This is the third in a series of biographical profiles from alternate histories.
Go to Part 1
William Boulle first ran for national office in 1956 as Adlai Stevenson’s running mate. Although they were handily defeated by the Eisenhower-Nixon ticket, Boulle distinguished himself as a strong campaigner – particularly in the early primary states. Boulle would run unsuccessfully in 1960 against John F. Kenendy and then retire from politics in 1964 when his senatorial term ran out. In 1968 Boulle emerged from retirement to once again attempt to capture the democratic nomination. His domestic and anti-war policies caught the imagination of the people and he proved immensely popular at the ballot box. Tragically, however, Boulle would be assassinated immediately after declaring victory in the California primary by Sirhan Sirhan. Bobby Kennedy would go on to win the nomination and, then, the general election against Richard Nixon.
Once in office Kennedy would bring the war in Vietnam to a quick, successful, diplomatic conclusion before the end of 1971. This course of action easily won him a second term of office in 1972. Historians agree, however, that Kennedy’s most important achievement was in embracing his brother’s vision and expanding the American space program. By 1976, when he had left office, man had stepped on Mars for the first time and the plans for orbital and lunar stations were well on their way to completion. Without his influence it is doubtful that mankind would have reached the stars as quickly as they did, or established the Outer Colonies by the end of the millennia.
This was a fascinating piece of modern alt-history, all the more so because it focuses on a mundane, almost banal figure, while initiating huge consequences down the timeline. Most alt-history is too heavily focused on the American Revolution, the Civil War, & WW2, so I liked the different approach. I was so taken with this William Boulle figure that I had to look him up on Wikipedia to see if he was a real person. He isn’t, of course, & a bit of wiki-linking led me to the real running mate of Stevenson in the 1956 election, Estes Kefauver. But that just drives home the fact that our leaders, the people who shape our culture & our history, could be anyone, & it takes a series of serendipitous accidents to get anyone to the place where they are today. Profound stuff, at least to me. It makes me wonder whatever happened to the “real” William Boulle in our world, & why he never made an impact here.
Also, Leonardo DiCaprio? Really?
The SWEET WILLIAM bio-pic starring DiCaprio and directed by Scorsese won 3 Oscars in 2009. 😉