Alternate History The State of the Future TL

[49ersfootball]

COMING UP IN CHAPTER IV OF THE STATE OF THE FUTURE
Sports Highlights from 1986-87

​

 

[49ersfootball]

COMING UP IN CHAPTER V OF THE STATE OF THE FUTURE
Governor White's Legacy & Accomplishments

​

 

[49ersfootball]

COMING SOON IN CHAPTER V OF THE STATE OF THE FUTURE
Lloyd Doggett & his political comeback

​

 

[49ersfootball]

COMING UP NEXT WEEK IN CHAPTER IV OF THE STATE OF THE FUTURE
Former United States Senator Bob Krueger (D-TX) making a political comeback.....

​

 

[49ersfootball]

COMING UP IN CHAPTER V OF THE STATE OF THE FUTURE
Profile on Dallas Mayor Annette Strauss

​

 

[49ersfootball]

Sports Highlights & Headlines from 1986-87
Fall 1986-Fall 1987

Penn St Nittany Lions Football Coach Joe Paterno being carried by his players following #2 Penn St's upset victory over #1 Miami in the 1986 Fiesta Bowl.
​

*(College Football):
January 1st, 1987: #2 Penn St Nittany Lions (12-0) upset #1 Miami (11-1) by a score of 14-10 to win the 1986 Fiesta Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, AZ; this was the Nittany Lions' 2nd national championship in school history (1982, 1986).

February 25th, 1987: Southern Methodist University Mustangs Football Team becomes the first College Football program to be given the NCAA Death Penalty by the NCAA Committee on Rules Infractions, cancelling the 1987 & 1988 seasons.

*(National Football League):
January 25th, 1987: The New York Giants (NFC) continues the dominance of the NFC in winning Super Bowls as they crushed the Denver Broncos by a score of 39-20, this would be the Giants' 1st Super Bowl Championship in franchise history & 5th overall League Championship (NFL Championships: 1927, 1936, 1938, 1956); the Giants would go onto winning Super Bowls in 2007 & again in 2011.

New York Giants Football Coach Bill Parcells being doused with Gatorade by his players following the Giants' easy victory.
​

*(NBA)
June 14th, 1987: The Los Angeles Lakers dethrone the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics in six games (4-2) of the 1987 NBA Finals in Game 6 by a score of 106-93, winning the storied franchise's 10th NBA Championship.

The 1987 NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers
​

*(MLB)
October 25th, 1987: The American League champion Minnesota Twins defeated the National League champion Saint Louis Cardinals in Game 7 of the 1987 World Series (4-3) by a score of 4-2, winning the franchise's 2nd World Series Championship; this was the first World Series match-up, where the home team won every game & the first World Series played indoors at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN.

Minnesota Twins players celebrating after winning the 1987 World Series Championship.​

*(NHL)
May 31st, 1987: Edmonton Oilers win Game 7 of the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals defeating the Philadelphia Flyers by a score of 3-1 (4-3); winning the franchise's 3rd Stanley Cup Championship (1984, 1985, 1987); Edmonton would later win their 4th & 5th Stanley Cup Championships in 1988 & again in 1990.

​

*(College Women's Gymnastics)
Georgia GymDogs of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) dethrones the five-time defending national champion Utah Red Rocks (187.90 to 187.55), snapping the Red Rocks' five-year streak of winning national championships in Women's Gymnastics; the Gym Dogs would go onto winning national championships in 1989, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 & again in 2009.

​

 

[49ersfootball]

Krueger
11:40 AM CST, Tuesday, June 16th, 1987
Somewhere in Fort Worth, TX

Krueger during his unsuccessful reelection campaign in the 1984 Dem Primary​

Having narrowly missed out on a spot in the runoff of the Democratic Primary for the United States Senate in May 1984 & going back into the private sector, former United States Senator Bob Krueger (D-TX) had been something of a unknown quantity of most Texans. Nobody could try to pin him down on the key issues facing not only Texans, but Americans on an overall whole.

Krueger came into the national spotlight in 1974 during the Democratic Wave known as the "Watergate Class of 1974", many of whom owed their election to the Watergate Scandal, which resulted in the resignation of then-President Richard Nixon three months prior to the 1974 Midterm elections that year; when he was first elected to a seat in the US House of Representatives representing TX's 21st Congressional District which ranged from northern San Antonio to Big Bend National Park in far west TX: known as one of the largest congressional districts in TX at the time. He was reelected to a second term in 1976. During his time in Congress, Krueger worked on energy economics & civil rights legislation. He also ran a spirited, but unsuccessful campaign for the United States Senate in 1978 against United States Senator John G. Tower (R-TX) losing by less thsn 0.3 percent.

However in December 1978, many people were shocked by the horrific plane crash that killed Senator Tower. It wasn't a surprise when outgoing TX Governor Dolph Briscoe (D) appointed, Krueger to filling the vacancy of Tower's US Senate seat; he won the 1979 Special Election against former US Rep. Alan Steelman (R-TX).

 

[49ersfootball]

Entertainment Industry Highlights
Spring, Summer, Fall 1987 (Part I)

The cast of "21 Jump Street" Season 1 Promotional photograph: Johnny Depp, Holly Robinson, Peter DeLuise, Dustin Nguyen, Frederic Forrest.​

April 12th, 1987: The American police procedural TV series "21 Jump Street" debuts on the Fox Network. The show focuses on a police squad of youthful-looking undercover police officers investigating murders, crimes in high schools, colleges, & other teenage venues. The show is created by Patrick Hasburgh & Stephen J. Cannell; produced by Hasburgh Productions & Cannell Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television; the show was created in attracting younger audience in the 18-29 year-old demographics.

The cast includes the following: Johnny Depp (Officer Thomas "Tom" Hanson), Holly Robinson (Sergeant Judith "Judy" Hoffs), Peter DeLuise (Officer Douglas "Doug" Penhall), Dustin Nguyen (Sergeant Harry Truman "HT" Ioki/Vinh Van Tran) & Frederic Forrest (Captain Richard Jenko). Somewhere in the sixth episode of Season 1, Forrest's character, Captain Jenko is killed by a drunk driver & replaced by Steven Williams (Captain Adam Fuller), who takes Jenko's place as the Police Captain of Jump Street midway during the 1st Season.

 

[49ersfootball]

Zindler
8:38 PM CST, Thursday, June 18th, 1987
ABC 13 KTRK-TV Houston Studios
Houston, TX.

Zindler on the "David Letterman Show" in 1982.​

Action 13's Consumer Reporter Marvin Zindler was the talk of the town in the Space City since coming to the ABC O&O Station in 1973. His investigative journalism, through which he mostly represented the city's elderly & working class, made him one of Houston's most influential & well-known media personalities not only in Houston, but across the Lone Star State & the United States.

Born on August 10th, 1921 in Houston, TX., Zindler attended Pershing Middle School & Lamar High School before graduating from San Jacinto High School; he furthered his education by attending John Tarlenton Agricultural College (now Tarlenton State University) in Stephenville, TX. In 1941, when the United States entered World War II, Zindler joined the United States Marine Corps & later received an honorable discharge for medical reasons. His father, Abraham Zindler, founded & owned a successful clothing store in Houston, was disappointed in Marvin, whom he considered frivolous & irresponsible. Abraham wanted his sons to inherit the store, a career course that Marvin was very reluctant to tackle because of his father's sometimes angry behavior. When Abraham Zindler died in 1963, Marvin's inheritance was allocated to a trust for Zindler's five children.

In 1941, he married the former Gertrude Kugler & they would be blessed with five children: Marvin, Jr., Donny, Danny, Mark & Helen. He would also have nine grandchildren including one great-grandchild. The Zindler's lived in the Houston neighborhood of Maplewood, where he resided for 48 years. Following being honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps, Zindler began his broadcasting career in 1943 as a part-time night radio disc jockey & spot news reporter with Houston radio station KATL (currently KMIC 1590) while working for his family's clothing store. Beginning in 1951, when he worked at KATL, Zindler hosted The Roving Mike, a 30-minute radio program airing on Sundays that documented crime & the people involved in Houston. In 1950, Zindler became a reporter & cameraman for Southwest Film Production Company which produced the 6:00 PM news for NBC 2 KPRC-TV Houston, but in 1954, he was unceremoniously fired by an executive who said Zindler "was too ugly" to work in television. Less than two years later, Zindler joined the Scripps Howard Houston Press, working part-time as a crime reporter & photographer. While working at his father's store & for the newspaper, he became dissatisfied with the retail business & decided to join law enforcement, which in 1962, Zindler joined the Harris County Sheriff's Department, working in the Sheriff's Office. There, he handled Civil Process for two years & then joined the Fugitive Squad where his work took him all over the world in extraditing fugitives.

Less than two years before joining KTRK-TV, Zindler was assigned by the Harris County Sheriff & Harris County District Attorney in establishing a Consumer Fraud Division with the Harris County District Attorney's Office. This division is still operating as of today. It was during this time of his career that he got his first taste of working on behalf of the people; after Jack Heard was elected Harris County Sheriff in 1972, Zindler was unceremoniously fired, a move that Zindler blamed on agitated automobile dealers who were alleged to have been rolling back odometers.

Upon hearing about Zindler's unceremonious firing from the Harris County Sheriff's Department, ABC 13 KTRK-TV Weeknight News Anchor Dave Ward recommended Zindler to the station's assistant news director. On January 1st, 1973, Zindler joined ABC 13, a station with a news program that was languishing in 3rd place badly. The rest, y'all can say is history!

 

[49ersfootball]

Howard/Scripps Polling Survey (March 30th-April 16th, 1987)

Do you approve or disapprove the job President Ronald Reagan is doing?
Approve: 57%
Disapprove: 26%
Undecided: 16%

Do you approve or disapprove the job Vice President George HW Bush is doing?
Approve: 64%
Disapprove: 17%
Undecided: 16%

Do you approve or disapprove the job TX Governor Mark W. White, Jr., (D) is doing?
Approve: 38%
Disapprove: 57%

Do you approve or disapprove the job TX Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby (D) is doing?
Approve: 62%
Disapprove: 16%
Undecided: 20%

Do you approve or disapprove the job United States Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) is doing?
Approve: 66%
Disapprove: 13%
Undecided: 20%

Do you approve or disapprove the job United States Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX) is doing?
Approve: 50%
Disapprove: 36%
Undecided: 13%

 

[49ersfootball]

COMING SOON IN THE STATE OF THE FUTURE
Cecilia Bolocco of Chile wins Miss Universe 1987

​

 

[49ersfootball]

BREAKING NEWS: TX STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL JIM MATTOX ANNOUNCES GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN IN 1990, CHALLENGING TX GOVERNOR MARK W. WHITE IN DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY
Spring/Summer 1987
​

March 26th, 1987: In a move many didn't anticipate much surprise, TX State Attorney General Jim Mattox (D) announced his gubernatorial campaign for the TX Governor's Mansion in 1990, which would set up a showdown between Mattox & TX Governor Mark W. White, Jr., (D) in the Democratic gubernatorial primary less than three years away. During his stump speech in Dallas, Mattox promoted being "The People's Lawyer" by standing up for the forgotten Texans, preventing tax increases & his accomplishments as the Lone Star State's Chief Law Enforcement Officer. Some polling suggest the primary could get ugly, divisive & negative hard-hitting attacks on both sides.

There's speculation that more could jump into the primary such as former TX Railroad Commissioner Buddy Temple (D), who was reached for comment on whether he might launch another campaign, but Temple said he was enjoying the private sector.

Speculation: Could Chief Justice Hill retire early?
April 16th, 1987: Speculation is swirling around Austin that TX Supreme Court Chief Justice John Hill (D), who was elected in 1984, might be leaning towards early retirement & resign from office altogether. Hill, the former TX State Attorney General from 1973 to 1979 became known for his upset victory over then-Governor Dolph Briscoe (D) in the 1978 Democratic gubernatorial primary before ultimately losing the November general election that same year to former US Defense Secretary William P. Clements, Jr., (R), who won the 1978 gubernatorial election as the Lone Star State's first Republican Governor since Reconstruction. Many Texas Democrats blame Hill for his lackluster campaign for the loss as well as alienating the staunch conservative supporters of Briscoe as well as the business community establishments.

Sources state that Hill has become increasingly frustrated with the judicial election process & demamded massive changes to how Texans elect their judges, which was rebuffed by some legislators in the TX State Legislature during the legislative session.

Assuming that Chief Justice Hill resigns from office, it would give Governor White an opportunity to fill the vacancy with an appointment for Chief Justice of the TX Supreme Court & scheduling a special election set for 1988.

1990 TX United States Senator: Leland considering challenging Gramm in 1990
May 26th, 1987: During an interview with C-SPAN in Washington, DC., US Rep. Mickey Leland (D-TX) addressed the political rumor mill of his political future "I'm seeking reelection to a sixth term in Congress to represent the 18th Congressional District next year. After that, we'll see what happens in terms of any other political campaign for higher office. As you see, the people of Texas want change and somebody fighting for them in the United States Senate. I might consuder running for the United States Senate in three years if the situation regarding political divisions continue to tear this great state I love apart. However, for the moment, my focus is my current job."

Endorsements for the next campaign: TX Lieutenant Governor 1990
Group of key groups in the Lone Star State announced their endorsements in the upcoming 1990 campaign for TX Lieutenant Governor: Houston Federation of Teachers & AFL-CIO both announced they're endorsing TX Comptroller of Public Accounts Bob Bullock (D)'s campaign for the Lieutenant Governorship.

Bullock is so far the only Democrat running for the Lone Star State's second most powerful & influential office. Longtime five-term TX Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby (D) is not seeking reelection in 1990 & his current term expires on January 15th, 1991. Hobby has also endorsed Bullock as his successor.

Will the rising star of the Texas Democrats run or not? The tough decision....................
TX State Treasurer Ann Richards (D), one of the popular & rising stars of both the TX Democratic Party & national Democratic Party, so far ruled out jumping into the likely crowded gubernatorial primary in 1990 & she also backed out of running for Lieutenant Governor once Bullock launched his campaign for the Lieutenant Governorship.

Richards has been intrigued by the prospect of running for the United States Senate in 1988 if United States Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) chose not to seek reelection or 1990 against United States Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX). The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has been aggressively recruiting Richards on a future Senate campaign, something that she confirmed she was leaning towards doing.

 

[49ersfootball]

COMING UP NEXT WEEK IN CHAPTER IV OF THE STATE OF THE FUTURE
The Iran-Contra Scandal explodes & engulfs the Reagan Presidency with growing calls for President Reagan's resignation escalating further....

 

[49ersfootball]

Backlash against the Reagan administration
Summer 1987
​

In the aftermath of the 1986 Midterms, the nation was shocked to find out about top White House NSC staff members making a secretive trip to Iran.

What was revealed later resulted in one of the biggest scandals of the administration of US President Ronald Wilson Reagan. More revelations about the scandal also exposed that the Reagan administration had been secretly selling arms & military spare parts to Iran as well as diverting the proceeds to the Contra forces, who were fighting the communist government of Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega.

In response to the revelations, Congress passed legislation outlawing the US government from giving military aid to these forces. Congress was also further infuriated because they weren't informed or included in the meetings or intelligence briefings; they ordered a full investigation.

The American people was further shocked because it appeared that the administration was providing arms to the Iranians, enemies of the US in a failed attempt to obtaining the release of American hostages, who were still held in Beirut, Lebanon. In light of the backlash, National Security Adviser John Poindexter resigned from his position & his deputy, US Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North, was dismissed from his position as well.

Just when you thought the Reagan administration assumed the worst was over................ it wasn't!

The scandal exploded eveb further when Colonel North revealed that he had destroyed official documents in the White House in order to covering up the operation. Trying to turn things around, President Reagan appointed a commission to investigate & Congress televised full-scale hearings. Then suddenly, former White House Chief of Staff Don Regan came before the hearings & dropped more bombshells: revealing that President Reagan knew more of what he was telling the American people including being involved with the decision-making of the controversial operation, which shocked the nation....

The result was constant backlash & calls for Reagan's resignation escalated as the Democratic-controlled Congress began licking their chops.

 

[49ersfootball]

Polling Surveys: President Reagan's approval rating plunge downward in light of Regan's shocking testimony
Summer 1987

NBC News Evening Anchor Tom Brokaw reporting on the breaking news scoop........​

May 20th, 1987: Brokaw got the big scoop of his broadcasting career & he knew that having watched Regan's bombshell testimony before both the House Select Committee to Investigate Covert Arms Transactions with Iran & the Senate Select Committee on Secret Military Assistance to Iran and the Nicaraguan Opposition on May 16th & 17th respectively, where Regan went into full detail of what the Reagan administration knew, were aware that the controversial operation was illegal & why did Reagan & Co., go into great lengths of covering it up. As a result of the revelations, Reagan's approval ratings went from 63% & plunged to 42%, a 21-percentage-point drop in the most recent Gallup polling survey.

BREAKING NEWS: US DEFENSE SECRETARY CASPAR WEINBERGER'S HANDWRITTEN NOTES REVEAL MORE DAMMING REVELATIONS

November 25th, 1986: President Reagan meeting with White House Chief of Staff Don Regan, US Attorney General Ed Meese, US Secretary of State George P. Shultz & US Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger inside the Oval Office to discussing the President's remarks on the Iran-Contra Affair.​

May 24th, 1987: Less than five days before the Senate Select Committee on Secret Military Assistance to Iran and the Nicaraguan Opposition, there was explosive new evidence out of the explosive Iran-Contra Affair, which has now engulfed the Reagan administration's priorities.

According to Dan Rather of CBS News, who reported the following: "Good afternoon everyone, we apologize for interrupting regular programming as we've received new reports of sets of handwritten notes and other detailed incriminating documents by Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, all have been released to the press. As we can know, the specific notes and documents have further damaged the President's standing even more. According to many of the President's critics in Congress, they view the revelation of Weinberger's notes and documents incriminating the President and others in his administration and also confirm these details are mounting and overwhelming concrete proof President Reagan was deeply involved in the illegal secretive operation of swaping weapons sales to Iran while negotiating for the release of American hostages."

Polling surveys also revealed that President Reagan's approval ratings continued to plunge downward: falling to just 30%. To make matters worse, the House Judiciary Committee had begun impeaching proceedings on May 16th with a final vote on whether to approve the six articles of impeachment set for June 16th. There's also rumors swirling around Washington, DC., on if Vice President George HW Bush was involved in the Iran-Contra Scandal.

BREAKING NEWS: SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE REVEALS REPORT ON THE IRAN-CONTRA AFFAIR, IMPLICATING PRESIDENT REAGAN AND OTHERS

​

May 30th, 1987: United States Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI), chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Select Military Assistance to Iran and the Nicaraguan Opposition, along with fellow members of the committee came before the cameras to deliver their report on their investigation: The Majority Report concluded that during Reagan's time in office between 1981-1986, the President & senior administration officials had blatantly facilitated the sales of arms, weapons, etc., to the Khomeini government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was obviously the subject of an arms embargo.

Following the seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran in November 1979, which resulted in 52 Americans being held hostage, then-President Jerry Brown imposed an arms embargo on Iran. Despite Reagan's pledge of continuing Brown's policy of blocking arms sales to the Iranian government on groundd that Iran was supporting terrorism & other deadly heinous activities across the globe. However, a group of senior Reagan administration officials from the Senior Interdepartmental Group conducted their secretive illegal operation less than six months after Reagan took office & the conclusion according to these senior administration officials: the Iranian Arns Embargo imposed by the Brown administration in 1979 was ineffective because of justification that Iran would decide to buy arms & spare parts to other countries more receptive to them such as the Soviet Union.

PRESIDENT REAGAN ISSUES STRONG DENIAL TO THE SENATE SELECT COMMITTTEE'S REPORT; VOWS TO FINISH OUT TERM THAT AMERICANS OVERWHELMINGLY REELECTED HIM TO IN 1984

May 30th, 1987

May 30th, 1987: President Reagan delivering special address from the Oval Office.
​

In response to Senator Inouye and the Senate Select Committee's bombshell report earlier in the day, President Reagan addressed the nation later that afternoon which interrupted regularly scheduled programming strongly stating the following: "I was overwhelmingly reelected by the American people in 1984 to serve a second term as your President in one of the largest landslides in American history. I have said then and now, that the American people expect me to finish the job that I was rehired to do and in regards to the report, I have never knowingly or approved of any illegal, secretive operation in regards to trading weapons and arms in exchange for hostages."

The Senate Select Committee's damming report quickly generated public condemnation against the President & heightened calls which escalated for him to resign. Earlier that morning, US House Speaker Jim Wright (D-TX), a political nemesis of the President, called on him to resign. The release of the report also prompted criminal investigations & possible federal indictments regarding Reagan & his senior administration officials.

BREAKING: REPUBLICAN UNITED STATES SENATORS CALL FOR REAGAN'S RESIGNATION FOR THE COUNTRY TO HEAL
May 31st, 1987: United States Senators William Cohen (R-ME) & Lowell Weicker (R-CT) made the difficult decision to come before the cameras inside the hallways of the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, DC., both expressed their difficult decision-making in coming forward to announce the following, with Weicker bluntly saying: "Mr. President, if you love the American people and cherish its goals for the future generations, please for the sake of the American presidency, you need to resign before impeachment and disgraceful conviction destroys your legacy and accomplishments."

Cohen agreed with Weicker's statement, stating that other United States Senators have been discussing the situation. According to sources, when Weicker held a closed-door meeting with President Reagan at the Oval Office, Reagan reportedly was so furious that he cussed both Cohen & Weicker out during one instance at the meeting & kicked them out. No confirmation from either side on this rumor as of yet.

BREAKING NEWS: VICE PRESIDENT BUSH SLOWLY PREPARING TRANSITION PLANS WITH REAGAN ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS
June 1st, 1987: The walls continue to close in on President Reagan, whose approval ratings plunged even downward to just 26% & dropping. Over at the Circle One Observatory Circle, Vice President George HW Bush has reportedly been in contact with US Secretary of State George P. Shultz including other Reagan administration officials on possible transition plans in light of rumors that the President's resignation would be inevitable either by the end of the week or three weeks.

ABC News reported that signs of a potential resignation from President Reagan continue to escalate as several staff members at the White House began updating their resumes for job interviews at other venues including businesses & industries. The mood at the White House was somber & downright awful with no end in sight as the President was increasingly isolated from the massive onslaught of the backlash of his administration's involvement in the Iran-Contra Scandal.

​

Gallup Polling Survey (June 1st, 1987)
Opinion of President Ronald Reagan:
Approve: 26%
Disapprove: 73%

Do you think President Reagan should resign from office in light of the Iran-Contra Affair?
Yes: 62%
No: 24%
Undecided: 14%

Should Congress launch impeaching proceedings against President Reagan?
Yes: 70%
No: 16%
Undecided: 14%

 

[49ersfootball]

COMING UP IN CHAPTER V OF THE STATE OF THE FUTURE
George Herbert Walker Bush & his rise to the Presidency in difficult times.

​

 

[49ersfootball]

COMING SOON IN CHAPTER V OF THE STATE OF THE FUTURE
United States Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) & his national profile continues to increase

​

 

[49ersfootball]

COMING UP THIS WEEK IN CHAPTER IV OF THE STATE OF THE FUTURE
June 1987: President Reagan makes an announcement with huge ramifications for the nation

​

 

[49ersfootball]

BREAKING NEWS: Hunt calls for President Reagan's resignation

​

June 5th, 1987: United States Senator James B. "Jim" Hunt, Jr., (D-NC) interviewed on C-SPAN, called on President Reagan to resign "The country cannot and won't survive an impeachment trial because the longer this turmoil continues to drag on, the more uglier it'll get for the American people. I am shocked, appalled, and disappointed by the actions of the Reagan administration's determination of covering-up their illegal activities in trading weapons and arms to a rouge terrorist country in exchange for hostages. We deserve better."

Hunt, mentioned as a potential candidate for the 1988 Democratic Presidential primaries, flatly denied interest in seeking the Presidency vowing to serve out his full 6-year term as North Carolina's Senior United States Senator having defeated then-United States Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) in 1984.

 

[49ersfootball]

Decision-making needs to made NOW
2:20 PM EST, Saturday, June 13th, 1987
Oval Office, White House
Washington, DC.

President Reagan inside the Oval Office alone.​

The chats demanding Reagan's resignation was super loud & furious in light of the Iran-Contra Affair revelations. President Reagan was huddled with administration officials including White House Chief of Staff Howard Baker to decide the next steps moving forward; the meeting lasted for more than five hours. The time was 2:36 PM & the President thanked everyone for the meeting & told one of the nearby secretaries that he'll need some time alone to himself for private thoughts on personal matters. First Lady Nancy Reagan walked in: "Ronnie. What's our next steps with this whole Iran-Contra thing?" Ronnie sighed & replied "I need some time to make a final decision regarding hunkering down by riding out this chaotic storm that's been going on for the past year or more."

Once Nancy left, Ronnie looked out the window inside the Oval Office all by himself wondering "Why is this happening to me? What did I do wrong to cause people to turn on me? I strongly believe what I've been doing has been the right decision on matters of national security and foreign policy." The chants with ugly catcalls were getting relentless as the chants "Hey Ronnie. How many weapons did your administration sell to rouge states?" "TRAITOR TO THE CONSTITUTION" & topping it all: "Why don't you go back to the ranch in California you old piece of shit?" Furious & upset watching in total despair at the twilight of his presidency was bordering on the likely point of decline.

Fast forward to June 18th: the rumor-mill in the nation's capital was increasingly spinning out of control with such a strong force, it would've caused a large massive fire; the White House was completely under total & epic siege, with members of the press staking outside bracing for the inevitable. The political situation of President Reagan had become increasingly precarious.

Now the moment had come. The lone camera, supplied by ABC News, would be broadcasting the entire "major special address from the President" to every television network including CNN. A camera crew & gaggle of Secret Service agents had filled the room & were busy at work when the President arrived, greeting those present "Good evening there. How is your day going?" His family watched the speech upstairs on the third floor of the White House by gathering around the television set. In the meantime, Nancy was fuming at what was happening: "Why are these assholes in Congress gleefully taking down one of the best Presidents in America?" (more on her later). It became quite clear to the President of the reality sinking in: It was over for the Great Communicator!

He took his seat behind the Resolute Desk, where one of the ABC cameramen accidentally broke protocol by taking a seat in order to review the lighting. "I hope you're being careful there trying not to fall while fixing the lighting" Reagan joked. "Just trying to get the lighting corrected Mr.. President," replied the camera technician. The mood inside the Oval Office was somber-minded & some were clearing their throats in preparation of the situation going on.

Reagan was reading through his speech, making it through the first couple of pages as the ABC News crew-members were testing the broadcasting feed, making some final adjustments to the lighting & microphone placement. Fixing & organizing his prepared remarks as the ABC News crew's head producer briefed him ahead of the broadcast.

The camera was trained on the President, with instructions of panning in & out during certain parts by emphasizing parts of the speech. "Thirty seconds" warned the producer as the Oval Office fell dead silent. "Twenty seconds" he warned once again after dead silence; Reagan looked at the camera knowing on what he had to do in order for the nation to heal. Once again, the room stayed silent "Ten seconds"; once again, "Three, two, one...." counted down by the head technician, who whispered to the President, "we're live Mr. President."

The Major Bombshell
8:00 PM EST, Thursday, June 18th, 1987
Oval Office, White House
Washington, DC.

June 18th, 1987: President Reagan's address to the nation.
​

"Good evening my fellow Americans. This is the 33rd time that I have spoken to you from the Oval Office, where so many critical decisions have been made that had shaped our great nation's history. Each time, I have come before you to discuss some matters that I strongly believe would be beneficial to the national interest for all Americans. In all of the decisions I have made in public life both as Governor of California and as your President, I believe that I have tried my hardest of doing what's best for the nation. Throughout the long and difficult period of the Iran-Contra Affair, I also felt it was my duty to persevere, making every single effort in completing the term of office to which you have overwhelmingly reelected me to less than three years ago.

In the past few months, however, it had become quite evident that I no longer have a strong enough political base in the Congress on justifying this effort. But as long as there was such a base of support, I felt it was necessary to see through the constitutional process toward its conclusion, that to do otherwise would be considered unfaithful to the spirit of that deliberately difficult process and in an increasing dangerous precedent in the future. With the growing loss of political support and lack of getting things done, I believe that there's not any need to prolonging the dragged-out turmoil in the aftermath of the Iran-Contra Affair.

As you all know, the power of the Presidency is often thought to reside within the Oval Office. However, it doesn't reside here; because it rests in you, the American people, and in your trust. Your trust is what gives a President his powers of leadership and his personal strength, and its what I want to talk to you this evening.

Over the result of the revelations from the congressional hearings, I've paid a heavy price for my silence in terms of your trust and confidence. But I had to wait, as you have, for the complete story and whole story. I would like to thank Ambassador David Abshire, whom I appointed as special counselor in getting out the thousands of documents to the various investigations. On December 1, 1986, I appointed a special review board, the Clements Commission, which took on the heaviest of chores: pulling together for me and getting to the bottom of things. The Clements Commission issued their findings.

It is absolutely true that I've been accused by some of being too optimistic, and while its true, I had to hunt pretty hard finding good news in the Clements Commission's report. You know that its been well-stocked with criticisms, which I will discuss in a moment. But first things first, I would like to thank former Texas Governor William P. Clements, Jr., former Secretary of State Edmund Muskie, and former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft. They've done the nation as well as me personally, a great service by submitting a report of such integrity and depth. They each have my great genuine and enduring gratitude.

Having studied the report of the Clemets Commission, let's get to the bottom of it.

First, I take full responsibility for my own actions and for those of my administration. As angry as I may have been about the undertaken activities, which occurred without my knowledge, I am still responsible for those activities. As disappointed as I was in some who served in my administration, I am still the one who must answer to the American people for this unacceptable behavior. As personally distasteful as I found out about the secret offshore bank accounts and the diverted funds, as the Navy likes to say, this happened on my watch.

Once again as I've told the American people just a few months earlier that I didn't trade arms for hostages because I know, deep in my heart and best intentions, that this is true. However, the facts and evidence tells me it is not the case. The Clements Commission's report detailed that what had originally began as a strategic opening to Iran quickly deteriorated, in its implementation, into trading arms for hostages. This runs counter to administration policy, and to the original strategy we had in mind. Now there are several reasons on why it happened, but there's no excuses or justifying what it led to this. This was a serious mistake.

To the families of the hostages: We haven't given up and we will never give up. And I promise you we'll use every legitimate means to freeing your loved ones from captivity. But I also caution that those Americans who freely remain in such dangerous areas must know that they're responsible for their own safety.

Another aspect in the investigations with regard to the transferring of funds to the Nicaraguan contras. The Clements Commission wasn't able to find out whatever happened with the money or funds, so the facts will be left to the continuing investigations of court-appointed Independent Counsel and the two congressional investigating committees, who are still investigating as of right now. Regardless of the circumstances, I am confident the truth will eventually prevail on this matter as well. Despite informing the Clements Commission that I didn't know what happened regarding the diversion of funds to the contras, I realize that as President, I cannot escape responsibility.

Much has been said about my leadership and management styles, these are styles which worked out successfully during my eight years as Governor of California and for most of my Presidency. Because the way I work is identifying the problem, finding the right individuals in doing the job, and letting them go to it. I have found this invariably brings out the best in people. They seem to rise to their full capabilities, and in the long run you get more done.

The Senate Select Committee released a report on several weeks ago, detailing illegal and corrupt activities by accusing this administration of orchestrating such activities. This is flat out false. I believe its unfair and its untruthful, and I also believe that it demonizes behavior that its unsustainable for society. If I could communicate the facts through the noise and right to the cynical Americans, who are suspicious on whats going on, they would understand. I believe, that when I took my oath as president, then it changed. I became a fighter, but I became a fighter for you, the American people. And it is your best interests that I must serve. This situation by its current trajectory will result in months of political and legal controversy. This is what is going to happen. This along with the political-motivated congressional investigations, will result in consuming government. It will cost taxpayers millions of dollars, it will also brutalize people.

America needs to a full-time President including a full-time Congress, particularly at this time when we're facing problems here at home and abroad. We're still in the throes of the Cold War, which I am confident America will emerge victorious, we have so many issues to tackle such as balancing our budget, getting our economic footing moving in terms of getting all Americans to work, and peace through strength including a strong national defense and foreign policy. All of the issues facing our nation will be wasted if Congress uses this to launch unnecessary impeachment investigations and inquiries.

And I think given the circumstances, the best way that I can help right now is if I step aside and let government go back to the basics of governing. Therefore, this is what I will do because I work for you, the American people, and doing the right thing is doing the right thing for you. I am doing this because the country needs to heal and move on.

Vice President George Bush, is smart, competent, intelligent and experienced. His long resume of public service includes serving in the US House of Representatives, then as US Ambassador to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, serving as Chief Liaison to the People's Republic of China, Director of Central Intelligence and currently as Vice President. This transition must be seamless and dignified. We've got a lot going on. I am very concerned about the foreign policy challenges facing us, and so should you be. But he can get up to speed quickly. And my resignation will be officially effective on July 14.

It's been the honor of my life to serve as your President. So many of you have written the past few months to say thanks, but I could say as much to you. Nancy and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity you gave us to serve. I also want to thank my children and members of my family for being there during good times and bad. To members of my administration and staff members of the White House, I thank you for your service to this great country and taking time to serve with me in making America the greatest country in leading the international stage.

There will be another time to address all of the accomplishments that this administration has done over six years. Once again, I would like to thank the American people for giving their trust to me as your President and doing the very best I can for America. Thank you very much and God Bless the United States of America."

COMING UP NEXT WEEK: The aftermath of Reagan's bombshell resignation.....