No Watergate, the TL.

[President Mitt]

Im sorry to switch timelines AGAIN, but this time I promise to stick with it . If this is well received, I will continue.

No Watergate, A Timeline
   
The Watergate Break-in

Contrary to a narrow majority of American public opinion today, there was some illegal activity involving the Nixon administration and the Watergate Hotel. Some members of the Committee to Re-elect the President was involved in a break-in at the Democratic National Convention Headquarters in the Watergate Hotel. Historians speculate that if Frank Wills, the security guard on duty after the break-in, had paid a little more attention to the door on the Watergate Complex, it could have made some serious complications for the Nixon Administration.

1972 Republican Nomination

Incumbent President Richard Nixon of course made plans for reelection, as he was a very popular President. The only opposition that was made to President Nixon was the candidacy of John Ashbrook- a little known Congressman from Ohio, who had charged that Richard Nixon had “moved to the left” on various Domestic Issues such as Affirmative Action and Domestic Spending. Being a very popular incumbent, Richard Nixon was easily nominated on the first ballot winning all but one of the Republican Delegates, which was a protest vote, instead voting for Pete McClosky- an anti-war Republican from California.

Vice President Spiro Agnew was also easily re-nominated as Vice President, even though there was some thoughts, including some from Richard Nixon, that he should be replaced.

1972 Democratic Nomination

As a contrast, the 1972 Democratic Primaries were a mess. Ted Kennedy had been the previous frontrunner, but the Chappaquiddick scandal had taken him out of the running. The leading candidates included: Senator George McGovern of South Dakota, Hubert Humphrey from Minnesota, George Wallace of Alabama, Edmond Muskie from Maine, and Shirley Chrisholm from New York.

Edmond Muskie had been the early frontrunner, winning a narrow victory in Iowa, he was expected to win New Hampshire by a large margin, but due to dirty tricks, perpetrated by CREEP, Muskie fell from Grace, and barely won New Hampshire. George Wallace took a lead, winning several southern primaries such as Tennessee and North Carolina, and doing very well in Northern Primaries. But Wallace was taken out of the race when he was shot near fatally by Arthur Bremer.

The race was now down to Hubert Humphrey and George McGovern. Humphrey retained his base of Working Class Union Members in the Rust Belt, but was still tainted by the Vietnam War in a Party that had moved to the left since 1968. The race was close, but Humphrey was knocked out when McGovern won a narrow victory in the California Primary (44% to 39%)

After a tumultuous Democratic Convention, McGovern chose Thomas Eagleton of Missouri as his running mate.

1972 General Election

Richard Nixon was a popular incumbent, who had an overwhelming support of the public in his Vietnam policies and other foreign policies. Richard Nixon had appeared as a World Leader who had closened ties with China, something no President before him had been able to do. George McGovern had focused on a mainly Anti-War platform and heavily increasing Welfare.

The McGovern campaign was heavily hindered by the Eagleton Affair. It was revealed that Thomas Eagleton had received Electro-Shock Therapy for depression. McGovern was pressured to drop Eagleton from the ticket, but caused a backlash against him doing so, and picked Sargent Shriver of California as his running mate. The affair had caused severe damage to McGovern’s credibility. McGovern was also hindered by many Democrats running to Nixon’s camp, alienated by McGovern’s views.

The Nixon camp was also helped by a Pro-Nixon organization known as the "Democrats For Nixon" chaired by the Secretary of Commerce and Nixon Ally John Connally. Democrats For Nixon created several ads designed to attract "Humphrey Democrats" or Working Class Democrats worried about McGovern. The ploy was successful, and Nixon achieved almost 40% of the Democratic Vote in the 1972 Election.

In the end Nixon was a popular President against an opponent who was perceived as hopelessly Liberal, who had bad judgment. Polls showed only 6 out of 10 Democrats approved of McGovern. The result showed as well with Nixon winning one of the largest landslides in history:

Richard Nixon/ Spiro Agnew:    520 Electoral Votes, 60.7%
George McGovern/ Sargent Shriver:    17 Electoral Votes, 35.7%

1972 Congressional Elections

The Democrats did keep Control of both Houses of Congress, making slight gains in the Senate, and slight losses in the House.

House
Democrats- 242 (-13)
Republican- 192 (+12)

Senate
Democrats- 56 (+2)
Republicans- 42 (-2)

[Barnes]

This seems good, but please continue the Liberal Republicans, also!

[President Mitt]

This seems good, but please continue the Liberal Republicans, also!

With regards to the Liberal Republicans, I think I took an Idea and went with it without further research, and I believe I went a little over my head. I may continue it someday, but if you would like to continue it for me, your welcome to do so.

[Barnes]

This seems good, but please continue the Liberal Republicans, also!

With regards to the Liberal Republicans, I think I took an Idea and went with it without further research, and I believe I went a little over my head. I may continue it someday, but if you would like to continue it for me, your welcome to do so.

Thanks for the offer. But I'm not very good with 19th Century politics.

[hcallega]

This sounds good. I know way too much about post 1960s American politics, so if you have any questions I would love to help.

[President Mitt]

This sounds good. I know way too much about post 1960s American politics, so if you have any questions I would love to help.

Thank you Hcallega. I am looking forward to your 1940 Timeline as well. I do have one question, Do you know the details of the Nixon Health Insurance Plan? If you do PM it to me please.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Giovanni, you have an excellent ideas and excellent starts but, sorry to say this, you did not finished a timeline yet.

So please focus on this if you want and keep focusing and I'll read this with a pleasure

[President Mitt]

The Second Term of Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon reentered the Presidency with a large mandate coming from the 1972 Presidential Election, even if the Republican Party did not. Richard Nixon made a televised address in the first few days of his presidency addressing many of the major concerns that the people had. He firstly claimed that the economy was booming and attributed it to many Nixon Economic policies in the early 70’s.

He then claimed that he intended to keep South Vietnam safe from “Communist Aggressors” if North Vietnam decided to break the Paris Agreement. He also spoke of continuing relations with China.

Nixon also continued to attack Racial Busing, which had made him very popular to White Working Class Democrats who had voted for him in 1972.

Surprisingly, Richard Nixon also called for “Health Care Reform” that is reforming the Health Care system in the United States to make it easier for people to obtain. Nixon did not give many details as to the plan. Nixon also planned not to pursue it immediately. The President said to his Chief of Staff H. R. Haldeman “Now is not the time, I have more important matters.”

Nixon also announced after his Television Conference that he would keep the Price Controls he placed in the early 70's to Congressional Leaders. With Carl Albert, Mike Mansfield, Gerald Ford and Hugh Scott generally supporting this plan, the price controls would remain, much to the anger of Big Business.
 
Vice President Spiro Agnew was forced to resign the Vice Presidency on October 10th, 1973 when he was accused of bribery, Tax Evasion, and Money Laundering during his tenure as the Governor of Maryland. Spiro Agnew pleaded No Contest only to the charge of Tax Evasion, when he failed to report almost 20,000 Dollars worth of Income. As according to the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, President Nixon would have to nominate somebody to fill in the rest of Spiro Agnew’s term.

Richard Nixon had several high-profile politicians on his shortlist for Vice President, including:

-   John Connally, Secretary of Commerce from Texas
-   Gerald Ford, House Minority Leader from Michigan
-   John Tower, Senator from Texas
-   Hugh Scott, Senate Minority Leader from Pennsylvania
-   Howard Baker, Senator from Tennessee

Ford and Scott were mainly on the list just because they would have been easy to be confirmed. Howard Baker was briefly considered because of his high Congressional Respect and appeal to Southern Conservatives, but Nixon was aiming for his close ally John Connally to be confirmed, but Democratic Leaders had given strong resistance against the idea. Nonetheless, Nixon went forth with the nomination of Connally.

Nixon later revealed to H.R. Haldeman that he wanted Connally to win the Presidency in 1976 mainly to ensure a different and much more powerful Republican Party, one that included Blue-Dog Democrats and the Working Class Whites that had voted for Wallace in 1968 and Humphrey in 1972 (Democratic Primary).

Democrats had strong anger towards John Connally, who had been the Democratic Governor of Texas before he took a cabinet appointment in the Nixon administration, and chaired the traitorous “Democrats for Nixon” in the 1972 Election. Speaker of the House Carl Albert had eventually said: “If Nixon is doing this just to push our buttons, Mission accomplished.”

However the rejection of Connally was not assured. Through the political maneuverings of Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman, Most Republicans were expected to stay in line, and vote with the President to confirm Connally. Not only that, but most Southern Democrats were favorable towards Connally, and voted for him.

The Senate voted 53 to 46 to confirm Connally, with Republican Senator Jacob Javits (R- NY) refusing to vote. With a defeat in the Senate, House Democratic discipline collapsed, and Connally was confirmed 287 to 135 to become the 40th Vice President of the United States.

John Connally, 40th Vice President of the United States

[Hillary 2016]

wow...what a great idea!  keep going, honey!

[hcallega]

I somewhat like Connally. Not as President, but personally.

[Historico]

I somewhat like Connally. Not as President, but personally.

I actually did a project on Connally back in Middle School for Texas history lol, He accomplished alot during his time as Governor, but I think the biggest thing that's going to hurt his chances in 1976(He should still have a fairly good shot given, Nixon's popularity) is that he would be seen by many voters as a relic from the '60's that really wasn't that visible in the Nixon adminstration to begin with. Nixon will have to pour alot of support into Connally(Which means giving him a major policy intiative,sending him on stature enhancing trips, casual photo ops etc) to make him seem Presidential

btw, Nixon's plan...Which I dubbed CHIA(or Comphrensive Health Insurance Act) in my timeline was a plan that was specifically designed to work in the form of a mandate, which would require Businesses to cover their employees, along with a Medicaid-like program for lower income families, in which all American citizens would be able to join by paying sliding-scale premiums based on their income.

I think im actually rooting for Connally/Brooke in 1976 to give the Democrats a better shot in 1980 lol. Anyway's GIO, I think that while you meant well with trying to do the pre 1900 timeline's they are a lot of work and research to try to make it seem remotley positive. Something like a No Watergate timeline, something that's only covering about 35 years of Butterflies is alot easier to handle. I like where this timeline is going...Keep it comming.

[President Mitt]

I somewhat like Connally. Not as President, but personally.

I actually did a project on Connally back in Middle School for Texas history lol, He accomplished alot during his time as Governor, but I think the biggest thing that's going to hurt his chances in 1976(He should still have a fairly good shot given, Nixon's popularity) is that he would be seen by many voters as a relic from the '60's that really wasn't that visible in the Nixon adminstration to begin with. Nixon will have to pour alot of support into Connally(Which means giving him a major policy intiative,sending him on stature enhancing trips, casual photo ops etc) to make him seem Presidential

btw, Nixon's plan...Which I dubbed CHIA(or Comphrensive Health Insurance Act) in my timeline was a plan that was specifically designed to work in the form of a mandate, which would require Businesses to cover their employees, along with a Medicaid-like program for lower income families, in which all American citizens would be able to join by paying sliding-scale premiums based on their income.

I think im actually rooting for Connally/Brooke in 1976 to give the Democrats a better shot in 1980 lol. Anyway's GIO, I think that while you meant well with trying to do the pre 1900 timeline's they are a lot of work and research to try to make it seem remotley positive. Something like a No Watergate timeline, something that's only covering about 35 years of Butterflies is alot easier to handle. I like where this timeline is going...Keep it comming.

Historico hit the hammer on the nail there.

Second Term of Richard Nixon, pt. 2

"I shall propose a sweeping new program that will assure comprehensive health-insurance protection to millions of Americans who cannot now obtain it or afford it, with vastly improved protection against catastrophic illnesses,"- President Richard Nixon

On February 6th, 1974, President Richard Nixon proposed his Health Care Reform plan to Congress. It was a well known fact that Health Care Costs were beginning to get higher and higher, and availability to Health Care was decreasing. These problems were attributing to rapidly increasing Federal inflation, and increasing Hospital expenditures. The President declared American medicine in “dire need of reform”.

The Plan consisted of an Employer Mandate System that would force Businesses to insure their employees. President Nixon would also design a Small Business Subsidy program that would help Small Businesses pay for Employee Health Care. The plan would also help Business. Nixon’s plan also called for the creation of 1700 Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO’S) to help pay to almost 40% of Health Care Costs for business. Nixon predicted that his Health Care Plan would help insure 40 Million uninsured Americans by the end of 1976.

Reaction to the Comprehensive Health Insurance Act was mostly for the early stages, negative. Republicans cried that the CHIA was “Government mandated Socialized Medicine” with Congressman John Ashbrook (R- OH) remarking: “The President has forgotten that we are supposed to be fighting Socialism, not lining ourselves up with it!” Most Republicans thought that while Health Care Reform was needed, Nixon’s plan went too far.

The Democrats by contrast thought that Nixon’s Health Insurance Plan did not go far enough. Senate Majority Whip, Edward M. Kennedy (D- MA) instead sought an entirely Government run Health Care system, implementing an Individual Mandate- something that Richard Nixon opposed, but did express support for requiring Children to be insured.

Debate raged through March between the Kennedy Government plan, and the Nixon Employer Mandate plan. Eventually, on April 2nd, the President and Kennedy waged a compromise that would include most of Nixon’s plan, but with several concessions to Teddy Kennedy including requiring that Children be insured, and giving Lower Income Americans Slide Scale Premiums based on their level of income. Both sides won out in the end, President Nixon came out with most of his Health Care Plan intact, and Senator Kennedy came out with a favorable reception from Democrats for standing up to Nixon for a month.

But the CHIP still faced considerable opposition from Congressional Conservatives. Conservative Republicans such as Barry Goldwater (R- AZ), Strom Thurmond (R- SC), and John Ashbrook (R- OH) decried the Health Insurance Plan as socialism, some saying that Nixon had betrayed the Conservative Rhetoric he displayed in the 1972 election when he dealed around with the Kennedys. The Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan’s fate in Congress was still in the balance.

Until the Nixon Chief of Staff, H.R. Haldeman distributed a memo to every Congressional and Sentate Republican who was either against the CHIP, or a swing vote. The memo was an ultimatum threatening that if Republicans voted against Nixon Care, Nixon would not stop by their districts to campaign for them in the 1974 elections, nor would he allow Pork to go into opposing Districts. The threat empowered Conservative Resistance against the CHIP, but swung Swing Voters such Charles Mathias from Maryland and John Tower of Texas toward CHIP. There was also constant Arm Twisting by Senate Minority Leader Hugh Scott and Minority Leader Gerald Ford towards opposing Republicans. Republican Senator Edward Brooke (R- MA) finally decalred "Finally! Me and the President agree on something!" Brooke would prove invaluable twisting arms of Moderate Republicans in the East to support Nixon Care

The Comprehensive Health Insurance Act of 1974 passed in the House 228 to 207, with Most Democrats and a slim majority of Republicans voting in favor of it. The Senate passed the CHIP 69 to 31, with Southern Democrats and Western Republicans voting against it. The President calling it a “Positive Reform for millions of uninsured Americans.”

In a rare occurrence, the Republican Party had gained seats in the 1974 Midterms, mainly because of the opposition to many Want-To-Be Democratic Freshman’s to the Vietnam War, which many Americans now believed the US was winning, and overall popularity of the Nixon administration. Some Republicans won victories in the Rust Belt by appealing to the Working Class by supporting Nixon Care.

1974 Congressional Elections:

Democrats: 232 (-11)
Republicans: 203 (+11)

Senate:
Democrats: 55 (-2)
Republicans: 44 (+2)
Independents: 1

On April 7, 1975, North Vietnam attacked South Vietnam in an Operation Code Named “Operation Frequent Wind”. North Vietnam had theorized that since the United States had made a hasty negotiation in 1973 that the United States had lost its resolve, and would not assist South Vietnam in the fight. They were wrong. Nixon ordered bombings to resume on North Vietnam. As it had in the last Five years, Vietnamization proved successful and American Fire Power plus South Vietnamese Ground troops won the day, and the North Vietnamese attack was defeated.

Richard Nixon would be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for “ensuring peace in South East Asia”, although there were many protests from North Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and even some lukewarm resistance from South Vietnam (although Thieu never voiced it in Public).

Nearing the End of his Second Term, Richard Nixon’s approval ratings were in-between the high Fifties and the low sixties.

[hcallega]

Well done. In the future, voteview is the best source for finding how a senator or congressman would vote on a bill.

[Historico]

Awesome rap up on a completed Nixon term Gio, nice to see we finally get Health Care Reform passed ITTL....Connally/Brooke for '76

[President Mitt]

Wow that was pretty sad. I give Teddy a role in my TL, the next day he passes away. It'd be kinda funny if it wasn't so sad. Anyways, an update tomorrow.

[Historico]

Cool, because Im ready to get in the mix for the Presidential Election of 1976

[President Mitt]

The Democratic Nomination

With America’s partisan loyalties still in the balance, Democratic Big Leaders around the country put their hats into the 1976 Presidential Election. The first was Senator Henry Jackson of Washington, who applauded Richard Nixon’s Domestic and Foreign policies, but vowed to run them “better” than the Republicans. The Second was California Governor Jerry Brown, who held a populist Tax-Cut platform that was appealing to Moderates. The other “Serious” Contenders were Morris Udall, George Wallace, and Idaho Senator Frank Church. There were also contenders like Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, who people pretty much knew had no real chance of winning the Nomination, much less defeating the Republicans.

One contender who was missing was Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, there had been large amounts of support for a “Draft Teddy” campaign, but Edward Kennedy refused to comply. Some saying he was “just fine” with being Senator, others saying that he was waiting until 1980, where the Democrats would have a bigger advantage.

Senator Jackson had been leading the polls narrowly in Iowa, but in an upset on January 27th, Governor Brown edged the Senator by little more than two thousand votes, seriously damaging Senator Jackson’s momentum. The Governor repeated this success with a victory in New Hampshire. But Jackson came back, winning large victories in Massachusetts (March 2), Florida (March 9), Illinois (March 16), and North Carolina (March 23), with Brown managing only a moderate win in Vermont (March 2).

Jackson and Brown would split the remaining primaries; Jackson would take Southern States, and the Rust Belt. Brown would take the West, and more liberal Democratic States. The deciding contest being Oregon (May 25). Jackson won the Beaver State by little more than 6,000 votes, giving Jackson a narrow Majority in pledged delegates. Brown would drop out and endorse Jackson, leaving Henry “Scoop” Jackson as the Democratic Nominee by default.

At the Democratic National Convention in Madison Square Garden, Henry Jackson would choose Senator Samuel Nunn as his running mate to appeal to the South, which both Nunn and Jackson had strong appeal to. The Democratic Platform also for the first time included an Anti-Busing measure, as suggested by Senator Jackson in order to drawl Southern Whites from the Republicans.

The Republican Nomination

Even though John Connally was the Vice President of a popular incumbent, which by no means assured him the nomination of his own Party. Many Republicans distrusted him because of his Democratic past, and some Conservatives were disgusted with the Vice President’s support of the Nixon National Health Insurance Plan. President Nixon knew that his VP might have trouble keep the GOP rank and file in line, and gave the full support of the Nixon machine that had engineered his 1968 victory and 1972 landslide to the troubled Vice President. It proved to work, and for the most part there was only feeble opposition in the form of Congressman John Ashbrook. Vice President Connally easily coasted to the Republican Nomination.

There were some suspicions with Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater. Nearing the 1976 campaign, Goldwater  had undertook a Whistle Stop Campaign mostly speaking for “Conservative Principles”, with many believing he was thinking of creating a Primary Challenge to the Vice President, but he never announced. Goldwater would later write in his memoirs he voted for Ashbrook in the Arizona primary.

John Connally would choose Maryland Senator Charles Mathias as his running mate to appeal to Moderates in the Northeast. TIME magazine would later categorize Mathias as the “Most Dulling vice Presidential Pick in History” While Mathias was a genuine politician and a intelligent one at that, he was a lackluster campaigner.

1976 Presidential Election

Both Tickets remained neck and neck after the August Conventions. Henry Scoop Jackson claimed he would strengthen America abroad, and deepen Domestic Programs started by Johnson’s great Society, and not necessarily ended by the Nixon Administration. John Connally claimed he was the one who would continue the legacy of Nixon. As a Rolling Stone article put it: The name of the game was to see who could Out-Nixon Nixon. The magazine would refuse to endorse either ticket.

Connally immediately went on the attack. He claimed that Jackson would spend the Government Treasury “dry as a Texas Cactus” as he liked to put it. Jackson likewise claimed that Connally would sell the country out to the US Chamber of Congress and other Pro- Business organizations in the United States. Connally then claimed that Jackson would be a President “In the pocket of the AFL- CIO”.

Connally did have an advantage. Grassroots efforts by Evangelical Christians seemed to back him, as Connally did reach out to them by supporting “family values”. He was also the Vice President of a popular administration. But Jackson also had an advantage, himself being a “New Deal Democrat”, he had strong appeal to the fractured coalition that had once ruled the United States.

Nearing the end of the campaign, Polls shown that Jackson was starting to boost in the South, a vital swing region in the 1976 election. Connally conducted a “Surrogate Strategy”, with himself, and Southern Surrogates such as John Tower or Strom Thurmond focusing on the South, and sending his VEEP Charles Mathias, Gerald Ford, and Edward Brooke to campaign for him in the North. The Strategy worked, and Connally gained in the Polls.

Vice President John Connally/ Senator Charles Mathias: 276; 50.1%
Senator Henry S. Jackson/ Senator Sam Nunn: 262; 48.9%

Connally gained a narrow victory over his Democratic Rival. The Decisive State turned out to be Ohio, with Connally stealing just enough Blue Collar support from Jackson to tip the state over to him by just 80,000 votes.

However the Democrats gained in the House of Representatives, with the Republicans gaining a Net Gain of one seat in the Senate.

House
Democrats: 238 (+6)
Republicans: 197 (- 6)

Senate:
Democrats: 54 (-1)
Republicans: 45 (+1)
Independent: 1

[Historico]

Great installment GIO, you really captured the voices of Connally and Scoop extremley well for the campaign. I do have an issue with the Scott picked only because of his age, He was 76 when he retired from the Senate in '77, and although he may have lived to '94 in OTL, Im not sure if he would like to stay on board in Government for another 5 years.

Other good Moderate picks would former Governor William Scranton in Pennsylvania, Senator Charles Mathias of Maryland, House Minority Leader Gerald Ford of Michigan, Senator Chuck Percy of Illinois, Senator Jacob Javits of New York, and Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon would all be strong picks. But I could see Scott staying on board for the Vice Presidency for the sake of party unity.

[pragmatic liberal]

In real life, Connally was tried in 1974, I believe, on charges of price-fixing milk and was put on trial. (He was acquitted.) How do you see this playing out in this timeline? I also take issue with choosing Hugh Scott as Connally's running mate given his age. I agree that Charles Percy is a realistic pick.

Otherwise, though, I think this is fairly plausible.

My only other question is over Jackson; Scoop Jackson had some support among party leaders and labor, but he was never especially popular with Democratic primary voters. Also, in real-life, Carter was one of the first to master the new primary rules, which I suspect may have given him some strength even in the absence of Watergate.

Still, like I said, your scenario is fairly plausible. Good work!

[President Mitt]

I have looked up Hugh Scott's age and agree with the both of you, so I've edited the post to replace Scott with Charles Mathias (R- MD). Sorry to all you rabid Hugh Scott fans out there.

And thanks for both your comments.

[President Mitt]

The First Term of John Connally (1977- 1981) (Part 1)


Vice President Connally took the oath of office on January 20th, 1977 to become the Thirty- Eight President of the United States. President Connally urged the continuing of the legacy of Richard Nixon, promising to continue the Domestic, Economic, and Abroad policies of the departing Nixon Administration. President Connally would keep most of the Nixon cabinet intact, with many Nixon holdovers remaining in position.

Vice President: Charles Mathias
Secretary of State: Henry Kissinger
Secretary of the Treasury: William Simon
Secretary of Defense: Alexander Haig
Attorney General: William Saxbee
Post Master General: William M. Blout
Secretary of the Interior: Rogers Morton
Secretary of Commerce: Frederick Dent
Secretary of Labor: James Hodgson
Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare: Robert Dole
Secretary of Urban Development: James Lynn
Secretary of Transportation: Claude Brinegar

The only real changes President Connally made to the Nixon Cabinet was the appointment of Allied Supreme Commander Alexander Haig as his new Secretary of Defense, and Senator Robert Dole of Kansas as his new Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. The only trouble was appointing Haig, who had a controversial leadership in Europe.

The First objective of the New United States Administration was to pass a budget. Connally’s idea of the budget for the Fiscal year was a cut in some Social Spending, and even more cuts in programs such as NASA, who had been gutted by the Nixon Administration years ago. President Connally had said: “While Space Exploration is a vital importance to this administration, it is second to other objectives such as Balancing the Budget and Keeping our Military in top Shape.” The Connally Budget would also supply for a tax cut, and overall simplifying of the Tax Code.

Senate Majority Whip Edward M. Kennedy struck down the Connally budget as a means of “Depriving the less fortunate of more than they already have.” The Democrats proposed a compromise budget, with no further cuts in NASA, and only slight cuts in other social programs. This budget would also only provide a tax cut for the lowest of Income earners. Connally would veto the Kennedy budget, but Congress would override the veto with most of Congress in agreement.

The embarrassing loss in the budget fight caused President Connally’s approval ratings to go from its January high of 66% to a lower to 58%.

On March 7th, 1977, President Connally requested that Congress end the 1950’s Price Controls on Natural Gas that according to Connally had contributed to the 1973 Gas Crisis, and not the efforts of President Nixon. Connally managed to gain enough Southern Democratic Votes to ensure the passing of this measure.

On September 7th, President Connally makes a speech in Tampa, Florida, again refusing to talk with the Country of Panama about relinquishing the Panama Canal, which the President opposes, and goes on to say: “We paid for it, We built it, and some even died for it, it belongs to the United States of America.” Due to the unpopularity of relinquishing it among the American People, the Democrats are mostly silent on the issue.

Over the late 70’s, OPEC raises its oil prices over 14 percent. The following months would be filled with Nationwide Gas shortages, sparking many fears that the Gasoline Prices of the early Seventies might return.

There was rapid stagflation throughout Connally’s first term, Sky Rocketing Unemployment along with rising Inflation which was hurting Connally approval as well. Democrats urged action, and Senator Ernest Hollings of South Carolina introduced the Fair Employment act of 1978, which passed both Houses of Congress with minimal opposition. Although President Connally personally opposed it, he gave into pressure and signed the Fair Employment Act of 1978. This made Connally seem Weak to many Conservatives, who were steadfastly opposed to the FEA.

Despite some rattling from his friends at the United States Chamber of Commerce, and some pro- Business supporters, President Connally refuses to strike out the Wage and Price Controls, which Connally had helped create in the early 70’s. Inflation is continuing to rise, and was contributing to lower Approval ratings for Connally.

Nearing the 1978 Midterms, President Connally had an Approval Rating of 45%, with 39% disapproving of him, and the other 16% percent having no opinion of him. This provided that the Republicans might be in for a rough election.   

The Democrats gained a large number of seats in the House, and the Senate. Although Voters approved on how Connally handled Foreign Policy, Voters were steadfastly opposed to how the Connally Administraion acted towards the Gas, Economic, and Domestic situations opposing the United States.

House:

Democrats: 270 (+32)
Republicans: 175 (-32)

Senate:

Democrats: 59 (+5)
Republicans: 41 (- 5)

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

1976: Reagan defeats Carter
1980: Kennedy defeats Reagan
1984: Kennedy defeats George HW Bush
1988: Dukakis defeats Dole
1992: Kemp defeats Dukakis
1996: Clinton defeats Kemp
2000: Clinton defeats McCain
2004: McCain defeats Kerry
2008: Obama defeats McCain

[hcallega]

This is really good. I like your simple but tantalizing style. Oh, by the way, two personal notes: One is that I'm pausing my narative due to school (should do another TL during winter break), and two, my grandfather was the commander of the Disabled American Veterans during the 1960s and '70s and was good friends with LBJ and HHH. In fact, during the 1968 DNC he was with the Texas delegation (I'm not sure why, as he was and still lives in Baltimore) and urged HHH to choose Connally as HIS VP, due to the fact that he was with JFK when he was shot and that he was a southern conservative. He also got into a argument with Paul Newman to.

So basically this TL is close to my heart!

[Historico]

Awesome update Gio, I guess the WIN(Whip Inflation Now) Strategy isn't working to well for old Connally(Whom I've never been to fond off). Looking forward to seeing how he handles the Hostage Crisis...Keep it comming.

[hcallega]

Looking forward to seeing how he handles the Hostage Crisis...Keep it comming.

I have a feeling that won't end well