A Man is Finished When He Quits - The Presidency of Richard M. Nixon (Redux)

[SargentHawk]

Outcomes of the 4th Annual Grammy Awards

Record of the Year: “Theme From A Summer Place” - Percy Faith
Album of the Year: “Button Down Mind” - Bob Newhart
Song of the Year: “Theme From Exodus” - Ernest Gold
Best New Artist of 1960: Bob Newhart
Best Performance By a Pop Single Artist: “Georgia on My Mind” - Ray Charles
Best Vocal Performance Single Record or Track, Male: “Georgia on My Mind, Ray Charles”
Best Vocal Performance Single Record or Track, Female: “Mack the Knife” - Ella Fitzgerald
Best Vocal Performance, Album, Male: “Genius of Ray Charles” - Ray Charles
Best Vocal Performance, Album, Female: “Mack the Knife”/Ella in Berlin - Ella Fitzgerald
Best Performance By a Vocal Group: “We Got Us” - Eydie Gormé and Steve Lawrence
Best Performance By a Chorus: “Songs of the Cowboy” - Norman Luboff Choir
Best Rhythm and Blues Performance: “Let the Good Times Roll” - Ray Charles
Best Jazz Performance, Solo or Small Group: “West Side Story” - André Previn
Best Jazz Performance, Large Group: “Blues and the Beat” - Henry Mancini
Best Jazz Composition of More Than Five Minutes: “Sketches of Spain” - Miles Davis and Gil Evans
Best Performance By a Band for Dancing: “Dance With Basie” - Count Basie
Best Country and Western Performance: “El Paso” - Marty Robbins
Best Performance, Folk: “Swing Dat Hammer” - Harry Belafonte
Best Performance By an Orchestra: ‘Mr. Lucky” - Henry Mancini
Best Arrangement: “Mr. Lucky” - Henry Mancini
Best Show Album (Original Cast): “The Sound of Music” - Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein
Best Soundtrack Album or Recording of Music Score From Motion Picture or Television: “Exodus” - Ernest Gold
Best Soundtrack Album or Recording of Original Cast from Motion Picture or Television: “Can-Can” - Cole Porter
Best Classical Performance, Orchestra: “Bartók, Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste” - Fritz Reiner conducting Chicago Symphony
Best Classical Performance, Vocal or Instrumental:“Chamber Music Conversations With the Guitar” - Laurindo Almeida
Best Classical Performance Concerto or Instrumental Soloist Brahms: “Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat” - Sviatoslav Richter; Erich Leinsdorf conducting Chicago Symphony
Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist or Duo (Other Than Orchestral): “The Spanish Guitars of Laurindo Almeida” - Laurindo Almeida
Best Classical Opera Production: “Puccini: Turandot” - Erich Leinsdorf conducting Rome Opera House Chorus and Orchestra; solos: Tebaldi, Nilsson, Björling and Tozzi
Best Classical Performance, Choral (Including Oratorio): “Handel: The Messiah” - Sir Thomas Beecham conducting Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus
Best Classical Performance, Vocal Soloist: “A Program of Song” - Leontyne Price

Best Contemporary Classical Composition: “Orchestral Suite From Tender Land Suite” - Aaron Copland
Best Comedy Performance (Spoken Word): “Button Down Mind Strikes Back” - Bob Newhart
Best Comedy Performance (Musical): “Jonathan and Darlene Edwards in Paris” - Jo Stafford and Paul Weston
Best Performance, Documentary or Spoken Word (Other Than Comedy):
“F.D.R. Speaks”- Robert Bialek
Best Album Created for Children: “Let's All Sing With the Chipmunks” - David Seville (Liberty)
Best Album Cover: “Latin a la Lee” - Marvin Schwartz

The 33rd Annual Academy Awards

The 33rd Annual Academy Awards were held at Santa Monica Civic Center on April 17th, 1961 and were hosted by celebrity Bob Hope. Although the film’s and stars awarded that night were memorable, it was a speech that won the hearts and minds of those in attendance. Said speech would be given by Actor James Stewart while accepting an honorary award for Gary Cooper, who was unable to attend the ceremony due to his failing health from his battle with cancer which he was steadily losing. During the short 49 second speech, Stewart would become choked with tears as he essentially accepted his friend’s last hurrah in his absence.

“Coop….I’ll get this to ya right away……and Coop I want you to know this…… that with this……Goes all the warm friendship…and affection…and…and… the admiration and the deep respect of all of us… we’re all very very proud of you Coop… All of us are tremendously proud of all you have done.”

The next day, it was publicly released that Gary Cooper was suffering from Cancer. He would die one month later on May 20th 1961, 13 days after his 60th Birthday.
The Awards would also see the shortest Acceptance Speech ever given in the history of the Oscars. Alfred Hitchcock, who would win an Oscar for Best Director on the film Psycho, gave an acceptance speech that lasted roughly 5 short seconds in total. The words would go on to become a running gag in Hollywood.

Alfred Hitchcock - 1961

“Thank you all. Sincerely” – Alfred Hitchcock

Winners:
Best Picture: “The Apartment”
Best Director: Alfred Hitchcock – “Psycho”
Best Actor: Jack Lemmon – “The Apartment”
Best Actress: Elizabeth Taylor – “Butterfield 8”
Best Supporting Actor: Peter Ustinov – “Spartacus”
Best Supporting Actress: Shirly Jones – “Elmer Gantry”
Best Original Screenplay: “The Apartment” – Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond
Best Adapted Screenplay: “Elmer Gantry” – Richard Brooks
Best Foreign Language Film: “The Virgin Spring” (Sweden)
Best Documentary Feature: “The Horse with the Flying Tail”
Best Documentary Short: “Beyond Silence”
Best Live Action Short: “Day of the Painter”
Best Animated Short: “Munro”
Best Dramatic of Comedy Score: “Exodus” – Ernest Gold
Best Musical Score: “Song Without End” – Morris Stoloff and Harry Sukman
Best Original Song: “Never on Sunday” – Manos Hatzidakis
Best Sound Recording: “The Alamo” – Gordon E. Sawyer and Fred Hynes, SGS SD and T-AO SD
Best Art Direction, Black and White: “The Apartment” Alexander Trauner; Edward G. Boyle
Best Art Direction, Color: “Spartacus” – Alexander Golitzen and Eric Orbom; Russle A. Gausman and Julia Heron
Best Cinematography, Black and White: “Sons and Lovers” – Freddie Francis
Best Cinematography, Color: “Spartacus” – Russell Matty
Best Costume Design, Black and White: “The Facts of Life” – Edith Head and Edward Stevenson
Best Costume Design, Color: “Spartacus” – Bill Thomas and Valles
Best Film Editing: “The Apartment” – Daniel Mandell
Best Visual Effects: “The Time Machine” – Gene Warren and Tim Baar

The 13th Annual Emmy Awards

The Emmy’s were aired on May 16th and were hosted by Dick Powell. The night was mostly ruled by the Hallmark Hall of Fame rendition of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. However, there were several surprises throughout the night, the most prominent being the Twilight Zone’s victory over Macbeth in the Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Drama Category. On television, the audience could see an obviously ecstatic Rod Serling approach the stage to accept the award, appearing obviously out of character from the program he had just won an award for.

Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Humor: “The Andy Griffith Show” (CBS)
Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Drama: “The Twilight Zone” (CBS)
Outstanding Program Achievemant in the Field of Variety: “Astaire Time” (NBC)
Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Children’s Programming: “Captain Kangaroo” (CBS)
Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Public Service: “The Twentieth Century” (CBS)
The Program of the Year: “Hallmark Hall of Fame, (Episode: Macbeth”) (NBC)
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Series: Raymond Burr – “Perry Mason” (CBS)
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Series: Barbara Stanwyck – “The Barbara Stanwyck Show” (NBC)
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor or Actress in a Series: Don Knotts – “The Andy Griffith Show” (CBS)
Oustanding Performance in a Supprting Role by an Actor or Actress in a Single Program: Roddy McDowell – “NBC Sunday Showcase” (NBC)
Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Maurice Evans as Macbeth – “Hallmark Hall of Fame (Mabeth)” (NBC)
Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Judith Anderson as Lady Macbeth – “Hallmark Hall of Fame (Macbeth)”
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy: Sheldon Leonard – “The Danny Thomas Show” (CBS)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Drama: George Schaefer – “ Hallmark Hall of Fame (Macbeth)”
Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy: Sherwood Schwartz, Dave O’Brien, Al Schwartz, Martine Ragaway, Red Skelton – “The Red Skelton Show” (CBS)
Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama: Rod Serling – “The Twilight Zone” (CBS)
Outstanding Writing Achievement in the Documentary Field: Victor Wolfson – “Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years”

 

[OnlyAlb]

I'm loving Nixon's ambition. To the Moon we go.

 

[SargentHawk]

The Devils Island

Alcatraz pre-renovation in 1956 - National Archives Photograph Gallery

While American forces were engaging the enemy in Cuba and Europe and events in Berlin, a string of events would lead to another extreme being broadcast to the nation for everyone to view. On the morning of June 10th, a routine day on Alcatraz Island exploded into a full scale prison riot. As Guards finished the normal head count and unlocked the cells, a fight broke out between an individual guard and a prisoner. Within seconds the guard was overwhelmed and beaten savagely. Guards on duty then began firing into the crowd of prisoners, but were pushed back when a prisoner fired back with the revolver of the beaten guard. During this time, the rest of the cells on the cell block were opened and the prisoners began rushing the guards. Despite the casualties that would be expected, prisoners managed to acquire the rifles from several guards with sheer force. With deadly intent, the now armed prisoners proceeded to kill multiple guards and successfully release the entirety of the prison population in the main cell house. In a then domino effect, the armory was seized where prisoners proceeded to arm themselves to fight their own war.

Throughout the day, the sound of gunfire fell across the prison and it was clear the loss of life of both the guards and the prisoners were extensive. Of note were the nearby guard towers, which became prime targets from multiple windows of the cellhouse leading to a number of deaths from well shot rounds. With the towers nearby becoming nothing more than large targets, their use was progressively abandoned. As nightfall neared, the riot was still very much alive, with a large portion of the main cellhouse building now under the control of the prisoners, with makeshift barricades of mattresses and other materials forming a barrier between the cellhouse and the remaining sectors of the prison.

In an uneasy development, the nearby Building 64, which was home to multiple families of Prison employees, was also overrun over the course of the day. Once prisoners found their way inside, families quickly became a mass of huddled hostages. With Building 64 becoming a prison in itself, many guards denied the possibility of storming the building out of fear that the prisoners inside may harm or kill their families. The additional information was also discovered, that the Warden of the Prison, Paul J. Madigan had been taken hostage from his office in the main cellhouse building along with multiple other guards that had attempted to barricade the office. These men were then locked in some of the very cells of the prison they helped manage.

Fires early on during the riots - 1961

By day three, multiple fires had been started by prisoners in the Recreational Building and the Warden’s home causing a monolith of billowing smoke to be seen from San Francisco as the buildings burned to the ground. At some point in the night, another fire was ignited which eventually consumed the lighthouse throughout the night. These fires created a red aura that could be seen from the mainland.

As Alcatraz was a Federal Penitentiary, the responsibility fell on the Federal Government to fight the problem should it get out of hand and not the State of California. Aware of the hostage situation, Governor Brown did his best to stay away from the issue, knowing it was growing close to the election, he did not want his name to be attached to a symbol of a loss of order if things went southward. What the Governor was not aware of, was that Alcatraz had just received a renewing of supplies two days before the riots began, and the Prisoners had control of the kitchen food supplies. Soon, people would begin asking him what was going on.

Recorded Conversation between Richard Nixon and James V. Bennett; June 12th 1961:

Bennett: Mr. President.
Nixon: How are you James, are they getting anywhere in getting them to stand down in Alcatraz?
Bennett: I’m not well Mr. President, not well at all. I’ve been telling people since the 1940’s that our prisons don’t just need modernization in the infrastructure, they need it in how they are managed… this is exactly.. Exactly.. What I have been warning about. I told Eisenhower… and I’ve told you. Alcatraz needs to be abandoned as a concept. We need reform!
Nixon: This riot will not go on for much longer, if need be, if the guards on the island can’t deal with their own mess, we are going to send in the marines like they did the last time this happened.
Bennett: This isn’t like 1946, this is an entire revolt!
Nixon: First off, if they’ve done anything some of these guys just upgraded their sentences to death if they don’t stand down in the next few hours.
Bennett: The way we are handling these men are wrong. Our practices have been inhumane and our management of this country’s incarcerated is what is causing violence like this to occur.
Nixon: Well, maybe it because the guards over there weren’t doing their jobs. Maybe it was the policies, but Alcatraz isn’t supposed to be a cakewalk. We send the worst of the worst there for a damn reason.
Bennett: Mr. President! I can no longer continue to do this job if Alcatraz remains an active Penitentiary. If this event does not garner instant reform in our federal prison system…. I am going to have to resign as Director.
Nixon: You know we have too much on the plate right now… that simply just isn’t a topic of discussion at the moment.
Bennett: Then you leave me no choice Mr. President. I’ve spoken my peace.
Nixon: Talk to the Attorney General for setting up your replacement. We’ll have dealt with this riot likely by the time you have your stuff out of your office.
*End Conversation*


Having begun on June 10th, the Alcatraz Prison revolt was still in progress a full week later. The Prisoners, now in full control of the main cellhouse continued their holding of hostages within Building 64 as well as numerous officials including the Warden within the main cellhouse itself. As the first week drew to a close, the prisoners had found themselves in a full stalemate with the Prison guards and operators, the only thing continuing the revolt being that most families of guards living on the island had been taken hostage during the first days of the crisis. By June 13th, the events on Alcatraz were being fully circulated across the country, quickly drawing in the attention of hundreds of millions of Americans who tuned into the nightly news and special reports to receive updates to the story and continuously hoped for a safe ending to the crisis that had developed so rapidly on the island.

With the California election season growing closer, some Republicans took the riots in Alcatraz as a method at slamming the governorship of Pat Brown, regardless of if Brown had anything to do with the riots or had any jurisdiction over the events on the island. The loudest voice blaming Pat Brown was Joe Shell, who was running for the Republican ticket in the California Gubernatorial election in 1962.

A Anti-Republican cartoon in California using an allusion to "bear wiping with rabbit" to say the Republicans are smearing Pat Brown with allegations. - 1961

“This kind of thing wouldn’t be happening in California under a Governor that knew of the issues. Because of his lack of allowing the state to follow through on their decisions to put to death some of society’s most dangerous and vile specimens, and his commuting of death sentences whenever he feels compelled, Governor Brown is creating a problem in our prisons that acts like an open oil well just waiting to explode into flames. And if it’s the case there, I don’t see why it isn’t the case in the streets of major Californian cities. Pat Brown is not setting the right example, he’s letting it be known that once you do enough damage, all he really wants you to do is sit in a small room. Alcatraz isn’t necessarily what we should be worried about, it’s all the other prisons that are being given an example, motive, and means.” – Joe Shell during the Alcatraz Riot – 1961.

“Regardless of what my opponents in this state and nationally are saying. Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary is a Federal establishment and therefore falls under their jurisdiction. The State of California is not responsible for the happenings on the island or of the riot currently ongoing there. I will make no further statements on the issue.” – Pat Brown – 1961

A week into the standoff, the revolting prison populace began to run low on food, having failed to ration it sufficiently in the chaos that they had caused. The lack of food caused tempers among the prison population to run high and soon several hostages were killed as a result of a demand for food supplies went unanswered. Among the hostages killed were 4 guards and Warden Madigan. This latest news shocked the people of San Francisco, California, and the United States, causing the need for an immediate feral response before the situation devolved into a slaughterhouse.

On June 18th, seeing that the prisoners could not be simply starved out, President Nixon made the decision that involved marines landing on the island and ending the riot. At 5:00 P.M., Press Secretary Herbert Klein would announce an hour later that President Nixon would be addressing the nation, and that Marines were readying for a possible assault on the island.

“I have a bit of news here everyone… The President has ordered a direct intervention against the prisoners in the riot on the island of Alcatraz and the penitentiary thereof. He will be addressing the nation regarding this decision in the next hour or so, and for now I cannot say what will likely be used in this intervention, when it will occur, or how it will be undertaken. The President will in all likelihood address many of these concerns in the next hour. However, it does appear that a US Marine presence in likely. We will not be taking questions at the moment, but we will keep you informed should any other developments occur.” -Herbert G. Klein (Nixon Press Secretary) - 1961

President Nixon approaching the podium to discuss Alcatraz with the nation - 1961

At 6:35 P.M., President Nixon would appear on Television in a live press conference from the White House, alone on camera were the President, a map of Alcatraz Island, and a podium. What proceeded was a fine detailing of the crisis at hand, in a linear breakdown of the crisis the President would rerun over the events of the past weeks to ensure the American people understood what was occurring. At 7:25 P.M., the President would announce through the conference that a Marine led retaliation on the island would commence within the next hour. With this announcement reaching the ears of the American people, the President would be replaced on screen by News Reporters across the country.

Marines made landfall on Alcatraz Island at 8:00 P.M. Pacific Time, and proceeded to make quick progress throughout the island. The operation at first would proceed smoothly with the prisoners in the Main Cellhouse surrendering after a brief ten minute firefight that would result with the death of ten prisoners. With the cellhouse secured, the hostages left in the building were freed and escorted out of the building. The true hardship of the operation would be Building 64, which had been heavily barricaded on the inside with an impromptu use of furniture. With Marines entering the building at 8:21 P.M. aided by Prison guards, gunfire could be heard for over 20 minutes as forces dug into the building to root out the prisoners.

Prisoners being relocated on the 'prisoners march' once the riot was crushed by the US Marines - 1961

“We have confirmed reports of gunfire within the Prison, and it is now clear that the Marines have fully begun their operations… All we can do now is wait… and hope that everything occurs in a way where all those being held get out with their lives.” -Douglas Edwards (CBS News)

Heavily increasing the risks, it was unknown where specifically the hostages in the building were being housed. As fighting progressed rapidly throughout the building, the hostages in the building had yet to be located. With only several more rooms to go in the building, gray smoke began to fill the hallway along with the easily recognizable and chilling sound of screaming. The door was hurriedly broken down, and the few prisoners inside were shot as they stood away from the flames they had started at the curtains. Several hostages, the wives of guards, who had been subdued closer to the flames suffered varying degrees of burns many of which were severe. As the fire spread in the room where a large number of hostages had been gathered, another two rooms were discovered that housed children and others, and while the fire spread, they were carried or escorted out of the building. In the burning room, marines began evacuating who they could from the room, while also trying to smother the flames inside. As the blaze spread up onto the ceiling, their effort was abandoned and the rest of the hostages including those burnt were carried out into the night.

Despite the losses of several women to severe burns, the ending of the Alcatraz Crisis was largely successful in terms of what could have occurred. In the days to come the President would meet with those who had endured the crisis first hand that were able to go out in public despite their trauma. Others that had been rescued were kept in San Francisco for psychological and physical evaluation for the duration of the month and mostly through July. 5 children were left orphaned with their fathers killed in the riot and other members of their family being killed in the fire. Families of guards that were living in buildings other than building #64, were escorted off of the island in the wake of the riot.

Of the 301 Prisoners that were in Alcatraz at the beginning of the Crisis, 123 were dead by multiple means, most having been lost during the initial fighting. Following the rounding up and transfer of prisoners off of the island, the prison was shut down with no date given to when the facility would reopen.

“I think that if I had been in President Nixon’s shoes this week that things would have turned out a little differently. This late of an action makes us look weak in a time of war.” – John F. Kennedy when asked about the Alcatraz Riot – 1961.

“I think the President did well with the information he had, and that President Nixon acted with the utmost power of his office while not overreaching in his action to end the violence at the prison. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost family members. And I’d like them to know that if there is anything that I can do for them I will do so.” – Joe Shell – 1961.

“The Alcatraz Prison Riot has led us to believe that an investigation into the events that occurred is absolutely essential. I think that these events have led us to conclusion that thought must be given to the security and management of America’s prison system. Furthermore, James Bennett, Director of the Bureau of Prisons has offered his resignation, and in his place Myrl Alexander will be nominated as his replacement….” – Attorney General Gerald R. Ford – 1961.

 

[SargentHawk]

The First Lady’s House

Pat Nixon looking peacefully out of a White House window - 1961

Pat Nixon had long been one of the few that had faith in her husband from the very beginning. Even before their marriage Pat had predicted that her husband's destiny rested in the Presidency but even she never imagined the hardships they would endure on the road to Pennsylvania Avenue. When her husband entered office, Pat Nixon went from being the Second Lady of the United States to the First. As tradition, it was expected of her to select a project to undertake during her tenure at the White House. However, Pat Nixon refused to limit herself to just one project or to be in the background. She instead decided to split her time and efforts to the goals of refurbishing and restoring the White House and being a dignitary to the American people as a whole. In the first months of her husband’s administration she oversaw having the White House recognized as a National Museum and had a curator hired to manage the historic pieces of the house and pieces that might be acquired for the house. She had a bill drafted to ensure that the furnishings within and belonging to the White House would be housed and under the ownership of the Smithsonian, and not the residents of the administration. These endeavors and others sought to end the practice of items disappearing from the residence at the end of administrations. Her staff wrote letters and practiced meticulous research in tracking down furnishings that originally belonged to the house in hopes of having the pieces donated again to their rightful places and even making attempts to procure historic furniture to amplify the decor. In May, The White House Historical Association was founded to both raise awareness for the renovation attempts and to gain funds to further these attempts.

“The White House is a living symbol of the United States, and it is therefore America’s home, I think that it should be in appearance then, to what it represents. And I think that it is part of this country’s spirit that Americans be welcome in this home just I and my husband feel welcome.” – Pat Nixon – interview with Life Magazine; June 1961.

Throughout 1961 the First Lady managed the redecoration efforts for the home and the relocation of several rooms on the ground floor. She placed the curator’s office into a basement area under the North Portico and added another room to the White House kitchen by having the old broadcast room that had been utilized by Eisenhower, re-purposed to space out and enhance the abilities of the kitchen, which had always had a history of being undersized for the events they prepared for on a fairly regular basis. The room which had been used as a Situation Room by Franklin Roosevelt during World War II was reorganized and painted an eggshell white to serve as a meeting room, it was designated as the “Map Room.” Through talks with her husband, they also had the “Fish Room” in the West Wing stripped of its ‘aquarium theme’ and remade into the “Roosevelt Room.” To add to the name, two paintings of Theodore Roosevelt were hung on the walls following its redecoration, the Rough Rider Portrait placed over the fireplace and the Presidential Portrait hung on the opposite wall. The room itself was retooled into both a conference room and a room in which talks or speeches could be taped and broadcast. With funds being raised and historical furniture fitting of the house being accepted, Pat Nixon’s renovation would continue on through the first 3 years of her life in the home and would end up including the near entirety of the White House. During this time, individuals such as Henry Francis du Pont acted as consultants and advisers to the effort; and Sister Parish, a famous interior designer, was selected by Pat to be the head interior designer of the project.

“It is very important that visitors of all classes to this house feel welcome. Which is why I want officers accompanying tours to the White House when the restorations are finished, to have a redesigned and less physically threatening uniform that conceals their weapons. What does it say about a home when people are openly carrying guns around visitors? Once tours to the Residence are restarted, arrangements should be made to allow those with handicaps to enter and exit easily from the House. And tour guides should be made sure to connect with the people coming to see America’s home.” – Memo from the First Lady; c.1962

Pat Nixon’s second personal program was worked on through several means. When restorations reached a point where tours were reinstated, she would often, two or three times a day if able, walk with and give part of the tour herself to reach out to the public, and on certain occasions even walked tours into rooms currently undergoing renovations to show where the donations to the house were going. She invited and hosted schoolchildren from local schools to several White House events and was known to stand for pictures and sign autographs to most who requested one. Wherever the First Lady was, she did her best to not only stand to the respect and the elegance the post demanded, but to also remind the public that one did not need to be rich to either see or become the President or First Lady.

 

[SargentHawk]

President Nixon during the July 3rd Press conference - 1961


Excerpt from the President’s News Conference in the East Room of the White House; July 3rd, 1961

The President: Ladies and Gentlemen as it has been some time since my last press conference, I will try to make my opening statements prompt. As I can imagine you all must have plenty of questions as you have had in the past.
What I have are a few announcements on foreign developments. Yesterday, Nikita Khrushchev made a direct threat towards the United Kingdom and France, claiming that ‘6 Hydrogen bombs could destroy the British Isles, and 9 could bring France to its knees.’ Due to this, we have moved our alert status of troops in Western Europe to an increased readiness status should any movement be made by the Soviet Union. We along with Britain and France are in strong disagreement with this message and I for one believe it is a statement that is not healthy in the international climate we find ourselves in.
Secondly, American forces in Cuba have made further contact this week with anti-Cuban forces that are fighting the government there as we speak, and we have declared Santiago de Cuba in firm American control. You’ll here more about this when I have Paul Nitze also make a few statements here today after I answer a few questions..
….yes…

Reporter: Mr. President, Since the blockade of Berlin began just a few days ago, we have essentially taken the same routes we took in the late 1940’s when the Soviets tried blockading the city in order to secure their control. What is the administration planning on doing for the West Berliners in addition to what we are doing now?

The President: First off I must point out that the Soviet Union is not trying to do the same thing as they were in 1948 to 1949… This isn’t about gaining control of West Berlin. The East Germans have done what they have done in order to quarantine their own citizens from the opportunities offered here in America and the rest of the free world. Which we obviously cannot support. What we are doing is a number things we hope will cause a step down of the current crisis.
First, we are initiating an airlift to keep the city supplied, which will be organized and operated by most NATO members including Britain and France. And we will continue to do so for the city until this situation is resolved.
Secondly, the United States will be stationing an increase of US Army personnel inside the city to offer protection from any kind of event that may pose a threat to its citizens. And they will be airlifted in as well.
Thirdly, the Army has announced its plan to host a simulated military exercise in which a number of NATO members will take part in order to train for potential hostilities in the event that violence were to break out.
…Next question….

Reporter 2: Mr. President, what are the odds… that violence can break out over this issue? With the United States and the Soviet Union?

The President: Secretary of Defense Nitze has made it known that is the Pentagon’s Assessment that the Soviet Union is unlikely to turn towards a violent conclusion to this matter. Just as we do not want war, we are inclined to believe that they do not as well. But the threat still exists, because we will not allow any Soviet control of West Berlin and if that is attempted, we will step in to prevent such an action. But I have been told it is not a likely development. And as of today, there are no signs of Soviet aggression of that manner.
…yes…

Reporter 3: Mr. President, moving away from the ever prevalent issues in Cuba and Europe, we have heard little from your administration regarding the riot at Alcatraz since it has occurred. What is being done in the aftermath?

The President: Well as you can probably conclude I’ve had my hands full in a number of other areas this month… *some laughter from the crowd*… but in answering your question, as I will answer it, we are currently in the works of an investigation to determine what exactly caused such a collapse of authority in the prison and how it began that day. As well as determining which prisoners on the island were involved in the riots and which were simply imprisoned there while it occurred. Attorney General Ford has already established a commission to do just this, and as it can be seen…. This will take some time to complete. There is little that I can say other than I made decisions when I had the information necessary to make them. I will also say that until the commission reaches any conclusions I will not make any comments on specifics of the matter. However, one announcement I will make is that Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary will not be brought back into service.

Reporter 3: Mr. President if I may ask a part two… what is in store for the island?

The President: The Fate of the island as it stands for its use has not been determined. But it will likely serve the government until every rock is weathered down… *few laughs*
…yeah…

Reporter 4: Mr. President, there has been some speculation about the death of Fidel Castro as it was reported. Is there any proof to suggest that Castro truly is dead? Without a body, even some courts here in the United States would be reluctant to declare the man dead as your administration has.

The President: The fact is, is that the man is dead. Simply, if the Cubans believe he is dead to the point where they are fighting over what used to be his, he must be. A man such as Fidel Castro would not have been underground as he would be in the event he was still alive. Which he is not. Fidel Castro died on the beaches of Trinidad. And soon the abusive government he led will be gone too.
*End Excerpt*

 

[SargentHawk]

Operation Atlas

Soldiers taking cover behind a wall in Mayari, Cuba - 1961

Santiago de Cuba had fallen to American forces completely by the third week in June. With the United States populace captivated and entranced by their radios and televisions as they watched the latest updates on the Berlin and Alcatraz Prison Crisis’, the Intervention in Cuba continued and with more and more American involvement growing by the day. With a massive defeat to the Cubans in immediate succession in the wake of Fidel Castro’s death, support for the communist regime in Cuba seemed to be swaying drastically to outsiders, but to those in the country fighting for their cause, their resolve was only strengthened as the situation grew more dire.

It was selected that the next major action in American intervention would be the termination of Raul Castro, who had been fully pointed as the leader behind the attack on Guantanamo Bay. With reliable intelligence suggesting that Castro had moved his base of operations to the city of Mayarí, North East of Santiago de Cuba, July 5th would be the start date for Operation: Atlas. The planned capture and/or termination of the current leader of Eastern Cuba was to now be America’s number one priority in their current initiatives on the island nation.

Patton Tanks aiding the assault in Mayari - 1961

With 2300 Marines slated for the operation to put down the already greatly weakened Castro, American forces would enter Mayarí on July 8th, and would meet heavy resistance. As American troops engaged entrenched Cuban forces, Marines began to fall to improvised traps, ambushes, and sniper fire. The fighting in Mayarí proved to be among the first instances in America’s involvement in Cuba where guerilla style tactics had been used en mass, and its effectiveness made itself known to Raul Castro, Che Guevara, and American military officials. Defenders began to make use of tripwires in door frames, explosive ridden utilities, and landmines in roadways. Because of these attacks, progress was slowed in the city to a crawl as mandatory sweeps and demolitions were performed in many individual buildings.

Flights from Guantanamo and US Carriers heavily tilted air power towards the US - 1961

Air dominance in the region was used to quickly cripple any Cuban armored force that they could field, and the leviathan force that the military was now incorporating was proving to be incredibly effective in ending any means Castro had in retaliating. Cubans soon found the only effective way to fight was in small man squads that attacked and retreated in quick fashion as to incorporate American losses with as little time allowed for Cuban fatalities to occur. Despite these attacks, the American leviathan force steadily destroyed most of what stood in its way given time.

By the end of June 10th, several figures that had become prominent fighters in the Cuban Chain of Command in the east had been either captured or killed, but Raul Castro had yet to be detained or even sighted. During the night, American soldiers surrounded a group of Cubans making a last stand against their enemy inside of a small home. Among them was the leader of the attack on Guantanamo Bay. As bullets ripped through the air, several of the men inside held their hands up into the air while next to window, which prompted a cease fire. The men were filed out, many of them wounded, and Castro was found to not be one of them. After a few minutes, 4 marines entered the home to find a critically wounded Raul Castro with two bullets in his torso and a pistol raised weakly to his chin. The gun was kicked away, and Castro was roughly dragged out of the building, leaving a blood trail. As he took his last breath, a single flash from a camera captured his last minute of life to prove he had been found. His body was shipped quickly back to Guantanamo Bay where further identification was made before he was buried in a plywood coffin.

Guevara in Western Cuba upon hearing of Raul's death - 1961

The death of the last Castro brother left Cuba without an immediate leader and the government that had partially survived the death of Fidel Castro was almost entirely crumbling around those still active in the fight. Upon Raul’s death, information became mixed and contradictory across the country due to a breakdown of any type of intelligence gathering system. Unverified information was passed around only to be declared false and often replaced with equally unconfirmed information. For all intents and purposes one side of Cuba was not aware half the time of the situation on the other half. Because of this many leaders across the nation took it upon themselves to secure leadership. Guevara became one of the most powerful individuals during the loss of information by securing his leadership across Cuba west of the city of Havana and furthered his process of forging a guerilla army to fight off the American forces. The central government centered in Havana was brought under the control of a military junta consisting of members of the military from before the war. Together, the officials in Havana maintained a semi-effective control over Central Cuba, even with a number of officers taking command of individual cities of their own claiming ‘emergency powers,’ most still viewed Havana as the rightful head to the government and acted autonomous out of necessity. In the East however, the idea of a Castro-ist Cuba was dead, areas that were in American control were under strict restrictions and checkpoints ran from intersection to intersection in the first weeks of occupation. Where America wasn’t, the remnants of the army had now abandoned any orders coming from the West, and were now making decisions for and by themselves. Cuba in the east was simply men fighting against a foreign aggressor.

 

[SargentHawk]

forgot to say that if anyone wants to see something specific of a certain person, place, or thing; feel free to send me a PM and i'll see if I can work it in.

 

[CobiWann]

This TL is Cobi approved. Subscribed!

 

[Unknown]

How about some mention of Corpus Christi? It'd probably be a minor staging area for the Cuban invasion.

Also, Hurricane Carla hit Texas on September 11, 1961 (IIRC). I'd like to see that mentioned.

Good TL.

How far are you going with this?

 

[SargentHawk]

How about some mention of Corpus Christi? It'd probably be a minor staging area for the Cuban invasion.

Also, Hurricane Carla hit Texas on September 11, 1961 (IIRC). I'd like to see that mentioned.

Good TL.

How far are you going with this?

I'll try and work both of these things in. thank you.

and I plan on taking the long haul and going to the end of the administration at about the rate we're going now, if only skipping a few months at a time.

 

[Archangel]

Keep it up, SargentHawk!

 

[deathscompanion1]

Great work! I am loving this so far.

 

[SargentHawk]

Taking in Water

Soul 7 being brought back to the carrier, in the background, Grissom is receiving CPR in the helicopter. - 1961

To the direct North of Cuba, on July 14th, Gus Grissom would become the second American in space. The flight, which would take place on-board on the Mercury Redstone-4, would proceed smoothly, but have a severe complication and would serve as a reminder that manned space travel was still anything but routine. The “glitch” would occur after splashdown, and just 16 minutes after liftoff.
In what would later be explained as a mechanical malfunction due to damage brought on by reentry, the hatch on Soul 7 would blow prematurely. With the hatch open and the capsule bobbing in the ocean, Grissom was now frantically trying to escape before the capsule filled with water and dragged him down to the bottom with it.

Unbuckling and throwing off his helmet, he managed to escape the craft just as it began to tilt further toward the incoming water. Once he escaped the dangerous situation inside the flooding capsule, he would find himself plunged into the ocean and into a just as dangerous situation. Under orders to retrieve the capsule and the astronaut, the crew of a recovery helicopter focused on attempting to save the flooding Soul 7 (in which they were ultimately successful), unaware that Grissom was being progressively pulled further and further under water by his space suit, which was full of water, making it impossible for him to stay surfaced. Watching the craft lifting out of the water, Grissom’s head dipped underneath the current and he found himself unable to re-emerge, losing consciousness.

The second helicopter, equipped with a dive team spotted him in the water and deployed two divers in order to place the limp astronaut into a harness and bring him on board the H-34 to perform emergency reviving measures. Once on board his suit was removed and he was given CPR nearly the entire way to the carrier. The welcome party on board the USS Randolph sat in silence as the doors to the helicopter remained closed. After 7 minutes in total, Gus Grissom was revived and coughed up a large amount of water. A stretcher then carried him from the H-34 to the carriers medical bay, where would stay for 48 hours.

With the spacecraft recovered, investigations into the blown hatch by NASA officials began immediately and were carried out under incredibly close scrutiny. The conclusion of the investigation determined that any fault of Grissom was to be dismissed as it was discovered that a cover over the external release actuator had been shredded from the craft during reentry, and the massive heat coupled with cooling upon splashdown caused the mechanism to contract and explode. Additionally, it was noted that Grissom had no bruise on his arm that would indicate he had operated the device to blow the hatch, further clearing him of any fault. The malfunction in the hatch was researched and engineers soon did their best to correct any design flaws that would prevent future problems from occurring in connection to the issue. So that a similar life and death incident did not occur again.

Once the story made its way to print, it quickly turned Grissom into a household name of American bravery and heroism. When he returned to the public, Grissom appeared in stories in TIME and LIFE about the incident and the further plans he still held for NASA.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello, My Name’s Ron

Ronald Reagan speaking for Joe Shell in a TV spot - 1962

“Hello, and for those of you who may not know…. I’m Ronald Reagan, actor… and former President of the Screen Actors Guild from 1947 to 1952 and again from 1959 until last year. And I’m here today to talk about a specific individual that I think you should all know. Joe Shell is a conservative and as he announced last month, he is running for the Governorship of California in 1962 against the incumbent Democrat Pat Brown. The first thing you must be asking is, ‘what causes Joe Shell to stand out above other challengers who’ve also showed an interest in leading this fine state?’ The answer in one case is simple. San Francisco Mayor George Christopher, who has stated he is giving heavy thought into pursuing the Governor’s chair has on recent occasions visited the Soviet Union on personal visits to see Nikita Khrushchev who he has claimed to be a friend. He even hosted a visit for the Soviet leader in 1959 when he toured the states. When the Soviet Union’s recent actions in Germany cut off a city from their country and prevent families from reuniting; it should make one think that if a candidate’s friend is the man making these actions, can we really trust such a man to be in charge of this great state. The answer is simple, we cannot. President Abraham Lincoln once stated that, ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand,’ and today in 1961 it rings as true as it did in 1858. If the United States is to stand against its enemies abroad it must first be united at home, with leadership that is strong and unfaltering in its resolve, state by state. It is with Joe Shell that we can find that resolve in 1962. To secure victory the Republican Party must unite together to gain the governorship of this state.

Shell led the legislative action that accumulated into the State Scholarship Act which has helped thousands of youths secure education in both public and private universities so that they may continue and sharpen their education to make our sectors of growth stronger. He has begun movements to locate water sources within the state of California to help secure the growth of some of California’s most major cities and perhaps the future growth of cities that have yet to even develop.

Joe Shell for governor in 1962 is our best and brightest individual to secure the future of this state. Known for action, experienced in leadership, and has the honor of a veteran. Joe Shell, for Governor.” – Ronald Reagan early campaign speech for Joe Shell in late July, 1961

Former Actor Ronald Reagan had changed his party identification to that of a Republican following the victory of Richard Nixon in the 1960 election, both by his own accord and that of his wife Nancy. After switching parties and making a statement that went against General Electric’s political stance especially that of the size of government, Reagan was fired from the show General Electric Theater, of which he was the host. Seeking a possible career change into the realms of politics after his terms of S.A.G. President and speaker for General Electric, Reagan made contact with Republicans in the State of California. Reagan’s positions over the realms of the size of the government led him to fall more in line with the far right of the party represented by those nationally such as Barry Goldwater, and closer to home in California with the likes of Howard Jarvis, Joe Shell, and the now politically dead William Knowland.

In order to grow through the ranks, Reagan agreed to support Joe Shell and speak on his behalf in numerous campaign appearances. These speeches, as were his years at G.E., utilized by Reagan as practice for a possible future in which his name would be on the ballot.

 

[SargentHawk]

An Era of Progress

Nixon declaring the US intention to go to the moon - 1961 - Nixon Presidential Library

On August 1st President Nixon would make a surprise announcement of a planned milestone in technological innovation. The announcement would be made during a conference regarding the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the achievements it had already ascertained and those that it would seek in the future of the current programs. It would be at the end of this conference that history would be made.

Era of Progress: Closing Words

“…….The United States of America has always been on the cusp of scientific advancement and innovation….. Just 58 short years ago… the Wright Brothers took flight and sparked a revolution that spread like wildfire across the Earth. They were Americans. Now we stand at the dawn of a new Era, one who’s victor will be decided not just by the power of military might, but also the progress one makes in the areas of technology and society alike. This May… This year… the United States successfully sent a man into space and safely returned him to the Earth. Last month, we repeated that accomplishment. Yet we have proven that despite what has been accomplished has been cut down to science….it is anything but routine… and it is impossible for it to become routine. We stand on the cliff of a new frontier of innovation…the likes which have never been seen, the rapid progression of technology is already upon us, but we must choose to utilize these advancements. We have stepped into an Era of Progress, where it is not only our privilege, but our obligation to achieve the most that can be done with what we have, and to make what we have better than what we have. America was discovered by pioneers in their fields, it was developed by pioneers, settled, mapped…..and tamed by pioneers.

America is a nation of these great explorers in search for another great frontier to observe and settle. And in this Era of Progress it is undebatable that this will remain to be the case. The possibilities are as limitless as the stars in the night sky. It is a realm where dreams and innovation flourish and it is where the future of mankind may just be able to find its common ground and someday we may look upon one another and join together for the common goal of knowledge and advancement. These moves start with us.
These first steps into this limitless frontier must be taken carefully but with little hesitation of realizing their most valued importance. To reach out into the field of God where dreams can be created, and information learned.

It is with this, that I declare....... It is our obligation to see that we land a man on the moon by the end of this generation… by the end of this decade. We are Americans, and should we set our mind to the goal of landing a man on the moon, there is no doubt in my mind that the United States of America is capable of such a technological feat. In landing a man on the moon we will open this world to an untold and unexplored area of possibilities not unlike that of Columbus and Lewis and Clark.

Thank You.”

Richard Nixon- 1961

 

[OnlyAlb]

The Space Race is heating up.

 

[SargentHawk]

“'64”

Private Telephone Conversation Segment between Senator John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert F. Kennedy (August 9th 1961):

J: Hello?
R: Hello, Jack?
J: Yeah
R: How are you? I haven’t heard from you since… last week wasn’t it. You sound terrible.
J: Don’t tell a damn soul, but I’m just about more than certain Jackie and I are through with the whole thing.
R: What do you mean? I mean, I know that you two have been butting heads recently, and even more so since the election, but the whole thing? What do you mean? You can’t be telling me that you two are getting a divorce….
J: I was sitting down yesterday trying to get rid of the pain in my back, and she comes in and demands that I give her a divorce. Screaming about how she's not scared of Dad anymore. That she can't take it.
R: well I….
J: Since the election and Junior being born in the middle of all of it, she has just been unreachable. You can’t talk to her, she doesn’t smile, she snaps at the smallest thing. She confronted me in the kitchen last week about the women…
R: Hell… Jack…. What have you been doing?
J: Bobby she’s crazy… There’s no way we can handle a divorce, I’m thinking of everybody here… Do you even know what the press would say.. Catholic Divorce! in big print. If those bastards get ahold of that, it won’t matter if its me… or you… or hell even Ted! anyone with the last name of Kennedy will be tainted from head to foot! And from what I can tell there’s just about no way around this.
R: Who have you gone to with this? Does Dad know?
J: What? Hell no… and as long as I can help it he won’t know… I don’t think I need to tell you that I don’t want him being told by anyone…Especially since he's already talked with her about it. Back in April apparently.
R: I agree… he doesn't need to know... How are you even planning on keeping this down?
J: She said that we were over… She said she couldn’t take it anymore. And I told her that it wasn’t going to fucking happen.. She said she wouldn’t accept that and that the divorce was going to happen… I shot up and after the pain shot through my back like a damn bullet, I…I… compromised…. She said that she would keep quiet, make a few appearances... and that we would still have time with the children together, Christmas and Thanksgiving… She told me that she would do her best to keep public appearances to a reasonable amount…. So, the papers get tossed. The rings stay on. But we live in separate houses and separate beds. Separate in every way.
R: Jesus Christ… this is a mess. It won’t take much digging to find out the real picture. Maybe it should just be public more or less. You’re not running for President again…………….. are you?
J: Not in ’64 no… with all of this happening in the world at once… Cuba… Berlin…. I find myself glad sometimes that Dick won… not that I think I couldn’t do better… No… my chance is done, in all likelihood… you’re probably Dad's golden egg now.
R: Well I’m certainly not running in ’64… not for President anyway… if you were to come open about this, I’m sure it could blow over before anyone with our name ran for the office… If we did.
J: As long as Dad is breathing I can’t… He’d never allow it, to what extent he would go to prevent it I have no clue, but… you understand.
R: I do.
J: I’m sorry Bobby, what did you call for again. Did you need something?
R: I was just calling to bounce an idea off of you.
J: Which was?
R: ’64.
J: I’m not running Bobby… I’ve told you that.
R: No not the Presidency. I’m giving thought into running for Senator here in New York. Maybe jump from there and hit the ground running in ’68. My only hope is that Johnson doesn’t run in ’64 because if that son of a bitch wins… well it will be like running behind a mule that kicks you in the gut every step of the way.
J: As far as I can tell, that’s, uh, exactly what Lyndon is wanting to do…
R: To hell with him…
J: I agree.
R: Jack, is there anything I can do for you?
J: I’ll be alright, thanks for calling Bobby…
R: Bye Jack.
J: Bye Bobby….
*End Conversation*

 

[Archangel]

Keep it up, SargentHawk!

 

[StephenColbert27]

Looking good. Keep up the good work!

 

[Timmy811]

Just discovered this timeline, it's really good.

I'm not sure why an airlift is necessary, it wasn't in OTL. What exactly as Khrushchev done extra.

 

[SargentHawk]

Just discovered this timeline, it's really good.

I'm not sure why an airlift is necessary, it wasn't in OTL. What exactly as Khrushchev done extra.

ITTL, Khrushchev shuts down the entire East-West German Border along with the East-West Berlin border. effectively cutting off West Berling from the entire free world. This making the airlift necessary.

the Soviets however, aren't defeated by having the airlift put against this closure. As they still have the borders sealed which prevents their citizens from leaving, and they aren't having to spend anything in regards to the airlift as the Americans and NATO are.