Alternate History The State of the Future TL

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That Lady from Houston shaking up City Hall....
1:48 PM CST, Thursday, June 11th, 1987
Houston, TX

While rallying her massive group of supporters at the Whitmire Campaign Headquarters, Houston Mayor Kathy Whitmire (D) was addressing the main issues of concern facing Houstonians: tackling anti-crime measures, creating millions of jobs, getting the economy moving in the aftermath of Reaganomics, plus shaking up city government among other areas.

Things were rebounding in terms of the Houston economy which was good news for Whitmire, whose road to reelection for a fourth consecutive 2-year term looked very good & excellent. During her tenure, Whitmire appointed the first African American Police Chief of the Houston Police Department (more on Lee Brown in Chapter 4); the first Latina as the Presiding Judge of Municipal Court; her support of a failed job rights bill for members of the LGTBQ community among other deeds & actions, cemented her support among them including women & minority groups such as Latinos, African Americans, Asian/Pacific Islander Americans, etc.,

Whitmire's success in leading the Lone Star State's largest city gained both statewide & national acclaim, which led to some inside the Democratic Party to believe she would become a future contender for statewide office in the future....

 

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Chapter IV: Linda Gale
11:35 AM CST, Friday, June 12th, 1987
TX Governor's Mansion
Austin, TX

During a meeting with her predecessors: Marialice Shay Shivers, Jean Daniel, Nellie Connally, Ima Mae Smith, Janey Slaughter Briscoe & Rita Crocker Clements during a meeting inside the TX Governor's Mansion, TX First Lady Linda Gale White had been making her mark on the ceremonial title over the past few years since moving into the Governor's Mansion on January 18th, 1983.

She became one of the leading advocates in contributing to pushing successful fundraising efforts in the full restoration of the 1888 TX State Capitol; Linda Gale also led on statewide community involvement when it came to education intiatives by encouraging students, parents & teachers.

 

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Morales
4:32 PM CST, Friday, June 12th, 1987
San Antonio, TX

Morales during his time in the TX State Legislature.​

When the second special session of the 70th Legislature winded down, there was an outspoken, brave state legislator from San Antonio, who wasn't going to be dancing to the tune of the Texas Democratic Party or anybody else because he believed in self-reliance, standing up for yourself, living within our means, pushing a more center-right approach to government. His name was Daniel C. Morales.

Born on April 24th, 1956 in San Antonio, TX, Morales attended public school in the San Antonio Independent School District; upon graduation from high school, he enrolled at Trinity University where he graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts degree & later a Juris Doctorate degree from Harvard University Law School in 1981.

The young lawyer landed his first post-graduate job at the Houston corporate law firm Bracewell & Patterson in 1981 & the following year, he joined the Bexar County District Attorney's Office. After an 18-month stint of prosecuting minor drug cases, the 28-year-old Morales ran successfully for a seat in the TX House of Representatives from District 124. He explained that while toiling as a Bexar County prosecutor, "the exposure to the system and seeing victims getting the shaft impressed upon me that changes needed to be made." Those changes, Morales came to learn, were best addressed at the legislative level, so he felt compelled to run in 1984 against incumbent State Rep. Joe Hernandez (D-San Antonio), who was a defense attorney. The young candidate excoriated Hernandez, for as Morales put it, "abusing the legislative continuance statute to delay the trials of rapists, murderers, and drug dealers he was representing." Morales defeated Hernandez in the primary election & went onto emerging victorious in the November general election that same year; he was reelected in 1986 & again in 1988.

During his time in the TX House of Representatives, Morales served on the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee (Chairman); Criminal Jurisprudence Subcommittee on Budget & Oversight; Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Inhalant Abuse; Ways & Means Committee (Vice Chairman). He also served on the Security for Judgements Committee; Special Committee; Sentencing & Recidivism, Select Committee; Tax Equity, Select Committee. He was also considered by many as a rising star for higher political office, but there was something off about the way Morales had been cutting corners which would backfire on him down the road....

 

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Hightower
4:41 PM CST, Sunday, June 14th, 1987
TX Department of Agriculture
Austin, TX.

Hightower during a press briefing in Austin.​

TX Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower (D) was pushing ahead in the midpoint of his 2nd term. During his tenure of leading the TX Department of Agriculture: Hightower was noted for fostering organic production, alternative crops, direct marketing by small farmers, & strong gross materials regulations. During this period, he also became a leading national spokesperson for the National Democratic Party including endorsing Reverend Jesse Jackson's 1988 presidential campaign; he also rewrote the Democratic Party's national farm policies; attacked the Reagan administration's handling of the farm crisis in a give-em-hell speech during the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, CA; flying across the United States, giving speeches in Chicago, IL., Des Moines, IA., & in Washington, DC to the National Press Club.

Hightower's message was simple: "Agriculture is in a world of hurt. Farmers are facing economic conditions more severe than those in the 1930s and the Republicans have only made conditions worse: Ronald Reagan promised us a seven-course dinner, but all we got was a six-pack and a possum." Seldom has such as low-profile statewide office produced such a high-profile politician. Hightower uses the farmers' plight allegorically, letting their problems symbolize those faced by small businessmen, blue-collar workers & all of the other "powerless" groups he is trying to reach through the new populist movement, which he helped found. At first, conservative agribusinessmen in the Lone Star State didn't know what to make of a political maverick who went around saying: "too few people control all the money and power, leaving the rest of us with very little of either."

Upon getting elected in the Blue Wave of 1982 with 60% of the statewide vote, Hightower won reelection in 1986 with 59% of the statewide vote; Hightower's first term as Agriculture Commissioner had some good points: immediately starting overhauling the $20 million-a-year TX Department of Agriculture, promising to make it more responsive not only to farmers, but consumers & farm workers as well. However, he also had some roadblocks along the way such as when getting into big political fights: bills being introduced in the TX State Legislature, which would've reduced his authority & cutting the TX Agriculture Department's budget; these bills didn't turn out successful as Hightower had a power-base of coalition of urban voters & minorities including strong persuasion from Hightower allies, who threatened political retaliation on state legislators, who tried to limit Hightower's ability in doing his job.

 

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C-SPAN Interview with Governor White
1:00 PM CST, Sunday, June 14th, 1987
Reception Room, Governor's Office
TX State Capitol
Austin, TX

TX Governor Mark W. White, Jr., (D) interviewed by Carl Rutan of C-SPAN inside the Reception Room of the Governor's Office at the TX State Capitol in Austin.

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Governor White was being interviewed by C-SPAN Morning Show TV Host Carl Rutan inside the Reception Room of the Governor's Office on the 2nd floor of the TX State Capitol in Austin. The topics ranged from: The economic situation in TX, Governor White's reelection victory in 1986, the worsening economic recession affecting Gulf States, the 1988 Presidential campaign as well as White's political future going forward.

Rutan: "Governor White, thank you very much for inviting C-SPAN to do this special interview with on C-SPAN's special of America's Governors. We are live at the Reception Room of the Governor's Office at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas."

White: "Good afternoon Mr. Rutan and C-SPAN. I would like to thank you and those behind the scenes, who are making C-SPAN a great network program for all Americans to discovering how Main Street outside of Washington, DC., is doing. Plus, I am glad that you're here in the great state of Texas for this special on America's Governors."

Rutan: "Before we get to the gist of our special interview. Governor White, there's been lots of political speculation on your political future. National political experts view you, as a potential contender for the Vice Presidency on a spot on the ticket for the Democratic Party nominee for President in 1988; some rumors have pegged you sir, as a last-minute candidate for the 1988 Democratic Presidential nomination; and political analysts think you could be a possible United States Senator in the future. Is there any truth to these political speculations because lots of national Democrats are pushing you to be their choice in the upcoming election..."

White: "With all due respect, I am currently focused on the job that I've got right now and that's continuing to serve as Governor of the greatest state in the country in the entire world. Like I mentioned late last year, I plan on seeking reelection in 1990. Now this is not about having a record, but making strongly sure that the entire State of Texas is being run well and efficient.

I have told Senator Bentsen that I am not running against him in 1988 or even against Senator Gramm for that matter (in reference to United States Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX) in 1990); I can also tell you that I am not running for President in 1988 or 1992 and I am not interested in being Vice President either because it would became quite distracting from the job that Texans have hired me to do right now."

Rutan: "Speaking of national politics, Governor White. We both know that no Democrat has won the Presidency without carrying Texas and that last happened in 1976 when then-PresidentJerry Brown won the state narrowly in his successful campaign for the Presidency that year; of course, Republicans have since won Texas in three out of the last four presidential elections (in reference to Richard Nixon in 1972 and Ronald Reagan in 1980 and 1984). Your fellow Texan on the Republican side, Vice President George HW Bush is favored to win Texas' 29 Electoral Votes in 1988, which will likely result in Republicans winning a third presidential term in a row next fall.

How can you explain why Republicans have managed to force Democrats to play defense in a large state like Texas in recent years?"

 

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

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

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

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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.....

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

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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.
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*(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.
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*(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
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*(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.

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*(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.

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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).

 

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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.

 

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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!

 

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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%

 

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

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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
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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.

 

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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....

 

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Backlash against the Reagan administration
Summer 1987
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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.

 

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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

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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.
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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.

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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%