My take on the Second Term of Gerald Ford and it's effects on American Politics.

[Kevin]

After President Gerald Ford wins a Presidental election to a full term against former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, In his full term of office he is faced by growing economic woes such as energy crisis which is brewing, inflation which President Ford had been working desprately to curve and on the foreign policy front a revolution by Islamic radicals in Iran combined with a land war in progress in Southeast Asia although the US has already withdrawed from the region.
    1979- As President Ford's term progresses he is struggling with the  energy crisis which is now in full swing and a brewing Revolution in Iran coupled with out of control infation at home. As his approval ratings begin to sag combined with the Republicans taking somewhat of a hit in the miderm elections of 1978, The Republican party's woes continue to increase as the 1980 Presidental election nears and with Vice President Bob Dole already making clear his intent to runing for the job. However a number of prominet Republicans want a chance at their party's nomenation also and plan to challenge him for it. 

  Republican Canidates
Vice President Bob Dole(R-KS)
Former Governor Ronald Reagan(R-CA)
Former TX congressmen and Head of the CIA George HW Bush(R-TX)
Senator Howard Baker(R-TN)
Senator Richard Schweiker(R-PA)
Senator Jesse Helms(R-NC)
Congressmen Phil Crane(R-IL)      
         

[Kevin]

The Democrats like their Republican counterparts also looking at their chances for 1980 are to say the least optimistic and several Democrats have made clear their intention to run for the Democratic nomention for President


Democratic Canidates
Former Vice Presidental canidate and Senator Walter Mondale(D-MN)
Senator Ted Kennedy(D-MA)
Senator Lloyd Bentsen(D-TX)
Senator Sam Nunn(D-GA)
Senator Joe Biden(D-DE)
Congressmen Mo Udall(D-AZ)
Governor Hugh Carey(D-NY)
Governor Jerry Brown(D-CA)

[Kevin]

For the Republicans the Iowa Caucus is rapidly nearing and the polls give Vice President Dole a comfortable lead

Bob Dole-56%
Ronald Reagan-34%
Howard Baker-9%
Phil Crane-7%
George HW Bush-5%
Other(Schweiker,Helms,and combined 4%

[Kevin]

The Iowa Caucus is also rapidly approching for the Democrats and it is neck and neck somewhat, However Mondale leads.


Walter Mondale-42%
Lloyd Bensten-34%
Ted Kennedy-26%
Hugh Carey-9%
Sam Nunn-7%
Joe Biden-5%
Others(Udall,and Brown combined 3% 

 

[Kevin]

In The days leading up to the Republican Iowa Caucus Senator Richard Schweiker of Pennslvania drops of the of the race citing his inablilty to gain traction in the polls he then endorses Ronald Reagan for President.

[Kevin]

Ronald Reagan is campagining hard in Iowa and he is catching up rapidly accroding to sources there.

[Kevin]

On caucus night in Iowa the polls are very suprising as Reagan makes it closer then expected for Bob Dole although still a comfartable win for him. Howard Baker comes in with a decent third finish and Phil Crane and George HW Bush come in with meager margins.

Bob Dole-51%
Ronald Reagan-39%
Howard Baker-8%
Phil Crane-5%
George HW Bush-3% 

[Kevin]

In the days leading up to the Democratic caucus in Iow Ted Kennedy is catching up fast in the polls due to his hard work and vigor and zeal and his ablites to attract treditional liberal voters and he is also appealing to labor unions in the state. He is running circles around Mondale and it is starting to look like Mondale may fall under.

Walter Mondale-36%
Ted Kennedy-34%
Lloyd Bensten-28%
Hugh Carey-4%
Same Nunn-4%
Joe Biden-2%
others-2%

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Whichever party was in incumbency was going to lose in 1980.. especially if Ford handled the Iran affair like Carter did (Hell if Ford still in charge the Shah might have fell sooner, which might not have been a bad thing for him as far as electoral prospects go.), which I believe he probably would have done.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Actually, had Ford been elected for a second term, it's likelier that the Shah would have at the least been better able to withstand the tumult.  All that's needed is an extra three years so as to give the Shah a chance to die from cancer and his son to take the throne.  I think a Ford presidency might be able to do so.  An added butterfly would be if in 1978 if instead of expelling Khomeini to France, Iraq had, as requested, extradited him back to Iran.  OTOH, the Revolution might have been sooner with Ford getting a second term, if the non-relaxation of the Shah's controls caused more problems instead of less.  About the one thing we can be certain of is that it would have been extremely unlikely to have unfolded on the same schedule as OTL.

[Kevin]

Actually, had Ford been elected for a second term, it's likelier that the Shah would have at the least been better able to withstand the tumult.  All that's needed is an extra three years so as to give the Shah a chance to die from cancer and his son to take the throne.  I think a Ford presidency might be able to do so.  An added butterfly would be if in 1978 if instead of expelling Khomeini to France, Iraq had, as requested, extradited him back to Iran.  OTOH, the Revolution might have been sooner with Ford getting a second term, if the non-relaxation of the Shah's controls caused more problems instead of less.  About the one thing we can be certain of is that it would have been extremely unlikely to have unfolded on the same schedule as OTL.

I go back and re do this thing when I have more time on my hands.