Good afternoon Sietch family. I apologize for the late delay due to celebrating the 4th of July with my family here in the Alamo City, etc., but please enjoy reading & leave some comments.
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*JULY 15TH, 1976
BREAKING NEWS: FORMER CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR RONALD REAGAN SUSPENDS CAMPAIGN FOR THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION, apologizes to Vice President Brooke and the nation for controversial comments he made in Nixon audio recording
On July 15th at 11:35 AM Pacific Standard Time, reporters were summoned for an official campaign announcement by the former two-term California Governor. There was no specific explanation or even detailed information given what the Governor would be saying & the gathering in San Diego was just hours in advance.
Governor Reagan: "Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen. Please forgive me if I scheduled this abrupt meeting of major importance. However, this decision that I've made and planning on announcing right now is one that I have long prayed and thought given consideration and it's also one that I have to make as soon as possible. Both for myself and my family, the last couple of days were one of reflection and consideration on the path forward of this campaign.
The past few days has changed the outlook of this campaign. Now let's discuss the current situation at hand in regard to audio recordings. In 1971, as a member of the US delegation attending the United Nations General Assembly, I was upset and angry on how one of America's staunchest allies, Taiwan was being humiliated when several countries such as Tanzania voted in favor of the People's Republic of China. What transpired next, was a lack of judgement in my part and in the process of channeling my anger, I vented on the telephone on what I had assumed was a typical phone conversation with then-President Nixon, where I used offensive language regarding members of the Tanzanian delegation in such derogatory, ugly offensive comments. Another situation is where I continued to vent my anger in describing several African countries with ugly, derogatory language which many viewed as offensive. It was offensive and to those I offended, I would like to offer my apologies. As I have weighed on the gravity of an explosive report from the Washington Post with the leaks of the audio recordings in question, where it revealed more derogatory language in describing current Vice President Edward Brooke, whom I would like to personally give my sincere apologies if I had offended him or his family.
The past three days since the explosive report has engulfed this campaign, distracted the voters from hearing candidates discuss the major issues facing Americans. My family had been hounded by reporters with pestering questions on the explosive audio recordings in question, they have been slandered by many in the media with ugly allegations against them on whether they hold similar views. Let me be very clear, none of my family members hold prejudicial views towards minorities or anyone else because it's NOT the way I raised my children, I raised them to be compassionate, thoughtful and embrace those of different backgrounds, perspectives, etc.,
Right now, America has been facing severe, serious challenges both here at home and abroad. Over the course of the past few weeks since the Washington Post's explosive report, I have been hunkering down trying the best I can in maintaining an exhaustive campaign in spite of the smears, personal attacks on character that has made it difficult for this campaign to move forward. And while I am grateful to those with all of your outstanding support during this campaign effort, its become evident that with the explosive audio recordings leaked by the Washington Post, has caused this campaign to take a step back.
Now therefore, with the thoughtful prayers, tears and support of my family, the time has come that I've decided that I am officially suspending my campaign for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party effective immediately. Neither do I take this decision lightly or easily, nor do I shrink from the task to earning your trust and confidence. In light of the current situation in the past few weeks, I had to decide whether to spend the remaining weeks of pushing this campaign all the way to the Republican National Convention in Kansas City or whether I'll pause and reflect on a personal road to redemption.
It is now apparent to me that this campaign has officially come to an end. My decision to withdraw now shouldn't distract the Republican Party in doing all we can to unite behind Vice President Brooke as we fight to beat the opposition in November. To my supporters, I understand your disappointed with this decision and asked "Why can't we just fight these allegations?" My first instinct was to fight with every breath of my body, but I come to conclude that the American people must come first.
Thank you very much for attending this impromptu address. I will be taking your questions at another time when appropriate. Thanks for coming."
As the former California Governor left the room, several questions were thrown out, to which he didn't respond. Sources said that Reagan personally called Brooke that morning to inform the Vice President on his decision to withdraw from the campaign. Accordingly, Brooke was shocked, as neither he or his advisers actually expected the move and had already been planning for a potential brokered convention in Kansas City. The past few weeks since the Washington Post's explosive bombshell exploded on June 27th, when Brooke (who was asked about Reagan's offensive comments in the audio recordings) blasted the former two-term California Governor and former President Nixon and originally demanded that Reagan drop out effective immediately. President Nelson Rockefeller also joined the chorus of those demanding Reagan withdraw from the race, as well as United States Senators Mark Hatfield (R-OR) & Lowell Weicker (R-CT).
With Reagan's withdrawal, this all but makes Brooke the presumptive presidential nominee of the Republican Party. The Vice President of course, will be pushed to secure conservatives who supported the former California Governor during the primaries, because the number of potential running-mates will be ranging on names such as United States Senator Bob Dole (R-KS), Missouri Governor Christopher Bond (R), United States Senator John Tower (R-TX), etc., Boosted by Ford & Rockefeller confidants, moderate Republicans, Vice President Brooke managed to overcome insurmountable odds stacked against him in the primaries, by winning the nomination by default when the Washington Post' exclusive bombshell exploded & upended the 1976 Presidential campaign.
Vice President Brooke has made history becoming the first African American nominee of a major political party as the Republican Party's presidential nominee. If he were to defeat the presumptive Democratic nominee, California Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., (D) in the November general election, Brooke would become the first African American President of the United States in the country's history.
Ah, Yes, half a century ago, when controversial comments were much more likely to land a presidential candidate in extremely hot water relative to right now. In real life, Donald Trump survived this:
And this:
And this:
The Daily Show Found a Video of Donald Trump Talking About His 1-Year-Old Daughter’s Breasts
During a Tuesday segment on Donald Trump's lifelong history of misogyny—which you can read more about here—The Daily Show ran a newly uncovered 1994...slate.com
