Forward, One and All

[Israel]

1.

It was a moderately humid day, July 20, 1968, when Richard Nixon took to the podium at that rally in Lansing, Michigan. There were no more than eight or nine hundred attendees, though they made up for their numbers in fervor.

The ex-Vice President begun his speech talking about his experience with Eisenhower and the 1960 election, making subtle charges against Rockefeller and Kennedy and all the others who "blocked" him.

He was about to say something more climatic when a bullet struck the back of his skull. He fell on his face, blood slowly dripping out. An aid was running across the stage when he was shot in the elbow. A third bullet pierces the wood.

Paramedics brought both wounded to the McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital, with the candidate's wife and daughter anxiously waiting outside the emergency room. After three hours, the doctors formally pronounced him dead.

Meanwhile, the Lansing Police Department, in conjunction with the Michigan State Police, searched for the shooter. One residential building was the most likely place of origin, and indeed they did find an M14 rifle at an apartment on the sixth floor.

They dusted it for fingerprints, and matched it against all available records. They did find a potential suspect: Nathan Rothert, a twenty-one year old from Long Island studying at the University of Michigan in nearby Ann Arbor. He also presented a history of anti war "agitation."

His dorm is raided by federal agents, who find it empty. They search it, and discover an unsent letter in a wastebasket. In his handwriting, it discusses the "illegal and immoral war" in Vietnam, and describes the assassination as "a declaration of revolution."

Rothert attempted to escape to Canada by boarding a ferry at Port Huron. A port official, whose office was faxed his photo, noticed the suspect and contacted the local police. They arrived within two minutes and apprehended him. He is later indicted and tried, found guilty and sentenced to 25 years (min) in prison.

Nixon's funeral is held at Yorba Linda, California, and is attended by a number of high-profile individuals such as President Lyndon Johnson, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Governor Ronald Reagan, Governor Nelson Rockefeller, Senator Ted Kennedy and ex-First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, ex-President Dwight Eisenhower among others.

 

[Pericles]

I hope this leads to Rockefeller 1968, but I'm afraid this will lead to Reagan 1968. Whatever happens, cool scenario.

 

[Israel]

2.

When the Republican National Convention begun at the Miami Beach Convention Center on the 5th of August, there was already disorder. Pro-Rockefeller and Pro-Reagan supporters frequently got into fights, and the vote was split between those two candidates.

On the Seventh, the California governor made a speech. It started out scripted, ie "Let's make America great again!" but toward the end, he altered his tone. Tearfully, he cried out "Why are we letting them get away with this?" to the immense enthusiasm of the crowd.

On the Eighth, Reagan has finally gotten a majority of delegates. Rockefeller conceded gracefully, and shook hands with the victor. The National Committee would've liked to see the two of them on the same ticket, but weren't stupid. They decided to back George Romney, and Reagan agreed.

In his memoirs, the New York governor noted the mood at the end of the convention. It wasn't going to be like everyone expected. There wasn't going to be talk about traditional values, about order in the streets, about victory abroad. There wasn't going to be optimism... or hope.

 

[Lalli]

Just wondering what kind of conspiracy theories there will be when Robert Kennedy was shot only bit over one month earlier.

 

[Bernard Woolley]

Just wondering what kind of conspiracy theories there will be when Robert Kennedy was shot only bit over one month earlier.

There may be one suggesting it was a time-traveller since the police found an M4, although I'm guessing that should be M-14.

 

[Israel]

Rifle confusion

There may be one suggesting it was a time-traveller since the police found an M4, although I'm guessing that should be M-14.

Sorry, I must've confused the two

 

[Bernard Woolley]

Sorry I shouldn't really nitpick such a small detail. A time travel angle would have been nice though.

I am seeing parallels with a current events in what a certain politician has said in TTL.

 

[Lost Freeway]

In his memoirs, the New York governor noted the mood at the end of the convention. It wasn't going to be like everyone expected. There wasn't going to be talk about traditional values, about order in the streets, about victory abroad. There wasn't going to be optimism... or hope.

Icarus Falls Mark II?

 

[Paul V McNutt]

Humphrey beats Reagan with no problem. He was too hawkish to win in 1968. Also George Wallace will not stand aside for Reagan.

 

[Israel]

3.

The Democratic National Convention at the International Amphitheater made it's Republican counterpart look like a dinner in a Jewish home after a Bar Mitzvah. Outside were thousands upon thousands of protesters, and fears arose that some Rothert-inspired demonstrators would try to come inside concealing a firearm. No such incident occurred.

However, the police were accused of overreacting in some cases, to the point of a "riot" on their side. Inside the Convention, a CBS correspondent named Dan Rather was taken by security guards and roughed up. He was trying to talk to a Georgia delegate being hauled out, and was then apprehended by the guards. The whole incident was broadcasted live on national television.

Humphrey, other than calling for general calm, did nothing to address the protests. Senator Eugene McCarthy on the other hand, tried to "emphasize" his support for free speech, and the anti-war movement. This wasn't pleasing toward some conservative elements, who weren't too glad about Lansing, but nonetheless it helped him in other areas.

There seemed to be a desperate attempt by the Democratic leadership to stem the amount of delegates going in favor of McCarthy. They struck some deals with favorite sons, even directly sabotaging the Senator's campaign, all the while keeping Humphrey out of the loop.

Humphrey did win the nomination, but in an extremely close call. It looked at first as if McCarthy was going to drop out but he conceded. In the end, they didn't harbor any special resentment toward each other, and besides they were both from Minnesota. John Conally was a popular choice, and he was picked as the running mate.

 

[Israel]

By the way, does anyone have ideas for a Cabinet (Humphrey or Reagan)

 

[Israel]

4.

On October 4th, Humphrey held a press conference. When a reporter from the Washington Post asked if the Democratic candidate was to engage in a televised debate, as in 1960, he said he was open to it. It was believed that he was not ready to "challenge" Reagan, as his orating skills, in his own words, "could not match that Californian."

A few days later, Reagan told Paul Harvey, in an interview on his show, that he was willing to debate Humphry. Arrangements were set, and the two candidates faced off at the CBS broadcasting station in downtown Chicago.

For most of the beginning of the debate, the candidates were cordial. They answered their questions directly and thoroughly, within the allotted time. However, after the first intermission, a questioner asked about their opinions concerning Vietnam. Humphrey basically froze, unable to go too far in any one direction, while Reagan passionately defended his stance: "No peace if the Commies win."

Things got more heated from there. Humphery "first the first shot," assaulting Reagan on his inexperience in government, and made a slight concerning his stance on civil rights. The Republican responded by calling the VP complicit in not stopping the Tet Offensive, and "leaving the countries in shambles."

It was clear that Reagan was the victor. While some liberal Republicans were off put, his approval rating improved by ten points. In a gallup poll, 55 percent of participants said that they believed Reagan's performance was better, and 67 percent said that Reagan would be a "stronger president."

 

[Israel]

5.

No one underestimated George Wallace. His run as a third-party candidate brought the right-wing segregationists out of the "shadow" cast by the Civil Rights Bill. He retained a strong grip in Alabama, Louisiana, and Georgia. But what happened that November was unpredictable:

Reagan (R): 246 electors; ~30,500,000

Humphrey (D): 246 electors; ~30,000,000

Wallace (I): 46 electors; ~11,556,000

 

[Israel]

6.

The House of Representatives was tasked with voting in a new President. Not since 1824 has not one candidate been unable to score a majority in the electoral college, forcing the Republicans and Democrats alike to scramble for deals with the outgoing Congress.

At first, it appears almost certain that Humphrey would win. The Democrats had a majority in the House since the `54 midterm elections, and that did not change in `68. Besides, Reagan was hawkish by any standard, and there were rumors that Rockefeller was organizing a base of Republican congressmen to prevent him from taking office.

So it was indeed, surprising, when 268 of those Representatives voted in favor of the California governor, one more than for Humphrey. For some odd, though fortunate, reason there were no votes in favor of Wallace. So, it was clear and in print who would be the Thirty-Seventh President of the United States.

 

[zert]

With that close of a vote, things are going to be very tense in Washington as well as in the States.

 

[Israel]

7.

Oval Office tape record: January 23, 1969. Present: President Ronald Reagan, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, National Security Advisor Alexander Haig, CIA director Richard Helms.

Reagan: What's, um... the situation in Vietnam?

McNamara: Steady progress, sir. Reports from elements of the Fourth Infantry Division suggest that Vietcong guerillas have not made any significant advances. There were a tunnel, going... what, almost a mile? We disabled it.

Reagan: That's good to hear. But are there any significant advances on our
part?

McNamara: Let's see [shuffles through documents] well, sir, to make any, er-significant advances would require a larger manpower force.

Reagan: How much?

Haig: 200-300,000 new troops. And that's just for the first offensive.

Reagan: Sorry?

Haig: Assuming you want to launch a major offensive.

Reagan: Against what?

Helms: Strategic Communist training camps. They vary outside North Vietnam, of course: Cambodia, Laos, even the Chinese mainland. If we are to launch a major offensive, without crossing the 17th parallel, it would require a strategic strike against those camps.

Kissinger: Sir, if I may interrupt.

Reagan: [nods]

Kissinger: It is not wise at the present time to launch a major ground offensive. It is in my opinion that such drastic strikes are both costly and unnecessary. We continue to forget that these hostiles, however we may dislike them, are human... and all humans have a breaking point.

Reagan: What's your suggestion, then?

Kissinger: I suggest, simply put... that we make Hanoi equivalent to Dresden.

Haig: [coughs, grabs a cup of water] I'm sorry, are you suggesting that we firebomb the North Vietnamese capital?

Kissinger: I may have misspoken. Perhaps not the use of weapons of that, er... fashion. But let's look at the facts: we are already applying herbicide and napalm, so why not escalate the war? The only way to get the Communists to understand our ferociousness, even if not genuine, is by carping bombing their capital.

Helm: [sighs] that's... quite a mind you have there, Secretary... though maybe you shouldn't have gotten into foreign policy.

Reagan: How long would it take to arrange?

McNamara: Oh, we already have a carrier in the Gulf of Tonkin. Certainly, we could mobilize aircraft in the Philippines and other neighboring nations.

Reagan: [nods} alright, let's do it... let's just hope we don't completely fuck up the situation.

Haig: You made a mistake, sir: fuck up any more.

 

[Archibald]

Icarus Falls Mark II?

Icarus was one hell of a dystopia, complete with a very sexy space program. It's amazing the number of TLs that kill that unfortunate Nixon. It seems not only Matt Groening has a grudge against the old watergate paranoid crook.

 

[zert]

Well we know this will go well.

So off to the scene afterwards.

 

[Israel]

8.

Under the cover of dark and fog of the South Pacific, a formation of F-105 Thunderchiefs followed their B-66 Destroyer, flying at a height of 30,000 feet so as to avoid the North Vietnamese Army's radar. They were given only a week to prepare for this operation, and now Infinite Crescent was a-go.

By the time they reached Hanoi it was dusk. Pretty soon, anti-aircraft guns fired relentlessly into the sky, and the Americans were forced to take evasive measures. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s pursed the enemy planes, as an air raid siren awoke the capital.

Oval Office tape record: January 28, 1969. Present: President Reagan, Secretary of Defense McNamara, Secretary of State Kissinger, National Security Adviser Haig, CIA director Helms, Joint Chiefs Chairman Earle Wheeler.

Wheeler: Sir, the planes are coming back to the base at Da Nang.

Reagan: Very good. How successful was the, er... airstrike?

Wheeler: [coughs] unsure, sir, but we'll examine the footage from the wings' cameras to determine that.

Reagan: [to Kissinger] Secretary, what's your take?

Kissinger: If they managed to hit, if not destroy, a sizable proportion of the targets, the message should be clear. But, even if that were to occur... we may have to continue this campaign so as to guarantee a strategic, rather than tactical, success.

Haig: Sir, we should consider the implications this may have on our standing with the world community. Saigon, Manila, they'll budge of course. But the European nations... after the invasion of Czechoslovakia, we saw just how vulnerable Central and Western Europe really are, and how the Soviets can exploit that. If we push our allies too far, they might not allow us to maintain our bases there. Simply put, this has more consequences that just scaring an old man.

Kissinger: Just an old man? Sir, in the minds of his subjects, and some south of the border, he is a war hero: defeated the Japanese, the French, and repelling the Americans. Yes, physically he is frail... but he is much more than some pensioner in St Louis.

Haig: And so why should he be softened while we're bombing Hanoi? I don't mean to say "hey, let's get out of the fucking place," but this strategy of tension... I just think we should approach this differently, militarily-wise.

[aid enters the room; whispers into Kissinger's ear] Kissinger: Sir, the old man just made a live speech over the radio. He denounced the airstrike and demanded the United Nations enact sanctions against us.

Haig: Told you.

Kissinger: His opinion is not valued too much in New York. Besides, even if it does come to the Security Council, we'll obviously veto it.

McNamara: Sir, um... the planes have landed at the airstrip. We can ready another strike in three hours.

Reagan: [sighs] analyze the tapes, then get back to me.

Kissinger, Haig, McNamara, Helms, Wheeler: Yes, Mr President.

 

[FiendslayerPrime1976]

Oh Holy Hell…

The anti-war movement is already up in arms… firebombing Hanoi repeatedly is going to be like throwing gasoline on the fire - it will inflame things even more, turn the situation at home even uglier.

I wouldn't be surprised if we see certain members of the anti-war movement start committing acts of domestic terrorism against the establishment very soon…