Alternate History ðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸ November 2, 1976: President Nelson Rockefeller wins election to full 4-year term and the aftermath

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Chapter 5: State Visits of President Rockefeller (Part I)

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESIDENT ROCKEFELLER VISITING VENEZUELA, BRAZIL, NIGERIA AND LIBERIA
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President Nelson Rockefeller and First Lady Happy Rockefeller boarding Marine One on the White House South Portico Grounds.

*March 28-29, 1978 (Venezuela: Caracas):
President Rockefeller met with Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez upon arriving at the Simon Bolivar Airport in Caracas. There, he was given Keys to the City and spent the night at La Casona (Residence of the Venezuelan President) via personal invitation of President Perez.

Rockefeller then laid a wreath at the gravesite of the late Venezuelan liberator Simon Bolivar. On March 29th, Rockefeller and Perez signed a Maritime boundary agreement between the United States and Venezuela; he also delivered a major address before a joint session of the Venezuelan National Congress.

*March 29-31, 1978 (Brazil: Brasilia; Rio de Janeiro):
Arriving in Brasilia almost immediately from Caracas, President Rockefeller met with Brazilian President General Ernesto Geisel at the airport: where Arrival Honors were rendered including the 21 Cannon Salute as well as the National Anthems of the United States and Brazil being played respectively; President Rockefeller reviewed the troops of the Brazilian Armed Forces during the Honor Guard Inspection.

Once the Arrival Honors Ceremony was finished, hundreds of Brazilians lined up the highways and streets as the Presidential motorcade drove past them all the way toward Palacio da Alvorada (Residence of the Brazilian President): where Rockefeller and Geisel held a joint press conference.

In his speech later that evening during the State Banquet at Palacio da Alvorada in Brasilia, Rockefeller called for a willingness for both countries to "recognize our own limitations, and to speak to each other frankly and witg sincere, honest understanding." The President recognized Brazil as a "truly great power" that has "earned the admiration of people everywhere in the world, but nowhere more so than in the United States."

On March 30th, Rockefeller delivered a speech before Joint Session of the Brazilian National Congress where he said that only a partnership between industralized countries and the developing nations of the Third World could create an international system "in which each individual and each nation has the hope of a better future." Rockefeller also declared the United States "is eager to work with you to shape a many just international economic and political order."

Later that afternoon, Rockefeller flew to Rio de Janeiro where he had scheduled meetings with Roman Catholic Cardinals Paulo Evarsio Arns, the Archbishop of Sao Paulo and Eugenio Sales of Rio.
 
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Chapter 5: State Visits of President Rockefeller (Part II)

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
MAKING HISTORY: PRESIDENT ROCKEFELLER VISITS NIGERIA AND LIBERIA, MAKING HIM FIRST US PRESIDENT TO VISIT AFRICA

*(March 31-April 3, 1978) Nigeria (Lagos):
President Rockefeller became the first US President ever in making an official state visit to Africa. He was greeted upon his arrival from Brasilia during the evening hours of March 31st at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport by Nigerian President Lieutenant General Olusegun Obasanjo.

During the Arrival Honors festivities, a small Nigerian girl handed Rockefeller a bouquet of flowers and the President leaned down to shake her hand. Following Welcoming speeches by Rockefeller and Obasanjo, the President was driven immediately from the airport to State House on the marina of Lagos Island, where Rockefeller and the official American party of dignitaries are going to be staying during their three-day visit.

Along the half-hour motorcade route, thousands of Nigerians lined up the highway in the pre-midnight darkness, shouting "Horray Rockefeller" waving signs reading "Welcome Rockefeller."

*(April 3-6, 1978): Liberia (Monrovia):
President Rockefeller's final trip on the Latin America/Africa Tour was in Liberia when Air Force One arrived at Robertsfield Airport and the Rockefeller's were welcomed by Liberian President William R. Tolbert, Jr., and other Liberian government officials.

Largest crowds lined up the 35-mile motorcade route in catching glimpse of Rockefeller during his three-day visit. Rockefeller's visit in Liberia was the first-ever State Visit by an American President to the West African nation founded 130 years ago by freed American slaves.

US First Lady Happy Rockefeller and Liberian First Lady Victoria Tolbert had lunch in one room of the Executive Mansion (Residence of the Liberian President) while their husbands dined in another room. Nelson Rockefeller, Jr., and Mark Rockefeller were guests of 11 Liberian children including five of Tolbert's grandchildren in a tea session on the grounds of the Executive Mansion.
 
Chapter 5: National and International Headlines (Spring 1978: Part III)

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
*April 7, 1978: US President Nelson Rockefeller signed into law a bill giving most employees of state and city governments and those in private industries the option of retiring at the age of 70 instead of the current mandatory age of 65.

*In the first national elections permitted by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos since his imposition of Martial Law (Proclamation #1081) on September 23, 1972, Filipinos were allowed to elect 165 members of the Philippine National Assembly.

*April 10, 1978: US Attorney General Edward W. Brooke, III announced federal grand jury indictments of three former high-ranking officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation: Patrick Gray, III; W. Mark Felt and Edward Miller, former chief of the FBI's Counterintelligence Section, were accused of violating the 4th Amendment.

*April 17, 1978: The NYSE set new volume record when 63.5 million shares exchanged hands in hectic Monday trading.

*April 13-29, 1978: US Vice President Linwood Holton begins a 13-nation tour which will include visits in Taiwan, Japan, Republic of Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Marshall Islands, Palau, Indonesia, Chile and Argentine Republic.

*April 16, 1978: US Secretary of Defense John G. Tower visited West Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, United Kingdom and Italy meeting with counterparts discussing the objectives of strong national defense including the challenges facing both Europe and the United States. Tower also addressed the European Commission and NATO during his six-day visit to Europe.

*April 25, 1978: South African Prime Minister BJ Vorster announced that his government was willing to grant independence to Nambia following a formula worked out in the UN Security Council by Canada, France, Great Britain, West Germany and the United States.
 
More State Visits

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
BREAKING NEWS ALERT: PRESIDENT ROCKEFELLER SET TO VISIT ARGENTINE REPUBLIC IN SPRING 1979; DETAILS BEING WORKED OUT .

*Tuesday, May 6, 1978: In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, US Ambassador to the United Nations Daniel J. Evans confirmed that President Rockefeller will be making a State Visit to the Argentine Republic early next year, but details still being worked out on logistical issues between American and Argentinian government officials.

Accompanying the President for the upcoming State Visit: First Lady Happy Rockefeller, US Secretary of State Malcolm Wilson, White House Chief of Staff Ann C. Whitman, National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft and several others.
 
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Horrible News out of Italy

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
BREAKING NEWS ALERT: FORMER ITALIAN PRIME MINSTER ALDO MORO FOUND SHOT TO DEATH
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*Friday, May 9, 1978: In a disturbing chaotic event of the 1970s, law enforcement agencies officially confirmed the body they found has been identified as former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro. Reports state the former Italian Prime Minister, who had been held hostage by the Red Brigades for 54 days since the violent ambush on March 16th, was given a mock trial by the Red Brigades and reportedly was told "he was going to be freed" by the terrorist group, who put him into a wicker basket and brought him to the parking garage of their base in via Montalcini.

Sources from Italian television news stations reported the former Italian Prime Minister was then placed into the trunk of a red Renault, and once they covered him with a red sheet, Moro was shot ten times according to eyewitnesses who heard gunshots in the neighborhood. Once the terrorists were finished, they left Moro's body in the trunk of the Renault 4 on Via Michaelangelo Caetani towards the Tiber River near the Roman Ghetto.

Following the recovery of Moro's body, Interior Minister Francesco Cossiga was forced to resign due to backlash. Back in Washington, President Rockefeller issued an official statement offering his condolences to Moro's family and the Italian people on the former Prime Minister's assassination, "The American people and the world is shocked by a heinous, disgusting act of violence that has rocked not only Italy, but the world. My heartfelt condolences to Eleonora Chiavarelli and the Moro family during this difficult time."
 
Chapter 5: Ford Presidential Center opens in Grand Rapids

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
LATE PRESIDENT GERALD R. FORD BURIED IN PRIVATE RE-INTERMENT CEREMONY AT THE GERALD R. FORD PRESIDENTIAL MUSEUM
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*May 25, 1978: Just days following the dedication festivities of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum on the campus of Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan., senior high-ranking officials of the Ford Presidential Museum confirmed that the body of the late 38th President was exhumed from Woodlawn Cemetery and entombed in a private ceremony attended only by the Ford family and close friends including several former Ford Cabinet Secretaries during the late evening hours of May 25th. Reports circulate among those in attendance: President Rockefeller, US Transportation Secretary William Coleman, US Housing and Urban Development Secretary Carla Anderson Hills and former US Interior Secretary Stanley K. Hathaway.
 
Chapter 5: Higlights of the Rockefeller administration

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
Deregulation bills signed by President Rockefeller

*Tuesday, May 27, 1978: In the later part of May, President Rockefeller continued wracking up more wins (because well, Rocky couldn't stop winning non-stop despite the defeat of the Panama Canal negotiations via staunch conservatives who blocked it aggressively), and among the following major pieces of legislation signed by the President:
*Airline Deregulation Act: deregulating air traffic, but doesn't necessarily gut regulatory powers of the Federal Aviation Administration.
*Amendments to the Energy Markets Deregulation Act that President Rockefeller signed back in 1976 in order to increase consumer choice and competition.
*The Banking Deregulation Act (which was pushed by US Treasury Secretary David Rockefeller, the President's younger brother during congressional testimony): this will exclude small banks from provisions of the Glass-Steagall Act.

These bills were introduced in a bipartisan manner despite Democrats controlling both the US House of Representatives and the United States Senate, all of the bills mentioned were passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. US Senate Majority Leader Robert Byrd (D-WV) killed one bill which would've weakened or gutted provisions of the 1963 Clean Air Act, once President Rockefeller announced his intention to veto the bill if it had reached his desk.

New Gallup Polls (May 30, 1978)
Job Approval of President Nelson Rockefeller:

Approve: 76%
Disapprove: 17%

Generic Congressional Ballot for the 1978 Midterm Elections:
Democrats: 55%
Republicans: 43%
 
Latest News coming out on other State Visits

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
BREAKING NEWS ALERTS: PRESIDENT ROCKEFELLER TO VISIT THAILAND, JAPAN, REPUBLIC OF KOREA, SINGAPORE FALL

*May 30, 1978: Close sources at the White House confirmed that President Rockefeller will be making state visits to Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea and Singapore this fall according to White House Press Secretary Ron Nessen.

This comes just days after US Ambassador to the United Nations Daniel J. Evans mentioned that Rockefeller is likely making an official state visit to the Argentine Republic around early next year. Reports circulate that the expected State Visit will take place somewhere around January 15-20, 1979.
 
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Chapter 5: 1978 Midterms (The Primaries)

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
STUNNING UPSET: HILL DEFEATS BRISCOE IN HOTLY-CONTESTED DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTION

*Briscoe concedes after determining there's no path in pushing a legal fight through the judicial process.
*Hill's shocking upset win alienates Conservative Democrats, who protest by announcing plans on endorsing Clements in general election.
*Infighting inside Texas Democratic Party exposed huge rifts between conservatives and liberals
*Business community likely backing Clements in general election.

med_res

*Saturday, June 3, 1978: In one of the closely watched runoff elections in the history of Texas politics, Texans watched in complete shock as Texas State Attorney General John Hill (D) defeated incumbent Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe (D) in the nasty Democratic Party gubernatorial primary runoff election.

Returns showed Hill garnering 956,327 votes (50.00%) to Briscoe's 900,773 votes (49.16%). Briscoe's campaign considered having team of lawyers challenging the results by questioning the legality of the votes out of Harris County, Dallas County and Nueces County. These developments delayed the results for hours and despite hardworking efforts, Briscoe concluded there wasn't any hope of overturning the results. On June 4th, Briscoe officially conceded the runoff election to Hill without mentioning his name.

Hill now faces off against former US Defense Secretary William P. Clements, Jr., the Republican nominee in the November general election. However, political analysts worry that ugly and bitter feelings coming out of the primary might result in dividing the Texas Democratic Party.

DB-and-Janey.jpg

Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe (D) concedes.
 
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Upcoming Installments in Chapter 5
Chapter 5: 1978 Midterms (Part I)

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
BREAKING NEWS ALERT: FAMILY OF TEXAS GOVERNOR DOLPH BRISCOE (D) ANNOUNCE THEY'RE ENDORSING CLEMENTS IN GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION
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*June 16, 1978: Less than thirteen days after the bitterly divisive Democratic Gubernatorial Primary Runoff election in which Texas State Attorney General John Hill (D) knocked off incumbent Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe (D) by a narrow margin, ABC 24 KVUE-TV Austin is reporting that several family members of Governor Briscoe announced they'll be endorsing the Republican Party gubernatorial nominee former US Defense Secretary William P. Clements, Jr., in the November general election.

Also endorsing Clements will be the family of the late Texas State Attorney General Crawford Martin (D) and joining in on the Democrats for Clements team: former Texas Governor Preston Smith (D).
 
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Chapter 5: State Visits of President Rockefeller (Part III)

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
*June 16-17, 1978 (Panama: Panama City): President Rockefeller made an official State Visit to the Central American country at the invitation of Panamanian William Alvarez and General Omar Torrijos. He also met informally with Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez; Colombian President Major General Seymour Quintero; Mexican President General Oscar Robles; Costa Rican President Rodrigo Carazo Odio and Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley.

*July 14-17, 1978 (West Germany: Bonn, Wiesbaden-Erbenheim; Frankfurt; West Berlin): President Rockefeller met with West German President Walter Scheel and Chancellor Helmut Schmidt and addressed US and German military personnel.

On July 15th, Rockefeller spoke at the Berlin Airlift Memorial. He then attended the 4th G-7 Summit on July 16th-17th (presumably the last conference Rocky would attend during his presidency) which was held at Palais Schaumburg. Among those in attendance at the 4th G-7 Summit alongside President Rockefeller:
*Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau
*French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing
*West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt
*Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti
*Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda
*British Prime Minister James Callaghan
*European Commission President Roy Jenkins
 
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Upcoming Story in Chapter 5 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
Chapter 5: National and International Headlines (Summer 1978: Part I)

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
*May 20, 1978: Chiang Ching-kuo is inaugurated as the 7th President of Taiwan, replacing Yen Chia-kan, who retired from politics. Chiang, the son of legendary but controversial Taiwanese President Chiang Kai-shek, remained chairman of the ruling Nationalist Party (Kuomintang), also became commander-in-chief of the ROC Armed Forces. Sheih Tung-min, the former Governor of Taiwan, was sworn in as Vice President during the Inauguration festivities at the Presidential Office Building. Sun Yun-suan, who previously served as Economics Minister, was appointed Premier.

*May 21, 1978: Under heavy security, Tokyo's new international airport at Narita opens with the arrival of 23 flights.

*June 1, 1978: The People's Assembly in Egypt voted to approve 13-point legislative measure granting Egyptian President Anwar Sadat the authority to restrict criticism of his policies.

*June 6, 1978: California voters voted overwhelmingly to endorse a state constitutional amendment reducing propert taxes 57%. The outcome was closely followed by the rest of the nation, was generally seen as the beginning of a national tax revolt.

*June 13, 1978: United States Senator L. Douglas Wilder (D-VA) introduces legislation on Ethics Reform, the bill is co-sponsored by United States Senator Juan H. Cinton Garcia (D-MPR..

*June 23, 1978: The military government of Brazil introduced number of constitutional reforms that promised greater, but limited, freedom to the people. Brazilian President Ernesto Geisel no longer enjoyed the dictatorial powers granted him by Institutional Act #5, the authority to suspend Congress, or unlimited power to suspend political rights; but Geisel could still declare a state of emergency without consulting Congress. If new political parties met certain standards of representation, they could be registered. Prior censorship of the press was abolished on June 9th as one of the first reforms, but censorship of radio and television remained in force. In many cases there was no relaxation of restrictive laws.

*June 24, 1978: United States Senator Jimmy Carter (D-GA) visits several countries: Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Costa Rica and Colombia.

*June 25, 1978: Vice President Linwood Holton holds campaign rally for Lamar Alexander (R), who's running for the Tennessee Governor's Mansion.
 
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Chapter 5: Public Relations Campaign of the Crazy Psycho

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
Making the Junta Dictatorship Legitimate!
June 25, 1978
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Argentine Republic President Lieutenant General Jorge Rafael Videla congratulating the Argentinian National Soccer Team after the team won the 1978 World Cup.
A hardcore and severe authoritarian with cold eyes, plus being super evil to the core: it was known to everyone who worked with him or known him, that Videla was NOT a big fan of soccer because he found the sport "dull and pedestrian" as well as interesting only as a "symbol of popular transcendence". He rarely if ever, watched any soccer matches or tournaments because he was too busy exterminating political opponents particularly those on the left whom he viewed as threats to the Argentine Republic including going after the families and friends of political opponents of the Junta's Dirty War. Videla's super evil twisted methods included targets against the following: professional athletes, celebrities, journalists, investigative reporters, foreign news journalists, family members of foreign diplomats and the like.

Despite his hostility to soccer and other sports, Videla seemed to realize how popular soccer was for millions of Argentinians and countless more around the entire world. Videla and the other Junta leaders also figured out that the Argentine Republic had won hosting rights to the World Cup tournament a decade earlier, Videla and several of his closest associates also figured out that hosting the 1978 World Cup during the period of June 1-25, 1978 would give the Junta more legitimacy: continuing to maintain power while crushing any dissent of all levels.

"Hosting the 1978 World Cup can give us prestige on the international stage and make the Junta legitimate in spite of the constant criticism raining down upon us," Videla said. Admiral Emilio Massera agreed, "Holding the tournament will show the world that Argentina is a trustworthy country, capable of carrying out huge projects. And it will help push back against the criticism that is raining on us from around the world." Videla, having stolen the Presidency via military coup against his incompetent predecessor, Isabel Martinez de Peron on March 24, 1976, wasn't going to let anyone or anything ruin this moment of his Presidency. He was determined to, in the words of Michael Corleone, "become legitimate" by any means necessary.

On June 1st, the opening ceremony festivities occurred at Estadio Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires before 67,000 spectators. The marching band announced Videla's entrance in the stadium following a blessing from the Pope delivered by Catholic Cardinal of Argentine Republic, Juan Carlos Aramburu. Before Videla and FIFA President Joao Havelange of Brazil, were going to make their respective speeches, handlers on the pitch released hundreds of white doves. It also helped Videla and the Junta leaders that they had the strong and staunch support of US President Nelson Rockefeller and his administration including many others such as Chilean President General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, Brazilian President General Ernesto Geisel, etc., the staunch support and alliances gave the Junta the legitimacy it needed to maintain power and control the Argentine Republic....for now.



*June 25, 1978: Argentine Republic defeated the Netherlands 3-1 in overtime to capture its first World Cup (Soccer) championship at River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires. An estimated 1,000,000,000 people worldwide watched the event on television. Of the 104 national teams that entered the competition only 16 qualified for the final championship eliminations in the Argentine Republic.
 
Chapter 5: National and International Headlines (Summer 1978: Part II)

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
TRAGIC NEWS: JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, III., OLDER BROTHER OF PRESIDENT NELSON ROCKEFELLER AND FATHER OF WEST VIRGINIA GOVERNOR JAY ROCKEFELLER (D), KILLED IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.
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Sad news has struck the Rockefeller family for the third time in five years: John Davison Rockefeller, III., the older brother of President Nelson Rockefeller and the father of West Virginia Governor Jay Rockefeller (D), was killed on the evening hours of July 10th in a head-on collision of automobiles in Westchester County, New York State. Reports state the collision occurred on a rural road just 12 miles north of New York City near the Rockefeller family estate in Pocantico Hills.

Law enforcement said that a 16-year-old teenager, who was driving the automobile in question that struck Mr. Rockefeller, was also killed in the crash on Route 498, a mile south of Stillman Lane, in the town of Mount Pleasant just shortly before 6:00 PM EST. Rockefeller was riding in the vehicle of his secretary, Monica E. Lesko, 38, who was driving her Ford Mustang, when the accident occurred on a slight curve in the highway, which is known as Bedford Road according to locals.

Mr. Rockefeller is preceded in death by both parents; his only sister, Mrs. Abby Rockefeller Mauze, who died in 1976 (who was the oldest of the six Rockefeller children) and brother, former Arkansas Governor Winthrop Rockefeller (R), who died on February 22, 1973. He is survived by his wife, Blanchette Ferry Hooker; four children: West Virginia Governor John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller, IV (D); Sandra Rockefeller of Boston, Massachusetts; Hope Aldrich of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Alida Dayton of Minneapolis, Minnesota and six grandchildren including three brothers: President Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller; Laurence Rockefeller and US Treasury Secretary David Rockefeller.

*July 3, 1978: The Amazon Co-operation Treaty (ACT) is signed between the following countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.

*July 11, 1978: At least 217 tourists are killed in an explosion of a tanker-truck at a campsite in Costa Daurada, Spain.

*July 21, 1978: Juan Pereda Asbun declared himself President of Bolivia after deposing Bolivian President General Hugo Banzer Suarez in military coup d'etat.
 
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