Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 250



Only Krnovel

#250. I will work without my daughter-in-law knowing.

January 19, 1956.

Truman visited Korea two months before the first general election in the Republic of Korea.

“Hahaha! It’s been a while! Thank you for coming such a long way.”

“Hahaha! No, I like airplanes now, so I came comfortably.”

As Truman said, since the Boeing 707 passenger plane was commercialized in the United States, it was possible to travel to Seoul quickly and easily from Washington, D.C.

If you think about how just a few years ago we had to go through all sorts of hardships traveling by propeller plane, it is truly a world of difference.

“Secretary Marshall, welcome back too. Hahaha! The Secretary is always the same.”

“Ugh! I really want to rest now… … .”

“Wow! Don’t say things like that. If our Deputy Prime Minister Kim Kyu-sik hears that, I’ll be in trouble too.”

“Have you already heard?”

“Just pretend you didn’t hear it. It’s not even close yet.”

“Ha, George. What sin did you or I commit in our past lives to deserve this fate of having to work until we die?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Secretary of State George Marshall was born in 1880, and Kim Kyu-sik was born in 1881.

However, George Marshall’s birthday is December 31st and Kim Kyu-sik’s is February 28th, so the age difference between the two is less than two months.

In fact, the two people who were born at almost the same time are treated like slaves(?) in both the US and South Korea, unable to even dream of retirement due to their outstanding abilities. They feel a sense of empathy for each other and are now almost like buddies.

“You two gentlemen, stop talking nonsense and come quickly.”

“… … .”

“Let’s go.”

Truman and Lee Kang-cheol couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of the two people being dragged in like cattle.

But I had no intention of letting Truman or Lee Kang-cheol go.

Because there was virtually no alternative.

As Truman’s visit to Korea this time was not a state visit, protocol was kept simple.

As this was his first visit to Korea in a long time, it would have been a state visit, but due to the sudden contact from the US, it became a working visit.

State visits take a long time to prepare for.

After some formalities were over, Lee Kang-cheol was drinking wine alone with Truman at the Blue House residence.

“Aren’t you tired? But it must be quite tiring because the flight is long.”

“Haha! I’m still okay. Even though I look like this, I’ve been in the military twice.”

“Hahaha! I know. Oh, if you count the reserves, it’s number 3, right? I understand that you were a colonel in the reserves until a few years ago, even after you became president.”

As Truman said, he served as a private for six years, and after World War I broke out, he enlisted as an artillery officer and participated in the war.

And even after that, he was promoted to colonel in the early 1930s as a reservist, and it wasn’t just for show; after World War II broke out, he actually volunteered for active military service.

Of course, it failed because of his age and because Roosevelt did not want the senators and representatives to support the military.

Anyway, Truman may have looked like a gentleman, but he was a veteran who had served in the war from a private to an officer, and contrary to his appearance, he was a man of strong character.

“Well, since I became a senator, I’ve just put my name on it.”

“Haha! But where is that? Anyway, why did you come here all of a sudden? I was a bit surprised when you suddenly said you were going to tour Korea, China, and Japan.”

“No, did I come to a place I shouldn’t have? Why are you acting so upset?”

“That’s not true, but isn’t it too sudden? There was no word until last year, and there are no special issues. And it’s called a tour of Korea, China, and Japan, but in reality, the destination must be our country?”

“Hahaha! Was it too obvious?”

“Have we only seen each other for a day or two? Be honest with me.”

“Actually, I fled because I was frustrated.”

“What are you so upset about? What’s going on?”

“No, it’s just that I’m worried about my third term.”

“Ah! No, then why don’t you tell me over the phone?”

“Hey, even if the president guaranteed security, how can you say that over the phone?”

“But… … .”

“That’s why I came here. I wanted to discuss this with the president and also get a proper health checkup.”

“Why do you need a health checkup again? Where does it hurt?”

“That’s not true, but I’m already in my 70s. So after discussing it with this president and deciding to run for a third term, I wanted to get a proper checkup. I wanted to know if my health would last until my late 70s. What kind of trouble would it be if I died in the middle of my term? Especially since I’m the president of the United States?”

“Oh, you really have a lot to worry about. I told you, the President will live a long life.”

“That’s not true. You know how overworked we are.”

“… … .”

Lee Kang-cheol had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.

As Truman said, no matter how long a person is historically known, serving as president three times is not something you can be sure of your health.

That’s because the position of president is one that brings with it an enormous amount of workload and stress.

Of course, that would be a normal president.

“Okay, well, that’s what we always do when we come to our country. I already told the Armed Forces General Hospital.”

“Hahaha! Thank you. I always owe you this.”

“Hey, don’t mention it. Anyway, why are you worried about running for a third term? I told you, right? You should definitely run.”

Lee Kang-cheol planned to persuade Truman to run for a third term even if he gave up.

Truman was the last president to know about the expeditionary force, and he had no intention of living the weary life of another president who did not know the circumstances.

Moreover, there was no guarantee that the next president would be pro-North Korea like Truman.

So, I thought that by somehow making him run for a third term, he would be able to lead Truman and the world at least until the 1950s, but I didn’t understand why Truman was worried.

As far as Lee Kang-cheol knew, his approval rating wasn’t that bad, but in fact, strangely enough, Truman’s popularity wasn’t very high compared to his accomplishments.

No matter what anyone says, the economy is the gauge of popularity in times of peace, and the U.S. economy is doing so well that it makes one wonder if there has ever been a time like this in history.

However, Truman’s popularity was only ‘not bad’ or ‘okay’, and he could not garner absolute support like Roosevelt, so it was simply absurd to look at it from the outside.

Even though Truman was originally a person with no showmanship and was not very popular.

In any case, Truman’s approval rating was hovering around 50% because the economy was doing so well, so if you factor in the incumbent premium, his chances of winning a third term were quite high.

“It’s not that simple.”

“No, why not? The approval rating isn’t bad either.”

“My current approval rating is like that, but there was a poll that said my approval rating would drop by about 10% if I ran for a third term. If that happens, it would be difficult to guarantee a landslide victory. Furthermore, there is considerable resistance to a third term even within the party.”

“Really? Even though President Roosevelt is still alive?”

“That’s why I can at least see the liver. If President Roosevelt had passed away early like he did, I wouldn’t have even tried.”

“her…….”

“Besides, I am also disgusted with our Democratic Party’s long-term rule. If I am elected and remain in office until 1960, the Democratic Party will have been in power for a whopping 28 years. And above all, I am shaken by the situation. Roosevelt said that he had no choice because of the Great Depression and the war, but I wonder if I am breaking American tradition by running for a third term.”

I didn’t know the aversion to a third line would be this strong.

But Lee Kang-cheol wasn’t the type to give up.

Truman absolutely must do it one more time.

For yourself and for the Republic of Korea.

“Listen to me carefully.”

“Hahaha! That’s why I came all the way here. Please speak freely.”

“Honestly, I think Mr. President… … .”

“for a moment!”

“yes?”

“Should we be comfortable in private now? Just call me Harry. Me too, please?”

“… … .”

Truman suggested calling him by his name so that they could be comfortable together, but Lee Kang-cheol wasn’t very good at pronouncing his name.

“Okay, Harry. Make yourself at home, but my name is Kang Chul, not Kang Chul.”

“Gangcheol?”

“Ha, just say ‘Lee’ or ‘Iron’.”

“Lee is a family name, but what is Iron?”

“It’s an English name I used a long time ago. The original English meaning of my name, ‘강철’, is Steel, but that was hard to use as a name, so I just called it Iron. There are quite a few English names called Iron, right?”

“Hahaha! I see. Great! Iron!”

It was originally an English name that was given a long time ago because it was thought to be cool, but Lee Kang-cheol did not use it much.

Because my friends teased me with ‘iron’ or ‘ironing board’.

“Anyway, Harry, to be honest, I want Harry to be President of the United States. Do you know why?”

“I know. If another guy becomes president, he’ll question how South Korea suddenly emerged and the level of technology that is so unfathomable, and he’ll probably try to dig up the details.”

“That’s right. But it’s not like I can tell you everything I know.”

“Haha! That’s true.”

“And most of all, I feel comfortable with Harry. We’ve been doing well, haven’t we?”

“Me too. But the position of President of our country is not for the convenience of Iron and the country.”

“Of course. I have more to say. Limiting the presidency to two terms is not good for the United States. Harry is no exception, but many American presidents have stepped down despite their high approval ratings, ability, and physical strength, and their successors have been the world’s biggest bastards.”

“Huh? The greatest son of a bitch in the world? No, can our President of the United States be like that?”

“There is. There was even an incident where supporters were incited to occupy the parliament.”

“Wow, that happens in America? What kind of son of a bitch!”

“… … .”

There was that son of a bitch.

“It certainly was. But the previous president did pretty well, right? He was young and served for eight years, but he was only in his mid-fifties when he left office. It’s because his successor was so bad, but think about it. Young presidents come out from time to time. They were generally well-received. But do you think it’s right for those presidents to step down after only eight years?”

“… … .”

“It’s a shame for them, and it’s not good for America. It’s a bit strange, but after a young president, there are always bad guys.”

“Ugh… … .”

“And what are those young presidents supposed to do when they retire in their 50s? As you know, in the US, there’s nothing a president can do after he retires. At best, they can go around giving lectures and making money.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Think about it logically. Why must it be limited to two terms? As Harry knows from his experience, eight years? That goes by faster than you think. Honestly, don’t you feel bad? If Harry ends up finishing with two terms, what will happen to all the reform policies he is so passionately pursuing? Is the health insurance system that has made American citizens suffer so much in the future already complete? Isn’t it in progress? And what about drug eradication? Didn’t I tell you what the cities of the future America will be like? Young people will be lying around on the streets, high on drugs. Do you want that for your descendants?”

“… … .”

“And Harry will be the last one to be trickled into the future information I share. Is that what you want?”

“That can’t be!”

“Look, Harry. The arrogance of thinking it has to be me is a problem, but the mindset of thinking it doesn’t have to be me… is also a problem. Look, Harry. America needs Harry now!”

“… … .”

Truman was silent for a moment, then opened his mouth again.

“I will run for a third term.”

“Good idea, Harry. Don’t worry, I’ll help you. Roosevelt will help you, too.”

“Hahaha! I see. As expected, listening to Iron’s words makes my head feel clearer.”

“ha ha ha!”

After undergoing a thorough two-day medical checkup, Truman left for his next destination, the Republic of China.

And back to the Blue House.

“Director Cho.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Director Cho, please pay attention to the US election secretly. The Republican candidate right now is Nixon, right?”

“Yes, Eisenhower declined, saying it was a one-time decision, and if nothing happens, Nixon will be confirmed as the Republican nominee.”

“I think that Nixon guy has quite a few weaknesses.”

“There’s a lot. Even with the information we have collected so far, it would be difficult for him to win if we solve that problem.”

“Okay, we’ll intervene as we see fit. And you know what? We can’t let it get out that we’re involved.”

“Hehehe! Is this Mission Impossible? Will you deny it if you get caught?”

“Puhahaha! Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.”

“Hahaha! Okay. I’ll do it without my daughter-in-law knowing.”

“okay.”

It was March 1956.

There are now exactly 28 days left until the general election.

South Korea is beginning to boil over with the general election.