Lawrence Jackson

Lawrence Jackson
1st President of Valoria
In office February 1st, 2014 – January 31st, 2021
Vice President	Matthew Martin
Prime Minister	Anthony Collins Julia Anne-Claire
Preceded by	Office established Anthony Collins (as prime minister) Katherine (as sovereign of Valoria)
Succeeded by	Benjamin Radcliffe
Personal Details
Born	January 26th, 1972 Boston, Boston Province, Valoria
Political affiliation	Movement

Lawrence Jackson (born January 26th, 1972) is a Valorian politician and public figure who served as 1st President of Valoria from 2014 to 2021. Before becoming president, Jackson was a prominent member of the Anti-Monarchy Movement, and played a major role in the transition out of constitutional monarchy and the creation of the Second Republic.

Born in Boston, Jackson obtained a doctorate in teaching in 1998, becoming an associate professor at Northeastern University the same year. He joined the Anti-Monarchy Movement in 1995, following the overthrowing of King Henry. While simultaneously pursuing his teaching career, he rose through the ranks of the AMM, noted for his passionate speeches and dedication to his cause. By the early 2000s, he had garnered national prominence advocating against the monarchy, which he believed to be a dysfunctional system. Along with other factors, his advocacy eventually spurred the National Assembly to dissolve the monarchy on September 26th, 2012.

During the subsequent Transitionary Period, Jackson played a major role in writing the new constitution. One of his most important ideas was the idea of separation between the president and prime minister, and their equal status as leaders of Valoria. As the most recognizable republican figure in Valoria, he was elected to the presidency on New Years' Day 2014, assuming office on February 1st.

During his seven-year presidency, from 2014 to 2021, Jackson has dealt with ___

Since leaving office, Jackson has remained active in politics, supporting the Movement.

Early Life & Early Teaching Career (pre–2001)

Lawrence Jackson was born on January 26th, 1972, in Boston. He grew up in the city his entire childhood.

In 1995, while pursuing a Ph.D. in Education, Jackson joined the Anti-Monarchy Movement. Close friends of his had been asking him to join since 1993, however the chaotic overthrowing of King Henry in 1995 finally convinced him to join. He denounced the instability of the crown, an institution that itself was supposed to bring stability to Valoria.

In 1998, Jackson completed his Ph.D. That same year, he became an associate professor at Northeastern University, teaching psychology.

AMM Activism (2001 - 2010)

By 2001, Jackson had attained national prominence for his passionate speeches condemning the "absurd institution" that was the Valorian monarchy. He noted how the monarchy had been founded on the order of a vain dictator, used only for his own personal ostentatiousness, and was the ridicule of the world. He also condemned it for causing nothing but instability and uncertainty, with sovereigns presiding over tumultuous and uncertain rules, always at risk of sudden overthrow. It was around this time he began drafting plans for a presidency, hoping to turn Valoria into a republic once again.

The same year, thanks in part to his nationwide fame, Jackson was offered a full professorship at Yale. He continued to teach psychology, although he also took great interest in political science research.

By late 2004, as the royal palace made no moves to call for a new election after the traditional thirty months had passed, Jackson intensified his criticism of the monarchy. Echoing rumors of King Henry's senility and potential Alzheimer's case, Jackson decried the monarchy as "fundamentally broken" and "directly harmful to the Valorian people." He also noted how the monarchy's ever-precarious position brewed even more political infighting in Boston.

In early 2005, Jackson took a public political stance for the first time, identifying himself with the Movement. Up until then, he had limited his stances to apolitical criticism of the monarchy. In 2005, however, he chastised Nicholas Augustine and the Conference for using their political influence to keep Prime Minister Eric Henderson in office for as long as possible, "directly imposing an indefinite premiership upon the Valorian people, and depriving them of their sacrosanct right to vote."

Role in Transitionary Period (2010–2014)

On September 26th, 2012, the National Assembly formally dissolved the monarchy, a goal Jackson had been working towards since joining the AMM nearly seventeen years earlier. Jackson attended the Assembly's session as a special guest, and later in the day, at a ceremony celebrating the occasion, delivered an address praising the day as a victory for Valoria. He stressed, however, that the work was only just beginning, as Valoria now had to draft a new, properly functioning constitution.

Jackson played a major part in writing the new constitution, as active officeholders were barred from participating in the drafting process. Since Jackson had already fully written a number of section drafts throughout the past ten years, and had spent that decade introducing his plans to the people and popularizing them, many of his ideas, most notably his framework for a new office—the presidency—that focused largely on external affairs and defense, were quickly adopted by the constitutional drafters.

In early 2013, as it became apparent Valoria would adopt a presidential system, Jackson was touted as a potential first officeholder. He was a national icon, and even had some recognition outside of Valoria. Whilst he had no prior political experience, this was seen by many as an advantage, as the office of the president was largely supposed to be apolitical. Jackson himself didn't rule out a possible candidacy, declaring he would do "whatever was necessary to best service the Valorian people."

Exactly one year after the monarchy had been dissolved, on the national holiday in 2013, the National Assembly adopted the new constitution, and announced general elections to be held on New Years' Day 2014.

A few days later, on September 28th, the AMM gathered for their final major conference, formally dissolving the movement upon the accession of the new president on February 1st. Speaking at the conference, Jackson formally declared his candidacy for president, promising to bring Valoria the "stability it had so long waited for," and promising to keep politics out of the new office. His announcement received widespread support, and he instantly became the frontrunner for the office.

On September 30th, Jackson asked for a leave of absence from his professorship as he campaigned for president.

Jackson spent most of October, November, and early December campaigning across Valoria. He visited all eleven provinces, calling for people to participate in Valoria's new democratic system. Polling suggested he would face little real opposition on election day. Jackson returned to Boston in mid-December, laying his campaign to rest during the end-of-year holidays.

On New Years' Day 2014, during the historic first general elections, Jackson was elected President of Valoria with an overwhelming majority of the vote. He delivered his acceptance speech in the early hours of January 2nd, proclaiming Valoria had achieved true democracy after a 70-year dormancy, and promising to dutifully serve the nation as president.

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 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.

Post-Presidency (2021–present)

Upon leaving office, Jackson considered a return to full-time academia, however eventually decided against it, choosing instead to remain somewhat active in politics in semi-retirement. He continues to live in Boston, working with the Movement, campaigning for candidates during election season, and helping out in advisory roles to progressive officeholders. He has repeatedly refused an official position within the party. Jackson has criticized some of the Radcliffe administration's policies, including his management of the COVID-19 pandemic and some of his response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Jackson campaigned for the Cavazos/Michaels ticket ahead of the 2024 election, although the ticket ultimately failed. He has since denounced some of the policy initiatives of PM Valerie Minerva.