The liberal Republic

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

BOBBY 1980!

[OSR stands with Israel]

With that large of a lead I believe Muskie would be losing MN and GA as well. Only state I would see him winning were MA and WV

[President Johnson]

★★★ United States presidential election; November 2, 1976 ★★★

★★★ CBS Election Night Coverage. With Walter Cronkite. ★★★



Walter Cronkite: Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen. Today is November the second, 1976, and you are watching CBS live coverage of the United States presidential election. My name is Walter Cronkite, I’m your moderator for tonight. Welcome again! After a long and hard, but overall fair fought campaign, the great showdown between Republican President Nelson Rockefeller and his Democratic challenger, Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine, has arrived. The president, according to numerous polls, is the clear favorite to win a second term in office. We’ll see how this and many down-ballot races will ultimately turn out. First a brief look at the poll closing times across America:




Let us also check out the blank electoral map. This map shall be filled with blue for the Rockefeller/Ford ticket and red for the Muskie/McGovern ticket. We use green for states that are too early or too close to call. Take a look:

President Nelson A. Rockefeller (R-NY)/Vice President Gerald R. Ford (R-MI): 0 EV.
Senator Edmund S. Muskie (D-ME)/Senator George S. McGovern (D-SD): 0 EV.
Too early/close to call: 0 EV.


6 p.m.

Walter Cronkite: And, as usual, we have the first two states to come in: Kentucky and Indiana. We have already information that both of these states have just been called for the Rockefeller/Ford ticket. That means President Rockefeller takes the lead with 22 electoral votes as results start coming in. These two victories by the GOP were expected early on. A brief reminder: To win the White House, 270 electoral votes are needed. We take a quick break before we come back.

President Nelson A. Rockefeller (R-NY)/Vice President Gerald R. Ford (R-MI): 22 EV.
Senator Edmund S. Muskie (D-ME)/Senator George S. McGovern (D-SD): 0 EV.
Too early/close to call: 0 EV.


7 p.m.

Walter Cronkite: As we have 7 p.m., more states closed the polls. And we have a major projections for three of them: President Nelson Rockefeller wins Florida, Vermont and South Carolina. According to our sources, the president has won a decisive victory Vermont and Florida. He’s projected to end up with way above 60% in each one. This is an early sign that our polling data, that predicts a substancial Rockefeller win at the national level, may hold true. Certainly there very early returns are a bad sign for the Muskie camp. I don't want to make too early conclusions, though, as we still have a long way to go. Meanwhile, Virginia and Georgia are too early to call. First returns, however, show that the Republican ticket is extremely favored in the commonwealth of Virginia. We’ll see how that turns out.

President Nelson A. Rockefeller (R-NY)/Vice President Gerald R. Ford (R-MI): 50 EV.
Senator Edmund S. Muskie (D-ME)/Senator George S. McGovern (D-SD): 0 EV.
Too early/close to call: 24 EV.


7.30 p.m.

CBS PROJECTS: ROCKEFELLER WINS VIRGINIA AND OHIO

Walter Cronkite: It’s 7.30 and we have three more states with closing polls. But before we come to them, we have an important projection: CBS now officially projects President Nelson Rockefeller has carried Virginia. There go another twelve electoral votes into the GOP column. Formerly a Democratic stronghold, the commonwealth has trended Republican in recent years, with a large number of rural and suburban voters supporting moderate Republicans such as the president himself. Nelson Rockefeller already took the state four years ago and does so again this time around, by an even wider margin. Even though the Muskie camp has not seriously contested Virginia, our early numbers show a decisive defeat here. As our reporters tell us, the Rockefeller ticket overperforms in urban areas as well.

Now back to the three states I just mentioned: Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina. We not able to make projections in North Carolina and West Virginia yet, but Ohio is another matter: CBS is calling this state for the Rockefeller/Ford ticket. This is an important, but not surprising, victory. President Rockefeller has taken this bellwether four years ago against Robert Kennedy by a pretty fair margin; now he managed to clinch Ohio again. We expect his advantage to be significantly greater this time. 25 crucial electoral votes for the sitting president, whose tally is now adding up to 87 electoral votes. Edmund Muskie so far as not won any electoral votes. So far, the night didn’t start very well for the Democrats. We go to break for now and return for further analysis and the 8 p.m. poll closings. Stay with us.

President Nelson A. Rockefeller (R-NY)/Vice President Gerald R. Ford (R-MI): 87 EV.
Senator Edmund S. Muskie (D-ME)/Senator George S. McGovern (D-SD): 0 EV.
Too early/close to call: 31 EV.

[President Johnson]

8 p.m.

CBS PROJECTS: ROCKEFELLER TAKES KEY STATES AND OPENS A BIG LEAD, MUSKIE WINS DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA





Walter Cronkite: Welcome back to CBS News Election Night coverage for the 8 p.m. poll closings. Before we come to them, CBS officially projects the state of North Carolina has been carried by President Rockefeller. That means, he adds 13 more electoral votes to his tally, which now ads up to 100.

Let's go to some major projections as polls close in 17 states and Washington DC. Accordingly, the Rockefeller/Ford ticket has won the states of Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Michigan, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire. The Muskie/McGovern also wins their first electoral votes tonight, by carrying the District of Columbia, which awards three electoral votes. Meanwhile, Texas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Massachusetts remain too early or too close to call.

And if we take a look at the current electoral map, there is a lot of blue and just a small red dot, which is Washington DC. It seems as the final polls from late October weren’t that far off. At least this is my takeaway from these early returns we're seeing.

President Nelson A. Rockefeller (R-NY)/Vice President Gerald R. Ford (R-MI): 232 EV.
Senator Edmund S. Muskie (D-ME)/Senator George S. McGovern (D-SD): 3 EV.
Too early/close to call: 103 EV.


Walter Cronkite: With these latest calls, President Rockefeller’s tally climbed to 232 electoral votes. That means, he’s less than 40 away from a second term. And we even haven’t polls closed in New York and California. In addition, there are more states we await the final calls. In both Texas and Pennsylvania, the president is currently, with less than half of the votes counted, ahead by double digits. Stunning is President Rockefeller’s performance in the South, where, according to our reporters, African Americans turned out by large numbers to support the president while whites credit him for a strong economy and stability in foreign policy. I don’t want to make pre-mature calls here, but I have a hard time seeing any plausible path to a Muskie victory at this point. I think the likelihood for a second Rockefeller term has just increased to 99.9%.

I’d like to go to our reporters at the two campaign headquarters. First to Augusta, Maine, where the Muskie campaign is located. What’s the mood there?

Reporter I: Well, Walter, Muskie supporters already went into this election night with low expectations as they looked at the final polls and the momentum the president has soared after the debates. However, they still made an optimistic impression at about seven o’clock. The mood begun to deteriorate, though, soon after Ohio has been called for Rockefeller so fast. When the most recent calls you just made came in that put the Republican ticket at 232 electoral votes, you could really see the lost hopes in the eyes of Muskie supporters. I already discovered groups of people leaving the event and going home. That’s how pessimistic folks are at this point. Senator Muskie himself is in his suite, and we don’t know what happens when the final call comes around. In short: Nobody here really believes their standard-bearer has a chance to end up as president tonight. Back to Walter Cronkite.

Walter Cronkite: Thank you, that sounds not very great for the Democrats. Let’s switch to New York City, where at the Rockefeller Center thousands of Rockefeller supporters watching the returns. What’s going on there?

Reporter II: Walter, what’s going on here is amazing. Folks were chanting, cheering and jumping when these latest calls came in, as if President Rockefeller had already hit the 270 mark. People I talked to earlier on all were confident the president would easily win this thing, but so far, election night seems to have exceeded expectations. President Rockefeller, we heard, is watching election returns from a private suite here at the Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, together with his wife Happy, other family members, Vice President Ford and Betty Ford.

Walter Cronkite: Thank you out there. We go to a quick break before polls close in Arkansas at 8.30. Stay with us.


8.30 p.m.

CBS: ROCKEFELLER DECLARED WINNER IN ARKANSAS AND TEXAS, NEARS THE FINISH LINE

Walter Cronkite: 8.30 and we have further calls: First, the state of Arkansas. We have received word that President Rockefeller is the apparent winner here. This is usually a Democratic stronghold, but saw Republicans winning statewide races for a few years now: Nelson Rockefeller’s late brother Winthrop served as governor from 1967 to 1971. In 1972, then-candidate Rockefeller carried Arkansas in a three-way race against Bobby Kennedy and Lester Maddox. This time, in 1976, he has handily defeated Edmund Muskie here. And I have one more major call from neighboring Texas: The lone-star state, home of former President Lyndon Johnson, goes into the Republican column. Nelson Rockefeller has accomplished something that only one other Republican, Dwight Eisenhower, managed to do since 1928: Win the state of Texas. This is a huge win for the Rockefeller/Ford camp. Texas has certainly trended Republican for a while now: It was already closer than expected in ’72, with RFK just winning by 1.5 points. And John Tower won three elections for the senate since 1961.

If we check the electoral map and tallies, we have Nelson Rockefeller at 264 compared to Edmund Muskie’s three. That means, the president is only six electoral votes away from reelection to a second term in office. And he will probably find plenty of more electoral votes to win and crack the 270 handily. Ladies and Gentlemen, when it comes to the presidency, this seems to be a pretty short election night as we now expect the race to be decided very soon. In congress, we still have no major news so far, but the Republicans have picked up 10 Democratic held seats in the House at the moment. This could become close in the end. Republicans have a shot to take control of the chamber, even though this is far far from certain.

President Nelson A. Rockefeller (R-NY)/Vice President Gerald R. Ford (R-MI): 264 EV.
Senator Edmund S. Muskie (D-ME)/Senator George S. McGovern (D-SD): 3 EV.
Too early/close to call: 77 EV.

[President Johnson]

8.47 p.m.

BREAKING: FOUR MORE YEARS OF PRESIDENT ROCKEFELLER! ROCKY SWEEPS TO SECOND TERM!

Breaking News: As Maryland and Georgia are called for the Republican ticket, President Nelson Rockefeller exceeds 270 electoral votes and defeats Democratic challenger Edmund Muskie to win reelection to a second term in office. Control of congress undecided so far.



Nelson Rockefeller, the 37th President of the United States of America, will be inaugurated for a second term in office on January 20, 1977


Walter Cronkite: Ladies and Gentlemen, we interrupt the break for two very important state calls: We just received information that both Maryland and Georgia have been declared in favor of the Republican ticket. These states add a total of 22 electoral votes to the Rockefeller tally. That means: President Nelson Rockefeller has exceeded the necessary 270 electoral votes to win reelection to a second term in office. In conclusion, we can now declare: Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller will serve a second term as President of the United States of America and lead this nation for another four years. By his side, Gerald Rudolph Ford will also serve a second term as Vice President of the United States. President Rockefeller has defeated his Democratic challenger, Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine and his running mate, Senator George McGovern of South Dakota, by – as it appears – a significant margin. With just a little over half of electoral votes in, the Rockefeller/Ford ticket is at 286 electoral votes. That’s 16 more than needed and nine more than they have won in 1972. Edmund Muskie is stuck at three votes from Washington DC so far. And as it looks like, President Rockefeller has taken the lead in West Virginia. This starts to look like a landslide defeat for the Democratic hopeful.

✓ President Nelson A. Rockefeller (R-NY)/Vice President Gerald R. Ford (R-MI): 286 EV.
Senator Edmund S. Muskie (D-ME)/Senator George S. McGovern (D-SD): 3 EV.
Too early/close to call: 55 EV.


9 p.m.

ROCKEFELLER WIDENS ELECTORAL LEAD, STILL NO STATE CALLED FOR MUSKIE

Walter Cronkite: Welcome back, my name is Walter Cronkite and I’m your moderator for CBS News Election Night. Exactly 13 minutes ago, we called the presidential election for Nelson Rockefeller, who has exceeded the 270 electoral votes necessary to win. Now two major questions remain: By which margin will he get the presidency in the end and how does congress look like in January?

It is 9 p.m. and we have several more poll closings: Accordingly, President Rockefeller is reported to have carried the states of Wyoming, Nebraska, North Dakota, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Louisiana and his homestate of New York. The states of Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota, homestate of George McGovern, remain too early or too close to call. We still can’t declare any state, and I repeat ANY, state in favor of the Muskie/McGovern ticket. They have earned three electoral votes from the District of Columbia so far. And as I have been told by our reporters, it looks like Massachusetts is being called for the Republican ticket very soon. At this point, I think, nobody can seriously deny this won’t be landslide. In our updated electoral map, President Rockefeller is at 365 electoral votes. That is way over the 270 needed and above Lyndon Johnson’s 351 in 1968.

✓ President Nelson A. Rockefeller (R-NY)/Vice President Gerald R. Ford (R-MI): 365 EV.
Senator Edmund S. Muskie (D-ME)/Senator George S. McGovern (D-SD): 3 EV.
Too early/close to call: 80 EV.


9.15 p.m.

CBS: ROCKEFELLER DECLARED WINNER IN PENNSYLVANIA AND MAINE



Walter Cronkite: Ladies and Gentlemen, I have two more state calls at this point: President Rockefeller scored an easy win in Pennsylvania, adding another 27 electoral votes to his column. He and Gerald Ford narrowly missed the state in 1972, this time, the Republican duo did it fair and square with a projected vote share of about 58%. And we have one more: Even Senator Muskie’s homestate of Maine rejected his presidential aspirations and sticks to its moderate Republican identity. This must be a hit in the stomach for Mr. Muskie, especially considering his narrow polling edge over the course of the campaign. President Rockefeller is now just four electoral votes away from the 400 mark. We go to a quick break and will return soon.


9.23 p.m.

BREAKING: MUSKIE REPORTEDLY PHONES PRESIDENT ROCKEFELLER TO CONCEDE RACE




Walter Cronkite: We come back to report on a major development: Sources from both campaigns tell us that Senator Muskie has just phoned President Rockefeller to concede the presidential race. The senator has reportedly congratulated the president to his victory and wished him a successful second term. And as we just hear, both candidates will give a speech tonight, but not before all results are in. For this and more, stay tuned.


9.43 p.m.

MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND AND WISCONSIN CALLED FOR ROCKEFELLER/FORD TICKET

Walter Cronkite: I have three more projections to make: Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Wisconsin award their electoral votes for the Rockefeller/Ford ticket. Wow! I have to say, this is something we did not expect at this point in time. Probably not even the greatest supporters of the president anticipated such a clean sweep. Massachusetts has been considered a Democratic bastion for a while now, and Senator Muskie led all the state’s polls throughout the summer and fall. His margins narrowed over the past weeks, but we did not see President Rockefeller winning here even though he is, as a moderate to liberal Republican, a pretty good fit for the homestate of the Kennedys. Rhode Island has also not been expected to break Republican this time. Just to remind you: Jack and Bobby Kennedy as well as Lyndon Johnson won the state in their election. LBJ even got 80% in 1964 over Barry Goldwater.

Now, if we take a look at the electoral map, there is a lot of blue around that small red dot, Washington DC. And even there, Nelson Rockefeller overperformed as he won over 35% in our nation’s capital. Strong performance in cities and suburbs seems to be an explanation why the president is doing so extremely well tonight. We saw a Rockefeller victory coming, but not to that extent. This November the second just seems to be a historic night and 1976 an extraordinary election.

I brief look into congress: As it looks like, the senate will probably remain under Democratic control. In New York, Democrat Mario Cuomo is now ahead of Senator James Buckley and has a decent chance to be sent to Washington. In the House, it is a different story: So far, the Republicans appear to have picked up a net of 21 seats. Several districts remain too close to call while polls haven’t closed in the West. As of a now, there is an almost 50/50 chance for each party control. Stay tuned.

✓ President Nelson A. Rockefeller (R-NY)/Vice President Gerald R. Ford (R-MI): 425 EV.
Senator Edmund S. Muskie (D-ME)/Senator George S. McGovern (D-SD): 3 EV.
Too early/close to call: 20 EV.

[Cold War Liberal]

I can definitely live with this.

I assume Rocky dies in his second term. I wonder if it'll be close enough to '80 to push President Ford over the line due to the sympathy vote. Interesting to see if '77-'81 is a "poisoned chalice" term in this timeline...

[President Johnson]

I can definitely live with this.

I assume Rocky dies in his second term. I wonder if it'll be close enough to '80 to push President Ford over the line due to the sympathy vote. Interesting to see if '77-'81 is a "poisoned chalice" term in this timeline...

I'll certainly cover this beyond the 1980 election.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Will WV be the only state the Dems will win

[Cold War Liberal]

I can definitely live with this.

I assume Rocky dies in his second term. I wonder if it'll be close enough to '80 to push President Ford over the line due to the sympathy vote. Interesting to see if '77-'81 is a "poisoned chalice" term in this timeline...

I'll certainly cover this beyond the 1980 election.

Fantastic. It'd be great to see this go to the present day (whenever that may be by the time you're done writing) but it's your tl. I'll definitely be reading, I love it.

[Sir Mohamed]

Wow, I see Muskie winning only MN and WV at best. Maybe Rockefeller runs the table?

I'd be ok with this. Hope Dems keep congress to prevent to great influence of the right-wingers. Curious to see how the next term goes.

[President Johnson]

10 p.m.

CBS: ROCKEFELLER SWEEPS MOUNTAIN STATES



Walter Cronkite: We continue our coverage of the 1976 election here on CBS News, my name is Walter Cronkite. It is ten p.m. and we have polls closed in Mountain states: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada and Utah. We project all of them to be in the Republican column. In addition, we call the state of Iowa, the last one from the Mid-West. As in 1972, these states again voted for Nelson Rockefeller, but by wider margins. Truly magnificent what a landslide we witness tonight, I have to say. I find it not hard to estimate the president hitting the 500 electoral votes mark by the end of this night. Something, that none except for FDR, has ever done. And I just received word that we can also declare President Rockefeller the winner in South Dakota, George McGovern’s homestate. As it looks like, this is a pretty painful night for Democrats and a humiliating defeat for Senator Edmund Muskie. We go to break and will be right back.

✓ President Nelson A. Rockefeller (R-NY)/Vice President Gerald R. Ford (R-MI): 452 EV.
Senator Edmund S. Muskie (D-ME)/Senator George S. McGovern (D-SD): 3 EV.
Too early/close to call: 16 EV.


10.21 p.m.

BREAKING: ROCKEFELLER CARRIES WEST VIRGINIA, ROCKEFELLER NEPHEW WINS GOVERNORSHIP AS DEMOCRAT



Governor-elect Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), the president's nephew

Walter Cronkite: Ladies and Gentlemen, I have one more state projection, and it is out of the state of West Virginia. CBS received official information that President Nelson Rockefeller has carried West Virginia by a small margin. This is remarkable, because West Virginia is a Democratic stronghold and was, up to the last minute, thought as one of the safest states for Senator Muskie to take. But he even fell short there. A massive Republican landslide, at least at the presidential level, is in the air. The Rockefeller/Ford ticket stands at 458 electoral votes at this moment. That’s more than Dwight Eisenhower was able to get both times he ran.

We can also call the governor’s race in West Virginia: Jay Rockefeller has been elected governor of the state as a Democrat. Jay is a nephew of Nelson Rockefeller, who switched parties some years ago to become a Democrat. The only one in the Rockefeller family. However, he still won his uncle’s endorsement. That seems to have worked out just fine, as both are victorious.


11. p.m.

IT’S A ROCKEFELLER TSUNAMI! WEST COAST GOES REPUBLICAN AS POLLS CLOSE, ROCKEFELLER BREAKS 500 ELECTORAL VOTES

Walter Cronkite: Unprecedented. A Rockefeller tsunami. I have difficulty to put this into words, ladies and gentlemen. This election night appears to be a massive blowout that not even folks in the Rockefeller camp anticipated in their wildest dreams. The West Coast states Washington, Oregon and California closed their polls and we can project the Rockefeller/Ford ticket has swept the West Coast as well. That puts the President of the United States at 518 electoral votes. 518! That means, we have only Alaska and Hawaii left to be called, as well as Minnesota, where the race is neck-in-neck. That’s the last truly liberal bastion Nelson Rockefeller may conquer tonight.

Take a look at this updated map, which is almost filled entirely in blue. Looks like America is Rockefeller country.

✓ President Nelson A. Rockefeller (R-NY)/Vice President Gerald R. Ford (R-MI): 518 EV.
Senator Edmund S. Muskie (D-ME)/Senator George S. McGovern (D-SD): 3 EV.
Too early/close to call: 10 EV.


11.27 p.m.

CBS PROJECTION: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UNDER REPUBLICAN CONTROL! DEMOCRATS LIKELY TO KEEP SENATE



Walter Cronkite: We continue our program with another major projection: CBS is now certain that the Republicans have gained enough seats for a majority in the House of Representatives for first the time since 1954. We currently have them at 219 seats, while 208 are won by the Democrats. Ladies and Gentlemen, fellow countrymen, this is a historic night. President Nelson Rockefeller has not only won a massive landslide for a second term in the Oval Office, the Republicans also managed to win control of the lower house of congress. This is a huge surprise. We expected the GOP to gain two dozen seats and maybe doing better than in 1972, but a majority seemed a longshot. This is also historic for two more reasons: Not since Harry Truman in 1948 did the party in power gain that much ground in down-ballot races, but for the first time we’re going to have a president’s party control the House of Representatives, but not the senate. I think what we can assess at this point is that the Republican unity has contributed to this huge night for the party. It was President Rockefeller and Governor Reagan joining forces to help local candidates in their efforts.

That means, John Jacob Rhodes of Arizona, the current Minority Leader, will likely become the new Speaker of the House to succeed retiring Oklahoma Democrat Carl Albert. And Tip O’Neill of Massachusetts, currently Majority Leader, will be the head of the House minority. Mr. Rhodes will hold the job Gerald Ford unsuccessfully sought time and time again as House Republican leader before he was selected as Nelson Rockefeller’s vice presidential running mate. With this new divided congress, it will be interesting to see how President Rockefeller’s governing style will change. If it does. Now the president has to deal with his own caucus in the House, that consists members of both party wings, and with Senate Majority Leader Hubert Humphrey on the other side, who will preside over a Democratic senate. Vice President Ford, with his connections to Capitol Hill, may become even more relevant for the administration’s domestic agenda policy next year. We go to break and keep you up to date. Stay on CBS.


11.49 p.m.

ROCKEFELLER DECLARED WINNER IN MINNESOTA, BREAKS ALL TIME ELECTORAL RECORD

Walter Cronkite: Slow counting and a close result took the state of Minnesota, where Majority Leader Humphrey easily won another term as senator, longer to report an official result for the presidential contest. Now, we have a result: President Nelson Rockefeller has carried the state, a liberal bastion, by a narrow margin. This brings is tally up to 528 electoral votes. This is more than any other presidential candidate has ever received and surpassing Franklin Roosevelt’s 1936 record of 523 electoral votes.


November, 3, 1976

12 a.m.

ALL STATES IN: ROCKEFELLER WINS 50 STATE LANDSLIDE

Walter Cronkite: CBS News Election Night Coverage is back, I’m your moderator Walter Cronkite. We have midnight, it is November the third, 1976. I know I used the word historic a couple of times already this night, but we have the final state calls with Alaska and Hawaii. And we got confirmed that President Rockefeller has also decided them in his favor. Ladies and Gentlemen, this means the following: Nelson Rockefeller has accomplished what none of his predecessors has accomplished: He carried every single state in the union. The only two to match this are George Washington and James Monroe, who ran unopposed elections in the early years of the republic. The Muskie/McGovern ticket only managed to win the District of Columbia and its three electoral votes. This is less than one percent of all electoral votes available. A resounding defeat for the challenger. With this strong mandate, President Rockefeller can continue his work at home and abroad in the coming four years. As the race and the incomplete popular vote now stands, this is our election result:

✓ President Nelson A. Rockefeller (R-NY)/Vice President Gerald R. Ford (R-MI): 535 EV. (~61.0%)
Senator Edmund S. Muskie (D-ME)/Senator George S. McGovern (D-SD): 3 EV. (~37.6%)


COMING UP ON CBS: PRESIDENT ROCKEFELLER’S VICTORY SPEECH

Walter Cronkite: And we are now turning to the Rockefeller Center in New York City, where Vice President Gerald Ford has entered the stage.



Vice President Ford: Thank you everyone! Thank you! President Rockefeller and I are deeply, deeply, humbled and grateful for the incredible support the American people have expressed tonight. We are deeply moved and thankful for the opportunity to serve another term to finish the work we begun four years ago. As your vice president, I will always work for you and our great country. Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, please join me in welcoming our president: Please welcome Nelson Rockefeller!

Crowd: Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Four more years! Four more years!

President Rockefeller: Thank you my friends. Thank you very, very much. I have just received a call from Senator Edmund Muskie, who congratulated us to this incredible victory. I thanked him for a very fair fought campaign and his outreach to us. I also want to use this opportunity to thank his voters for their participation in the democratic process. Be assured, that I want to be the president for all Americans and that I will continue to work very hard every single day to earn your trust.
My fellow Americans: I cannot tell you how thankful I am for the overwhelming mandate you have given to me and Gerald Ford. The trust you have given us fills my heart with gratitude and humility and I pledge here and today that I will do everything I can to live up to the great hopes and dreams you have expressed tonight with your vote. But this is more than a victory for me or the Republican Party; it is a victory for the greatest nation in the world as we stand as a shining example to the world commuity with our ideals: democracy, freedom and opportunity for everyone. And while we celebrate this magnificent victory tonight, tomorrow – now that the campaign is over – we will go back to work to finish what we have started. Because that is what you have elected us to do.
Finally, let me thank my wonderful wife Happy, my family and friends for all their support. And the many volunteers who made this victory possible. My special thanks goes to Jerry and Betty for their lasting support and friendship. Jerry, America can be proud to have such a hardworking and decent vice president as you have been ever since this journey begun. Thank you all very much again, god bless you and god bless the United States!


Walter Cronkite: So much for the Rockefeller camp. Senator Muskie also addressed his supporters in some quick remarks. We have been told that his running mate, Senator McGovern, already went asleep as he was deeply shocked by this election outcome. Now watch the defeated challenger.



Senator Muskie: Thank you all very much. Thank you. Tonight, after the major networks called this race into his favor, I called President Rockefeller and congratulated him on his outstanding victory. On behalf of my campaign and my family I wished the president all the best and expressed my hope that he is going to lead our country with great success in the coming four years. Now that the election is over, we have to reunite as one country and move forward to solve our problems and keep the world at peace.
This election outcome is far from what we have wanted. In fact, it is not just a loss, it's a resounding defeat. And in the coming weeks and months, we have to get to the bottom of it what went so wrong for us, so that we can learn from mistakes being made and perform better in the future. That we have to admit, without any excuses. And I take this responsibility fully. But what we have also to admit is that our supporters and our volunteers have worked so hard to win this race. It is not their fault that we have lost this election so badly. I am proud of them and always will be. Please promise to me, that you will never stop fighting the good fight.
Now, let us move forward as one nation under God and continue to fight for the ideas that we stand for. There are millions of Americans who think likewise. Let us not turn our backs to those people. I never will. I will always stand up for you and the people of Maine, whom I will continue to serve the senate. Good night, God bless you, and God bless America.

Walter Cronkite: That's it. That were President Nelson Rockefeller and Senator Edmund Muskie in their remarks. I thank you for tuning in CBS News and I hope that you enjoyed our coverage and you will be watching us again. Good night.


NEXT: Full election results for the presidency and congress

[Politician]

[Sir Mohamed]

Wow, I didn't expect this. But history proves that landslides often don't mean anything. I predict Rockefeller's approvals go down within two years or so. Probably he doesn't outlive his term anyway.

[President Johnson]

★★★ Full 1976 election results ★★★


Presidential election

The Infobox, map and diagram

✓ President Nelson A. Rockefeller (R-NY)/Vice President Gerald R. Ford (R-MI): 535 EV. (60.94%)
Senator Edmund S. Muskie (D-ME)/Senator George S. McGovern (D-SD): 3 EV. (37.84%)





Results by state




Senate elections

Note: The results and incumbents base on the last senate election in this timeline from 1970, not actual results

Dark red/blue = Democratic/Republican hold
Light red/blue = Democratic/Republican gain
Grey = No senate election in 1976


53 Democrats (▼ 3); 47 Republicans (▲ 3)
DEMOCRATIC CONTROL

Democratic gains: AZ, NY, TN
Republican gains: ME, MI, MO, RI, UT, WY


Notable races

Arizona
✓ Dennis DeConcini (D) 49.8%
Sam Steiger (R) 48.6%
Republican incumbent retired, Democratic gain

California
✓ S. I. Hayakawa (R): 54.4%
Mervyn Dymally (D): 43.3%
Republican incumbent retired, Republican hold

Maine
✓ John H. Reed (R): 49.9%
Kenneth Curtis (D): 49.2%
Democratic incumbent (Ed Muskie) retired, Republican gain

Michigan
✓ Marvin Esch (R): 51.1%
Donald Riegle (D): 46.5%
Democratic incumbent retired, Republican gain

Minnesota
✓ Hubert Humphrey (D, inc.): 62.5%
Gerald W. Brekke (R): 34.2%
Democratic incumbent reelected

Missouri
✓ John Danforth (R): 58.2%
Warren Heagle (D): 40.1%
Democratic incumbent retired, Republican gain

New York
✓ Mario Cuomo (D): 50.3%
James Buckley (R, inc.): 47.5%
Republican incumbent defeated, Democratic gain

Rhode Island
✓ John Chaffee (R): 59.9%
Richard Lorber (D): 38.7%
Democratic incumbent retired, Republican gain

Tennssee
✓ Jim Sasser (D): 49.4%
Bill Brock (R, inc.): 48.8%
Republican incumbent defeated, Democratic gain

Utah
✓ Orrin Hatch (R): 53.7%
Frank Moss (D, inc.): 45.1%
Democratic incumbent defeated, Republican gain

Wyoming
✓ Malcolm Wallop (R): 55.5%
Gale McGee (D, inc.): 44.0%
Democratic incumbent defeated, Republican gain


House of Representatives elections

220 Republicans (▲ 37); 215 Democrats (▼ 37)
REPUBLICAN CONTROL


Congressional leadership will be listed upon the new congress' opening on January 3, 1977

[Elcaspar]

Did something change in this timeline since George Mitchell is a Republican?

[President Johnson]

November 4, 1976

BONUS: AN INTERVIEW WITH ARTHUR M. SCHLESINGER ON THE ELECTION OUTCOME

An interview with historian and political expert Arthur Schlesinger on the outcome of the 1976 presidential election. On CBS with Walter Cronkite.



Walter Cronkite: Welcome on the show, Mr. Schlesinger. Tonight we want to talk about the historic outcome of the 1976 presidential election, in which Republican president Nelson Rockefeller won a massive landslide, winning all 50 states. Welcome again, Sir.

Arthur Schlesinger: Thank you, my pleasure, Walter.

Walter Cronkite: Arthur, the inevitable question at the beginning: Why did President Rockefeller win by such a huge margin? What allowed him to win a 50 state sweep?

<< A couple of reasons played into President Rockefeller’s favor >>

Arthur Schlesinger: There are a couple of reasons that played into President Rockefeller’s favor. First, the economy. Since the beginning of this year, America is out of the recession. Jobs are being created, growth and confidence are up, inflation goes down and wages are starting to rise. Second, the stable conditions around the world. The administration has negotiated a SALT II treaty largely supported by the public, while America stood up to the Khmer Rouge, the Arabs to the defense Israel and managed to stabilize the situation in South Vietnam. Third, the Muskie campaign’s organization was a disaster. Senator Muskie also failed to present a stark different vision for America that large groups could rally upon. With these major reasons, a majority Americans did not see a valid reason why to vote President Rockefeller out of office and replace him with an uninspiring candidate.

Walter Cronkite: Is part of the reason the president himself and how he has conducted himself in office?

Arthur Schlesinger: Absolutely. Nelson Rockefeller is a different kind of Republican that has appeal across the spectrum. Liberals like his pro-government and pro-welfare state policies, his environmentalism and his civil rights policies. More conservative voters give him high grades on foreign policy, crime policy and the war on drugs. His broad appeal allowed hm in a time dominated by the New Deal coalition to win four statewide races in New York, a liberal-leaning state. While in New York politics, he was supported by unions and business alike. And he has a pretty strong support among African Americans.

<< It is ironic that President Rockefeller became the first Republican to sweep the South >>

Walter Cronkite: I want to stick with this for a moment, as you mention blacks. Nelson Rockefeller has become the first Republican to sweep the entire South. A feat not even accomplished by Herbert Hoover and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Were African Americans the key to winning these states?

Arthur Schlesinger: It is indeed ironic that President Rockefeller became the first Republican to carry all states of the South. Other than the opposing ticket's weakness, I see two main reasons: First, as you already described, Walter, are people of color, who strongly back the president for his pro civil-rights stances. Mr. Rockefeller has indeed a long history of supporting civil rights that even goes beyond his predecessor Lyndon Johnson or the Kennedys. What had a stark impact here is also the successful ground operation by the Rockefeller campaign to turn out these black voters, many of whom never voted before, in combination with strict enforcement of the civil rights laws by the Brooke Justice Department and courts that are filled with appointees of this or the previous administration. The second major factor was the lack of a third-party candidate and the support from Southern Whites, who support President Rockefeller's foreign and economic policies. Keep also in mind that large sums of the infrastructure package go into the South. President Rockefeller mentioned his own "Southern Strategy" early into his term, and that is a focus on economic development and not social issues. What I mean is that he sells different policies to different groups, in this case to blacks and whites.

Walter Cronkite: One more questions on blacks: Do you believe they will return to the Republican Party after Kennedy and Johnson completely changed voting patterns of this group?

Arthur Schlesinger: I doubt that. Of course, this mainly depends on the direction both parties move in, but they have essentially found their place in the political specturm: center-right and and center-left. Blacks may support indiviual Republican candidates in various races, but their loyalty now is to President Rockefeller and not the Republican Party.





Walter Cronkite: Alright, I want to come back to the Democrats: You earlier said Senator Muskie was an uninspiring candidate. Why did Democrats then nominate him?

Arthur Schlesinger: Uninspiring doesn’t mean unqualified. The country did not reject Senator Muskie because of a lack of credentials in government. He ran a poor campaign, but he served as senator and governor with a pretty solid and clean record. And his personal integrity is also not question. His problem was not to formulate a clear message to convince Americans why a change in the White House was necessary. Additionally, he lacked charisma on the campaign trail. George McGovern had this charisma and the enthusiasm from some supporters, but he was seen as unelectable by many Democrats, including the party establishment that fought against him. They knew he would alienate moderates and therefore wouldn’t stand a chance against Mr. Rockefeller, and that is why he didn’t win the first spot. And although we had a number of Democrats running for the nomination, there was no real alternative. Bobby Kennedy could have run, but he was smart enough to avoid another defeat. He knew early on his second chance may be 1980 and that no sitting president since Herbert Hoover was voted out of office. That’s why Governor Kennedy stayed out of the ’76 race. Who else is there? Hubert Humphrey ran twice, is probably too old and seems to like his job as senate leader. Jimmy Carter ran a poor primary campaign and failed to have early successes to gain momentum because Lloyd Bentsen took away southern votes. Edmund Muskie seemed to be the ‘safest’ candidate on the bench. However, I don’t think any of these candidates would have pulled this off. Maybe we talk about a few points more or less, but neither would have won the presidency under these circumstances.

<< How McGovern was picked did more harm than his selection itsself >>

Walter Cronkite: Arthur, you mentioned George McGovern. Was he the wrong vice presidential pick?

Arthur Schlesinger: Well, there is going to be discussion on this question. I don’t know whether he was the wrong candidate. Certainly his nomination was very messy after the confusion over Mo Udall’s selection. That was a first major blunder of the Muskie campaign after securing the nomination. It hurt Muskie because he looked indecisive. In these times, many Americans asked themselves: Do we want an indecisive president sitting in the White House? George McGovern himself had both pros and cons: He was sort of an attack dog for the Democrats and brought in liberal grassroots activists, some who previously supported Eugene McCarthy and, to some degree, Bobby Kennedy. On the other hand, he pulled moderates over to the Rockefeller/Ford ticket. However, this defeat is not on Mr. McGovern. Lloyd Bentsen or Reubin Askew may have moved a few points in the South, but that would not have changed the overall outcome. Whether George McGovern’s career can recover from this election is another matter, though. He remains a senator at least to 1980, but whether he will be a serious presidential contender again is questionable. But who knows?

Walter Cronkite: Let us take a look at the election as a whole: Republicans also won the House. What is Nelson Rockefeller going to do with this mandate and what is going to be the impact of the narrow Republican House majority?

Arthur Schlesinger: That remains to be seen. I’m not sure whether this will ease things for the White House. Let’s remember what brought this surprising 37 seat gain along: The president’s popularity of course, but also party unity. The conservatives played this very clever by teaming up with moderates and liberals. And the conservatives are not thrilled about all of the president’s policies: Healthcare and social programs, détente and the environment, just to name a few. President Rockefeller already promised to expand healthcare in his second administration. That is something I see potential conflicts ahead within the Republican Party. He may get something passed with the Democrats, but at which price? Especially now that the president can act more freely as he doesn’t have to worry about polls and elections anymore, he may anger the right wing of his party once the momentum of this landslide victory has ebbed in a couple of months. Other things, like the promised tax cuts, though, will probably happen quickly early next year. I also believe that SALT II will win overwhelming senate approval and that the president will increase his focus on Latin America and a Middle East peace process.

<< Predictions are difficult to make in politics, but Reagan and Kennedy continue to play important roles >>

Walter Cronkite: Do you have an early outlook for this potential new battle between the GOP factions?

Arthur Schlesinger: No, because the next cycle is a long time in politics. Especially in 1980, but even the 1978 midterms is a long road. Ronald Reagan is still undeniably the leader of the conservative party wing, but he is in his mid-60s, just three younger than President Rockefeller. Whether he will be a factor two years from now is hard to predict. On the moderate side, however, I don’t see someone on the horizon to replace Nelson Rockefeller soon. Maybe UN Ambassador Bill Scranton, as someone a bit younger. And Vice President Ford doesn’t make the impression of a someone with ambitions for the presidency. Who else is there? Secretary Richard Nixon is probably done with presidential politics anyway. The same applies to Secretary George Romney. We even don't know if they will retain their positions and if so, how long.

Walter Cronkite: How about the Democrats? We already talked about Bobby Kennedy. What is your outlook here? Is he the front-runner for 1980 now?

Arthur Schlesinger: As of now, he is definitely an obvious candidate and a de-facto leader of the party. He’s only 51, has broad government experience and has charisma. But the same is true here: A year or two is a long time in politics. Anything can happen, and I don’t make predictions.


Walter Cronkite: Arthur, thank you very much for this intersting conversation. Thanks also to our viewers.

Arthur Schlesinger: Thank you for hosting me.

[President Johnson]

Did something change in this timeline since George Mitchell is a Republican?

No, Edmund Muskie retires from his senate seat and George Mitchell, the Republican, replaces him. In real life, Mitchell also became Muskie's successor in the senate following his appointment as secretary of state by Jimmy Carter in 1980.

[Cold War Liberal]

Did something change in this timeline since George Mitchell is a Republican?

No, Edmund Muskie retires from his senate seat and George Mitchell, the Republican, replaces him. In real life, Mitchell also became Muskie's successor in the senate following his appointment as secretary of state by Jimmy Carter in 1980.

But Mitchell is a Democrat IOTL. He's wondering if the lack of a rightward shift in the GOP has led to Mitchell switching parties.

[President Johnson]

Did something change in this timeline since George Mitchell is a Republican?

No, Edmund Muskie retires from his senate seat and George Mitchell, the Republican, replaces him. In real life, Mitchell also became Muskie's successor in the senate following his appointment as secretary of state by Jimmy Carter in 1980.

But Mitchell is a Democrat IOTL. He's wondering if the lack of a rightward shift in the GOP has led to Mitchell switching parties.

There you got me, that's absolutely correct. IRL, Mitchell was even Majority Leader after Robert Byrd from 1989-95. You never stop learning. I replaced him now with former Republican governor John H. Reed in order to keep the 53-47 senate composition

[America Needs R'hllor]

Bobby 1980! And hope Rocky focuses on the Middle East and helps us find a solution

Did something change in this timeline since George Mitchell is a Republican?

No, Edmund Muskie retires from his senate seat and George Mitchell, the Republican, replaces him. In real life, Mitchell also became Muskie's successor in the senate following his appointment as secretary of state by Jimmy Carter in 1980.

But Mitchell is a Democrat IOTL. He's wondering if the lack of a rightward shift in the GOP has led to Mitchell switching parties.

There you got me, that's absolutely correct. IRL, Mitchell was even Majority Leader after Robert Byrd from 1989-95. You never stop learning. I replaced him now with former Republican governor John H. Reed in order to keep the 53-47 senate composition

Awh, I hope massive FF Mitchell wins a Senate seat soon

[President Johnson]

November 5, 1976: President Rockefeller pledges continuation of bi-partisan governance after meeting with Senator Muskie


Three days after Americans cast their ballots and awarded him with a second term, President Nelson Rockefeller invited his defeated challenger Edmund Muskie to the White House to discuss the nation's course and pledged to continue working across the aisle

Three days after the election was over, President Nelson Rockefeller invited his former rival Edmund Muskie to the White House for an informal meeting at lunch. In the afternoon, the two former rivals gave a joint statement before the press and called upon national unity after voting took place. The president pledged to continue his pragmatic governance approach and promised to work on bipartisan solutions with the newly GOP House and the Democratic controlled senate. According to the president, tax relief and expanded healthcare are among his top domestic priorities. Senator Muskie, whose term would expire in January, said he would depart from the “daily political stuff”, but remain a public voice with outspoken convictions. The senator expressed his hope for a ratification of the SALT II Treaty during the lame-duck session in December, so that he can vote in its favor. The press and congressional leaders of both parties praised the “gesture of unity.”


November 9, 1976: Bobby Kennedy rejects criticism from fellow Democrats



Governor Bobby Kennedy doesn't agree with criticism from some fellow Democrats on his campaign efforts

Edmund Muskie’s resounding defeat hit the Democratic Party very hard. Not only did the president win a 50 state landslide, the Rockefeller wave also swept in 37 Republicans into the House of Representatives and narrowed the senate majority to a 53-47 margin. Although Ed Muskie took full responsibility for his party’s loss at the polls, leading congressional figures including the circle of George McGovern faulted Bobby Kennedy in part for the defeat. “He should have done way more than he actually did”, Majority Whip Robert Byrd (D-WV) said. Senator John Glenn (D-OH) remarked: “To be honest, I wish Governor Kennedy had used his popularity to help Senator Muskie and Democratic candidates. The House might still be Democratic if RFK had done more other than giving us the senate seat for New York. The Republicans had President Rockefeller and Governor Reagan stumping the trail in pivotal House districts. Our candidates had much less help. Now we pay the price.” Others like newly reelected Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX), who ran for his party’s nomination, openly accused RFK of selfishness. Even Majority Leader Hubert Humphrey admitted the Democratic campaign lacked enthusiasm, but called upon his colleagues to tone down, focus on the issues and learn from the loss to do better next time.



Senator-elect Mario Cuomo (D-NY), one of the few Democratic pick-ups in congress

In a public statement on November 9, a week after the election, Governor Kennedy rejected these criticisms. “This defeat at the polls is painful for our party and has more than one reason”, RFK told reporters, “I do not accept, however, direct attacks against my person or my campaign style in an effort to justify the election outcome. I have spent my resources on races in my own state, where our party has lost only two congressional seats. In addition, I have helped my friend Mario Cuomo to get elected senator and oust one of the most conservative members of the Republican Party. Let this speak for itself. I also might note that I made a pledge to the people of New York two years ago, that I would solely focus on New York’s business. And running the second largest state in the nation is not a part-time job.”

When asked whether he would run for president again in four years, he just smiled and said this was way too early to even think about and he couldn't care less. "My focus is on delivering of my fellow New Yorkers", the governor remarked.


November 29, 1976: Cabinet to be reshuffled in second administration, say White House sources

The president’s inner circle remained silent about potential changes in the administration’s top-personnel ever since the election. Nevertheless, speculation was going on for while that some senior officials would leave next year. White House sources close to Chief of Staff Malcolm Wilson now told members of the press that some cabinet secretaries would be replaced at their own request. Who it would be was not told, but some big names as George Romney were mentioned. The future of Richard Nixon was also unclear, but most observers expected him to stay on as secretary of state. Not likely was replacement of those members who joined the administration during the spring 1975 reorganization (like Attorney General Edward Brooke or Treasury Secretary Ray Shafer). According to these sources, the changes will be made public sometime in December.


November 30, 1976: New Gallup poll

President Rockefeller receives post-election bump, with his approval rating soaring at 71%. The last time it was this high was during the first months of his presidency in 1973.


President Rockefeller job approval
Approve: 71%
Disapprove: 25%

[President Johnson]

December 9, 1976: President Rockefeller announces new cabinet appointments; Romney to leave Pentagon, Nixon stays on

A month after his reelection, President Nelson Rockefeller made some high-profile changes in his administration public:


- As he is turning 70 within months, Defense Secretary George Romney, a longtime friend of President Rockefeller and fellow liberal Republican, retires from public office. To honor his public service, President Rockefeller awarded him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Outgoing governor Daniel J. Evans of Washington state is chosen to lead the Pentagon coming January. Evans is just little experience in this field, but the president has full confidence in his managing abilities and master this new task.



- John Connally served as Commerce Secretary since 1973, after the former Texas governor switched parties and became a Republican. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury George P. Shultz has been chosen to take over the Commerce Department. However, Connally may return as Budget Director once legislation is passed to create this agency within the West Wing.



- As Secretary of Transportation, Walter Peterson oversaw a gigantic program to repair highways and bridges. At his own wish, he leaves government in January 1977. President Rockefeller nominated his deputy William Thaddeus Coleman to take the position. If confirmed by the senate, Coleman will be the second African American in the cabinet along with Edward Brooke.



- John Anderson, the former governor Kansas, will retire from his job as Secretary of Agriculture. Assuming the senate approves the nomination, his successor will be Sam Steiger, an outgoing congressman from Arizona who narrowly lost senate bid last month.


Staying key cabinet members:

- Richard Nixon stays on as Secretary of State, at least for the coming year, if not longer. He is in the midst of preparing new peace talks in the Middle East and involved the Panama Canal Treaties, among other things. This a reason he is currently too important to be leave. And while being controversial as vice president and two time presidential contender, Tricky Dick has earned respect for his work at the State Department.

- Attorney General Edward Brooke will also keep his position. He has been office since the spring of 1975, when he was appointed to succeed disgraced Spiro Agnew. Brooke became the first black Attorney General; he left his senate seat to take the appointment.

- Like Edward Brooke, Treasury Secretary Raymond P. Shafer, the former Pennsylvania governor, was appointed during the 1975 reshuffle. He will also retain his position, possibly to the end of the Rockefeller presidency. The same applies to all other members appointed in spring 1975.

- William Scranton has earned credentials across the political spectrum as UN Ambassador. Scranton has been a loyal supporter of the president and his agenda is a respected voice at the United Nations, even among the Soviets. Scranton is likely to stay on as long as he wants or be a reserve for the State Department.

- After he temporarily chaired “Democrats for Rockefeller” and turned his duties over to his deputy, Ivan Allen returns to his job as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. The man from Georgia is the only Democrat serving in the cabinet.

- Interior Secretary John Arthur Love, in office since 1973, will keep his position as well.

- Senior White House officials will also remain in their positions such as Chief of Staff Malcolm Wilson and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. Along with Bill Scranton, Kissinger is considered a potential successor for Richard Nixon in the future. Both are long time allies of Nelson Rockefeller and belong to his most inner circle.


December 21, 1976: Senate ratifies SALT II Treaty



Already before the election, Senate Majority Leader Hubert Humphrey and retiring Minority Leader Hugh Scott agreed to push ratification of the SALT II Treaty through the senate during the lame-duck session in December. As expected, the senate voted in favor with 78 votes, eleven more than needed to reach the necessary 2/3 vote. Outgoing Senator and defeated presidential candidate Edmund Muskie was granted the honor the cast the deciding vote. In his farewell speech, Senator Muskie thanked his colleagues for their friendship and held an emotional speech on keeping world peace. At the end of his remarks, he received a long standing applause from his colleagues from both parties.

[President Johnson]

December 29, 1976: Mark Hatfield defeats Howard Baker for Republican leader in the senate, Tower selected whip



Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon is the new Republican leader in the senate

It’s been a closely watched race who the 47 member Republican caucus in the senate would elect as their new leader after Hugh Scott (R-PA) retires from congress. The two contenders were Howard Baker of Tennessee and Mark Hatfield of Oregon. Baker is considered a moderate-to-conservative Republican, but respected across the party spectrum as one of the few GOP senators from the South. Hatfield is a more liberal Republican and has a close relationship with the Rockefeller White House. The president himself remained officially neutral, but some of his surrogates made no secret that Hatfield was their man. When the caucus met for the vote on December 29, Hatfield defeated Baker by a 26-21 vote to become Minority Leader in the new congress. Baker was gracious in defeat and pledged to support Hatfield as leader. To appease the conservatives, Baker proposed John Tower of Texas as Minority Whip, who was subsequently elected with just two opposing votes.

On the Democratic side, there was no change: Already before Christmas, Hubert Humphrey was again elected Majority Leader. Robert Byrd of West Virginia again won election as whip.


December 31, 1976: New Gallup poll

President Rockefeller job approval
Approve: 68%
Disapprove: 27%


January 3, 1977: 95th congress assembles

John Jacob Rhodes elected Speaker of the House, first Republican in 22 years



America has a new House speaker: Arizona congressman John Jacob Rhodes is the first Republican since 1955 to take the thrid-highest job the federal government

On the third of January, 1977, the newly elected 95th congress opened. As the Republicans narrowly took control of the House, their Leader John Jacob Rhodes of Arizona was elected Speaker of the House. He received 220 votes, exactly the number of Republicans in the new House. Rhodes became the first Republican speaker since 1955. Bob Michel of Illinois, the former whip, was now Majority Leader. Rhodes succeeds Carl Albert, who retired from politics. Tip O'Neill of Massachusetts is the minority leader in the House.

Congressional Leadership:
Senate President: Gerald R. Ford (R-MI)
Senate Majority Leader: Hubert H. Humphrey (D-MN)
Senate Minority Leader: Mark Hatfield (R-OR)

Speaker of the House: John Jacob Rhodes (R-AZ)
House Majority Leader: Robert H. Michel (R-IL)
House Minority Leader: Tip O'Neill (D-MA)


Electoral votes confirmed, Rockefeller/Ford reelected with 535 votes

On January 4, 1977, Vice President Gerald Ford in his role as president of the senate presided over a joint session of congress to certify the electoral college’s vote. There were no faithless electors: Nelson Rockefeller was now officially reelected as President of the United States with 535 electoral votes. Gerald Ford also received 535 votes for vice president.


January 15, 1977: Due to harsh weather, Inauguration will be held in House chamber

Due to a blizzard, the second Inauguration of Nelson Rockefeller on January 20 is officially moved to the House Chamber in the capitol. Chief Justice Homer Thornberry will administer the oath of office and President Rockefeller deliver his inaugural address.


January 19, 1977: Final preparations for Inauguration underway

The Inaugural Committee
requests the honor of your presence
to attend and participate in the Inauguration of

Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller
as President of the United States of America

and

Gerald Rudolph Ford
as Vice President of the United States of America

on Thursday, the twentieth of January
one thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven
in the City of Washington

Robert J. Dole,
Chairman

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Can you list the supporters on each side of the leadership vote? I'd be interested to see how Hatfield gained a majority in the Republican caucus against Baker of all people.

[President Johnson]

Can you list the supporters on each side of the leadership vote? I'd be interested to see how Hatfield gained a majority in the Republican caucus against Baker of all people.

Are leader elections in the senate even public?

First I have to check who is in the caucus since the TL severely differs from the actual caucus based on the 1972 and 1974 election results