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Almost History: Close Calls, Plan B'S, and Twists of Fate in American History (G K Hall Large Print American History Series)
Almost History Close Calls Plan B'S and Twists of Fate in American History - G K Hall Large Print American History Series Author:Roger Bruns "Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay to rest in peace . . . These brave men, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, know there is no hope for their recovery." Fortunately, these stirring words were never spoken by President Richard Nixon. Like many speeches, this one was written in preparation for e... more »vents that might have happened, but never did. Almost History is a fascinating collection of speeches, memos, and other archival material that reveals how our government would have handled historic moments that almost -- but didn't -- come to be: JFK's prepared address justifying his bombing of Cuba during the 1962 missile crisis; Abraham Lincoln's plans for post-Civil War Reconstruction; the authorization for the use of American nuclear weapons in the Vietnam War; the CIA's memo discussing the use of Americans as guinea pigs in drug tests, the FBI's memo on deporting John Lennon, and much more. Compiled by a Deputy Director of the National Archives, this extraordinary and often provocative material demonstrates, in handwritten notes, telegrams, memos, and photographs, just how close we came to defeat, disaster, and distress -- and provides chilling proof that the course of history can change in an instant. Almost History is not based on supposition. This collection, illustrated with numerous photographs of actual documents, offers a focus and insight into alternative history that is truly unique. Here are more than eighty selections, each introduced with the story of how they came to be and where they fit in the timeline of history. These events were so close to reality that those involved had committed their positions, policies, words, and feelings to paper in a variety of forms. Yet timing, twists of fate, and sudden changes stopped them from becoming our destiny.« less