Welcome to a dimension beyond advance people, handlers and soundbites. At the signpost up ahead...you've just entered....They Chose Not To Run.
The rules:
1. Pick any elected official in the OTL, and create an Alternative Timeline where they never ran for any public office or engaged in the political process at a level above of voting, putting signs on people's lawns or driving old ladies to the polls on election day.
2. The person took up something different, either in line with something they did or enjoyed in the OTL or something that they strongly opposed in the OTL.
3. They have to gain at least a little notice in their alternate reality be it local, national or global. That can't just "fade to Bolivia" to quote Mike Tyson.
To get things going...I'm going to take a sketch I wrote in a long-buried thread...
Its a story of what a well rather well-known American President could have been.
June 14, 2004 Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum Yorba Linda, California
The main garden of the Nixon Presidential Library was in full bloom on a sunny late spring day. It was the perfect backdrop to say goodbye to a man who gave millions of sports fans a lot of sunshine.
Sitting in the front row, was his wife, children and many of his colleagues and friends in the business. It was fitting that his funeral would be here. Richard Nixon was one of the deceased best friends. the former President's family insisted that the funeral would be held here.
Where did the legend of Dutch Reagan began? Well one could say it was way back in Davenport, Iowa has a sportscaster at WOC Radio. He left that radio gig in 1937 and the young man went west to Hollywood seeking stardom. Little did he know that the stardom he sought would come in what he left behind.
In 1964, GE Playhouse was cancelled. Ronald Reagan was left without job. With the rumors that he was seeking elective office in '66, the studios and television companies didn't offer the actor any roles.
Yet, Ronald Reagan was never sold on running for office. Conversations with his good friend Richard Nixon, and problems that Nixon went through after the losing in 1960 to Kennedy and embarassing loss to Pat Brown in 1962. Nixon was thinking about getting out of the politics game, and he advised Reagan to never enter it.
What changed Reagan's life was an idea in Spring 1966. The National Football League and the American Football League were in the final phases of the merger that would end the brutal bidding war between the two sides. One of the people most worried about that merger was Los Angeles Rams owner Dan Reeves. Attendance for the Rams was slumping while, just down the freeways, the wide open style of Sid Gillman's San Diego Chargers had people from L.A. driving down to San Diego to see them play and filling up their stadium. The Rams needed a spark somewhere. What Reeves felt they needed, was a voice, an identity for this team.
Rams head coach George Allen had the idea. The Rams needed a new announcer, and Allen had a friend with a good voice who knew football and knew the Rams.
That friend was Ronald Reagan.
Dutch took the mic as play-by-play man for the Los Angeles Rams starting with the 1966 season. His smooth style was to football what Dick Enberg was to UCLA basketball. For the next 7 years, fans in L.A. enjoyed Ol' Dutch. He was seen as one of the top radio voices in a time in the post merger-NFL where radio men such as Dallas' Verne Lundquist , Philadelphia's Merrill Reese, Oakland's Bill King, Pittsburgh's Myron Cope were becoming local and national stars for what they did and did well.
In 1974, Reagan's style and fan following caught the attention of the television networks. With the popularity of ABC's Monday Night Football rising, both CBS and NBC were pushing for new voices to bring in.
George Allen, now the head coach of the Washington Redskins, lobbied his friends at CBS to look at Dutch Reagan. And Allen in turn nudged his friend toward CBS, who held the television package involving teams in the National Football Conference.
Reagan was paired with Pete Retzlaff as the #6 announcing team early in the 1974 season, but by mid-season, Reagan was moving up the order fast. By the end of '74, Reagan was the #3 man on the NFL on CBS, right behind Jack Buck and Pat Summerall.
In 1975, big changes were coming at CBS as far as pro football was concerned. The network decided to roll the dice on an experiment that would change the way football was covered. CBS Sports President Bob Wussler decided to meet the stiff challenge ABC's Roone Arledge laid down with Monday Night Football.
The stylish well-spoken actor-broadcaster in Ronald Reagan, paired with the excitable, knowledgable former coach in Super Bowl-winner Hank Stram. They were perfect together.
Reagan-Stram was a hot ticket on Sundays. They were a ratings hit as CBS outdid NBC on Sundays, and "The NFL Today" became a competitive counterpoint to ABC's Monday Night Gifford-Meredith-Cosell juggernaut.
On January 18, 1976, Ronald Reagan and Hank Stram were the team in the booth for Super Bowl X. The stars converged for the former B-movie actor. Reagan's call of that game is still studied by many broadcasters today.
It also helped that the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys put on the first truly great Super Bowl. The Steelers won 21-17, Lynn Swann was MVP.
The game also was most watched show in American television history at the time. A 44.7 rating and a whopping 79 share. Over 40 million American television homes tuned in. Ronald Reagan won 2 of 13 Emmy Awards that the NFL Today received for their efforts in 1975. Ol' Dutch Reagan, spurned by the studios, cancelled on TV, finally got his due.
Reagan did play-by-play for Super Bowls XII, XIV, XVI, XXI, and XXIV. The Super Bowl XXI clash between the New York Giants and the Denver Broncos was even more special for Dutch..
(About Ron Jr.: Ronald Reagan Jr was a graceful,but tough, possession receiver who took ballet lessons in the offseason. Reagan was three-time all Ivy League at Yale, and then latched on in the NFL, first as a Los Angeles Ram in 1981, then traded to the Green Bay Packers in 1985. He was traded to the Giants in 1986, and immediately made an impression on head coach Bill Parcells with his ability and courage over the middle. Reagan Jr. retired as a Giant in 1992. Today he is a sports announcer for NBC-Universal and will be a studio host for NBC's coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.)
Reagan's style also was a signature of CBS Sports' Award winning golf coverage. People still talk about Reagan's call of the 1986 Masters and Jack Nicholas' incredible comeback win.
Reagan retired from broadcasting in 1990. He said he wanted to slow down and enjoy life with Nancy. In 1992, Reagan disclosed that he suffered from Alzheimer's disease. In a special letter to his fans printed in Sports Illustrated. Reagan gave appreciation to a sporting public who loved him.
He came back on the mic one last time for CBS's coverage of the Tournament Players Championship in 1992. After that he wrote a book on his time in broadcasting. But mostly spent time with the love of his life, his wife Nancy.
Ronald "Dutch" Reagan died of pneumonia at his home in Bel Air California, June 5, 2004. For the next week leading up to his funeral, every televised sporting event had some tribute to Ronald Reagan. Luminary broadcasters working events all over the globe went from signing off to rushing onto planes bound for southern California.
His funeral was full of famous faces, but just outside, the everyday sports fans was is attendance,especially Los Angeles Rams fans, forever grateful to Ronnie for his efforts which stopped Georgia Frontiere from moving the team to St. Louis in 1994. Because of Reagan's popularity leading the way, people so long indifferent of the Rams became fans again, and today the Los Angeles Rams have one of most vocal fanbases rocking the rebuilt-ultramodern New Coliseum of Los Angeles.
So many fans showed up that jumbotrons were set up throughout the grounds of the Nixon library. Some asked why the funeral was left open to the public?
Nancy Reagan answered proudly. "My husband adored the fans who adored him. This is the way my Ronnie wanted to be remembered."
The rules:
1. Pick any elected official in the OTL, and create an Alternative Timeline where they never ran for any public office or engaged in the political process at a level above of voting, putting signs on people's lawns or driving old ladies to the polls on election day.
2. The person took up something different, either in line with something they did or enjoyed in the OTL or something that they strongly opposed in the OTL.
3. They have to gain at least a little notice in their alternate reality be it local, national or global. That can't just "fade to Bolivia" to quote Mike Tyson.
To get things going...I'm going to take a sketch I wrote in a long-buried thread...
Its a story of what a well rather well-known American President could have been.
June 14, 2004 Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum Yorba Linda, California
The main garden of the Nixon Presidential Library was in full bloom on a sunny late spring day. It was the perfect backdrop to say goodbye to a man who gave millions of sports fans a lot of sunshine.
Sitting in the front row, was his wife, children and many of his colleagues and friends in the business. It was fitting that his funeral would be here. Richard Nixon was one of the deceased best friends. the former President's family insisted that the funeral would be held here.
"In our business, you met many people who want to be stars. Many people who would do anything to be stars, and some who make it...but they leave so many bad memories and so much sniping behind that when you come to pay respect to them at the end..It is stinted. It is false because of the type of person they were.
You can't say that about today. Genuine tears. Genuine fondness. Genuine laughter. Nobody didn't like Ol' Dutch.
The beauty of Ronnie Reagan was that he never meant to be a star in this disicipline. This was a man who was in the movies and on TV. He was a man that came into this wild life I've enjoyed for 4 decades or more as just a way to put dinner on the table until the next TV or movie gig.
But he treated every broadcast, like he was on that movie set. Dutch was a craftsman, and in being a craftsman, he found a new life. He found a new stage. And many of us here are richer for him having found that stage and sharing a piece of himself with all of us.
Those of us who've had the honor of chronicling sports are admirers of each other even in competition. We marvel at what each of us brought on air. We all had our different artistry and style. But regardless of our individual style, everybody took a little something from Dutch Reagan. He was just that good as a broadcaster and he was even better as a man
Outside of his wife Nancy, and his children...especially Ron Jr. oh, if ever a father and a son loved each other more, I have yet to see it...Dutch loved being behind the microphone. Dutch loved the viewers. Dutch loved the listeners...and as we see...They loved him back.
Well, There You Go Again....(laughter rings out through the crowd). That was Dutch's signature....I'll miss that..and I will miss you, Dutch."
Dick Enberg, delivering the eulogy at Ronald Reagan's funeral, June 14, 2004.
Where did the legend of Dutch Reagan began? Well one could say it was way back in Davenport, Iowa has a sportscaster at WOC Radio. He left that radio gig in 1937 and the young man went west to Hollywood seeking stardom. Little did he know that the stardom he sought would come in what he left behind.
In 1964, GE Playhouse was cancelled. Ronald Reagan was left without job. With the rumors that he was seeking elective office in '66, the studios and television companies didn't offer the actor any roles.
Yet, Ronald Reagan was never sold on running for office. Conversations with his good friend Richard Nixon, and problems that Nixon went through after the losing in 1960 to Kennedy and embarassing loss to Pat Brown in 1962. Nixon was thinking about getting out of the politics game, and he advised Reagan to never enter it.
"I was having lunch with Ronnie at a racetrack in '65 and I told him to be really careful about what you wish for in politics. You may never get it. Its a hard life, its a rough life, and i wouldn't wish it on anybody. Ronnie must have listened, because look where he is now. He's one of the most loved people in America, and its no accident" -- Richard Nixon, Sports Illustrated, 1976
What changed Reagan's life was an idea in Spring 1966. The National Football League and the American Football League were in the final phases of the merger that would end the brutal bidding war between the two sides. One of the people most worried about that merger was Los Angeles Rams owner Dan Reeves. Attendance for the Rams was slumping while, just down the freeways, the wide open style of Sid Gillman's San Diego Chargers had people from L.A. driving down to San Diego to see them play and filling up their stadium. The Rams needed a spark somewhere. What Reeves felt they needed, was a voice, an identity for this team.
Rams head coach George Allen had the idea. The Rams needed a new announcer, and Allen had a friend with a good voice who knew football and knew the Rams.
That friend was Ronald Reagan.
Dutch took the mic as play-by-play man for the Los Angeles Rams starting with the 1966 season. His smooth style was to football what Dick Enberg was to UCLA basketball. For the next 7 years, fans in L.A. enjoyed Ol' Dutch. He was seen as one of the top radio voices in a time in the post merger-NFL where radio men such as Dallas' Verne Lundquist , Philadelphia's Merrill Reese, Oakland's Bill King, Pittsburgh's Myron Cope were becoming local and national stars for what they did and did well.
In 1974, Reagan's style and fan following caught the attention of the television networks. With the popularity of ABC's Monday Night Football rising, both CBS and NBC were pushing for new voices to bring in.
George Allen, now the head coach of the Washington Redskins, lobbied his friends at CBS to look at Dutch Reagan. And Allen in turn nudged his friend toward CBS, who held the television package involving teams in the National Football Conference.
Reagan was paired with Pete Retzlaff as the #6 announcing team early in the 1974 season, but by mid-season, Reagan was moving up the order fast. By the end of '74, Reagan was the #3 man on the NFL on CBS, right behind Jack Buck and Pat Summerall.
In 1975, big changes were coming at CBS as far as pro football was concerned. The network decided to roll the dice on an experiment that would change the way football was covered. CBS Sports President Bob Wussler decided to meet the stiff challenge ABC's Roone Arledge laid down with Monday Night Football.
"We needed to rethink the pre-game show. ABC had that three-man booth with Frank Gifford, who used to work for us...Don Meredith and that Howard Cosell. But I figured, they have one game...We have Sunday afternoon! We needed a host and I had a young play-by-play guy former newspaper guy from Chicago...Brent Musberger..He's a good play-by-play guy...But he'd be a better front man. Then I had to have a former player as smooth as a Gifford, but knew more than a Gifford. I had a color commentator, Irv Cross, former all-pro defensive back with the Eagles and Rams. Still looks like he could play ball. Smooth, smart, knows football and HE'S A BLACK GUY. In 1975, that was a big deal. The sitcoms and drama shows didn't have too much color back in '75..let alone news and sports.
After that we really took some risks. Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder giving us the Vegas perspective. Pete Rozelle was livid about it, until he saw the rating we got from it.
And then I figured, lets meet the challenge of Cosell, with the anti-Cosell and she's easier on the eyes. Phyllis George...Miss America.
Once we had the studio team in place...We need an announcing team that could match the smarts, fun and personality. Nothing against Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier. They are legends, but I took a leap of faith. I had just signed Hank Stram, just retired after that mess he was in down in New Orleans. He should have never left the Chiefs and then go to a team like the lousy Saints.
Stram had the stuff to be a color commentator. People talk about John Madden and Jon Gruden? Stram was their daddy! He had the personality I was looking for and he knew football better than both of them.
He needed a good experienced straight man with the personality I was looking for. Dutch Reagan was the just the man for the job." -- Bob Wussler quoted in Brett, Irv, Greek, Phyllis and Dutch: The Wild Ride of the Original NFL Today by Brent Musberger and John Feinstein (Simon & Schuster, 2010)
"Reagan and Stram? Who'd have thought that would work?..But you know, it did. Reagan was so smooth, easy going, but he was also an authoritative game call, and Stram was a Cosell with actual knowledge. Listening to those two do a game was a joy, and hearing them argue on the NFL Today was a joy, too." -- Brett Musberger with John Feinstein, Brett, Irv, Greek, Phyllis and Dutch: The Wild Ride of the Original NFL Today (Simon & Schuster, 2010)
The stylish well-spoken actor-broadcaster in Ronald Reagan, paired with the excitable, knowledgable former coach in Super Bowl-winner Hank Stram. They were perfect together.
Reagan-Stram was a hot ticket on Sundays. They were a ratings hit as CBS outdid NBC on Sundays, and "The NFL Today" became a competitive counterpoint to ABC's Monday Night Gifford-Meredith-Cosell juggernaut.
Hank Stram: "Dallas will have to go deep against this Minnesota pass defense and I don't think they can matriculate that ball down the field in short a time."
Ronald Reagan: "Well, there you go again. They won't need to matriculate the ball downfield. They just need a good Navy man like Roger Staubach to throw a good pass." -- Reagan and Stram in the booth. NFC Divisional Playoff December 28, 1975
On January 18, 1976, Ronald Reagan and Hank Stram were the team in the booth for Super Bowl X. The stars converged for the former B-movie actor. Reagan's call of that game is still studied by many broadcasters today.
"Pittsburgh facing a third down, leading 15-10...Bradshaw looking downfield...he may have what he wants.....Deep for a Graceful Swann.....ON THE BUTTON!!!!! TOUCHDOWN PITTSBURGH!!! --Bradshaw took a smuush on the end Ronnie, but he stepped in and fired a strike....It was a beautiful pass to the most artistic man on the field today, Henry..." --Ronald Reagan and Hank Stram in the booth. Super Bowl X
It also helped that the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys put on the first truly great Super Bowl. The Steelers won 21-17, Lynn Swann was MVP.
The game also was most watched show in American television history at the time. A 44.7 rating and a whopping 79 share. Over 40 million American television homes tuned in. Ronald Reagan won 2 of 13 Emmy Awards that the NFL Today received for their efforts in 1975. Ol' Dutch Reagan, spurned by the studios, cancelled on TV, finally got his due.
Reagan did play-by-play for Super Bowls XII, XIV, XVI, XXI, and XXIV. The Super Bowl XXI clash between the New York Giants and the Denver Broncos was even more special for Dutch..
"And now the starting lineup for the NFC Champions...The New York Giants.....At Wide Receiver from Yale number 80 Ron Reagan."
(About Ron Jr.: Ronald Reagan Jr was a graceful,but tough, possession receiver who took ballet lessons in the offseason. Reagan was three-time all Ivy League at Yale, and then latched on in the NFL, first as a Los Angeles Ram in 1981, then traded to the Green Bay Packers in 1985. He was traded to the Giants in 1986, and immediately made an impression on head coach Bill Parcells with his ability and courage over the middle. Reagan Jr. retired as a Giant in 1992. Today he is a sports announcer for NBC-Universal and will be a studio host for NBC's coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.)
Reagan's style also was a signature of CBS Sports' Award winning golf coverage. People still talk about Reagan's call of the 1986 Masters and Jack Nicholas' incredible comeback win.
"Reagan painted a picture that entire weekend. All the ebbs and flows of what was a great tournament, and his last call when Nicholas hit that last put...'It's morning at Augusta..The old sun rises again, Nicholas wins the Masters'. People talk about Jim McKay painting a picture with words. Reagan was in McKay's class." -- Jim Nance, CBS Sports, 2011
Reagan retired from broadcasting in 1990. He said he wanted to slow down and enjoy life with Nancy. In 1992, Reagan disclosed that he suffered from Alzheimer's disease. In a special letter to his fans printed in Sports Illustrated. Reagan gave appreciation to a sporting public who loved him.
At the moment I feel just fine. I intend to live the remainder of the years God gives me on this earth doing the things I have always done. I will continue to share life's journey with my beloved Nancy and my family. I plan to enjoy the great outdoors and stay in touch with my friends and supporters.
I want to thanks all those who love sports and listened and watched me. I thought that when I left the movies I would leave the stage. Thanks to all of you who let me in their living rooms every weekend, you gave an old ham actor a whole new stage. I love you all for that." -- "Ronald Reagan's Goodbye" (Sports Illustrated July 27, 1992)
He came back on the mic one last time for CBS's coverage of the Tournament Players Championship in 1992. After that he wrote a book on his time in broadcasting. But mostly spent time with the love of his life, his wife Nancy.
Ronald "Dutch" Reagan died of pneumonia at his home in Bel Air California, June 5, 2004. For the next week leading up to his funeral, every televised sporting event had some tribute to Ronald Reagan. Luminary broadcasters working events all over the globe went from signing off to rushing onto planes bound for southern California.
His funeral was full of famous faces, but just outside, the everyday sports fans was is attendance,especially Los Angeles Rams fans, forever grateful to Ronnie for his efforts which stopped Georgia Frontiere from moving the team to St. Louis in 1994. Because of Reagan's popularity leading the way, people so long indifferent of the Rams became fans again, and today the Los Angeles Rams have one of most vocal fanbases rocking the rebuilt-ultramodern New Coliseum of Los Angeles.
So many fans showed up that jumbotrons were set up throughout the grounds of the Nixon library. Some asked why the funeral was left open to the public?
Nancy Reagan answered proudly. "My husband adored the fans who adored him. This is the way my Ronnie wanted to be remembered."
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