Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 301 Where is the Professor? (Seeking monthly votes!)
"This report was filed by our Washington chief correspondent, Jenny Hearst, on January 30th."
Just a month after the Stars and Stripes were unfurled in the breeze of the Mare Tranquilum crater on the Moon, the White House held various celebrations across the country to declare victory in the moon race. However, amidst the clamor of this victory celebration, a figure who should have been at the center of the spotlight was strangely absent: Professor Randolph Lin, the very team that led humanity to once again land on that desolate land.

President Lyndon Johnson, in the booming voice characteristic of Texans, declared to the gathered crowd and cameras: 'This is a victory for America's will! The pinnacle of America's wisdom!'

Amidst a flurry of flashing lights, the president stood shoulder to shoulder with the three astronauts, Aldrin, Armstrong, and Collins, shaking hands warmly and receiving thunderous cheers.

The key figure who turned the grand vision of the moon landing into reality and ultimately sent it precisely into lunar orbit was unable to stand beside the president to share in this historic glory.

Throughout the endless stream of official events, from medal ceremonies on the White House lawn to thunderous applause under the Capitol Dome, from grand rallies in New York to marches in Huntsville, the professor remained elusive.

Our reporters made multiple inquiries to the White House Press Secretary's office and senior NASA officials, but received only vague responses. One senior White House official, who requested anonymity, privately expressed his frustration: "Don't you know? Whenever there's a need to highlight the government's vision and the president's leadership, NASA officials' positions are always cleverly arranged."

This deliberate marginalization is not the first time.

Looking back at the pivotal years following President Kennedy's bold declaration to land on the moon in 1961, the professor, with his undeniable engineering wisdom, forcefully argued at a congressional hearing the enormous resources and technological pathways required for the moon landing, laying the foundation for the project.

However, when the Apollo program was officially launched in the name of the president, the spotlight suddenly shifted to political decision-makers.

An unnamed senior White House official told this newspaper: Redstone is the engine, but Washington is only willing to award the cockpit medal.

This disregard has also provoked strong dissatisfaction within the scientific community.

John G. Thurump, a renowned physicist at MIT, bluntly stated: "Excluding the professor from the heart of the celebration is like staging Hamlet without the prince. Columbia didn't reach the moon because of political speeches; it went to the moon because the professor knew how to make it happen."

Many scientists worry that this move sends a dangerous signal that will discourage young talents from dedicating themselves to the country's scientific research: if the glory of ultimate achievement can be so easily taken away, how can the passion for exploration be sustained?

More astute Washington political commentators have pointed out that the professor's high reputation makes him an unnamed contributor to the White House propaganda machine.

A seasoned journalist well-versed in White House operations pointedly remarked: 'Johnson needs a pure, polished, 100% "White House-made" victory narrative. The professor's talent is undeniably indispensable, but his history is a footnote that needs to be folded up and filed away. Having him stand in the Rose Garden? That would disrupt their carefully crafted script.'

The White House's response to this newspaper's persistent questioning has become increasingly firm. Press Secretary George Christian responded this morning: "At a time when the nation is celebrating a great achievement, it is regrettable and nitpicky for the New York Times to persist with speculation about the so-called missing persons. The President is deeply grateful for the contributions of all those involved."

However, if gratitude exists only in words but not in the ceremony and on camera that should best reflect its significance, how sincere is it?

The Apollo command module once orbited the moon. Beyond its porthole lay deep space, explored by human courage and wisdom. If, in our celebrations on Earth, we cannot fairly acknowledge that embodiment of wisdom, the one who turned the stars into beacons, then is our understanding of this great achievement also like looking through a distant, distorted porthole?

The professor has indeed disappeared from public view.

The professor was nowhere to be seen at any celebrations.

Therefore, when Jenny Hearst's story was featured on the front page of The New York Times, it caused an uproar across the United States.

If there were a Twitter trending list, "Where did the professor go?" would instantly top the list.

"No, is Jenny Hearst out of her mind? Everyone else doesn't know where the professor went, but she doesn't?"

In the White House Oval Office, Lyndon Johnson was furious. He had finally managed to mitigate the negative impact of the Vietnam War's escalating defeats and growing anti-war sentiment on him by celebrating the moon landing, but the New York Times article rendered all his previous efforts futile.

The focus of public opinion has suddenly shifted to the White House's incompetence, claiming that the achievements in space exploration are all thanks to professors and President Kennedy's legacy.

The Civil Rights Act was President Kennedy's legacy, the Apollo moon landing was President Kennedy's legacy, but the Vietnam War, which Lyndon Johnson orchestrated himself, was a complete disaster.

Now public opinion has shifted again. As soon as this editorial was published, the attitude changed immediately. Media outlets in the Soviet bloc have launched a scathing attack on the White House, arguing that the White House's actions showed a lack of respect for talent and that they welcomed the professor to work in the Soviet Union, even offering him the position of president of the Soviet Academy of Sciences.

In a public interview, Leonard stated that if the professors were willing to come, the future president of the Russian Academy of Sciences would have an additional authority: overseeing science and technology work across the entire Soviet Union.

Lyndon Johnson was furious.

"No, why wouldn't the professor come to share the glory with us? Isn't it because he himself wants to take a long vacation?"
That old bastard Qu Runpu is even more shameless. What do you mean by excluding professors from the core of the celebration? Do you even know the truth? You dare to criticize the White House like this just for your brother's presidential election next year?

And what other seasoned journalists have pointed out? Isn't it you, Jenny Hearst, who pointed it out yourself?

Who exactly is that anonymous White House official? How dare they say such things to Jenny Hearst at a time like this? Humphrey, investigate immediately!

Lyndon Johnson was furious, practically burning with rage, because this was completely fabricated, a baseless accusation.

Lyndon Johnson suddenly stood up, squinted at Humphrey, and said, "Humphrey, that anonymous White House official wouldn't happen to be you, would he? I remember you have close ties with the Hearst family."

(Humphrey and Lyndon Johnson at the White House. Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society)
The Hearst family has a close relationship with Humphrey; to be precise, the founders of the Hearst family and the first and second generation patriarchs were both Democratic senators.

However, after 1932, Hearst's media empire switched its support to the Elephant Party, and it wasn't until the 1964 presidential election that the Hearst family returned to supporting the Donald Party for the first time.

(The New York Times published this news on September 18, 1964, with the headline "JOHNSON BACKED BY HEARST CHAIN; Papers Support Democrats for First Time Since 1932".)
Hearst supported Johnson, but quickly switched sides in 1968. The Hearst family's media empire provided Humphrey with a large amount of positive coverage and publicity, indirectly forcing Lyndon Johnson to withdraw from the party primary and making a significant contribution to Humphrey becoming the Democratic presidential nominee.

Humphrey quickly retorted, "Mr. President, how could it be me! I am utterly loyal to you!"

They were practically saying that heaven and earth bear witness and the sun and moon shine upon it.

Lyndon Johnson said, "Go investigate who's got the guts."

Humphrey cautiously reminded him, "What if it's McNamara? He's always spoken highly of the professor."

Lyndon Johnson roared, "If he calls me here too, I can't fire him, but I can still yell at him, right?"

The Vietnam War was ugly, at least to the public and the White House. But to the interest groups, it was wonderful. McNamara's command was brilliant. Without McNamara's command, how could we have made such a fortune?
So Lyndon Johnson had absolutely no way to deal with McNamara.

“Okay, I’ll go investigate right away,” Humphrey said, knowing that he couldn’t go against Lyndon Johnson at this point.

Lyndon Johnson then asked, "Humphrey, do you think this report was Jenny's idea, or the professor's?"

Before Humphrey could answer, Lyndon Johnson muttered to himself, "No, that's what the professor meant. Jenny Hearst wouldn't have published such a report without the professor's permission."

Others don’t know, so doesn’t she know?

The professor requested a long vacation and went to a small naval resort island in Hawaii, saying he wanted to retreat and reflect, and wanted to be alone.

As a result, all the staff on the island left, and the navy was responsible for sending someone to deliver water and food to him every day.

This was all arranged according to his instructions. If I remember correctly, Jenny West also visited the professor on that island. She was the only person to have been to the island during this period.

What is she writing here now, deliberately ignoring the professor's contributions? Isn't that utter nonsense?
This behavior is outrageous!

Humphrey nodded: "We have to teach Jenny Hearst a lesson! I'll go tell Press Secretary George Christian right now to revoke Jenny Hearst's White House press pass! Make sure she never has it again."

Before Humphrey could finish speaking, Lyndon Johnson interrupted, "That's not necessary. A president needs to have the vision of a president! We need to give young people opportunities."

Humphrey chuckled inwardly. He knew you wouldn't dare. You dare offend the Hearst family and the professor at the same time?
"Anyway, I'll think about it. I need to figure out how to communicate with the professor. I can't let him go to Nixon's or Fred's camp."

Especially that bitch Fred!

Fred was self-taught in how things work in the era of internet traffic sixty years later. No one taught him; he just knew to keep an eye on Lyndon Johnson and the whole nation would naturally know who he was.

It's okay to say idiotic things; idiotic things aren't scary. What's scary is that nobody cares.

His words would appear in the newspapers every day, becoming a topic of discussion across America and a subject of casual conversation. Even if it only resulted in people criticizing Fred as an idiot, it would be much better than being unknown.

Besides, Fred isn't just someone who spouts idiotic remarks; he sometimes has thought-provoking insights in his areas of expertise.

With such media coverage, coupled with his sending his son to the front lines of the Vietnam War, where he graduated from West Point and became a frontline army soldier, his great patriotism deeply moved the people of America.

This makes his image in the public eye seem exceptionally real.

In last year's Congressional election, Fred won by a landslide and continued to serve as a Congressman for New York.

He is clearly a rising political star in the party.

But precisely because of this, Lyndon Johnson could be said to hate Fred to the core.

Imagine you wake up every morning and see someone cursing you in the newspaper, spewing all sorts of vulgarities.

"Lydon Johnson is not even qualified to be the mayor of New York City, let alone the president."

"Lydon Johnson's command in the Vietnam War was a disaster; he was an absolute idiot."

"The thought that I would be led by Lyndon Johnson makes me feel like I've swallowed a fly."

What's even more ridiculous is that once, when Fred was being interviewed by a TV station downstairs at the T Building, he was asked about his views on the Vietnam War. Fred pointed to people walking their dogs on the side of the road and said:

"See? That dog would have done a better job in the White House than Lyndon Johnson."

If Nixon's rivalry stemmed from their shared ambition for the White House, then Lyndon Johnson's feelings towards Fred were more akin to wanting to kill him.

When Lyndon Johnson saw the report, which featured a photo of Fred pointing at a dog with a camera pointed at them, he thought that if he and Fred were alone in the White House office, he might not be able to resist pulling out a pistol from his drawer and shooting the other man.

Lyndon Johnson also specifically instructed McNamara to take good care of Fred's son, saying that he absolutely had to!

Lin Ran's message to McNamara was also: you need to take good care of Fred's son.

McNamara asked Lin Ran if it was okay for him to serve in the army on the front lines.
Lin Ran's answer was to let him receive full training before he went.

This is the Godfather's final act of care for you.

As a result, Fred's son is now on the front lines, becoming one of America's soldiers fighting the Scarecrow.

His image, dressed in camouflage and wearing a straw hat, is well-known throughout the United States, especially because he is Fred's son.

Fred was determined to groom his son to become a second-generation congressman or even president.

Of course, it would be best if I could be president.

“That’s right. The professor’s influence is too great, and his position is very delicate. He can influence academia, ethnic minorities, and the middle class at the same time.” Humphrey nodded and said, “Mr. President, I do not recommend that you have a conflict with him until the professor publicly breaks with you. At least in public, you need to maintain a friendly cooperative relationship.”

Humphrey thought to himself, "You didn't expect that, did you? I'm also trying to get the professor's support."

Martin Luther King Jr. did not die until 1968. Lin Ran could influence both Black and Asian people. He had an appealing effect on Asian people, but for Black people, it depended on whether he could persuade Martin Luther King Jr.

The problem is that Lyndon Johnson knew that his Vietnam War was opposed by everyone, and that he might actually be able to persuade the Black community to reluctantly side with the Elephant Party.

The thought of this gave him a headache; the other party's influence had become too great to handle. "I know, I know, the professor is my mentor and friend!"

A thought flashed through Humphrey's mind: "He can be replaced." He certainly didn't understand classical Chinese, but that was roughly the idea.

In 1968, it was Humphrey who forced Lyndon Johnson to step down.

Humphrey has already begun making plans.

He knew that gaining Lin Ran's support was extremely important.

Therefore, after meeting with Lyndon Johnson on January 30, Humphrey personally flew from Washington, D.C. to the Hawaiian Islands to pick up Lin Ran. It should be noted that this journey takes more than ten hours and requires refueling several times along the way, but for the presidency, this short distance is nothing.

The Hawaiian Islands bases are the U.S. military's logistics and command center in the Pacific region and are central to controlling the overall situation in the Pacific.

Lin Ran's vacation was on an unnamed small island in the entire archipelago.

With tens of thousands of American soldiers stationed there, Lin Ran couldn't escape; not even a fly could get in.

Lin Ran waited for Humphrey to pick him up at the naval headquarters on Oahu.

But instead of Humphrey, Fred called first.

"Professor, thank you!"

　I'm asking for your monthly votes!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)