"The real question of government versus private enterprise is argued on too philosophical and abstract a basis. Theoretically, planning may be good. But nobody has ever figured out the cause of government stupidity—and until they do (and find the cure), all ideal plans will fall into quicksand."
- Richard Feynman, What Do You Care What Other People Think?
February, 1966,
Altadena, California,
7:00 PM
Nobel Prize Winner, Manhattan Project Scientist announces run for Governor
- The Los Angeles Times, February 20th, 1966.
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First, thanks to this thread for inspiring me:https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=272563
As a little 18th Birthday present to myself, I decided to finally get this off the ground. This is a little anachronistic I will admit. Feynman had expressed interest in running for governor after the 1966 election was over (December, 1966 to be exact). But, I had planned it with 66 in mind, and frankly, it would make a more interesting narrative, than 1970. This will have a lot of research put into it, but I feel that this will stretch the truth occasionally, if only to serve the narrative. If I get something completely wrong, please inform me. Constructive criticism is always welcome.
Don't expect updates often. I still have some more research to do, as I go into this. I do know where I am going to go with this. Thanks for reading.
- Richard Feynman, What Do You Care What Other People Think?
February, 1966,
Altadena, California,
7:00 PM
Dick was feeling good this night. He was always in a good mood, in one way or the other. He had a wife (his third), his son Carl, his general health. Another thing he had to be proud of was his Noble Prize. He had won it two years ago, along with Julius Schwinger and Sin-Itiro Tomonaga, for his work in Quantum Electrodynamics. He had a good career at Caltech too. He had been elected a Foreign member of the Royal Society just last year. His "Feynman Lectures on Physics" had been a massive hit for physics students all over the country.
And he had been to a great many places. He was a researcher at the Manhattan Project, taught at Cornell, than a year in Brazil (learned Portuguese and Drumming there), before coming here to Caltech. And now his family had a small beach house over in Baja California, a little reward granted by his share in the Nobel Prize. He also had a number of hobbies, including painting at topless bars, bongoing, and, of course, thinking through Physics problems Dick was, of course, thinking about Physics at the moment. He knew the possibilities. He had been working on various problems at the time. It helped keep him occupied. That, and his devotion to his students, helped keep him busy many days. Right now, he was thinking through some problems that he could teach to his young son about physics. Nothing serious right now. Though, he did have some more ideas, like for nanotechnology, and for a new concept of quantum gravity
However, the television caught his attention. It was a small press conference. The governor, Pat Brown, was on. Dick was disinterested, but listened. Brown was making a surprise announcement. "I will be a candidate for reelection as Governor of the state of California." A couple of cheers, some gasps. Dick wasn't paying attention. Not much interest in him. He wasn't much of a political guy. Still, it wasn't like he was completely apolitical. His mind shifted to a telegram sent to him in November. It was from the Vice President. It was your standard congratulatory telegram, for his Nobel Prize. He had admired Humphrey for a long time. He sent back a telegram telling as much. And he had some experience with government just two years back , working as part of the textbook commission in California. Slowly, his mind shifted to politics. The challenge of getting elected. He was resisting the notion of having to go through the hollowness and tawdry nature of politics. However, there was something that kept him interested. He was a major figure, with his Nobel prize, his work at Los Alamos, and his lectures. Yeah, and he could solve the problems better than Brown could. Brown was being asked about Mayor Yorty and his run, but Dick had completely tuned out at that point.
Governor Richard Phillip Feynman. He did like the sound of that.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Nobel Prize Winner, Manhattan Project Scientist announces run for Governor
- The Los Angeles Times, February 20th, 1966.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First, thanks to this thread for inspiring me:https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=272563
As a little 18th Birthday present to myself, I decided to finally get this off the ground. This is a little anachronistic I will admit. Feynman had expressed interest in running for governor after the 1966 election was over (December, 1966 to be exact). But, I had planned it with 66 in mind, and frankly, it would make a more interesting narrative, than 1970. This will have a lot of research put into it, but I feel that this will stretch the truth occasionally, if only to serve the narrative. If I get something completely wrong, please inform me. Constructive criticism is always welcome.
Don't expect updates often. I still have some more research to do, as I go into this. I do know where I am going to go with this. Thanks for reading.
