A Stroke of Fate

The sun sets on the Capitol in Washington D.C. Two men occupy an office on the Senate side of the building. It is October 5, 1919, and the world stands read to be thrust in another direction.

An aide stands before the desk of his boss. The sweat coming off of his brow emphasizing the point he has, for hours, strenuously tried to make.

"Mr. Vice President, you must take action. The country, better yet, history, would expect you do nothing less."

The man standing behind the desk, hands folded behind his back, sighs as he looks out his window to the setting sun. It wasn't that Thomas Marshall wasn't a man of conviction. He had served for the last decade in they eye of the public. First as the Governor of Indiana then, in 1912, as the running mate of the Woodrow Wilson. It was, as he believed, only the schism in the Republican Party that had assured them of victory. He had served as President Wilson's faithful lackey for six years. He had whipped votes in the Senate, and had crossed the country advocating for war bonds to support the U.S. effort in the Great War.

Still, he always felt underappreciated by his boss. He had been locked out of cabinet meetings, and relegated to the Senate offices. And for what? Making jokes to the occasional visitor to the White House? He was, at best, a mouth piece to support the war effort. The Armistice was signed, but what good could he do now?

Perhaps here was his chance, but was he conflicted. He was a lawyer by trade, and a respecter of the Constitution. Where was the precedent in this?

As all of this raced through his mind, he felt conflicted as to what to do next.

"Mr. Johnson..." Marshall stated tiredly "You are most incorrect. History will not judge me for what I do next. It will judge me for what I do after that."

The sun was now set outside of the Capitol. Perhaps it was a blessing.....or worse, an omen.
 
Hello all. This is my first attempt at writing a story, and I wanted to pick a subject that could, proverbially, make the butter flies howl. 1919 was a time in the United States where the country could have gone down so many different paths. This story will show what a different path would have looked like not just for the United States, but for the world.

Please enjoy!
 
OCTOBER 5, 1919
WASHINGTON D.C.
U.S. CAPITOL-OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

While Vice President Marshall stood conflicted in his office, on the other side of the building, a meeting of equally momentous potential was taking place. Its participants, though not strangers to the workings of government by any means, were dumbfounded on how to proceed forward.

That President Wilson had had a stroke was not in doubt. That he would be ineffective in executing the duties of his office was also not in doubt. How to proceed forward with remedying the situation, however, was very much in doubt. Compounding the problem was that, while the four men were motivated to do what was best for the country, politics always seemed to find a way to muddy the what should have been clear.

The first man spoke.

“There is no doubt that Marshall should act. I only say that it could be difficult to provide him Congressional support…….so far as my members in the Senate are concerned. Wilson’s shenanigans in Paris earlier this year have most certainly cooled them to Wilson and his idealist views on how the world should work.”

Senator Henry Cabot Lodge was most certainly a man of principle. Having served in the Senate since before the turn of the century, he was the leader of the Senate Republicans in all but name; and most certainly the antithesis of everything Wilson stood for, especially when it came to the Treaty. Which wasn’t to say that he was completely wrong. After all, hadn’t the American people concurred to some degree? Why else would they have given the Republicans control of Congress in the previous year’s elections?

The man next to Lodge sipped his whiskey and nodded in concurrence. Though Speaker of the House Frederick Gillett wasn’t quite the outspoken, or aggressive some would say, politician Lodge was, there was no doubt that he effectively commanded the obedience of House Republicans; though the inside Washington gossip tended to say that this was more due to the Majority Leader Franklin Mondell.

“While the House Republicans would be more willing to aid Mr. Marshall, they would, at the end of the day, stand shoulder to shoulder with their Senate colleagues.” Gillett stated, finishing his drink.

The man sitting across from the Speaker growled and quickly downed the contents of his glass. It would be no insult to say that Senator Oscar Underwood was a fair man of the bottle. It was compliment that he would wear with honor. Not that this dented his capabilities as a politician or Senator. He was to Senate Democrats what Lodge was to Senate Republicans, the leader.

“Let us be realistic gentlemen. Your true intentions for not pushing this matter forward are clearer than the real intent behind Prohibition.” said Underwood, who proceeded to pour himself another drink.
“While we clearly would not want the President to be forced out, this country needs a leader….and not an invalid. Yet isn’t your presumption that the Vice President might be agreeable to some changes to the Treaty? Changes that might make it more palatable for the people and the Senate? So far better to leave the country in limbo.” Underwood finished, then quickly recharged his empty glass. Making rants tended to make one thirsty.

The forth man, who up to this point had been mostly aloof raised his head to join the conversation. AT 69 years old, Champ Clark had perhaps the most extensive experience in the highest. He had served for Speaker for eight years prior to Gillett; only to lose his position, and the majority, in previous midterms. He had also stood against Wilson for the Democratic nomination for president in 1912, failing to get the necessary two-thirds needed to secure it. It was only after some back room dealing, and allegations against Clark, that Wilson had won the nomination, and would go onto with the election. Although Clark had served the party and, by extension, Wilson faithfully as Speaker, the two men could never be described as drinking buddies.

“Gentlemen, I would submit that this conversation is moot until we discover what the intentions of Mr. Marshall are. Also, the Congress needs an unbiased and accurate appraisal of the President’s health. Until we have the answers to those questions, we are merely trying to storm a trench with bayonets.” Clark concluded.

Underwood gave an uncomfortable laugh, while the other two men stared in stony silence. Perhaps the reference would have been more amusing had it not been for the recent carnage in Europe; or the fact that it has cost 50,000 U.S. boys their lives.

Lodge finally spoke up.

“I agree with Congressman Clark. We need answers and right now we simply do not have them. I propose that the four of us conduct a meeting with the Vice President tomorrow on this matter. Shall we say the same time?”

Looking to the other three men and nothing their nods, Lodge continued.

“Very good gentlemen. Once we know where Mr. Marshall’s thoughts lie then we can proceed with the best way forward. If there is nothing remaining, then I wish you good evening.”

As the four men left the office, they could have no earthly clue that historians would, one day, call this one of the most important meetings in American political history. Nor would they have no clue that their conversation would have been in complete confidence had it not been for an unknown aide skulking in the antechamber.
 
One important point. In no circs will Senator Lodge support Marshall's assumption of Presidential powers if that is likely to facilitate passage of the Treaty. His "reservations" are designed to bring about its defeat, not to make it more palatable.
 
Senator Lodge's biggest objection was to Article X of the Treaty. This article required all signatory nations to repel aggression of any kind. He essentially did not want to hand over Congress' power to declare war to the League of Nations. Lodge led the Senate Republicans who could have accepted the treaty with major revisions.......especially Article X.

Politically, he despised Wilson immensely. The feeling was quite mutual. There would not, and could not be any compromises between the two men. Marshall, OTOH, may have been more willing to compromise.

Lodge was a big proponent for a powerful American role in world affairs; this could have been the way.

The treaty may still not be ratified in this story. I'm simply proposing another path.
 
The 29th President?

Coming soon!

Thomas_Riley_Marshall_headshot.jpg
 
Sorry for the delay in posting an update.......real life has an unfortunate way of getting in the way.

With that said, please enjoy the following teaser:

“I, Thomas Riley Marshall, 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. So help me God.”
 
[Previously]

“I agree with Congressman Clark. We need answers and right now we simply do not have them. I propose that the four of us conduct a meeting with the Vice President tomorrow on this matter. Shall we say the same time?”

Looking to the other three men and nothing their nods, Lodge continued.

“Very good gentlemen. Once we know where Mr. Marshall’s thoughts lie then we can proceed with the best way forward. If there is nothing remaining, then I wish you good evening.”


October 5, 1919: U.S. Capitol, The Vice President’s Office,

Vice President Marshall sat in his office as if he had the world on his shoulders. In one sense, he probably did. For once he made this decision, everything would be placed upon him. He stared at the book on his desk; a codified copy of the Constitution. Sighing, he thumbed through the pages until he go to t section he was looking for………….Article II.



Another teaser. I hope to get the next chapter up soon.



 
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