1976 Primaries (The Hearse at Monticello)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

With the opposition once again divided between two strong candidates, President McGovern was reelected in 1972 by a strong margin in the electoral college but with less than a majority of the popular vote. The four years that followed would be tumultuous, with worsening economic conditions at home and foreign policy crises abroad handing Congress to the American Party in the 1974 Midterms, the Romney and Goldwater wings having come together to defeat the People's Party just two years after the splinter Libertarian Party resulted in a lopsidedly Populist chamber. Though this new conservative majority would prevent McGovern from making much progress on economic issues, the president nevertheless succeeded in passing the Abortion Legalization Act with the support of liberal Americans led by Speaker of the House Betty Ford.

Having chosen to step down after two terms in office, McGovern's departure has triggered a highly competitive Populist primary. A mixture of prominent statesmen and political newcomers have stepped forward to contest the presidency, including Vice President Terry Sanford of North Carolina, who fought unsuccessfully for universal college education last year; Senator Frank Church of Idaho, a noted environmentalist; Senator Birch Bayh of Indiana, whose gallant efforts in support of the Abortion Legalization Act earned him the respect of liberals in both parties; Congressman Mo Udall, who has been compared to Abraham Lincoln for his wit; and former Governor Jimmy Carter, candidate of the more conservative faction within the People's Party.

On the American side, former Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson is once again making a run for the presidency, calling for an aggressive foreign policy to contain the USSR. Another contender from '72, Governor Ronald Reagan, has also entered the race, once again running as the candidate of organized labor. In addition, Speaker Betty Ford and former Congressman Robert Taft, Jr. are in the running, the latter as the candidate of the socially liberal, fiscally moderate wing of the American Party and the latter as the heir to Goldwater's throne.