The Cursed American Presidency

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June 6th-11th, 1977: President Brown visits Canada
President Brown visited neighboring Canada in the third international trip of his Presidency, meeting with flamboyant Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. The leaders met at the Prime Minister's official residence in Ottawa & held a series of bilateral meeting discussions ranging from diplomatic, economic & foreign policy agenda items.

In the evening HRS of June 6th, there was a State Dinner held where Brown & Trudeau delivered remarks on US-Canadian relations throughout the years; ongoing international challenges facing the neighboring countries & paths of moving the USCAN Alliance forward into the future.

On June 7th, Brown delivered a speech before Joint Session of the Canadian House of Commons, which was televised across Canada on CTV.

June 13th, 1977:
BREAKING NEWS: UNITED STATES SENATOR HUBERT H. HUMPHREY (D-MN) COLLAPSES IN SENATE OFFICE
Stunning news from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, United States Senator & former VP Hubert H. Humphrey (D-MN) collapsed inside his Senate office while working on healthcare reform legislation. Reports state the Senator had walked inside his office looking very exhausted & tired.

One of the Senator's staff members tried to give Humphrey water, he turned it down saying he was fine but suddenly felt wobbly before collapsing on the floor in front of horrified & shocked office employees. Immediately, Humphrey was transported to a hospital in Minneapolis for medical treatment but no other details had been known.

June 25th-July 1st, 1977: President Brown, First Lady Ronstadt visit Belgium; Italy; Vatican
President Brown & First Lady Ronstadt went on a stopover visit to Belgium where they met with King Baudoiun & Queen Fabiola at the Royal Palace in Brussels. They spent a few days with the King & Queen. From June 29th-July 1st, President Brown & First Lady Ronstadt went to Italy, where Brown met with Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti & addressed a Joint Session of Parliament; Brown & Ronstadt both met with Pope Paul VI at the Vatican in Vatican City.

 

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August 27th, 1977: Philippines releases 500 prisoners
Military authorities announced the release of 500 prisoners, all imprisoned since the imposition of Martial Law on September 23rd, 1972. Though most were ordinary criminals, 89 had been accused of sedition. Of the 4,700 martial law prisoners reported to be under detention prisons, more than 1,500 had been released.

August 31st, 1977: Gallup Polling Survey
Job Approval for President Jerry Brown (D)
Approve: 39%
Disapprove: 56%
Undecided: 3%

 

[49ersfootball]

THE FOLLOWING SEGMENT WILL BE QUITE NSFW-EROTIC. VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED!

Personal PoV's: Fernanda's Secret Life (Part I)
August 31st, 1977
Somewhere in Greece

Somewhere in the midst of her long international goodwill tour, Mexican First Lady Fernanda Arizmendi was also living a secret life as well from people. Critics, who weren't thrilled of either her or her flamboyant husband, who came to power in a military coup on February 21st, 1973, accused Fernanda of using the goodwill tour of lining both her & her husband's pockets as well as extracting bribes from foreign government officials in exchange for influential diplomatic measures or running her good racket scheme. None of these allegations fazed Fernanda, who chose to ignore them. In fact, Fernanda during her trip in Greece, had lost interest in one of the boring opera plays at one of the main theaters in Athens when she collapsed while sneaking out of her theater private box, when her cousin, Monica Paolla & her husband, Jefferson Saldana (who was one of the close special advisers to the Mexican First Lady) noticed that Fernanda had collapsed. "Let's get you out of here, I'll explain to one of the Greek dignitaries that you had suffered from exhaustion".

Fernanda was shaking, sweating & aching in extreme pain, Monica tried to reassure her cousin, "It'll be alright. Let's take you back through a private entrance to the hotel..." Fernanda interrupted "Take me somewhere in a heavily secluded area where nobody knows where I am, please." Monica obliged & drove all the way to a heavily secluded area in small beach town in Southern Greece, where Monica helped Fernanda out of the vehicle. It was 9:00 PM in the evening & Fernanda was sweating profusely, they walked inside the private cabin, where after walking into the bedroom: Fernanda felt water splashing between her legs, she was pregnant (as the result of one of her secret sex escapades: more on that later in the Personal PoV of Fernanda's Secret Life).

After taking off Fernanda's clothes from head to toe, Monica helped place her cousin on the bed, spread her legs open & began to help midwife (Fernanda was naked & barefoot). "Ok, Just realx, breathe and remain calm. We're going to get through this" Fernanda began to scream in agonizing pain for like HRS all night as she pushed, pushed & pushed; Monica happily was excited "I see the baby coming, it's coming" as Fernanda continued to push while her cousin carefully took the baby out, "It's a girl" as the baby was crying. She then cut the umbilical cord including cleaning up the baby before handing the baby girl to Fernanda, who cried in excitement & kissed the baby naming her daughter, Olivia Arizmendi. Fernanda would remain hidden in this secret secluded private cabin for several more weeks before coming out of seclusion & driving back to one of the residences in the suburbs of Athens, staying there for the remainder of her time in Greece.

 

[49ersfootball]

September 16th, 1977: President Brown becomes the first US President to get married in office in decades

The East Room of the White House, where the public wedding ceremony took place.

The last time a sitting President married during his tenure was the controversial Woodrow Wilson back in 1915. Fast forward to 62 years later, President Jerry Brown & First Lady Linda Ronstadt, now officially known as Linda Ronstadt Brown, married in a private ceremony on the grounds of Casa de los Gobernadores in Carmichael, CA: hosted by CA Governor Mervyn M. Dymally (D), who was one of 173 guests in attendance at private wedding ceremony including the President's father, former CA Governor Pat Brown (D), White House Chief of Staff Gray Davis, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley (D), & US Deputy Labor Secretary Cesar Chavez in attendance. Handful of photographs were published by a private photographer; official press corps of reporters were not allowed to attend & the Secret Service aggressively shielded the event from the public eye.

On September 19th, the President & First Lady returned to Washington,DC, where the public wedding ceremony took place inside the East Room of the White House. It was considered "The Wedding of the Year", with the White House Press Corps in attendance including several foreign diplomats as well as a group of bipartisan members of Congress attending the grand public wedding such as United States Senators L. Douglas Wilder (D-VA); Alan Cranston (D-CA); Daniel Inoyue (D-HI); Howard Baker (R-TN); Charles Mathias (R-MD); Charles Percy (R-IL) including former Vice President Edward Brooke & former President Nelson Rockefeller (who currently is serving as US Ambassador to Spain). Highlights of the event included the First Lady giving a private concert later that evening on the White House Grounds in a heavily-guarded white tent.

Following the wedding festivities, the President & First Lady boarded Marine One, which took them to Andrews AFB; they soon boarded Air Force One & flew to their honeymoon in American Samoa.

 

[49ersfootball]

September 13th, 1977: Mexican First Lady Fernanda Arizmendi returns home to Mexico after 6 month goodwill tour of countries
Following a long six-month goodwill international tour of countries in Africa, the Middle East & parts of Europe, Mexican First Lady Fernanda Arizmendi returned home to Mexico, calling the trip a success with lots of achievements along the way.

Upon arriving at the airport in Mexico City, Arizmendi was greeted by her husband, Mexican President General Oscar Robles & members of her family; soon afterwards, Robles & Arizmendi got inside the presidential limousine & drove back to Los Pinos (Residence of the Mexican President), where Arizmendi enjoyed a much awaited rest & relaxation period.

September 25th, 1977: Diplomacy efforts to avoid potential civil war between Argentina & Chile ?
With the uncertainty of the ongoing dispute over the Picton, Lennox & Nueva Islands, there is potential diplomatic solution in an attempt at resolving the crisis according to UPI.

The war of words between the Argentinian & Chilean governments have gone from typical rhetoric to escalating political & militarily rhetoric as a result of controversial military exercises from Argentinian military personnel troops along the border with Chile. Argentine President Isabel Peron has called on Chilean President General Augusto Pinochet to abandon his demands of the three islands & stand down, while Pinochet has been consistent in pursuing the matter in court.

 

[49ersfootball]

September 30th, 1977
BREAKING NEWS: EXPLOSIVE BOMBSHELLS ENGULFING OMB DIRECTOR BERT LANCE

ABC News broke into regularly scheduled programming to report on explosive bombshell allegations against OMB Director Bert Lance, who is facing calls to resign in light of new allegations against him.

In mid-August, US Comptroller of the Currency John G. Heimann issued a full-scale report which had presumably cleared the embattled OMB Director of wrongdoing. However, three weeks after issuing the report, Heimann testified before the Senate Government Affairs Committee, where he accused Lance of abusing his position as a bank president by writing large overdrafts on his personal checking account.

On September 16th, United States Senators Abraham A. Ribicoff (D-CT) & Charles Percy (R-IL) ,the chairman & vice chairman of the committee investigating Lance, went to the White House (likely during the wedding of President Brown) & asked for Lance's resignation as OMB Director, saying they received new evidence of illegalities. It is alleged that Vice President Carter, who attended the wedding festivities, strongly told Ribicoff & Percy that the allegations against Lance was politically-motivated.

Lance once again, refused to resign, demanding a public hearing of the allegations against him. Brown & Carter both continued to back him, even though more & more leading Dems were calling for Lance's resignation as OMB Director.

October 5th, 1977: CHICAGO TRIBUNE, OTHER NEWSPAPERS EXPOSING WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY JODY POWELL TRIED TO GET THEM TO DEFAMING NEWS STORIES ATTACKING SENATOR PERCY'S PERSONAL LIFE
In another embarrassing episode for the Brown administration, several newspaper publications in Chicago, IL revealed that White House Press Secretary Jody Powell had unsuccessfully tried getting them to run defaming, insulting news stories attacking the character & personal life of United States Senator Charles Percy (R-IL) in retaliation for charges that Percy made against Lance. Upon the backlash, Powell apologised to Percy, admitting his actions had been "inappropriate, regrettable, and dumb."

BREAKING NEWS: LANCE TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE SENATE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ON OCTOBER 15TH-17TH
Embattled OMB Director Bert Lance announced he will be appearing before the Senate Government Affairs Committee & will be testifying in a televised committee hearing set for October 15th-17th.

Gallup Polling Survey (October 5th, 1977)
Opinion of President Jerry Brown (D):
Approve: 40%
Disapprove: 57%

Opinion of First Lady Linda Ronstadt Brown (D):
Approve: 68%
Disapprove: 16%

Opinion of Vice President Jimmy Carter (D):
Approve: 43%
Disapprove: 54%

Opinion of Second Lady Rosalyn Carter (D):
Approve: 61%
Disapprove: 25%

 

[49ersfootball]

October 5th, 1977: Mexican President General Oscar Robles hosts Argentina-Chile Summit in Merida, Yucatan.

Chilean President General Augusto Pinochet dining with Argentine President Isabel Peron during State Banquet hosted by Mexican President General Oscar Robles.

In a bid to breaking the ongoing diplomatic deadlock, Mexican President General Oscar Robles personally invited both Chilean President General Augusto Pinochet & Argentine President Isabel Peron to join him at the secluded Presidential retreat, Casa de Los Presidencial in the outskirts of Merida, Yucatan. Sealed off from the rest of the globe by walls of secrecy for more than sixteen days, the three leaders bargained with each other while the rest of Latin America anxiously awaited the outcome of the hyped-up Argentine-Chilean Summit.

On October 21st, the three leaders emerged from seclusion at Casa de Los Presidencial, where Pinochet & Peron agreed to increase diplomatic negotiation talks between the two South American countries & raising hopes for improving Argentinian-Chilean relations.

Second summit is set for sometime in the Spring of 1978 (more on that later in the TL 😎)

October 25th, 1977: Brewing mass demonstrations escalating in Iran: Another foreign policy crisis for the Brown administration?
The signs of ugly revolt in the Middle East caught some glimpses in Iran, where a number of riots, demonstrations & strikes had been directed against the regime of Iranian Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. Since the 1953 CIA-backed coup, which resulted in the Shah regaining his throne, the Shah had been a very important ally of the United States: enjoying support from previous US administrations beginning with Dwight Eisenhower (1953-1961), John F. Kennedy (1961-1963), Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969), Richard Nixon (1969-1974), Gerald Ford (1974-1975) & Nelson Rockefeller (1975-1977) purchasing billions of dollars worth of American arms & supplying much of the nation's oil imports.

Following the inauguration of Jerry Brown as the 40th President of the United States on January 20th, the relationship between the Heads of State quickly cooled for obvious reasons: during the 1976 presidential campaign, Brown harshly criticized the human rights violations against dissidents in Iran, going so far as to questioning if US economic & military aid to Iran was benefiting American values.

In light of the Brown administration's aggressive campaign for international human rights, the Shah had become something of a liability as well as an embarrassment due to the usage of secret police, torture & violent harsh punishment in order to quell opposition. US Secretary of State Walter Mondale personally met face-to-face with the Shah in Tehran during a bilateral meeting on June 13th, where according to sources Mondale warned the Shah of a potential revolution against his regime & the international ramifications if there wasn't any reforms being implemented in quelling the mass demonstrations due to majority of Iranians living in poverty, etc., Mondale also relayed President Brown's message to the Shah on the human rights violations during a closed-door meeting; the Shah reportedly urged Mondale that the situation was being handled delicately & there's no concern of potential revolution because he has confidence in the Iranian military to prevent any uprising.

October 29th, 1977:
BREAKING NEWS: PRESIDENT BROWN SEVERING DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH SOUTH AFRICA
In a televised Address to the Nation from the White House, President Brown announced he was severing diplomatic relations with South Africa & terminating all military & economic aid with that country. "With the violence, torture and murder happening in South Africa, I cannot in good conscience, be complicit of the egregious human rights violations of the Apartheid government of the Republic of South Africa. Despite attempts at trying to use diplomatic solutions in resolving long decades of repression, the Apartheid government's use of secret police, torturing dissidents and those, who speak out against opponents. Therefore, in light of the refusal of South Africa to ending this despicable Apartheid policy, the United States effective immediately, will terminate diplomatic ties." US Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young addressed reporters confirming the President's abrupt announcement of cutting off diplomatic relations with South Africa.

November 5th, 1977:
BREAKING NEWS: SOUTH AFRICA EXPELLED FROM THE UNITED NATIONS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
During an emergency UN Security Council meeting, the United Nations voted to expell South Africa from the international organization. Despite attempts at trying to convince other UN members to prevent this controversial vote, these efforts fell on deaf ears as South Africa was expelled in a unanimous vote.

Conservative opponents of the President strongly criticized the actions as "caving to the triggered mob" & questioned the legality of President Brown abrogating the mutual defense treaty with South Africa. The South African Embassy in Washington, DC blasted the controversial decision by President Brown to severing diplomatic ties by stating disappointment & warning to other countries who might face similar fates.

November 29th, 1977: Detente with Cuba? Secret meetings trending in that direction with potential State Visit.
Following a policy that the United States should have diplomatic relations with all countries regardless of their ideologies, members of the then-Brown Presidential Transition Team carried on secret talks with Cuba in December 1976 pledging a new cordial direction between the countries. Upon taking office, President Brown began taking steps in restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba, which had been cut off in 1961.

In March, the Brown administration lifted all restrictions on American tourism in Cuba. In the following month afterwards, American & Cuban diplomats held their first formal discussions in 16 years, reaching agreements on the rights of fishermen in overlapping fishing zones of the United States & Cuba.

On September 1st, both countries exchanged diplomatic representatives below the rank of ambassador with Chief Liaison. US Deputy Secretary of State Cyrus Vance flew to Cuba for additional secret meetings with Cuban President Fidel Castro, ensuring that an upcoming summit between the leaders of the two nations would have positive results. Shortly after, President Brown was able to surprise the world with a television announcement of the impending Cuba trip, shocking everyone including bipartisan congressional leadership in both houses of Congress. In October, the Brown administration repealed the Embargo on Cuba policy, which had been in place since the Kennedy administration, which provoked anger from United States Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) ,who reportedly called the President's controversial abrupt decision "fucking stupid bullshit!"

 

[49ersfootball]

November 15th, 1977: Brown welcomes the Shah as demonstrators clash

Demonstrations outside the White House during the Welcoming Honors Ceremony for the Shah.

Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran was welcomed to the White House by President Jerry Brown as demonstrators for & against the Shah clashed nearby. During the outdoor ceremony, tear gas released by riot police floated across the White House grounds & caused many officials to wipe their smarting eyes. During their two-day meeting, the leaders discussed Iran's domestic human rights policy, its request for fighter planes & nuclear power plants, & the future price of oil.

November 18th, 1977: Rioting mars Taiwan election
In provincial elections in Taiwan, the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) captured 85% of the 1,318 contested seats, but for the first time independents won four mayoral and magistrates seats & non-KMT candidates captured 21 out of the 77 seats available in the Provincial Assembly. Violence occurred in the city of Chungil in T'ao-yuan County when a KMT election official reportedly smudged ballots to rendering them invalid. Fire was set to cars, trucks, & to the police & fire stations before police restored order.

November 20th, 1977: Sadat addresses the Knesset
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat arrived in Jerusalem on November 19th & was accorded full honours as a visiting Head of State, even though Egypt & Israel don't have diplomatic relations. The next day, after visiting the al-Aqsa Mosque & other religious sites, Sadat addressed the Knesset. In his speech & in the reply delivered by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, there was a note of restraint, even though both leaders firmly reiterated their previous conditions for peace. Sadat demanded withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Arab lands occupied since the War of 1967 & insisted that "there can be no peace without the Palestinians." Begin warned that Israel "will not be put within range of fire for annihilation," a clear refusal to accept an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank of the Jordan River. No resolution of significant differences was expected or achieved before Sadat departed on November 21st, but psychological barriers to peace had been removed & further negotiations were planned.

November 21st, 1977: National Women's Conference held in Houston

US Attorney General Barbara Jordan addressing the National Women's Conference in Houston, TX. Among those in attendance: former First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson & Betty Ford including Second Lady Rosalyn Carter.

More than 1,400 voting delegates to the first National Women's Conference ended their three-day meeting in Houston, TX after approving 24 proposals that were intended to serve as guidelines for federal legislation. About 20% of the delegates, who described themselves as Pro-Life & Pro-Family were the most vehement in their opposition to abortion, lesbian rights & the Equal Rights Amendment all of which were endorsed by the conference. About 15,000 persons held counter Pro-Family rallies across town on November 19th to reject the anti-family goal of the Equal Rights Amendment & the International Women's Year.

November 24th, 1977: Smith offers equal suffrage to blacks in Rhodesia
Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith said he was willing to concede one-man, one-vote suffrage to blacks as a starting point for negotiations with black leaders living within the country. While agreeing in principle to black majority rule as a step toward settling Rhodesia's domestic problems, Smith also added that minority rights would also have to be safeguarded in the new Constitution. Joshua Nkomo & Robert Mugabe of the Patriotic Front, based outside Rhodesia, both declared they would continue their guerrilla war against the Rhodesian government.

November 27th, 1977: Sadat calling for Cairo conference on the Middle East
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, in an effort to resolving procedural difficulties standing in the way of Geneva Peace Conference, issued invitations for preparatory conference in Cairo. Israel, the US & the United Nations said they would send representatives, but the Soviet Union said it would not. Syria announced its intention to go to Tripoli, Libya to attend a meeting of opponents of Sadat's initiatives with Israel. UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim suggested UN-sponsored conference after the meeting in Cairo.

November 29th, 1977: US dockworkers end long striking protests
US dockworkers from ME to TX ended their 60-day selective strike that began over demands that longshoremen loading & unloading container vessels be given job security. The settlement guaranteed NY St dockworkers 2,080 HRS of pay per year, even if there was not that much work available. Workers in other ports agreed to lower guaranteed income. The master contract would raise the employers cost to $14.15 an HR by the start of the third year.

December 10th, 1977: US farmers demonstrate across the nation
Thousands of farmers drove tractors & trucks in Washington, DC & into some 30 state capitals to focus the national attention on the financial difficulties they were encountering because of low prices for their commodities. Though there was widespread sympathetic thoughts & prayers for their cause, it didn't appear likely that very much would be done. Many protesting farmers said they would not join strikes that entailed withholding farm products from the market. The orderly columns of vehicles were escorted by police who tried to minimize problems created by snarling traffic. The largest tractor motorcade moved into Atlanta, GA., the capital city of VP Jimmy Carter's home state.

December 14th, 1977: Conference on Middle East opens in Cairo
Representatives of Egypt & Israel including US & UN observers met in Cairo, Egypt to discuss the procedural problems connected with future peace conference on the Middle East. Though Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, USSR & PLO refused to attend, their seats were left vacant in the hope that they would reconsider. UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim said it would be inappropriate to act as chairman of the meeting because UN participation at the conference had not been formally authorized by member nations.

December 20th, 1977: Brown signs Social Security Tax Bill

President Jerry Brown speaking with reporters during Q&A Session.

President Brown signed into law a new Social Security Tax Bill that would extend progressively larger contributions from both employers & employees & extending the taxable wage base from $16,500 in 1977 to $29,700 in 1981. It was hoped that the new law would put the program on sound financial basis for about 50+ years.

 

[49ersfootball]

AUTHOR'S UPDATE: Having added some twists & turns to this TL, you should note several international politicos will be butterflied away. Gotta spice things up if you know what I mean. In the meantime, enjoy the tailend of Chapter VII as 1977 comes to a close & 1978 gets more intriguing 😉

December 23rd, 1977: Rumblimgs of explosive revolt in Bolivia? Intelligence reports cannot be certain
Despite its imperfections, Bolivia has somewhat managed to become a surprisingly functioning country in a chaotic region of the Americas: South America, but there are some potential sginals that demonstrations, riots & protests including backlash against several government officials have caused many to worry if the South American nation could face an ugly revolution down there...

Bolivian President General Hugo Banzer Suarez, who took power in 1971, has rebuffed the human rights campaign of US President Jerry Brown ,who questioned whether Banzer's government was legitimate & representing the basic principles of democracy which he strongly emphasized during their bilateral meeting during the Summer of 1977. Banzer responded that previous administrations used non-interference in Bolivia's internal affairs: domestically & politically.

 

[49ersfootball]

Chapter VIII: President Brown visits Poland, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France & Belgium
December 28th, 1977
Somewhere over Great Britain

PRESIDENT BROWN VISITS POLAND
Following a closed-door private meeting of the National Security Council at Camp David, President Jerry Brown & First Lady Linda Ronstadt Brown left the presidential retreat via Marine One & arrived at Andrews AFB in Camp Springs, MD where they boarded Air Force One beginning their long international trip of countries: Poland, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France & Belgium.

This was one of the most critical international trips of his presidency, Brown was accompanied by US Secretary of State Walter Mondale & White House Chief of Staff Gray Davis to name a few.

In the late afternoon HRS of December 28th, Air Force One arrived in Warsaw, Poland, where President & First Lady Brown were greeted by a group of Polish dignitaries including Polish First Secretary Edward Gierek. Following the traditional Welcoming Honors Ceremony & Honor Guard inspection with pomp & circumstances, Brown & Gierek rode in the presidential limousine which was greeted by throngs of hundreds of cheering Polish people waving American & Polish flags.

 

[49ersfootball]

Gallup Polling Survey (December 28th, 1977)
Opinion of President Jerry Brown (D)
Approve: 41%
Disapprove: 57%

Opinion of First Lady Linda Ronstadt Brown (D):
Approve: 70%
Disapprove: 12%
Undecided: 4%

Opinion of Vice President Jimmy Carter (D):
Approve: 43%
Disapprove: 55%

Opinion of Second Lady Rosalyn Carter (D):
Approve: 61%
Disapprove: 25%

Opinion of US Secretary of State Walter Mondale:
Approve: 37%
Disapprove: 57%

Opinion of US Secretary of Defense Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.,:
Approve: 73%
Disapprove: 16%

1978 Midterms: Control of Congress
DEMS: 57%
GOPERS: 40%

Hypothetical 1980 Presidential election matchups: Who would you vote for in the presidential election between President Jerry Brown & former CA Governor Ronald Reagan?:
Reagan (R): 56%
Brown (D-incumbent): 37%

******Hypothetical Matchup between President Brown vs former President (US Ambassador to Spain) Nelson Rockefeller:
Rockefeller (R): 73%
Brown (D-incumbent): 16%

******Hypothetical Matchup between President Brown vs former CIA Director George HW Bush:
Bush (R): 35%
Brown (D-incumbent): 17%
Undecided: 26%
Not Sure: 12%

 

[49ersfootball]

December 31st, 1977-January 3rd, 1978: President Brown meets with the Shah in Iran

The Pahlavi's during happier times...

President Brown's next international trip included Iran, when he arrived in Tehran on December 31st, where he & his wife, First Lady Linda Ronstadt Brown were greeted by Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi & his wife, Farah Pahlavi. Welcoming Honors were rendered with a 21 Cannon Salute & the playing of the respective national anthems of the United States & Iran, followed by the Honor Guard inspection of the Iranian Armed Forces.

Upon arriving at the Royal Palace in Tehran, President Brown & the Shah held a joint press conference discussing specific issues relating to the diplomatic relations between both nations, nuclear power plants, future of oil prices in an unpredictable economy of the late 1970s, etc.,

In the evening HRS of December 31st, the Pahlavi's hosted a State Dinner for the Brown's. Meanwhile, there has been ongoing protests in some parts of the country which is going to be factoring Brown's visit.

 

[49ersfootball]

January 1st, 1978: President Brown meets with King Hussein of Jordan in Tehran on sidelines face-to-face meetimg
During a sidelines face-to-face bilateral meeting in Tehran, US President Jerry Brown met with King Hussein of Jordan. This was their first meeting between the Heads of State, where they discussed US-Jordanian diplomatic relations including ongoing efforts on resolving the Mideast Peace Plan, one of the major foreign policy agenda items for the Brown administration.

 

[49ersfootball]

January 6th, 1978: Argentinian Air Force fighter jets & Naval ships circling around Chile; Intelligence reports circulating potential stage of invasion

Intelligence reports are circulating that the Argentinian High Forces Command has deployed Naval warships & Air Force fighter jets circling around Chile, daring the international community to get involved.

This comes three months following the Argentina-Chile Summit in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico on October 5th, which Argentine President Isabel Peron & Chilean President General Augusto Pinochet both attended.

United Nations had urged caution, while the United States has strongly urged both the Argentinian & Chilean governments to use diplomacy to resolving the ongoing dispute over the Picton, Lennox & Nueva Islands.

 

[49ersfootball]

BREAKING: Congressional Term Limits Initiative fails by double digits
Despite President Brown's aggressive campaigning across the country, voters rejected the Congressional Term Limits with 73% of the vote rejecting the initiative in 51 States. The rejection was seen as a direct snub and rejection of the unpopular Brown administration's government reform efforts.

November 8th, 1977: Gubernatorial Election results in VA & NJ.
*VA (Open)
John N. Dalton (R): 699,302 (55.9%)✔
Henry Howell (D): 541,319 (43.3%)
GOP HOLD

*NJ
Brendan Byrne (D-inc.): 1,184,564 (55.7%)✔
Raymond Bateman (R): 888,880 (41.8%)
DEM HOLD

 

[49ersfootball]

January 13th, 1978:
BREAKING: UNITED STATES SENATOR HUBERT H. HUMPHREY (D-MN) SUCCUMBS PEACEFULLY AT WAVERLY RESIDENCE SURROUNDED BY FAMILY

On the evening HRS of January 13th, several journalists arrived at the grounds of the Waverly residence of United States Senator Hubert Humphrey (D-MN), where a spokesperson for the Senator confirmed that Humphrey slipped into a coma & passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.

Humphrey previously served as the 39th Vice President of the United States under then-President Lyndon B. Johnson from January 20th, 1965 to January 20th, 1969; he was the unsuccessful Democratic Party presidential nominee in 1968, losing a close narrow election to former VP Richard Nixon in a three-way contest. Despite losing the Presidential election, Humphrey miraculously made a political comeback in 1970 when he won reelection to a 4th term in the United States Senate & was easily reelected in 1976.

President Jerry Brown, Vice President Jimmy Carter, & US Secretary of State Walter Mondale gave their condolences to the Humphrey. The loss was deeply personal to Secretary Mondale, who had known Humphrey for years & was appointed to the latter's US Senate seat in 1964 before winning reelection in 1966 & 1972.

 

[Red_Tornado]

Do you think Jerry would of run for governor had his father been successful seeking a third term.?

 

[49ersfootball]

Do you think Jerry would of run for governor had his father been successful seeking a third term.?

I think so. His father losing to Reagan in 1966 opened the door to starting a political career of his own: hence winning a seat on the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees in 1968.

Which led to winning statewide office as CA Secretary of State in 1970 & winning the CA Governorship in 1974.

 

[49ersfootball]

January 12th, 1978: Second Argentina-Chile Summit held in Monaco
A second Summit between Argentine President Isabel Peron & Chilean President General Augusto Pinochet was held in Monaco, hosted by Prince Rainier, III & Princess Grace at the Royal Palace.

Bilateral discussions about the disputed islands occurred in private meetings between Argentinian & Chilean government officials including mediation by Monaguese government officials as well.

Following a long-dragged-out negotiations, there was no diplomatic solutions in resolving the disputed islands crisis. Foreign policy analysts theorize the failed 2nd Summit could foreshadow a potential military conflict between Argentina & Chile soon.

 

[49ersfootball]

January 13th, 1978:
FINCH IMPEACHMENT TRIAL ESCALATES

While the nation was mourning the death of former Vice President Humphrey, over in the Magnolia State, unpopular MS Governor Cliff Finch (D) is facing the biggest problem of his political career. Having been impeached on December 16th, 1977 via 5 articles of impeachment including obstruction of justice, wire fraud, violating the MS Constitution, bribery, illegal financial activities, etc., the impeachment trial goes to the full MS State Senate.

Finch has strongly called the impeachment trial as "nothing more than politically motivated partisanship" during a press conference inside the conference room of the MS State Capitol Building in downtown Jackson.

Sources state a verdict could happen any moment or any day, which political obseverrs view as a potentially deadly blow to Finch's political career & future as Finch had originally planned on announcing his candidacy for the United States Senate in 1978 before the corruption scandals exploded.

If Finch is convicted by the MS State Senate & removed from office, MS Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Gandy (D) would ascend to the Governorship & take office as the Magnolia State's 58th Governor immediately, becoming the first female Governor in state history; Gandy would be eligible to seek a full 4-year term in 1979.