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Old 04-27-2015, 10:57 AM   #1031
Astromancer
 
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: West Virginia
Default Re: New Reality Seeds

I think the best path to an earlier sustained presence in Space is twofold. First, keep the Russian Space Program in tact and focused on the Moon shot for a longer period. Perhaps even let the Soviets get to the Moon first. Second, replace Nixon with Humprey. Nixon saw space purely in terms of PR, Humprey saw it as a commitment to the future of humanity. The 1968 election was close, several things could have thrown it to Humprey. Expose Nixon's sabotage of the Peace talks in August or September by having a reporter unfriendly to Johnson and Humprey discover Nixon's plans and expose them.

With Humprey needing to prove American staying power even though we'd left Vietnam, putting more money into the Space Program would be safe and logical. The early end to the Vietnam war would leave the more strident groups in the American left drifting. Meanwhile, Humprey would be pushing anti-poverty programs and Union rights and thus strengthening the hand of the mainstream left. Space Exploration, which was associated with the New Frontier and progressive programs back then, would likely remain so. Greater investment, with an eye to sustained activity, would put the 2015 Space Program well ahead.
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