Chapter 175: Nixon: “this Works Too?”
Photolithography technology is important now, but not that important.
Few companies realize the importance of photolithography technology.
In the Soviet Union camp, only China has this realization.
Because China has fully experienced the power of miniaturization of silicon-based components.
The Raspberry Pi is the best example, fully proving the terror of large-scale stacking after transistor miniaturization.
And photolithography technology is the key technology for silicon-based component miniaturization.
Only through photolithography can micron-level structures be precisely defined on silicon wafers, achieving complex circuitry layouts.
Texas Instruments began applying photolithography technology to silicon wafers starting in 1957, replacing past manual mask and chemical etching methods.
At this point in time, Texas Instruments’ resolution could already achieve 5-10 microns.
China adheres to a principle of closely watching Silicon Valley’s progress, especially companies like Texas Instruments and IBM that have close cooperation with America official.
By closely watching Silicon Valley, plus inspiration obtained from the Raspberry Pi itself, and their judgment based on physics principles, China formulated a plan to cooperate with East Germany and Zeiss no matter what.
Ion-related equipment can be postponed, but optical instruments should be as fast as possible.
Obviously, with the debut of the new generation Panda brand radio at the Leipzig Trade Fair, China successfully achieved its purpose.
Hearing this, Dean Qian said with relief: “Yes, the alien industry embodied behind the Raspberry Pi is like a towering big tree.
Even if we only fully mastered a tiny bit of it, we produced equipment like the Panda brand that can sell hot globally.
But the more I think, the more I realize that semiconductors require far more than just our 10,000 or so people here; from research and development to production, semiconductors involve too many fields.
So we must be self-reliant, but also make full use of external forces’ help as much as possible.”
China’s strategic vision in the semiconductor field is that now is a catching-up stage, and in the catching-up stage, we must make good use of any factor that can be utilized.
“Yes, we don’t have the qualification to be picky right now.” Huang Kun sighed. “Additionally, we also need to make some sufficiently good consumer goods.
Only consumer goods based on semiconductor technology can support such a massive industrial chain.
With China’s finance situation, it is impossible to invest so many resources into semiconductor engineering like America.
Even if the country really gritted teeth and squeezed out this money, how many years could it sustain? Replicating the Raspberry Pi might take thirty years or even longer.
We must support ourselves as much as possible and reduce dependence on national finance.”
This is another principle they formulated in Area 51.
The complexity reflected by the Raspberry Pi and the semiconductor industry behind it made them decide from the beginning that it is impossible to completely rely on finance allocations, doing only research without considering applications.
The Panda brand radio is a product based on this principle, and doing portable calculators is also based on this principle.
Dean Qian nodded: “Yes, the country is not wealthy now, and Area 51 is already resources gritted teeth and squeezed out.
Pressure from the north and south is very great.
Fortunately, you are diligent enough, and we already have products like the Panda brand radio that can make a name on the international market.”
After the experts led by Huang Kun formulated the strategy and got Dean Qian’s approval, the success of the Panda brand allowed this strategy to continue executing.
China’s total export volume at that time was only about 1.2 billion US dollars for the whole year, and 20 million US dollars in sales was equivalent to one-sixtieth.
And the reason it sold 20 million was because production capacity was only 20 million, not that the Panda brand could only sell 20 million.
And this year, they expect to ship 2 million units of Panda brand radios this year, including standard and portable models, bringing 40 to 60 million US dollars in foreign exchange income.
This number cannot yet make Area 51 break-even, but it has fully proven their potential.
Their plan is that when the portable calculator is listed, they want to achieve overall break-even for Area 51.
It must be known that Area 51 not only has the semiconductor industry, but also includes missile research and development.
This goal is equivalent to making money to support a major military-industrial project.
“Kennedy and Johnson are cowards! They are too weak against the Soviet Union!
We need to get tough! Only then can we win in the Cold War!”
“Strongly oppose the Civil Rights Act, the federal government interferes too much! We must respect each state’s state rights; they have the right to decide how to construct their own state!”
Fred succeeded in standing out in the primary election with an unprecedented tough stance, battling to the end with another tough candidate Goldwater.
At the Elephant Party’s national convention, after voting, he defeated main competitors like Barry Goldwater and Nelson Rockefeller with very close vote counts, becoming the Elephant Party’s candidate.
The Elephant Party’s internal campaign in 1964 was very interesting because of Kennedy’s death, plus Lyndon Johnson pushing the Civil Rights Act through, so candidates within the Elephant Party thought voters liked moderate stances.
So from Nelson Rockefeller to William Scranton and other candidates, all uniformly held moderate stances.
Originally, only Barry Goldwater held a conservative stance.
As a result, Elephant Party voters overwhelmingly favored conservatives, and in the first round of voting, Barry Goldwater crushed his competitors with overwhelming advantage.
But this spacetime is different; Fred’s sudden emergence, though he is a political newcomer, dared to shout slogans, and the slogans he shouted were even more extreme than Barry Goldwater’s.
Forcing Barry Goldwater to dig up news of Fred’s past involvement with the KKK.
That’s right, even before the presidential election, Fred’s black history of once joining the KKK was dug up.
Unexpectedly, not only did it not put Fred’s election situation in crisis, but it had the opposite effect.
A senator claiming how conservative and tough he is is not as intuitive as Fred joining the KKK and engaging in violent activities for racial discrimination!
The KKK’s white supremacy slogans led conservative voters, especially voters in the southern states, to unanimously support Fred.
They just like this kind of old-school white supremacist.
When Fred held campaign speeches in the southern states, there were often several thousand people; he himself didn’t speak, and at the end, these white people actively chanted the poem “N****rs in the White House” loudly.
They even adapted it into a song, openly singing it together at the end of campaign speeches, and Fred made it a reserved segment.
His supporters’ stickiness is extremely strong, with some following him through campaign speeches, covering all 16 states involved in the primary.
So much so that after seeing Fred on television news looking like a cult leader, Lin Ran was shocked; is this talent? Is this the talent you inherited from your son?
And this situation was so ridiculous that when Fred was asked about this issue in a television interview, the host asked him, and he said he does not discriminate against black people, believes there should be racial equality, has a good relationship with the professor, and is not a racial discrimination person; no one believed such a statement.
His supporters think it’s just a statement Fred made for the election; he is a white supremacist to the bone.
And his opponents despise him even more.
Later, Woody Guthrie’s song “Old Man Trump” that was dug up made the whole American public even more clearly recognize Fred’s white supremacy thought amid the Elephant Party internal campaign.
Woody Guthrie was one of the most famous musicians in the 1950s; he once rented Fred’s apartment.
“He probably knows, old man Trump, how much racial hate he stirred up, how much anger he provoked in the boiling blood pot of people’s hearts”
“When he drew that racial line in his beach haven family project, Beach Haven is not my home!”
“Beach Haven is Trump’s high tower, no black people dare to wander.”
This is a small part of the lyrics.
Such contrast led to supporters liking him as much as opponents hating him.
Obviously, within the somewhat conservative Elephant Party, Fred ultimately won the internal campaign and became the Elephant Party’s candidate.
To stop such an extreme conservative like Fred from becoming the Elephant Party’s candidate, Pennsylvania Governor William joined the campaign late.
But all these people were defeated by Fred like autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves; the only one who caused him a little trouble, the fellow conservative Barry Goldwater, also fell after the KKK past and “Old Man Trump” were exposed.
Fred himself didn’t expect that his discrimination against black people in his youth could bring him such benefits.
Although he didn’t say it openly, when alone in private, Fred muttered to himself in his office: “I said discriminating against black people is right!
If I didn’t discriminate against black people, as a political newcomer, how could I become the Elephant Party’s candidate?”
The shocked ones were not only Lin Ran, but also Nixon.
Nixon hoped Fred would become the Elephant Party candidate, but in the early stage Barry Goldwater’s momentum was too strong, and he originally didn’t have high expectations.
He was just advancing according to plan, providing Fred with the resources he should get.
Unexpectedly, Fred attracted conservative voters with even more explosive remarks, fighting inseparably with Barry Goldwater.
After the KKK past was exposed, Nixon originally thought Fred was done and would be badly defeated by Barry Goldwater, but Fred instead completed the golden cross.
Fred first surpassed Barry Goldwater in polls.
It belongs to the category where the more the black history of racial discrimination is dug up, the more southern states’ conservative voters support Fred.
Lin Ran at Redstone Arsenal could only access scattered news, just knowing this matter is very bizarre.
Nixon followed the whole process; he even campaigned for Fred’s election and gave speeches.
He watched with his own eyes how fanatical Fred’s supporters were.
Nixon thought, this works too? So conservative voters like this type; this is a bit too crazy.
The KKK is not a stain; in Fred’s case, it became a success medal.
Fred’s supporters were so fanatical that Nixon was somewhat scared, scared what if they win this year, and if four years later they compete with him for the Elephant Party internal candidate, can he really win?
“Richard, do you have the will to become my vice president pick?” Before leaving New York for Huntsville City, Fred asked.
After obtaining the presidential candidate qualification, Fred was determined to personally go to Huntsville City to see Lin Ran.
Both to express thanks—if not for the other telling him he could take this path and providing help, he could never have walked this path no matter what—and to consult Lin Ran.
One step away from the White House, Fred said no way he wanted to lose to Lyndon Johnson.
Richard Nixon nodded slowly, tone cautious: “Fred, I am honored. Your performance in the Elephant Party internal primary is impressive; obviously you are ambitious.
But the real general election is completely different from the primary. Are you sure you are ready?”
Nixon slightly turned his head, scrutinizing Fred with a polite smile.
Fred Trump grinned, stood up and walked to the window: “Of course I am ready? Richard, I was born for this.
Fred slumped back into the chair, staring at the desk: “Alright, Richard. I won’t force you.”
Fred thought, as expected, Richard still misses the White House; you want to use me as a stepping stone, probably not that easy.
Richard Nixon nodded, turned and left: “Thank you for your understanding, Fred.”
Fred still sat in the chair, gazing at the bustling New York outside the window, thinking why the professor is not American-born.
In his view, Lin Ran is simply the perfect vice president pick.
Minority ethnic group, famous, sufficiently moderate, with rich Cold War experience, and good relationships with academia and Wall Street.
The only regret is that Lin Ran was born in Europe, which determines he cannot become a vice president candidate.
Fred shook his head, cleared the distractions; he knew this election would be an extremely grueling marathon, and he must persist to the finish.
On this basis, go consult the professor to see if there are any ways to win.
