Double Tragedy: The Deaths of JFK & LBJ

[Captain Chaos]

I am back from observing Rosh Hashanah. Here is 1976.

January 5, 1976: As the Republican candidates for President campaign on the snow covered roads of Iowa and meet to debate at the Iowa State University campus, an announcement is made at a press conference in New York. Senator Robert F. Kennedy will not seek reelection this fall for a third term or seek any other office. His brother, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, is running for reelection in Massachusetts.

January 27, 1976: Senator Robert Dole of Kansas scores an upset victory in the Iowa Republican caucus with his appeal to the farm vote. Dole takes 32 percent of the vote, followed by Governor Ronald Reagan of California with 28 percent, Senator Howard Baker with 20 percent, Nelson Rockefeller with 14 percent, and Congressman John Anderson with 5 percent. It is now off to New Hampshire, as Senator George Bush of Texas remarks to his wife Barbara that it is Dole that has “the big mo.”

February 11, 1976: The Nashua Telegraph invites Ronald Reagan and Bob Dole to debate each other at a local high school without the participation of the other candidates. Nelson Rockefeller files a protest with the Federal Elections Commission that the debate was the equivalent of an illegal campaign contribution to Bush and Dole.

February 13, 1976: In a victory for Rockefeller, the FEC orders the Nashua Telegraph to allow all Republican candidates to the debate or cancel it altogether. Ronald Reagan offers to pay for the debate instead of the newspaper. That obviously means that the debate would go on as planned, just between Reagan and Dole.

February 21, 1976: All five Republican candidates show up at the debate but there are only two chairs available much to the dismay of Bob Dole. When the editor of the Nashua Telegraph orders Reagan’s microphone turned off, an angry Reagan responds that “I paid for this microphone!” His outburst becomes the turning point and Reagan is considered the winner of the debate. When President Sanford is asked about the debate on his way to spending the weekend at Camp David, he replies sarcastically: “I am not surprised. Governor Reagan did pay for the microphone.”

February 24, 1976: Ronald Reagan easily wins the New Hampshire Republican primary with 50 percent of the vote. Bob Dole finishes in second place with 19 percent, followed by Nelson Rockefeller with 16 percent, Howard Baker with 10 percent and John Anderson with 4 percent.

February 25, 1976: Congressman John Anderson drops out of the race for President but does not endorse a candidate.

March 2, 1976: Nelson Rockefeller finally wins a primary. In Massachusetts, Rocky wins with 60 percent of the vote while Reagan takes 31 percent, Dole 7 percent and Howard Baker just 1 percent. Rockefeller takes 72 percent of the votes to win Vermont.

March 9, 1976: With the endorsement of Senator Jack Eckerd, Ronald Reagan takes 54 percent to win the Florida primary. Nelson Rockefeller is runner-up with 26 percent while Dole and Baker split the rest.

March 16, 1976: Thanks to the endorsement of Senator Charles Percy, Bob Dole wins the Illinois primary in a close contest. Dole takes 34 percent, Reagan 31 percent and Rockefeller 29 percent (mostly in the Chicago suburbs). Howard Baker needs to win a primary or finish second in order to have a chance of winning the nomination.

March 23, 1976: Senator Jesse Helms’ political organization proves crucial to Reagan’s victory in North Carolina. Reagan takes 56 percent. Runner-up is Howard Baker with 30 percent followed by Dole with 11 percent and Rockefeller with 3 percent.

April 6, 1976: In the birthplace of the Grand Old Party, Ronald Reagan wins Wisconsin but it is close. He takes 36 percent and edges Nelson Rockefeller who had 33 percent. Bob Dole did well among farmers and took 25 percent. Howard Baker is dead last with 5 percent. Reagan is now the established frontrunner for the Republican nomination.

April 27, 1976: Nelson Rockefeller convinces voters in Pennsylvania that his business background and experience as a state governor is what is needed to create jobs. He wins the state with 47 percent. Ronald Reagan takes 39 percent.

May 4, 1976: After winning the Texas primary three days earlier, Ronald Reagan wins the Georgia and Indiana primaries. Reagan is cementing his lead in delegates.

May 11, 1976: Governor Reagan runs his winning streak to five with victories in the Nebraska and West Virginia primaries. Dole had hoped to do better in Nebraska since it is next door to Kansas. With very little money in his campaign, Senator Baker drops out but does not endorse a candidate.

May 18, 1976: Nelson Rockefeller stops Reagan’s momentum and wins the Maryland and Michigan primaries. The endorsements from Senator Charles Matthias of Maryland and Governor William Milliken of Michigan were helpful.

May 25, 1976: Six states hold primaries today. Reagan wins in Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Idaho and Nevada. Senator Mark Hatfield’s endorsement leads to a Rockefeller win in Oregon. With today’s wins, Ronald Reagan has officially clinched the Republican nomination.

[Captain Chaos]

June 1, 1976: After celebrating his victory in the South Dakota primary, Senator Robert Dole suspends his campaign. Reagan wins the Montana primary while Rockefeller wins Rhode Island.

June 8, 1976: The primary season ends today with three primaries. Ronald Reagan easily wins in Ohio and his home state of California. Nelson Rockefeller is the only candidate to appear on the New Jersey ballot.

At a speech to his supporters in New York City that is televised, Rockefeller announces that he is retiring from politics: "My fellow Americans, the events of the past year have shown me that I did not have the support of the Republicans to be President. I tried to have it both ways. I tried to be a candidate for President of the United States and to be Nelson Rockefeller at the same time. I discovered I couldn't do that. I apologize to you. And I am sorry for all the pain I have caused. I couldn't do right by you. I don't know what happened. I guess I just ran out of bull----." The American people are shocked to hear their President utter a profanity on live television.

June 10, 1976: With the Republican National Convention two months away, the major newspaper compile a list of possible running mates for Ronald Reagan. The names include Robert Dole, Paul Laxalt, Speaker Gerald Ford, Governor Daniel Evans of Washington, and Governor Christopher “Kit” Bond of Missouri, the state hosting the convention.

July 12, 1976: The Democratic National Convention opens at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In his keynote speech, Senator Robert F. Kennedy concludes with this memorable line: “For me, in six months from now, my career in the Senate will come to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.” In the ensuing wild applause and demonstrations from the delegates lasting over 30 minutes, there are some calls for President Sanford to name RFK as his running mate but Bobby will not seek any political office this year.

July 15, 1976: President Terry Sanford is re-nominated. His running mate is Senator Walter Mondale of Minnesota. Mondale was appointed to the Senate in 1964 when Hubert Humphrey was elected President. A Midwesterner and a champion of farmers and organized labor, Sanford hopes to win over the blue collar voters that have courted by the Reagan campaign. It will be no easy task as Sanford trails Governor Reagan by 15 points in the polls.

August 19, 1976: The Republican Convention concludes in Kansas City. Surprising no one, Governor Ronald Reagan of California accepts the nomination for President: "Can anyone look at 16 years of Democratic domination of the White House, and say, 'Well done'? Can anyone look at the way they controlled Congress for almost a generation until 1974, and say, 'Let's bring that back'? Can anyone look at two generations of the liberal domination of our courts, and say, 'Let's have four more years of this'?" At the end of each question, the Delegates shout, "NO!" Reagan answers, "I think the American people will agree with you, and say, 'No, we've had enough!'" For a running mate, Reagan chooses Senator and former Governor Henry Bellmon of Oklahoma.

October 20, 1976: The one and only Presidential debate of this election is held. President Sanford tries to rebut Governor Reagan's claims. But he looks angry while doing it, and Reagan, benefit of a conservative backlash against Democratic liberalism, civil-rights legislation, recession and inflation, comes across as cheerfully derisive rather than angry.

Sanford tries to say that Reagan will eviscerate Social Security and Medicare. "There you go again," Reagan says with a laugh. Reagan concludes by asking, "Are you better off than you were 16 years ago?"

For millions of people who were poor, and/or under-educated in 1960, and millions who are black, the answer is "Yes." The Sanford campaign is hoping these people come out to vote in record numbers. But for millions of others, the answer seems to be "No." Reagan is counting on these voters being the ones that come out.

November 2, 1976: The election is a wipeout. Ronald Wilson Reagan, the Governor of California, is elected the 39th President of the United States.

Ronald Reagan/Henry Bellmon (R), 59%, 449 EV
Terry Sanford/Walter Mondale (D), 40%, 89 EV
Others, 1%, 0 EV

November 8, 1976: With the overnight results now in, it is seen that the Congressional elections also go the Republicans’ way. They gain another 24 seats in the House of Representatives. In the Senate, the GOP gains seven seats.

Former State Representative Bob Packwood defeats Betty Roberts, appointed to the Senate after the 1974 death of Wayne Morse, in Oregon. In Utah, lawyer Orrin Hatch defeats three-term Senator Frank Moss. Malcolm Wallop defeats Senator Gale McGee in Wyoming. Former Governor Edgar Whitcomb of Indiana defeats incumbent Senator Vance Hartke. Chic Hecht, minority leader of the Nevada State Senate, defeats incumbent Senator Howard Cannon. Former astronaut Harrison Schmitt defeats incumbent Senator Joseph Montoya. San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson is elected to the seat of retiring Senator Pat Brown. Congressman Bill Brock of Tennessee wins the race to succeed Senator Albert Gore Sr. Michigan Congressman Donald Riegle defeats former colleague Martha Griffiths to win the seat of outgoing Senator Philip Hart. Former Rhode Island Governor John Chafee is elected to the Senate seat held by John Pastore.

In Pennsylvania, Congressman John Heinz defeats Congressman William Green in a close race to succeed former Senate Minority Leader Hugh Scott.

The Democrats gain Senate seats in Hawaii, Maryland and Arizona. In New York, Democrats retain Bobby Kennedy’s Senate seat as former Ambassador and Secretary of Labor Daniel Patrick Moynihan defeats Westchester County Legislator Andrew O’Rourke.

In 1966, the Senate count was 65-35 Democratic. Just before the 1974 election, it was still 55-45 Democratic. Now it is 61-39 Republican, and with Mississippi’s James Eastland and John Stennis usually voting with the Republicans, the GOP now has a 63-37 “filibuster-proof majority.” The U.S. Congress is more conservative than at any time since 1930 – 46 years ago (Senator Harry F. Byrd Jr., just reelected as an Independent will officially switch to the Republicans before Thanksgiving to increase the Republican majority to 62-38).

After 16 years of holding the executive and judicial branches, and having held the Congress for most of the last four decades, the Democratic Party is in shambles, due to a lousy economy, conservative backlash toward liberalism, and just plain growing stale in office. It is time to rebuild, and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel.

[Psychic Octopus]

Reagan Win


Take that! Conservative Revolution!

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Reagan Win


Take that! Conservative Revolution!

Yea, Reagan in 1977 in place of Carter in very difficult times. This could make him very, very vunerable in 1980/.

[Psychic Octopus]

Reagan Win


Take that! Conservative Revolution!

Yea, Reagan Obama in 1977 2009 in place of Carter in very difficult times. This could make him very, very vunerable in 1980 2012.

Similar....

[Historico]

Eventhough I wish you could have come up with a more originial candidate(I know im writing an earlier Reagan timeline, but it is nice to see what other folks come up with lol), but I do think Henry Bellmon was a cool Dark Horse Pick, although I don't think Ronnie would have to worry about shoring up the South. Can't wait to see how the Reagan Presidency goes...Keep it comming.

[Captain Chaos]

The First Term of Ronald Wilson Reagan



January 20, 1977: Ronald Reagan is sworn in as President. “Government is not the solution to the problem,” he tells the nation, “government IS the problem!” He vows a program of deep tax cuts, an end to government-enforced integration, a massive military buildup, and support for anti-communist governments all over the world. “And on these principles, there will be no compromise!”

Just short of his 66th birthday, Reagan is filled with youthful enthusiasm, as are Vice President Henry Bellmon, Secretary of State William Westmoreland, Secretary of Defense John Tower, Secretary of the Treasury William E. Simon, Attorney General Robert Bork, Chief of Staff Richard Cheney, and the rest of his administration - - including White House Communications Director Patrick J. Buchanan.

April 11, 1977: In his first political campaign as a Republican, former Governor of Texas John Connally is elected to the Senate seat vacated by John Tower’s confirmation as Secretary of Defense.

May 17, 1977: After 29 years as leader of the political opposition, Menachem Begin leads the Likud party to a landslide in the Israeli national election to become the largest party in the Knesset. Begin is sworn into office as Prime Minister. In a major surprise, Begin names Labor MK Moshe Dayan as Foreign Minister.

July 13, 1977: A blackout strikes New York City. Mayor Abe Beame calls President Reagan and tells him not to federalize the New York National Guard and that the situation is under control. It isn't. There are more arrests in the following 24 hours than on any day in City history: 3,776. Over a thousand fires are reported.

September 3, 1977: At his ranch outside Santa Barbara, California, President Ronald Reagan signs the bill for fiscal year 1974, which includes the largest tax cut in American history. Afterwards, he meets with Secretary of State Westmoreland and CIA Director Richard Helms, who inform him, “Things went well in Islamabad.”

Later in the day, news reaches America that Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan has been deposed in a coup by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, who dissolved the Parliament, and that Bhutto committed suicide.

September 10, 1977: Returning to the White House from his California vacation, President Reagan tells his National Security Council that he is very pleased at the results of the Pakistani coup. He asks what else can be done in the name of the defeat of worldwide Communism. A few ideas are batted around, and Reagan asks how long it would take to put them into operation. About a month, he is told. "Do it," he says. "The sooner the Soviet Union realizes that America is gunning for their little allies, the sooner they'll see we mean business."

October 22, 1977: It is a day of assassinations. In Europe: President Nicolae Ceaucescu of Romania, President Todor Zhivkov of Bulgaria, President Enver Hoxha of Albania and Premier Janos Kadar of Hungary. In South America: Prime Minister Forbes Burhnam of Guyana. In the Caribbean: Prime Minister Michael Manley of Jamaica. In Africa: Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire, Agostinho Neto of Angola, and Mohamed Siad Barre of Somalia. In the Pacific: President Xanana Gusmao of East Timor. Even political opponents are not spared: Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, Iranian cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini at his home in exile in Paris, Rebel leader Robert Mugabe in Rhodesia, French Communist Party Leader Georges Marchais, Italian Communist Party Leader Enrico Berlinguer, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams in Northern Ireland, and Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front guerilla leader Schafik Handal in El Salvador.

But there are some national leaders who survive assassination attempts. President Fidel Castro of Cuba and Colonel Moammar Khadafy of Libya are not home when their respective homes are blown up. President Idi Amin of Uganda sustains a flesh wound from a poorly-aimed assassin, who is killed by Amin's bodyguards before he can talk.

The most shocking assassination attempt is on President Erich Honecker of East Germany, seriously injured in an explosion at his daughter’s home in Chile. He is not expected to survive.

These men had one thing in common: They led left-of-center governments or opposition movements that the Reagan Administration considers unfriendly.

[Captain Chaos]

October 23, 1977: Erich Honecker, leader of East Germany since 1971, dies of his injuries at a hospital in Santiago, Chile. He was 65. The first assassination of a national leader sends East Germany into deep mourning, and the fact that the assassin appears to have gotten away produces great anger. In response to this killing, and the other assassinations of left-wing leaders all over the world, an East German newspaper calls it ”Der Samstag Nacht Massaker” - - “the Saturday Night Massacre”

Prime Minister Willi Stoph is sworn in as the new President of East Germany. For the first time ever, Chilean President Jorge Alessandri orders the border with Argentina closed, but the assassin already returned over the border before the bomb even went off.

Back at the White House, President Reagan says he knows of no conspiracy to kill the national leaders who faced assassination attempts last night.

October 25, 1977: Stock markets around the world fall, as anger toward the U.S., in the belief that President Reagan and the CIA carried out assassination attempts, many of them successful, on several left-wing leaders, escalates. The London, Tokyo and Hong Kong exchanges are particularly hard-hit. Reagan announces that the American economy, despite the inflation being caused by a recent spike in oil prices, is stronger than ever.

October 26, 1977: Black Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which had been up to 989 -- and various conservatives had been hailing this knock on the door of 1,000 -- falls to 825, a drop of 164 points, about 18 percent of its value. The Crash of ’77 becomes the worst stock drop off since 1929. President Reagan gives an Oval Office address assuring the American people, "The fundamentals of our economy are sound," that his tax cut will restore stock prices and economic growth, and that he had nothing to do with the assassinations of the previous weekend, already being called the Saturday Night Massacre all over the world.

November 1, 1977: White House Chief of Staff Michael Deaver tells President Reagan that, with the economy tumbling following the Crash of '77, people will be less likely to believe that he had nothing to do with the assassinations that made up the Saturday Night Massacre. Secretary of State William Westmoreland tells him that the Soviets have begun military maneuvers in response. Secretary of the Treasury William E. Simon tells him that the stock market can't take another incident that suggests that the President of the United States has made a big mistake. Reagan tells them all that his plans will go forward.

November 8, 1977: Congressman Ed Koch is elected Mayor of New York, defeating former Congresswoman Bella Abzug. The two advanced following a runoff in which they beat incumbent Mayor Abe Beame, Congressman Herman Badillo, and Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton. Meanwhile, St. John’s University Law School professor Mario Cuomo is elected to a City Council seat in the borough of Queens.

Brendan Byrne, a Democratic Prosecutor famed for his pursuit of Essex County organized-crime figures, is elected Governor of New Jersey, defeating Republican State Assemblyman Raymond Bateman. In the city of Camden, Mary Jo Kopechne is elected to the Camden County Board of Freeholders in her first run for public office. Her former boss and retired US Senator Robert F. Kennedy campaigned for her. Her law partner, state assemblyman and unsuccessful 1974 Congressional candidate, James Florio will soon be appointed Camden County District Attorney. 

Former Lieutenant Governor Henry Howell, a Democrat, is elected Governor of Virginia, defeating Republican Lieutenant Governor John Dalton. Koch, Byrne and Howell all ride a tide of resentment toward Republican President Ronald Reagan, the Saturday Night Massacre and the stock market crash.

November 16, 1977: President Reagan gives a televised speech from the Oval Office. "This government did not, repeat, did not have anything to do with the assassinations of October 22," he says, "and will not tolerate Communist propaganda suggesting we did." He also offers the American people his renewed assurance that the economy is sound, despite the crash of Black Tuesday.

November 22, 1977: White House Chief of Staff Michael Deaver tells President Reagan that he has to tell the American people the truth about the assassinations. "If you tell them you did it in the name of fighting Communism, and explain how winning the Cold War will help the American economy, they'll accept it. They like you. They WANT to believe you. But you have to tell them the truth. Tell them that it was done without your knowledge or approval, but that you stand by it. They'll accept this!"

Reagan refuses. Deaver threatens to resign. Reagan tells him he can go. Deaver plays his trump card: Resigning with him are FBI Director Mark Felt and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Stansfield Turner. And they will talk. Reagan tells them they're bluffing.

That night, Deaver, Felt and Turner appear on an ABC News special, interviewed by Ted Koppel. They tell all. It becomes known as the Thanksgiving Day Parade, or the Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot.

Reagan and his new Chief of Staff, former Deputy Chief of Staff Lyn Nofziger, are not fazed. They know that the Congress is controlled by the Republicans, and, whatever the reaction of the American people, the Republicans will never impeach him. They will never even threaten it.

It has been 14 years since the tragic airplane crash that killed President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon Johnson. Since then, America has seen the assassination of former Vice President Richard Nixon, civil wars in Chile and East Timor, the ineffectuality of President Terry Sanford, and... Ronald Reagan.

People are beginning to wonder what America is coming to.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Michael P is that you?

An interesting timeline indeed, although it does seem just a little bias towards the Democratic Party.

[Lahbas]

Michael P is that you?

An interesting timeline indeed, although it does seem just a little bias towards the Democratic Party.

a "little"?

[Historico]

hmm...I didn't realize how dystopic you made this timeline untill i reread it Gz. Any chance that we might see a future President Bork?

[Captain Chaos]

I made a correction to my June 23, 1969 entry. I discovered that I had Tom Clark "retire" twice from the Supreme Court. Now, it is fixed.

I thank you for your patience as I present to you the events from 1978.

January 4, 1978: Ronald Reagan becomes the first U.S. President to meet with Prime Minister Ian Douglas Smith of Rhodesia since his unilateral declaration of independence from the United Kingdom back in 1965. The meeting at the White House is denounced by numerous civil rights activists, many of whom accuse Reagan of having a hand in the assassination of Robert Mugabe last September. In London, an angry British Foreign Secretary David Owen summons the American ambassador to his office to officially protest Smith’s visit. Rhodesia has been treated as a pariah state by the most countries which had never recognized its independence. The only British politicians publicly praising the meeting are Enoch Powell and Rev. Ian Paisley.

January 5, 1978: It is a day of demonstrations. Despite the cold, over 300,000 people march on Washington, D.C., demanding that President Reagan resign or be impeached over his role in the Saturday Night Massacre. Many also denounce his fiscal policy, which, along with the assassinations, resulted in the Crash of '77. Another 100,000 demonstrate in New York.

At Hyde Park in London, 150,000 people are present to denounce the Reagan Administration. Another 100,000 demonstrate near the Champs Elysees in Paris, many with pictures of martyred Communist leader Georges Marchais. Premier Leonid Brezhnev salutes an anti-American demonstration in Red Square in Moscow. And the biggest crowd of all, over 400,000, demonstrates in Tokyo.

At a protest rally at the campus of Columbia University, former Senator Robert F. Kennedy gives a speech in front of the mostly student crowd. “Mister Reagan is deeply locked into a Cold War paranoia that was old and tired fourteen years ago. As it is, our economy resembles one that is forty-four years old. We don’t want to go back to the 1930s, and we won’t go back to the Stone Age. Yesterday, Ronald Reagan defied the international community by meeting with the Prime Minister of Rhodesia, a place that continues to defy the United Kingdom and refuses to grant the right to vote to those who are black. And if this behavior continues, maybe we should send Reagan back to California in three years from now.” Among those listening to the speech is a young lawyer from Long Island named Jeffrey Miller, a graduate of Kent State University in 1972 and Columbia University Law School in 1975. Miller is seriously considering a career in politics and Election Day is eleven months from now.

January 8, 1978: Congressman Robert McClory of Illinois, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, announces that hearings will be held, to determine if President Reagan violated the Constitution in regard to the assassinations and attempted assassinations of world leaders that occurred on October 22, 1977, known as "the Saturday Night Massacre." That the Chairman, a Republican and a reliable conservative, would do so is a blow to the Administration, which was sure it could avoid such an investigation.

January 13, 1978: Hubert H. Humphrey, the 37th President of the United States (1965-1973) dies at his home in Waverly, Minnesota after a long bout with bladder cancer. He was 66.

January 16, 1978: A state funeral is held for former President Humphrey. President Reagan, former President Sanford and former Vice President Harold Hughes attend. In his eulogy, Robert F. Kennedy sums up Humphrey’s life with these words: “A few days ago, President Humphrey’s life came to an end. But for me and all those whose cares have been his concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.” Humphrey is interred at the Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.

February 12, 1978: Republican hopes of winning back a Congressional district previously represented by New York City Mayor Edward Koch are dashed. Bella Abzug, a rival of Koch, moves into Manhattan’s Silk Stocking District and rides voter anger (and hatred of) over Ronald Reagan to defeat State Assemblyman S. William Green, a member of the GOP’s liberal Rockefeller wing in a special election. In his personal diary, Bobby Kennedy notes: “If Bella’s victory today is a portent of things to come, then the Republicans will be slaughtered this November.”

March 1, 1978: Mark Felt, Director of the FBI between June 17, 1977 (shortly after the death of J. Edgar Hoover) and November 22, 1973, testifies before the House Judiciary Committee.

He tells of what he knows about the Reagan Administration's plans for the Cold War, including the planned assassinations of several national leaders. He says he advised against these plans, as they would anger the Soviet Union and America's allies.

March 17, 1978: Today is St. Patrick’s Day, and there are parades all over the country to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland. In New York, the biggest cheers erupt for the parade’s grand marshal Robert F. Kennedy as he marches alongside Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Mayor Ed Koch. Even the parishioners at St. Patrick’s Cathedral erupt in applause as Robert Kennedy, his wife Ethel, their 13 children, nephew John F. Kennedy, Jr., and niece Caroline Kennedy arrive to take their seats at the front pews.

April 30, 1978: The House Judiciary Committee releases its report on the Reagan Administration's perceived role in the Saturday Night Massacre. It concludes that, based on the testimony of men like former White House Chief of Staff Michael Deaver and former FBI Director Mark Felt, there is not enough evidence to draw up Articles of Impeachment. However, it recommends that a Special Prosecutor be appointed to begin a full investigation. This would be up to Attorney General Edwin Meese, who refuses, not that he needed President Reagan's order to so refuse.

Weekly demonstrations outside the White House now become daily demonstrations. Prime Ministers James Callaghan of the United Kingdom and Pierre Trudeau of Canada have both publicly recommended that Reagan resign. Callaghan heads a minority government in which his Labor Party has only a two-seat edge, but has not called a federal election.

[Captain Chaos]

May 6, 1978: The Dow Jones Industrial Average takes another big drop, 64 points, its biggest ever. This follows a series of bad-news stories about the economy: The Reagan Administration proposing a federal budget with a $107 billion deficit (the first $100 billion-plus deficit ever), unemployment rising to 9 percent (highest since 1941), inflation at 10 percent, and oil rising to $25 a barrel producing long gas lines. The rest of the world seems to be in poor economic straits as well. And Attorney General Meese still refuses to name a special prosecutor to investigate the Reagan Administration's role in the Saturday Night Massacre.

July 4, 1978: As the United States celebrates its 202nd birthday, over 50,000 demonstrators rally in front of the American Embassy in Ottawa. In Portland, Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon announces he is leaving the Republican Party to become an Independent, and caucus with the Democrats. The move avoids a primary challenge from conservative newspaper publisher Denny Smith who is now assured of the GOP nomination for this year’s Senate race.

July 10, 1978: Former White House Chief of Staff Michael Deaver testifies before the Senate Special Investigating Committee, in charge of investigating the Reagan Administration's role in the Saturday Night Massacre. He informs the Committee that a tape-recording system was in place in the Oval Office of the White House, and that the tapes may contain evidence of complicity by Reagan and others. Quickly, a joint resolution passes Congress, demanding that Reagan hand over the tapes. He refuses. The constitutional crisis gets deeper.

September 17, 1978: The Camp David Accords are signed at the White House by President Ronald Reagan, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. Secretary of William Westmoreland and William Rogers, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, were heavily involved in the negotiations. All except Reagan will share the Nobel Peace Prize. Many Republicans had hoped that the achievement of peace between Israel and Egypt would overshadow the backlash against the President for his alleged role in the assassinations of the various world leaders last October but a recent Newsweek poll reveals that likely voters prefer the Democrats over the Republicans by a five point margin.

November 4, 1978: After over a year of scandal caused by the Saturday Night Massacre, including the Reagan Administration's stonewalling, increased activity by America's Communist enemies, and a worsening recession -- unemployment is now at 15 percent, its worst since 1938 -- the Congressional elections are a bloodbath for the Republicans. The Democrats gain 70 seats and take control of the House of Representatives. The Democrats gain 9 seats but fall short of a majority in the Senate.

Newly elected Senators include: Rep. John Kerry of Massachusetts who defeats incumbent Senator Edward Brooke; retired New York Knicks basketball player Bill Bradley defeats Senator Clifford Case in New Jersey; in Michigan, Detroit City Council President Carl Levin ousts incumbent Senate Majority Leader Robert Griffin; former Congressman Bill Roy of Kansas defeats Nancy Kassebaum, daughter of former Governor Alf Landon, derailing a promising political career; Virginia Attorney General Andrew Miller defeats his former Secretary of the Navy John Warner in the race to succeed retiring Republican Senator William L. Scott; New Mexico Attorney General Toney Anaya defeats one-term Senator Pete Domenici; Congressman Bob Krueger of Texas scores an upset victory over Senator John Connally. Also, two sitting Democratic Governors are elected to succeed retiring Republican Senators: David Boren succeeds Dewey in Oklahoma, and Nebraska Governor Jim Exon is elected to succeed Carl Curtis. Mississippi Governor Cliff Finch defeats Congressman Thad Cochran to succeed the more conservative Democrat James Eastland. Governor David Pryor of Arkansas is elected to the Senate seat of the late John McClellan. And in a political comeback, George McGovern avenges his 1974 reelection defeat with his victory over Congressman Larry Pressler in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Senator James Abourezk.

The makeup of the incoming Senate is: 52 Republicans, 47 Democrats and 1 Independent.

Among the newly elected Democrats to the US House of Representatives are: Arlen Specter, a former US Attorney of Philadelphia in the Sanford administration, defeats incumbent Charles Daugherty (he defeated Rep. Joshua Eilberg in 1974). In New York State, two young Democrats are elected as part of the Long Island delegation: 28 year old lawyer Jeffrey Miller defeats incumbent Congressman Norman Lent and 29 year old Suffolk County Legislator Tom Downey is elected to succeed retiring GOP Congressman James Grover. In New Jersey, Camden County Freeholder Mary Jo Kopechne is elected to succeed retiring Republican John Hunt. In Maine, Senator Edmund Muskie’s former Chief of Staff George Mitchell narrowly defeats State Senator Olympia Snowe to succeed Congressman William Cohen who narrowly came close to unseating Senator William Hathaway. But the biggest upset occurs in Michigan where Speaker of the House Gerald Ford decided not to seek reelection; twenty years after first running for Congress against Ford, Democrat William Vander Veen defeats Ford’s handpicked successor.

November 5, 1978: Another political earthquake erupts in Michigan as Senator Donald Riegle changes his registration to Independent and announces that he will caucus with the Democrats. There are now 51 Republicans, 47 Democrats and 2 Independents (voting with the Democrats).

Meanwhile, the results come in for the gubernatorial elections and most of it is good news for the Democrats. After 20 years out of office, the Democrats win the New York Governor’s race when former State Senator Mary Ann Krupsak defeats State Assembly Speaker Perry Duryea. Governor Malcolm Wilson decided to retire. In Arkansas, Bill Clinton is elected Governor, which makes him the nation’s youngest governor at the age of 32. In New Hampshire, Hugh Gallen defeats three term Republican Governor and outspoken conservative Meldrim Thompson. In California, Jerry Brown avenges his 1974 loss with his victory over incumbent Governor Ed Reinecke. Georgia Lt Governor Zell Miller wins his race to succeed Governor Jimmy Carter as the Democrats continue their hold on that office dating back to Reconstruction. In Pennsylvania, Mayor Pete Flaherty of Pittsburgh defeats State Senator Richard Thornburgh to become that state’s next Governor.

This election is a stinging rebuke to President Reagan, who seemed to have so much momentum and popularity following his 1976 election, and signing a major tax cut in 1977. Now he has to worry about the possibility of impeachment and removal from office.

November 7, 1978: Still stunned by the Congressional elections two days ago, the Reagan Administration suffers another loss when Secretary of Defense John Tower resigns. Tower’s rumored drinking problem came to light earlier this year with his slurred speech during an appearance with Senator John Connally (in his autobiography, Connally would blame Tower’s behavior for his reelection defeat). Congressman Donald Rumsfeld of Illinois, who spent the last term as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, will be appointed to succeed him.

[President Mitt]

Michael P is that you?

An interesting timeline indeed, although it does seem just a little bias towards the Democratic Party.

a "little"?

[Mechaman]

Michael P is that you?

An interesting timeline indeed, although it does seem just a little bias towards the Democratic Party.

a "little"?

[Dr. Cynic]

Was very glad to see Pete Flaherty get the win for Governor. Looking forward to more and maybe an RFK Presidency?

[Psychic Octopus]

Michael P is that you?

An interesting timeline indeed, although it does seem just a little bias towards the Democratic Party.

a "little"?

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Michael P is that you?

An interesting timeline indeed, although it does seem just a little bias towards the Democratic Party.

a "little"?

Thus my reasonings for the writer of the timeline being Michael P from New Jersey. I'm sure Mint, Straha and even Winston would remember him. If it is Michael, I really don't care. But if not, I appear to have read such a timeline before

[Barnes]

May 6, 1978: The Dow Jones Industrial Average takes another big drop, 64 points, its biggest ever. This follows a series of bad-news stories about the economy: The Reagan Administration proposing a federal budget with a $107 billion deficit (the first $100 billion-plus deficit ever), unemployment rising to 9 percent (highest since 1941), inflation at 10 percent, and oil rising to $25 a barrel producing long gas lines. The rest of the world seems to be in poor economic straits as well. And Attorney General Meese still refuses to name a special prosecutor to investigate the Reagan Administration's role in the Saturday Night Massacre.

July 4, 1978: As the United States celebrates its 202nd birthday, over 50,000 demonstrators rally in front of the American Embassy in Ottawa. In Portland, Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon announces he is leaving the Republican Party to become an Independent, and caucus with the Democrats. The move avoids a primary challenge from conservative newspaper publisher Denny Smith who is now assured of the GOP nomination for this year’s Senate race.

July 10, 1978: Former White House Chief of Staff Michael Deaver testifies before the Senate Special Investigating Committee, in charge of investigating the Reagan Administration's role in the Saturday Night Massacre. He informs the Committee that a tape-recording system was in place in the Oval Office of the White House, and that the tapes may contain evidence of complicity by Reagan and others. Quickly, a joint resolution passes Congress, demanding that Reagan hand over the tapes. He refuses. The constitutional crisis gets deeper.

September 17, 1978: The Camp David Accords are signed at the White House by President Ronald Reagan, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. Secretary of William Westmoreland and William Rogers, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, were heavily involved in the negotiations. All except Reagan will share the Nobel Peace Prize. Many Republicans had hoped that the achievement of peace between Israel and Egypt would overshadow the backlash against the President for his alleged role in the assassinations of the various world leaders last October but a recent Newsweek poll reveals that likely voters prefer the Democrats over the Republicans by a five point margin.

November 4, 1978: After over a year of scandal caused by the Saturday Night Massacre, including the Reagan Administration's stonewalling, increased activity by America's Communist enemies, and a worsening recession -- unemployment is now at 15 percent, its worst since 1938 -- the Congressional elections are a bloodbath for the Republicans. The Democrats gain 70 seats and take control of the House of Representatives. The Democrats gain 9 seats but fall short of a majority in the Senate.

Newly elected Senators include: Rep. John Kerry of Massachusetts who defeats incumbent Senator Edward Brooke; retired New York Knicks basketball player Bill Bradley defeats Senator Clifford Case in New Jersey; in Michigan, Detroit City Council President Carl Levin ousts incumbent Senate Majority Leader Robert Griffin; former Congressman Bill Roy of Kansas defeats Nancy Kassebaum, daughter of former Governor Alf Landon, derailing a promising political career; Virginia Attorney General Andrew Miller defeats his former Secretary of the Navy John Warner in the race to succeed retiring Republican Senator William L. Scott; New Mexico Attorney General Toney Anaya defeats one-term Senator Pete Domenici; Congressman Bob Krueger of Texas scores an upset victory over Senator John Connally. Also, two sitting Democratic Governors are elected to succeed retiring Republican Senators: David Boren succeeds Dewey in Oklahoma, and Nebraska Governor Jim Exon is elected to succeed Carl Curtis. Mississippi Governor Cliff Finch defeats Congressman Thad Cochran to succeed the more conservative Democrat James Eastland. Governor David Pryor of Arkansas is elected to the Senate seat of the late John McClellan. And in a political comeback, George McGovern avenges his 1974 reelection defeat with his victory over Congressman Larry Pressler in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Senator James Abourezk.

The makeup of the incoming Senate is: 52 Republicans, 47 Democrats and 1 Independent.

Among the newly elected Democrats to the US House of Representatives are: Arlen Specter, a former US Attorney of Philadelphia in the Sanford administration, defeats incumbent Charles Daugherty (he defeated Rep. Joshua Eilberg in 1974). In New York State, two young Democrats are elected as part of the Long Island delegation: 28 year old lawyer Jeffrey Miller defeats incumbent Congressman Norman Lent and 29 year old Suffolk County Legislator Tom Downey is elected to succeed retiring GOP Congressman James Grover. In New Jersey, Camden County Freeholder Mary Jo Kopechne is elected to succeed retiring Republican John Hunt. In Maine, Senator Edmund Muskie’s former Chief of Staff George Mitchell narrowly defeats State Senator Olympia Snowe to succeed Congressman William Cohen who narrowly came close to unseating Senator William Hathaway. But the biggest upset occurs in Michigan where Speaker of the House Gerald Ford decided not to seek reelection; twenty years after first running for Congress against Ford, Democrat William Vander Veen defeats Ford’s handpicked successor.

November 5, 1978: Another political earthquake erupts in Michigan as Senator Donald Riegle changes his registration to Independent and announces that he will caucus with the Democrats. There are now 51 Republicans, 47 Democrats and 2 Independents (voting with the Democrats).

Meanwhile, the results come in for the gubernatorial elections and most of it is good news for the Democrats. After 20 years out of office, the Democrats win the New York Governor’s race when former State Senator Mary Ann Krupsak defeats State Assembly Speaker Perry Duryea. Governor Malcolm Wilson decided to retire. In Arkansas, Bill Clinton is elected Governor, which makes him the nation’s youngest governor at the age of 32. In New Hampshire, Hugh Gallen defeats three term Republican Governor and outspoken conservative Meldrim Thompson. In California, Jerry Brown avenges his 1974 loss with his victory over incumbent Governor Ed Reinecke. Georgia Lt Governor Zell Miller wins his race to succeed Governor Jimmy Carter as the Democrats continue their hold on that office dating back to Reconstruction. In Pennsylvania, Mayor Pete Flaherty of Pittsburgh defeats State Senator Richard Thornburgh to become that state’s next Governor.

This election is a stinging rebuke to President Reagan, who seemed to have so much momentum and popularity following his 1976 election, and signing a major tax cut in 1977. Now he has to worry about the possibility of impeachment and removal from office.

November 7, 1978: Still stunned by the Congressional elections two days ago, the Reagan Administration suffers another loss when Secretary of Defense John Tower resigns. Tower’s rumored drinking problem came to light earlier this year with his slurred speech during an appearance with Senator John Connally (in his autobiography, Connally would blame Tower’s behavior for his reelection defeat). Congressman Donald Rumsfeld of Illinois, who spent the last term as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, will be appointed to succeed him.

What is Reagan's Approval Rating? Sounds like it would be in the twenty's!

[Captain Chaos]

Just wanted to bump this to the top.

I apologize for not updating this sooner. The past week has been hectic and I have a little bit of writer's block regarding the 1979 events. I do have a basic idea of what events I want to put into it.

To all those who have wondered what will happen next, let me just say that things will get worse before they become better.

Also in response to your questions, I am not Michael P. (although we share the same fascination with the Kennedys).

[Captain Chaos]

January 3, 1979: A new Congress is sworn in after the holiday break. With the Democrats taking over the House of Representatives, Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill of Massachusetts is elected Speaker of the House after serving as House Minority Leader in the last Congress. The new House Majority Leader is Philip Burton of California; he wins the position in a close race against Jim Wright of Texas. The new Majority Whip is Lindy Boggs of Louisiana, who is now the highest ranking woman ever in Congress. She won a 1973 special election to succeed her husband Thomas “Hale” Boggs, who was House Majority Leader when he disappeared in a plane crash over Alaska and his body was never found. Republicans in the House elect John Ashbrook of Ohio in a close race over John Rhodes of Arizona for House Minority Leader. The new House Minority Whip is Robert Bauman of Maryland, a favorite of the younger conservative Congressmen who were elected to Congress in 1974 and 1976.

In the Senate, the Republicans elect Howard Baker of Tennessee as the new Majority Leader to replace Robert Griffin who lost reelection last November. The new Majority Whip is Jack Eckerd of Florida. The Democrats reelect Robert Byrd of West Virginia as Senate Minority Leader. The new Minority Whip is George McGovern, who returned to the Senate only four years after losing reelection in 1974. He replaces Edward Kennedy who is the new ranking member of the Senate Labor Committee.

Several House Democrats, many of them freshmen elected in last November’s anti-Reagan landslide and known as “Tip’s Toddlers,” submit impeachment resolutions.

In her maiden speech on the House floor, Rep. Mary Jo Kopechne of New Jersey weighs in on the impeachment resolutions. “Whatever the result, whatever we learn or conclude, let us now proceed with such care and decency and thoroughness and honor that the vast majority of Americans and their children after them will say: ‘That was the right course. There was no other way.’”

January 16, 1979: Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran and his wife leave the country for a “vacation” at the behest of Prime Minister Shapour Bakhtiar in the hope that Iran will have peace after 15 months of demonstration against the Shah’s authoritarian rule.

February 1, 1979: Ayatollah Mostafa Khomeini returns to Iran from his exile in Switzerland. His father, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, was assassinated (most likely by the CIA) in October 1977. He is welcomed by a joyous crowd estimated at least six million by ABC News reporter Peter Jennings, who was reporting the event from Tehran.

On the airplane on his way to Iran, Khomeini was asked by Jennings: "What do you feel in returning to Iran?" Khomeini answered "Hichi" (nothing)

February 11, 1979: The military declares its neutrality in street fighting between supporters of Khomeini and Bakhtiar. Without the support of the military, Bakhtiar resigns as Prime Minister and is replaced by Khomeini supporter Abolhassan Bani-Sadr. The monarchy is officially abolished.

May 4, 1979: The Conservatives win the British national elections. Margaret Thatcher becomes the United Kingdom’s first female Prime Minister.

May 21, 1979: Former San Francisco Supervisor Dan White is convicted of all counts of assassinating Mayor George Moscone last year and of attempted manslaughter of his openly gay colleague Harvey Milk. White will be sentenced to life in prison where he will die in 1990. San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein and California Governor Jerry Brown praise the decision.

July 16, 1979: Iraqi Vice President Saddam Hussein becomes President upon the resignation of his cousin Hassan al-Bakr.

July 17, 1979: Anastasio Somoza sits in his Presidential Palace in Managua, Nicaragua and lights a cigar. He is corrupt and comfortable, with his troops and some help from the CIA having assassinated Daniel Ortega and his rebels nearly two years ago.

September 4, 1979: After Congress returns from a summer Congressional recess, the House Judiciary Committee approves seven Articles of Impeachment for the full House of Representatives to vote on, all in connection to the “Saturday Night Massacre” assassinations of October 22, 1977, the assassination of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto the preceding month, and the Reagan Administration’s cover-up attempts. Addressing her colleagues on the Judiciary Committee, freshman Rep. Frances Farenthold of Texas: “During the Constitutional Convention, James Madison remarked that a President can be impeached if he attempts to subvert the Constitution. If the impeachment provision in the Constitution of the United States will not reach the offenses charged here, then perhaps that 18th-century Constitution should be abandoned to a 20th-century paper shredder.”

The House schedules a vote for September 8.

September 8, 1979: The House votes to impeach President Ronald Reagan on all seven Articles of Impeachment. For the first time since 1868, the Senate will decide whether or not to remove an impeached President.

October 14, 1979: A major gay rights march in the United States takes place in Washington, D.C., involving many tens of thousands of people including San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk. Many speakers at the event use the opportunity to criticize President Reagan.

October 22, 1979: On the second anniversary of the assassination of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, protestors in Teheran burn Ronald Reagan and the deposed Shah in effigy. President Reagan reluctantly agrees to allow the deposed Shah into the United States to undergo surgical treatment at the New York Hospital. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Ambassador to the United Nations Henry Kissinger supported allowing the Shah into the country citing Iran’s history of friendship with the United States. Privately, Vice President Bellmon and Attorney General Robert Bork opposed the move and cited Iran’s human rights record. During a Senate debate, Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine “He is a tyrant, and the people of Iran were right to overthrow him,” he says. “Will this Administration carefully watch the new government of Iran, to see if it will respect freedom and human rights more than did the Shah? I do not expect a conflict between our country and theirs, nor should the Administration seek it. But to let the Shah into America might inflame the Iranians to the point where a conflict would occur.” In response, Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson replies, “What are the Iranians going to do? Take our ambassador hostage?

November 4, 1979: A group of Islamist students and militants take over the American embassy in Teheran in support of the Iranian Revolution. In footage aired on television screens all over the world are the images of blindfolded American hostages marched outside the embassy grounds to the jeers of the protestors.

November 5, 1979: The impeachment trial of President Reagan begins in the Senate. Supreme Court Chief Justice Byron White presides over the trial. House Judiciary Committee members Henry Waxman of California and Mary Jo Kopechne of New Jersey serve as the prosecutors. Reagan is represented by Tennessee lawyer Fred Thompson.

November 19, 1979: Although the majority of the Senate votes to convict Reagan on all counts, less than two-thirds vote to remove the President. While all 47 Democrats and both Independents vote to remove Reagan from office, the majority of Republicans stay loyal to the President and vote for acquittal. The Republicans who voted to remove Reagan from office are Slade Gorton of Washington, Charles Percy of Illinois, Louis Wyman of New Hampshire, Robert Stafford and Richard Mallory of Vermont, Lowell Weicker of Connecticut, Robert Dole of Kansas, Bob Packwood of Oregon, John Chafee of Rhode Island, John Heinz of Pennsylvania, and from Reagan’s home state, Robert Finch.

November 20, 1979: Unhappy with the direction of the Republican party and the Senate’s failure to remove President Ronald Reagan from office, Senator Donald Riegle of Michigan officially announces his switch to the Democratic Party. Mark Hatfield of Oregon will remain an independent.

December 11, 1979: Former Senator Robert F. Kennedy declares his candidacy for President of the United States. He makes the announcement on the cobblestone steps of the South Street seaport in New York City. Present at his announcement are his brother Senator Ted Kennedy, his brother-in law and former Maryland Governor Sargeant Shriver, Congressmen Charles Rangel and Jeffrey Miller of New York, Mary Jo Kopechne of New Jersey, Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, Senators Daniel P. Moynihan of New York and Abraham Ribicoff of Connecticut. RFK states: "I do not run for the Presidency merely to oppose any man, but to propose new policies. I run because I am convinced that this country is on a perilous course and because I have such strong feelings about what must be done, and I feel that I'm obliged to do all I can."

With unemployment exceeding 10 percent, inflation at 12 percent, and his popularity ratings between 25 and 30 percent, President Reagan faces an uphill battle for re-election.

December 24, 1979: As Christians all over the world celebrate Christmas, Soviet tanks from the 40th Army division cross the border into Afghanistan to invade the country. Soviet troops depose Afghan President Hafizullah Amin and summarily execute him. Babrak Karmal is installed by the Soviets as the new President of Afghanistan.

[President Mitt]

Michael P is that you?

An interesting timeline indeed, although it does seem just a little bias towards the Democratic Party.

a "little"?

[Historico]

Yeah, I had a feeling that Reagan wasn't going to get the votes for Impeachment. I do however suspect a strong challenge from the Moderate Wing of the GOP, perhaps...Senator Charles Mathias of Maryland, or Senator Lowell Weicker might decide to run against Ronnie in the Primaries(Probably a long drawn out OTL Ford/Reagan Primary fight). I do however think that if Bobby does indeed win the nomination and then the Presidency, he might be a one term President due to economic factors(plus it will ease off some of the claims Demo-bias, if your willing to sacrifice your favorite Political hero)...Keep it comming.

[Captain Chaos]

January 4, 1980: President Ronald Reagan proclaims a grain embargo against the USSR with the support of the European Commission. Bobby Kennedy criticizes the grain embargo while campaigning for the farm vote in Sioux City, Iowa.

January 7, 1980: President Ronald Reagan vetoes legislation approving $1.5 billion in loan guarantees to bail out the Chrysler Corporation. With less than two-thirds of the House and Senate voting in favor of the bailout (including the entire Michigan delegation), Congress will fall short of overriding the veto next week. Retired Speaker of the House Gerald Ford, now a lawyer in private practice, had lobbied his former Republican colleagues to vote for the bill and is worried that Chrysler may have to declare bankruptcy. After the veto is sustained, Congressman John Ashbrook remarks: “In a free market, there will be winners and losers. It is not the government’s business to choose winners and losers, and if Chrysler goes out of business there will be other auto manufacturers ready to pick up the pieces.”

January 15, 1980: Bobby Kennedy hosts a lunch at his apartment in Manhattan with several Democratic Congressmen to discuss strategy for the upcoming primary campaigns. A 23 year old woman enters to room and catches the eye of Congressman Jeffrey Miller.

“You resemble someone I noticed at Senator Kennedy’s announcement last month.”

RFK replies: “By the way, Jeff. That young woman happens to be my niece, Caroline Kennedy. She decided to delay the start of her job as a research assistant at the Metroplitan Museum of Art just so she could campaign full time for me. I want to emphasize that I don't want this campaign to be embarrassed by anything we can control. And I want this campaign to be able to control as much as possible.”

“Don’t worry, Bobby. If you wage this campaign in the same way that you and Ethel raised Caroline and John, the Republicans won’t have a prayer come this November and we may be able to take back the Senate.”

And so marks the day that Caroline Kennedy and Congressman Jeffrey Miller meet for the very first time.

January 22, 1980: In Iowa, Robert F. Kennedy is victorious in the Democratic caucuses winning 60 percent of the vote, followed by Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson of Washington with 26 percent and Senator Ernest Hollings of South Carolina with 13 percent. On the Republican side, Congressman John Anderson of Illinois challenged Reagan but lost 60 to 39 percent.

January 27, 1980: With the help of the Canadian Embassy, six American diplomats board a flight to Switzerland with false passports and escape from Iran. The covert rescue operation, dubbed the “Canadian caper”, would result in Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor and his staff being awarded the Order of Canada.

February 26, 1980: President Reagan wins the New Hampshire Republican primary over John Anderson by a 56 to 40 percent margin. Perennial candidate Harold Stassen took 3 percent. On the Democratic side, the results are: Robert F. Kennedy 49 percent, Ernest Hollings 30 percent, Scoop Jackson 20 percent.

March 3, 1980: The Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) wins the first free all race elections in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe African National (ZANU) led by Robert Mugabe until his assassination in September 1977 was not a factor and took only 1 percent of the vote, as most of its membership switched their allegiance to Joshua Nkomo, who will become Prime Minister. Bishop Abel Muzorewa, former Prime Minister of the short-lived Zimbabwe Rhodesia government backed by Ian Smith, will be elected President. Nkomo names white politican Chris Anderson as Agriculture Minister in a move to ensure the support of the white population that owns the majority of farm land.

March 4, 1980: It is no contest in Massachusetts. Bobby Kennedy wins 79 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary. Speaker of the House Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill already endoresed RFK and joins him at the victory celebration in Boston.

March 8, 1980: Ernest Hollings easily wins his home state of South Carolina with 75 percent of the vote. Bobby Kennedy takes 20 percent. Scoop Jackson did not even campaign in the state and received 5 percent. On the Republican side, Strom Thurmond’s party organization enables President Reagan to win 85 percent of the vote. Running out of money, John Anderson decides to suspend his campaign and does not endorse Reagan.

March 10, 1980: The International Olympic Committee issues a statement declaring that the Summer Olympics should not be used as a platform for defending or criticizing the Soviets' actions in Afghanistan. These words fall on deaf ears, however; all but a handful of American athletes have already decided to carry protest banners of one form or another during the opening ceremonies, while Moscow's Olympic organizing committee announces that those ceremonies will be dedicated to, in the words of CPSU General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev, "the heroic defenders of the socialist peoples of the world".

March 11, 1980: Bobby Kennedy squeaks to victory in the Florida primary over Ernest Hollings, 40 to 39 percent. Kennedy’s connection to the state (family home in Palm Beacj) and overtures to the state’s senior citizens and black voters in Miami barely beats Hollings’ connection to the South (South Carolina native). Hollings did win all the counties comprising the state’s northern panhandle.

March 21, 1980: Despite calls from conservative politicans to boycott the Summer Olympic games to be held in Moscow, President Reagan announces that the United States will participate. At a press conference surrounded by members of the gold medal winning US Olympic hockey team, Reagan remarks: “Last month, our hockey team defeated the Soviets. If we can defeat the Russians in hockey and in the free market of ideas, I see no reason why we cannot defeat them on their own home soil.” Mike Eruzione, captain of the hockey team, and coach Herb Brooks present President Reagan with a jersey with the words “U S A” and uniform number 1 on the back.

March 22, 1980: Former New Hampshire Governor Meldrim Thompson vehemently condemns President Reagan’s decision to send the US Olympic team to Moscow, accusing him of caving in to the Communists. However, John Anderson praises the decision, asserting that the Summer Olympics will provide a valuable public forum for American athletes to protest the Soviet presence in Afghanistan.

March 26, 1980: The New York and Connecticut primaries go Bobby Kennedy’s way as he continues to cement his lead in delegates. A Who’s Who of politicians share the stage at RFK’s victory celebration at Columbia University, including political rivals Congresswoman Bella Abzug and Mayor Edward Koch (standing on opposite ends of the stage). A jubilant Kennedy proclaims: “New York may be called the Big Apple. But this victory here tonight can be called the Big Mo.’”

April 3, 1980: With endorsements from Congressman Paul Simon and the organization provided by the Cook County Democratic machine, Robert F. Kennedy easily wins the Democratic primary in Illinois with 53 percent. Henry “Scoop” Jackson hoped that his past relationship with the late Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley would help him in the state but the Daley family endorsed Kennedy. Jackson takes 26 percent while Ernest Hollings takes the rest. On the Republican side, John Anderson would take 30 percent although he suspended his campaign last month.

[Captain Chaos]

April 8, 1980: In an interview on "60 Minutes", former president Terry Sanford says that he hopes the Afghan conflict will not continue to cast a pall over the Summer Games in Moscow. Sanford's comments are intended simply to reflect his support for the Olympic ideal of sports transcending politics, but they prompt sharp criticism from President Reagan, who interprets them as a veiled swipe at his administration, and from the Soviet government, which resents what it sees as an attack on its defense and foreign policies.

April 10, 1980: Heavy support from Roman Catholics and residents of Milwaukee result in a comfortable victory by Kennedy in the Wisconsin Democratic primary. He takes 60 percent of the vote to Jackson’s 32 percent.

April 21, 1980: Rosie Ruiz wins the Boston Marathon, but is later exposed as a fraud and stripped of her award. In reaction to the news, Robert F. Kennedy remarks: “That is nothing, compared to the politics as usual marathon going on in Washington for the last four years.”

April 24, 1980: At a live televised press conference, President Reagan announces that a Delta Force squadron backed by air cover stormed the US Embassy in Teheran and freed 42 American hostages. Unfortunately, ten hostages were killed in the gunfire exchange with the Iranian hostage takers who fought to the death. "Sometimes," Reagan says of the deaths, "it takes a few lemons to make lemonade." House Speaker Tip O’Neill criticizes Reagan for using homespun one-liners at a time like this.

April 25, 1980: With the endorsement of former Pennsylvania State Auditor Robert Casey, the state’s leading Catholic politician and a candidate this year for the US Senate (incumbent Raymond Shafer decided not to seek reelection), Kennedy wins the Democratic primary with 50 percent. Scoop Jackson, seeing some fairly conservative States with large military and veteran populations, decides to stay in the race.

April 26, 1980: At a joint press conference in Washington, DC, Robert Kennedy and Ernest Hollings announced that they will cease campaign activities for a week out of respect for the families of the killed hostages. For Kennedy, this is personal because one of the deaths was a former legislative aide on his Senate staff who left to join the US Foreign Service. Scoop Jackson decides to continue his campaign and will be criticized heavily for it.

May 5, 1980: The Georgia Democratic Primary is an easy win for Senator Ernest Hollings. Senator Henry (Scoop) Jackson had hoped to appeal to the military and social-conservative vote, but finishes third behind Hollings and former Senator Robert F. Kennedy. In a blow to Jackson’s campaign, Congressman Mike Lowry (D-WA) announces his endorsement of Kennedy.

May 7, 1980: Bobby Kennedy bounces back to win the Indiana primary and takes  45 percent of the vote to Scoop Jackson’s 30 percent and Ernest Hollings’ 25 percent. The endorsements of Senator Birch Bayh and Andrew Jacobs, a Congressman representing Indianapolis in the US House of Representatives, prove crucial in RFK’s victory in this state. Jackson drops out, leaving a two man race.

May 13, 1980: Kennedy wins the Nebraska and Maryland Primaries. Hollings had hoped to appeal to the semi-Southern character of Maryland, but finished far behind. He drops out of the race, and endorses Kennedy. The Democratic chase is over and Kennedy will be the Democratic Party’s nominee for President against the incumbent Ronald Reagan.

July 19, 1980: Moments after the US Olympic team enters Lenin Stadium as part of the opening ceremonies for the 1980 Summer Games, the stadium crowd, much to the profound embarrassment and outrage of Communist Party officials, begins cheering as American athletes unfurl banners calling for the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. Chants of "We love USA!" and "Brezhnev must go!" can be heard throughout the stadium despite the desperate attempts of Soviet authorities to drown them out with loud martial music; they can also be heard by millions of television viewers throughout the world. Publicly, outgoing IOC president Lord Killanin expresses disapproval of the American Olympic team's conduct; in private, however, he later confides to a fellow committee member that he enjoyed seeing the look of sheer humiliation on Brezhnev's face.

July 20, 1980: Brezhnev telephones the US embassy in Moscow demanding an apology for what he calls the "hooliganism" of American athletes at the Summer Games opening ceremonies.

July 26, 1980: Future NBA all-stars Isiah Thomas and Earvin "Magic" Johnson combine for 81 points as the US beats Senegal 107-45 in the men's basketball quarterfinals. After the game, Johnson is asked by a BBC sports reporter if he feels it was wrong to use the opening ceremonies to protest Soviet intervention in Afghanistan; the future Los Angeles Lakers point guard responds with a characteristically blunt "Hell no!"

August 2, 1980: The United States beats the Soviet Union 103-96 in the men's basketball finals to clinch the gold medal. During the post-game festivities, the crowd chants "USA!USA!" and holds up signs supporting the US Olympic team's actions at the opening ceremonies; an infuriated Brezhnev responds by declaring martial law in Moscow and ordering all US athletes to leave the Soviet Union by noon the next day.

August 3, 1980: The Summer Olympics closing ceremonies are a full-fledged public relations disaster for the Soviet government; not only do dissidents turn the event into a political rally about the occupation of Afghanistan, but every nation except East Germany, North Korea, and Cuba boycotts the ceremonies as a gesture of protest over Brezhnev's expulsion of the US Olympic team from Moscow. Even the USSR's own Olympic athletes have pulled out of the event in a show of solidarity with their US counterparts.

August 6, 1980: Leonid Brezhnev voices his support for the military coup in Poland that removed Communist Party Secretary Edward Gierek from office. Gierek was blamed for rising prices, legalizing the Solidarity trade union and supporting his country’s boycott of the closing Olympic ceremonies. General Wojciech Jaruzelski is the new military dictator of Poland. By the end of the day, Gierek will be placed under house arrest and Solidarity union head Lech Walesa will be sent to jail.

August 14, 1980: Former Senator Robert Kennedy is nominated for President at the Democratic Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York. Kennedy selects Governor Henry Howell of Virginia as a way to connect with Southern supporters of Ernest Hollings.

Kennedy continues the theme of the Convention, which is "Healing and Progress," in an attempt to bridge the divisions of the last several years. He quotes the ancient Greek dramatist Aeschylus, whom he calls his favorite poet: "In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God."

August 20, 1980: The Republican National Convention is held at the new San Antonio Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. President Ronald Reagan and Vice President Henry Bellmon are re-nominated by the delegates. The convention becomes a four day festival of attacks on single mothers, gay rights, and Bobby and Ted Kennedy. The strident attacks will be nicknamed “Nuremberg at the Alamo” by the press.

White House Communications Director Pat Buchanan gives a fiery speech in which he challenges Republicans to "Take back our culture, and take back our country!" These are bold words for a party that has held the White House for the last four years.

Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina praises Reagan and promises, "we will return America to the Christian nation it once was, and was always meant to be!"

While watching Helms’ speech, North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt tells his wife Carolyn, “At this rate, Helms will succeed in kicking his own ass even before I defeat him this November.”

But the Republicans are not united: Representative John B. Anderson of Illinois, who lost every single primary to President Reagan, is staying in the Presidential race as an independent. The strident speeches from the convention awakened the Republican base, but alienated many conservatives not comfortable with the prejudiced statements.

August 21, 1980: The fallout from the Republican National Convention gives Robert Kennedy a boost in the polls. His lead over Ronald Reagan among likely voters increases to 25 points. The setbacks to Reagan’s re-election chances continue when former New Hampshire Governor Meldrim Thompson announces his independent candidacy for President. His running mate is Governor Jay Hammond of Alaska. Both express their unhappiness with Reagan’s handling of the economy, foreign policy, his decision not to boycott the Summer Olympics, and the rescue operation of the hostages in Iran. Ron Paul, a Republican Congressman from Texas far more conservative (actually libertarian) than Reagan, endorses the Thompson-Hammond ticket.