WI Ronald Reagan Was Elected US President In 1968?

[pericles]

What if Ronald Reagan won the presidency of the United States in 1968, rather than 1980 as IOTL? Reagan had been speculated as a presidential candidate ever since he was elected Governor of California in a landslide in 1966. In 1968, Reagan made a last-minute bid for the nominationm in 1968(he won the popular vote in the primaries, but that was mainly because he got 100% in the California primary), and he got 182 votes at the convention and nearly denied Nixon the nomination. If Reagan had entered the race earlier, he likely would have denied Nixon a majority and won a majority at the convention. If Strom Thurmond had endorsed Reagan, not Nixon, then the Southern delegations would have gone to Reagan and he would have gotten a big boost because of the 'unit rule' in Southern delegations, which dictated all delegates support the majority choice of the delegation. Nixon only got 26 more votes than 50% at the RNC, it would have been relatively easy to deny him the majority and then his support, which was broad but shallow, would likely have fallen and Reagan would have won the delegations of the South and West and been chosen as the Republican nominee.
So, Governor Ronald Reagan of California, a staunch conservative, is chosen as the 1968 Republican nominee. Would Reagan be able to win? He was less polished than in 1968 and more conservative, Democrats would seek to define him as Goldwater 2.0. His views may be too extreme for the public without the perfect storm of stagflation, the foreign policy failures and Carter's failed presidency in 1980. However, Democrats always underestimated Ronald Reagan. Pat Brown in 1966 saw him as a Goldwater-like candidate, easy to beat, and was crushed in a landslide. Reagan would be able to ride the conservative backlash in 1968 to liberalism with his charisma. While Nixon only got 43.4% of the vote in 1968, 56.9% of the vote went to conservative candidates, as both Wallace and Nixon were candidates opposed to liberalism. Wallace may not have run with Reagan as the nominee or got reduced support, and his voters would have gone to Reagan. Reagan may also have debated Humphrey, unlike Nixon, as the charismatic Reagan and underdog Humphrey would both want a debate and that could result in a Reagan win like in 1980. One wildcard is that the Paris Peace Talks would not be sabotaged by Nixon as IOTL, and the Democrats could pull an October Surprise. Let's say though that Reagan narrowly wins. How would his presidency go? Would he be able to push through a Reagan Revolution 12 years early? How would he handle Vietnam? How would he handle the economy? What would be the effect on US politics and the conservative movement? What would be the effects? What if?

[lordroel]

Apr 19, 2017 23:34:35 GMT pericles said:

What if Ronald Reagan won the presidency of the United States in 1968, rather than 1980 as IOTL? Reagan had been speculated as a presidential candidate ever since he was elected Governor of California in a landslide in 1966. In 1968, Reagan made a last-minute bid for the nominationm in 1968(he won the popular vote in the primaries, but that was mainly because he got 100% in the California primary), and he got 182 votes at the convention and nearly denied Nixon the nomination. If Reagan had entered the race earlier, he likely would have denied Nixon a majority and won a majority at the convention. If Strom Thurmond had endorsed Reagan, not Nixon, then the Southern delegations would have gone to Reagan and he would have gotten a big boost because of the 'unit rule' in Southern delegations, which dictated all delegates support the majority choice of the delegation. Nixon only got 26 more votes than 50% at the RNC, it would have been relatively easy to deny him the majority and then his support, which was broad but shallow, would likely have fallen and Reagan would have won the delegations of the South and West and been chosen as the Republican nominee.
So, Governor Ronald Reagan of California, a staunch conservative, is chosen as the 1968 Republican nominee. Would Reagan be able to win? He was less polished than in 1968 and more conservative, Democrats would seek to define him as Goldwater 2.0. His views may be too extreme for the public without the perfect storm of stagflation, the foreign policy failures and Carter's failed presidency in 1980. However, Democrats always underestimated Ronald Reagan. Pat Brown in 1966 saw him as a Goldwater-like candidate, easy to beat, and was crushed in a landslide. Reagan would be able to ride the conservative backlash in 1968 to liberalism with his charisma. While Nixon only got 43.4% of the vote in 1968, 56.9% of the vote went to conservative candidates, as both Wallace and Nixon were candidates opposed to liberalism. Wallace may not have run with Reagan as the nominee or got reduced support, and his voters would have gone to Reagan. Reagan may also have debated Humphrey, unlike Nixon, as the charismatic Reagan and underdog Humphrey would both want a debate and that could result in a Reagan win like in 1980. One wildcard is that the Paris Peace Talks would not be sabotaged by Nixon as IOTL, and the Democrats could pull an October Surprise. Let's say though that Reagan narrowly wins. How would his presidency go? Would he be able to push through a Reagan Revolution 12 years early? How would he handle Vietnam? How would he handle the economy? What would be the effect on US politics and the conservative movement? What would be the effects? What if?

I can assume that a Reagan administration will not suffer a Watergate scandal.

[pericles]

Apr 20, 2017 2:59:26 GMT lordroel said:

Apr 19, 2017 23:34:35 GMT pericles said:

What if Ronald Reagan won the presidency of the United States in 1968, rather than 1980 as IOTL? Reagan had been speculated as a presidential candidate ever since he was elected Governor of California in a landslide in 1966. In 1968, Reagan made a last-minute bid for the nominationm in 1968(he won the popular vote in the primaries, but that was mainly because he got 100% in the California primary), and he got 182 votes at the convention and nearly denied Nixon the nomination. If Reagan had entered the race earlier, he likely would have denied Nixon a majority and won a majority at the convention. If Strom Thurmond had endorsed Reagan, not Nixon, then the Southern delegations would have gone to Reagan and he would have gotten a big boost because of the 'unit rule' in Southern delegations, which dictated all delegates support the majority choice of the delegation. Nixon only got 26 more votes than 50% at the RNC, it would have been relatively easy to deny him the majority and then his support, which was broad but shallow, would likely have fallen and Reagan would have won the delegations of the South and West and been chosen as the Republican nominee.
So, Governor Ronald Reagan of California, a staunch conservative, is chosen as the 1968 Republican nominee. Would Reagan be able to win? He was less polished than in 1968 and more conservative, Democrats would seek to define him as Goldwater 2.0. His views may be too extreme for the public without the perfect storm of stagflation, the foreign policy failures and Carter's failed presidency in 1980. However, Democrats always underestimated Ronald Reagan. Pat Brown in 1966 saw him as a Goldwater-like candidate, easy to beat, and was crushed in a landslide. Reagan would be able to ride the conservative backlash in 1968 to liberalism with his charisma. While Nixon only got 43.4% of the vote in 1968, 56.9% of the vote went to conservative candidates, as both Wallace and Nixon were candidates opposed to liberalism. Wallace may not have run with Reagan as the nominee or got reduced support, and his voters would have gone to Reagan. Reagan may also have debated Humphrey, unlike Nixon, as the charismatic Reagan and underdog Humphrey would both want a debate and that could result in a Reagan win like in 1980. One wildcard is that the Paris Peace Talks would not be sabotaged by Nixon as IOTL, and the Democrats could pull an October Surprise. Let's say though that Reagan narrowly wins. How would his presidency go? Would he be able to push through a Reagan Revolution 12 years early? How would he handle Vietnam? How would he handle the economy? What would be the effect on US politics and the conservative movement? What would be the effects? What if?

I can assume that a Reagan administration will not suffer a Watergate scandal.

Probably, though it's possible IOTL that Iran-Contra could have become a Watergate-type scandal under different circumstances. Perhaps if such a scandal occurred but Reagan was more divisive and not old enough to be able to argue he didn't know he could be in more trouble. How do you think Reagan would govern if elected twelve years early?

[pericles]

www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0303/0303reagan68.htm

www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/president-reagan-in-1968.102172/

[lordroel]

Apr 20, 2017 3:23:38 GMT pericles said:

www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0303/0303reagan68.htm

www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/president-reagan-in-1968.102172/

Is a Reagan administration going to increase ore decrease the United States involvement in Vietnam.

[pericles]

Apr 20, 2017 3:38:25 GMT lordroel said:

Apr 20, 2017 3:23:38 GMT pericles said:

www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0303/0303reagan68.htm

www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/president-reagan-in-1968.102172/

Is a Reagan administration going to increase ore decrease the United States involvement in Vietnam.

I'd say, as per his hawkish record in office IOTL and the conservative view at the time, that Reagan would escalate the Vietnam War, as the view was the US was not doing enough to win, he may even invade North Vietnam or at least intensify the bombing.

[lordroel]

Apr 20, 2017 4:44:29 GMT pericles said:

Apr 20, 2017 3:38:25 GMT lordroel said:

Is a Reagan administration going to increase ore decrease the United States involvement in Vietnam.

I'd say, as per his hawkish record in office IOTL and the conservative view at the time, that Reagan would escalate the Vietnam War, as the view was the US was not doing enough to win, he may even invade North Vietnam or at least intensify the bombing.

Well when Reagan was president the Soviet Union was nearing its end, he only help it by out spending them, in 1968 the Soviet Union is still strong i think and will most likely survive a four ore eight year Reagan term.

[pericles]

1968 with Reagan as GOP nominee

Ronald Reagan/George Romney-Republican: 336 EV 46.03%
Hubert Humphrey/Ed Muskie-Democratic: 163 44.52%
George Wallace/Curtis LeMay-American Independent: 39 EV 9.02%

[lordroel]

Apr 21, 2017 4:29:22 GMT pericles said:

1968 with Reagan as GOP nominee

Ronald Reagan/George Romney-Republican: 336 EV 46.03%
Hubert Humphrey/Ed Muskie-Democratic: 163 44.52%
George Wallace/Curtis LeMay-American Independent: 39 EV 9.02%

Nice map, where did you get it.

[pericles]

Apr 21, 2017 8:30:31 GMT lordroel said:

Apr 21, 2017 4:29:22 GMT pericles said:

1968 with Reagan as GOP nominee

Ronald Reagan/George Romney-Republican: 336 EV 46.03%
Hubert Humphrey/Ed Muskie-Democratic: 163 44.52%
George Wallace/Curtis LeMay-American Independent: 39 EV 9.02%

Nice map, where did you get it.

I made it myself using US election atlas.

[lordroel]

Apr 21, 2017 8:41:58 GMT pericles said:

Apr 21, 2017 8:30:31 GMT lordroel said:

Nice map, where did you get it.

I made it myself using US election atlas.

Nice, so who would replace OTL Reagan term in the 1980s.

[pericles]

Apr 21, 2017 8:45:49 GMT lordroel said:

Apr 21, 2017 8:41:58 GMT pericles said:

I made it myself using US election atlas.

Nice, so who would replace OTL Reagan term in the 1980s.

I'm not sure, maybe Reagan wins in 1968 and 1972 and his moderate VP wins in 1976 and a centrist Democrat wins for the 1980s like IOTL. But that all depends on how Reagan's presidency goes.

[lordroel]

Apr 21, 2017 9:02:57 GMT pericles said:

Apr 21, 2017 8:45:49 GMT lordroel said:

Nice, so who would replace OTL Reagan term in the 1980s.

I'm not sure, maybe Reagan wins in 1968 and 1972 and his moderate VP wins in 1976 and a centrist Democrat wins for the 1980s like IOTL. But that all depends on how Reagan's presidency goes.

So it is not knows who his VP might have been in 1968.

[pericles]

Apr 21, 2017 9:10:15 GMT lordroel said:

Apr 21, 2017 9:02:57 GMT pericles said:

I'm not sure, maybe Reagan wins in 1968 and 1972 and his moderate VP wins in 1976 and a centrist Democrat wins for the 1980s like IOTL. But that all depends on how Reagan's presidency goes.

So it is not knows who his VP might have been in 1968.

No. I think a moderate to balance the ticket, maybe John Volpe of Massachusetts or George Romney of Michigan(Romney being more likely). Perhaps Nelson Rockefeller(unlikely).

[lordroel]

Apr 21, 2017 9:54:28 GMT pericles said:

Apr 21, 2017 9:10:15 GMT lordroel said:

So it is not knows who his VP might have been in 1968.

No. I think a moderate to balance the ticket, maybe John Volpe of Massachusetts or George Romney of Michigan(Romney being more likely). Perhaps Nelson Rockefeller(unlikely).

Is George Romney not the father of Mitt Romney.