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What if… John F. Kennedy had not been assassinated in office?

Discussion in 'Polls Forum' started by Alcott, Apr 5, 2006.

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What if… John F. Kennedy had not been assassinated in office?

  1. He would definitely have been elected to a second term

    23 vote(s)
    54.8%

  2. He would probably have been elected to a second term, short of a big mistake or scandal

    9 vote(s)
    21.4%

  3. He would have withdrawn all US personnel from Vietnam

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  4. He would have withdrawn ground troops from Vietnam, but not advisors or special security forces

    1 vote(s)
    2.4%

  5. He would have increased US military involvement in Vietnam, but not to the extent Lyndon Johnson act

    7 vote(s)
    16.7%

  6. US military involvement in Vietnam would have been no different than it was in reality

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  7. The major Civil Rights bills would have been passed by Congress, as they were in reality

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  8. There would have been lessening of some provisions in the Civil Rights bills in order to pass them,

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  9. The space program to land a man on the moon would have happened as it did in reality

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  10. The space program would have sent a manned mission to Mars by now

    1 vote(s)
    2.4%

  11. The space program to land a man on the moon would have succumbed to failing the deadline of 1970, as

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  12. The space program would have sent an astronaut to the moon in the 70’s

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  13. The space program would not, even to this day, have sent anyone to the moon

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  14. The ‘hippies’ and youth rebellion would not have happened with such intensity in the mid and late 60

    1 vote(s)
    2.4%

  15. Youth rebellion in the mid and late 60’s was inevitable, with Kennedy, Johnson, or anyone else as Pr

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  16. The President elected in 1968 would have been a Democrat

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  17. The President elected in 1968 would have been a Republican

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  18. At least one more Kennedy would have been President since 1969

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  19. The scandalous stories involving Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe would have been promulgated in 1964 to h

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  20. John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy would have been divorced sooner or later

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  21. Even with other Kennedys having untimely deaths, there would not be talk or documentaries about the

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  22. Lee Harvey Oswald would never have become a nationally known name

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  23. Jack Ruby would never have become a nationally known name

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  24. Murder, or attempted or threatened murder, of a US President would still not be a federal crime (it

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  25. The economy of the next decade (’63-’73) would have been stronger

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  26. The economy of the next decade (’63-’73) would have been weaker

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  27. Overall life in the USA would have been better up to this day

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  28. Overall life in the USA would be the same with no noticeable changes up to this day

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  29. Overall life in the USA would be worse up to this day

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  30. Nothing, other than the name Kennedy and the political advantage of that extended family

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  31. I can think of other historically significant changes if Kennedy had not been assassinated in office

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  32. No answer—I don’t think we should even speculate on such a “what if” question

    6 vote(s)
    14.3%

  33. No answer—just want to read the answers

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
Multiple votes are allowed.
Top Posters
  1. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    This one is a more modern historical “what if” with more relevance for today.
     
    #1 Alcott, Apr 5, 2006
  2. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    The one surprising, and perhaps telling, answer in the poll is that 50% say "At least one more Kennedy would have been President since 1969." I included that question because of such indications in things I've read. But considering that in a President's second term his approval rating usually goes down, and that the name Kennedy, with or without the assassination of JFK, has been a political boost to anyone from that tribe... how do you figure there would be 'at least one more' Kennedy as President if the assassination had not happened? (keep in mind this question did not presume the assassination of Robert Kennedy would not have happened)
     
    #2 Alcott, Apr 6, 2006
  3. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    It could just as easily be one of the next generation of Kennedy's, maybe one of the juniors or even Caroline.
     
    #3 Squire Robertsson, Apr 7, 2006
  4. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    My point is that anything JFK really accomplished in 34 months in office tends to be overrated because of the assassination and the ensuing venomous hatred directed at the next 2 Presidents. So I think another Kennedy as Pesident should be more likely with history as it is, than if he had not been killed in office. If you are saying another Pres. Kennedy is more likely without the JFK murder, what is your reasoning?
     
    #4 Alcott, Apr 7, 2006
  5. swaimj

    swaimj <img src=/swaimj.gif>

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    I think Kennedy would have been re-elected in 1964 without the assasination. I doubt he would have lived through a second term due to his poor health. If he had lived long enough to complete a second term I think he would have been scandalized during his life-time and would not be thought of as the charmer he is today. Ironically, I think an extension to his life would have hastened and intensified the upheaval of the late 60's. Had he lived I doubt Nixon would have ever been elected, but Reagan would probably have become the antidote to the Kennedy scandals and he would have become president as a younger man.
     
    #5 swaimj, Apr 7, 2006
  6. Bob Farnaby

    Bob Farnaby Active Member
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    Another thing that would be different ..
    Conspiracy theory woudn't be as well developed as it now is.

    (Would also create some problems for some BB posters ....)
     
    #6 Bob Farnaby, Apr 8, 2006
  7. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Kennedy wasn't assassinated in an office ,it was in a car ... Oh , "in office " , never mind .
     
    #7 Rippon, Apr 8, 2006
  8. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    Yes, there are no big conspiracy theories about "Squeaky" Fromme or John Hinckley, Jr., because they missed (the objective of killing the President). Nor was there with Charles Guiteau (assassin of Garfield). Of John Wilkes Boothe they just assumed any associate of his was an accomplice and hanged most of them. Of Leon F. Czolgosz, the anarchist assassin of McKinely, there were some small conspiracy theories, but nothing to match the Kennedy theories. It is interesting that of the 4 Presidential assassinations, all by gunshot, Kennedy's is the only one at more than short range; and this is also the case with failed assassins Fromme and Hinckley. Perhaps that goes a long way in explaining the complexities of the Kennedy case in relation to the others.
     
    #8 Alcott, Apr 8, 2006
  9. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    In understanding some of the answers, one more question is in order: Was "not assassinated in office" understood as meaning the assassination attempt failed, or that there was no known attempt? Evidently that should have been clarified.
     
    #9 Alcott, Apr 12, 2006
  10. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Adding a second question, do you think that JFK would have push thru LBJ's "Great Society"

    Salty
     
    #10 Salty, Mar 30, 2007
  11. Bob Alkire

    Bob Alkire New Member

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    Keep in mind he wasn't as popular when he got shot as he is today. He went to Texas to get backing from members of his own party. Even Harry Truman had said he was a do nothing president, had his ear so near the ground that it was full of grass hoppers. I know he pulled out of the Bay of Pigs deal at the last moment, but how many men lost their lives going in. But he did have the union vote and women, but he might have lost the Teamsters, who did a lot to get him in.
     
    #11 Bob Alkire, Apr 5, 2007
  12. faithgirl46

    faithgirl46 Active Member
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    I think as popular as I heard he was, he would have been re-elected.
    Faithgirl
     
    #12 faithgirl46, Apr 10, 2007
  13. ktn4eg

    ktn4eg New Member

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    Had JFK not be assassinated, I believe that the 1964 presidential election would probably have been much closer than it actually was (assuming that Goldwater would still have won the GOP nomination, that is).

    It'd be hard to say which of the two would have actually won the 1964 election, however. With few exceptions, the incumbent usually [but not always] does.

    I still remember the quip that someone had made popular during Johnson's problems with Vietnam:

    "Someone told me that if I voted for Goldwater in 1964, there'd be a war in Vietnam.

    "He was right!

    "I voted for Goldwater, and, sure enough, there was a war in Vietnam!!"
     
    #13 ktn4eg, Apr 11, 2007
  14. faithgirl46

    faithgirl46 Active Member
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    There would have been a war regardless iof who you voted for. In fact , didn't LBJ increase the money spent on the Vietnam War, the trooops sent There or Both?
    Faithgirl
     
    #14 faithgirl46, Apr 11, 2007
  15. ktn4eg

    ktn4eg New Member

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    Faith Girl --

    Actually, I didn't vote for either Goldwater or LBJ in 1964.

    Back then (or at least in PA) you had to be at least 21 before you could even register to vote; and when I did turn 21, I registered as a member of a 3d party.

    In fact, in at least the first three presidential elections in which I was eligible to vote, I voted for a 3d party candidate for president mainly because I couldn't bear to vote for either the Dem or GOP candidate.
     
    #15 ktn4eg, Apr 11, 2007
  16. Ed Edwards

    Ed Edwards <img src=/Ed.gif>

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    Democrats being war mongerers, he would have sent whole armies
    to North Vietnam, Cambodia {the killing of 2/3 of the citizens
    of cambodia by the 'peace loving' Pot Pol (or was that Pol Pot?)
    some 2 million souls would have never happend.

    Alwalys invest in body bag makers in the stock market when
    a Democrate is president.
     
    #16 Ed Edwards, Apr 12, 2007
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