Ike Goes To Korea

November 29th, 2005

in 1540, Archbishop Wolsey of York is burned at the stake for heresy after he questions the decision of Pope Henry VIII to divorce yet another wife. The execution of a close and trusted advisor on a whim sends a message across the Holy British Empire that the young pope is unstable, and the other cardinals and archbishops treat Pope Henry very gingerly for the remainder of his reign.

in 12-12-9-14-2, Oueztecan troops commit another atrocity in their war in the north of the continent as they slaughter helpless Cheyenne and Arapaho people who were attempting to surrender. As news of the slaughter spreads among the northern people, resistance against Ouezteca stiffens; the people of the north feel that they have nothing to gain by giving up to the southern empire, and everything to lose.

in 1919, a faction of the Presence works its will on a young Austrian soldier, convincing him that the loss of the Central Powers in the Great War was the fault of cowards and non-Aryans within the German and Austrian command. Ludicrous as this was, the idea infected him and he soon infected others.

in 1948, Australia auto manufacturer Holden Automotive met the challenge issued it by the government to produce a car entirely in Australia. The Holden FX was a tremendous success, not only in Australia, but around the world. The models that followed, the Torana and Commodore, proved that the FX was no fluke. By the 1960’s, Australia’s cars were outperforming American cars in the lucrative American market. This led many Michiganders to urge boycotts and stiff trade barriers against Australian cars, but the nation continued to buy them. When the Japanese entered the auto ring in the 1970’s, America’s automotive industry fell into its final collapse.

in 1952, President-elect Dwight Eisenhower visits Korea in an effort to find an end to the bitter civil war raging in the small Asian nation. His itinerary was apparently not guarded very well, because his convoy was attacked on a countryside drive, killing him and several soldiers and diplomats. His Vice-President-elect, Richard Nixon, pledged total American commitment to South Korea, and plunged America deeper into the civil war when he assumed the office of President in January.

in 1962, Comrade President Gus Hall appoints Coleman Young as head of a committee to investigate the assassination of Comrade President Joel Rosenberg the week before. Comrade Young establishes conclusively that the lone counter-revolutionary, Lee Oswald, was responsible for the murder, but lunatic conspiracy theorists have questioned this conclusion for decades.

in 1963, President Lyndon Johnson establishes a commission, headed by Chief Justice Earl Warren, to lay the blame of former President Kennedy's assassination squarely at the feet of Lee Harvey Oswald. When the commission's initial report finds otherwise, Warren squashes the official report and releases a pack of lies about a “magic bullet” and a lone gunman.

in 1986, Archie Leach, a musical comedy favorite from the 1930’s through the 1960’s, died at his home in Davenport, Iowa. Leach had entered the U.S. as a teen when he was part of a group of acrobatic performers. He stayed and soon his dashing good looks and singing ability landed him parts on Broadway, where he became noticed by movie studios. He made his first film, This is the Night, in 1932 and before long he was starring opposite such leading ladies as Marie von Losch, Mary West and Katharine Hepburn. He had retired from filmmaking twenty years earlier, adhering to the old theater adage, “always leave ‘em wanting more.”

in 2002, Dr. Courtney begins broadcasting a distress signal into a nearby star system. “This will not be pleasant,” he warns the Air Force crew on his spacecraft. “These people aren't exactly friendly.” Ten craft appear a few hours later, and surround Courtney's vessel. He communicates with them in a strange tongue for several minutes, then they apparently agree to escort him to their planet.

in 2004, Elsbeth Danwich arrives at the Great Tree to “pay her respects” to Terrence Perkins. She tries to appear conciliatory to Chelsea Perkins, but Alma May Watson banishes her before she can work any spells on young Chelsea. Miss Perkins, still grieving for the father she barely knew, begins research into dark areas of magic.

Christmas Day Contest! Following up on our Halloween contest, you can enter our next contest, which will be alternate histories for Christmas Day, December 25th, 2005. The same rules will apply, the top ten entries will be posted on that day, and by entering, you grant TIAH the right to electronically print your writing on October 31st, 2005, maintain your writing in our archives, and reprint your entry should we decide to reuse it in the future. TIAH only maintains full copyright over material it has originated that has been used by contestants in writing their own entries. Enter early and often - entries must be received by December 20th, 2005! Email us up to 3 entries of your best alternate Christmas Days!

We still have our standard offer - everybody who donates $10 or more through our Paypal link will become alternate history entries on the site. When you donate, I will email you asking your preference for a day & timeline; if you don't reply to me, I'll place you in a day that seems to fit your name :) Thanks for your continued support!

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Warp and Protocols still available; also, see the script I submitted for Bravo's Situation: Comedy. Speaking of which, the winning writers have been announced; not the ones I voted for, but you can see the one I did at http://www.marktreitel.com

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