Thank you all for the kind words!
I'm thrilled, as always that you enjoyed the latest update.
I'm honestly just surprised and thrilled that my little bit got canonized!
It was too good not to,
@Worffan101! Thank you again for your contribution. I'll be sure to keep you all updated on Senator Murphy's comings and goings in the Upper Chamber. As Worffan alluded to, the Senator, given his popularity, likely won't have
too much trouble getting reelected when the time comes for it. Methinks he can expect a long and hopefully fruitful career in the Senate.
Guests roasted Representative Mo Udall for his 61st birthday. During the dinner, viewer calls are taken.
www.c-span.org
Yes, this is real. It's magnificent.
This is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing,
@Enigma-Conundrum !
Fantastic work on the Environment and Energy there President Mo. That should leave a major impact on Alaska and the USA in general.
Wonder if Alaska could benifit from building huge numbers of the Wind Turbines? Given the Sun levels in the SW US that can be covered in Solar farms - that should provide some jobs!
Lovely writing
@President_Lincoln and
@Worffan101
Great ideas! My research on IRL Alternative Energy projects in Alaska has revealed that wind turbines, solar farms (only in use in the summers, of course), and especially hydroelectric power are all viable options for the "Last Frontier". As time progresses in
Blue Skies, expect President Udall's green energy initiatives to start working their way through the country, even eventually to mighty Alaska.
How has the Alaskan public reacted to the new deal,
@President_Lincoln?
Good chapter, as always!
As
@President Earl Warren pointed out, the Alaskan public is
none too pleased about the success of President Udall's bill. Even with a large amount of public support across the Lower 48 (around 65 - 70%), only 11% of Americans in Alaska supported preserving the Federal Land as Udall eventually did. This, as stated in the chapter, is largely due to Alaskans desiring more immigrants, jobs/economic development, and spending in the local economy to fund infrastructure and other projects. While this act has certainly drained whatever goodwill the President had in Alaska, politically, Alaska has always been a staunchly conservative/libertarian state to begin with. That is not different ITTL. So far, Alaska has backed the GOP ticket in every race covered ITTL.
1964 - One of the few states to back Governor Rockefeller over President Kennedy.
1968 - Voted for Governor George Romney.
1972 - Voted for President Bush.
1976 - Voted once again for President Bush.
President Udall advocated for the
Alaska Land Use Act despite it not being popular in Alaska, because he felt it was the right thing to do. Other Democrats (including Chief of Staff Stew Udall), were also willing to back it because they weren't too concerned about their popularity in an already conservative state. Will this strategy pay off in the long run? Only time will tell. Of course, in the short term, expect both Alaskan Senate seats, as well as its sole House seat to stay "True Blue" Republican.
One question if I may: What is happening in mainland europe?
Running the risk of sounding sarcastic - lots! Here are some major events from Mainland Europe (up to and including 1977) that I haven't included in an update as of yet:
Incumbent President: Francois Mitterrand (Parti Socialiste )
France in 1977 stands at the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. The "
Trente Glorieuses" ("Glorious Thirty"), a period of near miraculous economic growth and relative prosperity brought on by the end of the Second World War and U.S. aid from the Marshall Plan has come to a close. While economic prosperity and average living standards have remained high under the left-wing government of President Mitterrand (the first Socialist to be elected President of the Fifth Republic), GDP growth has cooled to a more modest 2-3% annually. Most economists blame this on the after effects of the 1973 oil shock and unrest in the Middle East, though conservative elements in France are quick to blame Mitterrand and his Socialists as they gear up for the 1981 Presidential election. In general, "the Hexagon" maintains its strength and position in Western Europe, as well as its leadership role within the burgeoning European Economic Community (EEC). Speaking of which, here are the EEC's members, as of 1977:
Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom
Another important event:
June 27th, 1977 - Djibouti achieves its independence from France, continuing the international trend of decolonization.
Incumbent Chancellor: Helmut Schmidt (SPD, in coalition with FDP)
Like its neighbor, France, West Germany is currently working to combat the economic malaise of the 1970's. Following revelations that one of his personal aides was, in fact, an East Germany Communist spy, the exhausted Willy Brandt resigned his position in 1974, leaving his Finance Minister, Schmidt, to take over the ship of state, as the new head of an uneasy coalition between his own centre-left SPD and the classically liberal FDP. Since taking power, Schmidt has worked to slowly reform German society, while taking a hard line to cut public spending and impose austerity measures. This has led to clashes with the left wing of his own party, but Schmidt (a former Defence Minister),
has earned international respect for his shrewd diplomacy, especially his efforts to strengthen ties with Mitterrand's France. By 1977, West Germany is considered one of the leading nations of Western Europe, and a leader of the EEC as well. Schmidt has also earned high marks from economists, who marvel at his country's ability to "weather the storm" and emerge from the Great Recession with relatively low levels of both inflation and unemployment. German productivity has, it seems, come to save the day again.
Incumbent Prime Minister: Aldo Moro (Christian Democracy, in a "Grand Coalition")
The late 1960's and 1970's were not happy times for the nation of Italy. Often called "
anni di piombo" ("Years of Lead") by common people and historians alike, these twelve or so years were marked by political instability, violence in the streets, and rampant intimidation and even assassinations. Bombings, murders, and riots plagued the streets as government after government was elected and subsequently failed to solve the rampant infighting. Finally in May of 1978, Prime Minister Aldo Moro of the Christian Democrats, a famed reformer and figure of great reverence within the country, managed to put a stop to the violence when he achieved what he called the
"historic compromise". This compromise, at its core, involved the creation of a coalition between the centre-right Christian Democrats and the Communist Party of Italy, which Moro understood was more nationalist than the "red brigades" causing violence in the streets. The Italian Communist party practiced "neocommunism" or "eurocommunism", a more democratic form of the ideology which
absolutely opposed influence from Moscow. Moro's compromise was not easy. He survived an assassination attempt by the Red Guards as he attempted to form the coalition and before that fended off whispers of a Military Coup attempt. (Note: The CIA officer on the ground at the time - 1973 - asked then-President Bush if he would support a military coup. The President responded that he would "support any government in Italy that effectively kept the communist party from power", a clear violation of the Kennedy Doctrine. But the President felt that Italy, a Western European nation, was too critical a location to "fall" to communism.) Despite the bloodshed, Italy under Prime Ministers like Moro has experienced leaps and bounds of social and economic progress. Regional governments were introduced in 1970 to address local/regional concerns when the national government was preoccupied. These new governments were given autonomy and authority to legislate in areas such as public works, town planning, social welfare, transportation, and others. National spending on the relatively poor, agrarian south of the country increased dramatically - leading to development and a much higher standard of living there. By 1977, Italy had the most generous welfare provisions in Europe. Simultaneously, Italian workers were, on average among the best paid, most protected, and best treated on the continent.
Do you have questions about other countries in Europe I can answer? If so, I would be happy to.