Long Live the King: An MLK Survives Collab TL

April 4, 1968- Escaped convict James Earl Ray is found and arrested in a rooming house in Memphis with a Remington 760 Grandmaster rifle in his possession. After being questioned by police, Ray confesses to planning an assassination attempt on the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., who was staying at the Lorraine Motel across the street while helping organize a strike of African American sanitation workers in Memphis
 
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April 4, 1968- Upon hearing about the foiled plot on his life, King makes some brief remarks to supporters at the motel
 
April 4th 1968: At the Lorraine Motel, King says that "[he] does not fear death" and that "[he] will continue to do God's will as long as he lives be it a long or short time.," similar to what he had said the previous night in a speech.
 

Wallet

Banned
April 5th 1968: (After midnight) Robert F. Kennedy calls King to ask if he is okay. Kennedy asks for his support in the upcoming primaries and general election. King promises to support Kennedy, but says that he will whole heartily support Humphrey if he wins the nomination.

The next morning, King receives calls from President Johnson and Humphrey asking for support.
 
April 5th, 1968: During the phone call with Johnson and Humphrey, King makes it very clear that he wishes to see an end to the Vietnam War as soon as possible, and thanks the President for his support of the Fair Housing Act, which has passed the Senate and is being re-voted on in the House with the added amendments. The rest of the conversation, however, is icy, as King tells the two that while he will support them over any Republican candidate, he will not endorse Humphrey before the convention unless he and Johnson agree to begin the process of withdrawing troops from Indochina
 
April 6th, 1968- Former Vice-President and Republican candidate, Richard Nixon, travels to California to speak about his support for Israel. A young man called Sirhan Sirhan is in attendance.
 
April 4, 1968- Escaped convict James Earl Ray is found and arrested at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis with a Remington 760 Grandmaster rifle in his possession. After being questioned by police, Ray confesses to planning an assassination attempt on the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., who was staying at the hotel while helping organize a strike of African American sanitation workers in Memphis
Actually, Ray was in a rooming house across the street. But he can still be arrested with the rifle nonetheless.
 
April 6th, 1968-
The following is a live NBC broadcast of Vice President Nixon's rally in Yorba Linda
NIXON: As we continue to oppose the Soviet menace abroad, we must always remember to stand up for our allies and for peace and security across the world. For millennia, the Jews have been persecuted for their beliefs, and in World War II, America fought to liberate the world from the horrors of Nazi Germany, fascist Italy, and the Empire of Japan. This is why we must support the people of Israel in their quest to create a homeland for themselves and their posterity, safe from violence, safe from being killed because of their beliefs, safe from-

UNKNOWN: DEATH TO AMERICA! DEATH TO ISRAEL! LONG LIVE PALESTINE!

A series of loud popping noises, followed by screams

REPORTER: This just in, Vice President Nixon has been shot! I repeat, Vice President Nixon has been shot!
 
April 5th, 1968- Senator from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy, the youngest brother of John F. Kennedy, former President of the United States and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, has been a staunch supporter of gun control initiatives, ever since his older brother had been assassinated, does a press release, stating the need for more protection of political figures, not just the President and Vice President, but also nominees and people at threat to assassination.

April 6th, 1968-
REPORTER: This just in, Vice President Nixon has been shot! I repeat, Vice President Nixon has been shot!
April 6th, 1968-
Patricia Nixon, who was staying in New York, with her daughters, 22 year old, Tricia and 20 year old Julie, discussing wedding plans for Julie and David Eisenhower, broke down in tears when the radio they had been listening to abruptly reported her husband has been shot.

They are quickly taken to Good Samaritan Hospital, Los Angeles, California, with President Lyndon B. Johnson, offering Air Force One, to fly the former second family out to their father.
 
The Reckoning, David Halberstam, 1986, Ch. 38 "Hard Times Come Home," page 607:

" . . . the twelfth in his department to go, . . . Soon it would be over [just before Thanksgiving 1978] and he would be back at work—in about six weeks to two months, he figured. Three and a half years later, in March of 1982, he was called back to work. He returned a different man.

"Thus began the real education of Joel Goddard, . . . "
I know it's jumping ahead, but I'd love to see Martin help bridge the gap between white and black auto workers. And more broadly between working-class African-Americans and working-class European-Americans.
 
April 7th, 1968- After emergency surgery to remove a bullet lodged in his chest and another in his leg, Nixon's condition stabilizes. While the former Vice President is now expected to survive the attempt on his life, his state could easily worsen, and it is unclear when he will be able to return to campaigning or if he will even be able to continue his run for the presidency.
 
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April 6th, 1968-
Patricia Nixon, who was staying in New York, with her daughters, 22 year old, Tricia and 20 year old Julie, discussing wedding plans for Julie and David Eisenhower, broke down in tears when the radio they had been listening to abruptly reported her husband has been shot.
It's relatively close, with Dick Nixon losing quite a bit of blood, but he makes it.

In fact, being the conquering hero rather helps Dick's popularity. He rests for a couple of weeks, and then follows a light schedule for a couple of weeks more. He even starts a morning exercise program, slowly at first and then doing more and more. And he goes into the Republican Convention that summer as the strong frontrunner.

In fact, the near brush with death seems to almost make him a better man. He appreciates time with Pat and his daughters more, and he makes a conscious effort to laugh off some of the rough and tumble of politics.
 
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With Sirhan Sirhan captured and security tightened, RFK wins the Democratic Primary, setting up another Kennedy-Nixon election. How is the issue of gun control addressed?
 
. . . How is the issue of gun control . . .

Since the 2nd Amendment begins with “A well regulated militia,” state and federal courts generally keep ruling that reasonable state regulations are fine. Federal courts are somewhat more skeptical about federal regulations.
 
April 7th, 1968- President Johnson and Vice President Humphrey make public statements condemning the attempt on Nixon's life and pray for the former Vice President's speedy recovery
 
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