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 The
President of Gallifrey started with a problem for The Doctor – how
to make sure that his Young Israelites, the Gallifreyan exiles, stay within
the law of the world he has brought them to, and a decision to form a
government in exile and redraft the Laws of Time. It then became an election
campaign and an examination of some issues that must have occurred to
anyone following these stories. For example, where DO David,
Rose and Jackie
stand? Are they considered to be Gallifreyans? IS there a difference between
pureblood and half blood etc.
What they didn’t reckon on was a challenger for the
presidency which everyone assumed was rightfully The Doctor’s, or
failing him, Christopher’s.
So just who is “MortimusCalsicHallowLanSteelae Draxic”? The answer is soon known. He is The Monk,
the Time Lord that caused the First Doctor so much trouble in 1066 in
The Time Meddler.
 Or
rather, he isn’t. There’s a gothic twist worthy of Phillip Hinchcliffe’s era of Doctor Who. Draxic
is dead. All except his brain, kept in a jar
while he controls his SON’s mind, forcing him to live as a slave to his father’s
will, losing his own identity entirely.
Thus
an innocent victim is found in the midst of it all, Spenser Draxic,
a man born in the 18th century, who has seen the centuries
pass only as a helpless bystander and has to begin living his own life,
literally, after living his father’s life for so long.
And a new President. Of course The Doctor had to win, but it was a close thing between him
and Christopher.
It
probably comes as a surprise to know that Gallifrey has a national anthem.
I think it should have one, anyway. And it ought to be a proud, stirring
one. One day, perhaps, I’ll write one! For now, the description
of The Doctor as President of New Gallifrey on Earth, feeling its beat
deep in his hearts, is enough.
Incidentally,
The Master, in Sound of Drums/Last of The Time Lords also spoke of a New
Gallifrey on Earth, but sharing the planet with humanity wasn’t
in his plans.
http://www.rdwf.org.uk/doctors/D1/s2/09timemeddler.htm
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