Jimmie Davis (PJW)

Jimmie Davis (September 11, 1889 - May 6, 1964) was a singer, songwriter, Governor of Louisiana, and 35th President of the United States, from 1961 to 1964.

Davis served two non-consecutive terms as Governor of Louisiana, from 1944 to 1948 and then 1956-1960. A democrat, he became and advocate for impoverished and rural whites along with segregation, which became national issues during the latter days of the presidency of John Wayne. Davis became the face of the Dixiecrats in 1960 when he ran for president. Similar to Wayne's campaign in 1952, Davis ran on a platform of populism and opposition to the establishment. He differed from Wayne in his support for segregation and non-interventionism; at the time, many of America's racial issues were blamed on Wayne's seeming focus on foreign adventures that resulted in lengthy wars and occupations in Cuba, Iraq, and Vietnam. Davis defeated Nelson Rockefeller in the 1960 presidential election.

As president, Davis attempted to fix America's internal issues, such as issuing a limited interstate highway system, putting people to work in an attempt to end the recession that began at the end of the 1950s. The United States Sovereignty Commission was established and given broad powers to investigate citizens. The USSC, along with federal work programs to construct separate ghettos for blacks, continued segregation policies into the 1960s.

Davis withdrew American forces from abroad, conceding Berlin and the Congo to the Soviets. Tensions with western Europe was heightened, especially after the Generals' Putsch in France, resulting in the creation of the European Community and the weakening of NATO.

Davis was often absent during his presidency, resulting in claims that Vice President John F. Kennedy or Chief of Staff Leander Perez was truly running the country. Kennedy ran against Davis in the 1964 Democratic Primaries, along with Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson. While campaigning against Johnson in Texas, Davis was assassinated by Charles Whitman.

Kennedy became the president and took the nomination in 1964, resulting in a breakaway campaign by the Dixiecrats and eventual deadlock that threw the election into Congress.