Chris Marshall (US President)
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| Image |  |
| Current Title | President Chris W. Marshall |
| Current Position: | President of the United States of America |
| Previous Positions: | Chief of Staff, US Air Force (1999-2002) Commander, TAC (1997-1999) Commander, USAFE (1995-1997) Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (1993-1995) Commander, Third Air Force (1991-1993) |
| Term of Office: | 21st January 2005 to present |
| Predecessor: | George W. Bush |
| Successor: | Incumbent |
| Birthdate: | 29th September, 1945 |
| Place of Birth: | Tampico, Illinois |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Profession | Politician, Commentator, Academic, Author, Air Force Officer |
| Political party | Republican Party |
| Languages spoken | English Spanish Vietnamese German |
| Degrees | Bachelor of Science (USAFA, 1967) Air Command and Staff College Graduate Course (1981) Master of Public Administration (1985) |
| Honours/Awards |
Air Force Cross |
Chris W. Marshall is the forty-fourth President of the United States of America. He is a retired US Air Force Officer, who rose to the rank of General, and the post of Chief of Staff of the US Air Force. He has also been an author, commentator, and academic.
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Early Life
Chris Marshall was born in Tampico, Illinois the son of a school teacher, and a fireman. He had a military interest from an early age, but during his childhood was regarded as a tear-away. He fought often, and was in constant trouble with his teachers, though he achieved well in school.
His parents eventually tired of his antics, and as his father frequently threatened, he was sent to Military school. At the age of fourteen in 1959, Chris Marshall was enrolled in the Illinois Military School . The Illinois Military School seemed to provide the envrionment Marshall needed to flourish. He became an ambitious cadet officer, and was on a fast track to the US Air Force Academy. He graduated a Cadet Captain.
Military Service
After graduation from the USAFA in 1967, Marshall was selected for Pilot Training. After Initial Flight Screening, he went to Sheppard AFB to do basic flying training on the T-37, and advanced training on the T-38. He was then assigned to Vance AFB for bomber/fighter training. Marshall's hopes at this stage were to be assigned to an F-110 Phantom unit in South East Asia. He was in the event assigned to an F-100 Super Sabre squadron in 1969. Marshall's squadron was tasked to conduct close air support missions in South Vietnam. He completed his first tour of 100 missions, and returned to the United States in 1971 for a brief conversion to the A-47 Corsair II. Marshall subsequently returned to Vietnam, and remained until 1973. During the Easter Offensive of 1972, Marshall was decorated three, twice by the United States and once by South Vietnam. His American Medal (an Air Force Cross) was earned during an attempt to rescue an F-110 crew who had been shot down near a North Vietnamese ZSU-57. In spite of a hit from a 57mm shell in the right wing, and shapnel damage from an SA-7 near the tailpipe, Marshall destroyed the anti-aircraft gun enabling helicopters to rescue the downed airmen. In his second decoration incident, Marshall was assigned to drop napalm in support of s South Vietnamese infantry unit. The target coordinates were extremely close to the ARVN unit. Marshall's aircraft sustained three hits, one wounding him in the left arm. Marshall still managed to drop his napalm on the North Vietnamese, without injuring the ARVN troops. He earned a Purple Heart, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and the Silver Star. He also received his second bar.
Being unmarried at the time, Marshall was considered a prime candidate for international deployments, so after Vietnam, he was assigned to Germany flying the F-110C Phantom II. His service in Germany was fortunately uneventful in the professional sense. While there, he courted and married a German woman called Klara, with whom he has two children. In 1976, he was promoted to Major and returned to the United States with his wife. He turned away from ground attack and converted to the F-114 Eagle and was assigned to Langley AFB, Virginia. In 1979 he became Commanding Officer of his Squadron with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1981, Marshall converted to the F-111, and was given command of a USAFE squadron in Britain. The squadron was part of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing based at RAF Lakenheath. In 1984, he was promoted to Colonel and given commanded of the 48th TFW. In this capacity, he led his men on Operation El Dorado Canyon in 1986. In 1988, he was promoted to Brigadier General. In late-1990, Marshall led his wing to war against Iraq when his wing deployed to Saudi Arabia. Overall, the 48th TFW flew a total of 1919 combat sorties, totaling 2203 target hits. The Wing returned to RAF Lakenheath 13 May 1991. In August 1991, Marshall was promoted to Major General, and returned to Germany to take command of the Third Air Force. After two years, Marshall received his first Pentagon post (and a third star). He was pleased with the third star, but not pleased with assignment to the Pentagon. Nevertheless, his assignment as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations kept him in touch with the operational side of the Air Force. This stood him well when he returned to Germany for a third time as Commander of the United States Air Forces in Europe with a fourth star.
General Marshall
After two years in Germany, Marshall returned to the United States to take command of Tactical Air Command. Marshall's choice was an odd one, because apart from a five year-stint flying the F-114 Eagle, Marshall had always been a ground attack/bomber pilot. Marshall brought a new focus on close support, ground attack, and counter-insurgency. Among his initiatives was more A-49 Thunderbolts and extensive training of F-114E and F-115 pilots in close support work. He pushed for new weapons including the Sensor Fused Weapon.
In 1999, Marshall was appointed Chief of Staff, USAF. He pushed his ideas further into the triple-function Air Force. The functions he envisaged were: major war; regional war; and minor war/counter-insurgency/anti-narcotics. The Air Force should, according to Marshall, offer flexible air power options for all three types of scenario. He altered the JPATS specification to include a FAC and Counter Insurgency version. His emphasis on counter-insurgency would prove fortuitious, but it would also destroy his relationship with the Bush White House, and the Rumsfeld Pentagon.
Departure from the Air Force
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Marshall advocated war with Afghanistan, but said it should be a primarily ground war with Airborne troops and light armour taking the front role, with very little aerial action. He was overruled by the Rumsfeld Defense Department which favoured a bomb-and-occupy strategy with heli-borne light infantry and special forces as the only US ground troops. He was overheard referring to Bush and Rumsfeld as "damned jet jockeys".
Marshall also made a more controversial recommendation, he recommended that the CIA's programme of covert paramilitary action be permanently abandoned. This placed him at odds with the Administration, which favoured covert action. Reminding the CIA of blowback from Iran and Afghanistan, which Marshall believed to be at the root of the problem did not sit well with Bush or Rumsfeld.
During 2002 he publically stated that CIA covert action was simply not productive, and had never been. He pointed out that the CIA's covert actions had not benefitted the national security of the United States at all, and said that all activities beyond intelligence gathering should be under full military control.
This was too much for Rumsfeld, and General Myers, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He was called in, and ordered to curb his tongue.
He told Secretary Rumsfeld that "my differences with the Administration make it impossible to continue my duty as Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force."
Rumsfeld said "You've done a great job, a truly incredible job. Please don't tell me you are quitting."
Marshall replied "Mr. Secretary, as much as I hate the idea, I feel I have to. I do not believe that the Administration's conduct of the War on Terror, or the Cold War is good for the national security of the United States. I have tried to advise the Administration to a course that I believe is more appropriate, but my advice has not been heeded. I am not merely a soldier who follows orders, My main roles are to lead those under me, and advise those above me. I can do one, but the past few months has made me see that I cannot do the other."
"General, I do value your advice, all of us in the Administration do." Myers added that the rest of the Joint Chiefs did as well.
Marshall knew he never truly fitted into Washington D.C. His wife hated Georgetown.
Marshall said "Mr. Secretary, I wish to resign my post as Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force."
Rumsfeld, in a strangely generous mood, said "You can take retirement from active duty if you like. It means full pension, and you keep your stars as a retired regular."
Marshall accepted Rumsfeld's offer, and a Reserve Commission to Colonel, and became a private citizen. Ironically, Marshall's ideas on fighting in Afghanistan were eventually accepted, and are now in practice in Afghanistan.
He became a nationally syndicted commentator on radio, television, and the internet. He occasionally spoke on the War on Terror, but often spoke on the economy, the role of government, the Communists, and the broader threat. He also turned to writing his memoirs, and accepted a position as a Professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University, and looked forward to a quiet life.
Republican split, and Presidential Campaign
Marshall did not contemplate a political career at first. He was financially secure, with his pension, investments, payments from media spots, and lecturing at Harvard, as well as a large inheritance from his wife's parents. Marshall and his wife were easily worth over $30 million. His fight with the Bush Administration would increase sales of his memoirs. Marshall also tired of Washington-life.
Marshall's memoirs were published in 2003 under the title "From the Mekong to the Potomac: An Autobiography of General Chris W. Marshall"
Within the Republican Party, dissatisfaction with Bush mounted, compassionate conservatism was alienating the traditional and classically liberal wing of the Party, the Administration's 'bomb and occupy' war policy was facing reality, and losing on the ground, the economy was sliding into recession.
Marshall had become popular with the public due to his media appearances, combat record, as well as his visits to Walter Reed to comfort wounded soldiers. Many politicians asked him for military advice.
By the end of 2003, rumours of a Marshall Presidential bid spread all over Washington, and Boston. Marshall was known to hold minarchist economic views, and hawkish foreign policy views, what some had taken to calling "Libertarian-Conservatism".
As the US slid into recession, and as the Taliban retook a major Afghan city, Marshall decided to put his hat into the ring, and run for the Republican nomination against a sitting President, George W. Bush.
He attracted a collection traditional conservatives, classical liberals, and hawks tired of a 'war on the cheap'. He had to compromise some of his more radical policies, especially those involving farm subsidies, tariffs, and other trade laws.
He scraped by in the Primaries, but George Bush decided to run anyway, and had enough cash to run in all states.
The United States would be in its first (and only) three party election, with Marshall for the Republicans, Bush as an Independent (running as President George W. Bush), and John F. Kerry for the Democrats.
Marshall won 45% of the popular vote, Kerry won 35%, and Bush won 19%. Unfortunately for Marshall, he did not win enough electoral votes, but the House of Representatives, being Republican-controlled, and tired of Bush elected Marshall with a two-thirds majority.
Presidency
Key measures of the Marshall Presidency:
- 2005
- Replacement of most light infantry in Afghanistan with Medium units, leads to immediate drop in casualties, and increase in terrorists killed/captured.
- Beginning of Social Security Replacement, multiple tiered system with either return of payroll tax for private investment/spending, or Personal Retirement Accounts in Social Security. No new members of the Social Security System. Current recipients to be paid out of General Revenue.
- Military Commissions sentence first terrorist to death
- 2006
- First execution of convicted terrorist
- Removal of most farm subsidies
- Removal of most trade barriers
- Major cuts to company tax rate
- Department of Homeland Security abolished, functions returned to existing departments (Defense, Transportation, Justice, Treasury)
- 2007
- Removal of remaining trade barriers except arms, and WMD-technology (licensing required for export/import)
- Marijuana legalisation, possession crime acts repealed, state governments go their own way on marijuana laws. Hard drug laws remain the same
- Removal of most industrial subsidies
- Income tax cuts
- National Gun Freedom Act, removal of almost all federal restrictions on small arms, except for automatic weapons
- Budget balanced
- PATRIOT Act repealed
- 2008
- National Second Amendment Support Act, removal of final restrictions except for destructive devices, and felons, open and concealed carriage allowed, state governments muscled into compliance
- Interstate Commerce Commission abolished
- FDA reformed to focus on safety only
- Balanced Budget Amendment proposed, Congress required to keep budget in balance, or to have at most 10% surplus except in time of declared war, and national emergency. Emergency/War Bonds to be sold in those instances.
Marshall has been criticised by State Rights' Advocates for the way he deals with the states on matters including Gun Control, and Drugs. Marshall has threatened the closure of military bases, the movement of other Federal Government jobs, and the changing of government procurement to favour compliant states.
The tone of the Marshall Presidency's first term changed after the 2006 Mid-Term Elections. The change was due to the election of a group of classical Liberals, from both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. They increased the pace of reform.
2008 Campaign
The US economy picked up after the Bush recession. Marshall's measures are widely reported to have made the US economy grow faster than ever before. Inspite of taking on the "Big Security" bureaucracy, the US has seen its security from terrorism improve without a real reduction in liberty. The US budget is balanced, and looks to remain that way for the forseeable future. While the US has taken some foreign policy hits, none have really challenged the position of the United States, nor has its prestige been geniunely challenged.
In this envrionment of good security, good economic position, and good foreign policy positon, Marshall is running for reelection against Senator Hillary Clinton (Democrat-Manhattan).
Among his policy proposals are:
- Withdrawal from the United Nations
- Abolition of the Department of Education
- Banking reform, to full reserve banking
- A gold-based currency, possibly pan-American
- A renewed military buildup
- Additional missile defence spending
- Intelligence reform, splitting the CIA's functions into existing and new agencies
- Abolition of the ATF
- Ending of most foreign aid (excepting military assistance to certain allies, and a capacity for natural disaster relief e.g. the 2004 Tsunami)
- Continued trade, industrial, and agricultural reform including the removal of the last tariffs and subsidies. The US would restrict trade for geopolitical or national security reasons only. Trade restrictions with the Soviet Union remain in force.
- Withdrawal of the United States from the IMF, World Bank, and BIS
Marshall was tipped to win easily in 2008, and defeated Democratic candidate Barack Obama in a landslide vote. Most commentators cite the lack of detailed policies in the Obama campaign, the massive tax increases proposed by Obama, good economic performance, and the progress made in the War on Terror.
Second Term - 2009-2013
Marshall's first term, while providing a swathe of reforms to the United States' political and governmental structure, they did not go far enough for the President, or his close circle of Right-Wing Libertarians. The reason was that Marshall has to compromise a lot to get enough Republicans on his side to defeat George W. Bush for the nomination in 2004. Accoding to Michelle Malkin "The Republicans need Marshall more than Marshall needs the Republicans".
Post-Presidency Speculation
Marshall will retire from the Presidency in 2013 at the age of 67. It is likely that he will retire into private life.
Ranks
- 1963 - Cadet, United States Air Force Academy
- 1967 - Second Lieutenant, United States Air Force
- 1970 - First Lieutenant, United States Air Force
- 1973 - Captain, United States Air Force
- 1976 - Major, United States Air Force
- 1979 - Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force
- 1984 - Colonel, United States Air Force
- 1988 - Brigadier General, United States Air Force
- 1991 - Major General, United States Air Force
- 1993 - Lieutenant General, United States Air Force
- 1995 - General, United States Air Force
- 2002 - Early retirement (General (Retired), United States Air Force)
Trivia
- Of all ex-US military officers who have reach the Presidency, Marshall is the fourth most senior (After Washington, Eisenhower, and Grant, the latter had the same rank as Marshall, but with 129-years seniority)
- Marshall is the third Air Force officer to become President, the others were Ronald Reagan (Captain, USAAF, WW2), and George W. Bush (First Lieutenant, Texas ANG, Cold War). He is the most senior Air Force officer to become President.
- Marshall is the second US President to be a lecturer, and broadcaster, and the only one to be both.
- Marshall is the only President to have previously been the Chief of Staff of the US Air Force
- Marshall has been the target of three assassination attempts (though he once said "I've probably had one hundred thousand bullets and missiles fired at me, with only one hit."
- Marshall is the only US President to have won the Purple Heart, and the first Vietnam Veteran to be elected.
- First Lady Klara Marshall is the second First Lady to be born outside the United States.
Aircraft Flown
- Operational
- T-41 Mescalero
- T-37 Tweet
- T-38 Talon
- F-100 Super Sabre
- A-47 Corsair II
- F-110C Phantom II
- F-114 Eagle
- F-111F Aardvark
- Checked out
- F-115 Fighting Falcon
- F-119 Raptor
Medal Rack
