Ralph Leslie Jenkins Jr. (born 1938 in Toledo, Ohio) lost his parents during his childhood, being raised by his maternal uncles. In 1959, Jenkins entered the bar in Ohio, becoming a lawyer for the Teamsters and Jimmy Hoffa, which he defended in several cases. Six years later, Jenkins was drafted by the Marine Corps and fought in Vietnam, where he was wounded and won the Medal of Honor.
In 1971, Jenkins first entered politics, becoming an alderman for Toledo. He was later elected to the mayoralty, where he made waste segregation mandatory, expanded welfare programs, constructed several trade schools, refused to close declining factories, and declared the city pro-life. Jenkins was reelected in 1977, subsequently increasing funding for local police and doubling pay for teachers.
In 1982, Ralph Jenkins ran for Governor of Ohio, promising to stand for the state's diverse citizenry, and enact several economic reforms. He was elected by a landslide.
As Governor of Ohio, Ralph Jenkins raised the state minimum wage, required corporations to provide paid sick leave, enacted several restrictions on abortion, implemented a 10% tax on outsourcing, made trade schools tuition-free, provided grants to city police departments, expanded Medicaid, and increased the wages of teachers and doctors.
Jenkins was reelected by another landslide in 1986. During his second term, Jenkins implemented paid maternity leave financed by corporations, while increasing funding for childcare and creating a $35,000 tax credit; but the governor had national ambitions.
On March 17, 1987, Jenkins announced his campaign for President of the United States. In his announcement speech, Ralph Jenkins focused on his record as Governor of Ohio, while promising to aggressively intervene in the behalf of farmers, reform healthcare, fix the United States' trade deficit, and repeal Ronald Reagan's tax cuts for the wealthy. After Gary Hart and Joe Biden dropped out, Jenkins became a top contender for the Democratic nomination.
After winning the Indiana and Pennsylvania primaries, Jenkins clinched the Democratic nomination.
In his speech at the Democratic National Convention, Ralph Jenkins mentioned his policies as Governor of Ohio, and how they contributed to the state's economic growth; the Governor also attacked George Bush for his elitist background and handling of the Iran-Contra Scandal, while promising to stand for the average American.
He chose Senator for New York Pat Moynihan as a running mate, due to his experience, and to balance the ticket with a Northeastern liberal.
In the general election, Ralph Jenkins focused on his policies for healthcare, taxes and farmers, while playing up his record as Governor and military service, and promising to implement a comprehensive energy strategy paired with price supports for domestic oil production, eliminate federal taxation for those making below $10,000 per year, leave capital punishment up to the states, reject federal funding for abortion, increase teachers' wages and funding for the department of education, impose higher tariffs on Japanese and South Korean steel and automobiles, ban "cop killer" bullets while closing the gun show loophole, and keep the police well-funded. Jenkins attacked George H. W. Bush for his background as the millionaire son of a Senator.
Bush, on the other hand, promised to continue Ronald Reagan's policies, while making the United States a "kindler, gentler nation" to attract moderates. He attacked Ralph Jenkins for his stance on foreign trade, and service for Jimmy Hoffa; he failed to substantially defend himself from the latter attack. Jenkins was also attacked for his running mate's 1965 report calling for population control measures.
Jenkins performed strongly at the presidential debates, where he focused on his policies while attacking Bush for the Iran-Contra Scandal. Dan Quayle was also defeated by Pat Moynihan at the vice-presidential debate, and Jenkins was popular with Midwestern and liberal voters.
In the end, Ralph Jenkins was elected by winning California very narrowly.
