A Re-Imagined Walt Disney World - History
1956
PRESIDENT EISENHOWER DEAD
“Breaking News - The White House has confirmed the death of President Dwight D. Eisenhower after health complications following a severe heart attack yesterday. Vice-President Richard Nixon will be sworn in by the hour.”
- NPR Radio Broadcast 2/3/56
“President Ike is being leaving the White House for the last time. Behind his casket walks the Eisenhower and Nixon families. President Nixon’s head is bowed down and a grim look of sadness is on his face. He is holding Mamie Eisenhower's hand as she trembles behind her husband's coffin.”
- ABC Television Anchor 2/8/56
When President Eisenhower died, the White House went into shock. D.C. went into shock, but that damn Nixon, not even five days after the man is dead he began firing up the campaign machines.
People forget that back in those days these long primaries we have now simply didn’t exist. The party machines chose the nominee at the summer convention. Rarely, if ever, did the campaigns really start before the summer. Regardless, Nixon was ready to go, he was making calls and deals, fishing for the nomination. I guess in his mind he figured that no one would be willing to oppose him, let alone the man who made Mickey Mouse.
- J.J. Rockwell White House Press Secretary 1959-1965 “One Moon & One Golden Sun; Disney’s America” film (2005
WALT DISNEY RUNS FOR PRESIDENT
On March 9th, during a special patriotic episode of “Walt Disney’s Disneyland”, Walt Disney announced that he would be seeking the Republican nomination for President. At first, many in the political establishment rejected Walt's notion and bid, but by the time Republicans gathered in San Francisco Walt Disney was the clear front runner. On the first day, following a brief speech, Walt was unanimously nominated by the Republican Party. Walt chose Nixon to be his running mate.
At the Democrats convention, they renominated their 1952 candidate Adlai Stevenson, but during his acceptance speech, Stevenson pledged unequivocal support for Civil Rights. This pledge resulted in the entire Southern Delegation walking out of the convention and declaring its support for the West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd.
The campaign was marked by the Disney’s brilliant marketing strategy. Every week, Walt was able to speak to Americans on television about the future he could build. This not only made him appear Presidential, but created a sense that Walt as President would bring progress and prosperity. Many saw Walt as a natural successor of the late Eisenhower. The Disney campaign made a new Sherman Brothers song the campaign theme. The song “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” became a national hit and a symbol of the direction Walt wanted to take the nation in. Across the country Mouseketeer club membership exploded and soon replaced the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts as the largest American youth group. The entire nation was swept up in Disneymania and Walt would be swept into the White House with a commanding 518 electoral vote victory; the largest electoral victory since FDR. It was an early sign that Disney was about to lead America into a new era.
- “America: Our Land, Our People, Our History” (2007)
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1963
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Walt Disney buys land near Orlando Florida and by Spring 1964 - Walt Disney World is announced.
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This "Walt Disney World" would be made in Walt's image, with a fully functioning Epcot City, Theme Park Clusters, and eventually a Walt Disney World Airport. With this project, we have taken it upon ourselves to restart Walt Disney World from scratch and
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