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

[Sergeant Foley]

Putting it Together
7:49 AM EST, Monday, December 1, 1980​

The transition team of President-elect Ronald Reagan was considered one of the largest operations ever in the history of presidential transitions: consisting between 1,000 or 1,500+ people involved both volunteering and paid staff members.

Serving as director of the Reagan transition team was Edwin Meese (who'll be detailed sometime around Chapter 13).

Overseeing the outgoing Holton administration's role in the presidential transition was White House Chief of Staff Ann C. Whitman, who's served under then-President Rockefeller and current President Holton in her current position.

Among the appointments for the Reagan presidential transition team: Richard V. Allen was appointed to serve as senior adviser for foreign policy and defense matters; Martin Anderson for domestic and economic matters; Caspar Weinberger (who was tapped to serve as US Deputy Secretary of Defense), was appointed as senior adviser on budget matters.

Among those joining the transition team: James Baker (at the insistence of Vice President-elect George HW Bush) was tapped to serve as deputy director and was also put in charge for overseeing the planning of the structure and management of the incoming Reagan administration's White House staff. Despite Nancy's hell-bent push in attempting to block Baker from having a role, Reagan announced he would be naming Baker as White House Chief of Staff, which secretly annoyed many Reaganites especially Deaver, Nofziger and others, who felt Baker is loyal only to the Bushes.

Others who joined included the following:
*Michael Deaver: Liaison to the Reagan family.
*Drew Lewis: Liaison to the Republican National Committee; women's groups; business community; State and local governments including working on developing providing policy briefings to Cabinet Secretary designates.
*Lyn Nofziger: In charge of Public Relations with members of the White House Press Corps.
*Verne Orr: Administrative and budgetary matters.
*William Timmons: Overseeing the transition team's assessment of existing programs and policies.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Third Term of the Jackass General
12:00 PM CST, Wednesday, December 17, 1980
National Palace
Mexico City, Mexico
​

With the Legislative Building under construction, the inauguration of Mexican President General Oscar Robles, which had been originally scheduled for 27 January 1981, was moved up due to the declining ealth of his wife, Mexican First Lady Fernanda Arizmendi, the inauguration for a historic third term, was going to be scaled back for obvious reasons.

The Presidential Office announced Robles will be sworn into office during a scaled-down inauguration inside the National Palace in Mexico City on December 17th.

Originally, it was supposed to be held on the grounds of the Mexican Military Academy because of major construction of the Legislative Building that wouldn't be completed until September 1981, but in light of the situation regarding Fernanda's terminal cancer, Oscar preferred holding it at the National Palace instead.

On the early morning hours of December 17th, Fernanda was carefully being fitted for a dress with long sleeves and pants due to looking like a skeleton; when she attempted to tighten her belt, the burning stinging pain rushed inside of her, causing Fernanda to wince painfully. Esmeralda Pineda, one of the private nurses, quickly helped put the belt around her pants as well as adjusting the hairstyle of the First Lady of the United Mexican States. "Thank you Esmeralda. It's a good thing you're here because the pain is too much for me," Fernanda said as Pineda gave her some morphine shots to adjust her well-being because the inauguration festivities were going to be somewhat an all-day affair.

After being helped to a special wheelchair, Fernanda asked "What day is it today?" Esmeralda responded "It's Wednesday Madam First Lady. It's the inauguration of His Excellency the President." Fernanda calmly patted Esmeralda's hand as she wheeled the First Lady over to a dining table, where she ate a small breakfast before leaving to take additional medical treatment shots.

Oscar dressed in his full-dress Army military uniform with large black boots, arrived with his seven daughters, who hugged and kissed their mother. Maria happily said, "Mom, you look beautiful." After happily small talk, it was time for the rest of the Robles family to leave the private quarters of the Presidential Palace and headed to the presidential limousine for the inauguration festivities.

"Are you sure that you want to attend the inauguration Fernanda?", Oscar asked. There was no question that Fernanda wasn't going to miss her husband's third inauguration as the 58th President of the United Mexican States: "I'm ready to attend this historic inauguration. Might be the last time to attend a public official function. Let's go!" Fernanda proudly said before kissing Oscar on the cheek.

Esmeralda and two other private nurses helped Fernanda into the presidential limousine; Esmeralda placed an extra-large dark blue jacket covering the First Lady, who looked like a complete skeleton due to the severity of her advanced cervical cancer. Oscar and Fernanda rode in the presidential limousine while their seven daughters rode in the second limousine behind them; Agents of the Mexican Presidential Secret Service rode in the first three vehicles including the additonal limousines behind the vehicles containing members of the Robles family, which all drove out of the grounds of Los Pinos.

With at least five Presidential Secret Service agents guarding the presidential limousine with an open convertible top, Oscar and Fernanda happily waved to cheering crowds throughout the heart of Mexico City during the parade, eventually arriving at their official destination: National Palace.

Outside of the grounds of the National Palace in downtown Mexico City, trumpets and drums sounded upon the arrival of the First Family while crowds cheered waving Mexican flags. Among those attending the Inauguration festivities included: outgoing US Vice President Edward W. Brooke, III; Argentine Republic President Lieutenant General Jorge Rafael Videla (more on him in Chapter 11 as he closes out his Presidency); Brazilian President Joao Figuerido; Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau; French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing; King Hussein and Queen Noor of Jordan; Taiwanese President Chiang Ching-kuo; Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos; including members of the Diplomatic Corps.

Following the invocation by the Archbishop of Mexico City as well as opening remarks by Bernardo Reyes, President of the Mexican Senate, it was time for Oscar to take the oath of office for his historic third term as the 58th President of the United Mexican States.

President Robles: "I affirm to follow and uphold the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States and the laws that emanate from it, and to perform loyally and patriotically the office of the Republic which the people have conferred upon me, in all actions looking after the good and prosperity of the Union; And if I were not to do so, may the Nation demand it of me."

Rounds of applause from the crowd followed once Reyes handed the Presidential Sash to Robles, who put it on while his oldest son helped placed it tightly. Soon after the Oath of Office and placing of the Presidential Sash, Robles delivered his 25-minute Inaugural Address that included accomplishments from his first and second terms of his administration; including major budgeting techniques for the Mexican economy; infrastructure projects across all 30 States; foreign policy achievements and international affairs.

Following the 25-minute Inaugural Address, the patriotic Mexican National Anthem was performed inside the National Palace, while the thundering 21 Cannon Salute was fired outside by the Artillery Regiment Unit of the Mexican Army.

Fernanda kissed Oscar as cameras flashed at them (she was sitting next to him at the platform); after greeting the foreign dignitaries including the Diplomatic Corps, the Robleses walked outside of the National Palace and watched as a final Cannon Salute and Military Honors were being rendered once the Inauguration festivities were over; the Robleses got into their limousines and headed back to Los Pinos for private family festivities.

Nobody had any clue that Wednesday, December 17, 1980 would end up being the last time Fernanda would appear in public at an official event or function. Because sadly, this was likely the final appearance of Fernanda Arizmendi as First Lady of the United Mexican States.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

PRIME INTEREST RATE IS INCREASED TO 21 PERCENT
*Friday, December 19, 1980: The prime interest rate in the United States, a baseline for the interest rate chargeable on banking loans including an indicator of changes in the price inflation rate, was increased to 21 1/2%, which was a record-high that hadn't been exceeded since then.

TRAPP FAMILY LODGE DESTROYED BY FIRE
*Saturday, December 20, 1980: The Trapp Family Lodge, which was owned by the family made famous for the stage and film musical, 'The Sound of Music', was completely destroyed by a devastating fire in Stowe, Vermont. While Maria von Trapp and 44 other staff and guests fled for safety, one resident died in the devastating blaze.

NEGOTIATIONS IN RESOLVING NICARAGUA HOSTAGE CRISIS HITS SNAG
*Sunday, December 21, 1980: Negotiations in bids of ending the dragged-out Nicaraguan Hostage Crisis, where the Sandidista-run government demanded almost $25,000,000 from the United States, as part of the release of Nicaraguan assets that had been ordered frozen by US President Linwood Holton after American Embassy officials were taken hostage; US Secretary of State Malcolm Wilson rejected these demands, which the US press had noted was $460,000,000 for each of the 57 American hostages who had been held captive since 13 September 1979.

PINTO BALSEMAO DESIGNATED AS NEW PRIME MINISTER OF PORTUGAL
*Monday, December 22, 1980: Francisco Pinto Balsemao was designated as the new Prime Minister of Portugal by Portugese President Major General Winfield Gonsalves; Pinto Balsemao was a close associate of the late Portuguese Prime Minister Sa Carniero, who was killed in a plane crash on December 4th.

JOINT SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM RADAR STATIONS GO ONLINE
*Tuesday, December 23, 1980: The United States Air Defense Command's first seven Joint Surveillance System radar stations go online, replacing the SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) stations which were being phased out.

HOLTON POST-PRESIDENCY PLANS UNVEILED
*Wednesday, December 24, 1980: With his Presidency coming to a close, outgoing President Linwood Holton has announced the first phase of his post-Presidency plans once he leaves the White House on 20 January 1981: Writing a memoir called: "Making the Tough Decisions in leading America into the Future"; Holton also confirmed that he will be overseeing construction of his Presidential Library in Blacksburg, Virginia on the campus of Virginia Tech University. Holton will be celebrating the Christmas and New Years holiday breaks at the White House.

CHRISTMAS DAY CELEBRATIONS
*Thursday, December 25, 1980: Pope John Paul II during his traditional holiday blessing, given every Christmas by the Pontiff, spoke from the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy delivering "To the City and the World" to more than 100,000 people in Saint Peter's Square and to millions of television viewers in 31 countries.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

PRESIDENT HOLTON DELIVERS THIRD AND FINAL STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS BEFORE JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS
*Wednesday, January 14, 1981: President Linwood Holton delivered his third and final State of the Union Address before a Joint Session of Congress inside the US House of Representatives chambers of the US Capitol in Washington, DC.

​

President Holton: "Speaker O'Neill, Vice President Brooke, members of the Cabinet, Justices of the United States Supreme Court, members of Congress and my fellow Americans:

Twenty-three months ago, I first spoke to you as the newly inaugurated 40th President of the United States. Tragic circumstances have me put in this position, following the tragic and sudden loss of President Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, whose loss we are still mourning and who, together with his dear family, is forever in our hearts and prayers. At that time, I humbly served in the role as the 42nd Vice President of the United States; as a governing partner to a dedicated public servant, who brought unprecedented progress to the United States and the entire world. For more than three and a half years, I was extremely proud serving as deputy to a president, who has earned the overwhelming trust and confidence of the world---and---more importantly---the American people. And yes, we have accomplished and achieved a lot between 1975 and 1979, I took this awesome responsibility at a time of international upheaval and turmoil including economic uncertainty. This was a very critical time for America and the world. Although many of these challenges are still with us and remain on our agenda and among many of the main priorities as a nation, I believe that together, we put America on a solid path toward a new decade of prosperity, peace and freedom as well as respect throughout the world.

While the Rockefeller/Holton years brought unprecedented economic growth, expanded civil rights for everyone and more allies and friends from throughout the world in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Oceania and the Asian Pacific; I should caution that the task isn't completed, but we still have a lot more work to do. Circumstances have shown the limits of growth, external factors beyond our borders, and in light of the Inflation Crisis, massive demands for energy have caused rising prices and economic turmoil in parts of the world. Trouble spots such as Nicaragua and other international hot-spots across the world have continued to demand America's needed attention; more just distribution of resources have remained among one of the biggest challenges we're facing as a nation and as citizens of the world. At home, our economic recovery cannot be merely a product of statistics of numbers nor budget surpluses. It's very important that economic booms must include and bearing fruits of all Americans of different backgrounds. And the government can and must provide frameworks ensuring this. At the same time, it can and must NOT intervene in every aspects of our lives all of the time and that means personal lives and economic activity through bureaucratic programs and initiatives. America must resist the growing temptation of big government bureaucracy and it's necessary to returning to basic American virtues.

In just about six days, I will lay down my official responsibilities as the 40th President of the United States, to take up once more the only title in our vibrant democracy more important than of President: And that is the basic title of citizen.

Of Vice President Brooke, my Cabinet including the hundreds of others who have served with me during the last twenty-three months, I wish to say now publicly what I have said to them in private: I thank them for the dedication and competence they've brought to their service to our great country. But I also owe my deepest thanks to you, to the American people.

During these twenty-three months, we've faced great challenges together, and we know that future problems will also be difficult. But I am now more convinced than ever that the United States, better than any other country, can meet successfully whatever the future might bring going forward. These last twenty-three months have made me more certain than ever the inner strength of our country, the unchanging value of our principles and ideals, the stability of our political system, the ingenuity and the decency of our people.

Tonight, I would like first to say a few words about this most important office, the Presidency of the United States. This is at once the most powerful office in the world and among the most severely constrained by law and custom. The President is given a broad responsibility to lead but cannot do so without the support and consent of the people, expressed formally through the Congress and informally in many ways through a wide range of public and private institutions. This is as it should be.

Within our system of government, every American has a right and duty to help shaping the future course of the United States of America. Thoughtful criticism and close scrutiny of all government officials by the press and the public are an important part of our democratic society. Now, as in the past, only the understanding and involvement of the people through full and open debate can help to avoiding serious mistakes and assuring the continued dignity and safety of the Nation.

Today, we are asking our political system to do things of which the Founding Fathers never even dreamed of. The government they had designed for a few hundred thousand now serves a nation of just 233 million people in all 51 States. Their small coastal republic now spans beyond a continent, and we also now have the responsibility to help leading much of the world throughout difficult and chaotic times in order to a secure and more prosperous future.

Right now, as people become more ever doubtful of the ability of the Government to dealing with our problems, we are increasingly drawn to single-issue voters, single-issue groups and special interest organizations to ensure that whatever else happens, our own personal views and our own private interests are protected. This is a disturbing factor in American political life. It tends to distort our purposes, because the national interest is not always the sum of all of our single or special interests. We are all Americans together, and we must never forget that the common interest and our individual responsibility.

Due to the fragmented and politically-fractured pressures of these special interests, it's very important that the office of the Presidency must be a strong one and that its constitutional authority must be preserved. The President is the only elected officeholder charged with primary responsibility of representing all of the people. In the moments of decision-making, after the different and conflicting viewpoints have all been aired, it is the President who then must speak to the Nation and for the Nation.

I understand that after two years in this office, as few others can, how formidable is the task for my successor, the incoming 41st President of the United States: Ronald Wilson Reagan, is about to undertake in just six days, and to the very limits of conscience and conviction, I pledge to support him in that task. Join me in wishing him success and Godspeed (rounds of applause).

As I return home to the Commonwealth of Virginia, where I was born and raised, I look forward to the opportunity to reflect and further to assess, I hope with accuracy, the circumstances of our times in this new decade. I intend to give our new President my upmost support, and I intend to work as a private citizen, as I've worked here in this office as President, for the values this Nation was founded to secure.

Once again, from the bottom of my heart, I want to express to all of you, the gratitude I feel. Thank you for listening my fellow Americans and farewell."
(Rounds of applause).

President Holton hasn't announced any retirement plans for his post-Presidency besides plans on writing a memoir on his administration's achievements and accomplishments. He will be heading back to Roanoke, Virginia, though the Holton's have bought a home in Kilmarnock, Virginia. Some Holton confidants told the White House Press Corps that he and Jinks plan on remaining permanently in his home State of Virginia. Upon leaving office on January 20, 1981, Linwood Holton will be only one of just two living former Presidents following Richard Nixon (1969-1974).

Vice President Edward W. Brooke, III will be making his post-Vice Presidential plans by practicing law in Washington, DC at the law firm of O'Connor and Hannan including serving as counsel to Csaplar and Bok in Boston, Massachusetts; reports circulate that he and outgoing Second Lady Anne Fleming Brooke along with their son, Edward William Brooke, IV., plan on residing in their Watergate apartment in Washington, DC; hilltop villa on Saint Martin Island and their sweeping farm in Virginia.

Closing Out America is For Lovers
Monday, January 19, 1981
Executive Residence, White House
Washington, DC.​

Holton's final approval rating by Gallup on 25 December 1980 was 71%, the highest job approval rating, officially closing out his Presidency despite some ups and down during his twenty-three months in office in a two year period, he would finish a Presidency of two and a half years. But in the closing weeks of his Presidency, Holton was fairly chipper and energized. He was obviously eager to leave Washington, DC., and return home to the Commonwealth of Virginia to start pondering the next chapter; Jinks, for her part, was making plans on doing philanthropic work around education and civil rights. His Cabinet Secretaries were excited to be looking ahead too; though few of them would be serving in any official roles in the incoming Reagan administration; there was also political comebacks (as was the case for outgoing US Secretary of the Interior Cecil Andrus, who was likely returning to the Idaho Governorship by winning third and fourth terms in 1986 and 1990, totaling 14 years in office overall); corporate boards, think tanks and political organizations were waiting for them to exploring the next chapter and with Holton's exit, it marked the end of the Rockefeller/Holton Era and the beginning of staunch Conservatism with Reagan and Bush; And the continuing dominance of the Republican Party controlling the White House, which continued for 24 years until 1993, when a newer generation of Blue Dog Democrats waiting in the wings for their opportunity finally won the Presidency in 1992 for the first time since 1964, leading to the inauguration of America's 43rd President.

The final holidays in the White House were peaceful for the Holton's, spent with Jinks, their four children and grandchildren for Thanksgiving and Christmas. He continued working non-stop on trying to find diplomatic solutions of resolving the agonizing Nicaraguan Hostage Crisis which dragged on until the moment Reagan took the oath of office as the 41st President on 20 January 1981. The moving trucks were on Pennsylvania Avenue and he already had most of his personal belongings and effects back in Virginia during the Christmas holiday break. His final night was in the Lincoln Bedroom on the evening of January 19th with his beloved Jinks, staring at the ceiling, Jinks asked "What are you thinking about?" Linwood only thought of one thing: "Tomorrow when we're back in the Commonwealth of Virginia!"

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Abner Linwood Holton, Jr., (September 21, 1923-October 28, 2021), was an American politician and attorney, who served as the 40th President of the United States from 1979 to 1981. He previously served as the 61st Governor of Virginia from 1970 to 1974, being the first Republican elected to the Virginia governorship in the 20th Century since Reconstruction and also served as the United States Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford (1974-1975), and was appointed as the 42nd Vice President of the United States in 1975, Holton was overwhelmingly elected to a full four-year term in 1976. Upon the sudden death of President Nelson Rockefeller on January 26, 1979, Holton ascended to the Presidency, becoming the 40th President of the United States finishing out the remainder of Rockefeller's term. Despite the abolishment of the 22nd Amendment and passage of the Stability of American Government Act in 1978 which was signed into law by then-President Rockefeller, Holton was eligible for full terms in 1980, 1984 and possibly 1988, but he decided not to seek a full four-year term in his own right in 1980 and was succeeded by fellow Republican former California Governor Ronald Reagan on January 20, 1981.

Like his governorship in Virginia, Holton's Presidency was staunchly supporting civil rights, integration, and public investment; he continued majority of Rockefeller's policies and pursued major domestic, economic and international policies as well as foreign policy and national defense during his administration. In response to the high cost of energy in the 1970s, Holton signed the Energy Policy Act of 1979 which poured billions of dollars into the completion of nuclear infrastructure, improving transmission lines; enhancing domestic oil and gas production, a piece of legislation which some presidential historians regarded as one of the greatest triumphs of the Holton administration.

His presidency was also marked by the Three Mile Island accident; the Nicaraguan Revolution that ousted Nicaraguan President Anastacio Somoza and his family from power; 1979-81 Nicaraguan Hostage Crisis; 1979 Energy Crisis; Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; the assassination of Republic of Korea President Park Chung-hee on 26 October 1979 by the KCIA; joined in coordinating with Chilean President Captain General Augusto Pinochet in awarding the 1980 Summer Olympics to Santiago.

After leaving office, Holton supported moderate Republicans, including United States Senator John Warner of Virginia. As the Virginia Republican Party was growing increasingly more conservative, however, Holton found himself more in line with the Virginia Democratic Party and endorsed several Democrats for statewide office including his son-in-law, current United States Senator Tim Kaine; Holton also endorsed then-United States Senator Barack Obama of Illinois in the 2008 Presidential election. Holton died of natural causes at his home in Kilmarnock, Virginia on 28 October 2021 at the age of 98, leaving his mark as the nation's oldest-living former President (having surpassed the record on 30 November 2018 following the death of former President George HW Bush). Following State Funeral services in Richmond, Virginia and Washington, DC., Holton was laid to rest with full military honors on 13 November 2021 at Arlington National Cemetery, making him the third US President since Presidents William Howard Taft and John Fitzgerald Kennedy to be buried there.

At the time of his death, Holton was the last surviving former President who had served in World War II; part of the Greatest Generation.

Linwood Holton

40th President of the United States
In office
January 26, 1979-January 20, 1981
Vice President Edward W. Brooke, III
Preceded by Nelson Rockefeller
Succeeded by Ronald Reagan

42nd Vice President of the United States
In office
October 20, 1975-January 26, 1979
President Nelson Rockefeller
Preceded by Nelson Rockefeller
Succeeded by Edward W. Brooke, III

United States Assistant Secretary of State
for Legislative Affairs
In office
February 28, 1974-January 31, 1975
President Richard Nixon (1974)
Gerald Ford (1974-75)
Preceded by Marshall Wright
Succeeded by Robert J. McCloskey

61st Governor of Virginia
In office
January 17, 1970-January 12, 1974
Lieutenant Sargeant Reynolds
Henry Howell
Preceded by Mills Godwin
Succeeded by Mills Godwin
**********Personal Details***************
Born September 28, 1923
Big Stone Gap, Virginia, US
Died October 28, 2021 (aged 98)
Kilmarnock, Virginia, US
Resting Place Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia
Spouse Jinks Rogers (m. 1953)
Children 4 including Anne; Woody; Dwight
Alma mater Washington and Lee University (BS)
Harvard University (LLB)
******Military Service******
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Navy
Years of Service 1942-1969
Rank Captain
Battles World War II
Korean War

​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

COMING UP IN CHAPTER 11 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC
January 20, 1981: Inauguration of Ronald Wilson Reagan as the 41st President of the United States

​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

@Ibanez @The Immortal Watch Dog @Buba @bintananth
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Coming up sometime during the weekend I will be working on Chapter 11 of the American Republic. Here's an outlined sketch of the upcoming installments:
*Inauguration Day: January 20, 1981
(Spoiler Alert: It will be very LONG LOL)
*National and International Headlines: Spring 1981
*Personal PoV's
*Highlights of the Reagan administration's first 100 days
*Entertainment Highlights: This will likely take awhile to get finished.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Chapter 11: Final hours of the Holton Presidency
5:57 AM EST, Tuesday, January 20, 1981
Oval Office, White House
Washington, DC

​

Linwood Holton entered inside the Oval Office for the final time as the 40th President of the United States. Paintings and photographs which marked his time inside this room were already gone. The portrait of Thomas Jefferson which had hung over the fireplace had already been moved. Personal photographs of Jinks; of Anne; of Tayloe; of Woody and of Dwight, had been packed away for his return flight to Richmond.

Looking at the Resolute Desk, Holton reminisced about several key international events marking his two years in office: the death of Reza Mohammed Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran on 12 March 1979; explosive Nicaraguan Revolution that ousted longtime Nicaraguan President Anastacio Somoza Debayle; Nicaraguan Hostage Crisis; Assassination of Republic of Korea President Park Chung-hee on 26 October 1979; attending the 1980 Summer Olympics in Santiago, Chile; Inflation Crisis; Debates over the federal budget government shutdown; US Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan explosive hostage crisis.

As Holton took a deep breath, he began working on a huge stack of papers that were sitting on the desk. Among the huge stack of papers: Pardons and commutions of prison sentences; he analyzed each of the proposed pardons and signed at nearly all of them.

Holton was reading intently the US Justice Department recommendations of pardons: several of whom included several politicians, celebrities and sports figures. Thinking, debating and analyzing each of these as well, leading Holton to pardon them as well.

As the sun began to shine through the windows during the early morning hours of January 20th, Holton had deep reflections: his regrets about missed opportunities of his Presidency such as the failed attempts of getting the Martin Luther King Jr Day Holiday passed, which failed in the United States Senate due to staunch opposition from Southern Democrats and conservative Republicans, who felt the holiday would cost too much money in light of the ongoing economic crisis.

Another reflection of Holton's regrets: naively ignoring the explosive Nicaraguan Hostage Crisis where 25 Americans were sadistically killed in broad daylight during mock trials by the Sandidistas, who ran the Nicaraguan government. Despite an earlier attempt of rescue missions in getting the hostages out, the attempted rescue mission in the Fall of 1979 ended badly, which caused anger and backlash from the American people.

White House Chief of Staff Ann C. Whitman entered the Oval Office and informed President Holton new updates regarding the Nicaraguan Hostage Crisis: "Mr. President, there's new developments in getting the hostages out of Nicaragua." Holton looked up and said, "Now that's wonderful, let me know when Vice President Brooke and Secretaries Wilson and Tower arrive because this new development could be very huge."

Inside the Executive Residence, Jinks Holton was debating on wearing the white and black adorned coated dress that she had worn 11 years earlier when she became First Lady of Virginia upon her husband's inauguration as Governor of Virginia. She and Linwood had ate breakfast earlier inside the private quarters of the White House on the 3rd floor before Linwood went downstairs to work on last minute negotiations regarding the Nicaraguan Hostage Crisis.

After signing the final pardon and commutation, knowing full well about the political headache this was due to cause for his incoming successor, Linwood capped his pen tightly, placing it inside his jacket and rose from the Resolute Desk. With his hands in his pockets, he looked around the room, knowing it was time to go.

He neared the door that would take him along the walkway, beside the Rose Garden and to the Residence. Jinks was getting dressed to attend the inauguration because she and Linwood were expecting to welcome the Reagan's in a few hours.

Abner Linwood "Lin" Holton, Jr., knew it was time to go, but even he couldn't grasp the political ramifications of his shocking decision on June 25, 1979 when he announced his bombshell decision of not seeking a full four-year term as President in 1980. His fiscal restraint, aggressiveness of supporting tough-on-crime measures, supporting law enforcement including strong preference of diplomacy in solving international conflicts made out of all the things possible, long-awaited peace in the Middle East between Egypt and Israel although some of their neighbors were scheming to cause trouble, which was going to become problematic for incoming President Reagan.

So Linwood looked once more at the Oval Office, closing his eyes and breathing in deeply inhailing two transformative, hectic and somewhat chaotic years in the most powerful office he had inherited following the shocking sudden death of his massively popular predecessor, Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller on January 26, 1979. Two years of foreign policy hotspots; budget negotiations; bill signings; television addresses and all of the rest; Linwood slowly exhaled before closing the door behind him.

Linwood personally thanked all members of the White House Staff including the butlers, maids, cooks, janitors, personnel employees for welcoming him and his family to the White House; he also gave several of them personal momentos and books.

The time was 7:45 AM when Linwood got dressed wearing a three-piece suit, holding Jinks' hand walking down the stairs as they talked about their retirement plans; Reminiscing about the memories of their time living in the White House, Linwood and Jinks looked at the East Room before walking away for the final time, Whitman entered and said "Mr. President, Mrs. Holton: Vice President and Second Lady Brooke are along with Secretary Wilson and Secretary Tower." Apparently, Linwood decided to do one final negotiating attempt of freeing the American hostages out of Nicaragua.

While Jinks talked to Anne about retirement plans, Linwood was inside the Oval Office once more, desperately working the phones to getting the hostages (US Embassy personnel employees) released from Nicaraguan custody; annoyed with the constant slow-walking by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and the Sandidistas, Secretary Wilson cussed out Ortega on the phone "Would you please stop fucking us around with your dumbass slow-walking bullshit?" Wilson threatened Ortega and his associates with nuclear retaliation.

COMING UP IN CHAPTER 11 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC: Installments on Inauguration Day

 

[Sergeant Foley]

The 49th Presidential Inauguration Ceremonies
Tuesday, January 20, 1981
US Capitol West Front Grounds
Washington, DC

Ronald Wilson Reagan
as the 41st President of the United States
and

George Herbert Walker Bush
as the 44th Vice President of the United States

Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
*United States Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR): Chairman
*United States Senator Howard H. Baker (R-TN)
*United States Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
*United States Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI)
*US Rep. John J. Rhodes (R-AZ)
*US Rep. Robert H. Michel (R-IL)
*US House Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill (D-MA)
*US Rep. Jim Wright (D-TX)
​

COMING UP THIS WEEK IN CHAPTER 11 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC: The following Installments
* Inauguration Day Highlights
*Reagan sworn in as the 41st President of the United States.
*The Holton's and Brooke's leave the US Capitol West Front Grounds and head to Andrews Air Force Base for the farewell ceremony.
*Inaugural Luncheon and news of the hostages released from Nicaragua.
*Highlights of the Inaugural Parade.
*Personal PoV's

 

[Sergeant Foley]

SCHEDULE OF THE 1981 INAUGURATION PROGRAM
Tuesday, January 20, 1981

President-elect Ronald Reagan and incoming First Lady Nancy Reagan walking through Lafayette Street and heading towards Saint John's Episcopal Church. ​

*9:30 AM EST: Church service at Saint John's Episcopal Church officiated by the Reverend Billy Graham and Reverend Dr. John Moomaw.

*9:55 AM: President-elect Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy along with Vice-President-elect George HW Bush and his wife, Barbara leave Saint John's Episcopal Church. The Reagan's will return to the Blair House.

*10:15 AM: The Reagan's and Bushes expected to arrive at the White House; both outgoing President Linwood Holton and outgoing Vice President Edward W. Brooke, III including their spouses are expected to greet them.

*10:40 AM: US House of Representatives and United States Senate both convene and will immediately recess to walking through the inaugural platform on the US Capitol West Front Grounds.

*11:05 AM: Presidential motorcade will leave the White House for the short trip to the US Capitol, where it'll arrive on the East Front Grounds.

*11:15 AM: Members of the Presidential party will be greeted by the House and Senate Sergeants-at-Arms; President-elect Reagan and outgoing President Holton will be escorted to separate holding rooms.

*11:45 AM: Inauguration Program begins; Marine Corps Band performs music; Invocation.

*11:55 AM: Vice-President-elect Bush will be sworn in as the 44th Vice President of the United States by Supreme Court Associate Justice Potter Stewart; "Hail Columbia" will be played soon afterwards.

*12:00 PM: President-elect Reagan will be sworn in as the 41st President of the United States by Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger. "Hail to the Chief" played by the Marine Corps Band; 21 Cannon Salute will be fired by the Presidential Salute Battery Unit; Inaugural Address by President Reagan.

*12:25 PM: Benediction and National Anthem.

*12:30 PM: Presidential party leaves the platform; the Former President Holton and former Vice President Brooke including their spouses are escorted to the East Front Grounds, where they'll be driven in limousine, which takes them to Andrews Air Force Base in Camp Springs, Maryland: where a final 21 Cannon Salute will be fired and Honor Guard Inspection of the US Armed Forces will occur, which former President Holton will review the troops for the final time before boarding Air Force One, which will take the Holton's to Richmond, Virginia.

Former Vice President Brooke will be taken via train to a private party in the suburbs of Annapolis, Maryland.

*President Reagan will go to a room off the Senate chambers and formally sign papers nominating members of his Cabinet for the United States Senate to confirm.

*1:00 PM: Presidential party attends luncheon with Congressional leaders honoring President Reagan and Vice President Bush inside Statuary Hall of the US Capitol.

*2:00 PM: President Reagan, Vice President Bush and their spouses will leave the Capitol afterwards; enter limousines and joining the Inaugural Parade to the White House.

*4:00 PM: Band Concert and the Inaugural Parade begins that will include marching bands, floats from 51 States as well as other surprises soon.

*9:00 PM: Inaugural Balls being held at the following:
Washington Hilton; Sheraton Washington; Shreham; Kennedy Center; Pension Building; Smithsonian Museum of Natural History; Smithsonian Museum of American History; Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Clock ticking on the Holton Presidency
10:25 AM EST, Tuesday, January 20, 1981
White House
Washington, DC.

The Reagan's arriving at the White House, where the Holton's greeted them.​

Over at the White House, it had become apparent that the Nicaraguans were openly and blatantly stalling including procrastinating, no doubt as a final insult to Holton. "They basically don't know anything about the inaugural schedule," Brooke muttered. TN8 reported earlier in the day that the American hostages were expected to be on a plane leaving Nicaragua at some point in the morning; Scowcroft, now dressed in his formal suit, tried lightening the mood by mimicking a server, "Can I bring you coffee or a pastry?" he asked several Oval Office visitors jokingly.

Around 10:15 AM, Whitman requested that all of the remaining aides leave immediately, saying Holton wanted to have some time alone. Five minutes later at 10:20, he left the Oval Office for the final time closing the door behind him and headed for the living quarters to await the arrival of the Reagan's. His secretary Gertie Ceznon cleared the Resolute Desk and silent stewards moved about stripping the entire Oval Office clean thoroughly.

When the Reagan's arrived, Holton looked completely and utterly exhausted and Jinks' brave smile appeared pasted on. She shook Nancy's hand, but no words beyond hellos were exchanged. During the short motorcade from the White House to the US Capitol East Front Grounds, Holton was on the phone with senior level members of the US State Department, who were doing back-channels with other nations in getting the hostages released; he was gripping the red telephone very tightly before hanging up.

The crowd was estimated at around 150,000 stretching far down Capitol Hill, past the brooding statue of Ulysses S. Grant; past the edge of the great Reflecting Pool. Directly in front of the podium was a huge tiered platform for the instruments of Reagan's true audience: millions of television viewers. While the Marine Corps Band was playing stirring renditions of Yankee Doodle and The Battle Hymn of the Republic, official guests in solemn procession arrived to their respective positions. The United States Senate strode in with Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker in the very front carrying his favorite omnipreium 35-mm camera. Then came Vice President-elect Bush; President Holton and Vice President Brooke came afterwards, when "Hail to the Chief" was played for the last time for Holton, who was being peppered with questions from ABC News' Sam Donaldson about the ongoing developments of the hostages "Not Yet", Holton told Donaldson, who told the ABC News coverage team that the Nicaraguans have snubbed Holton to the very end. Justices of the United States Supreme Court also arrived. Finally to the strings of the United States Army's Herald trumpets playing Jubilant, President-elect Reagan finally arrived on the platform at 11:39 AM EST.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Government Is The Problem: The Inauguration of Ronald Wilson Reagan as the 41st
President of the United States
12:00 PM EST, Tuesday, January 20, 1981
US Capitol West Front Grounds
Washington, DC.

Ronald Wilson Reagan sworn into office as the 41st President of the United States by US Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger. ​

Due to saving money and costs, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies decided back in June 1980, to move the inauguration to the West Front Grounds of the US Capitol. Justifying the move, the committee had calculated that they could use the West Front terraces as an inaugural platform rather than build on from scratch, and that the Mall side of the Capitol would be providing more space for spectators.

Associate Justice Potter Stewart swore in George Herbert Walker Bush as the 44th Vice President of the United States, while his wife, Barbara held the Bible:

"I, George Herbert Walker Bush, do solemnly swear, that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States
against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion;
and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.
So help me God."​

A big round of applause ensues while "Hail Columbia" is played by the United States Marine Corps Band, while Vice President George HW Bush and Second Lady Barbara Bush wave to the crowd. Soon afterwards, the United States Marine Corps Band then played "God of Our Fathers".

At 11:59 AM EST, Ronald Wilson Reagan raise his right hand, placed his left hand on the Reagan family Bible (which Nancy was holding), open to 2 Chronicles 7:14, being sworn into office as the 41st President of the United States by US Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger

"I, Ronald Wilson Reagan, do solemnly swear, that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States,
and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God."​

Soon afterwards, the United States Marine Corps Band played the Presidential Anthem "Hail to the Chief" while the Presidential Salute Battery Unite fired the traditional 21 Cannon Salute. Former President Holton and former Vice President Brooke both congratulated the Reagan's before walking back to their designated seats. The Cannons were still firing very loudly once the music stopped, before Senator Hatfield introduced President Reagan, who delivered his Inaugural Address.

President Reagan: "Senator Hatfield, Mr. Chief Justice, President Holton, Vice President Bush, Vice President Brooke, Senator Baker, Speaker O'Neill, Reverend Moomaw, and my fellow citizens:

To a few of us here today this is a solemn and most momentous occasion, and yet in the history of our nation it is a commonplace occurrence. The orderly transfer of authority as called for in the Constitution routinely takes place, as it has for almost two centuries, and few of us stop to think how unique we really are. In the eyes of many in the world, this every 4-year ceremony we accept as normal is nothing less than a miracle.

Mr. President, I want our fellow citizens to know how much you did to carry on this tradition. By your gracious cooperation in the transition process, you have shown a watching world that we are a united people pledged to maintaining a political system which guarantees individual liberty to a greater degree than any other, and I thank you and your people for all your help in maintaining the continuity which is the bulwark of our Republic.

The business of our nation goes forward. These United States are confronted with an economic affliction of great proportions. We suffer from the longest and one of the worst sustained inflations in our national history. It distorts our economic decisions, penalizes thrift, and crushes the struggling young and the fixed-income elderly alike. It threatens to shatter the lives of millions of our people.

Idle industries have cast workers into unemployment, human misery, and personal indignity. Those who do work are denied a fair return for their labor by a tax system which penalizes successful achievement and keeps us from maintaining full productivity.

But great as our tax burden is, it has not kept pace with public spending. For decades we have piled deficit upon deficit, mortgaging our future and our children's future for the temporary convenience to the present. To continue this long trend is to guarantee tremendous social, cultural, political and economic upheavals.

You and I, as individuals, can, by borrowing, live beyond our means, but only for a limited period of time. Why, then, should we think that collectively, as a nation, we're not bound by that same limitation? We must act today in order to preserve tomorrow. And let there be no misunderstanding: We are going to begin to act, beginning today.

The economic ills we suffer have come upon us over several decades. They will not go away in days, weeks, or months, but they will go away. They will go away because we as Americans have the capacity now, as we've had in the past, to do whatever needs to be done to preserve this last and greatest bastion of freedom.

In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. From time to time we've been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. Well, if no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else? All of us together, in and out of government, must bear the burden. The solutions we seek must be equitable, with no one group singled out to pay a higher price.

We hear much of special interest groups. Well, our concern must be for a special interest group that has been too long neglected. It knows no sectional boundaries or ethnic and racial divisions, and it crosses political party lines. It is made up of men and women who raise our food, patrol our streets, man our mines and factories, teach our children, keep our homes, and heal us when we're sick------professionals, industrialists, shopkeepers, clerks, cabbies, and truck-drivers. They are, in short, "We the people," this breed called Americans.

Well, this administration's objective will be healthy, vigorous, growing economy that provides equal opportunities for all Americans with no barriers born of bigotry or discrimination. Putting America back to work means putting all Americans back to work. Ending inflation means freeing all Americans from the terror of runaway living costs. All must share in the productive work of this "new beginning," and all must share in the bounty of a revived economy. With the idealism and fair play which are the core of our system and our strength, we can have a strong and prosperous America, at peace with itself and the world.

So, as we begin, let us take inventory. We are a nation that has a government------not the other way around. And this makes us special among the nations of the Earth. Our government , which shows signs of having grown beyond the consent of the governed.

It is my intention to curb the size and influence of the Federal establishment and to demand recognition of the distinction between the powers granted to the Federal Government and those reserved for the States or to the people. All of us need to be reminded that the Federal Government did not create the States; the States created the Federal Government.

Now, so there will be no misunderstanding, it's not my intention to do away with government. It is rather to make it work------work with us, not over us; to stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it.

If we look to the answer as to why for so many years we achieved so much, prospered as no other people on Earth, it was because here in this land we unleashed the energy and individual genius of man to a greater extent than has ever been done before. Freedom and the dignity of the individual have been more available and assured here than in any other place on Earth. The price for this freedom at times has been high, but we have never been unwilling to pay that price.

It is no coincidence that our present troubles parallel and are proportionate to the intervention and intrusion in our lives that result from unnecessary and excessive growth of government. It is time for us to realize that we're too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams. We're not, as some would have us believe, doomed to an inevitable decline. I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I do believe in a fate on us if we do nothing. So, with all the creative energy at our command, let us begin an era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength. And let us renew our faith and our hope.

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there not heroes, they just don't know where to look. You can see heroes every day going in and out of factory gates. Others, a handful in numbers, produce enough food to feed all of us and then the world beyond. You meet heroes across a counter, and they're on both sides of that counter. There are entrepreneurs with faith in themselves and faith in an idea who create new jobs, new wealth and opportunity. They're individuals and families whose taxes support the government and whose voluntary gifts support church, charity, culture, art, and education. Their patriotism is quiet, but deep. Their values sustain our national life.

Now, I have used the words "they" and "their" in speaking of these heroes. I could say "you" and "your," because I'm addressing the heroes of whom I speak------you, the citizens of this blessed land. Your dreams, your hopes, your goals, are going to be the dreams, hopes, and goals of this administration, so help me God.

We shall reflect the compassion that is so much a part of your makeup. How can we love our country and not love our countrymen; and loving them, reach out a hand when they fall, heal them when they're sick, and provide opportunity to make them self-sufficient so they will be equal in fact and not just in theory?

Can we solve the problems confronting us? Well, the answer is an unequivocal and emphatic "Yes." To paraphrase Winston Churchill, I did not take the oath I've just taken with the intention of presiding over the dissolution of the world's strongest economy.

In the days ahead I will propose removing the roadblocks that have slowed our economy and reduced productivity. Steps will be taken aimed at restoring the balance between the various levels of government. Progress may be slow, measured in inches and feet, not miles, but we will progress. It is time to reawaken this industrial giant, to get government back within it's means, and to lighten our punitive tax burden. And these will be our first priorities, and on these principles there will be no compromise.

On the eve of our struggle for independence a man who might have been one of the greatest among the Founding Fathers, Dr. Joseph Warren, president of the Massachusetts Congress, said to his fellow Americans, "Our country is in danger, but not to be despaired of...... On you defend the fortunes of America. You are to decide the important questions upon which rests the happiness and the liberty of millions yet unborn. Act worthy of yourselves."

Well, I believe we, the Americans of today, are ready to act worthy of ourselves, ready to do what must be done to ensure happiness and liberty for ourselves, our children, and our children's children, and as we renew ourselves here in our own land, we will be seen as having greater strength throughout the world. We will again be the exemplar of freedom and a beacon of hope for those who do not now have freedom.

To those neighbors and allies who share our freedom, we will strengthen our historic ties and assure them of our support and firm commitment. We will match loyalty with loyalty. We will strive for mutually beneficial relations. We will not use our friendship to impose on their sovereignty, for our own sovereignty is not for sale.

As for the enemies of freedom, those who are potential adversaries, they will be reminded that peace is the highest aspiration of the American people. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it; we will not surrender for it, now or ever.

Our forebearance should never be misunderstood. Our resilience for conflict should not be misjudged as a failure of will. When action is required to pressure our national security, we will act. We will maintain sufficient strength to prevail if need be, knowing that if we do so we have the best chance of never having to use that strength.

Above all, we must realize that no arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have. Let that be understood by those who practice terrorism and prey upon their neighbors.

I'm told that tens of thousands of prayer meetings are being held on this day, and for that I'm deeply grateful. We are a nation under God, and I believe God intended for us to be free. It would be fitting and good, I think, if on each Inaugural Day in years it should be declared a day of prayer.

This is the first time in our history that this ceremony has been held, as you've been told, on this West Front of the Capitol. Standing here, one faces a magnificent vista, opening up on this city's special beauty and history. At the end of this open mall are these shrines to the giants on whose shoulders we stand.

Directly in front of me, the monument to a monumental man, George Washington, father of our country. A man of humility who came to greatness reluctantly. He led America out of revolutionary victory into infant nationhood. Off to one side, the stately memorial to Thomas Jefferson. The Declaration of Independence flames with his eloquence. And then, beyond the Reflecting Pool, the dignified columns of the Lincoln Memorial. Whatever world understand in his heart the meaning of America will find it in the life of Abraham Lincoln.

Beyond there monuments to heroism is the Potomac River, and on the far share the sloping hills of Arlington National Cemetery, with its row upon row of simple white markers bearing crosses or Stars of David. They add up to only a tiny fraction of the price that has been paid for our freedom.

Each one of these markers is a monument to the kind of hero I spoke of earlier. Their lives ended in places called Bellevu Wood, The Argonne, Omaha Beach, Salerno, and halfway around the world on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Pork Chop Hill, the Chosin Resevoir, and in a hundred rice paddies and jungles of a place called Vietnam.

Under one such marker lies a young man, Martin Treptow, who left his job in a small barbershop in 1917 to go to France with the famed Rainbow Division. There, on the western front, he was killed trying to carry a message between battalions under heavy artillery fire.

We're told that on his body was found a diary. On the flyleaf under the heading, "My Pledge," he had written these words: "America must win this war. Therefore I will work, I will save, I will sacrifice, I will endure, I will fight cheerfully and do my up most, as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on me alone."

The crisis we are facing today does not require of us the kind of sacrifice that Martin Treptow and so many thousands of others were called upon to make. It does require, however, our best effort and our willingness to believe in our capacity to perform great deeds, to believe that together with God's help we can and will resolve the problems which now confront us.

And after all, why shouldn't we believe that? We are Americans.

God bless you and thank you."

(Rounds of applause)

​

COMING UP IN CHAPTER 11 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC:
Upcoming Installments:
*The Holton's and Brooke's leave Washington, DC.
*Personal PoV's: National
*Hostages flown out of Nicaragua.
*Inaugural Luncheon inside Statuary Hall of the US Capitol.
*The Inaugural Parade and the Inaugural Balls.
*Infighting inside the Democratic Party.
*National and International Headlines (Spring 1981)

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Special Air Mission 40 takes the Holton's back to Virginia
Tuesday, January 20, 1981
Andrews Air Force Base
Camp Springs, Maryland
​

While the Reagan's were going to lunch at the Statutory Hall of the US Capitol in Washington, DC., over at Andrews Air Force Base in Camp Springs, Maryland: the limousine carrying former President Linwood Holton, former First Lady Jinks Holton, former Vice President Edward W. Brooke, III and former Second Lady Anne Brooke arrived to a crowd of supporters, who cheered.

Among those in attendance to wish the Holton's goodbye included several members of the Holton Cabinet; senior-level staff members and aides; former White House Chief of Staff Ann C. Whitman including countless others.

The Holton's and Brooke's were escorted to the special red carpet-box platform with make-shift click gates. Almost immediately, the National Anthem "Star-Spangled Banner" was played by the United States Air Force Band while the final 21 Cannon Salute was being fired all the while television cameras were filming and airing the Departure Honors Ceremony.

Once the Cannons stopped firing following the end of "Star-Spangled Banner", then came the final reviewing of the troops for former President Holton to do, which he did. Following the end of the Departure Honors Ceremony, Holton held a farewell ceremony on the airfield of Andrews Air Force Base and thanked the servicemen and servicewomen for their service to the US Armed Forces; After shaking hands with members of the Holton administration including supporters from the crowd, the Holton's boarded Special Air Mission 40, which flew them back to Richmond, Virginia.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: 57 AMERICAN HOSTAGES RELEASED; FLOWN TO FRANCE

​

During the Congressional Luncheon inside the Statuary Hall of the US Capitol, President Reagan was about to have lunch with congressional leaders following the inauguration, he was informed that the planes carrying the 57 American hostages had left Nicaraguan airspace. It was during the Congressional Luncheon, Reagan broke the news to everyone saying: "With thanks to Almighty God, I have been given a tag line, the get-off line, that everyone wants for the end of a toast or a speech, or anything else. Some 30 minutes ago, the planes bearing our prisoners left Nicaraguan airspace, and they're now free of Nicaragua."

The hostages were flown on an Air Algeria Boeing 727-200 commercial airliner from Managua, Nicaragua to Paris, France, where they were formally transferred to former US Deputy Secretary of State Charles W. Robinson, the official US representative, which was seen as a symbolic gesture of appreciation for the French government's help in resolving the long international crisis. The flight continued to the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France and onward to the American Hospital of Paris, where former President Holton, acting as a special envoy, would receive them on January 22nd.

Following medical check-ups and debriefings, the 57 American hostages made a second flight to a refueling stop in London, United Kingdom, where they were greeted by large crowds. The released hostages were then flown to Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York State; From there, they were traveling via bus to the United States Military Academy at West Point; staying at the Thayer Hotel for three days, where they received a large heroes' welcome parade along the parade route. 10 days following their release, they were given a large ticker-tape parade through the heart of the Canyon of Heroes in New York City, New York State.

INAUGURAL PARADE FESTIVITIES

​

Escorted by United States Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR), the chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies including committee members, President Reagan, Vice President Bush and their spouses walked to the East Front of the US Capitol. Accompanying the 41st President was US Army Major General Robert Arter, Commanding General of the US Army Military District of Washington; the reviewing of the Military Escort took place.

Soon afterwards, President and First Lady Reagan went inside the Presidential limousine, when at 2:58 PM EST, the Presidential motorcade motored from the US Capitol East Front Grounds to the North Portico of the White House, when they arrived on the Inaugural Parade Reviewing Stand to watch the hour-long Inaugural Parade.

Crowds cheering during the Inaugural Parade.

President and First Lady riding inside the Presidential limousine during the Inaugural Parade.

The Reagan's walking toward the Parade Reviewing Stands from the White House on Inauguration Day.
​

INAUGURAL PARADE AND INAUGURAL BALL HIGHLIGHTS:

Inaugural Parade along Pennsylvania Avenue.
​

More than 300,000 people converged onto Pennsylvania Avenue to watch the Inaugural Parade for President Reagan just simply celebrating "The New Beginning", both the parade itself and the freedom of the 57 American hostages and they all did it with absolute and obvious jubilance. However, the parade started only half an hour late and didn't end until somewhere before 5:00 PM EST.

​

Among those participating in the Inaugural Parade: more than 8,000 marchers and musicians; 25 Alaskan sled dogs; 450 equestrian teams; three floats and color guards including gun-carrying marching units from each of the military service branches and their respective academies: Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Air Force.

​

The parade was pure Americana: lively, soulful black marching bands (such as the Southern University and A&M College Human Jukebox Marching Band); Indians in their native dress on horseback; mountain men carrying muskets; and wearing coonskin caps; and patriotic songs such as "This is My Country,"; "God Bless America" and "Anchors Aweigh."

President and First Lady Reagan greeting Ray Charles during the Inaugural Ball festivities at the Sheraton Hotel in Washington, DC.,​

Among the celebrities who attended each of the eight Inaugural Balls later that evening included the following: Elizabeth Taylor-Warren; Hugh O'Brien; Tanya Tucker; Donny and Marie Osmond of the Osmond Family; Les Brown; Lou Rawls; Tony Bennett; Ray Charles; Wayne Newton; the Mills Brothers and Patti Page among other celebrities or musical performers.

​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

The Reagan Administration
Monday, January 26, 1981

President Reagan and his Cabinet: Spring 1981
*US Defense Secretary Henry M. Jackson wasn't able to take the official administration photograph due to being on a foreign trip, so US Defense Deputy Secretary Caspar Weinberger had to sub in for Jackson.​

*President: Ronald Reagan (R-CA)
*Vice President: George HW Bush (R-TX)
*Secretary of State: Alexander Haig (R-VA)
*Secretary of the Treasury: Donald Regan (R-VA)
*Secretary of Defense: Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson (D-WA St)
*Attorney General: William French Smith (R-CA)
*Secretary of the Interior: James G. Watt (R-WY)
*Secretary of Agriculture: John Rusling Block (R-IL)
*Secretary of Commerce: Malcolm Baldrige, Jr., (R-CT)
*Secretary of Labor: Raymond J. Donovan (R-NJ)
*Secretary of Health and Human Services: Richard Schweiker (R-PA)
*Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Samuel Pierce (R-NY St)
*Secretary of Transportation: Drew Lewis (R-PA)
*Secretary of Energy: James Burrows Edwards (R-SC)
*Secretary of Education: Terrel Bell (R-UT)
*Director of the Office of Management and Budget: David Stockman (R-MI)
*Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: William J. Casey (R-NY St)
*United States Trade Representative: Bill Brock (R-TN)
*Ambassador to the United Nations: Jeane Kirkpatrick (D-NY St)
*Counselor to the President: Edwin Meese (R-CA)
*National Security Advisor: Richard V. Allen (R-CA)
*White House Chief of Staff: James Baker (R-TX)

NEW GALLUP POLLING SURVEY: 30 January 1981
Job Approval of President Ronald Reagan
Approve: 51%
Disapprove: 13%
Undecided: 36%

COMING UP IN CHAPTER 11 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC: Personal PoV's

 

[Sergeant Foley]

......"Seeing the political reality of the situation hit Democrats like a two-by-four. Losing the Presidency for the fourth consecutive Presidential election in a row is one thing, but oh my freaking God! We lost control of the United States Senate with 12 Senate seats: Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin, all flipping to the Republicans in 1980 plus losing Governorships in Arkansas, Missouri, North Dakota including several State Legislatures as well.

Speaking of the Senate: It really hit us when we lost another Senate seat again in Washington when Jackson resigned after being confirmed as President Reagan's US Secretary of Defense; that gave Washington Governor John Spellman, an opportunity to appoint former US Ambassador to the United Nations Daniel J. Evans as the new United States Senator with a special election set in a few months.

The Republicans were on the offense especially in the United States Senate with more opportunities to flip more Senate seats with the 1982 Midterms coming up. Knowing that Senator Wilder of Virginia was going to be heavily targeted by Republicans made us nervous and with good reason."
-Excerpt from "The Rough Patch for the Democratic Party: How to navigate in a Conservative Political Realignment of American Politics"
Summer 1983.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERTS: WHITE FORMING EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE IN ANTICIPATION OF SEEKING TEXAS GOVERNORSHIP IN 1982

*Friday, January 30, 1981: United States Senator Mark W. White, Jr., (D-TX) has announced the formation of an exploratory committee on possibly campaigning for the Texas Governor's Mansion in 1982 against incumbent Texas Governor William P. Clements, Jr., (R) setting up a nationally-watched battle royal inside the Lone Star State.

This comes after Texas Lieutenant Governor William P. Hobby, Jr., (D) announced he plans on seeking reelection to a fourth term in 1982, "My focus is staying put as Lieutenant Governor. The people of Texas need me to stay here." Hobby said during a press conference. Reports also mentioned Texas State Comptroller of Public Accounts Bob Bullock (D) chose not to enter the 1982 Texas gubernatorial election, preferring to seek reelection.

Senator White will likely be facing a crowded Democratic Party gubernatorial primary with Texas Commissioner of General Land Office Bob Armstrong (D) and Texas Railroad Commissioner Buddy Temple (D) launching respective campaigns for the Governorship as well.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

New Beginnings

​

"We've got to get control of the federal budget. It's out of control."

-President Ronald Reagan during first Cabinet meeting
21 January 1981
​

In the presidential election campaign, Reagan had pledged himself to achieving a balanced federal budget, one-third reductions in income taxes, and increased spending for national defense. He was determined to making good on these promises. In order to do so, it would have to require strong, severe pruning of government expenditures.

The Gipper's landslide victory on 4 November 1980 in the Presidential election had won Republicans control of the United States Senate, but Democrats still held their majority in the US House of Representatives. So realizing that divided government on the congressional level was going to remain throughout his Presidency, Reagan figured out that in order to win passage of his program in Congress, the President knew it was necessary to lobby, cajole, threaten and bargain with members of the Democratic Party including the Conservative Democrats in the House as well as those remaining Conservative Democrats in the United States Senate.

Delivering his first State of the Union Address before a Joint Session of Congress on 18 February 1981, President Reagan detailed his four-point economic plan. Among the following, it included:
*Reduction of $41.4 billion in the 1982 budget (which Reagan had inherited from the Holton administration), largely in social service programs, but affecting all government departments and agencies except national defense.
*Next, Reagan asked for an across-the-board 30% cut in income taxes to be phased in at 10% each year for three years while at the same time stimulating capital spending by business through more liberal depreciation tax write-offs.
*Third, Reagan pushed for elimination and reforming "inefficient and burdensome" government regulations.
*Fourth, Reagan called for national monetary policy to curbing inflation by slowing down the growth of the money supply. Although he called his economic plan, "America's New Beginning: A Program for Economic Recovery," it was dubbed Reaganomics.

Less than two months later: 30 March 1981, President Reagan narrowly escaped death when he was shot outside the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC during an assassination attempt.

However, White House Press Secretary James Brady wasn't so lucky as he was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene; The shooter, John W. Hinckley, Jr., who later claimed to be insane, also wounded an agent of the US Secret Service and a Metro Washington DC Police Department police officer including several others. "Honey, I forgot to duck," Reagan told his wife, Nancy as she rushed to the hospital where he was being treated. The rapid recovery and good humor expressed in other quips such as telling the surgeons "I hope you're all Republicans" helped allay whatever fears the American people had that his age (Reagan had turned 70 on February 6th) might've been seen as a handicapping factor in dealing with the strong rigours of the Presidency.

By repeatedly standing with his principles he believed in despite political pressures to modify them, Reagan doubled-down on his values and beliefs.

Examples of his strong firmness took place in his first year in office when 12,000 federal air traffic controllers began striking in August 1981. Their reasoning was demanding higher pay in order to shutting down majority of the nation's airports despite federal law forbidding them of striking, plus they were warned explicitly by the President that the air traffic controllers would lose their jobs if they continued to persist.

Reagan ordered the strikers fired immediately and doubled-down on refusing to rehiring them despite pleas from labor union leaders, who organized huge protest demonstrations in the nation's capital city that September.

Recognition of the growing roles of women in public life, President Reagan appointed the first female Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court when a vacancy occured in 1981. Sandra Day O'Connor, who served as an Arizona state appeals court judge, was overwhelmingly confirmed by the United States Senate. He also appointed Antonin Scalia to the US Supreme Court including tapping Associate Justice William Rehnquist, who replaced Burger as Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court.

However, there were some rough patches for the Reagan administration. In the later part of 1981, the national economy slid downward into its eighth recession since the end of World War II. During the next two years, unemployment skyrocketed to more than 10 million workers------the highest rate of unemployment since the Great Depression.

During the 1982 Midterms, Democrats blasted Reaganomics on the campaign trail blaming it for the economic recession while once again, President Reagan doubled-down in remaining confident by declaring his economic policies soon will turn around the economy. While Republicans held onto control of the United States Senate (they flipped two Senate seats in Neada with longtime incumbent Democrat Howard Cannon losing reelection and in Virginia with Democrat L. Douglas Wilder's stunning retirement); while Democrats flipped Senate seats in New Mexico and New Jersey. Democrats expanded their majority in the US House of Representatives by winning additonal 37 House seats. On the US State/Territory Governorships, Democrats flipped the following governorships in Nevada, Arkansas, Guam, Nebraska, Ohio, Alaska, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Texas; Republicans only flipped just New Hampshire and California.

COMING UP THIS WEEK IN CHAPTER 11 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC:
* National and International Headlines from Spring 1981.
*Personal PoV's: Spring 1981.
*Sports Headlines: 1980 NFL Season; 1980 College Football Bowl Games.
*Foreign Policy priorities of the Reagan Administration.
*Highlights of ROK President Chun Doo-hwan visiting the United States from 28 January to 6 February 1981.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

HIGH COURT DECIDED STATES CAN PERMIT TELEVISING OF COURTROOM TRIALS
*Monday, January 26, 1981: In Chandler vs. Florida, the US Supreme Court ruled in 8-0 decision that it wasn't a denial of due process to allowing television coverage of courtroom proceedings.

570 REPORTEDLY DEAD DUE TO SHIP SINKING IN JAVA SEA
*Tuesday, January 27, 1981: An estimated 471 passengers on ferry drowned when the Indonesian ship KMP Tampomas II sunk into the Java Sea during storms in the area. Out of the 1,136 passengers and crewmembers, 566 were rescued including 152 who were found in lifeboats days afterwards.

REAGAN SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER HALTING PRICE CONTROLS
*Wednesday, January 28, 1981: US President Ronald Reagan signed Executive Order #12287 which effectively ended all US federal price and allocation controls on gasoline and fuel oil.

MANY DEATHS REPORTED IN PAQUISHA CONFLICT
*The Paquisha War begins between Ecuador and Peru when Ecuadorian forces established an outpost 40 miles (64 km) into territory that had been lost to Peru in 1942.

CHUN MAKES HISTORIC VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES

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*ROK President Chun Doo-hwan and his wife, ROK First Lady Lee Soon-ja begin their historic visit to the United States that began on 28 January 1981 and ended on 6 February 1981. It began with stops in Los Angeles, California (January 28th-29th); New York City, New York State (January 30th-31st); Washington, DC (February 1st-3rd) and Honolulu, Hawaii (February 4th-6th). Highlighting Chun's visit included a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim at the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday then a historic meeting with US President Ronald Reagan at the White House on Monday.

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BREAKING NEWS ALERT: SUAREZ RESIGNS AS PRIME MINISTER OF SPAIN
*Thursday, January 29, 1981: Spanish Prime Minister Adolfo Suarez shocked the nation announcing his resignation and departure from his political party, the UCD.

SOUTH AFRICAN TROOPS RAMPAGE INTO MOZAMBIQUE
*Friday, January 30, 1981: Comnandos from the South African Defence Force (SADF) crossed into Mozambique and attacked the town of Matola in a violent raid against three houses occupied by members of the African National Congress (ANC). Operation Beanbag killed 15 ANC members and a Portuguese technician.

VIETNAM VETERANS PARADE IN SHADOW OF 57 HOSTAGES RELEASE
*Saturday, January 31, 1981: The first parade honoring veterans of the Vietnam War was organized by the veterans themselves in Indianapolis, Indiana; eight years following the end of the Vietnam War conflict.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

SPORTS HEADLINES: 1980 NFL SEASON
RAIDERS THROTTLE EAGLES 27-10; WIN SECOND SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP

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*Sunday, January 25, 1981: The Oakland Raiders made history becoming the first NFL team to go from the Wild Card Playoff team to winning the Super Bowl; this is the Raiders' second Super Bowl Championship in franchise history.

The first playoff game for the Raiders began with an AFC Wild Card Playoff match-up against the Houston Oilers, throttling them by a score of 27-7. Following that win, the next playoff game was against the Cleveland Browns in the AFC Divisional Playoff, where the Raiders defense held off the Browns offense via interception from Raiders defensive back Mike Davis, who intercepted a pass from Browns quarterback Brian Sipe, who had intended to throw the football to Browns tight end (later future Baltimore Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome) and won the game 14-12, advancing to the AFC Championship facing off against their division rivals, the San Diego Chargers (who won the tie-breaker when both teams had records of (11-5) overall and won the AFC West Division that year) in San Diego.

Offensive firepower dominated this game was the Raiders were outgained in overall yardage: 434-362; the Raiders never committed any turnovers on offense while the same couldn't be said for the Chargers, who coughed up the football three different times. Raiders won the AFC Championship by a final score of 34-27 and advanced to their third Super Bowl berth in franchise history: having lost in 1967 to the Green Bay Packers, but ultimately winning their first Super Bowl Championship in 1976 with the legendary John Madden as their head coach.

Starting the 1980 Season was Raiders quarterback Dan Pastorini, but he got injured, which caused backup quarterback Jimmy Plunkett to stepping in, where he was somewhat of a game-managing quarterback: throwing for 2,300 yards that included 18 touchdowns, but also threw a horrendous 16 interceptions; the leading receivers for the Raiders were Bob Chandler, who had 49 catches with 786 receiving yards including 10 touchdowns; Cliff Branch got 44 catches with 858 receiving yards including 7 touchdowns. The-Running-Backs-By-Committee: Mark van Eeghen and Kenny King combined for 1,600 rushing yards with nine rushing touchdowns.

Many people anticipated this Super Bowl match-up between the Raiders and the Philadelphia Eagles, who had defeated the Raiders in Week 12 during the regular Season.

Philadelphia won 11 out of their first 12 games in the 1980 NFL Season including defeating the Dallas Cowboys along the way before stumbling down the home-stretch that included three losses in their final four games, resulting in losing their season-ending finale to the Cowboys; However, due to the tiebreaker by finishing with the same records (12-4) each; the Eagles won the NFC East Division while the Cowboys had to settle for one of the Wild Card Playoff spots.

Breezing through the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Divisional Playoff 31-16, Philadelphia faced off against the Cowboys for the third time in the NFC Championship Game at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; where they easily defeated Dallas 20-7 advancing to their first Super Bowl berth in franchise history. Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski threw for over 3,500+ passing yards including 27 touchdowns to 12 interceptions; Eagles running back Willie Montgomery rushed for 778 yards with just eight touchdowns, which wasn't impressive at all. In regard to Jaworski's deep threats in the air: Harold Carmichael and Charlie Smith both had 45 catches for 800 receiving yards.

In the highly-watched Super Bowl game aired on NBC from the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana: the Raiders easily throttled Philadelphia by a score of 27-10 to securing their second Super Bowl Championship in franchise history (1976, 1980); Raiders quarterback Jim Plunkett made history becoming the second Heisman Trophy winning quarterback to win Super Bowl Most Valuable Player.

Following the game, the post-game interactions between flamboyant Raiders Owner/General Manager Al Davis and NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle was actually quite civil and respectively cordial. Rozelle praised the Raiders organization, Raiders head coach Tom Flores, Plunkett and the players for making history becoming the first NFL team to go from the Wild Card to Super Bowl Champions.

With the victory, Raiders Head Coach Tom Flores made history becoming the first minority head coach in professional football history to winning a Super Bowl; Plunkett also made history as well, becoming the first minority NFL quarterback to win a Super Bowl championship and as of today, the only Latino quarterback being named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player.

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