Swip swap John McCain and Barack Obama

[bagelman]

This is a timeline in the format of an expanded President's list.

35. John F Kennedy (Democrat-Massachusetts) / Lyndon B. Johnson (Democrat-Texas) 1961-1967
^{1960: defeats Richard Nixon (R-CA) / Henry C. Lodge (R-MA)
1964: defeats Henry C. Lodge (R-MA) / Thruston Morton (R-KY)}

(PoD: Kennedy is not assassinated in 1963)

The 1964 election was boring, a generic Democratic win. The Republican primary that year featured a far-right candidate Barry Goldwater, who was defeated by the establishment backed Henry Lodge.
 
36. Lyndon B. Johnson (Democrat-Texas) / none 1967-1969

Kennedy was assassinated in 1967, a great national tragedy. Johnson took over and immediately reshuffled the cabinet and charted a different course on the Cold War. Voters smelled opportunism. Johnson made a strong effort to win a term for himself and outlined well defined policy proposals, however he lacked the political capital to pull it off. The third party campaign of George Wallace (strong than OTL) was a serious threat to deadlock the electoral college.

37. Nelson Rockefeller (Republican-New York) / Robert Dole (Republican-Kansas) 1969-1976
^{1968: defeats Lyndon Johnson (D-TX) / Hubert Humphrey (D-MN) AND George Wallace (I-AL) / Strom Thurmond (I-SC)
1972: defeats Edmund Muskie (D-ME) / George McGovern (D-SD) AND George Wallace (I-AL) / Curtis LeMay (I-OH)}

Suffered poor relations with Congress especially during his second term, was "impeached" in the style of Andrew Johnson in 1974 for a scandal. He did have some accomplishments (similar to those of OTL Richard Nixon) and was generally liked. His 1972 reelection was easier than his first win.

38. Robert Dole (Republican-Kansas) / none 1976-1977

Rockefeller chose to retire in October 1976 presidency due to fatigue and old age. Rockefeller was encouraged to do this within the month to help "pass the torch" to the Vice President and Republican candidate for 1976. It wasn't enough; Bob Dole would only be a caretaker president.

The election had pitted Vice President Robert Dole, boring if inoffensive, against "the Liberal Lion" Edward Kennedy, who hopes to be the second of his name to live in the White House. Kennedy had won the 1976 Democratic primary against Henry "Scoop" Jackson, a leader of the Hawk wing of the Democrats among other candidates.

Dole made a critical mistake by distancing himself from the retired President, who while dishonored and impeached by the Democrats in congress two years ago, remained popular with many voters - only helped by his retirement.

Dole won the popular vote but lost by a trivial margin in Illinois, a state governed by someone close with the Kennedy family. An annoying right wing third party, the "Libertarian Party", was seen as stealing the election away from Dole. Republicans cried foul into the uncaring wind. The Liberal Lion was victorious.

39. Edward "Ted" Kennedy (Democrat-Massachusetts) / Oliver King (Democrat-Tennessee) 1977-1985
^{1976 Democratic Primaries: defeated Henry Jackson (D-WA) among other candidates
1976 defeated Bob Dole (R-KS) / Gerald Ford (R-MI), but lost popular vote!
1980 defeated Ronald Reagan (R-CA) / John Connally (R-TX)}

While Kennedy entered office on his domestic agenda, the most notable aspects of his presidency were regarding the Cold War. Especially important was the attempted coup in Iran by a religious socialist faction backed by the Soviets and Soviet intrigue in the Middle East.

In 1980, Kennedy won reelection in a fairly competitive race, fighting off charismatic conservative ideologue Ronald Reagan by appeasing moderate conservatives with progress against global communism and the raw power of incumbency. Kennedy was able to win the popular vote this time around.

Naval Captain turned politician running for Arizona senate, John McCain, gave the keynote speech at the 1980 RNC. McCain's opponent had withdrawn from the senate race and was replaced by a nutter segregationist bused in from Mississippi who did nothing but personally attack McCain, spreading idiotic rumors of his secret black child and generally being a clown. (Goldwater is a Class 1 Senator ITTL, having lost the 1964 primaries)

Kennedy's second term wasn't as good as his first. Kennedy continued to actively wield the US military in the Middle East and other third world countries, and anti-war protests grew nationwide. Gas prices became a serious problem as well.

[bagelman]

40. John S. McCain (Republican-Arizona) / Elliot Richardson (Republican-Massachusetts) 1985-1993
^{1984 Republican Primaries: defeated George Bush (R-TX) among other candidates
1984: defeated Henry Jackson (D-WA) / Geraldine Ferraro (D-NY)
1988: defeated John Glenn (D-OH) / Ed Rodriguez (D-CA)}

John McCain, "The Maverick", swept aside both more experienced establishment Republicans like George Bush and Democrats. A former POW in Vietnam, McCain presided over the closing days of the cold war and many tense moments in the situation room as the iron curtain came crashing down. McCain was seen as more trustworthy and relatable among the active duty military than his predecessor, and wound down the conflicts in the middle east as alternative oil sources could be found. McCain oversaw the assassination of General "Mad Dog" Lukshin, who was planning a military coup in the USSR for the purpose of recapturing the Eastern Bloc by force. McCain was not the favorite of older Republicans who preferred Bush and was irrationally loathed by many Democrats, but was adored by younger Republicans of the era. Many of the worst Democrats referred to him as a "Panamanian Colonialist" referencing his birthplace.


41. Elena Sanchez (Democrat-New York) / Jesse Jackson (Democrat-Washington D.C.) 1993-1997
^{1992: defeated George Bush (R-TX) / Dan Quayle (R-IN), and Donald Trump (I-NY) / Bob Mundy (I-MT)}

The 1992 Presidential election was one of the most chaotic in American history. Trump was a strong contender but suffered from various scandals relating to his bankruptcy proceedings and his associations with one "Jeff E." a sex trafficker assassinated by John McCain. Trump proceeded to assassinate his own campaign by becoming the only serious Presidential candidate to attack John McCain on being a POW in Vietnam. Trump's poll numbers were more than halved by this, and he would go from serious contender to winning a few weird counties nationwide. However this wasn't enough to save out of touch George Bush who all but called his charismatic populist heroine of an opponent a baby eating Marxist. Elena Sanchez, the first hispanic and the first woman to be elected, would shock the world after her liberal campaign against "global government of the suits and spooks" propelled her to the White House. Jesse Jackson would become the first black man on a Presidential ticket.

Sanchez would continue playing rock and roll music in the White House as she teared up free trade deals that weren't in favor of American workers and unions. She was accused of being a lesbian by her staunch opponents, and she deliberately refused to deny it to make them wiggle. Most historians claim she was mostly straight.

Bush had served as Secretary of State under McCain. His choice of running made was generally seen as both boring and suspect. Trump's running mate, Bob Mundy, became a member of a "resistance militia" based out of a doughnut shoppe in Sheridan WY. He spent more time advertising than actually causing trouble.


42. George Pataki (Republican-New York) / Richard Clearman (Republican-Missouri) 1997-2005
^{1996: defeated incumbents Elena Sanchez (D-NY) / Jesse Jackson (D-DC)
2000: defeated Jim Gray (D-CA) / Ugene Kerrman (D-NE)}


In the 1996 battle of New Yorkers, George Pataki succeeded in restoring decency, "family values", and boredom to the White House. The help of the moderate "Democrats for Pataki" group was a factor. Even most liberal historians agree that Sanchez wasn't the greatest day to day administrator to reach the office.

Former Vice President Jackson ran in the 2000 Democratic Primaries, but was defeated by Jim Gray with the help of party elites. Gray suffered from his own scandals and failed to prevent a low turnout Pataki reelection.

George Pataki himself had dispatched more conservative nominees in the 1996 GOP primaries, to ensure that Sanchez was most likely to be defeated. This annoyed the growing conservative wing of the party. Looking back since the end of WWII, most Presidents were either moderates or liberals, few true blue conservatives.

43. Al Gore (Democrat-Tennessee) / Bill Bradley (Democrat-New Jersey) 2005-2013
^{2004: defeated Mark Sanford (R-KY) / Joan Landrum (R-FL)
2008: defeated Jack Ludlow (R-FL) / Micheal J. Hoffman (R-NJ)}

By 2004 the Democrats for Pataki crowd had thoroughly infested the ranks of the DNC. Noted DfP sympathizer Al Gore was thus able to make his way through the primaries, picking more liberal Senator Bradley as his running made to build bridges with more reasonable liberal Democrats. When the emerging conservative wing of the GOP finally nominated someone they liked, Sanchez holdouts felt compelled to hold their nose for Gore. The nation wasn't used to more right wing rhetoric especially on bread and butter issues, so felt safer with a moderate Democrat.

Gore's main focus was on convincing the nation that climate change could be a problem for future generations, and dealing with the farm crises. On economic issues he was very moderate.

[bagelman]

44. Debra Spitzer (Republican-Illinois) / Wendell Irwin (Republican-Indiana) 2013-2017
^{2012: defeated Bill Bradley (D-NJ) / Joe Biden (D-DE)}

Republicans lost twice against Gore with more conservative candidates, but refused to go back to the old school days. Instead they nominated the wealthy Debra Spitzer and finally won against the liberal Vice President.

Spitzer, the second female President, was known for her love of expensive clothing, especially real fur during the colder months, and slashing of regulations. She would always overdress for the occasion, and make occasional visual gaffes like wearing real fur coats while inspecting soldiers, but what few know is that she was very devoted to day to day administration. After a productive single term, she decided to forgo a second, endorsing her VP for the 2016 GOP primaries.

45. Wendell Irwin (Republican-Indiana) / Sandra O'Charles (Republican-Ohio) 2017-2025
^{2016: defeated Martha Friedland (D-CA) / Heidi M. Gibson (D-NC)
2020: defeated Stacey Christophe (D-CO) / Melba Sandoval (D-CA)}

Wendell Irwin was a conservative Republican like his predecessor, although had a different flair about him. He intentionally wore very drab and boring clothing, and one of his biggest disagreements with President Spitzer was on church attire where he continue to wear drab clothing. However, he took the theology of his faith more seriously, leading him to be among the most socially conservative Presidents for his time. In another life he would be a staunchly Republican small business owner, in this one he focused on policies that helped Republican small business owners and acted as a stout symbol of traditional conservative "family values". This made the 2010s and early 20s into a conservative time for America in general, at least in regards to the mainstream.

Neither of his opponents really had the spark. In 2016 Democrats nominated a competent ticket but Irwin essentially had incumbency advantage. The 2020 Democratic ticket wasn't as polished or experienced - the Sandoval vs. O'Conner VP debate was compared by Republican leaning news sources to a teacher debating her high school student.


46. Marianne J.F. Kennedy (Democrat-Massachusetts) / Mikey Oldham (Democrat-Maine) 2025-2033
^{2024 Democratic primaries: defeated Barack H. Obama (D-IL) among one or two others
2024: defeated Tara T. Derosier (R-NE) / Bernard S. Ramos (R-TX)
2028: defeated George Romney II (R-UT) / Charles G. Perry (R-AR)}

One of the biggest problems for Democrats in 2016 and especially 2020 was the "Boomer Vote" of elderly Americans. Older Americans were more reliable voters and they strongly leaned towards President Irwin. At the same time Democrats needed to increase younger turnout with support of LGBTQ rights and other socially liberal issues. Democrats found an excellent balance with Marianne Kennedy, harkoning back to the Kennedy family name. Her main opponent in the primaries was Senator Barack Obama, who tried unsuccessfully to carve out a more moderate lane for himself. Kennedy, choosing a friend of the family as running mate, defeated the overly rural Republican ticket despite failing to regain many of the old school battlegrounds like West Virginia. However, even if she won fewer counties, she still won more votes thanks to youth turnout and some elderly support.

In 2028 she defended the White House against a somewhat snooty ticket which innovated on nothing.

Kennedy is viewed by many as a success, especially on socially liberal issues like marriage equality and marijuana legalization, but she wasn't a titan on wealth redistribution. Many populist elements began viewing her as a wealthy woman from a wealthy political family living in a state wealthier than the national average. By the end of her second term the sheen was fading as it always does.

47. Terrence J. Miller (Republican-Texas) / Kyle Kovacs (Republican-Montana) 2033-2041
^{2032: defeated Barack H. Obama (D-IL) / Isabella Cortez-Castillo  (D-PR)
2036: defeated R. Akshey Phadatare (D-IL) / Bruce Williams (D-MD)}

2032 proved to be a contest to see who could be the first black man to become President. Barack Obama, by now an elder statesman within the Democratic Party, came back and tried again. Republicans nominated a younger, more "urban" conservative in Terrence Miller, who was apt at winning over urban voters to the Republicans in a time associated with rural Republicans and urban Democrats. Kyle Kovacs was added on the ticket to balance it out in that regard. Obama was wise enough to realize that he was the underdog in the race as a result of 8 years of Kennedy, and was smart enough to see through bad talking points such as the idea that Republicans would have lower turnout for a black man (an insulting joke). Obama needed to make waves with his running mate, so he selected Puerto Rican Isabella Cortez-Castillo. She was a solid pick on paper, a governor of a new state admitted into the union by President Kennedy in 2025 and would supposedly shore up the Hispanic/Latino vote nationwide. However, the Hispanic/Latino, aside for Puerto Ricans, vote didn't seem to care about this representation. What many Americans cared about is having a President who was a fluent English speaker, and Cortez-Castillo constantly struggled with the language. While not solely responsible for sinking his chances, it was clear that Miller was the overwhelming favorite. Obama won the majority of the African American vote, but the margins were much less than usual.

Miller brought his brand of urban conservatism to the White House, and remains very popular with Republicans.

48. Tanisha Jones Washington (Democrat-California) / Taylor Middleton (Democrat-Colorado) 2041-
^{2040: defeated Ansaldo A. Morales (R-NV) / Jimmy E. Ngy (R-PA)}

Jones Washington, or just Washington to own the cons, was not someone expected to grow up to be President. She was born in a deeply impoverished "ghetto" of Los Angeles, and grew up among gang warfare. She rose to become a prosecutor and then Mayor of Los Angeles, and was a dark horse for the 2040 Democratic primaries. Known for her crude and crass demeanor and her loud debating style, Jones Washington is someone that wants you to underestimate her and will ruthlessly punish you for it.  

Ansaldo Morales, on the other hand, was a safe boring choice for Republicans. Jones Washington defeated him to become the first black female president and the second black president in a row.

It's easy to compare a woman like Jones Washington to Sanchez, the first female president in the 1990s. Jones Washington has Sanchez's populism down pat, but she is less "liberal" and more unpredictable.

The white woman who would become her Vice President,  Taylor Middleton of Colorado, is one of the strangest personalities to enter that office. Known for her love of stuffed animals and tea parties, Vice President Middleton is known to be very isolated when not working with the President.

Barack H. Obama was no friend to President Jones Washington. His last notable act as Senator was to dramatically deny one of the President's hallmark pieces of legislation relating to land redistribution on a nationwide scale. Senator Obama passed away from cancer in 2042. Among those who spoke at his funeral was President Miller.

Vice President Kovacs is currently the early frontrunner for the 2044 Republican primaries, though he will no doubt face competition.