Aaron Kimball

President Aaron Kimball is the current head-of-state of the New California Republic in 2281. A devoted citizen and retired decorated NCR Army general, Kimball rose atop the political ladder in the NCR using his military service and war hero status. In 2273, he became a representative of the Hub. Later on, in the same year, Kimball ousted incumbent Wendell Peterson as president of the New California Republic and won reelection in 2278. Kimball secured his position with his hardline stances on political issues, despite his failures, such as the Mojave Campaign, an elongated, seven-year annexation of the Mojave Wasteland.

Background
Born in 2232 or 2233, Aaron Kimball is a decorated war hero and retired general of the New California Republic Army. He rose to prominence in the course of his swift, draconian military campaigns against the tribes of the Sierra Nevada in 2269 and the Mojave areas around Bullhead City in 2270, performed in retaliation for attacks against NCR citizens in 2253. His actions earned him the title of "The Hero of the Mojave" and free rein from President Tandi's successors.

In 2273, Kimball retired from the military service in favor of a political career. He enjoys widespread popular support for his status as a hero and a hardline approach to tribes. His campaign for the seat of Hub congressman was successful. Less than two months into his term, Wendell Peterson was voted out of the office and Kimball was voted in, becoming the fifth president of the New California Republic. His first act of office was to order the occupation of the Hoover Dam in 2274, an act which led to the establishment of the New Vegas Treaty, sending clean water and 95% of the dam's power to New California and NCR cities, caused his popularity to soar among the citizenry.

Kimball's popularity, amplified by the reactionary undercurrent, proved enduring. Even overturning laws designed to limit the number of cattle head and the acreage of fields that could be owned by a single person, allowing the Stockmen's Association and Republican Farmer's Committee to grow even more powerful, essentially creating the so-called brahmin barons and agricultural barons, did not tarnish his reputation. What did tarnish it, however, was the failure to annex the Mojave for seven years, draining resources, caps, and human lives led to it becoming an enduring political embarrassment for President Kimball. By 2281, Kimball's political career hinges on the speedy annexation of the Mojave and New Vegas. As the symbol of NCR's involvement in Nevada, Kimball is crucial to further expansion of the republic eastward. His death would likely infuriate the republic and cement both the NCR's occupation of the Mojave and Kimball's legacy as a martyr. Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 458: "Controversy over the Vegas Frontier The NCR spread east into Nevada in large numbers just five years ago on a "humanitarian mission" to "bring the light of civilization to the savage wastes of the Mojave." Hoover Dam was the symbol of the expedition-reports from the Followers of the Apocalypse had confirmed that it was still intact as early as 2170-and its occupation by NCR troops in 2274 was a celebrated event. Even more exciting was the restarting of the dam's hydroelectric plant eleven months later, which dramatically improved the access of many NCR citizens to electricity and water. ''Since then, most of the news has been bad. Skirmishes with local tribes and the first battle for Hoover Dam have cost the lives of more than 400 of the NCR's soldiers and civilians. Until the oft-promised annexation of New Vegas becomes a reality, the government continues to spend much of its budget on "safeguarding the region" while in return receiving not one Cap in tax revenue. The expedition has proved to be an enduring, low-intensity political embarrassment for President Kimball.'' ''Among NCR citizens, the most common political attitude is impatience. They want Vegas annexed; they want it over with. Most expect that this will finally occur once Caesar's Legion has been "beat for good." Opposition to the Vegas occupation amounts to a vocal minority, and of these, most oppose it as a waste of lives and tax caps. The more radical opinion that the expedition amounts to the imperialist subjugation of an unwilling territory is seen as unpatriotic: the kind of pap spouted by the good-for-nothing agitators like those Followers of the Apocalypse."'' (Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide/Behind the Bright Lights & Big City)

Kimball's presidency would be further challenged by the NCR-Raiders War and the continuing Brotherhood War, which took a toll on troops stationed in the Mojave and elsewhere. Kimball's decision to send the most experienced Rangers to "chase ghosts" in Baja while sending conscripts to fight in the harsh deserts of the Mojave soon began to shape his image, tying him personally with the Mojave Campaign. Increasing difficulty for troop and supply navigation through the Long 15 as well as the NCR council's insistence on diverting funds to the Boneyard has led to a precarious position for the NCR's hold on the Mojave. Additionally, his single-minded focus on the Mojave campaign has drained away public support for his administration. The people of the NCR, told going in that victory in the Mojave would be easy, have become war-weary of the campaign's long length and its high cost in human life and materiel.

Although the NCR's dominance in the Mojave led to early popular support for Kimball's goal of a new manifest destiny and return to old world American values, this would be challenged by a new arrival: Caesar's Legion. The often brutal tactics of the Legion and the heavy losses incurred with no apparent gain has caused the populace in Nevada and back in New California to question the point of the war. Kimball, however, insists on continuing the campaign and has invested much of his administration into fighting the Legion, resulting in the Campaign being nicknamed "Kimball's War," with the ramifications of victory or defeat tremendously affecting Kimball's entire career and the NCR as a whole.

Personality
Kimball's personality is accurately summarized by the term "war hawk." Supported by Colonel Cassandra Moore and General Lee Oliver, President Kimball firmly believes in expanding the NCR and bringing new territories into the fold by any means necessary, be it Hoover Dam or Baja. This stance, as well as disregard for losses, is one of the greatest issues Chief Hanlon, the architect of the first victory at the dam, has with the president. Kimball was better liked as a general than as a politician, where his stiff, autocratic style of leadership was much more fitting.

Caesar admires the president's aggressive personality and policy towards tribes, but disapproves of him having to deal with obstacles the republic's democratic system throws up against him. In addition, the fact that Caesar specifically wants Kimball assassinated speaks volumes of his estimation of Kimball's importance within the NCR's leadership structure and his importance to NCR morale.

Ulysses respects Chief Hanlon a great deal more than he does Kimball, considering him weak in comparison, possessing only "half the life Hanlon had," and even then only because of the Courier aiding him.

Quests

 * You'll Know It When It Happens, Wild Card: Finishing Touches, The House Always Wins, VI: The Courier is tasked by Colonel Moore, Yes Man or Mr. House respectively to protect the president during his speech.
 * Arizona Killer: The Courier is tasked by Caesar to assassinate President Kimball for the Legion.

Effects of player's actions

 * If the Courier sides with the Legion, Caesar himself orders them to assassinate President Kimball when he comes to Hoover Dam to make his speech. Depending on the success of the Courier's efforts, Kimball either dies as Caesar intended or escapes, infuriating the tyrant.
 * If the Courier sides with the NCR, they work alongside Ranger Grant to provide security for President Kimball during his speech. Depending on how well this is done, Kimball either completes his speech and departs as planned or is hustled to his personal Vertibird as one of the possible assassination attempts occurs, cutting his speech short.
 * If the Courier sides with Mr. House, House sends them to Hoover Dam to protect President Kimball during his visit. If he dies, House reasons, Kimball will become a martyr for hawkish elements of the NCR Senate. If he lives and the NCR loses the campaign, however, he will be blamed for a costly and humiliating defeat. After securing his victory at Hoover Dam, House smugly notes that he and the Courier have nothing to fear from Kimball now- "He'll be too busy getting thrown out of office."
 * If the Courier fails to protect President Kimball during his visit under any affiliation save the Legion, Kimball will be assassinated by agents of Caesar.

Other interactions
Aaron Kimball is one of the characters that the Courier must eat in order to earn the Meat of Champions perk.

Kimball's speech at Hoover Dam






Appearances
Aaron Kimball appears only in Fallout: New Vegas. He is also mentioned in the Fallout: New Vegas add-ons Dead Money and Lonesome Road.