1968 Election Story For Open Participation

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Ho Chi Minh contacts Lyndon Johnson with a message:

"If American troops are truly in Vietnam to figh for freedom, then I am sure that you would not object to a unified, democratic Vietnam. Thus, I ask for a ceasefire to be called and for elections to take place throughout Vietnam on January 1, 1968. If I win, I can guarantee that free elections will be held regularly."

In a face-saving gesture after his botched speech, Johnson agrees.

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On December 10, a breaking story comes out on the front pages of all the world's newspapers. A reporter for BBC has exposed the American money covertly flowing into Vietnam to stop Minh. Johnson's approval ratings hit rock bottom, at about 10%.

Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh has become by far the most popular man in Vietnam, and a vast majority of Vietnamese, both North and South, support his cause. Johnson realizes that he cannot win the election—he will have to prevent it from taking place.

On December 23, Johnson summons top-level military officials into his office. He instructs them to break the ceasefire by dropping a bomb the next day on Saigon, and framng Minh for it.

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On December 24, American planes painted Viet Cong colors bomb Saigon. In what becomes known as the "Christmas Eve incident", Johnson appears on national TV. He is visibly "angry" at the "perpetration of the bombing by Minh". The speech degenerates into hysterics as he tries to pin the bombs on someone, starting with Mao and eventually insinuating it had something to do with Romney.

The next day, Christmas, Romney makes a speech. His calmness is in marked contrast to Johnson. He says, "The President states that we need to negotiate. I agree. But we need to do it from a position of strength, not weakness. We cannot let the pursuit of freedom descend into party politics." The last sentence is a stab at Johnson.

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Wow. This is the LBJ Horror Show. Your worst suspicions about Lyndon Johnson come true!

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NH Primary:

McCarthy: 42%
Johnson: 21%
Wallace: 14%
Other: 23%

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Word comes from doctors: Johnson is in stable condition, but he will be incapacitated for 4-6 weeks. Thus, Hubert Humphrey takes over as Acting Presdent. His first act is to order a withdrawal of 90% of US troops from Vietnam by the end of the month.

Military men condemn this act as rash, and there is a widespread belief that this action has been taken to bolster his own campaign for President. Nevertheless, the move pays off, and by the time Johnson has resumed his duties, Humphrey has stolen much of his fellow Minnesotan McCarthy's thunder.

Opinion polling:

Humphrey: 32%
Wallace: 21%
Johnson: 20%
McCarthy: 19%
Other: 8%

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Johnson's "surge" is attributed to sympathy over his heart attack.

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The Presidential nominees are bold, while the Vice Presidential nominees are bold and italicized.

On August 5, the RNC starts. With George Romney winning overwhelmingly on the first ballot and choosing Nelson Rockefeller as his running mate, the liberal wing of the Republicans has taken over. Though there are some concerns about Romney's electability as a Mormon, the Republicans leave Miami confident of their chances.

At the end of the month, the Democrats convene in Chicago. Hubert Humphrey is nominated overwhelmingly. However, a shock comes to the public when he chooses Bobby Kennedy as his running mate. Humphrey chooses Kennedy to capitalize on the Kennedy aura, at its strongest in 1968.

So, here is what the Gallup polls predict (as the general election draws nearer, Perot steadily loses popularity):

Romney/Rockefeller: 33%
Humphrey/Kennedy: 29%
Perot/Ford: 18%
Wallace/LeMay: 10%
Undecided: 10%

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(OOC: Dude, you better fix your polling numbers to make them realistic with Simon's numbers)

Oops.

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You know the evcalc has four colors now, right?

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4-color map:

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This TL is really coming together. I'd update it right now, but I don't have time.

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Guys I already posted the debate....

There was more than one.

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The lead for Romney in New York is shown to be a fluke. Statistically, it is a tie:

Romney/Rockefeller: 28%
Humphrey/Kennedy: 26%
Perot/Ford: 18%
Wallace/LeMay: 9%
Undecided: 17%

The undecideds will determine the state, and possibly whether Romney can win a majority.

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It's weird; we have a Romney fanboy, a fairly objective poster, and me, trying to prop up the sagging Humphrey campaign.

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About 6.

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I think Winfield's messing it up as much as anyone. Try to at least look a little impartial when writing a timeline.

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A news story comes up on the nightly news one evening in mid October. The two girls that spoke about being asked by Kennedy to speak out about having had an affair with Rockefeller, are revealed to be insane.

They had gone under treatment shortly before that time that resulted that they were mentally insane. It is also revealed that Romney and Rockefeller used them just to get a boost in the polls.

After this revealment, Romney drops in the polls and Humphrey takes a narrow first place in the polls.

This post is totally unrealistic.

To begin with, Romney and Rockefeller are far too intelligent and politically savvy to dare go on television and make up a story and use two mentally insane young ladies as props.  No politician would dare try a stunt like that, and no politician is that stupid.

Obviously, word would get out that the young ladies were mental patients, and that they were being used by Romney and Rockefeller for political purposes.  This would effectively be the end of their hopes for victory.

This post goes over the line and is therefore disallowed.     

Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at their neighbors.

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The next day, Perot tries to brush off the scandal that had been taken places. However, he soon drops a bigger bombshell. He states, "As President, I will restore the sovereignity of Czechoslovakia," referring to the policy of inaction Johnson took during the Prague Spring. The meaning is widely disputed, but Czechoslovakia becomes a major campaign issue.