Aaron Kimball

President Aaron Kimball is the current president of the New California Republic in 2281. A devoted citizen and retired decorated NCR Army general, Kimball rose atop the political ladder in the NCR using his military service and war hero status. In 2273, he became a representative of the Hub. Later on, in the same year, Kimball ousted incumbent Wendell Peterson as president of the New California Republic and won reelection in 2278. Kimball secured his position with his hardline stances on political issues, despite his failures, such as the Mojave Campaign, an elongated, seven-year annexation of the Mojave Wasteland.Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 458: "Important Dates:2253: President Tibbett is removed from office by a vote of no confidence following her 'timid' response to the massacre of 38 NCR citizens at the hands of Mojave raiders. Her replacement, President Wendell Peterson, orders three battalions of NCR infantry into the Mojave.2273 Aaron Kimball retires from the NCR military and runs for office as one of Hub's political representatives (or 'governors,' as Hub idiosyncratically calls them). Less than two months into his term, Wendell Peterson is voted out of office and Aaron Kimball becomes the NCR's next President."(Behind the Bright Lights & Big City)
==Background==
Born in 2232 or 2233,Mr. New Vegas: "Once again, NCR President Aaron Kimball, dead at 48."(Mr. New Vegas' dialogue) Aaron Kimball is a decorated war hero and retired general of the New California Republic Army. He rose to prominence in the course of his swift, draconian military campaigns against the tribes of the Sierra Nevada in 2269 and the Mojave areas around Bullhead City in 2270,Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 458: "Important Dates2270: The extirpation of tribals in the area of present-day Bullhead City is complete. 'The Pacification of the Mojave,' as it comes to be known, makes General Aaron Kimball a national hero.2273: Aaron Kimball retires from the NCR military and runs for office as one of Hub's political representatives (or 'governors,' as Hub idiosyncratically calls them). Less than two months into his term, Wendell Peterson is voted out of office and Aaron Kimball becomes the NCR's next President.2274: NCR forces move east and occupy Hoover Dam. The NCR reluctantly signs the Treaty of New Vegas recognizing Mr. House and his stewards, the Three Families, as the rightful owners of the Strip. The Strip opens for business."(Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide/Behind the Bright Lights & Big City) performed in retaliation for attacks against NCR citizens in 2253. His actions earned him the title of "The Hero of the Mojave" and free rein from President Tandi's successors.The Courier: "What's your opinion of President Kimball?"Caesar: "A man of potential, held back by the You realize he was a general? 'The Hero of the Mojave,' they called him. A title he earned by extirpating lesser tribes that dared attack NCR citizens. His responses were President Tandi, the 'founding mother,' coddled hostile tribes... but her successors were less naive, so they gave Kimball free rein. And after a respectable military career, what does he do? Become a "(Caesar's dialogue)Robert House: "Kimball rose to prominence as the 'Hero of the Mojave' when he led a campaign of reprisals against tribals who dared to attack NCR citizens."(Mr. House's dialogue)
A devoted citizen and retired decorated NCR Army general, Kimball rose atop the political ladder in the NCR using his military service and war hero status. In 2273, he became a representative of the Hub. Later on, in the same year, Kimball ousted incumbent Wendell Peterson as president of the New California Republic and won reelection in 2278. Kimball secured his position with his hardline stances on political issues, despite his failures, such as the Mojave Campaign, an elongated, seven-year annexation of the Mojave Wasteland.Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 458: "Important Dates2253: President Tibbett is removed from office by a vote of no confidence following her 'timid' response to the massacre of 38 NCR citizens at the hands of Mojave raiders. Her replacement, President Wendell Peterson, orders three battalions of NCR infantry into the Mojave.2273 Aaron Kimball retires from the NCR military and runs for office as one of Hub's political representatives (or 'governors,' as Hub idiosyncratically calls them). Less than two months into his term, Wendell Peterson is voted out of office and Aaron Kimball becomes the NCR's next President."(Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide/Behind the Bright Lights & Big City)
In 2273, Kimball retired from the military service in favor of a political career. He enjoys widespread popular support for his status as a hero and a hardline approach to tribes. His campaign for the seat of Hub congressman was successful. Less than two months into his term, Wendell Peterson was voted out of the office and Kimball was voted in, becoming the fifth president of the New California Republic.The Courier: "Tell me about yourself, Ambassador."Dennis Crocker: "I managed President Kimball's first run for a seat on the Council. "(Dennis Crocker's dialogue) His first act of office was to order the occupation of the Hoover Dam in 2274, an act which led to the establishment of the New Vegas Treaty, sending clean water and 95% of the dam's power to New California and NCR cities, causing his popularity to soar among the citizenry.The Courier: "Why do you care whether Kimball lives or dies?"Robert House: "I care because he is a known quantity - not the man so much as the political context he inhabits. Kimball rose to prominence as the 'Hero of the Mojave' when he led a campaign of reprisals against tribals who dared to attack NCR citizens. Ordering the occupation of Hoover Dam was his first act of office. As water and electricity flowed to NCR cities, his popularity soared. Conversely, his failure to annex the Mojave these seven years, and the immense costs of occupying a foreign land, have eroded his popular support."(Robert House's dialogue)The Courier: "So why don't you want the NCR President to die?"Robert House: " If I compel the NCR to retreat, Kimball will be the sacrifice offered to the gods, so decent NCR citizens can get on with their lives. In retrospect, the Mojave and Hoover Dam will seem like one man's misadventure. Kimball will be blamed, not me. Not New Vegas."(Robert House's dialogue)The Courier: "And if Kimball were to be assassinated?" Robert House: "Then the Hero of the Mojave would become the Martyr of Hoover Dam. And when, subsequently, I force the NCR to retreat... They lick their wounds, and dream of righteous vengeance against New Vegas. Hello, embargo, farewell, tourist economy. I've calculated and re-calculated these probabilities. Kimball must live."(Robert House's dialogue)
Kimball's popularity, amplified by the reactionary undercurrent, proved enduring. Kimball saw the abandonment of the Followers of the Apocalypse as an officially supported group within the NCR and the forming of the Office of Science and Industry in 2275 to make up for the technical support the Followers provided.Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p.458: "Important Dates2275 Camp McCarran is established as NCR Headquarters in the Mojave. Sporadic fighting begins with the Mojave Brotherhood of Steel. The NCR government withdraws official support from the Followers of the Apocalypse and founds The Office of Science and Industry."'' Even overturning laws designed to limit the number of cattle head and the acreage of fields that could be owned by a single person, allowing the Stockmen's Association and Republican Farmer's Committee to grow even more powerful, essentially creating the so-called brahmin barons and agricultural barons, did not tarnish his reputation.Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 456: "Controversy over Economic DevelopmentThe NCR's economy is based on two resources: its great Brahmin herds, and swaths of land that have been restored to arable condition. These provide the nation with meat, leather, and starchy vegetables. During President Tandi's presidency, regulations limited the number of cattle head and the acreage of fields that could be owned by a single person. Despite constant pressure from the Stockmen's Association and Republican Farmer's Committee, such regulations loosened only a little so long as Tandi was in office. Following her death, however, they eroded until President Kimball overturned them completely.As a result, the past 12 years have seen the rise of the Brahmin Barons and Agri-Barons: captains of industry who are, by post-apocalyptic standards, spectacularly wealthy. This has given birth to a number of cottage industries, from the rebirth of luxury goods production to 'journalism' that reports on the latest purchases, commissions, and 'life lessons' of the newly rich and famous."(Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide/Behind the Bright Lights & Big City) What did tarnish it, however, was the failure to annex the Mojave for seven years, draining resources, caps, and human lives led to it becoming an enduring political embarrassment for President Kimball. By 2281, Kimball's political career hinges on the speedy annexation of the Mojave and New Vegas. As the symbol of the NCR's involvement in Nevada, Kimball is crucial to further expansion of the republic eastward. His death would likely infuriate the republic and cement both the NCR's occupation of the Mojave and Kimball's legacy as a martyr.The Courier: "How will the NCR react to Kimball's death? Won't it just anger them?"Caesar: "It'll frighten them. If I can reach out and kill whomever I choose, then they know the only reason they're alive is I haven't tried yet. You have to understand that Kimball is a symbol. Without him, there would be no NCR occupation of the Mojave. He mustered the troops - -and sent them in. All the right reasons, done all the wrong ways. Any invasion by a democracy is a half-measure. When Kimball dies, the NCR will from the Mojave, and from his legacy. By the time they recover and try to strike back, I'll be invading them."(Caesar's dialogue)Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 457: "Civic MilitarismUnder Kimball's regime rhetoric promoting the patriotism and heroism of the NCR's armed forces has been constant, but the actual reputation of the military has worsened somewhat. While it is still regarded as an honorable profession, economic conditions driving citizens who might previously have eked by to enlist have tarnished the military's luster. To make matters worse, the NCR's expedition to the Mojave has failed to annex New Vegas, and soldiers struggle with the difficult climate and being so far from home for extended periods of service."(Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide/Behind the Bright Lights & Big City)Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 458: "Controversy over the Vegas FrontierThe NCR spread east into Nevada in large numbers just five years ago on a 'humanitarian mission' to 'bring the light of civilization to the savage wastes of the Mojave.' Hoover Dam was the symbol of the expedition-reports from the Followers of the Apocalypse had confirmed that it was still intact as early as 2170-and its occupation by NCR troops in 2274 was a celebrated event. Even more exciting was the restarting of the dam's hydroelectric plant eleven months later, which dramatically improved the access of many NCR citizens to electricity and water.Since then, most of the news has been bad. Skirmishes with local tribes and the first battle for Hoover Dam have cost the lives of more than 400 of the NCR's soldiers and civilians. Until the oft-promised annexation of New Vegas becomes a reality, the government continues to spend much of its budget on 'safeguarding the region' while in return receiving not one Cap in tax revenue. The expedition has proved to be an enduring, low-intensity political embarrassment for President Kimball.Among NCR citizens, the most common political attitude is impatience. They want Vegas annexed; they want it over with. Most expect that this will finally occur once Caesar's Legion has been 'beat for good.' Opposition to the Vegas occupation amounts to a vocal minority, and of these, most oppose it as a waste of lives and tax caps. The more radical opinion that the expedition amounts to the imperialist subjugation of an unwilling territory is seen as unpatriotic: the kind of pap spouted by the good-for-nothing agitators like those Followers of the Apocalypse."(Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide/Behind the Bright Lights & Big City)Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 457: "EqualityBy law, the NCR prohibits persecution and discrimination on the basis of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, or religious belief (so long as said religion does not advocate violence). Legal protection of Ghouls and other mutants was added in 2205, though enforcement of these rights has been spotty. For the most part, the NCR's practices live up to its ideals, but there has been some retrenchment since the death of President Tandi. Aaron Kimball's popularity was amplified by a reactionary undercurrent, especially among males, calling out a need for a 'strong man' to lead the NCR forward. In the years since Kimball took office, male military officers have been promoted disproportionately to females, and discourse arguing the differences between males and females has reappeared."(Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide/Behind the Bright Lights & Big City)
Kimball's presidency would be further challenged by conflicts with the Brotherhood and raiders which took a toll on troops stationed in the Mojave and elsewhere. Kimball's decision to send the most experienced Rangers to "chase ghosts" in Baja while sending conscripts to fight in the harsh deserts of the Mojave soon began to shape his image, tying him personally with the Mojave Campaign. Increasing difficulty for troop and supply navigation through the Long 15 as well as the NCR council's insistence on diverting funds to the Boneyard has led to a precarious position for the NCR's hold on the Mojave.Hanlon: "It's no secret that we've had better campaigns. Holding this whole length of river isn't easy. We're stretched thin and the Long 15 just keeps getting longer. Slow to get supplies. Slower to get reinforcements. NCR's senate has got funds tied up at the Boneyard and President Kimball ordered our most experienced rangers to chase ghosts down in Baja."(Hanlon's dialogue) Additionally, his single-minded focus on the Mojave campaign has drained away public support for his administration.Robert House: "Conversely, his failure to annex the Mojave these seven years, and the immense costs of occupying a foreign land, have eroded his popular support."(Mr. House's dialogue) The people of the NCR, told going in that victory in the Mojave would be easy, have become war-weary of the campaign's long length and its high cost in human life and materiel.
Although the NCR's dominance in the Mojave led to early popular support for Kimball's goal of a new manifest destiny and return to old world American values, this would be challenged by a new arrival: Caesar's Legion. The often brutal tactics of the Legion and the heavy losses incurred with no apparent gain have caused the populace in Nevada and back in New California to question the point of the war. Kimball, however, insists on continuing the campaign and has invested much of his administration into fighting the Legion, resulting in the Campaign being nicknamed "Kimball's War," with the ramifications of victory or defeat tremendously affecting Kimball's entire career and the NCR as a whole.Hanlon: "Not too long ago, they took Nelson and Searchlight. They've got some camps on the eastern shore of the Colorado, and the monstrosity on the hill across the lake - that's for Caesar. Some folks don't believe he's here yet, but you can tell. He's the eye of the storm. It all roils and spins around him. You don't have to see the man to see the effect he has."(Hanlon's dialogue)Robert House: "Kimball's entire political career is inextricably bound up with the NCR's occupation of the Mojave. It's his war. If I compell the NCR to retreat, Kimball will be the sacrifice offered to the gods, so decent NCR citizens can get on with their lives. In retrospect, the Mojave and Hoover Dam will seem like one man's misadventure. Kimball will be blamed, not me. Not New Vegas."(Robert House's dialogue)
===Personality===
Kimball's personality is accurately summarized by the term "war hawk." Supported by Colonel Cassandra Moore and General Lee Oliver, President Kimball firmly believes in expanding the NCR and bringing new territories into the fold by any means necessary, be it Hoover Dam or Baja. This stance, as well as disregard for losses, is one of the greatest issues Chief Hanlon, the architect of the first victory at the dam, has with the president. Kimball was better liked as a general than as a politician, where his stiff, autocratic style of leadership was much more fitting. 
Caesar admires the president's aggressive personality and policy towards tribes, but disapproves of him having to deal with obstacles the republic's democratic system throws up against him.The Courier: "Isn't it natural for someone like Kimball to seek greater power?"Caesar: "But he did so by What better way to stunt the growth of leaders, not to mention whole cultures? A leader shouldn't have to kowtow to those who serve him. With so much energy wasted on those below, how is he ever to move forward? Had he taken the government by force, used his army to stage a coup, things would be very different. I'll just have to do it for him."(Caesar's dialogue) In addition, the fact that Caesar specifically wants Kimball assassinated speaks volumes of his estimation of Kimball's importance within the NCR's leadership structure and his importance to NCR morale.
Ulysses respects Chief Hanlon a great deal more than he does Kimball, considering him weak in comparison, possessing only "half the life Hanlon had," and even then only because of the Courier aiding him.Ulysses: " faint, but there. Heard tales of you walking the Mojave. Giving the two-headed bear strength. Giving hollow men like Kimball, like Crocker, half the life Hanlon had. Now... let's test that strength. That... 'conviction.' ."(Ulysses' dialogue)
==Interactions with the player character==
===Interactions overview===
===Quests===
* You'll Know It When It Happens, Wild Card: Finishing Touches, The House Always Wins, VI: The Courier is tasked by Colonel Moore, Yes Man or Mr. House respectively to protect the president during his speech.
* Arizona Killer: The Courier is tasked by Caesar to assassinate President Kimball for the Legion.
===Effects of player's actions===
* If the Courier sides with the Legion, Caesar himself orders them to assassinate President Kimball when he comes to Hoover Dam to make his speech. Depending on the success of the Courier's efforts, Kimball either dies as Caesar intended or escapes, angering him.
* If the Courier sides with the NCR, they work alongside Ranger Grant to provide security for President Kimball during his speech. Depending on how well this is done, Kimball either completes his speech and departs as planned or is hustled to his personal Vertibird as one of the possible assassination attempts occurs, cutting his speech short. 
* If the Courier sides with Mr. House, House sends them to Hoover Dam to protect President Kimball during his visit. If he dies, House reasons, Kimball will become a martyr for hawkish elements of the NCR Senate. If he lives and the NCR loses the campaign, however, he will be blamed for a costly and humiliating defeat. After securing his victory at Hoover Dam, House smugly notes that he and the Courier have nothing to fear from Kimball now- "He'll be too busy getting thrown out of office."Robert House: "No need to worry about the General, by the way. He'll be held responsible, publicly disgraced... 36.5% probability of suicide, by my estimate... Kimball won't be able to save him - he'll be too busy getting thrown out of office."(Mr. House's dialogue (Securitron))
* If the Courier fails to protect President Kimball during his visit under any affiliation save the Legion, Kimball will be assassinated by agents of Caesar.
===Other interactions===
Aaron Kimball is one of the characters that the Courier must eat in order to earn the Meat of Champions perk.
===Kimball's speech at Hoover Dam===
==Inventory==
==Notes==
* Looking closely at Kimball during his speech at Hoover Dam will show that his lips don't move.
* Asking Mr. House why he's interested in preserving Aaron Kimball's life during his visit will lead House to explain that he simply wants Kimball to remain alive so he can become the scapegoat for his nation to place the blame upon after Mr. House pushes the NCR out of New Vegas, rather than becoming a martyr for his apparently unpopular cause of annexing the region. This will prevent New Vegas from being placed under an NCR trade embargo, or worse, having war declared upon it.
* Dennis Crocker and Colonel Hsu have a portrait of President Kimball in their respective offices. A defaced version of Kimball's portrait is also present in the warden's office at the NCR Correctional Facility, which has been taken over by Eddie and the Powder Gangers; the words "President Aaron Kimball" have also been replaced with "Peaches."
* He cannot be pickpocketed, even by using a Stealth Boy to sneak up on him.
* Even years after leaving the NCR Army, Kimball continues to wear a short, distinctly "military" haircut and maintains a hawkish political stance.
** This haircut can be chosen while creating or customizing the Courier, and is called the "Sarge."
* President Aaron Kimball is mentioned by Father Elijah in the first act of Dead Money. This can be heard when eavesdropping on Elijah through the radio frequency 743.00Hz ULF.Elijah: ""(Elijah's dialogue) 
==Appearances==
Aaron Kimball appears only . He is also mentioned in the Fallout: New Vegas add-ons Dead Money and Lonesome Road. A picture of Kimball appears episode "The Trap."
==Behind the scenes==
* Kimball's character and his speech at Hoover Dam were written by project director Joshua Sawyer.Joshua Sawyer Formspring posts/2011:Question: "I know that you wrote a couple of the quests, including Return To Sender, but did you help write any parts of the main storyline of New Vegas? If so, what parts?"Joshua Sawyer: "For the most part, I only wrote high-level documents. I didn't write any of the plot-critical characters and I didn't do detailed area development or implementation. I wrote our RDC (Region Design Constraints) documents, which had a basic overview of the concepts/conflicts for all of the primary locations (e.g. Goodsprings, Mojave Outpost, the vaults, The Strip, Nellis AFB, etc.) and I did the initial write-ups for the companions (just a page each covering their basic concept, background, personality, voice, and intended plot arc). Let me just do a mini-writing credits dump to answer a lot of common questions here. Most of the major plot characters (Benny, Victor, Caesar, Mr. House) and the main story itself were written by the game's creative lead, John Gonzalez. Eric Fenstermaker wrote Veronica and Boone. Chris Avellone wrote Cass, Lanius, and Oliver. Travis Stout wrote Lily and Raul. Most of the other characters, major and minor, were split between the writers above and other area designers. Of course the actual full design treatments, quests, and implementation of areas were done by the area designers. The only "big" characters I wrote were Chief Hanlon, Arcade Gannon, and President Kimball's speech. Also I just wrote/structured the dialogue in GECK. The design, implementation, and scripting for the associated quests of those dialogues (Return to Sender, For Auld Lang Syne, You'll Know It When You See It/Arizona Killer) were handled by Matt McLean, Travis Stout, Jeff Husges, and Charlie "Master of Hoover" Staples. Most of the content design and generation I did was for game systems (SPECIAL + gambling/Caravan + equipment)." When writing for Kimball, Sawyer researched various political speeches and implemented many common themes, such as repetition of phrases, including the audience in the speech and lengthening parts for climactic tension.Joshua Sawyer Formspring posts/2012:Question: "Did you read/study any president/politician's speech to write Kimball's speech in New Vegas or did you just pretty much did your own thing with it? I'm curious because it's one of the most overlooked pieces of writing in the game imo."Joshua Sawyer: "I looked at a variety of speeches and utilized basic elements of structure I found in a number of them: repeated phrases, the inclusion of the audience in the actions of the speech, and lengthening of phrases to build toward a climactic moment.For President Kimball's voice actor, I asked that he be in the ballpark of Dirty Dozen-era Lee Marvin."
* Kimball is voiced by actor Monte Markham, who also played Pascal Fullerton on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Sawyer specifically requested a delivery similar to actor Lee Marvin and his portrayal of the character Major John Reisman in the 1967 film The Dirty Dozen.
** In localized versions of the game, Kimball's voice is dubbed by Luis Mas (Spanish).
==Gallery==
Aaron Kimball.jpg
AaronKimballPortrait.jpg|Kimball's portrait
Kimble defaced.png|A defaced portrait of Kimball found in the NCRCF and Bison Steve Hotel
FNV NCR Embassy sign.png|On the embassy sign
AaronKimball.png
You'll Know it When it Happens.png|President Kimball in the trophy graphic for You'll Know It When It Happens
Arizona Killer.png|President Kimball in the trophy graphic for Arizona Killer
File:President Kimball Front.png|President Kimball Collector's Edition playing card
;Fallout TV series
Kimball on the sacrifice table TV series.png|A picture of Kimball on the sacrifice table during the Cult of the Flame Mother ceremony.
==References==
Non-game
Category:Fallout: New Vegas human characters
Category:Fallout: New Vegas NCR characters
Category:Collector's Edition playing card characters
Category:Dead Money mentioned-only characters
Category:Lonesome Road mentioned-only characters
Category:Fallout TV series mentioned-only characters
Category:Hoover Dam characters
Category:Antagonists
Category:NCR politicians
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