A Second Chance - CONCLUSION

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

April 9th, 1973
On the Senate Floor...
    Hatfield: It seems that the President's agenda in foreign policy is the exact opposite of what is in America's best interests. Immediately after having wrapped up a terribly bloody war that we only won after several revisions in strategy, President Agnew has begun to pour troops and American weaponry into the Middle East. This will obviously ignite the powder keg in the Middle East, yet he persists in the name of 'American interests'. Another war is the exact opposite of America's interests!
    Reagan: I must whole-heartedly disagree with the Senator's comments. It seems he believes the only way to defeat American enemies is to run from them. Time and time again, that is not so. We won the Great War, not because we hid, but because we fought. We won World War II for the sames resons, because we had Presidents willing to take the appropriate steps in order to ensure victory. The only way we won in Vietnam was by re-vamping our strategy to take the fight to the enemy.
    Hatfield: Vietnam was a needless massacre! We had no interest in losing American lives in those jungles, except for President Kennedy's obsession with besting the communists! Had we never been in there in the first place, we wouldn't have needed to lose billions of dollars and forty million lives there!
    Reagan: Senator. You seem uncommited to the very idea of fighting communism. You seem much more content to sit back and wash the Soviet hand crawl even further outward, into Europe, Asia, the Middle East. What happens when there are no other nations to stand between them and us? Only then should we fight? By then they would have gathered strength enough to out-fight us. The only wise policy is to wear them down, and to not open  up an opportunity for them to do that to us.

Even in April, my attempts to hold together the erupting Republican Party were coming apart.

-Not a Crook, Spiro T Agnew, (c) 1979

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

It was during the vast and horrible decade of the seventies, with inflation, a horrible economy, foreign crises, and a loss of respect for government that I came to know George Bush. We were first aquainted during his 1970 run for Senate and the two years following that. It was later, in the period between 1977 and 1981 that we came to be friends.

-True Democracy, H Ross Perot, (c) 2005

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Woodward sat at his desk, exhausted. He had been hanging onto his fragile job for nearly two years. He was surprised that he hadn't been fired by that point. "Woodward!" the call rang out from the editor, "We're thinking of running a piece on the life of President Agnew!" "What? A puff piece?" asked Woodward. "It's this or your job!" the editor cried back, "I want you in Maryland by the end of the week!". "Alright, I'll go down there and see what there is too see. Are we really going to run this?" "Or your job!"

Fall From Grace, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, (c) 1976

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

May 3rd, 1973

Nixon in the Whitehouse?

In the short time that the Agnew Adminsitration has been in power, their most commonly called consultant to the Whtiehouse has been former President Nixon. A man who spent the first two years of his political retirement sulking in California, and the other six traveling the world and meeting with several world leaders and re-familiarizing himself with the foreign policy ropes, former President Nixon is seen as an experienced hand at foreign policy, despite his arguably disastroud Presidency. Also, former Nixon National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger has since January 20th, been appointed Assistant Secretary of State under Secretary Rockefeller.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Really interested in seeing what happens with Kissinger. Is he too late to get up into the first tier of that Administration? The party still seems centrist enough to let a realpolitiker (or whatever is sexy and accurate to call a realist) be on the cabinent. 

He might just, should there be a change in power or an empty position.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The converstaion pretty much started when I first took office in the Senate, with Teddy asking through swigs of alcohol "Hey, Bobby, areyou going to run for President?" I had just been elected to the Senate, and I had only two years of political experience aside from being Attorney General. I had considered it, but early in the year Jack's approval ratings were'nt the highest. However, knowing what happened with Nixon, the more people begin to forget things about your Presidency, the more idolized you become. That being said, I knew Jack's image would recover, and in two years, who knew? However, Ted was also eyeing the Presidency and I'd have to communicate to him later to wait his turn. For the moment, I was wrapped up in Senate business trying to pass a Welfare Reform Act so as to reconstruct the welfare system so that it did more than pay peple to be poor. I missed my days as Attorney General where I could be concentrated in more of the out-of-sight busines of the adminsitration. However, I was in the Senate and that's where I would stay for the next four years.

-In My Defense, Robert F Kennedy, (c) 1987

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

June 27th, 1973
"And with the success of the Israeli-American coalition in tracking down those responsible for the Munich Massacre, President Agnew's approval ratings have soared" roars the TV "Here, President Agnew is shown on a helicopter in Israel, showing the peace sign with both hands and waving to troops. This was yesterday. One must wonder what the President will do with his newfound political capital. He's already passed two major stimuluses, cut taxes, and reduced the deficit. What will he do next?" Meanwhile, in the darkened Whitehouse late at night, the President sits eating dinner with former President Nixon, Secretary of State Rockefeller, Assistant Secretary of State Kissinger, and Defense Secretary Goldwater.
    Nixon: Congratulations, Spiro. you seem to be at the top of your game right now.
    Agnew: Thanks, Dick. I think it's time to move onto something bigger, but I'm not sure what. Maybe healthcare? We could steal the Liberals' thunder with that.
    Goldwater: Please, not healthcare. If you want to discuss that with people like Lindsay and Richardson. But not here.
    Nixon: Now look, Spiro. you've got a chance to accomplish something great here.
    Agnew: What, might I ask.
    Nixon: China...
    Goldwater: Oh, give me a break!
    Nixon: No, hear me out. If we visit China, you become the first President to recognize the nation. It's you who can claim to have done something like that. If we go to China, the Soviets, who fear war with China will be running scared. We can get good deals out of both of them by negotiating separately. Ultimately, we become the mediator and we control this.
    Agnew: (chuckling) Only you, Dick.
    Nixon: You don't even have to go! Send someone like me, or Rocky to do it.
    Rockefeller: It actually sounds like a good idea.
    Kissinger: Mr. President. It has come in my experience that such a move would work. We would be able to completely control the situation over there, and play both of the great nations into our hands.
    Goldwater: What are we fighting for? Is it for a safer world and liberty, or for power, Mr. President? The men surrounding me seem only concentrated on power.
    Nixon: This will work, Spiro.
    Agnew: (chuckling) Only you, Dick. Only you would go to China. Only Nixon would go to China.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

July 4th, 1973

President Agnew Shot in Maryland!

At a Fourth of July rally in his home state of Maryland, President Spiro T Agnew has been shot at, being hit once in the leg, once in the arm, and once in the shoulder. He was taken away immediately while the Secret Service apprehended the assailant, a janitor from Wisconsin named Arthur Bremer. His motives are unknown. At this time, President Agnew is at a Maryland hospital and may be taken to Washington DC. Vice-President Bush is talking with the President's closest advisers on what course of action to take. The Vice-President is currently in Texas and Whitehouse Chief of Staff Alexander Haig has said that in Washington, he has everything under control.

Arthur Bremer-An Assassin?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Please just ignore the Wallace button that Bremer is wearing.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Woodward received the call from a staffer at the Washington Post saying that the President has been shot. At the moment he was picking through income and tax records that he had become interested in because of strange anomolies and inaccurate numbers. However, the shooting took precedence over the situation. Being in Maryland looking up information from the President's past, Woodward was ordered to go to the scene, which was only a few miles away.

-Fall from Grace, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, (c) 1976

Those few days as acting President were for George a great preview of things to come. However, as when Ike suffered a heart attack, he had to act just as carefully as Nixon. With Dick as a civilian consultant, he advised George how to take control without taking the reigns of power. Among those things that he did was to take charge of cabinet meetings, but not to sit in the President's chair. Other things included visitng the hospital where Spiro was staying, and staying in constant contact with members of the cabinet. He also had the Press Secretary and the Whitehouse Communications Director keep the media constantly informed on what was going on with him and Agnew. It was a careful rope to walk, but George walked it nonetheless.

-What the Man was Mader of, James Baker, (c) 1999

When I heard that Agnew had been shot, I was horrified. Both Nixon and Jack had been shot at multiple times during their respective Presidencies, and I was thinking 'Is this going to be the one?'. However, it was not 'the one'. That, would happen to a much better man than Agnew.

-in My Defense, Robert F Kennedy, (c) 1984

As I stepped up to the podium on that fateful Fourth of July, I had no idea, as no-one really does, that in only a few minutes, bullets would bite into my leg, my arm, and my shoulder, and that I would face a bout with death. As I began to speak, there was something reflecting the sun down to the left in the crowd. I turned away from it in order to avoid being blinded by the light. Only a few moments later, I heard the sound and I was on my back with inexplicable pains in my left arm, my left shoulder, and my right leg, and someone had yelled 'A Penny for you thoughts!'. Luckily, two days later, things seemed fine and two weeks later I was out of the hospital.

-Not a Crook, Spiro T Agnew, (c) 1979

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

July 19th, 1973

Agnew Out of Hospital!

After near fatal bullet wounds inflicted over two weeks ago, President Agnew is fully recovered and is out of the hospital. His approvals stand at nearly 70% and one wonders what he'll do with his political capital. Some suggest a major domestic or foreign policy push. Nonetheless, for the moment the President is popular. He has thanked Vice-President Bush for his two weeks as acting President and the good job he did holding the government together.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

After the incident with Bremer, with approval ratings at around seventy percent, I knew I had to do something big. With gas prices rising, I announced plans for a new pipeline in Alaska as well as the construction of three nuclear power plants to help power populous areas of the United States.

Aside from that, I worked on handling inflation, I created the Whip Inflation Now, or WIN program. It encouraged personal fiscal responsibility as well as auditting certain government agencies for waste. One thing I regret doing is raising taxes. However, with the deficit still bein gterribly large, I had to handle inflation which was the most pressing economic concern of the time. Another way I helped to handle inflation was the finalization of getting the United States off the Gold Standard. The idea was brought to me by Senator John Connally, who reasoned that by doing so, the dollar would be free from the fluctuations of the market and from the hands of gold traders. That was accomplished in January of 1974.

However, I still felt I needed something big to make my Presidency stand out and to capitalize on my popularity. Only seven months in and I was worried about legacy. Finally, on September third of 1973, I had Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon propose the Complete Coverage Act, which was a deficit neutral program that would provide health coverage for every America. However, Congress rejected it, as they tend to reject grander ideas and I was left with an alienated party base.

After having taken political fall-out for the CCA, I was looking to recover and pull the base together. In meetings with California Senator Ronald Reagan and Defense Secretary Barry Goldwater, an idea emerged.
     Called the Strategic Defense Initiative, the idea was to send missile technology into space in order to be able to shoot down any Soviet attempt to bomb the United States. Proposed in Congress in November, the funding for research proved easy to obtain. However, by the time that plans were coming forth and I was ready to begin asking Congress for more funds, a much more trivial and what I thought was unimportant matter took center stage.

Two journalists, most likely working for the Democrats or some Liberal group began to report that I had been party to dishonest dealings as Governor and even as President, and that the American Economic Stimulus Act had been a dishonest give-away to companies who were bribing me. It was a ridiculous accusation, however, the Democrats in Congress, led by the Kennedy brother who had come to be stumbling blocks in everything I attempted, led the charge against me. That began in December. However, as of then, I was still popular. It wouldn't be until the next year that the American people would turn on me.

-Not a Crook, Spiro T Agnew, (c) 1979

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Comments, Question, Critiques, Complaints, Compliments?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

By 1973, we were out of songs and completely dry of creativity. Jim's death in January has crippled us as a band. The precious diamond that Jim, Robby, John, and I had made was gone, and with it our power. I'm actually glad Jim never had to see the years after January of 1973. He never had to go through what the rest of America went through, those horrendous years. The only Presidents we had were fascist after fascist until the 1984 election, but that's a different story. I had hoped that Jim, if he lived to 1980, would run for President. He'd certainly make a better one than the man that was actually elected.

-Light My Fire, Ray Manzarek, (c) 1999

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Chapter One

By 1973, the youth of America had developed a sense of dread and a fear of death. The deaths of Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and Jimmy Page had taken a toll on them and had given us all a sense of mortality. One time, when Jim, I, and the rest of the Doors were at a party, it was announced that Jim Morrison had careened off the side of the road in his car and had died. Therefore, when I first heard that Jim was dead, found lying next to an empty heroin needle in his Los Angeles apartment, I didn't believe it. It was only until I got over there that I saw his body being taken away outside the building. It was unbelievable and still is.

-Light My Fire, Ray Manzarek, (c) 1999

You must be logged in to read this quote.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

If there are any groups any of you'd like an update on, post here or PM me.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I really like the way you write this TL now ^^. thanks, update soon =)

Thanks. If you don't mind my asking, what part of the format do you like?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

January 19th, 1974
At a press conference, reporters are waiting to talk to President Spiro Agnew. He has announced the Press Conference in order to discuss plans for the development of the Strategic Defense Initiative. However, the issue that has come to dominate the media talk is that of reports by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein that Agnew has accepted bribes as Governor and President and is guilty of tax evasion.
   Whitehouse Communications Director Pat Buchanan steps out, because of the absence of the Press Secretary.
    Buchanan: The President will be out in a few minutes.

As the President steps out, the room erupts with questioning.
    Agnew: This press conference has been declared so as to inform you that the Strategic Defense Initiative will move forward with blueprints and further research, should it pass Congress.
    Reporter1: Mr. President!
    Agnew: Yes?
    Reporter1: How do you respond to accusations that as both Presidenat and Governor, you accepted bribes?
    Agnew: As I have said before, that is ridiculous and I deny such claims. Reporter over there.
    Reporter2: Mr. President, while the facts are not yet fully revealed, it looks as if companies that you have received campaign donations and funding from were the ones who received the most in cash from the AESA. How do you respond?
    Agnew: This is about the Strategic Defense Initiative! Not about this cooked up far left scheme of yours! Are there any reporters in the room who would like to ask a question regarding the SDI?
(One reporter raises his hand)
    Agnew: Yes?
    Reporter3: Mr. Agnew, is the Strategic Defense Intiative also a product of a bribe?
    Agnew: That's it! This is ridiculous! All of you are ann effete corps of impudent snobs who characterize yourselves as intellectuals!

Agnew storms off walks off stage to the sound of several camera clicks and the shouting of questions. Backstage, he consults Pat Buchanan.
    Agnew: Those motherfuckers! I cut their taxes, I cut their deficit, I work to defend this country! Goddammit!
    Buchanan: Look, Spiro. We're going to get through this.
    Agnew: We had better.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

February 2nd, 1974

In the wake of scandal thqat follows the President wherever he goes, he has declared uni-lateral War on Drugs, citing the deaths of famous musicians such as Jim Morrison, Jimmy Page, and Janis Joplin as his reason. To head the President's Comission on Drug Abuse, he has picked former President Nixon who believes as the President does that drug abuse is helping to foster anti-American sentiments among the population's youth, and that drugs are a major cause of death among the youth population.
     Meanwhiel, what has been labeled the the "Tax & Bribe" scandal is heating up with continued revelations about the President's income and spending as Governor of Maryland, his stock portfolio, and a number of gifts he has received from coompanies who were given money through the American Economic Stimulus Act. On a court order, several files have been released from the Watergate complex, holding valuable information as to the President's corporate friends and inner circle. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) is calling for a full out Congressional Investigation.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

By March, it seemed that America itself had turned on me. As I attempted to get more Strategic Defense Intiative funding through, the two Kennedy brothers would continually pop up, continually calling for articles of impeachment to be brought against me.

In April, they were, and the investigations began. They were truly a sham if I do say so myself. Led by the Liberal Eugene McCarthy, they continually used Congress and the trials to play politics. In my opinion, there had never been such horrible sham trials since the days of the House UnAmerican Activities Committee, and even those weren't bad enough. For evidence, they brought in two crack pot, drug abusing reporters from the Washington Post, known for its Liberal bias. It sems funny that when people say the word "McCarthyism" today, they don't even mention the dirty tricks and dishonesty that Eugene McCarthy is guilty of. They only think of Joe McCarthy.

I attempted to ignore their attempts to play politics with the legal system by focusing on policy. By that point, my main two focuses were the War on Drugs, and funding for the Strategic Defense Initiative. Of course, as always, there was Liberal uproar over both things. Even members of my own cabinet, such as Secretary of Defense Barry Goldwater, went against me on the War on Drugs. Meanwhile, Vice-President Bush seemed to be focused on advancing his own political career. He said that I might have to resign should things get worse. He was only thinking of himself at the time, or course.

Around that time, Congressman Donald Rumseld brought up a proposition to end the draft, saying that after Vietnam, we shouldn't need it. I was personally taken aback. While I was being personally attacked by the Democrats, other Republicans wanted to push their own agenda. I was left with few friends during the final days. Finally, on May second,1974, I did end the draft, if only to keep the bastard Rumsfeld from hounding me. He too was another man looking only to advance his political career.

Generally, Whitehouse Chief of Staff Alexander Haig is credited with running the Whitehouse while the trials took place. However, he was himself one of those trying to boot me out, saying that it was for the good of the party. I realized that nowhere was safe by that point and I can tell you that Haig even threatened a military coup if I did not resign.

From the beginning of 1974, I had been hounded and haunted by the media, Congress, and the public in general. I could not believe it that less than twelve months ago I had been exteremly popular and looked at as a good President. I knew the end was near.

-Not a Crook, Spiro T Agnew, (c) 1979

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

By mid-1974, the relationship between President and Vice-President had ended. George had been completely cut off from the President whiel Agnew charted his own crazed course out into the unknown. We knew he would be impeached or forced to resign. It was only a matter of time. During his tenure as Vice-President and later President, George and I still stayed in touch, him as Vice-President and me as a Senator. He spoke to me often of what was going on and we both agreed that AGnew would have to leave somehow for the good of the nation. From a national security stand point, this was ruining our nation's image, our credibility, and we looked incredibly weak. Meanwhile, the economy continued along its erratic course and Agnew's approvals were at 32% by June.

-What the Man was Made of, James Baker, (c) 1999

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

June 17th, 1974
In the Oval Office, President Agnew is conversing with those few who he still trusts. They are former President Nixon who is heading Agnew's special comission on drug abuse and trafficking, Secretary of State Nelson Rockefeller, and Assistant Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
    Agnew:...Now don't you start too, Dick!
    Nixon: Look, Spiro. Your approvals are sitting at 36%. 60% of the public believes that you're guilty. It's only a matter of time. Now, you can go gracefully, and have George pardon you, or you can be known as the man who single-handedly destroyed the Republican Party.
    Agnew: This is ridiculous! I'm the goddamn President of the United States! Congress can't treat me like this! I was elected!
    Rockefeller: Spiro, please. Dick has told you it. George has told you it. Haig has told you it. Barry's told you it. Multiple Senators including Reagan and Baker have told you. It's time to let go.
    Kissinger: Mr. President. My staff and I have come to the conclusion that you need to step down. For the good of the party and for the good of the country.

Agnew looks around the room at the three faces before putting his head on his desk.
    Agnew:...Alright. I've had enough.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

It would have been cool to see him go on longer than Nixon did, but ehhhh...

Don't worry, he's done his damage.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

June 19th, 1974
I regret to inform the people of this great nation that I will be resigning the office of President of the United States. I would have liked to have been your President longer, for a full term or even for two terms, however it seems that fate has dictated otherwise. Vice-President Bush will be taking the Oath of Office shortly and he will become you 38th President. I hoped all the best for him and that he can function more than I was able to in the office.

Former President Agnew at his farewell address earlier today

George Bush-our new President