A Different America: 1956, The Eisenhower Administration

[KaiserDave]

Will Angler

...my friends I can see a Vermont where we have peace, we have prosperity, and we have a happy and contented people. But it won't happen without you, without us. We will have to put in work my friends. Good hard work. We have to be the progress, the change that we want to see in this state. But my friends it can be done, we're going to put in the work, I've been trying to do my bit at the Golden Dome, and folks I'm honored to accept your nomination for Governor to continue that work."

He had done it. Only 8 years before he'd been running for his local representation seat. And now he was on the verge on the highest position in Vermont politics. Who knew where it could go from there. Will shook Governor Emerson's hand and kissed his now fiancé Josephine Walters. His campaign was big, bold, and progressive. He promised big bonuses for Korea veterans, sweeping civil rights legislation, an economic package that would simultaneously balance the budget, reduce the sales tax, and provide affordable health insurance options to the elderly. Perhaps one day to be expanded to all. If only the national politicians would pass that medicare program. The Governor's office was about to be his, and it was time for change!

As for the 1956 election, Will was not satisfied with the field. Dick Nixon? John Bricker? Everett Dirksen? Conservatives, and Taftists. If the Republicans wanted to be the party of progress they needed something more bold.

[KaiserDave]

Will Angler

Will was immensely disappointed with the Republicans. Joe Foss? John Bricker? This was the old hat, regardless of age, the ideology was old. Republicans could not go back to Know-Nothing politics and business subservience and win elections. Where was the lesson of 1936? It was Tedyy Roosevelt who had led Republicans to landslides, Warren who had defeated the New Deal Coalition. Joe Foss or John Bricker would sputter out against Dwight Eisenhower. Heck if they nominated Foss Angler knew he'd privately vote for Eisenhower. Although he'd never say so.

But for now Will put his efforts into averting disaster and supporting the candidacy or Senator Lodge. Angler met with Senator Lodge and his entourage, and though he was not yet Governor he began to whip the Vermont delegates behind Lodge. He personally met with undecided delegates and delegates opposed to Lodge. He used a combination of the carrot and stick to win over delegates with promises of state party positions or isolation from party affairs. He hoped that the Senator, as well as the other giants of liberal Republican politics, like Nelson Rockefeller would remember his efforts.

If Lodge were to fail however, but only if that was assured Angler considered supporting efforts to draft C. Douglas Dillon as a dark horse. However that was highly unlikely. Bur if Joe Foss won, Angler knew he was packing his bags and heading back to Stowe. But if Lodge could win....perhaps a convention speech was possible.



Conclusion: Lodge for RNC and Ike for DNC

[KaiserDave]

Will Angler

Ugh. Foss/Lodge


Will was disappointed in his party. Nominating a conservative friendly with the isolationist wing? A disappointment. He supported Lodge's efforts to take the Vice Presidency, but was not pleased the turn of his party.

So he returned to Vermont, his home. He put together the moneys from his personal accounts to cover the costs of the accounting mess up. Fortunately his campaign costs were not that high. He campaigned through the state, on his liberal Republican platform, and disassociating from the Foss campaign. He banked on his personal brand, his own charisma, and Vermont's bend to the Republicans.

He popped over to New York where he met Jacob Javits to support his campaign, New York connections would be important for any future endeavors.

Soon he'd be Governor of Vermont, and the work would begin!


2 points to elect Jacob Javits for NY Senate

[KaiserDave]

Will Angler

Will strolled into his local voting booth with Josephine Angler on his arm. He took off his hat as a few local reporters photographed him. He got him and his wife registered and headed off towards the booth where he took his ballot. He split off from Josephine as he took out the pen and scanned the ballot.

For the President...hmmm. Will took one last section to hesitate before checking the box for Eisenhower.

Then he saw his name. Settled on the page in drying black ink. William Angler: Republican. He smiled to himself, who would've ever guessed as he bled in the Bulge that he'd end up here. He checked the box and proceeded to vote for every Republican on the ballot.

He left the booth, held his wife by the waist as the press began to ask questions.

"Who'd you vote for Mr. Senator?"

"Well who do you think?" Said Will with a smile.

"For President sir?" asked the same reporter. Will's smile broke into a neutral face as he thought. His face however, lit up as he responded,

"I voted for a great patriot." And with that he and his wife left.

[KaiserDave]

Will Angler 1956-58

Governor Angler took his hand off of the Bible and waved to the crowd. There he was, Governor of the Green Mountain state. A state he dearly loved, and only just 11 years ago had returned to from the horrors and trials of world war.  He saw a bright future ahead, for himself but also for the state he loved, prosperity and progress on the horizon. He had bold reforms ready, to make Vermont the greatest state in the nation for the working man and the American family. As he greeted the crowd for his speech, he knew a great era could begin now.

Will spent the first few months of his Governorship pushing in the legislature for a civil-rights law banning discrimination on the basis of race, religion, or national origin in employment, schools, public places, business, or housing. It was a big demand, but was a massive step towards justice. Angler was entirely committed to Civil Rights, and making Vermont a land of equal opportunity. Given Vermont's quite small minority population most white people were not angered in the same way as in the South, so long as new populations weren't introduced to the state. Governor Angler invited Medgar Evers to meet and discuss the fight for civil rights, and gave a speech at the University of Vermont denouncing the Ku Klux Klan.

Governor Angler also held capital-for-a-day event across the state, Bennington, Cambridge, Brattleboro, Warren, Barre, Grand Isle, and Essex all got to be the center of his affairs for a day. Governor Angler also toured the state to provide on the spot guidance to factories, farms, dams, and other developments, and listened to the concerns of constituents. He regularly meet with the congressional delegation when they were in Vermont, and pushed for innovative, progressive policy. One such policy was his proposal for the 1958 budget. The Governor's proposal abolished the state sales tax and replaced it with a state Land Tax. Will had spent some time reading Sun Yat Sen and Henry George, and agreed that a tax on the unimproved value of land was the perfect tax. It was progressive, it didn't cause economic inefficiency, and it made life better for working farmers as opposed to speculators, not to mention how it would slow urbanization. The abolition of the sales tax would increase savings and make purchasing farm equipment cheaper. It was a win win for everyone involved. The Governor would spend the 1956 and 57 legislative session pushing these dramatic changes, and with the Medicare legislation looking likely to pass, he could put it to good use.

In Will's personal life, Josephine became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy daughter whom they named Sophia.

[KaiserDave]

Will Angler 1958

In Vermont the gubernatorial campaign was every two years. Will filed to run for reelection on his platform of tax reform, civil rights, with the slogan of Prosperity and Progress. Will had already been touring the state as Governor, and kept control of the narrative by taking advantage of media. He constantly made pronouncements, spoke to the press, and made sure the public knew every aspect of day to day governance. He gave fireside chats on the benefits of his tax reform agenda, and eschewed mass rallies in favor of just getting his green banners across the Green Mountain state. Re-elect Will Angler: Prosperity and Progress. With a Democratic administration and Vermont being a safe Republican state, a massive victory was assured.

[KaiserDave]

Will Angler 1958-1960

Will Angler watched somberly as General Dwight David Eisenhower lay in state. When he had heard the news he had wept, he had wept for his commander, for a patriot, and for his President. He was a titan of the nation, the great crusader who had slew fascism. It was a great loss for the nation, and the President was indeed martyred in the struggle for a better society. President Kefauver now took the reins, but he too was ailing. Politically this could be seen as a boon for national Republicans but Angler didn't much care.

He was focused on Vermont. He had one an easy reelection, and his legislative agenda was a massive success. The Sales Tax was gone and the Land Value Tax was in, not to mention that Vermont had passed a landmark comprehensive civil rights act. Angler had made national news with his first in the national civil rights law. He appeared in TIME Magazine, in newspapers from New York to Los Angeles. In the south he was that Republican n***** lover, but among progressives he was emerging as a Republican they could trust.

In his second term he committed to accumulating political clout in the state and the entire of New England. He threw his weight behind liberal Republicans in the state to elect them to high party positions. He would be in a good position to direct Vermont's delegates, and perhaps New Hampshire's and Maine's at the coming Republican National Convention. With the passage of Medicare, Angler had another opportunity as well. He dedicated new budget expanding surpluses to the passage of a new healthcare scheme. "Green Mountain Care." The scheme would develop a statewide public insurance company that would offer far reduced premiums and costs compared to their competition. Will looked to revolutionize Vermont into the future.

As the 1960 RNC approached Will was underwhelmed by the field.  He would dedicate most of his time to winning reelection.