ALL IN: Race for the White House (32 page)

“I’d still like to do it, though—live in a small town, by the ocean,” I said.

Lexi was relentless. “Jack, what if I ride with you, just me? I could sit way up front with the driver; my crew could follow in the van? There’s enough room for them all if they squeeze. At least until we could rent a car in Portland.”

“Till you rent a car? Whatever. Hey, let’s walk down the hill and enjoy the seafood.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

We had arrived in Windham, Maine, the night before and figured we’d stop and sit tight so the troop traveling with us could get some breakfast in the morning. Our final destination was South Casco, eleven minutes up the road. I’d been there in the summer when the small town grocery and Dunkin Donuts had trouble handling a few extra tourists. I thought this tribe would throw the little town out of whack.

Windham is a small town of about 19,000 and sits about twenty-five miles west of Portland. It’s unique in that it plays host to practically every fast food restaurant known to man. The town has its own Super Walmart, a Home Depot and serves as a service center for the surrounding rural area. Unlike other Maine towns, Windham isn’t charming or quaint; it’s a drive-through. At least it could handle our group without too much hassle.
 

The locals must have been surprised when fifty or so reporters walked into McDonalds this morning to get their coffee fix. We were traveling with some of the biggest names in television news, which I’m sure wasn’t going unnoticed.
 

Everybody was scrambling to rent anything even resembling a motel room for the rest of our stay. The Secret Service had taken rooms from Portland all the way up 302 to Bridgton, which, besides Bar Harbor is my favorite Maine town.
 

We awoke to about an inch of snow, the mercury showing only a brisk 22 degrees. After a quick morning meeting, with everybody munching on Egg McMuffins, the group disbanded. I was enjoying a moment alone drinking my last few sips of coffee when Lexi popped onto the bus.
 

“Phew, it’s cold out this morning,” Lexi shook off the chill. Closing the door behind her, she climbed the ribbed rubber stairs to the main level.
 

“Jack, you must be a political genius.”

“I do my best, are you finally admitting it, Lex?”
 

“No, I’m serious, Jack; we did some ‘man on the street’ interviews following you around yesterday. We got some amazing material; I’m putting together a piece…”

“What’s the angle, you sound excited?”

“You’re obviously doing well everywhere, but you’ve had a sort of fanatical zeal with the people in the rural towns. Almost everyone we talked to outright professes love for you. Some are hurting so bad, and you’re the only hope they’ve got left.”
 

I shook a sugar packet, then thought better of it and threw it back into the bowl.

“Lexi, do you think I should lose a few pounds, for the camera? The food on the road is lousy and I’m sure it’s fattening.”
 

“Jack, the cameras we have today don’t add weight like they used to. You don’t have to worry anyway. You look great on and off camera. Not to mention, you easily look ten years younger than you are.”
 

“I don’t think you’d tell me anyway. But getting back to your genius comment, to be honest, Lisa came up with the strategy. I only drove through the center of the state ‘cause I love it. There was no motive other than maybe getting my way.”

“Well, your luck is legendary, then. There’s this one guy, I want to lead the piece with him. He said, ‘before Canon it felt like we were all marching toward failure in this country. Our jobs are gone and our money is heading overseas to buy foreign oil. Jack is going to change all that.’”
 

“I’d like to see the tape, Lexi. I can use some of it in my acceptance speech at the nomination.”

“Sure, Jack, I’ll be working on it today. The piece has to be ready for Sunday night ahead of the primary on Tuesday.”

“The timing couldn’t be better. You’ll have the Griffin thing to scoop on Wednesday. Lex, I thought of a line you could use.”

“What is it?”
 

Speaking like a commentator, “Sources tell us, Anne Griffin, once Canon’s number one rival, is joining the campaign as the vice presidential hopeful. She is sacrificing her ambition for the greater good of America, believing the two can forge a formidable team and break the gridlock in Washington.”

“Jack, that’s good, I’ll use it.”
 

“I figured it does the job still playing to her massive ego.”

“You’re right. Are you okay with the ‘man on the street story’? I want your blessing.”

“Yeah, do it. I don’t just like it, I
love
it.”

“Thanks, I’ll make you proud.”

“Hey, Lex, you’ll never guess what Bill said at the morning meeting today.”

“Tell me.”
 

“His son Steve, you’ve met him, right?”
 

“Yes, Christmastime at your house. Remember the night you showed me the view of the stars from your patio?”

“I’ll never forget it… Steve had to come off Everest.”

“How come, Jack? He seemed so capable.”

“He never got acclimated at base camp.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No, something about the altitude, he was up there for a month trying to get his body used to it. Bill said on one of the trial climbs he developed blood in his mucus.”
 

“Oh no, Jack, is he alright?”

“Steve told Bill he’s fine now, but altitude sickness is serious; they say if you push you can die. He felt really ill and decided to come off the mountain.”

“How is Bill taking the news? What did you say to him?”

“That I’d be proud of Steve. He had the courage to abort instead of possibly dying up there. A lot of guys would’ve pushed ahead regardless of the risk. I think that shows he has his ego in check.”

“What’s he going to do when he gets back to the states?”

“I told Bill I wanted Steve to come work for the campaign, that we could really use him.”

“That’s nice, Jack.”

“I had an ulterior motive. I’m going to have him work closely with Lisa. I’m hoping they might hook up.”

“Jack, you are so funny,” then freshly, “maybe you could help
me
next.”

“Like you need it, Lexi, come on.”

“When do I ever get a chance to meet anyone following you around the country?”
 

I’d been in this conversation with Lisa. I quickly changed the subject, “Hey, what do you think of Lisa for Press Secretary?”

“I’d sort of hoped you would have offered that to me.”

“Are you kidding, we need you on the outside. You’re a major news personality, and the scoops will make you a star. We need you to report our perspective.”

“Well, since you put it that way, I think Lisa would be perfect—especially with her new look.”

“Lexi, I always hoped you’d end up as the anchor of the CBS Evening News. It hasn’t been the same since they railroaded Dan Rather out of there.”
 

“I don’t think they’d let me out of my contract over at NIM, Jack. Plus, why CBS?”

I adjusted the shade of the bus to partially block the bright morning sun from my eyes.

“That was the Colonel’s favorite; we grew up watching it. That’s probably why I always liked it best. It’s familiar and feels like home to me. We could get you out of your contract.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

I never thought I would want to hear Anne Griffin say anything. In fact, I used to cringe at the mere mention of her name. Now here I was standing on the side porch anxiously awaiting her arrival. I wanted to hear her say the words in front of America.
 

I had no reason to doubt. She was a good soldier that had kept her end of the bargain and then some. Since I couldn’t drill Barker on Iran, we had instructed the Griffin Camp to do it. Anne’s attack was relentless. If we were going to beat a sitting president, we had to show his weakness on foreign policy. Griffin pulled the negative ads off us and the results in from Maine were extraordinary. Everything was as we hoped or better, but still I wanted to see the check cashed.
 

Our people set up the side yard for the press conference using Sebago Lake as a backdrop. If this was to be the Summer White House, we wanted America to start getting used to the idea sooner rather than later. We expected Griffin would speak first and then I would say a few words about her selfless patriotism, sacrificing her ambition for the good of the country.
 

The press pool had been setting up jockeying for the best spots since dawn. I awakened to their rumbling, the only sounds over a frozen lake. Other than us, there were no signs of life except for a few ice-fishing houses set up for winter. Sebago is a summer destination and basically empties of inhabitants after the fall foliage.
 

This would be the icing on the cake. Going head to head into the convention against Griffin would have been like two eagles grabbing talons spinning towards the ground. The lady was a hard campaigner and a big believer in negative advertising. Better to have this attack dog on the end of our leash than us trying to step around her.
 

Still, I couldn’t help thinking,
what if she doesn’t show?
There are any of a dozen different scenarios where she decides to go to the end. Who knows what advice she’s getting last minute from all the hangers-on she’s carrying? It’s hard to keep an ego that size in check.
 

I’ve got to stop over thinking this, she’ll be here, and this will be over. I try not to, but I allow my eyes to move towards the front of the house to check for her again.
 

“Jack, can I talk to you for a minute?” Lisa said coming out to the porch. Sarah sent me out with a cup of coffee for you. The press conference isn’t scheduled until nine o’clock, so I thought we could go over a few things. Is there anything pressing when I’m in Washington covering for Sandy the next couple of weeks?”
 

“You know I asked Bill’s son Steve to meet you at the office on Monday; he’s going to be your assistant for the rest of the campaign.”
 

“I heard, and I know what you’re trying to do, Jack.”
 

Lisa wasn’t the type to forget our bargain, and I doubt the thought of it ever left her mind.

“Well, he’s interested in working in politics, and what better chance than to jump into the Big Game? I told him you’re the best in the business and that he’s going to learn a lot from you.”

“Is that all, Jack, or did you have something more in mind?”

“You mean—the fact that he’s your age, a rugged adventurer and you
 
happen to adore his dad?”
 

“I think that basically covers it. Jack, I appreciate what you’re trying to do for me, but I feel a little strange using work to meet a guy. Isn’t that like really against the rules?”

“Sit down, Lisa.”

We both sat on an old porch style couch that was facing the lake. The two of us sunk deep into the soft cushions covered in a tan blanket we used for naps. This was one of my favorite spots in the house. The porch had a great view of the lake and the lawn that sloped about 100 feet to the water. The grass was now covered by a fresh inch of powder, and the dock and the Adirondacks were long put away for winter. I pulled her close to me with my arm around her upper shoulder. The position felt awkward, the way you might hold someone on your first date at a movie. She didn’t seem to mind, so I figured it must be me. Her head was angled towards my face, so close I could feel her breath on my neck.
 

Meeting her eyes, “There are no rules for us. We’ll do as we like. Soon it will be us making those laws you’re thinking about.”

“Jack, you can’t be serious?”

“Lisa, the only laws that matter are God’s. When we’re in power, our only responsibility is not to break those. The rules you’re talking about are man-made conveniences, so people don’t kill each other. Think of all the nonsensical laws that have been made only to be changed afterward. Prohibition, the right to vote, segregation, slavery, we could go on and on. Man’s rules we can break. In fact, good people are often hurt by those who haven’t got the guts to bend the rules.”
 

Her mind moved to something else, “You didn’t want Steve to see Daphne
first
did you, and you waited for Sandy to be out of the office, too?”

“Lisa, you’re over thinking this.”
 

“Admit it, Jack. I’m right.”
 

“It’s not that I didn’t think he’d fall head over heels for you. I mean, he just got off base camp at Everest and he’s feeling vulnerable because he couldn’t make the final climb.”

“You’ve got this all figured out, don’t you, Jack? Tell me I’m right, though.”
 

“You know you’re
right,
but you don’t understand a man’s mind. He’s going to love you, but you’ve got to get him committed. Before he meets Sandy and especially Daphne, so he doesn’t get confused.”
 

“Confused, are all men confused, Jack? Has that been my problem?”

“Lisa, listen. During the two weeks you’re with him alone, you let him slowly take possession of you.”

“How do I do that?”

“I want you to call Jean-Claude and have him help you get yourself together for this.”

I wanted to tell her myself exactly what she needed to do, but I couldn’t bring myself to say the words. I would get Jean-Claude to do it.

“Men are visual, so have Jean-Claude get you into something. I’ll call him and give him some ideas, but you have to trust me. I don’t want to tell you now because it’s embarrassing.”
 

“What do you mean, Jack?”

“Let’s say I’ll have him leave nothing on the table.”

“Do you want me to dress like a slut at the office?”

“Not at all, Lisa. You’re beautiful. Think business, but borderline. Promise me.”