Charles Bonaparte

President Bonaparte

**Charles Bonaparte** (February 3, 1908 - February 19, 1991) was the 38th President of the United States and the 39th Vice President of the United States and served from 1974-1981 as president, and as Vice President from 1969-1974. He was born in 1908 at his fathers estate, Bella Vista, in Baltimore, Maryland and grew up in a relatively stable home, he would enter politics in the 1960s, and be elected House Minority Leader in 1964. His time in the House would see the combating of many of the President Smolesk's Domestic and Foreign Policies. He was chosen in by Senator Nirchard Rixon to be his running mate in the 1968 and 1972 election, and would become president of the United States in 1974 after Rixon resigned. He would scrape by for re-election in the closest election in U.S. History. Bonaparte would be known for the "October Surprise", where he successfully dealt with the Iran Hostage Situation. His tenure though, as president has been ranked as average by most historians.

### Early life and education

Bonaparte was born in Baltimore, Maryland, February 3, 1908. The son of Charles Joseph Bonaparte and Ellen Channing Day from whom the American line of the Bonaparte family descended, and a grandson of Jérôme Bonaparte, King of Westphalia, the youngest brother of French emperor Napoleon. However, the American Bonapartes were not considered part of the dynasty and never used any titles.

Bonaparte graduated from Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1931 and lived in Grays Hall during his freshman year. He then continued to Harvard Law School, where he later served on Student Council. He practiced law in Baltimore and became prominent in municipal movements.

Bonaparte lived in a townhouse in the north Baltimore neighborhood of Mount Vernon-Belvedere and had a country estate in suburban Baltimore County, Maryland, which surrounds the city on the west, north and east. His home, Bella Vista, was designed by the architects James Bosley Noel Wyatt (1847–1926) and William G. Nolting (1866–1940), in the prominent local architectural partnership firm of Wyatt & Nolting in 1896. It lies east of the Harford Road (Maryland Route 147) in an area called Glen Arm. The house was not electrified since Bonaparte's father refused to have electricity or telegraph lines installed from a dislike of technology, verified by his use of horse-drawn coach until his death in the early 1920s.

#### Politics

Bonaparte was a member of the Reform League of Baltimore, which his father had help found and organized in 1885. The League men governed with clean hands for a brief time, providing a certain amount of efficient municipal government. Following this Bonaparte would successfully run for house in 1960s, where he'd eventually rise to be House Minority Leader, marking the formation of his later presidential policies. In 1967 Bonaparte would be nominated to become House Speaker, successfully winning a compromise vote. Bonaparte as House Speaker would combat many President Smolesk's Domestic and Foreign Policies.

In the 1967 Republican primaries, Bonaparte would attempt to make a bid for president where he won many Midwestern states, though was eventually defeated by Senator Nirchard Rixon. Rixon would go on to choose Bonaparte as his running mate in the 1968 Election & 1972 Election. During his time as Vice President, little was done though he managed to get a few Republican Bills through the senate floor.

### President

Following the Watergate Crisis, President Rixon would resign in July of 1974, thus making Vice President Bonaparte the new President. Bonaparte's Presidential term during this time would be mainly focused on dealing with Watergate, forming a new cabinet, and securing the support of the people and establishing trust. Very few bills would be passed during his presidential term, as the DNC controlled congress. Bonaparte would also avoid suspicion of being involved in Watergate, and would attempt to run in the 1976 Election.

The 1976 US election would become one of the closest elections in the GC, and US history. Not much is known during this time, as Bonaparte was busy with various events happening across the world, such as the recent Soviet Collapse, and more.

###### Iran Hostage Crisis

In 1980, nearing the US election, Bonaparte was able to run for 3rd term, though opted not to, in order to adhere by tradition and improve popular support. However during this time, several Americans were held hostage in theocratic Iran, and the people called for Bonaparte to act. Eventually the president would manage a successful deal, earning a secret US RADAR station in the process.

### Later Life & Death

Following the 1980 US election, Bonaparte would retire from politics and maintained a celebrity status at his fathers estate. During the USS challenger incident, where President Garrison had been killed in the process, Bonaparte & Former President Thompson would hold a ceremony for Garrison, honoring his legacy and in the process, Endorsing the former president for a 2nd run.

Bonaparte died in Bella Vista at age 83 and is interred at southwest Baltimore's landmark Loudon Park Cemetery with his father. He died of "Saint Vitus Dance" (today called Sydenham's chorea). The Bella Vista was named a Historic Landmark to honor the President following his death.