The Long National Nightmare (Edition 2.0)

Chapter XXIV: Birch

Tuesday, March 2nd, 1976:

9:15 PM, Boston, MA.

[1]

Though Askew had the early momentum, there was no doubt about it. Senator Birch Bayh had emerged, seemingly out of nowhere, as the front runner. As the most prominent liberal in the race, the Indiana Senator had the benefit of monopolizing the support of the progressive wing of the party, spare competition from Ron Dellums. But despite his New Hampshire victory, it seemed as if his campaign was lacking genuine enthusiasm.

Birch had a theory about that:

Nixon's Presidency, from start until finish, proved to be a trauma that the nation had yet to recover from. Ford's attempts to bridge the divide created by Nixon's disgrace was ended with an assassins bullet, and Rockefeller's ascension to the Presidency came at a time when the New York Post ran headlines such as "America is Exhausted" and "Enough is Enough." With three Presidents in less than three years, the genuine excitement that typically accompanied presidential campaigns simply wasn't there as America limped it's way towards a bicentennial.

Bayh to many Democrats was everyone's second choice, but very few's favorite. That person was Ted Kennedy, who was sitting out the race. The somber, almost stagnant atmosphere of the seventies was a headwind that steadily bedeviled his candidacy, even as he sat on the cusp of victory in the nearing Massachusetts and Vermont primaries. He drove, alone with his son Birch, known better by his middle name Evan, from an event in Springfield to one final union hall in Worcester.

"I don't know why you don't just come home for that weekend" asked Evan, as they drove through light snowfall on a cold and foggy night, "Florida is going to go for Askew." The Senator was proud of his son, a twenty year old student at the University of Virginia, and often boasted to his colleagues in Congress about his political acumen.

"We could pick off a few delegates" answered the Senator, "just enough to cushion our lead in the delegate count."

"What does Stevenson think" asked Evan, inquiring about Senator Adlai Stevenson III, the Illinois Senator and son of the 1952 and 1956 Democratic presidential nominee. His support, along with that of outgoing Mayor Daley, would be critical for anyone attempting to carry the state. Fortunately for Bayh, they had it.

"Stevenson is on board" Birch smiled, "but he doesn't want it known until after Florida. He's probably right, we'd have maximum impact that way."

"How's mom?" asked Evan, changing the topic at hand to a much more harsher reality; the wife of Senator Bayh, Marvella, was battling aggressive cancer. "She's pretty tired most of the time, but she's doing the best she can" answered the son, somberly.

"I wouldn't be doing this if she didn't want me to" Birch affirmed, "but she's a fighter, and she expects us to be too. That's why we're going to win this thing for her."

Tuesday, March 2nd, 1976: Primaries in Massachusetts and Vermont are conducted.

1976 Massachusetts Democratic Primary: 553,426 Votes, 104 Delegates.
Birch Bayh: 44.88%-248,377 votes, 52 delegates.
George Wallace: 23.07%-127,675 votes, 28 delegates.
Sargent Shriver: 18.25%-101,000 votes, 24 delegates.
Ron Dellums: 8.18%-45,270 votes.
Henry Jackson: 1.89%-10,459 votes.
Reuben Askew: 1.67%-9,242 votes.
Ellen McCormack: 1.03%-5,700 votes.
Fred Harris: 0.51%-2,822 votes.
Frank Church: 0.37%-2,047 votes.
Eugene McCarthy: 0.15%-830 votes.

1976 Massachusetts Republican Primary: 187,902 Votes, 43 Delegates.
Nelson Rockefeller: 62.52%-117,476 votes, 43 delegates.
Ronald Reagan: 24.17%-45,415 votes.
John Connally: 12.42%-23,337 votes.
Arthur Fletcher: 0.59%-1,108 votes.
Harold Stassen: 0.30%-563 votes.

1976 Vermont Democratic Primary: 31,362 Votes, 12 Delegates.
Birch Bayh: 47.76%-14,978 votes, 8 delegates.
Sargent Shriver: 21.65%-6,789 votes, 4 delegates.
Henry Jackson: 12.20%-3,826 votes.
Ron Dellums: 7.85%-2,461 votes.
Reuben Askew: 3.90%-1,223 votes.
George Wallace: 2.49%-780 votes.
Fred Harris: 1.36%-426 votes.
Frank Church: 1.22%-382 votes.
Ellen McCormack: 0.90%-282 votes.
Eugene McCarthy: 0.67%-210 votes.

1976 Vermont Republican Primary: 29,772 Votes, 12 Delegates.
Nelson Rockefeller: 71.24%-21,509 votes, 12 delegates.
Ronald Reagan: 16.03%-4,772 votes.
John Connally: 11.21%-3,337 votes.
Harold Stassen: 0.83%-247 votes.
Arthur Fletcher: 0.69%-205 votes.

1976 Democratic Primaries.
Birch Bayh: 110 delegates.
Reuben Askew: 35 delegates.
George Wallace: 28 delegates.
Sargent Shriver: 28 delegates.
Uncommitted:18 delegates.
Henry Jackson: 4 delegates.

1976 Republican Primaries.
Nelson Rockefeller: 82 delegates.
Ronald Reagan: 30 delegates.

Wednesday, March 3rd, 1976: Despite a series of low showings, former Treasury Secretary John Connally vows to remain in the race through the Florida primary; unlike the northeastern states, the wealthy Texan has campaigned in Florida and has spent a considerably amount of money on the airwaves to promote his candidacy.

Thursday, March 4th, 1976: While campaigning in the Florida panhandle, Governor Reagan harshly criticizes President Rockefeller as "a coward" for refusing to nominate a Vice President due to the objections of Congress; "I will not let Speaker Albert and Senator Mansfield hold the nation's second most important position hostage," Reagan declares.

Friday, March 5th, 1976: Under pressure from Governor Reagan on the issue of the still vacant Vice Presidency, the President is taken off guard on the issue during a sit-down interview with the Washington Post. In an effort to show more candor to appear less aloof, Rockefeller answers a question about the stalled process to fill the vacant Vice Presidency by confirming "politics has it's place and purpose in these proceedings. That's just the truth of it."

Saturday, February 6th, 1976: In an effort to corale last minute support in Florida, Governor Reagan seizes upon President Rockefeller's comments about the vacant Vice Presidency. "President Rockefeller is an unusually honest politician, I guess" jokes Reagan, "honest about just how bad the ways of Washington have become."

Sunday, March 7th, 1976: White House Chief of Staff John Veneman makes a rare appearance on CBS's Face the Nation, in which he defends the President's record and recounts the behind the scenes battle over the bailout of New York City. Veneman attempts to squash attacks over the President's recent comments about the Vice Presidency by arguing that Rockefeller "doesn't view the political battle that would be caused as something desirable for the country." After Veneman's appearance, Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) appears on the same broadcast and calls on the President to "put the primary aside and just pick a damn Vice President already!"

Monday, March 8th, 1976: Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) announces he will place his name on the West Virginia primary ballot as a favorite son candidate. Byrd's candidacy is widely reported as being merely a front for his true ambition, which is to replace Mike Mansfield as Senate majority leader.

Tuesday, March 9th, 1976: The Florida primary is held.

1976 Florida Democratic Primary: 1,026,918 Votes, 81 Delegates.
Reuben Askew: 32.18%-330,462 votes, 32 delegates.
George Wallace: 26.33%-270,387 votes, 27 delegates.
Henry Jackson: 20.10%-206,410 votes, 22 delegates.
Birch Bayh: 9.97%-102,383 votes.
Ron Dellums: 6.91%-70,960 votes.
Sargent Shriver: 1.35%-13,863 votes.
Fred Harris: 1.27%-13,041 votes.
Frank Church: 1.15%-11,809 votes.
Ellen McCormack: 0.38%-3,902 votes.
Eugene McCarthy: 0.36%-3,696 votes.

1976 Florida Republican Primary: 574,688 Votes, 66 Delegates.
Ronald Reagan: 43.46%-249,759 votes, 30 delegates.
John Connally: 30.51%-175,337 votes, 20 delegates.
Nelson Rockefeller: 24.63%-141,545 votes, 16 delegates.
Arthur Fletcher: 1.11%-6,379 votes.
Harold Stassen: 0.29%-1,666 votes.

1976 Democratic Primaries.
Birch Bayh: 110 delegates.
Reuben Askew: 67 delegates.
George Wallace: 55 delegates.
Sargent Shriver: 28 delegates.
Henry Jackson: 26 delegates.
Uncommitted:18 delegates.

1976 Republican Primaries.
Nelson Rockefeller: 98 delegates.
Ronald Reagan: 60 delegates.
John Connally: 20 delegates.

Wednesday, March 10th, 1976: After a disappointing showing in Florida, former Treasury Secretary John Connally abandons his presidential aspirations and does not endorse a candidate.

Friday, March 12th, 1976: Richard Aoki, an Asian-American member of the Black Panther Party, announces he will run for the presidential nomination of the Peace & Freedom nomination.

Tuesday, March 16th, 1976: In a stunning announcement, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson announces he will stand down as leader of the Labor Party and thus also the office of Prime Minister. Though the official explanation was to "physical and mental exhaustion," there is some speculation that the Prime Minister is undergoing a decline in his mental faculties.

The Illinois primaries are held.

1976 Illinois Democratic Primary: 1,150,812 Votes, 169 Delegates.
Birch Bayh: 29.90%-344,092 votes, 58 delegates.
George Wallace: 21.26%-244,662 votes, 44 delegates.
Ron Dellums: 17.76%-204,384 votes, 35 delegates.
Reuben Askew: 15.84%-182,288 votes, 32 delegates.
Henry Jackson: 11.89%-136,256 votes.
Sargent Shriver: 1.37%-15,766 votes.
Fred Harris: 0.88%-10,127 votes.
Ellen McCormack: 0.59%-6,789 votes.
Frank Church: 0.36%-4,142 votes.
Eugene McCarthy: 0.15%-1,726 votes.

1976 Illinois Republican Primary: 767,523 Votes, 101 Delegates.
Ronald Reagan: 49.55%-380,307 votes, 51 delegates.
Nelson Rockefeller: 49.47%-379,693 votes, 50 delegates.
Arthur Fletcher: 0.65%-4,988 votes.
Harold Stassen: 0.33%-2,532 votes.

1976 Democratic Primaries.
Birch Bayh: 168 delegates.
George Wallace: 99 delegates.
Reuben Askew: 99 delegates.
Ron Dellums: 35 delegates.
Sargent Shriver: 28 delegates.
Henry Jackson: 26 delegates.
Uncommitted: 18 delegates.

1976 Republican Primaries.
Nelson Rockefeller: 148 delegates.
Ronald Reagan: 111 delegates.
John Connally: 20 delegates.

Wednesday, March 17th, 1976: After campaigning in Illinois, former Senator Fred Harris (D-OK) admits to the Chicago Tribune that “we’re almost dried up” in regards to campaign funds. Harris has been traveling the nation alone with his wife LaDonna and a single aide, having been forced to lay off all remaining staffers. Concerned about both the prospects of Wallace or Bayh being the nominee, Harris also confesses an interest in possibly continuing his presidential bid on the Peace Party ballot line.

Thursday, March 18th, 1976: Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) endorses Governor Reagan for the Republican nomination ahead of the North Carolina primary. Though Reagan's candidacy has already mostly galvanized conservatives, Helm's endorsement gives the former Governor critical momentum as the primary approaches.

Friday, March 19th, 1976: Former Governor Terry Sanford endorses Reuben Askew as the primary approaches in North Carolina. The Democratic primary in the state has effectively boiled itself down to just Wallace and Askew, with Bayh, Jackson, and Dellums only giving the contest minimal attention.

Saturday, March 20th, 1976: Former Ambassador Sargent Shriver suspends his campaign for the Presidency, but does not release his delegates or endorse another candidate.

Tuesday, March 23rd, 1976: The North Carolina primaries are held.

1976 North Carolina Democratic Primary: 560,329 Votes, 61 Delegates.
Reuben Askew: 32.20%-180,425 votes, 25 delegates.
George Wallace: 29.25%-167,818 votes, 22 delegates.
Ron Dellums: 16.73%-93,743 votes, 14 delegates.
Birch Bayh: 10.27%-57,545 votes.
Henry Jackson: 8.44%-47,291 votes.
Frank Church: 1.05%-5,883 votes.
Fred Harris: 0.96%-5,379 votes.
Ellen McCormack: 0.91%-5,098 votes.
Eugene McCarthy: 0.19%-1,064 votes.

1976 North Carolina Republican Primary: 191,074 Votes, 54 Delegates.
Ronald Reagan: 67.77%-129,490 votes, 54 delegates.
Nelson Rockefeller: 31.26%-59,729 votes.
Arthur Fletcher: 0.58%-1,108 votes.
Harold Stassen: 0.39%-745 votes.

1976 Democratic Primaries.
Birch Bayh: 168 delegates.
Reuben Askew: 124 delegates.
George Wallace: 121 delegates.
Ron Dellums: 49 delegates.
Sargent Shriver: 28 delegates.
Henry Jackson: 26 delegates.
Uncommitted: 18 delegates.

1976 Republican Primaries.
Ronald Reagan: 165 delegates.
Nelson Rockefeller: 148 delegates.
John Connally: 20 delegates.

Wednesday, March 24th, 1976: The Argentine military overthrows President Isabel Peron in a bloodless coup, sending her into exile in Spain. Peron is replaced by Lt. General Jorge Videla, who heads a military junta.

Wednesday, March 31st, 1976: The South Carolina Democratic Convention elects a slate of 31 uncommitted delegates; all of them, though forced to vote neutrally on the first ballot, are open supporters of Governor Wallace. Dellums campaign manager, John Lewis, angrily complains that black delegates were not properly seated and denied a vote during the proceedings in violation of the rules laid out by the McGovern-Fraser Committee’s reforms. The Dellums campaign files a lawsuit in response.

[1] Taken from Wikipedia Commons.

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