Bill Hobby

Author says: what if a Second Republic of Texas had been founded in 1873? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).

on this day William Pettus "Bill" Hobby, Jr. the thirtieth President of the Second Republic of Texas was born in the city of Houston.

Bill Hobby
30th President of the Second Republic of Texas, March 3, 1975 - 1978The only son of William P. Hobby, Sr., and OvetaCulp Hobby, he was born into a political family. Both his grandfathers were in the Texas Legislature. His father was also a Vice President and his mother was the first person appointed to the new position of Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, serving in that position from 1953 to 1955.

Due to these political connections, after graduating from Rice University in Houston he was nominated for enrolment into the "future leaders of America". This exchange programme was conceived by Eisenhower as a result of his experience of un-coordinated American commands during World War Two. Supported by US President Adlai Stevenson, Hobby was fortunate to have the opportunate serve in the US Navy for four years in naval intelligence.

For many years, the Hobby family owned the now-defunct Houston Post, at which Hobby worked. He worked his way Please click the icon to follow us on Facebook.through the editorial department. When his father became ill in 1963, Hobby assumed editorial and managerial control of the newspaper. He remained president of the Post for twenty years - until the family sold the newspaper in 1983. It was absorbed by the Houston Chronicle (which is still publishing) in 1995. The Hobbys also started the first Houston radio station. Shortly after the death of his father, Houston Municipal Airport was renamed William P. Hobby Airport.

His lengthy career in government began in 1959, when he elected as parliamentarian of the Texas Senate. Following appointments from Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Preston Smith he resigned from the Texas National Air Control Board in 1971 to launch his first, and unsuccessful run for the Presidency. Between 1975 and 1996 he would serve three unprecedented non-consecutive three year terms.

Author says to view guest historian's comments on this post please visit the Today in Alternate History web site.
1) Thanks to Robbie Taylor for his suggestion of a less nationally known politican as a contemporary Texan President.
2) The authority and responsibilities of the President was similar to that of the President of the United States; to serve the people of Texas, and to serve as the head of the military and the state, and were detailed in the Constitution of the Republic of Texas of 1836. The Constitution specified a term of two years for the first elected President (Sam Houston) and terms of three years thereafter; the President could not succeed himself, but there were otherwise no term limits. The President was elected separately from the Vice-President, by popular vote, and there was no requirement to be native-born. A strict reading of the Constitution provided for woman's suffrage (that is, both men and women were citizens and could vote for Congress, President, and other offices), but women and preachers or priests were not allowed to serve as President or in Congress. Indians and Africans and those of African descent could not be citizens.
3) Texas was originally part of Mexico until The Mexican-Yankee War.It then became a Yankee state until the 1860s when they merged with the CSA. In 1868 Texas rejoined The Yankees.Most Texans didn't care one way or the other and just went with their leaders.Texans were fairly unhappy with both governments and thus were created into an independent nation in 1873.

Imagine what would be, if history had occurred a bit differently. Who says it didn't, somewhere? These fictional news items explore that possibility. Possibilities such as America becoming a Marxist superpower, aliens influencing human history in the 18th century and Teddy Roosevelt winning his 3rd term as president abound in this interesting fictional blog.