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

[Sergeant Foley]

AUTHOR'S NOTE FOR THE UPCOMING INSTALLMENTS FOR CHAPTER 19:
*Sports Personal PoV's (Summer 1984)
*Personal PoV's (Summer 1984)
*National and International Headlines (Summer 1984)
*Wiki Infoboxes on several international Heads of State.
*Pop Culture Personal PoV's (Summer 1984)
*DNC Convention Highlights.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Backlash against Robles (Part I)
Tuesday, 2 July 1984
Mexico City, Mexico
​

By the Summer of 1984, the ongoing escalating feud between three-term Mexican President General Oscar Robles and the rival segments of the Mexican Army had reached a breaking point. In the past two years, the country had been consumed with the fallout from the devastating Economic Recession of 1982 as well as backlash from segments of Mexico due to the controversial budgeting cuts on domestic programs and services; Mexico was also consumed by political violence consisting of kidnappings, disappearances, riots, assassinations, all of which has been instigated by the Mexican Army's 683rd Death Squad Battalion (on the orders of Robles in violently wiping out all forms of opposition). Depending on whom you asked, the controversial Operation Michel had claimed somewhere between 13 to 16,000 lives per day in non-stop endless cycles.

Both chambers of the Congress of the Union: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic, had been constantly deadlocked between an out of control chaotic Telenovela with 24/7 twists between competing political parties representing specific concentrated interests bickering with each other and unable to perform simple legislative tasks such as passing legislation such as Healthcare Reform or necessary Economic Investment initiatives, and what made matters worse, was the Mexican economy was seeing massive double-digit inflation, wavering on the edge of collapse following the price shocks rippling through Western economies for the past 16 months.

Opposition grew aggressively bolder following the death of Robles' popular second wife, then-Mexican First Lady Fernanda Arizmendi on 5 July 1981. On 23 March 1982, a terrorist group detonated two bombs in a public rally at Santa Anna Plaza, which resulted in killing 25 people and injuring 83. Amidst the chaos, Robles exhorted the crowd to take reprisals and get even; Die-hard Robles-ista's made their way to the adversaries' gathering places, the Morena Party headquarters and the Jockey Club by burning them into the ground.

There was also a stalemate ensued between Robles and the opposition and, despite some controversial austerity measures taken late in 1981 to remedying Mexico's unstable and unsustainable trade deficits, the flamboyant three-term President remained generally popular. In May 1983, he called a special election to replace the late Senator Horatio Quartermaine, which his preferred candidate won by nearly a three-to-one margin. Given what he had strongly believed was as solid of a mandate in the midpoint of his third term and inflation in single digits, and the Mexican economy on more secure footing, Robles ventured into new policy: creation of incentives designed to attracting more foreign investment.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Secret Lifestyles in Hong Kong (Part I)
5:27 PM, Tuesday, 2 July 1984
Somewhere in Hong Kong
​

Since ascending to the Prime Ministership of the Commonwealth of Hong Kong following the sudden death of the legendary Hong Konger Prime Minister Jefferson Cheng in October 1983, Hong Konger Prime Minister Lei Dang was seen as one of the rising stars in Hong Konger politics including being well-received by the international community for his surprise handling of the "Hong Kong Economic Miracle" in the later part of 1983 and early parts of 1984. Many assumed Dang would win election to a full five-year term in the upcoming special election, where his party controlled the Hong Konger Parliament by overwhelming margins.

Dang was viewed as the "Sheriff of Wall Street from the Asian Pacific" during his tenure as the Minister of Justice, by leading a coalition of 19 other countries in a price-fixing lawsuit against five of the largest music companies and three music retailers, resulting in a $143 million settlement. He went after WorldCom for fraud, attacked drug giants GlaxoSmithKline and Pharmacia for price-fixing, and uncovered crookedness in several mutual fund markets. By casting quite the large net, Dang also lost some cases along the way, even a few high-profile prosecutions. He was strongly criticized for not requiring straightforward apology from Duke and Duke Interprises, which made it harder for victimized investors to sue in order to recoup their losses following the Economic Recession of 1982. Buoyed by his successful track record as Minister of Justice, Dang was tapped to serve as Chancellor of the Exchequer by then-Prime Minister Cheng in 1981 before ascending to the Prime Ministership following Cheng's sudden death.

Dang had also made enemies inside the Hong Konger government by clashing with several members of the Hong Konger Parliament, when for one instance, the Healthcare Reform Package Initative failed to pass after strong opposition from Conservatives and National Union Party members, who joined forces to defeating the Liberal Democrat Party's Healthcare Reform Package Initative. Dang was blasted by the opposition for sabotaging the legislation, which he viewed as unnecessary and too much bureaucratic red tape. Steven Lai of the Liberal Democrat Party, went so far as to call out Deng to his face during the weekly Prime Minister's Questions with the following "With all due respect to the Right Honourable Prime Minister, the current government's prioritites are so out of whack, that they need their heads examined as soon as possible."

Due to the constant politicla bickering, Dang's approval ratings began to suffer as a result. He also was leading some weird double-life behind closed doors.

A series of decisions that members of the Prime Minister's inner circle conceded as "missteps" brought substantial scrutiny and heavy unfavorable press during 1984. These missteps included the $19,000 (USD) on drapery for the Prime Minister's penthouse office suite, changing the Commonwealth nation's customary vehicle lease from a Ford Crown Victoria to a Cadillac. Dang responded in a 27 May 1984 press conference, "I do realize that I cannot in good conscience ask the agencies in making those choices without being willing to make these specific decisions myself." Dang subsequently remibursed the Commonwealth for the cost of the drapery controversy and furniture purchased for Parliament House including the additional monthly difference of his vehicle lease.

Later in June 1984, Dang came under fire again, but this time for contacting the Sao Paulo Art Biennial, for what was alleged to be using bargaining chips of economic trade relations between Hong Kong and Brazil, for secretly diverting government funds consisting of nearly $37 million (USD) to off-budget accounts that paid trade junkets tab, advertising contracts, and a deal with a federally subsidized tourism venture backed by the Sao Paulo Municipal government. Backlash amongst opposition Parliament lawmakers against the controversies began to escalate against Dang even more.

Dang was also in the midst of secretly making phone calls to mysterious call-girl service companies in Brazil: Dang used the name 'Wayne Shalvoy' on 30 June 1984, with arrangements to meet with a beautiful Brazilian prostitute named 'Kristina Garcia' AKA Angelli Jimenez somewhere at the Queen Victoria Hotel in Yuen Long Town. She originally intended to travel from Sao Paulo for the planned tryst and Dang agreed in advance that he "would be paying for everything: plane tickets, cab fare from the hotel, and back, room service, travel time and hotel." Dang and Angelli engaged in hot steamy passionate sex on that night at the Queen Victoria Hotel inside his private penthouse hotel room; Following the secret tryst, Dang paid her $3,525 in cash. The payment also provided $5,000 as a deposit toward future services to be provided by the Princess Club.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BORN IN THE USA ALBUM BECOMES BIGGEST COMMERCIAL HIT!
*4 June 1984: Columbia Records released Bruce Springsteen's 7th studio album, which was called "Born in the USA" and immediately, it becomes one of the biggest hits in music and also becomes Springsteen's most popular commercial success with the topping of the charts in 11 different countries and selling over 30 million copies across the world.

"GHOSTBUSTERS" PREMIERES NATIONWIDE

​

*8 June 1984: The American supernatural comedic film "Ghostbusters" starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson including Sigourney Weaver premieres nationwide. The movie was also produced and directed by Ivan Reitman.

FORMER ARGENTINE REPUBLIC PRESIDENT LIEUTENANT GENERAL JORGE VIDELA KIDNAPPED; DETAILS COMING IN
*9 June 1984: There have been breaking news developments coming out of the Argentine Republic, as senior officials of the Argentinian government have officially confirmed news reports that former Argentine Republic President Lieutenant General Jorge Videla, who came to power in a military coup d'etat against then-President Isabel Martinez de Peron on 24 March 1976 and served as the South American country's 40th President from 29 March 1976 to 29 March 1981, was mysteriously kidnapped by a group of unknown assailants. Members of the Videla family and law enforcement agencies are working their hardest in finding the former President.

Speculation is that Videl was leaving his residence when a group of unknown assailants disguised as news journalists kidnapped him by gunpoint and shoved him into a large black vehicle, which drove off to an unknown location.

US STATE DEPARTMENT: MONITORING THE SITUATION CLOSELY INSIDE THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
US Secretary George P. Shultz, who is in London, attending the G-7 Foreign Affairs conference, held an impromptu press conference at the US Embassy in London, where reporters asked him about the explosive situation in the Argentine Republic. Shultz said "The State Department is closely monitoring the situation in the Argentine Republic and have sent warning recommendations to American citizens including Embassy personnel employees to be on high alert on potential explosive incidents."

 

[Sergeant Foley]

LIST OF US PRESIDENTS SINCE HARDING
Warren Gamaliel Harding (R-OH): 29th President from 4 March 1921 to 2 August 1923: Elected in 1920; Died under mysterious circumstances in San Francisco, California.

Calvin Coolidge (R-MA): 30th President from 2 August 1923 to 4 March 1929: Ascended to the Presidency upon Harding's death; Elected to full four-year term in 1924, but didn't seek reelection in 1928.

Herbert Clark Hoover (R-IA): 31st President from 4 March 1929 to 4 March 1933: Elected in 1928; Defeated for reelection in 1932.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (D-NY St): 32nd President from 4 March 1933 to 12 April 1945: Elected in 1932; Reelected in 1936, 1940 and again in 1944; Longest-serving President of the United States with 12 years of service. Died from cerebal hemmorage at his retreat in Warm Springs, Georgia.

Harry S. Truman (D-MO): 33rd President from 12 April 1945 to 20 January 1953: Ascended to the Presidency upon Roosevelt's death; Elected to full four-year term in 1948, but didn't seek reelection in 1952.

Dwight David Eisenhower (R-KS): 34th President from 20 January 1953 to 20 January 1961: Elected in 1952; Reelected in 1956.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy (D-MA): 35th President from 20 January 1961 to 22 November 1963: Elected in 1960; Assassinated while riding in open limousine during parade at Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas.

Lyndon Baines Johnson (D-TX): 36th President from 22 November 1963 to 20 January 1969: Ascended to the Presidency upon Kennedy's assassination; Elected to full four-year term in 1964, but didn't seek reelection in 1968.

Richard Milhous Nixon (R-CA): 37th President from 20 January 1969 to 9 August 1974: Elected in 1968; Reelected in 1972. Resigned in disgrace following the Watergate Scandal.

Gerald Rudolph Ford (R-MI): 38th President from 9 August 1974 to 5 September 1975: Ascedned to the Presidency upon Nixon's resignation; Assassinated while greeting well-wishers at Capitol Park on the grounds of the California State Capitol Building in Sacramento, California.

Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (R-NY St): 39th President from 5 September 1975 to 26 January 1979: Ascended to the Presidency upon Ford's assassination; Elected to full four-year term in 1976. Died under mysterious circumstances during secret sex escapade at his NYC townhouse apartment in New York City, New York State.

Abner Linwood Holton, Jr., (R-VA): 40th Presidency from 26 January 1979 to 20 January 1981: Ascended to the Presidency upon Rockefeller's sudden death; Didn't seek election to full four-year term in 1980.

Ronald Wilson Reagan (R-CA): 41st President from 20 January 1981 to 13 November 1983: Elected in 1980; Assassinated while attending military exercise festivties at the Republic of Korea Army 1st Corps Headquarters in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

George Herbert Walker Bush (R-TX): 42nd President since 13 November 1983: Ascended to the Presidency upon Reagan's assassination.
​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

THE SECOND INAUGURATION OF JAMES EARL CARTER, JR., AS GEORGIA'S 79th GOVERNOR
12:00 PM EST, Monday, 11 June 1984
Georgia State Capitol Building Grounds
Atlanta, Georgia

​

Fallout of the 15 May 1984 Georgia Gubernatorial Recall Election had huge ramifications: First, the unpopular Georgia Governor Joe Frank Harris was overwhelmingly recalled from the Governorship after one year in office by Georgians, who were basically fed up with the corruption scandals exploding non-stop as well as the federal indictments engulfing the Harris administration including several key figures of Georgia state government. 75 percent of Georgians voted for the Recall, while only 23 percent voted against the special recall election. Second, Harris getting recalled from office put a monkey-wrench of political jockeying amongst the down-ballot statewide officeholders inside the Peach State, who had originally begun plotting for 1990, based on the assumption the recall would fail, it didn't. Third, it marked the return of the Peanut Farmer from Plains to the Georgia Governor's Mansion: James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr., the man, who eight years earlier, was the 1976 Democratic Party nominee for Vice President.

The festivities included the typical parade of the usual bigwigs of the Georgia General Assembly; several members of the Georgia congressional delegation as well as Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young including several of the statewide officeholders, and among them: Lieutenant Governor Zell MIller, whose gubernatorial ambitions were temporarily sidetracked; Secretary of State Max Cleland; State Attorney General Michael J. Bowers (who would later switch to the Republican Party in 1994); Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin. There were also a stream of former Georgia Governors in attendance: Herman Talmadge; Ernest Vandiver; Carl Sanders; Lester Maddox; George Busbee and finally, Harris, who along with his wife, Elizabeth Carlock, took their seats near the front.

All of the attendees rose for the Governor of Georgia as he walked joyously onto the makeshift reviewing stand. The sight before him was magnificent to behold. The sun had peaked through the crowds providing for a fair amount of warmth to this special day. He couldn't believe what he had just accomplished: returning to statewide office less than three years after leaving the United States Senate in 1981 in frustration of legislative gridlock in Washington, DC. Now he couldn't help but be proud that he would be guaranteed to become the Peach State's longest-serving Governor with 10 years by 14 January 1991.

At 12:00 PM, Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Nelson Hill, Jr., whom Carter hoped might have the opportunity of replacing on the Georgia Supreme Court, summoned the Governor and his wife, United States Senator Rosalynn Carter (D-GA) for the official swearing-in, and once again the Governor recited the Oath of Office:

"I, James Earl Carter, Jr., do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of Governor of the State of Georgia and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution thereof and the Constitution of the United States. So help me God."
​

Almost immediately, the playing of "Star-Spangled Banner" was performed as cheers rang out from the thousands gathered on the grounds of the Georgia State Capitol Building including the hundreds behind him. The loud, thundering 19 Cannon Salute was fired by the Georgia Army National Guard followed by the flyover from the Georgia Air National Guard. Governor Carter, smiled, waiting patiently for his chance to address the Peach State once again, this time as the 79th Governor of the State of Georgia.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

COMING SOON IN CHAPTER 19 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC
20 August-23 August 1984: Highlights from the 1984 Republican National Convention
from the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas

​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

​

......"Because our mission must involve the quest for excellence and quality in those who teach, it is incumbent that we devise a system which clearly documents the abilities of those who educate our youth. No other issue is more emotionally charged. No other issue more clearly deserves our most judicious attention.

.....I am convinced that a system can be established which meets the need for assessment of a teacher's skills------and at the same time, recognizes the importance of equity and performance.

......I am sensitive to the concerns of those who feel that we cannot afford to spend more for education in view of the state's fiscal condition. You can be assured of my strong commitment to avoid additional taxes in the next session. My finance plan which I have submitted for your consideration reflects my commitment to that goal. Just as important, my plan was drawn with fairness to all taxpayers.

......I cannot and will not ask you or the citizens of this state to support a plan to finance public education reform and highway improvements without pledging that these and all other government programs be operated more efficiently and effectively. I am committed to making state agencies more accountable. And I am committed to controlling the cost of state government.

......During these past six months, I have met with board members and top managers of our largest agencies to discuss cost savings and cost containment measures. In addition, I have written to the head of each state board and commission stressing the need for tight budget planning in the 1986-87 biennium. I will not support additional funding for agencies that are poorly managed, wasteful, or unable to plan effectively------and I have told them just that.

......Each agency will be required to justify any increase in the number of employees, as well as budgets for travel, equipment and supplies, telephones and utilities, and all other areas of spending. The burden of proof will be on the agency.
And automatic increases will not be permitted.

......I am confident that we can live within the revenues made available by our current tax structure and the finance plan I have recommended. And I am confident that with your help we will not need to raise additional taxes in the next regular session.

......I have prepared a detailed set of spending projections for the 1986-87 biennium that will allow state government to meet essential needs even under the most pessimistic and conservative estimate that we will have only a nine-percent growth in revenue.
My proposal, which I will discuss with you in greater detail later this week, calls for a tight budget allowing only moderate increases and growth. It would require state agencies to hold the line on operating expenses that can be reined in through innovative and careful management.
If my budget plan------including my education and highway improvement proposal------is adopted, it would represent a 12.2-percent biennial increase, the smallest percentage increase in state spending since 1970.
If this plan is adopted, it would permit you to return to your districts at the end of the next regular legislative session and tell your constituents that you helped enact the most fiscally conservative budget of the past 15 years.
If revenue growth exceeds nine percent------and I believe that it will, based on the stable economic recovery currently underway in Texas------additional funds would be available to meet the additional needs of a growing population.
But in our immediate concerns for fiscal responsibility, let us not be shortsighted. Let us always keep in mind that improvements in education will do more to ensure the prosperity of this state and nation than any other step we might take at this time.

......Those who are inflexible in their view that we can solve all the problems in education without a greater investment are blind to the reality of where stand.
For too long we have called upon our educational system to do too many things. For too long we have asked too much and have given too little.
We are in the midst of a great period of transition in Texas, with profound implications for the nature of our work and the way we live.
Today we are at a crossroads.

......Oil and gas, the economic foundation of the past, is gradually receding with the depletion of those resources. The age of information, of high tech and "Megatrends" and "Future Stock" has arrived with lightning speed.
We have nothing to fear about the future, and we cannot afford to look back fondly to the past. Our future lies in our ability to prepare and plan for a smooth transition that will bring forward our best while leaving none of our citizens behind.
Time and time again, education and transportation have been the magnets that attract and sustain a dynamic economy. We must ensure that those two vital elements will continue to be strong magnets as we look forward to the future.
I submit to the members of this legislature and the people of this state that the direction we must choose for Texas at this moment is the one that is truest to our heritage------a heritage of courageous and spirited action with our eyes firmly fixed on the future.
The problems of education and transportation will not go away, even if we pretend they are not free.
We cannot run from them. We cannot escape them.
The immortal words of Franklin Roosevelt remind us that we here in this chamber today have a "rendezvous with destiny."
Thank you very much....."
-Excerpts from the Special Session Address of Texas Governor Mark Wells White, Jr., to the Joint Session of the 68th Texas State Legislature
Monday, 4 June 1984
Texas House of Representatives Chambers
Texas State Capitol Building
Austin, Texas

​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Secret Lifestyles in Hong Kong (Part II)
10:00 PM BST, Thursday, 11 July 1984
Somewhere in Brazil
​

Hong Konger Prime Minister Lei Dang was in the midst of a long working visit to Brazil, having left Hong Kong on Wednesday morning from July 10th. Dang was working on fostering an economic trade relationship deal between the Commonwealth of Hong Kong and the Federative Republic of Brazil.

As the Prime Minister's aircraft arrived in Brasilia on late Wednesday afternoon at the Brasilia International Airport: Dang was escorted to his limousine, where under heavy security detail due to some growing unrest in Sao Paulo following the Directa Ja civil unrest crisis, the Prime Minister's motorcade had to make alternative routes in order to arrive at Pantalta Palace (Government Office). And there the Prime Minister of Hong Kong was greeted by Brazilian President Joao Figueriedo, where they held bilateral meetings discussing the latest developments of the HKBR Economic Development Trade Investment Initiative, which was originally started under the late Hong Konger Prime Minister Jefferson Cheng and continued under Dang.

While Dang was attending countless meetings, he was also thinking about "relaxing somewhere else". And that really meant, sneaking out of the hotel and going somewhere where his Brazilian mistress, Angelli Jimenez had recommended they should meet whenever the time was appropriate.

Somewhere in the outskirts of Brasilia, Lei and Angelli met up secretly in the middle of the night on Thursday evening, where they once again, engaged in steamy passionate sex. These secret encounters were secretive and making sure nobody found out about the Prime Minister's whereabouts because a spokesperson for the Prime Minister's office said "The Prime Minister is doing his usual jogging and exercise. No further comment."

When in reality, Dang snuck away from his security detail at the Vargas Hotel Complex in downtown Brasilia and drove off in an unmarked black vehicle driving with Angelli to her favorite secret hideout, where they were having passionate sex. It didn't matter whether the married Prime Minister was cheating on his gullible wife, it was because Dang just wanted to do it.

While Lei and Angelli were having another passionate sex escapade and this time, inside a penthouse apartment in Rio de Janeiro on July 13th, someone was listening in on the two secret lovers, neither realizing they were being wiretapped by "some private detective agency". That someone was recording the entire sex escapade non-stop; Plus, the wiretaps also included Lei and Angelli having sex in the shower and these encounters were also on videotape.

It was only a matter of time before Lei's dirty little secret would be exposed for the entire world to see. And it would engulf the entire Hong Konger government with huge political ramifications going forward.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

......"We thought that we had Bush on the ropes early in the first days of June. Now, keep in mind, this was following Mondale dropping out of the 1984 Democratic Party presidential nomination contest once it was quite obvious Babbitt had the nomination locked up.

And for awhile, all of us were completely naive into thinking Americans would have a third consecutive President in 15 months.

Babbitt was an optimist, nobody thought his campaign for the Presidency of the United States would go anywhere. I mean, he shocked political observers by defeating all of the big names for the Democratic Party presidential nomination: Mondale, Glenn, etc.,

I knew deep down, that no matter what Governor Babbitt did, we had no fucking chance in Hell of beating President Bush, whose approval ratings were skyrocketing like fire rockets into the mid 70s. It wasn't if Bush was going to win reelection, the big question was how big the margin was going to be?

Funny isn't it? 20 years earlier, LBJ kicked Goldwater's ass. And now fast forward to 1984, it was the same old story: Texan kicking the Arizonan's ass, but this time, it was a popular Republican incumbent President from the Lone Star State bitch-slapping a popular Democratic Governor from the Grand Canyon State.

Some of us inside the Babbitt campaign KNEW the overwhelming odds were against Governor Babbitt from the very beginning. So, we plotted how to prevent a full-scale 51 State sweep by campaigning in the South very aggressively. Thank God that Governor Collins of Kentucky was on the Democratic Party ticket because she was going to be the campaign attack dog non-stop.

Other high-profile Democrats and I will NOT be naming names, were blatantly undermining the Babbitt campaign by distancing themselves from Governor Babbitt, which I felt was downright shameful. The word on the street was that those high-profile Democrats were scheming and plotting for 1988.

Despite the snubs, there was one young and youthful Southern Democratic Governor from Arkansas, who was willing to campaign with Governor Babbitt. That young man was William Jefferson Clinton, whom many viewed as one of the rising stars of the Democratic Party in a future campaign for the Presidency someday......."
-Excerpt from United States Senator Jefferson Gillespie (D-PR)
"Campaign 84 and the Ramifications of the Bush Landslide Victory"
Fall 2002

 

[Sergeant Foley]

CAMPAIGN '84: THE UNITED STATES SENATE ELECTIONS TO WATCH (PART I)
4:19 PM CST, Thursday, 11 July 1984

*ALABAMA:
United States Senator Howell Helfin (D-AL) is seeking reelection to a second term in 1984. Heflin, a popular Moderate-to-Conservative Democrat is heavily favored to win reelection against former US Rep. Albert L. Smith, Jr., (R-AL 06th) in November.
Rating: SAFE DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*ALASKA:
Incumbent United States Senator and Senate Majority Leader Ted Stevens (R-AK) is heavily favored to win reelection to a fourth term (third full six-year term overall against former Alaska State Attorney General John Havelock in November.
Rating: SOLID REPUBLICAN HOLD

*ARKANSAS:
Incumbent United States Senator David Pryor (D-AR) is up for reelection in 1984. He'll be facing off against US Rep. Ed Bethune (R-AR 02nd) in the November general election. Buoyed by his own overall statewide popularity and the popularity of incumbent Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, whose seeking reelection to a third two-year term, Pryor is expected to easily win reelection.
Rating: SAFE DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*COLORADO:
Incumbent United States Senator William L. Armstrong (R-CO) is favored to win reelection to a second six-year term against incumbent Colorado Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dick in the November general election.
Rating: SOLID REPUBLICAN HOLD

*DELAWARE:
Two-term incumbent United States Senator Joe Biden (D-DE)'s reelection prospects increased massively and dodged a huge political bullet when popular Delaware Governor Peter du Pont, IV announced mid Summer 1983 that he wasn't going to challenge Senator Biden. Biden's favored to win reelection in November against former State Rep. John M. Burris
Rating: SOLID DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*GEORGIA:
Incumbent United States Senator Rosalynn Carter (D-GA) was appointed in the Summer of 1983 following the shocking assassination of then-United States Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA); Carter won the 1983 special election later that Fall in a landslide victory with no major opposition. Carter, the wife of Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, is heavily favored to win a full six-year term in the November general election.
Rating: SOLID DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*IDAHO:
Two-term incumbent United States Senator James A. McClure (R-ID) is heavily favored to win reelection to a third six-year term against Vietnam War veteran Peter M. Busch in the November general election.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD

*ILLINOIS:
Three-term incumbent United States Senator Charles Percy (R-IL) is facing a tough battle for his reelection bid to a fourth term against US Rep. Paul Simon (D-IL 22nd) in what would be considered as a close hotly-contested election, which the entire nation will be watching to determine how control of the United States Senate will be turning out.
Rating: TOSS-UP

*IOWA:
Incumbent United States Senator Roger Jepsen (R-IA) is facing multiple controversies during his six years in the United States Senate. Jepsen is facing off against five-term US Rep. Tom Harkin (D-IA 05th) in what many view as one of the ugliest Senate campaigns in the history of the Hawkeye State. Political observers and analysts believe the mudslinging and personal attacks on both campaigns will get more uglier from here on out.
Rating: TOSS-UP
​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

CAMPAIGN '84: UNITED STATES SENATE ELECTIONS TO WATCH (PART II)
Thursday, 11 July 1984

*KANSAS:
Incumbent United States Senator Nancy Kassebaum (R-KS) is heavily favored to win reelection against Democratic challenger James R. Maher in the November general election.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD

*KENTUCKY:
Two-term incumbent United States Senator Walter Dee Huddleston (D-KY) is facing a tough challenge from Jefferson County Executive Mitch McConnell in the November general election. Republicans are optimistic they can flip this Senate seat, while Democrats are hoping the presence of Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins on the Democratic Party ticket for Vice President, can push Huddleston over the finish line. The Bluegrass State will be heavily watched from both political parties as control of the United States Senate will depend on this election.
Rating: TOSS-UP

*LOUISIANA:
Two-term incumbent United States Senator J. Bennett Johnston (D-LA) is heavily favored to overwhelmingly win reelection to a third term with no major party opposition, virtually unopposed inside the Pelican State.
Rating: SAFE DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*MAINE:
Incumbent United States Senator William Cohen (R-ME) is heavily favored to win reelection against State Rep. Libby Mitchell and Cohen is benefiting from the massive popularity of incumbent President George HW Bush inside the Pine Tree State.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD

*MASSACHUSETTS (OPEN):
United States Senator Paul Tsongas (D-MA), had held the Bay State's Class 2 US Senate seat since 1977 when then-United States Senator Edward W. Brooke, III (R-MA) resigned to serve as US Attorney General under then-President Nelson Rockefeller; Tsongas later won the 1977 special election very handily and went onto winning reelection to a full six-year term in 1978, announced following the 1982 Midterm elections, that he wasn't going to be seeking reelection to a second full six-year term in 1984. That set up a full-scale brawl inside the Massachusetts Democratic Party, which later resulted in Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor John Kerry becoming the Democratic nominee, where he'll be favored against Ray Shamie in the November general election.
Rating: LIKELY DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*MICHIGAN:
Inside the Wolverine State, incumbent United States Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) will be facing off against former astronaut Jack Lousma in the November general election. Despite polling surveys showing Senator Levin leading by double digits, the Senate Republican Campaign Committee is expected to spend millions into the Michigan US Senate contest, where they think President Bush's likely landslide in Michigan this Fall, could potentially cause an upset victory by Lousma. For his part, Levin will be aggressively campaigning in all 83 counties in order to win reelection.
Rating: LEANS DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*MINNESOTA:
Because former US Ambassador to Canada Walter Mondale was unsuccessful in his campaign for the 1984 Democratic Party presidential nomination against Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt, Minnesota Democrats turned to three-term Minnesota Secretary of State Joan Growe to run against incumbent United States Senator Rudy Boschwitz (R-MN), whose favored to win reelection to a second term in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Rating: LIKELY REPUBLICAN HOLD

*MISSISSIPPI:
The Magnolia State has a big showdown between the State's two most powerful politicians: incumbent United States Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) against popular Mississippi Governor William F. Winter, who many were surprised that he entered the Senate race in the middle of his second term. However, there are those, who are incensed about Winter's Senate campaign and there are fears of Democrats staying home in November.
Rating: LIKELY REPUBLICAN HOLD

*MONTANA:
Incumbent United States Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) is favored to win reelection against former State Rep. Chuck Cozzens in the Big Sky Country State in November.
Rating: LIKELY DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*NEBRASKA:
In the Cornhusker State, incumbent United States Senator J. James Exon (D-NE) is expected to face a strong challenge from Nancy Koch, where polling surveys are suggested a hotly-contested Senate race.
Rating: LEANS DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*NEW HAMPSHIRE:
Inside the Granite State, incumbent United States Senator Gordon J. Humphrey (R-NH) will be facing off against US Rep. Norman D'Amours (D-NH 01st) in the November general election.
Rating: LIKELY REPUBLICAN HOLD

*NEW JERSEY:
Incumbent United States Senator Bill Bradley (D-NJ) is expected to easily win reelection against Montclair Mayor Mary V. Mochary in the November general election.
Rating: SAFE DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*NEW MEXICO:
In the Land of Enchantment, two-term incumbent United States Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) is easily expected to win reelection against State Rep. Judith Pratt in November securing a third term.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD

*NORTH CAROLINA:
All eyes are focused heavily on the Tar Heel State, where two of the State's most powerful politicians have collided in the 1984 North Carolina US Senate race: two-term incumbent United States Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) and popular North Carolina Governor James Baxter "Jim" Hunt, Jr., which has turned into one of the most expensive, nastiest and hotly-contested Senate campaigns in North Carolina history. Political analysts, observers and experts all agree this is a battle between the New South (Hunt) versus the Old South (Helms).
Rating: TOSS-UP

*OKLAHOMA:
Incumbent United States Senator David Boren (D-OK) is heavily favored to defeat Republican challenger Bill Crozier by a massive landslide victory inside the Sooner State.
Rating: SAFE DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*OREGON:
Three-term incumbent United States Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR) is heavily favored to win a fourth term against State Senator Margie Hendricksen in the Beaver State.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD​

COMING UP IN THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC: Part III of the 1984 United States Senate Elections to Watch.

​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

CAMPAIGN '84: UNITED STATES SENATE ELECTIONS TO WATCH (PART III)
Thursday, 11 July 1984

*PUERTO RICO (OPEN):
Incumbent United States Senator Luis Alberto Ferre Aguayo (R-PR) announced that he wasn't seeking reelection to a second term in 1984. This pretty made US Rep. Jefferson Gillespie (D-PR 01st) the overwhelming favorite to replace him, giving Democrats a good pick-up opportunity if they want to regain control of the United States Senate.
Rating: SAFE DEMOCRATIC PICK-UP

*RHODE ISLAND:
Four-term incumbent United States Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI) is heavily favored to defeating Republican challenger Barbara Leonard in a massive landslide victory securing his fifth term inside the Ocean State.
Rating: SAFE DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*SOUTH CAROLINA:
Long-time incumbent United States Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC) is heavily favored to win reelection against Democratic challenger Melvin Purvis inside the Palmetto State.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD

*SOUTH DAKOTA:
Incumbent United States Senator Larry Pressler (R-SD) is expected to heavily win reelection against Democratic challenger George V. Cunningham in the November general election inside the Mount Rushmore State.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD

*TENNESSEE (OPEN)
With the elevation of then-United States Senator and then-Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker (R-TN) to serve as the 45th Vice President of the United States under President George HW Bush, this left his Senate seat to come open and Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander appointed former Tennessee Governor Winfield Dunn to the Senate seat, but Dunn announced he wasn't seeking a full six-year term in 1984, presumably planning a campaign of seeking the Tennessee Governor's Mansion again in 1986. This pretty much made US Rep. Albert Gore, Jr., (D-TN 06th) the overwhelming favorite against State Senator Victor Ashe in the November general election. Gore is seen by many national Democrats as one of the rising stars of the Democratic Party and potential contender for the Presidency in 1988.
Rating: LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PICK-UP

*TEXAS (OPEN):
Incumbent United States Senator Dolph Briscoe (D-TX) shocked the Lone Star State in early December 1983 when he announced he wasn't seeking reelection to a full six-year term. This left a free-fall for the Texas Democratic Party, which saw an intriguing primary between State Senator Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin); US Rep. Kent Hance (D-TX 19th); and former US Ambassador to Mexico Bob Krueger. Doggett narrowly defeated Hance in the June 2nd Democratic primary runoff by just 1,345 votes. US Rep. Phil Gramm (R-TX 06th) easily won the Republican nomination. Polling suggest Gramm as the front-runner to winning the Senate seat in November.
Rating: LIKELY REPUBLICAN PICK-UP

*VIRGINIA:
Incumbent United States Senator John Warner (R-VA) is expected to easily win reelection against State Delegate Edythe Harrison by an overwhelming landslide inside the Old Dominion.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD

*WEST VIRGINIA (OPEN):
Long-time incumbent United States Senator Jennings Randolph (D-WV) announced in 1983 that he wasn't seeking reelection in 1984, which opened the door for West Virginia Governor Jay Rockefeller to launch his campaign for the United States Senate; although Rockefeller's expected to have a strong, tough competition from John Raese and national Republicans are expected to campaign hard for Raese, but observers believe Rockefeller's personal wealth will carry him over the finish line inside the Mountaineer State.
Rating: LEANS DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*WYOMING:
Incumbent United States Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY) is expected to handily win reelection against Democratic challenger Victor Ryan in a massive landslide victory inside the Equality State.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD
​