November 4, 1912

Secretary's appointments secretary came into his office to announce his next guest. The William Chandler, the Undersecretary of State for European Affairs was punctual as usual. Wilson sitting at a large desk in his office at the Confederate Department of State's very Georgian building in Richmond rose to greet him. Sitting behind him on a console against the wall was the large bust of Thomas Jefferson that had watched over every Secretary of State for the last 90 years.

"Benvenuto! Accolga favorevolmente il mio amico! Venga si siedono." Wilson greeted Chandler in Italian. Then switching to French, "Comment allez-vous ? J'espère que votre épouse va bien."

Chandler smiled. The Secretary's French was almost as bad as his Italian. Still, the French and Italian foreign ministers would appreciate the effort. Answering in English: "She's very well Mr. Secretary, thank you for asking."

Chandler, 53, was relatively tall at 6 feet 3 inches, and had a full head of salt and pepper hair. He was just the sort of professional life-long civil servent that had reformed and then transformed the organs of state of the Confederacy into a relatively efficient and exceedingly professional set of organizations. He was also a polyglot, speaking English, Spanish, Italian, French, and German to at least some extent, and he was currently picking up a little Russian as well.

The Secretary picked up one of the many black leather-bound portfolios that were arranged neatly on his desk and opened it. "I've been reviewing your office's report on the various Greek factions. As you know, Congress allocated $1 for "Greek War Relief", and now we've got to figure out just how to spend it. What do you think we should do with that money?"

Chandler smiled wryly. "I expect that means we won't be wiring it straight to the new Greek Monarchy then?"

"Likely no." Wilson answered simply.

"Well, we expect it's likely that our Italian friends will want to back the Conservative Religious elements. Catholic solidarity and all that. The French, well, are as inscrutable as ever, but I suspect that they might back just about all the opposition groups."

"So what shall we do with our money then?" Wilson prodded.

"I think we need to make this investment carefully. There are so many factions in Greece now that chances are whoever we back might not be around in a few years. I fear civil war could be likely. Still if we have to back somebody, I think Mavromichalis's liberals and Dragoumis so-call modernists might be the best choices."

Wilson looked down at the summary of the groups in his folio for a moment. "So you think one of these groups might emerge as the opposition then?"

Chandler frowned. "To be perfectly honest, no, I don't. The people on the new Greece desk are unanimous in their belief that some sort of civil war is inevitable. Whoever survives that and isn't in power, by default, will be the opposition. All we can really hope to do is fund whatever factions we hope to prevail in such a conflict."

Wilson looked uncomfortable. This sort of realpolitik exercise was just the sort of thing he didn't like to have to do in this job. He'd much rather it be neat and tidy, that there be a single opposition in Greece. All this messy business of nationbuilding though...

Wilson asked "Do we have people on the ground in the region?"

"We may, but we likely will also have to depend on the Italians and the French for contacts with these groups, at least until we can gain some trust there."

"Go ahead and get started then. We'll, of course, raise the issue in our talks with our European friends as well."

Chandler had one more item of business: "Sir, there's also the question of a diplomatic presence in Athens."

Wilson frowned. This question was one which the Confederacy hadn't seemed to make any progress on yet. "The President hasn't come to a decision on that question yet. I think honestly he wants to wait for the French to open an Embassy there. After that, I expect some small consular presence will be required, at least at first. Why don't you go ahead and get started on the idea of a Consulate in Athens, but let's do it quietly, at least for now."

The Atlanta Journal
November 11, 1912

Richmond -- The White House announced in a brief written statement today, that President Roosevelt would embark on what would be an historic state visit to Maoria soon after the new year. The statement noted that the President expects to "hunt the great large game of that mysterious Island, to trade horses with the King of Maoria, and to open a new era of friendships between our two peoples." Travelling with the President will be his son Quentin.

The White House noted that the President would travel with a Naval squadron lead by the new battleship Oklahoma, and would remain in contact with Richmond via wireless telegraph.

The Atlanta Journal
November 12, 1912

Richmond -- Controversy erupted on the floor of Congress today, following the White Houses announcement that President Roosevelt would be traveling to Maoria for a state visit in the first part of the new year.

Democrats in the House were especially vehement in their criticism. "How can the President even contemplate taking what amounts to an extended vacation at this time, after we've seen just how fast a war can explode with the Balkan conflict, when he has no Vice President who could be expected to shoulder the burden of a future crisis until the President's return." Congressmen Hardwick of Georgia said in a speech from the floor.

Senator Bacon (D-GA), the Senate Majority leader, when asked of the issue, responded "Let me remind everyone that succession is clear. If the President is incapacitated or otherwise not able to perform his duties, in the absence of a Vice President, the Speaker of the House should assume his duties until such time as the President is again able to perform them. I think that being thousands of miles away from the CSA constitutes not being able to perform one's duties."

The White House countered that the President would be in constant contact throughout the trip via wireless telegraph.

For the White House, the outcries from Congressional Democrats was unexpected, and an unwelcome reminder of the controversy which followed the death of Vice President-Elect Taft in January of 1912. It was that controversy, born from the Constitution's silence on the question of Vice Presidential succession, which resulted in the compromise that saw the office of Vice President remain empty, and Democrat Woodrow Wilson appointed Secretary of State.

The Los Angeles Evening Herald
November 13, 1912

Controversy over President's Maorian Trip Shows Need for Constitutional Amendment

By: William Nelson, Editor at Large

As nearly everyone in the country has heard, the President will soon be taking a marvelous vacation to Maoria, and it seems no one will be left behind to mind the shop while he's gone.

The view from our distant perspective here in Los Angeles is likely sharper than that of the shrill politicians in Richmond. While it is likely true that he will be able to communicate on the most essential needs with the Capital via Marconi transmitter, his planned absence obviates the need for a Constitutional Amendment so that a President can travel overseas from time to time, without triggering a crisis through the question of who is in charge. Instead of arguing over these niceties though, the Congress and the President should fix the immediate Constitutional problem.

If one believes, as Congressional Democrats do, that an absent President is "incapacitated", then it is clear that the Speaker of the House should be acting President during Roosevelt's absence. This is clearly not a scenario to the White House's liking though, considering the considerable power the Speaker, a member of the opposing party, would yield during that time.

It would be best for the President to scrap this plan for now, and instead devote his efforts to solving the systemic problem that this controversy has revealed: that the CSA has no law dictating how an elected Vice President should be replaced.

It is the opinion of this writer that a new Vice President should be appointed by the sitting President in this case, but that he should also be confirmed by Congress. Alternate plans to elect in a general election a new Vice President are too onerous for the states that would have to arrange such an election, nor are the conducive to the efficiency of the executive branch. The idea that a President should be able to simply appoint a new Vice President with no confirmation mechanism is, however, abhorrent to our way of government.

So this publication calls on to pass a Constitutional Amendment for the replacement of the Vice President without delay, and for the states to ratify such an amendment. The absurdity of the succession compromise of 1912 has gone on long enough.

Monday, December 23, 1912

Wilson, punctual as always, was forced to wait in the outer office of the President's formal office at the Executive mansion. These sorts of waits always annoyed him, but he'd learned to live with it. This was, at times, what it meant to serve in the Cabinet of Teddy Roosevelt.

The wait this time was mercifully short, and soon after the President's appointments secretary took his hat and coat, and offered coffee (Wilson declined), the large door opened, and out flowed most of the Congressional delegation of the State of Missouri. Quickly Roosevelt filled the doorway, and bellowed "Woodrow! Do come in. I hope you haven't been waiting long. Come, come! We have much to discuss."

As Wilson found sat in the indicated wing chair by the fireplace, the President noticed the quizzical look on his face.

"Oh, them? It would seem that the Missourians would very much like to move the Nation's Capital to St. Louis. They have a spot picked out on the Mississippi and everything. I really don't know where all this talk of moving the Capital has come from."

"Mr. President, I believe you created that fuss with your speech about the need for more office space in the Capital." Wilson knew that the President knew full well that his criticism of Virginia for not condemning more acreage in Richmond for executive offices would again rekindle the debate about founding a "national district" somewhere more toward the center of the nation. Most Richmond insiders understood that to be an intentional distraction away from the succession controversy that the President's international travel plans had kindled.

"Yes, well, it surely was not my intention to give the idea that I thought the Capital should move. Now I'm obliged to entertain any number of members of Congress who have plans for us all to move to their states. Just this morning, the Texans were in here. It seems they have a wonderful plot of pasture near Houston that would make a wonderful new capital city. Houston! What a God-forsaken place. I'd sooner move to Guayamas! At least there are less mosquitoes there!"

"Shall we move to more serious business then?" Wilson asked.

Roosevelt sat down in the chair opposite Wilson, crossed his legs, and nodded.

"Mr. President, it is imperative that we get on the same page with respect to your trip to Maoria, and with regard to the conference in Nassau. First, might I ask, what are your goals in Maoria?"

"Well, the King has a number of horses he is eager for me to ride. I also hear that there are a number of unusual game in Maoria." Roosevelt was smiling broadly.

Wilson, working hard to maintain his calm demeanor, was annoyed. Dealing with this man could be so difficult. "Of course, I mean diplomatically, Mr. President."

"Oh, I have no intention of starting any wars in the Pacific, or anything like that, if that's what you are asking. I've reviewed the materials your people sent over, with regard to trade, etc. This is to be purely a mission of friendship."

"This is good, I can't emphasize enough how important good relations with the Maoris could be for us, especially if that heads off any future alliances between them and the Columbians. At the same time, we shouldn't want it to appear to Columbia that we're going out of our way to enlist the Maoris in an alliance against them."

"Even if we are Wilson?" The President was smiling wryly again. "Don't worry, I agree with the State Department's stated goals. An agreement of friendship and non-aggression is what we hope for, but no mutual defense clauses, at least for now."

Wilson nodded. Despite the fact the President liked to tease him, he knew that Roosevelt was shrewd and well experienced when it came to international relations.

"So Woodrow, about the Nassau Conference?" At nearly the same time that Roosevelt and his son Quentin, who would soon be attending the Confederate Military Academy, would be boarding a train for Los Angeles, and ultimately Maoria on board the new Battleship Oklahoma, Wilson would be traveling to Newport News to board the Cruiser Lincoln for his trip with his family to the Bahamas.

"Mr. President, we hope only to cement what already is our de-facto alliance with France and her allies there. There might be, we expect, some discussion of technology development Nothing more." The President couldn't help but notice a bit of a twinkle in Wilson's eye.

"No grand pronouncements? No talk of national self-determination then? You know that you make people nervous when you talk that way."

"No Mr. President. Our goals for the conference are well understood."

"And the technology exchange? We need to make sure that our technology can't be sold to our enemies in the future."

"I'll do my best, Mr. President."

The President wasn't so sure he could trust his Secretary of State on this. He was eager to secure a mutual defense pact with the French and particularly the neighbors to the North in the UNK, but at the same time he worried a little that Wilson, completely unsupervised, might let his more idealistic instincts take over. At least he could have faith that the Italians would reign him in if necessary.

The President rose. "Very good then. I hope you and your family have a happy holiday, if I don't see you again, and that you have a pleasant working vacation in Nassau."

"And I hope you have one of your grand adventures in Maoria, Mr. President."

The Colombians are no doubt puzzled by the President's failure to make clear his successor.

Good writing, as usual.

Thanks.

The President is in a spot now (as another planned news posting will further illustrate). The other party holds both houses of Congress, and their leadership is bound and determined to have a say in whoever might be appointed VP. And if something bad were to happen to the President, the Democrats would then hold the Presidency. So some sort of compromise is highly likely.

Completely OOC: I dug up this "controversy" as a way to give Teddy something to worry about domestically, and eventually to lead to the next election.

Quote from: guinness on August 20, 2008, 09:01:19 AM
the death of Vice President-Elect Taft in January of 1912.

GAH you killed off my Relative LOL couldnt you atleast let him be President first =P (he realy is my relative on my grandmothers side somehow, assuming you are talking about the OTL Taft)

So does this mean there will be no future Tanthalas in the N-Verse?

If it's any comfort, he didn't die while stuck in the bathtub :)

Quote from: The Rock Doctor on September 10, 2008, 07:00:02 AM
So does this mean there will be no future Tanthalas in the N-Verse?

Not sure how that would work he is my however many greats unkle so shouldnt realy matter on my progression LOL

The Los Angeles Times

Saturday, January 4 1913

Thousands Turn Out to See President Off for Maoria

Santa Monica Beach and Breakwater Crowded with Throngs of Wellwishers

Planned Presidential Speech Cancelled Over Concerns About Size of Crowd

Presidential Wireless Telegram Hints at Succession Crisis

Santa Monica -- A crowd estimated at more than 50,000 crowded the breakwater and beaches next to the Naval Station at Santa Monica this afternoon to witness President Roosevelt's departure for Maoria.

The President, wearing a white safari coat, knee britches, and riding boots, boarded a steam launch from the long main pier just south of the breakwater, turned to the crowd, and waved his wide brimmed hat, as the boat pulled away toward CSS Oklahoma which was riding at anchor about a mile away. Loud cheers of "Huzza!" could be heard from the breakwater, while on the beach to the south of the naval station, patriotic songs were being sung, often sever different ones at once.

It had been announced that the President would be speaking before boarding the new battleship. Many arrived shortly after sunrise to take possession of the choicest spots before the podium which had been constructed at the base of the breakwater facing the beach to the north of the naval station. Most brought blankets and picnic baskets, and seemed content to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather brought on by the Santa Anna winds.

By 10 am, however, the press was notified that the Secret Service, with the Christmas Day attack on the Pope still fresh in their minds, was concerned that security precautions for the speech were not adequate considering the size of the assembling crowd, and had recommended to the President that he not speak to the crowd as planned. Instead, shortly after 11 am, he stood up on a flatbed railcar on the main pier and spoke to a hurredly assembled body of Navy men for only a few minutes. In the meantime, announcements to the crowd that the President would not be speaking brought about a near stampede as spectators jockeyed for new positions with a good view of the Oklahoma. Fortunately, the crowd was largely civil, and no serious injuries were reported.

Shortly after noon, the President boarded the Oklahoma's steam launch in the company of his son Quentin, and was transported to the Oklahoma, waving to the crowd from the launch's stern for the entire trip. The crowd reciprocated with wild cheers and songs, which continued well after he'd come aboard the Navy's new flagship.

Oklahoma, her consorts the cruisers Panama City and San Felipe, and the Fleet Tender Ingalls weighed anchor and departed shortly after 2:30 in the afternoon, at which time the large majority of the crowd was still assembled, and what amounted to a street festival had begun along the Santa Monica waterfront. The party went on well into the evening.

The Atlanta Journal

January 7, 1913

Compromise Appears Near on Succession Issue

Richmond -- After weeks of controversy and haggling in Congress, and protestations by the Executive that nothing need be done, it appears that a compromise between the Democratic majority and Republican majority is near.

Sources close to the negotiations who requested that they not be named reported that an agreement in principal on the replacement of a deceased or otherwise permanently incapacitated Vice President, or a Vice President who had been elevated to the position of President had been reached. In such a case, the President would appoint a new Vice President, who would then be confirmed by a vote of both houses of Congress. The main issue of contention now, sources report, was weather the candidate would need to be confirmed by simple majority in both houses, or some sort of super majority in one or the other.

The Democrats, still publicly asserting that with the President now out of the country, that the Speaker of the House, James Beauchamp Clark of Missouri, should now be acting President, are apparently holding out for a simple majority vote in both Houses, to assure that a candidate amendable to the Democratic majority would be appointed. Sources close to the Republican leadership, who again requested not to be named because of the sensitivity of current negotiations, report that the Republican prefer at least a 2/3 majority requirement in the Senate, which would mean that even if the Democrats could break a possible filibuster there, that a sizable number of Republican votes would be required to confirm any candidate.

The negotiations are likely to come to a head by Friday, when Senate Democrats have promised to introduce a resolution proclaiming the Speaker to be President, a move that Republicans will filibuster, a move that would shut down the Senate until either a compromise is reached, or less likely, the filibuster is broken.

The Nashville Tennessean

January 16, 1913
President of CSS Tennessee Society Testifies Before Congress

CSS Tennessee in Urgent Need of Drydocking, Other Repairs Congressmen Told

Richmond -- Rutherford E. Slydell III, the President of the CSS Tennessee Society, today testified to bef0re the House Subcommittee on Naval Construction as to the dire condition the venerable Battleship, which has been installed at New Orleans as a museum since 1903, is in. Detailing the repairs needed, Slydell told Congress that ship was in urgent need of a drydocking, as the hull has become so leaky that pumps installed aboard for the purpose are now having great difficulty keeping several of her compartments below the waterline from filling with water. If action isn't taken urgently, he said, Society volunteers would have no choice but to seal compartments up, inluding the main boiler room compartment, lest the ship sink to the bottom of the Mississippi next to the dock where she is moored.

Several members spoke of their agreement that the Confederacy has a duty to provide assistance to save the museum ship, and advocated legislation directing the Department of the Navy to provide a drydock where the ship could be repaired.

CSS Tennessee, laid down in 1876, and commissioned 3 years later, was the first Confederate naval ship who's hull was constructed without use of wood, also pioneered several other attributes within the Confederate Navy, including it's twin-turret design, which improved greatly on it's single-turreted predecessors which were laid down just two years before. Thousands contributed pennies to a campaign preserve her as a museum in 1903 after the Navy announced plans to scrap her, as she had become obsolete. At that time, she was already the oldest armored ship in the CSA Navy, after the destruction of the ironclad Virginia, and the scrapping of Virginia's near sister Louisiana.

OOC: This was really just an excuse for me to sym an old ship for fun. I'm posting the SS report in the new ships section. If Congress as a whole can be persuaded, maybe Tennessee will be spending some time in a drydock at New Orleans soon.

"C'mon, Congress - defer a couple of those pork-barrel projects till next year!"