Turbulent Times :: A Timeline

Penelope

Banned
[FONT=Bradley Hand ITC, cursive]August 29th, 1960[/FONT]


[FONT=Bradley Hand ITC, cursive]The damn knee keeps acting up, knew I should've gone to the hospital about it. This isn't going to help me in the debate, either. The people want to see a strong leader, and that certainly isn't going to be me, pale and scruffy and sickly from an infected knee. Kennedy is beating me already, and I'm already picking out my faults, if I can't get a miracle recovery, Kennedy will destroy me in the televised debate..[/FONT]


[FONT=Bradley Hand ITC, cursive]I'm worrying myself over nothing, I suppose. Perhaps I should just sleep the thing off and worry about things that need attention.[/FONT]


[FONT=Century Gothic, sans-serif]-The Last Entry of the Diary of Richard Nixon. [/FONT]


[FONT=Century Gothic, sans-serif]**[/FONT]​

[FONT=Century Gothic, sans-serif]VICE PRESIDENT DEAD; GOV. ROCKEFELLER TO TAKE GOP NOM[/FONT]​


[FONT=Century Gothic, sans-serif]-[/FONT][FONT=Century Gothic, sans-serif] Headline of the New York Times, August 30[/FONT][FONT=Century Gothic, sans-serif]th[/FONT][FONT=Century Gothic, sans-serif], 1960.[/FONT]


[FONT=Century Gothic, sans-serif]**[/FONT]​


NixonPiano%2C1962.jpg


[FONT=Century Gothic, sans-serif]Richard M. Nixon[/FONT]
[FONT=Century Gothic, sans-serif]Born: January 8[/FONT][FONT=Century Gothic, sans-serif]th[/FONT][FONT=Century Gothic, sans-serif], 1913 – Yorba Linda, California[/FONT]
[FONT=Century Gothic, sans-serif]Died: August 30[/FONT][FONT=Century Gothic, sans-serif]th[/FONT][FONT=Century Gothic, sans-serif], 1960 – Atlantic City, New Jersey[/FONT]
[FONT=Century Gothic, sans-serif]Offices held[/FONT]
U.S. Representative, CA-12: Jan. 2, 1947- Dec. 1, 1950
U.S. Senator from California (C2) Dec. 1, 1950- Jan. 1, 1953
Vice President of the United States: Jan. 20, 1953- Aug. 30, 1960


[FONT=Century Gothic, sans-serif]**[/FONT]​


With Richard Nixon, the Republican Nominee, dead, it turned to the runner up, Nelson Rockefeller, to take the reins of the Republican Party...


My fellow Republicans and dearest friends, last week, Richard Nixon, the Vice President and Presidential Candidate, died at the age of 53. Although the cause is unknown as of yet, I believe I know the cause. Richard M. Nixon died campaigning for the office of President, to continue to bring prosperity to you and the people of this nation.”


The crowd clapped mournfully with approval.


Friends, I will take this party's nomination, I will defeat Senator Kennedy, and I will be your next President, come next January! I will honor Vice President Nixon, who died spreading his message of hope and prosperity across this nation!”

-The famous speech given by Nelson Rockefeller, September 2nd, 1960.
 
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To help you out a little:

U.S. Representative, CA-12: Jan. 2, 1947- Dec. 1, 1950
U.S. Senator from California (C2) Dec. 1, 1950- Jan. 1, 1953
Vice President of the United States: Jan. 20, 1953- Aug. 30, 1960
 

Penelope

Banned
On September 26th, 1960, the first televised Presidential Debate was held, with Senator John F. Kennedy facing off against Governor Nelson Rockefeller. Many would question who won these debates. It was strongly reported among raidio listeners that Governor Rockefeller had won, but between Television watchers, it was widely reported that both candidates had reached a draw. With an estimated 80 million viewers, it was one of the most watched television events of it's day.

JFK_Robert_Drew.jpg


Senator Kennedy and several bystanders and bodyguards on the day of the debate.

"We stand on the edge of a New Frontier—the frontier of unfulfilled hopes and dreams, a frontier of unknown opportunities and beliefs in peril. Beyond that frontier are uncharted areas of science and space, unsolved problems of peace and war, unconquered problems of ignorance and prejudice, unanswered questions of poverty and surplus."

BE024663.jpg


Kennedy giving his "New Fronier" speech during the televised debate.

**

Despite Kennedy's good preformance in the debates, November 8th proved to be a long election night. Governor Rockefeller watched the election returns from his home in New York, New York, while Senator Kennedy would watch from the Kennedy family compound. It was at 3:00 AM, Eastern Standard Time, that Senator Kennedy would deliver a speech, hinting towards the fact that Nelson Rockefeller was leading him in the current results. At 12:45 PM, November 9th, Senator Kennedy would deliver his formal concession speech, and, shortly after, Governor Nelson Rockefeller would make his famous acceptance speech in New York City..

"To all Americans I say that the next four years are going to be difficult and challenging years for us all that a supreme national effort will be needed to move this country safely through the 1960s. I ask your help and I can assure you that every degree of my spirit that I possess will be devoted to the long range interest of the United States and to the cause of freedom around the world."

Nelson Rockefeller / Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. - 270 - 50.88%
John F. Kennedy / Lyndon Johnson - 256 - 49.08%
Unpledged Electors - 11 - N/A

genusmap.php



Incumbent President: Dwight D. Eisenhower (R)

President-Elect: Nelson Rockefeller (R)
 
You could conceivably include Bob McNamara, Douglas Dillon and McGeorge Bundy, and even Kissinger, who advised Rocky IOTL. All three (not Kissinger) were registered Republicans, which was why LBJ didn't offer McNamara the '64 Veep slot. (if only to spike RFK's guns as LBJ did when he forced McNamara out of the Pentagon IOTL)
 

Penelope

Banned
I, Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, do solemnly swear, that I will faithfully execute the Office of the President of the United States, and, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.”

57.%20GOVERNOR%20ROCKEFELLER.JPG


**

On January 20, 1961, Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller became the 35th President of the United States of America. In his inaugural address, he stated that “I won’t lie to you, the 60’s will be a tough era”, citing such issues as Civil Rights for African Americans, and indeed all races, and the spread of communism across the world. President Rockefeller saw nearly a quarter million people turn out for his inauguration, and promised that “work would begin as soon as he entered the White House”, and it did. The morning after the inauguration, he delivered a speech, in which he laid out his plans for 1961. They included a new plan for expanding American Infrastructure, which became referred to as “Ameri-tran”, which would ultimately help define the American Highway and High Speed Rail transportation systems.

The Rockefeller Cabinet

President: Nelson Rockefeller
Vice President: Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr
**
Secretary of State: Gerald Ford
Secretary of the Treasury: C. Douglas Dillon
Secretary of Defense: Robert S. McNamara
Secretary of Justice/Attorney General: Thomas E. Dewey
Postmaster General: William M. Blount
Secretary of Interior: Fred Andrew Seaton*
Secretary of Agriculture: Clifford M. Hardin
Secretary of Commerce: Mark Hatfield
Secretary of Labor: Margaret Chase Smith
Secretary of HEW: Oveta C. Hobby+

* Carried over from Previous Admin.
+ Served once before.


**

The Bay of Pigs Invasion

In March of 1960, President Dwight Eisenhower had ordered the CIA to equip, train, and lead Cuban Exiles to overthrow Fidel Castro in Cuba. The operation would not go forward during Eisenhower’s Presidency, but would instead appear at the desk of President Rockefeller. President Rockefeller, although at first reluctant, would eventually agree to launch the operation. On April 18th, 1961, the now trained Cuban Exiles would embark on their journey. To the embarrassment of the Rockefeller Administration, the operation would prove to be a horrific failure, further souring relations with Fidel Castro and Cuba. The Prisoners would not return home until September 29th, 1962, much to the embarrassment of the entire administration.

OOC: Next post will involve civil rights and should be up tommorrow afternoon.
 
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Excellent SFG. PM me if any questions. Remember, text over pix. As a slight reminder to you, the MA race is in '62. ;)

P.S.: All my CC readers hate me because I will not be updating that TL until tomorrow. :D
 
One's better than none. ;)

P.S.: As a comparison, the only replies in Flight of Fate so far have been bumps. Maybe this will improve if I start livening things up on the domestic scene, in the literal sense. Don't worry, no airborne statuettes are in the works.
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
Really good TL so far, Sci! I'm definitely going to be following this!

Some questions, though.

First, what font did you use for Nixon's diary? I'd love to ge my hands on it.

Second, why Gerald Ford for Secretary of State? And does Henry "The Kiss" Kissinger play any role in Rocky's Administration at all? Perhaps as National Security Advisor, as in OTL?
 
Jerry Ford doesn't know much about foreign affairs. One of Nixon's OTL critiques of Ford was that he left FP completely to Kissinger, which Nixon correctly saw as unhealthy.
 

Penelope

Banned
Really good TL so far, Sci! I'm definitely going to be following this!

Some questions, though.

First, what font did you use for Nixon's diary? I'd love to ge my hands on it.

Second, why Gerald Ford for Secretary of State? And does Henry "The Kiss" Kissinger play any role in Rocky's Administration at all? Perhaps as National Security Advisor, as in OTL?

First: Bradley Hand ITC. You can find it in Word, or Openoffice. (Not sure about wordpad or word proccessor)

Second: Jerry Ford just kind of seems like a more likely pick for SecofState in 1960, rather than Kissinger who would have likely been a Foreign Policy Advisor. (Which he is, but that doesn't really matter for a few years.)

Also the next update will be here as soon as I get the Senate Elections figured out.
 

Penelope

Banned
Martin Luther King, Jr & The Civil Rights Movement

The first Civil Rights action of the Rockefeller Presidency was "The First Freedom ride". Freedom Rides were used to test the the United States Supreme Court decision in Boynton vs. Virginia (of 1960). The very first Freedom ride began on August 26th, 1961, and would depart from Washington, D.C., and was expected to arrive in New Orleans on September 5th. Freedom Rides were not the only sign of the American Civil Rights Movement, sit-ins were also common in bars and resturants all across the nation. The years of the early sixties would not be a walk in the park for anyone. Hightened tensions between African Americans and Caucasians in the United States would result in the "Bloody Monday Massacre", one of the most horrendous events of the Civil Rights Movement. Over 21 Civil Rights Protesters would be killed in the city of Birmingham, Alabama by policemen, 14 would be injured critically.

Martin Luther King, Jr would be the leader of the Civil Rights Movement in America. Leading over 200 marhces during 1961 and 1962, he would be jailed for his peaceful marches and protests over 4 times, though he would eventually be pardoned by President Rockefeller. Nelson Rockefeller, as President, would become known as a strong supporter of Civil Rights, and would meet with Martin Luther King, Jr during his famous March on Washington in November 1962. In addition to meeting with the President, King would also meet with Senator John Kennedy of Massachusetts, where they discussed the need for Civil Rights for all Americans. The discussions would lead to John Kennedy's famous "Dream and Effort" speech in Boston...

"We preach freedom around the world, and we mean it, and we cherish our freedom here at home, but are we to say to the world, and much more importantly, to each other that this is the land of the free except for the Negroes; that we have no second-class citizens except Negroes; that we have no class or caste system, no ghettoes, no master race except with respect to Negroes? Now the time has come for this Nation to fulfill its promise. The events in Birmingham and elsewhere have so increased the cries for equality that no city or State or legislative body can prudently choose to ignore them."

John-F.-Kennedy1.jpg


The United States 1962 Senate Elections

Republican: Everett Dirksen​
Net Gain/Loss: +8
Seats Before: 36
Seats After: 44 (Minority)

Democrat: Lyndon Johnson
Net Gain/Loss: -8
Seats Before: 64
Seats After: 56 (Majority)


genusmap.php
 
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SFG: Never give Jack Bobby's lines. They're oil-and-water personalities with different constituents. Jack's line is "the concerned versus the comfortable."

P.S.: Such are the perils of having a KenSpec reading your TL. :p
 

Penelope

Banned
SFG: Never give Jack Bobby's lines. They're oil-and-water personalities with different constituents. Jack's line is "the concerned versus the comfortable."

P.S.: Such are the perils of having a KenSpec reading your TL. :p

Hehe. I couldn't find a good Civil Rights post that I thought Senator Kennedy would make. All of the ones he made OTL feel too Presidential to me.
 

Penelope

Banned
SFG: Never give Jack Bobby's lines. They're oil-and-water personalities with different constituents. Jack's line is "the concerned versus the comfortable."

P.S.: Such are the perils of having a KenSpec reading your TL. :p

Well there you go RB, replaced the Bobby speech. :p
 
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