Chapter 182: Sudden World News
In 1964, White House press conferences had not yet formed the pattern of once a week.
They were generally held only when there was something going on; if there was nothing, they weren’t held.
However, given America’s position and strength as one of the world’s two poles, there would be a press conference at most every two weeks.
In the eyes of the vast majority of reporters, today’s press conference was no different from usual.
The Cold War situation had eased, with no noteworthy world news.
The truth about Kennedy’s death would occasionally appear on tabloids every few days, relying on conspiracy theories to attract the public’s attention, but the reporters who could enter the White House for routine press conferences disdained doing such things.
The biggest recent news was none other than the hated Fred finally getting the boot, obediently staying in his New York and not coming to Washington to show his face.
What made the reporters feel a bit regretful was that Fred was from New York instead of the Southern states; if he were from the Southern states, they could at least mock him as a hick.
An ordinary yet beautiful day, just like always.
“Thank goodness the damn Fred didn’t get elected president. If he had, I think I wouldn’t continue working in the White House press corps; I’d have to go somewhere I couldn’t see his face.”
Before the White House Press Secretary took the stage, Helen Thomas and Jenny complained.
She was one of the few female reporters in the White House press corps. After joining United Press International in 1960 as a resident White House press corps reporter, she continued working as a reporter at the White House into the 21st century.
Jenny had talked with Lin Ran about the White House press corps members’ dislike of Fred, which made Lin Ran sigh: Was this inheritance? Fred’s lineage inheritance was so clear; even in the 1960s, the reporters’ dislike of him was so obvious and unmasked.
Perhaps it was disgust for the Fred family’s values.
Jenny nodded: “That’s what I think too. If Fred had been elected, I’d probably have to return to New York to inherit part of the family business.”
Helens turned her head to the other: “Isn’t it about marrying the professor and having children, becoming a housewife?”
Jenny shook her head: “I don’t want to be a housewife.”
Helens laughed: “That depends on the professor’s will. Chinese people seem quite conservative on this.”
Jenny said: “No no no, the professor isn’t a traditional Chinese person.”
Helens said: “But he strongly identifies with Chinese culture, doesn’t he? So maybe he’s very conservative on this.”
Jenny answered affirmatively: “No way. The professor never restricts me from doing this or that. This morning before leaving, I even talked with the professor about how women should further strive for rights after the Civil Rights Act passed.”
Helens sensed something was off: “Telephone or in person?”
Jenny said: “In person. The professor came back this morning.”
Helens’s tone carried a hint of excitement: “Looks like today isn’t an ordinary press conference.”
After Helens spoke, Jenny immediately realized what she meant: “You mean, the professor suddenly returning to Washington at this time means something big is happening?”
Before Helens could answer, George Reedy, who had taken over as White House Press Secretary from Pierre Salinger in March of this year, hurriedly entered the White House Press Room and said apologetically:
“Ladies and gentlemen, due to some unexpected occurrence, today’s press conference will be moved to the East Room. Please follow me. I guarantee that today’s news will satisfy everyone.
President Lyndon Johnson will personally host today’s press conference, and the professor will also attend.”
At this time, White House press conferences were generally held in the White House Press Room, which had not yet been officially named the Brady Briefing Room; smaller press conferences were held right there.
The White House East Room, on the other hand, was a relatively formal venue, used only when the president attended.
Occasionally, when the weather was good or special arrangements were needed, it would be moved elsewhere, like the White House Rose Garden.
Whispers arose at the scene as reporters speculated about what had happened.
“Jenny, do you know what’s going on?” Helens asked.
In her view, among those present, besides the White House bureaucrats, only Jenny might know the answer.
Jenny thought for a moment: “I don’t know. I only know the professor suddenly came back this morning, had breakfast after arriving, and then came to the White House with me.
I thought he rushed back from Huntsville to tidy up his appearance and change into a suit before reporting to President Johnson at the White House.
You know, in his position, he often needs to meet with the president to communicate specific progress.
Now it seems it’s not that simple.”
The entire conference venue was set up differently from usual.
Lyndon Johnson, Lin Ran, and Soviet Ambassador Dobrynin sat at the table.
Lyndon Johnson sat in the middle, with the Stars and Stripes and the hammer and sickle flag also placed on the table.
Johnson wore a dark suit, his eyes revealing determination.
Except for Lin Ran, the other two showed fatigue that couldn’t be concealed by makeup.
Since Kennedy and Nixon’s television debate in 1960, Washington’s political figures, especially those eyeing the presidency, no one dared neglect their personal image.
He tapped the prepared microphone in front of him, ready to begin the press conference:
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the White House.
Today, we stand before a new chapter in history.
America and the Soviet Union, as the two most powerful countries in the world, have decided to join hands in cooperation to jointly realize humanity’s dream of landing on the Moon.
This is not only a technological leap but also a symbol of international cooperation.”
Lyndon Johnson didn’t dare say peace.
Mainly because next year in the first half, they planned a large-scale landing in Vietnam, reigniting the fires of war; saying peace now would be a slap in the face too soon.
The reporters in the audience went crazy.
Previous America-Soviet cooperation always leaked wind first, then slowly negotiated.
The outside world got the news early, with endless rumors throughout the negotiation process.
Each reporter had their own connections in the White House and unique news sources.
This cooperation was far larger and more important than any previous one, with even deeper significance for humanity.
Yet not a single whisper leaked beforehand.
If they had known the press conference was about something so important, there wouldn’t be just this few reporters on site.
Reporters from around the globe would have packed the White House East Room, requiring a move to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building for the press conference.
Flashes went off continuously at the scene as reporters frantically asked questions:
“Mr. President, what exactly does cooperation with the Soviet Union mean?”
“Mr. President, when is the America-Soviet moon landing cooperation expected to begin?”
“Mr. President, can you explain in detail why the sudden decision to cooperate with the Soviet Union?”
“Mr. President, has the moon landing cooperation with the Soviet Union obtained Congress’s permission? If not, does it violate the National Aeronautics and Space Act? Don’t you need Congress’s approval?”
The scene was like a pot exploding, total chaos.
No one cared about waiting for Press Secretary George Reedy’s arrangements; everyone was asking what they thought was the most important question.
Lyndon Johnson lightly tapped the table, his voice transmitted through the microphone throughout the East Room: “Everyone, there will be ample time and opportunity for questions later; please don’t rush.”
Johnson turned to Dobrynin beside him, signaling him to speak.
Dobrynin wore a formal black tuxedo, his expression equally serious. He slowly stood and said in English with a slight accent:
“The Soviet government welcomes this cooperation initiative. We believe that through the joint efforts of both sides, unprecedented achievements can be made in the field of space exploration.”
“Next is Director Lin. Director Lin will explain our cooperation to everyone.” Lyndon Johnson said.
Lin Ran nodded. “We will cooperate with the Soviet Union around the moon landing.
The moon landing will take place in mid-December, one month from now, and the entire moon landing process will be live broadcast to the American public.
In this mission, the Soviet Union will be responsible for sending the astronauts to the Moon, while America will be responsible for launching the fuel tank to near the lunar surface.
The moon landing astronauts will manually add fuel on the Moon to ensure a safe return to Earth.
This will be an unprecedented technological cooperation, significant from any angle.”
After Lin Ran spoke, the scene went even crazier.
The reporters’ excitement was barely containable; they were just short of crowding up to the three attendees to ask questions.
Everyone originally thought that announcing cooperation today meant at least three years from now at the earliest.
But now you’re telling me three years? Thirty days!
George Reedy knew it was time for him to step in and maintain order: “Okay, next is the Q&A session. As President Lyndon Johnson said, we have plenty of time for today’s press conference.
However, because the entire plan is extremely tight on time, we need to reserve time for the director. Director Lin has to return to Redstone Arsenal after the press conference; the launch is next month, and he has a tremendous amount of work to do.”
In formal settings, use titles.
But the reporters clearly didn’t understand that.
“Professor, I’d like to ask why it’s so sudden?” George Reedy gave the first question to Jenny.
After tapping the microphone, Lin Ran said: “Because the Soviet plan is to conduct their manned moon landing during the December launch window this year.
But because the moon landing is very complex, and the Soviet Union has no confidence in safely bringing the astronauts back to Earth, we discussed it, and both sides can complete this moon landing through cooperation.
Isn’t that romantic?
The Cold War is ongoing, and we are in a competitive relationship, but that doesn’t hinder our cooperation on humanity’s shared exploration.
From the small Earth to the vast universe, this is humanity’s expectation.”
Lin Ran didn’t say the Soviet Union sends the people up, and we Americans bring them back.
To be precise, Lin Ran wanted to say it, but Lyndon Johnson repeatedly instructed him before the press conference not to say that.
Science Advisor Honig had fully explained the risks to Lyndon Johnson; he knew very well that landing on the Moon was much easier than returning.
Even if Lin Ran said he had never failed, Lyndon Johnson didn’t want to gamble.
What if the moon landing succeeded but the return failed? You say at the press conference that America brings the people back, but America fails to bring them back.
The impact would be too negative.
“Professor, what is the success rate?” a Washington Post reporter asked.
“One hundred percent. I’ve never considered failure.” Lin Ran was very confident. “I am certain and affirmative that we will do our utmost to ensure the astronauts safely return to Earth.”
After speaking, Lin Ran glanced at the custom Patek Philippe mathematician wristwatch Jenny gave him: “One last question.”
“Professor, I have nothing to ask you. Good luck!”
Lin Ran nodded, then stood, leaning back to the microphone: “Everyone, believe in us; we will definitely send the people up and bring them back safely.”
As Lin Ran stood and left, the reporters in the audience applauded one after another. Seeing Lin Ran’s back heading to the White House East Room door, everyone stood and applauded, as if sending him off to meet this unprecedented challenge.
“Professor, we believe in you!”
One reporter shouted loudly.
Lin Ran didn’t turn back, just raised his fist toward the ceiling.
While applauding, Helens leaned sideways to Jenny beside her: “Why do I feel the professor would be very infectious if he ran for office?”
Jenny smiled: “Because the professor is just that omnipotent.”
After Lin Ran left, the reporters’ moods calmed somewhat.
“Mr. President, has the cooperation with the Soviet Union obtained Congress’s permission?” a veteran White House press reporter asked.
“No.” Lyndon Johnson said. “Because the entire cooperation is extremely urgent, we didn’t consider congressional authorization, and in fact, it doesn’t need it.
Because although we call it cooperation, it’s actually launching two spaceships to the Moon; the Soviet Union launches theirs, we launch ours.
We’re just landing close to their landing point; the Soviet astronauts find our spaceship and get fuel from it.
We didn’t sign any cooperation agreement, nor does it involve major changes to the original NASA plan.
We were originally going to complete a Moon soft landing this year anyway.
This can actually be seen as an incidental action that doesn’t require congressional authorization.”
Lyndon Johnson was clearly exploiting a loophole.
American bureaucrats were equally adept at such loopholes.
Lyndon Johnson did so, as did later Nixon, Clinton, and others—each a master at exploiting loopholes, up to the White House stock guru, who went utterly wild, playing with trillions in financial markets at will, completely disregarding the Securities Exchange Act.
Another reporter asked: “Mr. President, how do you view the impact of this cooperation on U.S.-Soviet relations?”
Johnson said: “I believe this cooperation will open a new door for improving bilateral relations. Our cooperation in space foreshadows more cooperation and understanding on Earth.”
Reporters also directed the question to Dobrynin: “Ambassador Dobrynin, what are your expectations for this cooperation?”
Dobrynin paused slightly, thought for a moment, and then answered: “We expect this cooperation to promote exchange between the two countries in the field of technology and enhance mutual understanding.
But at the same time, we also recognize the challenges that may exist in the cooperation, and we will jointly work to overcome these difficulties.”
Lyndon Johnson added: “On the technical level, we believe Director Lin can solve the technical problems and ensure this cooperation is successfully completed.”
“Mr. President, who is the astronaut responsible for this moon landing?” a reporter asked.
Lyndon Johnson said: “Yuri Gagarin.”
The reporter followed up: “Why not an American for the moon landing?”
Lyndon Johnson explained: “Because in this cooperation, the lunar module is built by the Soviets; our lunar module is still under construction.
We and the Soviet Union excel in different areas; the Soviet Union completed the lunar module, while we can achieve precise landing points hundreds of thousands of kilometers away.
Both are difficult, so the moon landing requires our joint efforts.”
Every American who becomes president is a master at handling media and public opinion.
The way he said it implied no sense that America or NASA was incapable.
It even subtly expressed that our precise landing hundreds of thousands of kilometers away was far superior to the Soviet lunar module.
“Mr. President, if this cooperation goes smoothly, what will be NASA’s responsibilities afterward? Will we still push for American astronauts to land on the Moon?”
Lyndon Johnson nodded: “Of course. Afterward, we will attempt independent moon landings, continue exploration, promote routine round-trip moon landings, and even the construction of a Moon base.”
The reporter followed up: “Mr. President, in this cooperation, is the leading party the professor or Korolev?”
Lyndon Johnson shook his head: “As I mentioned earlier, you can see it as two spaceships; each side handles its own part.
There’s very little cooperation involved; there’s no concept of a leading party.”
As the press conference neared its end, after the Q&A session, Johnson stood again and summarized:
“This cooperation is not only a victory for the two countries but a victory for all humanity. We will jointly advance into space, explore the unknown, and open new paths for humanity’s future.”
The reporters applauded one after another, and the press conference concluded successfully.
Johnson and Dobrynin took a group photo at the front, symbolizing the beginning of this historic moment.
“What a pity.” Helens said softly.
Jenny nodded: “Yeah, pity the professor isn’t here. But it’s completely understandable; from now until launch, there’s only one month, and I feel their time is counted in hours.”
At the same time during the day, the Kremlin also held a press conference to announce the matter.
The joint moon landing cooperation quickly became the hottest news globally; tabloids stopped reporting Kennedy’s death conspiracy theories because no one was reading them—everyone was focused on the moon landing a month away.
Whether it can land, whether Gagarin can return successfully, why the sudden cooperation, who facilitated this cooperation.
This cooperation came so suddenly; from Washington to Moscow, from London to Paris, media around the world had never felt there was so much news to report.
“Sir Hailey, I called the professor, but no one answered. I estimate during this time, the professor sleeps in the Redstone Arsenal control center; don’t even think about contacting him.”
In London, BBC host Major Freeman said to The Times editor-in-chief responsible for international affairs, Sir Hailey.
Globally, all news revolved around the moon landing a month away.
England was no exception.
Sir Hailey hoped Major Freeman could help contact the professor for a short telephone interview.
The result was that no one could be found.
At this time, Lin Ran was indeed as the outside world guessed; not even Major Freeman, not even Ten Downing Street, not even Jenny calling could reach him.
Time had never felt so pressing.
Hell-level difficulty.
Lin Ran knew he had changed history; the worldline around the moon landing had become something he didn’t recognize at all.
But at the same time, he was certain that in this current spacetime or the future one, no one but him could achieve this.
Lin Ran stood by the projector, holding a metal baton, pointing at the fuel tank design drawing on the screen.
He wore pajamas under a cotton jacket, his hair slightly disheveled.
Lin Ran said in a steady voice:
“Everyone, our fuel tank must seamlessly dock with the Soviet lunar lander.
This involves unifying interface design, communication protocols, and fuel types.
Immediately call the Soviet Space Agency; why haven’t they sent over their communication protocol standards or the fuel type proportions?”
“Korolev, we’re really not interested in your fuel proportions and won’t infringe on your technical secrets!
What matters most now is time—do you understand time!
There’s no time for you to devise a complete plan. You carry a portion, give us a proportion, and then mix different proportions to form your fuel.
Such a plan has issues; a slight mismatch in proportion could affect the final return effect.
At this point, we can’t consider secrecy anymore. Believe me, I’m truly not interested in your technology!”
Both sides’ engine fuels were actually similar: kerosene, liquid oxygen, and liquid hydrogen.
But the proportions differed.
One could even infer technical details from the proportions.
The Soviet side was worried about that.
After the Soviet side sent over the fuel proportions.
The other American engineers in the meeting room always felt something was off.
Their own NASA director was speaking Russian with Korolev of the Moscow Soviet Space Agency, intensely so, just like at NASA—acting like a tyrant.
The professor this time was both NASA director and Soviet Space Agency director; that was everyone’s feeling.
Of course, some engineers felt the professor was a Trojan Horse meticulously sent by the Soviets to slaughter the city.
Lin Ran was also directing NASA’s engineers:
“Everyone, our fuel tank is critical in the sealing and safety of the fuel transfer system, especially in the lunar vacuum environment.
I know you know this too, but don’t get fancy with me; we’ll use the most mature technology.
Design the valves as wrench-style manual valves for easy gripping and operation by astronauts in the lunar environment.”
“Exactly, use temperature-resistant materials like stainless steel or aluminum alloy, and add insulation layers to keep fuel temperature stable.”
“Have you forgotten there’s moon dust! Our probes to the Moon have already brought back this news; how could you forget dust covers!
Remember sealing to prevent fuel evaporation, but also add dust covers to connectors and valves to avoid lunar dust affecting the system!”
“No no no, critical components must have sufficient redundancy; valves and connectors are of course key parts!
There must be enough redundancy here to ensure the system can still operate even if parts fail.”
The fuel transfer system design should include double sealing, burst valves, inert gas protection, and manual operation-friendly valves and connectors.
The plan took three days to finalize, the first model two weeks, then airlifted to Moscow by special plane.
Yuri Gagarin’s mindset was very complex.
At first, he felt he was doomed.
Before his last entry into Star City in October—two months before the official mission—he had even written his will, waiting for the Soviet Space Agency to notify his family after his sacrifice.
Star City was the site of the Soviet astronauts’ training center, established in 1960 specifically for training astronauts for space missions, later renamed the Gagarin Astronaut Training Center.
It was equipped with various advanced facilities, including simulators, centrifuges, and underwater training facilities, to simulate space environments and weightlessness.
Unexpectedly, things took a turn; the Soviet Union and America were cooperating on the moon landing.
Upon learning that Randolph Lin was personally involved in this cooperation, ensuring fuel delivery near his landing point to ensure his return to Earth.
Though he knew how difficult it was, a man’s reputation was like a tree’s shadow.
Lin Ran even said the chance of successfully returning to Earth had risen from 5% to 30%.
Gagarin gained some confidence; after all, no one wants to die if they can live.
Even for humanity’s shared ideal.
Korolev stood on the observation deck, holding a telescope, intently watching Gagarin’s movements.
Still ten thousand words! A bit stuck, slightly late, sorry~
(End)
