A Second Chance - CONCLUSION

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

At this point, I just want to skip to the map and I may do that...

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

To heck with it...

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The final results for the 1976 Presidential Election

Senator Robert F Kennedy (D-MA)/Senator George McGovern (D-SD); 281 electoral votes, 51.2% of the popular vote
President George Bush (R-TX)/Senator Ronald Reagan (R-CA); 257 electoral votes, 48.7% of the popular vote
Others; 0 electoral votes, .3% of the popular vote

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

You're right. I'll change it kater given I'm doing this from my iPod.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Changed.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Excerpt from the Lyrics to "Massachusetts Uber Alles" by "The Nixons" (1978)

I am President RFK
I was elected to have my way
I'll do better than JFK
I'll do better than JFK

I am now President!
I'll do whatever I want
I can command all of you!
Your kids will worship Christ in school
Youre kids will worship Christ in school
Massachusetts! Uber Alles!
Massachusetts Ubera Alles!

...

Now it is the year 1980...
I am worshipped as deity...
I'm even better than FDR!
I am worshipped near and far!

Come quietly to the Church
Just kneel and pray and you won't get hurt
Just listen to me and I'll be nice
Just pray to Jesus Christ!

I've fulfilled the dreams of Papa Joe
Now that I'm in I'll never go
I'm only the second of the Kennedy!
Once we're in we'll never leave!
Once we're in we'll never leave!

Massachusetts! Uber Alles!
Massachusetts! Uber Alles!

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The lame duck period between the election and Kennedy's inauguration was spent mostly handling the Palestinian Conflict. George wished he had never sent Scoop, God rest his soul, into Palestine to try to resolve the conflict. However, no resolve seemed to come. Long, protracted talks with members of Congress, members of the National Security Council, and with outside sources gave way to nothing as more American troops died. Former Secretary of Defense and Arizona Senator-elect Barry Goldwater advised an all-or-nothing strategy where if George wasn't willing to send in everything the United States had, he should, in Barry's words "Get the Hell out". Others that George talked with included fellow Texan and former Secretary of Defense Senator John Connally who was a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee as well as several other committees relating to national security issues.

President Bush discussing the Palestinian Conflict with Senator John Connally (D-TX)

For Secretary of State Rockefeller, the conflict as well as the continued attempts to negotiate a "lasting peace" in the region, had taken a large toll. He suffered a heart condition and he had already told George that even if he won re-election, Rockefeller would resign and not accept another four years as Secretary of State.

A weary Secretary Rockefeller after hearing more idstressing news about the Palestinian situation

All in all, the lame duck period did not amount to much in terms of any type of progress. However, George and the rest did as well as they could to prepare the office for President-eelct Kennedy.

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

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Next, I hope to do the Senate maps as well as the Kennedy cabinet.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

1976 Senate Races

Democrats-59 (+3)
Republicans-39 (-3)
Independents-1
Conservatives-1

Notable Races
Arizona: Former Secretary of Defense Barry Goldwater is elected to his old seat. His replacement instead decided to run in 1980 to succeed Senator Paul Fannin who had won that seat in 1968.
California: Congressman Barry Goldwater Jr. is elected to the seat held by Ronald Reagan. Reagan, upon accepting the Vice-Presidential nomination, declined to run for re-election and Goldwater became the Republican nominee
Michigan: Senator George Romney faces a tough re-election campaign but is able to win in a close race.
Nevada: Senator Paul Laxalt is re-elected.
New York: Conservative Senator William F Buckley wins re-election beating Congresswoman Bella Abzug 52-48%
Ohio: Senator Robert Taft Jr. wins re-election in a close race.
Virginia: Independent Senator Robert Byrd wins re-election.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I know it's kind of hackish, but I wanted Buckley to win re-election. With Moynihan elected Governor of New York in 1974, Bella Abzug, who in real life was favored to win the nomination and lose the general, does so.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The Cabinet of President Robert F Kennedy (Part One)

(all excerpts taken from In My Defense by Robert F Kennedy, (c) 1984, except when attributed elsewhere)

Secretary of State

Zbigniew Brzezinski

Brzezinski, a political scientist as well as a professor and strategist, had been my choice because of his writings on a human rights based foreign policy that I intended to keep as one of the prime goals of my administration. Thurmond often complained about a "lack of experience" among certain members of my cabinet, Brzezinski being one of them. That claim was not true. Brzezinski as was mentioned previously had done diplomatic missions for the state department the last eight years and had even been called "Kennedy's diplomatic lap-dog" by Strom in 1971.

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Secretary of the Treasury

George Romney

Governor of Michigan 1963-1969
United States Senator from Michigan 1971-1977

A man experienced in business matters, as well as a man known for his commitment to helping the poor and the inner cities, Jack was not happy when he first heard us discussing George Romney for Treasury secretary. Jack and he hadn't gotten off on the right foot as they had been opponents in the 1968 Presidential election. However, as long as Jack was in Massachusetts, the relationship wouldn't be a problem. However, the economy would.

Secretary of Defense

Jimmy Carter

Georgia State Senator from the 14th District 1963-1967
Member of the United States House of Representatives from Georgia's 3rd District 1967-1971
Governor of Georgia 1971-1975

Despite being a primary opponent only the year before, Jimmy and I got along just fine. His congeniality, his good relationship with Brzezinski and my staff, as well as his military record were deciding factors in the choice of him for Secretary of Defense. Also, his four year role in the House Armed Services Committee wasn't a negative in the decision to appoint him Secretary of Defense.

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Attorney General

Edward Brooke

Massachusetts Attorney General 1963-1966
United States Senator from Massachusetts 1967-1973
United States Attorney General 1974-Present

In order to keep peaceful relations in Washington, I didn't change every cabinet position. Edward Brooke, a man who four years ago I had opposed for Senate, I decided to let stay on as he had served dutifully as Attorney General the last three years.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The Cabinet of President Robert F Kennedy (Part Two)

(All excerpts are taken from In My Defense, by Robert F Kennedy (c) 1984 except when attributed elseqhere

Secretary of the Interior

Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 1970-1973

Nader had been considered for the position of Secretary of the Interior only because of his previous experience as EPA Administrator. I personally had been cautious with his pick, however he had served well in his previous role in Jack's Administration and I felt that with the new position he could become more pragmatic and his streak of radical environmentalism would cool.

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Secretary of Commerce

Robert McNamara

United States Secretary of the Treasury 1965-1973

McNamara was Jack's favorite for Secretary of the Treasury for the obvious reason that he had served faithfully for eight previous years. However, I instead handed Treasury off to George Romney. In reward for his hard work, however, as well as an acknowledgment of his business experience, I named him Secretary of Commerce

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Secretary of Labor

Joe Biden

Member of New Castle County Council 1971-1973
Congressman from Delaware's At-Large Congressional District 1975-1977

Joe Biden was one of the fresh new faces that I wanted in my administration. However, unlike other members of my cabinet, he wasn't as moderate and known more as a "Labor Liberal". Despite that, he had supported me in my Presidential bid and I felt he would be competent as Secretary of Labor.

Secretary of Agriculture

Bill Clinton

Congressman from Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District 1975-1977

Another of my "fresh faces", I had befriended "Slick Willy" in Congress and he had become a member of the faction being known as the "New Democrats". He, like me was economically moderate and shared much of the same goals in regard to poverty and welfare.

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Secretary of Health and Human Services

R Sargent Shriver

Director of Central Interlligence 1965-1967, 1967-1973

A family friend and my brother-in-law, Sargent had successfully headed three Kennedy Presidential campaigns beginning in 1964, and had also succesfully headed the CIA during those dark and dirty years of the late sixties. I knew that he needed a cabinet spot and Health and Human Services proved to be just the right place for him.

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[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The Cabinet of President Robert F Kennedy (Part Three)

(all excerpts are taken from In My Defense by Robert F Kennedy, (c) 1984 except when attribute elsewhere)

Secretary of Education

Terry Sanford

Governor of North Carolina 1961-1965
Vice-President of the United States of America 1965-1973

Terry, with his experience in education as well as his role in domestic policy during Jack's cabinet, I had wanted from the beginning to join the team. In the Department of Education, whose creation he had spear-headed in the days of the Great Society, I felt that he was best qualified and most deserving.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Shirley Chisholm

Congresswoman from New York's 12th Congressional District 1969-1977

Shirley Chisholm, a Congresswoman representing an urban part of New York, was perfect for the job of heading the department of Housing and Urban Development. She, like many in the cabinet, had a commitment to the poor at heart and would serve out here duties to the greatest of her abilities, and that was a lot. She would be one of the leaders of my domestic team on welfare reform in the coming years.

Secretary of Transportation

Kevin H White

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth 1961-1967
Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts 1968-1977

I was obviously accused of regional as well as religious nepotism for the pick of Kevin White for Transportation. However, his over eight years of experience as Boston's Mayor led him to being one of the most qualified for the job. Of note only later was the fact that the Rolling Stones' "Riot Concert" occured under his watch. However, that is a story for another chapter.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Of note is when Keith Richards was caught for drug use (then later acquitted) in Arkansas. I always intended to include that when I got around to 1974, but forgot when I needed it. I'll find some way to work the Stones in later though and maby include som back story on what happened.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

In inner-cities across America the poverty rate is increasing, the high-school drop out rate is increasing, the amount of children born out of wedlock is increasing. Through smart and careful steps of welfare reform, we in the Kennedy administration are working to end these ails and to, eh, restore peace and prosperity to the urban environment. Over my tenure as Secretary Treasury I will be working closely with Secretaries Sanford, Chisholm, and Shriver, as well as with former Education Secretary Elizabeth Dole to ensure that these goals are met.

-Treasury Secretary George Romney; February 19th, 1977

Defense Secretary Jimmy Carter and labor Secretary Joe Biden after a Whitehouse cabinet meeting

Over the next four years, my focus as Secretary of Defense will be on bringing American boys home from Palestine, nuclear arms control, and on helping to spread human rights throughout the globe.

-Defense Secretary Jimmy Carter; February 3rd, 1977

We have continued to see the rate for the average worker go down during the Agnew/Bush years. Also, beginning last year, there has been a noticable trade deficit. Those are two problems that I, along with of course the President, will aim to solve.

-Labor Secretary Joe Biden; March 1st, 1976

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Thanks for all of your comments! I'm glad you like the timeline (if you do).

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Other Administration Positions

(All excerpts taken from In My Defense by Robert F Kennedy, (c) 1984

Whitehouse Communications Director

Pat Caddell

Pat as the director of communications and deputy campaign manager during the 1976 campaign had handled it remarkably well in drowning out criticisms and attracting the youth vote. In order to fulfill that role during my Presidency, he was made Whitehouse Communications Director and even in the darkest of times did the best that anyone could have under the circumstances.

Whitehouse Chief of Staff

Richard M Daley

Illinois State Senator 1972-1977

Dick Daley Jr. was not my first choice for the job. However, the others that I had wanted for the job I had already sent off to their respective departments, such as Bill Clinton to Agriculture, and I settled on the son of Richard J Daley. Richard M Daley served in his capacity well, however there were a large number of mishandlings in 1979 that I would not like to repeat.

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National Security Adviser

Cyrus Vance

United States Secretary of the Navy 1965-1971
Deputy National Security Adviser 1971-1972
National Security Adviser 1972-1973

In order to bring on tried hands to help master the foreign policy landscape, family friend and former Navy Secretary Cyrus Vance was brought on as National Security Advisor. His years of experience in Jack's Adminsitration were a great asset to the difficult years ahead. However, no-one could have prepared for those years.

Secretary of the Navy

Stansfield Turner

President of the Naval War College 1972-1974

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[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I'm most likely going to have a couple of flashbacks sprinkled throughout the upcoming posts concerning Cuba and Vietnam during the sixties or something like that. Not sure where it will lead, but I have some ideas.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

March 3rd, 1965
A conversation between former National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger and Attorney General Robert F Kennedy.
Kennedy: One of the goals of the next eight years is to do what you and Tricky Dick never could. Take down Castro.
Kissinger: (in thick German accent) Be careful mister Attorney General. that was a can of worms that you dont want to open.
Kennedy: Oh, we're prepared to open it. Even if it takes years we're not going to tolerate Mr. Castro ninety miles from Florida.
Kissinger: One day, you may understand that the United States can tolerate and will have to tolerate Mr. Castro.
Kennedy: Just because Dick could get dick done in Cuba after three successive failures with it doesn't mean that it can't be done.
Kissinger: Talk to me again after 1969 when your brother is no longer President. We shall see.

March 16th, 1977
President Robert F Kennedy recalls the conversation from over twelve years ago. Looking over CIA reports and profiles of Kissinger, Nixon, and Castro.
Kennedy: Nixon couldn't do it, Jack was too concentrated on Vietnam. No more.
Kennedy picks up the Whitehouse phone.
Kennedy: Ms. Kopechne, could you put me on the line with CIA Director Richard Bissell? Thank you.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

March 20th, 1977

President Unveils Economic Recovery Package!

Yesterday on Capitol Hill at a press conference, President Kennedy unveiled his economic recovery package. It is a combination of middle class tax cuts, an economic stimulus, and new domestic spending. It is controversial on both sides of the aisle for its combination of one thing Republicans support and two things Democrats support. However, a majority of Democrats support and it is expected some moderate Republicans will sign on.
However, not all is well in response to it. Former President Bush today called it "a horrid combination of supply-side economics, keynesianism, and deficit spending". Meanwhile his former running mate, former Senator Ronald Reagan of California has said "While I can't say I'm against tax cuts, that doesn't mean I can rightly endorse the rest of the package. The domestic deficit spending will only increase the deficit and lead to more inflation which is the main problem right now".
Meanwhile, Senator Walter Mondale has privately exclaimed "It's about time!" given that the President has been in office for two months. The President has not yet responded to any of these comments.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

March 20th, 1977
The office of Treasury Secretary George Romney, where he is on the phone with former Vice-President Gerald Ford, a fellow Michiganian.
George: Listen! Jerry, they can call me whatever they want! I'm, I'm doing what's right!
Jerry: That's not what some Republicans are saying and I can't say I'm not agreeing with some of their comments.
George: L-look, I'm no traitor to the party! If the Republican Party is-is right, then it'll accomodate for me doing what's right!
Jerry: But this package isn't right! It'll destroy everything Bush worked for on inflation! The deficit will balloon again the way it was in the other Kennedy Presidency! That's what helped to create the recession in the first place!
George: I've been assured that the problems with the Great Society and welfare in general will be wrapped up by 1979.
Jerry: W-Well that's all fine and dandy! How's he going to do that? What's Kennedy going to pull out of his sleeve?
George: Jerry, it's been talked about since January. It's called welfare reform. We'll finally be able to put those people on the streets and back into jobs.
Jerry: Look, George. I have to go. We'll talk some other time.
George: Well, I'll be seeing you then.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Excerpt from the Lyrics to "Sympathy for the Devil" by The Rolling Stones (1968)

I shouted out,
"Who killed Integrity?"
When after all
It was you and me
(who who, who who)

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Couldn't find any other songs that I know mentioning the Kennedys, so that's all for now. Any suggestions to songs that would change because of the political changes are welcome.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I'm having a bit of a writer's block right now.

Is anyone still reading?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

March 22nd, 1977
President Kennedy sits at the head of the table of a cabinet meeting. Assembled are Defense Secretary Jimmy Carter, Treasury Secretary George Romney, Labor Secretary Joe Biden, Agriculture Secretary Bill Clinton, and National Security Adviser Cyrus Vance.
    Kennedy: Obviously our "first one hundred days" haven't been up to snuff. We need to quickly and decisively say what we'll do with Palestine.
    Vance: Well, we can't just up and leave. We need to restore stability to the region or leave it in capable hands.
    Carter: What about the United Nations? Handing off responsibility for reconstruction and setting up an interim government to them would be ideal if we want to get out.
    Romney: **Sigh** It's not like Vietnam where if we needed to we could've left. We're basically supporting a government and we need to find a Palestinian leader who doesn't want to destroy us.
    Vance: As for the insurgency, I think we'd be able to destroy their support. Not popularly. They'd still have support from the radicals. I mean monetarily. Using the United Nations, we find out where the money's caiming from, because obviously the money needs to come from somewhere, and we freeze that person or that group's assets.
    Carter: Sounds like a good plan. We definitely need to get our boys out of that horrible place and do it as good as possible.
    Clinton: I know it's not my position to say as an Agriculture Secretary, but what about a grain embargo on countries supporting them? Places like, uh, well the places that support them.
    Carter: I really don't think we should use food as a weapon, personally.
    Kennedy: For the sake of the people of Palestine and Israel, and for our own troops, I think it'd be for the best that we issue a grain embargo.
    Vance: Regardless, we have to either beat the insurgents or merely get oru boys out. How are we going to do that? One option is a time-table for a withdrawal, possibly by June of next year.
    Kennedy: That's good. Jimmy, I want your staff to draw up prospective timetables, factoring in for each with a grain embargo, with a freeze of assets, with both, and without any of them. Get the figures and tracking on the assets from DCI Richard Bissell.

The discussion continues for quite some time. Later...

    Kennedy: Okay, I think we've talked about what we need. Now for the economy.
    Romney: I've been able to get some very weak moderate support for the package in the last two days. It mainly comes from people like Hatfield, Matthias, Percy, and Javitts. However, I might be able to get the two Bakers-Jim Baker from Texas and Howard Baker from Tennessee-to sign on. Even without those two the bill should be up for discussion within two weeks.
    Kennedy: Good. According to the morning paper, the market's rallied since the announcement. That's as good of news as any that we've been having.
    Biden: Senator William Proxmire of Wisconsin is against it. I've talked to him repeatedly, but he's against the tax cuts which he's calling a drain on government funds.
    Kennedy: You're sure he won't budge?
    Biden: I don't think there's any sense trying to change his mind.
    Kennedy: How's Labor supporting this? They oughtta be damn happy about the money that's going to their members.
    Biden: Well, there's a difference between "oughtta" and "is". They haven't like you since you jailed Hoffa in 1969, and I don't think money in the pockets of any worker's going to make them happy. However, I've been able to build some bridges with smaller unions.
    Clinton: There are several farm groups and Senators from Western and Southern areas that aren't happy. My predecessor, Mr. Dole, though a Republican, was able to keep them happy with farm subsidies. They claim they aren't finding anything like that in the current version of the plan we're putting forth in Congress.
    Kennedy: I suppose something could be written in.

As the meeting draws to a close, some things have been accomplished in that meeting while other issues are left either un-addressed or still unsolved. Such is the nature of Washington cabinet meetings.