An Effective Consensus

[KaiserDave]

Gallup Poll: President Romney Job Approval September 1969



Wikimedia Commons

Approve: 64%
Disapprove: 32%

[KaiserDave]

Wikimedia Commons and Image Modified by Me

The Romney Administration

1969 was shaping up to be a unique year. The Romney administration was taking America in a different direction, the War was calming down, the economy was finally picking up, and the Mets had won the world series! One thing that the Romney administration was intent on getting off the ground was the Apollo 11 program. The landing was delayed because of Wallace era budget cuts and the inefficiency of the Wallace bureaucracy, but the Romney team, working like a crack business team got the program moving again. Soon after Cleon Jones made the final out of the World Series, Neil Armstrong was on the Moon, and the nation was ascendant. The Wallace chaos was over and the Romney prosperity had begun. The Romney family and the friendly (though competitive) nature of the new President captured the nation in a new mood, a mood of an ascendant America. Moving out of the chaotic sixties and into the decade with more optimism, though the wounds of the decade were far from healed on the whole.

George Romney set to healing those wounds. He put Thurgood Marshall on the court as Chief Justice and first black Supreme Court justice, and wished Earl Warren a happy retirement. He would also put noted civil rights supporter John Robert Brown on the court as well. Wallace did not have the chance to put any judges on the court, and so the court continued to stick to the Earl Warren tradition. But Romney still had his legislative agenda in regards to poverty to push. His program, called the "Better America" program was headlined by the food stamps program, an Earned Income Tax Credit, Head Start, and expansions of the EPA and a creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help the needy in cities, house the homeless, and oversee urban development in the US. The program was another vast expansion of government, and was predicted to grow the deficit precipitously. The argument in Congress revolved around a few things, was running the deficit worth it? Was the economy strong enough to pay down these deficits? And finally, were the programs right? Conservatives in both parties were staunchly opposed to the "radical, social engineering" in the proposal, but liberals in both parties were totally behind it. The bill passed the house but faced a steep challenge in the Senate, where the Conservative Coalition was stronger. The bill was tirelessly advocated for by many Democrats, including the newly elected (to Vice President Brooke's seat) Ted Kennedy, but also by many Republicans such as Jacob Javits and High Scott. The bill created such a controversy that longtime Democrat Birch Bayh switched parties over the conservative obstinance, though this was not a surprise as it was anticipated at numerous points due to Civil Rights issues. The programs ultimately passed, which would result in a backlash from Conservatives, especially ascendant economic conservatives. These men such as Ronald Reagan and William F. Buckley tepidly embraced civil rights while promoting conservative, government shrinking, tax cutting policy. Though for now their ideology had trouble getting off the ground, as the economy was good and the memories of Wallace stunk up conservative thought for much of the populace.

In the Cold War Romney looked for chances to thaw tensions wherever possible. He met with Andrei Gromyko in Vienna, and signed documents advancing the cause of nuclear arms control and detente. There were plans to meet Leonid Brezhnev but his ill health made that impossible for the time being. Romney sought to shift American weight around not through military interventions but economic clout, he reversed the Wallace cuts to foreign aid and immediately started putting more money into NATO and efforts to stem communism abroad. However, Romney did not push for major increases in defense spending, he pushed for the Vietnam withdrawal to commence at a faster pace, and to end the financial commitment there. Romney also sought rapprochement with Red China, a keen businessman, he saw the untapped economic potential of the People's Republic. However, Romney's efforts in China could not go anywhere for the time being, due to Congressional opposition and the Cultural Revolution ripping through the country. In Europe the Berlin Wall was up, and the Soviet Union continued a conservative and harsh path in regards to Eastern European politics. Despite detente with the United States, the Brezhnev Doctrine remained in full effect.

At the home the new budget deficits became a divisive issue. The deficit, in late 1970 up to 80 Billion Dollars (note that this is in modern USD for simplicity's sake) had become a major problem for many in Congress. Democrats quickly became the party of balanced budgets (with the exception of some liberals, who like Humphrey were increasingly isolated in the party). They opposed both excessive spending and major tax cuts (as proposed by the small but growing supply side movement). Republicans became the party of stimulating growth through investment and tax cuts, but the newly elected Bob Dole from Kansas divided by the party but his stalwart opposition to the new deficits. In the next budget, many in Congress wanted to rein in spending. In the White House, Romney was willing to run a deficit if the economy was growing, and with the growth looking far stronger than in 1968 and '69, he continued to support the deficit. Romney was a pragmatist, not firmly in either camp. Though he became influenced by the Chicago School in regards to a volunteer military, which he began to push for. As the 1970 midterms approached, Romney was touring Europe, Germany, France, Britain, and Yugoslavia. He also visited Israel, to whom he promised a far more generous policy than Wallace's, and he visited many holy sites. Things looked strong for the Republicans as the elections approached, and a week before the voting started, Romney announced that the last US combat troops would leave Vietnam by the end of 1971.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Anyway I hope Romney gets individual tax cuts passed and this is a great TL and I'm interested to see how the 1980s and 1990s particularly go

[KaiserDave]

Anyway I hope Romney gets individual tax cuts passed and this is a great TL and I'm interested to see how the 1980s and 1990s particularly go

I generally said "eased taxes" but income taxes are going down, though not nearly to the scale as Reagan's RL tax cuts.

[KaiserDave]

Election 1970

Hello and Good morning, I'm Walter Cronkite and this is  the CBS Evening News. The results are in for midterm elections of 1970 and here they are.


United States House of Representatives
Republicans: 231 (+3)
Democrats: 204 (-3)


United States Senate
Democrats: 64 (+0)
Republicans: 35 (+0)
Independent: 1 (+0)

Flips: Illinois (R to D), Utah (D to R)


The Democrats have retained control of the Senate and the Republicans control the House of Representatives. It seems overall that these round of elections were a wash. In the Senate both parties flipped a seat, and in the House overall there was a small Republican gain of 3 seats. In the Senate Republicans are now led by the enterprising moderate Hugh Scott as Everett Dirksen, a true giant of the Senate passed away last year of cancer. Mike Mansfield will lead the Democratic majority in the Senate once again. Democrats swept a variety of seats in the South, sweeping aside Republicans in Mississippi, Virginia, Florida, and Tennessee. The Republicans seem to be abandoning that route, as they gave up on many of those races in October. Democrats won back the Dirksen seat with Adlai Stevenson III, but lost Utah where the President campaigned heavily. In the House Republicans picked up a few western seats and lost a few in the plains states. Democrats struggle as they fail to win back anything substantial lost in the Wallace years. Many say they've failed to characterize themselves on any specific idea as the liberal wing of the party continues to hold out. However, many leading Democrats seem to be moving away from segregationist policies and towards a more conservative law and order and balanced budgets stance. Time will tell if that approach succeeds in 1972. And that's the way it is, Walter Cronkite with CBS news on November 4th, 1970.

[KaiserDave]

Wikimedia Commons



The small group waited quietly as the plane began to gain speed down the runaway, the calm and silence and quiet Virginia winter soon began to be broken by the growing speed and fire of the planes engines. The plane began to rise, rise, and rise and before long it was climbing into the heavens. President Romney, Vice President Burke, and accompanying Generals all clapped as the F-14 Tomcat flew its first flight. However the test was not yet done, the plane soon climbed out of clear visibility, but the trail was still visible. It's noise however only grew. George borrowed Edward's binoculars as he looked as the plane reached. It climbed in altitude and noise and then pop, a great crack pierced the steady hum of the plane. That was the speed of sound being broken. The group cheered again, the first flight of the F-14 was a success. They listened (as they could not see it) the plane arc across the sky and thereafter land. George was excited, by his Generals were quick to remind him of the realities in regards to plane development.

"We're excited too sir, but we don't expect it to be ready to deploy for another four years."

"Oh but I just can't help but admire the awesome power and development of modern aviation. When I grew up you know it was just small little flyers with propellers and so on. Wow."

George Romney was a character, and definitely fun to be around. His energy and religious enthusiasm seeped into everything he did. Not many were surprised when he insisted on witnessing the test firsthand.. They all hopped back into the three open top army cars they were using to transport the presidential team as they began the road to Roanoke. Marine One was back at Bedford Station where the test was conducted, but George had also insisted on stopping in Roanoke to meet folks there and have some lunch with the Vice President and the public. It was especially important that America's first black Vice President was with him.

.....

They rolled into Roanoke. The three vans stopped in the town where a team of secret service agents were to met them. They flanked George was he waved to the surprisingly supportive crowd in the town. The women, men, and children in the crowd cheered happily, the President was in town! George waved and shook hands with the crowd, while Vice President Brooke waited by the door of the local diner they intended to eat at. He was not shaking hands with the crowd, maybe they didn't want to. George waved as he entered the crowded diner where he would certainly answer more questions, and local press had already arrived. George scooted ahead of Vice President Brooke to open the door for him. More symbolism that the local press had captured on camera already. Brooke smiled and began to enter the diner as one man's shout pierced the noise.


"Die n*****!"

A man stepped past the cameraman of the local paper, reached out with the Model 36 snubnosed revolver and shot the Vice President of the United States of America.

[We Live in Black and White]

So, uh, holy f**k.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Prayers Up for Vice President Brooke


I hope they catch the terrorist who did this and give him the death penalty for this horrendous crime

[KaiserDave]

Wikimedia Commons


An entire floor of the Carillon Roanoke Memorial Hospital was cordoned off, with Secret Service agents at every door. Soldiers too were guarding all the entrances to the hospital. Edward Brooke clinging to life on a hospital bed surrounded by doctors and surgeons and was unconscious and receiving oxygen. George Romney sat next to Remigia Ferrari-Scacco the Vice President's wife on a bench in the hall of the hospitals. It had been a few hours since the Vice President was shot on the streets of Roanoke. Immediately after he was shot he fell onto the door that was being opened for him and onto the ground. The shooter had shot another bullet, aimed at the President, but the cameraman of local newspaper standing next to him had slammed into his arm thus skewing the shot into the air. The shooter was beat down to the ground and disarmed, and apprehended by the Secret Service as the crowd screamed and panicked.

Brooke was immediately driven to the nearby hospital, where he was placed on a gurney and rolled into an operating room. The bullet hit him in the upper rib and deflected off the rib, puncturing his lung and, ripping right onto the top of his shoulder blade. It was an immensely serious injury. Thankfully due to the medical knowledge of the Secret Service on staff measures were taken to stop the lung from collapsing, though the Vice President was also on a chest tube pumping in blood and air to keep him alive. The Doctors had operated on him to remove the bullet nestled on top of the shoulder blade, and this had been successful, though they had had to stabilize his lungs first. But even now it was questionable whether the Vice President could keep enough blood to stay alive. The hospital was surrounded by the press, national media had cameras trained on the front entrance and the nation was anxiously awaiting news. President Romney was planning on flying back to the White House to deliver a speech, but for now he was staying put. He was outwardly furious that the Secret Service had been so lax with the nation's first black Vice President in the South, though internally he blamed himself.

But who had been responsible? It had been a man named George Burns. George was a local Roanoke resident who worked in odd jobs from auto work to plumbing. He was good with a wrench to say the least. He lived in a small house down the road and while not a social outcast by any means (he was always a presence at sports events or card games), lived alone and the 41 year old had never been married. Those who knew him well however could tell you the man was quite prejudiced, and already the police were gathering character witnesses who could say so. He had even been to a meeting of the American Nazi Party led by George Lincoln Rockwell. He wasn't a Klansman but he had been a fixture of any local Klan meeting. He voted for George Wallace twice, but most of all over everything else he hated black people. He usually carried his pistol on him and when the "White House N*****" as he called him showed up in town he followed his racist instincts. But now he was already locked up, and probably facing a long time in jail-or worse.

The Vice President was still alive, Doctors said they were hopeful, but even know death was sitting right next to the President Romney and Second Lady Scacco in the Hospital halls.....

[America Needs R'hllor]

Ih wow... Hope Brooke recovers, the white supremacists need to be destroyed

[Elcaspar]

Ih wow... Hope Brooke recovers, the white supremacists need to be destroyed

[KaiserDave]

Gallup Poll: President Romney Job Approval January 1971



Wikimedia Commons

Approve: 69%
Disapprove: 29%

[We Live in Black and White]

God, I can just see it now. The McGovern parallel, who I anticipate to be a Dixiecrat, blows the entire 1972 election by making some crass remark about the attempt on Brooke's life.

Also, proud member of the 69%. Nice.

[KaiserDave]

Members of the 69%, full thoughts on the Romney/Brooke? administration thus far?

[We Live in Black and White]

Members of the 69%, full thoughts on the Romney/Brooke? administration thus far?

I think my favorite thing is his full-tilt charge for civil rights. After Wallace, it's immensely satisfying. Also, the nearly-immediate end of the Vietnam War.

[S019]

Members of the 69%, full thoughts on the Romney/Brooke? administration thus far?

I like the move towards embracing civil rights, and I also like that they aren't being deficit hawks, and that they are willing to run some deficits to fund social programs.

[KaiserDave]

Folks:

Had an update today but my laptop froze and crashed! It will come soon though

[KaiserDave]

Wikimedia Commons and Image Modified by Me

The Romney Administration

Edward Brooke survived. Despite his grave wounds he survived the injuries to his chest and shoulder and resumed his duties in late January of 1971. Although one could notice that his left arm's movements were stiffened and less agile. The assassination attempt however had other wide reverberations. Many Americans had sunk into the feeling that Romney and Brooke's election provided a clean, decisive break from racism in America and the terrifying days of Wallace, that their election brought America into a post racial age. Though this was not a majority opinion, the shot fired at the Vice President had shattered all illusions. Anyone foolish enough to forget outright massacres in Atlanta and Selma was brought back into reality. However the battle lines were just being drawn. At the President's 1971 State of the Union Brooke received a 2 minute standing ovation from Congress and George Romney applauded his bravery and sacrifice numerous times. He also decided to push his agenda again. Presidents usually step back after losing seats in the midterms, but Romney hardly lost in the midterms. In fact his party gained a handful of seats in the House of Representatives. Romney made sure to call for expanding funding for the Secret Service, and updated Congress on the facts on Vietnam. By the end of the year there would be just a small advisory and security force in Saigon and nothing more and thanked the troops multiple times. He then moved onto his domestic agenda. He provided his vision for a compassionate and efficient government, a vision of an able and substantial federal government "big" if you will, but one that worked well. One that functioned like a board room less than a gambling hall. One could observe that Romney largely viewed government as a force for good, but largely when it was managed by him. Nevertheless he made a bold unrepentant case of federal housing and infrastructure projects, for aggressive desegregation of suburbs, for full enforcement of civil and voting rights, and for a simpler and generous tax code. He made little mention of the deficit, only vowing for a robust economic growth and low inflation.

The early months of 1971 were characterized by fiery partisan fights in Congress. Romney's proposed fiscal agenda included more federally backed desegregation, busing, and funding for assistance programs for the poor and most vulnerable. This agenda did not fly over easily. Conservatives rose up in Congress. The Conservative Coalition, now largely composed of Democrats in opposition to the President's policies defined themselves by balanced budgets, an end to busing and aggressive desegregation. They refused to allow Romney's unrepentant liberalism to go through. Of course there were many liberal Democrats, Hubert Humphrey, Robert Kennedy, Jack Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Frank Church, and Eugene McCarthy just to name a few. But the loudest voices were from the South and conservatives in the midwest, and they were amplified by the party machinery, filled with Wallace era appointees.  These conservative Democrats teamed up with Bob Dole to call loudly for the deficit to be erased by whatever means necessary. Their arguments were amplified when the Q1 reports came in, which showed a slowing economic recovery, highlighted by concerns over the deficit. Romney's backers pointed to the fact that inflation had dropped, but it didn't stop Democrats from calling for even a reversal to the Gold Standard. Jerry Ford lifted Romney's bill through the house, but not before Wilbur Mills made a name for himself denouncing the deficit policies of the administration from his spot as Chairman of the House Ways and Means committee. In the Senate it was harder. Hugh Scott was fully behind the agenda, but Mansfield was looking for ways to sabotage it and tried to hook it on every procedural tool he could. Scott however allied with liberal Democrats and was able to squeak it over opposition by a small majority.

However because of the economic issues and the new cultural issues, especially desegregation of suburbs the Conservative movement was ascendant again. A coalition of deficit hawks and white suburbanites angry about aggressive desegregation made up this new movement. They were very much in the spirit of George Wallace, especially in regards to a very aggressive drug policy but sanitized their image by supporting civil rights (though they opposed all the methods of enforcing it). The President had avoided a bad midterm result with a strong economy and a depressed turnout from conservatives, but now they were back again. The backlash against his policies, especially his aggressive federal desegregation of suburbs resulted in suburban voters, many of whom had been loyal voters for Eisenhower and Nixon flocked to the Democratic banner. Conservatives like Ronald Reagan also enjoyed their support, but it was hard to square his Republican membership with the liberal policies of his party's President. Nevertheless his flock (including Taft Jr, Goldwater, and William F. Buckley) stuck to the Republican Party. However, the President now faced a resurgent conservative opposition. The Democratic Party still had its liberal wings, but the party was assuredly tacking to the right to oppose the President. Oftentimes the Kennedy brothers and Humphrey went on television and radio to support the President and defend him from his critics, who where most often in the Democratic Party (with the notable exception of Bob Dole).

On the world stage Romney enjoyed positive press for the Vietnam withdrawal and made sure to exploit it. He dined with Ceaușescu in Bucharest and again with Tito in Belgrade, he met with European leaders to smooth over tensions with France and reassure leaders of any disruption of relations due to European integration. They also discussed monetary policy at length. Romney also offered the United States as a mediator in the growing conflict between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Negotiations would go on for the rest of the year and would often be interrupted by more fighting, but ultimately it and the Bangladeshi military victory brought a sooner than expected end to the conflict. President Romney would also welcome Brezhnev at the White House, which made headlines. They met and elaborated on arms reduction, also the Soviet Premier looked noticeably frail. However Romney made sure not to tip the scales on US relations with the socialist camp, he also made appeals to China. The PRC finally took up it's seat on the Security Council in the summer, and Romney announced plans to meet with the Chinese leadership and establish diplomatic relations. He sold the latest in anti air weapons to the Republic of China under the table, but it appeared that recognition was shifting.

On the home front the presidential campaign approached and Democrats began raising the issue of drugs. Drug crime had risen in the Romney years as Romney had taken the gas off the Wallace era military campaign against drug crime. Romney claimed he was "as much against marijuana, cocaine, heroin as anyone else. We're going to be very aggressive to take these drugs off the streets. Very aggressive. But the fight isn't with tanks on the streets of the south side of Chicago, it's in schools. We're backing this new program what's it, yes DARE. We're starting with the kids, and of course we'll be vigilant against the gangs." As the campaign approached the battle lines were drawn. Could Romney win four more years?

[KaiserDave]

Gallup Poll: President Romney Job Approval December 1971



Wikimedia Commons

Approve: 61%
Disapprove: 37%

[We Live in Black and White]

I feel like my "Romney destroys an odious Dixiecrat in 1972" prediction is taking shape.

Also thank f**k Brooke survived.

[KaiserDave]

Campaign 1972

Wikimedia Commons



January 2nd: George Romney declares candidacy for reelection in large Detroit rally pushing even harder for liberal reform

January 3rd: Robert Kennedy surprises nobody by announcing presidential campaign

January 5th: George McGovern announces bold progressive campaign from South Dakota, promises "a decent standard of living for every American and an end to the endless accumulation of wealth at the top."

January 7th: Barry Goldwater dismisses any chance of a Presidential campaign, but refuses to unconditionally back the President

January 14th: Former President George Wallace speculates that he run for President, saying "If I ran I'd win, by a lot."

January 15th: Eugene McCarthy becomes third liberal to enter the race, further opening the field

January 18th: Edmund Muskie announces campaign, Democratic fields widens further

January 21st: At large Romney/Brooke rally in Chicago an armed man with a KKK membership card is arrested while carrying a M1911

January 24th: Wilbur Mills announces campaign for President, will avoid northern primaries, and is already gathering southern delegates

January 25th: Henry "Scoop" Jackson announces second presidential campaign

January 28th: Martin Luther King Jr. leads massive march in Jackson Mississippi calling for jobs and universal basic income, Wilbur Mills says he needs "a basic lesson in finance, I don't think he's ever had one." Hubert Humphrey says in a Senate floor speech calling for full employment that Wilbur Mills resorts to "racist and desperate attacks to appeal to a narrow segment of voters." Democratic insiders refuse to condemn Mills.

February 11th: Campaign heats up as New Hampshire becomes big fight between Muskie, Kennedy, and McGovern.

February 15th: Monumental Peace Deal reached in Paris as Romney, Scranton, and Kissinger bring an end to America's longest war. North Vietnam agrees to a tentative peace with the South, lending credence to a sped up withdrawal. Fewer than 6,000 American soldiers remain in the country.

February 17rd: Ku Klux Klan marches on Washington, 10,000 Klansman march, burn Edward Brooke in effigy and black counter protestor is beaten half to death

February 26th: A coal sludge spill kills 125 people in Buffalo Creek, West Virginia. President Romney visits site and promises vast new regulations in mining safety.

February 28th: George Wallace declines to run for President, but rumor has it he is already whipping Southern Delegates behind Wilbur Mills

March 2nd: Armed Black Panthers get into shootout with California State Police, 13 left dead on both sides when all is said and done.

March 4th: Another shipment of American troops comes home from Vietnam, less than 1,000 active combat troops left in the country, strictly guarding sites in Saigon.

March 7th: New Hampshire primary is held, with a close result expected


Democratic Candidates
Robert Kennedy: Into the Future
Eugene McCarthy: The People's Candidate
Henry Jackson: America Ascendant
Edmund Muskie: A Leader to Trust
George McGovern: Time for Justice
Wilbur Mills: Our Future Secure


Republican Candidates
George Romney: Towards Sunshine

[OSR stands with Israel]

Wasnt Wilbur Mills more like William Fulbright then a hard core dixecrat like George Wallace(Fulbright was still terrible but not as bad as Wallace). I would have guesses they would support someone like Lester Maddox instead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilbur_Mills

Mills played a large role in the establishment of Medicare. He also helped pass the Tax Reform Act of 1969, which created the alternative minimum tax.

Mills ran for president in 1972, championing an automatic Cost of Living adjustment to Social Security, but he performed poorly in the Democratic primaries

[KaiserDave]

Wasnt Wilbur Mills more like William Fulbright then a hard core dixecrat like George Wallace(Fulbright was still terrible but not as bad as Wallace). I would have guesses they would support someone like Lester Maddox instead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilbur_Mills

Mills played a large role in the establishment of Medicare. He also helped pass the Tax Reform Act of 1969, which created the alternative minimum tax.

Mills ran for president in 1972, championing an automatic Cost of Living adjustment to Social Security, but he performed poorly in the Democratic primaries

This is all true although I’d say two things

Mills is pandering to the southern base with the racist stuff
And Wallace passed Medicare in this TL

[Trans Rights Are Human Rights]

Anyone but Mills.

[Mini Mike]

This timeline is amazing, Dave! Reading it has me on the edge of my seat, especially the part about VP Brooke getting shot. I'm so glad he eneded up being okay. I can't wait to see what direction you take this in. Definitely subscribed!

Romney/Brooke 1972!