The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 44

44. Kennedy, Listen Carefully!

“During the ceasefire, we must replace the corrupt leadership in South Vietnam and initiate economic development projects to improve the lives of its citizens as much as North Vietnam does. Only then can we overcome North Vietnam’s ideological offensive.”

“A clean sweep!”

“A ceasefire can save hundreds of thousands of precious lives.”

It could advance the end of the war by a full five years.

After the President’s proposal, the American officials took a break to discuss it.

A few tens of minutes later, the meeting resumed.

Johnson spoke to President Park.

“A North-South ceasefire, conditioned on the withdrawal of U.S. troops, is deemed effective. Our country will accept it as the end of the war.”

“Indeed.”

“The strategy of winning the hearts of the South Vietnamese people through leadership change, war recovery, and economic infrastructure aid is also considered useful. We have gathered opinions that we can achieve the effect of ending the war sufficiently by making it visible before the election.”

“You’ve made a wise decision. That method, which allows us to end the war without defeat, is the best option for now.”

Johnson said,

“If U.S. troops withdraw and the ROK [Republic of Korea] army additionally dispatches troops to Vietnam, the United States will take responsibility for the power vacuum in South Korea.”

This was exactly what he was aiming for.

“The modernization of the South Korean army’s weaponry is a matter of utmost urgency. We need each soldier to be worth a hundred. We desperately need mechanized units and an air force like the U.S. military.”

“Of course. We will upgrade it to the U.S. military level.”

Until then, the main force consisted of rifles abandoned by the Japanese and weapons left behind by the U.S. military during the Korean War.

“And the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea is essential. There is no more effective weapon against North Korea’s localized provocations. We must prevent North Korea from ever taking heroic adventures again.”

“After discussions at the National Security Council, we have concluded to allow the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea.”

“Thank you. If North Vietnam launches a large-scale invasion of the South after the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam, include the strategy of using these tactical nuclear weapons in Vietnam as an option. It’s the most cost-effective option for deterring war.”

“Ah, in Vietnam too! Understood.”

The South Korean President stated all the prepared requirements without missing a single one.

“Please have the United States bear all the costs of the South Korean troops dispatched to South Vietnam.”

“Of course.”

“Please allow South Korean companies to handle the South Vietnam reconstruction projects. Currently, Hyunse Group is working on road projects, and more companies can participate. If possible, leave all the U.S. military engineering equipment behind.”

“Of course. The United States will provide all the equipment and reconstruction costs.”

Since it was paying the U.S. military expenses for the Vietnam War to the South Korean army, there were no additional costs, and it was great for the election.

President Park made another request.

“President Jones, South Korea doesn’t produce a single drop of oil, so we spend all the dollars we earn on importing oil. Without a supply of low-cost energy, all industrial blueprints are nothing but trash. We want to build a nuclear power plant. Please provide technical assistance from the United States.”

“Well, nuclear power plants are necessary in non-oil-producing countries, but is South Korea capable of absorbing nuclear power technology, which is cutting-edge technology?”

“We have been fostering talent in nuclear-related departments at universities for some time, though our capabilities are limited.”

American technology was needed, but in fact, nuclear power plants were closely related to nuclear weapons, so American technology and approval were necessary.

“We will actively support you as long as you do not develop nuclear weapons.”

The condition of not developing nuclear weapons was specified at the outset.

The United States was under tremendous stress from Israel’s successful secret nuclear weapons development.

Conscious of criticism that the United States tacitly condoned Israel’s possession of nuclear weapons, it was even more sensitive to preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons among allies.

President Park was inwardly startled, but it was something he had already prepared for.

“Of course. I fully agree with the U.S. strategy that nuclear energy should be used peacefully.”

Nuclear energy is the epitome of double standards.

If I have it, it’s a guardian of peace, and if others have it, it’s a weapon of mass destruction.

The President made his final request.

“President Jones, South Korea needs dollars for economic reconstruction. Please give favorable consideration to loans.”

“Of course. Then I will give you loans and offset them with the cost of reconstruction in Vietnam on a periodic basis.”

“That’s a very excellent business, Your Excellency.”

In that way, South Korea was able to receive a large amount of dollars as a kind of advance payment.

* * *

Broadway in New York.

The Korean flag fluttered on the streetlights and buildings of Broadway 42nd Street, the hottest street in the United States.

President Park rode in an open car and held a car parade.

Colored paper fluttered in the sky.

Koreans living abroad waved the Korean flags in their hands and welcomed him enthusiastically.

Americans also cheered the car parade like a festival in the largest welcoming parade since the World War II victory parade.

That day, most Americans on Broadway were learning about the country of Korea for the first time.

The President was most welcomed by Koreans living abroad.

Americans who did not know the country of Korea treated Koreans living abroad like African refugees, so it was a rise in status in American society for the South Korean president to shake hands with the American president on an equal footing and even have a car parade.

The President waved his hand and responded to the cheers of the American people and Koreans living abroad.

The President’s last schedule, after visiting the American automobile factory and the dock where oil drilling ships were made, was the West Point Military Academy.

* * *

West Point Military Academy.

The President received a review led by the superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy.

As a returned President who was not from the military, the review was quite awkward.

However, the U.S. Military Academy cadets had many complaints.

They were not happy to salute a yellow-skinned person from a country they did not even know.

They were even more annoyed because they might have to listen to a parade or speech in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, the President was anxious.

Senator Kennedy had not yet arrived.

He had received word that the plane was delayed due to bad weather.

The review ended and it was lunchtime.

While eating in the officers’ dining hall, the superintendent asked.

“Your Excellency, West Point has a tradition of giving several privileges when a foreign head of state visits the school.”

He asked even though he already knew.

“What kind of privileges?”

“You can request a parade from the U.S. Military Academy cadets, give a speech to the U.S. Military Academy cadets, or receive a gift from the U.S. Military Academy.”

“Well, there’s one more.”

“Yes? What…”

“Pardon all the cadets who are currently receiving demerits for violating school rules.”

“Ah, a special pardon!”

At this time, the U.S. Ambassador rushed in.

“Your Excellency, Senator Kennedy has arrived.”

“Great! Bring him in quickly.”

Senator Kennedy appeared.

“Welcome, President Park!”

“Glad to see you!”

The two shook hands firmly.

The President called the superintendent.

“My request earlier was Senator Kennedy’s idea. Please inform the cadets.”

“Understood.”

An announcement was made in the dining hall where the cadets were having lunch.

– By request of South Korean President Park, the penalties of 250 cadets who are being punished on campus for violating school rules are hereby pardoned! This is said to be the idea of Senator Kennedy, who has just arrived!

The U.S. Military Academy cadets who were eating lunch put down their forks, cheered, and stood up to applaud.

Wow~

Clap, clap, clap!

“Thank you, President Park!”

“Thank you, Kennedy!”

“I love South Korea!”

Surprisingly, due to the events of that day, the U.S. Military Academy cadets who applauded applied for deployment to South Korea after graduation, which was shunned at the time.

The Kennedy campaign leadership, who had been unhappy with the sudden meeting with the South Korean president, also smiled broadly at the cadets’ cheers.

* * *

Lacking time, the two talked in the car going to the airport.

Vroom~

The President said to Kennedy.

“What is a conspiracy?”

“I’ll be brief because time is short. Don’t ask ‘why?’ to what I’m about to say. Just listen and choose. The choice is yours.”

“…….”

“I was also attacked at the Blue House [South Korean presidential residence] not long ago. An assassination attempt. North Korea also provoked the United States with the Pueblo incident.”

“Yes, I heard that you resolved it well with the President’s advice.”

“So you can trust my information. The communist bloc is moving in concert right now. You know the Comintern [Communist International] well.”

“Of course….”

“The communist bloc, cornered, is trying to find a breakthrough. Like chaos in the United States. Or intimidation that they can remove the president of an enemy country at any time.”

“Intimidation….”

“After the Cuban Missile Crisis, which caused a head-on collision between the United States and the Soviet Union, the world strategy chosen by the Soviet Union was assassination. It is an efficient way to enforce their will while avoiding war between countries. Like the tin can nuclear bomb dropped on Pyongyang this time.”

“So my brother was also a victim of that….”

“Listen carefully. You will win a landslide victory in the upcoming California primary.”

Winning in California (55 electoral votes), which has the most electors, meant that he was very likely to be elected president.

Kennedy smiled brightly, showing his characteristic white teeth like his brother.

“Thank you. I hope so too.”

He took it as a blessing.

“You have frequent campaign rallies, don’t you?”

“Yes. Because they are all voters.”

“President Kennedy, who passed away, was shot in the head with a sniper rifle from a distance.”

“…….”

The head wound was a reminder of his brother’s death.

“If someone shoots you in the head at close range, bodyguards are useless. Because only one shot is needed. Bodyguards can’t stop the first shot.”

That day, Kennedy was shot by a Middle Eastern gunman while greeting supporters he met in the kitchen hallway.

“If it’s an assassin, they’ll judge that there’s no better place to assassinate than a hotel where the route is exposed and crowds gather.”

“Hotel… But the perpetrator will be caught because there is no way out in a closed space.”

“If the perpetrator has religious or ideological beliefs, they would have been prepared for a suicide attack that sacrifices themselves.”

“Suicide attack… I’m not even president yet, so why would they target me?”

“Of course. Because you are the most likely, and because you are still a candidate.”

“…….”

“If a candidate dies, the candidates competing in the same party or the opposing party will be happy inside because it will be advantageous to them. The only person who loses is the person who is eliminated because there are fewer competitors.”

“Hmm….”

Senator Kennedy was bewildered but sensed an ominous feeling.

“Your Excellency, which force is behind it? You must have information.”

The perpetrator was of Jordanian nationality.

However, the mastermind behind the sniper was not revealed even during the trial process, and that was all.

The President was also doubtful.

If he avoids the Jordanian assassin, will Senator Kennedy survive?

Or would another assassin appear and enforce the grave and inexorable flow of world history? He couldn’t know.

In the President’s judgment, the best thing to do was for the person involved to choose at the moment of the closest event to determine their fate.

“You are exposed to assassination. That’s all the information I can give you. Now the choice of fate is up to you. Only ask questions that have meaning while you are alive.”

“…….”

He couldn’t ask any more questions because of the firm and eerie refusal.

He didn’t know how he would react.

It was clear that it was a watershed moment in world history.

Vroom~