Here is my Nixon TL. I have always wanted to do this mainly for my Dad who constantly talked about Nixon. TL will include Nixon being himself, more political parties, war with Iran, moon bases and much more. Enjoy!
POD Security guards confirm the security of all doors at the Watergate Hotel Inside Nixon Henchmen, Gordon Liddy and Howard Hunt's plant listening devices in the office of DNC Chairman Larry O'Brien. Useful information is discovered on the DNC Presidential Strategy. More importantly recording indicate that the DNC has no plans to leak information on Nixons illegal 1950’s dealings with reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. The listening devices are removed from O'Brien's office, tapes are filed in a secret vault in the White House. Nixon returns to his Presidential Agenda.
November 7, 1972- For weeks pundits had been talking about the overwhelming strength of the Nixon Coalition. While liberal Democrats and aging New Dealers talked about winning on progressive ideals Nixon had built a formidable voting block that including: young people, veterans, conservative, Northeastern Progressives, and White Southerners. This coalition had proven reliable likely voters and had easily outperformed the depressed Democratic Base.
In the largest State margin since 1932, Nixon easily defeats McGovernin a landslide victory that sees Nixon win 49 States. Republicans gain seats in both houses of Congress with new members eagerly referencing the Conservative Movement as the future of America.
January1973- Since 1963 the troubles of a small Southeast Asian country had dominated both American Politics and the strategic thought of the Joint Chiefs. Drawn into the rice-paddies for various reasons the Americans had paid the price in blood, treasure and substantial domestic unrest. Since 1968, the overwhelming question had been on how exactly to resolve the War in Vietnam. Nixon had risen as a surprising anti-war candidate. Negotiations had dragged on in endless fashion but now had made progress.
After much debate The Paris Peace Accords are signed, formally ending the US participation in Vietnam. A limited U.S. presence will remain in South Vietnam to assist ARVN, but most U.S., Australian, and ROC troops will be withdraw and the existence of North Vietnam. A secret CIA operation will of course remain in country.
March 1973-Richard Nixon had always been a practical man. His allegiances and political proclivities had already shifted from Conservative to Moderate to Conservative. His presidency had been remarkably moderate in nature seeing Nixon break with Conservatives in the creation of the EPA, Earth Day, the federalization of Medicaid and the formation of OSHA. Since 1970 Nixon had theoretically been a “Movement Conservative” but not a very popular one with William F Buckley even going as far as to publically call for the GOP to dump Nixon from the 1972 ticket.
Nixon’s relationship with Conservatives had always been tenuous but now something had changed amidst Nixon’s huge electoral mandate. Nixon had carried 49 States and the Watergate Tapes indicated that the DNC was in chaos. Additional spy programs on political rivals indicated they were weak and disorganized with even the power of Howard Hughes in decline. Still at the peak of his power Nixon was still vastly paranoid. At his apex and with no rivals Nixon began to think that he had one rival left, an internal rival, the Conservative Movement itself.
House Minority Leader Gerald Ford, Ford would return to movies after his defeat in 1982.
March-October 1973: The year 1973 would see major changes in the Conservative Movement. Previously an amorphous collection of Right Wing social and economic organizers, 1973 saw the Conservative Movement take on new form. The year had started with a great GOP Victory, but as the year progressed the Conservatives had been scorned by Nixon. Never exactly warm Nixon had turned ice hold ignoring Conservative musters on Abortion, Inflation, the USSR and the appointment of true believers like Buckley to important Government positions. Nixon’s scorn was unfortunate but salved slightly by the number of ‘Conservative’ Congressmen elected the previous Fall.
In addition the Conservative had made some headway in the founding of several important institutions such as CPAC, the Heritage Foundation, the National Right to Life and increased subscription lists for the National Review and other Conservative magazines. But as these new institutions took hold many Conservatives had the itching feeling that a great battle was ahead. Perhaps Buckley put it best when he said that “Conservatives should have dumped Nixon and now thinkers from Maine to Kansas will feel the weight of that decision”.
Photo: CPAC convention in 2010. CPAC is now the primary force in the Constitution Party, major donors include Exxon-Mobil. IBM and Tandy Computers.
1973-1975 Politics: From 1973-1974 Democrats were slowly regrouping in search of a new party identity. 1973 and 1974 saw committee work investigating corruption and campaign finance. But their was much debate on the soul of the Democratic and Liberal movement either toward the future or back to the days of the New Deal or Johnson. The 1974 mid-terms were not particularly eventful with the Democrats gaining 25 seats in the House and 4 seats in the Senate.
Meanwhile across the aisle The growing schism in the GOP had started with the passing over of William F Buckley in 1973. This had continued with successive purges of so called Movement Conservatives from the Nixon White House. By Summer 1974 no staff in the White House remained from the original 1972 alliance and Conservative lobbyists were increasingly finding it difficult to meet with Nixon.
All of this culminated in the appointment of moderate, and Conservative foil, Robert Finch as Vice President to replace the disgraced Agnew. Finch had been a Nixon loyalist turning down the VP spot in 1968 but remaining an active member of the administration. Finch was an exotic choice but he placated the moderates an avoided other selection Nixon did not trust. Notably excluded was Gerald Ford who wryly complained of “Several late night meetings with unknown persons, during the selection process”.
Robert Finch, 40th Vice President of the United States
1973-1975 Economy: The US Economy had been contracting since 1971 and the phasing out of Vietnam Guns and Butter. Moving off of the Gold Standard had caused a spike in precious metals and a slow trickle of inflation in the CPI. Stocks were stagnating and new calls came out of Wall Street to de-regulate the markets.
The West was hit hard by the Oil Embargo with crude doubling in process, but the embargo had ended in 1974. Increased competition in the Manufacturing Sector from abroad also threatening Americas Manufacturing edge. Nixon continued the focus of his Presidency on Foreign Policy handing most Economic matters over to underlings. He did however work to expand the newly created EPA by adding additional regulations on industrial pollutants and air contaminants.
1973-1975 Foreign Policy: Renewed war between Israel and the Arab League had seen Israel Victorious and the US resupply the IDF at key moments. Tensions between the parties had cooled with Kissinger and Nixon continuing attempts to bring Saudi Arabia into the American fold. South Vietnam continued to receive clandestine support but by 1975 the writing was on the wall at NVA tanks were rolling into Saigon. NVA forces overran a quite US Embassy that had been evacuated 2 weeks before the NVA attacks. Meanwhile Nixon continued SALT reductions signing the Helsinki Accords with Leonid Brezhnev in 1975. Elsewhere Nixon and Kissinger quietly supported the Indonesian Invasion of East Timor.
Perhaps the biggest crisis came with the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus. The invasion caused Greece temporarily leave NATO’s force structure but after Nixon signed a bill ending arms sales to Turkey, Greece returned to the fold. Unwilling to stand completely along and amidst substantial US pressure Turkey withdrew from Cyprus. The incident considerably strained US/Turkish Relations and was one of the contributing factors for Turkeys exit from NATO in 1988.
South Vietnamese evacuate Saigon. The CIA was instrumental in an orderly evacuation of the US Embassy.
1973-1975 Clandestine: Iraq had been a staunch Soviet Ally and frequent Cold War player against US interests and the US puppet state in Iran. Starting in 1974 Kissinger, Nixon and hardened CIA veterans began a substantial program to fund an armed insurrection by Iraq’s Kurdish Minority. Kissinger was however playing a double game and informed CIA operatives not to let the Kurds win. This aide program would however be the foundation of renewed Kurdish support for the US Invasion of Iran in 1979.
Kurdish State in 2012 after conclusion of Syrian Civil War
1975- Jan 1977 Economic: The Economy of the Unites States continues to deteriorate. As Wall Street stagnates, Main Street struggles to move past an Industrial Based Economy. Commodity Prices continue to fluctuate and major companies like Ford are losing market share to Japanese or German competitors.The FED enacts a poorly namedprogram called SIN (Stop Inflation Now). Meanwhile, Nixon pushes thrufunding for alternative energy. In his biggest hallmark, Nixon signs the 40 billion Dollar, Eisenhower Initiative with the help of liberals and some shady “information” in the Senate. The Goal of the project is for the U.S. to rely on 25% Alternative Energy by 1990 via Clean Coal, Natural Gas and Solar Power. It is referred to by Ronald Reagan as a Billion Dollar Boondoggle. US minimum wage raised to 2.10 an hour.
1975- Jan 1977 Foreign Policy:The World remains relatively calm. Several earthquake rock central Asia. Tensions rise inside Iran while the Kurdish Cells in Iraq go dormant, Nixon allows the CIA the exfiltration over 200 Kurdish Operatives over the borer to Turkey. Mao dies in China, Nixon attends the funeral and spends two weeks strengthening ties with the CCP. Domestically Nixon kills investigations into the CIAs activities in the Western Hemisphere including the US.
1975-1976: From Primary to President: The 1976 Election cycle was unique in the sense that it involved a full-fledged Primary System that divergent from the convention appointments of the past.The DNC Primary involved a host of candidates that ranged from segregationist to liberal. Most candidates focused their efforts on the big states but a relative unknown, Jimmy Carter chose an early State Strategy that propelled him to the nomination.
The GOP nomination was more complex. Much discussion existed around whether Nixon somehow run, but while Nixon would become the most influential politician for the next 20 years he would not exactly suspend the Constitution. Instead, Nixon would put all his muscle, including a substantial dirty tricks squad, behind VP Robert Finch. This was much to the chagrin of Conservatives who had expected to anoint Ronald Reagan as nominee. Reagan started strong winning Iowa and New Hampshire, but in subsequent primaries in MA, VT, FL, PA and IL , Reagan was either unpopular or his efforts severely hindered by Nixons henchmen. In PA Reagans name was even removed from the ballot. The two candidates were tied going into the convention. Each man attempted to woo delegates but in the end a stirring speech by Nixon, (polling at 76% Approval) turned the convention to Finch/Dole. Still as the delegates walked away, there was a growing feeling that Mr. Nixon was not done and that a number of ambitious young politicians might have to take a walk to the Nixon residence before doing anything else.
Constitution Party Chairman George Will often referred to 1976 as "Nixons Betrayal"
1976 Presidential: Jimmy Carter ran as a reformer who was "untainted" by Washington political scandals surrounding the VP. Finch, was painted as Nixon’s Man and corrupt by association. Cold War Politics, Energy and Civil Rights were all major issues for Carter. Meanwhile Finch ran an efficient campaign based on Nixon’s popularity and various programs that enfranchised moderates and liberals. Finch was however dogged by large scale Conservative defections in the South and West where voters stayed home or voted for 3rd Party Candidates. The debates went 2:1 to Finch. Carter made serious headway but in the end Finch pulled away on the winds of Nixon’s popularity. The Democrats did maintain their majorities in both chambers. Sitting in his library in Boston, Ted Kennedy could not help but scoff at the results.
1976-1980 Domestic Policy: Finch was sworn in promising prosperity for all and improving educational outcomes. Unlike Nixon, Finch was comfortable with domestic policy. Additional worker safety laws were passed with OSHA expanding its reaching into the Mining Industry. Resisting pressure FINCH maintained the integrity of the DEC and limited additional HUD funding. Finch de-regulated the airlines and continued the Clean Energy programs of the Eisenhower Initiative via the creation of the DOE.Finch ran afoul of liberals though with two controversial decisions, the first in refusing to grant legal amnesty to Draft Evaders and the second in not proactively resisting the Briggs Initiative, a California Ballot that once passed banned gays and gays supporters from being school teachers. However, Finch was most remembered for his other projects in education. Finch’s goal was to increase US Education outcomes, improve student physical fitness and decrease class sizes and improve the Community College System. A whirlwind of programs, broadly known as the Finch Educational Imitative. Over 2500 Community Colleges were expanded or refurbished and enrollment in 2 Year Programs increased 40%, something that help stabilize College tuition. K-12 spending increased and the US maintained its global rank in education.
1976-1980 Economic Policy: If Finch was to be remembered for Domestic Policy it was the Economy that tarnished his ideas. By 1979 the US was in a full blown recession with inflation skyrocketing to 11% and a stagnate economy in most sectors. The Stock Market continued to trend sideways and the U.S. experiences Capital Flight. Finch tried various programs to reduce inflation. The variable tax rate on the wealthy was cut to 65% and Capital Gains were reduced to 30% in a deal with House Democrats. Like Nixon, Finch tried to get price controls on key CPI Goods but fierce resistance against “Any such Communism” killed any price controls. This preserved the Free Market but also increased the number of Americans below the Poverty Line, helping to increase the collapse of American Inner Cities. By 1979 the U.S. was also facing a growing energy crisis that would culminate during the Iranian War. Nixon’s domestic energy initiatives would blunt the blow but were not yet of sufficient mass to turn the tide in the energy battle. One bright spot was US R/D with several useful patents coming out regarding computers, telephones, medicine capsules, pharmaceutical products and more mundane things like the Dustbuster. President Finch leaving a Nuclear Reactor, Nuclear Energy was a part of the Eisenhower Initiative
1976-1979 Foreign Policy: Domestic Policy had been Finch’s strongpoint, but Foreign Policy was another matter. Finch had retained Kissinger as Secretary of State but soon the new President had felt out of his depth. As early as March 1977, Finch was consulting with Nixon on important matters of State. In time Finch would find Nixon useful in containing Finch the CIA and other factions inside the State Department. Some even went so far as to say Nixon was the unofficial President of Foreign Policy. Certainly the Foreign Policy under Finch was Nixonian in nature. Finch made a few fateful decisions. In Asia, finch maintained American SRBMs in South Korea, continued arming Taiwan while still normalizing relations with China. The Communist Coup in Afghanistan was watched closely after unknown gunman assassinated Hafizullah Amin. A secret CIA program in country had been discontinued by Finch in 1978 after the Communist Coup as Nixon recommended the US not risk alienating the USSR amidst new negotiations.Afghanistan was of course a complete mess and would remain so until 1988. Still another SALT II was signed in 1979 with Nixon arriving at the negotiations as “Special Emissary”. In the Americas, Finch continued support for anti-Communist Governments in Central America, although aide was severely cut back after the assassination of Bishop Oscar Romero with US supplied arms. However, Finch’s biggest move was to break off negotiations with Panama over the repatriation of the Panama Canal Zone for strategic reasons. The Zone remained in US custody until 2000 when it was incorporated into the State of Puerto Rico.
1976-1979 Iran in Crisis: The Shah of Iran,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Reza_Pahlavi_of_Iran, had been a strong ally of the United States since World War II and was one of the "twin pillars" upon which U.S. strategic policy was built (the other being Saudi Arabia). However, the Shah had gradually transformed his rule into one of: autocracy, cronyism, kleptocracy and vast human rights abuses. This had fostered an violent resistance centered around radical Shiaa Clerics who openly condemned Iran’s oppression and decadent values. Finch had continued to arm the Shah but this only increased the fury of the resistance. In January 1970 vast riots broke out that overwhelmed the regime. On January 20th, the Shah fled to London in a plane so loaded with gold it could barely take off. The next year saw massive upheaval and the eventual elevation of a Military Dictatorship under a radical cleric Khomeini (1902-1981). On November 4th, 1979 radical students stirred up by Khomeini stormed the U.S. Embassy. After a brief fire-fight that killed 19 protestors a 2 US Marines, the entire US Staff was seized. (later it was discovered 7 staffers escaped to the Canadian Embassy). Tense negotiations began but by January it was clear that the Iranians would not budge on reasonable terms. On January 7th 1980, Finch met with Nixon, Kissinger and other advisors in the Oval Office. Everyone agreed this was an affront to the national honor and various operations were discussed. In the end however, it was Nixon’s voice that prevailed. Not only had the Revolutionary Government threatened US Policy toward the Middle East but it had in essence already declared war on the United States thru the violation of the US Embassy. Swift retaliation was needed, though Nixon stopped short of the Nuclear Attack advocated by CPAC.
But the U.S. would be going back to war, it really had to. Well not a War as that would require a Congressional Vote. For now at least the US was just enacting a rescue operation, and the entire 101st Airborne Division would be the vessel. Iranian Student attack US Embassy. Photos like these were used to round up suspects after the 101st Division captured Tehran.
Iranian War Feb 1980-October1982 pt1 (This was an actual alternate CIA Plan we studied it in College) The Iranian War was never a declared war. Officially a Rescue Operation it was almost wholly supported via Executive Orders. Only continued funding of the troops went to Congress and while many there were anti-war few could risk appear anti-military. On the same day as the invasion a strike team of 200 Delta Force operators moved to rescue the hostages via Operation Eagle Claw. The operation was utterly audacious. On March 4th 1980, 200 Delta Force members were flown to a secret CIA Airstrip in Iraqi Kurdistan. After refueling, Delta entered Iran on a one way trip to Tehran. Delta choppers landed at an obscure site called Desert 2 where CIA agents picked them up in trucks. Sneaking into Tehran, Delta arrived at its assault positions around the U.S. Embassy. At 5 AM, 20 min’s before the airstrike, Delta launched an all-out attack on the U.S. Embassy Compound. An intense firefight ensued with most of the hijackers killed. Many of the hostages were rescued but guards threw hand grenades into the embassy basement before Delta could arrive and the blasts killed 27 hostages.
With the Embassy secure Delta took up defensive positions and waited to be rescued by the impending drop by the 101st Airborne Division. Right around the time the hostages were rescued U.S. Strikes occurred with 112 airstrikes from 3 aircraft carriers moved into the Gulf and lead by the U.S.S. Nimitz. The Iranian Air Force, still running its own affairs, provided little resistance as US planes hit Iranian air defense networks and tanks. By March 12th the airwar had ceased after over 4000 sorties had been flown and few targets could be found. The U.S. Ground War began in short order.
One of the guards Mahmoud Ahmadinejad survived but was executed by firing squad.
