Out of the Shadow

[Cold War Liberal]

November 6, 1974

Democrats hold their supermajorities in the House and Senate, and, pending the Georgia Senate runoff between Gov. Allen and Mayor Thompson (scheduled for Dec. 3), may actually expand their Senate majority by one seat. The GOP is still in shambles with the Goldwater Administration still fresh in the minds of most of the country; however, the results would seem to suggest that conservatism is still popular in some areas of the country.

In the northeast, Democrats did very well, hanging onto some of the House seats they took by narrow margins in 1972, a Democratic landslide year. Democrats did very well in the Midwest as well, and on the West Coast; Congresswoman Myrlie Evers (D-CA-24), who was elected in a massive upset in 1970 and managed to ride Humphrey’s wave to victory in 1972, was reelected by a narrow margin again in the Humphrey midterm, despite being seen as the Democrats’ most vulnerable seat outside the South.

In the Plains, Republicans have been seen unfavorably in the past several years due to Goldwater’s massive cuts into federal farm subsidies. However, Republicans did well there in the midterm, likely due to Democratic inaction on the issue combined with states implementing their own subsidies. The South, once solidly for the Democrats in every election, seems to have shifted more towards the Republicans, or at least those who ran as conservatives. The only region where Goldwater’s approval is above water and where Humphrey’s is underwater, the South saw a large swing towards conservatives, as Republicans took a number of House seats like GA-06 (Newton Gingrich is Rep.-elect), elected Maurice Britt to the Senate in Arkansas, and sent William Westmoreland to the South Carolina Governor’s mansion. Still, Democrats like LeRoy Collins (FL-SEN), Reubin Askew (FL-GOV), James Allen (AL-SEN), Terry Sanford (NC-SEN-elect), Russell Long (LA-SEN), Katherine Peden (KY-SEN) and William Clinton (AR-03-elect) all still won their races in the South; Democrats should by no means write off the region as the 1976 election approaches.

November 15, 1974

Senator Mondale’s Vietnam Veterans Work Program Act of 1974 clears committee and passes with 71 votes. It is sent to the House for their consideration.

November 17, 1974

The VVWPA passes the House with 297 votes. President Humphrey signs it into law.

November 23, 1974

Attorney General Ramsey Clark sets up an investigation into whether or not voter suppression was an issue in the 1974 midterms. There were scattered reports across the South that African-Americans had voting issues, despite the voting rights legislation passed in 1973. The “Clark Investigation,” as it came to be called, and the man it was named after become very unpopular very quickly among white Southerners, who see it as an insulting witch hunt.

December 3, 1974

Ronnie Thompson, conservative Republican mayor of Macon, GA, wins the state’s Senate election runoff against progressive Democratic Governor Ivan Allen, Jr. Thompson wins 54% to 46%, becoming the first Republican to serve as a Senator from Georgia since Reconstruction. Republicans will hold 31 seats in the Senate come January 3rd, while Democrats will hold 69, a supermajority.

December 5, 1974

The Clark Investigation finds evidence that voter suppression tactics were used against African-Americans in the Georgia Senate runoff. Clark does not make this public immediately, as Thompson’s margin of victory was likely too high for the suppression to have affected the outcome. Instead, Clark alerts President Humphrey and files the evidence away for the investigation’s final report.

December 10, 1974

House Majority Whip John J. McFall (D-CA-14) announces he will not remain as Majority Whip (though he is not resigning from Congress). He suggests Rep. Kika de la Garza (D-TX-15) take his place.

January 3, 1975

The 94th Congress convenes for the first time. Carl Albert is reelected Speaker; Phillip Burton is reelected Majority Leader; Kika de la Garza is elected Majority Whip; Gerald Ford is reelected Minority Leader; and Bob Michel is reelected Minority Whip.

In the Senate, Vice President Henry M. Jackson presides; James Eastland remains President Pro Tempore; Mike Mansfield is reelected Majority Leader; Ted Kennedy is reelected Majority Whip; Hugh Scott is reelected Minority Leader; and Paul Laxalt is reelected Minority Whip.

Gallup Poll
January 5, 1975
Do you approve of the job President Humphrey is doing as President?
Yes: 57%
No: 37%
No opinion: 3%
Not sure: 3%
Who would you vote for in the 1976 primary?
(Democrats only)
Hubert H. Humphrey: 97%
Someone else: 2%
Not sure: 1%
Who would you vote for in the 1976 primary?
(Republicans only)
Ronald W. Reagan: 15%
Richard M. Nixon: 12%
Barry M. Goldwater: 9%
John V. Lindsay: 6%
John M. Ashbrook: 6%
Howard H. Baker: 5%
George H. W. Bush: 4%
Spiro T. Agnew: 4%
Charleton Heston: 4%
Robert J. Dole: 3%
William D. Ruckelshaus: 3%
Charles M. Mathias: 1%
William C. Westmoreland: 1%
A. Linwood Holton: 0%
Someone else: 5%
Not sure: 21%
General Election Matchups
Humphrey: 51%
Reagan: 45%
Not sure: 4%
Humphrey: 53%
Nixon: 44%
Not sure: 3%
Humphrey: 60%
Goldwater: 38%
Not sure: 2%
Humphrey: 56%
Lindsay: 39%
Not sure: 5%
Humphrey: 56%
Ashbrook: 40%
Not sure: 4%
Humphrey: 55%
Baker: 38%
Not sure: 7%
Humphrey: 54%
Bush: 36%
Not sure: 8%
Humphrey: 52%
Agnew: 42%
Not sure: 6%
Humphrey: 54%
Heston: 41%
Not sure: 5%
Humphrey: 54%
Dole: 35%
Not sure: 11%
Humphrey: 55%
Ruckelshaus: 35%
Not sure: 10%

[Cold War Liberal]

Let's do something interesting: look at how Lee Harvey Oswald's better aim changed Elizabeth Hanford's life.

Hanford worked on the Kennedy/Johnson campaign in 1960, and on the Kennedy/Udall '64 reelection campaign. After 1964, she worked in the Kennedy White House for the entirety of JFK's second term. When Goldwater got elected, she left the White House in protest of the new President's views, which she felt were extreme. So, instead, she went to work as a consumer policy adviser to a freshman Senator, Robert J. Dole (R-KS). Hanford and Dole became quite close, and when Dole's marriage fell apart in 1970, they started dating. In 1973, they were married.

Elizabeth Dole enjoyed working for the man she just married, but wanted to get into politics in her own right. She hated Goldwater, but in 1972, she was inspired by the campaign of John Lindsay to join the Republican party (the fact that the man she was soon to marry was a Republican didn't hurt either). In late 1973, "Liddy" Dole announced she would run for Congress in Kansas's first Congressional district. George Meeker, the incumbent Democrat, had narrowly won the seat from Keith Sebelius (who had, in turn succeeded Bob Dole upon his ascension to the Senate in 1968) off the coattails of Humphrey's clean 1972 sweep, and was seen as extremely vulnerable. Being Bob Dole's wife cleared the field for Liddy, though she made it very clear she was seeking to be her own woman, not just a puppet of her husband. Bob was happy to campaign for Elizabeth, but commonly stated that "the people of Kansas's first should elect her for the reasons I married her - her kindness, her smarts, her dedication to public service - not because I married her."

Elizabeth Dole won the seat over Meeker by 7 points, and is a feminist, moderate Republican voice in the 94th Congress.

[America Needs R'hllor]

Nice!

[Elcaspar]

Nice!

[Cold War Liberal]

January 8, 1975

Former Vice President Ronald W. Reagan of California holds a press conference on the 1976 election. After being included in polls that showed him leading in the Republican primary, many wondered if he would renege on his promise made several years ago to never seek public office again. However, Vice President Reagan definitively rules out a run in 1976, 1980, 1984, and all other future Presidential elections, stating that his “career in elected office is over, and I'm not sure how much clearer I can make that.” He is expected to remain an important asset for the GOP on the campaign trail; he has a 77% overall approval rating, including a 97% rating among Republicans, 62% among independents, and 51% among Democrats.

January 15, 1975

President Humphrey gives the 1975 State of the Union address. He lauds the things accomplished in the previous year while promising further action on education, healthcare, poverty, and maintaining peace in the world.

February 7, 1975

Senator Jerry Brown (D-CA) and Congressman Allard Lowenstein (D-NY-04) introduce bills into their respective houses of Congress to create a United States Department of Peace. The Peace Act of 1975 would create a separate Cabinet department to work with other governments around the world to tackle significant world issues and create peace agreements, “taking some of the pressure off the Department of State and UN Ambassador,” according to Senator Brown. The Department of Peace would also oversee the Peace Corps and USAID, and would create the “United States Peace Institute” to train Americans seeking to work towards world peace.

President Humphrey did not request this legislation, but would be open to signing the Peace Act if it were sent to his desk.

February 11, 1975

Edward Heath wins re-election as the UK Conservative Party's leader with the support of 152 MPs. This is closer than expected; Margaret Thatcher, called "the UK's Goldwater" by some, got the support of 112 MPs.

February 14, 1975

At a fundraiser for the Barry M. Goldwater Presidential Library, former President Goldwater is asked whether he will run again in 1976. Goldwater curtly answers “no.” His son, Congressman Barry Goldwater Jr. (R-CA-20), also declines interest in seeking the White House in 1976.

February 22, 1975

The Peace Act passes the Senate with 63 votes.

February 24, 1975

The Peace Act passes the House with 259 votes, and is signed into law by President Humphrey. The US Department of Peace and Global Development is founded.

March 1, 1975

The US economy is middling. Inflation rates sit at 5.5%, while the unemployment rate is 6.7%, which is around where it had been for several months.

March 3, 1975

President Humphrey nominates former Senator George McGovern to be the nation’s first Secretary of Peace and Global Development. Hearings begin on March 5, and the confirmation vote is scheduled for March 10; McGovern has wide support for the position and his nomination is expected to easily pass.

March 10, 1975

George McGovern is confirmed 86-12 to the Department of Peace. He is sworn in later in the evening.

March 17, 1975

Senator George Bush (R-TX) denies interest in a run for the Presidency in 1976. “Given the way things look right now,” Senator Bush states, “it wouldn’t be prudent at this juncture.” He will run for reelection in Texas instead.

Also around this time, Senators Howard Baker (R-TN), John Ashbrook (R-OH), and Spiro Agnew (R-MD), along with Governor Charles Mathias (R-MD) all also decline to run for the nomination.

March 26, 1975

The anti-segregation commission set up by President Humphrey in 1973, headed by Sen. LeRoy Collins (D-FL) and former Governor Ivan Allen Jr. (D-GA), concludes. The Collins-Allen Report states that President Humphrey should increase the amount of affordable housing available to African-Americans, increase investment in low income areas, and continue to encourage housing desegregation.

April 3, 1975

President Humphrey acts upon the Collins-Allen Report by pushing for the introduction of the American Housing Act of 1975. The AHA is ambitious and sweeping: first, it creates more housing projects and sets fairly high construction and maintenance standards the projects must adhere to. Second, it creates a voucher program known as “Section 8” which allows low-income families to rent private housing at a subsidized rate. The Humphrey Administration writes this voucher program in such a way that is intended to promote lower-income black families moving into middle-class white neighborhoods, thus attempting to end de facto segregation in housing and having the knock-on effect of lessening school segregation without resorting to controversial programs like busing. Third, the AHA creates the Urban Homesteading Initiative to give vacant homes to people willing to fix them up. Finally, the AHA creates a National Institute of Building Sciences.

At the same time, Humphrey also asks for a Urban Revitalization Act, which would give federal grants to low-income prospective business owners, invest in urban infrastructure, and create the Low-income Energy Assistance Program, or LEAP, to help subsidize home energy for people in poverty.

Both bills have the support of major civil rights leaders such as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, John Lewis, and Jesse Jackson.

April 5, 1975

The American Housing Act is introduced into the Senate by Senator Chisholm (D-NY), while the Urban Revitalization Act is introduced into the House by Majority Leader Phillip Burton (D-CA-06)

April 12, 1975
Richard

Former Vice President Richard Nixon sat and drank his coffee with a number of strategists, including H. R. Haldeman, Roger Ailes, Pat Buchanan, and John Ehrlichman.

“So how’re we gonna do this,” Dick asked.

Roger had a plan. “You’re going to need to beat Lindsay. He’s the only serious candidate the GOP’s got who’s not running for the hills so as to not lose badly in the general.”

“Who else do I have to worry about? I’m glad I don’t have to fight Bush or Agnew, but is Dole gonna be a problem?”

“Dole doesn’t have the experience or charisma to beat you. Besides, we’re not even sure he’s going to run.” Haldeman offered up some more advice: “Announce soon to try to clear the field. Run to Lindsay’s right, but just barely; run too far to the right and you’ll have people comparing you to Goldwater in the general, which will destroy you. Run too far to the left and you’ll be too liberal for the South while also being too similar to Humphrey to sway swing voters. We need to find your happy medium.”

“Sounds like a plan. Haldeman, you lead the campaign. Ailes and Buchanan, you’re in charge of media and messaging. Ehrlichman, you’re our legal counsel.” Nixon smiled. I let that Irishman beat me in ‘60 and that Jew bastard beat me in ‘68. I won’t let anyone beat me in ‘76.

April 15, 1975

Surprising many in the GOP, former Vice President Richard Nixon launches a bid for the 1976 Republican nomination. He is the first candidate to announce, and is an instant frontrunner. In his announcement speech, Nixon speaks more in platitudes, like “now more than ever, we need a united party and a united country if we are going to move into the future” than on specific policies.

April 22, 1975

The Urban Revitalization Act of 1975 passes fairly easily and is signed into law.

April 26, 1975

The American Housing Act of 1975 passes narrowly and is signed into law.

May 1, 1975

“...Four years ago, I ran for President to restore honor, dignity, and progressivism to our party. Well, I stand here today seeking the same goals. We need to take our party out of the past and propel it into the future. That is why I’m here today to announce that I am a candidate for President of the United States in 1976!” -Former Mayor John V. Lindsay (R-NYC)

May 8, 1975

The Federal Campaign Act is signed into law. It sets limits for how much money people, corporations, and political action committees can donate to politicians and campaigns. It also creates the Federal Elections Agency to see that these limits are followed, and to penalize those who do not.

May 19, 1975

President Humphrey is privately frustrated with how his attempt to pass comprehensive healthcare reform is going. The issue of healthcare deeply divides the Democrats in Congress; liberals (including Humphrey) want something similar to a single-payer system; moderates want stricter regulations, subsidies, and a public option, or even just simple expansions of the JFK programs; and conservatives want less government healthcare and cuts to the existing programs. Several different bills have been introduced in the past few months, but Humphrey wants one bill he can support so as to hopefully unite the party.

May 28, 1975

“I’m running for President because I believe we need government to get out of our lives, not further into it.” -Former Senator Charleton Heston (R-CA)

June 7, 1975

Attorney General Ramsey Clark’s investigation of voter suppression in the South comes to an end. The Clark Report recommends an executive order creating a nonpartisan group of federal elections examiners and observers in anticipation of the 1976 elections. President Humphrey signs this executive order on the same day.

June 12, 1975

Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Congressman Ronald Dellums (D-CA-08) introduce the American Health Insurance Act of 1975, which would create a single-payer healthcare system in the United States. President Humphrey voices his support for the bill, but Republicans are in near-universal opposition to it. Democrats could pass any legislation without a single Republican vote in both houses; however, the support of moderate and conservative Democrats is still necessary, and they are generally opposed to or at least wary of the idea of single-payer healthcare.

June 20, 1975

“Bob Dole believes in the promise of the American Dream. America must tackle the slowing economy, prevent Democrat wars, and get the government off the backs of farmers and the middle class. If you agree, vote for Bob Dole in 1976!” -Senator Bob Dole (R-KS)

July 7, 1975

Unbeknownst to the wider world, Pakistan makes a few new hires onto its nuclear program. The “Kashmir situation” - the standoff between India, Pakistan, and the People’s Republic of China regarding territorial claims to the Kashmir region - has become something of a low-grade regional cold war. This cold war has caused all nations involved to speed up their nuclear weapons development programs, to mixed success. China has had nuclear weapons for over a decade, and has increased production and testing; India has conducted several successful tests in the past year, and is considered a nuclear power; Pakistan has had worse luck, and is rapidly trying to get the bomb, as it (perhaps rightly) sees India having WMDs as an existential threat.

Pakistan also conducts an unsuccessful nuclear test around this time.

July 15, 1975

“As Republicans, we must reclaim the moral high ground we have lost in the past few years and stand firmly in our principles of limited government. At the same time, limited government does not mean no government; we must also govern effectively and take care of our citizens. That’s why I’m running for President in 1976.” -Senator William Ruckelshaus (R-IN)

July 26, 1975

In Moscow, President Humphrey and Secretary Kulakov finish the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks by signing the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in Helsinki. The ABM Treaty is sent to the Senate for ratification.

July 29, 1975

Former Virginia Governor A. Linwood Holton announces a long-shot run for the presidency, to little fanfare.

August 5, 1975

The House debates a sweeping new Constitutional Amendment, dubbed the “Nuclear Amendment,” which would clearly outline who has control of the nuclear weapons arsenal in times of crisis, and under what circumstances nuclear weapons are legally allowed to be used. This Amendment, a response to the Hanoi Incident of 1971, has been in the works for almost four years; legislators wanted an Amendment that was both effective in preventing another crisis like that of 1971, while also not limiting nuclear weapons to the point that the US could not retaliate in time should a nuclear attack be imminent. The Amendment reads as follows:

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August 7, 1975

The Nuclear Amendment passes the House with 407 votes in the affirmative, and is sent to the Senate.

August 12, 1975

The Nuclear Amendment passes the Senate with 88 votes, and is sent to the states for ratification. 17 states immediately ratify the Amendment, leaving it with 21 more states before it becomes law.

August 13, 1975

The American Health Care Act, dubbed “KennedyCare” after its Senate sponsor, moves out of the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare. Its future is shaky; five Southern Democrats have come out against it: Sparkman (D-AL), Allen (D-AL), McClelland (D-AR), Stennis (D-MS), and Eastland (D-MS). Additionally, Sens. Chiles (D-FL), Carter (D-GA), Huddleston (D-KY), Galifianakis (D-NC), Gore (D-TN), and Byrd (D-WY) are all undecided. Democrats need 60 votes to pass the AHIA; they can spare only four votes after the five conservatives came out against it. The entire Republican caucus is against the “socialized medicine bill,” as they call it.

August 15, 1975

In a blow to Senate Majority Whip Ted Kennedy (D-MA), the American Health Insurance Act fails, after Senators Sparkman, Allen, McClelland, Stennis, Eastland, Chiles, Carter, Huddleston, Gore, and Byrd vote against the bill, killing it with only 59 votes in the affirmative. Out of undecided Senators, only Nick Galifianakis (D-NC) voted in the affirmative. The White House issues a press release that states that President Humphrey is “saddened at the AHCA’s failure in the Senate,” but that he remains “hopeful for a future solution that finds broader support” so as to “improve the lives of every American.”

[Cold War Liberal]

September 1, 1975

The U.S. Senate ratifies the recently-signed ABM Treaty.

September 5, 1975

President Humphrey visits California to discuss policy with Governor Jesse Unruh. As Humphrey and the Governor exit the California State Capitol building, Lynette Fromme pulls a Colt .45 out of her pocket and fires three shots towards the President and Governor Unruh. Two shots miss their targets altogether, while one hits the Governor in the shoulder. Both politicians are rushed from the scene. The President is unharmed, and the Governor is merely wounded and eventually makes a full recovery.

Lynette Fromme, a member of the Manson family cult, is later found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

September 10, 1975

House and Senate Democratic leadership meet with President Humphrey at the White House to discuss ways to reform the healthcare system that would attract broader appeal. They consider implementing an employer mandate, expanding Medicaid, and allowing people to buy into Medicare before the retirement age.

September 22, 1975

President Humphrey becomes the first sitting United States President to meet with gay rights activists when he visits Castro Street in San Francisco, California. This move is controversial, especially among conservatives of both parties. Humphrey meets with political activist Harvey Milk, who is running for City Supervisor; Humphrey endorses the openly gay Milk, sending waves of anger through culturally conservative parts of the country.

After meeting with Mayor Alioto at City Hall, President Humphrey greets the crowd which had amassed to meet him. In the crowd is Sarah Jane Moore, who shoots at Humphrey and hits him in the torso. She shoots another time, hitting Humphrey’s upper leg. Before she can fire another shot, a bystander, former Marine Oliver Sipple, knocks the gun out of her hand.

Humphrey is sped to a hospital nearby, and is operated on immediately. The shots luckily did not hit much of importance, due to the fact that Moore had no previous shooting experience and had only bought her gun the morning of the shooting.

Sipple is hailed as a hero by the national media. After he is later outed by the press as gay, he becomes a symbol in that community, but Sipple himself claims his privacy has been invaded.

September 26, 1975

Vice President Henry M. Jackson announces his bid for the 1976 nomination. A “New Deal Liberal,” Jackson is solidly progressive on social and domestic economic issues, but a hawkish anti-Communist “Cold Warrior” on foreign policy. He vows to continue to fight for the working man while keeping the world safe.

Jackson is expected to lock up the nomination easily - if anyone even challenges him.

December 19, 1975

The United Nations Special Committee on Nuclear War releases another study on the effects the nuclear bombings in northern Vietnam in 1971 have had on the Southeast Asia region. The UN report finds that crop yields have declined at a steady rate since 1971. If this continues, the region could soon see famine and unrest.

December 31, 1975

29 states have ratified the Nuclear Amendment by this time.

Gallup Poll
January 1, 1976
Do you approve of the job President Humphrey is doing as President?
Yes: 67%
No: 28%
No opinion: 3%
Not sure: 2%
Who would you vote for in the 1976 primary?
(Democrats only)
Henry M. Jackson: 78%
Someone else: 17%
Not sure: 5%
Who would you vote for in the 1976 primary?
(Republicans only)
Richard M. Nixon: 26%
John V. Lindsay: 20%
Robert J. Dole: 14%
Charleton Heston: 11%
William D. Ruckelshaus: 8%
A. Linwood Holton: 2%
Someone else: 5%
Not sure: 14%
General election matchups
Jackson: 56%
Nixon: 41%
Not sure: 3%

Jackson: 57%
Lindsay: 40%
Not sure: 3%

Jackson: 60%
Dole: 34%
Not sure: 6%

Jackson: 59%
Heston: 37%
Not sure: 4%

Jackson: 59%
Ruckelshaus: 32%
Not sure: 9%

Jackson: 56%
Holton: 27%
Not sure: 17%

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Vice President Reagan definitively rules out a run in 1976, 1980, 1984, and all other future Presidential elections, stating that his “career in elected office is over, and I'm not sure how much clearer I can make that.”

America is saved!

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

This timeline may be the most interesting one we’ve had since Castro’s Eternal Sunshine, SPC’s Kerry timeline or Cathcon’s Second Chance.

[Cold War Liberal]

This timeline may be the most interesting one we’ve had since Castro’s Eternal Sunshine, SPC’s Kerry timeline or Cathcon’s Second Chance.

Thank you so much!

[Mr. Smith]

Zeh plot tickens.

[KaiserDave]

This is amazing. Amazing.
And I also consider Humphrey in this timeline to be one of the country's greatest Presidents and Leaders.

[Orwell]

Please continue this a masterpiece

[YE]

I hope someone less hawkish runs against Jackson. Where’s Frank Church doing these days?

[Cold War Liberal]

Where’s Frank Church doing these days?

He’s serving as President Humphrey’s Secretary of the Interior.

I’m going to post the definitive list of all the 1976 candidates in an hour or two. Should be interesting to see who y’all support.

[Cold War Liberal]

The State of the 1976 Race
Candidates Overview

Congressman Allard Lowenstein (D-NY-04) makes an announcement on New Year’s Day

After the announcement the previous November that President Humphrey would be stepping down at the end of his term, many Democrats were concerned. Humphrey had been a liberal crusader on domestic policy and a diplomatic, internationalist dove on foreign policy, which many in the party liked. His Vice President and heir apparent, Henry “Scoop” Jackson, was still liberal on domestic issues, albeit lacking Humphrey’s “happy warrior” tenacity. However, his views on foreign policy were dramatically to the right of Humphrey’s; Scoop Jackson was a good ol’ fashioned Cold Warrior who looked at most issues through the lens of capitalism versus communism. Unhelpfully, Jackson was more introverted than Humphrey, more at ease campaigning one-on-one rather than at campaign rallies with thousands of people. Many Democrats were concerned that Jackson wasn’t the best candidate Democrats had to offer. Former McGovern supporters felt especially strongly that someone needed to challenge Jackson.

Enter Allard Lowenstein.

A four-term congressman from New York, Lowenstein was an avid peace activist and was somewhat to the left of Jackson domestically. A supporter of George McGovern in 1968 and 1972, Lowenstein started looking for potential challengers to Jackson as soon as President Humphrey announced he wouldn’t seek a second term. McGovern was serving as Secretary of Peace and Global Development, so he was a non-starter; Senator Kennedy refused so as to avoid losing his chance to become Majority Leader upon Mike Mansfield’s recently announced retirement; and his brother, Governor Robert Kennedy, laughed Lowenstein out of his office when the prospect was raised.

So, Lowenstein had thought, I guess I’ll have to do this myself.

Indeed, Lowenstein himself fit the bill. He obviously didn’t have Jackson’s name recognition or experience, but he was fairly well-known nationally, for a congressman. He was more liberal that Jackson on most domestic issues, and would particularly contrast Jackson when discussions turned to foreign policy. And, at 46, Lowenstein was a full generation younger than the sexagenarian Vice President. And so, on January 1, just before the Iowa filing deadline, he announced his run for the Democratic nomination to a small crowd in Manhattan.

Name: Allard Kenneth Lowenstein
Age: 46
Home State: New York
Resume: U.S. Congressman (1969-)
Political Leanings: Economically liberal, socially liberal, dovish on foreign policy
Platform:
- Non-interventionist foreign policy
- Continued detente/possible rapprochement with USSR and PRC
- Free government healthcare for every American
- Guaranteed minimum income of $3,000 for impoverished Americans
- Continued expansion of civil rights
Slogan: “Allard for Peace. Allard for America”

Scoop Jackson campaigns in Florida, January 23, 1976

Name: Henry Martin “Scoop” Jackson
Age: 63
Home State: Washington
Resume: Vice President of the United States (1973-), U.S. Senator (1953-1973), U.S. Congressman (1941-1953)
Political Leanings: Economically center-left, socially center-left, hawkish on foreign policy
Platform:
- The domestic successes of the Humphrey Administration should be continued
- Communism is an existential threat to the United States and must be defeated on a global scale (through proxy wars and geopolitical strategy, not conventional war)
- There should be a marketplace for health insurance which includes both private and public options; Medicaid should be expanded
- Discrimination based on race and sex should be eliminated because it hurts the American people and America's image abroad, and is a weakness for Communists to exploit
- The sluggish economy should be fought with public works projects to improve infrastructure and provide jobs to the unemployed
- Labor unions should be strengthened (Taft-Hartley repeal “on the table”)
- Create a federal Department of Education
Slogan: “Jackson: for a Strong America”

The Republicans

Former Vice President Nixon launches his third White House bid in Los Angeles, April 15, 1975

Name: Richard Milhous Nixon
Age: 63
Home State: California (birthplace); New York (current residence)
Resume: Vice President of the United States (1953-1961), U.S. Senator (1950-1953), U.S. Congressman (1947-1950)
Political Leanings: Economically centrist, socially center-right, hawkish on foreign policy
Platform:
- Reduce taxes and close tax loopholes
- End desegregation busing
- Keep education in the hands of the states
- Contain communism
- Keep health insurance privatized
- Continue to use the government to protect the environment
Slogan: “Nixon. Now more than ever.”

Former Mayor Lindsay campaigns among the people of Harlem, January 12, 1976

Name: John Vliet Lindsay
Age: 54
Home State: New York
Resume: Mayor of New York City (1966-1973), U.S. Congressman (1959-1965)
Political Leanings: Economically center-left, socially center-left, dovish on foreign policy
Platform:
- Protect civil rights and expand upon the gains made in the past few years
- Use government programs to fight poverty; expand Medicaid and public housing
- Let people under 65 buy into Medicare
- Provide more federal money for education
- Maintain American dominance in the world, but with diplomacy, not war; end proxy wars and ease tensions with USSR, PRC, and other Communist nations
Slogan: “A Fresh Face in Washington”

Senator Bob Dole

Name: Robert Joseph “Bob Dole” Dole
Age: 52
Home State: Kansas
Resume: U.S. Senator (1969-), U.S. Congressman (1961-1969)
Political Leanings: Economically right, socially center-right, hawkish on foreign policy
Platform:
- Keep health insurance privatized
- Cut taxes significantly
- Protect individual gun ownership rights
- Contain communism
- Increase military budget
- Restore more farm subsidies
- Overturn Roe v. Wade
Slogan: “Bob Dole for President”

Former Senator Charleton Heston

Name: Charleton Heston
Age: 52
Home State: California
Resume: U.S. Senator (1969-1975), President, Screen Actors Guild (1965-1969)
Political Leanings: Economically hard-right, socially center-right, very hawkish on foreign policy
Platform:
- Cut taxes
- Protect gun rights enumerated in the 2nd Amendment
- Protect private health insurance and roll back Medicaid
- Protect civil rights, but stop busing and all affirmative action
- Start a new military build-up to fight communism if necessary
Slogan: “Renew America’s Greatness”

Senator William Ruckelshaus

Name: William Doyle Ruckelshaus
Age: 43
Home State: Indiana
Resume: U.S. Senator (1969-), U.S. Congressman (1965-1969), Deputy Attorney General of Indiana (1960-1965)
Political Leanings: Economically centrist, socially centrist, moderate on foreign policy
Platform:
- Bring respectability back to the GOP
- continue Humphrey's work to repair America’s image on the world stage (following the "Hanoi Incident")
- Close tax loopholes and reduce taxes for the middle and working classes and small businesses
- Seek meaningful healthcare reform that includes both public and private insurance
- Protect civil rights
Slogan: “Bringing America Together”

Former Governor A. Linwood Holton

Name: Abner Linwood “Lin” Holton, Jr.
Age: 52
Home State: Virginia
Resume: Governor of Virginia (1970-1974)
Political Leanings: Economically centrist, socially center-left, moderate on foreign policy
Platform:
- Continue desegregation
- Protect civil rights
- Bring the "New South" to the White House
- Expand Medicaid but retain private insurers
- Continue detente
Slogan: “Win With Lin!”

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Tim Kaines father in law 76!

[LastMcGovernite]

Fantastic, fantastic timeline.

[America Needs R'hllor]

I simply love what you did with individuals like Atwater and events like the assassianations! One of the best TLs here for sure.

Also, JACKSON 1976!!!

[YE]

Neither of the Dems seem to appeal to me more so than the other and for sure none of the Republicans interest me. Jackson seems good aside from foreign policy while Lowenstein seems good but maybe a little too dovish and am not fond of UBI. Hope to see a bigger Dem field.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Nixon in the late seventies would be a fresh--albeit, not the freshest--take. Hoping for Nixon or Ruckelshaus/Dole.

[UWS]

Interesting with Bob Dole actually running in '76.

[Cold War Liberal]

Note: the Lindsay administration goes somewhat better than IRL and he wins re-election as a Republican (not a Liberal) in 1969. Rep. Herman Badillo narrowly wins the primary in 1973, leading Beame’s supporters to get behind Liberal candidate Allard Lowenstein. However, Badillo is able to win the election with 37% of the vote, and is the current mayor of NYC.

I’ve added the 1973 NYC mayoral election onto the first page.

[Elcaspar]

For now im gonna have to have to go with Lowenstein, but that might change depending on who joins the field.

[Cold War Liberal]

January 1, 1976

Allard Lowenstein announces a longshot run for the Democratic nomination, running to the left of Vice President Jackson. Lowenstein then flies to Iowa, where he will campaign for the next three weeks ahead of the caucus in that state. Bob Dole has also spent a considerable amount of time and money in Iowa.

January 4, 1976

Ignoring his challenger, Vice President Jackson embarks on a 50-state listening tour, starting in his native Washington and moving south and west through the country. His intention is to visit all 50 states over the course of 4 months, and then spend the remaining 4 months until the Democratic Convention vetting prospective running mates.The DNC will be held from August 16th through August 19th at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

January 8, 1976

The 27th Amendment, previously known as the Equal Rights Amendment, goes into effect.

January 12, 1976

In a statement to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Senator George Rawlings (D-VA) is outed as a homosexual by his wife, who then immediately files for divorce. Rawlings admits he is gay, and is “not ashamed of who I am.” This causes an uproar in Virginia. Senator Rawlings is up for reelection in 1976.

January 19, 1976

President Humphrey gives his final State of the Union address. By far the least interesting of his Presidency, he thanks America for standing by him in his time of trouble, and pledges to continue fighting for healthcare reform in his last year. He states that he hopes to expand health insurance for children by 1977, even if he can’t get full health care reform passed by the time his term is up.

Democratic Iowa Caucus, 1976
Allard K. Lowenstein: 50.17% ✓
Henry M. Jackson: 49.62%
Others: 0.21%
Republican Iowa Caucus, 1976
Richard M. Nixon: 35.46% ✓
Robert J. Dole: 33.54%
John V. Lindsay: 16.45%
William D. Ruckelshaus: 11.72%
Charleton Heston: 2.29%
A. Linwood Holton: 0.48%
Others: 0.06%

January 20, 1976

Both parties are surprised by the results of the Iowa caucuses. Democrats are shocked that a Congressman beat out the Vice President, while Republicans expected Richard Nixon to win Iowa by a significantly higher amount than he did.

Vice President Jackson postpones his listening tour indefinitely and travels to New Hampshire, as does Congressman Lowenstein. Former Vice President Nixon focuses his attention to the South, while Mayor Lindsay spends time in New England. Dole continues to campaign in the Plains and blames Senator Ruckelshaus for splitting the moderate vote with him. Former Senator Heston starts campaigning in New Hampshire, while Ruckelshaus stays in the Midwest and Holton campaigns across Florida, hoping for an upset there to become the candidate of the New South.

January 24, 1976

Recently outed as gay and subsequently divorced, Senator George Rawlings suddenly announces he will not stand for reelection in November.

January 27, 1976

Governor Henry Howell (D-VA) announces he will run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Senator Rawlings. If he were to win, he would vacate the Virginia governorship and be replaced by Lt. Gov. Douglas Wilder until 1978; Wilder would be the first black governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

February 2, 1976

Campaign literature for Vice President Jackson

Speaking in Nashua, Vice President Jackson starts to go on the attack against Allard Lowenstein. Without directly mentioning his competitor, Jackson decries “insurgent forces of the new left” who seek to raise taxes on everyday Americans. In a tax averse state like New Hampshire, ambitious left-wing candidates like Allard Lowenstein don’t typically do well, and Jackson attempts to hammer this point home ahead of the February 24th primary.

February 7, 1976

President Humphrey states that it is “unfortunate” that Senator Rawlings’s outing caused him to forego reelection; “as long as you love your country and care for your constituents, you should be allowed to run for and hold public office, regardless of factors such as race, sex, and sexual preferences. I know Senator Rawlings personally, and have worked with him both in the Senate and as President; he is a good man of sterling character.”

This admission of support for an open homosexual by the sitting President of the United States is seen as shocking to some, and is counted as a “gaffe” on Humphrey’s behalf by most, even in the more liberal media outlets.

Then, in an interesting turn of events, former President Goldwater also comes to Senator Rawlings’s defense, quipping that “if our Founders had put into place some sort of litmus test that all relationships held by political office holders must be faithful and with the other sex, then half of Congress would need to step down. The Constitution doesn’t require you to be straight to serve your country; the only thing the voters should require is straight talk. While we have our policy differences, I have worked with Senator Rawlings in the past and found him to be a dedicated public servant who loves his Commonwealth and his country.”

February 13, 1976

Senators Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Charles Percy (R-IL), Shirley Chisholm (D-NY), and Louis Wyman (R-NH), along with Congresspeople Myrlie B. Evers (D-CA-26), Orrin Hatch (R-UT-02), John Kerry (D-MA-05), and Elizabeth Dole (R-KS-01) all co-sponsor legislation that would create the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which would require states to set up funds to give health insurance to children who are not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid. Additionally, the federal government would match this state funding. CHIP has wide bipartisan support from all but the most conservative members of Congress.

February 24, 1976
Democratic New Hampshire Primary, 1976
Henry M. Jackson: 65.77% ✓
Allard Lowenstein: 32.18%
Others: 2.05%
Republican New Hampshire Primary, 1976
John V. Lindsay: 50.93% ✓
Richard M. Nixon: 29.73%
Robert J. Dole: 5.54%
Charleton Heston: 5.51%
William D. Ruckelshaus: 3.32%
A. Linwood Holton: 1.03%
Others: 3.94%

Wasting no time after his victory in New Hampshire, Mayor Lindsay turns his attention to Chicago

The results of the New Hampshire primary show that Vice President Jackson defeats Congressman Lowenstein by a very wide margin. Still, Lowenstein has been campaigning in Vermont and Massachusetts - the next states to hold primaries - and may win there due to the small, liberal populations of the states. Additionally, Lowenstein has been endorsed by Senator Bernard Sanders (D-VT) and Congressman John Kerry (D-MA-05).

The Republican race in New Hampshire was also not particularly close; John Lindsay wins a commanding 21 point victory over former Vice President Nixon in what the New York Times calls a “veritable rout.” Following stops in Massachusetts and Vermont (after gaining the endorsements of Senators Edward Brooke (R-MA) and Robert Stafford (R-VT)), Lindsay flies to Illinois to campaign in Chicago, hoping to replicate his 1972 victory in that same primary. In polling, Lindsay has a commanding lead among African American Republican primary voters nationwide; whether that is enough to win Illinois will be tested in due time.

Vice President Nixon campaigns in Vermont and Massachusetts as well, then travels to Florida to campaign there.

Senator Dole goes to Florida as well, then campaigns in rural Illinois as well.

Former Senator Heston drops out after a disappointing New Hampshire result, and endorses John Lindsay.

William Ruckelshaus focuses his attention on Illinois, hoping that being from a neighboring state will give him an advantage.

Former Governor Holton continues to camp out in Florida, criss-crossing the state to raise his name recognition.

Gallup Poll
March 1, 1976
Do you approve of the job President Humphrey is doing as President?
Yes: 67%
No: 28%
No opinion: 3%
Not sure: 2%
Who would you vote for in the 1976 primary?
(Democrats only)
Henry M. Jackson: 74%
Allard K. Lowenstein: 19%
Someone else: 3%
Not sure: 4%
Who would you vote for in the 1976 primary?
(Republicans only)
Richard M. Nixon: 28%
John V. Lindsay: 26%
Robert J. Dole: 17%
William D. Ruckelshaus: 11%
A. Linwood Holton: 3%
Charleton Heston: 2%
Someone else: 4%
Not sure: 9%
General Election Matchups
Jackson: 53%
Nixon: 42%
Not sure: 5%
Jackson: 54%
Lindsay: 41%
Not sure: 5%
Jackson: 54%
Dole: 40%
Not sure: 6%
Jackson: 55%
Ruckelshaus: 38%
Not sure: 7%
Jackson: 55%
Holton: 29%
Not sure: 16%
Nixon: 48%
Lowenstein: 47%
Not sure: 5%
Lindsay: 47%
Lowenstein: 46%
Not sure: 7%
Lowenstein: 45%
Dole: 45%
Not sure: 10%
Lowenstein: 46%
Ruckelshaus: 42%
Not sure: 12%
Lowenstein: 43%
Holton: 35%
Not sure: 22%

[Cold War Liberal]

Fun fact: the party not in control of the White House traditionally holds their convention first. That hasn’t affected anything until now; since there is a Democrat in office from ‘73 to ‘77 instead of Nixon and Ford, the Republicans will hold their convention in July while Democrats hold theirs in August, rather than like IRL, where it was the other way around.