AHC: President William Douglas

President_Gore

How plausible would be Supreme Court Justice William Douglas gaining the Democratic nomination in either 1948 or 1952, and how would he be able to gain it?
 

David T

President_Gore said:
How plausible would be Supreme Court Justice William Douglas gaining the Democratic nomination in either 1948 or 1952, and how would he be able to gain it?
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Supposedly Truman offered him the vice-presidential nomination in 1948, which Douglas turned down. Had Douglas accepted, he would presumably be only one Puerto Rican nationalist gunman away from the presidency.

As far as his getting the presidential nomination in 1948, that seems pretty unlikely. The ADA liberals made a rather desperate push for him after it became clear that their first choice, Eisenhower, would not accept the nomination. But by themselves the ADA types could not dictate a presidential nomination.
 

SlideAway

The other possibility is him as FDR's running mate in '44. FDR told his advisers he could accept Truman or Douglas. Had Truman turned FDR down, Douglas could have been the nominee (though he'd have faced substantial southern opposition — possible the eventual choice would still have been something else).

Still, that's probably the best bet. Douglas as FDR's VP, becomes president in April '45 once FDR dies. As an ardent New Deal liberal he might well pursue less hawkish policies vis-a-vis the Soviet Union, but will likely suffer domestic problems as the Cold War and Red Scare set in.

And with substantial opposition from southerners, he might have a harder time winning renomination than Truman and a harder time winning reelection overall, especially with a stronger Dixiecrat revolt / third-party candidacy.
 

GeographyDude

Gone Fishin'
But as far as post-WWII economics in the United States . . . we didn't slide back into depression like some people feared. The post-war economy was generally a success.

But then the question becomes smaller scale. For the 1948 election, in the sixth months, immediately preceding, how was the economy, and what direction did it feel like it was going in?
 
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