Ok Everyone, Here's a new timeline that I have been wanting to do for months now, based on the POD that Ike succumbs to his massive heart attack in '55 thus resulting in a Nixon Presidency almost 15 years earlier than in OTL. The Out of the Blue Timeline, is still on hold(Although I may be able to get a nice sized update out in a few days) and I will return to it eventually. But I want to try my hand out on the effects of an earlier Nixon Presidency. It will be written in more of Interactive style, with some Naritive Updates, mixed in with my traditional Textbook-like format. I also wan't to try to cover more on Cultural Changes as welll. So, I hope you will all be along with me for the ride, and remember that comments, suggestions and replies keep my timelines alive lol.
*********
Wake Me Up When September Ends: The Death of President Eisenhower
An Alternate History Timeline
Written by Austin L. Ross
September 24th 1955
“We have Breaking News coming out of Denver, Colorado…President Eisenhower has just suffered a major heart attack…” Walter Cronkite trailed off as he peered into the eyes of the Camera’s on the set of his historical reenactment Television show You Are There. Normally, such startling news would be left to the Anchor of CBS Evening News Doug Edwards. But with Doug out sick, and the arrival of the tragic news arriving during his program, The Producers at CBS had given him the go ahead to unveil the news.
“The nation’s 34th President was on vacation at the home of First Lady Mamie Eisenhower’s Parents apparently playing a round of Golf when he had the heart attack. We know that he has been transported via automobile to Fitzsimmons Veteran’s Hospital. No word yet on the 64 year old’s condition…” Walter sighed as he patiently waited for an updated AP bulletin on the nation’s beloved General.
A few minutes later, his editor walked up to his Desk with a face full of grief handed Walter the bulletin. The almost 50 year old newsman nodded back to his producer as he took the bulletin away into his own hands. Walter stopped speaking for the moment, and put on his thick, black plastic framed Glasses as he looked over the AP sheet for a quick moment. With a heavy heart, Walter slowly took off his glasses and parted his mouth to speak.
“From Denver, Colorado, the flash apparently official…President Eisenhower has been declared Dead on Arrival at Fitzsimmon’s Veteran’s Hospital. Dwight D. Eisenhower at age 64 died at 1pm Mountain Standard Time, 3’0clock Eastern Standard Time, some 38 minutes ago.” Walter stated, with his voice laced with Sadness as he paused to gather his bearings. He swallowed hard and put back his glasses back onto his face as continued his follow up report.
“Vice President Nixon is in Washington DC, but we don’t know where he has proceeded. Presumably, he will be taking the Oath of Office shortly and become the 35th President of the United States.” Walter concluded, as the editor signaled that they would have to take a short commercial brake. The newsman couldn’t help but repeat the words in his mind which he always said at the end of his program for the last two years.
What sort of day was it? A day like all days filled with those events that alter and illuminate our times…and you were there.
The White House, Washington DC,
Second Lady Patricia Nixon and his daughters were inconsolable as the news of the nation’s Grandfather, who through his military genius defeated the terrors of Hitler and led the Republican Party back into the White House after 20 years of living in the Political Wilderness. However, those same sentiments felt by the women of his family were not felt by the head of the House. Even in the news of the President’s death, Richard Nixon’s heart still felt slighted at Eisenhower’s suggestion that he should take the demotion to the post of Secretary of Defense in exchange of him leaving the ticket in ’56. But will all that being in the past, the 42 year old was to become the nation’s 35th President and be in full control of his own and that of the nation’s destiny.
With his held placed on the Bible, Dick Nixon pierced into the eye’s of a man he hated with a passion. Chief Justice Earl Warren held back his own discontent at the nation’s young President as Television cameras recorded his first swearing in ceremony. Images, Words, and Memories flooded both the two most powerful men in America, of days when Nixon and Warren were Congressmen/Senator and Governor respectively in the Golden State. Now for the sake of a grief-stricken nation, those two men had to push their differences aside to ensure that the laws of succession in the United States were held in place. After Warren had stated the Oath and told Nixon to repeat it; a sly smile emerged out the side of Nixon’s face.
“I Richard Milhous Nixon, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and will Preserve, Protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, So help me God.”
