The Cursed American Presidency

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National & International Highlights from the Fall of 1975
October 1st-18th, 1975

October 1st, 1975: Muhammad Ali is congratulated by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos at Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines after defeating Joe Frazier in the internationally-watched "Thrilla in Manila" boxing showdown.​

*Wednesday, October 1st, 1975: WBA, WBC & The Ring heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali defeats former undisputed champion Joe Frazier by technical knockout after Frazier's chief second, Eddie Futch, asked the referee to stop the fight following the 14th Round; the venue was temporarily renamed the "Philippine Coliseum" for the match; the fight was watched by a record global television audience of an estimated 1 billion viewers, including 100 million viewers watching the fight on closed-circuit theatre television including 500,000 Pay-Per-View buys on HBO television.

​

*Morocco & Mauritania reached an agreement to invade the Wester Sahara as well as dividing the territory between them, once Spain announced it would be holding a referendum on the Saharan territory.
*The Gilbert & Ellice Islands, a British protectorate in the South Pacific Ocean, were divided in anticipation of independence. The Gilbert Islands would become the nation of Kiribati, while the Ellice Islands would become the nation of Tuvalu.

President Nelson Rockefeller & First Lady Happy Rockefeller with Emperor Hirohito & Empress Nagako.
​

*Thursday, October 2nd-Friday, October 3rd, 1975: President Rockefeller hosts Japanese Emperor Hirohito & Empress Nagako for a state visit. This is the first state visit for an Emperor & Empress of Japan to the United States.

*Tuesday, October 7th, 1975: Reversing a veto from the late President Gerald Ford, President Rockefeller signed an extension of the federal school lunch & nutrition program; both houses of Congress voted overwhelmingly in support of this program.
*East Germany & the Soviet Union signed a new Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, although their 1964 Friendship Treaty still had nine years left. The 20 year treaty was to run until 1995, although East Germany would end in 1990 & the Soviet Union would follow suit in 1991.

*Wednesday, October 8th, 1975: Over the strong objections of US Defense Secretary William P. Clements, Jr., President Rockefeller signed legislation including the requirement of women being allowed admission into the United States Service Academies (New London, Kings Point, Annapolis, West Point & Colorado Springs), for the first time in history.

*Thursday, October 9th, 1975: The US House of Representatives voted 341-69 to confirm former United States Senator Edward W. Brooke (R-MA) as Vice President; the United States Senate also voted on that same day, 86-14 in favor of Brooke's nomination. Later in the evening, Brooke was sworn in as the 42nd Vice President of the United States by US Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Burger inside the US Senate chambers. Brooke makes history as the first African American Vice President of the United States.
*The United States Senate voted 70-18 to authorize American civilians joining the UN Forces in the Sinai Peninsula, the day after the US House of Representatives had approved the measure 341-69.

*Friday, October 10th, 1975: Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton remarried in a civil ceremony that took place in the African nation of Bostwana.

*Saturday, October 11th, 1975: NBC airs the first episode of "Saturday Night Live". Comedian George Carlin was the host & the first musical guests were Billy Preston & Janis Ian.

*October 12th, 1975: The Willow Creek Community Church, which later would become one of the first Christian megachurches (averaging 24,000 attendees per weekend in later years) holds its first service at a movie theater in Palatine, IL.

*October 13th, 1975: The Moori land march takes place in New Zealand with 5,000 Maori people arriving at the Parliament Building in Wellington after having marched from Te Hapua on the north side of the country.
*In a nationally-televised speech, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau announced he would establish mandatory wage & price controls in order to bring inflation under control, & that an Anti-Inflation Board would enforce the new rules.

*October 18th, 1975: Pope Paul VI, leader of the Roman Catholic Church, criticized the Protestant Reformation that had been led in the 16th Century by Martin Luther. In a speech in favor of European unity, the Pope said "The Reformation, it is a historical fact, has contributed to a dispersion."

 

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Chapter V: The Bombshell
BREAKING NEWS: PRESIDENT ROCKEFELLER BOMBSHELL ANNOUNCEMENT: NOT SEEKING ELECTION TO A FULL TERM IN 1976; ENDORSES VICE PRESIDENT BROOKE AS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT
6:58 PM EST, Friday, October 31st, 1975
White House Press Briefing Room, White House, Washington, DC.

President Rockefeller's bombshell announcement.​

The White House Press Briefing Room inside the West Wing was packed, everyone was wondering "Will President Rockefeller announce a decision on a potential election bid for a first full four-year term in 1976?" Nobody knew any answers because the Rockefeller White House was tight-lipped about everything. President Rockefeller came to the podium to address the country:

President Rockefeller: "Good evening my fellow Americans. I am delighted to be joined today by my wife and your First Lady, Happy Rockefeller including my six children and many grandchildren.

It is good to be joined by my extended family of staff and former staff, there must be hundreds of you here today. And it is great to see so many supporters who have made the high honor of public service possible.

It has been an improbable journey that has taken me from New York City to serving as the Assistant Secretary of State for American Republic Affairs, then as the Under Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, later going to the New York State Executive Mansion as New York State's 48th Governor for 14 years then serving as the 41st Vice President of the United States and ultimately as the 39th President of the United States and for over 30+ years, each day has been an honor, serving the most dynamic, optimistic and independent people of the greatest country in the entire world. With that, I thank you for letting me serve both my beloved home state of New York State and the United States of America as well.

Working in a bipartisan way with members of Congress in both political parties during this period, I had proudly signed legislation preventing New York City from going into bankruptcy. They key piece of legislation is known as the NYC Seasonal Financing Act of 1975 and working with Mayor Abraham Beame and New York State Governor Hugh Carey as well as members of Congress of my home state's congressional delegation, this hardworking effort never would've been possible if it hadn't been for your cooperation and help.

On September 5th, 1975, the duties of the office of the Presidency fell upon my shoulders during tragic and devastating circumstances when we lost one of the greatest, truest American patriots in our 38th President, Gerald Rudolph Ford. Understanding that some of the actions I've taken since then, haven't been the most popular but these actions were necessary and its very important to putting some of the controversies behind us.

I also understand that I wasn't neither elected to the Vice Presidency or the Presidency, but I strongly believe that I have a responsibility to leading the country out of the turmoil that we've been undergoing in the past several years from Watergate, the fallout of the Vietnam War's end and other hot-button issues, which divided the American people in recent years. Now is NOT the time to exploit these crises for political purposes or even political campaigning.

As we move toward the end of 1975 and celebrating our country's Bicentennial of Independence coming up on July 4th, 1976, which would be our 200th anniversary. While we've got a lot to celebrate in terms of understanding how far we've come as a country from the American Revolution, gaining Independence, the Civil War, Reconstruction period to the Spanish-American War, women getting the right to vote, to the battle over civil rights and opportunities for all Americans. In my 67 years on this earth, I have lived through many of these events in my lifetime, I know that we as a country have a long way to go in achieving our truest potential and I plan on being involved in making sure all Americans no matter what ethnicity, zip code, neighborhood or stage of life, getting better opportunities and getting stronger equality.

By January 20th, 1977, I will have served out my term as President for 1 year, 4 months and 15 days. I remain excited about the future including the challenges ahead facing us as a country, but like I've mentioned earlier that in my 30+ years of public service, I also believe that it's time to take a step back and pass on the mantle of leadership......

This evening, I am announcing that I will NOT be seeking election to a full four-year term as President of the United States.

Over the next 15 months, I will continue to work hard in creating more jobs, finding our way out of the massive inflation crisis, coordinating a peaceful relationship with our allies in the Asian Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East in making sure that peaceful, diplomatic efforts are the solution to solving all problems or crises going forward. I will continue finishing out this term as President in making sure our finest men and women in our Armed Forces are treated with dignity and respect they deserve in the service of our great country. In 1976, a new President will be elected and will be taking office on January 20th, 1977, when I leave this office. I will be confident that my administration will be remembered as doing the best in healing our great Republic and making sure we never have to experience such turmoil or crises that occurred in recent years from happening again. Thank you very much for listening tonight. God Bless you all and God Bless the United States of America."

 

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Kickoff to the 1976 Presidential Election: Brooke
12:00 PM EST, Saturday, November 1st, 1975

Vice President Brooke working announcing his candidacy inside the MA Statehouse Rotunda in downtown Boston.​

As soon as President Rockefeller announced his decision that he wasn't going to be seeking a full 4-year term in 1976, speculation began to escalate on who would jump into the race for the Republican presidential nomination, which was up for grabs. The obvious person of course, was Vice President Edward W. Brooke, III, who officially declared his candidacy during a press conference inside the MA Statehouse in downtown Boston with his family in attendance. Brooke highlighted his military service in the United States Army during World War II; his years of public service which included stints as chairman of the Finance Commission of Boston; MA's 35th State Attorney General from 1963 to 1967 for two two-year terms in 1962 & reelected in 1964 followed by his landslide elections to the United States Senate in 1966 & again in 1972 & currently as Vice President. Brooke also staunchly supported the Rockefeller administration's foreign policy agenda & represented President Rockefeller well on many of the foreign missions he went. Within the administration, on Capitol Hill including across the United States, Brooke is strongly highly respected for his personal integrity & kind manner as well as offering a more moderate course within the Republican Party despite the fact the party was drifting further rightward.

BREAKING: FORMER CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR RONALD REAGAN (R) ANNOUNCES PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN; EXPERTS PREDICT UGLY PRIMARY BATTLE BETWEEN BROOKE AND REAGAN
Thursday, November 20th, 1975
National Press Club, Washington, DC.

Former CA Governor Ronald Reagan (R) with his wife, former CA First Lady Nancy Reagan on the campaign trail.​

With President Rockefeller going into retirement & the likelihood of Vice President Brooke being handpicked as Rockefeller's successor, former CA Governor Ronald Reagan (R) made it official: he is running for the Presidency in 1976.

"Thank you for coming.
I have called this press conference to announce that I am a candidate for the Presidency and to ask for the support of all Americans who share my belief that our nation needs to embark on a new, constructive course. I believe my candidacy will be healthy for the nation and my party.

I am running because I have grown increasingly concerned about the course of events in the United States and in the world.

In just a few years, three vital measures of economic decay-inflation, unemployment, and interest rates-have doubled, at times reaching 10 percent and even more.

Government at all levels now absorbs more than 44 percent of our personal income. It has become more intrusive, more coercive, more meddlesome and less effective. Our access to cheap and abundant energy has been interrupted, and our dependence on foreign sources is growing. A decade ago we had military superiority. Today we are in danger of being surpassed by a nation that has never made an effort to hide its hostility to everything we stand for.

Through detente we have sought peace with our adversaries. We should continue to do so but must make it plain that we expect a stronger indication that they seek a lasting peace with us.

In my opinion, the root of these problems lies right here-in Washington D.C. Our nation's capital has become the seat of a "buddy" system that functions for its own benefit-increasingly insensitive to the needs of the American worker who supports it with his taxes.

Today it is difficult to find leaders who are independent of the forces that have brought us our problems-the Congress, the bureaucracy, the lobbyist, big business and big labor.

If America is to survive and go forward, this must change. It will only change when the American people vote for a leadership that listens to them, relies on them and seeks to return government to them. We need a government that is confident not of what it can do, but of what the people can do.

For eight years in California, we labored to make government more responsive. We worked against high odds-an opposition legislature for most of those years and an obstructive Washington bureaucracy for all of them. We did not always succeed. Nevertheless, we found that fiscal responsibility is possible, that the welfare rolls can come down, that social problems can be met below the Federal level.

In the coming months I will take this message to the American people. I will talk in detail about responsible, responsive government. I will tell the people it is they who should decide how much government they want.

I don't believe for one moment that four more years of business-as-usual in Washington is the answer to our problems, and I don't think the American people believe it either.

We, as a people, aren't happy if we are not moving forward. A nation that is growing and thriving is one which will solve its problems. We must offer progress instead of stagnation; the truth instead of promises; hope and faith instead of defeatism and despair. Then, I am sure, the people will make those decisions which will restore confidence in our way of life and release that energy that is the American spirit."

COMING UP: DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY SLUGFEST FOR THE NOMIMATION

 

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COMING UP IN CHAPTER V OF THE CURSED AMERICAN PRESIDENCY
The Brooke campaign leaks out incriminating, explosive audio recording of Reagan & Nixon's private conversation​

 

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Gallup Polling Survey (November 20th, 1975)
Opinion of President Nelson Rockefeller:
Approve: 74%
Disapprove: 13%

Opinion of Vice President Edward Brooke:
Approve: 66%
Disapprove: 20%

Do you approve or disapprove the job Congress is doing?
Approve: 57%
Disapprove: 38%

Opinion of US House Speaker Carl Albert (D-OK):
Approve: 58%
Disapprove: 29%

Opinion of US House Minority Leader John Rhodes (R-AZ):
Approve: 49%
Disapprove: 32%
Undecided: 17%

Opinion of US Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield (D-MT):
Approve: 62%
Disapprove: 16%

Opinion of US Senate Minority Leader Hugh Scott (R-PA):
Approve: 56%
Disapprove: 32%

 

[49ersfootball]

National & International Highlights (Fall 1975)
November 15th-30th, 1975

The G-6 Summit in Rambouillet, France.​

*Saturday, November 15th-17th, 1975: The Group of Six (G-6) Summit of industrialized nations was formed at the Chateau de Rambouillet in France. French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Miki & US President Nelson Rockefeller began their economic summit at the Rambouillet castle, 30 miles from Paris.

*Sunday, November 16th, 1975: Third Cod War between the United Kingdom & Iceland begins, which continues until June 1976.

*Tuesday, November 18th, 1975: US Rep. Morris Udall (D-AZ) announced his candidacy for the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination, joining a growing number of contenders such as United States Senators Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX), Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson (D-WA St); AL Governor George Wallace (D); former NC Governor Terry Sanford (D); former United States Senator Frank Harris (D-OK); former US Ambassador to France Sargent Shriver; PA Governor Milton Shapp (D); former GA Governor Jimmy Carter (D).

US Rep. Morris Udall (D-AZ) announcing his candidacy during a television interview on ABC's This Week.
​

*Wednesday, November 19th, 1975: The first special education legislation: the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, was passed overwhelmingly by the United States Senate in a 87-7 vote, after being approved by the US House of Representatives in a 404-7 vote the previous day. The law provided for the equal right of public education to all children, regardless of disability. President Rockefeller signed the bill into law during a televised event surrounded by schoolchildren at the Rose Garden of the White House on November 29th.

*Thursday, November 20th, 1975: Spanish dictator Francisco Franco dies at La Paz Hospital in Madrid at the age of 82 following series of health problems, which effectively marks the end of the dictatorship after 36 years, which was established following the Spanish Civil War & the beginning of Spain's transition to democracy.

Spanish Dictator Francisco Franco in 1973.​

*Saturday, November 22nd, 1975: The United States commemorated the 12th anniversary of the assassination of the 35th President, John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in Dallas, TX while riding in an open limousine during a parade at Dealey Plaza.
*The United States Navy missile cruiser USS Belknap collides with the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy, resulting in the deaths of seven people on the Belknap & one on the Kennedy.

​

*Juan Carlos de Borbon was administered the oath of office as the first King of Spain in 44 years, just two days after the death of longtime Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, the third restoration of the House of Borbon in the country.

Generalissimo Franco being entombed at the Valle de Los Ciados​

*Sunday, November 23rd, 1975: The State Funeral of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco is held on the grounds of Palacio Real de Madrid in Madrid, Spain. Among the dignitaries in attendance: US President Nelson Rockefeller (his second international trip as President), Chilean President General Augusto Pinochet, Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos, King Hussein of Jordan, King Juan Carlos I & Queen Sofia of Spain including members of the Diplomatic Corps were in attendance. Following the long procession, Franco was then laid to rest at the Valle de Los Ciados.

CA Governor Jerry Brown (D) after declaring his campaign for the Presidency.​

*Monday, November 24th, 1975: While addressing the San Jose Chamber of Commerce in San Jose, CA Governor Jerry Brown (D) confirmed that he was a candidate for the 1976 Democratic Presidential nomination to a loud, cheerful round of applause. The move was anticipated, as Brown's zero-based budgeting techniques, adoption of fiscal conservatism of how state government is being run, budget cutting approaches & other achievements were bringing the attention of the national Democratic Party. In his announcement speech, Brown railed against what he called "The incompetence of failed government in Washington, DC over the past eight years has brought us the following: an embarrassing defeat in the Vietnam War which has damaged our international image abroad, including the humiliating embarrassment of seeing the United States being scolded by Thailand over the USS Mayaguez Incident, corruption, Watergate, wiretapping on American citizens,"

Brown also put the "Annoying DC Establishment" without naming names on full-blast as well: "Congress has been complicit in letting the executive branch running amok over the last eight years by breaking the traditional norms on how things are done. And there's a good reason why Americans obviously deeply despise and hate what's going on in Washington, D.C., because the government keeps lying to the people with non-stop nonsense. It needs to stop right now.

We need a President, who can restore sanity to this country, getting the federal budget balanced, cutting unnecessary waste and proposing a new approach to foreign policy. Let's take back America and time to let the American people decide what's best for America and not government. Thank you very much!"

*Tuesday, November 25th, 1975: In his first major act as Spain's monarch, King Juan Carlos abolished the death penalty for all prisoners awaiting execution, & issued a general pardon for all political prisoners, with the exception of 500 people arrested under the anti-terrorism law passed in September. About 9,000 prisoners would be released from prison.

*Wednesday, November 26th, 1975: In Sacramento, CA., Lynette Fromme became the first person to be convicted under a federal law against assassination of a sitting US President. The jury of four men & eight women deliberated for 19 HRS over a three-day period before returning a guilty verdict. The jurors, believed to have been in fear of revenge from the "Manson family" & other Manson followers, declined interviews & photographs.

*Thursday, November 27th, 1975: The United Kingdom announced plans for limited home rule for Scotland & Wales, with each to have their own elected unicameral legislatures & control over local government services, in what was seen as a plan in thwarting independence movements in both countries.

*Friday, November 28th, 1975: Portuguese Timor declared its independence from Portugal as the Democratic Republic of East Timor, with FRETILIN leader Francisco Xavier do Amaral as the nation's first President. On December 7th, with tacit approval from the Rockefeller administration, Indonesia would retaliate by invading from its half of the island, the province of West Timor & conquering the fledgling nation, which resulted in the deaths of 100,000 people & annexing it as Indonesia's 27th province. East Timor would finally regain their independence on May 20th, 2002.

*Saturday, November 29th, 1975: In the general elections of New Zealand, the Labour Party led by Prime Minister Bill Rowling, lost their 55-32 majority in the House of Representatives, with 23 seats going to the National Party led by Rob Muldoon. This was an exact reversal, with the Nationals having a 55-32 majority controlling the House.

*Sunday, November 30th, 1975: By decree of President Mathieu Kerekou, the name of the African nation of Dahomey was changed to the People's Republic of Benin.

 

[49ersfootball]

One incriminating recording
9:00 PM CST, Sunday, November 30th, 1975
Somewhere in Des Moines, IA
​

While Vice President Brooke was on the campaign trail, one senior staff member on the Vice President's campaign was told "I need you to come to our secret hiding spot. I've got some intriguing information for you to receive. But it's gonna cost you."

Scott Renner, was a reservist in the United States Marine Corps for the past six years having been served in the Vietnam War & had been working on Brooke's successful statewide campaigns for MA State Attorney General in 1962, 1964 & later United States Senator in 1966 & again in 1972; Renner was then rewarded for his efforts by serving on Brooke's US Senate staff as Deputy Chief of Staff before moving onto the US Embassy in Seoul, Korea.

After being notified of Ford's assassination in Sacramento on September 5th & Rockefeller's ascension to the Presidency, Renner immediately got a job serving as Deputy Chief of Staff under Brooke, who was confirmed by both houses of Congress as the 42nd Vice President on October 9th. Then four weeks into his new job, the political bombshell exploded: Rockefeller annlunced he wasn't seeking a full four-year term in 1976, preferring to serve as a caretaker President.

This meant Brooke was going to be running for the Republican presidential nomination in 1976 & Renner realized that he would be working on the campaign trail full-time.

Fast forward to the evening HRS of November 30th, Renner was greeted by a femme fatale with a seductive voice, "Hello Scott. Did you miss me?" kissing him on the lips; "This better be a good deal that you've called me Natasha".

Natasha replied "Here's something I'll play you on my special recording device" as Scott was intrigued about the purpose of the meeting: Natasha pressed the play button & the audio recording was playing, when Scott figured it out who was talking over the phone....

[Audio recording from 1971: then-CA Governor Ronald Reagan (R) ranting & raving, spewing his outrage at several of the African countries, who voted for PRC joining the UN General Assembly. Reagan went further with his controversial racially-charged epithets towards some of the African countries as then-President Richard Nixon busted out laughing so loudly].

Scott was disgusted & horrified by what he was hearing "Cannot believe Reagan was so fucking stupid to say this on an audio recording!" Natasha said "There's more audio recordings where that's coming from" as she handed him the incriminating documents & more damaging information.

"I've got sources in the press, who'll be intrigued by leaking this out tacitly." Natasha smirked "It's up to you what to do with it. Good luck and be careful Scott."

Scott decided to wait for the perfect timing to leak the recordings during the heated primary season, preferably when it gets near the Republican National Convention in Kansas City, MO.

 

[49ersfootball]

National & International Highlights (Fall 1975)
December 1st-24th, 1975

President Rockefeller walking toward reporters for a chat about his Asian Pacific Tour before boarding Air Force One.​

*Monday, December 1st-Friday, December 5th, 1975: US President Nelson Rockefeller, US First Lady Happy Rockefeller & their two sons, Mark & Nelson, Jr., including US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger & several others boarded Air Force One for Taiwan, where Rockefeller held a bilateral meeting with Taiwanese President Yen Chia-kan at the Presidential Office Building; he also met with Taiwanese Premier Chiang Ching-kuo; addressed a joint session of the Legislative Yuan & met with US military personnel of US Forces Taiwan stationed in the island country.

*Friday, December 5th-Saturday, December 6th, 1975: President Rockefeller's next trip was Indonesia, where he was given a red carpet State Visit with full military honors including a state dinner at the Merdeka Palace hosted by Indonesian President Suharto & Indonesian First Lady Siti Hartinah.
*Before ending a state visit to Indonesia, both President Rockefeller & Secretary Kissinger both strongly assured President Suharto that the United States would NOT interfere with the Indonesian President's plans to invade East Timor.

*Saturday, December 6th, 1975-Sunday, December 7th, 1975: Air Force One arrives at Manila International Airport where the Rockefeller's are greeted by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos & Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos. National Anthems are played by the Presidential Security Group Marching Band; 21 Cannon Salute takes place during the Welcoming Honors Ceremony including the Honor Guard Inspection. Soon after the festivities, both Presidents Rockefeller & Marcos ride in the Presidential limousine, where they are greeted by long lines of cheering Filipinos waving American & Philippine flags, even throwing flower petals as the motorcade arrived at Malacanang Palace. Later that night, the Marcoses host a state dinner inside Malacanang Palace for the Rockefellers, where Presidents Rockefeller & Marcos both discussed the long-standing friendship & iron-clad diplomatic ties between the United States & the Philippines.

​

*Monday, December 8th, 1975: Pope Paul VI issues the apolistic exhortation Evangelii nuntiandi, exactly 10 years following the December 8th, 1965 close of the Second Vatican Council.
*Tuesday, December 9th, 1975: During a debate on the TV Show "Good Morning America" on ABC, nationally syndicated newspaper columnist & radio commentator Jeffery St. John said that he had confirmed "with one, close source" that US President Nelson Rockefeller has a "secret addiction to the younger ladies". Deputy White House Press Secretary William Greener responded that St. John's claims were something that he "wouldn't even dignify with a comment."

*Compromise agreement has been reached between Argentine President Isabel Martinez de Peron & the Duarte family in finalizing the final resting place of the late Argentine First Lady Eva Duarte de Peron.

*Friday, December 12th, 1975: The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is established by 44 African American news professionals during a meeting in Washington, DC.
*Gallup Poll respondents strongly favored former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R), 44% to 32% over Vice President Edward Brooke in the battle for the 1976 Republican Party presidential nomination.

*Saturday, December 13th, 1975: In the post-Franco era of Spain, Spanish Prime Minister Carlos Arias Navarro joins a cabinet of reform-minded ministers.

*Sunday, December 14th, 1975: Four people were killed & 80 others injured when a storage tank exploded outside the Hooker Chemical Company in Niagara Falls, NY St, sending a cloud of chlorine gas across a wide area. All of the dead were company employees; many of the injured consisted of bystanders, who had been driving or walking by the factory when the explosion occurred.

*Monday, December 15th, 1975: New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon announced the immediate halting of further mandatory contributions from employers & employees into the New Zealand Superannuation Scheme.

*Wednesday, December 17th, 1975: The World Heritage Convention passed on November 16th, 1972, by UNESCO, officially takes effect three months following its ratification, once it was ratified by 20 nations.

*Choi Kyu-hah becomes the new Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, replacing Kim Jong-pil, who held the post since 1971.

​

*Wednesday, December 24th, 1975: In the outskirts of San Vicente, Argentina, with a small circle of family, relatives, close friends, government officials including Argentine President Isabel Martinez de Peron herself: the late Argentine First Lady Eva Duarte de Peron is finally laid to rest with full military honors at the Eva Peron Great Mausoleum which included a 21 Cannon Salute & flyover.

Following the military honors, Evita's embalmed, mummified body was entombed inside the Eva Peron Great Mausoleum.

The mummified embalmed body of the late Argentine First Lady Eva Peron during full restoration.​

 

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BREAKING: ASKEW ENDORSING CARTER FOR PRESIDENT
*Thursday, December 18th, 1975: FL Governor Reubin Askew (D) announced at the FL State Capitol in Tallahassee that he'll be endorsing former GA Governor Jimmy Carter (D) for the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination. The move didn't come as a shocker to many political analysts.
Carter in a statement thanked Askew for the endorsement & looked forward to seeing him on the campaign trail in the coming weeks.

EDWARDS ENDORSING BROWN FOR PRESIDENT: Could a Southern Strategy be in the works?
*Saturday, December 20th, 1975: During a press conference inside the LA Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge, LA Governor Edwin Edwards (D) announced he'll be endorsing Brown's presidential campaign as well becoming the second Southern Democratic Governor to support the Brown campaign. "At this time, we as a country are at a crossroads over the past eight years. And after much evaluation, research and discussions with each of the candidates, I believe that Governor Brown is the person this nation needs to lead America into a new course."

Meanwhile, Edwards' wife, LA First Lady Elaine Edwards, a conservative Democrat, will be endorsing Vice President Edward Brooke's campaign on the Republican side.

 

[49ersfootball]

@Husky_Khan @Zachowon @Rusty Shackleford @Zyobot @stevep @TheRomanSlayer @Circle of Willis @Carrot of Truth @Cherico @TerrificWarden @Morphic Tide @The Immortal Watch Dog

Beginning next week: Flash forward in Chapter 5 as I plan on working on the 1976 Presidential campaign including highlights from the GOP & Dem primaries.

 

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COMING SOON IN CHAPTER VI OF THE CURSED AMERICAN PRESIDENCY
Governor Brown on the campaign trail

​

 

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(1976 Iowa Democratic Caucus)
35,636 Votes; 47 Delegates ​

Jimmy Carter: 15, 101 (39.98%) 43 Delegates
Uncomitted: 3,560 (12.41%) 4 Delegates

​

*1976 Democratic Primaries

​

Jimmy Carter: 43 Delegates
Uncommitted: 4 Delegates

​

(1976 Iowa Republican Caucus)
30,825 Votes; 36 Delegates​

Edward W. Brooke, III: 15,918 (44.67%) 19 Delegates
Ronald Reagan: 11,011 (39.90%) 17 Delegates

​

*1976 Republican Primaries
Edward W. Brooke, III: 19 Delegates
Ronald Reagan: 17 Delegates

 

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*Wednesday, January 7th, 1976: United States Senators Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) & Frank Church (D-ID) held a joint press conference at the Washington Press Club announcing they're both withdrawing from the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination race effective immediately. Both Bentsen & Church announced they will be endorsing former GA Governor Jimmy Carter (D)'s campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination.

Bentsen confirmed he'll be seeking reelection to his US Senate seat.

Carter's polling numbers have been boosted since announcing his candidacy back in 1974 during his final months of his term as GA Governor which ended on January 14th, 1975.

*Friday, January 9th, 1976: US Ambassador to the United Nations Daniel Patrick Moynihan has been rumored whether he'll resign in a few months in preparation to challenging incumbent United States Senator James Buckley (C-NY St) in the 1976 NY St US Senate election.

*Saturday, January 10th, 1976: First Lady Happy Rockefeller announces a major anti-drug campaign initiative directed at schoolchildren. Throughout the year, the First Lady will become a leading figure in the effort to educating children about the ramifications of addiction.

*Monday, January 12th, 1976: Former United States Senator Frank Harris (D-OK) announced he's suspending his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. Harris confirmed he'll be endorsing CA Governor Jerry Brown (D)'s campaign.

*Thursday, January 15th, 1976: Turkish Prime Minister Alstarap Turkes flexing his independent foreign policy by pivoting to the Soviet Union during the latter's high-profile visit to Moscow, where he is hosted by Soviet President Lenoid Brezhnev.

*Monday, January 19th, 1976: President Nelson Rockefeller delivers his first State of the Union Address before a Joint Session of Congress: where he highlighted his administration's accomplishments & achievements including plans for 1976.

Delivering the Democratic Response was CO Governor Richard Lamm (D), who strongly criticized Rockefeller's economic growth plan as "non-starter" & stated ineffective policies in addressing inflation, economic problems, disastrous foreign policy over the past eight years as major factors why the American people want to turn the page. Lamm made the speech from the CO Governor's Mansion in Denver.

*Wednesday, January 21st, 1976: President Rockefeller makes his sixth international trip as the 39th President of the United States by making a high-profile state visit to Brazil, where he was hosted by Brazilian President Ernesto Geisel.

It's during the bilateral meeting at the Palacio da Alvorada in Braailia, where US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (who accompanied the President on the trip) met with several Argentine military figures at an undisclosed location & assured them they have the full backing of the Rockefeller administration in launching a military coup d'etat against Argentine President Isabel Martinez de Peron.

*Monday, January 26th, 1976: TX Governor Dolph Briscoe (D) endorses former GA Governor Jimmy Carter (D)'s campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

 

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BREAKING NEWS: MOYNIHAN RESIGNS AS US AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS; ANNOUNCES HIS CAMPAIGN FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE IN NEW YORK STATE
Monday, February 2nd, 1976

Moynihan interviewed by NBC News reporter Edwin Newman.​

*Monday, February 2nd, 1976: In one of the most abrupt moves ever to shake up the Rockefeller administration, US Ambassador to the United Nations Daniel Patrick Moynihan abruptly resigns his position as the nation's top diplomat. While he states one of the reasons for his resignation is to return to his job as a college professor at Harvard University in Boston, it didn't take too long for anyone to figure out his real reason of stepping down is when he officially announced his campaign for the United States Senate in NY St.

*Wednesday, February 4th, 1976: The opening ceremonies of the 1976 Winter Olympics are held in Innsbruck, Austria. US Vice President Edward Brooke was in attendance at the opening ceremony festivities; Austrians Christi Haas & Josef Feistimantl, both gold medalists in the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, jointly lit the Olympic Torch.

*Reversing a ban against the allowance of the Concorde supersonic airliner to fly to the United States, US Transportation Secretary William T. Coleman announced that the United Kingdom & France could operate Concorde flights to & from the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, NY St & Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC on a 16-month trial basis.
*In Guatemala, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake kills at least 22,000 people. Within an epicenter of the towns of Siquinala & Escuintla, the quake struck at 3:01 AM which caused its highest death toll in slum areas of Guatemala City.

​

*Thursday, February 5th, 1976: United States Senator Howard Baker (R-TN) endorses Vice President Edward Brooke for the Republican presidential nomination. After months of speculation, Baker declines to launch a presidential campaign due to the heavy workload of serving Tennesseans in the United States Senate as well as his national profile of being of the nation's visible United States Senators.

*Friday, February 6th, 1976: Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith declared that a "new terrorist offensive has begun and that, to defeat it, Rhodesians would have to face heavier military commitments." Security force reports indicated around 1,000 insurgent fighters were active within Rhodesia, with a further 15,000 encamped in various states of readiness in Mozambique.

*Monday, February 9th, 1976: The Australian Defence Force was formed by unification of the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy & the Royal Australian Air Force.

*Saturday, February 14th, 1976: Lieutenant General Olusegun Obasanjo takes office as the new Head of State of Nigeria as the government officially confirmed that General Murtala Muhammed was assassinated on the previous day.

*The Foundation Vasarely Museum is established n Aix-en-Provence, France.

*Sunday, February 15th, 1976: The new Constitution of Cuba is adopted by an overwhelming vote (98%) in a national referendum.

*Monday, February 16th, 1976: Meeting in Barcelona, Spain, representatives of 16 nations (in southern Europe, the Middle East & North Africa) that border the Mediterranean Sea finished a two week conference on stopping pollution in the waters shared by all of them, with 12 of the 16 nations signing the Barcelona Convention.

*Thursday, February 19th, 1976: Iceland severs diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom as a result of the dispute over British fishing within 200 miles (230 km) of Iceland, marking the first time in the history of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization of a formal breach between the two members of the NATO alliance.

*Friday, February 20th, 1976: The Argentine government announced schedule of new presidential elections for December 12th. Notice comes the day after embattled Argentine President Isabel Peron, who was completing the term of her late husband, the late Argentine President Juan Peron, announced she would not be seeking a full term for the Presidency in the upcoming elections.

*Sunday, February 22nd, 1976: Israel turns over to Egypt the remaining section of the Sinai Peninsula, which had been agreed upon in the Sinai Interim Agreement signed between the two nations on September 4th. The last portion of which the Israeli troops withdrew was 89 square miles (230 km) on a line parallel, to & from 10 miles east of the Suez Canal.

 

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AUTHORS NOTE ON CHAPTER V FOR NEXT WEEK: Be on the lookout for upcoming stories of the GOP & Dem primaries for the 1976 Presidential campaign including highlights from the ugly dog-whistles by the Reagan campaign in their attacks against Brooke.

@Husky_Khan @Rusty Shackleford @stevep @Zyobot @TheRomanSlayer @DarthOne @TerrificWarden @Morphic Tide @The Unicorn @Captain X @Carrot of Truth @Circle of Willis @Julio92

 

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Reagan on the campaign trail
9:55 PM EST, Saturday, February 21st, 1976
Manchester, NH
​

Despite losing the Iowa Caucuses to Vice President Brooke, Reagan used the narrow loss as fuel for a prolonged blitz through New Hampshire, which was something the incumbent Vice President Edward Brooke was incapable of doing. Having successfully reduced the Vice President's once-strong double digit lead in the polls due to the former California Governor's aggressive coded-words of blatant dog whistles by attacking Brooke's voting record in the United States Senate; using newsletter articles attacking Brooke's character, coded-words by having some Reaganites use racially-charged epithets whenever they ran newsletters detailing "uppity welfare queens taking taxpayers money and stealing our jobs" blasting the Vice President's personal life by using "unlike that other fellow who has secret affairs with a typical journalist and other women, Governor Reagan is a family man with a devoted wife and children who represents American values".

Also working with the Reagan campaign was Lee Atwater of South Carolina, who was known for his aggressively racially-charged political campaign schemes for United States Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC) & SC Governor James Edwards (R). Atwater used vicious dog-whistle political negative advertising against Brooke with violent aggressiveness 24/7. As a result of the race-baiting, Reagan was within striking distance of overtaking the Vice President in the nation's first presidential primary.

Alarmed by what was going on, Bo Callaway was brought in to manage the Brooke campaign & assisting him was George Hinman & Newt Gingrich; Callaway, Hinman & Gingrich had difficult tasks ahead of them as many southern Republicans including the rank-and-file grassroots were enthralled & excited by Reagan. Gingrich continued working as an academic college professor level at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA while at the same time, working as a semi-professional political consultant eventually serving as Brooke's "Dixie Political Czar". Despite luring a handful of southern Republicans including Callaway into the Vice President's campaign, their efforts of doing more were rebuffed. Realizing that the race nationally was tightening, Brooke decided to throw his energies into denying Reagan a victory or a close call in New Hampshire.

Meanwhile in Manchester, Reagan relished on his person-to-person approach of campaignin, ignoring town halls, debates or candidate forums with Brooke, who unsuccessfully demanded the former California Governor to debate him face-to-face. He also felt momentum coming his way as more people became more enthralled by his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. When asked if anyone was plotting a "Stop Reagan" movement, Reagan laughed it off, saying he was confident that he would emerge victorious in the New Hampshire primary within a few days.

"I always have an answer" he joked to his wife as the campaign bus drove through the heavy blizzard conditions of snow. "You know what you should do if Brooke knocks us out of the racing?" asked Nancy, "do you have an answer?" Reagan chuckled. Nancy responded "host the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson." "The next big prize is Florida" answered Reagan; "I'll be happy to get out of this cold weather and get back to hot weather" he rambled on. "It's so damn freezing here" laughed Nancy, "it's colder than I expected," Reagan confidentially replied "Don't worry Nancy because Florida is right around the corner."

 

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(1976 New Hampshire Democratic Primary: 81,525 Votes; 17 Delegates)
Tuesday, February 24th, 1976
​

Jimmy Carter (23,177) 28.43% (7 Delegates)
Jerry Brown (18,473) 22.67% (6 Delegates)
Henry Jackson (13,981) 17.15% (4 Delegates)

*1976 Democratic Primaries
Jimmy Carter: 50 Delegates
Uncomitted: 4 Delegates
Jerry Brown: 6 Delegates
Henry Jackson: 4 Delegates

(1976 New Hampshire Republican Primary: 74,229 Votes; 21 Delegates)
​

Ronald Reagan (32,356) 43.59% (11 Delegates)
Edward Brooke (31,502) 42.44% (10 Delegates)

*1976 Republican Primaries:
Edward Brooke: 29
Ronald Reagan: 28 Delegates

 

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COMING SOON IN CHAPTER VI OF THE CURSED AMERICAN PRESIDENCY
Argentine President Isabel Martinez de Peron ups the ante in her bloodthirsty reign of terror against opponents

 

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BREAKING NEWS: REAGAN WINS NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY
*Tuesday, February 24th, 1976: In what many consider a major upset in political history, former CA Governor Ronald Reagan (R) won the New Hampshire primary defeating Vice President Edward Brooke by a narrow margin (44%-43%). "This makes the spark of our campaign to continue right into the midpoint as we're gaining more momentum by each day. Now let's keep it going!" Reagan declared in his victory speech in Manchester at a high school auditorium to a packed crowd.

On the Brooke campaign: the loss was considered a shocking & devastating blow to the Vice President as for the past few months, he was leading by double digits ranging from 13-17 percentage points. Addressing supporters at the Hilton Hotel ballroom in downtown Concord, Brooke said "I called Governor Reagan to congratulate him on his victory in tonight's first in the nation presidential primary. Despite a hard setback tonight, we are NOT defeated yet and we've got 48 more states to go."

Former US Treasury Secretary John Connally did poorly tonight, he has reporredly assembled an assessment of his campaign. ABC News has reported that Connally will make an announcement regarding the future of his campaign in the coming days.

MOMENTUM FOR THE GEORGIA PEANUT FARMER FOLLOWING VICTORY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE; BROWN ON THE DELEGATES COUNT
On the Democratic side, former GA Governor Jimmy Carter (D) continues his momentum fresh off of the Iowa Caucuses last month, winning the New Hampshire primary in a seven-way race garnering 28% of the vote. "We Want Jimmy! We Want Jimmy!" a large throng of supporters cheered at the University of New Hampshire campus as the former GA Governor addressed them, thanking them for their support & pledged to keep the momentum going.

While the Carter campaign was celebrating winning both Iowa Caucuses & New Hampshire primary, increasing the number of delegates to 50 overall for the Democratic presidential nomination; CA Governor Jerry Brown (D) came in second place with 22% of the vote including picking up 6 delegates. It wasn't known by anyone if Brown would parlay his strong showing into pulling off some upset wins along the way as the primaries continue to drag on.

United States Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson (D-WA St) was in third place with 17% of the vote as well as 4 delegates; AL Governor George Wallace (D) fell in last place with no votes.

 

[49ersfootball]

Gingrich
10:00 AM EST, Wednesday, February 25th, 1976
Somewhere in the outskirts of Cape Cod, MA
​

Newt Gingrich was summoned by the Vice President, who retired to his vacation home in the outskirts of Cape Cod after delivering his concession speech in Concord, NH on Tuesday night. The defeat was a stunning & devastating humiliation for the Vice President, who didn't anticipate losing in the nation's first presidential primary in order to keep his campaign alive. Hinman was equally concerned, having warned the Vice President that his base of support could possibly shift towards former US Treasury Secretary John Connally if his campaign no longer appeared viable. The good news for Brooke was that the next primary was his home state of Massachusetts where he enjoyed strong, overwhelming support of Bay Staters. The upcoming primaries in Massachusetts & Vermont were considered likely Brooke victories which would give his campaign a much needed boost before heading into Florida.

"Newt" said the Vice President, swiveling around the area in his chair "just tell me what we're doing wrong?" The premise of the question startled Gingrich, who explained the situation. "Mr. Vice President," he began "I believe this campaign would benefit more by seeking and emphasizing your outreach."

"What do you mean emphasizing outreach?" intrigued the Vice President, who was leaning back in his chair.

"Well, your campaign associates have been having you running a national campaign with reliance on small retailing politics, which is basically a local election. Now, the good news is that there's still a solid core of Republicans who can see the bigger picture but not every state is New Hampshire. I suggest you need to make clear to voters what it means directly to have you as their next President than Reagan."