Lydia Guilford

Lydia B. Guilford is a United Federation artist and politician who served one month as the 20th President of the United Federation of Paper Planes under the authority of the United Federation Government-in-exile, the democratic state-in-being of the Federation after Ryan Madden initiated fascist rule over the nation's territory. She previously held no public office, but had become a close personal friend of West Mendotan President Jacob Monday and Manonan Prime Minister John Banks-George. Guilford was the second President from the State of Patriam, the first being Jacob Monday, and she was also the first Independent to be elected since Conner Zink. She was the President of the United Federation's democratic Government-in-Exile during Prairie War III, and is largely creditted with both leading the exiled government back to power, and successfully operating the otherwise strained military apparatus of the United Federation during that conflict. 

After the Federation became the Madden Reich, she was unanimously elected the President by the emergency council of the Government-in-exile, largely for her non-relation to any past political parties, and her personal popularity and likeability.

She had become a member of the United Federation Government in Exile just before her ascension to the Presidency, but her tact, wit, and relatively limited experience was seen as a good character for a wartime leader. As her Vice-President, she selected Jackson Deminsky of Kekistan for his experience and their friendship. Of her many eccentricities, she is known to have a blind hedgehog as a pet. She also speaks significant Spanish and once worked at a zoo.

As President-in-exile, Guilford pushed for numerous strong policies against the Reich, and frequently referred to Ryan Madden as "Fascist Boy" or "S**thead," a rather undiplomatic position but one which drew significant support. She also, as John Banks-George said, "Understood the use of a Good Symbol," demonstrated most fully in two instances where she demanded Federation Troops land before any others in Operation: Downfall, and that Federation Forces would be the first to enter the District of Cardinal Heights upon the invasion reaching that point. These and other actions provided a strong image of the Federation during the war, one which the beleaguered citizens of the Allies and the Federation itself greatly needed. 

She was also the first leader to officially acknowledge the 4th Reich's surrender in the aftermath of the Battle of Mervonia City, where she stated, "This is happy. I'm happy." 

As President during occupation, she ordered a large amount of military spending - a somewhat controversial move, but one that did bring back the necessary economic capital and industry to rebuild a war-torn Federation. She was succeeded in office shortly after the war concluded by her Vice-President, Jackson Deminsky; Guilford had not stood for re-election.