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

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: VEEPSTAKES SHORTLIST NARROWED DOWN; REAGAN STILL TIGHT-LIPPED
Sunday, August 3, 1980
​

The Seattle Times is reporting that former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R), the presumptive Republican Party presidential nominee, has reportedly narrowed down his shortlist for whom would be tapped as Vice President by the time of the upcoming Republican National Convention in Detroit during the week of August 11-14, 1980.

Sources state that United States Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) informed Reagan that he was not interested in the Vice Presidency, preferring to focus on his current job in the United States Senate.

Speculation has been swirling around the potential contenders such as United States Senator Howard Baker (R-TN), the Senate Minority Leader; Illinois Governor James R. "Big Jim" Thompson (R); former CIA Director George HW Bush (R-TX).
Excerpt from the Seattle Times
Sunday, August 3, 1980

......"With Senators Laxalt and Lugar both pulling out of contention, it had became obvious that the shortlist had come down to three: Baker, Thompson and Bush. Nancy was determined in not letting Ron pick Bush because it's becoming more obvious that she hated him and the entire Bush family's guts due to the bitterness during the Republican Party presidential primaries.

Governor Reagan still remained tight-lipped about whom would he pick as Vice President, preferring to reveal the choice on the third day of the Republican National Convention which was about to begin in less than a week."
Former United States Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ)
Spring 1988

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: KOCH ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION AS NEW YORK CITY MAYOR; RESIGNATION GOES INTO EFFECT ON AUGUST 18TH
Monday, August 4, 1980

......"Due to the constant hyper political climate that has engulfed this great city in the past 48 hours, I believe that it's important that government must go back to the basics of governing and it'll be better served if I step aside as your Mayor."
-New York City Mayor Ed Koch (D)
Press conference at City Hall
4 August 1980
​

Less than 48 hours following the huge political bombshell that exposed a private audio recording of New York City Mayor Ed Koch (D) revealing his most darkest secrets to a close political confidant, Koch called a press conference at City Hall on the morning of August 4th and once again strongly denied the allegations against him.

Koch also detailed many of his accomplishments in office and denounced the leaks as pure hyper partisanship from enemies, who've hated him since his 1977 election.

In announcing his resignation, which Koch confirmed will officially take effect in 14 days, "City Comptroller Harrison Goldin is experienced, smart and intelligent with knowledge having served in the New York State Senate and as City Comptroller. We've got a lot of challenges facing us as one of the largest cities in the Empire State including the world. It's important that this transition from one administration to the next must be smooth and resolve."

Following his resignation speech, Koch left the conference room as reporters hounded questions before they were told to leave.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

@The Immortal Watch Dog This upcoming installment in one of the upcoming chapters is for you.

COMING SOON IN CHAPTER 12 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC
"I am doing God's Work in cleansing the world of That Uppity ******": How Argentine Republic President Lieutenant General Leopoldo Galtieri gave the green-light to Operation Socio that resulted in the assassination of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with international ramifications

​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Republican National Convention
Monday, August 11-Thursday, August 14, 1980
Joe Louis Arena
Detroit, Michigan

​

Night One Speakers: Monday, August 11, 1980

*7:00 PM EST: US Rep. Guy Van Jagt (R-MI) nominates former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R-CA).
*7:30 PM EST: United States Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) nominates former Governor Reagan.
*8:00 PM EST: US Rep. Jack Kemp (R-NY St).
*8:30 PM EST: United States Senator Paul Laxalt (R-NV).
*9:00 PM EST: Pennsylvania Governor Richard Thornbourgh (R-PA).
*9:30 PM EST: United States Senator John Warner (R-VA).
*10:00 PM EST: United States Senator Jacob Javits (R-NY St).
*10:13 PM EST: Vice President Edward W. Brooke, III (R-MA) delivers the Keynote Address.

​

*11:37 PM EST: Day #1 of the Republican National Convention adjourns.

RNC Presidential Nominee Vote, 1976:
Ronald Reagan: 1,939 (97.44%)
John B. Anderson: 37 (1.86%)
George HW Bush: 13 (0.65%)
Anne Armstrong: 1 (0.05%)

Night Two Speakers: Tuesday, August 12, 1980

*7:00 PM EST: United States Senator Nancy Kassebaum (R-KS).
*7:30 PM EST: NAACP Executive Director Benjamin Hooks (R-TN).
*8:25 PM EST: Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander (R-TN).
*9:13 PM EST: Michigan Governor William M. Milliken (R-MI).
*9:37 PM EST: United States Senator Lowell Weicker (R-CT).
*10:00 PM EST: First Lady Jinks Holton (R-VA) introduces President Holton.
*10:15 PM EST: President Linwood Holton (R-VA) farewell keynote address.

​

*11:00 PM EST: Convention adjourned.

********************
The Decision on whom to pick as Vice President
Wednesday, August 13, 1980
Joe Louis Arena
Detroit, Michigan

​

......"Reagan glanced around and asked those assembled------a group that included Casey, Meese, Wirthing, Hannaford, Deaver and myself------ "Well, what do we do now?" There was no immediate response. No one offered an alternative plan. No one tossed out a name. Expecting instant opposition, I ventured, "We call Bush." Once more, silence inside the room. Reagan again looked at each of us; hearing no objection, he said, "Well, let's get Bush on the phone."

Reagan dove right in. "George," he said warmly, "I would like to go over there and tell them that I am recommending you for Vice President. Could I ask you one thing------do I have your permission to make an announcement that you support the platform across the board?" We could hear Bush agreeing at the other hand. Reagan then left for the convention center where, shortly after midnight, he took the podium to announce his running mate, George Bush."
------Richard V. Allen
"The Bush Dynasty that Almost Wasn't"
Autobiography

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Night Three Speakers: Wednesday, August 13, 1980

*7:00 PM EST: Former US Treasury Secretary William E. Simon (R-CA).
*7:25 PM EST: Former US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (R-IL).
*8:13 PM EST: United States Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ).
*8:45 PM EST: Former US Ambassador to the United Kingdom Anne Armstrong (R-TX).
*9:29 PM EST: Illinois Governor James R. "Big Jim" Thompson (R-IL).
*10:00 PM EST: Texas Governor William P. Clements, Jr., (R-TX) introduces former CIA Director Bush.
*10:13 PM EST: Former CIA Director George HW Bush (R-TX) acceptance speech.

​

*11:00 PM EST: Convention adjourns.

Night Four Speakers: Thursday, August 14, 1980

*7:00 PM EST: San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson (R-CA).
*7:15 PM EST: Ohio Governor Jim Rhodes (R-OH).
*8:27 PM EST: United States Senator Bob Dole (R-KS).
*9:13 PM EST: United States Senator and Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker (R-TN).
*9:25 PM EST: Former California First Lady Nancy Reagan (R-CA) introduces Governor Reagan.
*10:00 PM EST: Former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R-CA) acceptance speech.

"More than anything else, I want my candidacy to unify our country, to renew the American spirit and sense of purpose..... Never before in our history have Americans been called upon to face three grave threats to our very existence, any one of which could destroy us. We face a disintegrating economy, a weakened defense, and an energy policy based on the sharing of scarcity.
The major issue of this campaign is the direct political, personal, and moral responsibility of Democratic party leadership in the Congress------for this unprecedented calamity which has befallen us."​

*11:00 PM EST: Convention adjourns.

​

POST RNC Convention Polls: August 15, 1980 (Gallup Polling Survey: President )
Former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R): 39%
New York State Governor Hugh Carey (D): 38%

*Following the Republican National Convention, Gallup immediately released a new poll and it reveals a very, very close race between the Governors. While other polls show Reagan surging ahead.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

FINAL INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL TRIPS MADE BY PRESIDENT LINWOOD HOLTON (SUMMER 1980)

*Italy (Rome; Venice): June 19-24, 1980
State Visit; Attended the 6th G-7 Summit at the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore in the Venetian lagoon. This was the last summit for US President Linwood Holton and French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing (more on him in Chapter 10). This was also the first and only summit for Italian Prime Minister Francesco Cossiga; In the aftermath of the shocking death of then-Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira on June 12th, Foreign Minister Saburo Okita led the Japanese delegation and joining him: Finance Minister Noboru Takeshita and Minister of International Trade and Industry Yoshitake Sasaki, who attended the Foreign Minister's meetings in Okita's place instead.

*Vatican City (Apostolic Palace): June 21, 1980
President Holton had an audience with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.

*Yugoslavia (Belgrade): June 24-25, 1980
Official Visit; Met with President Cvijetin Mijatovic.

*Spain (Madrid): June 25-26, 1980
Official Visit; Met with King Juan Carlos I and Prime Minister Adolfo Suarez.

*Portugal (Lisbon): June 26-30, 1980
Official Visit; Met with President Major General Winfield Gonsalves and Prime Minister Francisco de Sa Carneiro.

*Japan (Tokyo) July 9-10, 1980
Official Visit; Attended funeral service for the late Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira; Met with Emperor Hirohito; Bangla President Ziar Rahman; Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser; Thai Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda and Taiwanese Sun Yun-suan.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: ROK PRESIDENT CHOI KYU-HAH ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION; PAVING WAY FOR MILITARY STRONGMAN GENERAL CHUN DOO-HWAN TO TAKE OVER AS PRESIDENT

ROK President Choi Kyu-hah announcing his resignation as the 10th President on national television.
​

*Saturday, August 16,1980: Addressing the ROK people on nationwide television from the Blue House (Residence of the ROK President), Republic of Korea President Choi Kyu-hah, who has been in office since the assassination of then-ROK authoritarian President Park Chung-hee on 26 October 1979, announced his resignation which pretty much opens the door for military strongman Army General Chun Doo-hwan, who successfully led the 12 December 1979 coup d'etat against Choi's government and also crushed rebellion in the 05.18-27.80 Incident in Gwangju.

During his resignation address, Choi said he was handing over the keys of government to Prime Minister Park Chung-hoon, who will serve on an interim basis until the likely election of General Chun later this month. According to the ROK Constitution, the Prime Minister is first in line to succeed to the Presidency in case of death, resignation or impeachment. "My purpose in resigning is to provide a historic turning point for the building of a new, happy community of stability, morality, and prosperity," Choi said during the nationwide address. "I intend to put an end to our unhappy political history by establishing the precedent of a peaceful transfer of power."

The events leading up to this moment has served as a climax to the meteoric rise to power by Chun, 49, who was a longtime protege to the late President Park. Chun took over the military in December; then the Korean Central Intelligence Agency in April and finally the entire country in May. Foreign newspapers including the Washington Post and Manila Times have both viewed Chun's aggressive moves as quickly consolidating his political power.

​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

COMING SOON IN CHAPTER 9 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC
Monday, September 1, 1980: Chun Doo-hwan and his family moving into the Blue House

​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

THE FALL CAMPAIGN
12:25 PM CST, Saturday, August 23, 1980
​

Following the respective Democratic and Republican national conventions, Gallup released their latesr public opinion poll, which showed a very close race: Governor Reagan was up with 39% of the nationwide vote, Governor Carey at 38% and Congressman Anderson holding 14%.

It seemed possible that the 1980 Presidential election might be so super close and divided that the Democratic-controlled US House of Representatives might have to decide the election; the last time this happened was in 1825 when John Quincy Adams was elected to the Presidency.

TWO PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES OFFICIALLY SET

*Monday, August 25, 1980: The League of Women Voters announced that two major televised debates will take place this Fall: two presidential debates between former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R); New York State Governor Hugh L. Carey (D); US Rep. John Anderson (R-IL).

VENUES OF PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES:

Sunday, September 21, 1980
Baltimore Convention Center
Baltimore, Maryland
Moderator: Bill Moyers
Participants: Former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R): Likely attending debate.
New York State Governor Hugh L. Carey (D): TBD on attending debate.
US Rep. John Anderson (R-IL): Likely attending debate.

Thursday, October 28, 1980
Music Hall
Cleveland, Ohio
Moderator: Howard K. Smith
Participants: Former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R): Likely attending debate.
New York State Governor Hugh L. Carey (D): Likely attending debate.
US Rep. John Anderson (R-IL: TBD on attending debate.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

ZIMBABWE JOINS THE UNITED NATIONS
*Monday, August 25, 1980: Zimbabwe was officially admitted as the 153rd member of the United Nations General Assembly.

ANDERSON TAPS LUCEY AS HIS RUNNING MATE
*US Rep. John Anderson (R-IL) announced he was tapping former Wisconsin Governor Patrick J. Lucey (D) as his running mate for the Vice Presidency.

NEW SYSTEM FOR MICROSOFT
*Microsoft released its first operating system Xenix similar to the Bell Labs system Unix.

INDONESIAN AIRLINES AIRLINER CRASHES; KILLING 37 ABOARD
*Tuesday, August 26, 1980: All 37 people aboard on the Bouraq Indonesia Airlines airliner for Far Eastern Air Transport were killed when the Vickers Viscount nosedived as it was making its approach to Jakarta.

CHUN DOO-HWAN ELECTED 11TH REPUBLIC OF KOREA PRESIDENT; TAKING OFFICE ON SEPTEMBER 1ST
*Wednesday, August 27, 1980: The National Conference for Unification gathered in the Jangchung Arena to elect Chun Doo-hwan as the 11th President of the Republic of Korea. He garnered 2,524 votes with 99.96% of the vote because he was the only candidate running; Chun is expected to be inaugurated on September 1st replacing former President Choi Kyu-hah.

US REP. MICHAEL MYERS (D-PA) CONVICTED OF ACCEPTING BRIBES FROM FBI ABSCAM INVESTIGATION
*Friday, August 29, 1980: US Rep. Michael "Ozzie" Myers (D-PA) became the first member of Congress since the Civil War, to be convicted of accepting bribes during the FBI's Abscam investigation. Myers, who along with three co-conspirators was convicted, would go on to being expelled on October 2nd by his colleagues in the US House of Representatives by a vote of 376-30.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Good Morning folks. Here's an updated outlined sketch for what the remainder of Chapter 9 including parts of Chapter 10 will look like:
*Chapter 9: Last Half
*Fall 1980
*Personal PoV's (Fall 1980)
*National and International Headlines (Fall 1980)
*Atwater unleashes the aggressive dog whistling attacks against New York State Governor Hugh L. Carey (D) and his wife New York State First Lady Evangeline Carey.
*Highlights of the 1980 Presidential Debates in Baltimore and Cleveland.

*Sketch for Chapter 10:
*Final days of the 1980 Presidential campaign.
*Tuesday, November 4, 1980: CBS News Election Night Coverage with Walter Cronkite, etc.,
*Results on the Presidency; US House of Representatives; United States Senate; US State/Territory Governorships.
*Concession Speech.
*Victory Speech.
*Post Election Analysis: November 5, 1980.
*The Transition Begins
*National and International Headlines (Fall 1980)
*Personal PoV's (National: Fall 1980)
*Personal PoV's (International: Fall 1980)
*The Holton's final holidays in the White House.
*Wednesday, January 14, 1981: President Holton delivers final State of the Union Address before Joint Session of Congress.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Outlined Sketch for Chapter 11 of The American Republic:
*Tuesday, January 20, 1981: Inauguration Day festivities
*First 100 Days.
*Personal PoV's (Spring 1981)
*National and International Headlines (Spring 1981)
*Installments on Entertainment Industry
*Personal PoV's about 'Hart to Hart'; 'TJ Hooker'; 'Chips'.
*Sports Installments: MLB, NBA, NFL, College Football.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

The Brooklyn Boxer vs The Smooth Hollywood Superstar
Monday, September 1, 1980
​

Unlike 1976, where then-Alabama Governor George Wallace (D) won the Democratic Party presidential nomination which angered liberals, moderates and independents, which resulted in seeing Wallace getting his ass whooped badly by Rockefeller that year, the Democrats had emerged out of the DNC Convention united and slightly optimistic.

Several cormers of the party weren't impressed with New York State Governor Hugh L. Carey or his running mate Georgia Governor George Busbee; many had good reason to be nervous: by nominating another New Yorker as their nominee for the Presidency (most recent was FDR who won four consecutive terms in 1932, 1936, 1940 and 1944), critics had defined the Democratic Party as too "New York-ish", part of the "Uppity Eastern Establishment" and the biggest of them all: "Know it All Yankees from up North" in the eyes of Middle America.

Despite Busbee being a Southerner on the ticket, many living in Middle America just weren't going to pull the lever for the Carey/Busbee ticket: "They don't represent traditional American values", "This Carey fellow speaks for those lazy freaks up North, he does not speak for me in Middle America: the flyover country," quipped one conservative Blue Dog Democrat from North Carolina.

Pollster Pat Coddell was alarmed by some of the polling and responses from the typical basic questions when asking voters in the Midwest and the South including parts of the West. "We've got to deploy our best assets down in the South because Reagan is aggressively campaigning on the issues and policies that they like. I am nervous about November, so unless we respond with discipline and focused, we'll be looking at being shut out of the White House until probably the 1990s at the rate the Republicans are aggressively going...."

Seeing the odds stacked against him, Governor Carey was known as your father or grandfather's typical old school Democrat: hard-edged, blunt-talking union man, who didn't have any hesitations of punching somebody in the mouth if necessary. Considering the polls still had a very close race, the Carey campaign ran several television campaign commercials in several Battleground States which could be the deciding difference in November by reminding voters of the following: Nixon's divisive presidency; Watergate; Nixon's resignation in disgrace; Ford pardoning Nixon and the backlash; disastrous handling of the Vietnam War, etc., and presented them with the simple message: "After 12 years of Republican control of the White House, it's important to ask the American people this simple question: "Had Enough? Vote Carey!".

While the Carey campaign was gaining momentum, somewhere there was an egotistical ambitious political animal, who was determined in exposing the real backstory of New York State First Lady Evangeline Goluetas Carey.....timing it right before the presidential debates with ramifications.

Following the Republican National Convention in Detroit, Reagan controversially delivered a campaign speech at the Neshoba County Fair located in the outskirts of Philadelphia, Mississippi, the town where three civil rights workers were violently murdered.

"Programs, like education and others should be turned back to the states and local communities with the tax sources to fund them. I believe in states rights. I believe in people doing as much as they can at the community level and the private level." In response, Governor Carey blasted Reagan for interjecting "hate and racism" by the "rebirth of dog-whistles and coded words by using states rights." Other Southern governors blasted Reagan's speech by calling it tone-deaf and other denigrating comments.

According to anonymous sources, President Holton demanded a closed-door meeting with Reagan at the White House. Holton along with Vice President Brooke both put Reagan on full-blast for delivering a campaign speech at the infamous Southern town known for murdering three civil rights workers.

Less than two days afterwards, Reagan appeared at the Urban League convention in New York State, where he said, "I'm committed to the protection and enforcement of the civil rights of black Americans. This commitment is interwoven into every phase of the plans I will propose." He also said he would deliver enterprise zones to help with urban renewal.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

CHUN DOO-HWAN OFFICIALLY INAUGURATED AS REPUBLIC OF KOREA'S 11TH PRESIDENT IN SEOUL

​

*Monday, September 1, 1980: Chun Doo-hwan, the military strongman, who launched a successful coup d'etat on 12 December 1979 against then-ROK President Choi Kyu-hah, then eventually succeeded in taking over the Korean Central Intelligence Agency and other government intelligence agencies in April 1980 and finally the entire country itself with the 05.18-27.1980 Incident with the controversial violent deadly crackdown in Gwangju, was inaugurated as the 11th President of the Republic of Korea before an estimated 8,800 in attendance inside the Jamsil Arena in Seoul.

​

GOTTHARD ROAD TUNNEL OPENS IN THE ALPS
*Friday, September 5, 1980: The Gotthard Road Tunnel opened in Switzerland as the world's longest highway tunnel at 10.1 miles (16.3 km), which stretched from Goschenen to Airolo beneath the Swiss Alps' Saint-Gotthard mountain range. During the opening ceremony, a school bus became the first vehicle to traversing the tunnel.

GIEREK OUT AS FIRST SECRETARY OF THE RULING POLISH UNITED WORKERS' PARTY
*Saturday, September 6, 1980: Polish United Workers Party First Secretary Edward Gierek was removed from office by the Party's Central Committee following the concessions made by the government to the Solidarnosc trade union. The previous day, the government had reported that Gierek was admitted to the hospital for a "heart ailment" and followed at 1:30 AM in the morning with the announcement in similar fashion to 10 years earlier in regard to the announcement of the dismissal of Gierek's predecessor in 1970. Replacing Gierek as First Secretary was Stanislaw Kania.

51 OUT OF 52 NOMINATED ACTORS DIDN'T SHOW UP IN ATTENDING THE 32ND PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS
*Sunday, September 7, 1980: During the 32nd Primetime Emmy Awards, which was held in Pasadena, California. However, 51 out of the 52 nominated actors chose not to attend the televised festivities. This boycott by celebrities came during the ongoing strike by members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). Only Powers Boothe attended the ceremony, who won the award for Outstanding Actor in a Dramatic Special.

TROOP MANEUVERS ON GERMAN SOIL
*Monday, September 8, 1980: Both the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies had commenced war games in West Germany while the Soviet Union and their Warsaw Pact allies did similar military exercises. NATO's Autumn Forge exercise had involved more than 250,000 troops from 11 countries in land, air and sea operations and was being coordinated from RAF Gutersloh.

ROMANCE REVEALED BETWEEN CROWN PRINCE CHARLES AND LADY DIANA SPENCER

​

*The Sun, the highest-circulating newspaper in the United Kingdom, became the first to revealing the romance of Crown Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer with the headline: "HE'S IN LOVE AGAIN! LADY DI IS THE NEW GIRL FOR CHARLES?"

 

[Sergeant Foley]

The General Who Became an International Revered Hero!
Tuesday, September 16, 1980
Palace of Cerro Castillo
Vina del Mar, Chile

​

Chilean President Captain General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte was riding high in the Fall of 1980: having successfully diplomatically outfoxed the Argentine Republic over the disputed Picton, Nueva and Lennox Islands in 1978, Pinochet's approval ratings skyrocketed from the low 20s all the way to the high 80s. He also consolidated his power as the South American country's 29th President upon taking power in a bloody military coup d'etat with strong backing from the US Central Intelligence Agency and the Nixon administration on 11 September 1973 which resulted in the death of then-Chilean President Salvador Allende Gossens.

Originally, the Junta members (which consisted of Pinochet representing the Army, Admiral Jose Toribio Merino representing the Navy, General Cesar Mendoza representing the National Police and General Gustavo Leigh representing the Air Force) had planned on having the Presidency rotated for a year by each of the commanders-in-chief of each of the four military branches of the Chilean Armed Forces, but Pinochet had other plans: first he consolidated his control by retaining sole chairmanship of the military junta and then he proclaimed himself as Supreme Chief of the Nation on 27 June 1974. Less than five months later, Pinochet installed himself as the 29th President of the Republic of Chile on 17 December 1974 in a special televised ceremony which secretly annoyed many inside of the Military Junta, some of whom privately quipped "This fool thinks he's going to become King of Chile forever". Once Pinochet got word of General Leigh's strong criticisms of his policies, Leigh was forced into retirement from the Chilean Air Force and replaced as Air Force Commander-in-Chief by General Fernando Matthei, who would go onto becoming a key player in Chile's involvement in the downfall of the military government in the Argentine Republic in 1982 (more on that in Chapter 11 of the timeline, Sorry: y'all just are gonna have to wait).

Pinochet enjoyed strong backing from the United States especially succeeding US Presidents Gerald Ford, Nelson Rockefeller and currently Linwood Holton during their respective administrations. With the chaos inside the Soviet Union escalating, Pinochet exploited this international tussle by influencing the International Olympic Committee into holding the 1980 Summer Olympics in Santiago, where Pinochet had overseen a very successful Santiago Olympics in which Chilean athletes had won the fifth highest medal count even though the United States earned the most Gold medals including holding the overall medal count.

On the economic front, Pinochet's government implemented economic liberation following neo-liberialism, including currency stabilization, removing tariff protections for local industries, banning trade unions, and privatizing Social Security and hundreds of state-owned enterprises. Critics of Pinochet's regime brought up one of the government properties being sold to his son-in-law during one instance as well as rewarding supporters of the Pinochet government while punishing opponents; these policies, whatever the dispute either for or against, resulted in high economic growth across Chile.

Boasting to justifying his rule, Pinochet organized a nationwide plebiscite during the ninth anniversary of the Coup in what was known was the 1980 Chilean Constitutional Referendum, which pretty much all but replaced the 1925 Constitution, which had been drafted during the presidency of then-Chilean President Arturo Alessandri. The controversial Plesbiscite was approved by voters with 67% of the nationwide vote while 30% voted against the constitutional referendum. It safely ensured Pinochet would remain in power for another eight years with an upcoming plebiscite in 1988 (which ultimately was not successful) Pinochet would go on to serve as Chile's longest-serving President until 11 March 1990 serving for almost 17 years which is the longest tenure of any Chilean President before nor since; while he remained as Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army until his retirement on 11 March 1998, after 67 years of service in the Chilean Army.

Pinochet served as Senator for Life in the Chilean Senate with accordance to the 1980 Constitution, which was viewed with hostility yet his staunchest supporters cheered, serving until 4 July 2002. He lived in complete seclusion until his death from congestive heart failure on 10 December 2006 at the Military Hospital surrounded by his family members. Following a grand State Funeral on 16 December 2006 on the grounds of the Military Academy in Las Condes where an estimated 6,373+ people attended the State Funeral (largest in Chilean history), Pinochet was cremated in Concon which surprised many people, but sources explained it was necessary to avoid vandalism of his tomb and was buried at Los Boldos, Santo Domingo, Valparaiso, Chile in a private ceremony.

Yet, there were allegations of wax copies being made in his resemblance and secretly buried at one of Pinochet's private residential properties or even private resorts in order to keep opponents and especially triggered Argentines, who were still furious over the Falklands War of 1982 and invasion of the Argentine Republic, guessing from finding out if the controversial former Chilean President's resting place was really at Los Bolds due to rumors. And to this day, nobody even members of the Pinochet family would deny or confirm the allegations of wax copies being made, preferring in sticking by the original story.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

FIREWORKS IN BALTIMORE: FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE BRINGS MIXED RATINGS

*Sunday, September 21, 1980: All three presidential candidates: Former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R), New York State Governor Hugh L. Carey (D) and US Rep. John Anderson (I-IL) which was held at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland. While the television audience watching the first Presidential Debate of the 1980 Presidential campaign was less than half the average of presidential debates, political experts and observers viewed it as quite a spirited yet respectful debate overall.

Governor Carey aggressively went on the offense and brought up the recent crises that America had been facing: Watergate and Nixon's resignation; the controversial Ford pardon of Nixon; the humiliating defeat of the United States in the Vietnam War plus the fact Republicans had been in control of the White House for 12 years, suggesting that Governor Regan if elected, would be too conservative for the nation and displayed a simple message: "After 12 years of Republican control, isn't time for a new direction for America? I think everyone watching this debate, should know this specific answer."

Not wanting to let accusations like that go to waste or unanswered, Governor Reagan took advantage of the opportunity to counter Carey's charges by displaying his optimistic view of America which concluded with the following: "We can meet our destiny......for all mankind, a shinning city on a hill." Reagan discussed his major campaign themes such as cutting taxes, cutting government waste and inefficient programs, increasing military strength in light of the current foreign policy and international crises; he also attacked Carey's economic record during the latter's time as New York State Governor. While Congressman Anderson used the time he had on the debate stage by telling the nationwide audience watching the debate about his criticism of the respective proposals of Governors Reagan and Carey. "Now let me tell you that I, first of all, oppose an election-year tax cut." He also vowed to raise taxes on gasoline by encouraging conservation.

Following the debate, polling surveys indicated that Governor Reagan succeeded in tempering his staunch conservative image; Carey managed to maintain his standing in the polls despite some heavy criticism and attacks while Anderson, on the other hand, saw his polling numbers implode and as a result, the League of Women Voters refused to invite him for the next presidential debate.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

COMPROMISE BUDGET SIGNED BY PRESIDENT HOLTON; AVOIDING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
*Saturday, September 27, 1980: While the country is in the middle of non-stop campaign mode, but the business part of governing America isn't stopping. For the last few months, the Democratic-controlled Congress and the Holton White House were in the midst of hard-edged budget negotiations and fighting over balancing the federal budget. The Democratic leadership (comprising of the US House of Representatives and United States Senate) were insisting on more government spending in order to grow the struggling economy while President Linwood Holton insisted on moderate-to-conservative budgeting cuts. But just before the budget was to expire, there was a last-minute compromise agreement which detailed the federal government had borrowed around $37 billion including the funding of several major programs to farmers and housing had been reduced by 25%.

Obviously nobody was satisfied with the outcome of the compromise: liberal Democrats were enraged by the budget cuts on domestic programs while conservative Republicans were furious about the unnecessary way of the compromise budget was being made. Nonetheless, a potential shutdown of the federal government was avoided! The US House of Representatives voted 263-152 and the United States Senate voted 71-31 on September 25th and September 27th respectively; the compromise budget legislation was signed into law by President Holton the next morning at the White House.

NEWSPAPER/TELEVISION HEADLINES: NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
* "Can Democrats avoid being shut out of the White House for a generation? 1980 is their best year to avoid that trap"
The Washington Post: 13 September 1980.

*"Is America ready for a blunt-talking honest politician like Hugh Leo Carey as President? Most Americans think so."
The Albany Times Union: 14 September 1980.

*Who is George Busbee? The popular two-term Georgia Governor introduces himself to swing voters, independents, Middle America"
WGN-TV Chicago: 15 September 1980.

*"How Holton and Brooke's popularity ratings help Reagan win in November? Unity is the key message for the Republicans"
KTTV-TV Los Angeles: 16 September 1980.

*"Upping the Ante: Videla continues his deadly campaign of ridding the Argentine Republic of leftist opposition"
Detroit Free Press: 16 September 1980.

*"Foreign Policy is the BEST asset for George Herbert Walker Bush as Vice President"
Baltimore Sun: 17 September 1980.

*Opinion: Why Hugh Carey is the better choice for America as the 41st President in November"
Albany Times Union; New York Times: 17 September 1980.

*"Opinion: Ronald Reagan is the President we need to take back our country"
Sacramento Bee: 18 September 1980.

*"Backlash against the Democratic-controlled Congress could potentially end the political career of New York State Governor Hugh Carey"
Denver Post: 19 September 1980.

*"Queen Farah's domestic policy reforms main reason for her popularity among Iranians"
Associated Press: 20 September 1980.

*"VIVA PINOCHET: How Chilean President Captain General Augusto Pinochet went from reviled to an international hero"
BBC: 20 September 1980.

*"Having seen Pinochet's successful overseeing of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Santiago, other countries taking notes on replicating future Summer Olympic Games in the future"
Korean JoongAng Daily: 21 September 1980.

*"Mr. Independent Foreign Policy: How Mexican President General Oscar Robles' recent trip to Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia have made him the most interesting Head of State in the World."
MBC News: 22 September 1980.

*Opinion: Did Reagan and Anderson tag-team their ambush against Governor Carey by blasting his record as New York State Governor? Some Democrats are nervous about the last stretch of the campaign as polling surveys indicate Reagan's aggressive approach."
Arizona Republic: 23 September 1980.

*"With the South likely trending toward Reagan, here are the 12 steps Carey and the Democrats need to do in order to salvage the damage."
New Orleans Times Picayune: 24 September 1980.

*"With the clock ticking on his presidency, Holton's legacy is at stake with more legislation, accomplishments as Campaign 1980 is on the home-stretch."
Houston Chronicle: 25 September 1980.

*"Are Democrats in danger of losing control of the United States Senate in November? Here are the key US Senate races to watch."
Springfield State Journal-Register: 25 September 1980.

*"Romero Barcelo vs Hernandez Colon: Rematch from 1976 as the Battle for the Puerto Rico Governorship intensifies in the 51st State."
El Nuevo Dia: 25 September 1980.

*"US Senate Election to Watch: Washington US Senate Race might decide control of the United States Senate: Magnuson vs Gorton:
The Olympian: 29 September 1980.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

VIOLA SELECTED TO SERVE AS NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC

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*Friday, October 3, 1980: Roberto Viola, the former Commander of the Argentine Republic Army, was selected to serve as the 41st President of the Argentine Republic effective 29 March 1981 succeeding retiring Argentine Republic President Lieutenant General Jorge Rafael Videla.

520 PASSENGERS, CREW-MEMBERS RESCUED FOLLOWING SINKING INCIDENT OF MS PRISENDAM

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*Saturday, October 4, 1980: The ocean liner MS Prisendam was sailing through the Gulf of Alaska and was 130 miles (210 km) away from the nearest rescue base, which was located in the Alaskan airstrip at Yakutat when fire broke out inside the engine room. Despite the distance, rescuers had to travel in reaching the Dutch cruise-ship, all 520 passengers and crew-members were rescued without serious injuries or loss of life.

SURVEYS REVEAL REAGAN LIKELY TO WIN 1980 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
*With more than one month to go before the November 4th US Presidential election, surveys of politicians and opinion pollsters in the 51 US States was released, all of whom concluded that former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) had a clear lead in enough States garnering 314 Electoral Votes (far more than the necessary 270 needed to win) and that New York State Governor Hugh L. Carey (D) would only get 141 Electoral Votes. The surveys also included nine Swing States, where the election was considered too close to call.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

COMING UP THIS WEEK IN CHAPTER 9:
*Vice Presidential Debate gets pulled due to snags during negotiations between the Reagan and Carey campaigns.
*National and International Headlines (Fall 1980).
*Personal PoV's (International PoV's).
*Atwater unleashes the aggressive Dog Whistle attacks against Governor Carey yet.
*Secrets of New York State First Lady Evangeline Gouletas Carey get exposed to the public due to Atwater's aggressive scheming manipulations.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS: EXPLOSIVE BOMBSHELLS EXPOSING SECRETS OF NEW YORK STATE FIRST LADY EVANGELINE GOULETAS CAREY

*Monday, October 6, 1980: The Informer Publishing Company of Denver, Colorado leaked out damaging and explosive bombshells, revealing secrets of New York State First Lady Evangeline Gouletas Carey, the wife of Democratic Party presidential nominee, New York State Governor Hugh L. Carey (D) when the Informer confirmed that Gouletas-Carey actually had three husbands before her marriage to Governor Carey last year which generated controversy among some of the populace.

The latest former husband to come forward: George Kaltezas, who is currently living in Athens. Kaltezas, a Greek engineer married Gouletas in 1958 before divorcing in 1963. Aides close to the Governor's office in Albany explained that Mrs. Carey previously was married twice: Frangiskos Kallaniotis and Evangelos Metaxes. Of course, this explosive bombshell comes during the final month of the 1980 Presidential election as polling surveys are showing a hotly-contested, competitive race.

Governor Carey in a statement released by his campaign, "I am certain in my own mind that I now possess all of the relevant facts about the life and marriages of Evangeline Gouletas-Carey prior to our marriage. I believe her decision to be silent on her previous marriages was made in good faith to protect her child and grandchildren."

It's unknown whether there are any more former husbands of the controversial New York State First Lady, a spokesman for the Carey campaign replied, "None that we know of."

Following the announcement of Gouletas and Carey's engagement in Spring 1979, reporters including those from the controversial Informer discovered that she was previously married to Metaxes, and officials from the Greek Orthodox Church confirmed that she received ecclesiastical divorces from both Metaxes and Kallaniotis.

Disputing Gouletas-Carey's claims that he was dead, Kallaniotis surfaced in Los Angeles, California during this weekend and told reporters who were curious, "I really don't know why Evangeline thinks that I am deceased. I think she's hiding more information that what many of you in the press already have found out, something tells me there's more revelations to come out very soon!" Kallaniotis and Gouletas have a 25-year-old daughter, Maria Kallos Stamelos.

Many covering the campaign have questioned the suspicious timing of these explosive revelations with the election getting closer.