WI Ronald Reagan Was Elected US President In 1968?

[stevep]

I suspect that if Reagan got elected and escalated the Vietnam war then things would go badly. He can't really win unless he not on invades N Vietnam but successfully occupies it. Which seems extremely unlikely given the probable objections inside the US and the western world and the support Russia and China would give the communists. Plus from what I understand of the American military attitude of the time, overwhelmingly concerned with firepower and loss ratios rather than hearts and minds I can see it becoming an increasingly costly and divisive quagmire. This might not occur in a Reagan 1st term, especially if its some time before he invades Vietnam, but I could see the war being the key issue by 1976 if not 1972. Don't forget the Tet offensive has already occurred and a general loss of satisfaction on the war in the US and probably more importantly amongst the conscripted US troops.

As such, especially if he invades the north I could see Reagan being discredited and increasingly unpopular in the US along with the party as a whole. You could see another Carter or someone similar winning in 76 if not 72.

[pericles]

Apr 21, 2017 9:57:19 GMT lordroel said:

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

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.

Yes he ran in 1968 and was the frontrunner but bombed when he said the army had 'brainwashed' him over Vietnam.

[lordroel]

Apr 21, 2017 21:00:02 GMT pericles said:

Apr 21, 2017 9:57:19 GMT lordroel said:

Is George Romney not the father of Mitt Romney.

Yes he ran in 1968 and was the frontrunner but bombed when he said the army had 'brainwashed' him over Vietnam.

Wait was he pro ore anti Vietnam than.

[pericles]

Apr 21, 2017 21:03:43 GMT lordroel said:

Apr 21, 2017 21:00:02 GMT pericles said:

Yes he ran in 1968 and was the frontrunner but bombed when he said the army had 'brainwashed' him over Vietnam.

Wait was he pro ore anti Vietnam than.

Became anti.

[lordroel]

Apr 21, 2017 21:24:33 GMT pericles said:

Apr 21, 2017 21:03:43 GMT lordroel said:

Wait was he pro ore anti Vietnam than.

Became anti.

So not a good VP for Reagan than.

[pericles]

Apr 21, 2017 21:29:30 GMT lordroel said:

Apr 21, 2017 21:24:33 GMT pericles said:

Became anti.

So not a good VP for Reagan than.

He could balance the ticket. George HW Bush called Reagan's tax cuts'voodoo economics' in the 1980 campaign.

[lordroel]

Apr 21, 2017 21:36:39 GMT pericles said:

Apr 21, 2017 21:29:30 GMT lordroel said:

So not a good VP for Reagan than.

He could balance the ticket. George HW Bush called Reagan's tax cuts'voodoo economics' in the 1980 campaign.

So a Reagan/Romney ticket in 1968, if they do not solve the Vietnam War than it will be mostly a single four year term i would assume.

[mcnutt]

I think he was too much of a hawk to win in 1968. If he is somehow elected. There is not the detente with the Soviets and Chinese and he builds up US involvement in Vietnam. So his reelection in 1972 is iffy.

[lordroel]

Apr 24, 2017 20:59:11 GMT mcnutt said:

I think he was too much of a hawk to win in 1968. If he is somehow elected. There is not the detente with the Soviets and Chinese and he builds up US involvement in Vietnam. So his reelection in 1972 is iffy.

So Ronald Reagan was softer in 1981 than he was if he would be elected in 1968.

[stevep]

May 7, 2017 9:05:17 GMT lordroel said:

Apr 24, 2017 20:59:11 GMT mcnutt said:

I think he was too much of a hawk to win in 1968. If he is somehow elected. There is not the detente with the Soviets and Chinese and he builds up US involvement in Vietnam. So his reelection in 1972 is iffy.

So Ronald Reagan was softer in 1981 than he was if he would be elected in 1968.

  Suspect mcnutt meant that a right winger to Reagan's degree in 1968 is less likely to be elected in 1968 than in 1980 when the US was ready to swing right after the perceived drift of the Carter years?

[lordroel]

May 7, 2017 17:00:06 GMT stevep said:

May 7, 2017 9:05:17 GMT lordroel said:

So Ronald Reagan was softer in 1981 than he was if he would be elected in 1968.

  Suspect mcnutt meant that a right winger to Reagan's degree in 1968 is less likely to be elected in 1968 than in 1980 when the US was ready to swing right after the perceived drift of the Carter years?

A, thanks for explaining, was thinking that Reagan became softer in 1981 compared to 1968.