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n2doc

(47,953 posts) Mon Dec 19, 2016, 11:38 AM Dec 2016

In 1969, Democrats and Republicans united to get rid of the electoral college. Here's what happened

It turned out to be a bipartisan effort.

In 1969, Republican President Richard Nixon supported a push in Congress to abolish the electoral college. So too did his rival in the presidential race a year earlier, Democrat Hubert Humphrey.

The reason both united in support: Former Alabama Gov. George Wallace.

Wallace — who had famously said, “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever” — stoked racial animosity as the candidate of the American Independent Party. He won five Southern states and netted 46 electoral votes.

Even before the 1968 election, there was fear that Wallace would win some electoral votes and possibly cause a tie between Nixon and Humphrey. Under the Constitution, the House of Representatives would then select the president and the Senate the vice president.

more
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-electoral-college-history-20161219-story.html

Spoiler: You can guess which region's Senators blocked the amendment.

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In 1969, Democrats and Republicans united to get rid of the electoral college. Here's what happened (Original Post) n2doc Dec 2016 OP

Nixon was an evil bastard--but he could surprise you... First Speaker Dec 2016 #1

Nixon really didn't care about domestic policy. He could be flexible. DemocratSinceBirth Dec 2016 #3

Any 13 states can block getting rid of the EC.* They will do so as it is in their kelly1mm Dec 2016 #2

There are rumors of a convention dixiegrrrrl Dec 2016 #4

the Koch brothers are working hard on that constitutional convention rurallib Dec 2016 #5

First Speaker

(4,858 posts)

1. Nixon was an evil bastard--but he could surprise you...

Reply to n2doc (Original post)

Mon Dec 19, 2016, 11:42 AM

Dec 2016

...for instance, he proposed a health care bill that was somewhat left of Obamacare...and Teddy Kennedy opposed it, something he later said was the biggest mistake he ever made in politics. He also at least flirted with the idea of a negative income tax, Milton Friedman's notion. Tricky had a dose of Tory Reformer in him, and it's frightening to think that he'd be on the left wing of the Democratic Party if he were around today...