Episode 11: Minority President

08/01/21 • 21 min

The new U.S. President George Romney, elected by a razor-thin margin in 1968, takes office in early 1969 amidst a welter of problems. The economy is tanking, his own party hates him, and the Soviets won't talk about anything. Romney struggles to find his footing as President in the midst of these challenges, but his own legislative priorities and political missteps begin to suggest he's in over his head. Will he get on track, or will the country continue to decline?

Length: 21:36

Show Notes For This Episode

Next Episode: August 15, 2021

Length: 21:36

Show Notes For This Episode

Next Episode: August 15, 2021

Previous Episode

Bonus Episode: Post-Season 1 Recap and Explainer

In this bonus episode, I'll recap the story from Episodes 6 through 10, and also say a few words on the real history that is the basis of the story. The purpose of this episode is to bring listeners up to speed on the storyline, if they did not start with Episode 1, and also put the story in the context of actual history.

These bonus episodes will come out twice a season: once at mid-season (between episodes 5 and 6), and again in the gap between seasons.

Length: 16:01

Next Episode: August 1, 2021

Next Episode

Episode 12: Blood in the Sand

In 1969, as Arab states decline in prestige--and start to run out of water--a conflict brews between Israel and its deadliest enemy, the Egypt of Pan-Arabist General Nasser. When the water dispute explodes into a full-scale war, Soviet leader Alexander Shelepin uses the crisis to make his first major test of new U.S. President George Romney. What results is not merely a hot war in the Sinai desert, but a tense confrontation between the Cold War superpowers that threatens to trigger nuclear war if one or the other of Romney and Shelepin lose their cool. Are they up to the challenge?

Length: 23:33

Show Notes For This Episode

Next Episode: August 29, 2021