In an alternate United States, beginning in 1939 during the fading Interwar period, a team of costumed crime-fighters is formed – the "Minutemen". The 1960s Vietnam War era through the mid-1980s Cold War sees the rise of the "Watchmen" team of heroes, whose existence dramatically affects world events. In 1959, after his apparent death in an Intrinsic Field Generator accident, Dr. Jon Osterman remakes his body as a god-like being dubbed "Doctor Manhattan." The U.S. government utilizes his powers to win the Vietnam War and gain a strategic advantage over the Soviet Union which, by 1985, threatens thermonuclear war. The Comedian suppresses evidence of the Watergate scandal. By overwhelming public support, the 22nd Amendment is repealed, allowing President Richard Nixon to win a third term.