alternatehistory.com
1985
Well, I've finally got around to updating this.
Cabinet format taken from Gonzo's 'Follow the Money'
________
"Donald, I've heard some talk of using some rather......extreme measures to prevent the end of the war in Iran. I swore an oath to the United States Constitution and I take my oath very seriously. I hope nothing happens that would make that oath stand between you and I."
- Alexander Haig to Donald Rumsfeld, early January, 1985
"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
- Cliff Finch taking the Oath of Office of the President of the United States, January 21st, 1985
President: Cliff Finch (D-MS)
Vice President: Jerry Brown (D-CA)
Secretary of State: Frank Church (D-ID)
Secretary of Treasury: Kenneth Axelson (I-NY)
Secretary of Defense: Wesley Clark (D-AR)
Attorney-General: William Allain (D-MS)
Secretary of the Interior:Harvey L. Wollman (D-SD)
Secretary of Agriculture: Arlen Stangeland (R-MN)
Secretary of Commerce:George McGovern (D-SD)
Secretary of Labor: Lane Kirkland (I-SC)
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Louis W. Sullivan (R-GA)
Secretary of Education: Thomas Eagleton (D-MO)
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Maurice "Moon" Landrieu (D-LA)
Secretary of Transportation: Endicott Peabody (D-MA)
Secretary of Energy: Hulett C. Smith (D-WV)
'Finch unveils cabinet nominees'
- New York Times, January 23rd, 1985
'Ceasefire in Iran!'
- Los Angeles Times, January 26th, 1985
'Finch unveils economic plan'
- The New York Times, January 29th, 1985
'Report: Finch to begin talks with Iran'
- The New York Times, February 3rd, 1985
'The exit of the United States from the Middle East was an ignominious affair. Peace with Iran was agreed upon between negotiators from the United States and delegates of General Fallahi in Amsterdam on March 6th. Faced with popular opposition in the rest of the Middle East as a result of the use of nuclear weaponry, the US was forced to withdraw troops from Saudi Arabia and other states. The withdrawal of US forces contributed to the toppling of the House of Saud and further'
- From The Crescent and the Stars, the United States in the Muslim World by James P. Clarke
"3. Iraq shall cede the territory within the bounds of Fig. A to Iran.
...........
7. All parties signatory to this treaty will recognize the Sajid government as the legitimate authority in Iraq.
...........
23. Israel shall withdraw its forces from Syria one month from the signing of this document.
24. Israel shall withdraw its forces from Lebanon within six months of the signing of this document. Before removal of its troops, it may oversee fair elections.
...........
35. Iran shall pay Iraq a sum of $30,000,000"
- From the Amsterdam Accords, February 1985
'Join the Civilian Auxiliary Service!'
- Seen on posters across America, March 1985
'Randolph-Biden Act passed'
- New York Times, April 20th, 1985
'....henceforth, the passage of so-called right-to-work laws by any locality, state, or any other government within the borders of the United States is banned....'
- Excerpt from the Randolph-Biden Act
"Mr. President, public opinion polls are simply against the continuation of our involvement in Arabia. We have to face the reality - the people want the military out."
- Conversation between President Finch and Secretary of State Church, late April 1985
"There is news from Beirut that today, militants with Iranian support bombed a synagogue during its weekly service. Most of the victims were Israeli soldiers on occupation duty in Lebanon. This comes just two months after the Amsterdam Accord was supposed to end conflict in that country. Since the bombing earlier today, there have been reports of a surge in violent incidents throughout Lebanon."
- ABC News, May 11th, 1985
"-we interrupt this program to bring you breaking news from Israel. There are reports from Jerusalem that elements of the military have occupied government buildings. The status of the President and Prime Minister are currently unknown."
- CBS News, May 15th, 1985
"The Peres government has not done its duty to protect the people of Israel from danger. The attack last week on our soldiers in Beirut has been the most apparent manifestation of this phenomenon. The government can no longer be trusted to protect the people of Israel. Yesterday, elements of our military took the Prime Minister and the Cabinet into custody before recalling me from Beirut. Martial law is declared in the whole of Israel and territories occupied by it until a more secure state can be reached."
- Rafael Eitan in a press conference in Jerusalem, May 16th, 1985
View attachment 289689
'Riyadh taken by militants - Islamic Republic of Arabia declared'
- The New York Times, June 15th, 1985
"You are Ali, I presume.
Yes- and you are Fanaei? You have the items?
Of course. We would not come to our brothers empty-handed. Ten crates of Kalishnikovs and six rocket-propelled grenades.
Good, good. We will drive the Nasibi from our land and secure the Holy Cities for the faithful, insha'Allah."
- Conversation between unknown Iranian Revolutionary Guard Major and militant in northeastern Arabia, mid-late June 1985
'The United States under President Finch appears to have shifted its focus away from the Middle East. Indeed, the Finch administration's Energy for America Act shows the commitment of the new regime to seeking sources of energy outside of Arabia. Already, American forces not required too under the Amsterdam Accords have been withdrawn from the region. Indeed, the American abandonment of the House of Saud further illustrates this point. It is highly advisable that our government begin preparations to fill the void left by the Americans in that region."
- Memorandum circulated in Soviet Defense Ministry, May-July, 1985
'Andropov goes to Tehran'
- Los Angeles Times, August 29th, 1985
'Forces loyal to Uday Hussein claim responsibility for blast in Tikrit'
- Miami Herald, September 15th, 1985
'Israeli forces suspected to be behind massacre in Damour, 47 dead'
- New York Times, October 5th, 1985
"The unfortunate events in Damour are just the most recent manifestation of the hyper-nationalism of the new Israeli military government. The United States government should be more forceful towards Israel regarding its flagrant violations of human rights in Lebanon."
- Senator Ron Dellums (D-CA), October 7th, 1985
"We interrupt this program to bring breaking news from Seattle. Vice President Brown has been shot after giving a speech at the University of Washington. The Vice Presidents condition is currently unknown. We..."
- Dan Rather, CBS Evening News, November 12th, 1985
'Brown shot, perpetrator in custody'
- New York Times, November 13th, 1985
'Yesterday, Vice President Jerry Brown was shot after giving a speech on trade at the University of Washington by a local man, David Lewis Rice. Rice, a Seattle native, has connections with the far-right Duck Club. Brown suffered only minor injuries in the assassination attempt, while Rice is in critical condition, stemming from gunshot wounds fired by the Secret Service."
- The Seattle Times, November 13th, 1985
'Finch announces $6 billion grant to NIH to research AIDS'
- Buffalo News, December 2nd, 1985
'YANKS OUT, TRIDENT OUT
BRITONS FOR PEACE AND BROTHERHOOD'
- Read on signs in London, early December 1985
'Finch visits Britain, meets with PM Foot'
- New York Times, December 15th, 1985
'President Finch visits London, anti-nuclear protests outside Number 10'
- The Times of London, December 15th, 1985
Cabinet format taken from Gonzo's 'Follow the Money'
________
"Donald, I've heard some talk of using some rather......extreme measures to prevent the end of the war in Iran. I swore an oath to the United States Constitution and I take my oath very seriously. I hope nothing happens that would make that oath stand between you and I."
- Alexander Haig to Donald Rumsfeld, early January, 1985
"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
- Cliff Finch taking the Oath of Office of the President of the United States, January 21st, 1985
President: Cliff Finch (D-MS)
Vice President: Jerry Brown (D-CA)
Secretary of State: Frank Church (D-ID)
Secretary of Treasury: Kenneth Axelson (I-NY)
Secretary of Defense: Wesley Clark (D-AR)
Attorney-General: William Allain (D-MS)
Secretary of the Interior:Harvey L. Wollman (D-SD)
Secretary of Agriculture: Arlen Stangeland (R-MN)
Secretary of Commerce:George McGovern (D-SD)
Secretary of Labor: Lane Kirkland (I-SC)
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Louis W. Sullivan (R-GA)
Secretary of Education: Thomas Eagleton (D-MO)
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Maurice "Moon" Landrieu (D-LA)
Secretary of Transportation: Endicott Peabody (D-MA)
Secretary of Energy: Hulett C. Smith (D-WV)
'Finch unveils cabinet nominees'
- New York Times, January 23rd, 1985
'Ceasefire in Iran!'
- Los Angeles Times, January 26th, 1985
'Finch unveils economic plan'
- The New York Times, January 29th, 1985
'Report: Finch to begin talks with Iran'
- The New York Times, February 3rd, 1985
'The exit of the United States from the Middle East was an ignominious affair. Peace with Iran was agreed upon between negotiators from the United States and delegates of General Fallahi in Amsterdam on March 6th. Faced with popular opposition in the rest of the Middle East as a result of the use of nuclear weaponry, the US was forced to withdraw troops from Saudi Arabia and other states. The withdrawal of US forces contributed to the toppling of the House of Saud and further'
- From The Crescent and the Stars, the United States in the Muslim World by James P. Clarke
"3. Iraq shall cede the territory within the bounds of Fig. A to Iran.
...........
7. All parties signatory to this treaty will recognize the Sajid government as the legitimate authority in Iraq.
...........
23. Israel shall withdraw its forces from Syria one month from the signing of this document.
24. Israel shall withdraw its forces from Lebanon within six months of the signing of this document. Before removal of its troops, it may oversee fair elections.
...........
35. Iran shall pay Iraq a sum of $30,000,000"
- From the Amsterdam Accords, February 1985
'Join the Civilian Auxiliary Service!'
- Seen on posters across America, March 1985
'Randolph-Biden Act passed'
- New York Times, April 20th, 1985
'....henceforth, the passage of so-called right-to-work laws by any locality, state, or any other government within the borders of the United States is banned....'
- Excerpt from the Randolph-Biden Act
"Mr. President, public opinion polls are simply against the continuation of our involvement in Arabia. We have to face the reality - the people want the military out."
- Conversation between President Finch and Secretary of State Church, late April 1985
"There is news from Beirut that today, militants with Iranian support bombed a synagogue during its weekly service. Most of the victims were Israeli soldiers on occupation duty in Lebanon. This comes just two months after the Amsterdam Accord was supposed to end conflict in that country. Since the bombing earlier today, there have been reports of a surge in violent incidents throughout Lebanon."
- ABC News, May 11th, 1985
"-we interrupt this program to bring you breaking news from Israel. There are reports from Jerusalem that elements of the military have occupied government buildings. The status of the President and Prime Minister are currently unknown."
- CBS News, May 15th, 1985
"The Peres government has not done its duty to protect the people of Israel from danger. The attack last week on our soldiers in Beirut has been the most apparent manifestation of this phenomenon. The government can no longer be trusted to protect the people of Israel. Yesterday, elements of our military took the Prime Minister and the Cabinet into custody before recalling me from Beirut. Martial law is declared in the whole of Israel and territories occupied by it until a more secure state can be reached."
- Rafael Eitan in a press conference in Jerusalem, May 16th, 1985
View attachment 289689
'Riyadh taken by militants - Islamic Republic of Arabia declared'
- The New York Times, June 15th, 1985
"You are Ali, I presume.
Yes- and you are Fanaei? You have the items?
Of course. We would not come to our brothers empty-handed. Ten crates of Kalishnikovs and six rocket-propelled grenades.
Good, good. We will drive the Nasibi from our land and secure the Holy Cities for the faithful, insha'Allah."
- Conversation between unknown Iranian Revolutionary Guard Major and militant in northeastern Arabia, mid-late June 1985
'The United States under President Finch appears to have shifted its focus away from the Middle East. Indeed, the Finch administration's Energy for America Act shows the commitment of the new regime to seeking sources of energy outside of Arabia. Already, American forces not required too under the Amsterdam Accords have been withdrawn from the region. Indeed, the American abandonment of the House of Saud further illustrates this point. It is highly advisable that our government begin preparations to fill the void left by the Americans in that region."
- Memorandum circulated in Soviet Defense Ministry, May-July, 1985
'Andropov goes to Tehran'
- Los Angeles Times, August 29th, 1985
'Forces loyal to Uday Hussein claim responsibility for blast in Tikrit'
- Miami Herald, September 15th, 1985
'Israeli forces suspected to be behind massacre in Damour, 47 dead'
- New York Times, October 5th, 1985
"The unfortunate events in Damour are just the most recent manifestation of the hyper-nationalism of the new Israeli military government. The United States government should be more forceful towards Israel regarding its flagrant violations of human rights in Lebanon."
- Senator Ron Dellums (D-CA), October 7th, 1985
"We interrupt this program to bring breaking news from Seattle. Vice President Brown has been shot after giving a speech at the University of Washington. The Vice Presidents condition is currently unknown. We..."
- Dan Rather, CBS Evening News, November 12th, 1985
'Brown shot, perpetrator in custody'
- New York Times, November 13th, 1985
'Yesterday, Vice President Jerry Brown was shot after giving a speech on trade at the University of Washington by a local man, David Lewis Rice. Rice, a Seattle native, has connections with the far-right Duck Club. Brown suffered only minor injuries in the assassination attempt, while Rice is in critical condition, stemming from gunshot wounds fired by the Secret Service."
- The Seattle Times, November 13th, 1985
'Finch announces $6 billion grant to NIH to research AIDS'
- Buffalo News, December 2nd, 1985
'YANKS OUT, TRIDENT OUT
BRITONS FOR PEACE AND BROTHERHOOD'
- Read on signs in London, early December 1985
'Finch visits Britain, meets with PM Foot'
- New York Times, December 15th, 1985
'President Finch visits London, anti-nuclear protests outside Number 10'
- The Times of London, December 15th, 1985
- Baconheimer
- Word Count: 1.2k