The liberal Republic

[President Johnson]

August 2, 1982: Administration-backed Healthcare bill introduced in House



Months in the making, a group of Democratic lawmakers finally introduced a healthcare bill into the House. The proposal is backed by the Brown Administration and contains all measures the president called for in his State if the Union Address earlier that year. It is also very similar to legislation proposed by the Rockefeller Administration in 1977 that was narrowly voted down in the House as well as a New York State law recently passed under outgoing Governor Robert F. Kennedy. The bill provides creation of the Health Connector; the establishment of the subsidized Commonwealth Care Health Insurance Program; the employer Fair Share Contribution and Free Rider Surcharge; and a requirement that each individual must show evidence of coverage on their income tax return or face a tax penalty, unless coverage was deemed unaffordable by the Health Connector. In addition, it expands coverage for children of low income parents under a Medicaid Expansion federal law created during Lyndon B. Johnson’s second full term. Under proposal, Americans must have health insurance coverage under the reform that takes effect on January 1, 1985. Residents must indicate on their tax forms if they had insurance on December 31 of that tax year, had a waiver for religious reasons, or had a waiver from the Connector. Employers with more than 20 full-time equivalent employees must provide a 50% contribution to the premium of health insurance for employees.

Speaker O’Neill expressed his support for the bill and has vowed to put it on the floor before the end of this congress. However, observers on the Hill say it is unlikely before the November midterm election. The measure could be voted upon during the lame duck session and the senate pick it up early in 1983. A group of 140 Republican congressmen as well as 30 Democrats voiced their opposition already. The Brown Administration would need a fair number of Republican crossover votes to pass the legislation. So far, only about 10 expressed cautious support.


August 14, 1982: President Brown and Secretary Shriver announce negotiations over unity government in Nicaragua



In January, President Jerry Brown issued a National Security Directive, prohibiting support for the Contras in Nicaragua. That policy was codified with the Boland Amendments passed by congress and signed by Brown a few months later. However, a new diplomatic effort led by Secretary of State Sargent Shriver has finally reached a breakthrough with representatives of the Contras, seeking to remove the Socialist government of Nicaragua, and government officials agreeing to discuss the possibility of a unity government. As President Brown announced during a campaign stop in Los Angeles, Secretary of State Sargent Shriver will host the first round of talks in Mexico City in early September. In the meantime, both parties agreed to suspend hostile actions.

After the news broke, Shriver received a lot of friendly press for his diplomatic accomplishments. This comes just days after Iran and Iraq agreed to negotiate a ceasefire in their armed conflict.  These talks were initiated by Shriver and his Soviet counterpart.


August 31, 1982: New Gallup poll

President Brown Job Approval
Approve: 58% ▼
Disapprove: 37% ▲

1982 congressional generic ballot
Democratic: 47%
Republican: 43%


September 7, 1982: Mario Cuomo defeats Ed Koch in New York gubernatorial primary, Geraldine Ferraro emerges victories in crowded senate primary


Showdown in New York: Outgoing US Senator Mario Cuomo has defeated New York City Mayor Ed Koch for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Cuomo jumped into the race in spring after two-term incumbent and former Vice President Robert Kennedy announced his retirement. Kennedy himself endorsed Cuomo after he won over Koch, now facing Republican Lewis Lehrman.

Meanwhile, Cuomo’s departure from the senate left his seat contested. From a group of nine candidates, Representative Geraldine Ferraro emerged victorious with 32% of the vote, narrowly toping former diplomat Patrick Moynihan who received 29% of the vote. Ferraro will face 1980 Republican candidate Al D’Amato in November, who launched his second bid for the senate.

If Ferraro wins, New York would end up with two female senators after Elizabeth Holzman already won the other seat in 1980. A Gallup poll from September 9 found Ferraro leading D’Amato 47-41%. Meanwhile, Cuomo was ahead in the governor’s race 46-39%


September 19, 1982: President Brown announces new drug prevention program, softens Rockefeller-era guidelines



Since taking office, President Jerry Brown has already commuted hundreds of non-violent drug offenders. On September 19, President Brown, joined by Vice President Carter and Attorney General Clark, hosted a gathering in the White House to introduce a new national initiative for drug prevention. He authorized 10 billion dollars for a nationwide prevention campaign and approved an additional 90 billion for drug prevention programs in schools and universities in partnership with states and local governments. Over 35 states with Democratic and Republican governors joined the initiative. Brown tasked former HUD Secretary Robert Weaver to chair the presidential commission on drugs. After the announcement, the president signed a memorandum that removes some Rockefeller-era mandatory guidelines for drug offenses. President Brown also called upon congress to make legislative changes, but observers don’t expect any substantial law to be passed in the near future.

A group of Democratic senators and members of the House, led by former presidential candidate Lloyd Bentsen, expressed soft criticism of the administration’s new drug policies. Others are quoted that he had a bad sense of timing announcing such a decision less than two months before the midterms. A congressman asking for anonymity told a CBS reporter: “Doesn’t have the president a sense of timing? Now that the economy has gotten better, he’s gotta do this?”


Mid/late September 1982: As economy on recovery, Republicans grow increasingly nervous about midterms

During the second quarter of 1982, the US economy grew 2.1%, its largest increase since 1979, and unemployment dropped to 7.2%. Taking over during a mild recession, President Jerry Brown’s approval ratings continued to dwindle throughout his first year and office and into 1982. By spring, Republicans initially looked to forward to a good showing in the upcoming midterm elections after polls showed them ahead in the generic congressional ballot and potential 1984 candidates often leading Brown in direct matchups. However, since Brown received a sympathy bump after Frank Church’s tragic assassination and the economic situation continued to improve, even GOP strategists acknowledge that the tide has turned.

A leaked strategy paper published in the New York Times on September 21 revealed divisions among strategists at the RNC how to campaign against Brown and the Democrats. For months they thought focusing on the economy was a key to success, a hope that has kind of dissolved as the campaign was entering the fall.

Another instance that got Republican strategists nervous is that their former standard bearer Ronald Reagan has announced less campaign events for Republican candidates than expected. And former President Gerald Ford, according to polls the most popular Republican alive, has not announced any campaign stop during September, officially citing schedule problems. Meanwhile, President Brown and Vice President Carter already appeared on two dozens of campaign events. Brown alone did six stops in California in September, Carter did five in his homestate of Georgia, helping Democratic candidates.


September 30, 1982: New Gallup polls

President Brown Job Approval
Approve: 59% ▲
Disapprove: 37% ▬

1982 congressional generic ballot
Democratic: 49%
Republican: 44%

[President Johnson]

Just want to announce that I'll briefly "pause" the TL for roughly two or maybe three weeks. As I move into a new home, I'm just too busy for the time being. I'm confident everything will be said and done in the first ten days of June, so the next update will consist the final month before the midterms (results will be provided after that).

[hurricanehink]

Just want to announce that I'll briefly "pause" the TL for roughly two or maybe three weeks. As I move into a new home, I'm just too busy for the time being. I'm confident everything will be said and done in the first ten days of June, so the next update will consist the final month before the midterms (results will be provided after that).

Thanks so much for keeping this timeline going all these years! There aren’t many timelines with a historic point of departure that go for over a decade in the story. It takes time and research to make the alt history plausible, so do whatever you need to do to stay inspired, and good luck with the move!

[President Johnson]

October 2, 1982: Jerry Brown becomes first president in decades to marry in office



It was all the way back in 1915, the last president married in office. On October 2, 1982, President Jerry Brown and First Lady Linda Ronstadt, now known as Linda Ronstadt Brown, married at a private ceremony in Sacramento, California with just about one hundred guests present. Most of them family members and close friends. Besides Pat Brown, the president’s father, the only political figures who attended were Labor Secretary Cesar Chavez and Chief of Staff Gray Davis, who are very close to Brown personally and have been for years. A handful of pictures were published by a private photographer; official press was not permitted and the Secret Service shielded the event from public.

On October 5, the president and his spouse returned to Washington DC, were a public celebration in their honor was held in the Rose Garden of the White House. It was widely considered the “public marriage celebration”, with the press present and several hundred public officials, both current and former, in attendance, including Republican congressional leadership and former Vice President William Scranton (who currently serves as chairman of the Brown Administration’s space program). Highlight of the event was the First Lady giving a private concert in East Room later that day.

Later that day, Brown and Ronstadt Brown sat down for an hour long interview with Walter Cronkite where they announced to spend their honeymoon in Hawaii over the Christmas holiday. “We can’t do it now”, the president said, “I just got too much stuff going on, including my Democratic friends asking for campaign stumps.” The First Lady said that she planned to resume her music career at some point, but was unlikely to do so while her husband was in office. “Maybe things get a little easier after the next election, when we can focus more on life after the presidency”, she said. She definitely ruled out a political career. “I offer Jerry my help and advice, as I have passionate opinions about certain issues, but running for office is not in my blood”, she told Cronkite, “nonetheless, I think more women should seek office and I know Jerry feels the same way.”


October 15, 1982: Iran and Iraq cease fire amidst of negotiations, President Brown lashes out at Republicans over foreign policy



Just weeks after launching formal peace talks, Iran and Iraq have agreed to cease fire after more than a year of combat. The negotiations occurred after a new peace initiative by Secretary of State Sargent Shriver and his Soviet counterpart. Shriver himself announced on October 15 that both parties agreed to pause fighting effective the next day. “Yet, many questions between the two countries need to be resolved”, the secretary said, “but I’m confident further agreements can be reached. The Brown Administration is ready to its part and I have been assured that Moscow does not seek to escalate tensions in the Middle East.” More detailed talks are expected to resume by early November, according to sources familiar.

President Jerry Brown, back on the campaign trail for Democratic candidates, lashed out at Republicans over their criticism of foreign policy. “For nearly two years, our Republican friends told you Brown is weak. Diplomacy is dead. All we need is more arms. I tell you: They were wrong! Wrong yet again! They criticized arms embargos for the region and told us not to get into talks in Nicaragua. Now we have reached a first success and I tell you one thing: It’ ain’t the last! And our Republican friends will be wrong again”, the president told a crowd of supporters in Columbus, Ohio while campaigning for gubernatorial candidate Dick Castele.


Midterm outlook: Do Democrats defy history? Republicans alarmed



Growth having reached 2.5%, unemployment declined to 6.9% and the deficit down are figures that have Republican strategists alarmed. Behind the scenes, party operatives hotly discuss whether to change strategy in the final month of the midterm campaign or stay course and continue attacking the Brown Administration on a weak recovery and weakness abroad. Conservatives and Reagan allies want to stay the course while moderates associated with Rockefeller and Ford circles increasingly warn their party of a disappointing showing in the upcoming midterm elections. “We need to return to Rockefeller centrism and have the conservative wing as a wing, not the sole face of the party”, one operative is quoted. Reagan allies reject that analysis, claiming that moderates and conservatives have equal influence, pointing to moderate senate leader Mark Hatfield. Of course in public Republicans are eager to appear united, especially since both Reagan and Ford begun stumping the campaign trail for a host of candidates, especially California gubernatorial nominee George Deukmejian. California’s gubernatorial election is easily seen as the most high-profile in the nation. An October LA Times poll showed Mayor Tom Bradley ahead 47-45%, a Gallup poll found them tied at 48% support each. It’s expected President Brown will hold rallies for Bradley in the final days before the election in early November.

Democrats meanwhile grow increasingly optimistic over midterm prospects. “Republicans told us the Brown agenda won’t work”, Vice President Carter told a crowd in Atlanta, “they were wrong again. Look at where we are now.” Nonetheless, sources report that Democratic operatives don’t expect much gains either and President Brown, according to these sources, told them not preventing losses after the 1980 showing not much gains for his party, was “perfectly fine.” Some of these operatives already begun planning for the 1984 campaign, where they hope the president’s current standing may get him a second term with ease and help Democratic candidates down ballot, so that Brown could pass even more ambitious reforms.

Towards late October, observers increasingly noted that the outcome of the midterm elections would have a major impact on Brown’s proposed healthcare reform package similar to New York’s new law passed under outgoing Governor Robert Kennedy. Especially the senate is center of this debate since Speaker O’Neill plans to move ahead with the bill in the House during the lame duck session in December.


October 31, 1982: New Gallup poll

President Brown Job Approval
Approve: 60% ▲
Disapprove: 35% ▼

1982 congressional generic ballot
Democratic: 49%
Republican: 45%

[hurricanehink]

The cease fire is a real October surprise! And not the usual tragic one.

[President Johnson]

November 2, 1982

★★★ 1982 United States Midterm elections ★★★

+++ Democrats keep control of senate, net gain one seat, NY first state with 2 female senators +++
+++ Minor gains for Democrats in House, less than projected +++
+++ Mixed statewide results; Deukmejian upsets Bradley as Cuomo narrowly keeps RFK’s seat +++
+++ Observers: Republicans missed opportunities, but moderates come out stronger +++


United States senate elections



Note: The results and incumbents base on the last senate election in this timeline from 1976




54 Democrats (▲ 1*); 46 Republicans (▼ 1*)
DEMOCRATIC CONTROL

* Change from before the election; Democrats gained one seat in Maine from the previous election due to vacancy filled by Democratic governor


Democratic gains: MD, MI, NM, OH
Republican gains: MS, NV, VA


Pickups and notable races

California
✓ Pete Wilson (R): 51.0%
Gore Vidal (D): 44.1%
Republican incumbent retired, Republican hold

Maine
✓ George Mitchell (D, inc.): 58.8%
David Emery (R): 36.0%
Democratic appointee elected to full term, Democratic hold

Maryland
✓ Paul Sarbanes (D): 52.8%
J. Glenn Beall Jr. (R, inc.): 46.4%
Republican incumbent lost reelection, Democratic gain

Michigan
✓ Donald Riegle (D): 49.5%
Marvin Esch (R, inc.): 49.0%
Republican incumbent lost reelection, Democratic gain

Mississippi
✓ Trent Lott (R): 50.6%
Charles Pittman (D): 48.1%
Democratic incumbent retired, Republican gain

Nevada
✓ Chic Hecht (R): 50.1%
Howard Cannon (D, inc.): 47.7%
Democratic incumbent lost reelection, Republican gain

New Mexico
✓ Jeff Bingaman (D): 51.4%
Harrison Schmidt (R, inc.): 47.1%
Republican incumbent lost reelection, Democratic gain

New York
✓ Geraldine Ferraro (D): 53.4%
Al D'Amato: 44.2%
Democratic incumbent retired, Democratic hold

Ohio
✓ James V. Stanton (D): 50.7%
Robert Taft Jr. (R, inc.): 45.1%
Republican incumbent lost reelection, Democratic gain

Virginia
✓ Paul Trible (R): 51.9%
Richard Davis (D): 47.8%
Independent cacusing Democrat incumbent retired, Republican gain


House of Representatives elections



233 Democrats (▲ 4); 202 Republicans (▼ 4)
DEMOCRATIC CONTROL


Congressional leadership will be listed upon the new congress' opening on January 3, 1983.


Important governor’s races

California
✓ George Deukmejian (R): 49.9%
Tom Bradley (D): 48.1%

New York
✓ Mario Cuomo (D): 51.5%
Lewis Lehrman (R): 47.0%


CBS News midterm coverage – aftermath



Dan Rather: Good morning everyone, I hope you all could get some sleep. Today is Wednesday, November the third, after a remarkable midterm election we haven’t exactly seen since 1962. Now that all results are in, the big headline is that the Democrats managed to slightly expand their congressional majorities during a Democratic presidency. Although polling of recent months indicated this would happen, some observers even suggested bigger gains. Nonetheless, this was not a strong night for the Republican Party. Especially after President Brown steadily lost support throughout 1981 and into 1982 after his razor-thin victory in the 1980 election. My colleague Bob Schieffer is with me and took a closer look at all the results and spoke with our reporters, Democratic and Republican operatives and other journalists of the printing press. Bob, what do you make of the election?

Bob Schieffer: Dan, that was indeed a remarkable night. Some call it historic, I would say this can be debated. However, a number of factor played into these results: Most importantly, the economy. Although Republicans were eager to point out recovery is not as strong as previous ones, voters still felt – and exit polls confirm that – that the Brown Administration and Democrats were given the benefit of the doubt and were at least pulling America into the right direction here. Secondly, the Republican campaign was medicore. Maybe not terrible, but far from good, and even their own people admitted it behind the scenes. What was their message? Sure, they had one. They had a couple of messages, depending on who you asked. It seems like the discipline by both the moderate and conservative wings vanished. That was different during the Rockefeller years despite conservative reservations, and even in 1980 when moderates were not thrilled about Mr. Reagan’s nomination. Republicans simply lacked a clear attack line. Admittedly, that was not of their making, as a recovering economy and relative stability abroad was hard to attack.

Dan Rather: Still, the Republicans did end up with successes. They retained the governor’s chair in California and flipped three senate seats, minimizing the net loss of one seat.

Bob Schieffer: Correct, California is definitely a loss for Democrats and the president in particular. Remember that he was at the forefront on the campaign trail. Regardless, George Deukmejian ran a strong campaign after ousting Governor Curb for the nomination and proved pollsters wrong. Seems like Tom Bradley’s support was overestimated. It’s up for debate whether that has something to do with the fact that he’s black.

Dan Rather: Indeed, you’re making an interesting point. I still want to talk about the senate, where Republicans were always less confident heading into this election. Seems that a net loss of one is already not that bad. How do you see power balance in the senate going forward?

Bob Schieffer: What you say is absolutely true. Remember the last time all the seats that were up for reelection now were on the ballot was in 1976, when President Rockefeller won a massive landslide reelection that downballot candidates benefited from. Some of these seats were tough to defend. As for power balance, it definitely gives the Brown Administration a stronger standing. Not only do Democrats have gained a seat, two Southern Democrats, Senators Stennis and Byrd retired, who were less certain votes for the Brown agenda. Although Republicans picked these seats up now, the Democrats made gains in other states.

Dan Rather: The question that just needs to be asked: Is President Brown’s reelection now inevitable?

Bob Schieffer: Nothing is inevitable in electoral politics. Especially two years down the road. If the economy keeps on track, however, I have a hard time seeing President Brown be voted out of office unless there’s a major scandal or crisis he gets blame for. I would say, however, there needs to be some reckoning within the GOP now. Looking at the results, I’d say it’s better for the moderate wing. We will see who they nominate for president in 1984. I would not make any prediction at this point.

Dan Rather: Thank you for these insights.


President Jerry Brown reacts to midterm results



President Brown: Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen: Yesterday, millions of Americans went to the polls to choose their representatives in the legislative body of the federal government, as well as elect many leaders at the state and local level. First and foremost, let me thank all of you for your dedication to the democratic process. It is important that our people get out to the polls and vote, which is something that separates us from many countries in the rest of the world. Now, I always used to say that the results are not primarily a referendum on the president alone, but his party’s performance in general. I still believe that. Nonetheless, I’d like to point out that all these forces who discredited our narrow victory two years ago as a fluke and who predicted our agenda would never win over the American people were proven wrong. Dead wrong. And while I am thankful to all Democratic candidates elected, there is no time for gloating. Much less time for fall back into partisan fighting and gridlock. More than anything, we’re one nation that overcame a difficult months with economic struggles, challenges abroad, a vice president shot, and much more.

Now, therefore, I immediately urge all elected officials to come together in good faith and continue doing the people’s work. Including those who did not stand for reelection or whose mandate was not renewed. Let us come together during the weeks until January 3, when a new congress is sworn in, and beyond. We have no time to lose. Let us fix healthcare and pass our landmark piece of legislation into law by the senate. This, and so much more needs to be done. My team is already preparing to invite all freshmen into the White House for a meeting to exchange ideas. Vice President Carter and I look forward to these conversations.

Thank you all very much, have a great day.


“We screwed up!”, Leaked Kemp audio makes waves as he resigns as RNC Chair; GOP Senate leadership under increasing pressure, insiders say



Less than 18 months ago, New York Representative Jack Kemp took over the role as RNC Chairman, even winning support from moderate Republicans that were skeptical of the conservative icon. He gave a forceful rebuttal to President Jerry Brown’s State of the Union Address and is even considered a presidential candidate for 1984. However, two days after the midterm elections, he formally resigned from the role as RNC Chair, citing that it would serve the party best for a change in the role. Kemp said he planned to stay in the House and declined to answer questions about presidential ambitions.

However, within less than six hours after his announcement, ABC News obtained a copy of an audio, taped on November 3, in which Kemp spoke with a journalist behind closed doors. “We screwed up!”, the RNC Chair told the reporter, “I’m not going to do a blame game here between various party factions, but we lacked unity. We didn’t have a dominant leader like Rocky or Ronnie who showed people what we’re standing for.” Furthermore, Kemp also slammed congressional leadership, especially Mark Hatfield and John Tower. “Two guys leading our caucus in the senate, and sometimes you feel like they’re presiding over two of them. A moderate one and a conservative one. Maybe our friends in the senate should take care and change horses. If not now, when? When we lost ’84? Come on, we need to get our s**t together, damn it!”, he is quoted.

Neither Kemp nor any Leader Hatfield or Whip Tower were available for comment. Sources at Capitol Hill report that there might be challenges to Hatfield and Tower once the new conference of 46 GOP senators first meet in December. Both of them dodged questions whether they would even seek to retain their posts.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Wow this is an utter disaster for the GOP and probably may lead to a repeat of the 1960s divisions after a close defeat

[Sir Mohamed]

Interesting results, I wonder who finally wins the conservatives vs. moderates battle within the GOP. Possibly depends on which candidates is nominated in 1984 and how well poor he does. Getting a feeling this is like actual '84, just reversed with the R nominee crushed by Prez Brown.

[President Johnson]

November 10, 1982: Leonid Brezhnev dies, Vice President Carter to visit Moscow for funeral and diplomatic consultations



News broke that Communist Party Secretary General Leonid Brezhnev, aged 75, passed away on November 10 after years of his health deteriorating. Brezhnev de facto ruled the Soviet Union since the ousting of Khrushchev in October 1964. After years of détente beginning in the final years of the Johnson Administration and especially into the Rockefeller-Ford terms, US-Soviet relations begun to cool down again after the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. However, since taking office, President Brown has vowed to continue cooperation with the USSR on various others issues and to preserve peace in other regions. His policies and the imposed immediately after Brezhnev’s death was announced, President Jerry Brown formally issued a written statement, offering his condolences to the Moscow and the Soviet ambassador in the US. Meanwhile, the White House announced that Vice President Jimmy Carter would attended the deceased leader’s funeral in Moscow.



During his subsequent visit to the Kremlin, Vice President Carter met a number of politburo members, including newly determined Secretary General Yuri Andropov. Although unlikely to change the major direction of Soviet foreign policy, Carter was able to return home with an offer from the Soviet leader to meet with President Brown some time next year. White House sources confirm that the president is interested in a dialogue with the new Soviet leader to discuss a broad range of issues.

Brezhnev’s death resulted in a delay for the formal begin of peace talks between Iran and Iraq under US-Soviet leadership, as announced in October. Originally scheduled for to launch in November, the parties agreed to make announcement in the coming weeks. During his two hour conversation with Vice President Carter, Andropov assured that his government was fully committed to the peace process as begun. However, there are no indications Moscow is about the change course in Afghanistan, as demanded by the American guest.


November 16, 1982: Long time HUD Secretary Ivan Allen to retire from office



Ivan Allen Jr., former Mayor of Atlanta, who has been the longest serving cabinet member by late 1982, formally announced his departure from office. Originally appointed in January 1973, he was one of two Democrats serving in the cabinet of Republican president Nelson Rockefeller. Allen was retained by President Gerald Ford in 1979 and continued his tenure under fellow Democrat Jerry Brown in 1981 at the latter’s request. During his time at HUD, Allen oversaw several public housings programs, including the biggest public housing investment by the federal government, initiated during the first Rockefeller Administration.

In a statement, President Jerry Brown thanked Allen for his service, awarded him the medal of honor and vows to nominate a successor in January. Until that person is confirmed, Allen will formally remain in his position. Allen, at 71, has ruled out seeking another office but intends to remain politically engaged. Like Jimmy Carter, he was seen as a “Democrat of the New South”, promoting social liberalism and pro-racial integration policies.


November 29, 1982: Mark Hatfield seeks to continue as Republican senate leader, rules out presidential bid



Despite increasing dissatisfaction following poor midterm performances behind closed doors, Republican Senate Leader Mark Hatfield (R-OR) announced his intention to stay in his current position. In an official statement from his office, Hatfield wrote that he wants to “continue bringing in his experience to fight for Republican priorities from deficit reduction to a robust foreign policy”. The statement also says that he wants to put more effort into keeping various factions together after analysists cite inner divisions as one reason for the midterm results. More than 20 senators immediately came out in support of Hatfield. So far, no challenger has emerged. John Tower was considered a possible contender before the November elections, but since the conservative wing has been weakened through the results, his standing has vanished. A prominent conservative, Senator Paul Laxalt (R-NV) already declined. Rumors are swirling around Laxalt may run for president in 1984.

Meanwhile, Hatfield has ruled out a presidential bid. “It’s not possible to focus on an exhausting campaign for national office and run the GOP caucus with efficiency”, he told a reporter. “Therefore, I am not going to run for the White House.” Hatfield left open whom he preferred to challenge President Brown. A moderate, was considered a frontrunner for the nomination in 1980 before President Rockefeller died (and reportedly, Rocky’s choice as successor).


Late November 1982

Reports: Republican moderates seek to dump John Tower as Whip



Senator John Tower (R-TX), a prominent member of the conservative GOP wing, was originally considered a good choice for Whip under the moderate Hatfield, however, dissatisfaction with his handling of the job has been growing for months. Sources say his relationship with Hatfield has deteriorated and his office is dysfunctional. Even an increasing number of conservative members expressed unease behind the scenes. In late November, reports soared that a group of a dozen moderates – led by Howard Baker (R-TN) – make a push to oust Tower or just have him step down. A senate staffer asking to remain unnamed quotes Republican senators that “Tower’s style may have lost us seats”. Several names have been floated to replace Tower as Whip since, with no one coming out in expressing interest.

Leader Hatfield has not commented any reports. Journalists concluded that his silence, instead of a defense, is de facto an expression of no confidence in his deputy. Tower himself said on November 5, he’d be “available for roles in senate leadership”. Since, he refused to comment any reports. Tower was still in his role when congress reconvened in late November for the lame-duck session.


November 30, 1982: New Gallup poll

President Brown Job Approval
Approve: 57% ▼
Disapprove: 39% ▲

[OSR stands with Israel]

So Tower is still part of the conservative wing here

[President Johnson]

So Tower is still part of the conservative wing here

Yes, he always was. Though in actual 1976, he supported Ford over Reagan.

[OSR stands with Israel]

So Tower is still part of the conservative wing here

Yes, he always was. Though in actual 1976, he supported Ford over Reagan.

He kinda moderated past that too but probably cause someone who was to the right of him became president and reshaped the Overton window so he probably was moved into the moderate wing for that.

Makes sense here that he is not given Reagan lost

[Zedonathin2020]

Looking forward to seeing the inevitable Brown v. Baker 1984 race

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

Same here. I wonder how OSR will do the primaries, since for obvious reasons, there's no schedule available in Wikipedia.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Same here. I wonder how OSR will do the primaries, since for obvious reasons, there's no schedule available in Wikipedia.

You mean President Johnson as this is his TL but there is a schedule for the 1984 Dem Primaries


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Democratic_Party_presidential_primaries


Go to the Results by State section

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

I confused you both.

And I refer to the Republican ones. Using the Democrats' schedule works best, with Jerry Brown being the presumptive nominee.

[President Johnson]

I confused you both.

And I refer to the Republican ones. Using the Democrats' schedule works best, with Jerry Brown being the presumptive nominee.

I actually used the 2016 schedule at the beginning and never changed much (obviously election day is a Tuesday).

Remember in the universe of this timeline, the primary process was reformed to something similar than today after the 1968 election under a bipartisan commission chaired by then-Vice President Robert Kennedy.

[President Johnson]

December 5, 1982: John Tower quits as Senate Whip, Bob Dole rumored successor



In the end, internal pressure was too strong according to sources on the Hill, that John Tower announced his withdrawal from being considered as Republican Whip. “After careful evaluation, I’ve come to the conclusion that I should not continue to serve in this capacity”, the Texas senator and 1968 vice presidential nominee announced during a press conference and the meeting of the new Republican conference that just reelected Mark Hatfield as leader. Hatfield thanked his colleagues for their conference and has pledged to moderate the search for a Tower replacement. A few names have been floated for the job, most notably Robert Dole of Kansas, who is widely considered an acceptable choice for moderate and conservative Republicans alike. Dole declined to comment whether he would apply for the job, but said he was “honored” by the support a few of his colleagues expressed behind closed doors. According to a Hatfield staffer, a whip is likely to be announced in January, shortly before the new congress gets formally in office.

When asked about his future plans, Tower declined to answer whether he would seek reelection to a fifth term in 1984.


December 10, 1982: Speaker O’Neill postpones vote on healthcare bill into next congress



Originally scheduled for the lame duck session, the vote on healthcare bill, now known as American Healthcare Act, that was introduced earlier that year has been postponed after clearing committee by a single vote and advancing to the floor. As various sources report, Speaker Tip O’Neill reportedly called President Brown the day before informing him that the votes were currently not there. The president then agreed to delay the vote into next year. Sources further say O’Neill plans to hold the vote shortly after the State of the Union. President Brown reportedly seeks to gain momentum for initiative in his speech.

If enacted, the America Healthcare Act (AHA) would resemble the biggest reform of the US healthcare system since the enactment of Social Security Amendments in 1965 and the Childcare program of 1969. Before Brown, a similar bill was proposed by the Rockefeller Administration and was narrowly voted down in 1977. Subsequent negotiations failed. After New York passed a major healthcare reform law under Governor Bobby Kennedy, liberal supporters of a reform launched a new attempt at the national level. President Jerry Brown was endorsed the idea and already called upon congress to act in his State of the Union Address.

However, even if passed by the House, observers expect difficult negotiations in the senate for the reform bill. With the upcoming presidential cycle, some believe final legislation won’t land on the president’s desk before the election.


December 23, 1982: President Brown signs Voting Rights Act reauthorization into law, among other key items





As the 97th congress is in its final stage of passing legislation, it has approved a new five-year authorization of the 1965 Voting Rights Act with a large, bipartisan majority. On December 23, President Brown signed the bill into law. The president also signed several other legislation, among them the Job Training Partnership Act of 1982, establishing federal assistance programs to prepare youth and unskilled adults for entry into the labor force and to provide job training to economically disadvantaged and other individuals facing serious barriers to employment.


December 31, 1982: Governor Robert Kennedy finishes term, vows return to private life; Cuomo resigns as senator, Ferraro appointed to gain seniority



New Year’s Eve was not only the last day of the year, it was also Robert F. Kennedy’s last day as governor of New York. In grand speech at Madison Square Garden, Kennedy reflected on his two terms as chief executive, passing landmark bills on healthcare, education and civil rights. Kennedy also used his final hours to issue several pardons, especially on non-violent drug offenders. He also further softened some guidelines from the Rockefeller-era after already softening the drug laws and launching prevention programs. However, observers are divided upon the question whether Kennedy’s record on drugs is a net positive or not.

The governor already announced his return to private life, but has pledged to remain active in the political discourse. While not ruling out public service, the former vice president he’s not likely to run for office again. A number of Kennedy supporters and Brown confidents recently brought up a possible Supreme Court appointment whenever the next vacancy comes up. Kennedy has declined to comment such talk, but President Jerry Brown has described RFK a “very formidable candidate for such an appointment.”

Kennedy’s successor, outgoing US Senator Mario Cuomo, resigned his senate seat that day, three days before his term would have concluded. Upon taking office, Cuomo immediately appointed Senator-elect Geraldine Ferraro to the seat she was elected in November. Vice President Jimmy Carter received the appointment documents on January 1 and promptly swore in Ferraro, giving her seniority over other members of the freshmen class of 1982. New York subsequently became the first state to be represented by two women in the senate. Also, both Senators Holtzman and Ferraro defeated Republican Al D’Amato in 1980 and 1982, respectively.


December 31: New Gallup polls, including for 1984

President Brown Job Approval
Approve: 54% ▼
Disapprove: 41% ▲


1984 Republican presidential primary
Howard Baker: 27%
Paul Laxalt: 25%
Bob Dole: 7%
Jack Kemp: 7%
Phil Crane: 3%
Jim Thompson: 3%
George Deukmejian: 3%
Someone else: 10%
Undecided: 15%


1984 General election matchups

Jerry Brown (D, inc.): 50%
Howard Baker (R): 44%

Jerry Brown (D, inc.): 51%
Paul Laxalt (R): 43%

Jerry Brown (D, inc.): 50%
Bob Dole (R): 44%

Jerry Brown (D, inc.): 51%
Jack Kemp (R): 43%

Jerry Brown (D, inc.): 50%
George Deukmejian (R): 44%

Jerry Brown (D, inc.): 51%
Jim Thompson (R): 41%

Jerry Brown (D, inc.): 52%
Phil Crane (R): 43%


Although not included in primary polls, Gallup also tested match-ups against both 1980 Republican nominee Ronald Reagan and former President Gerald Ford, who both poll better than any other of their fellow Republicans. The poll also found that Reagan had 52% favorability among all voters while 42% viewed him unfovorable. Gerald Ford remains the most popular Republican living with 69% of respondeds viewing the former president as favorable. Only 24% had an unfavorable opinion of him. Nonetheless, neither of these two has specificly indicated to run, although some conservative activists lately suggested Reagan should consider another bid.

Gerald Ford (R): 50%
Jerry Brown (D, inc.): 46%

Jerry Brown (D, inc.): 48%
Ronald Reagan (R): 45%

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Do you mean Geraldine Ferraro?

[President Johnson]

Do you mean Geraldine Ferraro?

Yes, thanks. I don't know how I got to "Christine", lmao.

[Sir Mohamed]

Would be hilarious if the GOP primary becomes Ford-Reagan rematch. The former would probably have the edge then. That may make the GE more interesting than Baker or Laxalt as sacrificial lamb.

[President Johnson]

January 2, 1983

BONUS: Ronald Reagan gives first Live Interview on CBS since election defeat, talks 1980 loss, politics of the day and rules out 1984 bid





Although he never fully disappeared from public stage and helped Republicans with campaigning and fundraising in the 1982 midterm elections, Ronald Reagan only gave informal interviews since he conceded the contentious 1980 presidential election in December of that year.

Following some preparations, on January 2, 1983, CBS’ legendary Walter Cronkite came back from his new found retirement to sit down for an exclusive live interview with the former governor and Republican nominee, who will turn 72 in the following month.


Walter Cronkite: Welcome back to our program, Governor Reagan. And happy new year again!

Ronald Reagan: My pleasure, Walter, it has been a while. Happy new year to you as well. How are you doing?

Walter Cronkite: I’m doing fine with some extra free time in retirement. How’s it going? I hear that you still have a busy schedule?

Ronald Reagan: Well, I’m certainly very much involved into various different things, as is Nancy. And not just in public, I’m also working on our California ranch and enjoy time with the family. I guess the same with you, with your new found ‘unemployment’.

Walter Cronkite [laughs]: Indeed. Indeed. A lot has happened since the faithful day in December of 1980. So I want to turn to politics. There are still many conservative voices out there feeling dissatisfied from what happened in the 1980 election. Especially that it was such a painfully close loss. Some argue that could should have continued with legal challenges. I guess many of our viewers would like to know: Why didn’t you?

Ronald Reagan: Look, Walter, it was a very difficult decision to make not only for me, but my family and my team as well. When it comes to legal options, I very much believe that we had taken all options available at this point and any continuation was unlikely to change the outcome. If my legal experts told me that there was a significant chance at succeeding, I would have pursued that course. Nonetheless, at some point we needed to level with reality and be honest to ourselves and our supporters. Of course, it’s always more fun to be on the other side, I know that full well. And I know that the other side knows that as well. Robert Kennedy and I might not have a lot in common politically, but he and his supporters at the time understood how it’s like to lose a close on. As they did in ’72. That’s politics. That’s life.

Walter Cronkite: Did you also fear any continuation of legal challenges would further divide the country?

Ronald Reagan: My reasons were that it was extremely unlikely for anything to change as a result of an ongoing challenge. At some point, this needed to be over and not dragged on for nothing.

Walter Cronkite: Governor Reagan, you supported a constitutional amendment to allocate an additional 50 electoral votes for the winner of the national popular vote. You did win the popular vote last time. Are you disappointed this proposal has not moved forward after it initially gained steam in 1981 and was also endorsed by President Brown?

Ronald Reagan: I think that this proposal made by a bipartisan group of lawmakers would be pretty helpful, yes. I have not followed the debate in congress over the last months.

Walter Cronkite: It seems like the proposal is stalled at this point. Leader Byrd recently said the senate might debate this next session.

Ronald Reagan: In my view it would have a great chance of passing once a Democratic candidate wins the popular vote while falling short in the Electoral College.




Walter Cronkite: That’s a fair assumption. Onward to politics of the day. We’re almost in the middle of President Jerry Brown’s term. How would you assess his tenure so far?

Ronald Reagan: Well, I believe that this administration has failed the American public and the world on host of issues. On the economy, this is the slowest recovery our nation has seen in a very long time. The jobs market and growth are not nearly where they supposed to be after the 1980 recession, and that’s mainly because the federal government does what it did since the days of President Johnson: overregulation and overtaxation. The federal government is now an aspect of our lives like never before and how it was never supposed to be. We need a sober rollback of these policies that have been determined by the Democratic Party for a long time. We did see some of these efforts under the previous Republican administrations, but the president is an executive officer while the congress dominated by the Democratic Party has been responsible for implementing all of these policies. Meanwhile, the budget deficit is not going down as fast as it should. Back in 1980, I presented a bold plan how we’d have a balanced budget by 1983. That would be now. Under President Brown, we’re still running major deficits. On the world stage, the Brown Administration has shown incredible weakness in Afghanistan and Latin America.

Walter Cronkite: They say, the Soviets are negotiating on Iran and elsewhere. It’s a success they say.

Ronald Reagan: The Soviets negotiate because they get a lot of what they want. The president and Mr. Shriver are pretty much leaving them alone in Afghanistan and allow their influence increase in Latin America like we have not seen before. Not even under the previous Democratic president, Mr. Johnson.

Walter Cronkite: But don’t the midterm elections tell a different story? That President Brown is indeed doing a lot right in the public’s opinion?

Ronald Reagan: Well, there were a number of factors Republicans did not do as well as we were supposed to do. A lot of that is in our own. Nonetheless, I’m not playing a public blame-game within the Republican Party. It’s on all of us. We have to learn from that, move on and get better the next time.

Walter Cronkite: Would you say there’s anything the Brown Administration did a good job on?

Ronald Reagan: We have to see how it goes in the near future, but I’m fine to give them credit for the grand relaunch of our space program.

Walter Cronkite: That sounds fair. Have you spoken to the president in recent months?

Ronald Reagan: I have not. Usually it is the president who calls people, and if he does for some reason, I’d pick up the phone. I did congratulate him in public to his marriage last year though.

Walter Cronkite: So, I can’t let you off by asking the question on everybody’s mind. Sir, will you run again for president in 1984?

Ronald Reagan: Walter, I believe that the time has passed. There are several great Republicans available who would make a strong candidate and a strong president. I hope that I did my part in inspiring them to move America into a different future. A future of less government bureaucracy, more freedom and more strength abroad.

Walter Cronkite: So that means you’re now announcing that you will not run again next year?

Ronald Reagan: Yes, I will not run for the presidency again.

Walter Cronkite: That’s some big news. Who would you like as Republican nominee? What do you think about Senator Howard Baker, your running mate?

Ronald Reagan: I highly respect Senator Baker and think he would make a strong contender. However, since nobody announced their intention to run, I don’t have a particular favorite. I will probably not make an endorsement for the primaries. I will definitely support the eventual nominee. That much is certain.

Walter Cronkite: Even if the nominee is a more moderate Republican?

Ronald Reagan: I’m not a fan of these terms. I supported every Republican nominee since 1964 and will do so again. I twice supported President Rockefeller as well. Keep that in mind.

Walter Cronkite: It was great to talk to you, Sir. Have a great time and we see as again at some point.

Ronald Reagan: We will for sure. Thank you very much and have a great day.

[hurricanehink]

Great update as always. The format of this timeline is great, alternating between interviews, stories, elections. It’s a good variety.

[President Johnson]

January 3, 1983: 98th Congress sworn in, Bob Dole elected Republican Whip




Congressional Leadership:
Senate President: James E. Carter (D-GA)
Senate Majority Leader: Robert Byrd (D-WV)
Senate Majority Whip: Albert Brewer (D-AL)
Senate Minority Leader: Mark Hatfield (R-OR)
Senate Minority Whip: Robert J. Dole (R-KS)

Speaker of the House: Tip O'Neill (D-MA)
House Majority Leader: Jim Wright (D-TX)
House Minority Leader: Robert H. Michel (R-IL)
House Minority Whip: Guy Vander Jagt (R-MI)

Two months after the congressional elections, the new House of Representatives was sworn into office, in which the Democrats slightly expanded their majority. Meanwhile, in the senate, the now 46 member Republican caucus has elected Bob Dole of Kansas as their new whip following John Tower’s decline to seek the job again. Dole’s name was mentioned for weeks, though it wasn’t until late December that he formally issued a statement declaring his candidacy. Senator Dole has reportedly a strong relationship with Leader Hatfield and is not a staunch backer of either the moderate or conservative camp. He was backed by a large majority of Senate Republicans.


January 6, 1983: President Brown and Secretary Shriver announce formal begin of Iran-Iraq peace talks in Geneva



Following a blitz-tour through Europe during the first days of the new year, President Jerry Brown concluded his journey in Geneva, Switzerland, where he and Secretary of State Sargent Shriver formally announced the begin of formal peace talks between Iran and Iraq. A cease fire was already agreed upon in October through a joint American-Soviet effort. The formal start of the talks was delayed after the death of Leonid Brezhnev. However, Shriver and Vice President Carter, while attending Brezhnev’s funeral, secured ongoing Soviet support from his successor Yuri Andropov. During his time in Geneva, President Brown also met with delegation from Moscow and journalists from the press corps report that a meeting between Brown and Andropov was discussed.

Despite the progress, President Brown still warned that the negotiations may end up in failure as the cease fire is very fragile and Intel reports showing Iraq’s Dictator Saddam Hussein seeking new vendors for heavy arms after Brown cut aid drastically. Meanwhile, the Brown Administration has resisted pressure to lift sanctions on Iran, though Shriver indicated a smaller relief was possible should the talks go well.


January 17, 1983: Former Chicago Mayor Michael Anthony Bilandic sworn in as new HUD Secretary



After a 99-0 vote in the senate, Vice President Jimmy Carter officially swore in Anthony Bilandic as new Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. President Jerry Brown formally announced his pick in early December after long-time Secretary Ivan Allen Jr., having served since 1973, said that he was planning to retire from public office. Bilandic served as Mayor of Chicago before.


The Brown Administration

- President: Edmund G. Brown Jr. (D-CA)
- Vice President: James E. Carter (D-GA)

- Secretary of State: Sargent Shriver (D-MD)
- Attorney General: Ramsey Clark (D-NY)
- Secretary of Defense: Edmund Muskie (D-ME)
- Secretary of the Treasury: Reubin Askew (D-FL)
- Secretary of Commerce: Juanita M. Kreps (D-NC)
- Secretary of the Interior: Pat Schroeder (D-CO)
- Secretary of HUD: Michael Anthony Bilandic (D-IL)
- Secretary of HHS: Yvonne Brathwaite Burke (D-CA)
- Secretary of Agriculture: Robert Burgland (D-MN)
- Secretary of Energy: John B. Anderson (R-IL)*
- Secretary of Labor: Cesar Chavez (D-CA)
- Secretary of Transportation: William Ruckelshaus (R-IN)
- U.N. Ambassador: Lindy Boggs (D-LA)

- White House Chief of Staff: Gray Davis (D-CA)
- National Security Advisor: Cyrus Vance (D-WV)

* Holdover from the Ford Administration


January 31, 1983

President Jerry Brown’s 1983 State of the Union Address



When Jerry Brown entered the House chamber for the second State of the Union Address of his presidency, things have significantly changed since his last appearance twelve months before. Not only did his party defy history and made small gains in the midterm elections, his approval ratings were in net positive territory ever since the tragic death of former Vice President Frank Church in March 1982. Throughout most of the year 1981, Brown’s approval ratings were constantly dropping, mainly because voters grew increasingly impatient over economic recovery.

Unlike the last time, Brown dedicated significantly more time to highlight his foreign policy accomplishments, although many of them continued to face stiff opposition from the Republican Party. The president directly referred to his opponents here: “I am not finger pointing here, my friends. This is way too serious business. But looking at how things have been going in recent months, where we have been able to reduce violence and bloodshed all over the world, I believe that all those who saw us on a dead end, need to realize that it was them who got things wrong”, he said. “But let us not look back, let us continue with strong diplomacy instead of just falling back into old thinking. Our great military ought to be last resort, not the first. Our first resort is always diplomacy. Sometimes slow, sometimes frustrating, sometimes even disappointing. But persistence pays off.”  Brown referred to negotiations over the Iran-Iraq conflict, the talks over a unity government in Nicaragua and he also announced, for the first time, that his administration was preparing to broker a treaty between Turkey and Greece over the Cyprus conflict looming since 1974. However, the president did not mention the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan with a single word, although the first 25 minutes of his speech was only about world affairs.

On domestic policy, President Brown again forcefully urged congress to pass the American Healthcare Act as proposed in last congress. “Let us finish what Roosevelt and Johnson begun!” he told lawmakers. “One Kennedy has done it in New York. What New York can do, America can do. Stop the talking, get to the doing!” During his final minutes, the 39th president shifted towards environmental policy and called upon congress to strengthen the provisions of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts.


Republican response: Freshman Senator Chic Hecht says Brown “opens door for more Soviet aggression and influence”, sees weak economic recovery



The Republican response was given the freshmen Senator Chic Hecht from Nevada, an unknown at the national stage. Hecht sharply criticized Brown in his 18-minute address for not once mentioning Afghanistan and the war the Soviets have been engaged in for three years. “The truth of the matter is, my friends, the president wants you to forget that he’s fine with the Soviets invading a country they have no business in. He wants us to forget that he drastically cut their aid to defend themselves from communist aggression and imperialism”, the senator said. He accused Brown and Shriver of having been “played by Moscow” over some questionable negotiations over Iran. “I sincerely hope these talks bear fruit, but I doubt it”, he added, “the truth is, President Brown just lets Moscow do what they want in exchange for the participation in Geneva.”

Furthermore, Hecht cited new economic numbers that show growth has been down to 1.6% in the last quarter of 1982. “The president likes to talk about recovery. Noticed he never mentions once how weak this recovery is?” he asked viewers. He then again cited the Republican plan to reduce taxes and regulations without going into much details.


New Gallup poll

President Brown Job Approval
Approve: 56% ▲
Disapprove: 40% ▼

[President Johnson]

February 15, 1983

BREAKING: Bombshell reports of Soviet war crimes in Afghanistan shock world



The morning news of February 15 just featured one major headlines in the entire Western world and beyond: A group of five undercover journalists of German, French and Canadian nationality released a report that documented hundreds of war crimes by the Soviet invaders since their offensive started in late 1979. Most notably a very recent incident from a small village in early February that year. Numbers estimate that a Soviet battalion killed more than 8,000 Afghan civilians, among them several women and children. The attack apparently occurred unprovoked, although the soldiers faced resistance after mass rapes. Several documented pictures reached levels of cruelty that Western newspapers and news shows declined to show them or heavily censored its content.

The five journalists worked undercover in Afghanistan and were assisted by a British intelligence officer present. After he was discovered apparently murdered in a Soviet military prison, the journalists fled Afghanistan over the Pakistani border and returned to Paris. They collected hundreds of pieces of footage over war crimes committed by the Soviet forces and documented a cover-up operation through a Soviet prisoner and former KGB officer captured by Afghan forces.

Following the release of their findings, a worldwide firestorm of outrage occurred. Thousands of demonstrators protested in front of several Soviet embassies, most notably in Paris and London, where hundreds of violent rioters were arrested by police after attempting to storm the diplomatic facilities.

Western governments across the board condemned the revelations while Moscow denied any wrongdoings. A spokesman for the Politburo said that Soviet forces only responded to attacks against their military.

Members of congress, especially Republican lawmakers, called out the Brown Administration for its ongoing arms embargo on Afghanistan. “If these people were able to defend themselves, this would never have happened”, Senator Bob Dole (R-KS) said, “President Brown owns responsibility for what happened”. Even Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) issued a critical note and called upon the administration to lift the embargo and withdraw from ongoing negotiations over Iran and Nicaragua and halt any preparations for a new arms reduction treaty. “We cannot be asked to play by the rules while they are doing this”, the senator told a reporter.


President Brown resists calls for policy changes towards USSR amidst fallout from revelations



It was not until the evening hours of that day before the president appeared in public. Before, he left it to the State Department to issue a note of condemnation to the USSR after Secretary of State Shriver reportedly demanded an explanation from the Soviet ambassador. During his remarks, President Brown called for an independent UN investigation over war crimes committed and demanded that all responsible in the Soviet military would face trial. However, he rejected calls to halt any ongoing negotiations with the Soviets, particularly on Iran and Nicaragua. “These are diplomatic efforts in which the Soviets play a role, but are not the main actor. I don’t see how this brings a lasting peace between Iran and Iraq or a unity government in Nicaragua. We want more peace, not less. I urge you not to conflict all these issues with the tragedy that happened in Afghanistan.”

Asked whether he would reconsider the arms embargo to Afghanistan, the president said that his position hasn’t changed. “I fail to see how that would have prevented a single death. It might have done the opposite.”

A number of lawmakers even from the Democratic Party strongly criticized Brown for his remarks. Senate Minority Whip Bob Dole urged his Democratic colleagues to draft a new bill to override the administration’s embargo. 


February 20, 1983: Second delay for healthcare bill votes indicates trouble, White House denies reports



After already having delayed the American Healthcare Act sponsored by Brown allies in congress, Speaker O’Neill quietly rescheduled the vote on the floor for a second time. Having already done so in December during the lame duck session, the speaker moved the date into March. Reporters on Capitol Hill believe the votes for a majority are still missing for one of President Jerry Brown’s signature items.

However, White House Chief of Staff Gray Davis denied the reschedule was the result of missing votes. “There are still some minor details to be worked out. That’s why it’s delayed for a few weeks. It’s a very complicated issue”, he said.


February 24, 1983: President Brown vetoes spending bills, angering liberal allies



Slightly increased Democratic majorities in congress gave liberals new opportunities for spending bills in this congress. Senate liberal Democrats led by Elizabeth Holtzman (D-NY) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) were successful in passing a bunch of legislation on farming, housing and federal aid to education. While President Brown signed statutes related to education into law, he vetoed a handful of spending bills worth 60 billion dollars. In a written statement, he reinforced that it was the policy of his administration to continue reducing the budget deficit. And that said bills would create too much of a burden for the federal government’s treasury.

Majority Leader Robert Byrd denied requests to hold an override attempt vote in the senate. “The votes aren’t there”, he just commented.


February 26, 1983: Senators Bentsen and Dole sponsor new attempt to override Brown’s arms embargo

With ongoing revelations over Soviet war crimes in Afghanistan published in the press, Senators Bob Dole (R-KS) and Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) co-sponsored a new bill to override President Brown’s arms embargo to the country. Brown had issued such an embargo right after taking office (although it did not affect already granted aid by the previous administration). A 1981 attempt to override narrowly failed after the president vetoed said legislation.

Although the White House declined to comment, it is likely Brown will veto them again. Bentsen and Dole pledged to work on a veto-proof majority.


February 28, 1983: New Gallup poll

February 1983 has seen of the most drastic drops in approval ratings for President Brown since he took office. Having been in positive territory for almost a year, his handling of the Afghanistan situation has apparently contributed to that development.

President Brown Job Approval
Approve: 46% ▼
Disapprove: 46% ▲