--- The Georgina Lincoln Presidency (1961-1967) ---
FIRST SECRETARY TYNDALE RETAINS POST
FRANKLIN - With the Communalist Party retaining its status as the largest party in the House, going from 186 seats to 214, and with their partners in the Liberal Party securing the position as second-largest party, going from 120 to 157 seats, First Secretary Lewis Tyndale has been reconfirmed to his current position. The fifty-seven-year-old representative from Illinois has been in Congress since 1950, and became First Secretary two years ago when the CPUS-Liberal coalition retook the House from the Nationalists.
After the vote Tuesday morning, the First Secretary spoke with reporters, saying, “I am thrilled to continue on in this office. More than that, I am very excited to be working with soon-to-be President Lincoln. To serve in the cabinet of the first Communalist, and the first woman, serving as our nation’s president, is a high honor. I look forward to guiding Mrs. Lincoln’s agenda through Congress.” It is indeed that agenda that is getting a lot of attention, and some concern, as inauguration day approaches. Nationalist Party newspapers and radio shows have been full of talk of the coming “red revolution,” that the new president’s administration, together with her party’s control of Congress, means that an ultra-radical leftist agenda will be forced upon the United States. Congressman Benjamin Pratt of Kentucky, who was confirmed as House Minority Leader shortly after First Secretary Tyndale took his oath of office, put out a statement saying, “We know that our party has been placed into the minority, but we will never end our fight to preserve this nation from the so-called ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ that Mrs. Lincoln and those of her ilk seek to jam down the throats of ordinary Americans. Dictatorships of any kind have no place in these United States, and we shall remain the true party of liberty.”
“First Secretary Tyndale Retains Post,” St. Louis Courier, January 11, 1961.
---
WASHINGTON HOUSE OFFICES REOPEN - RESIDENCE STILL NOT READY
FRANKLIN - After nearly three years of work, portions of Washington House are now ready to be reoccupied. The South Wing, which has traditionally housed many of the offices of various executive agencies, is fully restored, and those offices are relocating back from the various locations around the South Bank of Franklin to which they’d relocated to after the Bathtub Tumble in 1957. Work in the West Wing, which houses the president’s working office, along with the Washington House Press Office, is mostly finished as well, so President-elect Lincoln will be able to begin working there from day one. The East Wing, which houses many of the public staterooms, and the North Wing, which house the private residence, are still far from ready. Mrs. Lincoln has indicated that, for the time being, she and her family will reside at the Presidential Guesthouse, a prominent, four-story townhouse across the street from the executive mansion.
“Washington House Offices Reopen - Residence Still Not Ready,” Manhattan Gazette, January 14, 1961.
---
LINCOLN TAKES OFFICE AMID MASS CELEBRATIONS, PROTESTS
FRANKLIN- The nation’s capital was flooded with both supporters and opponents of the soon-to-be sworn-in President on Friday, eager to be a part of history as the country swore in its first female president. Franklin police estimate that the crowds at the Congress Hall and at President’s Square each numbered between eight to ten thousand, along with several thousand more than lined Union Avenue to see the inaugural procession. When she walked out with Chief Justice Raymond Cross and outgoing President Timothy Priest, the crowd erupted in cheers. Breaking with tradition, though not the first to do so, Mrs. Lincoln chose to place her hand on a copy of the constitution rather than a Bible when she took her oath of office. After faithfully pledging to protect and defend the constitution, President Lincoln went to the podium to address the nation.
“America, today is a day of promise. A promise that we shall truly live up to the ideas set forth in the very opening of our constitution, ‘We the People.’ What an audacious statement made by our founders. We the people. Not ‘we the landowners.’ Not ‘we the upper class.’ Not ‘we elites’. But we the people. All of the people. It’s a promise that this nation has not always lived up to, but today we are closer to it than ever before. It is my solemn promise that the government I assemble will be one that focuses on the people first. And that means all people. Rich, poor. Black, white. Foreign-born and multi-generation American.”
The new chief executive went on to lay out a plan of action that many are already calling the boldest and most progressive to come out of Washington House since the end of slavery. Mrs. Lincoln’s program includes the nationalization of America's healthcare system, placing all hospitals under the Federal Hospital System, but going beyond that and making all healthcare workers under the direct purview of the Department of Health. She also hopes to open up university education to more citizens (ideally, the CPUS supports universal collegiate/university education). The new president also made a renewed commitment to amending the constitution to make men and women equal before the law, and also promised that if Congress would send her the Freedom to Love Act, vetoed two years ago by President Priest, she would sign it. These bold ideas have a good chance of passing Congress and becoming law, too. Although the CPUS does not have an absolute majority in the House, it is the largest party, jumping nearly thirty seats from the 186 they had after 1958. There will be some compromises made to get the Liberal Party on board, especially since they control the Senate, but that will be rather minor in most cases, and opposition from the Nationalists will not be enough to derail Lincoln’s agenda between now and the 1962 Congressional elections.
“Lincoln Takes Office Amind Mass Celebrations, Protests,” Boston Eagle, January 17, 1961.
---
Mainstream American Communalism, unlike its European counterpart, had never set out to overthrow the state or completely upend the established order. While radicals within the CPUS and the broader Communalist movement wanted some sort of actual revolution, most Communalists who were actually elected to office did not subscribe to such notions. They sought generous protections for the workers, equality in the workplace and in public life, and an end to government preferences for the rich. At the state level, some party organizations worked for more thorough restructuring, as seen in Illinois, Indiana, and Manhattan, but on a national level, the CPUS never attempted anything as drastic. Despite criticism of this moderate approach from both radicals at home and the Communlists in the Union of European Republics, this middle-of-the-road tactic paid off for the CPUS.
This is illustrated perfectly in the 1960 election of Georgina Lincoln as the thirty-fourth president of the United States. When she took office on January 16, 1961, no Holzian-style edicts thundered forth from Washington House ordering the remaking of the country in the image of Carl Marks or Robert Owen. While her legislative agenda was considered radical at the time, it pales in comparison to anything done in the UER. The CPUS did what many Communalist organizations in other places had not been able to do: find a way to use the existing system for the benefit, protection, and edification of the workers.
Browning, Dr. Angela. On American Communalism. Chicago: People’s Press, 1990.
---
DEBATE BEGINS ON PRESIDENT’S HEALTHCARE PLAN
FRANKLIN - First Secretary Tyndale opened up debate on the proposed bill that would restructure the American healthcare system, as proposed by President Lincoln in her inaugural address. The proposal would abolish private healthcare practice in the United States, making all medical professionals employees of the government, and place all hospitals under government control (most of which already are). In addition, this new system would be free to use for all citizens, subsidized by an increase in taxes, likely to be aimed at higher-income earners. Nationalized healthcare has been an official part of the CPUS platform since the 1944 congressional elections, and seems likely to become a reality in some form by the end of President Lincoln’s time in office.
Universal healthcare has been practiced in Indiana since 1933, and in Illinois since 1940, in addition to multiple variations of what industry experts called “blended service” in more than fifteen states. Nevertheless, there is considerable resistance to any such nationwide plan. At last year’s meeting of the American Association of Physicians, which represents nearly half of all doctors in the country, the members voted overwhelmingly to lobby against such plans. The chairman of the AAP, Dr. Judah Klein, was in Franklin as debate began, and told reporters “President Lincoln’s plan will ruin medicine in this country. We are much larger than the UER, and any attempt to take medical decisions away from local control and try to dictate it from Franklin will spell disaster.”
“Debate Begins on President’s Healthcare Plan,” Franklin Observer, February 13, 1961.
---
RAGTECH LEGEND XAVIER DRAKE DEAD
NEW ORLEANS - Xavier Drake, the popular musician known by many as the “King of RagTech,” has died as a result of a car accident. It appears likely that Drake was driving while intoxicated, and drove his car into the Mississippi River after leaving a party at the home of one of his musician friends, Porter Dewey. Drake, who would have turned sixty this summer, helped drive the transition from Ragtime to RagTech, by adding electric guitars to his musical compositions in the 1930s, ultimately creating a musical genre that is now known the world over.
“RagTech Legend Xavier Drake Dead,” Chicago Herald, April 20, 1961.
---
NWP TO PRODUCE HOMOPHILE PICTURE
ST. AUGUSTINE - New World Pictures announced today that they have started production on an as-of-yet unnamed picture that will focus around a homophile love story. Few other details have been released yet, but the film will be directed by the world-famous Joseph Tombs, who directed last year’s Woman of Destiny, which won the Benji for Best Picture and Best Actress. It remains to be seen if this sort of motion picture will run afoul of the Brennerman Code, expanded in 1930 to include various content beyond foul language that was deemed “socially inappropriate.” The HSA released a statement in response to New World’s announcement saying, “NWP’s plans to release a film depicting a love story between two people of the same gender is a bold step forward in our struggle for true human equality. While we suspect that Senator McCorker and his Morality League will try and fight this movie, we believe that the vast majority of Americans are ready to see this on the silver screen.”
“NWP to Produce Homophile Picture,” Astoria Dispatch, June 3, 1961.
---
REVOLT ALFAME IN FRENCH AFRICA
ALGIERS - There are now widespread reports of revolts breaking out across French Africa, and other than in Coastal Algeria, the rebels seem to be taking the upper hand. Outside of the aforementioned province, the only other area in the territories with significant numbers of Europeans or people of European descent is the city of Dakar, where authorities are reporting heavy rebel activity in the countryside, though the city itself seems to remain under the French rule. The Prime Minister of France-in-Corsica, Jean-Jacques Auvray, a reformer who only recently took office, issued the following statement: “In the past few days, our nation has seen an eruption of frustration from native-born peoples across our African territories. This is, of course, a natural outflow of the years of neglect on the part of people in power, which my administration had hoped to correct. I ask for calm from the people of our great nation, that we may find a quick and just end to the violence and build a better France moving forward.” There has been no comment yet from the Bourbon Court in New Paris.
As of yet, no formal leadership seems to be coming from the rebel groups that began their uprising a few days ago in response to some sort of raid on a village by French Army units in the province of Mauritania. What exactly happened remains unclear at this point, but it would seem to have touched off long pent-up anger and frustration at Royalist rule in French Africa.
“Revolt Aflame in French Africa,” Brooklyn Standard, June 18, 1961.
---
The rapidity of the revolts in French Africa clearly illustrated to the world just how paper-thin the rule of the Corsican-based government was in their African colonies-come-provinces. The massacres that occurred along the board between what was then the provinces of Mali and Mauritania on June 14th and 15th led to a wave of both nationalist and communalist uprisings in almost all of France-in-Corsica’s African territory. Algeria largely remained loyal (having been heavily settled by European exiles in the half-century after the 1904 communalist revolution swept Europe), with some force having to be exerted in southern communities at the fringes of settled land. The rest of the provinces, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Wolta, and Senegal, all went up in revolutionary flame. The Senegalese Communalist Republic was declared on June 29th. The People’s Union of West Africa, claiming Mauritania, Mali, and Volta, was announced on July 3rd. In Niger, a power struggle remained between communalists and Islamic nationalists that established the Nigeran Unity Front on July 7th that would fight the French forces and worry about their own disagreements once independence had been gained. King Philip VII’s government in New Paris scrambled to hold on to its territory, and begged allies for assistance. It received some aid from the Kingdom of Naples, along with air support from the Kingdom of Prussia. Many observers throughout the world feared that this military action would turn into another large-scale European conflict, as the rebels began to call out for aide from the communalist government of the UER, and even to the United States, which had just elected its first communalist president.
UER Chancellor Georg Bourbon found himself in a very precarious position. On the one hand, he had been working for the betterment of the Union of European Republics in some form or fashion for nearly a quarter-century, and regularly spoke about the importance of solidarity between communlist groups world-wide. It was likely, even, that some of the revolutionary leaders in these new would-be states in West Africa had even trained or spent time in the UER. On the other hand, Bourbon, who was, in fact, the half-brother of French King, had dedicated much of his public service career to fostering international peace, and trying to improve relations between the UER and non-communalist states that had at once time or another been hostile towards the world’s first communalist country. Opinions on what to do varied within the UER as well. Some saw this as a moment to bring the Revolution of 1904 to its final conclusion by bringing down the rump French Royalist state. Others cautioned against military action, saying that the Union had finally gained respectability among the nations of the world, and direct interference would only tarnish the UER’s image. On July 21st, Chancellor Bourbon made a televised address where he stated that his government would remain neutral in the civil unrest that had swept West Africa.
Despite the collective sighs of relief that emanated from New Paris, Algiers, and Dakar, this decision did not spell the end of the uprisings. If anything, all this did was prolong the struggle. Dakar would hold out until October, when it fell on the 18th of that month. By the end of the year, all but Algeria was in a de facto state of independence. On December 10, Prime Minister Auvray announced an end to the fighting, and that formal peace talks would begin within days. The Algiers Accords were signed on December 30th, formally recognizing the independence of the Sengalese Communalist Republic, the People’s Union of West Africa, and the Nigeran Free State.
Lewis, Dr. Jeffrey. Freedom for Africa: The Struggle to End Colonialism. Boston: Boston University Press, 2001.
---
CPUS MEMBERS SPLIT ON DIRECTION OF HEALTHCARE NATIONALIZATION
FRANKLIN - Members of the Communalist Party in both congress and the president’s administration are split on exactly which path to take when it comes to the nationalization of the US healthcare system. Some in the party, including President Lincoln, support a true nationalization scheme, whereby the Department of Health directly oversees all aspects of healthcare, including hospitals, clinics, doctor practices, dentistry, and more. Others, including both First Secretary Tyndale and Health Secretary Peters, support a more decentralized approach, where the individual states would organize healthcare in their jurisdictions, following some federal guidelines and subsidized by federal tax dollars.
In a speech to the American Union of Nurses two days ago, the president told her listeners that “We are one nation, and we must have a single, coordinated approach to healthcare. We are becoming a mobile nation too, and many people will, in the course of their lives, move from one state to the next. They must be able to have the same health coverage from state to state. We cannot afford to have each of the thirty-nine states and two districts have their own separate systems.” The first secretary put out a rebuttal statement the following day, saying, “I respect where President Lincoln is coming from on this issue, and in an ideal world, I would support such a system. However, the reality of the situation is that we need to have the widest possible support on this legislation. If our plan to nationalize healthcare is to succeed, we must have buy-in from outside our own party ranks. I need Liberals and even Nationalists to support the plan at least in part. And the easiest way to do that is to allow for greater local autonomy than what the president is willing to give.”
With this major division on the issue within CPUS ranks, to say nothing of opposition from some members of the Liberal Party and the majority of the Nationalists, it seems unlikely that this portion of the president's legislative agenda will make it into law this year.
“CPUS Members Split on Direction of Healthcare Nationalization,” Boston Eagle, August 14, 1961.
---
PRESIDENT LINCOLN ATTENDS REOPENING AT FIRST CAPITAL PARK
GEORGETOWN, MD - The long-awaited reopening of the President’s House at First Capital Federal Park took place yesterday, and in attendance was President Lincoln and Secretary of the Interior Cassandra Fullerton, both of whom have reportedly taken a keen interest in the restoration of the original executive residence that was abandoned back in 1814. The old mansion has been part of the park since 1933, opening to the public for the first time as a museum in 1935. Since the Federal Park Service took over the site in 1945, there had been plans in the works for a full-scale restoration of the building and the construction of a new museum, but those plans had been held up for some time until Secretary Fullerton, working with First Secretary Tyndale and former President Priest, had been able to secure the appropriate funds from Congress in 1959.
Over the past two and a half years, the President’s House was fully gutted and rebuilt to the original floor plan and decor that would have existed prior to the 1814 burning of the building. In addition, a new museum building was built to the north of the building to help tell the story of the mansion’s 161-year history. This museum includes a permanent exhibition laying out key events in the life of the former executive residence, a space for temporary exhibitions, and a theater that can play films related to the mansion and the larger park.
At the opening ceremony, the president told the crowds “Our nation’s history is something that we must all hold dear, and must do what we can to protect. I congratulate the men and women of the Federal Parks Service who have worked tirelessly to restore this building to its former glory. This entire park continues to serve as a stark reminder of the destructiveness of war.” Then, gesturing to the British Ambassador, Hiram Colt, she went on, saying “But it also serves as a reminder that we as a nation have moved on. We have healed from this and a great many other disasters. Old enemies have become trusted friends.”
“President Lincoln Attends Reopening at First Capital Park,” Astoria Dispatch, August 25, 1961.
---
ADMINISTRATION PIVOTS TO FREEDOM TO LOVE ACT
FRANKLIN - With the healthcare nationalization bill languishing under both inter-party division and detractions from both the Liberals and Nationalists, President Lincoln’s administration has turned its attention to the passage of the “Freedom to Love Act,” which was vetoed two years ago by former President Priest. Joshua Steiner, junior assistant to the Washington House Press Secretary Jacob van Horn, has become the point man for this cause. During the daily press briefing yesterday at the executive mansion, Steiner told reporters that “We are in a day and age where we know that the relationships between consenting adults need not be regulated by the state. Yet in sixteen states, there are laws that say that two men or two women who engage in a romantic relationship are engaging in illegal activity. If my own boyfriend and I were to move across the border into Kentucky, we could be faced with jail time. This stain on the American legal system must end, and the president and her entire administration support the passage of the Freedom to Love Act.” The proposed bill will be reintroduced next week by Massachusetts Representative Jesse Pike, himself also an open homphile who has spearheaded the homophilic rights movement. This will coincide with the anniversary of the assassination of Father George Abernathy, a mentor of Pike who, while not a homphile himself, is often seen as the father of the modern movement to end discrimination against homphiles.
“Administration Pivots to Freedom to Love Act,” Manhattan Gazette, October 24, 1961.
---
TEACHER REMOVED ON OUT-DATED MORALITY CLAUSE
FRANKLIN - The District of Washington Public School District has suspended a secondary school teacher on the grounds of immorality after it was revealed that the teacher, Mr. Kenneth Bowman, is in a homophilic relationship with prominent Washington House Press Office spokesperson Joshua Steiner, who has been leading the administration’s charge to decriminalize homophilia nationwide. Superintendent of Schools for the District of Washington, Victor Clemens, stated simply that Mr. Bowman had been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation and hearing. According to Bowman’s coworkers, after his partner began making public statements in favor of the Freedom to Love Act, and admitting that the two were lovers, someone reported Bowman to the school board, which states that such a relationship violates the employee morality clause.
Despite the repeal of the District of Washington’s anti-sodomy law back in 1947, there is no legal protection against discrimination for homophiles, something that would not change even if the Freedom to Love Act is passed. Mr. Bowman, who, along with his partner, is an avid supporter of the Communalist Party and volunteered for the Lincoln campaign, told reporters that, “the rule being used to punish me for the simple fact of who I love is outdated, and needs to be repealed. I intend to plead my case before the school board. If that is unsuccessful, I will keep fighting. Rules like these need to go away.”
“Teacher Removed on Out-Dated Morality Clause,” The American Worker, November 8, 1961.
---
CHINESE EMPEROR DEAD!
XIAN - Imperial Chinese State media is reporting that Emperor Fùhuó II, age 71, has died from a heart attack. The late Emperor has ruled China for thirty-five years, overseeing his nation’s transition into one of the Great Powers of the world. His son, the 49-year-old Lim Wei, will now take the throne as Emperor Fùhuó III, continuing the Fùhuó Dynasty that began in 1904. Some Chinese observers are concerned about the ascension of Lim Wei to the throne, as he is said to be close to many hard-liners in the imperial court. Secretary of State Ean Francis told reporters that “our condolences go out to the Chinese imperial family, and to the Chinese people. Fùhuó II was a man of peace as well as a man of might, and left a permanent mark on China. Speculation about the future at this time is inappropriate.”
Despite this, others do seem worried that this untimely death could undermine peace in the region, the so-called “Harmonization Movement,” championed by the late emperor. Former US Ambassador to China, George McDonald, said in his recent book Land of Dragons, that “Prince Lim is a wildcard to the whole peace process that his father champions. He’s surrounded by militarists at court who seek to avenge what some in China call the Disgrace of 1939. If he doesn’t soften before he takes the throne, peace could be in jeopardy.”
“Chinese Emperor Dead!” Franklin Observer, November 20, 1961.
---
PIKE PROPOSES AMENDMENT TO LOVE BILL
BOSTON - At a speech given to members of the Homophilic Society of America, Representative Jesse Pike has suggested that an amendment be added to the Freedom to Love Act. “The recent case of the school teacher in Franklin underscores the fact that the decriminalization of homophilia is not enough. We must put in workplace anti-discrimination language into the bill.” This proposal was met with great applause from the listeners. The reality will be more complicated. The current language of the Freedom to Love Act has approval from the CPUS and Liberals, making it an easy pass, and a vote was expected before Christmas. This change will likely push passage into the new year, and could jeopardize the bill’s passage.
Patrick Scott, a policy organizer for the HSA and one of the organization’s top lobbyist for the Freedom to Love Act told reporters that “While I do agree with Representative Pike that anti-discrimination legislation is needed, and the Bowman case here in the District of Washington underscores that need, it is a separate issue from decriminalization, and to tie the two together risks getting anything accomplished in Congress.” Nationalists have already pledged a fight, along with some Liberals.
“Pike Proposes Amendment to Love Bill,” Boston Eagle, December 1, 1961.
---
SABER RATTLING IN CHINA STOKES CONCERNS
TOKYO - In his first address to the Chinese Parliament, recently enthroned Emperor Fùhuó III bellowed out alarming statements that have officials in both Tokyo and Busan fighting back growing worry, to say nothing of officials in North American capitals. It would appear that the era of Harmonization that the previous ruler of Asia’s largest and most powerful nation established is now at an end. In his address, Fùhuó III told his nation’s lawmakers that “China was betrayed in 1939. The Honolulu Treaty signed by my father gave away China’s unquestioned authority to lead in our part of the world. But today I promise the people of China that I will set this empire back on the path of greatness that my grandfather laid out for us all in 1904.” This and other similar remarks were met with thunderous applause in the parliament chamber, a sound now reverberating in other Asian capitals and causing alarm.
The Japanese Foreign Secretary, Minoru Ide, told the press that “the Republic of Japan remains committed to the ideas of peace that were laid out in the 1939 Honolulu Treaty, and we remain committed to our allies in the region and abroad in maintaining that order.” Similar sentiments were given by Chosonese officials in Busan. While Secretary of State Francis has yet to make any formal statement regarding the speech, the State Department press office has continued to state that “the United States and our North American and Asian allies remain committed to peace.”
“Saber Rattling in China Stokes Concerns,” Astoria Dispatch, January 20, 1962.
---
GREENISTS HOLD FIRST CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE
ASTORIA - Various environmentalist groups from the United States, Borealia, California, Mexico, Texas, and Hawaii have gathered for the first-ever continent-wide meeting of their movement, which began about a decade ago during the fallout from the Metropotamian Oil Crisis. The so-called Greenist Movement has drawn supporters from all across the political spectrum, making it one of the largest multi-partisan movements in the North American Union. Until recently, Greenists had largely stayed out of politics, trying for local activism on specific issues. There have been recent overtures from the Communalists and the Liberals in the United States, the Labor Party in Texas, and both the Federationalists and the Royalist Labour Party in Borealia. This political interest spurred on the decision from groups across the continent to gather together to discuss common strategy. There is even talk of creating a single organization that will be better able to lobby the various governments of the Union to enact pro-environment legislation.
“Greenists Hold First Continental Conference,” Boston Eagle, February 3, 1962.
---
CHINESE EMPEROR TO AMERICA - TROOPS OUT OF CHOSON OR ELSE!
XIAN - Chinese Emperor Fùhuó III issued an ultimatum to the United States and the North American Union regarding their military presence in East Asia: remove all American military forces from Choson by the end of April, and reduce the military presence in Japan, or face military consequences. Relations with China have been deteriorating since the new emperor took the throne last fall, changing course from his father, who had sought to strengthen relations between the Empire of China and North America. This, however, is a major escalation that many in Franklin and Chicago were not expecting. Many political observers are now openly talking about the possibility of war with China. When asked for a response by reporters, Secretary of War Harrison McGovern stated simply that “The United States and our compatriots in the North American Union remain committed to peace, but we shall not cower away from protecting our homelands.” As of yet, Washington House has not responded.
“Chinese Emperor to America - Troops Out of Choson or Else!” Franklin Observer, February 25th, 1962.
---
HOMOPHILIC TEACHER HANDED VICTORY IN DISTRICT COURT - SCHOOL WILL APPEAL
FRANKLIN - The case of now dismissed secondary school teacher Kenneth Bowman, who was removed from his post last fall on the grounds of a morality clause the Franklin School District maintains forbidding same-sex relationships or other such activity, has been handed a victory by the Federal District Court for the District of Washington. The court ruled unanimously that the morality clause in use by the school district was outdated. Furthermore, they pointed out the fact that many school employees had known about Mr. Bowman’s relationship with his partner, Joshua Steiner, a long-time activist for the Communalist Party and now a spokesperson for the Washington House Press Office. The court implied that the firing of Mr. Bowman had more to do with politics than any sort of moral crusade, and that the district should reverse its decision and repeal its current wording in their morality clause regarding same-sex couples. Franklin Superintendent of Schools Victor Clemens has indicated that the school district will appeal the case to the Federal Appeals courts.
The Homophilic Society of America has taken a keen interest in the case, and has been covering Bowman’s legal fees. HSA President Orvil Kinsey told reporters after the ruling was announced that “Today’s ruling by the judges of this court is a move in the right direction, the direction of equality for all Americans, regardless of whom they happen to love. Employment in a good job, or the ability to live where one chooses, should not be impacted by a person’s romantic inclinations. We hope that the Federal Appeals Court will rule the same way.” Echoing these sentiments was Representative Jesse Pike of Massachusetts, who has been championing the amending of the proposed Freedom to Love Act to not only decriminalize homophila, but to also create workplace protections. Pike said in a statement issued to the press that “Today’s victory for Mr. Bowman is a victory for all Americans. But it underscores the need for my amendment to the Freedom to Love Act. We must protect people’s equal access to work. Who a person goes home to at night is not the concern of an employer.”
Senator McCorker, known anti-homophilia activist and former presidential candidate, also spoke out after the ruling. “The ruling of the Federal District Court for the District of Washington was a gross miscarriage of justice. The Franklin School District is doing God’s work by trying to protect children from the influence of satanic forces that are at work in this country. There is no law that says I have to allow perverts to work for me, and so there is nothing illegal about the morality clause that FSD has in place. I commend Superintendent Clemens for standing his ground. Hopefully, the appellate process will go the right way, even if it has to reach the Supreme Court.”
“Homophilic Teacher Handed Victory in District Court - School Will Appeal,” Brooklyn Standard, March 2, 1962.
---
LINCOLN - PEACE IS OUR PRIORITY IN ASIA
FRANKLIN - In a special press conference held in the courtyard of Washington House, President Lincoln addressed the growing specter of war with China. “Americans of many nations fought and died during the Global War to defend freedom and democracy in Asia, in an attempt to halt the onslaught of imperialist aggression coming from China. We cannot allow the sacrifices of our brave young men to be in vain, so we shall not bow down to the reckless demands from Emperor Fùhuó III. However, we will not so readily abandon the peace our soldiers helped bring about in East Asia, nor the efforts of the past two decades to create harmony between China and North America. Peace is our priority, but we shall not be bullied.” This was the first official statement by the president following the Chinese ruler’s bold ultimatum for all American troops to be removed from Choson by the end of April that was issued last week. The Secretary of State had told reporters the day after the ultimatum was issued that he and the president were working with North American and Asian allies to maintain the current order in Asia, but would not elaborate further. The president went on to announce that “senior officials from the North American Union would be meeting with Chinese leaders to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.”
“Lincoln - Peace is Our Priority in Asia,” Boston Eagle, March 4, 1962.
---
JAPANESE PASSENGER AIRLINER SHOT DOWN EN ROUTE TO INDIA
TOKYO - An airliner owned by Air Japan carrying nearly two hundred passengers was shot down off the coast of China while en route to the Indian city of Calcutta, government officials in Tokyo are reporting. According to the Japanese Defense Department, it would appear that the airliner had drifted out of the normal international air lane due to bad weather, and was shot down by Chinese aircraft. So far, no statement has come from the Chinese government over the accident, other than to offer aid in the recovery of the craft and its passengers.
Indian Prime Minister Mohun Mandalik has decried the disaster as “murder,” telling reporters in Delhi that “this was an unprovoked attack on the peace-loving people of the world by the Chinese war-mongers.” Similar statements of outrage from across the British Commonwealth, Japan, Choson, and North America have appeared as well. Many now fear that the tension between the Empire of China and the North American Union may spill out into actual war.
“Japanese Passenger Airliner Shot Down En Route to India,” Manhattan Gazette, March 21, 1962.
---
The downing of Air Japan Flight 1616 on March 20, 1962, marked the escalation in hostilities between China and the North American Union and its allies far faster than the initial deadline of April 30th. The Japanese and the North American Union strongly condemned the attack, which Chinese officials continued to claim was an accident. Investigations later revealed that Emperor Fùhuó III had given secret orders to his commanders to try and find a way to provoke fighting, and while the Chinese ruler didn’t know the specifics of the plan to down the airliner, the commanders in charge were acting on his orders. On March 30th, the United States announced that under no circumstances would it remove troops from Choson or Japan, and the next day talks between China and the NAU collapsed. For days, war panic spread across Japan, Choson, and the west coast of North America. Then, on the evening of April 3rd, Chinese forces crossed the 37th parallel into the Kingdom of Choson.
For two days, the Chinese forces moved slowly, not seeming to rush south as Chosonese and American war planners had feared. There were only limited military engagements between American and Chinese forces. In North America, officials scrambled for a response. On April 4th, the council of the NAU met in Chicago to issue a formal condemnation of the invasion and called on the member states to declare war. The North American Continental Defense Command began to ready for full military engagement. In Tokyo, the Japanese President Giichi Kudo addressed the nation, announcing war between the Republic of Japan and the Empire of China. Schools closed across the island nation, and grocery stores attempted to fend off panic buying as people feared that sun bombs would soon be bursting on their shores. In the United States, President Georgina Lincoln announced she would address Congress on the evening of April 6th. Events on the ground would change things drastically, however.
Compton, Dr. Agatha. Three Days in Choson: The Crisis in Choson that Brought Us to the Brink of Global Atomic War. Franklin: UUS Press House, 2007.
---
“My Fellow Americans,
I address you this evening from Washington House with grave news. I had intended to address Congress and the nation tomorrow to ask for a formal declaration of war against the Empire of China, following their unprovoked attack on Choson less than two days ago. However, moments ago we received word that the Chinese Empire deployed a sun bomb against Busan, the capital of Choson. It is likely that hundreds of thousands of people now lay dead or dying in and around the Chosonese capital, including many American servicemen and diplomats.
It cannot be denied that a state of war now exists between ourselves and China, and I do implore the leaders of Congress to recognize this reality in law as soon as possible. But tonight, I announce to you and to the world an ultimatum I now give to the Empire of China. I have spoken with my colleagues in the rest of the North American Union, and they concur: China has twenty-four hours to withdraw all forces from the Chosonese peninsula and have their armed forces stand down to a non-war footing. Furthermore, we demand that Emperor Fùhuó III abdicate the throne. Failure to comply will result in the deployment of the full might of the North American Union upon the Empire of China, and we will ensure that the Realm of Dragons shall be wiped from the face of the Earth.
I cannot guarantee exactly what is in store for our nation and the world over the next few days and weeks, but I promise you that the United States and the North American Union will not succumb to the forces of reaction and wanton imperialism coming forth from Xian. We will stand strong and fight the fight for freedom, liberty, and the good of the common man.”
Lincoln, Georgina. “Address to the Nation Following the Sun Bomb Attack on Busan,” Televised Address from Washington House, Franklin DW, April 5, 1962.
---
COUP IN CHINA - EMPEROR OVERTHROWN - WAR MAY BE AVERTED
XIAN - Mere hours after the use of a sun bomb against the capital of Choson, and the issuance of a strong ultimatum from U.S. President Georgina Lincoln, it was announced that Chinese Emperor Fùhuó III has been forced from the throne by a coalition of pro-peace politicians and military officials, headed by former Executive Councilor Tao Yuan and former Foreign Minister Tu Fan (both of whom had been forced to resign by Emperor Fùhuó III upon his ascension to the throne last year). Their so-called Imperial Committee for the Restoration of Harmony has seized control of Xian, announcing the Emperor’s abdication and an end to hostilities in Choson. Yuan addressed the nation, stating “Tragically, unwise council surrounded our beloved Emperor, leading to decisions which have brought our nation to the brink. Should we have continued on this unrighteous path, China would be ruined. Peace is our only true course, and we, leaders of this committee of restoration, seek to reignite peace in our region.”
Rumors in the capital of the Chinese Empire claim that the Emperor may actually be dead, but this has not been confirmed at this time. It would appear however that Chinese forces in the Kingdom of Choson are withdrawing, and there are rumors also that Chinese officials in occupied Northern Choson are preparing to evacuate.
“Coup in China - Emperor Overthrown - War May Be Averted,” California Times (San Francisco), April 6, 1961.
---
Following the coup against Emperor Fùhuó III, the Chinese Empire’s new leaders sought an immediate cease-fire with North America, which was granted. Troops that had invaded the independent Kingdom of Choson were withdrawn as quickly as possible, and the new head of state Tao Yuan, styling himself as Imperial Chancellor, announced that the empire intended to drop all claim to northern Choson during the peace process, which would begin later in April.
Although kept out of the press for many years, it was eventually revealed that Emperor Fùhuó III did not take his own life after the coup. Instead, when the members of the Imperial Committee for the Restoration of Harmony stormed the palace after the bombing of Busan, the Imperial Guard put up a massive fire-fight, but were overtaken. The Emperor himself took up arms and was shot down by the pro-coup forces.
The coup leaders were not out to do away with China’s monarchy, however. The fifteen-year-old nephew of the emperor, Zehng Wei, was announced as the new Emperor a week after the coup. His mother, Cai Wei, would reign as Empress Regent until 1968, at which time the young ruler reached the majority, and was crowned as Emperor Héjiě (which meant reconciliation). Chancellor Yuan would remain in office until he resigned in 1972. He would oversee constitutional reforms that would strip the monarchy of much of its power, creating a monarchy very similar to that of Great Britain.
Compton, Dr. Agatha. Three Days in Choson: The Crisis in Choson that Brought Us to the Brink of Global Atomic War. Franklin: UUS Press House, 2007.
---
BOWMAN V. FRANKLIN SCHOOLS A VICTORY FOR HOMOPHILIC RIGHTS
FRANKLIN - The United States Court of Appeals in Franklin has ruled in favor of former teacher Kenneth Bowman, who was dismissed from his post at a secondary school in the nation’s capital after it was made public that he was involved in a relationship with Washington House Press Office spokesperson Joshua Steiner. The court upheld the decision of the lower district court that the school district’s policy was outdated and unenforceable, and that Mr. Bowman should be reinstated as a teacher in the district with back pay. This ruling comes just days before an expected vote in the House of Representatives on the proposed Freedom to Love Act, which, if passed, will decriminalize homophilia nation-wide, and also guarantee housing and employment protections for homophiles. Due to the impending vote in Congress, which is expected to pass, the Franklin School District has announced that they will not appeal the court’s decision any further.
“Bowman v. Franklin Schools a Victory for Homphilic Rights,” St. Louis Courier, May 15, 1962.
---
PRESIDENT SIGNS LOVE ACT
FRANKLIN - In a ceremony at Washington House, President Georgina Lincoln signed into law the Freedom to Love Act. First proposed by Massachusetts Representative Jesse Pike, in 1959, this law declares that laws forbidding consenting romantic and or sexual relationships between people of the same gender are hereby null and void. It goes on to state that housing and employment discrimination based on romantic or sexual preference would be illegal. Several supporters of the homphilic rights movement were in attendance at the bill signing in the recently refurbished Presidential Study at Washington House, including Representative Pike and his partner Matthew Gallup, HSA President Orvil Kinsey, and several prominent Communalist members of Congress. In addition, local teacher Kenneth Bowman, who recently won his court of appeals case against the Franklin School District after being fired last fall for being in a homophilic relationship, was also in attendance with his partner, Joshua Steiner, who works at Washington House. Before signing the bill, President Lincoln addressed the attendees and the reporters, saying “Today is a great day for American freedom. Today we take the government out of people’s bedrooms and romantic lives for good. Love who you want to love. Establish a life with whoever you love. And such choices will no longer be against the law or have any bearing on where you can live or work.”
“President Signs Love Act,” Astoria Dispatch, June 6, 1962.
---
CIVIL WAR BREAKS OUT IN NIGERAN FREE STATE
DAKAR - The unstable Nigeran Free State, which was established last summer following the collapse of the bulk of the French Overseas Empire, has fallen into a state of civil war after the ruling unity council was assassinated by rebel Islamist forces in the capital of Niamey two days ago. The Islamists had established a coalition with local communalists during the fight for independence last year, and had established a neutral unity government once independence was recognized, but this was always an uneasy alliance. The communalists tend to be the minority in Niger, and are seen as too secular and untrustworthy. However, the Islamists on the governing council had called for temperance and were willing to work with the communalists, a stance that angered many within their movement. A newly proposed constitution that would have established a fully secular state seems to have been the straw that broke the camels back and pushed the Islamists into revolt.
There is fear that this could spark a larger conflict in Africa and the Middle East, pitting secular governments against a growing pan-Islamic political movement that is supported both by the Republic of Mesopotamia and the Kingdom of Arabia. The Democratic Republic of Egypt remains neutral at this time, but pro-islamist political parties are agitating for Egyptian involvement on the side of the anti-communalists in Niger, at the same time that communalists in West Africa look poised to aid their brethren.
“Civil War Breaks Out in Nigeran Free State,” Boston Eagle, June 18, 1962.
---
WORLD GATHERS IN SYDNEY FOR 13TH OLYMPIC GAMES
SYDNEY - After a tense spring in which the world came to the brink of a major war, the world is gathering together instead in a great moment of peace to celebrate the thirteenth Modern World Olympics in the capital of the Dominion of Australia. The young and vibrant Queen Elizabeth II, only three years on the throne and adored by many throughout the Imperial Commonwealth, helped to open the ceremony alongside her husband, Prince Johannes, and the Australian Prime Minister Curt Godsby. Fifty-thousand spectators gathered in King William V Global Stadium as the athletes of eighty-six nations marched in to begin the games. The United States looks likely to try and retake first place in the medal count, which the UER took four years ago when they hosted the games.
“World Gathers in Sydney for 13th Olympic Games,” Brooklyn Standard, August 4, 1962.
---
WASHINGTON HOUSE RENOVATIONS COMPLETE
FRANKLIN - Five years after the former First Lady’s bathtub fell through the floor, alerting government officials to just how badly the executive mansion had deteriorated in its 129-year existence. Yesterday, Army Chief Engineer Kenneth Anderson symbolically handed over the keys to Washington House to President Lincoln. Since the infamous “bathtub tumble,” the four-story building has undergone one of the most complicated restorations in modern history. Army engineers and a team of architects oversaw the entire process, which saw the building stripped to its very frame and rebuilt from the ground up, all the while the outside was painstakingly preserved. Much of the original interior decor was also carefully removed, especially from the formal staterooms and much of the executive residence. The formal ceremony held on the north-facing front of the building that looks onto President’s Square pulled out all the stops, with the special marching band from the Presidential Guard playing the national anthem and several other patriotic tunes, and the building itself decked out in red-white-blue bunting.
After taking the keys, the President addressed the crowd and made a surprise announcement. “We come here today to celebrate more of our heritage. Just a year ago I was in Maryland to open the first official home of the Presidency, a much smaller building destroyed by war and then abandoned as our government relocated inland. When the leaders of our young republic made the decision to leave old Washington City behind and relocate the nation’s center of government here, to the shores of the Ohio River, a decision was made to make the new home of the president a far grander building, to show those who’d burned the first one that, having gone through the fire, our nation was stronger and would remain a going concern on this continent for generations to come. And here we stand, nearly a century and a half from that conflict, and the city of Franklin is a thriving metropolis, a grand city we can be proud of. I am so thankful to the men and women who worked on the restoration of Washington House, which is, when you get right down to it, is the People’s House. Therefore, I am pleased to announce that from now until the end of 1964, we will be keeping the non-office sections of Washington House open to the public as a museum, and my family and I will continue to reside at the President Guest House until that time.”
Later that afternoon, after the announcement was made, more details were released by the president’s press team about the opening of the mansion to the public. The official staterooms and the private residence rooms will be open to the public Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and the prices will be kept low so that as many people as possible can afford to make the visit.
This decision is not without detractors, from multiple political persuasions. Liberal party leader Cassandra Schultz, Representative from Jefferson, told reporters that “President Lincoln’s decision to turn the majesty of Washington House into a cheap tourist attraction is a stain on the presidency. While my party and hers has many policy items in common, I believe this is a signal of the type of egalitarianism prevalent in Communalism that is just not compatible with the American way of life.”
“Washington House Renovation Complete,” Manhattan Gazette, August 14, 1962.
---
NEW WORLD PICTURES’ AMERICAN BOY OPENS TO ACCOLADES, PROTESTS
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL - The long-anticipated film by director Joseph Tomb that is the first major motion picture about a homphilic love story has finally opened in theaters across the country, after a successful premiere at famous San Marcos Theater. Starring Benjamin LeCroy, Scott Bell, and Maria Eisen, the film tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a squadmate while fighting in the Global War and has to wrestle with this as he returns home. The premier itself was as star-studded as one can expect, but there were also a number of protestors from the Morality League, demanding that the American Cinematic Society rescind their seal of approval that they have given the film.
LeCroy made extra buzz when he arrived at the premiere with a man as his date, confirming years of speculation about whether or not LeCroy was a homophile. Bell, who is not, told reporters that “playing this role has been so humbling. I am proud to be in this picture and working opposite Ben has been a great experience.”
Also in attendance was U.S. Representative Jesse Pike, one of the leaders at the forefront of the homophilic rights movement. There has been some buzz that the film was based on his own experiences, but he downplayed such stories. “While I can certainly relate to some parts of the film, this is not my story. It is the unique and beautiful brainchild of the writers, and I think everyone should see it.”
“New World Pictures’ American Boy Opens to Accolades, Protests.” Boston Eagle, October 6, 1962.
---
LIBERALS SEE INCREASE IN SEATS, COALITION REMAINS SAME
FRANKLIN - The results from this year’s congressional elections are in, and it would appear that the Liberal Party saw an uptick in support, largely at the expense of the Nationalists. Still, the Communalist Party remains the largest in the House and it is likely that Speaker Tyndale will remain in his current position. The Nationalists dropped twenty-six seats from the last election and now control 103 seats. The Liberals gained twenty-nine seats, bring their total up to 186. The Communalists dropped a mere three seats, keeping their status of the largest party at 211. In the Senate, the Liberals have increased their majority, again largely at the expense of the Nationalists. There are now only eighteen Nationalist senators, a drop of five seats from 1960. When you consider that a decade ago there were forty Nationalist senators, and even four years ago there were thirty, this seems to signal quite the downturn in the fortunes of this political movement. Meanwhile, the Liberals now have thirty-five senators, up from thirty-two in 1960, and the Communalists have twenty-seven senators, up from twenty-four.
“Liberals See Increase in Seats, Coalition Remains Same.” Franklin Observer, November 7, 1962.
