His Father's Son: The Life and Times of Joe Kennedy Jr.

[hcallega]

This Tl will be written as a biography of Joe Kennedy Jr. While It will have many of the amenities of typical timeline, the focus will almost be entirely on the life of Kennedy. Basically, assume that this is a biography written by Robert Dallek with the name above. At the end, I'll wright a rap-up post that will cover what happened next. Enjoy!
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"Don't Blow it Joe"

Lieutenant Joe Kennedy Jr.

For Lieutenant’s Joe Kennedy Jr. and John Willy, this was it. Their modified B-24 bomber was hurtling towards its target, the V-3 super cannon. This cannon, intended to bombard the British capital in London, was the worst nightmare of the Allied command. The fear of a return of the Blitz was too much for many Londoners, and thus the V-3 had to be destroyed. The only way to do so, Allied leaders figured was to directly bomb the target. However the lack of technological advancements made this quite difficult, and in turn Allied leaders devised Operation Aphrodite. The plan was to use Allied bombers as missiles, slamming into the gun itself. The first mission, taking place on August 6th, had failed miserably as the remote controlled bombers had failed to hit their targets. It was clear that for the mission to work human-controlled planes would have to be used.
   Joe Kennedy Jr. was not a rookie. He had already served two tours of duty and had flown 25 combat missions. In fact he had already been given the opportunity to return home to his wealthy family in the ‘States. But the Kennedy’s were a competitive clan, and with the recognition that Joe’s younger brother Jack had received for his heroism in the Pacific, there was no other choice but to stay on. Joe would volunteer to risk his life in a way no other serviceman had yet done. He would be part of a suicide mission, and there was no guarantee that he would come back alive.
   As the plane hurtled towards the ground Kennedy and Willy had to keep their nerves steady. If they were to bail out too early than the plane could very well miss its target. But if they stayed in the aircraft for too long then they would be going home in an urn instead of as heroes. Kennedy had always been taught to be brave by his father and his namesake. Ambassador Kennedy had fought to keep the US out of war, but was proud to see two of his sons on the front lines. He wasn’t surprised to see Joe Jr. volunteer to be a Navy Pilot, the most dangerous field in the military, and was equally unsurprised when Joe wrote him and his mother that he was volunteering for a secret mission. This would be the opportunity for him to become a hero, and perhaps the moment needed for him to fulfill his father’s dream. But that was of no concern to him now. As the lights and sounds of the plane whizzed and whirled all around him, Kennedy stayed calm, lined the plane up, and gave the order to bail out.
   As Kennedy and Willy jumped from the death machine they could only watch as the bomber smashed into the side of the cannon. The explosion was magnificent, and it was clear that the mission was a success. As the escort planes flew overhead Kennedy knew that this was a moment he would remember for the rest of his life. But as his parachute snagged on a tree, reality snapped back. He was a high profile combatant in enemy territory, and he had no idea where he was. He had been instructed to rendezvous with Willy and hold out until Allied forces arrived to rescue them. But that could be days or weeks, and Kennedy hadn’t bothered to look where Willy was heading as he parachuted to the ground. And now he was stuck in a tree. So much for a hero’s welcome.
   Surveying his surroundings, Kennedy saw a farm house and a barn in front of him. The lights were on as the explosion had likely awoken the family. But a nice house like that? Who knows who lives there? It could be collaborators, or even German officers. If they found a young, handsome, American Lieutenant who knows what they would do with him. As Kennedy struggled to cut himself out of his parachute, a middle-aged man appeared out of the house. He looked around to see what was what, and was surprised to see a man hanging from a tree and screaming in broken French. He walked up to man, assuming he wasn’t German and helped him get down. It wasn’t long before he realized that he was an American serviceman.
   Kennedy would stay at the French family’s house for several weeks. It wasn’t until mid-September before Allied forces arrived to find the heroic young Irish-American. It helped that he was so charming and willing to do work around the house, plus he was Catholic. He would later recall the warmth of the family as a defining moment in his life. Now Kennedy was the hero, and the only question was what would the hero do next.

[President Mitt]

Justa small tip: space out between paragraphs.

[hcallega]

Justa small tip: space out between paragraphs.

Thanks. My computer was being a pain in the butt so i posted as is. Do you like it so far?

[Historico]

Justa small tip: space out between paragraphs.

Thanks. My computer was being a pain in the butt so i posted as is. Do you like it so far?

Word should do it no problem, I definatley like where your going with this one HC. Writing a timeline in Biography format is something I haven't really seen done before. Can't wait to see what 'ol Pappa Joe has instore for Joe Jr, once he gets back to Massachusetts and his future politcal career. Keep it comming HC

[hcallega]

The Crown Prince of Boston

Joseph Patrick Kennedy Jr. was born on July 15th, 1915 in Boston, Massachusetts. His parents, Joseph Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald, were children of Boston political bosses (Patrick Kennedy and John “Honey” Fitzgerald). They were both Irish-Catholic, and had been forced to deal with discrimination from the Protestant establishment their entire lives. For Joe this was far more obvious, as he was excluded from high society even after graduating from Harvard. “All these people understand is money.” Joe once said. And in many ways he was right. The Protestant establishment of New England (Boston in particular) had long held a sense of entitlement over the rest of the country, especially the Irish. But with the rise of ward bosses such as Honey Fitz to the Office of Mayor the WASPS no longer had complete control. The political scene had shifted from a battle between progressive and conservative Protestants to one between the business oriented Protestants and the worker oriented Catholics. No one personified this battle more than James Michael Curley. The four-term Boston Mayor had paved a path as a classic American Populist, taking on business interests and fighting for the common man. He effectively removed the Protestants from Boston’s political community, just as Democratic machines were doing the same to Republicans throughout the country.

   However for young Joe Jr. this was not a battle that he was forced to live through. After his birth Joe Sr. would move his family to the Protestant suburb of Brookline with the belief that there his family would be safe from the hustle and bustle of city life. Yet Boston was always in the blood of the Kennedys. Joe Jr. would be even farther removed when he attended high school at the prestigious Choate School in Wallingford, Massachusetts. An excellent student, Joe placed himself at the top of his class and would gain acceptance into Harvard in 1933. All the while Joe Sr. was working as one of FDR’s closest if most brittle advisers. Papa Joe would serve as the first Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as the Ambassador to Great Britain. In 1938 Joe Jr. would graduate Harvard with high regards (he played football, rugby, and crew, as well as being a member of the student council) and join his family studying at the London School for Economics. Joe would return home to enroll at the Harvard Law School and would get an opportunity to serve with his father as a delegate at the 1940 Democratic National Convention. But the life of luxury would not last long, as young Joe would volunteer to join the Naval Aviators when America went to war in 1941.

As young Joe Kennedy returned home from Europe, there was no ticker tape parade or huge public reception. But everyone in Boston new that their heroic favorite son was coming home. While Joe Sr. may have tarnished the family name with his reputation as a isolationist, defeatist, and anti-Semite in the years prior to US involvement in World War Two, his sons had done just as much to restore the Kennedy name to it’s rightful place as the royal family for American Catholics. Upon his return Kennedy would finish his degree at Harvard Law while touring around the nation to promote the buying of war bonds. News reels would portray him as one of America’s brightest young men who would lead the nation in the future. It was clear that his star was rising.

   Kennedy’s first political opportunity came in 1947, with an open election for Boston’s Mayorship. But with the popularity James Michael Curley had established, Kennedy saw no reason to put his young neck on the line. However in 1949 things were different. Curley was growing increasingly unpopular due to his geriatrics and jail time. Also, the mood and climate of Boston politics was changing from a more ethnic and religious based system to a more pragmatic one. More and more Irish Catholics were moving up into the middle class, and Curley’s dialect of class warfare and the fight against the Protestant Elite’s was no longer as valid. At the time Kennedy joined the race, the fight was between Curley and his former city clerk and reformer John Hynes. With Kennedy’s arrival the dynamic of the race changed completely. No longer was this a race between a reformer and an old pol, but a race between a war hero and everyone else. Kennedy symbolized youth, but also a keen sense of the past. Supported by many ward bosses looking for a way to support a true-blue Irishman but avoid the tarnish that was Curley. In the end, Kennedy would prevail with 39% of the vote to Curley’s 32% and Hynes 24%. This victory, combined with Jack Kennedy’s victory for a 1948 Congressional Seat put the Kennedy’s back in America’s political mind.

[hcallega]

“It’s a New Day”

It was a cold and rainy January morning in 1950 as Mayor-Elect Joe Kennedy Jr. walked to the podium in Boston’s City Hall. The Beacon Hill address had held many prominent and flamboyant figures, including the new Mayor’s father-in-law. Flanking him was his father Joe, his mother Rose, Congressman Jack Kennedy, the elderly former Mayor Honey Fitz, and various political aides. Kennedy would deliver an upbeat and powerful speech to the local media and the city council members assembled there:

   “Hello esteemed members of the Boston media and city and state government. I’m glad you could make it here even with the weather. But I suppose that it’s fitting that it’s raining because it’s been raining on Boston for many years now. The days of the old city politics are, whether we like it or not, gone. On both sides of my family political were old ward bosses. And when they held sway here on Beacon Hill the system worked. But the times have indeed changed. No longer can our city run on a system of patronage. Instead it must run on a system of virtue and integrity, where those who deserve the right to work for the city get it, and those who don’t do not.
   But I’m not here to preach to you about the wrongs of now. I’m here to tell you what this new Boston will look and feel like. This will not be a Boston of haves and have nots. The working man will get his fair say and his fair share. But business will also flourish and be given the opportunity to make this city’s economy once again the pride of the nation. I will work long and hard with the Massachusetts congressional delegation to ensure that government contracts and projects arrive here in Boston, and not somewhere else simply due to the belief that there is rampant corruption here. And speaking of corruption: I will not tolerate any city employee using their job as leverage for personal or financial gain. If I here of this they will be immediately fired and replaced with someone who can do the work well and do it right. No longer will Boston be at the mercy with those who believe that they are royalty.
   This Boston will be one where the middle class will want to live, not want to leave. And it will be one where the bright and successful will want to raise their families so that they too can experience the greatness of this town. But to all of those in the neighborhoods who fear that all of this will be done at their expense, I guarantee you that you will come first, before any business or any corporation. This will not be a Boston of class warfare. This will be a Boston of business, balance, and prosperity for all. It is truly a new day for the City on the Hill. Thank you, and God Bless America.”

   As signaled by his speech, Kennedy would focus his efforts on turning Boston into a prosperous and successful city for business and capital. This was similar to what was occurring in other northeastern cities at the time, such as Baltimore and Philadelphia, but with Joe Kennedy at the helm Boston took center stage. Kennedy’s plan was to balance the development of business with the preservation of the many ethnic neighborhoods that formed any Irishman’s base in Boston. However this proved to be tricky. Developers were insistent of getting the best waterfront property possible, but much of this was still densely populated residential neighborhoods on the North and West End. In response, Kennedy and his advisers would craft the “Boston Plan”.

   The Boston Plan was to accept almost any business development project that did not destroy residential areas. Building on that, ravished and heavily impoverished areas would be the first to be raised for business, followed by areas holding less profitable businesses, and then finally the urban neighborhoods. The theory was that enough new businesses and buildings could be established in the vagrant areas of the city or in areas where their were smaller and less successful businesses that the “neighborhoods” wouldn’t have to be touched.

   While the Boston Plan was praised by both the business community and many “ethnics”, serious criticism came from the black community. Many of the first communities slated for destruction were the poor black ones in areas such as Roxbury and Jamaica Plain. For many decades the black community had been ignored by both the Protestant Republican establishment (due to their low class) and the more recent Irish-Catholic establishment (due in part to both race and economic competition among the working class). In many ways this was the final straw, as blacks took to the streets to protest what they saw as favoritism by Kennedy towards white ethnics at the expense of blacks. These protests were put down by the police, though Kennedy made it clear that “racial violence will not engulf Boston, either by the protesters or the police force.” The Boston Plan would continue, with new housing projects being developed for the displaced blacks. However when asked about Boston in 1960, Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr. would call it “the most racist city in America from top to bottom.”

   Kennedy would also focus on improving the education system in Boston and would successfully work with Boston’s congressmen (Jack Kennedy and John McCormack) to funnel federal funds and projects to the city. Overall Kennedy was quite successful as Mayor and would win reelection in 1951, ’53, and ’55 by large margins. The only question was when would Kennedy take the leap and run for higher office….

[Historico]

Nice Installment HC, Sounds like "Fighting Joe Jr." might go for the Governorship of Massachusetts in '56(I really like the alternate Political Path, instead of having him follow JFK's role IOTL), since he does seem like he would like the executive role much more than being one of 50 senators lol. Keep it comming.

[hcallega]

Nice Installment HC, Sounds like "Fighting Joe Jr." might go for the Governorship of Massachusetts in '56(I really like the alternate Political Path, instead of having him follow JFK's role IOTL), since he does seem like he would like the executive role much more than being one of 50 senators lol. Keep it comming.

Yeah that was the idea. Too boring to have him follow JFK's route. Also I agree that he wouldn't take kindly to not being in charge. Also, I still have JFK following the legislative route because Joe Sr. would have wanted that level of dominance.

[hcallega]

“Next Man Up”

[/b]

   The career of Joe Kennedy Jr. was already in full force by the summer of 1956, buy he had yet to truly ascend to national prominence. As Mayor of Boston he had created a powerful coalition of business and the neighborhoods, and was named “America’s Best New Mayor” by Time Magazine. However, the position of Mayor was neither a national nor statewide office, and both Joe Jr. and Papa Joe knew that any ascension to the Oval Office would have to wait until the next step was reached. In fact, Joe would often lament that “I find it incredible that Jack’s the one in Washington before me!”

   However in Joe Jr. would be given the opportunity that he so desperately desired. With Governor Christian Herter retiring from the Governor’s Mansion, Kennedy had the opportunity to ascend to it without the likely embarrassment of loosing to an incumbent. But even without an incumbent in the field, Kennedy would still have to fight for his spot. His first challenge came from within his own party. The fight for the Democratic nomination would be waged between Kennedy and John Foster Furcolo, the State Treasurer hailing from the Springfield area. While Kennedy would quickly draw support from the Irish-Catholic political machine, as well as many Boston business leaders, Furcolo would draw key support from organized labor. However, Kennedy would adopt a new campaign strategy that would literally attempt to “drown” Furcolo. Breaking out a media blitz, Kennedy made sure that every person in the state knew everything they could about why he would make a good governor, and why Furcolo could not. Kennedy also pushed for high turnout among Irish-Catholics while still painting himself as the face of a new generation. In the end this tactic would pay off, as Kennedy would defeat Furcolo with 49% of the vote to 40%, with Auditor John Buckley finishing with 11%.

   Kennedy’s big win would face him off against Lt. Governor Sumner Whittier. A symbol of the WASP Bay State GOP, Whittier would attempt to paint Kennedy as a tool of the Irish Political machine and thus corrupt. Kennedy would fire back and make it clear that “I have never, and I will never, tarnish my character or the character of my office, with corruption, bribes, or anything of the like.” Kennedy would also hammer Whittier as “a man from the ivory tower, who knows nothing about the working man.” The campaign would be hard fought, as both former Governor Herter and President Eisenhower campaigned for Whittier. However the Irish-Catholic Machine in Boston countered this by breaking out they’re own big guns. Former Mayor and onetime Kennedy opponent, James Michael Himself, would call Kennedy “The next man up!” while erstwhile rival John McCormack would make it clear that “this is a fight between the national GOP and the state Democrats. It’s a good thing we’ve got Papa Joe.” It would turn out that the huge Kennedy family wealth would be key, as Kennedy would narrowly defeat Whitter, 51-48%.

   Kennedy’s victory would put him on the national conscious, as many within the Democratic Party began to look at him as a potential candidate for the 1960 Presidential election. However the immediate focus for Kennedy was governing the Bay State, and attempting to keep control of a rowdy political machine. At his inauguration, Kennedy would call on all citizens of the state to “work together to turn this state into the greatest state in the Union once again.” Kennedy would make it clear that “in the words of President Truman, the buck stops here. I know this, and I will make clear that this administration will be one of honesty and transparency.”

[Historico]

Awesome, now that Joe's got his hands on the Governership; It'll be really up to him to decide to run in 1960. Nixon(Or it would be cool to see a multi candidate field in 1960 due to butterflies) if he goes up against anyone other than Kennedy, he'll win and win big. It might be cool to see him wait out for 1964, maybe get the VP Spot and presumptive nominee status if the Dem's go down in defeat in a close election. Keep it comming HC

[hcallega]

The People’s Governor

Settling into the Governor’s Mansion on Beacon Hill, many began to wonder what young Joe Kennedy Jr. would do as governor exactly. Most believed that he would follow the pragmatic trend that he had established as Mayor of Boston. However conservatives in the legislature feared greatly that Kennedy would pave a liberal record of increased spending and greater involvement in the state’s economy. Ironically liberals also worried about Kennedy due to his ties to the reactionary old Boston pols, especially on issues such as civil rights and corruption.
   
However Kennedy’s first major act as Governor was to take a wife. On the campaign trail in 1956, Kennedy had met Miss Massachusetts, Elaine Murphy. Taking a shine to the young lass, Kennedy would court her for the rest of the year, and marry her at a Beacon Hill ceremony in January. The marriage was one of the most lavish in Boston’s prestigious history as the entire Kennedy clan was in attendance to watch Joe finally get married (some said his father had encouraged him to “play the field for as long as you damn well can). After the wedding the couple honey-mooned on Martha’s Vineyard for a week, before the new Governor returned to deal with state business.

Kennedy had two major focuses in his first term as Governor: improve the state’s economy, and perhaps more importantly, make himself a contender for the Presidency. Many believed that Kennedy was already a potentially strong candidate and that he should do little to risk his standing on aggressive political endeavors, but Kennedy knew that the only way to solidify his standing was to make a mark. Therefore Kennedy would embark on a series of initiatives that would give the title “The People’s Governor”

Kennedy would first past a round of tax cuts to inspire business growth in the state, but would soon follow that up by raising the states minimum wage. Kennedy would also fight to raise state employee pay and better pensions. Kennedy would also establish The Bay State Industrial Review, with the goal of identifying businesses in the state deserving of aid and support. A true-blue Keynesian, Kennedy relied greatly on the aid of his chief economic adviser and close friend, John Kenneth Galbraith. Galbraith would later note that Kennedy “was perhaps the only person in the country who understood the true power of the government in terms of the economy. We’re all lucky that he wasn’t power crazed.”

Kennedy’s first term was considered an overwhelming success, as the economy greatly improved and unemployment was reduced substantially. However the state’s budget deficit was growing rapidly and many conservatives in the legislature began to call Kennedy “Governor Money Bags”. However Kennedy’s star was clearly on the rise and many in the national party began to see him as the sort of charismatic leader who could reunite the New Deal coalition after the disaster of 1952 and 1956. When labeled by TIME “The Democratic Messiah”, Kennedy would scoff, pointing out that “as a good Catholic boy I need to point out that’s’ a little blasphemous.” But no one could deny that Joe Kennedy was rising up, and fast.

[President Mitt]

[clap clap] Bravo. While Jack was somewhat of an intellectual, and not the most pious of the bunch, Joe Jr. was probably more "John McCainish" if you get my drift, more war hero, less "Harvard elitist", and I actually think he took his Catholicism seriously. I look forward to more.

[Historico]

Johnson/Kennedy in 60!!!!

[hcallega]

The Year that Changed it All

For Joe Kennedy, 1960 was a year of many questions. Of course by far the biggest is whether or not he would run for President, but at the same time the question over whether or not he would run for reelection to the Governor’s Mansion was another. However Kennedy remained mute over these issues, preferring to stay quite and mull the issue over with his team of advisers. Some predicted that if he was to run in the primaries he would be able to win a good handful, but the issue of his deep-routed faith made victory unlikely in a state like West Virginia. However Kennedy also knew that 1960 could indeed by his year, and perhaps he would never again have the opportunity. But in the end, it was Papa Joe who asked Kennedy to hold off, reminding him that “1960 won’t be the last Presidential election to ever happen.”

Despite Kennedy staying out of the Presidential race, 1960 was still an exciting year for the Kennedy clan. Joe’s first son Thomas was born, and he decided to run for reelection to the Governor’s office. While all of this was going on, the national political scene was also very intense. The Democratic race pitted Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson of Texas against former nominee Adlai Stevenson, liberal Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota, and Senator Stu Symington of Missouri. Humphrey faced a series of favorite sons in the primaries and defeated them all, giving himself some momentum going into the convention. But Johnson still held a comfortable lead over him in the delegate count. However no candidate held a majority going into the convention in Los Angeles.

After the first ballot, Johnson held a lead by no majority. Delegates began to worry that a long convention fight would ensue, and many looked for a quick resolution. Speaker after speaker went before the convention to make the case for their respective candidate, but the belief was that Johnson still lacked a clear majority. On July 14th, Governor Kennedy would take the stage to deliver his endorsement. While remaining uncommitted during the primary season, Kennedy would deliver his state’s delegates to Johnson during the first ballot. However it would be with his key speech that he would have the greatest impact:

“Fellow delegates, I am Joseph Kennedy Jr. Four years ago I was elected Governor of Massachusetts despite President Eisenhower’s landslide. It was made clear then as it was in 1954 and 1952 that while we have lost the Presidency we are still this nation’s majority party. We are still the party of the people. However we cannot afford another four years of failed Republican policies. The economy has grown weak, communism is growing in strength, and our military has not been given the tools to step up to the daunting tasks ahead of us.

Now I do not come before you all too simply attack the Republicans and their nominee. I am here to make the case for the man who is the right choice for our party’s proud nomination. Since he arrived in Washington many years ago, Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson has looked out for the little man. He has consistently stood with our party’s interests and against the fundamentally flawed policies of the GOP. He has led our party forward, and he is the best man for the job of President that we have. “
Kennedy would go on to offer strong praise and support for Johnson in a speech that would inspire the crowd to a roar. The second ballot was called shortly after the speech, and Johnson would carry a decisive majority of the votes. However for Kennedy the biggest news came later than night, when Johnson would personally call him and ask him to his booth. Johnson would ask the war-hero Governor to be his Vice-Presidential nominee. Eagerly accepting, Kennedy was now firmly on the national stage.

The general election itself lacked the excitement of the nominating convention. Despite passionate campaigning from both Johnson and Kennedy, Nixon consistently held a lead in the polls. Most Americans saw Nixon as more likeable, honest, and down-to-earth, whereas Johnson was viewed as cocky, arrogant, and potentially corrupt. Another major factor was President Eisenhower’s popularity which provided Nixon a successful record to run on. In the end, the election was not very close, with Nixon defeating Johnson with 309 to 228 electoral votes and 54% of the popular vote. However for Joe Kennedy, this election was exactly what he needed.

[Psychic Octopus]

JPK! JPK! JPK!

[Historico]

Awesome update HC, although I would have liked so have seen more information about the 1960 Republican Nomination like did Nixon get a challenge from either Rockefeller or Goldwater or who was his running mate? Can we also get a quick electoral map 2? But anyway's im looking for the 1964 race...Keep it comming.

[hcallega]

Now is a good time to take a pause from the Biography of Joe Kennedy to note about what happens under Richard Nixon's first term as President. Much of this is based on a post on Alternate History.com

Foreign Policy:
Nixon's overall foreign policy was anti-communist and somewhat aggressive. In 1961 he provides stronger aerial support to the Cuban invasion force at the Bay of Pigs, who in turn are able to push forward slowly but surely to Havana. Once there they proclaim that they are the true Cuban government and Pepe San Roman is named President. The US quickly recognizes the government and sends in the Marines to "protect the government from any communist threat to the government." Castro flees to South America and flies to Moscow, where he and Khrushchev strongly condemn the invasion. The international world is also very critical of the attack and call it imperialism. At home however it is considered a success initially, but a guerrilla war develops between the Cuban Communists (led by Che Guevara) and Russia advisors and the US marines and small force of anti-communist Cubans. This becomes a full on quagmire and US casualties become quite high, while the occupation becomes unpopular.

In Vietnam the US stays in the roll of advisors and no ground troops are ever committed. By 1964 it looks as if Saigon will fall within a year. In Europe the conflict greatly escalates in large part due to Cuba. In 1962 the Berlin Wall goes up. War almost breaks out with China over Taiwan. Tensions are so high between the US and Soviets that many predict a full on war in the next decade. Nixon puts the emphasis on military capabilities with the space race, and focuses his nuclear arsenal on bomber aircraft and not ICBMs. The B-70s and B-52s are the faces of the nuclear potential. Both Fail Safe and Doctor Strangelove are Box Office Hits due to greater fears over the war.

Domestic/Social Issues: Nixon takes a moderate roll in terms of social issues. In 1964 he passes a somewhat weak civil rights act, but is able to gain almost universal GOP support. It gives voting rights and civil liberties but no national integration. Nixon does appoint a Conservative to the Supreme Court but the Warren liberalism still persists.

Economic Issues: Nixon is unable to really stimulate the economy so it still remains soft and many believe that it is heading towards a recession in 1964.

Note: 1960 GOP convention no different, his running mate was still Lodge, and electoral maps will be comming soon for all of Kennedy's early elections.

[Historico]

Shoot, I was really hoping Ol'Tricky Dick would be Assassinated ITTL, that way Henry Cabot Lodge would have to run against the Kennedy Machine(which he never did IOTL, and knowing how lackluster of a campaigner he was, it would be a Democratic Landslide). Joe with a strong record as a two term Governor of a Northern State is automatically the front runner. I am interested in whether or not an Carteresque Nixon(In terms of approval ratings) would face a challenge from Goldwater or Rocky in '64(Im thinking theyll wait for '68 or 72)...Keep it comming

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Hcallega, once again you proved you're in a top of this forum timeline writers, keep it coming

Just two things:
 
Wasn't there two-years gubernatorial term in Massachusetts?

Also, was Johnson re-elected to the Senate in 1960, or had to retire?

[hcallega]

Thanks Kalwejt, you are probably the top if not one of the top two or three.

To answer ur question, yeah MA did have elections every two years, and Kenendy won reelection in 1958. The only issue was whether or nor he would pursue the presidency or run for reelection. Also he did run for reelection while also being the VP nominee. Johnson was reelected in 1960 as well, and is still Majority Leader. He initially supported Nixon's foreign policy and strongly supported his civil rights plan but opposed his economic plans and grew to oppose his foreign policy.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

JPK seems to have a shot at 1964 nomination. After all, he's still pretty young as of politician.

If he's not going to be President in this timeline, I would not be suprised to see him going to Senate.

Btw, what's up with Jack, Robert and Ted?

[hcallega]

The New King

   Going into 1964, Governor Joe Kennedy had absolutely no question in his mind as to what his plans for the next year would be. He already had two beautiful young children (Rose, born in 1962) and a gorgeous wife. He had been Governor of one the most important states in the Union for almost eight years, and he had been the Vice-Presidential Nominee for his party just four years earlier. While his previous two terms had been relatively uneventful, he had balanced the state’s budget and continued to see the Bay State’s economy outperform the national average. It was obvious he could accomplish nothing more from the Governor’s Mansion.
   
   Kennedy would declare his candidacy from the historic Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston before heading directly to church with his family. Kennedy would focus his speech on his own achievements, rather than going negative and attacking the unpopular incumbent, Richard Nixon. Kennedy would cite his record as Governor, focusing on the economy: “Over the past eight years, Massachusetts has been the trail blazer for the American economy. While I cannot take credit for these measures, I do believe that my actions did help stimulate growth.” Kennedy also talked greatly about his faith: “My faith does not define me, but it does guide me. Yes, I am a Catholic. But at the same time I believe strongly in the separation of church and state. It is clear to me that every President that this country has ever known has been guided by their faith, but they have not used it as a weapon for oppression. They have used their faith to guide their hand. I will do the same, and I will always be sure to consult both the Bill of Rights and the Bible.” The speech was generally well received, and Kennedy was instantly a frontrunner for the race. He would select his brother Robert to run his campaign, with liberal author Arthur Schlesinger Jr. signing on to be the head of P.R. and Pierre Salinger signing on as Press Secretary. Senator John Kennedy was chosen as Joe’s personal national security advisor, with economist John Kenneth Galbraith signing on to help Joe with his economic message. The campaign was a star studded affair, and it was only the controversial Papa Joe and Brother Ted (running for Massachusetts Attorney General) who stayed out.

   The contest quickly became a three horse race between Kennedy, Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson, and Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy. Whereas Kennedy focused his campaign on his achievements as Governor, Johnson and McCarthy both ran much more negative campaigns. Johnson focused on his support for liberal social and domestic programs, and spoke of creating a “Great Society” where “America will never again see poverty, discrimination, or inequality.” However Johnson also ran as an opponent of Nixon first and foremost: “The President has abandoned all sense of logic and reason. Right now he’s running on guts, and to be honest he doesn’t have a lot of them.” McCarthy was far more negative. He focused his campaign on rapid fire attacks on Nixon’s foreign policy. A strong cold warrior, McCarthy accused Nixon for “putting us on the brink of nuclear war. He’s really weakened our position and he’s shown our hand.” He also supported traditional New Deal policies, but was far less eager than either Kennedy or Johnson to support more big government intervention. The one candidate who many thought would run but did not was Hubert Humphrey, who badly broke his leg during the winter in Minnesota. Humphrey would throw his support behind his fellow Minnesotan. Other candidates included Governor Pat Brown of California and Governor George Wallace of Alabama.
   
   The first primary contest was in New Hampshire on March 10th. Here the favorite was Kennedy, but McCarthy was also polling quite well among the independent-minded voters of the state. The biggest question was not if Kennedy would win, but by how much. The Kennedy campaign would hit the state with an aggressive media blitz as Joe attempted to portray McCarthy as weak on national security: “The big difference between myself and Senator McCarthy is that I want to win the wars were in, he wants to cut and run.” Kennedy’s aggressive campaign would pay off, and he would win the state with 58% of the vote to McCarthy’s 35%. The next series of primaries would be far more competitive, as they were mostly in the blue-collar rust belt. While Kennedy played well among the white working class back home, there was no guarantee that he, a Harvard educated elite, could win them over on the road. The first fight was in Wisconsin, where McCarthy was projected to do quite well. The polls showed a three way dead heat, but the surprising factor was Wallace, who would rack up 8% of the vote, primarily from rural precincts and the protestant working class. This would hurt Johnson badly, who was counting on “The farmers and working families” to rally behind his candidacy. Once again Kennedy’s media machine would be the X-Factor, as he would edge McCarthy by just 1%, winning 38%-37%.

   While it looked like a Kennedy-McCarthy race after the first two primaries, the reality was quite different. While Kennedy would win again Illinois (due in large part to the support of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley), it would be Johnson and not McCarthy who would finish in second place, just five points behind Kennedy. The same would occur in New Jersey, where Johnson would finish just three points behind Joe Jr. The major reason for this was that Johnson would draw large numbers of black voters, due to his positioning as the most liberal candidate on civil rights. Kennedy would waffle on the issue, finally deciding to “stand by what the courts and congress say. Once I’m President I’ll look at the issue with the needed detail, but that’s not the most pressing issue right now.” Next up Kennedy would run unopposed in Massachusetts, as would Johnson in Texas. But in Indiana, Ohio, and Washington D.C. it would be LBJ, not JPK, who would prevail. These victories were attributed to a combination of strong African-American support and large rural areas (outside of D.C.) that would lead Johnson to his victory. Johnson would win the next two races as well in Nebraska (only beating Kennedy by 2%) and West Virginia. All of a sudden the race was anybody’s game.

   The next two races in Oregon and Maryland would be key. Both states looked good on paper for Kennedy, but the polls were too close to call. Kennedy’s mass media strategy had worked well, but so had Johnson’s rural focused campaign. However in both cases it would be other candidates who would define the race. In Oregon it was McCarthy’s surprisingly strong third place (12% of the vote) that would once again throw off Johnson as Kennedy would pick up a win. Maryland was also very close in the polling, but here it was Wallace’s 15% (especially on the rural and conservative Eastern Shore) that would doom Johnson and give Kennedy the win. With this momentum, Kennedy would go on to finish second in Florida to Wallace (a surprising result, given that Johnson was a southerner) and win big in California. Johnson would win North Dakota, but at that point it was too late.

   At the convention, Kennedy would call on Democrats to “Unite around the party that has delivered so much good. It’s time we lay down our divisions and make America a greater country.” Kennedy would choose conservative Florida Senator George Smathers as his running mate, and promise that “together we WILL win, and I am confident that nothing President Nixon does can change that.”

   
   

[Хahar 🤔]

Looking forward to Kennedy's VP pick. Good TL!

[Historico]

Awesome...I see HC, that you couldn't help yourself having an alt Johnson vs. McCarthy vs. Kennedy race lol. Can't wait to see what happens in the General Election with Nixon/Lodge(who might have declined reelection due to his advanced age and lackluster campaigning...Scranton would be a much better pick up) vs Kennedy/Smathers...Keep it comming.

[hcallega]

“Gerry was a lot friendlier than President Nixon.”

   The 1964 Presidential race was shaping up to be a classic. After a see-saw primary campaign and nominating contest, Governor Joe Kennedy Jr. was now the Democratic nominee. On the Republican side, Vice-President Lodge would drop from the ticket due to old age: “I’ve had the pleasure of serving my country in the role of Vice-President and in the Senate for many good years. But now I feel that it is best if I return home to Massachusetts and let a younger man take my place.” Nixon would be forced with a difficult choice. The Republican delegates at the convention were split between Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York and Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona. Rockefeller was a popular choice for two reasons. The largest factor was that he was the de facto leader of the party’s northeastern liberal wing. He was a strong supporter of civil rights and was critical of Nixon’s “overly hostile” foreign policy. The second factor was that he would be a strong candidate for 1968. Goldwater on the other hand was supported by the parties growing conservative wing. A lukewarm supporter of the Civil Rights Act and Nixon’s domestic policies, Goldwater was the Senate’s strongest supporter of the operation in Cuba, calling it “the defining showdown against communism.” However for Nixon it was clear that either choice would lead to tension and opposition from the other man’s backers. Therefore Nixon took the middle ground, choosing Pennsylvania Governor Bill Scranton, a moderate.

   On the Democratic side, Kennedy was looking strong in the polls, but had yet to climb into the lead. His dynamic campaigning style and loads of cash on hand were driving factors in his candidacy, but at the same time voters were not impressed by his middle of the road stances on the issues. The most prominent issues in the election were Cuba, the threat of Nuclear War, and Civil Rights Legislation. On all three Kennedy staked on a non-polarizing middle ground position. His speech writer, Arthur Schlesinger, was the major proponent of this and believed that Kennedy had to cling to the “Radical Center” to win. However on economic issues and other domestic issues Kennedy took the party line, supporting labor unions, New Deal domestic programs, and continued support for small farms. Nixon on the other hand swung further to the right. Recognizing that Kennedy’s “New England Liberalism” could be used against him in the Midwest and South, Nixon attacked the Governor for his support of “tax and spend economics” and “the fundamentally flawed belief that government is the answer.” With the polls in a dead heat, it was clear that both campaigns were at each others throats.

   It was at this time that Robert Kennedy would propose to his brother that he challenge President Nixon to a series of debates the week before the election. He believed that Nixon’s lackluster charisma and Kennedy’s superior lingual skills could tip the balance and not leave Nixon enough time to recover. The Governor liked the idea of a risky gamble to break open the campaign, and went to the President with the idea. Nixon was initially uncomfortable with the idea. Never a risk taker, the incumbent feared that Kennedy would win the debates and thus the elections, and that with his low approval ratings he could be put on the defensive and loose a great deal of undecided’s. But it would be Nixon’s media adviser Roger Ailes who would tip the balance in favor of debating. Ailes would write on the decision in his autobiography The Right Fight:
   “I told the President that his only choice was to debate Kennedy. As the incumbent he could control the issues and he had the aura of leadership and collected thought that most Americans prided him on. But the true reason why we had to debate was that we were backed into a corner. Americans wanted to see a true battle over the issues, and the reality was that the new media was going to decide every election from here on out. If we didn’t debate, we would have conceded every young undecided in the country to Kennedy. We bit the bullet.”

   There would be three debates, each with their own focus. The first would be on foreign policy, the second on economics, and the third on the major domestic and social issues of the day. Each debate would last on hour and the questions would be asked by a changing series of journalists. The debates would be broadcast in black and white on TV, as well as being broadcast on the radio. Both sides held debate camps the weekend before, as both candidates knew just how important their performances would be. Going into the debates the Kennedy team was exuding confidence, personified by VP nominee and Florida Senator George Smathers: “The Governor’s ready to go. He knows the issues, he’s got the words and the looks, and he’s got that drive.” However the Nixon campaign was not as positive and it was clear that they did not like the position that they were in.