Prologue: Elections of 1950-1952, Or The First Steps
(Author's Note: So! Hello there! If you've clicked on this via the title, you are probably wondering what this is all about. So I am currently working on a timeline detailing an alternative history of animation, starting all the way back in 1940. It's called Ferguson's Book, which is explained in the story itself, and as animation is like any medium in that it reacts and adapts to the world around it, I decided to post some political musings. These clashed with the general tone of where I wanted to go with the story, so I put them on hold and now I shall be posting them here! I should warn you, this first chapter is more a demonstration of the style I shall be using and laying down a bit of groundwork, so expect the changes to start taking faster root in the next chapters. For the most part we're not going into explicit depth and I expect to screw up somewhere along the way which I helpfully invite you to correct me on. For the most part, the fifties are going to bear a similar enough resemblance to OTL, but it is important to set out these things out as a foundation from which we can build outwards. For the most part, we'll be focusing on America to begin with, as that's where I've spent most of my time focusing upon. However, after we reach the present day, I do plan to go back and examine what happened with other countries.
Also, for the first few decades we'll be putting changes in elections in bold. I hope you enjoy.)
Walt Disney and Richard Nixon had the kind of friendship where one's reputation is improved and the other's is diminished by mere association. If Nixon was to be ridiculed (Which indeed, he would be) a rejoinder to critiques of his character would be to invoke Walt's very name as a symbol of Americana. And if Walt was to be believed to the genuine, sweet old lovable uncle of the country, one need hardly bring the speaker back down to earth by referring to 'Tricky Dicky' as being one of his friends.
The friendship had begun not long after the end of World War 2. Nixon, by that point a lieutenant commander, was seeking out opportunity in California at the same time that Walt was doing a search for new talent. At the time, Disney was still not financially stable enough to return to doing full length epic animation as he had been doing with tales like Snow White and Bambi, so they were mostly doing package films. A new generation of animators could hurt no one, Walt thought. The two men met and began discussing matters with each other. Nixon praised Walt's recent experimentation with patriotic animation, while Walt was full of admiration for his activities in the war and for his service. The two men agreed to keep in touch and they did so, even as Walt began preparing for his magnum opus in Fantasia and Nixon won election to the House of Representatives.
Which brings us to the 1950 midterms. A lot of seats were up for grabs that year, and in California, Nixon had his eye set upon the seat held by Sheridan Downey in the senate. During this, he talked to Walt more and more. One day, the elder man made a suggestion to Dick that, no exaggeration, changed the direction of his life forever.
"I think you're going wrong here, Dick."
"Oh?" Nixon raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
"Being a senator is all well and good, and you could probably win. But if you really want to show the people in charge how important you are, I'd suggest you look a little closer to home." Walt pulled out a photograph of a man Nixon was imminently familiar with. Frederick N Howser, the Attorney General of California. A man with a reputation so tainted that any sensible inspector would have replaced by something new for the good of the public. And yet, there he was, running for re-election. "He's making us look bad. And with Warren being...well, you know, who he is, we need someone strong to take hold of the office and make sure that a Democrat doesn't start sabotaging the whole dang thing!"
"And that person is me?"
"People trust you, people like you, and you know how the system works! Besides which, if Warren starts getting too out of control, you can always make sure that the streets are kept clean, at any rate!"
"And the senate seat?"
"There'll be another chance, I'm sure of it!"
Nixon stared down at the photograph. With a sudden sigh, he slapped the table. "Damn it, why the hell not? Come on, let's get the paperwork sorted!"
Cometh the elections, Nixon would beat out Howser in the primary and go on to defeat Pat Brown in the general. He would be sworn in as the twenty third attorney general in California's history. As for the senate seat, well that went interesting. Downey was once again running for office. However, the senator was lagging behind in his health and so withdrew during the primaries to former actress and fellow House Rep Helen Gahagan Douglas. Despite efforts by Downey, throwing his support to the Republicans and denouncing her as a communist and a socialist and every other 'ist' under the sun, Douglas would win against the candidate for the Republicans, a very disorganized and unsure Manchester Boddy. His attacks did land, but they were all that he had to offer, and while he was not a poor man by any stretch of the word, he was nonetheless unable to give anything else of note to the voters. Many voters, in point of fact, skipped the Senate election all together, not that this made any difference to Douglas who was now in Congress where her current fling, Lyndon B Johnson, was soon to be elected Chief Whip for the Democrats.
Returning senators included:
J Lister Hill of Alabama (Served since 1938, Democrat)
Carl Hayden of Arizona (Served since 1926, Democrat)
J William Fullbright of Arkansas (Served since 1944, Democrat)
Eugene Millikin of Colorado (Served since 1941, Republican)
Brien McMahon of Connecticut (Served since 1944, Democrat)
William Benton of Connecticut (Served since 1949, Democrat, Special Election to serve rest of term)
Walter F George of Georgia (Served since 1922, Democrat)
Henry Dworshak of Idaho (Served since 1949, Republican, Special Election to serve rest of term)
Russell B Long of Louisiana (Served since 1948, Democrat)
Pat McCarran of Nevada (Served since 1932, Democrat)
Charles W Tobey of New Hampshire (Served since 1938, Republican)
Herbert H Lehman of New York (Served since 1926, Democrat)
Clyde Hoey of North Carolina (Served since 1932, Democrat)
Milton Young of North Dakota (Served since 1945, Republican)
Robert A Taft of Ohio (Served since 1938, Republican)
Wayne Morse of Oregon (Served since 1944, Republican)
Olin D Johnson of South Carolina (Served since 1944, Democrat)
George Aiken of Vermont (Served since 1940, Republican)
Warren Magnussen of Washington (Served since 1940, Democrat)
Alexander Wiley of Wisconsin (Served since 1938, Republican)
Senators elected to fill seats being vacated included:
Helen Gahagan Douglas of California (Replacing Sheridan Downy, both Democrats)
Frank Carlson of Kansas (Replacing Harry Darby, both Republicans, Special Election)
Earle Clement of Kentucky (Replacing Garret Withers, both Democrats, Special Election)
John Pastore of Rhode Island (Replacing Edward L Leahy, both Democrats, Special Election)
Senators who won nominations over incumbents included:
George Smathers of Florida (Over Claude Pepper, Democrat)
Willis Smith of North Carolina (Over Frank Porter Graham, Democrat, Special Election)
Mike Monroey of Oklahoma (Over Elmer Thompson, Democrat)
Francis H Case of South Dakota (Over John Chandler Gurney, Republican)
And seats that flipped all together included:
Herman Walker of Idaho (Over David W Clark, Republican)
Everett Dirksen of Illinois (Over Scott W Lucas, Republican)
John Marshall Butler of Maryland (Over Millard Tydings, Republican)
Thomas C Hennings of Missouri (Over Forest C Donnell, Democrat)
James H Duff of Pennsylvania (Over Francis J Meyers, Republican)
Wallace F Bennett of Utah (Over Elbert D Thomas, Republican)
Net Gain: Republicans +4.
Senate: Democrats 50, Republicans 46.
As for the governors, the following retained:
Sid McMath of Arkansas (Elected 1949, Democrat)
Earl Warren of California (Elected 1943, Republican)
Herman Talmadge of Georgia (Elected 1948, Democrat)
William S Beasley of Iowa (Elected 1949, Republican)
Frederick G Payne of Maine (Elected 1948, Republican)
Paul E Dever of Massachusetts (Elected 1948, Democrat)
G Mennen Williams of Michigan (Elected 1949, Democrat)
Luther Youngdahl of Minnesota (Elected 1949, Republican)
Val Peterson of Nebraska (Elected 1949, Republican)
Sherman Adams of New Hampshire (Elected 1949, Republican)
Thomas E Dewey of New York (Elected 1943, Republican)
Frank Lausche of Ohio (Elected 1949, Democrat)
Douglas McKay of Oregon (Elected 1948, Republican)
Gordon Browning of Tennessee (Elected 1949, Democrat)
Allan Shivers of Texas (Elected 1949, Democrat)
The following were elected to term limited/vacated seats of a Governor of their own party
Gordon Persons of Alabama (Replacing Jim Folmsom, Democrat)
Leonard B Jordan of Idaho (Replacing C.A Robins, Republican)
Edward F Arn of Kansas (Replacing Frank Carlson, Republican)
Norman Brunsdale of North Dakota (Replacing Fred G Andahl, Republican)
Johnston Murray of Oklahoma (Replacing Roy J Turner, Democrat)
John S Fine of Pennsylvania (Replacing James H Duff, Republican)
Dennis J Roberts of Rhode Island (Replacing John Pastore, Democrat)
James F Byrnes of South Carolina (Replacing Strom Thurmond, Democrat)
Siguard Anderson of South Dakota (Replacing George T Nicolson, Republican)
Lee Emerson of Vermont (Replacing Harold J Arthur, Republican)
Walter Kohler Junior of Wisconsin (Replacing Oscar Rennebohm, Republican)
Frank A Barrett of Wyoming (Replacing Arthur G Crane, Republican)
And the following shows the mansions that flipped to that of another party:
John Howard Pyle of Arizona (Over Ana Frohmiler, Republican)
Daniel I J Thornton of Colorado (Over Walter Walford Johnson, Republican)
John Davis Lodge of Connecticut (Over Chester Bowles, Republican)
Theodore Roosevelt McKeldin of Maryland (Over William Preston Lane, Republican)
Charles H Russell of Nevada (Over Val Pittman, Republican)
Edwin Mecham of New Mexico (Over John E Miles, Republican)
Net Gain: Republican +6
Result: Republicans:25, Democrats:23
.....
With a tenuous hold on the senate, and a new Majority Leader needed, the Democrats were nervous as to what would come next. Over the course of the next two years, several deaths occurred to shake the grasp of power even further. Indeed, a near miss accident almost claimed the life of Virgil Chapman from Kentucky, as it was he required a wheelchair for the remainder of his days in the senate. These deaths were, as follows:
Arthur Vanderberg of Michigan (Died April 1951, Served since 1928, Republican.) Replaced by Blair Moody (Democrat)
Kenneth Wherry of Nebraska (Died November 1951, Served since 1942, Republican) Replaced by Fred Seaton (Republican)
Brien McMahon of Connecticut (Died July 1952, Served since 1945, Democrat.) Replaced by Prescott Bush (Republican)
This meant that at the end of the Congress on January 3rd, the Democrats had 49 to the Republicans 47.
In addition to which, the governors also saw a slight shift. Luther Youngdahl was succeeded by C Elmer Anderson, also of the same party. Three elections were also held, though no result was particularly surprising that year. Only one governor was eligible for another term
Lawrence Wetherby of Kentucky (Elected 1950, Democrat)
And two were replaced with member of their own party
Robert F Kennon of Louisiana (Replacing Earl Long, Democrat)
Hugh L White of Mississippi (Replacing Fielding L Wright, Democrat)
During this time, Richard Nixon did not stay quiet. In fact, he became something of a celebrity in California for his unique look and attitude, not to mention his friendship with Walt Disney. He promoted family values, made sure to come down harsh upon protests and most notably was very firm in how he handled the gambling problem in the city. Such links had cost his predecessor his reputation and his seat, Nixon was not going to take a chance on being accused on a similar problem. He was also keen to root out Communism and frequently made dark asides regarding Senator Douglas, who always returned with a witty retort that made some wonder if they were watching a screwball comedy play out. Here his friendship with Walt gave the latter a rare chance to gain something rather than give, as he encouraged him to stay further away from fellow Anti-Communist Joseph McCarthy. "It's not that he's wrong, it's that he's so damn bad at showing he's right!" Nixon is reported to have said to Walt, who as a result did not work much with the HUAC as it progressed.
By the time of the 1952 elections it became clear to all that Truman would not run for the Presidency. Both parties gathered together their best and brightest. Dwight Eisnenhower stormed through the primaries thanks to a concerted effort to get him on the ballot, while Adlai Stevenson managed a surprise victory to secure his own nomination. The choice of a Vice President might not have seemed a deciding factor at the time, but in retrospect it could be said to one of the keys to Eisenhower's victory. The General examined a great list of people who could appeal to both the Dewey and Taft wings, and eventually settled upon well liked and respected Harold Stassen, former governor of Minnesota and a man who had supported the General throughout his campaign. A considerable effort by the Southern delegation of the Democrats led to the appointment of James Sparkman. The controversial senator immediately watered down the Civil Rights plank, and put a lot of people on edge. Eisenhower and Stassen were the perfect combination that could appeal to both wings, tough when they needed to be, kind when they should be. By contrast, Stevenson preformed well but was constantly dogged by Sparkman, who was regarded badly by sections of his own party. In the end, Eisenhower brought an end to the drought of the Republicans with a massive victory, heralding a change in the air.
Eisenhower's victory overshadowed a vast turnabout in the senate. Here we go again. Those retaining their seats outright were:
William Knowland of California (Served since 1945, Democrat)
Prescott Bush of Connecticut (Served since 1952, Republican, Special Election to fill out rest of term)
John J Williams of Delaware (Served since 1946, Republican)
Spessard Holland of Florida (Served since 1946, Democrat)
William E Jenner of Indiana (Served since 1944, Republican)
Blair Moody of Michigan (Served since 1951, Democrat, Special Election to fill out rest of term)
Edward John Thyre of Minnesota (Served since 1946, Republican)
John C Stennis of Mississippi (Served since 1947, Democrat)
Hugh A Butler of Nevada (Served since 1940, Republican)
George W Malone of Nebraska (Served since 1946, Republican)
Howard Alexander Smith of New Jersey (Served since 1944, Republican)
Dennis Chavez of New Mexico (Served since 1935, Democrat)
Irving Ives of New York (Served since 1946, Republican)
William Langer of North Dakota (Served since 1940, Republican)
John W Bricker of Ohio (Served since 1946, Republican)
Edward Martin of Pennsylvania (Served since 1946, Republican)
John Pastore of Rhode Island (Served since 1952, Democrat)
Arthur Vivian Watkins of Utah (Served since 1946, Republican)
Ralph Flanders of Vermont (Served since 1946, Republican)
Harry F Byrd of Virginia (Served since 1933, Democrat)
Harley M Kilgore of West Virginia (Served since 1940, Democrat)
Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin (Served since 1946, Republican)
Senators elected to fill seats being vacated included:
Val Peterson of Nebraska (Replacing Fred Seaton, both Republicans, Special Election)
Ralph Yarbourgh of Texas (Replacing Tom Connally, both Democrats)
Senators who won nominations over incumbents included:
Abraham Ribicoff of Connecticut (Over William Benton, Democrat)
Frederick G Payne of Maine (Over Owen Brewster, Republican)
Albert Gore of Tennessee (Over Kenneth McKellar, Democrat)
And seats that flipped all together included:
Barry Goldwater of Arizona (Over Ernest McFarland, Republican)
James Glenn Beall of Maryland (Over George P Mahoney, Republican)
John F Kennedy of Massachusetts (Over Henry Cabot Lodge, Democrat)
Stuart Symington of Missouri (Over James P Kern, Democrat)
Mike Mansfield of Montana (Over Zales Ecton, Democrat)
Henry Jackson of Washington (Over Henry P Cain, Democrat)
Frank A Barrett of Wyoming (Over, Joseph C O'Mahoney, Republican)
Net Gain: +1 Democrat
Senate: 50 Democrats, 46 Republicans
But the Republicans did well in the governorships elections. Of the thirty elections, the following retained their seats:
Daniel I.J Thornton of Colorado (Elected 1951, Republican)
William S Beasley of Iowa (Elected 1949, Republican)
Francis Arn of Kansas (Elected 1951, Republican)
G Mennen Williams of Michigan (Elected 1949, Democrat)
C Elmer Anderson of Minnesota (Elected 1951, Republican)
Edwin L Mecham of New Mexico (Elected 1951, Republican)
Norman Brunsdale of North Dakota (Elected 1951, Republican)
Dennis J Roberts of Rhode Island (Elected 1951, Democrat)
Sigurd Anderson of South Dakota (Elected 1951, Republican)
Allan Shivers of Texas (Elected 1949, Democrat)
J Bracken Lee of Utah (Elected 1949, Republican)
Lee Emerson of Vermont (Elected 1951, Republican)
Arthur B Langlie of Washington (Elected 1949, Democrat)
Walter J Kohler of Wisconsin (Elected 1951, Republican)
The following saw vacations or term limited or primary defeats seats filled by members of the same party:
Francis Cherry of Arkansas (Replacing Sid McMath, Democrat)
Daniel T McCarty of Florida (Replacing Fuller Warren, Democrat)
Burton M Cross of Maine (Replacing Frederick G Payne, Republican)
Phil M Donnelly of Missouri (Replacing Forrest Smith, Democrat)
Robert B Crosby of Nebraska (Replacing Val Peterson, Republican
Hugh Gregg of New Hampshire (Replacing Sherman Adams, Republican)
William B. Umstead of North Carolina (Replacing W Kerr Scott, Democrat)
Frank G Clement of Tennessee (Replacing Gordon Browning, Democrat)
William C Marland of West Viginia (Replacing Okey Patterson, Democrat)
And the following saw mansions change party hands:
Roy Elson of Arizona (Over John Howard Pyle, Democrat)
J Caleb Boggs of Delaware (Over Elbert N Carver, Republican)
William Stratton of Illinois (Over Sherwood Dixon, Republican)
George N Craig of Indiana (Over John Watkins, Republican)
Christian Herter of Massachusetts (Over Paul E Dever, Republican)
J Hugo Aronson of Montana (Over John W Bonner, Republican)
Charles Phelps Taft II of Ohio (Over Frank Lausche, Republican)
Net gain: Republican +5
Result: Republicans: 30, Democrat:16
So, with a country about to experience a massive baby boom, and a Congress stewing in stress and paranoia, Eisenhower took office for his first term. One might wonder if he felt he had gotten in over his head a little
Also, for the first few decades we'll be putting changes in elections in bold. I hope you enjoy.)
Walt Disney and Richard Nixon had the kind of friendship where one's reputation is improved and the other's is diminished by mere association. If Nixon was to be ridiculed (Which indeed, he would be) a rejoinder to critiques of his character would be to invoke Walt's very name as a symbol of Americana. And if Walt was to be believed to the genuine, sweet old lovable uncle of the country, one need hardly bring the speaker back down to earth by referring to 'Tricky Dicky' as being one of his friends.
The friendship had begun not long after the end of World War 2. Nixon, by that point a lieutenant commander, was seeking out opportunity in California at the same time that Walt was doing a search for new talent. At the time, Disney was still not financially stable enough to return to doing full length epic animation as he had been doing with tales like Snow White and Bambi, so they were mostly doing package films. A new generation of animators could hurt no one, Walt thought. The two men met and began discussing matters with each other. Nixon praised Walt's recent experimentation with patriotic animation, while Walt was full of admiration for his activities in the war and for his service. The two men agreed to keep in touch and they did so, even as Walt began preparing for his magnum opus in Fantasia and Nixon won election to the House of Representatives.
Which brings us to the 1950 midterms. A lot of seats were up for grabs that year, and in California, Nixon had his eye set upon the seat held by Sheridan Downey in the senate. During this, he talked to Walt more and more. One day, the elder man made a suggestion to Dick that, no exaggeration, changed the direction of his life forever.
"I think you're going wrong here, Dick."
"Oh?" Nixon raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
"Being a senator is all well and good, and you could probably win. But if you really want to show the people in charge how important you are, I'd suggest you look a little closer to home." Walt pulled out a photograph of a man Nixon was imminently familiar with. Frederick N Howser, the Attorney General of California. A man with a reputation so tainted that any sensible inspector would have replaced by something new for the good of the public. And yet, there he was, running for re-election. "He's making us look bad. And with Warren being...well, you know, who he is, we need someone strong to take hold of the office and make sure that a Democrat doesn't start sabotaging the whole dang thing!"
"And that person is me?"
"People trust you, people like you, and you know how the system works! Besides which, if Warren starts getting too out of control, you can always make sure that the streets are kept clean, at any rate!"
"And the senate seat?"
"There'll be another chance, I'm sure of it!"
Nixon stared down at the photograph. With a sudden sigh, he slapped the table. "Damn it, why the hell not? Come on, let's get the paperwork sorted!"
Cometh the elections, Nixon would beat out Howser in the primary and go on to defeat Pat Brown in the general. He would be sworn in as the twenty third attorney general in California's history. As for the senate seat, well that went interesting. Downey was once again running for office. However, the senator was lagging behind in his health and so withdrew during the primaries to former actress and fellow House Rep Helen Gahagan Douglas. Despite efforts by Downey, throwing his support to the Republicans and denouncing her as a communist and a socialist and every other 'ist' under the sun, Douglas would win against the candidate for the Republicans, a very disorganized and unsure Manchester Boddy. His attacks did land, but they were all that he had to offer, and while he was not a poor man by any stretch of the word, he was nonetheless unable to give anything else of note to the voters. Many voters, in point of fact, skipped the Senate election all together, not that this made any difference to Douglas who was now in Congress where her current fling, Lyndon B Johnson, was soon to be elected Chief Whip for the Democrats.
Returning senators included:
J Lister Hill of Alabama (Served since 1938, Democrat)
Carl Hayden of Arizona (Served since 1926, Democrat)
J William Fullbright of Arkansas (Served since 1944, Democrat)
Eugene Millikin of Colorado (Served since 1941, Republican)
Brien McMahon of Connecticut (Served since 1944, Democrat)
William Benton of Connecticut (Served since 1949, Democrat, Special Election to serve rest of term)
Walter F George of Georgia (Served since 1922, Democrat)
Henry Dworshak of Idaho (Served since 1949, Republican, Special Election to serve rest of term)
Russell B Long of Louisiana (Served since 1948, Democrat)
Pat McCarran of Nevada (Served since 1932, Democrat)
Charles W Tobey of New Hampshire (Served since 1938, Republican)
Herbert H Lehman of New York (Served since 1926, Democrat)
Clyde Hoey of North Carolina (Served since 1932, Democrat)
Milton Young of North Dakota (Served since 1945, Republican)
Robert A Taft of Ohio (Served since 1938, Republican)
Wayne Morse of Oregon (Served since 1944, Republican)
Olin D Johnson of South Carolina (Served since 1944, Democrat)
George Aiken of Vermont (Served since 1940, Republican)
Warren Magnussen of Washington (Served since 1940, Democrat)
Alexander Wiley of Wisconsin (Served since 1938, Republican)
Senators elected to fill seats being vacated included:
Helen Gahagan Douglas of California (Replacing Sheridan Downy, both Democrats)
Frank Carlson of Kansas (Replacing Harry Darby, both Republicans, Special Election)
Earle Clement of Kentucky (Replacing Garret Withers, both Democrats, Special Election)
John Pastore of Rhode Island (Replacing Edward L Leahy, both Democrats, Special Election)
Senators who won nominations over incumbents included:
George Smathers of Florida (Over Claude Pepper, Democrat)
Willis Smith of North Carolina (Over Frank Porter Graham, Democrat, Special Election)
Mike Monroey of Oklahoma (Over Elmer Thompson, Democrat)
Francis H Case of South Dakota (Over John Chandler Gurney, Republican)
And seats that flipped all together included:
Herman Walker of Idaho (Over David W Clark, Republican)
Everett Dirksen of Illinois (Over Scott W Lucas, Republican)
John Marshall Butler of Maryland (Over Millard Tydings, Republican)
Thomas C Hennings of Missouri (Over Forest C Donnell, Democrat)
James H Duff of Pennsylvania (Over Francis J Meyers, Republican)
Wallace F Bennett of Utah (Over Elbert D Thomas, Republican)
Net Gain: Republicans +4.
Senate: Democrats 50, Republicans 46.
As for the governors, the following retained:
Sid McMath of Arkansas (Elected 1949, Democrat)
Earl Warren of California (Elected 1943, Republican)
Herman Talmadge of Georgia (Elected 1948, Democrat)
William S Beasley of Iowa (Elected 1949, Republican)
Frederick G Payne of Maine (Elected 1948, Republican)
Paul E Dever of Massachusetts (Elected 1948, Democrat)
G Mennen Williams of Michigan (Elected 1949, Democrat)
Luther Youngdahl of Minnesota (Elected 1949, Republican)
Val Peterson of Nebraska (Elected 1949, Republican)
Sherman Adams of New Hampshire (Elected 1949, Republican)
Thomas E Dewey of New York (Elected 1943, Republican)
Frank Lausche of Ohio (Elected 1949, Democrat)
Douglas McKay of Oregon (Elected 1948, Republican)
Gordon Browning of Tennessee (Elected 1949, Democrat)
Allan Shivers of Texas (Elected 1949, Democrat)
The following were elected to term limited/vacated seats of a Governor of their own party
Gordon Persons of Alabama (Replacing Jim Folmsom, Democrat)
Leonard B Jordan of Idaho (Replacing C.A Robins, Republican)
Edward F Arn of Kansas (Replacing Frank Carlson, Republican)
Norman Brunsdale of North Dakota (Replacing Fred G Andahl, Republican)
Johnston Murray of Oklahoma (Replacing Roy J Turner, Democrat)
John S Fine of Pennsylvania (Replacing James H Duff, Republican)
Dennis J Roberts of Rhode Island (Replacing John Pastore, Democrat)
James F Byrnes of South Carolina (Replacing Strom Thurmond, Democrat)
Siguard Anderson of South Dakota (Replacing George T Nicolson, Republican)
Lee Emerson of Vermont (Replacing Harold J Arthur, Republican)
Walter Kohler Junior of Wisconsin (Replacing Oscar Rennebohm, Republican)
Frank A Barrett of Wyoming (Replacing Arthur G Crane, Republican)
And the following shows the mansions that flipped to that of another party:
John Howard Pyle of Arizona (Over Ana Frohmiler, Republican)
Daniel I J Thornton of Colorado (Over Walter Walford Johnson, Republican)
John Davis Lodge of Connecticut (Over Chester Bowles, Republican)
Theodore Roosevelt McKeldin of Maryland (Over William Preston Lane, Republican)
Charles H Russell of Nevada (Over Val Pittman, Republican)
Edwin Mecham of New Mexico (Over John E Miles, Republican)
Net Gain: Republican +6
Result: Republicans:25, Democrats:23
.....
With a tenuous hold on the senate, and a new Majority Leader needed, the Democrats were nervous as to what would come next. Over the course of the next two years, several deaths occurred to shake the grasp of power even further. Indeed, a near miss accident almost claimed the life of Virgil Chapman from Kentucky, as it was he required a wheelchair for the remainder of his days in the senate. These deaths were, as follows:
Arthur Vanderberg of Michigan (Died April 1951, Served since 1928, Republican.) Replaced by Blair Moody (Democrat)
Kenneth Wherry of Nebraska (Died November 1951, Served since 1942, Republican) Replaced by Fred Seaton (Republican)
Brien McMahon of Connecticut (Died July 1952, Served since 1945, Democrat.) Replaced by Prescott Bush (Republican)
This meant that at the end of the Congress on January 3rd, the Democrats had 49 to the Republicans 47.
In addition to which, the governors also saw a slight shift. Luther Youngdahl was succeeded by C Elmer Anderson, also of the same party. Three elections were also held, though no result was particularly surprising that year. Only one governor was eligible for another term
Lawrence Wetherby of Kentucky (Elected 1950, Democrat)
And two were replaced with member of their own party
Robert F Kennon of Louisiana (Replacing Earl Long, Democrat)
Hugh L White of Mississippi (Replacing Fielding L Wright, Democrat)
During this time, Richard Nixon did not stay quiet. In fact, he became something of a celebrity in California for his unique look and attitude, not to mention his friendship with Walt Disney. He promoted family values, made sure to come down harsh upon protests and most notably was very firm in how he handled the gambling problem in the city. Such links had cost his predecessor his reputation and his seat, Nixon was not going to take a chance on being accused on a similar problem. He was also keen to root out Communism and frequently made dark asides regarding Senator Douglas, who always returned with a witty retort that made some wonder if they were watching a screwball comedy play out. Here his friendship with Walt gave the latter a rare chance to gain something rather than give, as he encouraged him to stay further away from fellow Anti-Communist Joseph McCarthy. "It's not that he's wrong, it's that he's so damn bad at showing he's right!" Nixon is reported to have said to Walt, who as a result did not work much with the HUAC as it progressed.
By the time of the 1952 elections it became clear to all that Truman would not run for the Presidency. Both parties gathered together their best and brightest. Dwight Eisnenhower stormed through the primaries thanks to a concerted effort to get him on the ballot, while Adlai Stevenson managed a surprise victory to secure his own nomination. The choice of a Vice President might not have seemed a deciding factor at the time, but in retrospect it could be said to one of the keys to Eisenhower's victory. The General examined a great list of people who could appeal to both the Dewey and Taft wings, and eventually settled upon well liked and respected Harold Stassen, former governor of Minnesota and a man who had supported the General throughout his campaign. A considerable effort by the Southern delegation of the Democrats led to the appointment of James Sparkman. The controversial senator immediately watered down the Civil Rights plank, and put a lot of people on edge. Eisenhower and Stassen were the perfect combination that could appeal to both wings, tough when they needed to be, kind when they should be. By contrast, Stevenson preformed well but was constantly dogged by Sparkman, who was regarded badly by sections of his own party. In the end, Eisenhower brought an end to the drought of the Republicans with a massive victory, heralding a change in the air.
Eisenhower's victory overshadowed a vast turnabout in the senate. Here we go again. Those retaining their seats outright were:
William Knowland of California (Served since 1945, Democrat)
Prescott Bush of Connecticut (Served since 1952, Republican, Special Election to fill out rest of term)
John J Williams of Delaware (Served since 1946, Republican)
Spessard Holland of Florida (Served since 1946, Democrat)
William E Jenner of Indiana (Served since 1944, Republican)
Blair Moody of Michigan (Served since 1951, Democrat, Special Election to fill out rest of term)
Edward John Thyre of Minnesota (Served since 1946, Republican)
John C Stennis of Mississippi (Served since 1947, Democrat)
Hugh A Butler of Nevada (Served since 1940, Republican)
George W Malone of Nebraska (Served since 1946, Republican)
Howard Alexander Smith of New Jersey (Served since 1944, Republican)
Dennis Chavez of New Mexico (Served since 1935, Democrat)
Irving Ives of New York (Served since 1946, Republican)
William Langer of North Dakota (Served since 1940, Republican)
John W Bricker of Ohio (Served since 1946, Republican)
Edward Martin of Pennsylvania (Served since 1946, Republican)
John Pastore of Rhode Island (Served since 1952, Democrat)
Arthur Vivian Watkins of Utah (Served since 1946, Republican)
Ralph Flanders of Vermont (Served since 1946, Republican)
Harry F Byrd of Virginia (Served since 1933, Democrat)
Harley M Kilgore of West Virginia (Served since 1940, Democrat)
Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin (Served since 1946, Republican)
Senators elected to fill seats being vacated included:
Val Peterson of Nebraska (Replacing Fred Seaton, both Republicans, Special Election)
Ralph Yarbourgh of Texas (Replacing Tom Connally, both Democrats)
Senators who won nominations over incumbents included:
Abraham Ribicoff of Connecticut (Over William Benton, Democrat)
Frederick G Payne of Maine (Over Owen Brewster, Republican)
Albert Gore of Tennessee (Over Kenneth McKellar, Democrat)
And seats that flipped all together included:
Barry Goldwater of Arizona (Over Ernest McFarland, Republican)
James Glenn Beall of Maryland (Over George P Mahoney, Republican)
John F Kennedy of Massachusetts (Over Henry Cabot Lodge, Democrat)
Stuart Symington of Missouri (Over James P Kern, Democrat)
Mike Mansfield of Montana (Over Zales Ecton, Democrat)
Henry Jackson of Washington (Over Henry P Cain, Democrat)
Frank A Barrett of Wyoming (Over, Joseph C O'Mahoney, Republican)
Net Gain: +1 Democrat
Senate: 50 Democrats, 46 Republicans
But the Republicans did well in the governorships elections. Of the thirty elections, the following retained their seats:
Daniel I.J Thornton of Colorado (Elected 1951, Republican)
William S Beasley of Iowa (Elected 1949, Republican)
Francis Arn of Kansas (Elected 1951, Republican)
G Mennen Williams of Michigan (Elected 1949, Democrat)
C Elmer Anderson of Minnesota (Elected 1951, Republican)
Edwin L Mecham of New Mexico (Elected 1951, Republican)
Norman Brunsdale of North Dakota (Elected 1951, Republican)
Dennis J Roberts of Rhode Island (Elected 1951, Democrat)
Sigurd Anderson of South Dakota (Elected 1951, Republican)
Allan Shivers of Texas (Elected 1949, Democrat)
J Bracken Lee of Utah (Elected 1949, Republican)
Lee Emerson of Vermont (Elected 1951, Republican)
Arthur B Langlie of Washington (Elected 1949, Democrat)
Walter J Kohler of Wisconsin (Elected 1951, Republican)
The following saw vacations or term limited or primary defeats seats filled by members of the same party:
Francis Cherry of Arkansas (Replacing Sid McMath, Democrat)
Daniel T McCarty of Florida (Replacing Fuller Warren, Democrat)
Burton M Cross of Maine (Replacing Frederick G Payne, Republican)
Phil M Donnelly of Missouri (Replacing Forrest Smith, Democrat)
Robert B Crosby of Nebraska (Replacing Val Peterson, Republican
Hugh Gregg of New Hampshire (Replacing Sherman Adams, Republican)
William B. Umstead of North Carolina (Replacing W Kerr Scott, Democrat)
Frank G Clement of Tennessee (Replacing Gordon Browning, Democrat)
William C Marland of West Viginia (Replacing Okey Patterson, Democrat)
And the following saw mansions change party hands:
Roy Elson of Arizona (Over John Howard Pyle, Democrat)
J Caleb Boggs of Delaware (Over Elbert N Carver, Republican)
William Stratton of Illinois (Over Sherwood Dixon, Republican)
George N Craig of Indiana (Over John Watkins, Republican)
Christian Herter of Massachusetts (Over Paul E Dever, Republican)
J Hugo Aronson of Montana (Over John W Bonner, Republican)
Charles Phelps Taft II of Ohio (Over Frank Lausche, Republican)
Net gain: Republican +5
Result: Republicans: 30, Democrat:16
So, with a country about to experience a massive baby boom, and a Congress stewing in stress and paranoia, Eisenhower took office for his first term. One might wonder if he felt he had gotten in over his head a little
