Editing Lawrence Jackson (section)

== Presidency (2014–2021) ==

=== First Term (2014–2017) ===
Lawrence Jackson assumed the presidency on February 1st, 2014. His government, alongside that of PM Anthony Collins, would be known as the [[1st Administration]].

Much of Jackson’s concern around his presidency was setting an example for those to come after him to follow. Jackson knew his actions were likely to be mimicked by future presidents, and believed his treatment of the office in these early stages was integral to shaping its position and importance in government. With this aim in mind, Jackson was somewhat dismayed by the re-election of PM [[Anthony Collins]]; as the last man to serve as prime minister prior to the changes in the office, Jackson believed Collins would push to regain the lost powers of the office.

As chief diplomat, Jackson dedicated much of his first term towards restoring international trust in Valoria. After a period of high instability and sudden, seemingly random changes in leadership, Jackson wanted to change the international perception of Valoria as an unstable and uncertain ally. He embarked on a world tour in late 2014 and early 2015, visiting and delivering addresses to (among other places) the White House and a joint session of US Congress, the European Parliament, the African Union summit, and the UN General Assembly, aiming to improve Valoria's reputation on the global stage.

In May 2015, Jackson delivered the graduation address at Yale. At the ceremony, he formally resigned from his professorship, and was granted the title of ''professor emeritus''. He was also conferred an honorary degree.

Although a leading member of the Movement, Jackson agreed to stay out of his party's prime ministerial nomination contest in 2016. When assemblywoman [[Julia Anne-Claire]] was selected as the Movement's nominee for the [[2016 Prime Ministerial Election|2016 election]], Jackson supported her and campaigned for her in what ended up becoming a successful campaign. Anne-Claire took office as prime minister on August 1st, 2016, forming the [[2nd Administration]].

On January 2nd, 2017, three years and one day after initially being elected president, Jackson announced his candidacy for re-election.

In early 2017, Jackson's secretary, Scott Stone, became the focus of an embezzlement scandal. As Stone's boss, Jackson was tied to the scandal by proxy. Only a few days after reports initially came out, Stone resigned, thought to be under pressure from the president. Jackson himself quickly dismissed the scandal as the work of PM Anne-Claire, whom he claimed had framed Stone for embezzlement in order to damage the presidency and hurt Jackson's chances at re-election. On April 1st, Jackson appointed Michael Alvarez to succeed Stone as presidential secretary.

In March 2017, Jackson endorsed [[President of Mayami]] [[Giorgio Lucario]]'s bid to host the 2026 World Cup.

On July 1st, 2017, Jackson would be elected to a second term, once again winning in a landslide.

=== Second Term (2017–2021) ===
Jackson's second term formally began on August 1st, 2017.

On June 13th, 2018, the FIFA Congress officially chose Mayami to host the 2026 World Cup. The United States protested FIFA's decision, asking FIFA to annul the decision, revoke Mayami's FIFA membership, and threatening economic sanctions on Mayami and Valoria. Jackson was forced to de-escalate the situation, meeting with American diplomats to abate tensions.

In February 2020, Jackson shocked Valoria by announcing he would not run for re-election to a third term in 2021. He cited the neighboring United States' longstanding tradition, saying he agreed with the notion that no person should ever serve more than two terms (this statement was also intended as a dig at PM Anne-Claire, who had shown no intention of stepping down after the completion of her second term in mid-2021, and ). He instead endorsed his vice president, [[Matthew Martin]], as his successor.

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had escalated to global importance. Jackson responded by restricting travel in and out of Valoria, blocking all non-essential crossing of the border. He also imposed mandatory quarantines on all people crossing into the country.