Chapter 330: Robert Turns Coat
Why another assassination?
Assassinations are happening left and right.
This whole year, from Martin Luther King to Lin Ran and then to Robert Kennedy, President Johnson learned the news from the White House Chief of Staff, and his heart was not secretly pleased, but furious.
Simple, although Robert Kennedy was his party primary competitor, and performed well in the California primary.
But he knew very well that both within the party and the conglomerates did not like the Kennedy family, there were heaps of people dissatisfied with Robert Kennedy wanting to keep digging into his brother’s death case, no matter how big the momentum, by the final primary, he still couldn’t win against him.
And repeated vicious events like assassinations, each time targeting big figures, would give the public the feeling that he was ineffective at governing the country, incompetent at management, with internal troubles and external threats.
This would seriously affect his final showdown with the Elephant Party candidate.
Therefore he was very dissatisfied, “Jones, you handle sending a message of condolence to Robert Kennedy in the name of the White House, then help me prepare, I want to give a national address.”
In a normal country, when similar events happen, and so many of them, they would have the police take it seriously, to see what person or force is behind it.
US President, though, thinks of giving a speech, using the speech to declare that he is not at fault.
In the original spacetime, after Martin Luther King died, Lyndon Johnson gave a national address, emphasizing that white people and black people must unite to ensure America “will not be ruled by bullets, but only by the ballots of free and just people”.
In the speech, he also mentioned convening black community, white community, judicial, legislative, and administrative leaders for a meeting, and planning to propose suggestions for “constructive action” to Congress.
But in his speech he did not explicitly call for catching the killer, just called for justice and overcoming division.
Just calls for it, that’s all.
This time is no exception.
He missed the speech opportunity at Martin Luther King Jr.’s Funeral site, but with Robert Kennedy’s assassination, he finally got the chance to give a national speech.
Could be considered turning misfortune into blessing.
Meanwhile, on the other side, three days after slightly regaining consciousness, Robert Kennedy issued a statement withdrawing from the campaign, in this state, he couldn’t continue running even if he wanted to.
He was also shot in the chest, even getting on stage is difficult, in this era, campaigning is not just mental work, but also physical work.
You need to run all over the country, tour nationwide to meet voters, give speeches, express your political views.
The president has Air Force One, Robert Kennedy does not.
Moreover, if an assassination can happen once, it can happen a second time, Lin Ran was assassinated despite heavy security protection, Robert Kennedy’s security team is far inferior to Lin Ran’s, he really doesn’t dare to continue the campaign.
Talk about it four years later, anyway he’s still young, plenty of room for progress.
“My fellow Americans:
At this moment, I hope the White House’s efforts to seek peace will continue, no matter who the next president is, America’s attempts in the Vietnam War should stop, this is a wrong, unjust, destructive war.
No one should persist with it to the end.
Some will think, fifty years ago, President Woodrow Wilson stood before Congress announcing the end of World War I, he said: ‘The war thus ends; because of accepting these ceasefire terms, the German command will be impossible to restore it.’ But the peace that followed was not a just peace, not a lasting peace, it carried the seeds of its own destruction.
But my fellow citizens, you must know, permanent peace is better than temporary peace, temporary peace is better than temporary war, temporary war is better than permanent war.
Although there is no permanent war on Earth now, maybe one day there will be.
If we can temporarily achieve peace in Vietnam, then we can turn that peace into permanent, no matter how long and difficult the road to that peace, America can do it, because we are America!
I know very well, some people want war, both inside America and outside America, there are people who want war, they want war to last forever, that is the eternal war I mentioned earlier, because it benefits them, though I don’t know how they profit from it.
But such a war divides us, it causes us to oppose each other, causes us to lose confidence, we cannot let it succeed.
Whether I can become president or not, I do not want to see this scene happen, we must unite together.
War is not the only problem, domestically, we also have serious problems, we have wealth gap, racial inequality, dilapidated cities, crowded schools, air and water pollution problems.
These problems are not as dramatic as the Vietnam War, they don’t dominate the headlines like war, but they are equally important to our future, equally important to our people’s lives.
Therefore, while the White House strives for peace abroad, it must also strive for domestic progress.
We must build a better America, an America where every child has learning opportunity, an America where every family has decent housing.”
Robert Kennedy’s withdrawal statement was exceptionally long, this withdrawal statement he tried to deliver from the height of a president.
He was injured, but in his view, his political life had not ended.
In the entire withdrawal statement, the most shocking part was the last paragraph:
“For personal physical health reasons, I will not seek, and I will not accept, my party’s nomination as presidential candidate.
But let me be clear: in making this difficult decision, my loyalty to the Donkey Party has never wavered.
This party represents America’s greatest ideals—equality, justice, and social progress.
I respect and appreciate my Donkey Party colleagues, who have given so much to the country.
However, as a person of conscience, I must face a harsh reality: I cannot believe that current President Lyndon Johnson will truly push for the peace he promised.
His policies, in my view, will continue to prolong this senseless war, leading to more senseless sacrifices.
This is not an attack on the party, but an honest rebuttal to specific viewpoints, we need a leader who can decisively end the Vietnam War quagmire and reconstruct domestic unity.
At this critical moment, I believe Mister Richard Nixon, as the Elephant Party’s candidate, can provide a new perspective, transcending party lines, truly committed to peace with honor and healing America after its tearing.
My support is not a betrayal of the Donkey Party, but for the country, because peace is above all parties.
Let the world know, a united America will firmly seek peace, no matter the price.
Thank you to the American public watching, whether you support me or not.
Good night, God bless you all.”
At Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville City, Jenny came here as familiar as going to her own home.
“I’ve never seen such a gloomy President Johnson.” Jenny complained to Lin Ran.
After hearing this, Lin Ran asked: “Why do I feel he looked fine on television, not much different from usual?”
Lin Ran of course knew the devastating blow Robert Kennedy’s statement was to President Johnson, after all President Kennedy had quite a portion of grassroots supporters, the Kennedy family defecting, supporting Nixon on the grounds of peace.
For President Johnson, this was simply unacceptable.
I’ve clearly already made efforts for peace, already pushed for a frontline ceasefire, and you’re still saying here that I won’t push for real peace?
Jenny added: “No no no, what you saw is President Johnson under makeup and lighting effects.
When he was in the makeup room he called me over, asked about your situation, in the makeup room, his entire state was very scary, McCarthy already jumped out to oppose him, this has already caused a split within the Donkey Party.
Plus the conservative Donkey Party congressmen from the southern states, who have always been at odds with President Johnson, this time Robert’s behavior can be said to be the most fatal blow to him.
He said his peace is false, even giving voters a potential psychological hint that Robert Kennedy’s assassination was instructed by President Johnson.
This is too bad, Robert’s statement gave the Donkey Party internal opposition the best reason, his wording makes him seen as a hero of principle over party, the end of the statement focuses criticism on Johnson personally.
So if Robert can do this, other opposing voices can too.
This is causing further split within the entire Donkey Party.”
Jenny has astonishing insight in this aspect, she also wrote a similar conclusion in the New York Times editorial that the Donkey Party is losing its way.
Lin Ran did not answer directly, but asked: “Jenny, why do you think Robert Kennedy doesn’t support Fred? Fred and Nixon haven’t decided winner and loser within the Elephant Party yet, right?
What if Fred wins in the end, wouldn’t that be awkward?”
Jenny sneered: “Impossible, no matter how degenerate the Kennedy family gets, they wouldn’t support Fred.
That kind of thing will never happen.”
Lin Ran said wistfully: “Never say never.”
He sees Robert Kennedy Jr. as very likely to flip and support Big T.
After all, on opposing vaccines, their viewpoints are identical.
(2020 spacetime only up to 2022, at this time Robert Kennedy Jr. hasn’t publicly endorsed Big T yet)
Jenny didn’t argue further, she just smiled: “If that day really comes, I can hardly imagine what kind of world it would be.”
Yeah, what kind of world, nothing is impossible.
No loyalty is absolute.
In the 1968 presidential election, the Donkey Party got 81% of Jewish descent voters’ ballots, while the Elephant Party only got 17%, who could think, after sea change, the Elephant Party would become the biggest supporter of Zionists.
“Professor, I’ve seen many Jewish community newspapers recently reporting the mystery of your background, saying your mother is of Jewish descent, strictly speaking, you are Jewish?” Jenny asked.
The reason she came to ask is because she saw Goldberg’s name in her home visitor records, Jenny definitely knows who Goldberg is, a well-known Jewish politician in Washington.
Lin Ran explained: “Goldberg mentioned this to me, but I temporarily can’t personally go back to Germany to verify, possibly after the news was learned by Jewish-run newspapers, they thought it was a story, so they published it.
As for the truth, I need to personally verify before I can give you an accurate answer.”
When you know you have to leave sooner or later, but can’t leave in an open and aboveboard way, then dragging as many people down as possible is best.
Lin Ran knew very well, after he leaves, people like Jenny of the Plain Yellow Banner will be fine, but groups of Chinese descent will inevitably face unfair treatment out of spite.
At such a time, what if he is of Jewish descent?
If America internally targets Jewish descent, that would be interesting.
This is the fundamental reason Lin Ran doesn’t reject agreeing to Goldberg’s conditions.
Including every time he participates in similar civil rights movement, publicly speaks out, he always tries to bundle black people and Chinese descent together, same logic.
Before could only bundle with black people, that bundling strength wasn’t enough.
Bundling with Jewish descent by blood ties, that should be enough now.
As for Jewish descent and Israel wanting to back out, not that easy, Lin Ran’s mentor is of Jewish descent, appearance also not quite like Chinese descent, you Jewish newspapers and media have repeatedly promoted it.
Not something you can back out of just because you want to?
America internally has plenty of groups dissatisfied with Jewish descent, at that time, they will naturally step on them.
Goldberg front foot leaves, back foot Lin Ran figured out why Jewish descent offered such generous conditions.
Right, generous.
Some might say, just nominal president, may not really have power.
Instruments and titles cannot be faked to people, it is what the ruler manages.
This is an ancient Chinese saying.
Assuming Lin Ran really goes back to Israel to compete for that position, after getting it, with Lin Ran’s status, strength, connections operated in America, and his ability, back in Israel with instruments and titles in hand, how could he not gain power?
Even turning Israel’s system into like Lion City, power centralized in one person, not impossible.
So the conditions offered by Jewish descent are real conditions, the most sincere conditions they could offer.
The reason they could offer this condition, besides Moses Parts the Sea and Lin Ran’s own ability, Lin Ran guesses, the Star Wars Program gave them a huge shock.
Because Israel has very small land area, extremely small, few people and little land, surrounded by uniform non-believer countries.
What they need is high-precision advanced technology, to build their national defense system.
And who is more suitable than Lin Ran?
If Lin Ran retires and really comes to Israel, Lin Ran can help them rebuild the most advanced national defense system, in this process, the Star Wars Program America built, can we also use it?
So even if Lin Ran is not of Jewish descent, not flowing with Jewish blood, as long as you come, you are Jewish, Lin Ran is just too appealing to Israel, perfectly matching their needs from religion to living space.
