for democracy. Congressman Koslowski, Senator Fitzgerald, and Senator Downs are three more names that will be added to that long and noble list. They were patriots who not only believed in democracy and freedom, who not only lived and enjoyed the fruits of democracy and freedom, they were men who fought for democracy and freedom so the rest of us could enjoy it. “The deaths of these three great Americans are a tragedy and loss to our entire nation, but America is a country that has suffered many losses in her long and glorious battle to sustain freedom.
Throughout our history we have been faced with great trials and tribulations. We have, as a nation, always risen above these obstacles and emerged stronger! Next week, we will, as a nation, bury these three honorable men. We will mourn their deaths as a country, and then we will do as they would have wished.” The President picked his right hand off the desk and clenched his fist. Continuing to speak, he slowly thrust it forward, toward the camera. “America and democracy are too big and good to be brought down by tyranny. We will push on, we will persevere, we will overcome!” There was a long pause as he continued to stare into the camera and let the words he’d spoken hang, and then in closing he said, “Good night, and may God bless each of you.”
The PRESIDENT CONTINUED TO STARE INTO THE CAMERA UNTIL
HOPKINSON stepped in and pulled him out of his chair. “Sir, all of these mikes are still live, and the camera is sending out a feed.” The President nodded, knowing what his communications director was implying. The previous year Stevens had told several off—
color jokes following his Saturday-afternoon radio address. He thought the microphones had been turned off, but they weren’t. The press had .jumped all over him, but since the
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jokes were actually funny, the damage was minor. Hopkinson and Garret were always on the alert to prevent a similar mistake.
Garret walked over and said, “Come on, gentlemen, let’s go to my office.” He shook his head toward the door, and the President and Hopkinson followed. When they entered
Garret’s office, the President turned to Hopkinson and asked, “How did I look?”
“You looked fine, sir.”
“Did it look genuine and heartfelt?”
“I thought so, but we’ll know more in about an hour. I’ve got a polling group calling five hundred homes right now to try and get an early read on what the public thinks.” Stu
Garret sat down behind his desk, shoved a cigarette in his mouth, and turned on the little brown smoke-eater next to his ashtray. After taking a deep drag, he pulled the cigarette away from his lips and started to speak, his lungs still filled with smoke. “You did a nice job, Jim. If we handle this thing right, I think we’re going to see a big jump in your approval ratings.”
Smoke started to seep out of Garret’s nose, and he tilted his head back, exhaling a deep gray cloud toward the ceiling. “There’s nothing like the exposure you get from a crisis.”
Back in Blacky’s, the roar of conversation had returned as the patrons discussed the events of the day and the President’s speech. O’Rourke was intentionally keeping his mouth shut as Scarlatti stared at him. He looked over the top of his menu at her big brown eyes. “Michael, you know I’m dying to hear what you have to say about this whole thing.”
“About what?” Scarlatti pulled the menu out of his hands. “Don’t play coy with me, Michael, I’m serious. I really want to know what you think about this. I mean, it isn’t every day two Senators and a Congressman get assassinated.”
Michael thought about sugarcoating his comment and then opted for the direct approach. “In a nutshell, Liz, I think Koslowski, Downs, and Fitzgerald were the scum of the earth.
They represented the core of what is wrong with this town.”
“Come now, Michael, how do you really feel about them?” asked Scarlatti sarcastically. “Listen, I’m not crazy about our political leadership getting gunned down under the cover of darkness, but considering where we’re headed, I’m not so sure these assassins aren’t doing all of us a huge favor.” Scarlatti looked down and said, “I’m afraid there are a lot of people out there who would agree with you.
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Doesn’t it worry you at all as a Congressman, that these terrorists may turn the gun on you eventually?”
“No.” Michael shook his head. “There are bigger fish to fry than me. And besides, I’m not so sure they’re terrorists.”
“You don’t think they’re terrorists?” asked Liz with a quizzical expression.
“No. It’s an overused cliche, but one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.
These guys haven’t killed any civilians.” O’Rourke paused for a second. In a voice just above a whisper he continued, “If no one else dies, and this group can bring about the changes they stated in their demands, this will be one of the best things that has happened in this country since the civil rights movement.”
“Well, from what the President just said, there’s reason to believe that letter is a fake.”
“Come on, Liz.” O’Rourke frowned. “You’re a reporter. Do you really believe a word that comes out of Stevens’s mouth? The White House is already trying to spin this thing and they don’t even know what’s going on. Those guys are sitting over there right now shitting in their pants.” O’Rourke picked up his fork and tapped it lightly on the place mat. “Today was supposed to be a big day for them. The President was going to pass his budget, but instead he wakes up and finds out that two Senators and his point man in
Congress have been assassinated.
Then he receives a letter telling him it’s time to get his act together, or he’s next. Liz, this is their worst fear, and’not just the President, all of them. They’ve played their little game of party politics for years.
Every election they say they’re going to cut all the wasteful spending, give a tax break to the middle class, and balance the budget. They say anything to get elected, and then, once they’re back in office, it’s the same old crap: more spending, no tax breaks, and more deficits.”
