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

[Sergeant Foley]

Operation BootStick or Operation Payback was the operational codename of the joint military operation in North Korea, named for the saying and attributed to President Theodore Roosevelt "speak softly and carry a big stick." A joint military response from the United States, Republic of Korea, Japan, Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, France, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Thailand and many other countries in response to the shocking assassination of then-President Ronald Reagan on 13 November 1983, was authorized on 30 November 1983 by President George H.W. Bush and announced in a televised address on 1 December 1983, in which he announced the United States and other Allied countries will immediately "respond to violence with aggressive force and energy to pursuing peace in the Asian Pacific." The logistical deployment of military personnel troops to North Korea was the trigger of Operation BootStick.
-Wikipedia entry "Operation BootStick".

......There are reports that a full-scale massive barrage of violent airstrikes have taken out all of North Korea's infrastructure, water supplies, roads, bridges and several key government buildings including majority of North Korea's nuclear weapons facilities. The death toll has escalated into nearly a million or more. ABC News will keep you informed on the latest developments of this Special Report....."
-ABC News Special Report by Ted Koppel
Thursday, 1 December 1983

......"the experiences of Vietnam really colored our response. That we'd been attacked by an enemy foreign state, which all but muted all anti-war sentiment, and almost immediately there was a strong rally-around-the-flag effect. That the 373rd took less than three days to secure the DMZ border was a good sign, despite the casualties being sustained on our side. Thankfully, the Navy and Air Force had strong air superiority over North Korea within a matter of hours on the 2nd and 3rd of December 1983, and I know President Bush thought it grimly worrisome that the presidency fell upon his shoulders under violent and tragic circumstances. The initial push of "Operation BootStick" or "Operation Payback" at least helped relieve those besieged at Fort Howard and we next started to draw up plans to put substantial boots on the ground....into North Korea......"
-United States Army General John William Vessey, Jr.,
10th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
18 June 1982-30 September 1985.

....."we formed three groups: Task Force Seoul and Task Force Chosun. We along with Japan and other countries participating in the joint military operations, had one to each side of North Korea, a full occupation, while we heavily secured the DMZ borders with more deployment of military personnel troops along with the United Nations Forces Command, who were heavily involved. We had an agreement in place by late on the 4th to using air bases in Japan as a forward operation position into North Korea, coming in low over the Sung Gap to deploying the remainder of the 102nd east of Pyongyang, and on the 5th, it was both Taiwan and the Philippines, who agreed to let us stage out of there. On the 6th, the war went even hotter when Soviet and Chinese civilian planes that were nonetheless carrying irregulars into the City of Sariwon in the southern part of North Korea was shot down by a Tomcat in Hong Kong airspace; suddenly, the Chinese and Soviet militaries aggressively mobilized too, right on the edge of the southwestern part of the DMZ Borders. The decision by Colombia to participate in Operation BootStick was popular on the Colombian street despite the leftist Quintero's so-called "independent foreign policy" shtick. It seemed like the entire Asian Pacific was bound to explode in massive fire at once......"
-Chun Doo-hwan
11th, 12th, 13th President of the Republic of Korea
MBC Special Interview at the Blue House with President Chun
Monday, 12 March 1984

 

[Sergeant Foley]

VP SHORTLIST UNVEILED
*Friday, 2 December 1983: The White House unveiled a list of potential contenders for the Vice Presidency and among those considered included the following:

*Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander
Age: 43
Homestate: Tennessee
Experience: 45th Governor of Tennessee since 20 January 1979.

*United States Senator Howard Baker (R-TN)
Age: 58
Homestate: Tennessee
Experience: United States Senator from Tennessee since 1967.

*United States Senator Robert J. Dole (R-KS)
Age: 60
Homestate: Kansas
Experience: United States Senator from Kansas since 1969; Member, US House of Representatives from Kansas 6th and 1st District 1961-1969; County Attorney of Russell County, Kansas 1953-1961; Member, Kansas House of Representatives from District 81 1951-1953.

*Pennsylvania Governor Dick Thornburgh
Age: 51
Homestate: Pennsylvania
Experience: 41st Governor of Pennsylvania since 16 January 1979; US Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division 1975-1977; US Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania 1969-1975.

*Louisiana Governor David Conner Treen
Age: 55
Homestate: Louisiana
Experience: 51st Governor of Louisiana since 10 March 1980; Member, US House of Representatives from Louisiana's 3rd District 1973-1980.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

@Red_Tornado @49ersfootball @filipina84 @Buba @bintananth @The Immortal Watch Dog @Blasterbot @Val the Moofia Boss
AUTHOR'S NOTE FOR CHAPTER 19 IN THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC:
*Fall 1983: Personal PoV's
*Highlights from Operation BootStick.
*VP Sweepstakes.
*Spring 1984
*Personal PoV's: Spring 1984
*Pop Culture: Spring 1984
*1984 Democratic Party presidential nomination primary results.
*Highlights from President Bush's first State of the Union Address.
*Highlights from the Democratic Party Response.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: NORTH KOREAN DICTATOR KIM II SUNG AND FAMILY MISSING; AIRSTRIKES LAUNCHED INTO SURROUNDING AREAS OF PYONGYANG
*Unconfirmed reports of North Korean dictator Kim II Sung killed in violent airstrike as tanks rolling into Pyongyang.
*Moscow and Beijing threatening to "Open Up the Gates of Hell" in response to "illegal foreign military operation" of sovereign country.
*Presidential Palace firebombed by three cruise missiles.

*Monday, 12 December 1983: "This is Ted Koppel of ABC News and we're interrupting "General Hospital" for an ABC News Special Report because we're getting new developments coming out of Pyongyang, North Korea as what you are seeing on your television screens is the presidential palace, which has been firebombed by three cruise missiles and possibly several more as several other government buildings have been struck by additional airstrikes. As many of those watching in the past 11 days since President Bush's Address to the Nation on Operation BootStick and according to the Associated Press and other foreign news network outlets, there has been rumblings of a potential forced regime change over inside the isolated communist nation for quite awhile, but we cannot know what's going to become the endgame of this just yet."

ASSOCIATED PRESS: MOSCOW AND BEIJING BLAST "ILLEGAL FOREIGN MILITARY OPERATION" OF SOVEREIGN NATION; VOW RETALIATION BY "OPENING UP THE GATES OF HELL"
Official statements from the Foreign Affairs Ministries of the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union both attacked Operation BootStick as an "illegal foreign military operation" and the illegal invasion of a sovereign nation. They also accused the Bush administration and Western allies of the United States of meddling in the political and military affairs of another country; The Kremlin issued a statement accusing an unknown Jihad group of being involved in the attack of North Korea, saying "The responsible parties is that of an unknown Jihad group assisted by the uppity West and we are strongly condemning this illegal military invasion."
Sources indicate the Soviets and Chinese reportedly are deploying military troops at an all-time high alert. The explosive situation is bound to escalate.

HEAVY DAMAGE INFLICTED IN OVERNIGHT BOMBING RAIDS
ABC News reported that the F-18 Hornet aircraft, which was deployed from the aircraft carriers of the USS Gerald Ford and the USS Nimitz, inflicted severe damages by destroying all of North Korea's air defense facilities, which all but crippled and destroyed the ability of the North Korean Air Force. Now ABC News and other news outlets are getting reports of the Republic of Korea and Japanese Naval warship aircraft carriers were also deploying F-16 aircraft, which also inflicted vicious, heavy damages on all of the North Korean military operation bases, etc.,

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: PRESIDENT GEORGE HW BUSH NOMINATES US SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HOWARD BAKER (R-TN) TO BE VICE PRESIDENT

To the Congress of the United States
Pursuant to Section 2 of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, I hereby nominate Howard H. Baker, Jr., of Tennessee to be Vice President of
the United States.
The White House
21 December 1983

​

PRESIDENT BUSH INTRODUCES VICE PRESIDENTIAL SELECTION
*Wednesday, 21 December 1983: By December 19th, President George HW Bush had made his decision whose name he will be submitting to Congress to be Vice President. The press was invited to an official event at the Rose Garden of the White House in the morning hours of December 21st. White House Chief of Staff James Baker introduced the President, who went before the microphone to address the nation.

President Bush: "Ladies and Gentlemen, my fellow Americans: Welcome to the White House. This morning, I have invited you to inform the public of my decision who to nominate for the Vice Presidency of the United States. After careful consideration, review and personal interactions, I am glad to announce my selection of Senator Howard Baker of Tennessee, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, to serve as the next Vice President of the United States of America. Just about an hour ago, I have informed the congressional leadership of my selection and signed the nomination certificate. Following my talks with leaders of both parties in Congress, I expect a smooth confirmation process, which is the fifth under the 25th Amendment in America's history.

This is an extraordinary time. We need a Vice President whose personal integrity and competence helps this administration and our great country moving forward. I am more confident that Senator Baker can provide these credentials and serve our nation well. Having served in the United States Navy during World War II, he was the first Republican United States Senator to represent the State of Tennessee since Reconstruction with his election in 1966 and was reelected in 1972 and again in 1978. During his years in the United States Senate, Senator Baker served as the influential Ranking Member of the Senate Watergate Committee and served as the Leader of the Senate Republican Conference from 1977 to 1979 and again from 1980 to 1981. When the Republicans won control of the United States Senate in 1980, Senator Baker was elevated to serve as the Senate Majority Leader, where he led the successful efforts in having three Supreme Court Justices on the United States Supreme Court in 1981 and 1982; Senator Baker also led the successful push in establishing the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Holiday as a Federal holiday, which was signed into law by the late President Reagan. And I am proud to have called him my friend. Ladies and Gentlemen, therefore, I am happy to introduce you to the Vice President-Designate Howard Baker.

Senator Baker sat in the first row among the guests and went to the podium after giving the President a hug.

Senator Baker: "Mr. President, members of the Cabinet, Ladies and Gentlemen, my fellow Americans: I am deeply honored to stand before you today as the nominee for the office of Vice President under the provisions of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. I am deeply thankful to President Bush for the enormous confidence he put in me. Mr. President, the trust you gave to me means a lot not just to myself, but also to my family and friends. I will do everything I can to be worthy of this trust. In the weeks ahead, I look forward meeting with lawmakers of both political parties so that they can fulfill their constitutional duty and judge upon me, whether they believe I am qualified to serve this nation as Vice President, I will do the best I can to serve you and President Bush. A man of honor and integrity, who has been called to step into the difficult task of the Presidency following the tragic assassination of President Reagan.

Once again, let me thank you, and the President in particular, for all the generosity and confidence. Let us together move forward and make sure, America will always be a beacon of hope and opportunity.
Thank you very much."

The first congressional hearing of Senator Baker is already scheduled for December 27th, following the Christmas holiday. Circles on Capitol Hill anticipate the entire process to take no longer than a month and that a final floor votes in both chambers could take place as somewhere around early February. Meanwhile, Baker will remain in his Senate seat, providing enough time for Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander to appointing a replacement

 

[Sergeant Foley]

......"We didn't know whether or not Kim II Sung and his family fled the country to either China or the Soviet Union. The waiting game had been constant for weeks in the closeout of December 1983 since the beginning of Operation BootStick. Martial Law inside the Republic of Korea and parts of the Asian Pacific had been enforced and nobody, including our intelligence agencies, knew what the twist of this international chaos would be bringing......"
-Former ROK National Defense Minister General Yoon Sung-min
Spring 2004
Exclusive Interview with MBC News: "21 Years Onward: Operation BootStick"

 

[Sergeant Foley]

......"Once the Joint Western Military Forces Command began rolling their large military tanks into the heart of Pyongyang, it was a matter of time before the communist dictatorship of North Korea would fall and diplomatic negotiations for potential reunification would be discussed, the isolated hermit kingdom looked like a complete shithole. And I do mean, it looked like a SHIT HOLE: with all of the air-raid bombings, missile rockets being fired, destroying all of the air defenses and the entire North Korean military structure bases, etc.,

Thanks to one of the defectors, who gave us huge credible and reliable information with detailed aerial shots of the North Korean's military bases, etc., including their nuclear weapons program facilities, the defector was taken to a super secret undisclosed location for safety concerns. Now came the difficult part: trying to assess the aftermath of Operation BootStick......"
-US Army Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Jefferson
US Forces Korea Brigade Command 600th Battalion

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: NORTH KOREAN DICTATOR KIM II SUNG, FAMILIY MEMBERS KILLED IN VIOLENT AERIAL BOMBING RAIDS; COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIP OF NORTH KOREA FALLS
-BBC News: 2 January 1984.

INA-24 FRANCE: OPERATION BOOTSTICK A SUCCESS: FALL OF THE NORTH KOREAN DICTATORSHIP, LIKELY FALL OF THE ISOLATED HERMIT KINGDOM AS SPECULATION OF POTENTIAL REUNIFICATION BEGINS

ASSOCIATED PRESS: PRESIDENT BUSH TO ADDRESS THE NATION ON THE SUCCESS OF OPERATION BOOTSTICK

MBC NEWS: ROK PRESIDENT CHUN DOO-HWAN TO DELIVER PRIMETIME ADDRESS FROM THE BLUE HOUSE ON ENFORCING NATIONWIDE MARTIAL LAW FOLLOWING AFTERMATH OF OPERATION BOOTSTICK

KOREAN HERALD: WEINBERGER, YOON, YOSHIYUKI HOLDING JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE IN SEOUL
​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

......"The good thing about that Nutjob Jackass finally kicking the bucket, is that he nor members of his family will never again terrorize the Asian Pacific and the Peninsula with threats of nuclear bombs or any deadly acts of violence. However, there was as Rummy liked to call it "Known Unknowns" because now that Operation BootStick was considered a strong successful joint military operation, the fallout on the international front was debatable unless you're those triggered snowflakes in Beijing and Moscow, both of whom are nagging pieces of shit.

There was talk of potential reunification inside the Korean Peninsula, but on Seoul's terms and determination. Of course, the entire world was watching the events coming out of the Asian Pacific, especially the West Germans and East Germans, where there were potential discussions about reunifying Germany......"
-Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Jean Kirkpatrick
Exclusive Interview on ABC News: "19Years Onward: Fallout of Operation BootStick"
Summer 2002

 

[Sergeant Foley]

COMING SOON IN CHAPTER 20 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC
"These Popes Keep Dying on Me!"
-Hot Mic from US President George Herbert Walker Bush and the fallout

​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

......"some growing opposition was forming very fast inside elements of the Mexican Armed Forces, especially the Mexican Army, because of a group of young Army commissioned officers were becoming annoyed with the flamboyant autocratic dictatorship of Mexican President General Oscar Robles, who was becoming more entrenched for almost an entire decade with nearly 11 years on the job......

......Robles obviously didn't have the popularity of his late popular second wife, Fernanda Arizmendi, whom all Mexicans as of today, still hold in high regard and consider her "The President Mexico Never Had and Should've Had". Plus some segments of the Mexican people viewed his controversial policies such as the so-called National Reorganization Process, which he took pages out of the playbook that Videla used in the Argentine Republic and aggressively enforced those controversial "national security intelligence operations" against political opponents and the populace, especially college students.......

......Having Robles staying at Los Pinos all the way until the 1990s and possibly into the early 2000s, scared lots of people especially some segments of the Mexican Armed Forces. It was one thing for Pinochet of Chile to stay in power following his success at hosting the 1980 Summer Olympics and kicking the Argentinians' assess in the Falklands War of 1982. However, the thought of Oscar Wellington Robles staying in power until say 2002, freaked everyone out. Things had gone completely crazy and crazier since Fernanda's death in the Summer of 1981 and Army Lieutenant Colonel Fabian Velendez of the Mexican Army's 13th Squadron told me, "From that point on, Robles became more and more autocratic and crazier!"

......The Roman Catholic Church had also gotten annoyed with Robles' micromanaging techniques, so they decided to excommunicate him altogether. Yet, Robles sensing what they were planning on doing, announced back in the Summer of 1982, he had converted to become an Episcopalian and was baptized. If Robles thought the worst was over, he was mistaken big time due to the Economic Recession of 1982, which hampered Mexico's economy and all over the world......

......Something had to give. I knew it! Everyone inside Mexico KNEW it too! And a quiet segment of us inside the Mexican Army began secretly lobbying several key government officials in the Robles administration and many of the military commanders similar reasons and objectives to join us in the fight of finally taking down Robles once and for all. This was a ticking time bomb itching to explode!"
-General Guillermo Quiroga
Former President of Mexico (1986-1989)
Spring 2002

 

[Sergeant Foley]

......"Isaac Aramendiz was known by many as a tough, stern, but fair General in the Mexican Army, who was gaining support amongst the populace. He was previously a member of the formerly known Military Junta of Mexico when Robles took the Presidency in a military coup d'etat in the 02.21.73 Coup against then-Mexican President Luis Eccheveria.

......Originally, the plan for the Presidency was to be rotated for a three-year term amongst the Junta members and I am referring to the Commanders-in-Chief of the military branches of the Mexican Armed Forces: Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Air Force.

......However, it didn't take quite long for Robles to have sinister motives and plans. I KNEW he was motivated by staying as President for Life. First: he quickly consolidated full control of the Mexican Armed Forces by having himself declared Supreme Commander of the United Mexican States on 13 May 1973, less than three months following the military coup. Then, one month later, he installed himself as President-for-Life by implementing an indirect Electoral College system of presidential elections in 1976 and 1977, where he was the only candidate running.

I was flustered and just couldn't believe Robles skillfully exploited a power vacuum and aggressively took advantage of the political instability inside Mexico. Before we knew it, Robles installed close associates into government roles and positions: I am referring to family members and close family friends, including those who served with him in the Mexican Military Academy and in the Mexican Army; Because of his addiction for power, power, power, power, power and more power, Robles was also instigating using racket schemes by enriching himself as well.

Aramendiz strongly blasted several of Robles' policies including the controversial refuge policy when Robles gleefully allowed former Nazis and their families to move into Mexico. This greatly damaged our diplomatic relations with Israel and almost torpedoed relations with the United States and France. "This is fucking shameful. Mexico is becoming an international laughing stock!" Aramendiz scolded Robles to his face during a closed-door Cabinet meeting.

It didn't take too long before Robles retaliated by having Aramendiz dismissed from his position as Commander of the 25th Airborne Division and sent overseas to the Republic of Korea in some diplomatic capacity. In my personal opinion, it was quite obvious that Robles basically black-balled Aramendiz. I suffered a similar fate when I criticized Robles' controversial Nazi Refuge Policy during an interview with a local newspaper. Little did I know that one of the higher-ups notified Robles associates, who in turn, notified him of my comments in the newspaper. I got blackballed from my job and exiled out of Mexico: my family and I went to the Philippines, where I've been ever since......"
Javier Callestanos
Former Mexican Army Colonel
25th Airborne Division
Somewhere in Ilocos Norte, Philippines.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

COMING SOON IN THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC
25 February 1986: Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino becomes the 12th President of the Republic of the Philippines
following EDSA Revolution

​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR WILLIAM WINTER INAUGURATED FOR SECOND TERM

​

*Tuesday, 10 January 1984: Following an outdoor swearing-in ceremony on the grounds of the Mississippi State Capitol Building in downtown Jackson, Mississippi which included the singing of the State Song "Go Mississippi", the thundering 19 Cannon Salute fired by the Mississippi Army National Guard and the flyover from the Mississippi Air National Guard, Mississippi Governor William Forrest Winter was inaugurated for a second four-year term inside the Mississippi House of Representatives chambers making history as the first Mississippi Governor in decades, to succeed himself. It was a packed ceremony indoors because of the thunderstorms happening outside.

FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE HOLY SEE OFFICIALLY ESTABLISHED

​

President George HW Bush announced the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the United States and the Holy See; Bush appointed William A. Wilson, who had served as Special Envoy to the Holy See under then-President Ronald Reagan, as the first United States Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenioptentiary to the Holy See. Bush overcame strong opposition from the US State Department to establishing full diplomatic relations; Wilson would be easily confirmed by the full United States Senate in an overwhelming 99-0 vote. Previous US Presidents had difficulties in establishing full diplomatic relations because of the controversial 1868 law, which prohibited expenditure of funds for the US Embassy to the Vatican being established, completing a major foreign policy coup that had begun under the late President Reagan in 1981. Upon Senate confirmation, Ambassador Wilson flew to Vatican City and presented his credentials to Pope Carlos I at the Vatican.

VICTORIA AGREEMENT SIGNED
The Indian Ocean Commission linking African nations of Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion (Region of France) and Seychelles was institutionalized by the Victoria Agreement.

COMING UP IN THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC: More Headlines from Spring 1984

 

[Sergeant Foley]

JOBS REPORT: ECONOMIC REPORT SHOWING UNEXPECTED 3.5% GROWTH; UNEMPLOYMENT DROPS TO 3.0%
*Friday, 13 January 1984: Despite some delays, the economic report for the Fourth Quarter 1983 was finally released, showing better than expected results. Although it wasn't reaching pre-recession levels before 1981, the United States economy grew 3.5%, while the unemployment rate shrunk to 3.0%. President George HW Bush and his administration had been urging Americans to be patient with the Bushnomics Economic Recovery Plan, the report strongly justified their reasons for Americans to be patient with the economic recovery and the millions of jobs being created in all 51 States. Bush called on Congress for additional investments in promoting growth.

US Treasury Secretary David Rockefeller said during an interview with ABC News "This Week with David Brinkley": "On behalf of President Bush and the administration, the United States is moving on the right track and I urge the American people for patience. We had come out of a deep hole in 1980 and 1981, and recovery takes time and it's not always moving up constantly."

HART, GLENN, JACKSON DEBATE; MONDALE AND BABBITT HOLD TOWN HALLS
*Thursday, 19 January 1984: The first debate of the 1984 Presidential election was hosted in Chicago, Illinois by Channel 9 WGN-TV Chicago at the WGN-TV Studios. United States Senators John Glenn (D-OH) and Gary Hart (D-CO) accepted invitations by the Reverend Jesse Jackson to a discussion over domestic and economic policies and presenting specific, detailed alternatives to defeating incumbent President Bush in the November election. All three are currently battling for the Democratic Party presidential nomination. However, former US Ambassador to Canada Walter Mondale and Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt both chose not to participate in the Debate Forum in Chicago, preferring to host separate town hall meetings in Des Moines, Iowa on the campus of the University of Iowa. Polling suggest Mondale and Babbitt are neck-and-neck in the Iowa Caucuses with less than a few weeks to go before Iowans decide.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES MAKING FINAL PLAY FOR THE IOWA CAUCUSES
*Sunday, 29 January 1984: Ahead of the upcoming Iowa Caucuses, the five remaining Democratic presidential candidates were making final plays to the voters in the Midwestern States. While former Ambassador Mondale was being viewed as one of the co-frontrunners along with Governor Babbitt to winning the Democratic Party presidential nomination because both Mondale and Babbitt have the largest number of political party leaders backing their respective campaigns; raising the most money (raising a potential possibility of a deadlocked DNC Convention this Summer in San Francisco) than anyone else in the field. However, Senators Hart, Glenn and Mr. Jackson, all of whom, could prove to be troublesome opponents for both the former US Ambassador to Canada and the Governor of Arizona respectively.

While Mondale stressed his experience in government with service as Minnesota State Attorney General (1960-1964), United States Senator from Minnesota (1964-1976) and US Ambassador to Canada (1977-1981), Babbitt has highlighted his accomplishments as Arizona State Attorney General (1975-1978) and Governor of Arizona (since 1978), with Babbitt pointing to early head-to-head polling surveys showing him performing best against President Bush. Babbitt, Mondale, Hart, Jackson and Glenn did extended of the Hawkeye State in all 99 counties during the final weeks of January, although Senators Hart and Glenn returned to Washington, DC., for Senate business on January 31st.

GALLUP POLLING SURVEY: JOB APPROVAL RATING FOR PRESIDENT GEORGE HW BUSH (27 JANUARY 1984-30 JANUARY 1984):
Approve: 73%
Disapprove: 17%
Undecided: 6%

1984 DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION PRIMARY POLLING:
Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt: 27%
Former US Ambassador to Canada Walter Mondale: 27%
United States Senator John Glenn (D-OH): 16%
Someone else: 19%

1984 IOWA DEMOCRATIC CAUCUSES POLLING:
Mondale: 63%
Babbitt: 13%
Jackson: 13%
Undecided: 3%

1984 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCHUPS:
President George HW Bush (Incumbent): 51%
Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt: 37%

President George HW Bush: 63%
Former US Ambassador to Canada Walter Mondale: 25%

President George HW Bush: 73%
United States Senator John Glenn (D-OH): 23%

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO CANADA WALTER MONDALE CRUISES TO BLOWOUT VICTORY IN THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC CAUCUSES
*Former US Ambassador to Canada easily wins the first contest for the Democratic Party presidential nomination.
*Babbitt comes in distant second place; Glenn's third-place finish mostly ignored by the press.
*President George HW Bush steamrolls on the Republican side without any opposition.

(Iowa Democratic Caucuses)
Former US Ambassador to Canada Walter Mondale (D-MN): 36,675 (48.89%): Declared Winner
Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt (D-AZ): 12,373 (16.59%)
United States Senator John Glenn (D-OH): 7,783 (13.25%)

*20 February 1984: The 1984 Presidential Campaign began with the Iowa Caucuses: Immediately after the polls closed, numerous news media outlets already called the Democratic Caucuses in favor of former US Ambassador to Canada Walter Mondale, who won more than two-thirds of the vote. And he also swept all of Iowa's 99 counties, easily trouncing his closest rival, Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt . While the ballots are still being counted, Mondale already addressed his supporters inside the ballroom of the Marriott Hotel Des Moines and thanked Democratic voters for their support. Exit polls revealed the former Ambassador winning more than 73% of the female vote.

As for Governor Babbitt, he congratulated Ambassador Mondale on his "decisive landslide victory", but said the fight for the nomination will continue. Meanwhile, Senator Glenn finished in third place, getting 13% of the vote. Meanwhile, Senator Hart's support collapsed, receiving only less than 3% of the vote. However, Glenn did say he plans on continuing his campaign heading into the Super Tuesday Sweepstakes. On the Republican side, incumbent President George HW Bush won all of the delegates and had no opponents.

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: UNITED STATES SENATOR GARY HART (D-CO) REASSESSING CAMPAIGN FOLLOWING DAMNING BOMBSHELLS OF SEXUAL EXTRAMARTIAL AFFAIRS
*21 February 1984: In light of new explosive bombshells of sexual extramarital affairs with more than 20+ female young underage staffers, United States Senator Gary Hart (D-CO) announced he will be undergoing a "full-scale reassessment" of his presidential campaign. At this point, his campaign has gone $300,000+ in debt and Hart was considering how to continue mounting serious challenge to the co front-runners for the nomination, Ambassador Mondale and Governor Babbitt, without increasing his campaign's indebtedness. Some advisors have recommended to the two-term United States Senator from Colorado that he could follow the strategy of United States Senator John Glenn (D-OH) of reaching out to independent voters ahed of the upcoming New Hampshire primary, which is set for February 28th.

COMING UP IN THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC: Highlights in New Hampshire.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERTS: HOUSE AND SENATE OVERWHELMINGLY CONFIRM US SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HOWARD BAKER (R-TN) NOMINATION AS VICE PRESIDENT

*25/27 February 1984: Following a full month of extensive hearings, US Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker (R-TN)'s nomination as Vice President moved into its final stages: On February 25th, the Democratic-controlled US House of Representatives voted to confirm Senator Baker with 426 votes in favor and just 11 votes opposed. Majority of the all-no votes came from conservative Republicans, who were lukewarm about the Tennesseean.

Two days later, on February 27th, the Baker nomination took the final hurdle in the Republican-controlled United States Senate: 84 voted in favor of Senator Baker's confirmation, while 18 were against. The picture was quite different than in the House: Among those, who voted against Baker included prominent Republicans such as Paul Laxalt (R-NV); John Porter East (R-NC); Jesse Helms (R-NC); Chuck Grassley (R-IA); Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Barry Goldwater (R-AZ). Baker also faced opposition from three Democrats such as Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA); Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Alan Dixon (D-IL) although Minority Leader Robert Byrd (D-WV) voted for him, as did Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX); Dolph Briscoe (D-TX); Russell B. Long (D-LA); Rosalynn Carter (D-GA); Lawton Chiles (D-FL); Juan H. Garcia Cintron (D-PR).

HOWARD HENRY BAKER SWORN INTO OFFICE AS THE 45TH VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

​

Hours following his confirmation by both houses of Congress, US Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker (R-TN) was sworn into office as the 45th Vice President of the United States at a public ceremony inside the United States Senate chambers. After three months, the United States once again has a Vice President. Baker gave a brief speech upon his inauguration:

Vice President Baker: "Mr. President, Mr. Chief Justice, members of the Cabinet, members of the press corps, distinguished guests, my fellow Americans: As I stand before you, I feel deep sense of gratitude. A deep sense of gratitude for the trust and confidence you have placed in me. And a deep sense of gratitude for having the opportunity to serve the country I love. I want to thank the President for his abiding trust in me, just as I want to express my deepest thanks to the members of Congress, who have overwhelmingly awarded me with their trust as well. Be assured that I will do everything I can to be worthy of this sacred trust.

The fact that I am standing before you today is vital proof that our Constitution works. It was not perfect in the beginning, and neither it is today. But with each new generation, we strive towards a better future. A little more than two decades ago, in the wake of the tragic assassination of President Kennedy, our elected officials chose to amend the Constitution and allow a new Vice President to be nominated and confirmed. Back then, our elected officials were aware that such tragedy would strike one day, as we have seen in recent years. Unfortunately, our nation has lost another great leader four months ago. But nothing honors the life and legacy of Ronald Reagan more than the continuation of not just his policies, but also the American system, that he so deeply believed in. I am humbled to contribute to this effort, and the effort of President Bush to keep America strong with peace through strength and overwhelming military might, and creating opportunities here at home. If we work together, there isn't anything that can stop us.

Let me once again thank you all, may God bless you and may God bless the United States of America."

SENATE MAJORITY WHIP TED STEVENS (R-AK) TAPPED TO SERVE AS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, REPLACING BAKER

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Within hours of Vice President Baker's swearing in, Senate Republicans gathered late into the night to decide who would lead the Senate Republican Conference and they decided to name Senate Majority Whip Ted Stevens (R-AK) to serve as the new Senate Majority Leader with United States Senator Robert J. Dole (R-KS) serving as the Senate Majority Whip.

TENNESSEE GOVERNOR LAMAR ALEXANDER APPOINTS FORMER TENNESSEE GOVERNOR WINFIELD DUNN TO VICE PRESIDENT BAKER'S US SENATE SEAT

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Back on February 27th, Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander surprised the public by announcing his appointment of former Tennessee Governor Winfield Dunn to succeed now Vice President Howard Baker as the Volunteer State's new United States Senator. Dunn, who was in attendance at the press conference inside the Tennessee State Capitol Building Complex in downtown Nashville, addressed reporters on being appointed to Baker's US Senate seat and was asked if he'll run in the upcoming November election, Dunn said he will not, preferring to serve out the remainder of Baker's third six-year term which will expire in 1985. Speculation is increasing that Senator Dunn might be plotting a return to the Tennessee Governor's Mansion in 1986 when Governor Alexander's second term will expire on 17 January 1987.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: ARIZONA GOVERNOR BRUCE BABBITT REBOUNDS WITH RESOUNDING VICTORY IN THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY
*Babbitt wins first-in-the-nation primary in landslide, over-performing the polls.
*Mondale: "This is now a two-person race."
*Sources: Hart to announce "State of the Campaign" tomorrow in Denver.

(New Hampshire Primary)
Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt: 59.73%: Declared Winner
Former US Ambassador to Canada Walter Mondale (D-MN): 31.83%
United States Senator John Glenn (D-OH): 6.83%

*28 February 1984: Despite being behind in pre-primary election polling surveys, Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt smoked the competition in the New Hampshire Primary. Less than sixteen minutes once the polls closed, local radio and television stations already declared Babbitt the winner. "We're at the beginning of quite a long journey of taking back our great country and getting all Americans back to work and fixing the chaos over there in Washington, DC," the Governor addressed jubilant supporters in Concord.

Mondale's campaign emphasized on calling Democrats by telephone; while Babbitt had been aggressive in courting moderate and conservative Democrats including Independents as well as airing television advertising commercials across the entire Granite State; Glenn's campaign had been clogging the airwaves with television campaign commercials, but the famed Astronaut's campaign has been dogged by a movement encouraging moderate Democrats to writing President Bush's name. During the final weekend, Mondale's campaign pollsters told him that his support solid, but having problems gaining new supporters, so Mondale made the disastrous mistake in leaving the Granite State by campaigning in Vermont and Maine instead. Meanwhile, Senator Hart, whose campaign has continued to face aggressive scrutiny following allegations of having sex with young female campaign workers, appeared on CBS "Face the Nation" and predicted his campaign will place into the Top Five in New Hampshire; Glenn, who also appeared on the show, was tentative about his campaign's chances.

Although Mondale hadn't expected to lose New Hampshire so badly, he was seemingly surprised by the shocking results and the magnitude. However, he told his supporters "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is now officially a two-person race," hoping to stop Babbitt's newfound momentum by getting critical wins in Maine and Vermont with hopes of increasing the delegate count.

BREAKING NEWS ALERTS: UNITED STATES SENATOR GARY HART (D-CO) DROPS OUT
*29 February 1984: United States Senator Gary Hart (D-CO) held a "major campaign assessment speech" in Denver, Colorado before an estimated crowd of 3,673: where he confirmed that following discussions with his family, friends, campaign staffers and loyalists, the two-term Democratic United States Senator from the Centennial State, announced that he will indeed by suspending his presidential campaign effective immediately. "We always know that success doesn't come overnight and the road will be long and difficult, but we will ultimately emerge victorious. It's important that Democrats remain united behind a strong candidate in light of the difficult circumstances this year and last year, in order to take back America."

CAMPAIGN 84 UPDATE: BABBITT MOMENTUM CONTINUES WITH WINS IN MAINE AND VERMONT
*6 March 1984: Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt held off former US Ambassador to Canada Walter Mondale in the Maine Caucuses on March 4th, garnering 50.25% of the vote while Mondale garnered 43.59%. In the March 6th, 1984 Vermont Primaries, Babbitt won a whopping landslide victory with 71% of the vote, while Mondale won 23%. The field of Democratic Party presidential candidates consisted of the following: Governor Babbitt, Ambassador Mondale, Reverend Jesse Jackson and United States Senator John Glenn (D-OH) with Super Tuesday coming around the corner on March 13th including an estimated 511 delegates at stake.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: GMA NEWS REPORTING PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT FERDINAND MARCOS NEAR DEATH
*Family gathering at longtime Philippine President's bedside according to anonymous sources.
*Filipinos bracing for impending Imelda Marcos Presidency.
*Philippines on extreme high alert: Military personnel troops deployed along with the Philippine Constabulary in preventing massive riots.

*Thursday, 8 March 1984: According to anonymous sources and close inside information slowly leaking to the United Press International, ABS-CBN News, GMA News and other news organizations, whom reported that the health of longtime Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., has taken a deep turn for the worse according to spokesperson from Malacanang Palace.

It's being reported that members of the Marcos family arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii under heavy security and driven to the hospital, where security is massive and many people are wondering what the prospects of a future Philippines without the authoritarian three-term Philippine President will look like for the Republic of the Philippines going forward.

Dan Rather of CBS News reporting live from Manila, mentioned that the prognosis of a possible health recovery is increasingly highly unlikely and that the Marcos family is debating whether to take the President off of life support machines altogether.

Assuming that Marcos dies, he will be replaced by his wife, Philippine First Lady and Vice President Imelda Romualdez Marcos, who would ascend to the Presidency as the 11th President of the Republic of the Philippines, making history as the first female Head of State in the Asian Pacific.

Speculation swirling around a potential coup d'etat from within the Armed Forces of the Philippines if the political situation remains untenable.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

"EYES OF THE WORLD CONVERGING ON THE PHILIPPINES AS MARCOS' DEATH APPEARS IMMINENT"
-Associated Press: 8 March 1984

"DEMOCRATS NEED TO DWINDLE DOWN REMAINING FIELD AND SETTLE ON ONE PERSON: ANALYSIS"
-Chicago Sun Times: 9 March 1984

"THE COUNCIL WARS ESCALATING IN CHICAGO: CAN MAYOR WASHINGTON GET ANY MAJOR INITIATIVES PASSED AND IMPLEMENTED?"
-ABC 7 WLS-TV Chicago: 9 March 1984

"WHAT DOES PRESIDENT BUSH NEED TO DO TO WIN RESOUNDING LANDSLIDE THIS FALL?"
-Boston Globe: 10 March 1984

"FOREIGN POLICY, NATIONAL DEFENSE, BUSHNOMICS, PULBIC SAFETY: MAIN KEY INITIATIVES FOR THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION"
-United Press International: 10 March 1984

"POPE CARLOS I HOSTS ARGENTINE REPUBLIC PRESIDENT RAUL ALFONSIN AT THE APOSTOLIC PALACE IN VATICAN CITY"
-The Buenos Aires Express: 11 March 1984

"LOUISIANANS BRACING FOR HISTORIC THIRD TERM OF EDWIN WASHINGTON EDWARDS AS GOVERNOR IN TOMORROW'S INAUGUARATION"
-CBS 9 WAFB-TV Baton Rouge: 11 March 1984
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