Thorton Echevarria

From Wikimerica, the United States encyclopedia

**Thorton Mason Echevarria** (May 19, 2128 - Match 15, 2215) was an American Stateman, Politician and Military Officer who served as the first Emperor of the United States and as the 89th President of the United States from 2193 until his death in 2215. His rise to power and ascension to Emperor laid the final nail in the coffin for many American States, causing their secession from the Union and sparking the Third American Civil War before morphing into the Second American Revolutionary War. During his time as President and later Emperor he held near absolute power as the United States Congress lost much of its authority to halt the President's actions. He acted as a de facto dictator with unchecked power.

Born in Praia, Cape Verde he graduated from Praia University with a masters in political science and served in the military for 60 years until his appointment to the Presidency in 2193. He served longer than any other President in American history serving 6 terms in office, being assassinated halfway through his 6th term. He was the first President to serve directly appointed by the Imperialist Party of the United States. His administration oversaw the creation of a planetary defense system, alleged contact with extra terrestrial life and the Second Utopian-American War that ended in complete American defeat. During his Presidency Echevarria gave special attention to NASA and ordered the launch of Voyager 4 as well as several failed missions to enter deep space to safely retrieve Voyager 1, Voyager 2 and Voyager 3, believing all three had managed to gain sentience and thus deserved to be "rescued".

He is the only President in American history to have assumed office neither though the electoral college or the line of succession. The only President elected through the 33rd Amendment to the Constitution. His assumption to the Presidency while de jure legitimate, was seen as morally illegitimate by the vast majority of Americans and the speed at which the amendment was passed as well as Echevarria being an unknown figure lead to his immediate unpopularity upon being sworn in as President.

He is ranked as the worst President in American history for his manner of assumption of office, egotism, declaration of Empire, assumption of the title of Emperor, mismanagement of the economy, violation of civil rights, rollback of civil liberties, rampant tyranny and failure to hold the Nation together. He fundamentally broke the delicate system America was holding onto. The Imperialist Party had spent 50 years carefully establishing themselves as a normal and unchanging part of American society. Within 15 years Thorton broke that work. He accidentally near single handedly brought down the Imperialist system by revolving it around himself and shattering the public's trust in government.

## Early Life

Thorton Echevarria was born in May 19, 2128 in Praia National Hospital, Cape Verde, United States.

# Presidency (2193-2215)

***See:*** *Presidency of Thorton Echevarria*

The ratification of the 33rd Amendment caused riots and civil disturbances across the United States. However these protests were shorter than expected and the Imperialist Party saw little pushback, as it was widely known but generally unspoken that elections for the past decades by that point were already a sham.

### Inauguration

Thorton Echevarria was confirmed by the Imperialist Council by December 2192, set to be sworn in by January 20, 2193. He was sworn in at the East Portico of the United States Capitol with for the first time in history an inauguration audience of nearly zero. The only Former President to show out was outgoing Commander in Chief, Mohamed Dockery. Several Former Presidents outright boycott the inauguration.

Former Presidents Otto Cromwell and Roscoe Pasquale issued a joint press conference to speak on their disgust with the ratification of the 33rd Amendment and Echevarria's taking office.

### Earth Defense System

Paranoid since his childhood years of the potential of an asteroid striking the Earth President Echevarria issued Executive Order 912191 on February 12, 2193 to order for the creation and launch of several high powered satellites capable of locking onto and destroying any hostile object heading for earth. The satellites were launched and turned on June 31, 2193. This would prove to be a great twist of fate as just one month later NASA detected an asteroid the size of a semi-truck spiraling towards Earth. The first non test activation of the E.D.S. happened on August 3rd and hit the asteroid dead on, blowing it to pieces right as it passed by the Moon's rotation.

### Second Term

#### Utopian-American War

***See:*** *Rex 84*

In 2197 Echevarria would ask Congress to declare war on Utopia to liberate its population from "the worst abuse and most horrifying oppression since the Chinese Communists and even the Nazi's". On March 2, 2197 congress would declare war on Utopia for a second time since the Cromwell Administration. The first stage of the war saw bombers take off from Liberia to conduct limited bombing campaigns against critical military targets. Utopian Leadership would intentionally allow American sky planes to fly over parts of Utopia to see that the government had relocated thousands of children in or near critical military infrastructure and forts forcing Echevarria to cease bombings to avoid killing the children.

The next stage of operations saw a conventional invasion from Liberia as well as American soldiers invading through Nigeria and Egypt. This would end in disaster as Utopia began to send children to the front lines and in some cases strap children to soldiers and placed inside military vehicles as a test to see if the Americans would fire on children. The gamble paid off as Echevarria ordered a full scale retreat. As the Americans fled planes flew overhead dropping mustard gas on American soldiers burning them alive.

Seeing as Utopia was happy to use children as human shields in every part of conflict the United States was forced to withdraw just 6 weeks into the war, declaring an end to combat operations on April 17th.

#### Claims of first contact

Thorton Echevarria consistently claimed to have had first contact with an alien group called the 𝛿³∑x², and he had claimed to have meet with one of their Representatives at several points between 2193 to 2196. He made these claims to then Vice Presidents Kasey Rowland, Barnabas Blankenship and then Prime Minister Bismark Shardon. However after his death in 2215 and the fall of the Imperialist Party the Federal Government under Blankenship could not produce any evidence of his claims and recovered Imperialist Party Documents did not reveal anything like what Echevarria claimed leading to speculation that Echevarria was either lying or was delusional.

### Third Term

#### Third American Civil War

##### Declaration of the New Order

Echevarria had long grown uncomfortable with the United State's unofficial title as an empire. Seeing that it was an insult to the nation to not be considered a "proper" Empire. On January 2, 2199 Echevarria met with his cabinet, including his chief of staff Bismark Shardon, who was also the chief liaison between the Administration and Imperialist party. Echevarria laid out his plan to officially declare the United States an Empire. Echevarria's opponents in his cabinet and within the Imperialist party had long since been replaced with those staunchly loyal to the President. The cabinet approved of the move and Echevarria went about drafting a structure of government for the new Empire.

###### Birth of an Empire

On April 20th, 2200, President Thorton Echevarria called a special session of Congress. He gave a half hour speech where he declared that the United States needed to pull off it's "false mask" if it was going to be a respected power in the world. That an "Empire of the Republic" was the next step in the evolution of the American project. Members of Congress were secretly informed of the plan at various points of the year to ensure cooperation and praise on the night of the speech. The opposition within the opposition party and the Imperialist party who would have resisted the declaration were removed person by person from congress over the past few years, with the last remnants of opposition finally having been swept out during the 2197 midterms.

During that same speech, Echevarria on the spot proposed the "Articles of Empire" to the Congress for immediate voting. This was a constitutional amendment and the passage of the 32nd Amendment years earlier meant that the states no longer had a part in the ratification process. The vote in the House and Senate passes within an hour of it's proposal and Echevarria proudly signed the amendment on the spot. At 12:34 PM, the United States of the American Empire was born. The signing was met with thunderous applause.

###### Reception

The greater United States outside of Washington D.C. received the declaration extremely poorly. Public approval polls taken right after the announcemnt were so harsh that it was nearly impossible to forge them as favorable. State governments were furious at not having been consulted about the declaration and the Governors of California, Texas, Philippines, New York, Greece, North Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan openly spoke about succession.

##### Outbreak

On April 22, 2200, the State Legislature of Iraq voted near unanimously to succeed from the Union. Governor Saddam Jackson stated that the "Union of American States, that Iraq was forced into against the will of our people, has cross a line into tyranny it always toyed with. This American experiment has failed by allowed a man like Echevarria do drag this nation into hell and brimstone. My people, those who trust me, have spoken their opposition to this action. The federal government I know will not turn by now, so we must turn away, while we hope to preserve the liberty we hold so dear."

##### Fighting in Iraq

As expected, Echevarria refused to accept the succession. He mobilized the Iraqi National Guard to arrest the members of the legislature who voted to succeed and Governor Jackson, as well as to prevent Federal Buildings and Military Installations from coming under attack.

### Fourth Term

#### Raiding of Business

During the mid point of the war, the U.S. Government began to run out of Money to buy weapons, food and bullets. The Echevarria Administration's response was to start issuing citations and massive fines on business's for the slightest infractions including arbitrary violations done so for the reason of taking their money to use it to fund the war effort.

##### Republic of Nintendo

Nintendo had long been a target of the Echevarria Administration for it's massive cash reserves and thus Nintendo of America secretly moved its resources out of the United States and into Japan before being evicted there as well resulting in the creation of the Republic of Nintendo.

### Presidential Confirmation of 2212

The sixth confirmation of Thorton Echevarria came on December 28, 2112 and saw him lose his bid at re-confirmation 9-1. The counsel cited their decision at his inability to win the civil war, the collapse of the American economy, the loss of American prestige in the world and claims over his mental fitness to be President.

## Presidential Contingent Confirmation of 2112

Losing his confirmation vote, Echevarria appealed the vote as was allowed once after voting had concluded. He was given a hearing to plea his case as to why he should remain President. The Imperialist Counsel seemed unimpressed and hinted their vote would remain the same. The vote was set for the next day however after the hearing 7 of the counsel members had went out for drinks that night. While driving in a party limo the breaks of the car gave out sending it into oncoming traffic and right into the way of an 18 Wheeler Truck. The limo was destroyed in the accident and all 8 passengers died in the crash.

Police imminently counted Emperor Echevarria as a suspect into their deaths and launched an investigation that came up with no connection to Echevarria. Since the vote could not be moved up from its set date the day after there was not enough time to replace the dead counsel members meaning only 3 men were left to vote. All of whom voted for Echevarria, possibly convinced of his arguments or out of fear, believing Echevarria had orchestrated the accident.

### Sixth Term

#### Deconstruction of Hershey

As the Second American Revolution dragged on the Imperialist Party began to run dangerously low on metal and recourses. President Thorton Echeveria issued an executive order to instruct the War Resource Authority to target the City of Hershey, Pennsylvania for destruction to use the recourses of building to replenish recourses.

Residents were given no notice to the upcoming renovations and during the night of January 3, 2215 the entire City, excluding Hospitals, Police Departments, Fire Departments and privately owned homes were torn apart and stripped of their recourses to the foundation. Most every building in the city was removed entirely. When residents woke up to find their city gone protests broke out and mass arrests were made.

#### Final days (March 1st - March 15th)

##### Evacuation of Washington

By March 1st the situation in the United States was extremely dire, Congress had dissolved, the World no longer recognized the U.S. and the Commawatch was rapidly approaching. By 12:34 PM Echevarria had ordered a full evacuation of the White House, empty trucks lined the White House to begin moving valuable and historic artifacts out of the White House to avoid destruction as well as Echavarria's personal furniture and belongings. The Evacuation had completed by 1:37 AM and Echevarria left by motorcade just moments before Commawatch arrived at the White House ruins.

###### Destruction of the White House

Miscommunication on part of the evacuation team caused for a fuel truck to be accidentally parked near the west wing of the White House. A call came in mistakenly communicating that many of the moving trucks were dangerously low on fuel and gas stations near by were deemed unsafe to move towards. When the truck parked men began to ferry gasoline from the tanker truck to moving trucks.

A careless man was smoking a cigarette and discarded it while still lit on the ground near gasoline that has spilled onto the ground. The gasoline ignited and caused an explosion damaging large parts of the West Wing of the White House and blowing a hole into the Oval Office and killing 3 men.

### End of the United States Congress

*See: No. 33*

On March 1, 2215, the United States Congress in the House and Senate voted itself out of existence and declared the Nation dissolved. During these proceedings blame would be put on Echavarria and there was pushback to if Congress even had the ability to dissolve itself or suspend the Constitution. This vote would come just moments before the Commawatch would breach Imperial defenses and march on Washington, sending the former Members of Congress fleeing.

Echevarria would not recognize this decision and would rant and rave about Congress's betrayal. He would however make no attempt to force Congress to continue operations and saw it as a blank cheque to do whatever he wanted.

After becoming President Blankenship would certify that Congress had no right to do any of that it had done just 15 days earlier and that Congress had never actually stopped existing. Also that the Constitution was not suspended for any amount of time. The Supreme Court would later agree with this sentiment in *United States v. Barnabas Blankenship* and *United States v. United States Constitution.*

### Loss of Authority

During the final days of his Administration and Life his Authority began do rapidly disintegrate at a faster speed than could have been anticipated. On March 7, Kanawha's State Government issued a statement that while not planning an immediate secession, they were no longer to accept the Authority or demands of the Federal Government and declared full autonomy within the United States. On March 9th Kanawha, Kantoka, Delaware, Connecticut Rhode Island and Providence Plantations all declared full autonomy and cut off the sending of taxes to the Federal Government out of Pennsylvania until Echevarria resigned as President.

#### Pennsylvania Coup

On March 10th, Pennsylvania Governor John Hitchcock prepared to have his state declare autonomy however his speech was leaked to Echevarria who had him arrested before he could make it official.

### Assassination

#### Plot to kidnap Echevarria

The insurgent group known as the Commawatch resolved to bring an end to the Third American Civil War by sparking a Second American Revolution to destroy the Imperialist Party and restore the United States. A crucial part of the plan was the kidnapping of President Emperor Thorton Echevarria. Soon into the plot it was decided that Echevarria had to die if the United States was to live. Echevarria was to be kidnapped after attending a meeting held in Pennsylvania. General Bullrun Jackson had ordered the changing of Emperor's Royal Guard under the pretense removing less trustworthy security when in reality it served to place co-conspirators right next to Echevarria.

#### Kidnapping

March 15th came and the plan was executed, Echevarria and Hartmont were grabbed and thrown into a motorcade as it drove off with Blankenship and Sunrise following close behind. The Emperors guard's who remained loyal to Echevarria was left stunned and caught off guard. They failed to catch up with the motorcade before it crossed rebel controlled territory. Echevarria was taken to an underground facility in Washington D.C. and was held in a prison cell for several hours.

#### Demands for surrender

Vice President Blankenship made video contact with Imperialist Party leadership and demanded a surrender of the party otherwise Echevarria and Hartmont would be executed. Seeing as there were simply not enough resources available to be diverted to a potential rescue mission the party refused.

#### Trial

After the threats entirely failed Echevarria was put on trial by a tribunal of Commawatch members. In a 5-4 decision it was decided Echevarria would die. Echevarria was left shocked and stunned after leaning his sentence. He did not expect for one second he would be executed.

#### Execution

Echevarria was going to be put inside a gas chamber as the method of execution but at his request it was changed to death by gunshot wound. He also demanded to be executed by Blankenship himself. He reasoned that Blankenship was a traitor akin to Judas and Brutus and he should be forced to carry out the murder personally. Blankenship reluctantly agreed to carry it out. Echevarria was fatally shot in the heart and forehead. His final words being "You think you'll get away with this? History will remember this moment, your betrayal, your cowardice. The universe will not forgive you for doing this to me, for i have done not a thing to have earned it. So do it, do your worst. I do not fear you."

#### Aftermath

After his death his body was cleaned up and placed inside a coffin. It was decided to not take any decision on what to do with his body until his next of kin could be reached and informed of his death.

# Sites, Memorials, and Honors

Several monuments, memorials and places have been dedicated to Thorton Echevarria. Most of these have been made by private citizens but several towns, mostly in Pennsylvania and Cape Verde have been named after Thorton Echevarria.

# Legacy

Thorton Ehcevarria is constantly regarded as the worst President in American history, a man who brought the United States to it's collapse and crowned himself Emperor in an egotistical move to remain in power forever. He built a cult of personality around himself only to see it collapse with the Nation. He used his life to put himself in power and oppress millions. When he is given credit it is usually for his protections of religious and racial minorities, unlike most dictators he never used any group as a scapegoat as a means to acquire power.

He always thought highly of himself, comparing himself to Franklin D. Roosevelt and Otto Cromwell. He seemed to genuinely believe history would vindicate and acquit him of any wrongdoing during his term. He believed he would not be blamed for the collapse of the United States and he never blamed himself for it.

Modern scholars are kinder to his regime as he is now thought of as less malicious and more incompetent pretending to be malicious. His refusal to execute rebellion or Commawatch prisoners of war or his refusal to crackdown on civil liberties to the point of killing as seen in so many other regimes leaves him better remembered than most. It is a common belief in recent times that he was not an evil man, not someone who wanted to do harm and who actively avoided it where he could. This reconstruction of his image has also lead to vilification of the Commawatch's decision to execute him without trial, especially the decision of Barnabas Blankenship to personally murder his friend and President, an act that directly gave him the Presidency. There is substantial debate as to whether or not Blankenship should have been arrested for murder.

After his death his body was collected and inurned in the "Hall of the Presidents", an action approved by the Blankenship Administration only to be reversed by the Alighieri II Administration for that action to be reversed by the Peralta Administration.

1. ↑ Germany declared Echevarria a tyrant and unfit for office on April 22, 2200.
2. ↑ On April 23, 2200 the Bundestag declared Echevarria "incapacitated" and devolved his duties to Second Deputy of State, Veil Hartmont. Echevarria would never acknowledge this as legitimate.
3. ↑ On March 1, 2215 Thorton Echevarria decided to officially declare Prime Minister and Second Servant Veil Hartmont acting Servant of State. Both would leave office 14 days later.