An Army bus was stopped on the road, and a dozen or so soldiers stood in a little circle around a body lying on the gravel shoulder. A sergeant stepped forward as the patrolman approached.
"We tried first aid, officer," he said, "but he was gone. Died on impact, I guess."
"How'd it happen?"
"We couldn't see too well. One of the boys had a portable radio and we were mostly in the back of the bus listening to the President. The driver says that all of a sudden this car came around the bend right in front of us, going real fast, and swerved off and piled into the wall. Maybe he wasn't paying attention and got scared when he saw us."
The highway patrolman walked over to the battered car, reached inside and switched off the radio. Then he noticed the license tags of the car and swore under his breath. Damn, he thought, I'll be tied up on this one all week.
The rear license plate of the Thunderbird convertible was bent, but easily legible. It was a California plate: USS 1.
Epilogue
PRESS CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENT JORDAN LYMAN
Monday, May 20, 10:30 a.m.
(In attendance: 483)
the president: Good morning. I have several announcements.
First, the arrangements for the trip to Vienna are now complete, and Mr. Simon will have detailed information on that for you by noon today.
Second, I have one diplomatic appointment. When the Senate reconvenes I will send up a nomination for ambassador to Chile, to fill the vacancy which has existed in that post for the past several weeks. I am appointing Mr. Henry Whitney, a career foreign service officer who has demonstrated unusual initiative and skill. He is currently serving as consul general in Spain.
Third, I have accepted a number of resignations in the armed services. The officers are General George Seager and General Theodore F. Daniel of the Air Force. There will be a list available after the press conference, by the way. General Seager is commander of Vandenberg missile base, and General Daniel is commander of the Strategic Air Command. Also Admiral Topping Wilson, commander of the Pacific Fleet, and Admiral Farley C. Barnswell, commander of the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, and Lieutenant General Thomas R. Hastings, commander of the First Airborne Corps of the Army at Fort Bragg.
malcolm waters, Associated Press: Mr. President?
the president: Excuse me, Mr. Waters, I have one further announcement. As you all know, the President has traditionally had three military aides-one each from the Army, Navy and Air Force. I thought it was about time a Marine was added, and I am appointing Colonel Casey as my Marine aide. He will be promoted to brigadier general. That's all I have.
hugh ulanski, United Press Internationaclass="underline" Could we have the full name of that Colonel Casey, sir?
the president: I'm sorry. That is Colonel Martin J. Casey. He is currently serving as director of the Joint Staff. I think some of you may know him.
merrill stanley, NBC: Mr. President, are we to understand that these five resignations you just gave us are in the same category as the Joint Chiefs, that is, because they opposed the treaty?
the president: Now, let's get one thing cleared up. It wasn't opposition to the treaty that brought on these resignations, but opposition of a formal and persistent nature after the policy of the government had been firmly settled. With that proviso, the answer to your question is yes. The five field commanders proposed to ally themselves with General Scott in formal defiance of government policy. That could not be tolerated.
merrill stanley, NBC: Mr. President, our switchboard has been swamped with calls on this Joint Chiefs thing.
the president: So has mine. (Laughter)
merrill stanley, NBC: Yes, sir. And most of them are to the effect that the public doesn't understand why so many had to be fired.
the president: Well, they weren't fired. They resigned. It is true, of course, that I requested the resignations, but the officers in question could have refused to submit them and could have carried the matter further. They preferred not to do that, and I think they were wise. Now, why so many? The resignations involved only those military officers who proposed to defy established national policy after it had been settled. As I said Saturday, we could not operate in that situation. No military leader has been disturbed because he expressed opposition to the treaty before it was ratified. In fact, Admiral Palmer has been advanced to a more responsible assignment, as has General Rutkowski. General Rutkowski argued very strongly against the treaty last year.
james compton, Knight Newspapers: Sir, you didn't make it clear in your speech Saturday to what extent you encouraged them to resign.
the president: Jim, I'll assume that's a question even though I couldn't hear a question mark on it. Let's just say I advised them to resign and they accepted my advice. (Laughter)
hal brennan, New York Times: Mr. President, we have an authoritative report that some intelligence information, involving Russia's intentions to abide by the treaty, accounts for your trip to Vienna to see Mr. Feemerov. Is that correct, sir?
the president: I'm sorry, but I will have nothing more to say on the Vienna conference until it is over.
hal brennan, New York Times: Then we may assume the report is correct?
the president: Now, Mr. Brennan, I am neither confirming nor denying anything. I am simply not discussing the subject. I'd like to be helpful, but I think it would not be useful for me to discuss it just now. You'll all be informed in good time.
ruth everson, New Orleans Times-Picayune: Mr. President, people in Louisiana are very worried about our country's safety with all these top officers being fired. Have you thought about that?
the president: I thought I made it clear on Saturday that I myself have no qualms. Every branch of the military establishment has many fine, experienced and devoted officers ready to assume command responsibilities. I think that is one of the great successes of our service academy system, and of course we have many fine officers from the ranks and from the civilian colleges.
thomas hodges, Minneapolis Star and Tribune: Mr. President, did you consult with the National Security Council or the Cabinet or other advisers on this?
the president: Not the NSC or the Cabinet as such, but I did consult most earnestly, and at some length, with certain of my advisers.
thomas hodges, Minneapolis Star and Tribune: I wonder if you could give us their names, please, sir?
the president: In this particular case, I don't believe it would be useful.
roger swensson, Chicago Tribune: Mr. President, many people find it hard to believe that the treaty alone was the cause of this mass exodus. Was anything else involved?
the president: The treaty stirred very deep feelings in this country. Men in high positions are not immune to deep feelings.
roger swensson, Chicago Tribune: Are you saying, sir, that this was also partly a matter of personalities?
the president: No, I am not. I am saying that the chiefs and I differed one hundred and eighty degrees on a matter vital to the security and future of this country and of the whole world. These differences were not susceptible of resolution.
grant church, Washington Star: Mr. President, you said Saturday that you would go into court today on the missile strikes. Is that still your intention?
the president: Well, on that I have asked the Attorney General to wait until this afternoon. I understand that there now seems an excellent prospect that the problem may be solved by then without our seeking an injunction, so I have asked him to wait, and keep in touch with the Secretary of Labor, who has been working over the weekend on the matter. But if there is no progress this morning, yes, we will go into court this afternoon as I indicated.