Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 299



Only Krnovel

#299. You guys were even better than I expected.

The news that Roosevelt was in critical condition spread quickly throughout the world.

Truman wanted to die in the United States, so he tried to evacuate himself to the United States by any means possible, but the medical staff insisted on giving up.

Even Roosevelt himself and his wife Eleanor, who were still conscious, did not want to return.

Eventually, in the United States, people who had fought alongside him in the past, such as George Marshall, hastily entered South Korea.

And this guy also flew in in a hurry.

“Hey, Frank! The young man needs to get up and shake himself off.”

“Hehehe… … .”

When Churchill held Roosevelt’s hand with a pitiful expression and spoke, Roosevelt smiled faintly with a look of bewilderment even though he was weak.

But it was also true.

Winston Churchill was born in 1874, making him eight years older than Roosevelt, who was born in 1882.

Yet Churchill remained sane.

Even though I enjoyed drinking and smoking so much.

“What’s all the fuss about? And why did you come here?”

“Hey, if I don’t come, who will? Aren’t we comrades?”

“Hehehe! That’s right. Comrade, comrade.”

“We won that great war together. Get up quickly.”

“I’m not as strong as you. I’ve lived long enough, so I should go.”

“Oh my! What are you talking about!”

“Heh heh. What on earth am I… … .”

Winston Churchill was so heartbroken that he soon burst into tears.

“Frank, one day the world and history will know how much it owes you.”

“Heh heh heh… … .”

But Roosevelt’s condition showed no signs of improving.

Even the Armed Forces Integrated Hospital, which has the best medical technology in the world, has given up because the disease is so severe.

September 14, 1960.

Lee Kang-cheol hurriedly headed to the hospital when he heard that Roosevelt was looking for him.

“Frank, you found me.”

“Welcome, General.”

Roosevelt appeared to have a relatively good complexion and a clear mind, which was unusual for a time since his illness had worsened.

“You look good today. I think it’s time to get up and leave now.”

“Hahaha! I wish that were true, but I don’t think that’s the case.”

“… … .”

As Lee Kang-cheol listened to his words, he had a feeling that this would probably be his last conversation with Roosevelt.

Is this what you call a reflection of light?

I’ve heard that there are cases where people seek out their vitality one last time before they die.

As if the candle was burning brightly for the last time before it went out.

“I asked you to come because I have something I want to talk to you about.”

“Well done.”

So Lee Kang-cheol and Roosevelt talked, recalling the old days.

“Haha! You have no idea how surprised I was when I heard about your existence from our King Admiral.”

“Hahaha! Was that so?”

“And when I met you, I was even more surprised. No, coming from the present to the past via a wormhole? Does that make sense? But when you hear it, it’s something I can’t help but believe.”

“haha!”

“Oh, really, he was being so frugal, but I was so annoyed inside… … .”

“ha ha ha!”

“Heh heh heh!”

How much did we talk about?

Roosevelt, who had seemed fine for a while, began to show signs of fatigue.

“Frank, you look tired. Stop it.”

“No. But I have one last thing to say.”

“Tell me anything.”

“Hey, General.”

“yes.”

“I have certainly kept my promise. While I was president, I did not spare any support for the Republic of Korea and supported all of its policies. And as I swore to God, I kept your secrets thoroughly.”

“That’s right. I’ve always been grateful.”

“And Harry will keep his promise too. That’s just the way he is. Do you admit it? That I kept my promise to you?”

“I admit it.”

“Then, can I trust that you will keep your promise until the end?”

“What are you saying? Frank, I have never betrayed my trust in you before.”

“I know. But will it be like that in the future? You clearly told me. That the United States and the Republic of Korea will prosper together as blood allies forever. And you asked me to go together.”

“you’re right.”

“Then, can I close my eyes and believe that? That it will continue to be that way in the future?”

“… … .”

Only then did Lee Kang-cheol seem to understand why Roosevelt had asked to see him.

“Why do you say that?”

“I’m saying this because I’m worried about your Republic of Korea’s rapid growth. Let me be honest. It seems like the Republic of Korea will overtake the United States in the not-too-distant future. Isn’t it?”

“… … .”

“I’m so scared when that happens. I think the United States and South Korea will go to war. I know the United States well. It’s now the world’s sole superpower, so even if South Korea threatens that position, they won’t let it go. And if that happens… … .”

Of course, war could break out.

Roosevelt is concerned about such a situation.

“Hoo! What do you want me to say?”

“Make a promise with me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“If that happens, I’m saying we’ll resolve it as peacefully as possible. The United States and the Republic of Korea should never fight each other.”

“Frank, I’m turning seventy soon. At least that won’t happen while I’m in office.”

“I know that too. But the political system of the Republic of Korea will continue to be ruled by your people at least until this century. And since you are not a weakling like me, you will live much longer. Then, won’t you be able to continue to exert influence?”

“… … .”

“Promise me. The United States and the Republic of Korea will never go to war.”

“Whew! I promise. As Frank said, there may come a day when we collide. But it won’t go to war. At least not while I’m alive.”

“Hahaha! Okay. That’s good enough.”

“Frank, you were really worried about that?”

“Yeah, you guys were even better than I expected.”

“Don’t worry and just rest.”

“Okay, General.”

“Yes, Frank.”

“It was really nice to meet you, and thank you.”

Roosevelt extended his hand, and Lee Kang-cheol thought that this might be their last handshake.

“Let me tell you something, Frank.”

“Then go ahead, my friend the General.”

“Frank… … .”

After speaking, Roosevelt closed his eyes as if he was tired.

6 a.m. the next day.

Lee Kang-cheol received a report that Roosevelt had passed away.

If he was the greatest man of the 20th century, then at least the most influential, he has passed away.

When Roosevelt passed away, foreign correspondents gathered in Seoul immediately reported his death.

and.

“Seokman-ah.”

“Yes, brother.”

“Frank, you should know that I will personally accompany you to America.”

“Are you going yourself?”

“Yeah, I guess I should do that much since my friend is going there.”

“Okay, I’ll talk it over with George and make arrangements accordingly.”

“And let’s declare a period of mourning for our country as well. Even if we don’t know about the original history, at least this time, he is someone who did our country a great favor.”

“All right.”

Two days later, Lee Kang-cheol personally took Roosevelt to the United States on his private plane.

Roosevelt’s funeral was ten days later.

Although there was a will asking for the funeral to be held quietly if possible, there were many requests from each country to hold the funeral with ample time to allow for participation.

And the world’s big names are entering the United States one after another.

Churchill followed Lee Kang-cheol to the United States on the same plane, and French President de Gaulle, with whom he had been treated coldly and was not on good terms, also entered the country in a hurry.

In addition, Chiang Kai-shek hurriedly visited the United States, and many heads of state from various countries rushed to attend Roosevelt’s funeral.

It was truly the funeral of the century, far surpassing even the funeral of King George VI of the United Kingdom in 1952.

On the day of his funeral, more than a million people flocked to Washington, D.C., to mourn and witness his final journey.

It was only natural, because no matter what anyone said, he was the most respected president among Americans.

Lee Kang-cheol also followed the hearse wearing the military marshal’s uniform for the first time in a long while, and even after the funeral, he went to Springwood where he was buried.

Springwood, located in Hyde Park, New York, is the home where Roosevelt was born, raised, and lived after leaving office.

Roosevelt is laid to rest in the rose garden there.

“Goodbye, Frank, my friend… … .”

Lee Kang-cheol muttered as he watched his end.

***

Although Roosevelt’s death shocked the United States, the presidential election went ahead as scheduled.

The Republican candidate is Nixon.

He appeared so often in the US elections that Lee Kang-cheol joked, “Isn’t that guy’s nickname Phoenix?”

The situation was really fierce.

So much so that the results of each opinion poll are conflicting.

America was enjoying unprecedented prosperity.

It was the same in the original history, but this time, it grew several years faster than before, perhaps because of the synergy effect with South Korea.

Moreover, the Democratic candidate who ran as scheduled, Senator Joseph P. Kennedy of Massachusetts, was young, attractive, and a war hero from World War II.

So, if it had been a normal election, Republican Nixon, who had many flaws, would not have dared to oppose him.

The problem was, of course, fatigue from the Democratic Party’s long-term rule.

Roosevelt in 16 years, Truman in 12 years.

The unprecedented 28-year rule of the Democratic Party has created a strange sense of resistance among Americans.

So before Roosevelt died, Joseph Kennedy was behind in all the polls, but that changed after Roosevelt passed away.

This is because, in the United States as well, a kind of sympathy vote was generated as the heat of remembrance for Roosevelt burned.

In the midst of such a fierce election battle, the presidential election was held on Tuesday, November 8th.

The total number of electors is 537.

Of these, 269 votes were needed to become President of the United States.

The vote counting results were a complete mess.

In the U.S. presidential election system, where each state’s electoral votes are gathered together, there were mixed emotions whenever the results of a particular state came out.

“New York State Kennedy wins!”

“Wow, wow, wow!”

“Tennessee Nixon wins!”

“no way…….”

“California, Nixon wins!”

“Oh my! They’re flying away in a clump… … .”

“Texas, Kennedy wins!”

“Wow, wow, wow!”

The final results of the vote count, which were close until the very end, have come out.

“Kennedy 275! Nixon 255! Byrd Sr. 7!”

“Wow, wow, wow! I won! I won!”

After a fiercely contested election, Joseph P. Kennedy was elected President of the United States.