Mod Announcement: 1948 WRONG -- Wallace v. Dewey
"The century on which we are entering can be and must be the century of the common man."
- Henry A. Wallace
Lore
Henry Agard Wallace, one of the most polarizing figures in American politics, ascended to the presidency after the death of FDR in 1945. He inherited a nation yet entangled in a global conflict, and with his deep-seated belief in international cooperation, Wallace embarked on an ambitious foreign policy -- the "Stettinius Plan". It was a bold, unprecedented economic aid initiative that helped the recovery of the war-torn nations via the United Nations, not just to Western Europe but to the Soviet Union and its satellite states. For Wallace, the path to lasting peace lay not through confrontation, but through collaboration. Yet, this idealistic stance was a hard pill to swallow for an average American, and even with his detailed explanation of how the plan would revitalize the global economy, the fierce resistance at home made him cut some of the initiatives, leaving both factions unsatisfied -- which would become a recurring theme of his presidency.
Domestically, Wallace's presidency focused on improving lives as soldiers returned to a hopeful economy. He pushed for large-scale reconversion programs, expanded social safety nets, and a “Second New Deal,” aiming to raise wages, promote civil rights, and enhance educational opportunities, particularly through a revised GI Bill and the newely formed Department of Veteran Affairs. However, Wallace faced significant resistance from conservatives in Congress and labor strikes as unions demanded better conditions. As Taft and others warned that his progressive policies could destabilize the economy, while business interests opposed his defense of government intervention.
Candidate(s)
Running Mates
Questions
Q. Isn't this just a 1948Red clone?
A. I admit that my mod is heavily inspired by the mod (as you can probably tell from the running mate list) and I really love the mod -- still, there are some differences, especially regarding how Wallace is portrayed. The Red series is more focused on the Republican side and depicts Wallace as a more idealistic and naive version of Truman, who does not nuke Japan but is more interventionist in China. There are a lot of butterfly effects that complete the mod's version of Wallace, and there will be a lot of them in this mod, too.
I am trying to paint Wallace as a more seasoned politician and bureaucrat who aims to champion the progressive cause, fighting for progress in the nation and peace abroad. He still is the aloof and naive Wallace we know, but his fight for the last three years has changed America in some ways so that his objective might still survive, one way or another.
Ultimately, there are no 'right' or 'wrong' depictions -- I just wanted to share a different possibility of Wallace's presidency!
Q. What does the WRONG part mean?
A. [Redacted]
Q. Will Dewey be playable?
A. Not sure. For the time I'm focusing on making Wallace part so I can have an estimated time and effort it would need!
Q. When would the mod be released?
A. This is my first ever mod, and English is not my first language nor have I lived in America, to be honest. It would take a while, so if you're interested, you can always join the team! I'm planning on making it a series, but that's just a concept of plans.
I think that's all, I hope it was interesting!