings of the Church Administration.

March 18th, 1978: Republican Senator Jerry Brown of California presents the Sexual Orientation Housing Equality Act before Congress. This comes as a surprise since many expected a Progressive Senator to be the first to propose such an act. It would be actions like this from the Libertarian faction of the GOP that would help shift the power in both Houses from the Progressive/Democratic dominance to bring the GOP out of minority status.

May 24th, 1978: After two months of debate, the Sexual Orientation Housing Equality Act would pass 64-36. The Progressive Party unanimously voted aye, as did the Libertarian faction of the GOP (who held 14 of the GOP's 31 Senate seats, the largest faction in the GOP), that gave 49 definite "ayes". Eventually 12 more Republicans would vote "aye", and even three Democrats (Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, Birch Bayh of Indiana, and Lloyd Bentsen of Texas). Elements on the Religious Right would decry the three Democrats who supported the act, it would come back to bite them in the ass in two years though.

June 11th, 1978: The House passes the nation's first cap and trade legislation. It barely passes with a good deal of the Progressive Party, the Populist faction of the Democratic Party, and some liberal Republicans (in the economic sense, socially most Republicans are already liberal).

August 3rd, 1978: The stock market crashes. This causes a shockwave throughout the political landscape. Many would start pointing fingers at the waves of government interference into the economy brought on by years of Progressive dominance in the Congress. The stage was set for the end of the Progressive Era (though Progressives had only a few presidents in office, for the majority of the the era from 1931-1979 they held majorities in one or both houses).

September 29th, 1978: To offset the total damage, the price of gas goes down by 5 cents. The worst however, was yet to come.

November 7, 1978: Due to the economic downturn following the stock market crash and what many perceive as the president and many Progressives assigning "blame to all but themselves" the Congress elections turn out bad for the Progressives, who go from having a majority in the Senate and a mediocrity in the House to minorities in both. The Democrats have retained control of the House, and have a tiny lead over the Republicans in the Senate. Although the Democrats have majorities in both houses many would call this the "Republican's year" due to the GOP climbing out of the minority and only one seat shy of taking the Senate as well as a respectable amount of seats from the House majority. If the Republicans play their cards right, 1980 might be their year to win it all.

Here's how Congress looks like:

Senate:
Democrats: 35 seats
Republicans: 34 seats
Progressives: 31 seats

House:
Democrats: 165 seats
Republicans: 146 seats
Progressives: 124 seats

In hindsight this wasn't a Democrat friendly year, as the Democrats only gained one seat in the Senate and 5 in the House, most of the Progressive Party losses were to libertarian Republican candidates who promised to fight for civil liberties as well as capitalizing on the supposed failure of government programs to combat the economic downturn.

December 25th, 1978: On Christmas Day David Duke, known for his infamous assassination attempt on Vice President Fred Harris, is killed by a black prison gang at Louisiana State Penitentiary.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Update this!

[Mechaman]

Alright, I might be able to get to the election of 1980 on this TL. I like how this is constantly evolving from a election map only format to an event based TL. When I get done with this TL I'm thinking about creating a prequel timeline covering all the events from 1840 to 1972.

[Mechaman]

Monthly Average Approval Ratings:

January:
(Fred Harris' recovery keeps approval ratings high)
82% Approval
12% Disapproval
6% Undecided

February:
(ratings drop after the "rally around the flag" effect of the imprisonment of David Duke dissipates)
68% Approval
26% Disapproval
6% Undecided

March:
63% Approval
31% Disapproval
6% Undecided

April:
61% Approval
35% Disapproval
4% Undecided

May:
(passage of SOHEA causes approval to drop, especially among the Deep South)
57% Approval
38% Disapproval
5% Undecided

June:
(Cap and trade causes approval to drop further)
53% Approval
45% Disapproval
2% Undecided

July:
54% Approval
46% Disapproval

August:
(stock market crash)
45% Approval
52% Disapproval
3% Undecided

September:
41% Approval
55% Disapproval
4% Undecided

October:
(Drop in the price of gas causes a mild approval surge)
46% Approval
45% Disapproval
9% Undecided

November:
(Aftermath of elections)
42% Approval
47% Disapproval
11% Undecided

December:
(Death of David Duke, President agrees to work with Congress)
51% Approval
41% Disapproval
8% Undecided

Annual Average:
1978:
Approval: 55.25%
Disapproval: 39.42%
Undecided: 5.33%

Cumulative Average Approval Rating:
Frank Church/Fred Harris:

Approval: 60.3%
Disapproval: 31.88%
Undecided: 7.83%

[Mechaman]

New addition to the TL:

Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore elections, and Congressional Leadership Elections!

On January 3rd, 1979, the first day that the 96th United States Congress met the elections for the positions of Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate would commence. Each party would elect one of their own as a candidate for each position on this day. Also, they would vote for their respective party leaders (ie Plurality Leader, Dominant Minority Leader, Minority Leader). The end result was:

Leadership:
House of Representatives:
Plurality Leader: Democrat John Warner (Virginia)

John Warner, representative from Virginia since 1965, would become the Plurality Congressional Party Leader. Here he is photographed with his wife Elizabeth Taylor Warren, a popular British actress who he has been married to since 1955 (remember alternate reality).

Dominant Minority Leader: Republican Edward Brooke (Massachusetts)

The liberal Republican Edward Brooke from Massachusetts would be elected to the position of Dominant Minority Leader. He would be the first African American to be elected to a Congressional Party Leadership Position (and to think we had two, yes TWO, African American presidents up to this point).

Minority Leader: Progressive Morris Udall (Arizona)

The witty Morris Udall would be elected to the position of Minority Leader. This would continue the Progressive norm at the time of electing a Western Progressive to the Congressional Party Leadership Position.

Senate:
Plurality Leader: Democratic Lloyd Bentsen (Texas)

The former Vice Presidential candidate would be almost unanimously elected as Plurality Leader.

Dominant Minority Leader: Republican Jerry Brown (California)

Jerry Brown, the leader of the libertarian wing of the GOP, would be elected as Dominant Minority Leader just one vote over former Vice Presidential candidate and moderate senator Howard Baker of Tennessee. At the age of 40, he is one of the youngest congressional party leaders in history.

Minority Leader: Progressive Mike Gravel (Alaska)

The fiery senator from Alaska who was most well known for collapsing during a filibuster where he read the Hexagon (that's right it's six sides ITTL bitches) Papers in a desperate attempt to end the draft. He succeeded. He is the first Alaska Congressman to be elected to a Congressional party leadership position.

Speaker of the House:

Democratic: Phil Crane (Illinois)

Well known for his "compassionate conservatism", Phil Crane would win the nomination for the Speaker of the House position for his party.

Republican: George Voinovich (Ohio)

The moderate George Voinovich of Ohio would receive the Republican nod for the Speaker of the House position.

Progressive: Shirley Chisholm (New York)

Shirley Chisholm, a well known civil libertarian, would receive the Progressive nod for Speaker of the House. If elected she would be the first African American woman ever to hold the office.

President Pro Tempore of the Senate:

Democratic: John G. Tower (Texas)

Conservative icon John G. Tower would be the Democratic nominee for the PPT.

Republican: Jacob Javits (New York)

The long time liberal Republican senator of New York would win the Republican nomination for the PPT.

Progressive: Alan Cranston (California)

Senator Alan Cranston of California would be nominated by the Progressive Party for the PPT nomination.

January 4th, 1979:
The voting for the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate positions take place.

Speaker of the House:

Shirley Chisholm eliminated

PPT:

Alan Cranston eliminated

With the losers eliminated in the 1st round of voting, the runoff would now commence:

Speaker of the House winner:


Democratic Representative Phil Crane of Illinois

PPT Winner:

Republican Senator Jacob Javits of New York
Although there is a Democratic dominance in Congress, the Republican Senator Jacob Javits of New York manages to get the PPT nod over Democratic Senator John G. Tower. Many would give credit to Javit's long time service as being the decider for the PPT election.

[Mechaman]

New title for this since I've gone from just making election maps to gradually evolving into a timeline.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Democratic Party TTL is sooo horrible...

[Mechaman]

Alright, as hard as this will be do to I must come up with 1979:

January 1st, 1979: The United States and the Republic of India establish full diplomatic relations.

January 21st, 1979: Two years after their previous Superbowl win, the Dallas Cowboys make the "Ultimate Comeback" and defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 35-31. Already sportscasters are calling it the "win of the year".

January 22nd, 1979: 39 Indian government officials and 82 civilian bystanders die in bombings conducted by the People's Liberation Army of Sri Lanka. The far left revolutionary group has been targeting Indian public officials lately in response to the Indian government's hostile takeover of the island of Sri Lanka 6 years ago after civil war broke out on the island. Many compare the struggle of the people of Sri Lanka under Indian occupation to the British occupation of Northern Ireland.

January 23rd, 1979: The Indian government declares a war on "leftist revolutionary elements" within both India and Sri Lanka. In the week long raid over 10,000 so-called "dissidents" would be rounded up and thrown into retaining areas for "further investigation". Little did the Indian government know that the real revolution was just beginning.

January 30th, 1979: Freshman Republican Senator Max Baucus of Montana makes a plea before Congress to condemn the actions of the Indian government:

Woe be to the government that can take away the civil liberties of it's citizens on whim without due process of law! But woe also be to those who say nothing for the sake of alliance. As horrific as the actions of these revolutionaries were towards civilians, the Indian governments actions towards thousands of their citizens, most of them likely to be void of guilt, is even more horrific.

In response to the freshman senator from Montana, fellow Republican senator Ted Stevens of Alaska takes the podium

Son I have spent the better part of the past ten years of my senate career just trying to get a cooperative trade agreement with India, the fact that we just now established diplomatic ties is incredible. I am not going to throw away all of my hard work and sacrifice, or any other senator or congressman's hard work, away because you grew a conscience.

This split in the Republican party, now public, seemed to suddenly blunt the growing pro-Republican movement in public opinion in the country. A party divided, it seemed, could not stand. The bleeding heart libertarians, who were concerned with the violations of justice and civil liberties of governments, would not turn a blind eye to the abuses of the Indian government while the conservative wing of the party would adhere to the isolationist approach. The moderates and liberals, were caught in the crossfire. In the Democratic Party the story is a mirror of the Republican Party, there are those who argue that what the Indian government did was correct and went as far as calling the revolutionaries "terrorists", most simply don't care, yet there even a few here who want the US to condemn the acts of the Indian government. The Progressives seem to be the only ones united on the issue, most seem to be against the Indian government's actions while a few stess that the US should stay completely out of it due to the non-interventionist principle.

February 12th, 1979: LaDonna Harris, Second Lady and appointed ambassador to the UN (the first lady to be appointed to those two positions at once), approaches the UN Council and makes a heartfelt plea for an increase in humantarian aid to Cambodian refugee camps in Vietnam and Thailand:

This is a matter of human decency, there are million, MILLIONS of starving women and children residing in these camps without access to clean water or suitable shelter. Many of these families are fatherless, as the many a man stood behind to face the wrath of the Khmer Rogue, men who died fighting, to prevent a legacy of genocide claim the lives of their women and children. It is my heartfelt plea to all of you gathered today, please please for the love of everything decent and good in this world don't turn a blind eye to these unfortunate souls suffering from the aftereffects of the worst mass murderer in this half of the century. We have turned a blind eye to the actions of the evil Pol Pot once before, let us by the love of God do so no longer.


Vice President Fred Harris with his wife, Second Lady and UN Ambassador LaDonna Harris, posing with their infamous travel camper.

Also on this day, President Frank Church would address India's abuse of civil liberties:

It is regretable the actions taken by the Indian government, however in the interest of friendship we shall do what most friends would do in a similar situation: let friends deal with the consequences of their actions.

Frank Church would have no idea how prophetic his words would end up being.

[Mechaman]

February 14th, 1979: The Valentine's Day Revolution: Two days after the US President Frank Church's comments on India, leftist revolutionary groups throughout India under the guidance of the underground People's Liberation Army of India unleash a series of violent attacks on critical government infrastructure. Revolutionary attacks on the country's power grids shuts down the country for four days, other targets such as water treatment plants leave the populace without clean drinking water for days. Also, over 300 Indian government officials are killed by roadside bombings, hit and runs, street shootings, and other methods of assasination. The acts of the PLA isn't without consequence though, as estimates of the loss of civilian life due to the bombings reaches around the 500+ range. However, despite the amount of civilians killed by the revolutionary militias, the PLA seems to have gained the support of the Indian populace. Civil war was inevitable, now it was only a question of when.

February 16th, 1979: Two days after the beginning of the Indian Revolution, the UN press secretary still has no comment. President Frank Church, however, makes the infamous remark: "I told you so" to the press.

February 28th, 1979: The fighting in the Indian countryside reaches it's way to the cities. Scattered groups of PLA militias and Indian Republican Guard fight a close up battle in many places. The taking of civilians as hostages becomes commonplace by both sides as a means to create stalemate.

March 5th, 1979: As the fighting begins in New Delhi, many consulates and embassies start disbanding and heading home to their home countries to avoid the conflict. As a result, many countries informally get rid of their diplomatic ties to India. The American Embassy, however, as a symbol of freedom and safety for all people seeking refuge, decides to stay open.

March 21st, 1979: PLA forces and Republican Guard forces clash outside the gates of the US Embassy. As the two sides fire at each other, desperate bystanders rush to the US Embassy for protection from the war. Sadly, not even the wrought iron gate of the US Embassy would be enough to protect them.

March 26th, 1979: Oklahoma Republican Senator Henry Bellmon makes a fateful announcement:

I have decided, after much hours of thought, to visit the war torn regions of India. I hope my trip there will encourage all sides involved to reach a peaceful resolution instead of the continued deaths of innocent civilians.

Vice President Fred Harris would wish his former fellow Senator from Oklahoma godspeed in his mission.

March 28th, 1979: Senator Bellmon and his staff board an American Airlines jet to Bombay (which so far had managed to excape the ravages of the Indian Revolution) where he is going to address the situation to the citizens of Bombay.

March 29th, 1979: Senator Bellmon makes his infamous "A time for hope and prayer" speech:

For many of you here today, the present time and circumstances for your situation couldn't be any mroe dire. I assure you that as I speak there are people all across America donating money to raise funds to get Indian families out of the violence and into the promise of a better life. There will be a day when you shall starve no longer, where you shall hide no longer from the fear of death. You people will always have a friend in America and me. For your sake I ask that the American people give into a time for hope and prayer for you.
Senator Bellmon leaves the podium to a chorus of cheers.

March 30th, 1979: The Battle of Bombay begins. At the onset of bombardment from PLA forces, Senator Bellmon and his staff leave their compound and head for the airport. Luckily they find a plane and takeoff. The next forty five minutes, however, would be a grave American tragedy:

As the plane was leaving the airspace of Bombay, flak from PLA forces mistook the plane for a government plane of the Indian government. On March 30th, 1979 at 9:43AM local time, Senator Henry Bellmon, age 57, and his whole congressional staff died tragic deaths as the plane crashed into a hill outside Bombay.
The news would come out during the evening in the States (where it was still March 29th). A very emotional Vice President Fred Harris woudl address the press:

Today is a very sad day for a lot of us. The United States has lost a great Senator, the people of Oklahoma have lost a voice in the US Senate, and I have lost a very good friend. Although me and Henry were on different sides of the aisle and had different beliefs we always managed to find a way to work together to get things done, even when I became Vice President. It was an honor to have served alongside Henry Bellmon, I have never known a soul braver or kinder than Henry Bellmon. His compassion for the downtrodden of society know no bounds, only Henry Bellmon could've gone to India. (tears start coming out of his eyes) Please keep the familes of all those lost today in your hopes and prayers, thank you.

The press catches a climpse of Fred Harris crying and walking off stage. Many American commentators would comment that "never before has any Vice President or President been seen so visible shaken up" over an incident on national tv.



Oklahoma Republican Senator Henry Bellmon, September 9, 1921-March 30, 1979
Age 57
Henry Bellmon became a Republican US Senator in 1969, joining senior Progressive Senator Fred Harris. Despite their differences, the two formed one of the nation's best bipartisan tandems from 1969-1973 when Fred Harris retired from the Senate.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Alas, poor Bellmon. Not only he passed away recently, but was also killed by Mechman

[Mechaman]

Alas, poor Bellmon. Not only he passed away recently, but was also killed by Mechman

I have a strange fascination with killing off politicians who died recently in my TLs.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Alas, poor Bellmon. Not only he passed away recently, but was also killed by Mechman

I have a strange fascination with killing off politicians who died recently in my TLs.

I have a fascination with killing Presidents, as in my first TL

[Mechaman]

Alright, I seemed to be going apesh*t with the details lately. I promise to return back to the normal formula soon. I will keep the Congressional Leadership elections though.......

If I'm crazy enough I'll have a new entry up tonight.

[Mechaman]

April 2nd, 1979:

Oklahoma Governor Carl Albert (with Vice President Fred R. Harris next to him) addresses the national press on Henry Bellmon's death:

"What we have here is a true national tragedy. Henry Bellmon was one of the best US Senators this state ever had the honor of having been represented by. I say this not as a Governor, or a former Representative to Congress, but with total and complete bias as a close friend with Henry. On behalf of the people of Oklahoma, thank you for being here today Fred. We know you are very busy now being Vice President" (Fred laughs) "so apparently it really is a party in the White House.........hahahaha. But good humor aside, it is very pleasant to see you today. I am reminded as you stand here the beauty of compromise that you and Henry so embodied in your years together in the US Senate. But enough about you you glory hound, let's get down to business people of Oklahoma! You still are shy one representative in the US Senate! THerefore, by the power invested in me given by the Lord God Almighty or whoever the hell wrote the State Constitution I declare that a Special Election shall be held on June 28th, 1979 to determine the successor to Henry Bellmon's seat. In the meantime, I have appointed someone to take his place for the time being who has taken a pledge not to run for re-election, a seat warmer if you will: Oklahoma State Supreme Court Justice Charles Henry (I know, not realistic), who has voluntarily retired his seat to represent you in Congress. God Speed Oklahoma!"

Though many praise Carl Albert's speech quite a few social conservatives attack his laid back humourous and "profane" language. Social commentator Jesse Helms would call Carl Albert's oratory as "a complete and total disregard for not only manners and subtlety, but for the sacredness of God. Governor Albert's blasphemous tongue will win him no favors from the growing conservative populace of Oklahoma." Many political pundits would scoff at Jesse Helm's observation, noting that Oklahoma was one of the first states in the nation to embrace the Progressive Party when it was new and has since then has continued to choose Progressive representation in Congress (hell, Oklahoma has the strongest Socialist Party in all of the states) (though OK has shown itself to be more GOP leaning in presidential races), and the recent trends toward Republican candidates is definitely not an approval of conservatism in general (except maybe economic conservatism). Is Jesse Helms drinking too much of the Capri Sun (Jim Jone's favorite drink ITTL) or is there really a subtle growing conservative majority growing?


"North Carolina talking head Jesse Helms talking about the "silent conservative majority" that was supposed to rise up. Well they've been saying that for years and still there is no "conservative revolution" to speak of. Yet we let this idiot entertain us with predictions that soon the Great Progressive Generation will be destroyed and everyone will bow down before the almightiness of dogmatoid right wing theology. Well as the late Ronald Reagan once said (ironic that I should use a line from a conservative to put down another) in 1968 before his fateful tenure as president: "There you go again." From what I've seen the Democrats have had every chance in the world to stop the implicit Progressive dominance that has been going on since the 1930s on and off with their majorities in the House yet they have failed to do so. Now capitalizing off their incompetence the GOP is finally recapturing the glory it once held way back in the days of Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge. It's going to have to take a COLLOSAL event to propel this socalled "conservative revolution" to success."
Radio talk show host Steve Mechanius.

April 8th, 1979: Funeral for Henry Bellmon and the members of his congressional staff who died are held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Since their remains were never found, they are simply represented by a headstone at the burial site. Governor Albert declares that this spot will become a memorial to all those who died in service to their country, whether it be by begging for peace or fighting in war.

April 12th, 1979: The US Senate votes in a majority to shut down trade with India in light of recent tragic events. The Revolution that seemed to be contained to a few spots of street to street combat has now turned into a massive civil war. Many human rights groups, as well as the UN estimates that death rates have gone from a few hundred each week in early February to tens of thousands dying each week since late March. US Ambassador to the UN, LaDonna Harris, as well as a few other representatives argue that if peacekeeping forces are deployed soon, the Indian Revolution would become the worst humanitarian crisis of the century with unimaginable human loss of life.

/edit, thought the secret affair was too much drama, even if I am known for including drama. This TL is much more political than my other big one, so I'll refrain from that.

[Mechaman]

April 25th, 1979: The Tulsa World in an article dealing with the upcoming special election throws around possible contenders for the special Senate election in two months, among those mentioned are US Representative Theodore Marshall Risenhoover, a Progressive, Oklahoma House Rep James Inhofe, a Democrat, Tulsa Mayor Robert J. LaFortune, a prominent Socialist (gasp), and Oklahoma Senate Dominant Minority Leader Frank Keating, a Republican who many consider a dark horse candidate due to his young age (35) though some political observers note that current US Vice President Fred R. Harris was only 34 years old when he started serving in the US Senate under similar circumstances.

May 11th, 1979: The People's Liberation Army of India breaks into the US Embassy in New Delhi after months of fighting outside the gates with the Republican Guard. Once inside they make demands to those inside the US Embassy: That the United States Government recognize the struggle of the PLA in it's mission to free the peoples of Sri Lanka and India from the Republic of India's tyrannical grasp. The US Ambassador John Gunther Dean tells them that the US shall not get involved in the affairs of India and that the Embassy's only mission is to provide a safe haven for those escaping the terror of civil war. The PLA members demand that the US takes the Revolution's side, Ambassador Dean tells the PLA troop leader to go to Hell. The PLA leader shoots Ambassador John Gunther Dean in the head in front of 500 Indian refugees, other nationals, and Americans. He died instantly "without an ounce of fear in his eyes". The news would come out within hours of his execution.

President Frank Church would address the world in the wake of Ambassador Dean's death:

"Ambassdor Dean was more than just a great American, he was a great man of peace. Throughout his life he has worked towards that one dream very few of us ever have the patience to keep to. His death was dishonorable beyond accord, these "Liberators" claim to be fighting for justice by killing a man who only lived to push forth the message of peace. What does that tell you about this so-called "Glorious Revolution" that has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands if not millions of innocent civilians? That maybe it is not so glorious, that maybe only those who fight for true liberty of life, and not to terrorize, those caught in the middle should deserve the right to be "Revolutionaries". The PLA is not a revolutionary organization, it is a terrorist organization. Therefore I order that the PLA release all hostages held in the US Embassy in New Delhi or else face the full consequences of the United States of America. Same goes for the Republican Guard which has also resorted to the mindless killing of innocent bystanders."

This sudden showing of an aggressive President Frank Church catches many off guard, since his presidency was known for being dovish on most foreign policy issues. However, with the death of a US Senator along with his entire congressional staff, and now the US Ambassador to India, it seems that the Progressive Frank Church has caved into the demand for strong action in the civil war in India.

May 24th, 1979:

The US Senate Special Election Primaries in Oklahoma are finished. The four biggest political parties in Oklahoma (in order): Progressive Party, Republican Party, Democratic Party, and the Socialist Party each held their own primaries to determine who the winner of each primary would be:

Progressive Party Primary winner and nominee:
US Representative Theodore Marshall Risenhoover


Republican Party Primary winner and nominee:
Oklahoma Senate Dominant Minority Leader Frank Keating

(Please be forgiving, this is the oldest looking headshot I could find of the guy)

Democratic Party Primary winner and nominee:
US Representative Wes Watkins


Socialist Party Primary winner and nominee:
Tulsa Mayor Robert J. LaFortune
Sorry, no picture available

What will the result be? Will Representative Theodore M. Risenhoover get Progressive back into the US Senate? Or will the young enigmatic dark horse former FBI Agent and current Oklahoma Senate Dominant Minority leader Frank Keating get the nod and continue the Republican Revolution? Or is Jesse Helm's prediction of a "silent conservative revolution" in Oklahoma really taking place and Wes Watkins will be the man to lead that charge? Or will the Socialist Party, which used to be comparable in strength to the Republican and Progressive Parties, regain it's former glory by electing the first ever US Senator from the Socialist Party? Find out on the next installment of Mech's Randomly Evolving Timeline!

[Mechaman]

Alright screw it.

I'm going to go back to the old formula of just posting election results.

1980:
Democratic Party ticket: Senator Edward M. Kennedy (MA)/Senate Majority Leader Lloyd Bentsen (TX)

Republican Party ticket: Governor Clint Eastwood (CA)/Representative George Voinovich (OH)

Progressive Party ticket: President Frank Church (ID)/Vice President Fred Harris (OK)

It had been a tumultous term for President Frank Church and Vice President Fred Harris. They had oversaw the best of times and the worst of times. Under their watch the US had rationed oil and a Communist India had emerged that had claimed the lives of millions of Indians and that of a beloved and respected Senator Henry Bellmon as well as the lives of 235 Americans who had resided within the American Embassy in New Delhi. Would they somehow recover from this nightmare, or would either the GOP or Democrats claim the White House?

Election Night 1980:

Senator Edward M. Kennedy (MA)/Senate Majority Leader Lloyd Bentsen (TX) 343 evs 39.82% pv (Democratic Party)
Governor Clint Eastwood (CA)/Representative George Voinovich (OH) 152 evs 34.56% pv (Republican Party)
President Frank Church (ID)/Vice President Fred Harris (OK) 43 evs 25.2% pv (Progressive Party)
Others 0.42% pv

In one of the most crushing defeats of an incumbent president in history, the ticket of Senator Edward Kennedy and Senate Majority Leader Lloyd Bentsen defeat the Republican and Progressive Party tickets in an electoral landslide.

On March 4th, 1981, President Kennedy's life would come to a tragic end when John Hinckley Jr. shot him in the head. He would die on the way to the hospital. Vice President Lloyd Bentsen would be sworn in as president just an hour later in the White House and would address the nation that evening on the tragedy of that day. Kennedy's death would cause a rally behind the flag effect that would give Bentsen the highest approval rating in history (96% approval rating on March 6th, 1981). In the three years that Bentsen would be president the US economy would recover, millions of new jobs would be created, and America would undergo an era of prosperity not seen since before the Great Depression. However, it should be noted that with the success of Lloyd Bentsen the Republican Party got Senate majority in 1981. Many predict that President Lloyd Bentsen might win the biggest electoral landslide in history due to his bringing the nation out of the drought it found itself for many years and restoring American faith in government. In 1981 he would choose New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a fellow Bourbon Democrat, to be his Vice President.

Election 1984:
President Lloyd Bentsen (TX)/Vice President Daniel Patrick Moynihan (NY) (Democratic)

Senator Robert Dole (KS)/Governor Gary Hart (Republican)

Former Vice President Fred Harris (OK)/Former Representative Shirley Chisholm (NY) (Progressive)

Election Night 1984:

President Lloyd Bentsen (TX)/Vice President Daniel Patrick Moynihan (NY) (Democratic) 515 evs 57.42% pv
Senator Robert Dole (KS)/Governor Gary Hart (CO) (Republican) 19 evs 28.21% pv
Former Vice President Fred Harris (OK)/Former Representative Shirley Chisholm (NY) (Progressive) 3 evs 13.29% pv
Others 1.08% pv

In the biggest landslide since FDR (both pv and ev wise) in US history, President Lloyd Bentsen is re-elected president. The election is an affirmation of the undeniable popularity of Bentsen, who became the only Democrat to ever win such unDemocratic states as Oklahoma, Utah, Idaho, Washington, California, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Maine, and Connecticut. Many at the time would call President Bentsen "the most popular president of all time." Ironically enough, 100 years ago in 1884 another Bourbon Democrat by the name of Grover Cleveland won an electoral landslide to become president. President Bentsen would also be the first president since FDR to win a majority (more than 50%) of the popular vote. Things couldn't be much more different for the Progressive Party, who many analysts said "were on the verge of extinction" with only 11 Senators left and 41 Representatives. The Republican Party, despite losing in a landslide to the Democrats in the presidential election, actually were 3 seats short of having a physical majority in the Senate (47 GOP seats) and are just two seats short of taking over the House of Representatives.

[Mechaman]

Bump.

I'm thinking about resurrecting this mega random TL thread soon.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Bump.

I'm thinking about resurrecting this mega random TL thread soon.

Good.

[Mechaman]

Bump.

I'm thinking about resurrecting this mega random TL thread soon.

[Mechaman]

REBOOT

I'm restarting from scratch.  Instead of starting off in an alternate reality, it will start off with the 1840 US Presidential elections, where things take a drastic turn:

1840 US Presidential Election:

After a sudden surge in market growth around August 1840 after a few years of a declining economy, incumbent President Martin Van Buren defeats Whig candidate William Harrison in what is considered an upset.  It seems as though the Whig sphere of influence will be limited to Congress, where the Whig Party holds a slim 5 seat majority in the House and a one seat majority in the Senate.  It seems that the President, though successful in winning re-election would have to deal with a Whig controlled Congress.  However, with a few moderate Whig politicians he would be able to curtail the more radical elements of the Whig movement.........
The Final Electoral Map:

Martin Van Buren (New York)/Richard M. Johnson (Kentucky) Democratic 51.21% pv 163 evs
William Harrison (Ohio)/John Tyler (Virginia) Whig 48.42% pv 131 evs
James G. Birney (New York)/Thomas Earle (Pennsylvania) .37% pv 0 evs

[Mechaman]

The Second Term of President Martin Van Buren:

The second term of Martin Van Buren would be filled with much turmoil.  Although the President would preside over a prosperous economy and a return to Democratic controlled Congress in his last midterm, it would be the last two years that would ultimately define his presidency.  It would also be these last two years that he would become one of the most unpopular presidents ever up to that point (though historians today almost unanimously speak highly of President Van Buren).  Two events would ultimately cause this:  Van Buren's opposition to his own party's stance on the Annexation of Texas and finally, what his colleagues called his "foolish" (what many historians would now call very brave) stance against slavery.
Van Buren opposed the immediate annexation of Texas, arguing that it must be up to Congress and the government of Texas if such annexation was to take place.  This brought disfavor from many in the Democratic Party who favored immediate annexation of Texas to bring balance between the "slave states" and the "free states".  And finally, his most unpopular act at the time was his signing of the infamous "Free Man Bill", a bill that mandated that all runaway slaves who make it to a state where slavery is not allowed is automatically free.  This would cause a great furor amongst the large pro-slavery faction of the Democratic Party and even a large number of the Whig Party that were pro-slavery or found the bill to violate a person's "right to property".  Many Southern slave owners, both Democratic and Whig, would consider this a "gross betrayal from the man who once pledged to ardently defend our rights to property".  Although many believed Van Buren's change of heart on the issue to be genuine, it would almost destroy his reputation due to what many perceived as a "flip flop".

US Presidential Election of 1844:
President Martin Van Buren would make it clear that he would not seek re-election, deciding to quit with his second term (like many others).  By mid 1844 Van Buren was so despised by many in his own party that he wouldn't even be invited to the DNC, where they would nominate former Vice President John C. Calhoun in his place, an ardent pro-slavery supporter who also expressed support for annexation of Texas.  His VP runningmate would be Pennsylvania Senator James Buchanan, an infamous "moderate" known for being a "thorough compromist".  The Whigs would nominate their leader Henry Clay, proponent of the so-called "American System" as their Presidential Candidate and New Jersey politician Theodore Frelinghuysen as their VP candidate.
The general election would be very eventful, as the Democratic ticket would campaign on the economic prosperity of the Van Buren administration while trying to distance themselves from Van Buren's free soiler stances.  However, the Whig ticket would take full advantage of Van Buren's free soiler stances, even going as far as to say that Van Buren had personally said he would vote for the Whig ticket because he despised the pro-slavery stances of the Democratic platform (even though many Whigs were opposed to some of Buren's more radical free soil stances).  As a result, the Whig ticket would win a comfortable electoral victory over the Democratic ticket in a year many thought would go to the Democrats.  It seemed that the Whig Party could, thanks to the deep split amongst Free Soil and Pro-Slavery Democrats, win the White House:

Henry Clay (Kentucky)/Theodore Frelinghuysen (New Jersey) Whig 51.84% pv 210 evs
John C. Calhoun (South Carolina)/James Buchanan (Pennsylvania) Democratic 45.21% pv 65 evs
James G. Birney (New York)/Thomas Morris (Ohio) Liberty 2.95% pv 0 evs

Also, as a result of division within Democratic ranks and Whig momentum, the Whigs regain the House (but not the Senate, where they are in the minority by only a seat).

[SvenssonRS]

Clay ftw.

[Mechaman]

The First Term of President Henry Clay:

At the age of 67 on Inauguration Day, Henry Clay was the oldest person to be sworn in as President.  Ironically, just twenty years ago there was a chance (not particularly favorable) that he could've been the youngest person in history to become President.  There many concerns that due to his old age that President Clay might experience a number of health problems as President.  However, President Clay was in excellent health for a man of his age and political stature, having walked to Congress everyday for most of his life on foot whether it be rain, sleet, snow, or unbearable summer heat.
The first order of business of the Clay presidency was to deal with Texas Annexation.  Clay's view, which was what most in the Whig leadership agreed with, was to stay away from Texas Annexation for the moment due to the possibility of a conflict with Mexico over the border.  So instead, Clay did a most unusual tactic, what he called "a diplomatic tariff" against both Mexico and Texas until both sides could come to a mutual understanding.  In reality the Clay Administration was looking for a source of extra tariff revenue to fund Clay's "American System".  The tactic proved to yield beneficial results, as Mexico and Texas agreed to a formal treaty outlining the borders of each country with the US Government as a third party who agreed to favorable trade conditions with both nations.  Although the Clay Administration showed little interest in Texas, it showed quite a bit of interest in California, which Clay himself called "the most beautiful of lands, we must have it".  So in 1846, the US Government sent representatives to the Mexican Government in Sacramento, California to arrange a compromise between the two nations on the situation of California.  In California Clay saw a land with lots of land that the US Government could sell at high prices to bring in extra federal revenue to fund his planned improvements to internal infrastructure, namely secure public roads and canals.  In early America travel was usually made on dirty, unpaved, unsecured roads where most travelers had to keep night watchmen to keep their travel parties safe.  Clay wanted to help bring an end to that, as well as make travel via the nation's waterways easier, quicker, and more accessible to boat travelers.
So California, in the words of many a historian "became the focus of Henry Clay in his first presidential term".  Due the terms of the Treaty of Sacramento, the United States would pay Mexico $10 million for the purchase of the territorities of New Mexico and California and would forgive all outstanding Mexican debt.  The Treaty, signed on October 18th, 1846, just a few weeks before the Congressional elections would help result in a rare first midterm victory for the Whig Party, gaining control of the US Senate and expanding their control of the US House of Representatives.
With Clay's non-confrontational and pragmatic approach to foreign and domestic agendas, it seemed as though the Whig's American System would finally have it's day.  On the issue of slavery, Clay was against expanding slavery into new territories per the Missouri Compromise.  He confided in his closest advisors his misgivings with the original Missouri Compromise, noting that inevitably it would lead to a split nation: "one free, one enslaved".  However, he also considered the Missouri Compromise "a way lessor and more bearable evil than allowing full slavery anywhere or no slavery and constant conflict amongst fellow states."
Another objective of the Clay Administration was the admittance of Iowa and Wisconsin as states, an objective many critics would say was "fully intended to give more power to the already too powerful abolitionist lobby in Washington".  Clay however, didn't consider the slavery issue of great importance at the time, instead wanting to focus on implementing his American System to full effect in his position as President.  Under Clay's first term, sales from US Public lands quadrupled thanks to the sale of new lands in New Mexico and California at high prices to American and foreign citizens.
Also under his tenure, the power of Congress would greatly increase....a primary goal of the Whig Party.
Finally, on May 28th, 1848, the Territory of Wisconsin was admitted as a US State.  Already President Henry Clay had quite a record to brag about come the election season of 1848.  Despite advice that he should not seek re-election due to his old age (President Clay was 71 by the time of the admittance of Wisconsin as a US State), President Clay would announce on June 4th, 1848 that he would indeed seek a second term as President.  Due to economic prosperity (that began in Martin Van Buren's second term), territorial gains from Mexico without bloodshed, and the admittance of Iowa and Wisconsin as states, it seemed as though President Clay's odds of being re-elected were quite high.

US Presidential Election of 1848:

At the Whig National Convention of 1848, Henry Clay and Theodore Frelinghuysen would be renominated for President and Vice President, respectively.  The platform of the party would put even less emphasis on the slavery issue than it did in 1844, instead putting an emphasis on the expansion of Clay's American System to better "connect" America.  Many would call Clay's 1848 Convention Speech, where he spoke of making America "the envy of nations everywhere" one of the greatest presidential speeches of all time.  Clay's goal, according to his runningmate Frelinghuysen, was "to bring America further from the past, further from the present.....and into the undiscovered country of The Future."
The Democratic National Convention was a very somber affair in contrast.  In the words of convention goer John P. Hale: "Everywhere it could be sensed, the sense of hopelessness.....the smell of defeat.  It had seemed that at the Convention the delegates of the Party of Jackson who had eight years ago seemed to be of the highest of spirits, were crushed spirits.  Spirits that seemed to no longer have the drive to overcome the heavy odds that faced them election after election.  Clay's American System had truly won."  With the national focus off the slavery issue, the Democratic platform for 1848 focused mostly on a return to laissez-faire economics and a low tariff system "for revenue only".  The Democratic National Convention would end up nominating US Senator Levi Woodbury of New Hampshire for President and Former Tennessee Governor James K. Polk for Vice President.  Many would call the ticket "doomed to start", claiming that it was a mistake for the Democratic Party to nominate the less forceful Woodbury for President and leaving the charismatic energetic Polk for Vice President.
The General Election season would turn out to be a broken record of sorts.  There was around the nation a feeling of defeatism about Democrats and a feeling of great optimism about Whigs.  Just four years ago it looked as if though the Democratic Party was on the verge of an era of political dominance not seen since the "Era of Good Feelings".  However, the Whig Party had managed to turn that all around and now with Congress and the Presidency under their control the dreams of fully implementing the American System were being realized by the day.  Many anti-slavery activists were disappointed, however, by the lack of attention given to the abolition cause, given how presidential candidates in 1840 and 1844 actively tried to pursue the anti-slavery vote compared to 1848.  It seemed 1848 would be a low point in the abolition movement in electoral politics, as Clay addressed the issue only twice throughout the entire campaign less than his opponents did.
The election was a sign that the American people were happy with the status quo of the American System started by Henry Clay:

Surprisingly, the Democrats best electoral performances were north of the Mason Dixon line.  Speculation being that Free Soilers who couldn't stomach voting for Clay found it within themselves to vote for the Democratic ticket.

President Henry Clay (Kentucky)/Vice President Theodore Frelinghuysen (New Jersey) Whig Party 57.21% pv 262 evs
US Senator Levi Woodbury (New Hampshire)/Former Governor James K. Polk (Tennessee) Democratic Party 42.43% pv 24 evs
James G. Birney (New York)/Charles C. Foote (Michigan) .36% pv 0 evs

With a large electoral mandate, 71 year old President Henry Clay would begin his second term in office.  Even at his old age and teh pressures of the office, it seemed he was more than up to the task of the Presidency.  But how much longer could he manage?