John was brought into the Oval Office and I moved around my desk to greet him. “Thank you for coming, John.”
“You’re welcome, Mr. President. How can I help you?”
We shook hands and I showed him to the armchairs in the center of the room. He moved with a slight limp like I did, courtesy of his service in Viet Nam. We both had injuries in common. “Can I offer you some coffee?”
“Please.”
I looked over at Frank Stouffer, who had brought the Senator into my office and nodded. I chatted with McCain for a moment while Frank prepared coffee and tea, but we didn’t say anything substantive. After he served us, I thanked Frank and sent him out of the room.
John sipped his coffee and commented, “This really is very good coffee. You don’t drink it though, I’ve been told.”
“No, I’m a tea drinker, have been since I was a teenager. Made things difficult in the Army, I’ll tell you. The Army runs on coffee!”
“The Navy was pretty much the same way. They might not issue rum anymore, but they sure better have coffee around.” I smiled and nodded at that. “Those were simpler days, Mister President. It’s more complicated now. You’ve been busy the last few days.”
“That’s very true, John. Call me Carl, by the way.”
“Thank you, Carl. As I was saying, you’ve been busy. The CIA, the FBI, now State — I have to wonder what you are up to.”
I nodded in understanding. “I’d be surprised if you weren’t wondering what was happening. Let me put this as plainly as possible. Our nation just suffered through the worst intelligence disaster since Pearl Harbor, and I do not use that term lightly. We lost more people at the Twin Towers than we did at Pearl, and we ended up then with a World War. You were Navy. You must have been to Pearl and seen the Arizona and the Punchbowl. This will be for our generation and our children’s generation as momentous an event as that day was. Would you agree with that?”
“Yes, sir, I would agree with that, which makes me wonder why you are dismantling our capabilities like this,” he replied.
“John, the last thing I want to do is to dismantle our capabilities. We are going to need them more than at any time in the past. No, what we need is accurate information that is not tied up with politics, and I am sorry to say that is not what we have been getting. I am not one to fire people without a darn good reason, and I am sorry to say I had reasons.”
“Carl, I want to believe you, but four high level firings is a lot.”
“John, I agree. However, this is going to break down into two separate issues. First, the quality of the intelligence and how it was handled was a disaster, in no uncertain terms. We had plenty of warning and nobody did jack about this. When this comes out you will be amazed. Those were the people I let go initially. Cheney is a different matter. You have probably heard that the Justice Department is investigating senior people at State. Ashcroft thinks there will be indictments. Basically Cheney, Wolfowitz, and the entire crew around them have been gaming the intelligence for the last year or so, and you have seen the results. I told Dick the other day that he needed to hire a lawyer, and that I would not be handing out pardons.”
McCain looked stunned as I told him the information. After a moment he replied, “These are unbelievable charges!”
“I agree, but I have been dealing with this for most of the last year. Now I have to rebuild a government. That’s why I asked you to come over today. I want your help.”
McCain set down his coffee cup and saucer. “In what way, Mr. President?”
“I am bringing Colin Powell over from Defense to State, and I am bringing Richard Clarke in to run the CIA. I don’t know if you know him, but he’s been working counterterrorism for Condi Rice, at least until he was fired.”
“And you want me for Defense?” he asked with a touch of incredulity.
I gave a wry smile at that. “I considered that, or State, but no, that’s not my thought. I was thinking a little higher up the ladder.”
“Vice President!?”
“Would you consider it?” I rejoined.
He looked closely at me. “Are you planning on running in 2004?”
I smiled at that. “John, the honest answer is that I just don’t know. I might. I would never run if I had to go through what you guys have to do, but this would be different, wouldn’t it. Or were you planning a primary challenge?” Normally, a primary challenge to a sitting President is both unheard of and a disaster to everybody involved. Now, it was possible, but could still be a disaster.
“It’s something to consider. You’ve never done a national campaign, not like that. If I become VP, that is out, isn’t it?”
I nodded. “On the other hand, you get a leg up on everybody else, regardless. Who else is there?” I shrugged and tossed my hands up. “John, I just don’t know if I am going to run. If I do run, I’m term limited to just one more term. You’ll be able to run in 2004 if I get out, or 2008 if I stay in. Either way, you get a lot of benefits from being the Veep.”
“I won’t put up with the crap you took.”
I smiled at that. “You noticed! I’m touched! Seriously, every once in a while this country gets a lesson in politics when the Vice President gets an unexpected promotion. Most of the time nobody gives a rat’s ass, but when it happens, they care. I might not have run for the job, but I have it, and I will damn well make sure that whoever is next in line is qualified. I won’t say it will be perfect and easy, but I believe you have the nation’s best interests at heart, and if necessary, you could do the job.”
He didn’t respond directly to that, but he didn’t shoot me down. “What is my role in this?”
“My door will be a lot more open than George’s was, that’s for sure. Actually, one of my biggest plans is simply to work with Congress on things. Back when I was in the House I used to work across party lines all the time. You were there; you know that’s how I worked. I need to do that some more, and a second person couldn’t hurt. This country is going to be going through some changes and I will need the help with Congress. That will be a focus for you.” I sat back in the armchair and smiled. “Besides which, you will have more than a few advantages if you run for President when I step down. I can help with that.”
“Can I have a day or two to think about this?” he asked.
I chuckled at that. “Yes, you can, and I promise I won’t say anything to anybody. However, you know how the cameras watch this place. Don’t blame me if somebody starts asking questions!”
“That’s true enough.”
“Are you considering it yes or considering it no?” I pressed.
“I’m considering it yes, but I want to talk to my wife. As long as we are talking about who is considering what, what are you considering for 2004?” he asked.
“I really don’t know yet. Right now I feel like I’m playing catch-up ball. I will be able to say by early next year. Give me until the spring before I decide. I hate to say it, but you’d be buying a pig in a poke in that regard.”
“Can I call you Monday morning with my answer?”
“Or before, if you want to. If it isn’t you, I am going to have to find another name, but you are my preference. If yes, we will need to have a skull session here.” We would need to sit with my people and his before the announcement.
We left it at that and I did some more of what my staff told me I was doing. In that way it was a lot like my days in the House. My time was booked and my boss was the clock and the staff. After lunch, however, I had a major meeting. General Myers was giving me the detailed presentation on the Afghanistan plans after lunch, at the Pentagon.