Alternate History 🇺🇸 November 2, 1976: President Nelson Rockefeller wins election to full 4-year term and the aftermath

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: THURMOND AND GOLDWATER ENDORSE ROCKEFELLER

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*Friday, March 26, 1976: In a joint press conference at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, DC., United States Senators Strom Thurmond (R-SC) and Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) announced they're endorsing President Nelson Rockefeller for a full four-year term. The move by Goldwater to endorse Rockefeller didn't come as a surprise to political analysts and experts.

However, Thurmond endorsing Rockefeller came as a complete surprise to many considering the staunch conservative United States Senator from South Carolina had been critical of some of the policies of the Rockefeller administration.

CAMPAIGN 76: DEMOCRATS FOR ROCKY COALITION
*Louisiana First Lady and former United States Senator Elaine Edwards (D-LA), the wife of Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards (D) has announced the Democrats for Rocky Coalition on behalf of the reelection campaign of President Nelson Rockefeller and that among the list of Democrats who are in this coalition besides Edwards: former Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr., (D), former Alabama Governor Albert Brewer (D), former Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes (D) among several other high-profile Democrats. In the press conference, Allen stated the following: "President Rockefeller has worked on a bipartisan basis in solving our domestic problems here at home including being a staunch advocate of a strong foreign policy as well as a strong national defense which ensures economic safety and international peace all over the world," he said during a press conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The former Atlanta Mayor continued: "And while I appreciate polite, constructive different viewpoints on the Democratic side of the aisle, I strongly urge my fellow Democrats to support President Rockefeller and Vice President Holton in the upcoming election of 1976."

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS: ARGENTINE REPUBLIC'S MILITARY JUNTA DISMISSES 30 OF THEIR AMBASSADORS
* Saturday, March 27, 1976: The Military Junta of the Argentine Republic whose taken power since March 24th since ousting embattled Argentine Republic President Isabel Martinez de Peron, ordered the recalling and dismissal of 30 of their ambassadors including those from Canada, the United Kingdom. However, Adolfo Vasquez, the Argentinian Ambassador to the United States, wasn't removed by the military government.
*With the end of Operation Savannah, the South African Defence Force formally withdraws from Angola.
*Elections were held in India among the members of the South Asian country's 15 state legislatures for 82 (more than one-third) of the seats in the 244-member Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India. The ruling Congress Party of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi picks up 18 additional seats, giving the Congress Party 164 or one more than the necessary 163 seats needed for a two-thirds majority in the Rajya Sabha.

*Sunday, March 28, 1976: The 1976 United States Grand Prix West, the first-ever event, was held in Long Beach, California which was won by Clay Regazzoni.

SPORTS: INDIANA HOOSIERS MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM COMPLETES UNDEFEATED SEASON; WIN THIRD NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

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*Monday, March 29, 1976: The top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers (32-0) Men's Basketball team win their third national championship in program history defeating fellow Big 10 rival 14.) Michigan Wolverines (25-7) by a score of 86-68 held at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

VIDELA INAUGURATED AS ARGENTINE REPUBLIC'S 40TH PRESIDENT

Army Lieutenant General Jorge Rafael Videla inagurated as the 40th President of the Argentine Republic inside the National Congress Building in Buenos Aires.​

*Less than five days after the military coup toppled then-Argentine Republic President Isabel Martinez de Peron from power, Lieutenant General Jorge Rafael Videla, Chief of Staff of the Argentine Army, was inaugurated as the 40th President of the Argentine Republic, followed by a cabinet of six military officers and two civilians. One of the civilians serving in the Videla administration, Jose Martinez de Hoz, a corporate business officer, becomes the Minister of the Economy and named a nine-man team of economic assistants to attempt in solving the problems regarding Argentine Republic's large foreign debt and runaway inflation (sound familiar folks).

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*Tuesday, March 30, 1976: In the second round of balloting in the United Kingdom by the 312 Labor Party MPs over the successor to outgoing British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, James Callaghan receives 141 votes, Michael Flood receives 133 votes, not enough for the necessary 157 votes in gaining a majority. The third round of voting would take place on April 5th.

*The National Football League begins their annual expansion draft, which is delayed on this occasion due to lawsuit filed by the owners of the Tampa Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks against the NFL Players Union.

*Wednesday, March 31, 1976: New Jersey Supreme Court rules that Karen Ann Quinlan, who suffered from irreversible brain damage, could be disconnected from a ventilator which had been keeping her alive since April 15, 1975.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Rocky on the campaign trail
2:23 PM EST, Thursday, April 1, 1976
Green Bay, Wisconsin

President Rockefeller greeting supporters during the campaign trail. ​

Despite losing the North Carolina Primary on March 23rd to Reagan, President Rockefeller was upbeat "I still have six victories in my belt and looking to pilling up more wins before we clinch the Republican nomination," he told senior aides while flying on Air Force One to begin what would become a five-day campaign whirlwind tour across Wisconsin before the Badger State's April 6th Primary election and the battle over the state's 49 delegates. Upon arriving in Milwaukee on April 1st, President Rockefeller traveled all across the Badger State and met with voters one-on-one, even participating in campaign town hall meetings. Polls had the President ahead by double digits of somewhere between 13-19 percentage points, but some pollsters expressed caution because former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) was gaining momentum after pulling off a huge upset in North Carolina.

It wasn't going to be easy for the incumbent President to just ignore the former California Governor's aggressive campaign tactics.

Rockefeller of course, highlighted his administration's efforts in getting tough on crime such as signing legislation mandating tougher sentences for repeat offenders, aggressively enforcing the Rockefeller Drug Laws including the Three-Strikes Law which Congress passed in bipartisan support. Despite criticism from criminal justice advocates and civil rights activists, President Rockefeller doubled-down on his administration's staunch public safety efforts and pushed more aggressive anti-crime measures which Congress passed easily despite opposition from some liberal lawmakers. Analysts and historians suggested Rockefeller's aggressive law and order campaigning might be because of facing a primary challenge from Reagan, who continued running a hardcore law and order campaign.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

CAMPAIGN 76: ROCKEFELLER REBOUNDS WITH VICTORY IN WISCONSIN PRIMARY

President Rockefeller celebrating in Madison after winning the Wisconsin Primary including picking up 27 out of the Badger State's 49 delegates.

*Tuesday, April 6, 1976: President Rockefeller defeats former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) in the critical Wisconsin Primary winning 27 out of the Badger State's 49 delegates: garnering 325,869 votes (55.19%) to Reagan's 262,126 votes (44.40%); Reagan won 22 delegates. Experts expect Rockefeller to win Pennsylvania very easily on April 27th, which will increase his delegate lead.
(1976 Republican Presidential Primaries: April 6, 1976)
President Nelson Rockefeller: 227 Delegates
Former California Governor Ronald Reagan: 173 Delegates

*Thursday, April 8, 1976: The National Football League Draft takes place at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, New York State.

*Friday, April 9, 1976: Peter Hain, leader of the UK's National League of Young Liberals was found not guilty of stealing $490,000 from Barclays Bank. It would later be confirmed that the charge was the result of covert operations by the South African government's intelligence agents trying to discredit Hain because of his anti-apartheid campaigning.

*Saturday, April 10, 1976: Belgian Prime Minister Leo Tindeman explains in a television interview, the decision of the Belgian government to purchase US fighter planes instead of purchasing French Mirage jets, in the context of a common defense strategy for Europe.

*Sunday, April 11, 1976: Raymond Floyd wins the 1976 Master's Golf Tournament, which was held at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

*Monday, April 12, 1976: The Israeli Air Force intercepts a C-130 military transport plane from Saudi Arabia, and the plane is forced to land in Tel Aviv after the Saudi aircraft strayed into Israeli airspace during a flight from Riyadh toward the Syrian capital city, Damascus.

*Tuesday, April 13, 1976: The United States two-dollar bill, bearing the face of Thomas Jefferson, is reintroduced by the US Treasury Department as a Federal Reserve Note as an element of the US Bicentennial Celebration.

*Wednesday, April 14, 1976: The Supreme Court of Japan rules 8-7 that the East Asian nation's electoral procedures were unconstitutional because of the failure to providing equal representation for voters. Despite a law requiring redistricting every five years, no readjustment in election districts had taken place in 12 years.

*A group of 50 baboons escaped the Lion Country Safari wildlife preserve of the Kings Island Amusement Park near Mason, Ohio. Within a week, all of the primates would be recaptured.

*Thursday, April 15, 1976: India and the People's Republic of China announced the restoration of full diplomatic relations for the first time in 15 years, with India sending an ambassador to Beijing and China sending an ambassador to New Delhi.

*Friday, April 16, 1976: Thirteen oil workers on the US oil drilling rig Ocean Express were killed, when the escape capsule that they used to evacuate the toppling rig, sank into the Gulf of Mexico; 23 people, who were working on the rig, managed to reach safety.

*Saturday, April 17, 1976: US President Nelson Rockefeller appears in three pre-recorded segments of the NBC television comedy show, 'Saturday Night Live'; White House Press Secretary Ron Nessen was the guest host.

*Evonne Goolagong defeats Chris Evert to win the singles championship of the 1976 Virginia Sims Championships tennis tournament at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in the United States.

*Sunday, April 18, 1976: Police in India fire into a crowd of protesters at the Turkman Gate in Delhi, which resulted in the deaths of 20 people, who were fighting the government's demolition plans of their homes as part of a slum clearance project. Because of the strict restrictions of the State of Emergency, details of the incident wasn't published in India at the time. However, word of the violent clash was reported in Western newspapers by the Associated Press, which noted five policemen and seven civilians had been killed in the violent clash.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

*Monday, April 19, 1976: Windows of the World, a popular restaurant and conference center in New York City, New York State opens on the 107th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

Windows on the World during happier times. ​

*Tuesday, April 20, 1976: In the landmark decision Williams v. Saxbe, the first award of damages for sexual harassment in the United States, was decided by the US District Court for the District of Columbia. Diane R. Williams, a US Department of Justice employee who had been fired from her job on September 22, 1972 after refusing the sexual advances of her supervisor, Harvey Brinson, was awarded $19,147.00 in compensation by Judge Charles R. Richey, who agreed the Justice Department violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

*The PNOC Exploration Corporation, a subsidiary of the Philippine National Oil Company, was incorporated by the Philippine government in controlling oil drilling in the nation's territorial land and waters.

*Argentine Republic, facing difficultly in obtaining loans, entered into the Argentine-US Fiscal Agency Agreement arranging for government bonds to be issued and repaid by an American bank, with the Argentinian military government agreeing to US court jurisdiction for suits over the bonds.

*National Hockey League President Clarence Campbell who had led the NHL since 1946 and guiding its growth from six teams to 18 NHL teams, was indicted by a grand jury for conspiracy and fraud for attempting to bribe Canadian Senator Louis Giguere in obtaining a lease for a business within Ottawa's Dorval Airport.

*Wednesday, April 21, 1976: Egypt signs a military pact with the People's Republic of China by purchasing or be given jet engines and spare parts for the MiG jet fighters that had been supplied five years earlier by the Soviet Union. The refusal of the Soviet government in supplying spare parts had been cited by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat as the reason for his government's break with the Soviet Union.

*Thursday, April 22, 1976: South African Prime Minister John Vorster announces plans for a Ministerial Joint Committee comprising representatives of South Africa and Israel.
*Newspapers in Italy identified Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro, Italian President Giovanni Leone and Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Mariano Rumor as suspects in the Lockheed bribery scandals.
*A dynamite explosion occurs at the Suffolk County Courthouse in Boston, Massachusetts injuring 21 people, seven of them injured seriously. The bomb, which exploded at 9:12 AM EST in the morning, had knocked down an interior wall and ceiling, shattering windows and tore down a three-foot wide hole in the marble floor.

*Friday, April 23, 1976: Ray Reardon defeats Alex Higgins in the final of the 1976 World Snooker Championship

Highlights of the 1976 World Snooker Championship.

*Saturday, April 24, 1976: An Avianca Boeing 727-59 was hijacked by a lone armed passenger after takeoff from Pereira, Colombia. He would surrender to law enforcement authorities upon arrival in Bogota, the plane's original destination.

*Sunday, April 25, 1976: The French motorcycle Grand Prix is held in Le Mans, which is won by Herbert Rittberger.

*Monday, April 26, 1976: The survival ordeal of set designer Lauren Elder begins when the Cessna airplane that she was on, crashed into Mount Bradley in Inyo County, California. With a fractured arm and wearing clothing which was ill-suited for the cold weather, Elder gradually descended the mountain and reaches the town of Independence, California two days later on April 28th; her story would become documented in a book and also in a television movie, 'And I Alone Survived'.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: ROCKEFELLER EASILY WINS PENNSYLVANIA PRIMARY, GETTING THE KEYSTONE STATE'S 106 DELEGATES
*Tuesday, April 27, 1976: President Rockefeller easily won the Pennsylvania primary and carrying the Keystone State's 106 delegates very overwhelmingly sweeping all 67 counties.

(1976 Republican Presidential primaries: April 27, 1976)
President Nelson Rockefeller: 333 Delegates
Former California Governor Ronald Reagan: 173 Delegates

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: WALLACE MOMENTUM CONTINUES
*Tuesday, April 27, 1976: Flamboyant Alabama Governor George Wallace (D) continues his march to the Democratic presidential nomination as he handily won the Pennsylvania primary picking up 67 out of the Keystone State's 178 delegates easily defeating United States Senator Henry M. Jackson (D-WA St).

*(1976 Democratic Presidential Primaries: April 27, 1976)
Pennsylvania Primary
Alabama Governor George Wallace: 667,808 (47.29%)
United States Senator Henry M. Jackson (D-WA St): 219,373 (23.73%)

BREAKING: BENTSEN, BRISCOE ENDORSING WALLACE JUST DAYS AHEAD OF CRITICAL TEXAS PRIMARY
*United States Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) and Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe (D) held a joint press conference in Fort Worth on the campus of Texas Christian University where they announced they're endorsing Alabama Governor George Wallace (D) for the Democratic presidential nomination for President just days ahead of the critical Texas primary and the Lone Star State's 98 delegates.

Bentsen justified his decision telling reporters "It's very important that we as Democrats have strong party unity as the primary season is nearing a close. If we want any chance of pulling off an upset in November, we cannot afford to be divided with other candidates threatening to stay home."

POLL: COULD A WALLACE NOMINATION ALIENATE LIBERALS AND MODERATES?
*Thursday, April 29, 1976: Gallup released a poll about the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination and it revealed strong concerns among Democrats that if the party of Andrew Jackson, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson would end up nominating a staunch Southern segregationist as their nominee.

One unnamed Democrat voiced concerns saying "If we nominate Governor Wallace, I'm afraid we'll alienate many large swaths of Democrats that the party could implode before we get to the November general election and if the polls trending in the awful direction continues, we might get wiped out down-ballot."

Another had similar strong worries: "What message does this send to African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Women, Moderates, Suburbanites, etc., if the Democratic Party nominates Governor Wallace?"

ENDORSEMENT WAITING GAME: WILL HE OR WON'T HE? THE PRESSURE ON EDWARDS TO DECIDE WHO'LL HE SUPPORT CONTINUE
*Over the past few months, Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards (D) has been asked by lots of reporters on who'll he will endorse for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Edwards hasn't said whom he plans to endorse, despite recently saying "He pledged to support whoever the Democratic nominee for President in 1976". That hasn't stopped news stations such as WWL-TV New Orleans or WBRZ-TV Baton Rouge from hounding the popular two-term Democratic Governor on when he should endorse a candidate in the primaries. Although the smart money will be that Edwards might lean heavily endorsing California Governor Jerry Brown (D).

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: FLORIDA GOVERNOR REUBIN ASKEW (D) DROPPING OUT OF THE 1976 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
*Thursday, April 29, 1976: Just two days after an underwhelming showing in the Pennsylvania primary (placed in last place), Florida Governor Reubin Askew (D) announced he was suspending his campaign for the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination effective immediately. "Due to the disappointing showing out of the Pennsylvania primary this week, I have concluded following discussion with my campaign staff that there's no reliable path forward in having this campaign continue," Askew told supporters during a campaign rally in Tallahassee, Florida on the campus of Florida State University.

Askew also confirmed he'll endorse California Governor Jerry Brown (D) and plans on campaigning with him. Rumors swirling that there's massive pressure on United States Senator Frank Church (D-ID) to drop out and endorse Brown as the "Stop Wallace" movement tries everything in their power to prevent front-runner Alabama Governor George Wallace (D) from winning the nomination outright.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

US SENATE RACES TO WATCH IN CAMPAIGN 76:
*Arizona (Open)
*California
*Hawaii (Open)
*Indiana
*Maryland
*New Mexico
*New York State
*Utah
*Wyoming

 

[Sergeant Foley]

CAMPAIGN 76: ROCKEFELLER EASILY WINS TEXAS PRIMARY, POTENTIALLY CRIPPLING REAGAN'S CAMPAIGN
*Saturday, May 1, 1976: Buoyed by the hardworking efforts of United States Senator John Tower (R-TX), President Nelson Rockefeller easily crushed former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) in the Texas primary in what many political analysts consider a huge blow to Reagan's campaign. In the battle for the Lone Star State's 103 Delegates: Rockefeller picked up all 103 Delegates and swept all 254 counties.

The landslide victory puts the incumbent President on a more smooth to the Republican Party presidential nomination with upcoming primaries in Nebraska, West Virginia (May 11th) Maryland, Michigan (May 18th); Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, Tennessee (May 25th); New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island (June 8th).

(1976 Republican Presidential primaries: May 1, 1976)
Texas Primary elections
President Nelson Rockefeller: 1,676,773 (75.19%) 103 Delegates
Former California Governor Ronald Reagan: 131,943 (19.52%)

(1976 Republican Presidential primaries)
Rockefeller: 436 Delegates
Reagan: 173 Delegates

 

[Sergeant Foley]

CAMPAIGN 76: THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: WALLACE DOMINATES INDIANA, GEORGIA, TEXAS PRIMARIES
*Saturday, May 1, 1976: Alabama Governor George Wallace (D) swept the top three major primaries on the Democratic side and dominated them overwhelmingly as he crushed the competition in Indiana (winning 66 out of 75 delegates in the Hoosier State); Georgia (winning all 50 delegates in the Peach State) and Texas (winning 92 out of the Lone Star State's 98 delegates).

California Governor Jerry Brown (D) scored his first victory in the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination battle winning the District of Columbia handily winning all 13 delegates in the District.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

REAGAN REBOUNDS WITH MUCH-NEEDED WINS IN INDIANA AND GEORGIA
*Tuesday, May 4, 1976: In the meantime on the Republican side of the aisle, former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) got much needed victories with primary wins in Indiana and Georgia.

Problem for Reagan is that President Nelson Rockefeller continues to pick up delegates and his lead in the delegate count continues to rise.

(Indiana: Republican Party Presidential Primary: 56 Delegates)
Former California Governor Ronald Reagan: 323,779 (50.29%) 29 Delegates
President Nelson Rockefeller: 307,513 (48.71%) 27 Delegates

(Georgia: Republican Party Presidential Primary: 52 Delegates)
Reagan: 128,671 (68.27%) 36 Delegates
Rockefeller: 59,801 (31.73%) 16 Delegates

(1976 Republican Presidential Primaries: May 4, 1976)
Rockefeller: 479 Delegates
Reagan: 218 Delegates

 

[Sergeant Foley]

@Buba @Tiamat @DarthOne @TerrificWarden @Morphic Tide @Stargazer @Cherico @Captain X @WolfBear @Simonbob @Simon Darkshade @Julio92 @stevep @bintananth

Coming up this week: Lookout for Flash Forward installments on the 1976 Presidential campaign in Chapter 4.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: CHURCH DROPS OUT OF THE 1976 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES; ENDORSES BROWN

United States Senator Frank Church (D-ID) announcing his withdrawal from the 1976 Democratic Presidential Primaries on ABC's "Issues and Answers".

*Wednesday, May 5, 1976: Less than 24 hours after the May 4th Primary elections, United States Senator Frank Church (D-ID) went on ABC's "Issues and Answers" and confirmed he was dropping out of the 1976 Democratic Presidential primaries effective immediately and will be endorsing California Governor Jerry Brown (D). "At this point in time, my campaign for President no longer has the strength to continue and after consulting with my staff, I have decided that this campaign will be permanently suspended and I plan on endorsing Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., of the great state of California to become the Democratic Party's nominee for President in 1976."

JORDAN: "I'LL BE DELIVERING KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT DNC CONVENTION THIS SUMMER."

US Rep. Barbara Jordan (D-TX) addressed questions on whether she'll be addressing the Democratic National Convention this summer in New York City, "I will be speaking at the DNC Convention in New York City this summer" and she also confirmed she'll be giving the Keynote Address on the first night of the convention. While she dodged questions on whether she'll support front-runner Alabama Governor George Wallace (D), Jordan explained "I will support whoever the Democratic nominee for the Presidency is, but we still have lots of primaries left and it isn't over until it's really over."

Gallup Polling Survey (May 9, 1976): Who would you support for the Democratic nomination for President in 1976?
Alabama Governor George C. Wallace, Jr., (D): 43%
California Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr., (D): 21%
United States Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson (D-WA St): 9%
Undecided: 27%

NOT DROPPING OUT: JACKSON SEES PATH FOR THE NOMINATION DESPITE LONG ODDS

United States Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson (D-WA St) while addressing the ALF-CIO Convention in San Francisco, California.

*Tuesday, May 12, 1976: During an address to the ALF-CIO Convention in San Francisco, United States Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson (D-WA St) said he still has a path for the Democratic presidential nomination despite the odds stacked against him. "I'm not the one who quits things very easily, because nobody's had my long experience of public service and winning multiple elections over the years. I believe this campaign has a path forward with upcoming primaries coming up throughout the end of this month and if there's not enough delegates for anyone to clinch the nomination, this will be decided at the Democratic National Convention in New York City this summer."

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS: ALABAMA GOVERNOR GEORGE WALLACE (D) GETS NECESSARY DELEGATES TO WIN THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT
8:55 PM CST, Tuesday, June 8, 1976
Montgomery, Alabama

Alabama Governor George Wallace (D) celebrating after getting the necessary pledged delegates to win the Democratic presidential nomination during victory party at the Jefferson Davis Hotel in downtown Montgomery.
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*June 8, 1976: After the primaries were done and over with, it appears the Democrats finally have a presumptive nominee: Alabama Governor George Corley Wallace, Jr., (D) won just enough pledged delegates to securing his party's nomination for the Presidency, having defeated his main rivals: California Governor Jerry Brown (D) and United States Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson (D-WA St). Brown was able to win the following primaries along the way: Nevada, Montana, District of Columbia, Oregon, Nebraska, Idaho, Utah, Maryland and his home state of California. Jackson to only win just four states: New York State, Alaska, Massachusetts and his home state of Washington State. At the age of 56, Wallace is the first Alabamian to become the nominee of a major political party for the Presidency and currently in his third term as the Land of Dixie's 45th Governor, Wallace has managed to pull of the impossible: winning the Democratic Party presidential nomination on his third attempt (his second presidential campaign was an Independent bid for the American Independence Party in 1968, where he carried five states in a three-way race).

In his victory speech at the Jefferson Davis Hotel in downtown Montgomery, Wallace doubled-down on standing up for Southern family values and fighting for the forgotten Americans "It's been a long time since we've began this campaign and the fight against the federal government's overreach of intervention in the affairs of the States. If I am elected as your President, I promise to everyone to get the Federal Government off of your backs and get out of the business of education. I will put an end to this weak-kneed busing initiative forever!" Among the plans he planned to do if elected: get aggressive on public safety by building more prisons, enforcing the death penalty nationwide, tackling government corruption, etc.,

1976 Democratic Presidential Primaries: June 8, 1976 (Pledged Delegates)
Alabama Governor George C. Wallace (D): 1,012 Delegates 8,190,997 Votes (52.95%)
California Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr., (D): 287 Delegates; 3,280,192 Votes (20.06%)
US Rep. Morris Udall (D-AZ): 282 Delegates; 1,611,755 Votes (10.11%)
United States Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson (D-WA St): 184 Delegates; 1,132,373 (7.01%)

BROWN CONCEDES DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION; CONGRATULATES WALLACE; AIDES BLAME JACKSON, UDALL FOR DEFEAT

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California Governor Jerry Brown (D) addressing reporters inside the conference room of the California State Capitol in Sacramento.

*Wednesday, June 9, 1976: During a press conference inside the conference room of the California State Capitol in downtown Sacramento, California Governor Jerry Brown (D) officially conceded the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination to Wallace. "Good Morning everyone. It was a hard fought campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, but despite our best hardworking efforts, we just couldn't overcome the tough odds facing us. The nomination is Governor Wallace's, and we all need to make sure that as a party, we have to be united to prevent four more years of Republicans controlling the White House," he said. "I plan on continuing being a voice as Governor of the great State of California and will not hesitate to expressing my views on the issues facing the American people, regardless who is the President of the United States."

Once Brown's press conference ended, some of his campaign aides such as Gubernatorial Chief of Staff Gray Davis blasted both US Rep. Morris Udall (D-AZ) and United States Senator Henry Jackson (D-WA St) in private conversations with reporters. The general mood was that of anger, disappointment, frustration and rage at the thought of seeing a hardcore Southern segregationist Democrat being the Democratic nominee for the Presidency. "Had those old goats never entered into the race, we would've won the nomination and stopped this nightmare. Instead we all split the vote, giving that scumbag from Alabama an easy ride to the nomination," one remarked. Others expressed strong doubts on whether Wallace was up to the task of beating Rockefeller "This jackass knows NOTHING about Washington, DC. All he does is rant, rave and nag plus bitching against the federal government using racist dog-whistle campaigns. He might get away with that in the Deep South, but in large parts of the country, he's a dead LOSER come November!" quoted one of the Brown campaign aides.

AD-HOC POLLS: POST WALLACE NOMINATION
Gallup quickly conducted a number of polls just hours after Governor Wallace became the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party for President. Not just a couple of new national polling surveys coming out, all 50 states had been polled for their presidential preference. With just five months to go before the election, the outcome appears not much in doubt:

1976 PRESIDENTIAL HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCHUP: JUNE 9, 1976
President Nelson Rockefeller (R-incumbent): 59%
Alabama Governor George Wallace (D): 35%

Opinion of President Nelson Rockefeller (Gallup: June 9, 1976)
Approve: 71%
Disapprove: 19%

1976 Congressional Generic Ballot
Democrats: 57%
Republicans: 38%

1976 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: STATE-BY-STATE ELECTORAL MAP
President Nelson Rockefeller (R-incumbent): 440
Alabama Governor George Wallace (D): 105

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: PRESIDENT ROCKEFELLER OFFICIALLY PRESUMPTIVE REPUBLICAN PARTY NOMINEE FOR THE PRESIDENCY AFTER DOMINATING PRIMARIES
10:27 PM EST, Tuesday, June 8, 1976
Rockefeller Center, New York City, New York State

​

"WE WANT ROCKY! WE WANT ROCKY! WE WANT ROCKY!" These were the cheerful chants being heard from a heavily packed crowd at the Rockefeller Center in New York City as they watched election returns in the final stage of primaries.

Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller FINALLY got the prize: winning the Republican Party presidential nomination after three unsuccessful attempts in 1960, 1964 and 1968. Despite a strong primary challenge from former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R), it wasn't enough to stop Rocky's momentum and massive fundraising advantage.

President Rockefeller addressed the gathering as follows: "Thank you! (Crowd cheers loudly). I would like to thank everyone who's been with me and my family during this grueling campaign over the past few months. Based on the returns from the final primary states, it is official that yours truly has officially been declared the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party for President of the United States.

Now that the primaries are over, we continue the march toward November and we will win this thing! It is important that we are all Americans, where it's very critical for everyone in attendance to spread the word of the accomplishments this administration has been doing. Tonight, we celebrate, but the campaign isn't over because we've got a story to tell in all fifty states in the next five months."

*1976 Republican Party Presidential Primaries
President Nelson Rockefeller: 11,529,803 Votes (73.23%) 1,098 Delegates
Former California Governor Ronald Reagan: 2,760,227 Votes (23.75%)
383 Delegates

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: REAGAN TO MAKE SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT TOMORROW

*ABC News is reporting that former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) addressed his supporters in Los Angeles at the Hilton Hotel to an estimated crowd of over 773+ people in attendance.

Despite winning seven primaries including his home state of California during the primary sesson, the odds were obviously stacked against him. "Thank you very much California for bringing it home for us tonight!" as the crowd cheered due to his landslide win 112 out of the Golden State's 171 delegates. However, he stopped short of conceding the nomination to Rockefeller only saying "I'll make a special announcement on the future sometime this week in short order."

Sources state Reagan will make a special announcement tomorrow morning. It's unknown what he'll discuss but political analysts expect him to drop out and reluctantly endorse Rockefeller's reelection campaign.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

MAJOR BREAKING NEWS ALERTS: REAGAN ENDS CAMPAIGN; PRESIDENT ROCKEFELLER OFFICIALLY PRESUMPTIVE REPUBLICAN PARTY NOMINEE FOR THE PRESIDENCY
9:00 AM PST, Friday, June 11, 1976
Simi Valley, California

Former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) conceded the 1976 Republican Presidential primaries to incumbent President Nelson Rockefeller.
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On the morning of June 11th, reporters were abruptly summoned by former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R). They had no specific information given what exactly the former two-term California Governor would say and the gathering was announced hours in advance.

"Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen. I apologize for the abrupt scheduling of this meeting and that you didn't have enough time to prepare and potentially discomfort from this important development. However, the decision that I am about to announce is one that I had given through consideration and one I need to make quickly as soon as possible. Both for myself and my family, this has been a longer process of reflection and consideration during the height of this campaign in the battle of ideas for the Republican Party.

Today as I speak, our country is facing numbers of serious challenges, both at home and abroad. However, over the course of the past recent months, I have been engaged in a campaign that has inspired many Americans that I've met personally across the country. For that, I will be forever grateful for welcoming Nancy and I to your homes to discuss the issues facing Americans. And while I'm grateful for offering an alternative on issues such as tackling the budget deficits, inflation, foreign policy crises and getting our domestic house in order because I still believe the status quo in recent years is unacceptable.

It has also became evident following the last of the primaries from Tuesday night of this week, the voters of my party has chosen to maintain a different viewpoint. Now I have concluded after much thoughts and prayers with my family, whom I can tell you now, strongly urged me to keep fighting all the way to the end. But I concluded that the Party of Abraham Lincoln, Dwight Eisenhower needs to be united if we want to emerge victorious in November.

Therefore, I have announced that I will be suspending my campaign for the Presidential nomination of the Republican Party effective immediately.

Let us as Republicans unite behind President Rockefeller in building a more prosperous and peaceful future by making the United States of America greater, stronger than ever before. I will be taking your questions at another time.

Thank you very much."

 

[Sergeant Foley]

@Buba @WolfBear @Husky_Khan @Zachowon @Rusty Shackleford @Culsu @Carrot of Truth @Circle of Willis @Zyobot @stevep @TheRomanSlayer @49ersfootball @Captain X @Cherico @Airedale260 @Tiamat

Here are the upcoming installments for next week I'll be working on this weekend:
1.) The Democrats: VP Sweepstakes
2.) Unity in the Party of Lincoln
3.) International headlines from Summer 1976
4.) US Senate races to watch in 1976
5.) US State Gubernatorial elections to watch in 1976
6.) Foreign Affairs
7.) Headlines of College Football

 

[Sergeant Foley]

THE VP SWEEPSTAKES: DEMOCRATS

*Friday, June 25, 1976: It's been less than 17 days since Alabama Governor George Wallace (D) became the presumptive Democratic Party presidential nominee. Now the difficult task ahead of him: choosing a running mate for the Vice Presidency in an attempt to balancing out the ticket.

Among the names listed:
United States Senator Walter Mondale (D-MN)
Experience: United States Senator from Minnesota since December 30, 1964; 23rd Minnesota State Attorney General (May 4, 1960-December 30, 1964)
Military Service: United States Army (1951-1953) during the Korean War
Why he's being considered: Mondale is hardly known outside the Midwest, but he's earned credentials during his nearly 12 years in the United States Senate by working on various policy fields. He would be helpful to Governor Wallace in the Midwest and the Great Plains.

Kentucky Governor Julian Carroll (D)
Experience: 54th Governor of Kentucky since December 28, 1974; 46th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (December 7, 1971-December 28, 1974); Member, Kentucky House of Representatives (1963-1971); Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives (1968-1970)
Military Service: United States Air Force
Why he's being considered: Carroll ascended to the Kentucky Governorship in December 1974 following the resignation of then-Kentucky Governor Wendell Ford (D), who was elected to the United States Senate in November 1974. In 1975, he was easily elected to a full four-year term in a massive landslide victory. Carroll would help Governor Wallace in the South including Appalachia.

United States Senator Jimmy Carter (D-GA)
Experience: United States Senator from Georgia since January 14, 1975; 76th Governor of Georgia (January 12, 1971-January 14, 1975); Member, Georgia State Senate (1963-1967)
Military Service: United States Navy; United States Naval Reserves
Why he's being considered: Carter is seen by many Democrats as one of the rising stars in American politics. He's seen as a bridge between the Moderate-Conservatives and the Liberals. He would be helpful to the Democratic Party in the Deep South, particularly in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama including his home state of Georgia. He would also appeal to the Budget Hawks in zero-based budgeting.

Colorado Governor Dick Lamm (D)
Experience: 38th Governor of Colorado since January 14, 1975; Member, Colorado House of Representatives (1967-1975)
Military Service: United States Army
Why he's being considered: Lamm is from the Southwest also known as the Mountain Rockies. He's seen as a tough, no nonsense straight honest politician who calls the major issues as he sees them despite getting backlash from many in his own political party. He would be helpful to the Democratic ticket in the Southwest and potentially other parts of the country in the Great Lakes and Midwest.

In 1972, Lamm made statewide acclaim and national headlines by pushing voter referendums in rejecting the 1976 Winter Olympics being hosted in Denver. The moved forced the City of Denver to withdraw from hosting the 1976 Winter Olympics; the Winter Games were then awarded to Innsbruck, Austria.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: VIDELA ORDERS THE REMOVAL OF THE REMAINS OF THE LATE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC PRESIDENT JUAN PERON OUT OF THE GROUNDS OF QUINTA DE OLIVOS; DETAILS SKETCHY
*Saturday, June 26, 1976: Argentine Republic President General Jorge Rafael Videla has ordered the removal of the remains of the late three-term Argentine Republic President Juan Domingo Peron from display inside the presidential chapel on the grounds of Quinta de Olivos in Olivos according to sources close to the Argentinian military government.

The move isn't really surprising considering it had been one of Videla's first priorities since taking power in a military coup d'etat against then-Argentine Republic President Isabel Martinez de Peron on March 24th. Reports confirmed Videla is planning on moving into Quinta de Olivos (Residence of the Argentine Republic President). ABC News has reported that Videla also wants the presidential chapel to be detonated and blown up immediately.

Television stations in Buenos Aires reported that the Military Junta is currently debating on whether to bury Peron at the Eva Peron Great Mausoleum in the outskirts of San Vicente (where his second wife, the late Argentine Republic First Lady Eva Duarte de Peron is entombed) or at Chacarita Cemetery where the Peron family vault is located.

COMING UP NEXT WEEK: Installment on the crazy of crazy the body of the late three-term Argentine Republic President Juan Domingo Peron is removed from the grounds of Quinta de Olivos in the middle of the night.