Chapter 3: Happy makes her mark as First Lady of the United States 12:00 PM EST, Saturday, October 11, 1975
White House, Washington, DC.
First Lady Happy Rockefeller and former First Lady Betty Ford during lunch.
Happy Rockefeller moved into the White House along with Rocky and their two sons on September 16th. She was well-received by the maids, butlers, groundskeepers, cooks and White House staff as they introduced themselves to the new First Family.
She wanted to make her own mark as First Lady and among the first things she wanted to focus on: renovating the White House by bringing historical artifacts from the world such as planting cherry blossoms on the White House grounds, interviewing with the White House Press Corps on what they can expect from the First Family.
She also toured across the country visiting doctors, nurses and surgeons at numerous hospitals highlighting efforts to finding medical treatments and cures for breast cancer and all forms of cancer.
While she was finding herself in the traditional role, mant skeptics particularly conservatives weren't thrilled nor fans of either Rocky and Happy for obvious reasons (their extramarital affair and escapades, which resulted in Rocky divorcing his first wife during his long tenure as New York State Governor; Rocky and Happy got married in 1963). Their relationship also played a key role in dooming Rocky's campaign for the Presidency losing the 1964 Republican presidential nomination to United States Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ), who went on to get crushed by LBJ in a massive landslide that November.
In the early afternoon of October 11th, Happy invited former First Lady Betty Ford for a private lunch in the Solarium at the White House. It had been barely a month since Squeaky Fromme shot and killed Jerry on September 5th in Sacramento and altered the course of history. Betty had been living in Palm Springs, California since September 14th (more on Betty later).
Betty was graciously greeted by the White House staff, who stopped and offered their condolences. Happy asked Betty on how she was handling being thrust to the role of First Lady "It's an experience that you'll need to be aware in finding your mark of getting things done and offering specific causes to benefit all Americans."
Betty addressed her concerns with difficulties in working on building the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan and the Ford Presidential Library in Ann Arbor. Happy responded, "Don't worry, Nelson will personally write the check and straighten it out."
Happy asked Betty "Nelson has been working on putting together a commission on fighting cancer and I don't want to nudge you, but he's asked me if you would be interested in serving on the commission?" Tears began to build up in Betty's eyes because it would give her an opportunity to serving the country once more and it was something Jerry would've wanted her to do.
Betty tearfully accepted the offer and began to cry as Happy hugged her.
Last edited:
Chapter 3: National & International headlines from Fall of 1975
National and International headlines of the Rockefeller Presidency October 19-25, 1975
*Sunday, October 19, 1975: The last games of the World Football League (WFL) were played. Birmingham Valcaws defeated the Memphis Southern by a score of 20-0; Shreveport Streamer defeated San Antonio Wings 41-31; Portland Thunder defeated Jacksonville Express 30-13; Southern Cal Sun defeated Honolulu Hawaiian 26-7 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
*Monday, October 20, 1975: Three Cuban Navy transport ships: El Vietnam Heroico, El Coral Island, and La Plata brought the first Cuban soldiers to Angloa in supporting and helping the Marxist MPLF.
*Tuesday, October 21, 1975: Boston Red Sox defeated Cincinnati Reds 7-6 in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, forcing a decisive Game 7.
*Wednesday, October 22, 1975: Cincinnati Reds defeated the Red Sox by a score of 4-3 in the decisive Game 7 of the 1975 World Series; the Reds would later win their fourth and fifth World Series championships in 1976 and again in 1990.
*Owners of the remaining World Football League teams voted 6-4 disbanding the organization.
*Thursday, October 23, 1975: British cardiovascular specialist Dr. Gordon Fairley is killed by a terrorist bomb that was originally intended by the Irish Republican Army to assassinate Hugh Fraser of the British House of Commons.
*Friday, October 24, 1975: 90 percent of the women in Iceland took part in strike protests organized by the Red Stones.
*Saturday, October 25, 1975: Bolivian Air Force transport plane crashes at Mocomoco shortly after takeoff from LaPaz, killing all 55 people on board.
It'll be in the later chapters.
I'm also working on the 11.13.83 Incident timeline right now and doing research on how Reagan's assassination in Seoul, Republic of Korea will potentially instigate World War III
BREAKING NEWS: HOLTON CONFIRMED BY US SENATE 81-16; SWORN INTO OFFICE AS 42ND VICE PRESIDENT Monday, October 20, 1975
US Senate Chambers, US Capitol
Washington, DC
*The Democratic-controlled United States Senate voted 81-16 to confirm former US Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs and former Virginia Governor Linwood Holton as the 42nd Vice President. Previously on October 16th: The Democratic-controlled US House of Representatives voted by a vote of 287-128.
Soon after the Senate confirmed Holton, he was sworn into office by US Supreme Court Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall inside the Senate chambers later that evening on national television and delivered his inaugural address. Among those in attendance was President Rockefeller, who breathed a sigh of relief.
Holton confirmed he and his family will be moving into the Number One Observatory Circle.
BREAKING: PRESIDENT ROCKEFELLER ANNOUNCING REELECTION CAMPAIGN FOR FULL 4-YEAR TERM IN 1976 Saturday, October 25, 1975
Rockefeller Center, New York City, New York State
President Rockefeller announcing his campaign for full term during a nationwide address from the Rockefeller Center.
In a move everyone anticipated, President Rockefelker delivered a televised nationwide address from the Rockefeller Center in New York City, New York State. He highlighted some of his administration's accomplishments such as boosting national defense, getting tough on crime, signing legislation that improves the country's infrastructure as well signing education reform legislation. He spoke for about 26 minutes and longer, but near the end of his speech, Rockefeller mentioned this:
"As we close out 1975 and heading into our Bicentennial celebration next year, celebrating our nation's birthday, let's not forget that there's more work to do and I plan on continuing that work as President for the next four years.
Therefore, I am announcing that I will be a candidate for a full four-year term as your President in 1976. I plan on traveling the country meeting with you, the American people and offer my vision of leading this country into the peacetime period and my record of experience and making the tough, difficult decisions.
Thanks for listening and God Bless the United States of America."
Gallup Polling Survey: Possible matchups in 1976 US Presidential election President Nelson Rockefeller (R): 58% United States Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA): 33%
Rockefeller (R): 62% United States Senator Birch Bayh (D-IN): 29%
Rockefeller (R): 70% Alabama Governor George Wallace (D): 16%
Rockefeller (R): 64% California Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr., (D): 25%
*Monday, October 27, 1975: Gallup used multiple polling surveys in potential candidates on who would challenge President Rockefeller. All of them showed the incumbent President leading by large double digits against potential Democratic opponents in head-to-head matchups.
When asked about these polls, United States Senator John Glenn (D-OH) rejected such skepticism "It's still early because polling surveys do NOT vote. The American people will decide next November." Despite Glenn's rejection of these polls, there is talk around town among Democratic Party circles that some Democrats urge the party to begin focusing their efforts on down-ballot races instead particularly US House of Representatives, United States Senate, Governorships, down-ballot statewide offices, State Legislatures, etc.,
NOT RUNNING: CARTER DECLINES PRESIDENTIAL BID
*Thursday, October 30, 1975: United States Senator Jimmy Carter (D-GA), who's been in the United States Senate since January 14, 1975 (after defeating the controversial segregationist Herman Talmadge in the 1974 Democratic primary for the US Senate), announced that he will NOT be a candidate for the 1976 Democratic Presidential nomination "I just got elected to the United States Senate in 1974. I need to build experience and while I haven't ruled out anything in the future, you cannot foresee what might happen in 1980, 1984 or 1988, but after everything that has transpired the past two months, Georgians need me to fight for them in the United States Senate."
Rumors swirling that Carter might be on the shortlist of possible VP contenders on the Democratic side for whomever the Democrats nominate for President in 1976.
MONDALE, KENNEDY BOTH DECLINE PRESIDENTIAL BIDS IN 1976
*Soon after Senator Carter announced his decision of NOT running for President, fellow United States Senators Walter Mondale (D-MN) and Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) addressed the press corps at Capitol Hill and both confirmed they will NOT be running for the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination either, citing desires of staying in the United States Senate.
Mondale's reason: "The American people want a check and balance in government and we cannot let Republicans have free reign on all branches of the federal government in 1976. I am strongly confident that Democrats will keep control of both houses of Congress next fall."
Kennedy announced he's seeking reelection to a 3rd full 6-year term in the United States Senate: "The people of the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts can be strongly assured that I will be a candidate for reelection as their United States Senator. While I will NOT be a candidate for President in 1976, I will pledge to support whomever the Democratic nominee for President will be and deliver our alternatives to the American people."
When asked if either was scared of losing badly to Rockefeller in 1976, Kennedy laughed and said while it's difficult challenging an incumbent President, we cannot let him have a free ride during 1976. Mondale demurred, saying his focus is helping Democrats keeping their majorities in Congress particularly in the United States Senate.
Panama Canal Negotiations: Bipartisan delegation appointed by President Rockefeller
Pro-Canal supporters protesting against the Rockefeller administration's negotiations with the Panamanians in transferring the Panama Canal to Panama.
*October 26, 1975: The hottest topic of discussion over a decade since the 1960s was about the Panama Canal. There was agreement among Democrats and moderate-centrist Republicans about being open to consider doing negotiations of turning over the canal to the Panamanian government. This had been a topic of worthy discussion since 1964 when then-President Lyndon Johnson was indicating readiness for talks between the United States and Panama over the canal following an incident back in 1964, but it wasn't at the top of his foreign policy agenda. The issue then went to succeeding administrations Richard Nixon (1969-1974) and Gerald Ford (1974-1975), but nothing could come of it. Upon ascending to the Presidency following Ford's assassination on September 5th, President Rockefeller indicated his willingness to negotiate in announcing his Good Neighbor Policy of 1975 initiative. Before his shocking assassination on September 22nd, US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger quietly began plans for direct talks during meetings with many Panamanian government officials.
Following the confirmation of former New York State Governor Malcolm Wilson (R) as Secretary of State on October 15th, Wilson picked up where Kissinger left off and continued holding meetings with Panamanian government officials on transferring the Panama Canal to the Panamanians. On October 22nd, President Rockefeller announced a bipartisan American delegation for bilateral negotiations: leading the American delegation was former US Secretaries of State William P. Rogers and Dean Rusk. Rusk served in the post from 1961 to 1969 under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson; Rogers served under President Nixon during the latter's first term. Among those members of the American delegation: US Rep. Pete McCloskey (R-CA) and United States Senator Lawton Chiles (D-FL).
Conservatives blasting Rockefeller administration's negotiations over Panama Canal: "The Panama Canal is Ours! We built it, paid for it. We deserve to keep it forever!"
United States Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) leading the group of conservatives in blasting the Rockefeller administration's plans of transferring the Panama Canal to the Panamanians.
October 27, 1975: Not surprisingly, majority of the opposition of the Rockefeller administration's efforts came from conservatives, who publicly feuded and blasted the President over the hot-button issue. Leading the group in staunch opposition was United States Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC), who during a press conference summed up his opposition like this: "The United States built the canal, paid for it and we deserve to keep it forever. The canal is the property of the United States government and nobody is going to tell us what to do with it!" Also in attendance was former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) and United States Senator Paul Laxalt (R-NV), both of whom blasted the President, with Laxalt declaring he'll fight the administration every step of the way on the Senate floor in blocking the treaty with every tool available. During a heated testimony hearing before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, US Secretary of State Malcolm Wilson explained that Congress can participate in the talks, but defended the administration's plans.
BREAKING NEWS ALERT: Mexican President Lieutenant General Oscar Robles offers to mediate the Panama Canal negotiations in Mexico
*October 30, 1975: During a press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexican President Lieutenant General Oscar Robles confirmed that he spoke with US President Nelson Rockefeller over the phone about venues for the Canal negotiations and suggested to Rockefeller that Mexico be the official mediator of the direct negotiations between the United States and Panama, in which both countries agree to where the negotiations will be held. He also confirmed either Mexicali or Mexico City will be hosting the meeting, with a potential summit to be held in Acapulco down the road.
BREAKING NEWS: ROCKEFELLER TO VISIT TAIWAN, INDONESIA AND PHILIPPINES THIS FALL
*November 1, 1975: White House Press Secretary Ron Nessen confirmed that President Rockefeller has spoken with Taiwanese President Yen Chia-kan, Indonesian President Suharto and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos; Nessen confirmed that Rockefeller will be visiting Taiwan, Indonesia and Philippines later this year beginning with Taiwan (December 1st-5th in Taipei), Indonesia (December 5th-6th in Jakarta) and Philippines (December 6th-11th in Manila). These visits will highlight the Rockefeller administration's aggressive priorities of maintaining alliances and pivot to the Asian Pacific as part of the Good Neighbor Policy initiative.
Major infrastructure, energy and education laws signed by President Rockefeller
President Rockefeller signs major pieces of legislation into law: American Energy Act, Americans for a Better Educational Opportunity and the American Infrastructure Act of 1975.
November 3, 1975: As the 1976 presidential campaign was beginning to take shape, President Rockefeller was making impression to Americans that he was a busy, hardworking commander-in-chief focused on keeping America safe, keeping the country at peace in the height of the Cold War, and working on domestic problems. After giving conservatives hard-earned victories with heavy vetoes on wasteful government spending and some domestic policy spending as well as dismantling the Detente Policy with PRC and the Soviet Union, the Rockefeller administration due to long negotiations with Congress, successfully worked out an education bill (which was previously vetoed by then-President Ford due to wasteful spending) by signing into law, Americans for a Better Educational Opportunity Act which he signed into law on September 30th in a Rose Garden ceremony surrounded by young schoolchildren at the White House. The law, required all public schools who accept federal funds in providing equal access to education with one free meal for schoolchildren with physical or mental disabilities. This bill was an amendment to a law enacted during the Johnson administration.
President Rockefeller also signed the American Infrastructure Act of 1975 in Houston, Texas, where the construction of three dams in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas would be the beneficiaries of these major infrastructure projects. He also signed the American Energy Act on that same day as well. Enough electricity would be produced for each over 100,000 people and creating thousands of jobs in these respective states. Experts were impressed and called it "The American Strategy" which is based on economic messages without using racially-charged rhetoric to dividing Americans on the basis of race, ethnicity or gender since President Rockefeller strongly believed that prosperity for all Americans will be huge major factors toward decreasing and reducing racial tensions and more equal rights for everyone.
BREAKING NEWS: WILLIAM COLBY FIRED AS DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BY PRESIDENT ROCKEFELLER; REPLACED BY US CHIEF LIAISON TO PRC GEORGE HW BUSH Tuesday, November 4, 1975
April 1975: Then-Vice President Nelson Rockefeller with Director of Central Intelligence William Colby and then-Deputy National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft during meeting of the National Security Council.
The shakeup had its roots from the second Rockefeller ascended to the Presidency upon Ford's assassination on September 5th and he had already removed then-US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, then-White House Chief of Staff Richard B. Cheney, then-US Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz to name a few. Over the course of the past few weeks, Rockefeller slowly replaced several of the Ford holdovers with his own appointees (Whitman becoming White House Chief of Staff and Clements becoming US Secretary of Defense). Some considered these moves as an attempt to address multiple high-level personality and policy clashes within the administration. The overhaul came at a time when the President's leadership abilities were under attack heavily by staunch conservatives such as former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R).
Among the changes:
1.) William Colby was fired as Director of Central Intelligence and replaced by US Chief Liaison to PRC George HW Bush.
2.) Edward H. Levi announced he would be stepping down as US Attorney General by January 20, 1977. Rockefeller asked him to stay on until a successor is named and confirmed by the United States Senate.
3.) Counselor to the President Robert T. Hartmann would be replaced by John Otto Marsh, Jr., who previously served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs under then-President Richard Nixon (1973-74) and served as Counselor to the President under then-President Gerald Ford alongside Hartmann and Rogers Morton.
Chapter 3: Rocky and the giggling secretary escapade
Meanwhile over the skies of the Atlantic...... 6:00 PM, Friday, November 14, 1975
Somewhere over the skies of the Atlantic
Air Force One flying over the skies on the way to Paris, France.
President Rockefeller was working on some documents regarding the upcoming G-6 Summit set for this week. The time was 6:00 PM and President Rockefeller had a closed-door meeting with senior advisers and key administration officials, who were accompanying the President to Paris. Once the meeting was over after two hours, Rocky went to his office where he read the newspaper when the giggling female confidential secretary got inside his private bedroom cabin via private office from adjoining room...
"Hi Mr. President" the giggling female secretary said as Rocky replied "You look so beautiful, kiss me baby" as they made out in his private bedroom cabin and began having sex on the bed as he penetrated her, causing her to moan softly and quietly. This escapade continued throughout the entire flight all night long.
The G-6 Summit November 15-17, 1975
Chateau de Rambouillet, France.
The G-6 Summit.
The Group of Six (G-6) was an unofficial forum, which brought together the Heads of the richest industrialized countries: France, West Germany, Italy, Japan, Great Britain and the United States. This summit and others which would follow in following years, was not meant to linked formally with larger international institutions: and in fact, a kind of frustrated rebellion against the stiff formality of other international meetings was an element in the genesis of cooperation between France's President and West Germany's Chancellor as they conceived the first-ever summit of the G-6.
The list of Heads of State, who attained their respective offices due to unforeseen circumstances:
*France: Valery Giscard d'Estaing (President): Assumed office on May 27, 1974
*West Germany: Helmut Schmidt (Chancellor): Ascended to the Chancellorship upon the resignation of Willy Brandt on May 16, 1974.
*Italy: Aldo Moro (Prime Minister): Assumed office on November 23, 1974.
*Japan: Takeo Miki (Prime Minister): Assumed office on December 9, 1974.
*Great Britain: Harold Wilson (Prime Minister): Assumed office on March 4, 1974.
*United States: Nelson Rockefeller (President): Ascended to the Presidency upon the assassination of Gerald Ford on September 5, 1975.
Among the issues discussed during the G-6 Summit included the following:
*Searching and productive exchange of views on the world economy.
*Political and economic responsibilities of democracies.
*Growth of interdependence and fostering international cooperation.
*Inflation and energy crises.
*Unemployment and economic recovery.
*Fostering growth and world trade.
*Monetary stability.
*Multilateral trade negotiations.
*Economic relations with the Eastern Bloc and the Soviet Union (where President Rockefeller strongly defended his decision of dismantling the Detente Policy with PRC and the Soviet Union).
*Cooperative relationship and improved understanding of developing countries.
*Conference on International Economic Co-Operation.
*Cooperation via international organizations.
BREAKING NEWS ALERT: JACKSON IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT
*Saturday, November 15, 1975: United States Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson (D-WA St) officially confirmed he's running for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 1976. Jackson's staunch conservative views on foreign policy, public safety and hardcore opposition to busing has rankled many liberals and progressives inside the Democratic Party.
Jackson is rumored to battling with Alabama Governor George Wallace (D) for the anti-busing vote in the primaries.
Campaign Trail: Reagan November 17, 1975
Santa Barbara, California
Having turning over the California Governorship to California Governor Jerry Brown (D) on January 6th, Ronald Reagan was independently wealthy, having wisefully invested his movie earnings in real estate back in the 1950s.
Originally, he had looked forward to spending more time at the family ranch near Santa Barbara, California, where he enjoyed horseback riding and other outdoor activities. Yet, despite this, there were signs that the political fire in the belly was rising fast due to the fact his supporters knew he had zero intention of fading from the spotlight.
His eyes were still on the White House and had been reluctant to wrest the Republican nomination from an incumbent Republican President. This last occurred in 1884 when then-US Secretary of State James G. Blaine won the nomination over then-President Chester A. Arthur.
BREAKING: REAGAN ANNOUNCES CANDIACY FOR THE PRESIDENCY
*November 20, 1975: During a press conference at the Washington Press Club in Washington, DC., former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) announced his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 1976 against incumbent President Nelson Rockefeller.
Reagan justified this by suggesting his candidacy would be healthy for both the country and his political party.
ROCKEFELLER ON REAGAN JOINING THE RACE
*President Rockefeller, who was heading to the fall meeting of the National Governors Association, was asked about Reagan's entry into the Republican primary for President. Rockefeller replied "I welcome Governor Reagan into the race and I expect this to be a spirited campaign in the battle of ideas. However, I am the right candidate in continuing to lead America forward toward the next four years."
COMING UP IN CHAPTER 3 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC Former United States Senator and Louisiana First Lady Elaine Edwards (D-LA) joins the group, "Democrats for Rocky" as the 1976 campaign picks up steam......
Change has come to Spain! Thursday, November 20, 1975
Madrid, Spain
BREAKING NEWS ALERT: SPANISH DICTATOR GENERAL FRANCISCO FRANCO DEAD AT 82
*Prince Juan Carlos de Borbon to become King of Spain, effectively ending 36 years of authoritarian dictatorship.
*Spanish Prime Minister Carlos Navarro announced the Generalissimo's death.
*Generalissimo dies at La Paz Hospital.
*Longtime Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco died after being taken off of life support machines at La Paz Hospital in Madrid. He was 82 years old.
Franco came to power by overthrowing the Second Spanish Republic in 1939 during Spanish Civil War and ruled the country as Caudillo until his death.
Condolences have come from across the world: Chilean President General Augusto Pinochet, US President Nelson Rockefeller, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing and many foreign dignitaries including members of the Diplomatic Corps.
