By The Lions Hand
August 15th, 2010
USA
California
UC Berkley
American Political History classroom B-104
Professor Holmes looked out at his class rather large class. The year was still young and he had yet learn the names of even a handful of his students, though he was sure that he would come to know the slackers and the overachievers well.
The elderly professor started in on the lecture of the day “ Now today we will be discussing a man who many would give the tile of the most influential American President, discounting George Washington. Does anyone have any guesses who that man might be?”
Holmes looked out at the crowd of hands and saw a few raise instantly and a number of others rise more slowly. Holmes decided it best to chose a rather intellectual young man near the front.
“Yes you with the glasses.” he said pointing his finger at the twenty-something year old.
“Would it by any chance be President John F. Kennedy?” The young collage student asked?
Holmes felt like telling the kid to get out. He didn’t but he certainly felt like it.
“No”- he said flatly - “While President Kennedy was an influential figure and contributed heavily to the end of segregation in the US, but he was president in a very stable time and had little influence on the international stage.”- he paused for a moment before going on - “No, I was referring to President Theodore Roosevelt.”
Holmes stopped for a moment after a red-head with funny looking curls raised her hand to ask a question.
“Yes?” Holes asked pointing to the girl.
“Professor, I understand that President Roosevelt was an important figure and a very influential man, but what makes him anymore influential then say President Lincoln, or his distant cousin Franklin Roosevelt?”
Holmes smiled slightly. “That my dear is what this lecture will be about. Now is you would all be kind enough to begin taking note, I don’t like to take to walls, I will begin…”
June, 20th, 1912
USA
Chicago, Illinois
Republican national convention
Elihu Root could not hardly believe his eyes, first Roosevelt had broken the unwritten rule of not appearing on the floor until nominated, which had made several in the Republican establishment upset, but now three days into the convention he was speaking from the floor.
Root heard the unnatural silence that seemed to drown out even the slightest attempts at a whisper as Roosevelt began to speak,. Not as if speaking from his bully pulpit, but with a soothing hypnotic voice that caught the attention of everyone in the convention hall.
It was his famous "Voice in the Crowd" speech that detailed his strong views with such passion and such inspirational qualities that not even Root could deny how impressed he had been by it. It would prove to be the turning point of the convention
Root who had once deserted his old friend Roosevelt for the party establishment could not help but turn around and nominate Roosevelt.
Roosevelt would go on to be nominated by the majority and with the Republican nomination. His first task had been completed, but his next would be to tougher by far. For the Progressive Republican would have to face off against an equally progressive Democrat by the name of Woodrow Wilson.
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OCC:I was inspired to write this TL after I read a rather fanciful short story about a Roosevelt victory. i hope mine is more accurate as I have been doing quite a bit of research.
OCC2: yes its a Roosevelt Presidency TL. What do you think so far.
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