WALTER CRONKITE WITH THE EVENING NEWS, NOVEMBER 18TH, 1963
SCREEN: [A black and white screen shows Walter Cronkite sitting at his desk in a bustling office, reporters typing or talking on the phone in the background. Cronkite is reading through the notes on his desk. The words CBS EVENING NEWS WITH WALTER CRONKITE appears on the screen]
ANNOUNCER: This is the CBS Evening News, with Walter Cronkite, and Nelson Benton in Tuskegee, Alabama, Dan Rather in Plauqmine, Louisiana, Bernard Kalb in Saigon, Peter Kalisher in Tokyo and Eric Sevared in Washington D.C.
CRONKITE: Welcome from our CBS News Room in New York, I'm Walter Cronkite with tonights news. Our main story tonight, President Kennedy visited Tampa and Miami, Florida today as part of his preparation for his visit to Dallas, Texas on the 22nd of November, which included a speech held for the Inter-American Press Association regarding policy towards Cuba. He was accompanied by Captain America, who has recently been appointed as head of security, in response to unspecified security concerns. This move has been widely criticized by several parties, including state officials and members of the U.S armed forces, and one of the more outspoken critics have been Governor George Wallace of Alabama, a long-standing opponent to many of President Kennedy's policies. The following is an interview I held with Governor Wallace regarding his criticism.
SCREEN: [Cut to a sparsely furnished studio room, containing only two chairs. In one sits Cronkite, in the other sits a middle-aged man with a stern expression and slicked back hair, dressed in a light grey suit with a Confederate flag pin in his tie.]
CRONKITE: Governor Wallace, you've been quoted as saying that Captain America's appointment is a "disgrace and an insult", could you perhaps explain your position on the issue?
WALLACE: Well, Mr. Cronkite, what I said was "it's a disgrace and an insult to use Captain America as a poster child for the Presidents politics", and I stand by that, it's an insult to everyone who served in the armed forces during the war. Captain America should be a symbol for America, not for one man's dangerous radicalism!
CRONKITE: But Governor, so far Captain America hasn't come out in favor of, or in opposition of, President Kennedy's politics, his new position appears to be nothing but to serve as added security as the President prepares to campaign in an area of the country that has shown itself openly hostile towards him.
WALLACE: I feel, and so do many of my political allies, that this so-called "threat" against the President is wildly exagerated, and is more than likely just a rumor that has been fabricated to generate sympathy for President Kennedy in preparation for next years election. As for the Captain, while he may or may not have spoken about his political views, the fact that he has joined the Presidents cabinet strongly implies that he atleast partially supports him, and that's, well that is simply unacceptable.
CRONKITE: And why is that?
WALLACE: Captain America is an icon, and as such, should hold himself apolitical, it's shameful that he uses his position this way! I mean, how do we know this is even the REAL Captain America and not just someone hired to make President Kennedy look better? I wouldn't put it past him to try and revive his sagging approval numbers in the southern states this way!
CRONKITE: But surely you're not calling Colonel Sawyer or the other military officials who confirmed Captain America's identity liars?
WALLACE: Of-of course not! Perish the thought! What I'm saying is, the American people have no way of knowing if the man under the uniform is the same man who went on sabbatical in October. His identity is secret, we have no way of confirming it!
CRONKITE: But Governor Wallace, are you really saying that Captain America should have no political views of his own?
WALLACE: I'm saying that he should keep them to himself, he has a great deal of influence over the American people, and it's irresponsible for him to exploit it by showing support for one ideology over another! Not to mention, he's a man out of time, and might not understand the complexities of the political issues facing us today! It's reprehensible that Kennedy has been allowed to force his ideology on the Captain without allowing for alternate viewpoints!
CRONKITE: So you believe that Captain America would be supportive of your agenda, such as continuted segregation and enforcement of Jim Crow laws, if given the chance?
WALLACE: I think there's a case to be made for that, yes.
CRONKITE: I see. Thank you for your time, governor.
.....
Abandoned Tenament Building, Austin, Texas, November 19th, 1963
"Alright Zemo, you dragged us all the way out here, what's the damn plan already?"
Bruno Horgan, better known as The Melter, looked around the cramped basement room, at the motley crew of criminals and outlaws gathered together for a uniting cause. Leaning against the far wall was a bald, rotund oriental man with sickly green skin, his upper body bare, the rest covered by military slacks and a pair of boots. In the corner stood a man covered head to toe in black plate mail armor, his face completely obscured by the helmet, a lance hanging over his back.
The Radioactive Man and The Black Knight.
The fourth man, the man who had brought them all together, was lounging in a ratty old arm chair with his two armed goons standing behind him, looking like he had not a care in the world.
"Melter, I'd advice you to keep a civil tongue towards me" Zemo said in a bored tone "I'd so hate to have to go looking for a replacement because I had to bash your head open against the filthy floor."
"Why you-"
"Melter, shut up!" The Black Knight said, his voice echoing through his helmet "I don't care what the plan is, as long as I get my chance to put Giant-Man's head on a fucking pike!!"
The Melter sputtered in an attempt at a comeback, but Zemo just chuckled "Such bloodthirst, Black Knight! I approve! And don't worry, you will have your shot at revenge, we all will!"
"Could have fooled me, Zemo..." Radioactive Man muttered "So far, all you've done is drag me halfway across the world with just a promise."
Zemo sighed "Such ingratitude, but very well, if it will satisfy your verdammte curiosity already, I will explain my plan. I assume you've heard of Kennedy's upcoming visit to Dallas."
Melter rolled his eyes "No Zemo, we've been in this damn basement so long we've completely missed it..."
Zemo just ignored him "That accursed swine Captain America has joined forces with the President, providing him with "security", hah! Little does he know all he's done is paint an even bigger target on his wretched leader! You see, we will strike against the Captain as the President is moving through Dallas, and decapitate the Avengers with one blow! Formidable or not, Captain America will never be able to stand up against our combined power!"
"Hold on" Melter said "You want us to attack THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?!"
"And how does this provide the rest of us with the revenge you promised us, Zemo?!" Radioactive Man joined in "So far, it just sounds like you'll be getting what you want, and nothing for us!"
"The President isn't the goal, dumbkopf! He's collateral! And do you think the Avengers will simply stand by after you've slain their comrade! They'll come running, in a futile attempt at vengeance, making them sloppy and easy prey! We'll strike them all down with one blow!"
The Melter wasn't convinced "And what about all the other security around Kennedy?"
"Pah, small men with small guns! You are the MELTER, are you not? Their weapons will be no match for our combined abilities! If they do not flee, they will share the Captains fate!"
The group looked at eachother uncertainly, but no one raised any further objections. The thought of revenge for their defeats was all that mattered now. Then the Black Knight spoke again.
"Hey, one thought... We all have someone we're looking to get back at on The Avengers, but what about The Hulk, or that fucking Sunshine hippie? How are we going to counter them?"
"Ah, an excellent question, Schwarze Ritter" Zemo said as he turned towards one of his guards "Bring them inside..." The guard nodded and disappeared through the open doorway "You are quite right, countering Sunshine and the Hulk will be an issue, which is why I decided to do some further recruitment before I reached out to the rest of you."
The guard walked back inside, followed by two disparate figures. A massive, hulking brute of a man, covered in a grey skin with only his face showing and a large horn potruding from his forehead, and a shorter, thuggish man dressed in a black-striped green shirt and slacks. Zemo gestured towards them with a flourish.
"Gentlemen, allow me to introduce Rhino and The Sandman. The final two members of The Masters of Evil!"
.....
Texas School Book Depository, Dallas, Texas, November 20th, 1963
Well, there it is
I stare up at the unassuming brick building in front of me. If history follows what I learned in school at all, in two days, Lee Harvey Oswald will be hiding on the sixth floor, prepared to blow Kennedy's brains out. And I'm going to stop it.
The people passing me on the sidewalk ignore me, without my costume on, I'm just some random white guy standing around and staring at nothing.
It's funny, now that the reality of changing history is actually within reach like this, I'm starting to worry about it. I mean, I've already changed history of course, atleast the history of this Earth, but somehow it never felt quite as... real, as this. Obviously, there never were any Avengers or Captain America in my own world, but Kennedy? His death shaped pretty much all of western history as I knew it, and I'm about to throw the whole game board over.
Despite the mild fall weather of Dallas, I feel a strange chill at the thought.
Just two more days, and things will change forever. For better or worse.
I turn around and head back down the street, making my way towards my motel.534