Double Tragedy: The Deaths of JFK & LBJ

[MAINEiac4434]

Oy. I should just stop reading.

lol.

[justW353]

This is getting weird.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I see such a behavior in a wake of the President's death a bit improbable.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I understand your a Democrat, but this timeline is just way too biased to read anymore.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I'm sorry, GZ, but I have to partially agree with Sanchez.

This TL can be saved, but you need to make latest entries more realist and less biased.

[Captain Chaos]

EPILOGUE

On October 29, 2005, the comedy show Saturday Night Live began with the Presidential seal and the words: “A message from the President of the United States”

The President, as portrayed by Darrell Hammond, unaware that he is on live television is caught singing:

“BOMB, BOMB, BOMB. BOMB, BOMB, IRAN”

The opening sketch parodied President John McCain as a bumbling, trigger-happy President. But the comic performance did mimic an actual incident that occurred earlier that week during a campaign event in Virginia for Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore. In response to a question at a town hall meeting regarding Iran’s nuclear program, President McCain jokingly replied with a parody of the Beach Boys song “Barbara Ann.”

Only the year before, it was President Bob Kerrey that was the bumbling inarticulate leader while John McCain ran the controlled mistake-free campaign for President. Thanks to the strategy devised by campaign manager Ed Rollins, McCain triumphed over a Republican primary field that included former Virginia Governor George Allen, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson and Senator Dan Quayle. McCain would benefit from the recession that began during the summer of 2002, rising inflation and criticism of the administration’s foreign policies to win a landslide over President Kerrey. With his appeals to conservative blue collar Democrats, McCain’s coattails resulted in the GOP increasing its majority in the House and wresting control of the Senate from the Democrats.

While President McCain was able to cut spending and capital gains taxes, his attempts at lawsuit reform and partial privatization of Social Security met a dead end thanks to members of his own party, including Senators Lincoln Chafee, James Jeffords (both switched to Independent before Christmas 2005 and caucused with the Democrats), George Voinovich and John McKernan. And in a major headache for the GOP, several members of Congress including Speaker Tom De Lay were tied to corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

On the international front, McCain decided not to put an end to the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq which disappointed his Republican allies in Congress. Although he despised Saddam, McCain believed that a secular Iraq was necessary to counter the influence of Iran where a little-known Tehran mayor named Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came out of nowhere to be elected its President.

On October 31, 2005, eager to prove his machismo and to confront America in the aftermath of McCain’s “Bomb Iran” quip, Ahmadinejad ordered his navy to board an American naval carrier in the Indian Ocean on the pretense that the Americans were illegally entering Iranian waters. President McCain ordered the US Navy to shoot to kill any Iranians attempting to board the ship. After a 20 minute firefight, the Iranian navy ship was sunk by the US Navy. After ordering all military assets in the Middle East at DEFCON 1, three missiles fired from Tehran in retaliation but air force jets patrolling from Afghanistan were able to intercept the missiles before they could hit the navy ship. On November 1, President McCain became the first US President in 61 years to seek for a formal declaration of war which the Congress overwhelmingly approved.

The rally behind the flag effect was not enough to help Jerry Kilgore in Virginia. Democrat Mark Warner won the Governor’s race by a 55 to 45 percent margin.

The first couple of weeks of the American-Iranian War were dominated by the United States and its NATO allies. American fighter jets destroyed munitions factories, military bases, and buildings housing the Iranian Defense Ministry and Revolutionary Guards. After all Iranian military jets were destroyed on the ground, American, Canadian and British tanks crossed the border from Afghanistan. Turkish NATO troops were sent to patrol the border with Syria (the highest ranking ayatollahs had already crossed the border secretly and found refuge in Damascus under the protection of the Syrian army).

The first tanks rolled into Tehran by Thanksgiving and surrounded the Presidential Palace. After killing every member of the Revolutionary Guards that was guarding the palace in a three hour firefight, US Marines found the body of Ahmadinejad inside a basement bunker.

The Americans won the war but keeping the peace would prove to be very difficult. The Americans and NATO had to face an insurgency which often resulted in suicide bombing attacks in the streets of Tehran and in the countryside where Jordanian soldiers carried out the UN-supervised peacekeeping mission. A group calling itself Hezbollah in Iran claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Despite enjoying 89 percent job approval ratings by Christmas of 2005, President McCain’s approval ratings would drop to 43 percent by the next summer as the American casualties reached 2,000 after the end of the war. The Democrats called on McCain to bring the troops back home. In response, McCain decided on a troop surge by Labor Day which meant more coffins arriving at Andrews Air Force Base. Meanwhile, revolution was breaking out all over Iraq against the strongman rule of Saddam Hussein. Some Republicans called for military intervention in Iraq.

The Democrats surged ahead in the midterm elections and won back their majorities in the House and Senate. Senator Rick Perry of Texas, appointed to the seat after the death of Ann Richards in September, claimed that Saddam still had weapons of mass destruction hidden in Baghdad (which UN arms control inspectors did not find); he was defeated in the special election by former Congressman Chris Bell. Days later, the sectarian civil war in Iraq began.

By the time that Nancy Pelosi was officially elected Speaker of the House, men and women took to the streets in Cairo, Tunis, Damascus and Benghazi demanding the removal of their corrupt and dictatorial leaders. By the spring, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali resigned as President of Tunisia and went into exile in Saudi Arabia. Hosni Mubarak was forced by the military to resign; in 2008, he was found guilty of issuing shoot to kill orders on peaceful street protests. He is currently serving a life sentence at a prison hospital in Alexandria.

Libya erupted into civil war which ended on December 11, 2007 when rebels entered Sirte, the birthplace of Muammar Gadhafi and the last remaining loyalist stronghold. Gadhafi fulfilled his vow of dying a martyr and was killed in a firefight inside a nearby farmhouse. Under pressure, Algeria turned over Muammar’s wife and surviving children to Libyan custody. His sons, Seif al-Arab, Khamis, Hannibal and Mutassim were convicted of crimes against humanity and executed by firing squad in 2010. His daughter Ayesha was convicted on the lesser charges of grand larceny and is serving a 25 year sentence. His widow Safiya accepted exile in Geneva. Hana, an adopted daughter thought to have been killed in 1986 after American air force jets attacked the family compound, resurfaced in Rome and revealed that she survived. She currently lives in Italy under protective custody.

The civil war in Iraq would be as bloody as the one in Libya. Kurdish militia, marsh Arabs, and soldiers (mostly Shiite Muslims) that deserted from the Iraqi army formed an alliance to overthrow the dictatorship in Baghdad. With the Kurds already controlling most of northern Iraq thanks to the no-fly zone, the Shiites were able to drive out Saddam’s loyalists from the south. Saddam still had effective control over Baghdad and his hometown of Tikrit. With NATO, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia secretly coordinating gun running operations, the rebels were able to match the Iraqi military in weaponry. NATO (mostly British) air fighter jets destroyed most military assets around Baghdad. By February 2008, the rebels entered Baghdad through the Shiite neighborhoods and laid siege to the Presidential Palace. After a fierce gun battle, rebels found the corpses of Saddam’s sons, Uday and Qusay. But Saddam was nowhere to be found.

A month later, the rebels surrounded Tikrit and gave the town a deadline to surrender or face liberation. The deadline came and passed. After gaining control over the town after a three day battle, Saddam was still nowhere to be found.

Finally on April 7, 2008, Saddam was found inside a shack outside of Mosul. With no bodyguards and outnumbered by 40 rebel fighters, Saddam literally fought to the death after he was found inside a basement. Saddam was secretly buried in an unmarked grave.

But none of these events could save McCain’s Presidency as Iraq and to a lesser extent, Afghanistan, became a quagmire. On Election Day 2008, the Democrats would increase their majorities in Congress and win back the White House.

On January 20, 2009 at 12 Noon with Supreme Court Chief Justice Jefferson Sessions conducting the oath, the 45th President of the United States began his term of office with the following words:

“I, Robert Francis Kennedy, Jr. do solemnly swear…”

[Vosem]

EPILOGUE

On October 29, 2005, the comedy show Saturday Night Live began with the Presidential seal and the words: “A message from the President of the United States”

The President, as portrayed by Darrell Hammond, unaware that he is on live television is caught singing:

“BOMB, BOMB, BOMB. BOMB, BOMB, IRAN”

The opening sketch parodied President John McCain as a bumbling, trigger-happy President. But the comic performance did mimic an actual incident that occurred earlier that week during a campaign event in Virginia for Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore. In response to a question at a town hall meeting regarding Iran’s nuclear program, President McCain jokingly replied with a parody of the Beach Boys song “Barbara Ann.”

Only the year before, it was President Bob Kerrey that was the bumbling inarticulate leader while John McCain ran the controlled mistake-free campaign for President. Thanks to the strategy devised by campaign manager Ed Rollins, McCain triumphed over a Republican primary field that included former Virginia Governor George Allen, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson and Senator Dan Quayle. McCain would benefit from the recession that began during the summer of 2002, rising inflation and criticism of the administration’s foreign policies to win a landslide over President Kerrey. With his appeals to conservative blue collar Democrats, McCain’s coattails resulted in the GOP increasing its majority in the House and wresting control of the Senate from the Democrats.

While President McCain was able to cut spending and capital gains taxes, his attempts at lawsuit reform and partial privatization of Social Security met a dead end thanks to members of his own party, including Senators Lincoln Chafee, James Jeffords (both switched to Independent before Christmas 2005 and caucused with the Democrats), George Voinovich and John McKernan. And in a major headache for the GOP, several members of Congress including Speaker Tom De Lay were tied to corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

On the international front, McCain decided not to put an end to the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq which disappointed his Republican allies in Congress. Although he despised Saddam, McCain believed that a secular Iraq was necessary to counter the influence of Iran where a little-known Tehran mayor named Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came out of nowhere to be elected its President.

On October 31, 2005, eager to prove his machismo and to confront America in the aftermath of McCain’s “Bomb Iran” quip, Ahmadinejad ordered his navy to board an American naval carrier in the Indian Ocean on the pretense that the Americans were illegally entering Iranian waters. President McCain ordered the US Navy to shoot to kill any Iranians attempting to board the ship. After a 20 minute firefight, the Iranian navy ship was sunk by the US Navy. After ordering all military assets in the Middle East at DEFCON 1, three missiles fired from Tehran in retaliation but air force jets patrolling from Afghanistan were able to intercept the missiles before they could hit the navy ship. On November 1, President McCain became the first US President in 61 years to seek for a formal declaration of war which the Congress overwhelmingly approved.

The rally behind the flag effect was not enough to help Jerry Kilgore in Virginia. Democrat Mark Warner won the Governor’s race by a 55 to 45 percent margin.

The first couple of weeks of the American-Iranian War were dominated by the United States and its NATO allies. American fighter jets destroyed munitions factories, military bases, and buildings housing the Iranian Defense Ministry and Revolutionary Guards. After all Iranian military jets were destroyed on the ground, American, Canadian and British tanks crossed the border from Afghanistan. Turkish NATO troops were sent to patrol the border with Syria (the highest ranking ayatollahs had already crossed the border secretly and found refuge in Damascus under the protection of the Syrian army).

The first tanks rolled into Tehran by Thanksgiving and surrounded the Presidential Palace. After killing every member of the Revolutionary Guards that was guarding the palace in a three hour firefight, US Marines found the body of Ahmadinejad inside a basement bunker.

The Americans won the war but keeping the peace would prove to be very difficult. The Americans and NATO had to face an insurgency which often resulted in suicide bombing attacks in the streets of Tehran and in the countryside where Jordanian soldiers carried out the UN-supervised peacekeeping mission. A group calling itself Hezbollah in Iran claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Despite enjoying 89 percent job approval ratings by Christmas of 2005, President McCain’s approval ratings would drop to 43 percent by the next summer as the American casualties reached 2,000 after the end of the war. The Democrats called on McCain to bring the troops back home. In response, McCain decided on a troop surge by Labor Day which meant more coffins arriving at Andrews Air Force Base. Meanwhile, revolution was breaking out all over Iraq against the strongman rule of Saddam Hussein. Some Republicans called for military intervention in Iraq.

The Democrats surged ahead in the midterm elections and won back their majorities in the House and Senate. Senator Rick Perry of Texas, appointed to the seat after the death of Ann Richards in September, claimed that Saddam still had weapons of mass destruction hidden in Baghdad (which UN arms control inspectors did not find); he was defeated in the special election by former Congressman Chris Bell. Days later, the sectarian civil war in Iraq began.

By the time that Nancy Pelosi was officially elected Speaker of the House, men and women took to the streets in Cairo, Tunis, Damascus and Benghazi demanding the removal of their corrupt and dictatorial leaders. By the spring, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali resigned as President of Tunisia and went into exile in Saudi Arabia. Hosni Mubarak was forced by the military to resign; in 2008, he was found guilty of issuing shoot to kill orders on peaceful street protests. He is currently serving a life sentence at a prison hospital in Alexandria.

Libya erupted into civil war which ended on December 11, 2007 when rebels entered Sirte, the birthplace of Muammar Gadhafi and the last remaining loyalist stronghold. Gadhafi fulfilled his vow of dying a martyr and was killed in a firefight inside a nearby farmhouse. Under pressure, Algeria turned over Muammar’s wife and surviving children to Libyan custody. His sons, Seif al-Arab, Khamis, Hannibal and Mutassim were convicted of crimes against humanity and executed by firing squad in 2010. His daughter Ayesha was convicted on the lesser charges of grand larceny and is serving a 25 year sentence. His widow Safiya accepted exile in Geneva. Hana, an adopted daughter thought to have been killed in 1986 after American air force jets attacked the family compound, resurfaced in Rome and revealed that she survived. She currently lives in Italy under protective custody.

The civil war in Iraq would be as bloody as the one in Libya. Kurdish militia, marsh Arabs, and soldiers (mostly Shiite Muslims) that deserted from the Iraqi army formed an alliance to overthrow the dictatorship in Baghdad. With the Kurds already controlling most of northern Iraq thanks to the no-fly zone, the Shiites were able to drive out Saddam’s loyalists from the south. Saddam still had effective control over Baghdad and his hometown of Tikrit. With NATO, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia secretly coordinating gun running operations, the rebels were able to match the Iraqi military in weaponry. NATO (mostly British) air fighter jets destroyed most military assets around Baghdad. By February 2008, the rebels entered Baghdad through the Shiite neighborhoods and laid siege to the Presidential Palace. After a fierce gun battle, rebels found the corpses of Saddam’s sons, Uday and Qusay. But Saddam was nowhere to be found.

A month later, the rebels surrounded Tikrit and gave the town a deadline to surrender or face liberation. The deadline came and passed. After gaining control over the town after a three day battle, Saddam was still nowhere to be found.

Finally on April 7, 2008, Saddam was found inside a shack outside of Mosul. With no bodyguards and outnumbered by 40 rebel fighters, Saddam literally fought to the death after he was found inside a basement. Saddam was secretly buried in an unmarked grave.

But none of these events could save McCain’s Presidency as Iraq and to a lesser extent, Afghanistan, became a quagmire. On Election Day 2008, the Democrats would increase their majorities in Congress and win back the White House.

On January 20, 2009 at 12 Noon with Supreme Court Chief Justice Jefferson Sessions conducting the oath, the 45th President of the United States began his term of office with the following words:

“I, Robert Francis Kennedy, Jr. do solemnly swear…”

Maps? Senate details? And when'll you're next timeline start?

[Captain Chaos]

Have no fear. You will get maps of the 2004 and 2008 electoral college votes, plus results of the 2004-2008 Congressional races.

Hopefully, later tonight.

[MRX]

Good ending. Glad Delay got caught. Let's hope he's in jail, serving a very long sentence.

[Captain Chaos]

2004 Election Results

John McCain/Kay Bailey Hutchison (R): 51%, 328 EV
J. Robert Kerrey/Richard Gephardt (D): 48%, 210 EV

House of Representatives
R: 243 (+21)
D: 192 (-21)
I: 1

U.S. Senate
R: 55 (+8)
D: 47 (-8)

Alabama: Judge Roy Moore (R) defeated Ron Sparks (D). Jim Folsom retired. Republican Gain
Arizona: US Rep Jon Kyl (R) defeated Phoenix Mayor Terry Goddard (D). John McCain did not run for reelection.
Columbia: Governor Sharon Pratt Dixon (D) unopposed. Linda Cropp retired.
Florida: Attorney General Charlie Crist (R) defeated US Rep Peter Deutsch (D). Buddy McKay retired. Republican Gain
Georgia: US Rep Johnny Isakson (R) defeated former Governor Roy Barnes (D). Zell Miller retired. Republican Gain
Kentucky: US Rep Anne Northup (R) defeated Senator Scotty Baesler (D). Republican Gain
Louisiana: US Rep David Vitter (R) defeated US Rep Chris John (D). John Breaux retired. Republican Gain
North Carolina: US Rep Richard Burr (R) defeated Secretary of State Elaine Marshall (D). Jim Hunt retired. Republican Gain
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk Humphries (R) defeated US Rep Brad Carson (D). James Jones retired. Republican Gain
South Carolina: US Rep Jim DeMint (R) defeated Inez Tenenbaum (D). Ernest Hollings retired. Republican Gain
Washington: US Rep Maria Cantwell (D) defeated former US Rep Jack Metcalf (R). Thomas Foley retired.


2006 Election Results
On September 13, 2006, Senator Ann Richards (D-TX) died from cancer. Governor David Dewhurst appointed State Attorney General Rick Perry to the seat and scheduled a special election to occur on the same day as the November General Election. Perry already won the Republican primary for the Senate seat and faces the Democrat, former US Rep Chris Bell.

House of Representatives
D: 238 (+46)
R: 198 (-45)
I: - (-1)

US Senate
D: 51 (+4)
R: 49 (-6)
I: 2 (+2)*

*Both Independents caucus with the Democrats. Senator Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island left the Republican Party on December 23, 2005.

Arizona: Former State Party Chairman Jim Peterson (D) defeated Senator J.D. Hayworth (R). Democrat Gain
Florida: Former Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas (D) defeated US Rep John Mica (R). Bob Graham retired.
Indiana: Former Governor Evan Bayh (D) defeated US Rep Mitch Daniels (R). Dan Quayle retired. Democrat Gain
Maine: US Rep Tom Allen (D) defeated former US Rep David Emery (R). John McKernan retired. Democrat Gain
Maryland: US Rep Benjamin Cardin (D) defeated Lt Governor Michael Steele (R). Paul Sarbanes retired.
Minnesota: Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar (D) defeated US Rep Mark Kennedy (R). Hubert Humphrey III retired.
Montana: State Senator Jon Tester (D) defeated Senator Conrad Burns (R). Democrat Gain
Tennessee: US Rep Harold Ford (D) defeated Knoxville Mayor Bob Corker (R). Albert Gore retired.
Texas: Former US Rep Chris Bell (D) defeated appointed Senator Rick Perry (R) (death of Senator Ann Richards). Democrat Gain
Vermont: US Rep Bernie Sanders (I) defeated Richard Tarrant (R). James Jeffords (I) retired.

[Captain Chaos]

2008 Election Results

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. /Mark Warner (D): 55%, 390 EV
John McCain/Kay Bailey Hutchison (R): 45%, 148 EV

House of Representatives
D: 260 (+22)
R: 176 (-22)


US Senate
D: 55 (+4)
R: 45 (-4)
I: 2

Alaska: Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) defeats Senator Ted Stevens (R). Democrat Gain
Arkansas: Former FEMA Director James Lee Witt (D) defeats former US Rep Asa Hutchinson (R). Winston Bryant retired.
Colorado: US Rep Mark Udall defeats US Rep Tom Tancredo (R). Tim Wirth retired.
Idaho: Former Governor Jim Risch (R) defeats former US Rep Larry La Rocco (D). Larry Craig retired.
Iowa: Former Governor Tom Vilsack (D) defeats State Senator Bob Vander Platts (R). Terry Branstad retired. Democrat Gain
Louisiana: US Rep Charlie Melancon defeats Senator Suzanne Haik Terrell (R). Democrat Gain
Maine: US Rep Chellie Pingree (D) defeats State Rep James Longley (R). Joseph Brennan retired.
New Hampshire: Former Governor Jeanne Shaheen (D) defeats Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta (R). John Durkin retired.
Virginia: Former State Rep Creigh Deeds (D) defeats Senator William Bennett (R). Democrat Gain


Cabinet of President Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Secretary of State: John Kerry (D-MA)
Secretary of the Treasury: Jon Corzine (D-NJ)
Secretary of Defense: James Webb (D-VA)
Attorney General: Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-IL)*
Secretary of the Interior: Tom Udall (D-NM)
Secretary of Agriculture: James Folsom, Jr. (D-AL)
Secretary of Commerce: Albert Gore, Jr. (D-TN)
Secretary of Labor: Richard Gephardt (D-MO)
Secretary of Health and Human Services: John Garamendi (D-CA)
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Floyd Flake (D-NY)
Secretary of Transportation: James Oberstar (D-MN)
Secretary of Energy: Edward Markey (D-MA)
Secretary of Education: Roy Romer (D-CO)
Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Max Cleland (D-GA)
Secretary of Homeland Security: Louis Freeh (I-NY)

White House Chief of Staff: William Daley (D-IL)
Director, Office of Management and Budget: Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Administrator, EPA: Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY)
Trade Representative: Jim Kolbe (R-AZ)**
Ambassador to the United Nations: Lee Hamilton (D-IN)
Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors: Paul Krugman (D-NJ)

*Widow of the late President Bill Clinton. Hillary moved to Chicago after her husband's death

**Holdover from McCain administration

Congressional Leaders
Speaker of the House: Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
House Majority Leader: Jeffrey Miller (D-NY)
House Majority Whip: James Clyburn (D-SC)
House Deputy Majority Whips: Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Rahm Emmanuel (D-IL)
House Minority Leader: John Boehner (R-OH)
House Minority Whip: Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)
House Deputy Minority Whips: Eric Cantor (R-VA), Jeff Flake (R-AZ)

Senate President Pro Tempore: Robert Byrd (D-WV)
Senate Majority Leader: Harry Reid (D-NV)
Senate Majority Whip: Rudolph Giuliani (D-NY)
Senate Minority Leader: Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Senate Minority Whip: John Cornyn (R-TX)

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Very good. Though I made my disagreements clear, over all an entertaining read. Coupl'a questions:
What's Jim Webb's career been like? Maybe he served as Navy Secretary during the original Bobby Kennedy administration? Did he ever serve in the Senate? Also, can you outline any other Presidential administrations, especially McCain's? Thanks.

[Captain Chaos]

Very good. Though I made my disagreements clear, over all an entertaining read. Coupl'a questions:
What's Jim Webb's career been like? Maybe he served as Navy Secretary during the original Bobby Kennedy administration? Did he ever serve in the Senate? Also, can you outline any other Presidential administrations, especially McCain's? Thanks.

In answer to your questions on Jim Webb: He serves as Secretary of the Navy in the RFK administration from 1981-1985 and left the Pentagon to devote his time to writing books. He returned to public life in 1997 when President Clinton appointed him as Ambassador to NATO which he held until 2002.

John Warner was elected to the US Senate in 1982. Webb decided not to challenge Warner in 2006. Warner was reelected that year by only a 56 to 44 percent margin over his little-known Democratic opponent Tom Perriello (who would defeat incumbent Congressman Virgil Goode in 2008).

Webb passed up the 2008 Senate race against incumbent Bill Bennett who lost reelection due to his ties to lobbyist Jack Abramoff and revelations that he lost over a million dollars from gambling in Las Vegas.

I might list John McCain's cabinet

[Captain Chaos]

Cabinet of President John McCain


Secretary of State:
Colin Powell (2005-2007)
John Bolton (2007-2008)-recess appointment

Secretary of the Treasury:
Christopher Cox (2005-2009)

Secretary of Defense:
Richard Cheney (2005-2007)-resigned for health reasons
John McHugh (2007-2009)

Attorney General:
Dennis DeConcini (2005-2009)

Secretary of the Interior:
Scott McInnis (2005-2009)

Secretary of Agriculture:
Charles Stenholm (2005-2009)

Secretary of Commerce:
Carla Anderson Hills (2005-2009)

Secretary of Labor:
Thomas Ridge (2005-2006)
Elaine Chao (2006-2009)

Secretary of Health and Human Services:
Dr. William Frist (2005-2009)

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development:
Kenneth Blackwell (2005-2009)

Secretary of Transportation:
Olympia Snowe (2005-2009)

Secretary of Energy:
John Sununu (2005-2009)

Secretary of Education:
Herman Badillo (2005-2009)

Secretary of Veterans Affairs:
Paul McHale (2005-2009)

Secretary of Homeland Security:
Randy “Duke” Cunningham (2005-2006)
Thomas Ridge (2006-2009)



White House Chief of Staff: Paul Wolfowitz

Director, Office of Management and Budget: Rob Portman (2005-2009)

Administrator, EPA: Claudine Schneider (2005-2009)

Trade Representative: Gary Franks (2005-2009)

Ambassador to the United Nations: John Bolton (2005-2008), Zalmay Khalilzad (2008-2009)

Chairman, Council of Economic Advisors: Pat Toomey

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

In answer to your questions on Jim Webb: He serves as Secretary of the Navy in the RFK administration from 2001-2005 and left the Pentagon to devote his time to writing books. He returned to public life in 1997 when President Clinton appointed him as Ambassador to NATO which he held until 2002.

Thanks, though the bolded portion I think might be a typo.

Cabinet of President John McCain

Secretary of Defense:
Richard Cheney (2003-2005)-resigned for health reasons
John McHugh (2005-2009)

Another typo? Wasn't McCain President from 2005-2009? Maybe you meant (2005-2007) and (2007-2009).

Did either John Warner of John Chaffee ever serve as Secretary of the Navy in this timeline? Both served in OTL, and maybe Warner could've served some time during the Reagan Administration before resigning to run his (failed) campaign for Senate in 1978? Or maybe he stays on all the way through and only runs in 1982.

Also, what did Donald Rumsfeld do in this timeline?

[Captain Chaos]

In answer to your questions on Jim Webb: He serves as Secretary of the Navy in the RFK administration from 2001-2005 and left the Pentagon to devote his time to writing books. He returned to public life in 1997 when President Clinton appointed him as Ambassador to NATO which he held until 2002.

Thanks, though the bolded portion I think might be a typo.

Cabinet of President John McCain

Secretary of Defense:
Richard Cheney (2003-2005)-resigned for health reasons
John McHugh (2005-2009)

Another typo? Wasn't McCain President from 2005-2009? Maybe you meant (2005-2007) and (2007-2009).

Did either John Warner of John Chaffee ever serve as Secretary of the Navy in this timeline? Both served in OTL, and maybe Warner could've served some time during the Reagan Administration before resigning to run his (failed) campaign for Senate in 1978? Or maybe he stays on all the way through and only runs in 1982.

Also, what did Donald Rumsfeld do in this timeline?

Thanks for catching those typos. I just made the corrections.

John Warner served as Secretary of the Navy from 1977-1978. He had wanted to stay at the Pentagon but after the GOP's original nominee Richard Obenshain was killed in a plane crash, Warner accepted the nomination (and he still married Elizabeth Taylor) but the lousy political climate for the Republicans that year doomed Warner. After the election, Warner found work at a think tank. When Senator Harry Byrd Jr decided to retire in 1982, Warner ran for the Senate seat and won.

John Chafee did not serve as Secretary of the Navy because Democrats held the White House. In 1976, Reagan's coattails carried Chafee to victory.

Donald Rumsfeld served in the US House of Representatives (1963-1978). When the Republicans won control of Congress in 1974, Rumsfeld became Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. When Secretary of Defense John Tower resigned in 1978 due to his drinking problems, Reagan picked Rumsfeld to succeed Tower and served in the job for the remainder of Reagan's term. Rumsfeld founded a consulting firm in Washington, DC and remained in the private sector until President Kemp nominated him as Ambassador to the UN in 1989. In 1992, he resigned to return to Illinois and run for the US Senate but lost to incumbent Alan Dixon. Rumsfeld has not run for public office since, and makes his home outside of Chicago. He currently serves on several corporate boards.