Foundations: 1985-1986
Recently, I've begun work on a new TL. Unlike past timelines, I have quite a bit written so far and hope that I can get fairly far into this world.
I admit the idea is fairly improbable, but I hope it is interesting. A lot of credit goes to @Gonzo and @Oppo whose excellent timelines have inspired me.
EDIT: Also @MaskedPickle whose 'Giant Sucking Sound' TL with its rise of a Freedom Party.
'15,000 Farmers Angrily Protest Reagan Policies'
'Lange, Spacek, Fonda: 3 Hollywood Actresses Relate Farmers' Plight'
- Los Angeles Times Headlines, early 1985 *
"I hope that some of the money that's raised for the people in Africa, maybe they could just take a little bit of it, maybe … one or two million … to pay the mortgages on some of the farms,"
- Bob Dylan at Live Aid, July 13th 1985 **
‘Concert to Benefit Farmers to be Held in Chicago - Dylan, Young, Mellencamp, Nelson to Perform’
- The New York Times, August 10th 1985
"They're calling for heavy rain today John.
Bad? Do you think we oughta cancel it?
Not a chance! It's what we've been working towards - this show must go on."
- Conversation between Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp at the Silversmith Hotel Chicago, September 22nd 1985
'Farm Aid a Massive Success - Dylan, Mellencamp, Nelson, Young perform to rain-drenched crowd of 78,000'
- New York Times, September 23rd 1985
"Well sure I'm happy, we made a whole lot of money and it'll do some real good.
[...]
I guess I'm not totally happy with this thing, a little more rain coulda shut us down and you know where that'd put us.
[...]
Yeah, well maybe we've got to fight a little harder. What if we did more than donate money?"
- Phone Conversation between Willie Nelson and Neil Young, September 29th 1985
'Willie Nelson announces run for Governor - Famed Country Singer Pledges to Fight for Farmers'
- Chattanooga Times Free Press, January 12th 1986
'Nelson Calls for Debate With Tenn. Democratic Opponents'
- The New York Times, April 9th 1986
"I'm not in this life for power, just look at my past. I like to make music, which is why I've spent the last while doing what I've done - I must've traveled every road in this country and seen most everything there is to see. We've got a great land here, a bit of everything, but what I really noticed everywhere I went is people struggling. On every farm from California to North Carolina I saw people sad and poor. It didn't used to be this way and I aim to bring it back to how it was for the common man.'
- Excerpt from a campaign speech by Willie Nelson, Murfreesboro, April 29th 1986
'Dem Candidates Trade Shots at Debate in Nashville - Nelson Claims Opponents Have "Lost Their Way"'
- Daily Herald (Columbia, TN), May 12th 1986
Fulton - 38.78%
Nelson - 37.91%
Eskind - 21.73%
Jacox - 0.93%
Crichton - 0.65%
- Results of the Tennessee Democratic Gubernatorial Primary, August 7th 1986
'Y'know, y'all fought a good fight. I'd hoped the message of reclaiming America for the common man would have more appeal, but it seems like we'll have to wait a little longer. I'll talk to Mayor Fulton later this week and hopefully we can come to some sort of understanding...'
- Singer Willie Nelson at a concession speech in Nashville TN, August 8th 1986
"It looks like Pat Buchanan is running for President next year. I'd sure like to take a stab it going for it, but with both of us in the running we'd just split support in half. Well, we've always got 1992..."
- Evangelist Pat Robertson to his wife, Adelia, August 25th 1986
'...and it's a good thing Willie Nelson didn't take the nomination for Governor. Sure, he has some decent music, but we don't need a brainless, druggie representing Tennessee on the national stage. Can you imagine what they'd say when he...'
- Freshman Senator Albert Gore Jr., overheard at a Washington DC bar, September 5th 1986
'Sen. Gore torches Willie Nelson - Singer Fires Back Saying has a Legitimate Platform'
- Washington Post, September 8th 1986
"I'm sick and tired of being disrespected by those Washington eggheads, I've got to do something about it or we’ll never have people that represent us."
- Willie Nelson to his wife Connie, September 25th 1986
Democratic: 52 (+7)
Republican: 48 (-7)
- United States Senate Election Results, November 4th 1986
Democratic: 258 (+5)
Republican: 177 (-5)
- United States House of Representatives Results, November 4th 1986
* - As OTL
** - As OTL, taken from a Time article.
I admit the idea is fairly improbable, but I hope it is interesting. A lot of credit goes to @Gonzo and @Oppo whose excellent timelines have inspired me.
EDIT: Also @MaskedPickle whose 'Giant Sucking Sound' TL with its rise of a Freedom Party.
'15,000 Farmers Angrily Protest Reagan Policies'
'Lange, Spacek, Fonda: 3 Hollywood Actresses Relate Farmers' Plight'
- Los Angeles Times Headlines, early 1985 *
"I hope that some of the money that's raised for the people in Africa, maybe they could just take a little bit of it, maybe … one or two million … to pay the mortgages on some of the farms,"
- Bob Dylan at Live Aid, July 13th 1985 **
‘Concert to Benefit Farmers to be Held in Chicago - Dylan, Young, Mellencamp, Nelson to Perform’
- The New York Times, August 10th 1985
"They're calling for heavy rain today John.
Bad? Do you think we oughta cancel it?
Not a chance! It's what we've been working towards - this show must go on."
- Conversation between Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp at the Silversmith Hotel Chicago, September 22nd 1985
'Farm Aid a Massive Success - Dylan, Mellencamp, Nelson, Young perform to rain-drenched crowd of 78,000'
- New York Times, September 23rd 1985
"Well sure I'm happy, we made a whole lot of money and it'll do some real good.
[...]
I guess I'm not totally happy with this thing, a little more rain coulda shut us down and you know where that'd put us.
[...]
Yeah, well maybe we've got to fight a little harder. What if we did more than donate money?"
- Phone Conversation between Willie Nelson and Neil Young, September 29th 1985
'Willie Nelson announces run for Governor - Famed Country Singer Pledges to Fight for Farmers'
- Chattanooga Times Free Press, January 12th 1986
'Nelson Calls for Debate With Tenn. Democratic Opponents'
- The New York Times, April 9th 1986
"I'm not in this life for power, just look at my past. I like to make music, which is why I've spent the last while doing what I've done - I must've traveled every road in this country and seen most everything there is to see. We've got a great land here, a bit of everything, but what I really noticed everywhere I went is people struggling. On every farm from California to North Carolina I saw people sad and poor. It didn't used to be this way and I aim to bring it back to how it was for the common man.'
- Excerpt from a campaign speech by Willie Nelson, Murfreesboro, April 29th 1986
'Dem Candidates Trade Shots at Debate in Nashville - Nelson Claims Opponents Have "Lost Their Way"'
- Daily Herald (Columbia, TN), May 12th 1986
Fulton - 38.78%
Nelson - 37.91%
Eskind - 21.73%
Jacox - 0.93%
Crichton - 0.65%
- Results of the Tennessee Democratic Gubernatorial Primary, August 7th 1986
'Y'know, y'all fought a good fight. I'd hoped the message of reclaiming America for the common man would have more appeal, but it seems like we'll have to wait a little longer. I'll talk to Mayor Fulton later this week and hopefully we can come to some sort of understanding...'
- Singer Willie Nelson at a concession speech in Nashville TN, August 8th 1986
"It looks like Pat Buchanan is running for President next year. I'd sure like to take a stab it going for it, but with both of us in the running we'd just split support in half. Well, we've always got 1992..."
- Evangelist Pat Robertson to his wife, Adelia, August 25th 1986
'...and it's a good thing Willie Nelson didn't take the nomination for Governor. Sure, he has some decent music, but we don't need a brainless, druggie representing Tennessee on the national stage. Can you imagine what they'd say when he...'
- Freshman Senator Albert Gore Jr., overheard at a Washington DC bar, September 5th 1986
'Sen. Gore torches Willie Nelson - Singer Fires Back Saying has a Legitimate Platform'
- Washington Post, September 8th 1986
"I'm sick and tired of being disrespected by those Washington eggheads, I've got to do something about it or we’ll never have people that represent us."
- Willie Nelson to his wife Connie, September 25th 1986
Democratic: 52 (+7)
Republican: 48 (-7)
- United States Senate Election Results, November 4th 1986
Democratic: 258 (+5)
Republican: 177 (-5)
- United States House of Representatives Results, November 4th 1986
* - As OTL
** - As OTL, taken from a Time article.
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