John Banks-George
"The United Federation is not a single spit of land; it is an idea."
- John B.G.
"The United Federation is not a single spit of land; it is an idea."
- John B.G.
Hometown: Columbia, IL
Current Residence: Sun Prairie, WI
Allegiance: United Federation of Paper Planes, United Manonan States
Home State: New Illinois
Rank:
U.F. Starfleet: Grand Admiral
U.F. Navy: Admiral of the Fleet
Unified Manonan Military: Admiral
Past Occupations:
President of the United Federation of Paper Planes, Vice-President of the United Federation, Admiral of the First Fleet, Ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Garfea, Representative of New IllinoisQuotes:
"Don't Try to be a Great Man, just be a Man. Let history sort out the rest"
John Paul Banks-George was a Federation Founding Father, politician, historian, statesman, and military officer. He served as the General of the Coalition against Liam, the Supreme Commander of the Provisional New Federation Military, and most famously the 1st President of the United Federation. He served for 4 months as the leader of the New Federation and later the renamed United Federation, during which he largely created the Government of the United Federation and was foundational in establishing the national spirit. He started the tradition of non-party politics that lasted until the second campaign of Conner Zink, created, built up, and standardized the Federation Armed Forces, and won the War on Noah.
After his first term in the Federation, he worked to increase the population of the Federation, bringing in new members and starting to build up the nation's overall idea of itself. He proposed, but didn't complete, a process of making states for the Federation, which would be undertaken by his successor, Ainsley Wall. He also had nascent plans for a Legislature for the country, which was also put on hold upon the outbreak of the War on Noah.
Winning his election with a unanimous popular vote, John Banks-George was initially believed to be a constant president who would never relinquish power over his and Liam's creation. However, after four months of building up the Federation, he voluntarily called a new election, and decided not to run for a second term, believing that his foundation work was complete. "It's time for someone else to take up the job," he said of the Second Election.
As Vice-President under Ainsley Wall, he controversially oversaw the secession of the Coalition of the North. However, more controversially, he attempted to end the debate between the Clubists (those who wanted the Federation to return to a club) and the Nationalists (who preferred the new style of Government and Politics) by creating the New Republic to replace the Federation. This caused a split with Ainsley Wall, who correctly noted that he had done so without her approval, nor that of the High Command. Although Banks-George did state that he was willing to cease if the High Command overturned it, he also said that he planned to eliminate the High Command. Banks-George's regret over this decision led to him making concerted efforts to preserve Ainsley Wall's reputation, as well as his later opposition to the First Order War and reluctance to run for a second term.
After the reformation of the Federation, Banks-George was urged by many in the community to serve a second Term as President, for 3 months in order to help in the healing efforts of the Federation. Although initially hesitant, especially after Aidan Tucker and Ainsley Wall's First Order seceeded from the Federation, he eventually acquiesced and ran successfully. He appointed Calvin Petri as his Vice President, and with him established the State Council as a more balanced legislative body. He, against the recommendations of the High Command, delayed the war until he knew Ainsley Wall and Aidan Tucker could quietly leave the Sun Prairie Nations. His personal relationships with Tucker and Wall did suffer for a time nevertheless. In the wake of the First Order War, he established diplomatic ties with New Washburn, today one of the Federation's closest allies, with an extensive Free Association Compact, and later oversaw positive relations between the Federation and North Garfea and the Coalition of the North. This culminated in the March of the Nations and the 1-year anniversary of the Federation.
After this term, he retained his Rank as Grand Admiral of the Fleet, and under Carson Clumpner was elected speaker of the State Council, a position he retained longer than any other.
Though he has served in a vast array of offices, the one he is 'next-most' famous for, outside of the Federation presidency, is his current role as the 2nd Prime Minister of the United Manonan States, a position he was unanimously elected to by the legislature on November 1st, 2021. In this tenure, he led the Allied Powers militarily and in stature, directing Allied conferences and strategy, giving frequent addresses, and overseeing one of the most powerful military apparatuses the Sun Prairie Nations had ever seen. He stated publicly and privately that his primary objective was to restore the United Federation's free government.
Beyond politics, Banks-George is the Federation's pre-eminant historian and writer, preserving the culture and history of the Sun Prairie Nations. He is an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball, and the General Manager of the New Illinois Orioles paper baseball team, part of the Federation League of Baseball Clubs. The FLB was one of his creations after the Third Prairie War to bring back a sense of joy and hope to the ravaged nations of the SPN. He serves as the League's commissioner in addition to the Orioles position.
During the Old Federation Era, John Banks-George was the President of the Federation, and was the second in command of the military forces after Adrian Schlafer. He was the principle voice of the old Federation, and in modern times has very much recalled it's legacy and preserved it's traditions and ideals in the new Constitution of the United Federation.
During the John and Liam Wars, John B.G. was the principle leader of the Coalition against Liam. During the time, he designed several successful, among numerous unsuccessful combat vessels, and founded the Gateway Corporation.
With the design of the T-65 Sparrow Combat Fighter, the War with Liam ended. Following the war, he established a plan for the reformation of the United Federation, and eventually convinced Liam St. John to help him found the new nation. The two worked together to create the New Federation of Paper Planes, and Banks-George was appointed as the General of the Armed Forces, a long-since defunct title for the provisional government.
Once the Federation had reached a significant number of members the provisional government ordered an election to be called. In the election both founders, John Banks-George and Liam St. John, ran for the office, but by the end of the election the vote was unanimous for Banks-George.
Immediately he went about a massive program to lay down a full federal government for the New Federation of Paper Planes. Under his leadership the Federation set out a standard constitution, significantly inspired by that of the Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights.
During his term, Noah Berg declared the Rebellion and started to make preparations for war. Banks-George immediately declared war on Noah Berg, starting what came to be known as the War on Noah. During the war he personally led forces in the war, as the New Federation suffered humiliating defeats in the early start of the War. Using new designs during the late summer however, the Rebels lost the upper hand with the new tactics developed by Banks-George and the newly increased fleet capabilities. This marked the start of the Federation's policy of long-distance fleets and power projection.
With the large size of the fleet and their extensive capabilities compared the short-range fighters of the Rebellion, Noah officially surrendered on the last day of John B.G.'s Presidential Term.
Also during his term, he began drawing up plans for a system of States and Provinces in the United Federation which was later taken up by his successor. At the beginning of the New Federation, many believed that Banks-George would never relinquish the Presidency. However, he opted not to even run for a second term as President until far later.
In addition, he ordered the re-naming of the nation to the United Federation of Paper Planes, it's name today. He also worked at establishing a tradition of non-party politics in the United Federation which lasted until the second election of Conner Zink. He stated that "Presidents shouldn't be partisan. Their only Allegiance should be to the security of the Republic."
The second Federation Election ended with Ainsley Wall winning in a landslide vote against her opponent, Ryan Madden. She was sworn in only moments after the end of the War on Noah. She helped in the final negotiations, and became the first person to take the current Oath of Office.
Under Ainsley Wall, Banks-George became the Vice President, and served for the full extent of her first term. During this time he was involved heavily in the politics of the day, and was a major proponent of the High Command, which was formed as the first legislature of the United Federation.
When Ainsley Wall was temporarily no longer able to serve, Banks-George took up the role of President for one day again, and in that time negotiated the independence of the Coalition of the North and Salamandastron. For this he was nearly fired from his position in the Federation, but eventually he was allowed to retain the post.
After Ainsley's re-election Jacob Eiden was appointed the Vice President, and Banks-George became the first Secretary of the Navy. As secretary of the Navy he worked with Calvin Petri to make major advancements, bringing the navy up to a full service branch. The S.S. Enterprize became the first ship to successfully cross Lake Carriage and with it came a host of new designs for ships.
With the Federation on the verge of civil war, John Banks-George was one of the first members of the United Federation to announce his secession from the Union, and the United Colonies were formed. Chris Kukura was elected President of the Colonies and with Banks-George's direction, the Colonies won the short war against the remaining states. This eventually lead to a debate in the colonies about whether or not to reform the Federation.
The Colonies, for a short period, were acting as independent nations, but despite large military supplies, these nations could not maintain their forces or supply their infrastructure and economies. Thus, it was decided that they would join into a reformed union as the United Federation Reformation.
Following the preliminary declaration of reformation, the colonies all agreed that a new constitution must be written. John Banks-George, Luke Gainey, and Carson Clumpner all worked to make the constitution, eventually becoming a 6-page document outlining the process for statehood, the flag of the United Federation, and the Presidency and it's roles. The states of New Illinois, Groom Lake, Crayonland, Burke Park, Prairie, Pearl, Roman, Circles, and Delta signed the document, the states which are now called the Original Nine.
Following the reformation of the Fed, Banks-George ran for a second term in order to assure stability and unity after what came to be known as the 'Very Messy Time.' During his term, he was forced by the State Council to send troops into the Lake Order, beginning a long and unpopular war that eventually ended with the collapse of the Lake Order. During the War, Banks-George often spoke of his stiff opposition to it, but despite this the war continued. Once it was over, and several new nations were founded, he went above his authority to sign a treaty with the nations of New Washburn and North Garfea, an alliance which eventually led to the creation of SPATO, though this was enacted on the last day of his second term.
After this, Banks-George announced an official retirement from the forefront of government. Many wanted him to continue as President so that instability wouldn't threaten the Federation any more. To this he reportedly said, "If instability, such that it threatens this nation, still exists then my term has failed and there is no reason for another."
Despite many fears, the transition of power to Carson Clumpner, who won the election directly following Banks-George's announcement, was smooth, and the Clumpner Administration was instated.
Following the end of his second term, Banks-George has not served in any office higher than the Vice-Presidency, and in actuality this was largely an advisory role to Carson Clumpner. After this he was voted Speaker of the State Council, a role that he retains to this day, though the role is largely ceremonial. He was one of several individuals to vote against Conner ZInk's economic plans and endorsed Nick Lapord for the Presidency in his Landslide election.
During the First Great Prairie War he was called out of retirement as Grand Admiral to lead the combat fleets of the Union Forces in the war. During the war he did so such that it convinced many neutral nations that there was hope for the Union cause. He served as a principle adviser to Andrew Anderson during his tenure as President, and was the Allied Commander for the first half of the Second Great Prairie War, and used his extensive knowledge of the historical ties between several countries to found the Allied Army between the United Federation, New Washburn, Despa, and later, New Glarus.
For an unprecedented and unsucceeded 37 months, he has been the Speaker of the State Council, and until recently, was part of the leadership committee of the Union Party, before he eventually became an Independent again, though his senate records indicate he likely stayed aligned with the Union Party.
Upon the election of Alexander Knebel, a longtime friend of his, he became concerned about the security of the Federation, at the same time, being elected the 2nd Prime Minister of the United Manonan States. At the outbreak of the instability that plagued this period, his company, Gateway Co, moved it's headquarters to the United Manonan States and most of it's shipbuilding assets out of the Federation. Though he was personally saddened and hurt to see the Federation side with the Holy Roman Empire in it's crusades against the weaker countries of the Sun Prairie Nations, he kept the United Manonan States neutral at the start of the war, though he did feed supplies to Despa and Pyrrhia through the Manonan merchant fleet. When the war ended, he, along with new Federation President Madden, organized a number of reconciliatory efforts.
These efforts however, were cut short when Ryan Madden used 13 nuclear weapons against the Circles Republic Revolution. This action was unbelievable to Banks-George, who had himself founded the very Federation that was now bombing it's own people. Though he disagreed with the Revolt and with Knebel's espoused policies, he found Madden's actions vile and horrific, and was reportedly consumed by a sense of rage immediately after the event. He, along with Caden Schwartz of the Federal Wisconsinite Republic, and Alex Oehrlein of the Central Despan Republic, issued a formal declaration of war against the Federation, which would shortly be renamed the Madden 4th Reich.
As Prime Minister of the United Manonan States, he personally spent the vast majority of his personally amassed wealth in funding the Allied Powers and developing the military apparatus for his country in order to defeat the Fascists. The personal expenditure from his own bank account is estimated to be over 900 Trillion Union Dollars, representing more money than the entire combined GDPs of the 4th Reich, West Mendota, Despa, and the FWR at the time the war began. These contributions were invaluable in that they kickstarted the United Manonan States' wartime economy - something which otherwise would have taken many months the Allies did not have - and provided payments to workers and companies for the proper and legal construction of the vast majority of military equipment used by most of the Allied Powers.
Under his careful guidance and specifications, the United Manonan Airfleet and Navy became the most modern and powerful in the entire SPN. The Allies went on to defeat the Imperial Reich, while the United Federation was liberated and it's provisional government (very much aided by Banks-George) would be reinstalled in the Treaty of Groom Lake.
When the War was over, Banks-George returned to his generally held belief that he should remain out of mainstream Federation politics and parties, and would not engage in further debates in the Senate. He supported President Deminsky and Vice-President Caro's legislation on Anti-fascism and economic revitalisation, as well as Deminsky's handling of the Military Reconstruction and his negotiations on the banning of nuclear weapons.
When the vote was taken to end the Sun Prairie Nations, Banks-George was the last to cast his vote. Unwilling to cast his own influence, nor give up the Federation, his vote was an abstention.
President Banks-George's original Presidential Portrait
The more modern, official portrait of Banks-George
IN OFFICE
May 30, 2018 - July 15, 2018
Preceded By:
none
Chris Kukura
Luke Gainey
IN OFFICE
November 7 2017 - May 4 2020
interrupted
interrupted
Succeeded By:
Chris Kukura
Luke Gainey
Nicholas Lapord
Preceded By:
none
IN OFFICE
December 3 2018 - February 3 2019
Succeeded By:
Calvin Petri
Preceded By:
none
IN OFFICE
Oct. 31 2019 - April 20 2020
Succeeded By:
none
Preceded By:
none
IN OFFICE
Dec. 11, 2019 - Jan. 31, 2020
Succeeded By:
Alexander Oehrlein