Herrick Knottman
Herrick Knottman was a political figure in the mid 26th century within the The Terran Republic. He was the 7th President of the Republic.
Early Life
Born in 2495, Herrick Knottman was Gawain Knottman ’s eldest son. Herrick grew up a fiery young man, raised in the dying days of the Empire and then coming of age during the time of the Republic. Herrick attended college on New Berlin and studied political science, later gaining a juris doctorate and going into law like his father. Herrick became a prosecutor, working for the colonial government and helping to prosecute criminals of all kinds and using his own liberal upbringing to pre-empt miscarriages of justice by not pursuing or settling out of court cases that would be unfair on the defendant. Herrick married fellow lawyer Alanna Stockley and the two had a son, Price Knottman-Grumman, born in 2525. Unlike both his father and grandfather, Price followed a career in business.Start In Politics
Herrick got started in Republican politics working alongside his father during the 2520 campaign, generally working as a speech-writer for the SDP. He formally joined the Social Democratic Party in 2517. He was also heavily involved in the 2525 Lt-Governor's election on New Berlin. Deeply disappointed by the SDP's defeat, it led him to found the Wye Street Partnership. Herrick worked behind the scenes to set up a run for the Senate in 2540 and he won a seat on Earth after a landslide result for the SDP.Wye Street Partnership
After his disappointment in the 2525 election on New Berlin, Herrick has founded the Wye Street Partnership on New Berlin in the city of New Hamburg. This think tank and consultancy was set up to push for "Third Way" politics and find links between the corporate world and progressive politics. A considerable success, The firm lobbied and raised money for SDP and affiliated candidates. Initially led by Herrick, the position went to his close friend Katie Flockhart when he was elected to the Senate. Initially reluctant, Herrick Knottman formally sold off the firm ahead of the 2560 election to a Hedge Fund that intended to continue using it for its intended purpose.Intelligence work
During the debacle of the intelligence crisis between the The Terran Republic and The Antares Federation in 2540, Senator Knottman sought to appease tensions between the two polities by reaching out to private intelligence firm Tycho, in federation space, and facilitated meetings between them and Republic Intelligence, which led to an unprecedented two pronged investigation into the situation. The result of this investigation was the discovery of the presence of the Zzenddi hybrids in Terran space. These hybrids had infiltrated the Republic at the highest level, including Minister of Intelligence Rosewood, who orchestrated the crisis. Following this success, Herrick's wife Alanna Knottman founded the private security corporation Glasshouse Security, specializing in intelligence gathering and off the books operations.Senator
Senator Knottman was sworn in on April 15 2540 and joined the SDP's senate delegation. He was named to the Senate Judiciary Committee and continued to be a critic of the Inkerman administration and their connections to the Hansa. Senator Knottman was often seen as a major figure within the SDP. Popular with the media and possessing intelligence and appeal to both the Progressive and Moderate wings of the SDP, there was a clamor for him to seek the SDP nomination for President in 2550. Uncomfortable in the spotlight, he instead backed former Senator Robinson Goetze, who was seen as the leader of the party's moderate wing. In return, Senator Goetze named Herrick as his running mate for the 2550 campaign.2550 Campaign
The SDP pushed hard for the Presidency in 2550. As a VP nominee, Herrick did well in campaign events and he tried to improve his profile within Republican politics, as well as keep the peace with the Progressive Wing of the party. He clashed on occasion with Senator Luuk Tassacore, the firebrand liberal and leader of the Progressive Wing of the party. In the end, the SDP finished 2nd in the poll with 17% of the vote but were unable to form a coalition, instead somewhat surprisingly agreeing to back Xavier Inkerman for a 2nd term for President. In return, Herrick was named Foreign Secretary, a move that he would later state that he had regretted making.Foreign Secretary
Herrick took up his post as Foreign Secretary in 2550 under President Inkerman. Almost immediately there were difficulties between the SDP and Inkerman's top team. Secretary Knottman was pulled out of a Foreign Affairs committee hearing by the President's Chief of Staff, Kandice McKenna, to be upbraided for his party's failure to back the President. Interior Secretary Madigan Wilks (SDP) was later fired as a result of this incident. Secretary Knottman attempted to build bridges with foreign powers and helped to broker the CCN Treaty, as well as making progress on relationships with the Gannid and Tranoans. During the planning of "Operation Liberator", Herrick clashed repeatedly with the rest of the administration, preferring a non violent, diplomatic option to a military action. In the planning stages, he still secured foreign support, both military and logistical, from various allies. During the first contact with the Straeteks, Herrick was the aliens' main first government point of contact. He managed to secure a Straetek embassy in Terran space, marking the start of friendly relationships with the reclusive civilization.The 2555 Constitutional Crisis
After the first contact experience, Secretary Knottman clashed again with the Valiant leadership and President Inkerman over the planned "Operation Liberator". Citing the life changing nature of the Straetek encounter and the lack of trust in President Inkerman's ability to lead, Secretary Knottman decided to quit the government, joining other parties in calling for the President to resign his office. A vote of No Confidence was called and whilst the vote passed in the GA, it did not have any force or effect. Herrick went into a period of introspection, backing his party during the crisis and reinforcing his connections to the Unions, taking meetings and going on a "listening tour."Opposition
In opposition, Secretary Knottman supported President MyAnna Wolf's leadership and worked with the new cabinet to ensure the Republic could still function. He worked with Minister Morse Cutbill to ensure a budget would be voted in spite of the difficult political climate. In this budget, Secretary Knottman secured a decrease in military spending in favour of a major increase in social spending. He supported the Mining Safety Act, introduced by Governor Galen Drayfuss, securing working standards for miners accross the Republic. He also managed to accomplish something his father had failed to do back in 2530, by introducing the Educational Standards Act. Among other things, the bill secured wages and tenure protection for teachers. The Bill's main focus however, was to introduce an end of studies exam universal to the entire Republic, which allowed to standardise the evaluation of the skills necessary to move into Republic funded higher education. With the reports of Terran slaves in Karkouri space dying while Operation Liberator was delayed, Secretary Knottman changed his stance and encouraged the other parties to do the same. During this time, he was encouraged to run for President in 2560.The Gawain Knottman Legal Trust
After years of trying to secure a public fund for legal aid in the Republic budget, Herrick invested a billion adjusted dollars in 2559 to create a non-profit legal aid fund for people who cannot afford legal counsel. Named after his father, Herrick did not make himself a trustee of the organization to avoid conflicts of interest during the presidential campaign and later during his short term as President. In 2565, his friend and close collaborator Katie Flockhart was made head of the Trust by Herrick.2560 Campaign
In 2560, Herrick Knottman confirmed he would seek the SDP nomination. At the SDP convention, Herrick Knottman was named as the SDP's nominee. He chose liberal Governor Harmony Meagher as his running mate, making a promise to her that he would keep the Isolationist Party from any coalition he might form. The SDP ticket, moved by the words of Senator Davis Hanley (SDP) in his retirement speech, refrained from making any attack ads and tried to remain "above the fray". Secretary Knottman called on all the allies he made over his lengthy careers and raised an unprecedented amount of campaign funds for the party. As such, the campaign was endorsed and recieved donations by the Mining Unions, the Civil Service Unions and the Teachers' Unions, all of which had seen their circumstances improve over the years thanks to Secretary Knottman's work. Other major donors included House Tancredo, House Knottman and Nurih Safin, CEO of media corporation AEA, who also put his vast media network at Herrick's service. Secretary Knottman was also praised for his performance during the 2560 Presidential debates, where it became clear that his discomfort in the spotlight was a thing of the past. He was particularly vocal in his criticism of the anti-AI rethoric of the Ravenheart campaign, even questionning their legitimacy as a political party. The campaign concluded with the SDP in joint 3rd with 15% of the General Assembly vote. After two months of talks, Herrick Knottman was named as the leader of the coalition and sworn in as President of the Republic.President of the Republic
President Knottman's top staff appointments saw his father's former Chief of Staff and former SDP Chair Katie Flockhart named as Chief of Staff to the President. She appointed Lilith Bazely as Communications Director, Bridie Wallender as Special Counsel to the President and Marek Dominguez as Special Counsel. President Knottman also appointed donor and SDP Treasurer Nurih Safin as Senior Counsel, giving him input on economic and business matters. Senior Staff:- Chief of Staff - Katie Flockhart
- Communications Director - Lilith Bazely
- Special Counsel - Bridie Wallender
- Special Counsel - Marek Dominguez
- Senior Counsel -Nurih Safin
- Press Secretary - India Degan
I am incredibly thankful for the honor bestowed upon me by the General Assembly. Having met so many of you on the campaign trail, I was amazed by the beautiful diversity of our peoples and I will do my best to serve you all. There is much to be done and I am so proud of this coalition. This is an incredibly competent cabinet, with simply the best people at the helm. I am looking forward to steering this shift together. I want to extend a hand to the other side of the aisle. While they are not in coalition, I know full well they want the best for the Terran people. They know I am a man willing to discuss things, and that has not changed. Let's not succumb to infighting and discuss how best to work together going forward!
1st Cabinet
The first Knottman cabinet was sworn in on 1st of July 2560. It consisted of- Vice President -Harmony Meagher - SDP
- Treasury Secretary Catherine Sondeheim -VE
- T Attorney General -Bottley Harrow -LBR
- Foreign Secretary -Reiner Grumman -GUR
- Defence Secretary - Haymer Doherty - GUR
- Interior Secretary - Brace Mullholland -VE
- Intelligence Secretary - Admiral Kirian - IND
- Trade Secretary - Parminder Singh-Walsh -GUR
- Education Secretary - Kevintarr - LBR
- National Security Adviser - General Lucius Corvo - IND
- Chief of Staff to the President - Katie Flockhart - SDP
The Grey-Striders Treaty
With the Dhau empire locked in a losing war against the Straeteks, the Knottman administration took the opportunity to set up an ambitious treaty to bring the Rebel Grey-Striders Dhau tribe into the Republic, which would reclaim the lost worlds of Vodhyna, Skerrit's World and Theta Draconis. The deal would see payments made to the Grey Striders over the next 20 years but it was agreed by the Senate and signed into law. The move was seen as contentious and likely to prompt a response from the Dhau Empire. However, the Dhau pulled out of the worlds 94 Aquarria and Prospero , allowing them to join the Republic's sphere too.Glasshouse Affair
Throughout the first five years of the President's term, he was dogged by allegations in the press that his wife's corporation, Glasshouse Security, had kidnapped a Republic citizen. The affair was thought settled when Glasshouse concluded an internal investigation and a rogue agent was blamed. It became public knowledge that the kidnapped citizen was a member of Burning Path, the terrorist network believed dormant since the war on Nova Terra. However, Senator oversight chairman Morse Cutbill (ISO) met privately with the President and then called for a sub-committee investigation into the President and stated that the investigation may result in the President being impeached and then removed from office for criminal actions. The committee hearings saw Admiral Kirian of the Intelligence Department deposed before the President was called to testify. There was some testy exchanges between the President, his counsel and Valiant Senator Cal Bashear but the testimony was felt to have done a good job on damage control. However, Attorney General Bottley Harrow (LBR) gave testimony that essentially alleged that the President had not only perjured himself during his testimony but that he had also obstructed justice. As the scandal broke, the President huddled with close allies and his family but decided to spare the SDP and the administration from an impeachement hearing. In January of 2565 he resigned his office, which elevated Harmony Meagher to the Presidency.Citizens of the Republic,Farewell address of President KnottmanThe Oversight Committee has done exemplary work, and the testimony of Attorney General Barlow highlighted that through miscommunication, personal oversights and lapses of judgment on my end, I have unintentionally interfered with the judiciary processes that needed to happen in this affair. It saddens me to come to the realization that I am too personally compromised to remain in my position. It is a shame that once again, Burning Path, the greatest scar left across the Republic, continues to hurt us all.To restore confidence in the presidency, I am resigning from my position. I have the utmost faith in President Meagher, whose sharp instincts and integrity will make her an excellent leader. We have accomplished much within the past five years, including returning millions of Terrans bloodlessly to the Republic, and I know she will lead the Republic through the next five years even further.Once the Attorney General's investigation is complete, I will use the powers granted by my position of majority shareholder and dissolve Glasshouse Security. It has become clear that its organization and structure is simply too flawed to allow it to continue.It has been an honor to serve you all over the past twenty-five years. The final thing I would ask of you is not to hold my personal failings against this party or this government. The fault is mine, and mine alone.- Herrick Knottman
Post Presidency
After leaving office, Herrick returned to his family estate on Earth. Honouring his word, he disbanded Glasshouse Security in 2565. After that, he would occasionally advise President Meagher, but was largely considered retired from politics. He was photographed taking the sun on a beach on the island of Malta with his wife and a rare smile on his face, looking more at peace than at any point during his lengthy career. After his friend Morse Cutbill's second heart attack, Herrick visited him in the hospital, smuggling a bottle of whiskey the two shared together.Death
In 2577, the 2nd Zzenddi War, the war Herrick had been dreading for decades, reached Earth. The Knottman family had evacuated to Tyr in the early days of the war and Herrick had promised to his son he would join them. Unbeknownst to them, he stayed behind and volunteered in refugee centres and evacuation lines for the Civil Defense ministry. In the chaos of battle in Lhassa City, he was killed by Zzendi fire. His funeral was held in Dahka and was widely attended.
Current Location
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Life
2495
2577
82 years old
Place of Death
Earth
Family
Children
Gender
Man
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