Upon A Cross Of Rockefellerism

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

Lyndon Johnson had worked extremely hard to fight off a progressive challenge and secure the nomination, which he had done. Even though he had to pick a liberal running mate in George McGovern to prevent a convention fight.

The stress was intense and his wife Lady Bird decided he needed rest. It was a beautiful day, and they decided to take the scenic route rather than the simple helicopter ride. Unfortunately, as the motorcade rolled into Joint Base Andrews a veteran protesting the war saw the motorcade approaching. He was at the periphery of the hundred+ person protest, and he thought quickly.

From a wooded enclosure on the side of the road roughly 25 feet away from the crowd, he fired six shots at the motorcade and ran. One hit the window next to where LBJ was sitting, and the resulting crack of the window and sound (combined with the immediate evasive maneuvers by the driver caused the President to suffer a heart attack. He was rushed to the nearest hospital but it was too late. The President was in a coma, and would remain in one for the foreseeable future.


The media of course reported on this as if the President died, even though he was being flown back to Texas to recuperate (LBJ would actually live fourteen more years until 1982 following new routine of "excercise and fresh fruit" following his emergence from the coma in February of 1969 and his full recovery a year later).

Back in Washington, Vice President Hubert Humphrey was sworn in (because LBJ was technically still living he couldn't become President and was only Acting President, but since his family had moved into the White House and he worked out of the Oval Office he got the full experience). The resulting wave of sympathy from the 'assassination' gave George McGovern a fifteen-point polling lead, rather than the neck-and-neck race against Spiro Agnew previously.

The resulting manhunt for the assassin was national news, and the publicity pushed McGovern towards an even bigger lead, especially as the hunt grew wider and wider in scope.

As for that assassin, things were even more interesting. Despite spending over ten billion dollars and millions of man hours, the identity of the assassin remains at large, and the case is basically considered cold, with the national network CNN visiting the office of two people still devoted to the case.

Regardless, McGovern slaughtered Agnew in November riding on sympathy and dug-up dirt, an LBJ strike from the grave if you will.


McGovern/Muskie (D): 376 EV/ 50.1% PV
Agnew/Miller (R): 85 EV/ 34.0% PV
Wallace/LeMay (I): 77 EV/ 15.6% PV

SENATE:

D: 69 (+6)
R: 31 (-6)

Different Senators:
David King (D-UT)
Shirley Chisholm (D-NY)
Edward Mezvinsky (D-IA)
Katherine Peden (D-KY)
Roy Elson (D-AZ)
Maurine Neuberger (D-OR)
Mike Monroney* (D-OK)
LeRoy Collins (D-FL)
Howard Metzenbaum (D-OH)
Joseph Clark* (D-PA)
Daniel Brewster* (D-MD)

HOUSE:
D: 284 (+36)
R: 151 (-36)

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

President George McGovern was sworn in on January 20, 1969 and immediately got to work.

First was a resolution lowering the filibuster threshold to 55, which passed after some hemming and hawing from the right flank of the Democratic party. President McGovern and his staff laid out three ''top projects'' for Congressional Leadership.

1): HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS ACT
-Expands Medicare to cover every single American.
-Expands Medicare to include dental and vision coverage.
-Allocates $10 Billion for the construction of new medical infrastructure and research.
-Expands Medicare to cover 100% of all costs.
-Establishes a network of 500 government-run hospitals to increase capacity.
-Increases funding to medical schools to expand the number of doctors and nurses.

2): EDUCATION AND WELFARE FOR ALL AMERICANS ACT
-Federalizes the public education system and massively increases funding.
-Establishes tuition-free public university for all eligible students.
-Increases food stamp coverage to ensure nobody goes hungry.
-Allocates over $15 Billion in subsidies towards adding jobs and business growth in poor/historically neglected communities.

3): FAIR TAXATION AND BUSINESS PRACTICES ACT
-Increases the corporate tax by 15% over four years.
-Increases the personal income tax rate by a maximum of 3% over four years.
-Establishes a 50% inheritance tax on estates greater than $10 Million.
-Establishes a 10% inheritance tax on estates greater than $1 Million.
-Increases the non-farm minimum wage to $1.50 in 1970, $1.75 in 1971, $2.00 in 1972, and $2.25 in 1973.
-Allows the government to buy out large companies to nationalize them.

The Health Care bill was the easiest to pass, although it was still difficult. McGovern had to be talked off the ledge of implementing a fully-NHS system rather than normal single-payer. It passed the House in May by a 226-205 margin, and passed the Senate by a margin of 54-44 in July. McGovern's approval ratings were now down to 55%.

Next was the Education and Welfare Act. It passed the Senate by a margin of 53-47, with two Democrats voting for cloture but not for the bill to avoid a filibuster. The House was harder, but it was eventually passed in late October, just in time for Republicans to win the New Jersey and Virginia Governorships by 30 and 25 points respectively. By this point the President's job approval numbers were only kept above 40% by the health care roll out.

By this point Democrats began to get concerned for the midterm elections, and asked McGovern to delay passage of the tax bill until after. But fearing a more Conservative congress, the President forced it to the floor. The Senate passed the tax bill 51-50 with Vice President Muskie breaking the tie, while a House vote of 217-216 with Speaker Albert breaking the tie allowed for the bill to be passed.

By this point the GOP media machine was going into overdrive to say that President McGovern was going to implement what was going on in Britain in the US, and end up introducing socialism. The tax increase was the most unpopular, and the President was down to a 35% approval rating when the final bill passed in February.

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

Undaunted by this, the President looked to his next action: nationalization

The federal government lacked the funds to purchase multiple corporations outright, so they instead focused their fire on one: US Steel.

US Steel was bought out on March 1, 1970 and renamed American Metals Corporation, or AMC.
All right-to-work policies were terminated immediately and the union was given 40% of the seats on the board. The new conglomerate purchased several smaller competitors while the government used the capital to nationalize Alcoa, which was then merged with AMC.

This run of socialism was stopped with the 1970 midterm elections, which were a landslide caused by the President's 28% approval ratings.

SENATE:

R: 53 (+21)
D: 47 (-21)

PARTY CHANGES:
Scoop Jackson (WA) Democrat->Republican

DIFFERENT SENATORS:
John Reed (R-ME)
Charles Goodell* (R-NY)
John Volpe (R-MA)
Millicent Fenwick (R-NJ)
William Roth (R-DE)
Charles Mathias (R-MD)
Elmo Zumwalt (R-VA)
Bill Brock (R-TN)
George Carswell (R-FL)
John Danforth (R-MO)
Robert Taft Jr.* (R-OH)
Richard Lugar (R-IN)
Lenore Romney (R-MI)
Martin Schreiber (R-WI)
David Durenberger (R-MN)
George HW Bush (R-TX)
John Wold (R-WY)
Laurence Burton (R-UT)
Barry Goldwater (R-AZ)
Paul Laxalt (R-NV)
SI Hayakawa (R-CA)

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

The White House entered a state of shock following the midterms. Republicans had flipped most of the seats in the Senate, as candidates across the nation rode the anti-Socialist wave to Congress.

During the lame duck period, President McGovern ordered the forced closure of so-called 'segregation academies'. He also passed several judicial nominees. Several more corporations (much less important than US Steel) were also nationalized, along with a law formally banning the death penalty.

Supreme Court as of January 1, 1971:
CJ: Homer Thornberry (Appointed by Johnson, 1968)
AJ: William O. Douglas (Appointed by Roosevelt, 1939)
AJ: William J. Brennan (Appointed by Eisenhower, 1956)
AJ: Potter Stewart (Appointed by Eisenhower, 1958)
AJ: Byron White (Appointed by Kennedy, 1962)
AJ: Abe Fortas (Appointed by Johnson, 1965)
AJ: Thurgood Marshall (Appointed by Johnson, 1967)
AJ: Arthur Goldberg (Appointed by McGovern, 1969)
AJ: Shirley Hufstedler (Appointed by McGovern, 1970)

Following the inauguration of the new Congress, the Supreme Court announced that all laws prohibiting abortion before viability (30 weeks) were unconstitutional. Laws banning abortions in cases of rape or incest and danger to the mother were also struck down.

This ground the Congress to a halt as conservatives started kicking and screaming about judicial overreach, and stopped several from starting their campaigns. Nelson Rockefeller took this in stride, however, and burst out of the gates to a easy win in the Iowa caucuses. Following a primary battle against California Governor Ronald Reagan, Governor Rockefeller was able to unite all wings of the party against a common enemy- President McGovern.

Speaking of the President, he wasn't doing so well. After narrowly surviving a primary challenge he only won because of vote splitting, the President left the convention with a five point bump- but he was still at 32% approvals and down by over 20 points.

The Rockefeller/Ford ticket was something the average American could get behind. Despite the grumblings of Conservatives, this was what was needed to win the election.

And win it they did.

1972 Presidential Election:

Rockefeller/Ford (R): 535 EV/ 63.9% PV
McGovern/Muskie (D): 3 EV/ 33.9% PV

SENATE:
R: 62 (+9)
D: 38 (-9)

Different Senators:
Gordon Allott* (R-CO)
J. Caleb Boggs* (R-DE)
Fletcher Thompson (R-GA)
Jack Miller (R-IA)
John Sherman Cooper* (R-KY)
Margaret Chase Smith* (R-ME)
Phil Hansen (R-MN)
Henry Hibbard (R-MT)
Wesley Powell (R-NH)
James Reynolds (R-RI)
Karl Mundt (R-SD)

HOUSE:
R: 246 (+12)
D: 189 (-12)

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

POTUSES:
36. Lyndon B. Johnson (D): November 22, 1963-January 20, 1969
-Hubert Humphrey (D): October 2, 1968-January 20, 1969-
37. George McGovern (D): January 20, 1969-January 20, 1973
38. Nelson Rockefeller (R): January 20, 1973-Present

VPOTUSES:
38. Hubert Humphrey (D): January 20, 1965-January 20, 1969
39. Edmund Muskie (D): January 20, 1969-January 20, 1973
40. Gerald R. Ford (R): January 20, 1973-Present

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

President Rockefeller took office on January 20, 1973 and immediately had a crisis on his hands.

While unemployment had gone down to 4.5% due to the previous administration's massive spending initiatives, inflation had reached 12% and many workers seeing the benefits of salary increases were also seeing increased prices for basic goods.

As for the social programs, Rockefeller had to be very careful. While Americans hated high taxes, they wanted a strong social safety net. The first piece of legislation introduced and shepherded to passage by Senate Majority Leader Charles Percy (a fellow liberal) was the Fiscal Solvency Act. This addressed the choking tax rates and poor spending, like the American Metals Corporation, which was losing over a hundred million per year, and the deficit, which was $100 Billion (along with a $950 Billion national debt).

FISCAL SOLVENCY ACT OF 1973:
-Reverses the 15% corporate tax increase put into effect by the McGovern administration.
-Reverses the personal income tax increases under FT&B Act for the bottom 99% of people.
-Cuts the $10 Million inheritance tax by 20% to 30%.
-Cuts the $1 Million inheritance tax by 5% to 5%.
-Enacts a 5-year minimum wage freeze.
-Privatizes American Metals Corporations via sale into up to 10 different companies.
-Bans the government from nationalizing corporations.
-Cancels the construction of the 443 unbuilt government hospitals.
-Mandates cost-trimming wherever reasonably possible.  

This was signed into law and took the immediate pressure of the administration, but more needed to be done. Despite the Goldwater wing advocating for a total dismantling of President McGovern's policies, President Rockefeller actually had sympathy for things like universal health care and cheaper college. More practically he knew that any attempt to get rid of people's health coverage would fail.

The auctioning of AMC and other nationalized industry brought increased productivity and economic growth and gave the Government an infusion of nearly $20 Billion. Next up was health care.

THE HEALTH CARE FREEDOM ACT OF 1973
-Establishes a new program called Americare which will cover all the same things as Medicare except requiring income-based premiums scaling up to 5% of income.
-Gives those under 18 and over 65 free Americare coverage.
-Gives individuals making less than $500 per month and families making less than $1,000 per month free coverage (I.A. to be up to $75,000 per year).
-Requires that full-time employers provide coverage to employees.
-Requires that private insurers cover those with pre-existing conditions and prohibits them from kicking patients off due to reaching lifetime maximums.
-Introduces government drug negotiation and competitive patent rights to massively reduce key drug and medicine prices. Orphan drugs are exempt.
-Caps maximum out-of-pocket costs for family plans at 15% of income.

This legislation protected everyone's right to health care while also massively reducing costs and increasing the range of private insurers, which is why they put up with the conditions and maximums provision.

1974 Midterms:

SENATE:

R: 70 (+8)
D: 30 (-8)

Different Senators:
Sen. Shirley Chisholm* (D-NY)
Sen. Howard Metzenbaum* (D-OH)
Sen. Leo Thorsness (R-SD)
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Sen. Lawrence Hogan (R-MD)
Sen. Paula Hawkins (R-FL)
Sen. Louis Wyman (R-NH)

HOUSE:
R: 248 (+2)
D: 187 (-2)

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

With his new congressional majorities, President Rockefeller was able to pass the Education Act of 1975. This completed the budget balancing initiative, which was a boon for his 1976 re-election chances.

EDUCATION ACT OF 1975:
-Ends tuition-free university for those making over $2,000 per month (I.A. $125,000).
-Authorizes tax breaks for private universities with scholarship programs.
-Increases funding to trades schools to maintain the value of a college degree.
-Devolves control over education to the states with some national curriculum standards.
-Allows a pilot school voucher program to be implemented.

EDUCATION STANDARDS ACT OF 1975:
-Requires teaching on math, science, and English but allows leeway on other subjects.
-Requires teaching about the Holocaust and slavery.

By the time 1976 rolled around, unemployment had risen to 5.1%. But inflation was halved to 6% and the budget was balanced, so President Rockefeller easily won re-election.

1976 Presidential Election:

Rockefeller/Ford (R): 390 EV/ 56.0% PV
Askew/Carter (D): 148 EV/ 42.2% PV

Senate:

R: 65 (-5)
D: 35 (+5)

DIFFERENT SENATORS:
Sen. Barry Goldwater* (R-AZ); 1953-1965, 1971-1983
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL): 1977-1983
Sen. William Cohen (R-ME): 1977-1983
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA): 1962-1971, 1977-1983*
Sen. Lenore Romney* (R-MI): 1971-1983
Sen. Charles Mathias* (R-MD): 1971-1983
Sen. Muriel Humphrey (D-MN): 1977-1983**
Sen. Roman Hruska* (R-NE): 1954-1983
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV): 1977-1983
Sen. Millicent Fenwick* (R-NJ): 1971-1983
Sen. Jacob Javits (R-NY): 1957-1969; 1977-1983
Sen. Robert Taft Jr.* (R-OH): 1971-1983
Sen. Bill Brock* (R-TN): 1971-1983
Sen. George H.W. Bush* (R-TX): 1970-1983
Sen. Elmo Zumwalt* (R-VA): 1971-1983
Sen. Martin Schreiber (D-WI): 1971-1983***

*=Lost in 1970 by 10,000 votes, won in 1976.
**=Husband died in September, took his spot on the ballot.
***=Ran for re-election as a Democrat to avoid an uphill primary fight.

HOUSE:
R: 250 (+2)
D: 185 (-2)

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

On January 20, 1977 Nelson Rockefeller was sworn in to his second term as President. He had a strong agenda with regards to debt reduction and foreign policy, and the future looked bright.

And it was. The FY 1978 budget had a $19 Billion surplus, and the President's balance of tax and spending cuts to prevent a fiscal version of a Malthusian disaster that could have come from going fully supply side were clearly working.

By late 1977, unemployment was finally below 5%, while poverty remained low. Both the NJ and VA governor races went to Republicans. So the midterms were a blue ripple instead of a wave:

SENATE:

R: 57 (-9)
D: 43 (+9)

Different Senators:
Sen. Fletcher Thompson* (R-GA); 1973-1985
Sen. Edward Mezvinsky (D-IA); 1969-1975, 1979-1985
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME); 1979-1985
Sen. Edward Brooke* (R-MA): 1967-1985
Sen. David Durenberger (R-MN): 1971-1977, 1979-1985
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ): 1979-1985
Sen. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX): 1979-1985
Sen. Arch Moore (R-WV): 1979-1985

HOUSE:
R: 224 (-26)
D: 211 (+26)

Unfortunately, the nation would get a nasty surprise on December 19, 1978.

President Rockefeller had been looking forward to spending Christmas at Camp David with his family. The 19th was his last day at work before they left. Unfortunately, while he was reading an intelligence briefing in the Oval Office, he felt a sharp pain in his chest and passed out.

It was five minutes before anyone found him, and he was dead before a doctor could have arrived. Gerald Ford was back in Michigan, and he was promptly sworn in by a local judge. He opted to remain in his home state until after the new year, giving the Rockefellers extra time in the White House.

Nelson Rockefeller's funeral was held on January 7, 1979, with thousands of mourners attending.

POTUSES:
36. Lyndon B. Johnson (D): November 22, 1963-January 20, 1969
-Hubert Humphrey (D): October 2, 1968-January 20, 1969-
37. George McGovern (D): January 20, 1969-January 20, 1973
38. Nelson Rockefeller (R): January 20, 1973-December 19, 1978
39. Gerald R. Ford (R): December 19, 1978-Present

VPOTUSES:
38. Hubert Humphrey (D): January 20, 1965-January 20, 1969
39. Edmund Muskie (D): January 20, 1969-January 20, 1973
40. Gerald R. Ford (R): January 20, 1973-December 19, 1978
-VACANT-: December 19, 1978-Present

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

President Ford was in a tough spot. He faced foreign policy nightmare after nightmare and a tough primary race from Ronald Reagan. This came to a head when Reagan won Iowa.

1980 Republican Iowa Primary:
✓Fmr. Gov. Ronald Reagan: 51.2%
President Gerald R. Ford: 47.8%

Ford easily won New Hampshire, but Reagan came back with wins in Florida and North Carolina. The Administration tried to pass of losses in Mississippi, Alabama, and Kentucky as a geographical bias, and pointed to their wins in New England, but the President was having doubts.



The ongoing Iran hostage crisis hurt President Ford, whose approval ratings had declined from 83% after President Rockefeller's death to 41% by spring 1980.

Both campaigns scored wins in May, with the President getting New York, Illinois, Minnesota, and Oregon and Governor Reagan taking California, Texas, Louisiana and Utah. The 'Acela Primaries' (named after the HSR line going from Boston to D.C. built under the Rockefeller administration) predictably went for Ford, while Governor Reagan took massive swaths of the rockies and the midwest.



A competitive primary in Alaska that went for Reagan overshadowed Ford wins in Washington and Hawaii, but Reagan won Pennsylvania to clinch the nomination.



Governor Reagan picked North Carolina Sen. Jesse Helms as his running mate, much to the consternation of the moderate/liberal wings of the party. It's no surprise that they therefore went down to the Democratic ticket of Georgia Governor (1971-1975) Jimmy Carter and Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye, with 7% of the vote going to a moderate ticket.

1980 Presidential Election:

Carter/Inouye (D): 369 EV/ 50.8% PV
Reagan/Helms (R): 169 EV/ 41.9% PV

SENATE:

R: 54 (-4)
D: 46 (+4)

Different Senators:
Sen. Jim Folsom (D-AL); 1981-1987
Sen. Clark Gruening (D-AK); 1981-1987
Sen. John McCain (D-AZ); 1981-1987
Sen. Paula Hawkins* (R-FL); 1975-1987
Sen. Herman Talmadge* (D-GA); 1957-1987
Sen. Patsy Mink (D-HI); 1981-1987
Sen. Birch Bayh* (D-IN); 1963-1987
Sen. Lawrence Hogan* (R-MD); 1975-1987
Sen. John A. Durkin (D-NH); 1981-1987
Sen. Shirley Chisholm* (D-NY); 1969-1987
Sen. Robert B. Morgan* (D-NC); 1975-1987
Sen. Howard Metzenbaum* (D-OH); 1969-1987
Sen. John Glenn (D-PA); 1981-1987
Sen. George McGovern (D-SD); 1963-1969, 1981-1987
Sen. John Kitzhaber (D-OR); 1981-1987
Sen. Warren Magnuson* (D-WA); 1944-1987

HOUSE:
D: 241 (+30)
R: 194 (-30)

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

POTUSES:
36. Lyndon B. Johnson (D): November 22, 1963-January 20, 1969
-Hubert Humphrey (D): October 2, 1968-January 20, 1969-
37. George McGovern (D): January 20, 1969-January 20, 1973
38. Nelson Rockefeller (R): January 20, 1973-December 19, 1978
39. Gerald R. Ford (R): December 19, 1978-January 20, 1981
40. Jimmy Carter (D): January 20, 1981-Present

VPOTUSES:
38. Hubert Humphrey (D): January 20, 1965-January 20, 1969
39. Edmund Muskie (D): January 20, 1969-January 20, 1973
40. Gerald R. Ford (R): January 20, 1973-December 19, 1978
-VACANT-: December 19, 1978-March 24, 1979
41. Howard Baker (R): March 24, 1979-January 20, 1981
42. Daniel Inouye (D): January 20, 1981-Present

List of House Speakers:
46. Carl Albert (D): January 3, 1969-January 3, 1971
47. Gerald Ford (R): January 3, 1971-January 3, 1973
48. John Rhodes (R): January 3, 1973-January 3, 1979
49. Bob Michel (R): January 3, 1979-January 3, 1981
50. Tip O'Neill (D): January 3, 1981-Present

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GEORGE MCGOVERN:
Senator: January 3, 1963-January 3, 1969
President: January 20, 1969-January 20, 1973
Senator: January 3, 1981-Present

RUSS FEINGOLD:
Representative: January 3, 1977-January 3, 1981
Senator: January 3, 1981-Present

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

With the FY 1981 budget having a $21 Billion surplus (and the debt below $900 Billion), President Carter knew he couldn't afford to go completely insane with spending. However, there was discontent with the tax rates.

TOP INCOME TAX BRACKET: 70%
AVERAGE TAX BRACKET: 11%
CORPORATE TAX: 45%

Ultimately, the President authorized legislation trimming down the number of welfare programs via merger to reduce costs, while some subsidies were altogether eliminated. But this wasn't to go to tax rates. Instead, it was to go to infrastructure.

TRANSPORTATION EXPANSION ACT OF 1981
-Authorizes $120 Billion to repair/revitalize physical infrastructure.
-Authorizes $50 Billion in targeted subsidies to low-income areas.
-Authorizes $30 Billion in research grants.
Total: $200 Billion over 5 Years ($40 Billion per year).

The bill passed Congress, and was popular for being deficit neutral. Slow but steady economic recovery allowed President Carter to have a decent midterm election. Also in 1981, President Carter appointed Edward Levi to the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court as of January 1, 1982:
CJ: Homer Thornberry (Appointed by Johnson, 1968)
AJ: William J. Brennan (Appointed by Eisenhower, 1956)
AJ: Abe Fortas (Appointed by Johnson, 1965)
AJ: Thurgood Marshall (Appointed by Johnson, 1967)
AJ: Arthur Goldberg (Appointed by McGovern, 1969)
AJ: Shirley Hufstedler (Appointed by McGovern, 1970)
AJ: John Paul Stevens (Appointed by Rockefeller, 1975)
AJ: Sandra Day O'Connor (Appointed by Rockefeller, 1979)
AJ: Edward Levi (Appointed by Carter, 1981)

SENATE:

D: 54 (+6)
R: 46 (-6)

DIFFERENT SENATORS:
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): 1983-1989
Sen. Dennis DeConcini (D-AZ): 1983-1989
Sen. Bill Nelson* (D-FL): 1977-1989
Sen. William Cohen* (R-ME): 1977-1989
Sen. Ted Kennedy* (D-MA): 1962-1971, 1977-1989
Sen. Don Riegle (D-MI): 1983-1989
Sen. Charles Mathias* (R-MD): 1971-1989
Sen. Muriel Humphrey* (D-MN): 1977-1989
Sen. Roman Hruska* (R-NE): 1954-1989
Sen. Harry Reid* (D-NV): 1977-1989
Sen. Millicent Fenwick* (R-NJ): 1971-1989
Sen. Jacob Javits* (R-NY): 1957-1969; 1977-1989
Sen. John Kasich (R-OH): 1983-1989
Sen. Al Gore Jr. (D-TN): 1983-1989
Sen. George H.W. Bush* (R-TX): 1970-1989
Sen. Martin Schreiber (D-WI): 1971-1989
Sen. Harrison Schmidt* (R-NM): 1977-1989
Sen. Chuck Robb (D-VA): 1983-1989

Senators Who Lost Re-Election:
S.I. Hayakawa (R-inc) defeated by Rep. Dianne Feinstein (D)
Barry Goldwater (R-inc) defeated by Rep. Dennis DeConcini (D)
Lenore Romney (R-inc) defeated by Gov. Don Riegle (D)
Bill Brock (R-inc) defeated by Rep. Al Gore (D)
Elmo Zumwalt (R-inc) defeated by Lt. Gov. Chuck Robb (D)
John Danforth (R-inc) defeated by Lt. Gov. Harriet Woods (D)

HOUSE:
D: 219 (-22)
R: 216 (+22)

[Captain Chaos]

R: 54 (-4)
D: 46 (+4)

Different Senators:
Sen. Jim Folsom (D-AL); 1981-1987
Sen. Clark Gruening (D-AK); 1981-1987
Sen. John McCain (D-AZ); 1981-1987
Sen. Paula Hawkins* (R-FL); 1975-1987
Sen. Herman Talmadge* (D-GA); 1957-1987
Sen. Patsy Mink (D-HI); 1981-1987
Sen. Birch Bayh* (D-IN); 1963-1987
Sen. Lawrence Hogan* (R-MD); 1975-1987
Sen. John A. Durkin (D-NH); 1981-1987
Sen. Shirley Chisholm* (D-NY); 1969-1987
Sen. Robert B. Morgan* (D-NC); 1975-1987
Sen. Howard Metzenbaum* (D-OH); 1969-1987
Sen. John Glenn (D-PA); 1981-1987
Sen. George McGovern (D-SD); 1963-1969, 1981-1987
Sen. John Kitzhaber (D-OR); 1981-1987
Sen. Warren Magnuson* (D-WA); 1944-1987
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI); 1981-1987

HOUSE:
D: 241 (+30)
R: 194 (-30)

Russ Feingold was 27 years old in 1980. He would be ineligible to serve in the Senate until he turned 30.

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

R: 54 (-4)
D: 46 (+4)

Different Senators:
Sen. Jim Folsom (D-AL); 1981-1987
Sen. Clark Gruening (D-AK); 1981-1987
Sen. John McCain (D-AZ); 1981-1987
Sen. Paula Hawkins* (R-FL); 1975-1987
Sen. Herman Talmadge* (D-GA); 1957-1987
Sen. Patsy Mink (D-HI); 1981-1987
Sen. Birch Bayh* (D-IN); 1963-1987
Sen. Lawrence Hogan* (R-MD); 1975-1987
Sen. John A. Durkin (D-NH); 1981-1987
Sen. Shirley Chisholm* (D-NY); 1969-1987
Sen. Robert B. Morgan* (D-NC); 1975-1987
Sen. Howard Metzenbaum* (D-OH); 1969-1987
Sen. John Glenn (D-PA); 1981-1987
Sen. George McGovern (D-SD); 1963-1969, 1981-1987
Sen. John Kitzhaber (D-OR); 1981-1987
Sen. Warren Magnuson* (D-WA); 1944-1987
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI); 1981-1987

HOUSE:
D: 241 (+30)
R: 194 (-30)

Russ Feingold was 27 years old in 1980. He would be ineligible to serve in the Senate until he turned 30.

Oh yeah. He's retconned to be Proxmire

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

By the time 1984 came along, the economy was coming along smoothly and President Carter led in the polls. The Republican primaries narrowly resulted in Fmr. President Gerald Ford winning the nomination and picking Senator William S. Cohen as his running mate.

This ticket enraged the right wing, and it resulted in the formation of the Conservative Republican Party (Conservatives for short). At a hastily-assembled convention in Charlotte, Fmr. nominee and California Governor Ronald Reagan and Senator Jesse Helms.

While polling narrowed towards the final stretch (following brutal conservative ad campaigns which were best summarized as ''cohen=jew take over country''), the President won re-election by an extremely narrow margin.

1984 Presidential Election:

Carter/Inouye (D): 271 EV/ 42.1% PV
Ford/Cohen (R): 161 EV/ 41.5% PV
Reagan/Helms (C): 106 EV/ 16.2% PV

SENATE:

D: 57 (+3)
R: 39 (-7)
C: 4 (+4)

Different Senators:
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME); 1979-1991
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ): 1979-1991
Sen. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX): 1979-1991
Sen. Arch Moore (R-WV): 1979-1985
Sen. Walter Huddleston* (D-KY): 1979-1991
Sen. Charles Percy* (R-IL): 1967-1991
Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE): 1985-1991
Sen. Harvey Gantt (D-NC): 1985-1991
Sen. Jim Sasser (D-TN): 1985-1991

Incumbents Defeated:
Sen. David Durenberger (R-inc) defeated by Gov. Walter Mondale (D)
Sen. Fletcher Thompson (R-inc) defeated by Rep. Sam Nunn (D)
Sen. Edward Brooke (R-inc) defeated by Lt. Gov. John Kerry (D)
Sen. James Exon (D-inc) defeated by Fmr. Deputy SecDef Chuck Hagel (R)
Sen. Jesse Helms (C-inc) defeated by Fmr. Mayor Harvey Gantt (D)
Sen. Arch Moore (R-inc) defeated by Gov. Jay Rockefeller (D)

Party Switch:
Sen. Thad Cochran (R->C)
Sen. Strom Thurmond (R->C)
Sen. Robert Byrd (R->C)
Sen. John Stennis (D->C)

HOUSE:
D: 223 (+4)
R: 203 (-13)
C: 9 (+9)

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

During the second Carter term, health insurance was reformed further with the Health Care Expansion and Protection Act of 1985 (HCEP). It dented the surplus a bit but with the debt down to $800 Billion and the economy in good health the popular provisions won out.

HEALTH CARE EXPANSION AND PROTECTION ACT:
-Gives free Americare coverage to anyone making under 400% F.P.L. (Inflation adjusted to be about $52,000 for an individual to $104,000 for a family of four).
-Gives all veterans who served honorably free Americare.

But the President needed more funding as he didn't want to push the spending burden onto the next generation, which came in the form of small tax and fee increases. He did, however, realize such changes would be unpopular, and was reluctantly talked into putting of introducing the legislation until after the 1986 elections.

SENATE:

R: 49 (+10)
D: 42 (-15)
C: 9 (+5)

Different Senators:
Sen. Jeff Sessions (C-AL); 1987-1993
Sen. Clark Gruening (D-AK); 1981-1993
Sen. Michael Huffington (R-CA): 1987-1993
Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO): 1987-1993
Sen. Paula Hawkins* (R-FL); 1975-1987
Sen. Herman Talmadge* (C-GA); 1957-1993
Sen. Patsy Mink (D-HI); 1981-1987
Sen. Birch Bayh* (D-IN); 1963-1987
Sen. Lawrence Hogan* (R-MD); 1975-1987
Sen. John A. Durkin (D-NH); 1981-1987
Sen. Shirley Chisholm* (R-NY); 1969-1993
Sen. Robert B. Morgan* (D-NC); 1975-1987
Sen. Howard Metzenbaum* (D-OH); 1969-1993
Sen. John Glenn (D-PA); 1981-1993
Sen. John Kitzhaber (R-OR); 1981-1993
Sen. Paul Laxalt* (R-NV); 1974-1993
Sen. Jesse Helms (C-NC); 1973-1985, 1987-1993
Sen. Mark Andrews* (R-ND); 1981-1993
Sen. Jimmy DeMint (C-SC); 1987-1993
Sen. James Abdnor (R-SD); 1987-1993
Sen. Madeleine Kunin (R-VT); 1987-1993

Defeated Senators:
Sen. Jim Folsom (D-inc, 1T) defeated by Judge Roy Moore (R)
Sen. Alan Cranston (D-inc, 3T) defeated by Rep. Michael Huffington (R)
Sen. Gary Hart (D-inc, 2T) defeated by Rep. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R)
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-inc, 1T) defeated by State AG Richard Blumenthal (R)
Sen. Paula Hawkins (R-inc, 3T) defeated by Governor Bob Graham (D)
Sen. Frank Church (D-inc, 5T) defeated by Mr. Steve Symms (R)
Sen. Birch Bayh (D-inc, 4T) defeated by Rep. Dan Quayle (C)
Sen. Robert Morgan (D-inc, 2T) defeated by Fmr. Sen. Jesse Helms (C)
Sen. Warren Magnuson (D-inc, 7T) defeated by Lt. Gov. Slade Gorton (R)

Party Switch:
Sen. Shirley Chisholm (D->R)
Sen. John Kitzhaber (D->R)
---------------------------------
Sen. Howell Heflin (D) resigned to become Governor of Alabama, Roy Moore (C) appointed.

HOUSE:
R: 240 (+37)
D: 160 (-63)
C: 35 (+26)

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

With almost no political capital left, the President was unable to get anything done during the rest of his term. He did leave office with lots of popularity, however, so the 1988 election looked like it would be close.

The Republicans nominated Illinois Senator Charles Percy after a primary battle between him and Edward Brooke, who was picked as the Vice Presidential nominee. It showed how far the party had gone towards the center that there was no conservative candidate.

The Democrats picked Senator Walter Mondale and former Governor Ruebin Askew as their nominees, while Conservatives went with Jesse Helms and Dan Quayle. The race was down to the wire, and it was unclear who the winner was on election night. But next week they knew- it was a deadlocked electoral college.

1988 Presidential Election:

Percy/Brooke (R): 264 EV/ 46.8% PV
Mondale/Askew (D): 186 EV/ 41.0% PV
Helms/Quayle (C): 88 EV/ 11.4% PV

CLOSEST STATES:
Maryland (D): 911 Votes
Oregon (D): 1,075 Votes
Wisconsin (R): 3,910 Votes
Arkansas (C): 2,200 Votes
Florida (D): 15,092 Votes

SENATE:

R: 46 (-3)
D: 43 (+1)
C: 11 (+2)

DIFFERENT SENATORS:
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): 1983-1995
Sen. Bill Nelson* (D-FL): 1977-1995
Sen. William Cohen* (R-ME): 1977-1995
Sen. Ted Kennedy* (D-MA): 1962-1971, 1977-1995
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI): 1989-1995
Sen. Charles Mathias* (R-MD): 1971-1995
Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN): 1989-1995
Sen. Roman Hruska* (R-NE): 1954-1995
Sen. Harry Reid* (D-NV): 1977-1995
Sen. Steve Rothman (D-NJ): 1989-1995
Sen. John Kasich (R-OH): 1983-1995
Sen. Ramsey Clark (D-NY): 1989-1995
Sen. Al Gore Jr. (D-TN): 1983-1995
Sen. Louie Gohmert (C-TX): 1989-1995
Sen. Martin Schreiber (D-WI): 1971-1995
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ): 1989-1995
Sen. Bill Weld (R-MA): 1989-1995

DEFEATED SENATORS:
Sen. Dennis DeConcini (D-inc) defeated by Rep. Jon Kyl (R)
Sen. Millicent Fenwick (R-inc) defeated by Rep. Steve Rothman (D)
Sen. Harrison Schmidt (R-inc) defeated by Fmr. Gov. Jeff Bingaman (D)

PARTY CHANGES:
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R->C)

HOUSE:
R: 220 (-20)
D: 178 (+18)
C: 37 (+2)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONTINGENT ELECTION:
January 8, 1989

Maine: DEADLOCKED
New Hampshire: PERCY
Vermont: PERCY
Massachusetts: MONDALE
Rhode Island: MONDALE
Connecticut: PERCY
New York: PERCY
New Jersey: MONDALE
Pennsylvania: MONDALE
Maryland: DEADLOCKED
Delaware: PERCY
Virginia: PERCY
North Carolina: HELMS
South Carolina: HELMS
Georgia: DEADLOCKED
Florida: HELMS
Alabama: HELMS
Mississippi: HELMS
Louisiana: HELMS
Tennessee: HELMS
West Virginia: MONDALE
Kentucky: DEADLOCKED
Ohio: MONDALE
Indiana: DEADLOCKED
Arkansas: HELMS
Michigan: PERCY
Wisconsin: PERCY
Illinois: PERCY
Minnesota: MONDALE
Iowa: MONDALE
Missouri: DEADLOCKED
Texas: DEADLOCKED
Oklahoma: HELMS
Kansas: PERCY
Nebraska: PERCY
South Dakota: MONDALE
North Dakota: MONDALE
New Mexico: DEADLOCKED
Colorado: PERCY
Wyoming: ABSTAINED
Idaho: DEADLOCKED
Utah: HELMS
Montana: PERCY
Arizona: PERCY
Nevada: DEADLOCKED
California: MONDALE
Oregon: MONDALE
Washington: PERCY
Alaska: PERCY
Hawaii: DEADLOCKED

Percy: 16
Mondale: 12
Helms: 10

SECOND BALLOT:
January 8, 1989

Maine: DEADLOCKED
New Hampshire: PERCY
Vermont: PERCY
Massachusetts: MONDALE
Rhode Island: MONDALE
Connecticut: PERCY
New York: PERCY
New Jersey: MONDALE
Pennsylvania: MONDALE
Maryland: PERCY
Delaware: PERCY
Virginia: PERCY
North Carolina: HELMS
South Carolina: HELMS
Georgia: HELMS
Florida: HELMS
Alabama: HELMS
Mississippi: HELMS
Louisiana: HELMS
Tennessee: HELMS
West Virginia: MONDALE
Kentucky: DEADLOCKED
Ohio: MONDALE
Indiana: HELMS
Arkansas: HELMS
Michigan: PERCY
Wisconsin: PERCY
Illinois: PERCY
Minnesota: MONDALE
Iowa: MONDALE
Missouri: DEADLOCKED
Texas: DEADLOCKED
Oklahoma: HELMS
Kansas: PERCY
Nebraska: PERCY
South Dakota: MONDALE
North Dakota: MONDALE
New Mexico: PERCY
Colorado: PERCY
Wyoming: PERCY
Idaho: DEADLOCKED
Utah: HELMS
Montana: PERCY
Arizona: PERCY
Nevada: DEADLOCKED
California: MONDALE
Oregon: MONDALE
Washington: PERCY
Alaska: PERCY
Hawaii: DEADLOCKED

Percy: 19 (+3)
Mondale: 12
Helms: 12 (+2)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIRD BALLOT:
January 8, 1989

Maine: PERCY
New Hampshire: PERCY
Vermont: PERCY
Massachusetts: MONDALE
Rhode Island: MONDALE
Connecticut: PERCY
New York: PERCY
New Jersey: MONDALE
Pennsylvania: MONDALE
Maryland: PERCY
Delaware: PERCY
Virginia: PERCY
North Carolina: HELMS
South Carolina: HELMS
Georgia: HELMS
Florida: HELMS
Alabama: HELMS
Mississippi: HELMS
Louisiana: HELMS
Tennessee: HELMS
West Virginia: MONDALE
Kentucky: DEADLOCKED
Ohio: MONDALE
Indiana: HELMS
Arkansas: HELMS
Michigan: PERCY
Wisconsin: PERCY
Illinois: PERCY
Minnesota: MONDALE
Iowa: MONDALE
Missouri: DEADLOCKED
Texas: DEADLOCKED
Oklahoma: HELMS
Kansas: PERCY
Nebraska: PERCY
South Dakota: MONDALE
North Dakota: MONDALE
New Mexico: PERCY
Colorado: PERCY
Wyoming: PERCY
Idaho: DEADLOCKED
Utah: HELMS
Montana: PERCY
Arizona: PERCY
Nevada: PERCY
California: PERCY
Oregon: MONDALE
Washington: PERCY
Alaska: PERCY
Hawaii: DEADLOCKED

Percy: 22
Mondale: 12
Helms: 12

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOURTH BALLOT:
January 8, 1989

Maine: PERCY
New Hampshire: PERCY
Vermont: PERCY
Massachusetts: MONDALE
Rhode Island: MONDALE
Connecticut: PERCY
New York: PERCY
New Jersey: MONDALE
Pennsylvania: MONDALE
Maryland: PERCY
Delaware: PERCY
Virginia: PERCY
North Carolina: HELMS
South Carolina: HELMS
Georgia: HELMS
Florida: HELMS
Alabama: HELMS
Mississippi: HELMS
Louisiana: HELMS
Tennessee: HELMS
West Virginia: MONDALE
Kentucky: HELMS
Ohio: MONDALE
Indiana: HELMS
Arkansas: HELMS
Michigan: PERCY
Wisconsin: PERCY
Illinois: PERCY
Minnesota: MONDALE
Iowa: MONDALE
Missouri: HELMS
Texas: HELMS
Oklahoma: HELMS
Kansas: PERCY
Nebraska: PERCY
South Dakota: MONDALE
North Dakota: MONDALE
New Mexico: PERCY
Colorado: PERCY
Wyoming: PERCY
Idaho: HELMS
Utah: HELMS
Montana: PERCY
Arizona: PERCY
Nevada: PERCY
California: PERCY
Oregon: MONDALE
Washington: PERCY
Alaska: PERCY
Hawaii: DEADLOCKED

Percy: 22
Helms: 16
Mondale: 11

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FIFTH BALLOT:
January 9, 1989

Maine: PERCY
New Hampshire: PERCY
Vermont: PERCY
Massachusetts: PERCY
Rhode Island: MONDALE
Connecticut: PERCY
New York: PERCY
New Jersey: MONDALE
Pennsylvania: MONDALE
Maryland: PERCY
Delaware: PERCY
Virginia: PERCY
North Carolina: HELMS
South Carolina: HELMS
Georgia: HELMS
Florida: HELMS
Alabama: HELMS
Mississippi: HELMS
Louisiana: HELMS
Tennessee: HELMS
West Virginia: MONDALE
Kentucky: HELMS
Ohio: MONDALE
Indiana: HELMS
Arkansas: HELMS
Michigan: PERCY
Wisconsin: PERCY
Illinois: PERCY
Minnesota: MONDALE
Iowa: MONDALE
Missouri: HELMS
Texas: HELMS
Oklahoma: HELMS
Kansas: PERCY
Nebraska: PERCY
South Dakota: MONDALE
North Dakota: MONDALE
New Mexico: PERCY
Colorado: PERCY
Wyoming: PERCY
Idaho: HELMS
Utah: HELMS
Montana: PERCY
Arizona: PERCY
Nevada: PERCY
California: PERCY
Oregon: PERCY
Washington: PERCY
Alaska: PERCY
Hawaii: PERCY


Percy: 25
Helms: 16
Mondale: 9

CHARLES PERCY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONTINGENT ELECTION, US SENATE
January 10, 1989

Brooke: 46
Askew: 42
Abstain: 12

EDWARD BROOKE ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

The new administration was sworn in on January 20, 1989 and immediately had a massive firestorm on their hands.

Conservatives and Democrats were up in arms over the way the election went, even though the President won the popular vote by a substantial number. Ultimately the Electoral Reform Amendment was proposed. In order to get it passed, Congress also approved a waiver for the Equal Rights Amendment, codifying it into the Constitution as the 28th Amendment.

ELECTORAL REFORM AMENDMENT:
-Shall no candidate reach over fifty percent of votes cast, a runoff shall be held between the top two tickets. This is voided if the winner wins by more than 10% in the first round. If this clause is triggered, a runoff shall be held no sooner than two weeks and no later than three weeks.

The proposal passed the House by a 289-140 margin on November 19, 1989 and passed the Senate 70-30 on December 5. It was formally ratified right after the 1990 midterms.

SENATE:

R: 45 (-1)
D: 43 (-)
C: 12 (+1)

Different Senators:
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME); 1979-1997
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ): 1979-1997
Sen. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX): 1979-1997
Sen. Walter Huddleston* (D-KY): 1979-1997
Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE): 1985-1997
Sen. Harvey Gantt (D-NC): 1985-1997
Sen. Jim Sasser (D-TN): 1985-1997
Sen. Roy Moore (C-AL): 1986-1997
Sen. Mark Dayton (D-MN): 1991-1997
Sen. John Snyder (C-LA): 1991-1997
Sen. Carol Moseley Braun (D-IL): 1991-1997

Incumbents Defeated:
Interm Sen. George Ryan (R-IL) defeated by State Sen. Carol Moseley Braun (D)
Senator J. Bennett Johnson (D-LA) defeated by State Sen. John Snyder (C)

HOUSE:
D: 207 (+29)
R: 189 (-31)
C: 39 (+2)

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

POTUSES:
36. Lyndon B. Johnson (D): November 22, 1963-January 20, 1969
-Hubert Humphrey (D): October 2, 1968-January 20, 1969-
37. George McGovern (D): January 20, 1969-January 20, 1973
38. Nelson Rockefeller (R): January 20, 1973-December 19, 1978
39. Gerald R. Ford (R): December 19, 1978-January 20, 1981
40. Jimmy Carter (D): January 20, 1981-January 20, 1989
41. Charles Percy (R): January 20, 1989-Present

VPOTUSES:
38. Hubert Humphrey (D): January 20, 1965-January 20, 1969
39. Edmund Muskie (D): January 20, 1969-January 20, 1973
40. Gerald R. Ford (R): January 20, 1973-December 19, 1978
-VACANT-: December 19, 1978-March 24, 1979
41. Howard Baker (R): March 24, 1979-January 20, 1981
42. Daniel Inouye (D): January 20, 1981-January 20, 1989
43. Edward Brooke (R): January 20, 1989-Present

List of House Speakers:
46. Carl Albert (D): January 3, 1969-January 3, 1971
47. Gerald Ford (R): January 3, 1971-January 3, 1973
48. John Rhodes (R): January 3, 1973-January 3, 1979
49. Bob Michel (R): January 3, 1979-January 3, 1981
50. Tip O'Neill (D): January 3, 1981-January 3, 1987
51. Don Young (R): January 3, 1987-January 3, 1991
-VACANT-: January 3, 1991-March 8, 1991
52. Dick Gephardt (D): March 8, 1991-Present

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

In early 1991, Iraq invaded Kuwait. Following a standoff, President Percy issued an ultimatum: Iraq had to remove all troops from the small oil-rich nation within ten days, or face a military operation to remove them.

Saddam Hussein, the leader of Iraq, declined to do so, so a coalition of dozens of nations organized to remove him. The invasion was a massive success (with only 115 coalition forces killed compared to 35,000-65,000 Iraqis), and the President's approval ratings shot up to 94%.

His poll numbers showed a massive forty point lead over a generic Democrat. Unfortunately -while attending a conference in France- the President was shot by a Palestinian terrorist. He died on August 18, putting Vice President Edward Brooke in charge of the country.

Brooke was a long-time politician, having served in the Senate from 1967 to 1985, but still decided to pick an experienced VP in Robert Finch -who had served in Congress from 1971 to 1975 and as Governor of California from 1975 and 1983- who was easily confirmed.

But an economic recession hurt Brooke, and the strong Democratic nominee (Bill Clinton, who had been Governor of Arkansas for 16 years) made it harder.

1992 Presidential Election:

Clinton/Pelosi (D): 362 EV/ 47.0% PV
Brooke/Finch (R): 120 EV/ 43.8% PV
Quayle/Gohmert (C): 56 EV/ 8.6% PV

RUNOFF:

Clinton/Pelosi (D): 395 EV/ 53.8% PV
Brooke/Finch (R): 143 EV/ 46.2% PV

SENATE:

D: 47 (+4)
R: 41 (-4)
C: 12 (-)

Different Senators:
Sen. Jeff Sessions (C-AL); 1987-1999
Sen. Clark Gruening (D-AK); 1981-1999
Sen. Michael Huffington (R-CA): 1987-1999
Sen. Herman Talmadge (C-GA); 1957-1999
Sen. Mazie Hirono (R-HI); 1993-1999
Sen. Ben Cardin (R-MD); 1993-1999
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (R-NH); 1993-1999
Sen. Shirley Chisholm (R-NY); 1969-1999
Sen. Howard Metzenbaum (D-OH); 1969-1999
Sen. John Glenn (D-PA); 1981-1999
Sen. John Kitzhaber (R-OR); 1981-1999
Sen. Jesse Helms (C-NC); 1973-1985, 1987-1999
Sen. Jimmy DeMint (C-SC); 1987-1999
Sen. Madeleine Kunin (R-VT); 1987-1999
Sen. Dan Boren (D-OK); 1993-1999

DEFEATED SENATORS:
Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-inc) defeated by State Rep. Tom Strickland (D)
Sen. Mark Andrews (R-inc) primaried by State Sen. Kent Conrad (R)
Sen. James Abdnor (R-inc) defeated by Rep. Bill Janklow (D)
Sen. Paul Laxalt (R-inc) defeated by Rep. James Bilbray (D)

PARTY CHANGES:
Sen. Kit Bond (R->D)

HOUSE:
D: 221 (+14)
R: 180 (-9)
C: 34 (-5)

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

SCOTUS DECISIONS SINCE 1973:

Alabama v. Department of Justice (1978)

Court rules that all sections of the voting rights act are totally constitutional.

Texas v. Landry (1984)

Court rules that all bans of homosexual activity are unconstitutional.

Lively v. Massachusetts (1989)

Court rules that the Massachusetts same-sex marriage legalization ruling is constitutional.

Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1991)

Court rules that all states, territories, and localities must provide abortion up to 30 weeks and must provide abortions past that in the case of rape, incest & danger to the mother. If any of the last three issues are present in a case the state must pay for all related transportation/welfare costs to get the abortion.

Valenzuela v. United States Department of Health and Human Services (1992)

Court rules that illegal migrant are eligible for emergency care if they would otherwise qualify for Americare.

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

President Clinton got a boon early in his term when the Conservative National Committee voted to merge with the Democratic Party in exchange for policy concessions. This included a $50 Billion rural investment package and pro-life judges. This tanked the President's approval ratings, and he was punished for it in the midterms:

SENATE:
D: 53 (-6)
R: 47 (+6)

HOUSE:
R: 229 (+49)
D: 206 (-49)

This hurt his President's credibility, and his merger with the Conservatives came back to bite him when Utah Senator Orrin Hatch primaried him. Hatch emerged victorious, but he would face an incredibly tough opponent in Senator (1977-) and Governor (1971-1976) William S. Cohen, who was the Republican nominee in 1984 for Vice President.

Cohen easily emerged victorious on election day, negating the need for a runoff.

1996 Presidential Election:

Cohen/Locke (R): 410 EV/ 56.9% PV
Hatch/Sessions (D): 128 EV/ 41.9% PV

SENATE:
R: 53 (+6)
D: 47 (-6)

HOUSE:
R: 249 (+20)
D: 186 (-20)

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

While the national debt was down to $250 Billion and a surplus of $100 Billion was routinely in the cards, taxes rates had been shockingly high, up to 70% for high earners. President Cohen proposed multiple tax reform ideas, which were condensed into one bill.

TAX REFORM ACT OF 1997
-Cuts the top rate from 67% to 55% over three years
-Cuts the average rate from 9% to 7% over two years
-Cuts the corporate tax rate from 55% to 40% over five years
-Allows companies to reduce their tax burden by providing perks/bonuses to workers
-Issues a 1% sales tax on non-essential items
-Cuts non-mandatory spending by 10% over four years.

Almost immediately the economy began to recover. Corporations were more comfortable with investments, and the unemployment rate fell from the high single digits. Investment into eastern Europe allowed for even more growth, and the President did perfectly fine in the midterms with approval ratings hovering around 70%.

SENATE:
R: 54 (+1)
D: 46 (-1)

HOUSE:
R: 246 (-3)
D: 189 (+3)

The real economic comeback began in late 1998, however. Unemployment fell to under 5%, and inflation was below 1% for the first time in decades. Despite the tax cuts, the deficit was non-existent. Thus, President Cohen decided to further cut taxes:

REVENUE MODIFICATION ACT OF 1999:
-Cuts the top rate from 55% to 46% over three years.
-Cuts the corporate tax rate from 40% to 38% over three years.
-Cuts non-mandatory government spending by 3% over two years.

It wasn't a question of if President Cohen would win re-election, but it became a guaranteed landslide once Democrats nominated Donald Trump, a billionaire running on a populist message, to the Presidency.

2000 Presidential Election:

Cohen/Locke (R): 503 EV/ 62.1% PV
Trump/Moore (D): 35 EV/ 34.4% PV

SENATE:
R: 61 (+7)
D: 39 (-7)

HOUSE:
R: 278 (+32)
D: 157 (-32)

President Cohen's second term began with the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York. A quick response led to a week-long invasion of Afghanistan that had dwindled down to a 15,000 troop anti-terrorist force by mid 2002. High approval ratings allowed the President to lose very few seats in the midterms.

SENATE:
R: 59 (-2)
D: 41 (+2)

HOUSE:
R: 270 (-8)
D: 165 (+8)

The administration got more good news in 2003, as the national debt was fully eliminated and unemployment fell below 3.5%. This set whoever the 2004 Republican nominee was (Vice President Gary Locke) for an easy coronation. Democrats nominated former President Bill Clinton, but the race kept inching closer.

A bad debate performance by the Vice President led to a close race that was unimaginable to anyone months prior, but the election results shocked everyone:

2004 Presidential Election:

Clinton/Bush (D): 293 EV/ 47.0% PV
Locke/Northam (R): 245 EV/ 49.8% PV

Despite the close margin, a runoff was not triggered due to the clause in the 27th Amendment that prevented runoffs if no third candidate won a state.

SENATE:
R: 55 (-4)
D: 45 (+4)

HOUSE:
R: 240 (-30)
D: 195 (+30)

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

POTUSES:
36. Lyndon B. Johnson (D): November 22, 1963-January 20, 1969
-Hubert Humphrey (D): October 2, 1968-January 20, 1969-
37. George McGovern (D): January 20, 1969-January 20, 1973
38. Nelson Rockefeller (R): January 20, 1973-December 19, 1978
39. Gerald R. Ford (R): December 19, 1978-January 20, 1981
40. Jimmy Carter (D): January 20, 1981-January 20, 1989
41. Charles Percy (R): January 20, 1989-August 18, 1991
42. Edward Brooke (R): August 18, 1991-January 20, 1993
43. Bill Clinton (D): January 20, 1993-January 20, 1997
44. William Cohen (R): January 20, 1997-January 20, 2005
45. Bill Clinton (D): January 20, 2005-Present

VPOTUSES:
38. Hubert Humphrey (D): January 20, 1965-January 20, 1969
39. Edmund Muskie (D): January 20, 1969-January 20, 1973
40. Gerald R. Ford (R): January 20, 1973-December 19, 1978
-VACANT-: December 19, 1978-March 24, 1979
41. Howard Baker (R): March 24, 1979-January 20, 1981
42. Daniel Inouye (D): January 20, 1981-January 20, 1989
43. Edward Brooke (R): January 20, 1989-August 18, 1991
-VACANT-: August 18, 1991-October 29, 1991
44. Robert Finch (R): October 29, 1991-January 20, 1993
45. Nancy Pelosi (D): January 20, 1993-January 20, 1997
46. Gary Locke (R): January 20, 1997-January 20, 2005
47. Jeb Bush (D): January 20, 2005-Present

List of House Speakers:
46. Carl Albert (D): January 3, 1969-January 3, 1971
47. Gerald Ford (R): January 3, 1971-January 3, 1973
48. John Rhodes (R): January 3, 1973-January 3, 1979
49. Bob Michel (R): January 3, 1979-January 3, 1981
50. Tip O'Neill (D): January 3, 1981-January 3, 1987
51. Don Young (R): January 3, 1987-January 3, 1991
-VACANT-: January 3, 1991-March 8, 1991
52. Dick Gephardt (D): March 8, 1991-January 3, 1995
54. Joe Courtney (R): January 3, 1995-Present

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

President Clinton didn't expect to serve a second term, particularly in the 2004 Election. But he knew he would try his hardest anyway. But with large Republican majorities much of his agenda got stuck in committee. It took nearly all of his political capital just to push through a small minimum wage increase from $11.50 to $13.00.

SENATE:
R: 56 (+1)
D: 44 (-1)

HOUSE:
R: 261 (+21)
D: 174 (-21)

With poor midterm results, the President was left governing by executive action, including expanding union powers and canceling $7 Billion in farm debt. The stock market crash in 2008 made the President's agenda even more untenable, as he prepared to leave the White House in January of 2009.

Sensing the terrible environment, Vice President Bush declined to run. Democrats ended up nominating Senator Joe Manchin to run against fellow Senator Barack Obama. Obama ended up destroying him, only being held back from a Cohen-level landslide by his race.

2008 Presidential Election:

Obama/Biden (R): 413 EV/ 55.0% PV
Manchin/Bradley (D): 125 EV/ 43.9% PV

SENATE:
R: 64 (+8)
D: 36 (-8)

HOUSE:
R: 304 (+33)
D: 121 (-33)

[LabourJersey]

Why is Jeb Bush a Democrat in this timeline?

Also how does the country react to having a black President in 1991, especially after a traumatic assassination?