Keys to the White House: 1960

[Orwell]

The United States of America 1958-1960

The Presidency of Cary Estes Kefauver

President Kefauver health (1-5 death): 48
Corruption: 33
Civil Unrest: 34
Economy 1958-1960: 56
Republican Enthusiasm (+10): 89 + 10 = 99
Democratic Enthusiasm: 40
Kefauver approval rating: 88
Civil Rights movement: 31
2nd Arab-Israeli war: 69
USSR Space Program: 60
US Space Program (+10): 24 + 10 = 34
Cuban Revolution: 44
Antarctic Treaty: 64
Gary Powers: 66

With the loss of President Eisenhower in the months before the midterms, many Democrats had been disheartened about their parties future, the Republicans felt a great enthusiasm coming into the 1960 election as they had only held the Presidency for 4 of the preceding 28 years since the election of President Roosevelt in 1932. However, with the passage of Medicare, The Veterans Act, and many other key pieces of legislation still give the Democrats a fighting chance in 1960.

The 2 years of President Kefauver’s administration have been quite straightforward, the passage of the Family Farms Act further bolstered Democratic strength among many rural farming communities in the north and west, and even brought some goodwill to the liberal Senator Kenway in southern rural areas, but he was still a largely despised figure, just less so now.  With regards to foreign policy the 2nd Arab-Israeli war continued you;

Arab Israeli War

Egyptian Front
Israel(+10, +5): 90 + 10 + 5 = 105
Egypt: 89

Syrian Front
Israel (+10, +5): 55 + 10 + 5 = 70 
Syria: 49

Jordanian Front
Jordan (+10): 73 + 10 = 83
Israel (+5): 86 + 5 = 91

With the collapse of the forces of Egypt under Nasser and Syria the Arabs in the south and north of the country had been beat back, with a ceasefire being declared in the summer of late 1959 for peace negotiations, in both Egypt and Syria the Israelis defended the gains they had made earlier, with the Israelis reaching within a few miles of the Suez Canal, and the Israeli’s taking total control of the Golan Heights by the time of the ceasefire between Israel and Syria. On the Jordanian front the Israelis were able to make minimal gains before the ceasefire was declared, it seems that whoever wins the Presidential election of 1960 will be faced with a decision on this front.

1960 Democratic Convention

Hubert Humphrey: 52
Lyndon Johnson: 46
John F. Kennedy: 50
Stuart Symington: 62
Wayne Morse: 47
Adlai Stevenson II: 64
Walter Reuther: 83
Draft Kefauver: 22 (failed)

As the convention began in Philidelphia, the leading candidates were clear. John Fitzgerald Kennedy the starry-eyed Senator from Massachusetts had been the front runner, in the primary he secured victories in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Ohio. Illinois Senator and potential 1952 candidate Adlai Stevenson II had captured important states of Illinois and Indiana along with a strong 2nd place showing in both Pennsylvania and Ohio only finishing narrowly behind Kennedy and for 3rd in Wisconsin and behind Humphrey for 3rd in Maryland. The next leading vote-getter was Senator Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota who won victories in West Virginia, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Rounding out the field who contested primaries is Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon captured the two western states to hold primary contests winning in his home state of Oregon, and in the California primary.

Of the candidates in the 1960 election who did not decide to contend the primaries the most successful was Texan Lyndon B. Johnson, who was able to wrangle hold of the uncommitted slate of delegates that had found victory in the Florida primary, and many of the south’s delegates had been swayed to Johnson’s side. Missouri Senator Stuart Symington lacked the widespread support of Senator Johnson, but still held a strong base in his home state of Missouri, and in the solidly liberal delegations of many of the plains and mountain west states. Labor Leader Walter Reuther was a surprise, he has gained some support among the labor delegates in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, but it does not appear he can win the nomination with the hostility of the southern delegates due to his union ties and his ties to Civil Rights activist which he is a loud proponent.

Of the five leading candidates (Kennedy, Stevenson, Johnson, and Humphrey, and Reuther) no one has a clear lead, Kennedy is a strong, handsome, and charismatic war hero who served bravely in the Pacific theatre of the 2nd World War, there are worries however about his appeal to the nation as a whole. Widespread worries were compounded when in the primary he failed to win a state that lacked a sizeable Catholic population. With Senator Stevenson of Illinois, there is the fact that he passed over running in 1952, but with the successful drafting of Ike, many believe this to be water under the bridge. He is also not lacking in experience having served as the Chief Executive of one of the nation’s premier swing states for 8 years, before ousting Senator Everett Dirksen in the 1956 elections.

For Senator Humphrey, his key strengths are his charismatic nature and his wide-ranging liberal policies. Many see the Minnesotan as the standard-bearer of the liberal cause into the new decade with Senator Thomas Kenway’s absence on the Presidential ballot to some’s surprise. A major issue for Humphrey is the support of the Southern states, due to his progressive support for civil rights over his time as Mayor and later in the Senate as he has been one of the loudest advocates. Senator Stuart Symington is a Senator from Missouri, Symington is backed by Former President Harry Truman, and he served in Truman’s administration as the first Secretary of the Air Force before his election to the Senate in 1952. Symington has faced criticism for his refusal to speak to segregated crowds during his time in the campaign.

The 1960 Republican Convention

Richard M. Nixon: 18
Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.: 65
Margaret Chase Smith (-10): 52 - 10 = 42
General Lucius D. Clay: 4
Clifford P. Case: 9

For the 1960 Republican primaries, there is great enthusiasm, with the 8-year itch coming about there is a solid chance of a Republican victory in November,  the leading candidates for the nomination were California Senator Richard M. Nixon, Former Massachusetts Senator and 1956 Republican Vice presidential nominee Henry Cabot Lodge Jr, Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith, General Lucius D. Clay, and New Jersey Senator, Clifford Case.

The frontrunners for the nomination from the beginning were sent to be Senator Nixon and Senator Lodge, but with the endorsement of both Former President Earl Warren (over home state son Nixon) and Former Vice President Thomas Dewey Lodge was able to capture much of the early support in the primaries, however he was not able to secure a victory in Senator Nixon’s home state of California and knock is primary opponent from the race.Senator Lodge was the winner in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. Senator Richard Nixon of California ran in the primaries as well capturing victories in Florida, California, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Nixon represents the conservative internationalist wing of the GOP, while a ardent Anti-Communist some cite his lack of legislative accumne as his possible path to failure in the general election, Senator Lodge was the winner in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey and Indiana.

Of the remaining candidates Senator’s Chase Smith and Case were unable to gain significant footholds in the primaries, with Case being defeated in his own home state and dropping out soon thereafter pledging to fight onto the convention, while Chase was unable to make much of an impact in the primaries where she competed. The final noteworthy candidate is General Lucius D. Clay a well-known and respected military leader who served as the leader of the United States occupation zone in Germany until the formation of the Federal Republic of Germany he is the scion of a prominent military family, he did not compete in any of the primary contests, but hopes to be drafted similar to General Eisenhower 8 year ago his father did serve as a United States Senator from Georgia asa  Democrat for 2 terms near the turn of the century though.

Congressman Gerald O’Connor(+20): 91 + 20 = 111
Senator Thomas Kenway (+10): 9 + 10 = 19
Governor Will Angler (+5): 79 + 5 = 84
Senator Marcus Jackson II (+10): 56 + 10 = 66
Congressman Anton Jepson (+15): 60 + 15 = 75
Helen Nolan Tobin: 23

At the beginning of the new Congress in 1959 there was a showdown between Congressman Gerald O’Connor of Illinois and Congressman John W. McCormack of Massachusetts, but narrowly in a caucus vote O’Connor prevailed over the old guard with a coalition made of the industrial midwest, the new south, and plains congressmen. The deciding factor was the decisive vote of the Iowa and Minnesota delegations in favor of Congressman O’Connor. With McCormack as Majority leader what will O’Connor do to unite the party in the House, and what will he do at the convention?

Senator Thomas Kenway’s oratory was never considered renowned, and other than his renomination speech for President Eisenhower his eulogy was not of great note. His work with the Kennedy’s had prepared them for the 1960 convention where Jack was a leading contender what Tommy could do to secure the nomination for his friend.

Governor Will Angler won reelection in 1958 without difficulty and as he continued to push for his liberal agenda there were some gripes in the legislature from the Democrata and some conservative Republicans, but a large majority in the legislature still agreed with his liberal views. His Green MountainCare passed narrowly in the state legislature, but it was enshrined into law and as he prepared to decide between running for a 3rd term and making another career decision.


Senator Marcus Jackson’s eulogy of President Eisenhower was quite well received, but it had no long lasting effect. His suggestion to President Kefauver was not allowed, though it did spark interest in Congress for the enshrinement in the constitution for a placeholder Vice President to be added to the age old document. His brother was easily the winner in that summers Democratic primary with many counties loyal to Senator Jackson reporting extraordinary margins for State Senator Jackson’s bid for the mansion exceeding 70% of the vote even among the heavily divided field in some northern panhandle counties, though a threat of a Republican for the first time in memory seriously contended the Governor’s mansion, though with some creative “GOTV” victory could all but be assured.

Congressman Anton Jepson had managed to secure a close ally as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and with his support of Senator Humphrey he vigorously campaigned for the Senator and was able to help contribute to one of his victories in the primary setting the scale to be one of the longer conventions in recent memory. The Family Farm Act had passed easily through both houses of Congress and was one of the key accomplishments of the shortened Kefauver administration.

[Orwell]

The Conventions Continue: DNC & RNC Ballot 2

Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Gerald O’Connor: 17 points
Governor of Vermont Will Angler: 15 points
Senator Marcus A. Jackson II of Florida: 16 points
Representative Anton Jepson of Minnesota: 14 points
Senator Thomas Kenway of Iowa: 11 points

The 1960 Democratic Convention

Hubert Humphrey(+5): 53 + 58
Lyndon Johnson(+5): 65 + 5 = 70
John F. Kennedy(+5): 7 + 5 = 12
Stuart Symington: 1
Wayne Morse: 97
Adlai Stevenson II (+10): 38 + 10 = 48
Walter Reuther: 14

With the end of the first ballot of the Democratic convention there was a deadlock, Missouri Senator Staurt Symington left the field without endorsing another candidate. Texas Senator Lyndon Johnson further consolidated his support in the southern states, Oregon Senator Wayne Morse gained significant support among the Mountain West including securing the endorsement of Idaho Senator Frank Church.

The coalitions of Senators Humphrey, Kennedy, and Stevenson remained mostly unchanged, but Labor leader Walter Reuther announced he was not seeking the nomination of the Democratic party in 1960 to the surprise of many in the convention and to many who had once supported him, he did not endorse any of the leading contenders. The winner of the first ballot was Texas Senator Lyndon Johnson, he had gained the support of the southern states and he had gained a small but vocal group of border state supporters in Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Missouri. The delegation of Missouri and many of the uncommitted midwestern states split between Senators Stevenson and Humphrey, while Senator Kennedy suffered a setback from his poorly run campaign infrastructure.

The 1960 Republican Convention

Richard M. Nixon: 44
Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.(+15): 47 + 15 = 62
Margaret Chase Smith (-10, +5): 23 - 10 + 5 = 18

The First ballot of the Republican National Convention faced a similar pedigree as the Democratic Convention. Senator Richard Nixon of California sought the nomination and was once hailed as a front runner, but he lacked the strength among many of the party establishment. Former Senator and 1956 Vice Presidential nominee Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. were the odds on favorite to win the nomination quite handily, but at the end of the first ballot, he lacked the majority needed to win.

By the end of the first ballot Lodge was near the nomination, but there was still a considerable block supporting Nixon. While Margaret Chase Smith the Senator from Maine had the support of some of the more liberal delegates also blocking Lodge, but she lacked the wide support of the other candidates and was thought to be a protest vote for those unhappy with either option in the Republican nominating field.

With the beginning of the 2nd ballot, it seemed that without anything changing that Lodge would almost assuredly secure the nomination as the tides were turning against Senator Nixon, without the support of a major player such as 1956 nominee Joe Foss the GOP was almost assuredly going to nominate the more liberal ‘Eastern Establishment’ Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.

Congressman Gerald O’Connor(+15): 53 + 15 = 68
Senator Thomas Kenway (+5): 9 + 5 = 14
Governor Will Angler (+10): 66 + 10 = 76
Senator Marcus Jackson II (+10): 12 + 10 = 22
Congressman Anton Jepson (+15): 4 + 15 = 19

Speaker Gerald O’Connor worked the rooms for Senator Stevenson with some effect, the Illinois delegation was obviously behind the Senator, and as the DNC continued to ballot number 2 it looked as though it might be a long fight for the nomination. There were rumors that Gerry himself could be drafted as a possible Vice Presidential nominee to Senator Kennedy or Senator Johnson, though it was up to Gerry what to do with those rumors.

Senator Kenway’s attempt to persuade the protestants onto the side of Senator Kennedy did not go as planned. It even turned off a number of Catholic Democrats in New York, and Pennsylvania who felt that Senator Kennedy was running away from his faith. He was more successful in securing the Iowa delegation or at least most of it for Senator Kennedy, though there were vocal minorities in support of Stevenson and Humphrey. Even a couple of delegates for Johnson.

Governor Angler had a good performance and his speech was hailed as moving, though a bit dull. The first ballot seemed to be going quite well for Senator Lodge, and without a monumental change it seemed as the nomination would be going to the Senator on the 2nd ballot without question. The question of the Vice Presidency came about, and with his role in helping the nominee gain his position the question came that Lodge would ask Will to be a part of the Vice Presidential committee on finding a nominee.

Senator Marcus Jackson II had a less than average day on the first ballot, while Senator Johnson gained significant ground and secured his role as the leading Southerner. Jackson had came down with a cold and was forced to listen to the proceedings of the convention from a radio in his hotel suite.

Senator Humphrey’s campaign progressed, though Senator Morse had gained significant ground during the first ballot of the convention seemingly from nowhere. Mr.Reuther and Senator Symington also failed to endorse Senator Humphrey, the good news was however Humphrey had gained support among some of the uncommitted midwestern delegations.

[Orwell]

The conventions continue

Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Gerald O’Connor: 19 points
Governor of Vermont Will Angler: 14 points
Senator Marcus A. Jackson II of Florida: 17 points
Representative Anton Jepson of Minnesota: 16 points
Senator Thomas Kenway of Iowa: 14 points

The Democratic Convention: Ballot 2

Does Stevenson accept: 6
Does Johnson accept: 62
Hubert Humphrey(+10): 51 + 10 = 61
Lyndon Johnson(+10): 30 + 10 = 40
John F. Kennedy (-5): 64-5 = 59
Wayne Morse: 4
Adlai Stevenson II (+5): 84 + 5 = 89
Draft Douglas: 98

At the beginning of the 2nd ballot at the 1960 Democratic Convention was the first time the party had been without a nominee on the first ballot since the nomination of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the resurgence of the Democratic Party in 1932. With the collapse in support of Oregon Senator Wayne Morse on the 2nd ballot after a surprisingly strong performance on the first ballot. He joined Walter Reuther and Stuart Symington in the pile of discarded candidates.   

 An interesting development occurred among some of the disaffected supporter’s Senators Morse and Symington along with some of Mr.Reuther joined together in an attempt to draft Associate Justice of the Supreme Court  William O. Douglass while saying, “I am not currently a candidate for the Presidency of these United States if the Democratic party sees it fit I be their candidate for President of this nation. I shall without prejudice accept that nomination and resign myself from the court.” While this was not an acceptance those supporting Justice Douglas did gain some support on the 2nd ballot, and if the nomination continues to progress he could continue to gain support.

Elsewhere at the convention on the 2nd ballot, the support of Senator Jack Kennedy of Massachusetts waned as he lost some of his support in the Iowa delegation relegating himself to fourth place in the state as he lost many delegates to Senator Adlai Stevenson of Illinois and Senator Lyndon Johnson of Texas he also lost a fair amount of his MidAtlantic and midwestern supporters to Justice Douglas and Senators Stevenson and Humphrey over the course of the day. It is thought by many that Senator Kennedy will not survive another ballot at the convention with his continued loss of supporters.

The biggest winner of the day was Senator Adlai Stevenson II of Illinois. Originally thought to be a frontrunner for the nomination in 1952 he stepped aside in favor of President Eisenhower, Senator Stevenson ran and won the United States Senate election in Illinois unseating Everett Dirksen in the 1956 elections, during his time in the Senate he has established himself as a strong supporter of the New Deal, an ally to both President’s Eisenhower and Kefauver and a strong Anti-Communist. The boon on the 2nd ballot was Senator Stevenson securing the endorsement of former President Harry Truman, who though having been defeated in 1948 still holds considerable sway over the convention delegates.

In 2nd place sits Texas Senator Lyndon B. Johnson, while gaining the support of the arch-liberal Senator Thomas Kenway may have seemed strange it did net the Senator the support of many of the Iowa delegates and helped gain him support among many of the southwestern delegations, though his position on civil rights is an issue that still worries many of the Northern Delegates and many consider this the reason he is unable to make breakthroughs in much of the midwest, along with his position on Labor issues with his support of the Taft-Hartley legislation gaining him much disdain from organized Labor.

Tied for 3rd place are Massachusetts Senator Jack  Kennedy and Minnesota Senator Hubert Humphrey. With the loss of much of his midwestern support, and even some internal rumblings from the New England delegations splitting between Stevenson and the new dark horse in Justice Douglas. Senator Humphrey gained the support of some of the supporters of Senator Morse, including Idaho Senator Frank Church and some Reuther supporters, but the main loser was Senator Kennedy who faced loud dissent from men who had supported him on the first ballot going into the 2nd day.

The Republican National Convention: We have a nominee

Richard M. Nixon: 75
Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.(+10): 71 + 10 = 81
Margaret Chase Smith (-10, +10): 21
Does Nixon accept?: 71

The GOP convention was much less exciting than the one of the Democratic side, with Lodge almost assuredly to be the nominee. An offer from Vermont Governor Will Angler one of Lodge’s top advisors to the California Senator was made that the Senator did not believe he could refuse. The Vice Presidency on the first real Republican ticket in over a decade, while he had supported Foss 4 years earlier, he knew Foss never had a chance at the Presidency, but this was the time for the GOP. So, with the loss of Nixon, the only opposition that remained was Margaret Chase Smith, and with her absolute collapse on the 2nd ballot, Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. would easily sail to the Republican Presidential nomination in 1960 on the 2nd ballot.

The time to select the Vice President was now, and with the endorsement of Lodge, it seemed Nixon was a shoo-in, but there was a small minority who wished to see Former Illinois Senator and Senior Statesman Everett Dirksen be nominated to the Vice Presidency, but it would only be time to see.

Congressman Gerald O’Connor(+5): 47 + 5 = 52
Senator Thomas Kenway (+10): 75 + 10 = 85
Governor Will Angler (+15): 62 + 10 = 72
Senator Marcus Jackson II (+20): 39 + 20 = 59
Congressman Anton Jepson (+15): 81 + 15 = 96

Speaker Gerald O’Connor though he had been hopeful Senator Stevenson would accept the offer presented by Senator Johnson, Stevenson refused. This time it seemed that he would stick to it for the long haul a real breakthrough could be made in the upper south where Gerry held friends in much of the Missouri delegation and with enough prodding they may break for the Senator and with them much of the border states as well.

Senator Thomas Kenway was successful for the most part and he had Johnsons’s support in bringing the convention to Des Moines come 1968, but there was still a large and growing part of the Iowa delegation backing Senator Stevenson and Humphrey, but much of Kennedy’s support collapsed when Kenway had left. Many of the committed liberals at the convention felt betrayed for Kenway pushing forward the anti-labor anti-civil rights Senator from Texas, and much of the Kennedy camp was hostile to Kenway for the falling out he had with Bobby.

Senator Marcus Jackson II, had a successful campaign his brother was well on his way to becoming Governor and another brother was battling a member of the Democratic old guard for his seat in Congress. His battle with the Kennedy brothers had damaged them, but with Stevenson not accepting the bargain the party lacked a nominee it seemed as if Senator Jackson was going to be facing a deadlock, but it appeared possible with someone such as Adali Stevenson were to be the nominee Jackson could secure the Vice Presidency, but it may have required the swing of a few crucial delegates to his side.

Governor Will Angler had done it with the nomination secured it was only a matter of time before Senator Nixon was nominated for Vice President and the GOP had a unified party to face against the fractured Democratic Party in November. It only mattered where Governor Angler intended to campaign for the Senator in November, and if Will had any greater ambitions then being Governor of Vermont.

Congressman Jepson’s campaign to appeal to the Reuther and Morse delegates seemed to have been quite successful with Senator Humphrey on the rise and Kennedy on the fall many delegates once supporting Kennedy in the midwest have now become split between supporting Senator Humphrey and Stevenson though the Minnesota Senator has been on the rise. Some are worried about the liberal support of Humphrey in the southern states and worry about a possible third party campaign with Senator Eastland and Senator Thurmond being loud detractors.

[Orwell]

The Convention Continues

Deadlock

Hubert Humphrey(+10): 40 = 50
Lyndon Johnson(): 32
John F. Kennedy (): 13
Adlai Stevenson II (+10): 58 + 10 = 68
William O. Douglas: 100

The third ballot was much of the first two, more deadlock and less movement. The Kennedy campaign faced outright collapse, while the Johnson camp faired better, but they were on the down swing as well. The real winner was Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas who had been put forth as a possible nominee for the Vice Presidency in 1944, before instead being passed over for Truman. This time it seemed the cards were more in his favor, many of the western delegates led by Senate Majority Leader Ernest MacFarland and Labor led by UAW President Walter Reuther flocked to his cause and with the endorsement of both of those powerful men Douglass was launched to become one of the leading candidates of the convention.
Douglas who had been the subject of drafting speculation in 1944 for Vice President and in 1952 for President finally acquiesced in 1960 and announced his stance on the issue, while his campaign faces the problem of the lack of his commitment to run he is a strong candidate and immensely popular for his connection to President Roosevelt his experience as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission and having spent the last 21 years on the United States Supreme Court. Though his age 63 at the time of his inauguration in 1961 does play to some concerns.
In first place, Adlai Stevenson remains he has gained the support of some of the delegations from the upper south and the cracks are beginning to show in the supporters of Senator Johnson, the Kennedy delegates in their full rout have gone over to him in part, but the largest group had gone over to Justice Douglas and Senator Humphrey chaos has begun to run over the convention with the Republicans already having nominated Lodge and Nixon for President and Vice President.

In 2nd place now sits Justice Douglas who while not actively campaigning for the nomination was able to sway the support of Senate Majority Leader Ernest MacFarland and UAW President Walter Reuther much of his strength is in the midwestern and western delegations but with the collapse of Senator Kennedy he stands to gain support from the Liberals in New England, and with the step back from Senator Kenway most of the Iowa delegation flocked to Justice Douglas.

In 3rd place Minnesota Senator Hubert Horatio Humphrey gained the support of many who felt disaffected by Kennedy, Stevenson and Washington as usual types. He continued his slow gain among the plains states, but was unable to form a breakthrough with the ascent of Douglas and the strength of Stevenson his only hope of the nomination seemed if he could find a major breakthrough.

Senator Johnson faced some minor defeats in the border states and a few of the more liberal delegates in some of the southern states attempted to abandon him, while his lieutenants rangled many it seemed that someone was slowly trying to bleed him of his delegates, and he sent one of his fellow Texans to learn who seemed to be sabotaging his campaign.

Congressman Gerald O’Connor(+10): 75 + 10 = 85
Senator Thomas Kenway (+10): 6 + 10 = 16
Governor Will Angler (+5): 65 + 5 = 70
Senator Marcus Jackson II (+20): 88 + 20 = 108
Congressman Anton Jepson (+15): 23 + 15 = 38

Speaker Gerald O’Connor had traded barbs with the little known Governor of Vermont, while the barbs did little damage to either side it was generally considered that the Speaker came out on top, it was really up to him now though. With the convention deadlocked again, his support of Adlai while solid, it didn’t seem Adlai would gain the nomination on the 3rd ballot and this whole situation would continue to drag on in perpetuity with each ballot weakening the party even further.

Senator Thomas Kenway had adopted an isolationist approach, from those who had heard or seen of it the move towards popular representation in partisan primaries was a solid and needed one, but there was also the worry of defending his Senate seat in November if he weren’t to run. Who would be the candidate to succeed Tommy in the Senate if he were to hang it up.

Governor Will Angler had made some headlines trading barbs with the Speaker, but he still remained a lesser known figure than many of his political contemporaries, it did seem likelier and likelier with each passing ballot that Lodge would become President in the next year. The possibility of a Cabinet post began to circle around the rumor mill for the Governor, possibly Agriculture, Interior, or even Labor.

Senator Marcus Jackson II was successful for the most part in slowly pushing some of the more liberal southerners towards Senator Stevenson, but Senator Johnson had sent one of his top men looking into the traitor, though the men Jackson had convinced to support Stevenson have stayed loyal for now the retribution by Johnson could be great.

Congressman Jepson has been doing a wonderful job with Senator Humphrey’s campaign, but now the call for hims to leave the battle grows even louder, with Kennedy vanquished the nomination will almost surely be decided between Justice Douglas and Senator Stevenson with Senator Humphrey possibly being the deciding factor, shall he choose to back one of them it could gain him a powerful friend for a future run in 1964 or 68.

[Orwell]

Democratic VP selection

Does Humphrey back Douglas?: 85
Lyndon Johnson(): 20
Adlai Stevenson II(+5): 9 + 5 = 14
William O. Douglas(+5): 94 + 5 = 99
Douglas acceptance speech: 82

It had happened again. On what would happen to be the final ballot of the Democratic National Convention, Associate Justice William O. Douglas had somehow won the nomination against the assumptions and thoughts of almost every political pundit and observer in the nation this nomination which he had not even begun the convention knowing if he would seek it. Douglas was able to overcome much of the perceived worry of the convention and many delegates came to him on the 3rd ballot, with the endorsement of Former President Truman, Governor of New York Franklin Roosevelt Jr., Senator Hubert Humphrey, and Senator Jack Kennedy led the dam to break and even with Senator Jackson and many of the southern delegates defecting to Stevenson Douglas was able to secure the nomination.

The nomination of Justice Douglas was peaked by a fiery speech in defense of liberalism, environmentalism, and the new deal as he accepted the Democratic nomination. Justice Douglas also announced that he would be allowing the delegates to select the Vice Presidential nominee, the popular choices were Senator Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas, Senator Al Gore of Tennessee, Senator Marcus Jackson of Florida, Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri, and Governor George Docking of Kansas. Each candidate as their own potential weaknesses and positives, but it is up to the delegates to decide.

[Orwell]

Bumping this to show any potential new players how it would, this will be the main gameplay thread for the 1960 election and the 1962 midterms. Any further questions please ask in the signup thread or pm me. Thanks

[Orwell]

Race for the Whitehouse 1960!

Lodge/Nixon 60! A stronger Nation!

The Republican convention was mostly without fan fair in 1960. The GOP prepared to sally forth with their best chance to win the White House since 1948. They nominated Former Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. of Massachusetts along with Senator Richard M. Nixon of California, a ticket of apt experience, ideological, and geographic balance. The GOP also hopes to lessen the Democratic hold on the Senate with the current composition of 57-41 with “Independent Democrats” James Eastland and Strom Thurmond of Mississippi and South Carolina joining the Democratic Caucus to bring the total 61-39.
    As the convention season ended the Republican ticket left their Boston convention with a renewed vigor for the fall campaign, Senator Lodge focused his efforts on his home region of New England and the Mid Atlantic where he saw in roads to be made in the key swing states of New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, all states that could tip the balance of the election in his favor. This was coupled with Senator Nixon campaigning in the industrial heartland of the nation, with the region having favored the Democrats in 1952, and 56. The post convention polls show a Republican lead in the key swing states of Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan, but these leads were so narrow many election watchers consider the states tossups. In Wisconsin, Ohio, and Virginia the ticket holds wider leads of 4, 3, 4 respectively. In Virginia the GOP also looks to defend Senator Theodore Roosevelt Dalton who looks to become the first multi term Republican Senator in the states history.
   The Republican platform is similar to that of the platform in 1952, where the party wishes to continue the New Deal programs mostly as they currently are, but with limited curbing of the most excessive parts of the Democratic agenda. There is also a plan for a large expansion of defense spending, a program that was not underfunded by the Eisenhower and Kefauver administrations, but with an ardent Internationalist in Senator Lodge the ticket wishes to see the nation take a more active role in world affairs and points to the failed coup in Iran and the worsening relations with the Middle Eastern state as an example of the perils of the Democratic administration. Senator Nixon has taken to the attack on Justice Douglas for politicizing the Court and failing to protect the integrity of the court by entering into the political arena, but with Justice Douglas resigning from the court as he accepted the nomination this attack has been rendered quite mute. The campaign has seen it fit to appoint Vermont Governor Will Angler as the Chairman of the campaign and put him in charge of planning the campaign activities for the 1960 campaign.
 

 

Douglas/Jackson 1960! A Brighter Future for a Beautiful Nation.

It had happened, after the chaos of the beginning of the convention and the failure to find a suitable candidate, they had reached to the Supreme Court and nominated Associate Justice William O. Douglas for the Presidency along with Florida Senator Marcus Jackson II for the Vice Presidency. While this ticket was reached through political meandering and had angered the Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson. The personal relationship between Senator Jackson and Leader Johnson was now strained at best, and this led to the worry of some party leaders on the chance of the GOP carrying Texas. This worry was reinforced by a slate of polls following the convention showing the Douglas Jackson ticket only leading by 2 points in the Lone Star State even after Senator Johnson offered a hearty endorsement of the ticket on the final day of the convention.
   The ticket has focused primarily on restoring order to the Democratic base, with adequate balance from both Jackson and Douglas representing different wings of the party both geographically and ideologically there is no question of experience on this ticket with great support from the South, as Jackson initiated a tour of the Democratic south to secure the region a photo of Jackson locked in hands with South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond raised in a show of unity did rouse some criticism from some of the more liberal members of the party. Douglas focused on securing the key swing states of New York and Pennsylvania, both states showing Democratic leads with the ticket leading by 4 in the Empire State, but a mere 1 in the Keystone State.
   The Democratic platform was a liberal one, with a strong focus on the rights of labor and environmentalism, these served to reinvigorate the base of the party as they head into a close election for the 1960 cycle. The ticket cannot be argued against as not being severe against the Communist menace as Jackson has served as a hardened red hunter among the Senate. Having more political experience then Justice Douglas, Senator Jackson has been put in charge of the political planning for the campaign and along with Anton Jepsen of Minnesota the Chairman of the Douglas campaign are key in planning the strategy to elect the Justice in November.

[Orwell]

The Race for the White House: 1960

  The Lodge camp felt quite confident going into the dog days of the 1960 election a strong convention and a good look for the campaign. The race between Lodge and Douglas was marked by two vastly different world views, though a common agreement on many issues. Douglas who had been appointed by President Roosevelt in 1940 has served for 2 decades on the Court, and before that was brought into head the Securities and Exchange Commission by Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., a close relationship developed between the two men. The Sr. Kennedy was a key figure in the nomination of Justice Douglas following the fizzling out of the bid for the nomination by his own son John F. Kennedy. The campaign of Justice Douglas is made of many New Dealers and is a call back to the earlier progressivism from the campaign of Roosevelt. He had nearly came upon the Vice Presidency in 1944, but Missourian Harry S. Truman was able to secure the nomination instead.
   Recently, Justice Douglas has been critical of the foreign policy of the United States even going as far to say that the United States should be less involved in the foreign affairs of the world. Douglas has also spent a significant amount of time in the third world, and during this campaign he has pledged to increase funding for aid for these third world nations. His campaign has been a spirited effort with the Justice making nearly a dozen campaign stops a day throughout the nation with a small plane ferrying the Justice and prominent surrogates with him.
   As the campaign continued the candidates sparred on multiple fronts with a debate being held in New York City that would be the first televised debate in the history of the United States. The debate was considered a significant victory for Douglas and it helped bring the polls in this election to even closer heights and it seemed that it would be the closest election in well over a generation. For all the fan fair it did seem to be quite a lax election season with only one major gaffe on the side of Henry Cabot Lodge who promised a “Negro in the cabinet”, it is said that Vermont Governor Will Angler could be heard cringing from the campaigns office in Boston.

[Orwell]

Victory for Lodge!

He had done it! It had not been the margin he had hoped for, or even a fifth of it, but Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. was the President-Elect of the United States. What were the issues in his upcoming term, they were numerous. He had the selection of a Chief of Staff to think about foremost though, it would need to be someone he could trust fully, and someone who would be competent at dealing with situations on their own if need be. Of course there are the normal options of the experience Washington insiders, many considered Lodge himself to be an insider though, so he would think of someone outside of Washington. He had put this man in charge of his campaign from the onset of his nomination, and he had delivered him victory, the best performance for a GOP candidate since President Warren won in 1948. His choice for Chief of Staff was Will Angler the young gun from Vermont, had he not been Governor he would have been without a question the choice, but would the Vermonter sacrifice the Governorship for a tenous role in Washington, a foreign place he had very little experience with, or would he choose to stay home in the Green Mountain state and wait for the retirement of one of the states Senators, before making his jump to Washington. There were questions abound for the incoming Lodge administration, but a major one could be solved right now if Governor Angler were to accept the Presidents request.

    On the other side of the aisle there was Marcus Jackson, he had kept the solid south solid, for Justice Douglas, but it had not been enough. He had even by many's standards out-dueled Senator Nixon in the Vice Presidential debate that reached the radioes of millions of Americans. Still, he had lost, but it truly could not feel like a defeat for the Senator, he had become a known commodity and outside of the difficult to explain Thurmond incident, he was better off for it. His old friend, Thomas Kenway was not pleased with him, but many of Democrats saw the dashing World War 2 hero as the next man up in the Democratic Party, and come 1964 if he could distance himself well enough from the affairs of his Southern view on the racial question he may well see himself as President. The question that truly matters is what will Jackson do if anything to distance himself from the arch segregationists, and will he seek the Presidential nomination in 1964, or will he wait until 1968 where there would be no incumbent President Lodge to challenge.

    Representative Anton Jepson was defeated in spirit, though he had won his race in the House by a convincing margin. The Liberal Lion that was William O. Douglas was defeated, and his close friend and confidant Gerry O'Connor was stepping down as Speaker and from the House as a whole to spend more time with his young family. There was slated to be a new Speaker of the House, and the O'Connor coalition of New Southerners and those from the Industrial Midwest were left leaderless, could he become that leader or would he instead focus on his committee work and allow for John McCormack to take the reins of the chamber as yet another Democrat to lead the party in their large majority, even if it was shrunk for before. He always could find an ally in President Lodge on the issue of Civil Rights, and with his friend Thomas Kenway leaving the Senate in 1962, perhaps this would be his best chance at creating true change on this crucial issue of Civil Rights.

   State Representative Sophie Sharpe had become a true leader among the Oregon Democrats with her help of Maurine Neuberiger in the Senate and her own election by a whopping margin for reelection. She was slated to become the Minority Leader if she wished, but she could always focus on committee work, as it was unlikely any time soon the Democrats would regain control of the Oregon House of Representatives and Sophie would gain the chance to be Speaker, though it could not be denied that the role of Minority Leader did come with it some fascinating possibilities for advancements to others offices within the state.


   Thomas Kenway was done with elected office it seemed, he had his energy and passion sapped from him under the yoke of the 1960 Democratic Convention, it had been a monumentous occasion and it had been for naught, the memory of Ike was soured, and the man who had once parachuted into Normandy under Eisenhower had decided to parachute into political life under Ike once again, but now with Eisenhower gone, he would leave the political arena and return home to raise his family in Iowa, but it could not be without saying he would miss some parts of it. It was one of the great moments of his life when he eulogized General Eisenhower, but he needed to raise his family he told himself, and so he did decide to retire. He was not alone in this disdain for Washington, but he was one of the few men who were able to step away from the siren song of power. What would the future entail for Thomas Kenway?

[Orwell]

The Presidency of Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.

The Presidency of Henry Cabot Lodge is marked by historians as an interesting time in American history. It is seen not as a departure from the New Deal renaissance the nation had entered under President's Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, and Kefauver, but it did mark a large increase in the tensions of the Cold War. While there had been flares of the Cold War during the Presidencies of Truman, Eisenhower, and Kefauver it reached a new high during the rule of President Lodge. Coupled with Vice President Nixon an ardent anti-communist there were points of high tension during the early days of the Lodge administration the Berlin Crisis during the construction of the Berlin Wall nearly resulted in a full blown conflict, but it was defused by quick action by the President. President Lodge is relatively popular during this time though, as the economy remains solid having recovered from the minor recession that occurred following the death of Presidency in 1958. There is a good deal of good will towards the Presidents as he has managed to keep the United States on an equal footing with the Soviet union.

   On the domestic front there has been a good deal of movement in favorable for Lodge in lowering taxes. During the Eisenhower and Kefauver administration the highest marginal tax rate had reached nearly 90%, but under a successful tax cut in 1961 that rate was slashed to the highest marginal rate of 72%. Lodge continued the goal of President Eisenhower and President Warren of the development of an interstate highway system the major victory for the President on this front was the establishment of a half cent per gallon gas tax to fund the upkeep of the highway system. With Yuri Gagarin becoming the first human to orbit the earth this sends a message to Washington as many in the military and congress become worried about the optics of the Soviet space program. The small National Aeronautical and Space Administration is given a large boost in funding for fiscal year 1961-1962 as the race begins to heat up between the forces of East and West.
 
   The events of the Cold War also heated up militarily, with the overthrow the Batista regime in 1959 the United States had hoped the revolutionary leader Fidel Castro would be a Democratic leader to lead Cuba to Democracy, instead he would lead the island nation 90 miles from South Florida into the arms of the Soviet Union. President Lodge would order early in 1961 for anti-Castro exiles to be airdropped into the island to form the basis of a resistance effort against the regime and these works would be quite successful. Meanwhile in Nicaragua a force of Anti-Castro exiles numbers 2,000 were being trained to fight against the regime with a potential landing. This landing would come in the summer of 1962 after a year of infiltrating Cuba with guerrilla fighters the Cuban exiles along with 1,000 American "Mercenaries" would land in the Bay of Pigs in Cuba linking with the previous resistance groups the force was able to secure a beachhead with strategic bombing being conducted by B17s they were able to secure the roads leading to the beach and by nightfall on July 4, 1962 all 3,000 men had been landed along with dozens of M60 tanks and other pieces of heavy military equipment. By the end of July the forces of the exiles have been further bolstered and have secured a link to some prominent rebel groups in the Escambray mountains on the western portion of the island greatly reinforcing their numbers. Soon there was heavy fighting on the outskirts of Cienfuegos with  International Brigades being sent to help the Cuban rebels from nations with strong anti communist leanings such as the United States and especially Francos Spain. Though, a question does remain should the United States officially dedicate troops and air support to the Cuban rebels or should the nation continue their current course of action.

  As we enter the fall campaigning season of 1962, the main issues on the nations mind are the situation in Cuba, with a civil war raging so close to home. There is also the economy which remains strong, and the Cold War. The dominate issues of our day are foreign policy, but there still could be room for domestic issues to gain a foothold should the right cards be played. President Lodge has pledged to campaign for Republicans up and down the ballot this year and will attempt to bring them into the fold and expand his parties caucus in Washington. The Democrats will attempt to stymie the efforts of the President, but the map looks to favor the GOP this time around.

For Chief of Staff Will Angler, the stress is on what to do for the President as he focuses on campaigning it seems the chief of staff will be left to practically run the nation. What is the main goal and some secondary goals for the nation during the run up to the midterms and the 2nd half of President Lodge's term.

As Anton Jepson fought with McCormack for the Speakership it became apparent he would come up short, he just didn't have the coalition together and McCormack had spent the time under O'Connor bringing together many of those of O'Connors coalition. While he did lead a spirited effort, Jepson would be defeated in a vote of the Democratic caucus and McCormack would be elected Speaker of the House. What would Anton do from there, He could challenge Governor Anderson, but he is a progressive even to the left of President Lodge and his camp. Anton could always stay in Congress and work to build on his healthcare proposals.

In 1962, Joe Biden who had worked for Thomas Kenway for the past 2 years was offered an opportunity he would be able to switch careers and move into a post as a field organizer for the AFL-CIO. They had recruited another Kenway aid, and he had recommended Biden for a similar post. Would he leave behind Kenway now that his eyes were set towards the Governors mansion?


Thomas Kenway would speed through the Democratic primary, though a Republican state on paper it was quickly becoming Democratic on all levels. His patronage of the state party had made them robust and powerful. No credible candidates ran against him in the gubernatorial primary and he was slated to make a resounding win for the Democrats in the midterms continuing to hold the mansion for yet another term. What would he do as Governor?

Marcus Jackson has encountered limited reaching out to the more liberal candidates put up by the Democrats in Congress. They worry about a toxic image being linked to them especially those outside of the South. His signing of the Southern manifesto and his support for many of the more conservative Southern Party members has not done well for his image.