Alternate History 🇺🇸 November 2, 1976: President Nelson Rockefeller wins election to full 4-year term and the aftermath

[Sergeant Foley]

Chapter 9: The Veepstakes
Summer 1980
​

It had been barely two weeks since Governor Carey clinched the Democratic Party presidential nomination on June 3rd, now the question was who would be mentioned as potential running mates as Vice President on the Democratic Party ticket.

For starters, following getting his ass handed to him in 1976: United States Senator Jimmy Carter (D-GA) was disgusted by the constant hyper political climate that he abruptly declared following the 1978 Midterms that not only would he NOT seek reelection as the Peach State's junior United States Senator in 1980 but he would be leaving politics altogether. Carter, who endorsed the Carey campaign from the start, made it clear to him during a closed door meeting at the New York State Executive Mansion in Albany, that he had zero interest of being on a ticket ever again, preferring to finish out his term in the United States Senate.

Former Louisiana Governor Edwin Washington Edwards (D) was intrigued by the prospect of being tapped as Carey's #2 serving as Vice President, but likewise declined. It was quite obvious that Edwards and his strong allies were plotting their comeback in taking back the Louisiana Governor's Mansion in 1983. However, Edwards did recommend United States Senator J. Bennett Johnston (D-LA) to be included on the VP shortlist.

United States Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) was gearing up for somewhat of a challenge from US Rep. Jim Collins (R-TX) in the upcoming 1982 Texas US Senate election as national Republicans were determined to end Bentsen's political career. Bentsen polietly told Carey: "I have to get reelected in 1982, but I will work hard for your campaign behind the scenes."

Crossing off the first three names off the list: The Carey campaign senior high-level staff then put together another list of possible running mates: Former Florida Governor Reubin Askew (D); South Carolina Governor Richard E. Riley (D); Georgia Governor George Busbee (D), who became the first Georgia Governor to succeed himself with a landslide reelection victory in 1978; Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt (D), who delivered the Democratic Party Response to President Holton's 1980 State of the Union Address, was being discussed as a possible contender for the Vice Presidency on local and national news outlets.

Maryland Governor Harry Hughes (D) was from the South and would possibly help Carey make inroads in the South, which was now being aggressively targeted by Reagan in the general election. Plus another option was West Virginia Governor Jay Rockefeller (D), who declined because he was running for reelection as Governor.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Veep choices for the Gipper!
Summer 1980
​

Now that he finally vanquished the competition in the Republican Party presidential primaries to clinch the nomination, which he did on May 26th when Bush dropped out, former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) was busy working on who would become his Vice President on the Republican Party ticket before the upcoming Republican National Convention in Detroit, Michigan.

The list of running mates included the following: United States Senator Bob Dole (R-KS); United States Senator Paul Laxalt (R-NV); United States Senator John Heinz, III (R-PA); US Ambassador to Taiwan Anne Armstrong; Michigan Governor William Milliken (R), who was just reelected to third full four-year term in 1978; Texas Governor William P. Clements, Jr., (R), who aggressively campaigned hard for Reagan from the very beginning wasn't interested in returning to DC having previously served as US Deputy Secretary of Defense (1973-1975) under Presidents Nixon and Ford respectively and ultimately US Secretary of Defense under the late President Rockefeller (1975-1977).

Nancy on the other hand, didn't want one particular person on the ticket: former CIA Director George HW Bush, who blasted Ronnie's economics proposal by deriding it as Voodoo Economics. She also despised James Baker, III, the Bush campaign manager, for what she perceived as plotting behind her Ronnie's back.

Considering Reagan's lack of foreign policy and national security experience, Edwin Meese lobbied Reagan to consider Bush as Vice President: Bush had the resume and portfolio for serving as Vice President:
*Member, US House of Representatives from Texas 7th Congressional District (1967-1971)
US Ambassador to the United Nations (1971-1973)
Chairman of the Republican National Committee (1973-1974)
US Chief Liaison to the People's Republic of China (1974-1975)
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (1975-1979)

United States Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) also urged Governor Reagan to consider having the former CIA Director as Vice President because "Full 100% unity inside the Republican Party is important because we have to emerge victorious in November." Reagan thanked everyone for their suggestions and told them "I'll make my decision on who'll be my Vice President during the Republican National Convention in Detroit!"

 

[Sergeant Foley]

The Premiere of Urban Cowboy!
June 6, 1980

​

The film "Urban Cowboy" premiered in the United States on 6 June 1980. It was adapted by screenwriter Aaron Latham in Esquire Magazine.

Among those starring in this iconic film: John Travolta (who would later be a legend in the movies with films such as "Face Off", "The General's Daughter", "Primary Colors"); Debra Winger; Scott Glenn; Barry Corbin and Madolyn Smith.

It was directed by James Bridges and co-produced by Irving Azoff; Robert Evans and C.O. Erickson.

Majority of the filiming locations took place in the State of Texas that included the following locations: 1885 Saint James Place nightclub in Houston, Texas; Wallis, Texas; Pasadena, Texas; Deer Park, Texas and Huntsville, Texas.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

US REP. CHARLES H. WILSON (D-CA) CENSURED BY US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN FALLOUT FROM KOREAGATE
*Tuesday, June 10, 1980: US Rep. Charles H. Wilson (D-CA) was censured by the full US House of Representatives for financial misconduct due to the fallout from the explosive Koreagate Scandals.

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: UNITED AIRLINES PRESIDENT INJURED BY EXPLOSIVE PACKAGE
*United Airlines President Percy Wood was seriously injured by an explosive mysterious package in Lake Forest, Illinois. Authorities still investigating the incident to determine whether Wood or anyone at United Airlines was targeted by disgruntled employees or some lone nutjob.

MARTITIME BOUNDARY TREATY SIGNED BY UNITED STATES AND COOK ISLANDS
*Wednesday, June 11, 1980: The United States and the Cook Islands both signed a maritime boundary agreement treaty which specified the maritime border between Cook Islands and American Samoa; which resulted in the United States relinquishing control of the islands of Pauhapuka; Manihiki; Rakahanga and Penrhyn atoll.

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SPEAKER BILL CLAYTON (D-SPRINGLAKE) INDICTED OF RACKETEERING CHARGES

​

*Thursday, June 12, 1980: Texas House of Representatives Speaker Billy Wayne Clayton (D-Springlake) was indicted by a federal grand jury on fraud, conspiracy and racketeering charges after being videotaped accepting $5,000.00 payment from an FBI informant using his influence to obtaining state insurance contract for a phony company. Clayton was the first public elected officeholder to be caught under the FBI's Operation Brilab.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

WHO'LL BE ON THE VP SHORTLIST: THE DEMOCRATS

*Thursday, June 12, 1980: The non-stop political chatter about who'll be on the shortlist of being potential running mates for presumptive Democratic Party presidential nominee New York State Governor Hugh L. Carey (D), who effectively clinched the nomination on June 3rd.
The List of Potential Running Mates for Governor Carey:
United States Senator J. Bennett Johnston (D-LA)
Experience: United States Senator from Louisiana since November 14, 1972; Member, Louisiana State Senate from the Caddo Parish At-Large District (1968-1972); Member, Louisiana House of Representatives from the Caddo Parish At-Large District (1964-1968).
Military Service: United States Army Judge Advocate Corps (1956-1959)

Former Florida Governor Reubin Askew (D)
Experience: 37th Governor of Florida from January 5, 1971 to January 2, 1979; Member, Florida State Senate from District 2 (1962-1970); Member, Florida House of Representatives (1958-1962).
Military Service: United States Army (1946-1948); United States Air Force (1951-1953).

South Carolina Governor Richard Wilson Riley (R)
Experience: 111th Governor of South Carolina since January 10, 1979; Member, South Carolina State Senate from Districts 2 and 3 (1967-1977); Member, South Carolina House of Representatives (1963-1967).
Military Service: United States Navy (1954-1955).

Georgia Governor George Busbee (D)
Experience: 77th Governor of Georgia since January 14, 1975; Member, Georgia House of Representatives (1957-1975).
Military Service: United States Navy

COMING UP IN CHAPTER 9 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC: The Veepstakes Shortlist (Republicans) and the intriguing talk on who would Reagan pick as Vice President.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Coming up in Chapter 9 of the American Republic, I'll be working on the following installments:
*International Personal PoV's (Summer 1980)
*The Veepstakes: Republicans
*Final International trips of President Linwood Holton
*National Personal PoV's (Summer 1980)
*Highlights from the Democratic National Convention in New York City, New York State (July 14-17, 1980)
*Highlights from the Republican National Convention in Detroit, Michigan (August 11-14, 1980)

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Milking the Sympathy Vote in Japan
June 12, 1980
Toranomon Hospital
Tokyo, Japan

Following his sudden collapse on what the Prime Minister's Office called "exhaustion", the doctors strongly urged him to take prolonged period of rest, Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira, who had been in office since 1978, had been aggressively campaigning for his political party, the Liberal Democrats, who had been facing multiple political setbacks which emerged and escalated during the LDP's 25 years in power.

Facing calls to resign or call for new elections, Ohira opted for elections in a bid of salvaging his government and the LDP in the process. He campaigned around the clock when on May 30th, the Prime Minister complained of fatigue and was immediately rushed to the Toranomon Hospital in Tokyo.

It was described as a stricture of the heart and later diagnosed as myocardial infarction.

Ohira responded quite well to the medical treatments and doctors advised prolonged rest for the Prime Minister of Japan. They also didn't consider his life in any danger.

Close aides met with him at the hospital, where he was recovering by discussing the upcoming parliamentary elections where the LDP had been on the defensive due to setbacks politically and other key factors.

Ohira indicated that he was planning on attending the upcoming 6th G-7 Summit set for June 22nd in Venice, Italy. He was in such a good mood and the night before, he had eaten dinner "with a good appetite."

All of a sudden, Ohira lost consciousness following a series of sudden heart seizures which began at 2:25 AM JST in the early morning hours of June 12th.

Physicians attempted to stimulate the heart muscles with massages and at least 10 sequences of electric shocks. There was no response and the Prime Minister's blood pressure dropped steadily during the morning hours. Despite their hardworking efforts, the physicians weren't able to pull it off and Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira died surrounded by his wife, Shigeko; his two sons: Hiroshi and Akira; including several key aides.

Less than 10 days later, taking advantage of the sympathy regarding Ohira's death, the staunch conservative Liberal Democrats expanded their majority in the parliamentary elections on June 22nd.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

......"The ongoing analysis on who Governor Carey was tapping as his running mate for Vice President had been escalating since June 3rd when he officially became the presumptive Democratic Party presidential nominee.

Following in-person interviews with the contending potential picks, Carey settled on tapping a Southerner for the Vice Presidency: Georgia Governor George Busbee. Another Georgian on the ticket, oh fucking brother UGH because in 1976, we saw how that worked out: An all-out ass whooping; it was embarrassing. And while I was somewhat supportive of the Governor's decision, I was privately bummed out that he didn't select United States Senator J. Bennett Johnston of Louisiana nor even maybe Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt.

Carey and Busbee held a joint press conference on the grounds of the Georgia Governor's Mansion in Atlanta on June 19th. I had somewhat suspected that United States Senator Jimmy Carter of Georgia was behind the move that Governor Carey made in selecting Governor Busbee. Of course, there was polling bumps heading our way because Americans liked the idea of the Carey/Busbee ticket: two Governors with executive experience to show for it.

I analyzed some polling numbers in head-to-head match-ups against former California Governor Ronald Reagan, who become the Republican Party presidential nominee in late May once Bush dropped out. It was quite close between the two Governors although Reagan had a slight edge for the moment.

We had our work cut out: Reagan had the staunch conservative, sunny optimism on his side plus this was his third campaign for the Presidency: 1968, 1976 and 1980. We also tried to criticize his record as California Governor such as the following: his association with the reviled Jim Jones of San Francisco; Reagan not fulfilling campaign promises on reducing the number of state employees, their numbers grew by more than 40,000.

We also used push polls in order to convince swing voters including Independents that electing Reagan would be maintaining the status quo considering that Republicans controlled the White House since 1969 and they were pushing for a fourth consecutive term in a row, New York State Lieutenant Governor Mario Cuomo suggested that we use the slogan "It's been 12 years. C'mon Man!" for the upcoming Democratic National Convention in New York City, where we anticipated a packed gathering.

The polling numbers were quite very close and we were within striking distance of overtaking Reagan following the Democratic National Convention. We overtook Reagan in the polls on July 18, 1980 with what you called it "Post Convention Bounce".

Little did we know that something unpredictable was about to explode with potential political ramifications. And I am referring to the Governor's second wife, whom I was NOT a fan of at all because of behind closed doors questions about her past. Despite our original background checks, I had that ugly feeling because I had inside scoop from several of my Republican friends about how Lee Atwater torpedoed Connally's campaign in the South Carolina primary effectively dooming the Texan's campaign for the Republican Party presidential nomination in the process. They gave me a heads up by saying: "We are giving some heads up because there's some ugly information regarding Governor Carey's second wife involved in some illegal activities and ponzi schemes. Atwater is going to leak these disturbing allegations to the press. Be prepared for the aggressive onslaught heading your way."

I knew what they meant: Brace for aggressive hard-knuckled sinister cutthroat politics because I was sensing something of awful foreboding coming our way and it was NOT going to end well for us.

And once I got home, the phone rang. It was United States Senator L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia, who said "Don't want to disturb you but, did you know anything about Mrs. Carey's involvement in Greek financial ponzi schemes and illegal activities before she married Governor Carey?"
Excerpt from United States Senator Juan H. Cinton Garcia (D-PR)
Autobiography of "The Campaign from Hell: Sinister, Cutthroat Evil Politics of the 1980s".

 

[Sergeant Foley]

......"And it became apparent that the health of Mexican First Lady Fernanda Arizmendi was aggressively deteriorating fast due to the following: strong severe weakness and vaginal bleeding. This occurred during her husband's reelection campaign for a third term as President of the United Mexican States while on a campaign stop in the outskirts of Mexico City on 16 June 1980.

After being flown back via helicopter to the grounds of Los Pinos (Residence of the Mexican President and First Family), Fernanda went into deep seclusion inside her private bedroom in the private family quarters of the palace. On the evening late hours of 16 June, Fernanda suffered an aggressive breathing episode as she tearfully gripped the bedsheets of the bed due to aggressive vaginal bleeding inside. She tried to crawl out of the bed, but the painful vaginal bleeding continued to the point of collapsing on the floor.

Zaukla Quinones, one of the private nurses assigned to be with the Mexican First Lady, ran inside the bedroom and found Fernanda on the floor: she injected some medical concoctions into Fernanda's left arm as her husband, Mexican President General Oscar Robles carried his wife back on the bed, "Just get some rest beautiful. I've got everything under control here," he calmly told her.

After instructions Zaukla to stay with the First Lady, Robles closed the doors behind him and walked across the hall toward his private office and locked the door. He phoned a special embalmer, Giorgio Evanggeliou and his wife, Irene from Greece: "Dr. Evanggeliou, I am sorry to disturb you due to the time differences but I'm going to ask you some questions about your special embalming techniques..."
Excerpt from "The First Lady Lay Dying"
Summer 2011

 

[Sergeant Foley]

COMING SOON IN CHAPTER 9 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC
New York State First Lady Evangeline Gouletas-Carey is targeted by Atwater's aggressive push-polling cutthroat tactics

​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The details of President Holton's final International Trips in the Summer of 1980 will likely take awhile to finish, just be patient. 😉
FINAL INTERNATIONAL TRIPS OF PRESIDENT LINWOOD HOLTON
*Italy (June 19-24, 1980); Vatican City (June 21, 1980); Yugoslavia (June 24-25, 1980); Spain (June 25-26, 1980); Portugal (June 26-30, 1980); Japan (July 9-10, 1980)
*Highlights of the trips include final attendance at the G7 Summit in Venice; Audience with Pope John Paul II; Attendance at the funeral service of the late Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira.

*June 19-24, 1980: Italy (Rome; Venice)
In the final seven months left in his presidency, President Linwood Holton was accompanied by his wife, First Lady Jinks Holton; US Secretary of State Malcolm Wilson and National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft by flying on Marine One to Andrews Air Force Base in Prince Georges County, Maryland. Soon afterwards, the Holton's boarded Air Force One and flew to Ciampino Airport in Rome, Italy: which lasted 8 hours, 19 minutes.

At 9:55 PM IST, Air Force One arrived at the Ciampino Airport in Rome Italy, where the Holton's were greeted by a delegation of Italian government officials. At 10:08 PM IST, the President and First Lady flew by Marine One from the airport to the Quirinale Palace, where they were escorted by Italian President Alessandro Pertini. Arrival Honors were rendered for the Presidential Party including playing of the National Anthems of Italy and the United States. President Holton accompanied by President Pertini reviewed the Presidential Guard of the Italian Armed Forces. Once the ceremonies were over at 10:35 PM Italian Standard Time, the Holton's went to their suite to go to bed.

COMING SOON IN CHAPTER 9 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC: Part II of the final International trips of President Linwood Holton during Summer 1980.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Meanwhile at Los Pinos
3:27 PM CST, July 3, 1980
Somewhere inside Los Pinos
Mexico City, Mexico
​

While Mexican First Lady Fernanda Arizmendi was working to the point of exhaustion on the campaign trail for her husband's reelection in all of the 31 States of the United Mexican States during the later part of May and mid-part of June when she had a setback on 16 June 1980. Her doctors were concerned upon finding out that she had suffered another painful episode that caused severe vaginal bleeding. One of the private doctors (assigned to by Fernanda's husband, Mexican President General Oscar Robles), Dr. Monica Jefferson was concerned for good reason: despite surgery in the Summer of 1979 when it was originally reported that she had surgery for an appendectomy, she knew better: believing one of the symptoms was much more serious----the cervical cancer had aggressively returned despite a temporary recovery period in the previous later months of 1979 and earlier months of 1980. Jefferson urged Fernanda to abandon her strenuous duties as First Lady and have surgery immediately. Pridefully, Fernanda bluntly refused because in her mind: "I have so much work to do as First Lady of the United Mexican States in making our country one of the greatest ever in the Western Hemisphere!"

Fernanda was working as many as 25 to 37 hours non-stop in her office at the National Palace, she often ignored her husband's request even those from her siblings and stepchildren including one of her five daughters, to consider cutting back on her long heavy workload schedule and take the weekends off. Her dream was to securing her husband's reelection to a third consecutive term as the President of the United Mexican States and possibly beyond if necessary to the point of what some opponents privately viewed as "de-facto Monarchy in Mexico".

Despite facing grim odds, Fernanda doubled-down and was determined to have her husband reelected no matter what the physical cost. And she personally asked Jefferson for some medical treatment and antibiotics to relieving some of the pain she had been having in the recent days. She was told by Jefferson that surgery in "relieving the painful episodes" would take place sometime following the elections.

To the public, Fernanda looked better than ever, they were never even told the real truth of her fainting episode from 20 May 1979 due to her husband's aggressive cover-up of his second wife's real nature of terminal cervical cancer. For Robles, he and Fernanda despite their flaws and extramarital escapades, loved each other deeply due to their five daughters. He also worked hard along with close family relatives in their inner circle in making sure that Fernanda was never told of the advanced cervical cancer.

On the campaign trail, Fernanda looked smaller and become more feeble. Close advisers working in the First Lady's office at Los Pinos (Residence of the Mexican President and First Family) noticed the First Lady's obvious thinning appearance. Were they really comfortable putting her on stage with her husband during campaign rallies across Mexico? Their concerns (which Robles instructed them NOT to tell Fernanda the truth about the real nature of her illness) were for not. With the help of some makeup, hair adjustments, Fernanda looked fine during campaign rallies while riding on trains in small towns; flying to small island towns and beaches; she looked quite fine and her mind was strongly sharp than ever.

Realizing she wasn't feeling well, Fernanda was waking up every day in severe pain each morning and also whenever she went to sleep every night. Unbeknownst to the public, Fernanda's condition continue to become more precarious. One night, she was taking a shower when blood gushed out between her legs, the vagina bleeding escalated. Zakula (one of her private nurses) was horrified to see Fernanda bleeding in the shower and carried her to a private secret room: where she cleaned her up and injected pain medication doses into her, before placing her on her bed to sleep while Zakula cleaned up the shower in the bathroom.

Nobody questioned why Fernanda recently took time off the campaign trail. The press corps assumed it was to avoid causing bad luck for her husband's reelection campaign and choosing to play it safe. She was too ill to cast her vote, so Olivia Dominguez, the Special Assistant to the First Lady, had personally brought special ballot box to the private quarters of Los Pinos: Fernanda cast her ballot from her de-facto hospital bed.

On Election Night, 1 July 1980: Fernanda watched the election returns from her bed inside Los Pinos with pride and joy. Her husband, Oscar had won another overwhelming reelection landslide victory to a third consecutive term as President of the United Mexican States via indirect Electoral College system: garnering 73% of the nationwide vote with 63+ million votes and carrying 30 out of 31 States. The day had come, but she told her husband, "I am not going to the National Palace to celebrate, but I will watch from Los Pinos". The controversial and flamboyant Mexican President had run on the campaign slogan of his reelection campaign: "A President that Mexico Can Trust to Lead Our Nation In The Future!" However, in reality, Oscar had violated and breached that sacred trust to the public.

In fact, Robles still hadn't told his wife the serious prognosis of the advanced cervical cancer that she had been diagnosed on 21 May 1979------several days after his landslide reelection victory, Robles brought in just two close advisers: his brother-in-law, Army Colonel and Mexican Labor Department Secretary George Arizmendi (Fernanda's older brother) and his wife, Berenice Gomez to share the news that Fernanda was undergoing surgery on 3 July 1980------less than 48 hours after his massive landslide victory to a third term with the Inauguration: which was set for January 26, 1981. In finding out the reality of the situation, they couldn't believe what they were hearing, but then Robles had set the tone for the remaining time in working hard of maintaining his second wife's legacy as First Lady of the United Mexican States: It will be a routine operation. That's what they were going to be telling the Mexican people. His advisors knew better, especially George, who also knew his younger sister hadn't been feeling well since that first fainting episode on 20 May 1979. He chose NOT to tell his younger sister the truth about the real cause of the "fainting episode", but George and Berenice both knew about the political reality------and the ongoing backlash from some of Oscar's political opponents, who tried desperately to leak about her fainting episodes, attacking the First Lady of Mexico in order to get a rise out of her husband, the President.

So, they decided to inform the press corps at the National Palace that Fernanda was going to be having a routine operation at an undisclosed location that had been delayed due to the heavy campaign schedule. Few even bothered to try ask questions or even follow-ups. Fewer didn't bother to write newspaper articles about it because it was none of their business.

Robles then consulted American surgeon Dr. Lyneth Dos Santos, who was secretly flown to Mexico and performed the surgery on Fernanda in what was known as a radical hysterectomy in order to remove the growing cervical tumors at an undisclosed location in a suburb of Mexico City. When she finally woke up following the surgery, Fernanda's doctors visited her and her husband in her private hospital room, "Madam First Lady," one of the doctors began, "The surgery was a success and we were able to remove the uterus in order to stop the bleeding." Fernanda nodded her thanks. The First Lady shared the news with her stepdaughter, Louise Ballesteros (from Oscar's first marriage), whom she was quite and obviously close to her 12 stepchildren, who loved their stepmother deeply....and nobody else. Louise, who had been living in Ottawa, Canada for several years now, was stunned and asked her stepmother how she wanted to tell the Mexican people about the seriousness of her illness.

A tearful grim expression on her face, the First Lady reached out and grabbed Louise's hand. "Louise," she said, her eyes filled with tears and streaming down pleading, "I don't want to period." With sympathetic nods, their conspiracy began.

After Fernanda left the hospital and returned back to Los Pinos, Oscar on the other hand, met with members of the inner circle at the National Palace. There was only one specific item on the agenda: confronting the aggressive opposition against his administration from inside the Mexican Army (more on that later).

Speaking of Fernanda, she and Louise began working out potential funeral arrangements on how to get a classy sendoff in order for the Mexican people to say goodbye to their massively popular First Lady, whom many to this day, refer to as "The Best President Mexico Should've Had Period!".

Knowing her time was running out, Fernanda made use of her remaining time by completing her autobiography including additional biography specials and supervising the plans for what she thought would become her permanent monument in Quintana Roo, while Oscar made plans for her funeral mass services in Mexico City and also in Quintana Roo. Masses were being said and prayer vigils held around the country; health updates had been appearing daily in the Mexican newspapers. And of course, the official story was "No further details are coming at this time."

While Fernanda was overseeing plans for her final resting place and finishing up her autobiography including biography specials as well as putting together long, long list of detailed accomplishments as First Lady of Mexico, Oscar on the other hand, met with Dr. Giorgio Evanggeliou and his wife, Irene. Both of whom were flown via private jet from Greece at the Summer Presidential Retreat in Robles City. Oscar was intrigued by some of the embalming methods of the mysterious couple and was impressed at how their work stood the test of time. Giorgio informed the President: "Mr. President, when the time comes, Irene and I will take real good care of your wife and in the worst case scenarios, we will be prepared to make backup copies if necessary."

"Backup copies? Please explain because I am intrigued by this," Oscar said while in his rocking chair at his office. Giorgio explained in grisly detail on how he perfected his flamboyant embalming techniques of the perfect corpse: female corpses while Irene handed Oscar photographs of the Evanggeliou's grisly and mysterious methods; the President was more intrigued and said "Do whatever you have to do in order to make Fernanda more beautiful than ever, I will personally give you access to a secret undisclosed location in a quiet small island where both of you can do your work, no matter how long it takes."

Oscar also read documents about how Giorgio perfected the wax copies and the methods he used on their bodies. Of course, Oscar had known about the stories of botched attempts of embalming which was the case for the late Pope Paul VI, where in one instance during public viewing inside Saint Peter's Basilica on 10 August 1978, where according to eyewitnesses, they saw bloating and green coming out of the late Pontiff's nose including causing one of the Swiss Guards to faint due to the awful smell. Irene was called and was given access to use whatever methods necessary to embalming the late Pontiff. In that case, Irene used grisly but perfecting techniques in making sure the late Pontiff had an angel-like rendered sleep and that process took at least nearly two years before being finished.

And so, with the plans already ironclad and cemented, the Evanggeliou's began to have a makeshift office on the grounds of the Summer Presidential Retreat and putting everything together just in case once the official notification would come.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Queen Farah
5:44 PM CST, July 17, 1980
Los Pinos
Mexico City, Mexico
​

Queen Farah Pahlavi of Iran couldn't believe her own eyes at how extremely frail the First Lady of Mexico looked. It was their first time seeing each other since the Coronation festivities in mid-December 1979. This also concerned US First Lady Jinks Holton, when the Holton's met the Robleses during the Holton's visit to Mexico in Spring 1979.

"Madam First Lady, how are you feeling?" Farah's voice betrayed concern------and her shock.

"Your Majesty, I am doing fine, but thank you for asking. Please take a seat, we've got plenty to talk about." Fernanda offered a feeble smile. Her large dress coat looked obviously three sizes too big. Her business suit pants (which she was known for during the early years of her time as First Lady of Mexico), had sagged badly, it was as if they were covering a completely mere skeleton. Because in reality, that's pretty much all they were covering.

Immediately, Fernanda began having a coughing fit. Farah rose to fetch her a glass of water, pouring it from the pitcher into a glass and handing it to her close friend. Fernanda nodded her thanks and gulped it down.

"Sorry about that Farah. I mean, your Majesty, thank you. And let me just say------I would to thank you for personally inviting Oscar and me in attending the Coronation festivities in mid-December. It was a beautiful dignified ceremony and the Iranian people are happy to see you leading their nation going forward. As you might've heard, I'm still recovering from the routine operation due to exhaustion---well, you understand because I'm always feeling tired." Fernanda waved it off, assuming that was the end of the subject.

However, Farah, who less than a year earlier, watched her late husband, the Shah die of terminal cancer, wasn't convinced and based on the body language, she was thinking "Routine operation from exhaustion? What routine operation?" Fernanda looked like she was banging the doors of Death non-stop, Farah then had flashbacks of seeing her husband's pathetically massive weight loss during his unsuccessful battle against cancer.

She turned to look at Olivia Dominguez, the Special Assistant to the First Lady, who kept her eyes laser focused at Fernanda.

"I am slowing down my activities, going to take some time off due to the recent operation. Now it's currently on a temporary basis so that I can attend the upcoming Independence Day celebration festivities in September, so after getting some needed rest, everything will be ok," Fernanda said.

Later that evening, Oscar accompanied by his daughter, Louise (who served as Official Hostess) hosted a State Banquet inside Los Pinos in honor of Queen Farah, highlighting the bilateral diplomatic relations between Mexico and Iran. Fernanda, on the other hand, wasn't able to attend due to recovering from that "routine operation."

 

[Sergeant Foley]

COMING SOON IN CHAPTER 9 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC
Highlights of the Republican National Convention in Detroit, Michigan
(11-14 August 1980)

​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Live at the Democratic National Convention
Monday, July 14-Thursday, July 17, 1980
Madison Square Garden
New York City, New York State

NIGHT ONE SPEAKERS: Monday, July 14, 1980
*7:00 PM EST: Florida Governor Bob Graham (D-FL) nominates United States Senator Lawton Chiles (D-FL)
*7:30 PM EST: Former Florida Governor Reubin Askew (D-FL) nominates United States Senator Lawton Chiles (D-FL)
*8:00 PM EST: Reverend Jesse Jackson (D-IL) nominates United States Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA)
*8:30 PM EST: New York State Lieutenant Governor Mario Cuomo (D-NY St) nominates New York State Governor Hugh L. Carey (D-NY St)
*9:00 PM EST: United States Senator Jimmy Carter (D-GA) delivers the Keynote Address.

*10:00 PM EST: Convention adjourns.

NIGHT TWO SPEAKERS: Tuesday, July 15, 1980
*7:00 PM EST: US Rep. Geraldine Ferraro (D-NY St)
*7:30 PM EST: Former New York City Mayor Abraham Beame (D-NY St)
*8:00 PM EST: New York City Mayor Ed Koch (D-NY St)
*8:30 PM EST: Former US Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY St)
*9:25 PM EST: Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt (D-AZ)
*10:19 PM EST: United States Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA)

"For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to and end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the works goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."

*10:55 PM EST: DNC Chairman John Coyle White (D-TX)
*11:00 PM EST: Convention adjourns.
*Tuesday, July 15, 1980: The first and only ballot was conducted; Governor Carey easily cruised to victory once the vast majority of uncommitted delegates, who were elected by state conventions flocked around his campaign. Carey, who enjoyed establishment support and overwhelming fundraising than Senator Kennedy, was able to invest in majority of the States while Senators Kennedy and Chiles had to settle for moral victories in some of the primaries of caucuses they had won. Afterwards, the convention voted to nominate Georgia Governor George Busbee (D-GA) for the Vice Presidential nomination.
*Hugh L. Carey: 2,135 Delegate Votes (59.19%)✔
*Edward M. Kennedy: 1,373 Delegate Votes (27.59%)
*Lawton M. Chiles: 383 Delegate Votes (12.19%)

NIGHT THREE SPEAKERS: Wednesday, July 16, 1980
*7:00 PM EST: Maryland Governor Harry R. Hughes (D-MD)
*7:30 PM EST: Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton (D-AR)
*8:00 PM EST: United States Senator L. Douglas Wilder (D-VA)
*8:30 PM EST: California Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr., (D-CA)
*9:00 PM EST: US House Speaker Tip O'Neill (D-MA)
*9:30 PM EST: United States Senator Adali Stevenson, III (D-IL)
*10:00 PM EST: Georgia First Lady Mary Beth Talbott Busbee (D-GA) introduces Governor Busbee.
*10:15 PM EST: Georgia Governor George Busbee (D-GA) delivers his acceptance speech.

NIGHT FOUR SPEAKERS: Thursday, July 17, 1980
*7:00 PM EST: United States Seantor Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY St)
*7:30 PM EST: United States Senator Joe Biden (D-DE)
*8:00 PM EST: United States Senator J. Bennett Johnston (D-LA)
*8:30 PM EST: New Orleans Mayor Ernest N. "Dutch" Morial (D-LA)
*9:00 PM EST: North Carolina Governor James B. "Jim" Hunt, Jr., (D-NC)
*9:30 PM EST: West Virginia Governor John D. "Jay" Rockefeller, IV (D-WV)
*10:00 PM EST: New York State First Lady Evangeline Gouletas Carey (D-NY St) introduces Governor Carey.
*10:19 PM EST: New York State Governor Hugh L. Carey (D-NY St) delivers acceptance speech.

*11:00 PM EST: Convention adjourns.

​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

THE VEEPSTAKES SCOOP: SUMMER 1980

*Friday, July 18, 1980: Although not even officially confirmed, the Reagan campaign has been considering many Republican politicians for the Vice Presidency. The former California Governor has declined to comment on the issue since he officially clinched the Republican Party presidential nomination on June 3rd, though Reagan aides told repeatedly told reporters off the record their candidate is looking for somewhere between a moderate-to-conservative choice in order to bridging the divide inside the Republican Party as well as reaching out to Rockefeller Republicans as the late 39th President still had overwhelming popularity among several key groups.

Illinois Governor James R. "Big Jim" Thompson (R)
*Why he's being considered: The 37th Governor of Illinois since January 10, 1977; popular two-term moderate Republican, who took more liberal stances on some issues. Previously served as the US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, where he pursued then-US Federal Appeals Judge Otto Kerner, whom Thompson sent to prison for swapping favorable horse racing dates in return for being allowed to buy racetrack stock at bargain prices. Thompson in February 1974, aggressively targeted Earl Bush (press secretary and speechwriter to then-Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley) for owning an advertising firm that held city contracts. Alderman Paul Wigoda (49th District) and Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Matt Danaher, both indicted for tax evasion in April 1974. In May of that year, Thompson indicted Chicago City Alderman Tom Keane (31st District), who was charged with 17 counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy related to the city purchasing real estate in which Keane had a hidden personal interest; Keane, Wigoda and Bush were all convicted and sentenced to prison in November of that year.

The odds: It's very unclear whether Thompson is interested in becoming Vice President; previously he had been rumored to be a potential Presidential candidate for 1980, but having just won reelection in 1978, decided to stay in Springfield by focusing on his current job. His aggressive tough-on-crime, law and order policies proved very popular among conservatives while his liberal stances on several key issues endeared him to Rockefeller Republicans. Neither Governor Thompson nor Governor Reagan have commented on the rumors of a potential "co-presidency", only describing their recent meeting as "friendly and productive."

United States Senator Howard Baker (R-TN)
*Why he's being considered: Senator Baker has served in the United States Senate since 1967, becoming Tennessee's first Republican United States Senator since Reconstruction and won reelection very handily in 1972 and again in 1978. He also bring critical Capitol Hill experience to the table. If picked as Vice President, Baker could help Reagan establishing good relationships on the Hill including to Democratic lawmakers particularly those from the South. He's described as a Moderate Republican from a Southern State trending Republican and would be safe "do no harm" pick.

The odds: Baker offered his support to Governor Reagan after previously campaigning for former CIA Director George HW Bush, who dropped out on May 26th.

Former Central Intelligence Agency Director George Herbert Walker Bush (R-TX)
*Why he's being considered: Moderate-to-Conservative Republican. Served in the US House of Representatives from Texas' 7th Congressional District (1967-1971); 10th United States Ambassador to the United Nations (March 1, 1971 to January 18, 1973); Chairman of the Republican National Committee (January 19, 1973 to September 16, 1974); 2nd Chief of the US Liaison Office to the People's Republic of China (September 26, 1974 to November 16, 1975); 11th Director of Central Intelligence (December 7, 1975 to May 23, 1979). Bring valuable national security and foreign policy experience to the ticket if Governor Reagan picks him as Vice President.

*The odds: Extremely high. Speculation swirling that Bush could be picked sometime during the Republican National Convention, but when remains uncertain. Although there has been some hard and bitter feelings following the primaries, it appears that some behind the scenes lobbying is happening in order to promote a united front for the general election this fall.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Leaking the Dirty Juicy Secret!
3:59 AM EST, Thursday, July 24, 1980
Somewhere in Albany, New York State
​

Most political observers, particularly those inside the Carey campaign strongly suggest Governor Carey would've been the 41st President of the United States in 1980 if one particular senior aide wasn't such of an bumbling incompetent idiot. And that person was none other than Seymour Morales, who was the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Carey in Albany, he was known was coordinating and lobbying members of the State Legislature into voting for the Carey administration's initiatives and programs, etc.,

However, Morales also had been secretly a create of the Albany scene, but as fate would have it, Morales enjoyed the Summer night with a beautiful brunette during their steamy sex escapade (both were naked and barefoot on the bed as the brunette was laying on her back with her legs spread wide open as she was being penetrated). That beautiful brunette who just happened to be a spy hired by Lee Atwater and some ambitious folks from the Reagan campaign. After their sex escapade, Morales got up to use the restroom while his company for the evening tried to find a glass to drink some water. When she couldn't find one, she headed over to Morales' desk across the hall in the living room of his house to see if he had one------and that's when she saw it: an audio tape recorder, she thought to herself "This sounds quite intriguing to listen, let me play it." And what she heard was quite interesting.....

In the recording was the voice of New York City Mayor Ed Koch (D) speaking during a private conversation with Morales: "I wanted to meet someone," Koch said in the recording and the brunette was getting more intrigued while writing down some notes as the audio recording continued in which Koch was telling Morales "Do you know someone who might be partner material? Someone a little younger than me? Someone to make up for lost time? Seymour, I want a boyfriend." She had taken notes for her boss at a meeting with campaign strategist Lee Atwater where they discussed ways into destroying Governor Carey's political career including going after his political allies if necessary to send the Gipper into the White House------they were beginning to find ways into using smear campaigns against the Democratic Party presidential nominee, who was closing the gap against Reagan in recent polling and some suggested Carey surged ahead by taking a small lead.

As she continued finishing up her five-page notes, her eyes also caught a memo from Morales summarizing what specific actions for the Carey campaign to take on several key issues such as national security, economics, etc., She finished the recording by taking out the audio tapes, replacing them with fake copies putting them into the audio recorder, placing the tapes into her purse and slinked back into the bed before Morales finally emerged from the bathroom to continue his sex escapade with the sexy brunette.

Seymour had no idea what was in store for him and the Democrats going forward.

When she returned to work, she provided her boss with the audio recording and played the tapes. He listened to Mayor Koch confessing his darkest secret and was gob-smacked, while smirking and leaning back into his chair. "Now this is somewhat of an explosive audio recording. We can put Governor Carey on the defensive and have the press demand answers on whether he knew about Koch's secret lifestyle."

Racing to Atwater's office, the deputy campaign manager plopped the audio recordings and told him these words after playing it: "This will make Governor Reagan the next President of the United States come November!"

Atwater was confused: "We're running against Governor Carey, not Mayor Koch. And what in the Hell are you talking about?"

"We've got more ammunition to put the Carey campaign on their back-foot and on the defensive. Look, with this bombshell explosive audio recording, the press will start digging into more of Mayor Koch's personal life. The media firestrom will end his political career and also cause total chaos across the Democratic Party. Plus, with the damaging information we've got on Governor Carey's wife, we can destroy that Brooklyn Jackass with two bombshells in one swoop! Plus it appears that Carey's Deputy Chief of Staff Morales has been sending off secret memos and audio recordings in secret meetings with Mayor Koch for weeks and who knows, probably months during the Democratic Primaries. Pure Explosive Scandal that the press would love to eat it up for months! It's just perfect!" he said with a huge grin.

Atwater listened and decided to take it to Governor Reagan including contacting United States Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC), who was infamous for his violent dog whistle politics in his campaigns for statewide office. Helms was notified about the explosive bombshell, he was impressed: "Brilliant! Let's destroy the mother fucker by the time of the debates!"

COMING UP IN CHAPTER 9 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC: Leaks of Koch's dirty secrets get exposed for the American people to see.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: CAREY SURGES AHEAD OF REAGAN IN LATEST GALLUP POLLING SURVEY

*Friday, July 25, 1980: New York State Governor Hugh L. Carey (D) has surged into taking the lead over former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) according to the latest Gallup Poll.

It shows Governor Carey leading with 43% while Governor Reagan has 36% which leaves Undecideds at around 14% while Not Sure was only at 3%. DNC Chairman John C. White said the positive feedback following the DNC Convention from July 14th to 17th, caused a continued post-convention bounce in the polls.

GALLUP: Job Approval of President Linwood Holton (July 25, 1980)
Approve: 67%
Disapprove: 25%

President: Head-to-head Matchup
Hugh L. Carey (D-NY St): 43%
Ronald Reagan (R-CA): 36%
Undecided: 14%
Not Sure: 3%

 

[Sergeant Foley]

......"We were campaigning in Louisiana, North Carolina and West Virginia during the week when Seymour alerted me about this explosive bombshell from an exposee which revealed the personal dirty secrets of Mayor Koch revealing his most dirty secrets.

I was shocked and stunned by the revelations. It appeared one egotistical news journalist leaked an audio recording of Koch's private conversation to the press, which soon became fodder throughout the entire month and beyond.

Alerting Governor Carey by phone, I told him about the news; "What in the fuck is going on over there?" Carey snarled over the phone. I explained the situation about Koch's private conversations being leaked to the press and news stations covering the scandal."
-Percy Hubert
Senior Campaign Strategist
Excerpt from "The Campaign from Hell: How Lee Atwater's evil sinister dirty tricks propelled Reagan to the White House"

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: BOMBSHELL EXPOSE REVEALS SECRETS OF NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ED KOCH (D)
*Audio recordings reveal Koch's private conversations confirming details of his personal life.
*Reporters converging onto City Hall; demanding Koch answer questions about controversial audio recordings.
*Mayor Koch cancels press conference; private meeting with senior aides at Gracie Mansion to discuss path forward.
*LGBTQ activists blast Mayor's hypocrisy of living double life.

*Saturday, August 2, 1980: The nation was shocked when news broke that audio recordings of private conversations of New York City Mayor Ed Koch (D), reveal the obvious to the ongoing rumors: Koch was gay and living a double life.

LGBTQ activists blast Koch by accusing him of hypocrisy while living a double life: projecting the quirky politics in public while living a secret lifestyle behind closed doors. "Mayor Koch is a disgrace to everyone in this City, even those who voted for him less than three years ago. Betraying the trust of the voters is unacceptable and we think he should resign because more questions will persist."

During a press conference at City Hall, Mayor Koch cancelled the daily press conference when reporters barged the Mayor with questions about the audio recordings being leaked; "How long have you've been hiding these secrets Mr. Mayor?" "When have these secret audio recordings been tapped of your private conversations?" "Have you've spoken to your partner, who's revealed intimate details of your relationship?"

Annoyed by the pestering questions, Koch walked out of the press conference by bolting out of the room. Less than a few weeks earlier, Koch had spoke at the Democratic National Convention and was previously on the campaign trail for New York State Governor Hugh L. Carey (D), the Democratic Party presidential nominee during campaign swings in New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland and Pennsylvania.