A Bull Moose in Office

[Rorke]

March 23rd, 1910
Trenton, New Jersey

Woodrow Wilson stepped out into the sunlight. He blinked as his eyes adjusted to the light out front of the statehouse. As he stepped out onto the street, a man shouted at him, directing his attention to the right.

"Oh hello John!"

Wilson was so enthralled in his conversation with the man that he didn't hear the pounding of the horse's hooves.

He didn't hear the shouting of the carriage driver.

The last thing his brain processed before he was ground into the pavement by the momentum of the carriage was the sight of John dashing towards him in a vain attempt to push him out of the way.

 

[Rorke]

March 28th, 1910,
Cairo, Egypt

Theodore Roosevelt sat on the patio of the Egyptian cafe reading a four day old copy of the New York Times. He had picked it up from one of the international bazaars that flourished in the city, and he was disappointed with the lack of fresh news coming out of the states. He sipped his mug of coffee as he flipped through the pages of the paper. Buried about 3 sheets in was the headline:


PRINCETON PRESIDENT RUN DOWN IN STREET

He squinted and read closer.

President of Princeton University and political up and comer Woodrow Wilson was tragically struck down by a horse drawn carriage yesterday morning in Trenton, witnesses say...

Roosevelt immediately lost interest in the article. He drained his mug and put it down on the table, paying for his drink. He folded the paper and stuck it under his armpit and walked out onto the street, being careful to look both ways. This was his last day in Egypt before he headed off for Europe. He had a meeting scheduled with Franz Joseph and dammit he was not going to miss his ship.

 

[Rorke]

April 1st, 1910
En Route to Split, Austria-Hungary
Adriatic Sea

Theodore Roosevelt stretched his legs as he stood on the prow of the mighty steamship, taking in the view of the lesser-known sea. He breathed in the salty air and pondered what exactly he would discuss with Franz Joseph. He sighed and shrugged, resolving to let the meeting progress naturally. He was glad to be out in the world away from that damned Taft. He greatly regretted supporting that man for office and wished he had run for a third term. He shrugged again.

"Thus is life."

"What was that?" Kermit said as he passed by.

"Nothing, son."

Roosevelt stared off into the sea. There was an election coming up. Maybe he could run again? He grinned wickedly and resolved to leave his internal deliberation for when his mind was clear.