US Politics (President Gaitan)

President Gaitan

Colombian Politics Presidents of Colombia

US Politics Presidents of United States

World Politics Cold War

Differences with OTL

While some minor changes in foreign politics, there is not any important change in US domestic policies from OTL for the next 10 years after POD

1958

Many people was worried about the situation in Cuba, some guerrillas were fighting President Batista, and there were reports on human rights abuses by the government. Batista was a SOB, ... but it was our SOB. Probably with a more stable and democratic regime, Cuba could be eligible to statehood, or something similar to the commonwealth status of Puerto Rico.

Lawyer Fidel Castro was discussing this situation with other Cubans and Americans in New York this autumn. Himself, he was not very fond of the United States, but he was less fond of Batista. He had once contemplated the idea to join the guerrillas, as his brother, but was skeptical on getting enough popular support.

His boss was more convinced, though, that the Americans would be the key. The American model is faulty. The Negroes are almost subhumans in the South, and not much better in the North, but the system seems to produce money, and money seems to be the key for progress: for social progress.

1960

Election year. Vice President Nixon faced little opposition for the Republican nomination. He chose former Senator and Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. as vice presidential candidate. Barry Goldwater was nominated, but declined the nomination and supported Richard Nixon.

The democrats decided for young Catholic war hero John Kennedy.

The elections were close. Some people believe that a crucial factor in this election was the first televised presidential debate. Both candidates seemed confident but Nixon experience and knowledge on foreign-policy captivated the audience. The results were tight. Some have analyzed that if some 10,000 voters had switched to Kennedy in just Illinois and Montana, the Democrat would have won.

1963

The Civil War in Cuba ends.

1964

Election year. Richard Nixon is the undisputed republican candidate. While he got some opposition for his progressive and civil right policies, he easily defeated Democrat candidate Lindon Johnson.

1968

Election year. Vice President Lodge won the Republican nomination and the Democrats chose Hubert H. Humphrey. Lodge won, partly by the split in the Democratic campaign with Wallace running as an Independent.

1970

A ballot held in Cuba favors the annexation to the United States. Cuba formally applies to annexation and statehood. US Congress approves annexation under a commonwealth status and the question of statehood would follow negotiations.

1972

Election year. Lodge got some opposition in his party but managed to get the Republican nomination. Former dissident Wallace managed to get the Democratic support. In November voters favored Wallace.

1976

Election year. President George Wallace was the undisputed Democrat candidate. The Republicans chose former actor Ronald Reagan. The incumbent won in November.

1980

Election year. Bob Kennedy won a very disputed Democrat primaries, while the Republicans again chose Ronald Reagan. Kennedy won the elections.

1982

In a referendum to chose the Puerto Rican status, the Statehood option wins a plurality of the votes (48%) over the Commonwealth status (47%). The Independence option barely got a 4% figure.

1984

Election year. President Kennedy was the undisputed Democrat candidate. George Bush was chosen as the Republican candidate. In a very tight election Bush won the presidency.

1986

Cuba was admitted in March as the 51^st state of the Union.

Puerto Rico was admitted in November as the 52^nd state of the Union.

1988

Election year. President Bush faced a lot of opposition inside the Republican party, but won the nomination. Al Gore and Gary Hart disputed an emotive campaign. Gore won the nomination and chosed Hart as VP candidate. The Democrats won.

1992

The election year was affected by the tragic assassination of President Gore in July. Vice President and acting president Hart was appointed as the Democrat candidate. The Republicans had chosen Bob Dole.

Acting President Hart won in a landslide.

1993

In June, the District of Columbia is granted Statehood.

1996

Election year. President Hart faced little opposition in the Democrat Party for running again in 1996. The Republican nomination was won by Patrick Buchanan. As Hart won the elections, he became the second president to serve for more than eight years, since July 1992 to January 2001.

2000

Election year. The Democrats chose senator Bob Kerry from Nebraska as their presidential candidate. Newt Gingrich easily won the Republican nomination, and boldly chose in his ticket Elizabeth Dole. As Gingrich won in November, Dole became the first woman ever elected in a presidential ticket.

2001

The Pacific territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the Mariana Islands are promoted to Statehood status in October.

2004

Election year. Gingrich nomination for the Republican party was undisputed. The Democrats chose Dick Gephardt as their candidate.

Gingrich wins the vote over Gephardt by 54%-44%.