“It’s interesting sometimes,” Justin remarked.
“And those letters that you found and your trip to South America and half of you were chased by sharks and the others were fighting to survive the jungle. But the weirdest was Stanley Burnham. I read your book… scary stuff. What a maniac he was and still is. I understand he’s in a secure facility for the criminally insane.”
“I hope it’s secure,” Justin said.
“You’re not certain?”
“With Stanley involved nothing is certain.”
“I see, well let’s hope he stays put. Now, Belinda, the fashion editor. Where do you get all your ideas?”
“I keep up on the literature, I attend shows when I can but most of all I just look in the mirror every day.” Tatiana chuckled and Jozette moaned again. Belinda was Jozette’s best friend but Belinda’s beauty was impossible to compete with for any woman. Jozette herself was beautiful but in the company of Belinda only one of them garnered the attention.
“Ah, well, normally, I’d say that was vain but with your looks I’d say that was very good advice. If every woman looked like you, we’d all be beautiful.”
“Oh, yes, Madam President, they would indeed.” Ellen glanced at Tatiana who grinned and shook her head.
“I heard about your trial for murder.”
“Yes, I did a stupid thing when I pulled out the knife.”
“And your attorney is with us.”
“Yes, Little Wolf, one of my best friends. He is the greatest lawyer ever.”
“Miss Belinda is sometimes a victim of her own hyperboles,” Little Wolf said and Ellen laughed along with everyone else except Belinda because she didn’t know what hyperbole meant.
“Mr. Kline, I’ve read your articles too.”
“They pale next to Justin’s work.”
“I wouldn’t say that. You are two different kind of writers. Mr. Weaver strikes me as a dreamer and an analyzer and you are a technician and a good old-fashioned reporter. Don’t sell yourself short.”
“Thank you,” Andy said.
“Jozette, that’s a neat name, I’ve never heard it before.”
“It was my mother’s idea.”
“A pretty name and if I may, you look like a Jozette.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” Jozette said.
“I would picture a Jozette as smart, strong, a leader and clearly you are.”
“Thank you,” Jozette said sheepishly. Ellen glanced at Tatiana who shrugged her shoulders.
“And, you are a real estate mogul.”
“I run an agency I don’t know about the mogul part.”
“You’re very successful, I read the Indiana State Real Estate report and your agency was third in sales per capita in the entire state. That must amount to something.”
“It does but I’m more interested in helping people get into a house and out of the projects.”
“I know, I read about that too and I’m impressed.”
“You are?” Jozette asked. She’d been rather cool to the President since they boarded the plane and for that matter, she wasn’t excited about the trip itself. She’d been quiet and didn’t want to discuss the trip or meeting the President. She went for Andy’s sake and everyone else’s but if truth be told she would’ve rather stayed home.
“I’m getting the impression that you’re not saying how you feel. You seem to be holding back,” Ellen said. Jozette looked at everyone then back at Ellen.
“I guess I’ve been keeping quiet.”
“I take it that it has something to do with your views.”
“Yes, Madam President.”
“I further take it that you perceive your social views as being different from mine and you feel funny being here since your presence on this plane and on this trip suggests to everyone else that you share my views and the views of my party. Am I right?” Jozette lowered her head and sighed before looking up.
“Yes, Madam President.”
“Well, for your benefit and everyone else’s let me tell all of you about who I am.”
“I’m sorry I put a damper on things,” Jozette said.
“You did nothing of the sort. My parents ran a newspaper in Maine. It was a county wide paper as Xavier Corners isn’t big enough to support a paper of its own. I delivered papers, sold advertisements and even wrote some pieces while I was in high school. I went to college and law school then ran for the county board, state representative, state senate and finally won the election for governor. When Amos Clark got the nomination for President, he chose me to balance the ticket not because we shared all of our views. Amos was a Neanderthal ideologically. I met him at the convention and we had exactly two campaign stops together. He didn’t want me around because we didn’t see eye to eye on much of anything.”
“I don’t understand,” Jozette said.
“Jozette, I’m a rare breed politically, I’m what is known as a Liberal Republican. There aren’t many of us around anymore.” They’re mostly from the past. Edward Brooke of Massachusetts was the first black senator in modern times, Governor Nelson Rockefeller and Senator Jacob Javits of New York, Senator Charles Mathias of Maryland and Senator Charles Percy of Illinois could all be classified as Liberal Republicans.
“What exactly is a Liberal Republican?” Jozette asked.
“I believe in a strong national defense. I’m pro-banking and pro-business though I’m in favor of regulations to prevent abuse. I’m a capitalist and a strong believer in private land ownership. Taxes should be cut across the board so people can spend their money they way they like. Socially, I believe that a woman’s right to choose her own destiny regarding her reproductive life is hers alone. I believe in public welfare though there have been abuses and it needs to be cleaned up. Immigration needs to be fixed. Immigrants are vital to the fabric of America and legal immigration should be encouraged. Those here illegally should be given amnesty and citizenship and no children should be taken from their parents… ever. The bad ones, well that’s different. The Statue of Liberty says give us your tired, your homeless and your huddled masses. It doesn’t say give us your felons and murderers. Those you can keep in my opinion. In a nutshell that’s a Liberal Republican.”
“Wow that is eye opening. I guess we’re not as far apart as I’d thought.”
“I hope not because I like you,” Ellen said as she smiled at Jozette who returned a sheepish grin. I’ve found that many times people are far apart as you say because they’re moving in opposite directions and don’t even know it.”
“I think perhaps you’re right,” Jozette said.
“Now, Mr. Swanzy, I understand you’re not unfamiliar with the workings of the Presidency.”
“No, Ma’am, I’m not. I was an advisor for President Alvarez as I’m sure you know.”
“Yes, I spoke to him about you and he had nothing but good things to say.”
“I’m flattered.”
“Maybe you’d like to join my team.”
“The idea is intriguing but I have a family now and I’m deep into my work on electromagnetism.”
“Well, I wouldn’t want to interrupt genius,” Ellen said and there was laughter.
“That might be a stretch but my partner and I think we’re onto something.”
“Fine, keep up the good work. I understand you left President Alvarez rather suddenly.”
“Yes, there was a… situation of sorts.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Ellen said as she chuckled.
“I met someone.”
“Yes, the mysterious Ms. Bogornov. You are a many faceted person, Tatiana.”
“I don’t know if that’s a compliment or an identifier but it’s accurate.”
“It’s both.”
“I was in a peculiar line of business at the time I met Dave.”
“Yes, I think that’s all we need to say about your previous calling,” Ellen said with a grin.