AHC: Liberal Republicans and Conservative Democrats

[Mirza Khan]

With a POD after 1900, is there any way to have Republicans become America's left-wing party, with TTL's New Deal equivalent enacted by a Republican president? And conversely, have the Democrats become America's conservative party, retaining their base in the South.

 

[Ian_W]

With a POD after 1900, is there any way to have Republicans become America's left-wing party, with TTL's New Deal equivalent enacted by a Republican president? And conversely, have the Democrats become America's conservative party, retaining their base in the South.

Easily.

Have Dick Nixon go in hard on Civil Rights in the late 1950s, in an effort to split the white liberals and secure the negro vote for the Republicans.

http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/research/online_documents/civil_rights_act.html

 

[SlideAway]

With a POD after 1900, is there any way to have Republicans become America's left-wing party, with TTL's New Deal equivalent enacted by a Republican president? And conversely, have the Democrats become America's conservative party, retaining their base in the South.

This is pretty common. It's worth noting that the old alignments were already breaking down by the beginning of the 20th C. Progressives, who existed somewhat outside the party system, had already backed Democrats in key races (and provided crucial support for Woodrow Wilson). The Populist movement and various anti-Wall Street threads were already backing Democrats too. As early as TR's tenure, much of the support for his progressive initiatives came from Democrats.

Having said all this, you can probably get the GOP as center-left and the Democrats as center-right if you can have a Republican implement something like the New Deal. I think the most common POD for this is have Hughes beat Wilson in 1916. Have the Democrats retake the WH in 1920, hold power throughout the 20s, and have the Depression or an alt-analogue occur during that party's presidency. Then have a progressive Republican elected, implement much of the New Deal and push for civil rights legislation.

 

[Brosip Broz Tito]

During the 1960 elections Nixon picks Thruston Ballard Morton as his Vice President instead of Henry Cabot Lodge, he was in his top three possible picks IOTL. This Nixon picks a Southern moderate rather than making a Faustian pact with the racists. Assume Nixon ekes out a victory as the Thruston VP pick pay dividends.

Thruston Ballard Morton was from Kentucky, but also pro-Civil Rights. So in 1960 and 64' the Nixon campaign focuses on the Southern Border States rather than the Deep/Solid South. There'd be no Southern Strategy, and Nixon would champion Civil Rights, albeit it would probably not be as strong as OTL Civil Rights Acts.

But in 1964 and 1968 a Dixiecrat splits the Democrats and allows the Republicans to win handily. The Republicans are seen as champions of Civil Rights, the Dems either have to make the Faustian pact with the Dixiecrats or keep having their votes split and never winning a general election. The new-found Black voter base will help the Republicans win in the Southern Border States and swing states for years to come.

Maybe after this have the Rockefeller Republican faction prevails while the Democrats are still fractured, earlier Nixon and later Rockefeller Republican faction victory at least butterflies away the far-right neocons.

 

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

Roosevelts

Have Teddy be more successful as a Progressive Republican, and FDR less as a New Deal Democrat.

It would be fairly trivial to switch them before WWII.