Chapter 226
Chapter 226
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Kennedy
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Korea's ascent to the top of the GNP rankings was good news for the U.S. Democrats.
The American Democrats kept hammering away at the issue well into the new year.
"Look at those Republican bastards pouring the national budget into military spending. That's why the country is being run into the ground, and Korea's surpassing us in per capita income."
The Democrats hoisted the slogan "America, No Longer Great" and attacked Goldwater.
Goldwater was well aware of the criticism.
He went on TV himself and explained it to the people like this.
"Korea is a small country. Even if their per capita income surpasses ours, they're still less than half our weight class. Look at the Democrats exaggerating when they know full well the facts."
Goldwater nailed down that the issue wasn't as serious as the Democrats were making it out to be.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the senator from Minnesota who had defeated Hubert Humphrey in the Wisconsin primary and emerged as a leading contender, viewed such claims as utter ignorance.
'That idiot doesn't even realize Korea is scarier than the Soviets.'
Kennedy had read the IMF and World Bank forecast data that morning.
Korea's projected GDP figures were much higher than what he'd heard last time.
'In 1959, $3,020, and this year $3,300 (while the U.S. is at $3,000)? Those guys are downright terrifying.'
Kennedy lit a cigarette and asked his aide, David Francis Powers.
"Did you see the GDP data? The Korean one."
"I've looked at it a few times."
"No joke, just based on their own weight class, Korea could easily surpass half of ours. What's your take?"
"Korea won't grow that big."
"Explain why."
Powers compared Korea's population to America's in terms Kennedy could grasp easily.
As of 1959, Korea's population was about 63 million, America's around 177 million.
The weight class difference was roughly three times.
Even if Korea grew its economy like mad, there was a limit to how big a slice of the pie each person could get.
From this perspective, Korea was bound to hit a peak soon and face growth limits.
Kennedy stroked his chin at Powers' interpretation.
"Then what's this about the EA overtaking us?"
"That's a different story. That's the Republic of China plus Japan in weight class. If they each reach half our economic income level, Korea could surpass us."
"So that EA is the problem."
"Of course, we can't touch the EA until the Soviet issue is resolved. In a standoff with the Soviets, messing with the EA would prompt Pyongyang to immediately bolster Moscow and upset the balance."
"In the end, to fix this, I need to become president."
Kennedy resolved that the moment he became president, he'd overhaul U.S. foreign policy.
Kennedy's victory in the Wisconsin primary caught the attention of Lee Seong-jun, who was closely watching the U.S. presidential race.
"Have you looked into Kennedy?"
"He's still just a young senator not worth much attention yet. Plus, he has the religious drawback of being Catholic. Factoring that in, heavyweights like Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson or Missouri's Senator Stuart Symington will flip the board the moment they enter the race."
It wasn't unreasonable for the Agency to analyze it that way.
Kennedy was a weak candidate who, despite his youth, had been passed over for VP in 1956 due to his Catholicism.
But that was the Agency's view.
Lee Seong-jun rated Kennedy's potential highly.
"How can you be so sure? Put people around Kennedy, comb through everyone in his camp, and prepare an analysis report."
"Understood."
The Agency sprang into action immediately.
"Kennedy! Kennedy!"
Just as Lee Seong-jun had foreseen, John F. Kennedy crushed Senator Humphrey even in the Protestant-dominated West Virginia primary.
No one had imagined such a result, and jaws dropped.
"It's really unfolding just as Your Excellency predicted—Kennedy's on track to become the frontrunner. A Catholic winning in a Protestant area? Unbelievable."
At this rate, Kennedy had a high chance of becoming the Democratic presidential nominee.
That would make the U.S. election matchup Goldwater versus Kennedy.
Who would win?
The Agency produced an analysis based on the intelligence they'd gathered.
"The Democrats have the edge in this election."
"Why that conclusion?"
"Because the frame the Democrats are pushing—the slogan of 'America, No Longer Great'—is likely to stick."
In a way, Korea's number one GNP ranking had delivered a fatal blow to the Goldwater administration.
"Assuming a Democratic victory, dig into every thought in their camp."
Following Lee Seong-jun's orders, the Agency investigated the key figures around Kennedy's campaign.
The books they'd written, testimonies from those around them, speech contents—everything became a target of scrutiny.
Whenever they appeared at events, their speeches and records were analyzed too.
"This might not be enough intel."
"So what do you suggest?"
The overseas operations team proposed a honey trap.
"Do we have agents for that?"
"Why bother with the hassle? Just hire high-class call girls."
The Agency knew Powers, one of Kennedy's core aides, was a womanizer, so they inserted high-class call girls around him.
Before long, through the bugs installed via the call girls, the Agency could read the intentions of Kennedy's side.
Surprisingly, Kennedy harbored open intentions to check Korea.
"A guy who's not even president yet dares to think of checking Pyongyang?"
The Agency was shocked by the remark.
If Kennedy truly thought that way, the Democrats' takeover had to be stopped at all costs.
Lee Seong-jun raised his voice at the Agency's proposal for covert operations.
"Do you think America is a joke?"
"Excuse me?"
"Otherwise, how could talk of flipping the U.S. regime come out so casually?"
"F-Forgive us, Your Excellency."
"Keep this in mind. This country isn't the world's number one superpower yet. It's not a nation that can handle the fallout from everything."
"We will keep it in mind."
After berating the Agency executives, Lee Seong-jun comforted their dejected faces.
"I understand how you feel. A new U.S. regime gearing up to check us—it's scary. Why wouldn't I know that?"
Even the Agency director thought the same.
"But think carefully. Kennedy may say that, but there's no guarantee he can actually do it. Does America move by the will of one president?"
Lee Seong-jun believed that as long as the confrontation between the two sides remained intact, America couldn't openly reveal it.
"The post-Cold War atmosphere might change things, but that's not happening tomorrow."
For the Soviets to agree to reconciliation, they'd need to cut conventional armaments—a task impossible without subduing their bloated military.
"The Soviet military. True enough."
The vampires sucking up half the national budget for their own gain—the Soviet military clearly had no interest in a post-Cold War thaw.
"America's military doesn't want compromise either."
In today's America, where the military-industrial complex hadn't been dismantled, there were forces benefiting from the standoff, if not to the Soviet extent.
As long as these hawks on both sides rejected reconciliation, a thaw wouldn't come easily.
"In this setup, what can a young president with little military experience change?"
Without subduing the hardline military, dreaming of reconciliation was pointless.
Lee Seong-jun predicted Kennedy would realize the gap between reality and ideals and drop his checking attitude toward Korea.
Unaware of the cynical Korean gazes upon him, Kennedy was celebrating his primary victories.
"Soon, Senator, you'll be confirmed as the Democratic nominee."
"If only Mrs. Eleanor would change her mind."
"Everyone except her sees you as the frontrunner."
Kennedy felt regret that the widow of Franklin Roosevelt—practically the symbol of long-term Democratic rule—was backing his rival.
But the tide wouldn't turn.
Kennedy's victory was certain.
Kennedy took the cola Powers handed him to soothe his regrets.
"Right."
After downing the cola, Kennedy read the campaign finance report.
"Our funds can't have any Korean lobby money mixed in. If we go to trade war with Korea later, we can't give them any leverage."
"We're being careful. All verified funds so far are clean."
Kennedy planned to reconcile with the Soviets first, then pressure Korea through trade.
That way, he could reverse the unfair trade balance and check Korea's growth.
'Honestly, does it make sense to let them sell over $10 billion a year to us?'
America was only selling about $1 billion to Korea.
The thought suddenly sparked a slogan for attacking Goldwater.
"Oh, just hit me— this slogan would be perfect for the election."
"Got a good idea?"
"It's the economy, stupid."
Even Powers thought it stuck perfectly in the ears.
"Fits Goldwater like a glove."
Kennedy had no intention of leaving Goldwater any face.
The warmonger who had made the United States no longer great deserved a humiliating exit.