1976: America's Reaction Signups

[Peanut]

America's Reaction
A 1976 Election Game

It was November 1, 1975. Maggie Thompson from Waukesha, Wisconsin, looked at the paper. There were news all around about next year's Presidential election. Much like other Americans, she had voted Democratic in 1974, but she had no freaking idea about how she would vote next year. There was a great difference in rhetoric: continuation vs change, segregation vs integration, detente vs intervention. The climate was a worrying one, the candidates many, and the Presidency from '77 to '81 was still anyone's game.

What path would the parties take? Would Wallace finally get his chance? Would Humphrey's legacy be cemented? Would McGovern be redeemed? Would an outsider take over? Would Ford hold on? Would Reagan's conservatism be the way to go? Something more middle-of-the-way? Or would the system be shaken up by a third-party candidate?

After all the chaos of the last few years, how would America react, she wondered?


Welcome to America's Reaction: a 1976 game! The game will start on February 8 if enough people sign up, and will begin on November 2, 1975: a year before the election. Each week, we'll see what's the new stuff people are reading in their newspaper. The turns will last 10 days maximum, with extensions granted individually, and with game time varying from turn to turn depending on activity. Debates and interviews will be available upon request, and endorsements will be under the credit system used by Dat's 2020 election game (Dat, if you want to keep the system to yourself, say the word).

This will be the signup and questions thread.

Potential candidates:

Democratic Party:

Senator Walter Mondale
Governor Jimmy Carter-jakobisgood
Senator Frank Church-Gorguf
Congressman Mo Udall
Congresswoman Pat Schroeder-Nyindy
Governor George Wallace-Ishan
Ambassador Sargent Shriver
Governor Jerry Brown-ASPN
Senator Scoop Jackson
Senator Birch Bayh
Senator Ed Muskie-MAINEiac
Senator Lloyd Bentsen-DatGOTTho
Senator Al Gore, Sr.
Governor Milton Shapp
Senator and 1972 nominee George McGovern
Senator Mike Gravel-terp40hitch
Senator Robert Byrd
Ms. Ellen McCormack

Republican Party:

President Gerald Ford
Governor Ronald Reagan-X-guy
Vice-President Nelson Rockefeller
Senator Bob Dole
Congressman John B. Anderson
Governor William Scranton
HUD Secretary Carla Anderson Hills
Senator Howard Baker
Businessman Ray Kroc-GoTFan
CIA Director George HW Bush-JacksonHitchcock
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
Senator Jesse Helms
Senator Lowell Weicker
Senator Paul Laxalt
Senator Edward Brooke-NTP
Ambassador to the UK Elliot Richardson

[Huey Long is a Republican]

If possible, I'll play as Massachusetts Senator Ed Brooke

[Peanut]

If possible, I'll play as Massachusetts Senator Ed Brooke

Got it.

[terp40hitch]

By any chance can I have Mike Gravel?

[Orwell]

I would like Director Bush

[Peanut]

By any chance can I have Mike Gravel?

Granted. Interesting guy.

I would like to join as Governor Reagan.

Granted.

I would like Director Bush

Granted.

[Continential]

I'd like to pick Jackie Kennedy or George Wallace

[GoTfan]

I'd like to run for the Republicans as Ray Kroc.

[Peanut]

I'd like to run for the Republicans as Ray Kroc.

Granted.

I'd like to pick Jackie Kennedy or George Wallace

Governor Wallace granted.

[ASPN]

Any chance I could hop in as Jerry Brown? Otherwise I'll go for Mondale.

[Peanut]

Any chance I could hop in as Jerry Brown? Otherwise I'll go for Mondale.

Jerry Brown's ok.

[McGovernite]

Can I run as Governor Jimmy Carter?

[Peanut]

Can I run as Governor Jimmy Carter?

Granted.

[Cabbage]

1) Yes, it's fine if you use my credits system (honestly, even if I did mind, you're the one who actually came up with it).

2) Put me down for Senator Bentsen, if you would, please.

[Peanut]

1) Yes, it's fine if you use my credits system (honestly, even if I did mind, you're the one who actually came up with it).

2) Put me down for Senator Bentsen, if you would, please.

Great, granted.

[MAINEiac4434]

Can I be Muskie?

[Peanut]

Can I be Muskie?

Yep.

[NyIndy]

I know this is a weird question but is Pat Schroeder available as a candidate?

[Peanut]

I know this is a weird question but is Pat Schroeder available as a candidate?

Not a weird question, and yeah, you can have her.

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

I always love running an underdog campaign, give me Carla?

[NyIndy]

I know this is a weird question but is Pat Schroeder available as a candidate?

Not a weird question, and yeah, you can have her.

Yeah just meant she'd be like the dark horse of dark horses

[Joe Biden 2024]

I'd like to run as Frank Church.

[GoTfan]

Can we post announcement speeches?

[Peanut]

I know this is a weird question but is Pat Schroeder available as a candidate?

Not a weird question, and yeah, you can have her.

Yeah just meant she'd be like the dark horse of dark horses

That's what makes it fun

I'd like to run as Frank Church.

Granted.

Can we post announcement speeches?

Of course, and in fact I'd encourage it.

[Peanut]

Also, if anyone would like one early pre-game endorsement, I will (likely) grant it. PM me whose pre-game endorsement you'd like to have.