Aaron Kimball

President Aaron Kimball is the commander-in-chief of the New California Republic in 2281.

Background
Born in 2233, Aaron Kimball joined the New California Republic Army at an unknown date. He rose to prominence during the early years of the Republic's entry into the Mojave Wasteland. His campaigns against the various tribes of the Mojave, pacifying them in order to facilitate NCR expansion, led to his rise to prominence in the military. As a general in the NCR Army, he was widely praised and gained popular support for his campaign against wasteland tribals who attacked NCR citizens, earning the nickname "Hero of the Mojave". His fame and popularity led Kimball to leave the Army and enter politics, and he eventually launched a successful run for the presidency, taking office in 2273. His first act of office was ordering the occupation of Hoover Dam, an act which proved immensely popular with the NCR's populace.

Kimball was better liked as a general than as a politician, where his stiff, autocratic style of leadership was much more fitting. 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. Nevertheless, Kimball has campaigned vigorously for further contributions, militarily and financially, to the Mojave campaign - so much so that the NCR's stake in Mojave has been viewed as "Kimball's war."

Personally, Aaron Kimball is a "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, architect of the first victory at the dam, has with the president.

Ideology
Aaron Kimball was elected President of the New California Republic in 2273 after retiring from the rank of general of the New California Republic Army. As a promising member of the military, Kimball recieved large amounts of popularity during the Mojave Campaign, when he enacted harsh measures against hostile tribes that attacked NCR citizens. An increasing need for wealth and resources, due to the NCR-Brotherhood War, drove the Republic to annex most of the Mojave Wasteland, Kimball soon became known as "The Hero of the Mojave" for his role in securing many tactical locations and preserving order under his strict autocratic syle of military leadership.

He eventually retired from his military career and returned to New California, settling in The Hub where he ran for the presidency against the incumbent Wendell Peterson. Riding high on his popularity for his successful military career, he unseated President Peterson and officially became president. Using his knowledge of the Mojave, one of the first acts as president was an executive order to send scouts to occupy Hoover Dam and seek to establish control over New Vegas. He eventually asserted his power over the Mojave by signing the New Vegas Treaty with the newly emerged Mr. House, ordering the occupying troops to divert 95% of the power generated by the dam to NCR territory and the remaining 5% to the New Vegas Strip as per the deal. The tales of fortune as told by tourists and soldiers of the Strip soon caused an explosion of tourism and the steady supply of water and electricity heading back to New California cemented Kimball's reputation as a man who could get the job done.

Kimball's presidency would nonetheless be challenged more than once as various factions and raider groups took notice in the increase in tourists and as the NCR-Brotherhood War continued. Other conflicts such as the NCR-Raiders War took a toll on troop 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. Further conflicts with the Brotherhood, ending with the their defeat at HELIOS One at the hands of the NCR, driving them completely underground, and the NCR scoring many tactical victories in the war with the raiders, with the Vipers and Jackals being almost annihilated, many of the Great Khans being controversially massacred, with only the Fiends remaining a present threat. 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 postion for the NCR's hold on the Mojave.

Although the NCR's dominance in the Mojave led to much popular support for Kimball's goal of manifest destiny and a return to old world American values, this would be challenged by a new arrival: Caesar's Legion. Further pushes for the annexation of New Vegas were put on hold as an intense battle at the dam took place, although the Legion retreated east over the Colorado River, the NCR's resources and manpower were significantly strained and they were forced into a defensive war. The NCR's weaknesses would become apparent as Camp Willow was destroyed by the Legion, and the Arizona Spillway was also overrun, giving the Legion complete control of the east side of the Colorado River. Further NCR defeat occured at Nelson after the Legion took Cottonwood Cove, thus giving them a foothold on the west side of the river and a focal point for troop deployment and slave transportation, and the Legion's sabotage of Camp Searchlight. Another fatality occured at Nipton which, although not nominally part of the NCR, still served a large blow to troop morale and an increasing discontent among civilians and soldiers alike, causing 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 called "Kimball's War" with the ramifications of victory or defeat tremendously affecting Kimball's entire career and the NCR as a whole.

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 Caesar's 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, no matter what their loyalties, Kimball will be assassinated by Legion agents sent by Caesar.

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-on Dead Money and Lonesome Road.