Camelot Anew, Chapter Two: The Reagan Revolution

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William Rehnquist, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, 1977-2006. Approved 69-24-7

Chief Justice: J. Skelly Wright (Nominated by R. Kennedy, 1969)
Associate Justice: William J. Brennan, Jr. (Nominated by Eisenhower, 1956)
Associate Justice: Potter Stewart (Nominated by Eisenhower, 1958)
Associate Justice: Byron White (Nominated by J. Kennedy, 1962)
Associate Justice: Thurgood Marshall (Nominated by Johnson, 1967)
Associate Justice: Gerald Heaney (Nominated by R. Kennedy, 1969)
Associate Justice: Harry Blackmun (Nominated by R. Kennedy, 1971)
Associate Justice: Ramsey Clark (Nominated by R. Kennedy, 1975)
Associate Justice: William Rehnquist (Nominated by Reagan, 1977)

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RIP Lorna. FF.

It feels so dirty replacing her with Rehnquist but it’s what Reagan would’ve done.

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Wait, it just hit me that at the end of his presidency, the majority of the Supreme Court had been nominated by RFK.

Yup. Between 1969 and 1977 a bunch of Roosevelt nominees retired or died. Five in total.

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Thought or critiques so far? Any questions anyone wants answered?

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Thanks to both of you! I do plan to go all the way up to the present day (well, the 2016 election).

Does anyone want to know if the Governors or Congressional delegations of states?

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Thanks to both of you! I do plan to go all the way up to the present day (well, the 2016 election).

Does anyone want to know if the Governors or Congressional delegations of states?

New York.

I won’t go through the full delegation, but:

Governor: Malcolm Wilson, who succeeded former Governor James L. Buckley who resigned to become Reagan’s attorney general.

Senator: Jacob Javits
Senator: Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Allard K. Lowenstein and Bell Abzug are both still in the House.

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Thank you! The holidays are a busy time my friend. It’ll be back soon.

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"Such a shame. The first conservative presidency in a generation, and it was almost over before it started. After the midterms, things only got worse."

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He created a department? Who are you and what have you done with Ronald Reagan?

(and elevating the VA to cabinet-level doesn't count.)

(forgot to have RFK create the energy department, don't tell anyone)

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I’m surprised to see Jeanne Kirkpatrick bemoan the defeat of Reagan’s domestic initiatives—she told Reagan in, what, 1980 that she was an AFL-CIO Democrat.

Kennedy's domestic policy pushed her to the right earlier than in real life.

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Tonight, actually. Freaky timing for a bump, MRX.

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"Good morning, and welcome to the Today Show. Last night, voters around the country went to the polls, many voicing their opposition to President Reagan, who in less than two years has become unpopular due to what Democrats call an assault on the major liberal social policies of Presidents Roosevelt, Johnson, John and Robert Kennedy. Democrats blamed Reagan for the spiraling economy, and it appears Americans believed them. First, the Senate.

In Alabama, Democrat Howell Heflin retains this seat for the Democrats overwhelmingly.

In Alaska, incumbent Republican Ted Stevens was reelected comfortably.

In Arkansas, Democrat David Pryor won the open seat overwhelmingly.

In Colorado, incumbent Democrat Floyd K. Haskell won reelection.

In Delaware, incumbent Democrat Joe Biden won reelection overwhelmingly.

In Georgia, incumbent Democrat Sam Nunn won reelection overwhelmingly.

In Idaho, incumbent Republican James McClure won reelection.

In Illinois, one of the biggest upsets of the night: Democrat Alex Seith defeated incumbent Republican Charles H. Percy.

In Iowa, incumbent Democrat Dick Clark won reelection.

In Kansas, Republican Nancy Landon Kassebaum, the daughter of 1936 Republican presidential candidate Alf Landon, won the open seat.

In Kentucky, incumbent Democrat Walter Huddleston won reelection overwhelmingly.

In Louisiana, incumbent Democrat J. Bennett Johnston won reelection.

In Maine, incumbent Democrat William Hathaway was defeated by Republican William Cohen.

In Massachusetts, Democrat Paul Tsongas won the open seat formerly held by James Burke.

In Michigan, incumbent Republican Robert Griffin was defeated by Democrat Carl Levin.

In Minnesota, incumbent Democrat Walter Mondale won reelection overwhelmingly.

In Mississippi, incumbent James O. Eastland retired and his seat was gained by Republican Thad Cochran.

In Montana, Democrat Max Baucus held the open seat.

In Nebraska, Democrat J. James Exon won the open seat.

In New Hampshire, incumbent Democrat Thomas J. McIntyre won reelection narrowly.

In New Jersey, incumbent Republican Clifford Case lost the GOP's renomination, but the nominee lost overwhelmingly to Democrat Bill Bradley.

In New Mexico, incumbent Republican Pete Domenici won reelection.

In North Carolina, incumbent Democrat Nick Galifianakis won reelection.

In Oklahoma, Democrat David Boren gained the open seat.

In Oregon, incumbent Republican Mark Hatfield won reelection.

In Rhode Island, incumbent Democrat Clay Pell won reelection.

In South Carolina, incumbent Republican Strom Thurmond won reelection.

In South Dakota, incumbent Democrat James Abourzek won reelection.

In Tennessee, incumbent Republican Howard Baker won reelection.

In Texas, incumbent Republican John Tower was defeated by Democrat Bob Krueger.

In Virginia, incumbent Democrat William Spong retired and his seat was gained by Republican John Warner.

In West Virginia, incumbent Democrat Jennings Randolph won reelection narrowly.

In Wyoming, Republican Alan K. Simpson held the open seat.

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And now for the Governors' races:

In Alabama, incumbent Governor George Wallace was term-limited and Democrat Fob James held the governors' mansion.

In Alaska, one of the oddest races in the country: incumbent Republican Jay Hammond won reelection with less than 40% of the vote. Republican Wally Hackely took second in write-ins.

In Arizona, incumbent Republican Russell Williams lost reelection in a rematch with Bruce Babbitt, a gain for the Democrats.

In Arkansas, incumbent Democrat David Pryor ran for Senate, and the open seat was won by Democrat Joe Woodward.

In California, incumbent Democrat Jerry Brown easily won reelection.

In Colorado, incumbent Democrat Dick Lamm won reelection.

In Connecticut, incumbent Democrat Ella T. Grasso won reelection.

In Florida, Democrat Bob Graham won the open seat.

In Georgia, incumbent Democrat Zell Miller, who ascended to the office after Ronnie Thompson resigned to become Vice President, won election to a full term.

In Hawaii, incumbent Republican Randolph Crossley was narrowly reelected.

In Idaho, incumbent Democrat Cecil Andrus won reelection.

In Illinois, incumbent Republican James Thompson won reelection.

In Iowa, incumbent Republican Robert Ray won reelection.

In Kansas, incumbent Republican Robert Bennett lost to Democrat John Carlin.

In Maine, incumbent independent Jim Longley retired, and the governors' mansion was gained by Democrat Joseph Brennan.

In Maryland, Democrat Harry Hughes won the open seat overwhelmingly.

In Massachusetts, Michael Dukakis won the open seat overwhelmingly.

In Michigan, incumbent William Milliken won reelection narrowly.

In Minnesota, Republican Al Quie narrowly defeated incumbent Rudy Perpich.

In Nebraska, incumbent Democrat J. James Exon was term-limited, and the governors' mansion was gained by the Republicans with Charles Throne.

In Nevada, Republican Bob List gained the open seat.

In New Hampshire, incumbent Republican Meldrim Thompson was defeated by Democrat Hugh Gallen.

In New Mexico, incumbent Republican Joe Skeen lost reelection to Democrat Bruce King.

In New York, incumbent Republican Malcolm Wilson, who ascended to the office after James Buckley resigned to join the Reagan Administration, was defeated by Mario Cuomo.

In Ohio, incumbent Republican Jim Rhodes won reelection narrowly.

In Oklahoma, the Democrats retained the governors' mansion with George Nigh.

In Oregon, incumbent Democrat Robert Straub was reelected.

In Pennsylvania, Republican Dick Thornburgh won the open seat.

In Rhode Island, Democrat John Garrahy won the open seat.

In South Carolina, Democrat Richard Riley won the open seat.

In South Dakota, Republican Bill Janklow gained the open seat.

In Tennessee, Republican Lamar Alexander gained the open seat.

In Texas, incumbent Democrat Dolph Briscoe lost renomination and the governors' mansion was won by fellow Democrat Mark White.

In Vermont, incumbent Republican Richard A. Snelling won reelection.

In Wisconsin, incumbent Democrat Patrick Lucey won reelection.

In Wyoming, incumbent Democrat Edgar Herschler won reelection.

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The next President was not elected or reelected in 1978.

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How Wikipedia would be shaping up in the alternate universe

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Part III: Shakedown, 1979

"Oh, 1979. One of the single most consequential years in world history."

"So, the Democrats had landslided Republicans. Again. And then Iranians started taking to the streets. We were very nervous, because the energy crisis would've been exacerbated exponentially. So when Reza Pahlavi was forced to flee. I recommended some...drastic measures."

In order to ensure the rights of women and minorities in Iran, we must ensure that the internationally recognized Pahlavi dynasty is reinstated, so constitutional, lawful order is returned to Iran. These radical religious extremists cannot take hold in Iran. That's why I'm announcing Operation Iranian Freedom, a full-scale invasion of Iran to depose these radicals and reintroduce the constitutional order.

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A question, though - without a GOP Senate, how does Reagan have leverage for his budget/spending cuts?

His near-landslide in 1976. His argument was that he had a mandate to govern, so he was able to get enough Democrats to go along with that.

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snip

Really hamming it up there. Are the hostages from the U.S. Embassy? Or American soldiers?

Yes, they’re the embassy hostages.

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"I will not resign! I won this race for Reagan, and he cannot get rid of me this easily. And he knows more than he says he does."
-Excerpt from a brief interview with Vice President Ronnie Thompson as he enters his Macon, GA home.

Ronald Reagan approval rating
Approve: 32%
Disapprove: 59%

Ronnie Thompson approval rating
Approve: 12%
Disapprove: 71%

Iran war approval rating
Approve: 26%
Disapprove: 68%

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"What we're asking here, simply, is what did the President know and when did he know it?"
-Senator William Cohen (R-ME), in the Senate Intelligence Committee, June 15, 1979.

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Thoughts? Comments? Critiques?

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Thoughts? Comments? Critiques?

Can we get a whip count of who in the Senate supports conviction on impeachment (or at least impeachment)?

The entire Democratic caucus supports impeachment.

Every Republican thinks Thompson should go, but they're split on whether to support impeachment (which opponents say will hurt Reagan too much before the 1980 election) and forcing him to resign (which opponents say Thompson will absolutely not do and would lead to a bloody floor fight at the convention, while dragging down the entire executive branch of government).

Republicans supporting impeachment:
Lowell Weicker (CT)
Richard Lugar (IN)
John Chafee (RI)
Orrin Hatch (UT)
Robert Stafford (VT)
Nancy Landon Kassebaum (KS)
William Cohen (ME)
Thad Cochran (MS)
Mark Hatfield (OR)
Alan K. Simpson (WY)
Charles Mathias (MD)
Jacob Javits (NY)
Henry Bellmon (OK)
Richard Schweiker (PA)
Jake Garn (UT)

Republicans opposing impeachment:
Ted Stevens (AK)
James McClure (ID)
Bill Roth (DE)
John Danforth (MO)
H. John Heinz (PA)
Malcolm Wallop (WY)
John Warner (VA)
Strom Thurmond (SC)
Pete Domenici (NM)
Howard Baker (TN)
Barry Goldwater (AZ)
Dave Stanley (IA)
Bob Dole (KS)
Paul Laxalt (NV)
William E. Stevens (NC)
Milton Young (ND)
Bob Packwood (OR)

As you can see, it's pretty evenly split. The party is hopelessly divided...not unlike the IRL Democrats in the late 70s.

Thoughts? Comments? Critiques?

How long until the 1980 primaries begin? If Reagan is the Carter analogue, who's the EMK analogue? Who's the Reagan analogue? These burning questions need an answer!

Soon. All will be revealed in due time.

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Isn't Domenici from New Mexico?

Yes.

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It’s also fairly obvious that if an impeachment trial is held, Thompson would be removed from office; Democrats very nearly have the 2/3 Majority alone. The Democrats are enjoying watching Reagan and the GOP squirm, though, and thus are taking time with the investigation.