After surrendering my weapon and showing identification I was shown to the Oval Office. The President was there with two people I didn’t recognize. They were introduced as Senator John Kennedy and Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson.
We shook hands. For some reason, I didn’t cotton up to Johnson but liked Kennedy.
Ike explained, “Part of the presidential election process is to bring the opposing candidates up to speed on issues facing the country and major operations that are underway. Normally we wait until there is a clear candidate. This time it looks like it will be brokered at the convention so I elected to have both candidates attend the briefings.”
I wondered what that had to do with me.
“Rick, you are probably wondering why you are here. First of all the timing is convenient for all of us. Second, you don’t realize how your Chinese connection has great potential for the country.”
“To avoid embarrassing you in front of these gentlemen I have told them how you possibly averted World War III, had your sister kidnapped by the KGB and the rescue, the several attempts on you and your family’s life, plus what steps you took to explain the error of their ways.”
“Then there is the matter of Cuba, first the missile crisis and now what you have passed on about the coming invasion. An aside on that is that we are committed and it is looking like it will be a disaster but we have no choice but to proceed.”
“Then recently your family rolled up a Soviet spy ring in LA. All in all, interesting things happen around you. On top of that, you are quickly becoming one of the richest people on the planet. This doesn’t even count having me and Queen Elizabeth as your godparents. Put all of that together and I thought it would be in their interest for these gentlemen to meet you.”
He then asked them if they had any questions for me. Kennedy didn’t, Johnson did.
“I got dragged to your latest movie last night, why did you sully the reputation of one of America’s hero’s, Lew Wetzel?”
“If the truth sullies his reputation one wonders if he really was a hero,” Senator.
I could tell I would never get along with this man.
The President offered to have my contact information forwarded to them. Senator Kennedy told me that he would contact me if he had any questions on China. Also, I should feel free to contact his office if anything came up.
Senator Johnson wanted to know if I had directed my company to make any donations, he would be interested in my financial support.
I told him that I left that to my board of directors. I made a mental note to have it made official company policy that we didn’t make any political donations.
The look on my face must have told my feelings on the issue because it got dropped like a hot potato.
I noticed nothing had been said about my Deputy US Marshal status. That soon came out.
Senator Kennedy asked, “What if anything has been done to keep this young man safe”
The President then explained about my being Deputized. Senator Kennedy thought this was a good thing, Senator Johnson not so much.
“Why on God’s green earth would you allow a kid to go around armed?”
Actually, I edited the Senator’s words. He was much cruder. Before the President could reply I butted in.
“The Texas Rangers don’t seem to have a problem with it since they’ve given me a badge too.”
I didn’t tell him it was honorary.
“What was that for?”
I told him about the rustler ring I had broken up.
Apparently, if it was good enough for the Rangers it was good enough for him as there were no further objections.
Senator Kennedy did ask why I chose Oxford over Harvard and told me it was a shame I hadn’t seen the light. He was nice about it, though.
Mr. Johnson surprised me.
“From what you have told us I would think that Rick’s parents would need protection also.”
That brought a dry chuckle from the President.
“If anything it is the other way around, the KGB needs protection from them.”
He went on to give a brief synopsis of Mum’s war experiences and activities with MI6.
“What about his Dad?”
“He is just plain scary.”
Now that surprised me, I knew that there was an untold story about the President and my Father but this seemed to go deeper.
That pretty well wrapped up my meeting. The President asked me to stay for a minute as they were leaving.
“Rick, has everything been going okay for you?”
“Yes, Sir, it has.”
“I really wanted you to meet them. There is a good chance that one of them will be the next President.”
“I thought Vice-President Nixon has it in the bag?”
“Dick Nixon has several problems, but I think the most dangerous one is he doesn’t come across well on television. Don’t get me wrong, I support him but I’m concerned.”
That I understood, some people were photogenic and others not. Also, you had to have the camera people on your side or you were toast. I relayed that to Ike and he promised to talk to Mr. Nixon about that. Much later I wondered if he ever did.
We talked a little about Cuba and the planned invasion. That was weird, me talking to the President of the United States about invading a foreign country. He told me that when he first approved the plan it had tighter controls. Now that the CIA had complete control it was becoming a circus.
Since he winked when he said circus I got the poor joke. It was funny on the surface but when the guns started firing it would lose all its humor. Of course, this joke
