Working on the post after the next and let us just say that fans of Gordon Lightfoot are going to be disappointed.
Stupid Luck and Happenstance, Thread III
- Thread starter Peabody-Martini
- Start date
The roots of the distrust of US-German relations comes from when the Soviet Union surrendered to the German led collalation and the American people woke up to find themselves a second rate power with their military becoming obsolete suddenly.
The United States had relied on their oceans to protect them, and now they found out that the world became a much smaller place.
That point was proven when Grand Admiral Jacob von Schmidt sent the first ever Ballistic Missile Submarines into the Gulf of Mexico undetected during the LON Mexican Intervention and launched missile that theoretically could have had nuclear warheads.
For the Germans, they are afraid of the potential of an engaged American nation with its industrial production and logistics capabilities.
That was shown when the Americans led the humanitarian effort in the Ukraine and Belarus without breaking a sweat and the logistics the Americans provided during the Mexican Intervention.
That has lead to misunderstandings about the intentions of each side, with the United States not knowing what the Germans want, and Germany not trusting the leadership of the United State, wants the US to be contained within its own borders, which has led them to support American isolation groups.
The United States had relied on their oceans to protect them, and now they found out that the world became a much smaller place.
That point was proven when Grand Admiral Jacob von Schmidt sent the first ever Ballistic Missile Submarines into the Gulf of Mexico undetected during the LON Mexican Intervention and launched missile that theoretically could have had nuclear warheads.
For the Germans, they are afraid of the potential of an engaged American nation with its industrial production and logistics capabilities.
That was shown when the Americans led the humanitarian effort in the Ukraine and Belarus without breaking a sweat and the logistics the Americans provided during the Mexican Intervention.
That has lead to misunderstandings about the intentions of each side, with the United States not knowing what the Germans want, and Germany not trusting the leadership of the United State, wants the US to be contained within its own borders, which has led them to support American isolation groups.
Eh, having more to 29 lives than just the faces of the wives, the sons and the daughters is a worthwhile trade.
Part 145, Chapter 2628
Chapter Two Thousand Six Hundred Twenty-Eight
17th July 1977
Langeoog Island, East Frisian Islands
“This is just how it goes” Tatiana said when she found out that Marie wasn’t feeling well. “I doubt I need to tell you that we all get to have a bite at that apple every few weeks?”
Sophie wasn’t stupid, but having seen Marie in her bedroom hugging Sprocket… She didn’t object Marie having her dog. Sophie remembered how the prior winter when she had been sick with the flu, Sprocket had been a great comfort. That was sort of his purpose.
“Are you sure there isn’t more to it?” Sophie asked.
Tatiana looked annoyed by that question.
“This isn’t Momma’s house in Tempelhof” Tatiana said, “It’s harder to hide it when you have a bad day.”
Sophie gave Tatiana a look.
“This is sort like when you found out that Momma and Poppa told Alida Burbach that you had been forgoing training until your schooling situation was resolved” Tatiana said, and Sophie couldn’t believe that she had just said that. How could the two situations be remotely comparable?
When Sophie had gotten sick last winter, she had been warned that a serious case of the flu like what she had might have a long recovery and that she might not be aware of the risks until they developed into serious problems. Serious as in cardiac arrest or multiple organ failure. So, she was to rest and start training anew when she was medically cleared. That had been all well and good, except Sophie had woken up one day and realized that months had passed. It turned out that Katherine and Douglas had felt that spending time just being a teenager was good for her. Besides that, it was true that her school had suggested that her sitting the Abitur just yet would not be a great idea and had recommended that she attend a University Preparatory program until she was ready. Sophie understood that all the training ahead of Montreal had not been without cost and that her grades had suffered. She just had not been so charitable to her foster parents at the time. She found her reaction to that, there had been a lot of anger and pouting involved, to be a bit embarrassing.
----------------------------------------------------------------
When Tatiana entered the bedroom, she saw that Marie was as Sophie had described her, sitting cross-legged on the bed and hugging Sprocket as he were a Teddy Bear. “Heard you felt like shit Mialexa” Tatiana said. That was the pet name that Tatiana and Malcolm had given Marie Alexandra when she had been an infant, mostly because a pair of five-year-olds had a bit of trouble with many syllables. They were the only ones who still called her that. Marie was wearing that red sweatshirt with her University’s name on the front and a pair of what looked like military surplus trousers. Their mother had encouraged them to wear that during the summer in years past. The difference was that rather than just crudely cutting the trousers off just above the knees, Marie had expertly hemmed them. That was something that Tatiana had never had the patience to do, but Marie seemed to enjoy.
With that Marie let Sprocket, who had been keeping her company go. He trotted for the door, a minute later Tatiana saw him catch up with Sophie and Angelica who were headed out to the shore. It was a Sunday afternoon, so there were more people on the beach then there had been before. They had all been making the most of staying at the beach house, knowing that next month would be a height of tourist season and the islands would be crowded until September came. They would all be going elsewhere for the rest of the Summer Holiday.
“Just what Aunt Marcella would call the joy of being a woman” Marie replied her hand on her belly the location of the cause of her problems today. “And how will make us long for menopause, then we will miss it.”
“That sounds like something she would say” Tatiana said, “Of course, you know Momma would say that it is a good thing because the alternatives can involve lots of complications.”
“Fortunately, that would be impossible” Marie said, without elaborating.
Tatiana had once overheard their parents talking about Marie and some of the things that they suspected about her. It was obvious that she was a shy introvert and a late bloomer. The less obvious things though, those were harder to nail down because she was so shy and from day to day it was difficult to tell if you would be dealing with the same person.
“Do you ever think that you might be at risk of becoming her, Tat?” Marie asked.
“Who?” Tatiana asked in reply.
“Our mother” Marie replied, “I see her, all the accomplishments, being the Prefect of Berlin, advisor to the Emperor, yet she is completely miserable because she would rather be with Poppa exploring Africa, Australia, or the Amazon Basin.”
That was only one of Tatiana’s worst fears, no big deal.
“I think about that all the time” Marie said.
“More like worrying about it” Tatiana replied, “Her secrets, the black moods she hides from the public, some of the things that Poppa has said happened… That time she went to that spa in Switzerland wasn’t simply a vacation.”
“I know about her depression” Marie said, “And you forget that I was there too, when she was gone for all that time and Poppa wasn’t telling us anything.”
Marie didn’t know the half of it, Tatiana thought to herself. And somehow she knew that enlightening her little sister would not make anyone happy.
17th July 1977
Langeoog Island, East Frisian Islands
“This is just how it goes” Tatiana said when she found out that Marie wasn’t feeling well. “I doubt I need to tell you that we all get to have a bite at that apple every few weeks?”
Sophie wasn’t stupid, but having seen Marie in her bedroom hugging Sprocket… She didn’t object Marie having her dog. Sophie remembered how the prior winter when she had been sick with the flu, Sprocket had been a great comfort. That was sort of his purpose.
“Are you sure there isn’t more to it?” Sophie asked.
Tatiana looked annoyed by that question.
“This isn’t Momma’s house in Tempelhof” Tatiana said, “It’s harder to hide it when you have a bad day.”
Sophie gave Tatiana a look.
“This is sort like when you found out that Momma and Poppa told Alida Burbach that you had been forgoing training until your schooling situation was resolved” Tatiana said, and Sophie couldn’t believe that she had just said that. How could the two situations be remotely comparable?
When Sophie had gotten sick last winter, she had been warned that a serious case of the flu like what she had might have a long recovery and that she might not be aware of the risks until they developed into serious problems. Serious as in cardiac arrest or multiple organ failure. So, she was to rest and start training anew when she was medically cleared. That had been all well and good, except Sophie had woken up one day and realized that months had passed. It turned out that Katherine and Douglas had felt that spending time just being a teenager was good for her. Besides that, it was true that her school had suggested that her sitting the Abitur just yet would not be a great idea and had recommended that she attend a University Preparatory program until she was ready. Sophie understood that all the training ahead of Montreal had not been without cost and that her grades had suffered. She just had not been so charitable to her foster parents at the time. She found her reaction to that, there had been a lot of anger and pouting involved, to be a bit embarrassing.
----------------------------------------------------------------
When Tatiana entered the bedroom, she saw that Marie was as Sophie had described her, sitting cross-legged on the bed and hugging Sprocket as he were a Teddy Bear. “Heard you felt like shit Mialexa” Tatiana said. That was the pet name that Tatiana and Malcolm had given Marie Alexandra when she had been an infant, mostly because a pair of five-year-olds had a bit of trouble with many syllables. They were the only ones who still called her that. Marie was wearing that red sweatshirt with her University’s name on the front and a pair of what looked like military surplus trousers. Their mother had encouraged them to wear that during the summer in years past. The difference was that rather than just crudely cutting the trousers off just above the knees, Marie had expertly hemmed them. That was something that Tatiana had never had the patience to do, but Marie seemed to enjoy.
With that Marie let Sprocket, who had been keeping her company go. He trotted for the door, a minute later Tatiana saw him catch up with Sophie and Angelica who were headed out to the shore. It was a Sunday afternoon, so there were more people on the beach then there had been before. They had all been making the most of staying at the beach house, knowing that next month would be a height of tourist season and the islands would be crowded until September came. They would all be going elsewhere for the rest of the Summer Holiday.
“Just what Aunt Marcella would call the joy of being a woman” Marie replied her hand on her belly the location of the cause of her problems today. “And how will make us long for menopause, then we will miss it.”
“That sounds like something she would say” Tatiana said, “Of course, you know Momma would say that it is a good thing because the alternatives can involve lots of complications.”
“Fortunately, that would be impossible” Marie said, without elaborating.
Tatiana had once overheard their parents talking about Marie and some of the things that they suspected about her. It was obvious that she was a shy introvert and a late bloomer. The less obvious things though, those were harder to nail down because she was so shy and from day to day it was difficult to tell if you would be dealing with the same person.
“Do you ever think that you might be at risk of becoming her, Tat?” Marie asked.
“Who?” Tatiana asked in reply.
“Our mother” Marie replied, “I see her, all the accomplishments, being the Prefect of Berlin, advisor to the Emperor, yet she is completely miserable because she would rather be with Poppa exploring Africa, Australia, or the Amazon Basin.”
That was only one of Tatiana’s worst fears, no big deal.
“I think about that all the time” Marie said.
“More like worrying about it” Tatiana replied, “Her secrets, the black moods she hides from the public, some of the things that Poppa has said happened… That time she went to that spa in Switzerland wasn’t simply a vacation.”
“I know about her depression” Marie said, “And you forget that I was there too, when she was gone for all that time and Poppa wasn’t telling us anything.”
Marie didn’t know the half of it, Tatiana thought to herself. And somehow she knew that enlightening her little sister would not make anyone happy.
Yes Tat, lets go and piss your mother off at you even more than she was by letting Marie in on the family secrets.
On a happier note how about a fashion house in Berlin the so called "Atelier Marie Alexandra" has everything from a extreme high end one off collection to everyday normal functional, durable, comfortable and cheap clothes for anyone, that more than likely even the well heeled will be buying.
On a happier note how about a fashion house in Berlin the so called "Atelier Marie Alexandra" has everything from a extreme high end one off collection to everyday normal functional, durable, comfortable and cheap clothes for anyone, that more than likely even the well heeled will be buying.
That is the thing, Kat isn't really angry with Tatiana. More like disappointed by her personal choices and deeply concerned about how Tatiana is making some of the same mistakes she did. Kat is also frightened about the sort of fan blades her daughter is unknowingly walking into.
While Tatiana wants to be like Kat, she stills sees her mother’s life as this great adventure and not noticing the price that Kat has payed for it.
Tatiana is apparently unaware that she is indirectly responsible for the death of FBI Special Agent Greyson, who was killed to cover her tracks in regards to her deep cover identity.
Marie, on the other hand is Kat without the trauma, and that makes her more dangerous as she will “Pick up the damn phone” and make much less impulsive decisions than her mother.
When Mathilda came onto the scene earlier in this timeline, there was a lot of debate on whether or not she would become the “Next Kat”, I posted that she didn’t have the intangibles that made Kat, Kat, but I think that Marie does and Marie knows that and that scares her, and that is why Marie is having problems deciding what to do with her life as she sees that any path she takes will lead her into the same life as her mother’s.
Tatiana is apparently unaware that she is indirectly responsible for the death of FBI Special Agent Greyson, who was killed to cover her tracks in regards to her deep cover identity.
Marie, on the other hand is Kat without the trauma, and that makes her more dangerous as she will “Pick up the damn phone” and make much less impulsive decisions than her mother.
When Mathilda came onto the scene earlier in this timeline, there was a lot of debate on whether or not she would become the “Next Kat”, I posted that she didn’t have the intangibles that made Kat, Kat, but I think that Marie does and Marie knows that and that scares her, and that is why Marie is having problems deciding what to do with her life as she sees that any path she takes will lead her into the same life as her mother’s.
More like indirectly implicated in his death, I think. It looks as if Greyson's personality, inquisitiveness and, quite frankly, piss poor investigative skills may have... irritated certain people enough to make their displeasure known to him. Even Agent Ed thought Greyson's personality & attitude wasn't well suited to Ireland.
Something Kat will be very pleased to hear, and something I suspect Kat will move heaven and earth to maintain.
Neither God nor the Devil want to have to find a Scare Cat on their thrones.
And each think she's an agent of the other...
Part 145, Chapter 2629
Chapter Two Thousand Six Hundred Twenty-Nine
20th July 1977
Mitte, Berlin, Germany
“Dear God, what have they done this time?” Was a sentiment that was often heard around the Reichstag these days as Heinz Kissinger had go to ever greater lengths to keep the Governing coalition from coming apart at the seams. Helene had played the game long enough to know the rules. If Kissinger were smart he would have called for an election months ago, before the Government had devolved into a three-ring circus. Now he was having to cater to the far-right minor parties who even the most extreme members of the National Liberals considered a bunch of complete nutcases.
This time it had to do with the appointment of General Hans-Joachim Marseille to Command the OKL. A few years earlier, the SPD led coalition had made a point of blocking that very appointment. It had nothing to do with how General Marseille was a capable Pilot and Commander, being one of the last Aces of Soviet War still in uniform and a history making Test Pilot. That was all well understood. However, his long history of womanizing, insubordination, and what could only be described as reckless behavior that was never quite bad enough to get him Court Martialed had been a key consideration. Now, he had been appointed overall command of the entire Luftwaffe and Helene suspected that members of the minor political parties had pushed for that for no other reason than to stick it to the Opposition.
Oddly, Helene herself saw nothing wrong with him per say. Her father had told her about how there were no doubts about where Hans-Joachim Marseille’s loyalties lay, the Luftwaffe itself. The only quibble was that he was a Fighter Pilot, meaning that he might not be the sort of strategic thinker that the Service Branch needed. There was a reason why after Helene’s father had retired the commanders of the Luftwaffe High Command had mostly been Bomber or Transport Pilots with the exception of Emil von Holz, who had been a Paratrooper with the Luftwaffe Airbourne and Ground Forces. Long term strategy and Logistics were key considerations, ones that Fighter Pilots might not have thought about as much. At the same time, the Luftwaffe had once been the project of Oswald Boelcke and Helene’s father both of whom had famously been Aces during the First World War. These days they were regarded as having been men of vision. So Helene was willing to give General Marseilles the opportunity, provided that the various lawsuits and investigations didn’t catch up to him first.
Lake Superior
After days of public appearances in the Pacific Northwest and the Upper Midwest, Kiki was heading for the East Coast. While she could have flown directly to Washington D.C., spending a few days relaxing beyond the easy reach of the public had been appealing. Steffi had heard about a transportation line belonging to a mining company that apparently was renowned for its accommodation for travelers looking for something off the beaten path and not in any kind of hurry. She figured that was the sort of thing that Kiki would be interested in. Kiki had been scheduled to be in Minneapolis anyway, so she had inquired about it and had found herself on the phone with the President of the Oglebay Norton Company and he had been delighted to sell her on a berth on the Flagship of their Shipping Line. The only catch was that she meet with the Board of Directors when she arrived in Cleveland, Ohio. Kiki knew when she was getting chatted up as a potential investor and it was obvious that was what was going on.
The ship itself was not at all what she was expecting. Kiki had thought that it would be like one of the Motor Barges that plied the inland waterways of Europe, particularly the Rhine and Danube. Instead the SS Edmond Fitzgerald was huge, 222 meters in length and 23 meters in beam. She had been taking on a load of iron ore when Kiki had arrived at the harbor in Superior, Wisconsin with her small entourage in tow. Captain Crawford had made a point of welcoming Kiki aboard and he had instructed one of the ship’s Officers to give her and Benjamin a brief tour as the loading of the ship was completed and she cast off.
Now, in the early morning hours with sleep proving elusive and needing fresh air, Kiki was leaning on the rail watching the dark landscape to the South, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan most likely, pass. There were the lights from communities along the shore and Kiki could see the bright beam of light from a lighthouse off in the distance to the east. She realized that she really did miss traveling in this manner. On the Meta and later on the Epione all her problems had been distant. When she had first gotten back from Korea after the Sino-Korean War that had been exactly what she had needed. Now with the pressures of actually running a hospital and having a family that she was trying to keep from falling apart, it was what she needed again even if it was just for a few days.
A Sailor, one of the crew, walked past and he gave Kiki a respectful nod. Apparently, the Captain had told the crew to be on their best behavior while she was aboard. Still though, there was a bit of respect beyond that. It made her wonder exactly how much the men of the crew knew about her.
20th July 1977
Mitte, Berlin, Germany
“Dear God, what have they done this time?” Was a sentiment that was often heard around the Reichstag these days as Heinz Kissinger had go to ever greater lengths to keep the Governing coalition from coming apart at the seams. Helene had played the game long enough to know the rules. If Kissinger were smart he would have called for an election months ago, before the Government had devolved into a three-ring circus. Now he was having to cater to the far-right minor parties who even the most extreme members of the National Liberals considered a bunch of complete nutcases.
This time it had to do with the appointment of General Hans-Joachim Marseille to Command the OKL. A few years earlier, the SPD led coalition had made a point of blocking that very appointment. It had nothing to do with how General Marseille was a capable Pilot and Commander, being one of the last Aces of Soviet War still in uniform and a history making Test Pilot. That was all well understood. However, his long history of womanizing, insubordination, and what could only be described as reckless behavior that was never quite bad enough to get him Court Martialed had been a key consideration. Now, he had been appointed overall command of the entire Luftwaffe and Helene suspected that members of the minor political parties had pushed for that for no other reason than to stick it to the Opposition.
Oddly, Helene herself saw nothing wrong with him per say. Her father had told her about how there were no doubts about where Hans-Joachim Marseille’s loyalties lay, the Luftwaffe itself. The only quibble was that he was a Fighter Pilot, meaning that he might not be the sort of strategic thinker that the Service Branch needed. There was a reason why after Helene’s father had retired the commanders of the Luftwaffe High Command had mostly been Bomber or Transport Pilots with the exception of Emil von Holz, who had been a Paratrooper with the Luftwaffe Airbourne and Ground Forces. Long term strategy and Logistics were key considerations, ones that Fighter Pilots might not have thought about as much. At the same time, the Luftwaffe had once been the project of Oswald Boelcke and Helene’s father both of whom had famously been Aces during the First World War. These days they were regarded as having been men of vision. So Helene was willing to give General Marseilles the opportunity, provided that the various lawsuits and investigations didn’t catch up to him first.
Lake Superior
After days of public appearances in the Pacific Northwest and the Upper Midwest, Kiki was heading for the East Coast. While she could have flown directly to Washington D.C., spending a few days relaxing beyond the easy reach of the public had been appealing. Steffi had heard about a transportation line belonging to a mining company that apparently was renowned for its accommodation for travelers looking for something off the beaten path and not in any kind of hurry. She figured that was the sort of thing that Kiki would be interested in. Kiki had been scheduled to be in Minneapolis anyway, so she had inquired about it and had found herself on the phone with the President of the Oglebay Norton Company and he had been delighted to sell her on a berth on the Flagship of their Shipping Line. The only catch was that she meet with the Board of Directors when she arrived in Cleveland, Ohio. Kiki knew when she was getting chatted up as a potential investor and it was obvious that was what was going on.
The ship itself was not at all what she was expecting. Kiki had thought that it would be like one of the Motor Barges that plied the inland waterways of Europe, particularly the Rhine and Danube. Instead the SS Edmond Fitzgerald was huge, 222 meters in length and 23 meters in beam. She had been taking on a load of iron ore when Kiki had arrived at the harbor in Superior, Wisconsin with her small entourage in tow. Captain Crawford had made a point of welcoming Kiki aboard and he had instructed one of the ship’s Officers to give her and Benjamin a brief tour as the loading of the ship was completed and she cast off.
Now, in the early morning hours with sleep proving elusive and needing fresh air, Kiki was leaning on the rail watching the dark landscape to the South, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan most likely, pass. There were the lights from communities along the shore and Kiki could see the bright beam of light from a lighthouse off in the distance to the east. She realized that she really did miss traveling in this manner. On the Meta and later on the Epione all her problems had been distant. When she had first gotten back from Korea after the Sino-Korean War that had been exactly what she had needed. Now with the pressures of actually running a hospital and having a family that she was trying to keep from falling apart, it was what she needed again even if it was just for a few days.
A Sailor, one of the crew, walked past and he gave Kiki a respectful nod. Apparently, the Captain had told the crew to be on their best behavior while she was aboard. Still though, there was a bit of respect beyond that. It made her wonder exactly how much the men of the crew knew about her.
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Well, that ship is two years overdue turning into the largest shipwreck on the Great Lakes, and the cargo is the same. But no sign of a storm nor is it autum going on winter.
The Fitzgerald was a Bulk Freighter, meaning that the cargo is unlikely to be different. The truly weird part is that the company that ran the Fitzgerald is still in business, many contemporaries are working on the Great Lakes, so barring any other misadventure there is a good chance that the Fitzgerald would still be in service in 2023 in TTL.
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Kiki is known for her trips on the canals and waterways of Europe on her own barge and the fact that she is also her own pilot.
She is also known for her advocacy of recreational boating and making it more popular with the public.
Her trips along the disused canals in Germany has caused a revitalization of the small towns and villages in providing services for travelers on the canals.
The German Ministry of Tourism has made sure that articles in various travel magazines featuring Kiki on the covers have appeared around the world.
When Kiki took her trip in Russia a few years ago, Zella went along with her camera man Yuri, to do a documentary.
It should have also been done in English and sold to at least PBS, and that would have made Kiki even better known in the US for her interest in boating.
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald had what they called "Directors Suites" that were as passenger cabins during the summer seasons, and were sold out many times.
She is also known for her advocacy of recreational boating and making it more popular with the public.
Her trips along the disused canals in Germany has caused a revitalization of the small towns and villages in providing services for travelers on the canals.
The German Ministry of Tourism has made sure that articles in various travel magazines featuring Kiki on the covers have appeared around the world.
When Kiki took her trip in Russia a few years ago, Zella went along with her camera man Yuri, to do a documentary.
It should have also been done in English and sold to at least PBS, and that would have made Kiki even better known in the US for her interest in boating.
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald had what they called "Directors Suites" that were as passenger cabins during the summer seasons, and were sold out many times.
I am perfectly aware of that. Typos happen occasionally.I am assuming Mitte refers to Berlin-Mitte?
Mitte means middle, and I don’t think there is a German city called that, though I could be wrong.
Part 145, Chapter 2630
Chapter Two Thousand Six Hundred Thirty
26th July 1977
Washington D.C.
When Richard Nixon had been briefed about Princess Kristina earlier that month the CIA and State Department Experts had said that Kristina was an idiosyncratic woman who wasn’t always aware of the effect she had on the world around her. He had not quite understood the extent of that at the time. That changed when she had arrived in Cleveland to meet with the Board of Oglebay Norton Company, which dealt mostly in Mining and Transport in the Upper Midwest. Her reputation as a shrewd investor had grown since her dealings with Sony, Intel, and other technology companies a decade ago, she was also rumored to be an extremely wealthy woman because of that. The CEO of Oglebay had of course seen the opportunity that her presence represented. So, she had spent a few days aboard their flagship enjoying the best accommodations they could offer. Of course, as Nixon had noted before, Kristina was a shrewd woman. She had quietly observed the ship, its crew and Captain, and taken note of what she had seen of their operations in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Seen the old faculties and aging equipment, the decay of the Steel Belt and how it needed modernization and investment to remain competitive. Then when she had gotten to Cleveland, she had told them that she was not personally interested in investing in their company. While that may have disappointed the Board of Directors, they had not been disappointed for long. Kristina had instead called the heads of the various German Steel Consortiums to see if anyone was looking for an opportunity that might involve a bit of risk because she saw the opportunity to get into that region cheaply. And doubtlessly pay Kristina herself a nice finders fee in the process. To the Oglebay Norton Company and others like it, this was like mana from Heaven.
That was where the headaches for Nixon began. While everyone knew that Kristina’s assessment was probably correct. It even echoed the very sorts of things that Nixon and his allies had been trying to tell Congress for years. Now because of the Princess Royal of Germany being on tour in the Upper Midwest it was looking like the failure to invest in its own institutions and industry had provided an opening for interests who might not be as friendly to America. Nixon had seen it play out in Mexico where the intervention by the League of Nations had provided that sort of opportunity to German Industry. Canada had proven a bit more resistant, but most of the cars built by Volkswagen in North America came from assembly plants located in Oakville, just outside Toronto. Anyone who saw a map could see the issue. The next new assembly plant by VW, BMW, or Mercedes Benz could easily be on the site of a faculty abandoned by Ford or GM and it was easy for Nixon to see the public reaction to that development if that occurred. An angry mob with torches and pitchforks coming up Pennsylvania Avenue just for starters. Far more insidious would be what might happen if portions of the American steel industry became majority owned by a company based in one of the industrial areas of Western Germany.
Nixon had sworn an oath to defend the United States of America from all enemies foreign and domestic, yet who would defend them from a “friendly business opportunity” with just a few strings attached. America had to either get better at playing this game or else they would find themselves under new management. That one Congressman from Washington, James Hendrix, a protégé of Speaker Stoughton who had managed to get a Bill passed into Law that protected domestic aircraft production as Lockheed had joined a strategic alliance with Junkers AG, an alliance that was looking increasingly less equal as time passed. The fact that Hendrix had managed to do that without the usual suspects screeching about Government overreach and interference with business spoke to his talents as a Politician. Perhaps it was time to see if Congressman Hendrix was interested in making a name for himself and stepping out from the shadow of his mentor in the process.
Nixon pushed those thoughts aside as he greeted Kristina von Preussen, Princess Royal of Germany, along with her husband, Professor Benjamin Markgraf von Hirsch. They had two children, a daughter Nina, age 6 and son Louis Bernhard, age 2, but both of them had remained in the Willard Hotel while their parents were at the White House.
“Princess” Nixon said in greeting as he entered the State Dining Room. He knew that she was here as a proxy for her brother tonight because Kaiser Friedrich IV seldom traveled outside of Europe these days. He was involved in complex negotiations with his neighbors according to the German Ambassador. Considering that Friedrich was an Attorney by training and had specialized in Contract Law, then his neighbors had better be prepared for a lot of hard bargaining. They probably needed to make sure that their wallets remained in their pockets as well the gold fillings in their teeth.
“Mister President” Kristina replied with a smile that he noticed didn’t reach her eyes.
“I understand that you had an interesting time on the Great Lakes” Nixon said, “Perhaps you would like to tell me about it.”
“I would love to” Kristina replied.
26th July 1977
Washington D.C.
When Richard Nixon had been briefed about Princess Kristina earlier that month the CIA and State Department Experts had said that Kristina was an idiosyncratic woman who wasn’t always aware of the effect she had on the world around her. He had not quite understood the extent of that at the time. That changed when she had arrived in Cleveland to meet with the Board of Oglebay Norton Company, which dealt mostly in Mining and Transport in the Upper Midwest. Her reputation as a shrewd investor had grown since her dealings with Sony, Intel, and other technology companies a decade ago, she was also rumored to be an extremely wealthy woman because of that. The CEO of Oglebay had of course seen the opportunity that her presence represented. So, she had spent a few days aboard their flagship enjoying the best accommodations they could offer. Of course, as Nixon had noted before, Kristina was a shrewd woman. She had quietly observed the ship, its crew and Captain, and taken note of what she had seen of their operations in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Seen the old faculties and aging equipment, the decay of the Steel Belt and how it needed modernization and investment to remain competitive. Then when she had gotten to Cleveland, she had told them that she was not personally interested in investing in their company. While that may have disappointed the Board of Directors, they had not been disappointed for long. Kristina had instead called the heads of the various German Steel Consortiums to see if anyone was looking for an opportunity that might involve a bit of risk because she saw the opportunity to get into that region cheaply. And doubtlessly pay Kristina herself a nice finders fee in the process. To the Oglebay Norton Company and others like it, this was like mana from Heaven.
That was where the headaches for Nixon began. While everyone knew that Kristina’s assessment was probably correct. It even echoed the very sorts of things that Nixon and his allies had been trying to tell Congress for years. Now because of the Princess Royal of Germany being on tour in the Upper Midwest it was looking like the failure to invest in its own institutions and industry had provided an opening for interests who might not be as friendly to America. Nixon had seen it play out in Mexico where the intervention by the League of Nations had provided that sort of opportunity to German Industry. Canada had proven a bit more resistant, but most of the cars built by Volkswagen in North America came from assembly plants located in Oakville, just outside Toronto. Anyone who saw a map could see the issue. The next new assembly plant by VW, BMW, or Mercedes Benz could easily be on the site of a faculty abandoned by Ford or GM and it was easy for Nixon to see the public reaction to that development if that occurred. An angry mob with torches and pitchforks coming up Pennsylvania Avenue just for starters. Far more insidious would be what might happen if portions of the American steel industry became majority owned by a company based in one of the industrial areas of Western Germany.
Nixon had sworn an oath to defend the United States of America from all enemies foreign and domestic, yet who would defend them from a “friendly business opportunity” with just a few strings attached. America had to either get better at playing this game or else they would find themselves under new management. That one Congressman from Washington, James Hendrix, a protégé of Speaker Stoughton who had managed to get a Bill passed into Law that protected domestic aircraft production as Lockheed had joined a strategic alliance with Junkers AG, an alliance that was looking increasingly less equal as time passed. The fact that Hendrix had managed to do that without the usual suspects screeching about Government overreach and interference with business spoke to his talents as a Politician. Perhaps it was time to see if Congressman Hendrix was interested in making a name for himself and stepping out from the shadow of his mentor in the process.
Nixon pushed those thoughts aside as he greeted Kristina von Preussen, Princess Royal of Germany, along with her husband, Professor Benjamin Markgraf von Hirsch. They had two children, a daughter Nina, age 6 and son Louis Bernhard, age 2, but both of them had remained in the Willard Hotel while their parents were at the White House.
“Princess” Nixon said in greeting as he entered the State Dining Room. He knew that she was here as a proxy for her brother tonight because Kaiser Friedrich IV seldom traveled outside of Europe these days. He was involved in complex negotiations with his neighbors according to the German Ambassador. Considering that Friedrich was an Attorney by training and had specialized in Contract Law, then his neighbors had better be prepared for a lot of hard bargaining. They probably needed to make sure that their wallets remained in their pockets as well the gold fillings in their teeth.
“Mister President” Kristina replied with a smile that he noticed didn’t reach her eyes.
“I understand that you had an interesting time on the Great Lakes” Nixon said, “Perhaps you would like to tell me about it.”
“I would love to” Kristina replied.
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