"Forever Mankind"

[Historia Crux]

To get the creative juices flowing, I hope to tinker with this TL for now. Let's see where she goes!

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Part 1: The Chronicles of Unity

Pres. Richard Nixon delivering the "Moon Landing Disaster" Speech

"Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace. These brave men, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, know that there is no hope for their recovery. But they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice. These two men are laying down their lives in mankind's most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding.

They will be mourned by their families and friends, they will be mourned by their nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a mother Earth that dared send two of her sons into the unknown. In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly the brotherhood of man. In ancient days, men looked at stars and saw their heroes in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood.

Others will follow, and surely find their way home. Man's search will not be denied. But those men were the first, and they will remain the foremost in our hearts. For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that their is some corner of another world that is forever mankind." - Pres. Richard M. Nixon, Speech on 'Moon Landing Disaster'

Things progressed rapidly. Around the country, indeed around the world, did people wait or watch. As the last amounts of air ran out, "Buzz" Aldrin's last message was echoed, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me". Tears ran from New York to Washington to San Diego. All over America tears were shed as the brave explorers slowly passed away.

Condolence rained from Europe, South America, Asia, even the USSR itself offered comfort. This time of "Worldly Comfort" helped dull the sadness of the American people. Meanwhile, President Nixon knew the weight of the event and hoped to capitalize upon it, to do something that Kennedy couldn't. In the aftermath, Soviet Premier Brezhnev and American President Nixon met to talk about the thought of a joint American-Soviet moon landing.

Leonid Brezhnev and Richard Nixon, after formalization of a joint American-Soviet Moon landing

The world waited with baited breath, in August the Washington conference gave birth to a ray of harmony and hope. Brezhnev and Nixon had reached a deal. It now seemed that the Stars and Stripes and Hammer and Sickle would be intertwined upon Luna's ground. Their was some discontent in both the United States and the USSR to this, mostly reaching to patriotism and Soviet pride.

These would be small to say, as the moon landing disaster had galvanized support for this joint mission. After some deliberation, it was decided that two Americans and two soviets would be on this mission of unity. "Jim" Lovell and Bill Anders were chosen as the Americans. For the Soviets, it was a fierce fight, which Andriyan Nikolayev won one of the seats.

The second seat would go to the man that was already planned to be the first Soviet of the Moon. The man was of course Alexey Leonov. In early September, the event that became a cornerstone of the mid-late 20th Century occurred. The newly renamed Alliance landed on the Moon's surface on September 12th, 1969.

Astronaut Jim Lovell and Cosmonaut Alexey Leonov declared immortal words. Leonov declared "From the farmlands of revolution", Lovell declared "To the mountains, ringing with liberty", both declared "Unity now binds us together". When the Alliance left successfully from the Moon, a greater sense of pride filled Americans and Soviets. When Lovell, Leonov, Nikolayev and Anders returned, they were greeted as heroes of the ages.

[Historia Crux]

Part 2: The Chronicles of Relaxation

The 70's brought about hope that "MAD" or Mutually Assured Destruction, could be curtailled. Talks grew until it gave a wide birth to the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, "SALT", in 1971. Ostpolitik brewed in East and West Germany as tension between the two German nations lessened for the time. President Nixon led a cresting victory of popularity with victory in the midterms, with Republicans installing Gerald Ford as Speaker of the House.

Nixon and Brezhnev meeting in Moscow for the signing of SALT 1

1971 was of course called the "Year of Peace", the "Year of Relaxation" or the "Year of SALT". President Nixon had a newfound expanded mantle of power but was even more being scrutinized and critiqued to be held accountable for the war in Vietnam. To counter these attacks and the watching eyes of the American people, Vietnamization was ramped up and the Paris Peace Accords was put back on track. By 1972, US National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger and Vietnamese politburo member Le Duc Tho were hammering out a deal, remembered with Kissinger's quote that "peace is at hand".

The Biological Weapons Convention convened and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty concluded as a second round of strategic arms limitation talks began. The Neutral Outer Space Treaty(NOST) formalized the neutrality of outer space between the superpowers and that hopefully militarization of space would not occur. By then, Soviet and American scientist were intermingling, echoing the possibility of the establishment of an International Space Station. A plan which Brezhnev and Nixon expressed interest.

1972 also brought the close call for detente when an angered Soviet attempted to assassinate Brezhnev. If the assassination had been successful, things could be doomed for detente and peace. In the aftermath, Brezhnev slowed down detente but continued the process, hoping to still hold favor with hardliners and moderates at the same time. Though later in the 70's, Brezhnev began to move to reform the economic measures in the Soviet Union, in response to the stagnation of the economy.

Sino-American relations improved in the ideas of "rapprochement" or what was labled "ping pong Diplomacy. Similarly with the near assassination of Brezhnev in 1972, an failure of a coup led by Lin Biao and the failed attempted to assassinate Mao Zedong in late 1971 led some to doubt the hopes of the July announcement by Nixon. In late February of '72, the two leaders of the People's Republic and the United States shook hands in a historic moment. The Nixon family toured numerous Chinese wonders, the great wall was one of great importance.

Chinese Leader Mao Zedong and American President Richard Nixon, 1972

Meanwhile, a man scribbles in his notebook in a dirty motel room.....

"It is my personal plan to assassinate by pistol either Richard Nixon or George Wallace. I intend to shoot one or the other while he attends a campaign rally for the Wisconsin Primary.

to do SOMETHING BOLD AND DRAMATIC, FORCEFUL & DYNAMIC, A STATEMENT of my manhood for the world to see.

He is the man that I will kill. The man deserving of my bullet. George Wallace does not deserve my time. Richard Nixon does. He is the one I will slay. He is the one I will kill" - Exert from The Diary of Arthur Bremer

[Vazdul (Formerly Chairman of the Communist Party of Ontario)]

I really like this. Please continue.

[Historia Crux]

The Presidential Election of 1972

The Republicans: President Nixon was a highly popular incumbent and faced minimal challenges in the primaries. Only antiwar and anti-Nixon Rep. Pete McCloskey of California and staunch conservative and anticommunist Rep. John Ashbrook of Ohio challenged President Nixon. Ashbrook did well in the beginning, gaining support from disenfranchised conservatives who saw Nixon as "soft on communism". At the convention, Nixon carried all but eight delegates, which 2 were allotted to McCloskey and 6 to Ashbrook. President Nixon and Vice President Agnew were renominated.

The Democrats: The Democratic Party had a handful of candidates and problems. In polls their '68 Vice Presidential candidate, Edmund Muskie polled best against Nixon, but the primaries didn't reflect that. Muskie's campaign got off to a bad start with the publish of what became known as the "Canuck Letter". After McGovern's loss in New Hampshire, he continued an insurgent campaign based where Eugene McCarthy left off. When the convention neared, Edmund Muskie led in the delegates, but was dogged by George Wallace, Henry Jackson, Shirley Chisholm and George McGovern. Only after some backdoor dealings did Jackson support Muskie, pushing him over the top. In a show of support, Muskie chose Jackson supporter James "Jimmy" Carter as his Vice Presidential candidate. George Wallace once again broke off and went his own course with John Schmitz by his side.

The General: When Muskie hit the ground, he was a wounded candidate, only the hope that Wallace could pull more from Nixon kept him going. With no debates, Muskie or Wallace couldn't joust "Tricky Dick". From Nixon's standpoint, Muskie was a strong candidate but there was no way that he could win. The results proved to be right, President Nixon won in a landslide against Muskie and Wallace and was on his track to January, or so he thought.

(R)-Pres. Richard M. Nixon, NY/VP. Spiro T. Agnew, MD: 405 EV
(D)-Sen. Edmund "Ed" S. Muskie, ME/Gov. James "Jimmy" E. Carter, GA: 87 EV
(AI)-Gov. George C. Wallace Jr, AL/Rep. John G. Schmitz, CA: 46 EV
Others (Peoples, Socialist Workers, Etc.): 0 EV

[Historia Crux]

Part 3: The Chronicles of Loss

"With the rapprochement to the People's Republic of China and detente to the Soviet Union. We can only wonder what the future holds for the Earth and for the twinkling stars as if showing their approval of this newfound peace between the superpowers. I'm Walter Cronkite and that's the way it is." - Quoted from Walter Cronkite, broadcast December 10th, 1972

December brought the hopes for a continued peace and relaxation of tension in the world for the new year. President Nixon had returned to triumph to New York for the Christmas holidays. On his way to his private home in the state, Nixon would make a snap decision to shake hands and converse with some of the crowds along the motor cages path. Because of this snap decision, December 17th would become a dark day for Richard Nixon.

"Sir, you can't. Secret service is light as it is" Haldeman said. "Damnit Bob, you have to say that when people love me", Nixon barked. The President quickly exited the car and went to shaking hands, striking up casual conversations, using the 'ordinary man' version of himself from the '68 and '72 campaigns. Nixon came upon a nervous man in mirrorshades. "What's your name son?". The nervous man squeaked "Arthur....Arthur's my name".

Walter Cronkite during reports on the assassination of President Nixon

"We....we have just received this new bulletin. President Richard Nixon has died. I repeat the president has died. It seems after the two inflicted guns shots by a Arthur Bremer, the President bled out during surgery to remove the bullets..." - Quoted from Walter Cronkite, broadcast December 18th, 1972

President Agnew's speech to the nation

"Our national nightmare is here, like storm clouds seemingly grouping. Our nation have seen two President's struck down by an assassin's bullet in only a decade. We have recovered from the death of President Kennedy, we will do the same with the death of another great leader. We will march on as a nation, it is our nightmare and we must face it with no fear, only resolve..." - Exert from President Agnew's Speech to the nation

Tears were shed at the funeral of Richard M. Nixon. Not as hardy as the ones for the explorers of the Moon, but still non the less tears. President Agnew, Speaker Ford, Soviet Premier Brezhnev, Chairman Mao, the Nixon family and numerous American citizens attended the humble funeral. It was a somber moment, now time would have to tell if only the spirit of Richard Nixon had passed on, or now all of his work was in danger of passing on as well.

[Historia Crux]

Part 4: The Chronicles of Hate

With Spiro T. Agnew sworn in on December 18th, January 20th passed as a reminder to the nation of the death of Richard Nixon. The whole world now had their eyes on this Greek Marylander, watching what he did on the issues of the day. Agnew quickly moved to stop "vietnamization" and instead began drafting plans to deepen the war in Vietnam. This move sparked off anger from antiwar inside and out.

With the new hawkish President, the Paris Peace Accords stalled and after confrontations between President Agnew and Advisor Kissinger, Kissinger resigned. Anger bubbled up in Congress against President Agnew when Democrats battered Agnew's first choice for Vice President, Congressman George H.W. Bush. After the defeat because of "nattering nabobs of negativism", Agnew was forced by Senate Democrats to nominate Senator Hatfield as Vice President, in hopes of placing a voice against the Vietnam War by Agnew's side. By then though, Vietnam was quickly deepening and antiwar riots were worsening and detente between the Soviet Union seem to break apart.

White House Press Transcript, September 1973

Agnew: All of these reports on bribery and conspiracy are false.

Reporter 1#: Mister President what about the allegations of fraud from your tax retu...

Agnew: I said that all of these allegation are false you blundering baboon!

All of these events, growing discontent in America and politics, bloodletting in Vietnam, were categorized as the "Summer of Hate". President Agnew fiercely rebuffed moves by Congress to end the conflict in Vietnam. Instead, during the hate filled summer, Agnew sought out advice from General William Westmoreland over Vice President Hatfield, who at the time had been completely frozen out of administration dealings. The hateful summer quickly birthed a terrible moment for the Agnew Administration, when in late summer allegation sprouted about tax fraud, extortion and bribery. The "Summer of Hate" stretched into the year of rage as Congress began impeachment processes against President Agnew. Finally in November, President Agnew resigned, giving way to Vice President Hatfield to take the presidency.

President Hatfield's Address to the Nation

"The warped mirror has been shattered. For all of the American people can see the despicable actions of former President Agnew. That is why as my first act as President of the United States, I will and shall not pardon Spiro Theodore Agnew from his fate in a prison cell..." - Exert from President Hatfield's "Shattered Mirror" Speech

With President Hatfield in charge, only fate can deem if this Oregonian will face unity or division in his term of office.

[Vazdul (Formerly Chairman of the Communist Party of Ontario)]

Nice update. Keep it coming!

[Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey]

Hey man, this TL's great! I wonder how Hatfield will handle Vietnam.

[Historia Crux]

Part 5: The Chronicles of Division

Now with President Mark Hatfield in charge, he pursued a peace policy in Vietnam. Hatfield would reopen dialogue at the Paris Peace Accords, booting the Agnewite Secretary of State and replacing him with Henry Kissinger. By mid January of '74, Kissinger returned and gave the news that a peace deal was at hand. By March, Hatfield declared on national television that American troops in Southeast Asia would begin to be returning home in full force and that South Vietnam would have to stand on it's own feet.

By August of 1974, Hatfield had started up negotiations again for the continuation of strategic arms limitation with the USSR and domestically had pushed through alternative energy policies to help the oil shortage. August also had the slow march of the North Vietnamese forces deeper and deeper into the South. In November, so many South Vietnamese pleaded at the US embassy to by taken away. Finally the gates broke down as a hastened pullout only worsened things.

The famous photo's came from the evacuation of American forces from the South Vietnamese capitol of Saigon would capture the turmoil and true horror of the events in southeast Asia. For all Hatfield had done in his short time as President, his support considerably shrank. This led to the Democrats marching into control of Congress in November of '74. With Republicans shattered, Hatfield would move to form an alliance with the new Democratic majorities, quickly angering conservatives further.

United States pullout as Saigon falls

On February 8th, 1975, President Hatfield would call Senator Kennedy in a suprising move. The two would talk of something the two men would find common ground in. This common ground was that the health care system was broken and needed repairing. With this, the White House and Senator Kennedy would begin crafting a health care reform bill.

"I remember sitting in one of those uncomfortable chairs in the Oval Office. I can say I felt covetous of the President's chair. We spoke about the biggest hurtle for the administration as of yet, health care reform. I was only on board with great reluctance. The President said "the country needs this right away!".

I said that conservative were already boiling, that it wasn't a good idea to pester them evenmore. The President immediately came back and said that my confirmation as Vice President had been the straw the broke the camels back. "What is one more hit to their single-minded brains gonna do?" the Chief of Staff said. If the President, if the Chief of Staff, If I knew what effects it would have on the 1976 election, things could have been very different." - Exert from the Biography of Vice President Gerald Ford

Sen. Kennedy submitting the Kennedy-Hatfield Health Care Reform Bill

In June, Senator Kennedy submitted the health care reform bill to the Senate. The fierce battle would last for several months until it passed. In the house, it was accepted more and with the help of shepherds like Speaker Albert and Majority Leaders Boggs, it passed as well. President Hatfield eagerly signed the bill into law in a televised event on November 3rd.

After his victory, President Hatfield met with Soviet Premier Brezhnev between November and December and domestically basked in his victory for a short time. That was until is was broken when the news came in that Red Army Faction(RAF) members had stormed the US embassy in Bonn and had taken hostages. With the hostage powerplay that would be called the "German Winter" set, it would be up to the choices of the Americans and Germans that would dictate if the lives of the hostages would be ended or spaired.

[Historia Crux]

Part 6: The Chronicles of Tension

1976 continued the divisory feelings of 1975, but in much more staunch "lines in the sand". Reagan was running against Hatfield for the Republican nomination. The remaining southerners were grouping behind George Wallace to lead one last punitive campaign for the Presidency against the Democratic frontrunner, Senator Ted Kennedy. Now Hatfield had on his hands a hostage crisis and every minute counted.

President Hatfield, Soviet leader Brezhnev and West German Chancellor Schmidt all kept in contact. They had to if they wanted up to the date information about the hostage situation. The decision was finally made between Austrian and American diplomats to send in a surgical strike team to take out the Red Army members and free the hostages. This was brought on by the near week long siege and the continued road blocked attempts to negotiate. When the strike team entered, it was all up to them to either fail and risk the lives of the hostages or succeed and have the hostages walk out of this to their families.

Photo of one of the RAF hostage takers

"We were in one of the many rooms that housed both hostages and Red Army members. The reds were dressed just like the men from the Munich massacre, ski masks, heavy coats. None had taken their masks off, it they did they would probably kill us. Then everything went wild I hear out of the corner a pop and everything went smoky.

Then the bodies starting dropping. Some of the red army members fired off their guns, but they to fell silent. It was so silent, then the footsteps. I saw many people crying. At the time and still today I don't know if they were tears of fear or joy.

Then I saw them, these armored men like fierce Centurions. One approached me, I thought it was all over. His thick, swampy southern accent shook me up. I didn't cry, all I said was 'no ****ing way' to him." - Exert from Under the Red Star: The German Winter Crisis

The "German Winter" was over, loss of life was minimized to only a few sad deaths. Numerous RAF members were captured, at least the ones that weren't dead. Leonid Brezhnev openly condemned the RAF openly, angering some Soviet hardliners who lived close to the mantra that a "good capitalist was a dead capitalist". President Hartfield then used the "rally around the flag" feelings of the nation to pass energy reform through Congress and several other small measures.

With things well for now, President Hatfield and Vice President Ford began to swing into the campaign spirit. Hatfield and Ford hammered away at former Governor Ronald Reagan. On January 23rd, Vice President Ford was nearly assassinated by Sara Jane Moore. With the United States campaign in full swing, things were transpirering in the People's Republic of China.

On April 5th, the Qingming Festival, displays of mourning of the fallen Zhou Enlai had been removed, sparking demonstrations against this. In charge of China was the "Gang of Four" and had Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping jailed and labled the demonstrations as counterrevolutionary. The demonstrators marched against the security forces, leading to a bloody event when the security forces charged and began to beat the demonstrators. Criticism from Europe, the Soviet Union and the United States rained in for the heavy handed tactics in the "Tiananmen Incident".

Security Forces in the aftermath of the "Tiananmen Incident"

Quickly things began to spiral in China. A coup was attempted against the Gang of Four, which failed. In an attempt to silence the demonstrations, Deng Xiaoping suffered a "fatal accident" in his cell. This only charged up the demonstrators and criticism from abroad.

Brezhnev and the Soviet Union would not come to support the demonstrators, but Senator Kennedy and Governor Reagan came out well before President Hatfield did in support of the demonstrators. Brezhnev cautioned Hatfield not to interfere in "Chinese matters" and that this could lead to war. This tamped down on the time that Hatfield came out in support but did not stop him. Only that he refined it to be seen as a support for the demonstrators but not too overtly attack the Chinese government.

President Hatfield's "Tiananmen Incident" Speech

"We Americans have a common ancestry that has the blood of demonstration. We don't go along the grain with things. When the Bostonians poured the tea into the harbor, it was a symbol of determination against oppressors. Now today we look across the Pacific to another people oppressed by oppressors. We can do little but to stand with them in this time of turmoil in the People's Republic...." - Quoted from President Hatfield's speech about the "Tiananmen Incident"

The Chinese government in response tightened the yoke evenmore and purged several opponents of the government. Crackdowns commenced and broke the backs of the demonstrators. Beaten and bruised, the demonstrators had sowed the seeds of the future for the end of the People's Republic and a restoration of a "Chinese Democracy".

[Vazdul (Formerly Chairman of the Communist Party of Ontario)]

This is a great timeline, keep it coming!

[Historia Crux]

Presidential Election of 1976

The Democrats: The campaign had the man that helped craft the health care reform bill, Ted Kennedy, and the kind Georgian Governor "Jimmy" Carter. The campaign was mainly between Kennedy and Carter, sweeping away Robert Byrd, Jerry Brown and Birch Bayh in the first primaries. Carter blew George Wallace out of the water in the south, leading the Alabamian to once again run for President on the American Independent ticket. The convention was a messy one, but when it became clear that Kennedy would be the nominee, Carter stepped aside. To show unity, Kennedy chose Senator Nick Galifianakis as his running mate.

The Republicans: The campaign was as bitter as the Democrats, except without a happy ending. Reagan attacked Hatfield on all stances. Detente, health care, energy reform, taxes. The campaign split moderates and conservatives on one side or the other. Reagan carried the west and south easily, splitting the great lake states, while Hatfield carried the hefty northeast. At the convention, it took several ballots until Reagan eked out a victory. When Reagan picked Senator Laxalt, Reagan declared that it was a "shift in the right direction" for the GOP. Disgruntled moderate and liberal Republicans soon flocked to the candidacy of Secretary Elliot Richardson and Congressman John Anderson on the "Moderate-Republican" ticket.

The General: The general campaign was a battle on numerous fronts. Richardson was battling Kennedy in the Northeast and the Pacific northwest. Wallace's and Reagan's battle for the south only lead to Kennedy taking close leads in most of the south. The debates were rather interesting, four men bickering and blasting each other. The polls showed Kennedy leading over the split Republicans. On election day, Kennedy won the election in a fair landslide over his three opponents.

(D)-Sen. Edward "Ted" M. Kennedy, MA/Sen. Nick Galifianakis, NC: 316 EV
(R)-Fmr Gov. Ronald W. Reagan, CA/Sen. Paul D. Laxalt, NV: 168 EV
(MR)-Commerce Sec. Elliot L. Richardson, MA/Rep. John B. Anderson, IL: 30 EV
(AI)-Gov. George C. Wallace Jr, AL/Fmr Lt Gov. Lester G. Maddox, GA: 24 EV

[Vazdul (Formerly Chairman of the Communist Party of Ontario)]

Very interesting election. Could you give us the nationwide popular vote percentages?

[Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey]

Reagan '80!

[Historia Crux]

Very interesting election. Could you give us the nationwide popular vote percentages?

Alright, this is a rough estimate

Kennedy/Galifianakis: 43%
Reagan/Laxalt: 34%
Richardson/Anderson: 12%
Wallace/Maddox: 10%
Other: 1%

[Historia Crux]

Part 7: The Chronicles of Dreams

40th POTUS, Edward Moore Kennedy

"We stand here today united as Americans to affirm a cause. I ask for renewal of our commitment to a fair and lasting prosperity that can put America back to work. This is simple, rejuvenation for our country. This simple belief has sustained this campaign of the people, by the people, for the people over the span of 50 states and numerous miles.

Now is our time to make the beliefs that we hold to our bosom, not dreams, but a reality..." - Exert from President Ted Kennedy's Inaugural Speech

President Kennedy had a large mantle of power. Democrats controlled both houses of Congress and Kennedy went to crafting his policies of the "New Dream". Kennedy expanded on President Hatfield's alternative energy policies, pushing expermentational and expansion of solar, nuclear and natural gas power sources. One of the first things he did was install "Jimmy" Carter as the new Secretary of Energy and the Environment(SEE) and put a rough and tumble former Representative in the Justice department by the name of William Clinton.

Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and President Kennedy met at a historic meeting in Prague. Both superpower leaders announced that the Soviet Union and the United States would begin construction of a united space station and invited other nations to join them in this pursuit. Construction of this international space station would begin in 1978. Another point of the meeting would button up the second strategic arms limitation treaty.

Another point of tension came when President Kennedy switched the US neutrality on the creation of a Palestinian state to a support of one. Only of course with mutual respect and understand between Palestine and Israel. Still, this new "alignment for peace" sparked fear in some and led to the "upheaval" victory of Alignment over Likud in a close race, keeping Shimon Peres as Prime Minister. The upheaval brought worry for middle east peace, but quietly Peres and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat would open dialogue for a possible peace.

1977 also had the first major trip back to the moon, jointly between Americans and Soviets. This move certified Kennedy and Brezhnev's support of an international space station and international space program. All of this had nearly been put in jeopardy when Republicans in congress nearly forced President Kennedy to cut funding to the space program. One major moment of the mission was the first woman on the moon, Soviet Valentina Tereshkova.

Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova by USSR flag

In December, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat suprised many when the leader of a nation that had been so opposed to Israel, met with it's Prime Minister to discuss peace. Both leaders would be cordial and kind to another. President Kennedy would hail this move by both leaders as a "step towards cooperation and peace in an otherwise war torn environment". Other middle eastern nations accused Egypt of pandering to Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Peres and Egyptian President Sadat

Still a path to peace was being mapped out. Only in time, will it show if peace can be achieved.

[Historia Crux]

Part 8: The Chronicles of Fissures

1978 opened with a major event. The Vietnamese had intervened in the Cambodian Civil War against Pol Pot and his allies in February. The United States, no friend of Cambodia or Vietnam, was more inclined to Vietnam but still saw this as a war to expand Vietnamese influence. Soon though the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union realized this as well, with the Soviet taking support for Vietnam and China with Pol Pot Cambodia. Soon tension and fissures grew even wider as Soviets began plans to send supplies to Vietnam.

Vietnamese forces entering Phnom Pehn

 The PRC called this move by the Soviets as "desperate" and in turn increased Chinese forces along the Soviet and Vietnamese borders. President Kennedy made a neutral call and instead called for Vietnamese withdraw and UN peacekeepers be sent in. Chinese leader Jiang Qing only increased troops and the borders and tightened control of the government internally. Qing would then call Kennedy a "child that needed a spanking".

With war seeming to be a real possibility between China and the USSR, President Kennedy began to put measures into the safeguard the government while send diplomatic envoys to both nations to ease tension. This worked only remotely. Finally Vietnam's punitive campaign against Pol Pot ended in April, which the Chinese called that the Soviets had disowned their Vietnamese ally. In May, the United Nations voted to send in peacekeepers into Cambodia.

These peacekeepers would only act as a policing force, much less than what President Kennedy wanted. Also in May, a coup in Laos occurred and installed a friendly government to the PRC. With this, China was in the midst of securing itself as a third power in the Cold War and was beginning to surround Vietnam. War had been adverted but things were much from peaceful in southeast Asia.

Things were much less tense in Europe. Pope John Paul I had visited Poland to spearhead Ostpolitik and now the major topic was the official signing of the second Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty(SALT2). This treaty tied together the Soviet Union and the United States ever closer in a hegemonic union of sorts. With the signing of SALT2, the Soviet Union had effectively completed the total split between China and now has cemented their cordial friendship policies with the United States. Meanwhile in the internal of America, things were much less friendly.

The Equal Rights Amendment or ERA as it was called, had just finally been ratified by the needed number of states. Conservatives were angry at that across the country and a stalking shadow of conservatism was following President Kennedy on all the issues of the day. They dogged him on energy policy, social funding, international relations and now a battle was raging on the issue of Homosexual rights. In numerous cities across the nation, sodomy laws were being passed or laws safeguarding gay rights were being repealed.

Many pundits had declared that the 1980 election was already underway between President Kennedy and conservative posterboy Ronald Reagan. It was only when the two men came together to rail against laws discriminating that gays couldn't be school teachers. President Kennedy himself would visit San Francisco to show his support of the gay community. Reagan would do something similar, the two only missing each other by a day.

President Kennedy visiting San Francisco

"The glasses hung lazily upon the bridge of his nose. He was intertwined in the midst of a political battle of right and left. Who also wouldn't take the position of President serious. Then, a slight thumb and puff was on his desk.

He glanced down, lay a small bag. He looked up again and saw Chief of Staff Sargent Shriver standing with a quizzical smirk on his face. "Do you know what that is?" Shriver asked, obviously already knowing what it was. "A teabag?" Ted said. "Well sir, you don't know how much trouble that's going to be". "Why?". "Because sir, people have sent whole crates to federal government offices. All apart of the conservatives 'Tea Party'..."

As UN peacekeepers marched about Phnom Penh, the Camp David peace accords came to be in late 1978 between Egyptian President Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Sharon and US President Kennedy in the lodging. The three leaders would hammer out a deal and would put the Sinai peninsula back under Egyptian control. As tension eased in the waining light of the year 1978, 1979 would be much more chaotic in comparison.

[hcallega]

Does Zack Galifianikis get to go to the White House to party with Teddy?

[Historia Crux]

Does Zack Galifianikis get to go to the White House to party with Teddy?

If you mean VP Nick G., yes. If you mean "The Hangover" Zack G., well he's 10 by 1979!

[Historia Crux]

Part 9: The Chronicles of Chaos

In February, UN peacekeepers began to withdraw after nearly a ten month period of work to cement the provisional government into a standing one. As American, Soviet and the British patchwork of peacekeepers left the also patchwork Cambodian government of democratic supporters, revisionary socialists, moderates, royalists and conservatives to fight against the pox marks along the Thai border that are the Khmer Rouge holdouts. With one situation quiet for now, another bubbles up. Iran explodes in open civil war in March, after a long and tumultuous time in the nation, the Shah had attempted to loosen his grip on the nation, by some time for him.

It was of course not enough and riots in the capitol and in majors cities broke out across the middle eastern nation. Support for a creation of an Islamic republic swells as the civil war plays out over the months, cultivating into the return of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and crowning the "Council of the Islamic Revolution". As islamics swelled in the rural areas, the "Shahites" as they are called, hold on to most of the cities and the surrounding areas. Only after purges did the Iranian army hold themselves to the Shah.

"Guns and men, oh my! Well that's what I thought when I came to do my usual work, the United States Embassy in little old Tehran. Things may be falling apart around, there was still work to do. Besides they were already beginning to withdraw from the city, in a hope to stop any hostage taking, have something like Saigon or some of the islamics to outright attack the embassy.

That didn't pan out if you know. Hey you probably know already. "Pop!, pop...pop,pop". Those bullets flew into the windows, spraying people with shards of the stuff, one guy was grazed in the shoulder. That went on for some time till we got out of that hell...." - Exert from Iran on Fire, Chapter 7 "When we left Tehran"

With the Shah pleaded for help, President Kennedy had supplies sent to support the Shahites. This while parallel did quietly Chinese funds fed the islamics to continue the revolution against the Shah. President Kennedy would fiercely condemn any ideas of military intervention in Iran, as the Kennedy administration was still dealing with the literal and figurative fallout from the Three Mile Island accident. With his country collapsing, the Shah fled Iran to Cairo for exile. This did not end the civil war as the military was still locked in combat with the islamics and now marxists.

Two events that rattled the world occurred in July. First, the People's Republic had finally succeeded in sending two men into space aboard the Shuguang. Some soon said that the PRC was on it's way to the moon. Second was the shock when Iraqi general Saddam Hussein led troops in attacks across the border and had friendly troops to him, march on Baghdad.

Hussein's actions sparked increased worry over Iran. When his actions were condemned by Syria and the head Iraqi government, the Hussein coup was ended when Syrian forces help hold Baghdad. When Hussein was captured and his forces smashed, he was tried and executed by hanging. With Syria's help, the planned union between Iraq and Syria went through, joining the two Ba'athist nations together in the Iraqi-Syrian Friendship Union(ISFU).

Public execution of General Saddam Hussein

In August, the KGB and the Soviet Union supported a coup against the increasingly unpopular Afghan government of Mohammad Daoud Khan. It is a success, but Daoud calls for support from his allies in Pakistan and the People's Republic of China. Hoping to cement a power base, China waves the flag of peacekeeping and sends troops along with Pakistan into Afghanistan.

The first actions of this Sino-Pakistani peacekeeping is to bring a crashing hammer down on the military forces pledged to the opposition. Mainly the Chinese will overwhelm the Afghan opposition army in early victories but this grind to a halt as these forces begin to disperse and fight a guerrilla war against the Chinese and Pakistani's. Soon things would get much harder as the quietly Soviet funded Mujaheddin raise hell against the peacekeepers. With only this war a few months old, it becomes a slow slugfest and battles to keep Kabul and the borderlands between Afghanistan, China and Pakistan.

An early Chinese victory over Afghan tank forces

Things happened quickly over the world. Sandinista forces won in Nicaragua against the US supported government there. False reports by the Ayatollah Khomeini that Americans had occupied the Grand Mosque in Mecca sets off a firestorm in Iran, Pakistan and Iraq-Syria, leading to the attempted and successful destruction and deaths of Americans at the embassies in said countries. With this false reports, President Kennedy imposed sanctions against the new Islamic Republic of Iran and used the spector of foreign oil dependence to push through more alternate energy incentives.

Enraged Pakistani's burn an US flag in Islamabad

The year wound down. The United States led their European allies while the Soviets did the same to push for embargoes against the People's Republic and several of their allies. 1980 was moving along, a year that would be a besieged one at that.

[Vazdul (Formerly Chairman of the Communist Party of Ontario)]

This is a great timeline. Keep it coming!

[Historia Crux]

For now, this TL will be on a short hiatus since I'm in the middle of moving.

[Historia Crux]

Part 10: The Chronicles of Triumph

Two events occurred in the early days of January. To the pleasure of President Kennedy, Israel and Egypt formally established diplomatic relations. This although led to growing displeasure from the rest of the Arab world against Egypt. The second was the ingenuity escape of the remaining US diplomats from the embassy in Islamabad using a ruse. The ruse was coined as the "Canadian Caper", as the diplomats posed as Canadians to escape from the city to Zurich, Switzerland.

Another terrible moment of January is when guerrilla's took over the Spanish embassy in Guatemala City. In the ensuing battle for control of the embassy, a fire was started. The fire spread, destroying much of the embassy and killing nearly forty people in the process. Spain would react by severing ties with Guatemala for the time being.

February gave a wide birth to hope with the opening of the 1980 Winter Olympics. The famous victory of the United States over the Soviet Union in the "Miracle on Ice" gave many Americans a big bright spot in their days. The victory over the favored Soviets and winners of the past years, brought a unifying moment not only for America, bu the world. That was until China announced they would be boycotting the Olympics that year.

"Folks, do you believe in miracles?"

The success of Voyager 1 had President Kennedy push to expand the space budget even more. This gave rise to Ronald Reagan's quote that "President Kennedy had expanded the size of government so large, whole satellites can orbit it". Republicans and Democrats pushed and pulled for sometime until moderates relented and supported the budget increase. Shortly into March, President Kennedy gave a inspirational and highly determined speech to the nation.

President Kennedy announcing a "Mars Shot"

"...it is with every fiber that I should announce that by the dawn of a new millennium, that we as humanity will put a person on the red planet. This Mars shot will be a hard and long battle uphill, but we have done the impossible before. It is now our time to prove the determination of this generation and the generations to come, that we looked to the heavens and explored the vast expanse known as the universe..." - Exert from President Kennedy's Address to Congress

The death of Yugoslavian leader Josip Tito leads to one of the largest gatherings of diplomats from around the world. Brezhnev, Kennedy, Qing, Thatcher and numerous others gathered for the highly televised funeral. The meeting was one of few to show the three power bloc leaders in some show of unity. Something that was in short supply.

At the city of Gwangju flares with student demonstrations. The students call for democratic reforms to the military government. President Kennedy tells the US ambassador to South Korea that a peaceful compromise must be reached. The South Korean military is unrelenting and shrugs off the peace proposals from the United States, ordering troops to march on the students.

The Gwangju students are labled a communist uprising and are quashed in what will be the "Gwangju Massacre". President Kennedy scorns the South Korean government and Chun Doo-hwan. The swinging hammer came down on the students heads in a literal sense, with the brutal breakup of what was labled a "communist attempted coup" in the South Korean's eyes. With the failure of President Kennedy and State Secretary Brzezinski to come to a compromise and peace, the two men tarnished themselves and quickly the polarizing Brzezinski was attacked from the left and right.

Picture of the Gwangju Massacre

More upbeat bipartisan news came with the announced push from SEE Carter and Agriculture Secretary Fred Harris for the creation of a farmers corps. This "farm corps" was framed similarly to the peace corps, but would have farmers apply for two years to be sent to developing nations to help with agricultural improvement. The creation gained the backing of Democrats, but a substantial number of moderate republicans led by Robert "Bob" Dole. The creation bill passed easily, also some republicans would label that Dole had made a "deal with the devil", leading to the harsh nickname "Devil Dole".

"Devil Dole" speaking about the Farmer Corps

As 1980 creeped to it's end, the famously lampooned "People's Olympics" were held in Shanghai for all the boycotting nations to attend. Many in the west named the people's olympics the "Paper Dragon Classics", for it was a paper thin reasoning for the eastern Dragon. In nearly all of the games in the People's Olympics, China won against Pakistan, Laos, Sudan, Burma, North Korea, Afghanistan, Kenya, Bangladesh and the Central African Republic.

Signing of the Gdansk Agreement

Through out August, Lech Walesa led a strike in Gdansk Shipyard. The demands were for labor reforms, increased civil rights and the release of political prisoners. In a suprise, the strikers won their fight and the Gdansk Agreement was signed. Thus this agreement would fundamentally change Poland as it asserted the civil rights of people and help ferment what would become known as the Solidarity movement in the years to come.

In the last days of 1980, a shock came to the world. After a long spiral downward in economic stagnation, Leonid Brezhnev had been forced from office. Some will label the attempts to reform the USSR his undoing, loosening it enough so the Soviet people could see the excess waist and corruption. With it a reformer would take over, 49 year old Mikhail Gorbachev.

New Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev

The year was over. Now a roaring and up and down era was about to being. It was the dawn of indulgence, damnation and declaration. It was the dawn of the 80's.

[Vazdul (Formerly Chairman of the Communist Party of Ontario)]

It's back!

Keep it coming!

[Historia Crux]

Presidential Election of 1980

The Democrats: The campaign for renomination was a tough fight for President Kennedy. Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson was running against Kennedy on a pro Israel, tough foreign policy platform. Jackson's campaign caught fire in the beginning but fizzled out in the end. Another challenger to Kennedy was Mississippi Governor Finch, who easily was trounced. At the Convention, Jackson backed Kennedy and with it a possible situation was averted.

The Republicans: The republicans had their favorite man Ronald Reagan run. Reagan trounced many other smaller candidates, narrowing the field down to him and John Anderson. Much of the campaign spiralled around Anderson's VP campaign in 1976 and the perceived ruination of the Republicans in '76. Still Anderson picked up his homestate, the northeast and Hawaii. Reagan would win in a close first ballot. Anderson, angered by the divisive campaign and the nomination of Reagan, jumped ship and announced the formation of the Moderate Party. Reagan meanwhile would choose Congressman Phil Crane as his runningmate.

The American-Independents: The American Independent Party was now facing a race without their leader George Wallace. The race came down to Governor Meldrim Thomson and Lt. Governor Lester Maddox. The powers of the south in the party won out and Maddox won. In a slap to the northern independents, Maddox would select Congressman John Rarick as his runningmate, creating an all south ticket.

The General: The general was a fierce battle. Anderson's entry into the race had him at 18%, but that number had deteriorated over the campaign. The economy was the major issue, as it had began a decline. Taxes, foreign policy and health care took a back seat. Kennedy made the case that his implemented programs was holding back a tidal wave of economic recession. Reagan said that things would get worse if his economic policies or "Reaganomics" were not in place. Kennedy attacked "Reaganomics" as "Voodoo Economics". In a close and divisive race with Maddox and Anderson tearing votes from Reagan, Kennedy pulled off a close reelection with tight victories in Ohio, Missouri and Florida. Though this reelection was bittersweet, as Republicans would take both the House and Senate.

(D)-Pres. Edward "Ted" M. Kennedy, MA/VP. Nick Galifianakis, NC: 278 EV
(R)-Fmr Gov. Ronald W. Reagan, CA/Rep. Philip "Phil" M. Crane, IL: 224 EV
(AI)-Fmr Lt Gov. Lester G. Maddox, GA/Fmr Rep. John R. Rarick, LA: 36 EV
(M)-Fmr Rep. John B. Anderson, IL/Sen. Charles M. "Mac" Mathias, Jr., MD: 0 EV