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

[Sergeant Foley]

Reagan
3:56 PM PST, Wednesday, March 17, 1976
Pacific Palisades, California

Former California Governor Ronald Reagan and his wife, former California First Lady Nancy Reagan with their family: Maureen Reagan, Michael Reagan, Patti Davis, Ron Reagan and the family dog, Pogo. ​

It was less than 24 hours after losing his sixth consecutive primary to President Rockefeller, who easily trounced former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) in the Illinois primary in a landslide. Reagan's campaign was nearly almost out of money, having spent nearly all of it in the early primary states with nothing to show for it; "We've got to put it all on the line in North Carolina next week or else it's over" quipped close Reagan campaign associates, who didn't want the campaign for the Republican presidential nomination to end quickly in a whimper.

Trailing in the polls in match-ups for the nomination by double digits, Reagan realized that his campaign was on much-needed life support and a loss in North Carolina would finish him off for good as well as ending his political career in the process. Many asked why would he dare challenge the incumbent President of his own political party: "Why are you doing this right now after what happened to Jerry?" (in reference to the Ford assassination on September 5, 1975 in Sacramento), "You need to drop out before you embarrass yourself and kill any political future going forward" quipped fellow Republicans.

Relaxing on the couch with his family and talking about old times, the former Governor and First Lady of California each wondered if there was someone, who could lend an assist to the campaign with less than a few days to go. "Senator Helms is going to be helpful and we need him in the worst way possible" quipped Ronnie. "Everything that we've both worked hard for, achieved and put it all on the line comes down to North Carolina. If we can win there, we can blunt the President's momentum and seize the narrative." Nancy agreed with her husband, "I can call James Stewart and some of our friends from Hollywood to get on the campaign trail for us in the closing stretch."

BREAKING NEWS: REAGAN PULLS OFF UPSET VICTORY IN NORTH CAROLINA PRIMARY, TEMPORARILY STOPS PRESIDENT ROCKEFELLER'S MOMENTUM

The Reagan's celebrating with supporters.
​

*Tuesday, March 23, 1976: With the assistance of the powerful political organization of staunch conservative United States Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC), former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) has defeated incumbent President Nelson Rockefeller in the critical North Carolina primary, winning 30 of the Tar Heel State's 56 delegates while Rockefeller managed to win 26 delegates. "Thank you very much North Carolina!" Reagan boasted to a cheerful crowd of supporters, "I also like to thank a great United States Senator, who has stood strong for conservative values and representing North Carolina values, Senator Jesse Helms" to the loud chorus of cheers from the crowd. This was a huge and critical victory for the former California Governor as he finally got on the board with a win.

Meanwhile back in Charlotte, President Rockefeller addressed his supporters, "We might've lost tonight's primary, but I am still confident that we're going to win the Republican nomination and we're going to win this election". Rockefeller had been endorsed by North Carolina Governor Jim Holshouser (R), who campaigned throughout the state on the President's behalf.

(North Carolina Republican Primaries: 56 Delegates)
Ronald Reagan (30 Delegates) 101,468 [52.38%]
Nelson Rockefeller (26 Delegates) 88,897 [45.89%]

***1976 Republican Presidential Primaries
Nelson Rockefeller: 200 Delegates
Ronald Reagan: 151 Delegates

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Downfall of Isabelita
9:00 PM ARGST, Tuesday, March 23, 1976
Casa Rosada, Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic

Argentine Republic President Isabel Martinez de Peron
​

"How in the world did she screw this up?" quipped one political analyst. Others in foreign policy and Latin American political experts wondered "She was obviously NOT qualified to be President whatsoever". Isabel Martinez de Peron, who ascended to the Presidency as the 39th President following the death of the influential, iconic three-term Argentine Republic President Juan Domingo Peron on July 1, 1974, making her the first female President of the Argentine Republic as well as the first female Head of State in the Americas.

Due to her obvious inexperience of handling domestic, foreign and economic policy challenges, Isabel quickly destroyed all of the goodwill she had originally maintained following her husband's death due to the following: cancelling meetings with various constituent and political groups. Another irritant was that her government escalated the purging of the majority of leftists from university positions and inside the administration (following the shtick of her late husband and previous Presidents); she also used Federal intervention powers to removing political opponents which included leftist Governors of several Provinces, which pissed many people off. Due to the multiple political murders and terrorist attacks by the Montoneros, Isabel signed the Anti-Terrorism Law in order to combat leftist violence at the expense of constitutional rights and liberties.

One particular annoyance that nagged at the Argentine people and many inside the Argentine Armed Forces was the controversial Jose Lopez Rega, who was serving as the Minister of Social Welfare, was running the entire government ranging in all domestic and foreign policy. Another irritant was that Lopez Rega had a bizzare, disturbing habit of silently mouthing Isabel's words as she was speaking, which caused her approval ratings to plunge downward even more. Having recently formed the controversial Argentine Anticommunist Alliance's paramilitary force, known as the Triple A: they under the direction of Lopez Rega carried out 300 murders, kidnappings, torture and God knows what else they committed during this period. Anyway, this caused many people to lose more confidence in the Peron government.

Despite plans of maintaining her late husband's Social Pact Policy, Isabel had originally succeeded in some parts such as enhancing reforms like the enactment in December 1974 with payroll taxes in order to strengthen the Public Retirement System, she refused to do anything with the incomes policy due to conservative opposition from the General Economic Council. The economy in Argentine Republic also was facing record budget deficits including trade deficits, leading Economic Minister Celestino Rodrigo, to push for applying economic shock therapy in June 1975, the result of these measures resulted in destroying the fragile financial balance which was previously maintained at this point. The CGT even did a two-day protest against the Peron administration, the first time they ever did that. As a result of the backlash escalating, Isabel had no choice but to hastily appoint the deeply-hated Lopez Rega as Ambassador to Spain, leaving the country for good on July 19, 1975.

However, just when you thought things would calm down in the Argentine Republic. They simply didn't!

Isabel's incompetence as a politician continued to show as she removed Rodrigo as Economic Minister and General Alberto Numa Laplane of the Armed Forces High Command: she replaced Laplane with General Jorge Videla and appointed economist Antonio Cafiero as the new Economic Minister. The appointment of Videla was a huge political and fatal mistake on the embattled President!

It also factored that Isabel's health took a disastrous fragile turn as she suffered a gallbladder affliction caused her to take a shorter leave of absence in November 1975. Yet, she returned to her position resuming her duties.

The economy continued to decline as majority of Argentines had become growing more anxious about inflation (sound familiar Uncle Joe!), which was dominating every daily way of life. Trade deficit had reached a record billion dollars in 1975, which all but depleted the foreign exchange reserves and it didn't help that the government's budget for 1975 had been derailed by the Rodrigazo Crisis, what godsmacked many economists was that the exports continued to fall even further as it became quite clear that the Argentine government was incompetent into handling or solving the massive economic problems. What happened next was the lockouts of the agricultural and commercial sectors led to reasserting pressure on prices in November 1975, leading to shortages and hoarding.

Isabel further infuriated the military joint chiefs of the Argentine Armed Forces when she appointed Brigadier General Hector Fautario, who was a loyalist to the Peron government, to the branch's high command. This furthered caused strong support in the Argentine Air Force for action against the Peron administration. On December 18th, General Jesus Capellini had unsuccessfully attempted a coup d'etat by seizing the Moron Airport and Air Base. Although the Joint Chiefs of Staff had orchestrated Fautario's removal, they concluded the timing was not right about launching a coup against the government, deciding it would have to wait for the right time to strike.

Further political blows escalated against Peron's administration inside her own political party in December when Buenos Aires Governor Victorio Calabro accurately declared "we won't make it to the next elections" in reference to the proposed 1977 Presidential elections; Interior Minister Angel Robledo resigned in January 1976. Robledo, was Isabel's chief legislative and military point-person.

Forced to give more concessions to the massive conservative Argentine Armed Forces during the early months of 1976 from security matters to economic issues, Isabel had Economic Minister Antonio Cafiero forced out of office in February; his replacement, Eugenio Mondelli, called for more shock therapy measures from the previous year's Rodrigazo. These measures included steep hikes in utility rates and devaluation of the already shredded Peso, causing more prices to double over the next three months. This resulted in a new wave of strikes, protests and business lockouts.

There were signs that the coup was inevitable. Opposition leader Ricardo Balbin of the UCR held a private meeting with General Videla and bluntly told him, "If you're planning to stage a coup, do so as soon as possible------expect no applause from us, but no obstacles either." Even the broadcast media stations across the Argentine Republic all but accepted the inevitable as some newscasters and reporters were counting down to the days to the likely military coup d'etat; several newspapers had published editorials calling for Isabel's ouster. Depending on whom you ask, the Armed Forces High Command had given final approval to a coup d'etat which was code-named "Operation Aires", when Isabel returned from her leave of absence in October 1975.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Operation Aires
10:00 PM ARGST, Tuesday, March 23, 1976
Casa Rosada, Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic

Presidential helicopter carrying Argentine Republic President Isabel Martinez de Peron leaving Casa Rosada. ​

In the evening hours of March 23rd, Isabel was working long, late hours into the night at Casa Rosada (the Government Office) on the hopes of avoiding an escalating business lockout, she decided to celebrate her executive assistant's birthday party with staff members. While they were celebrating, one Army soldier quietly walked up to the President and informed her the following: "Madam President. There's suspicious military exercises going on right now, we need to get you out of here now." After getting inside the Presidential helicopter, it fly off the rooftop of the Casa Rosada, which arrived on the grounds of the Quinta de Olivos (Residence of the Argentine Republic President) at 10:43 PM ART.

Packing up her personal belongings and effects, Isabel figured out "Those ambitious idiots have betrayed me and the government, they think they can arrest me? They've got one thing coming, I'll flee back to Spain and never come back!" Assisted by female assistants and close associates, they put the belongings and personal effects into the helicopter accompanied by another helicopter. In the meantime, Isabel thanked the butlers, maids, gardeners of the presidential residence for their service to the Presidents and First Families of the Argentine Republic before getting into the presidential helicopter and leaving Quinta de Olivos for good at 11:35 PM ART.

Some sympathetic figures in the Brazilian government, managed to have Isabel flown into Brazil which then took off for her final destination in Spain, arriving the late afternoon hours of March 24th.

When military troops loyal to General Videla barged into the Casa Rosada, they figured out that Isabel wasn't there. They contacted one of their commanders, who alerted them "Head over to Olivos". They arrived at Quinta de Olivos, they marched into the private family quarters and realized nobody was there, concluding that Isabel had fled the country.

March 24, 1976: The midday hours following Isabel fleeing the country. ​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

COMING UP IN CHAPTER 4 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC
Installment on Jorge Videla: That Crazy, Bipolar, Mentally Unstable Army General, who rose to the Presidency

​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: ARGENTINE REPUBLIC PRESIDENT ISABEL MARTINEZ DE PERON OVERTHROWN IN MILITARY COUP

*Reports confirm ousted Argentine Republic President fled to Brazil in late night hours of March 23rd and eventually flew to Spain.
*Three-member Military Junta formed by three commanders in chief of the Argentine Armed Forces.
*Congress dissolved immediately
*Justices of the Argentine Republic Supreme Court, Mayors, Governors and other elected officeholders removed from office altogether.
*Political activities with trade unions, political parties, producers associations banned.
*National Congress to be replaced by the Legislative Authority Commission.

*Wednesday, March 24, 1976: Following months of political violence and the inability of then-Argentine Republic President Isabel Martinez de Peron's government to deal with the economic consequences of inflation running at an annual rate of over 600%, the Armed Forces decided enough was enough: led by Army Lieutenant General Jorge Videla, the military removed Mrs. Peron from office and took power.

Besides Videla running the show, other members of the junta: Navy Admiral Emilio Eduardo Massera and Air Force Brigadier General Ramon Agosti.

The Legislstive Advisory Commission will be headed by Navy Rear Admiral Antonio Vanek and composed of three senior officers from each branch of the Armed Forces.

*Thursday, March 25, 1976: It was announced that the three-member Military Junta would remain in power for three years, but the junta as an institution would continue in office for a term as yet undefined.

Although the coup d'etat was originally well received by the population, violence however, escalated when a group of loyalists of the deposed Mrs. Peron, engaged in a bloody gun battle with military troops as they rolled tanks through the heart of Buenos Aires.

Reports circulated that the majority of the gun battle occurred near the Casa Rosada (Government Office) where the bloody violence escalated for hours that ended when Brigadier General Agosti deployed fighter jets to launch airstrikes at the Casa Rosada, which killed more than 27 people.

By njghtfall, the diehard loyalists to the deposed Isabelita were forced to surrender and were taken into custody where speculation swirled they underwent forced starvation, violent torture, etc.,

 

[Sergeant Foley]

The Crazy Psycho!
Friday, March 26, 1976

His troops called him "The Bone". Some described him as a "man from another time" who loathed corruption and wouldn't tolerate it at all inside his government. Critics referred to him as "The Hitler of Panama", who like his counterparts such as the late Juan Peron; Hugo Banzer of Bolivia and Alfredo Stroessner of Paraguay gave safe refuge to Nazi war criminals and their families. There were others who strongly critiqued him as "That Crazy Psycho", who was rumored to be mentally unstable due to being off his medication, completely diabolical with wreaking havoc on anyone, whom he viewed as a threat.

Born on August 2, 1925 in Mercedes, just 75 miles from Buenos Aires, Jorge Rafael Videla was the son of an Army infantry Colonel. Graduating from the Argentine Military Academy and beginning his long military service with the Argentine Republic Army, he rose all the way to the rank of Lieutenant General and served in the Armed Forces High Command as Commander in Chief of the Army.

Tall, lanky man with an obvious prominent nose and mustache including a personable but shy manner, Videla was exceedingly polite but had difficulty with doing small talk with people, preferring not to abide off-colour stories. He was a staunch anti-communist and tough-minded infantry soldier who was credited with deeply ingrained Roman Catholic moralist views. One of his most closest advisors was Monsignor Adolfo Tortolo, the chief chaplain of the Argentine Republic Army.

Once regarded as a typical follower than someone who would lead, Videla proved to be strong, decisive and competent (depending on whom you ask). He got along well with fellow junta leaders Admiral Massera and Brigadier General Agosti, but there was no obvious question that Videla not only was running the show, but increasingly wielded supreme authority.

Long resisting injecting the military into politics, Videla finally decided to go ahead and take aggressive action when it occurred to him that the unbridled terrorism and economic ineptness as well as openly blatant political incompetence of the Peronist government couldn't be tolerated any longer. Indeed, Videla stayed his hand for so long that he became known as the "Reluctant Dragon". Along with other armed forces chiefs and senior high-ranking military officers that the Argentine Republic was on the brink of an epic disaster, he moved swiftly and with precision. He gave the Army total control of the battle against the guerrillas of the left and also the right, who had taken several thousand lives during the past several years.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

COMING SOON IN CHAPTER 4 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC
Videla sworn into office as the 40th President of the Argentine Republic

​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: THURMOND AND GOLDWATER ENDORSE ROCKEFELLER

​

*Friday, March 26, 1976: In a joint press conference at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, DC., United States Senators Strom Thurmond (R-SC) and Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) announced they're endorsing President Nelson Rockefeller for a full four-year term. The move by Goldwater to endorse Rockefeller didn't come as a surprise to political analysts and experts.

However, Thurmond endorsing Rockefeller came as a complete surprise to many considering the staunch conservative United States Senator from South Carolina had been critical of some of the policies of the Rockefeller administration.

CAMPAIGN 76: DEMOCRATS FOR ROCKY COALITION
*Louisiana First Lady and former United States Senator Elaine Edwards (D-LA), the wife of Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards (D) has announced the Democrats for Rocky Coalition on behalf of the reelection campaign of President Nelson Rockefeller and that among the list of Democrats who are in this coalition besides Edwards: former Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr., (D), former Alabama Governor Albert Brewer (D), former Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes (D) among several other high-profile Democrats. In the press conference, Allen stated the following: "President Rockefeller has worked on a bipartisan basis in solving our domestic problems here at home including being a staunch advocate of a strong foreign policy as well as a strong national defense which ensures economic safety and international peace all over the world," he said during a press conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The former Atlanta Mayor continued: "And while I appreciate polite, constructive different viewpoints on the Democratic side of the aisle, I strongly urge my fellow Democrats to support President Rockefeller and Vice President Holton in the upcoming election of 1976."

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS: ARGENTINE REPUBLIC'S MILITARY JUNTA DISMISSES 30 OF THEIR AMBASSADORS
* Saturday, March 27, 1976: The Military Junta of the Argentine Republic whose taken power since March 24th since ousting embattled Argentine Republic President Isabel Martinez de Peron, ordered the recalling and dismissal of 30 of their ambassadors including those from Canada, the United Kingdom. However, Adolfo Vasquez, the Argentinian Ambassador to the United States, wasn't removed by the military government.
*With the end of Operation Savannah, the South African Defence Force formally withdraws from Angola.
*Elections were held in India among the members of the South Asian country's 15 state legislatures for 82 (more than one-third) of the seats in the 244-member Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India. The ruling Congress Party of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi picks up 18 additional seats, giving the Congress Party 164 or one more than the necessary 163 seats needed for a two-thirds majority in the Rajya Sabha.

*Sunday, March 28, 1976: The 1976 United States Grand Prix West, the first-ever event, was held in Long Beach, California which was won by Clay Regazzoni.

SPORTS: INDIANA HOOSIERS MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM COMPLETES UNDEFEATED SEASON; WIN THIRD NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

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*Monday, March 29, 1976: The top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers (32-0) Men's Basketball team win their third national championship in program history defeating fellow Big 10 rival 14.) Michigan Wolverines (25-7) by a score of 86-68 held at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

VIDELA INAUGURATED AS ARGENTINE REPUBLIC'S 40TH PRESIDENT

Army Lieutenant General Jorge Rafael Videla inagurated as the 40th President of the Argentine Republic inside the National Congress Building in Buenos Aires.​

*Less than five days after the military coup toppled then-Argentine Republic President Isabel Martinez de Peron from power, Lieutenant General Jorge Rafael Videla, Chief of Staff of the Argentine Army, was inaugurated as the 40th President of the Argentine Republic, followed by a cabinet of six military officers and two civilians. One of the civilians serving in the Videla administration, Jose Martinez de Hoz, a corporate business officer, becomes the Minister of the Economy and named a nine-man team of economic assistants to attempt in solving the problems regarding Argentine Republic's large foreign debt and runaway inflation (sound familiar folks).

​

*Tuesday, March 30, 1976: In the second round of balloting in the United Kingdom by the 312 Labor Party MPs over the successor to outgoing British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, James Callaghan receives 141 votes, Michael Flood receives 133 votes, not enough for the necessary 157 votes in gaining a majority. The third round of voting would take place on April 5th.

*The National Football League begins their annual expansion draft, which is delayed on this occasion due to lawsuit filed by the owners of the Tampa Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks against the NFL Players Union.

*Wednesday, March 31, 1976: New Jersey Supreme Court rules that Karen Ann Quinlan, who suffered from irreversible brain damage, could be disconnected from a ventilator which had been keeping her alive since April 15, 1975.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Rocky on the campaign trail
2:23 PM EST, Thursday, April 1, 1976
Green Bay, Wisconsin

President Rockefeller greeting supporters during the campaign trail. ​

Despite losing the North Carolina Primary on March 23rd to Reagan, President Rockefeller was upbeat "I still have six victories in my belt and looking to pilling up more wins before we clinch the Republican nomination," he told senior aides while flying on Air Force One to begin what would become a five-day campaign whirlwind tour across Wisconsin before the Badger State's April 6th Primary election and the battle over the state's 49 delegates. Upon arriving in Milwaukee on April 1st, President Rockefeller traveled all across the Badger State and met with voters one-on-one, even participating in campaign town hall meetings. Polls had the President ahead by double digits of somewhere between 13-19 percentage points, but some pollsters expressed caution because former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) was gaining momentum after pulling off a huge upset in North Carolina.

It wasn't going to be easy for the incumbent President to just ignore the former California Governor's aggressive campaign tactics.

Rockefeller of course, highlighted his administration's efforts in getting tough on crime such as signing legislation mandating tougher sentences for repeat offenders, aggressively enforcing the Rockefeller Drug Laws including the Three-Strikes Law which Congress passed in bipartisan support. Despite criticism from criminal justice advocates and civil rights activists, President Rockefeller doubled-down on his administration's staunch public safety efforts and pushed more aggressive anti-crime measures which Congress passed easily despite opposition from some liberal lawmakers. Analysts and historians suggested Rockefeller's aggressive law and order campaigning might be because of facing a primary challenge from Reagan, who continued running a hardcore law and order campaign.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

CAMPAIGN 76: ROCKEFELLER REBOUNDS WITH VICTORY IN WISCONSIN PRIMARY

President Rockefeller celebrating in Madison after winning the Wisconsin Primary including picking up 27 out of the Badger State's 49 delegates.

*Tuesday, April 6, 1976: President Rockefeller defeats former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) in the critical Wisconsin Primary winning 27 out of the Badger State's 49 delegates: garnering 325,869 votes (55.19%) to Reagan's 262,126 votes (44.40%); Reagan won 22 delegates. Experts expect Rockefeller to win Pennsylvania very easily on April 27th, which will increase his delegate lead.
(1976 Republican Presidential Primaries: April 6, 1976)
President Nelson Rockefeller: 227 Delegates
Former California Governor Ronald Reagan: 173 Delegates

*Thursday, April 8, 1976: The National Football League Draft takes place at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, New York State.

*Friday, April 9, 1976: Peter Hain, leader of the UK's National League of Young Liberals was found not guilty of stealing $490,000 from Barclays Bank. It would later be confirmed that the charge was the result of covert operations by the South African government's intelligence agents trying to discredit Hain because of his anti-apartheid campaigning.

*Saturday, April 10, 1976: Belgian Prime Minister Leo Tindeman explains in a television interview, the decision of the Belgian government to purchase US fighter planes instead of purchasing French Mirage jets, in the context of a common defense strategy for Europe.

*Sunday, April 11, 1976: Raymond Floyd wins the 1976 Master's Golf Tournament, which was held at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

*Monday, April 12, 1976: The Israeli Air Force intercepts a C-130 military transport plane from Saudi Arabia, and the plane is forced to land in Tel Aviv after the Saudi aircraft strayed into Israeli airspace during a flight from Riyadh toward the Syrian capital city, Damascus.

*Tuesday, April 13, 1976: The United States two-dollar bill, bearing the face of Thomas Jefferson, is reintroduced by the US Treasury Department as a Federal Reserve Note as an element of the US Bicentennial Celebration.

*Wednesday, April 14, 1976: The Supreme Court of Japan rules 8-7 that the East Asian nation's electoral procedures were unconstitutional because of the failure to providing equal representation for voters. Despite a law requiring redistricting every five years, no readjustment in election districts had taken place in 12 years.

*A group of 50 baboons escaped the Lion Country Safari wildlife preserve of the Kings Island Amusement Park near Mason, Ohio. Within a week, all of the primates would be recaptured.

*Thursday, April 15, 1976: India and the People's Republic of China announced the restoration of full diplomatic relations for the first time in 15 years, with India sending an ambassador to Beijing and China sending an ambassador to New Delhi.

*Friday, April 16, 1976: Thirteen oil workers on the US oil drilling rig Ocean Express were killed, when the escape capsule that they used to evacuate the toppling rig, sank into the Gulf of Mexico; 23 people, who were working on the rig, managed to reach safety.

*Saturday, April 17, 1976: US President Nelson Rockefeller appears in three pre-recorded segments of the NBC television comedy show, 'Saturday Night Live'; White House Press Secretary Ron Nessen was the guest host.

*Evonne Goolagong defeats Chris Evert to win the singles championship of the 1976 Virginia Sims Championships tennis tournament at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in the United States.

*Sunday, April 18, 1976: Police in India fire into a crowd of protesters at the Turkman Gate in Delhi, which resulted in the deaths of 20 people, who were fighting the government's demolition plans of their homes as part of a slum clearance project. Because of the strict restrictions of the State of Emergency, details of the incident wasn't published in India at the time. However, word of the violent clash was reported in Western newspapers by the Associated Press, which noted five policemen and seven civilians had been killed in the violent clash.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

*Monday, April 19, 1976: Windows of the World, a popular restaurant and conference center in New York City, New York State opens on the 107th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

Windows on the World during happier times. ​

*Tuesday, April 20, 1976: In the landmark decision Williams v. Saxbe, the first award of damages for sexual harassment in the United States, was decided by the US District Court for the District of Columbia. Diane R. Williams, a US Department of Justice employee who had been fired from her job on September 22, 1972 after refusing the sexual advances of her supervisor, Harvey Brinson, was awarded $19,147.00 in compensation by Judge Charles R. Richey, who agreed the Justice Department violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

*The PNOC Exploration Corporation, a subsidiary of the Philippine National Oil Company, was incorporated by the Philippine government in controlling oil drilling in the nation's territorial land and waters.

*Argentine Republic, facing difficultly in obtaining loans, entered into the Argentine-US Fiscal Agency Agreement arranging for government bonds to be issued and repaid by an American bank, with the Argentinian military government agreeing to US court jurisdiction for suits over the bonds.

*National Hockey League President Clarence Campbell who had led the NHL since 1946 and guiding its growth from six teams to 18 NHL teams, was indicted by a grand jury for conspiracy and fraud for attempting to bribe Canadian Senator Louis Giguere in obtaining a lease for a business within Ottawa's Dorval Airport.

*Wednesday, April 21, 1976: Egypt signs a military pact with the People's Republic of China by purchasing or be given jet engines and spare parts for the MiG jet fighters that had been supplied five years earlier by the Soviet Union. The refusal of the Soviet government in supplying spare parts had been cited by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat as the reason for his government's break with the Soviet Union.

*Thursday, April 22, 1976: South African Prime Minister John Vorster announces plans for a Ministerial Joint Committee comprising representatives of South Africa and Israel.
*Newspapers in Italy identified Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro, Italian President Giovanni Leone and Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Mariano Rumor as suspects in the Lockheed bribery scandals.
*A dynamite explosion occurs at the Suffolk County Courthouse in Boston, Massachusetts injuring 21 people, seven of them injured seriously. The bomb, which exploded at 9:12 AM EST in the morning, had knocked down an interior wall and ceiling, shattering windows and tore down a three-foot wide hole in the marble floor.

*Friday, April 23, 1976: Ray Reardon defeats Alex Higgins in the final of the 1976 World Snooker Championship

Highlights of the 1976 World Snooker Championship.

*Saturday, April 24, 1976: An Avianca Boeing 727-59 was hijacked by a lone armed passenger after takeoff from Pereira, Colombia. He would surrender to law enforcement authorities upon arrival in Bogota, the plane's original destination.

*Sunday, April 25, 1976: The French motorcycle Grand Prix is held in Le Mans, which is won by Herbert Rittberger.

*Monday, April 26, 1976: The survival ordeal of set designer Lauren Elder begins when the Cessna airplane that she was on, crashed into Mount Bradley in Inyo County, California. With a fractured arm and wearing clothing which was ill-suited for the cold weather, Elder gradually descended the mountain and reaches the town of Independence, California two days later on April 28th; her story would become documented in a book and also in a television movie, 'And I Alone Survived'.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: ROCKEFELLER EASILY WINS PENNSYLVANIA PRIMARY, GETTING THE KEYSTONE STATE'S 106 DELEGATES
*Tuesday, April 27, 1976: President Rockefeller easily won the Pennsylvania primary and carrying the Keystone State's 106 delegates very overwhelmingly sweeping all 67 counties.

(1976 Republican Presidential primaries: April 27, 1976)
President Nelson Rockefeller: 333 Delegates
Former California Governor Ronald Reagan: 173 Delegates

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: WALLACE MOMENTUM CONTINUES
*Tuesday, April 27, 1976: Flamboyant Alabama Governor George Wallace (D) continues his march to the Democratic presidential nomination as he handily won the Pennsylvania primary picking up 67 out of the Keystone State's 178 delegates easily defeating United States Senator Henry M. Jackson (D-WA St).

*(1976 Democratic Presidential Primaries: April 27, 1976)
Pennsylvania Primary
Alabama Governor George Wallace: 667,808 (47.29%)
United States Senator Henry M. Jackson (D-WA St): 219,373 (23.73%)

BREAKING: BENTSEN, BRISCOE ENDORSING WALLACE JUST DAYS AHEAD OF CRITICAL TEXAS PRIMARY
*United States Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) and Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe (D) held a joint press conference in Fort Worth on the campus of Texas Christian University where they announced they're endorsing Alabama Governor George Wallace (D) for the Democratic presidential nomination for President just days ahead of the critical Texas primary and the Lone Star State's 98 delegates.

Bentsen justified his decision telling reporters "It's very important that we as Democrats have strong party unity as the primary season is nearing a close. If we want any chance of pulling off an upset in November, we cannot afford to be divided with other candidates threatening to stay home."

POLL: COULD A WALLACE NOMINATION ALIENATE LIBERALS AND MODERATES?
*Thursday, April 29, 1976: Gallup released a poll about the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination and it revealed strong concerns among Democrats that if the party of Andrew Jackson, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson would end up nominating a staunch Southern segregationist as their nominee.

One unnamed Democrat voiced concerns saying "If we nominate Governor Wallace, I'm afraid we'll alienate many large swaths of Democrats that the party could implode before we get to the November general election and if the polls trending in the awful direction continues, we might get wiped out down-ballot."

Another had similar strong worries: "What message does this send to African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Women, Moderates, Suburbanites, etc., if the Democratic Party nominates Governor Wallace?"

ENDORSEMENT WAITING GAME: WILL HE OR WON'T HE? THE PRESSURE ON EDWARDS TO DECIDE WHO'LL HE SUPPORT CONTINUE
*Over the past few months, Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards (D) has been asked by lots of reporters on who'll he will endorse for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Edwards hasn't said whom he plans to endorse, despite recently saying "He pledged to support whoever the Democratic nominee for President in 1976". That hasn't stopped news stations such as WWL-TV New Orleans or WBRZ-TV Baton Rouge from hounding the popular two-term Democratic Governor on when he should endorse a candidate in the primaries. Although the smart money will be that Edwards might lean heavily endorsing California Governor Jerry Brown (D).

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: FLORIDA GOVERNOR REUBIN ASKEW (D) DROPPING OUT OF THE 1976 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
*Thursday, April 29, 1976: Just two days after an underwhelming showing in the Pennsylvania primary (placed in last place), Florida Governor Reubin Askew (D) announced he was suspending his campaign for the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination effective immediately. "Due to the disappointing showing out of the Pennsylvania primary this week, I have concluded following discussion with my campaign staff that there's no reliable path forward in having this campaign continue," Askew told supporters during a campaign rally in Tallahassee, Florida on the campus of Florida State University.

Askew also confirmed he'll endorse California Governor Jerry Brown (D) and plans on campaigning with him. Rumors swirling that there's massive pressure on United States Senator Frank Church (D-ID) to drop out and endorse Brown as the "Stop Wallace" movement tries everything in their power to prevent front-runner Alabama Governor George Wallace (D) from winning the nomination outright.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

US SENATE RACES TO WATCH IN CAMPAIGN 76:
*Arizona (Open)
*California
*Hawaii (Open)
*Indiana
*Maryland
*New Mexico
*New York State
*Utah
*Wyoming

 

[Sergeant Foley]

CAMPAIGN 76: ROCKEFELLER EASILY WINS TEXAS PRIMARY, POTENTIALLY CRIPPLING REAGAN'S CAMPAIGN
*Saturday, May 1, 1976: Buoyed by the hardworking efforts of United States Senator John Tower (R-TX), President Nelson Rockefeller easily crushed former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) in the Texas primary in what many political analysts consider a huge blow to Reagan's campaign. In the battle for the Lone Star State's 103 Delegates: Rockefeller picked up all 103 Delegates and swept all 254 counties.

The landslide victory puts the incumbent President on a more smooth to the Republican Party presidential nomination with upcoming primaries in Nebraska, West Virginia (May 11th) Maryland, Michigan (May 18th); Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, Tennessee (May 25th); New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island (June 8th).

(1976 Republican Presidential primaries: May 1, 1976)
Texas Primary elections
President Nelson Rockefeller: 1,676,773 (75.19%) 103 Delegates
Former California Governor Ronald Reagan: 131,943 (19.52%)

(1976 Republican Presidential primaries)
Rockefeller: 436 Delegates
Reagan: 173 Delegates

 

[Sergeant Foley]

CAMPAIGN 76: THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: WALLACE DOMINATES INDIANA, GEORGIA, TEXAS PRIMARIES
*Saturday, May 1, 1976: Alabama Governor George Wallace (D) swept the top three major primaries on the Democratic side and dominated them overwhelmingly as he crushed the competition in Indiana (winning 66 out of 75 delegates in the Hoosier State); Georgia (winning all 50 delegates in the Peach State) and Texas (winning 92 out of the Lone Star State's 98 delegates).

California Governor Jerry Brown (D) scored his first victory in the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination battle winning the District of Columbia handily winning all 13 delegates in the District.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

REAGAN REBOUNDS WITH MUCH-NEEDED WINS IN INDIANA AND GEORGIA
*Tuesday, May 4, 1976: In the meantime on the Republican side of the aisle, former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) got much needed victories with primary wins in Indiana and Georgia.

Problem for Reagan is that President Nelson Rockefeller continues to pick up delegates and his lead in the delegate count continues to rise.

(Indiana: Republican Party Presidential Primary: 56 Delegates)
Former California Governor Ronald Reagan: 323,779 (50.29%) 29 Delegates
President Nelson Rockefeller: 307,513 (48.71%) 27 Delegates

(Georgia: Republican Party Presidential Primary: 52 Delegates)
Reagan: 128,671 (68.27%) 36 Delegates
Rockefeller: 59,801 (31.73%) 16 Delegates

(1976 Republican Presidential Primaries: May 4, 1976)
Rockefeller: 479 Delegates
Reagan: 218 Delegates

 

[Sergeant Foley]

@Buba @Tiamat @DarthOne @TerrificWarden @Morphic Tide @Stargazer @Cherico @Captain X @WolfBear @Simonbob @Simon Darkshade @Julio92 @stevep @bintananth

Coming up this week: Lookout for Flash Forward installments on the 1976 Presidential campaign in Chapter 4.