From time to time many of us political junkies sit back with a glass of wine, gaze off into the nether-regions, and hearken back to political races of the past and think "what if..."
What if...Reagan had won the GOP nomination and the presidency in 1976? Would it have ushered in a 12 or 16-year Democratic era in 1980? President Bentsen? President Glenn?
What if...all the votes in Florida were counted in 2000? Would President Gore be riding a wave international appreciation to a re-election blow out in 2004?
This type of revisionist history is practically sport for those of us with an interest in presidential politics (not to mention a little bit of solace for someone like me - who has been on the losing side in three of the last five presidential elections.)
Nigel Hamilton, author of "JFK: Reckless Youth," has a very entertaining piece in today's New York Times. With the 40th anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination this weekend, Hamilton takes a crack at how the modern international landscape would been vastly altered had Kennedy been able to finish his presidency.
Nixon is never elected. Instead of a Clinton presidency that is bookended by the name Bush, Hamilton bookends a Ronald Reagan presidency with Kennedys! Colin Powell serves for 10 years!!! The author goes a little deeper, hazarding guesses at how domestic and foreign policy may have played out as well.
It's very interesting and quite entertaining; and it makes one realize how one person can shape history.
For the sake of time I won't go into policy changes, but here is my take on how the presidency may have gone:
- Kennedy/Johnson re-elected
- Johnson/Humphrey elected
- Rockefeller/Ford elected
- Rockefeller/Ford re-elected
- President Rockefeller dies of a heart attack while having sex with White House assistant. Vice President Ford takes office.
- Kennedy (Robert)/Glenn beat Reagan/Dole
- Kennedy/Glenn win landslide re-election
- Glenn/Christopher easily beat Howard Baker/Jim Thompson.
- President Glenn, citing his wishes to retire, announces he will not seek a second term.
- In a four-way race, George H.W. Bush/Dan Quayle win 272 electoral votes, despite losing the popular vote by 2 million to Clinton/Cuomo.
- Clinton/Gore beats incumbent Bush.
- Clinton/Gore re-elected comfortably.