Michael Harrington (born February 24, 1928) is an American politician and a member of the Farmer-Labor Party. He was a member of the Catholic Worker Movement, but left since they were too ignorant about the threat of fascism. He then became associated with the Socialist Party of America, but left that too when the party became too authoritarian.
In-game
Harrington is a democratic socialist who wants to make reforms in order to tackle poverty, unemployment and hunger in the United States. He can only be elected if either Wallace F. Bennett or Lyndon B. Johnson was elected in 1964, or if either George Wallace or Robert F. Kennedy were unable to finish their terms, as the game does not allow candidates to be defeated in the primaries.
If elected, his programs will focus on improving the lives of "The Other America," the poor, as well as re-centering American politics round him. Should he meet Martin Bormann, the flavor event that plays will have him directly snub Bormann, claiming he does not have enough time to meet with him.
In-Game Description
Michael Harrington was born in St. Louis to a Catholic family in the beginning of 1928. Growing up, he attended Catholic schools and inherited conservative views from his parents. However, while studying at Yale and the University of Chicago, he began taking on Christian views that advocated for social and economic progressivism, opposing what he saw as the exploitation of the common American by capitalism. This approach, which was notably anti-collectivist, inspired him to join the Catholic Worker movement and write about politics. After the war ended, he was disgusted with the Catholic Worker and it's apparent ignorance of the threat of Fascism. Seeing the need to join more radical groups, he joined up with Trotskyist Max Shachtman, leader of a virulently anti-Bukharinist and anti-Fascist group.
Harrington continued to shift farther left, while retaining his opposition to strict collectivization. By the late 1950's, his strong views on Civil Rights as well as his distaste for the increasingly authoritarian Socialist Party of America led him to join the rising National Progressive Pact. Now, as President of the United States, Michael Harrington advocates for his own take on Democratic Socialism, one of liberation and freedom, both economic and social, for all.