Altered America (6 page)

             
A man named Jean Lee Olivier was arrested by the Nashville police shortly after the assassination attempt, and is being held for questioning. Ties to Louisianne or the French Canadian Union are suspected, but too early to confirm.

LA COSTA CALIFÓRNIA, NEW SPAIN –May 10, 1963

             
After nearly five months of self-imposed exile on the Greek island paradise of Skorpios, Jacqueline Kennedy-Bouvier returned to Philadelphia this past weekend to reconcile with presidential hubbie, JFK.

             
Admittedly shaken following her brush with death in Nashville, Tennessee last November, the First Lady had told reporters she needed time to reflect while recuperating from her ordeal, which has left her with an unfortunate limp—though few have ever limped with such grace.

             
Declining invitations from Califórnian president, Javier Banderas, as well as the irascible Canadian Prime Minister, François Gourd, the internationally beloved Ms. Bouvier set sail for the Greek islands last Christmas, where she has remained in seclusion until now.

             
Jackie’s return comes as a surprise to many speculators, who felt the First Lady’s exodus from the White House presaged her intent to divorce Mr. Kennedy, particularly in the wake of ongoing “Marilyn Monroe sightings.” The heart of a woman is truly a mystery.

BOSTON GLOBE, USNE –June 7, 1963

             
Not one month back from her extended Grecian holiday and Jacqueline Kennedy is already making her presence felt at the White House. Insider sources report that the First Lady has been pressuring Mr. Kennedy to appoint a replacement for the late Vice President, Adlai Stevenson, who was killed in last November’s assassination attempt on the President.

             
Should JFK suffer an untimely demise, Speaker of the House John McCormack would be next in line for the presidency. As a  war hawk and anti-communist crusader, McCormack would likely push the US deeper into entanglements with Vietnam, ramp-up hostilities with Louisianne and the FCU, and take a more aggressive stance with the Soviet
s—
all of which the First Lady has actively spoken out against.

             
So it came as no great surprise when White House Press Secretary John Winkler announced this morning that Clifford McIntire, Republican Congressman from Maine, would be assuming the role of Vice President following a formal swearing-in ceremony later this week. An ex potato farmer, McIntire is likely to be less interested in weeding out communists than ordinary weeds.

THE PHILADELPIA POST, USNE –August 21, 1963

             
Capitol City is buzzing today following Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara’s announced resignation. A handful of reporters attended a small press conference where McNamara broke the news, citing “ideological differences” and plans to accept a prominent position with the World Bank.

             
With popular opinion of the Kennedy Administration suffering, due largely to a series of key strategic military failures and heightened fears of war, the announcement does not come as a shock to many. Rumors of a “personal incident” involving the First Lady were strenuously denied by McNamara and his aides, though rumors of a sex scandal abound.

             
White House Press Secretary John Winkler announced that Peter Blanc, Chairman of the US House Committee on Armed Services, would assume the vacated role. The Wisconsin Democrat is considered an unusual choice, some feel selected based on the advice of Mrs. Kennedy, due to Mr. Blanc’s more moderate stance on military issues.

NEW ZURICH NEWS, SWITZERLAND –September 10, 1963

             
In a surprise pronouncement by government officials this morning, it was revealed that New England First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy met last night with Ludwig Von Moos, President of the Swiss Confederation, and Ambassador Arnold Heeney of the French Canadian Union.

             
The meeting, held at the Federal Palace in Berne, was apparently requested by Mrs. Kennedy without the sanction of the White House. At the meeting’s conclusion, the Ambassador announced an agreement to release all 140 crew members of the nuclear submarine USS
John Marshall
as a sign of goodwill toward the people of New England. The submarine would remain in FCU custody, however, since a detailed investigation failed to find any defects in the submarine’s guidance systems, proving the sub was in French-Canadian territorial waters illegally rather than by accident.

             
As might be expected, news of the soldiers’ release was met with enthusiasm by New Englanders, who have fretted for so long over their lost comrades. Reaction from the White House was subdued, since the First Lady’s success underscores the Kennedy Administration’s failure, and the submarine remains lost to the FCU along with its valuable secrets.

BOSTON GLOBE, USNE –October 23, 1963

             
Secretary of Defense Peter Blanc announced today sweeping plans for the reorganization of intelligence and logistic functions of the Pentagon into two centralized agencies, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Defense Logistics Agency. Such changes would consolidate programs with an eye toward improving overall efficiency. Blanc also provided a list of bases and installations under review for closure as unnecessary to national security.

             
Lastly, but perhaps most significantly, Blanc announced the withdrawal of US military “advisory forces” from Vietnam, describing the situation as “strategically untenable” and “a quagmire that will only squander US resources and New Englander lives.”

             
Despite concerns by the Joint Chiefs of Staff over lines of communication among branches of the military, the New England civilian population appears to have embraced these policies, bringing a welcome reprieve to all the public protesting.

NEW YORK TIMES, USNE –January 13, 1964

             
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet in three days in Paris, France to discuss various matters of international peace, including nuclear proliferation, escalating tensions along ‘Le Mur’ between the US and FCU, the Soviet Union’s amassing of nuclear weapons, and problems of terrorism plaguing the Mississippi Passage.

             
President Kennedy has made no secret of his intention to seek sanctions against Louisianne for what he has termed “repetitive casual acts of war” while renewing his demand for the return of the ill-fated New England submarine. Our hopes go with the President.

             
Victory ! In a bold stroke of military genius orchestrated by the great French general, le maréchal Leclerc,
the United States of New England surrendered to French-Canadian and Louisianne forces this morning following a carefully coordinated invasion.

             
Takeover of the US airwaves has, with the help of Jacqueline Kennedy-Bouvier, communicated to the New England populace that there was no need for panic, to remain indoors until further notice, and that only the current government would be impacted.

             
The largely bloodless coup d'état resulted in the destruction of the Pentagon in Philadelphia, with the presumed deaths of the New England Joint Chiefs of Staff and their staff members, who refused surrender. Local rioting was quickly quelled at the behest of Mme Bouvier and her aides.

             
The timing of the coup was crucial. With JFK at the UN summit, Parisian agents were able to prevent contact between the White House and the New England president when the invasion began. Vice President McIntire and Secretary of Defense Blanc, both secret agents of the FCU, ordered the Joint Chiefs to stand down, while the recent reorganization in USNE military communications added to the inability of US forces to react.

             
At this time, all New England military installations and personnel have been successfully neutralized by FCU-Louisianne forces, while talks with USNE civilian leaders is underway over the formation of a greater, unified nation: the North American Union. A new age has arisen—one of peace and enlightened cooperation.

LA COSTA CALIFÓRNIA, NEW SPAIN –May 3, 1964

            
 
For anyone who may have missed it, what follows is a transcript of last night’s radio broadcast—a conversation between Manuel Gomez, lead correspondent of this fine news periodical, and a very special guest.

Sr Gomez: “I’m honored to have with me at our headquarters in San Francisco, the always elegant and often surprising First Lady of the former United States of New England, recently appointed Prime Minister of the new North American Union. Thank you, Sra Bouvier, for agreeing to speak with me.”

             
Sra Bouvier: “I’ve been looking forward to it, Manny.”

             
Sr Gomez: “As you can see from the articles tacked to our wall, we’ve been following key events since your late husband was elected president.  In retrospect, one can see a definite pattern emerging. Yet the big question is—what prompted your change of heart?”

             
Sra Bouvier: “Nashville.”

             
Sr Gomez: “Could you please elaborate?”

             
Sra Bouvier: “The assassination attempt made clear that political events were spiraling out of control, and that something drastic needed to be done. On a personal level, my marriage with Jack was already quite strained, as your stories have pointed out over the years.”

             
Sr Gomez: “You refer, of course, to Miss Monroe.”

            
 
Sra Bouvier: “Yes. It was after the shooting at Nashville that I realized I wasn’t prepared to die for my husband. While recuperating in the Greek Islands, I had decided upon divorce. But before I could file the papers, who should pay a visit but François Gourd of the FCU.”

             
Sr Gomez: “The Prime Minister? That old grouch?”

             
Sra Bouvier: “Yes. In private, he’s really quite charming.”

             
Sr Gomez: “What did he want? Your autograph?”

             
Sra Bouvier: “He said he had a great deal of respect for me and the New England people, but cautioned that the political course we were on was destructive—not only to New England but to her neighbors. He felt it was only a matter of time before events led to war across North America... a war that would likely end in our annihilation at the hands of the Soviets.”

             
Sr Gomez: “Quite a charming man.”

             
Sra Bouvier: “Mssr Gourd asked whether I could talk sense into Jack, to get him and McNamara to behave peaceably. I pointed out that I had tried and failed many times. They simply didn’t trust the FCU or Louisianne, and were convinced we needed an aggressive posture to survive.”

             
Sr Gomez: “And yet... you had a plan?”

             
Sra Bouvier: “Mssr Gourd mentioned that he had two high-ranking agents already well-placed in the US government, and suggested they might be employed to... facilitate matters.”

             
Sr Gomez: “That sly dog.”

             
Sra Bouvier: “Indeed. I realized I was in a unique position to help stop the madness, albeit at the expense of the current government. So I returned to the White House and, using guilt as a weapon, helped appoint Vice President McIntire and Secretary of Defense Blanc. The rest, as they say, is history.”

             
Sr Gomez: “An amazing story. So, how do you like your new role as Prime Minister?”

             
Sra Bouvier: “I’m excited, of course, and overwhelmed by the love and support the people have shown me. Some New Englanders are still struggling with the change, of course, but most accept that it’s for everyone’s long-term protection and mutual benefit.”

             
Sr Gomez: “It’s not every day a conqueror has rose petals thrown at her feet.”

             
Sra Bouvier: “Please, Manny. I hope people will see me as a liberator and a protector.”

             
Sra Gomez: “Of course. I was merely being dramatic.”

             
Sra Bouvier. “With the formation of the North American Union, comprised of the former FCU, Republic of Louisianne, and USNE, these ex-adversaries will now be joined in common cause. No more threats of war or nuclear devastation, at least within our own continent. We can now face the Soviet threat as a unified nation, rather than bickering like spoiled children.”

             
Sr Gomez: “Makes sense to me. How’s it all being organized?”