1968: The Rise of George Wallace and the South (Lahbas, Historico, Lt. Barnes)

[Lahbas]

"We are waiting.........for any news on the condition of Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy. He was escorted by police............in an ambulance to San Francisco General Hospital.......where they are operating on him now. For those just tuning in...........Democratic Canidate Eugene McCarthy.........after having given a victory speech in front of the City Hall in San Francisco earlier this morning.......was shot.........by an unidentified male........while coming down the steps of the podium. The pepetrator was arrested..........and McCarthy was conscience when he was put into the ambulance ten minutes after the incident. Senator Robert Kennedy of New York......Senator George McGovern of South Dakota......Governor Ronald Reagan of California......Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York.......and Former Governor George Wallace of Alabama have been put into protective custody........by federal law enforcement.....in the case that this attack.......is meant to be on a wider scale. President Johnson has also boarded Air Force One........where he is assumed to fly down to San Francisco to meet McCarthy.......along with Vice President Hubert Humphrey.....the only other major contendor for the Democratic nomination. We are just now........getting reports that the assasin is a foriegn immigrant by the name of Sirhain Sirhain..........and.......offhand.......that he had originally meant to target Senator Robert Kennedy. He has been put under federal custody, and is currently at San Francisco City Jail."

- Walter Cronkite, 3:48 in San Francisco

"We are just getting additional information over the from San Francisco now .........................................(sigh)......................(removes glasses)...................... this...........appears to be..........official...............that Senator.........Eugene McCarthy died this morning..........some 19 minutes ago..........caused due to fatal wounds.......from the shooting. America.........the beacon of hope that.......shined so brightly only the other night............has this morning been.......doused for eternity........"

- Walter Cronkite, 4:21 in San Francisco

_{Eugene Joseph "Gene" McCarthy March 29th, 1916 - June 6th, 1968}

_{The Man Who Gave America Hope}

[Lahbas]

This is a summary of the period to the general election, including the conventions.

Democratic Party
Following McCarthy's death, infighting immediately began among his faction's supporters on who would lead in his stead. Both George McGovern and Robert Kennedy would claim to be  his successor. Despite having the majority of support among McCarthy's faction (and having won the Illinois Primary), his connection with McCarthy, who had run on an anti-establishment campaign, drove away any support among the party bosses he had the year before. As a result of this division, Hubert Humphrey was nominated on the first ballot at the Chicago Democratic Convention. He would choose Texas Governor John Connally, and avid supporter of the Vietnam War, and be confirmed, though by a narrow margin, by the delegates. Rioting would follow when the news reached Kennedy and McGovern supporters, who had hoped that one of them would become the VP. The resulting media coverage of the riots would cripple Humphrey's campaign almost beyond repair.

Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr. (D-MN)/John Bowden Connally Jr. (D-TX)

Republican Party
Following Nelson Rockefeller's victory in Illinois, there was an obvious divide between the Party's left and right wings. It appeared that Ronald Reagan might win the nomination, but then at the convention, Barry Goldwater formally endorsed Ronald Reagan. No one knows exactly why this hadn't occured before, or at all, but the delegations of many states began to fear that Reagan would become another Barry Goldwater. Following an almost sectional divide between the Conservative and Liberal states, Rockefeller would win the nomination. Nelson Rockefeller would choose Washington Governor Daniel J. Evans, to the chagrin of the Conservative wing, who was not strong enough to prevent his nomination (ironically, due to the walkout of several other delegations in protest of Rockefeller's nomination). Protests did occur outside in regards to the nominees, but it was much quieter and low-key than those in Chicago.

Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (R-NY)/Daniel Jackson Evans (R-WA)

American Independent Party
George Wallace annouced that his Vice President would Republican Governor of Ohio James Rhodes. Rhodes had originally denied the request, but following the liberal ticket put up by the Republican Convention in Miami, he felt "obligated" to run on the only Conservative ticket. Wallace had previously asked actor John Wayne, but he was vehemently denied.

George Corley Wallace Jr. (AI-AL)/James Allen Rhodes (R-OH)

Polls After The Democratic Convention

Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (R-NY)/Daniel Jackson Evans (R-WA)      29%
Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr. (D-MN)/John Bowden Connally Jr. (D-TX)      25%
George Corley Wallace Jr. (AI-AL)/James Allen Rhodes (R-OH)      23%
Undecided Voters                                                                             22%   

[President Mitt]

Except for their dislike of Anti-War Protesters, Rhodes and Wallace have nothing in common, Wallace wouldn't pick Rhodes, and Rhodes wouldn't accept.

[Historico]

Except for their dislike of Anti-War Protesters, Rhodes and Wallace have nothing in common, Wallace wouldn't pick Rhodes, and Rhodes wouldn't accept.

Not exactly as both Wallace and Rhodes were big proponent's for the creation of Job's albeit in different manner(Lil Geore was a big proponent of the Great Society, while Jim was a classic fiscally conservative Republican). With the economy not being that bad in '68 fiscal issues such as those mentioned wont dominate the General election. 1968 was one of those few elections where the economy has produced it's results, as folks basically saw their county go to sh**t overnight. So just look at the Wallace/Rhodes ticket as a classic unity ticket more in line with the Lincoln/Johnson ticket of 1864 than anything.

btw great installment on the conventions, and I can't wait for the General.

[Historico]

All Systems are go for... Humphrey vs. Rockefeller vs. Wallace (And I think, I know who's going to win lol...How is just the question Lahbas)

[Lahbas]

Sorry I have been absent for so long. Took a while to get settled into College. Update either tonight or later this weekend.

[Lahbas]

I decided to release a simple, if not humorous update.

A Fourth Canidate Enters The Race

_{With all of the major canidates in the race being relatively supportive of the war, a new political party has split from the Democratic Establishment. Known as the Yippie Party, they have held a convention yesterday in Chicago, where they nominated "Pigasus the Immortal", a pig, as their canidate for President. Jerry Rubin was given the VP slot after heated debate with Abbie Hoffman on which of the two would get it. If "elected", it would be assumed that they VP canidate would instantly become President. Rubin has declared that he and Pigasus will ensure that "Congress gets all the pork it needs!", and that "in the memory of Eugene McCarthy, we will end this war once and for all!" Suprisingly, it has begun to poll relatively well when given consideration, as shown by the latest Gallup Poll released earlier today. However, it is considered by many pundits that the numbers will go down quickly, and the effect of the "canidacy" will be minimal at best.}

- Chicago Tribune, September 4th 1968

Gallup Polling Of Eligable Voters:September 4th, 1968

_{Nelson Rockefeller (R-NY)           30%
Hubert Humphrey (D-MN)           26%
George Wallace (AI-AL)              25%
Pigasus the Immortal (Y)             3%
Undecided                                  15%}

 

[President Mitt]

I'm surprised more people aren't following this. It's pretty good in my opinion.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I'm surprised more people aren't following this. It's pretty good in my opinion.

I'm following

[Barnes]

I really like Rocky, but HHH has to get my vote!

[big bad fab]

I'm surprised more people aren't following this. It's pretty good in my opinion.

I'm following

Me too
And it's fine !

[Lahbas]

Sorry for the long wait. It is just very hetic to find time to properly update this timeline.

Debate Between Canidates To Be Held On The 25th This Month!

_{At the suggestion of Vice President Hubert Humphrey, both Nelson Rockefeller and George Wallace have been invited to a face-to-face debate, to be held in Harvard College. Nixon personally advised that Rockefeller decline, but he felt that declining such an offer would make him appear vulnerable, and hoped that it would deal a finishing blow to the Humphrey campaign. Wallace, though edging up in the polls, has had major trouble obtaining advertising within media outlets outside of the South. Though having the funds to do so, it is generally assumed that politics between Wallace himself, and the various CEOs and Editors, are too radically different to make money a major factor.}

- Boston Globe, October 12th 1968



"This nation..........as we know it..........is collapsing........both socially and financially. Those darned hippies now think that our political system is a joke...........and now make a mockery of it! They want our boys to come home from Nam.........but at the same time melt their brains with the hundreds of chemical compounds they randomly stir up. They stand up against their elders......and complain like the little children they are..........often not having the full story on the issue at hand. I wonder if Pigasus even knows what two plus two equals."

"Now..........I have with me a dear friend today. We may not agree on everything........in fact....there are many issues we do not agree upon. However......we both realize this. If America....is to live thru.......and past these times of chaos........we need less goverment......less control....not more. It is because of this increase in control that are country is seething in rebellion today. We are founded as both a union of seperate peoples.........and a union of seperate states....and I promise to keep it that way!"

"Now......I would like to introduce.....Governor Ronald Reagan!"

"Thank you George. I am here today.......because my party has failed me in this election. I cannot....as a Conservative......support.....nor endorse.......Governor Nelson Rockefeller......who stands for almost everything that I oppose. Just like my friend George.......I believe this union was built upon the understanding......that the central goverment was created by the states......so as to prevent anarchy. I do not believe that they intended to create a goverment....just to loss their own. Therefore.......it is my pleasure.......that I endorse George Croley Wallace.......as the next President of the United States!"

- Televised Wallace Rally In Cleveland, October 19th, 1968

Gallup Polling Of Likely Voters: October 24th, 1968

Nelson Rockefeller                    33%
George Wallace                        30%
Hubert Humphrey                     22%
Pigasus the Immortal                 4%
Undecided                                11%

[President Mitt]

Sorry for the long wait. It is just very hetic to find time to properly update this timeline.

Debate Between Canidates To Be Held On The 25th This Month!

_{At the suggestion of Vice President Hubert Humphrey, both Nelson Rockefeller and George Wallace have been invited to a face-to-face debate, to be held in Harvard College. Nixon personally advised that Rockefeller decline, but he felt that declining such an offer would make him appear vulnerable, and hoped that it would deal a finishing blow to the Humphrey campaign. Wallace, though edging up in the polls, has had major trouble obtaining advertising within media outlets outside of the South. Though having the funds to do so, it is generally assumed that politics between Wallace himself, and the various CEOs and Editors, are too radically different to make money a major factor.}

- Boston Globe, October 12th 1968



"This nation..........as we know it..........is collapsing........both socially and financially. Those darned hippies now think that our political system is a joke...........and now make a mockery of it! They want our boys to come home from Nam.........but at the same time melt their brains with the hundreds of chemical compounds they randomly stir up. They stand up against their elders......and complain like the little children they are..........often not having the full story on the issue at hand. I wonder if Pigasus even knows what two plus two equals."

"Now..........I have with me a dear friend today. We may not agree on everything........in fact....there are many issues we do not agree upon. However......we both realize this. If America....is to live thru.......and past these times of chaos........we need less goverment......less control....not more. It is because of this increase in control that are country is seething in rebellion today. We are founded as both a union of seperate peoples.........and a union of seperate states....and I promise to keep it that way!"

"Now......I would like to introduce.....Governor Ronald Reagan!"

"Thank you George. I am here today.......because my party has failed me in this election. I cannot....as a Conservative......support.....nor endorse.......Governor Nelson Rockefeller......who stands for almost everything that I oppose. Just like my friend George.......I believe this union was built upon the understanding......that the central goverment was created by the states......so as to prevent anarchy. I do not believe that they intended to create a goverment....just to loss their own. Therefore.......it is my pleasure.......that I endorse George Croley Wallace.......as the next President of the United States!"

- Televised Wallace Rally In Cleveland, October 19th, 1968

Gallup Polling Of Likely Voters: October 24th, 1968

Nelson Rockefeller                    33%
George Wallace                        30%
Hubert Humphrey                     22%
Pigasus the Immortal                 4%
Undecided                                11%

One Problem, Wallace wanted to Expand the Great Society at least 2X, I could see Ronnie endorsing him, but I cannot see Wallace wanting less Government.

[Lahbas]

Sorry for the long wait. It is just very hetic to find time to properly update this timeline.

Debate Between Canidates To Be Held On The 25th This Month!

_{At the suggestion of Vice President Hubert Humphrey, both Nelson Rockefeller and George Wallace have been invited to a face-to-face debate, to be held in Harvard College. Nixon personally advised that Rockefeller decline, but he felt that declining such an offer would make him appear vulnerable, and hoped that it would deal a finishing blow to the Humphrey campaign. Wallace, though edging up in the polls, has had major trouble obtaining advertising within media outlets outside of the South. Though having the funds to do so, it is generally assumed that politics between Wallace himself, and the various CEOs and Editors, are too radically different to make money a major factor.}

- Boston Globe, October 12th 1968



"This nation..........as we know it..........is collapsing........both socially and financially. Those darned hippies now think that our political system is a joke...........and now make a mockery of it! They want our boys to come home from Nam.........but at the same time melt their brains with the hundreds of chemical compounds they randomly stir up. They stand up against their elders......and complain like the little children they are..........often not having the full story on the issue at hand. I wonder if Pigasus even knows what two plus two equals."

"Now..........I have with me a dear friend today. We may not agree on everything........in fact....there are many issues we do not agree upon. However......we both realize this. If America....is to live thru.......and past these times of chaos........we need less goverment......less control....not more. It is because of this increase in control that are country is seething in rebellion today. We are founded as both a union of seperate peoples.........and a union of seperate states....and I promise to keep it that way!"

"Now......I would like to introduce.....Governor Ronald Reagan!"

"Thank you George. I am here today.......because my party has failed me in this election. I cannot....as a Conservative......support.....nor endorse.......Governor Nelson Rockefeller......who stands for almost everything that I oppose. Just like my friend George.......I believe this union was built upon the understanding......that the central goverment was created by the states......so as to prevent anarchy. I do not believe that they intended to create a goverment....just to loss their own. Therefore.......it is my pleasure.......that I endorse George Croley Wallace.......as the next President of the United States!"

- Televised Wallace Rally In Cleveland, October 19th, 1968

Gallup Polling Of Likely Voters: October 24th, 1968

Nelson Rockefeller                    33%
George Wallace                        30%
Hubert Humphrey                     22%
Pigasus the Immortal                 4%
Undecided                                11%

One Problem, Wallace wanted to Expand the Great Society at least 2X, I could see Ronnie endorsing him, but I cannot see Wallace wanting less Government.

Wallace wanted to make it more efficent, not expand it.

[Historico]

Interesting Idea, getting Ronnie to endorse George Wallace, which should help him alot in the Mountain West. The Debates should be very interesting...Keep it comming.

[Lahbas]

Excerpts from the Harvard Law School Presidential Debate, October 25th 1968






"I......as president.......will make sure that this war is brought to an end, and peace declared."

"What? Why did you pick Connally then?"

"Well........he is a good governor.......and.......will help me make my decisions."

"Yes.......but the man is vocally for Vietnam. And as a voter.....I would have to assume that you are lying about you position. I already promised to end the war by any means necessary.....excluding the nuclear option..........but you are as vague on the question as you can get. Either get on the ball Humphrey........or get out of the race."






"Four years. It been four years since we gave you and LBJ the chance to prevent another China. Four years since we gave you the okay to kick those communists' arses back into Chin territory. Four years later.........we are still fighting......and losing. We won the Second World War in four years. We won the First World War in two years. Those were global. And you are telling me you cannot defeat and pacify a small country in Indochina in four years?"






"These two fellows to my sides are almost like twins. Both support reverse discrimination. Both want to......but have no plan on ending the war in Vietnam. Both want to explode the Great Society into another one of those government arms that rummages through your pocket. They both want to end the freedom of our state governments, and neither has the ability to end the chaos that is raining upon this nation. To be honest, I am surprised that Nelson Rockefeller is not a Democrat, as he certainly has the platform of one."






"Wallace........do you believe that African-American's should have the right to vote?"

"Why yes..of course."

"Then why do you oppose Civil Rights legislation.....that specifically is for that purpose?"

"It is not for that purpose. Those tyrannical policies only give the African-American population a way to unjustly take away jobs from those who should rightfully get them."

"You mean fellow white?"

"I didn't say that......did I?"

"Then who did you mean?"

"Anyone would qualifies best for the job should get it. It should not be on the basis of his race......that should not be a factor at all. What worries me is that minorities will use it as an excuse to establish themselves upon a higher level of social standing."

"Like whites in the south?"






"Humphrey.....what is the point of the current welthare system?"

"We use it to......support those who are unemployed.....until they are able to find stable jobs."

"No......what interested me is......what is the incentive to get one self off of welfare?"

"Well......................um..................."

"Is there any kind of system that knocks people off after a period of time?"

"No.............no there is not."

"Then what is the incentive?"

"Now Rockefeller.....leave poor Humphrey alone. No one said the system was perfect........and I myself realize that it has to be revised."

"The whole Great Society should be totally rewritten........as this one has as far as I've seen flopped."

"It does not need to be rewritten.....only revised. No one should expect the first draft to be final. Have you never taken grammar class?"

"Did you just insult me?"

"No. I just assumed that that was the reason why you didn't know one of the most basic rules of composition."

[Lahbas]

Comments?

[Cassius Dio]

One of the best current TL. I want to see more...please!!! Question: Will you only write until election night 1968 or will you also write about a George C. Wallace presidency? Because I would love to see how he would lead the nation for four (or even eight) years.

[Lahbas]

Sorry that I have not been able to really update this for a while. I've been able to make quick posts here and there, but not the detailed posts that are involved here. The election itself will be involved in the next post.

"Recent Gallup polling following the debate at Harvard University has shown a radically altered field during the course of the election. It appears that George Wallace, who is widely considered to have trumped both Humphrey and Rockefeller during the debate, has become the new frontrunner. Both Rockefeller and Humphrey have apparently lost support, Humphrey more so, while the pig remains static. However, even with a lead in the polls, pundits are not sure that he will be able to carry the number of states required to win the election. If it does go to the House, it is likely then that the Democratic ticket will win, both there and in the Senate."

- Unnamed Reporter, November 1st 1968

Gallup Polling: November 1st 1968

George Wallace               38%
Nelson Rockefeller           31%
Hubert Humphrey            17%
Pigasus the Immortal        4%
Undecided                       10%

[Lahbas]

<sub>"The Presidential Election of 1968 would be an anomaly that is likely never again to occur in American politics. As established by the United States Congress, the electoral college was what would ultimately decide the true winner of the election, even if not chosen by the popular vote. This was because, in the days of the founding founders, it was assumed that the people would not vote in the interests of the Republic as a whole, easily swayed by outside factors. Despit this perception largely changing through the 19th, and into the 20th century, Congress has not acted upon the issue, largely because there wasn't a issue. There have only been three elections in which the winner of the popular vote did not win the office, and only two of those didn't go to Congress. As a result, there had not been a major push to end the system. That changed in 1968.

By November 5th, it was clear that Wallace was going to win the popular vote, having from a nine to ten percent lead ahead of Rockefeller in most polls. What was not certain was if he would attain the required 270 electoral votes needed to officially win the election. As those result came it, Illinois eventually became the state of that would decide the election in Wallace's favor or not. Illinois, by a margin of 12,000, would vote for Rockefeller."</sub>

George Wallace (AI-AL)/James Rhodes (AI-OH) 41% / 267 Electoral
Nelson Rockefeller (R-NY)/Daniel Evans (R-WA) 34% / 230 Electoral
Hubert Humphrey (D-MN)/John Connally (D-TX) 19% / 41 Electoral
Pigasus the Immortal (Y)/Jerry Rubin (Y-IL) 6%

_{"Wallace's hopes for winning the election were crushed. He knew that he would not win in the House, even if God himself intervened and threatened to strike down every man in Congress. There was also obvious discontent within the voting population when this became apparent, though there was no actual rioting or protests, largely due to George Wallace making constant appearances around the country, trying to ease tensions in an already troubled nation. George Wallace himself would say "The American people know they lost. They know that Congress will not elect me, even if they begin a campaign and threaten to not relect them. I was honored that they supported me, but this was just not our year." That would all change on the 9th of December..........."}

- The Rise of the George Wallace and the South, Harry Turtledove

[Lahbas]

"No one knows exactly what occured within the delegation of Illinois electors, but it changed the course of history as it had been unfolding. The Illinois electors had decided to hold a secret ballot, from which the results would be read, and then given to Congress. After the 25 electors had voted, what was considered to be a mere formality turned into a two hour dilema. 12 of the electors had cast their votes for George Wallace, officially giving him the Presidency. Repeated voting kept bringing the same result, and a call for the removal of the secret ballot failed. To this day, nobody knows exactly what happened during that event, nor who voted for whom, or even who lead the effort in the first place. All that is known is that this movement was successful in achieving its goal."

- The Rise of the South, Harry Turtledove



"I'm sorry........but talking about the electoral college is only going to make him more upset. You know how close he was to becoming President."

"Well let me through then...........because I am here to tell him that he IS the new President."

- Vice President Elect James Rhodes talking with Cornelia Snively

[Lahbas]

Comments?

[Barnes]

Comments?

Very clever! Did the American independent Party run any candidates for Congress, and were they successful?

[Lahbas]

Comments?

Very clever! Did the American independent Party run any candidates for Congress, and where there successful?

Historically no. For now, it is really Democrats switching party affiliation, though that will be worked out later.

[Historico]

Wow, what an interesting twist Lahbas, youve really turned this idea into your great piece of work. Although Based on Yours and the one IOTL, I would atleast think George would be able to carry Alaska and Kansas which were two of the AIP's best performed states outside the South. Can't wait to see how the Wallace Presidency turns out, and are you going to stay with the New snippet like format or change to a more textbook like format like Ben's or Gio's timelines?