Chapter 564: The Worst Part
This is what it's like to introduce an unknown historical figure. We have no idea about his situation. For a historical political novice like Alton Parker, everything is unknown, naturally including his health issues.
"This is really sad news." Sheffield's mind was in a mess, and he thought of a series of consequences in an instant. Stroke is an unpredictable disease. It can happen for the first time, the second time, or the third time, but it is certain that each time is more serious than the last time. If there is a second stroke, it can be concluded that he cannot perform the duties of the president. The problem is that no one knows when the second stroke will come, or whether it will come.
For example, when Brezhnev was young, he was a handsome man with a sturdy figure. But after two strokes, his health deteriorated rapidly, and people could not even hear what he said when he gave a report.
Alton Parker already has speech problems. If he really suffers a second stroke, the situation will become very serious. So, can the second-in-line vice president act as president?
William Bryan? When Sheffield thought of this person, his head was full of confusion. What if something happened to Alton Parker? Wouldn't this be the same scenario as William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt? The vice president was appointed in a time of crisis and went after big companies? No one would like this kind of president.
As it happens, William Bryan's usual demeanor is actually strikingly similar to that of Theodore Roosevelt, almost like President Roosevelt within the Democratic Party. It was hard to lay out in advance to keep Roosevelt out until his time was up, and then start a second round?
"Oh, what should I do?" Sheffield's coffee was almost finished, but his expression became more and more sad. He asked Konstantinovich, "How many people know about this? Does the Vice President know about this?"
"Look at what you said, how could you not know? Our Minister Mr. Olney also knows. Of course, the Republicans don't know, but I guess they have their own information channels." Konstantinovich smiled bitterly, "I know you are worried that something like President Harrison will happen."
Sheffield nodded and admitted this worry. William Henry Harrison was a Whig and the ninth president of the United States! He served as president for only one month. He first caught a cold, which turned into pneumonia. He could not be cured and finally died.
Worrying about the safety of President Alton Parker was only part of the problem. Another part of the problem was worrying about the current Vice President William Bryan. As for whether the president's doctor was a skilled doctor, Sheffield didn't even ask.
Sheffield had only seen strokes that were not serious the first time, and the slave owner was still relatively young and had never seen a serious stroke that was recovered to normal. Once the sequelae of a stroke appeared, it would be impossible to recover to the original state.
"Thank you, my friend, for giving me a chance to make amends." Sheffield said thoughtfully.
"That's not right. I'm from Texas, too." Konstantinovich shook his head slightly. "But judging from the current situation in the cabinet, there are still more people who support Madero. After all, the pure estate economy is a huge problem. Our neighboring country is full of landless farmers, which may inspire people to cross the border."
"You don't have to worry about this. The southwestern states have already stepped up their precautions. Some ministers may think that Madero's rule is a good thing for Mexico. Normally, this is the case. But have they considered the big landowners and Catholics in Mexico? They don't think that Madero can achieve his goal by returning to Mexico City and raising his arms, right?" Sheffield raised the corner of his mouth, sneering at this most favorable scenario. "Do you think that if we don't offer enough benefits in exchange, they will take the initiative to give up their own interests and distribute the land to the landless farmers?"
There is no need to use China as an example. There are many similar examples. The conflict over economic models during the Civil War far exceeded the issue of whether one is black or not. The economic conflict in the United States was far less severe than that in Mexico today, but in the end, a war broke out.
From Konstantinovich, Sheffield knew that the current cabinet still advocated more support for Madero. The United States also had a cabinet. The Constitution did not stipulate that the cabinet must exist. However, starting from Washington, every president established a cabinet to assist them in exercising executive power. So the cabinet became a normal existence. However, from a legal point of view, the federal president is the central government and executive department of the United States, and the cabinet is just an auxiliary structure and subordinate of the president, without constitutional independence and legal representation.
Sheffield didn't think this cabinet, which had no legal protection but existed in reality, was any different from the Military Affairs Council. In fact, the president could fire various ministers in the cabinet at any time, depending on whether the president wanted to do so.
After saying goodbye to each other, Sheffield returned to his residence. Alton Parker's stroke cast a shadow on the future that only slave owners could see. Even he himself felt regretful. It would be better if he didn't rush to push Alton Parker to the position of president. He could wait for another four years and let Wilson be president according to history. He wouldn't have to worry about it today.
But if we follow history, when Wilson was president, the World War had already broken out, and Sheffield could not do anything to the DuPont family in that external environment. But if the DuPont family was spared, after the World War, the United Company would never have the time to disintegrate this enemy.
The world war was decisive for the growth of the DuPont family, and Sheffield did not want to take this risk. So it became the current dilemma.
If Alton Parker does not suffer a second stroke before the next election and can maintain his current condition, the Democratic camp can still take a gamble and continue to let Alton Parker represent the Democratic camp in the national election.
However, if he suffers a second stroke before the next election, even if it may increase the chances of losing the election, he will have to be replaced. The candidate's poor health will give the Republicans an opportunity to manipulate public opinion.
Should we change people or not? If we have to change people, who should we change? This has become a question for Sheffield to consider. During the period when the slave owners are eagerly looking forward to the world war, it is best for the United States to be controlled by the Democratic government. In this way, he can maximize the benefits of the world war under a powerful environment. The time that should belong to the Democratic Party cannot be allowed to slip away.
"Is this embarrassing situation my fault for being too greedy?" Sheffield stared out the window, the ashtray beside him was almost full. No matter what, he had to prepare a contingency plan.
Leaning against the bedroom window, staring absentmindedly at the dark night outside the window with a frown on his face, it was clear that Sheffield had not yet recovered from the great shock he had heard from Konstantinovich.
We cannot put our hopes on Alton Parker's personal luck. It would be good if he doesn't have a stroke in the future, but if an undesirable situation really occurs, we will avoid being in a panic.
When they arrived at the Rockefeller estate, Rockefeller Jr. seemed very surprised. He had not heard any news that Sheffield would come out, and his appearance this time was a little too sudden.
"I thought you would pay attention to the situation in Mexico. It is too close to Texas where you live." Rockefeller Jr. smiled helplessly, "It seems that I overestimated the seriousness of the situation."
"It's really serious, and I'm paying attention to it. But you can't sleep with your head facing south, right?" Sheffield gestured listlessly, "The reasons for these civil wars are nothing more than these few: opposition to dictatorship, opposition to religion, opposition to backward economic models, opposition to this and that. When it comes to ourselves, it's democracy, liberation, or republic. It's nothing new, except that this time it happened on the edge of the United States."
Double-standard people are not native to any country. When Sheffield thought about Madero, who ended the dictatorship, but was ultimately killed by the United States because he could not act decisively, he couldn't help laughing.
The fate of a big-talking revolutionary like Madero is what he deserves from the perspective of ordinary people, but it is due to his incompetence from the perspective of capitalists.
Sheffield sat down lazily, and spoke weakly as if he had no bones, "John, I want to ask you something."
"Just tell me. Are you asking me about my trip to China or my views on the current situation in Mexico?" Rockefeller Jr. was not surprised by Sheffield's lack of energy. He regarded it as the sequelae of a long journey and responded very gently.
"Ah, neither of these. I want to ask what's going on in the Republican Party right now?" Sheffield wanted to say that the election was coming up, but then he thought that the election wasn't too far away, so he just asked. Anyway, there was no need for a reason for the two of them to chat.
Because of Alton Parker's stroke, Sheffield's remedy for the Democratic camp was still a bit of a mess. He didn't understand the problems of his camp, so he decided to think from a different angle.
For example, if the Republican Party wants to find a solution, in the de facto two-party system of the United States, it would be best if its own camp is extremely strong. If that is not possible, it can only hope that there is a problem with the opposing camp itself.
After years of hard work by Sheffield, most of the Democratic Party's supporters are hardcore white supremacists. It is not easy for the Democratic Party to lose votes, but it is questionable for the Republican Party. Now I am in a mess. In addition to remedying the situation, there is another way, which is to break the legs of my competitors, which will make me look faster. If solving the problem does not work, then let both sides have problems. Although I don't want to do this, I may still have to enter the stage of comparing the worst in the end.
(End of this chapter)
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