Beauty Beyond The Senses: Heston in the White House

Would I interest you in a drink courtesy of my lawyer from the island of Samoa?

Fifty points to Ravenclaw if that was a reference to Uncle Duke from Doonesbury (and a period reference too, his Samoan buddy was a fixture of the Seventies era of the strip.)

Heston's already built a very interesting coalition and you've done an excellent job establishing it in a plausible way: African Americans (less clear on Latino loyalties here though they already tended Democratic in SoCal despite Yorty), tribal-loyalty Democrats, and numbers of liberal-to-moderate Republicans who wanted a Murphy alternative they could live with. Already sets him out as from a different part of the Democratic coalition than union-and-Catholic-backed American social democrats like Humphrey, Mondale, or Ted Kennedy. Add in those sweet, sweet Electoral College votes from Cali and Heston does become an attractive alternative to a Southerner on a Democratic ticket.

A question -- how will Heston's rise affect the development of Jerry Brown's career? Will they become allies in their own sort of West Coast New Democrat way, will personalities rub wrong, will young Jerry resent being overshadowed by the movie star on the national stage? Fun stuff awaits.
 
Fifty points to Ravenclaw if that was a reference to Uncle Duke from Doonesbury (and a period reference too, his Samoan buddy was a fixture of the Seventies era of the strip.)
I am a big fan of H-S-T, yes.

Heston's already built a very interesting coalition and you've done an excellent job establishing it in a plausible way: African Americans (less clear on Latino loyalties here though they already tended Democratic in SoCal despite Yorty), tribal-loyalty Democrats, and numbers of liberal-to-moderate Republicans who wanted a Murphy alternative they could live with. Already sets him out as from a different part of the Democratic coalition than union-and-Catholic-backed American social democrats like Humphrey, Mondale, or Ted Kennedy. Add in those sweet, sweet Electoral College votes from Cali and Heston does become an attractive alternative to a Southerner on a Democratic ticket.

Thank you (and at this junction, this little article was very useful with regards to info about the senate race). Heston's appeal to black voters and white voters alike is a point of interest, and one Cali Democrats may look too. Though tbf part of that may have been down to his persona - there may not be such an effect in six years time. But yes, that 'coalition' could very well appeal him to [Insert Democratic Nominee Here] down the line. ;)

A question -- how will Heston's rise affect the development of Jerry Brown's career? Will they become allies in their own sort of West Coast New Democrat way, will personalities rub wrong, will young Jerry resent being overshadowed by the movie star on the national stage? Fun stuff awaits.
Very good question. I actually plan to talk about Edmund the Younger and Heston at some point in the future.
 
The Ropes
Los Angeles Times Article - 1/3/1971

HESTON SWORN IN; FINDS WAY AROUND D.C.

Charlton Heston (D-CA) was sworn in as California's Senator at 9:30 p.m. PT today by Vice President Spiro Agnew in a short ceremony to succeed George Murphy. Like Murphy, Heston is a prominent actor who has no prior experience in electoral politics. He was flanked by his wife Lydia, son Fraser, as well as his extended family in addition to a small contingent of acting friends who watched from the senate gallery.

Conversation between Senators Heston and Humphrey - 1/3/1971

HESTON: It's a pleasure to meet you, Hubert.
HUMPHREY: And I you, Mr. Heston. You aren't very familiar with this environment, I take it.
HESTON: I know the place, Hubert, I just haven't been here. I've been around, you know.
HUMPHREY: Yes, yes, of course. I saw that ad you did a couple years ago -
HESTON: The one by Laughlin?
HUMPHREY: That's the - uh - one I was thinking of.
HESTON: Hubert, I want you to know that I've been in a - heh - few productions as well.
HUMPHREY: How could I forget? I quite liked the one with the...apes, wasn't it?
HESTON: Many did.
HUMPHREY: ...
HUMPHREY: Shall I show you around the building?
HESTON: Certainly.
HUMPHREY: Well, you'll find the Candy Desk over there...

Excerpt from El-Cid: The Life of Charlton Heston by Emelie Raymond - Released 2004

Heston found himself in a body full of strangers when he had arrived to the senate. Initially, he intended to pass bills in relation to arts funding and tax breaks for the Motion Picture Industry, but this was more difficult than imagined as other bills came to the forefront of the congressional table. On this front, he would find a friend in senator and former vice president Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota, who became one of his lasting friends in congress. They were not political opposites by any means, but the 'coalitions' that propelled them to victory in their respective states were markedly different. Humphrey could appreciate Heston's time as a de facto union boss during his premiership of the Screen Actors Guild, while Heston had nothing but respect for the longtime civil rights campaigner. Of course, Humphrey made no bones about his secret intentions to stand against Nixon in 1972, and Heston was aware of this.

One of Heston's first major pieces of legislation came in the form of the 'Javits bill', which was introduced by New York Senator Jacob Javits on the 25th. It reformed the private pension system in order to mandate employers to insure employees. It also would create a Pension and Employee Benefit Plan Commission which would establish coverage priorities. It went before the Senate Labor Committee, which Heston was a part of, in July of 1971. He telephoned Javits numerous times between January and July, as well as Labor Committee chairman Harrison Williams of New Jersey. Heston ensured that he would support the bill in exchange for Javits' support on a bill regarding funding of the arts that Heston had planned to author in the coming months. However, it faced trouble when Russell Long's Finance Committee took issue with the bill's blatant attempt to establish the Labor Committee's dominance on matters relating to pensions. Long was, to put it bluntly, 'pissed'. He wasn't willing to let things go by without a fight.

This is where Heston came in. Long, who planned to refer the bill to Finance, met with him to have a 'brisk' conversation. Heston intended to see through the passage of Javits' bill, regardless of his own small seniority in the senate. The meeting was frank, and both men came out of it only slightly more sure than before. Heston sought to address Long's problems by consulting Williams and requesting that the provisions which enhanced the Labor Committee's power on funding and portability (the transferring of pension funds being altered). Williams then spoke to Javits, who reluctantly agreed to withdraw those specific motions. Long backed down, and permitted the bill to go to the senate in time for the summer of 1972, where it would pass with 60 votes in favor and 39 in opposition (with one absence). Heston had made his mark, and Humphrey was very impressed.

In mid-to-late 1971, Heston, along with Republican Senator Charles 'Mac' Mathias of Maryland, would author the Heston-Mathias Art Protection Act of 1971. The bill, in spite of Mathias' involvement, was essentially Heston's baby. Many of the provisions were holdovers from the SAG period, including a 20% tax break on income made via the American Motion Picture Industry and investment tax credits for studios, plus a $2,000,000 increase in funding for the National Endowment of the Arts. While it would not make it pass Long's Finance Committee, many of the sections made it into the Revenue Act of 1971 and other tax-related bills of that year...

Moving House; Diaries 1970-1976 by Charlton Heston - Entry for 11/1/1971

Further success on the Javits bill. It's incredibly odd to find myself speaking the language of congresspeople, as it is a strange and complex language not used on the streets of Los Angeles. It has been a year since I won the race against Murphy, and yet I still perform what the comedians refer to as a double-take whenever someone refers to me as 'Senator'. Progress has been made, but I suspect it will be some time before I accustom myself to this bloody chamber...

Saw Ted [Kennedy] on the floor today. Still a deeply unpleasant man who I doubt I will ever come to like. I voted for his brother, but something about him rubs me the wrong way. I must express relief that he is not in the fray for 1972, as I'm unsure on whether I could bring myself to support him out of any sense other than the mysterious beast known as 'party unity'.
 
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Have to say I love the incrementalism of the last entry. Showing Heston learning the ropes, focusing on his lifelong commitment to funding the arts and humanities (which survived his political transformation IOTL), even the diary entry with the kind of high-flown language Heston liked to indulge in, all good stuff. Love it when there's granular detail like we've gotten several places in this TL.
 
Fear and Loathing with Nixon's Number One Democrat
Excerpt from Simply the Best: Heston's Road to Pennsylvania Avenue by Jeff Shields - released 2002

The 1972 Democratic field was a particularly wide one, especially when seen in comparison to those from 1960 or 1968. The introduction of a primary system was revolutionary, and one that led to its architect, Senator George McGovern, losing vital support from union bosses who had made up a large chunk of the donor base. It transformed the traditional nominating system beyond recognition, and in part contributed to the aforementioned crowded field. Heston consented to the new system, acknowledging that perceived unfair processes led to record violence among the New Left supporters of Gene McCarthy, who was seeking a comeback this year too. He was no fan of McGovern, however, and thought that delegate reforms meant that the new slates would be almost entirely dominated by untested New Left activists. Admitting in a post-presidential interview that he wasn't ideologically different from his friend and mentor Hubert Humphrey (also in the race), Heston said "Yes, I knew that McGovern was, at his core, someone who shared the same beliefs as Hubert. But, I don't think he had his head in the right place when it came to looking abroad. He wanted an immediate withdrawal from Vietnam. Cut-and-run, that sort of nonsense."

Heston's support for the Vietnam war was steadfast, but he was not on the level of others who advocated harsher policies, like General William Westmoreland. Heston lent support to Humphrey's own position on the matter of halting the bombing, but not halting the war. It was a position that set him apart from many other actors, and one that drew ire from anti-war protesters, some of whom labeled him 'El-Cid the Charlie Killer'.

**
Briefly, during the 1972 cycle, arose questions about whether Heston would throw his own hat into the proverbial ring. He was not at all interested in doing so, having just been elected senator and already having a satisfactory candidate in Senator Humphrey, and not wanting to strain relations with his apolitical wife Lydia more than they already had been. So no, Heston '72 was little more than a dream from friends like Jolly West. Instead, he lobbied for Humphrey, whose campaign would linger in the doldrums until front runner Ed Muskie's public meltdown prior to the New Hampshire primary (in reaction to letters published in the New Hampshire Union Leader alleging that his wife hated those of Quebecois heritage) and ensuing unraveling. McGovern was the real victor of Muskie's downfall, having secured a far stronger than expected showing in the Granite State, followed up by a crushing victory in Wisconsin. Humphrey snatched up momentum when he claimed victory in the Pennsylvania primary. It appeared that Heston stood alone in Hollywood opposition to 'Acid, Amnesty, and Abortion' McGovern, as others, including Shirley MacLane, furiously campaigned for the South Dakota senator. His wavering on the eventual nominee would lead to him garnering the nickname of 'Nixon's favorite Democrat', a slogan used by his primary challenger Tom Hayden in 1976.
**
George Wallace's populist campaign also took the primaries by storm. He had taken Florida and was well on his way to sweeping the southern states. Heston did not like George Wallace, to put it simply. He considered him brash and uncouth, especially in his political opportunism in relation to minority rights. On the campaign trail, however, he felt no need to go after him. This changed when Wallace attacked him personally at a campaign event in his native Alabama, in which he said "We look out there at Ol' Hubert Humphrey, out there campaignin'. Y'gotta look at who he's campaignin' with this guy - you all know 'im - that fella, Chuck Heston. Big ol' Hollywood liberal, a richie, out there tellin' us what we can an' can't do." Heston caught the remarks, having seen them on CBS, and sought to respond. At a Humphrey campaign event, Heston, after getting agreement from Humphrey supporter John Loeb, spoke about Governor Wallace. "I've heard some remarks made about me by a man we are all too familiar with," he said over cheers and boos, "and I thought about them, and a conclusion has been reached. Let it be said that aspersions such as these should not be tolerated on any level. I did not grow up in a mansion, or any form of well-off environment. It was a simple abode, a fine place to live, but not one for those living in extravagance. I spent my childhood exploring the forest, hunting, fishing. I wasn't a resident of a high-flung Ivory Tower, surrounded by jewels and riches. And if George Wallace is willing to label me a Hollywood liberal, I don't think he would mind me labeling him an Alabama jackass." The remarks stung Wallace and genuinely surprised colleagues, who had never heard Heston use strong language such as this. Heston himself regretted the remarks, personally considering it an exercise in 'opportunity Olympics', but never apologized to Wallace over them. However, others, including future president Marion Berry, considered the remarks entirely appropriate.

The Wallace campaign would be granted a shot in the arm, literally, when the Governor was shot by Arthur Bremer on a cool day in Maryland on the 15th of May. Despite concerns from doctors, Wallace escaped un-scatched except on his left arm. Heston issued a statement condemning Bremer's actions and reiterating his opposition to political violence of all stripes. Wallace would go on to carry the next few primaries in Maryland and Michigan, and later on, New Mexico. The 1972 convention would see a great amount of division between Wallace, Humphrey, and McGovern factions.
--
Excerpt from Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 by Hunter S. Thompson - released 1973

...so in the California mess, McGovern just about carried the state, meaning that good old Nixon lover Charlton Heston's campaigning for the Hump didn't pay off...
--
Excerpt from an interview with Fraser Heston - released 2006

INTERVIEWER: Your father was invested in 72. The convention - how did that play out?
HESTON: We didn't attend it.
INTERVIEWER: Why?
HESTON: No, he was very willing to attend the convention. There was a three way deadlock between McGovern, Humphrey, and Wallace. It looked though that dad's friend Humphrey wouldn't make it, because of McGovern's win in California. The delegates -
INTERVIEWER: How were they proportioned?
HESTON: That was the thing - they weren't. They were all given to McGovern, even though he won the primary by a tiny tiny margin. That annoyed dad to no end. And in fact they were planning to rule on whether or not to give some delegates to Humphrey - there was a big movement in support of that. Dad supported that.
INTERVIEWER: So how did it not work out?
HESTON: Well, dad wanted to go there and appeal in favor of Humphrey. He had all the arguments ready and done. Then, something nasty came down - a week before the convention, I believe. He was out walking and he got hit by a car. It wasn't a serious injury, only really cracked his knee. Still bad enough that he couldn't go, doctor's orders - and there they ruled in favor of McGovern - gave him the all clear.
INTERVIEW: If - say, your father hadn't been hit - would he have gotten Humphrey the nomination?
HESTON: In all certainty, yes.
--
Excerpt from Riding the Chariot by Charlton Heston - released 1996

1972 was a race that I would rather leave in the annals of history where it belongs. Not only had my absence at the convention in Miami Beach aided Senator McGovern's rise to the nomination, his campaign did not co-operate with me. Of course, I had to vote for McGovern in the end - party loyalty was a harsh burden to shoulder - but I didn't relish such a decision. Mis-step after mis-step followed on the campaign trail with regards to reaching out to voters, but the bugging of the Watergate complex played a part in the election and signaled to me that perhaps Dick Nixon was not as saintly a figure as I had once imagined. The story bubbled over until the election, but it was clear that something was going on. I still couldn't forgive the mistakes of the McGovern/Ribicoff campaign. Had Humphrey pulled through, no doubt would there have been a closely contested race with Nixon in deep trouble. Instead, we got a Democratic ticket that lost by seventeen points and carried only four states. Congressional results differed - but that didn't matter a trifle if 'we' didn't have someone on 'our' side in the White House. While it would be far flung to say that I had a winning blueprint in California, I thought that Democrats could learn something from my campaign.
 
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More great stuff and some... interesting markers of the future salted in there here and there. One nit to pick (and you can wave butterflies at me if you need to) I'd go for someone other than Bayh on the back end of McGovern's ticket (so it'd only be changing one word one place) because the reason Bayh himself didn't enter the '72 primaries was his beloved wife Marvella's first go-round with breast cancer (later killed her in '79) happened during that period of time. But I do think a Midwesterner or Northeasterner is the natural way to go (he wasn't going to talk a Southerner into joining that ticket.) Maybe ITTL John Lindsay stays out of the race and McGovern reaches out hoping to broaden his liberal base expecting Wallace to go third-party-rogue at some point? (You're right to have Wallace sit it out, too -- there's a pile of circumstantial evidence that Nixon had a sit-down and told him that unless he won the Democratic nomination outright, which Tricky Dick figured would create enough useful chaos on its own, any third-party run would result in Wallace's brother going to prison on a cornucopia of tax-evasion charges.) Lovely foreshadowing in the last line.
 
So the Watergate Break-in still happened; I'm guessing then that Nixon still falls and resigns as OTL. Which means his successor (who may or may not be Ford TTL) is likely the GOP candidate in 76, unless Reagan's insurrection is successful TTL.

Whatever the case, I'm going to predict that the Republicans just manage to hold the White House for another four years TTL, meaning that the Democrats are posed to take it back in 1980... in which case, I think we all know who the winner would be.
 
More great stuff and some... interesting markers of the future salted in there here and there. One nit to pick (and you can wave butterflies at me if you need to) I'd go for someone other than Bayh on the back end of McGovern's ticket (so it'd only be changing one word one place) because the reason Bayh himself didn't enter the '72 primaries was his beloved wife Marvella's first go-round with breast cancer (later killed her in '79) happened during that period of time. But I do think a Midwesterner or Northeasterner is the natural way to go (he wasn't going to talk a Southerner into joining that ticket.) Maybe ITTL John Lindsay stays out of the race and McGovern reaches out hoping to broaden his liberal base expecting Wallace to go third-party-rogue at some point? (You're right to have Wallace sit it out, too -- there's a pile of circumstantial evidence that Nixon had a sit-down and told him that unless he won the Democratic nomination outright, which Tricky Dick figured would create enough useful chaos on its own, any third-party run would result in Wallace's brother going to prison on a cornucopia of tax-evasion charges.) Lovely foreshadowing in the last line.
Gaylord Nelson or Vance Hartke wouldn't be a bad choice to replace Bayh.
 
More great stuff and some... interesting markers of the future salted in there here and there. One nit to pick (and you can wave butterflies at me if you need to) I'd go for someone other than Bayh on the back end of McGovern's ticket (so it'd only be changing one word one place) because the reason Bayh himself didn't enter the '72 primaries was his beloved wife Marvella's first go-round with breast cancer (later killed her in '79) happened during that period of time. But I do think a Midwesterner or Northeasterner is the natural way to go (he wasn't going to talk a Southerner into joining that ticket.) Maybe ITTL John Lindsay stays out of the race and McGovern reaches out hoping to broaden his liberal base expecting Wallace to go third-party-rogue at some point? (You're right to have Wallace sit it out, too -- there's a pile of circumstantial evidence that Nixon had a sit-down and told him that unless he won the Democratic nomination outright, which Tricky Dick figured would create enough useful chaos on its own, any third-party run would result in Wallace's brother going to prison on a cornucopia of tax-evasion charges.) Lovely foreshadowing in the last line.
Interesting thoughts as always. Yes, Wallace is in better shape TTL which has intrresting ramifications on '76 - but we'll get to that when we get to that. ;) Whatever do you mean by the foreshadowing? bitch set him up

As for the VP section - d'oh. I'll just go with Abe Ribicoff in the meantime (Cronkite would've been an interesting possibility albeit one that would've distracted from Heston).

JFP - Yes, Watergate occurs here as well. Time will tell if Heston's presence affects Ford's ascension.
 
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Whatever do you mean by the foreshadowing?

"While it would be far flung to say that I had a winning blueprint in California, I thought that Democrats could learn something from my campaign."

Somebody thinks he could maybe build a new Democratic coalition, and in an era of political realignment... Love the little comment after that :p

ETA: Wonder if young Mr. Hart (who went from being one of McGovern's bright young things to winning his Colorado senate seat by running to the right of the relatively-liberal Republican incumbent) was taking notes...
 
"(Cronkite would've been an interesting possibility albeit one that would've distracted from Heston)."

Aaaaaand we have another TL on the back burner. Bremer misses his chance at Wallace in June, shoots Nixon later in the summer. McGovern manages the convention much better and picks Cronkite. Wallace figures Agnew doesn't know all Nixon's dirty tricks and chances a third-party run. Agnew gets panicky about holding Nixon's baggage and comes down hard on the Watergate team, who retaliate by helping Wallace air Agnew's dirty laundry from Maryland. There is no clear winner in November. The heavily Democratic Senate elects Cronkite Vice President. Threats of impeachment because of the corruption charges he now faces force Agnew out of the race. McGovern narrowly defeats Wallace in the House because even as a number of conservative delegations line up against him, hey, it's George Wallace. Every liberal is ready for dancing Ewoks and fireworks when -- dun dun dun -- McGovern is tragically gunned down by Squeaky Fromme. In these times of national chaos and tragedy, to whom can Americans turn? That's The Way It Is....
 
Odds (featuring Sods)
Excerpt from Abe Weiler's review of Soylent Green - 4/20/73

We won't reveal that ingredient but it must be noted that Richard Fleischer's direction stresses action, not nuances of meaning or characterization. Mr. Robinson is pitiably natural as the realistic, sensitive oldster facing the futility of living in dying surroundings. Mr. Finch, too, lends some resemblance of natural depth to the production but in the end is simply a cop chasing the sorts of bad guys we've seen before...

Excerpt from Roger Ebert's review of the Omega Man - 1/1/71

I shall start with a question. If we must have a notable Hollywood actor to serve in the role of Last Man on Earth, why not Paul Newman? He keenly outmaneuvered prison guards in "Cool Hand Luke" (1967), so there appears to be no downside in squaring him up against the ghouls in "The Omega Man". They are in no way smarter. Plus, who better to survive in this veritable wasteland than Butch Cassidy?

Excerpt from El-Cid: The Life of Charlton Heston by Emelie Raymond - Released 2004

Over the course of the Watergate trials and hearings, mostly chaired by Senator Sam Ervin, Heston would see his support for President Nixon evaporate. Prior to the revelations, Heston had been a proud 'Nixon Democrat' in private (he dared not to use the label in public on the advice of Vallenti) who consented to the majority of what he saw as necessary moderate reforms, such as price controls. To an extent, he was calmly welcoming the end of the Vietnam War, though he was also hoping to help the veterans of the conflict through social welfare programs (as reflected later in his career). Nixon's attempt at creating a New Republican Majority through outreach to African-American and Hispanic voters was something that Heston became skeptical of, as he was no fan of what he saw as turning America into different divisions of ethnic strife. As the 'stagflation' continued as a result of Nixon's moderate policies, Heston began to think that more radical solutions were required. In later diaries, Heston noted that he would have reluctantly cast a vote in favor of impeaching the president - a vote that was never required as Nixon resigned before it became necessary, seeing former House Minority Leader Gerald Ford arise to the office. Ford was nothing but well-meaning at first, and was desperately hoping to heal the burgeoning national divide that Heston was also concerned about.

Watergate would produce fantastic dividends for the Democratic party, as the 1974 midterms would result in the greatest amount of Democrats in Congress for years. Four more Democrats were returned in California, and the party would retake the gubernatorial mansion with Edmund 'Jerry' Brown, son of the governor prior to Reagan. Heston's attitude to Brown was mixed; the two had first met at a campaign fundraiser in June of 1974, and while Heston was not mindful of the youngster, he also considered Brown's practices (which included transcendental meditation) little more than fruity. Brown, in Heston's eyes, was a 'peacenik', and not the sort Heston willed to represent the Democratic party, but he knew that while Brown was residing in the Governor's Mansion, he would have to deal with him. Heston was more welcoming of California's other political novice, L.A. Councilman George Takei, himself mooted for a role in Brown's administration.
 
L.A. Councilman George Takei, himself mooted for a role in Brown's administration.

OOOOOOOOOHHHHHH MYYYYYYYYYYYY YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSS

(Yes I do have a bass-baritone speaking voice. So you may imagine that rendered in the Way of Takei.) You get at least three additional unofficial "likes" for that.
 
OOOOOOOOOHHHHHH MYYYYYYYYYYYY YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSS

(Yes I do have a bass-baritone speaking voice. So you may imagine that rendered in the Way of Takei.) You get at least three additional unofficial "likes" for that.
A little bit of wish fulfillment, a little bit of hand waving, and a little bit of butterflies (namely, Heston being more hands on in his downballot campaigning than Tunney and going out to help a fellow actor). ;)
 
A little bit of wish fulfillment, a little bit of hand waving, and a little bit of butterflies (namely, Heston being more hands on in his downballot campaigning than Tunney and going out to help a fellow actor). ;)

All plausible (esp. the butterflies, if Takei's picked a viable district in which to run, Heston's civil rights impulse would combine with doing a solid for a civic-minded actor.) Only a soupcon of handwavium. Will be interesting to see where that goes if the San Francisco political scene shifts in similar ways as IOTL as the decade passes.

ETA: By "Heston's civil rights impulse," in this case I mean that Takei is an Asian-American interned in the camps for Nisei in his boyhood. That speaks to Heston. The other central element of George Takei's identity will become a political football eventually, I'm sure, but not for a while yet.
 
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