Survive as a World War II Soldier - Chapter 54



Only Noblemtl

#054

The moment Queen Wilhelmina called me by my name and called me her friend, I could have become the pride of all America.

In the early 20th century, Americans were still struggling to shake off their inferiority complex about Europe’s long history.

So, what this means is that they were people obsessed with nationalism.

In that situation, it wasn’t just any foreigner, it was an American who received thanks from the Queen.

This is a story where both the customer and the bartender collapse, not to mention calling the bartender.

A single word from Queen Wilhelmina was more effective than any number of my accomplishments at the Olympics.

“Friend of the Queen, Chairman Douglas MacArthur.”

“Amsterdam Olympics, what happened there?”

“Douglas, the American to whom Queen Wilhelmina expressed her gratitude. Who is he?”

“Douglas MacArthur, the man envied by all of Europe.”

“The Olympic Team Soared with Douglas MacArthur”

“The man who captured the queen.”

But isn’t it true that too much of anything is worse than not enough?

“It’s not that bad.”

“What on earth did you do that evening to have the Queen come out like this?”

I shrugged my shoulders in response to Bradley and Eisenhower’s questions.

“Well, I just answered a few questions.”

“Hmm.”

Why can’t both of them stop looking at my answer with such suspicion?

“Well, let’s say that’s true. For now, things have become a bit difficult.

“Yes, the situation is more explosive than we thought.”

“This is difficult.”

Queen Wilhelmina’s remarks would have been cordial.

I, MacArthur, was known as a person who greatly enjoyed being in the public eye.

To be honest, I don’t say I enjoy it, but circumstances have always pushed me to do it.

Anyway, the reason I accepted the position of Olympic Committee Chairman and worked hard was to get noticed.

The reason is none other than Coolidge.

Now that Coolidge has stepped down from the presidency and returned to being a man of the wilderness, that doesn’t mean his influence suddenly became zero.

I couldn’t continue to live like this, under his control.

I tried to show off my competence by making a moderate presence through the Olympics.

So that the Republicans, including Coolidge, cannot throw me away no matter how much they dislike me.

But Wilhelmina’s one word made me fly too high.

I have become the most famous US Army general since retired General Pershing.

in result,

“Who dares touch you?”

Roosevelt burst into laughter, saying that a presidential election seemed possible in these times.

“Haven’t you heard from the Democratic Party? No, really, haven’t you thought about it?”

It wasn’t that the Democratic Party and the Republican Party were in chaos. The presidential election was just around the corner, so it was too late to change candidates, but they started asking for at least a speech of support…

“Why wouldn’t it be there?”

In the case of the Democratic Party, there was even talk of aiming for the next presidential election.

Unlike me, who was shaking my head and sighing, Roosevelt seemed to be very excited about teasing me.

It was so childish that such childish words came out of my mouth.

“If you keep doing that···.”

“You’re not giving me a stamp? Sorry, I already got one from Anna.”

“Why do you think I bought the same stamps as Anna? Do you think this Douglas, a friend of Queen Wilhelmina, would bring something that anyone can buy at the post office?”

At my words, Roosevelt’s face became serious.

When I saw that sight, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Puhahaha.”

“What? So you brought it? Or not?”

“Here it is.”

After meeting Anna at the post office, Roosevelt smiled brightly and was delighted when he showed her the rare stamps he had specially acquired.

Roosevelt, who had been looking at the stamps for a while, looked at me and said:

“If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.”

“Enjoy it?”

“Yeah. What’s the problem? Restraint? When haven’t you been subject to it?”

“That’s true.”

“At least, unless you’re plotting a rebellion, whoever becomes the next president won’t be able to kick you out, so isn’t that a better deal?”

Now that I think about it, Roosevelt had a point.

Envy, jealousy and jealousy have always been my enemies.

But now there was no need to worry about that.

It was because MacArthur’s status had become too high for ordinary people to be jealous, envious, or restrained.

“Okay, while you’re at it, how about becoming the Governor of New York?”

“what?”

At my words, Roosevelt’s eyes turned as big as lanterns.

“This presidential election is late, and there was even a suggestion that I try to run for governor of New York in four years.”

“To you?”

“Yeah. To me.”

I burst out laughing at the sight of Roosevelt asking with a frozen face.

“Didn’t you say you have no interest in politics?”

“Well, people’s thoughts change, don’t they? You were once a challenger who dreamed of great things, but now you’ve become a coward.”

“Who is the coward?”

“Isn’t it?”

Roosevelt remained silent in response to my question.

“If you’re not a coward, why do you hold out?”

“Ha, what the heck···.”

“The rumors are already out there. The Democratic Party is considering you as their candidate for governor of New York, but they say you’re scared and trying to run away.”

The election is now less than three months away.

Even people who didn’t know the future like me knew the outcome.

“Isn’t the result already decided anyway?”

As Roosevelt said with a sigh, everyone knew that the Republicans would win anyway.

Although he was briefly criticized when the Great Kanto Earthquake occurred, Coolidge was successfully re-elected and continued to serve as president without any major problems thereafter.

While conflicts of various kinds continued to occur all over the world, the American mainland was at peace.

The economy was still booming, and people had no inkling that the boom would end.

How could the Republican Party lose the election?

There was a feeling that if Hoover’s dog, not Hoover, were the candidate, he would become president if he stood under the Republican flag.

Given the circumstances, the Democratic Party has effectively given up on the presidential election.

instead,

“Can’t it just stay like this?”

“We must look to the future and develop talent.”

“Yes, that’s right. We need to prepare for 4 years from now, or if that doesn’t work out, 8 years from now.”

So the Democratic Party’s target was the governor of New York.

The problem was the Democratic Party’s lack of talent.

Edwin Corning was nominated as the next candidate after the leading candidate, William Stormont Hackett, died in a car accident in 1926.

“I think Mr. Corning is not feeling well.”

“What?”

“Whether you are the governor or not, the bigger issue is whether you live or die.”

After Corning stepped down due to sudden ill health, the Democratic Party searched for a suitable candidate.

“What about Senator Robert Wagner?”

“I absolutely hate that.”

“Didn’t George Richard Lunn serve as Lieutenant Governor at one point?”

“I believe that serving as the New York Public Service Commissioner is a good fit for me…”

“What about Peter ten Eyck?”

“That guy who served in the House of Representatives once and then left because he thought he wasn’t cut out for it?”

However, the people who were considered as candidates showed reluctance one after another.

“What about Franklin Roosevelt?”

“Hmm.”

“No matter what···.”

“Can that gentleman walk by himself?”

“But there is no proper greeting?”

So, going around and around, the Democratic Party wanted to nominate Franklin Roosevelt as their candidate for governor.

“Should I do something like that?”

It seemed like his pride was seriously hurt.

Although he was confined to a wheelchair, Roosevelt was working hard to get back on his feet.

He has consistently participated in speeches supporting Democratic candidates during presidential elections and also served as chairman of the Taconic State Park Commission.

But on the other hand, there was still some anxiety.

In the past, your own name would have been mentioned first.

He was a New York State senator, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and even a vice presidential candidate.

However, the offer of candidacy came to him only after he had gone through numerous candidates.

“You finally found me.”

My pride was hurt. I was furious that my worth had fallen so low.

“I’m Roosevelt. Damn it.”

But at the same time, I was able to feel the reality of my situation as a disabled person.

“If only my legs were okay.”

“So you’re saying you won’t do it because of your pride?”

“You know the situation.”

Why did those who had previously received offers express their intention to decline one after another?

It wasn’t just the presidential election that the Republican Party had an advantage in. The public analysis also said that the Republican Party had an advantage in the New York gubernatorial election.

“Can I really win?”

I answered Roosevelt’s question without a moment’s hesitation.

“Yeah. You’re Roosevelt.”

Roosevelt burst into laughter at my firm answer.

“ha ha ha.”

Roosevelt laughed for a long time and then looked at me and said:

“Even if you say so, I’d be a coward if I left it out. Okay. Let’s try it.”

“Now he’s a bit like the Roosevelt I know.”

“If I become the governor of New York, you will be the one who will do the most good. Then I will grant you one wish to the best of my ability.”

“Oh. A blank check from the Governor of New York. This is precious. No, your dreams are higher, so you should hold on to it until then.”

“What? Haha.”

Roosevelt seemed pleased by my teasing and burst into laughter again.

I didn’t know then that that promise that day would become my lifeline.

After that political talk, the story that followed was about smaller things.

A story about the current situation of the seals that we both know, or a story about family.

It was in that moment that Roosevelt opened his mouth with a slightly embarrassed expression.

“Oh, by the way. I have a favor to ask of you.”

“What is it?”

“I heard you’re running a foundation.”

“Uh. Is there anyone who needs sponsorship?”

“No, that’s not it. Doesn’t the foundation need employees?”

Is this the kind of job-seeking request I’ve only heard of? Just kidding. The hiring culture in the US and Europe at the time was recommendations.

“If it’s the talent you introduce, I have to create a position even if it doesn’t exist.”

“That’s not why I’m trying to introduce such a talented person.”

“But who the hell are you?”

“I’m talking about Anna.”

The person Roosevelt asked to find a job was none other than his daughter.

“Are you doing well as a reporter?”

“Oh, it’s a problem because you’re too good.”

I had a feeling that maybe the problem was that I went all the way to Europe to cover the Olympics.

Europe and the United States in the 20th century were surprisingly conservative societies.

Although women’s suffrage was recognized and their social advancement was actively underway, a glass ceiling existed.

Especially for young women, what was expected was not a good job or a great career, but to meet a good man, get married early, and become a good wife and wise mother.

And even in the 21st century, the more prestigious a family is, the more conservative it tends to be.

“Eleanor found out and there was a huge fuss.”

“You’re lucky you made it out safely.”

At my words, Roosevelt sighed with a regretful expression.

“Doug, just live like that. Don’t open the gates of hell like I did.”

“Ha, when did you tell me to get married quickly and have children like rabbits?”

“At that time, your mother was there, so I couldn’t say anything. Actually, a wife like a fox and a child like a rabbit both come and go. As time goes by, only a wife like a lion and a child like a loach will remain.”

Oh, oh. I know how that feels.

Anyway, Eleanor said that even though she was over twenty-two, she had no intention of getting married and that she couldn’t sleep at night because she was worried about her daughter who was running around working.

“If you go to a random country for reporting and something happens, there’s a huge fuss.”

“Hmm. Even from my perspective, it seems a bit···.”

Because the Earth in the 20th century was not such an easy world.

“But the foundation’s work doesn’t require going overseas.”

“Well, Anna is a talented person, so I welcome her very much. I’ll tell Marcus.”

“Thank you.”

I should be more grateful.

First of all, Anna was quite capable.

Just by looking at the fact that you asked me exactly the question I was hoping for at the last press conference, you can tell that you have both insight and sense.

At that time, living a social life without getting married until that age.

That was something that was impossible with just a little bit of determination.

And crucially, this is an opportunity to owe a debt of gratitude to the future president.

I absolutely could not refuse.

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…who brought Mr. Park.