ALL IN: Race for the White House (29 page)

“’Jack, I came alone, can we speak privately?’ She says. I almost corrected her, Lexi, but had to stop myself. I wanted to say, ‘it looks like five of you to me,’ but I knew what she meant: she had come without Ron. She wanted to talk with me off the record about something, and she knew I was gentleman enough not to use it against her.”

“She’s right about that, Jack.”
 

“Griffin knew Bud would use anything, including a visit with us against her. I had never known until a few moments before she was standing in my office that Anne Griffin and Bud Singer while working on the McGovern campaign had a fling.”
 

“Bud told me quickly before she got here it was a weekend and they were very young. He said she was beautiful then and smart, they both had too much to drink, and she seduced him. He said she’s an animal in the sack and once the weekend was over, she was done with him and on to the next guy. He was another notch on her belt.”

“Amazing, why do you think Bud shared that now?
 

“He was probably worried if she told me it would seem like he had held something back. Bud’s paranoid sometimes. So Griffin gets into the office, shuts the door behind her, and takes off her coat and glasses. Then, standing in front of the mirror, she removes her kerchief and starts fussing with her hair.
 

“She said, Jack, I have to congratulate you on your fundraising efforts, you have managed to accumulate quite a war chest.’
 

“Then, as blithely as if she was ordering a drink, she continued, ‘We can spend the rest of ours painting you as a neo-liberal socialist, or you can join forces with the Governor of Texas. I’m practically a Republican compared to you.’
 

“Lexi, she had me at a loss and it slipped out. I told her, ‘You’ve got a pair of brass balls coming in here like this.’”

“Oh my God, Jack, you lost it…?”

“Lexi, I thought she was going to ask me to be
her
VP. Instead, she turned and looked right into my eyes, and without flinching, she says, ‘I’m here to make you King, don’t screw it up.’ That’s when she laid it all out on the table. Canon–Griffin, The White House—she sold me.”
 

“That’s incredible, Jack. Unbelievable… it’s over then. Oh my God, if you could see my face, my jaw dropped, I actually made a face at myself in the rearview mirror when you told me.”
 

“Well, Lexi, instinctively I pulled back a little. I asked Griffin to wait until after Maine. Then we would call a press conference and announce it to the world. She agreed, and the deal was done. You can have the exclusive if you want it.”

“Are you kidding, Jack? Of course, I want it! What did Sarah say?”

“At first when I told her she was like
you?
Then she said something like, ‘she’s a real bitch… the Governor of Texas got herself wedged in there. Well, at least you’ll get Texas.’”

“What about Bud?”

“Bud was so excited; he kicked up his heels and ended up flat out on the floor. Poor guy lost his balance. Luckily he wasn’t hurt. He rolled over onto his side, crawled over to the couch and got to his knees. By the time I was there to help him, he was up. Embarrassed, he was trying to convince me he used to do that all the time when he was in college…”

“Right… I wish I’d have been there to see it. I mean, knowing he didn’t hurt himself.”

“Oh, he was sore the next day. He could barely move. Then—typical Bud—he goes paranoid. He says, ‘Let’s call around to all the big guys and get her funding cut.’
 

“I said, ‘No, Bud. That’s ours now.’ And Bud says, ‘I don’t trust her. I’d rather cripple her now while we can.’

“I asked him if she hadn’t come with the offer, what would he have done?”

Every few minutes my phone was buzzing in a call-waiting signal. Sandy was trying to reach me. I didn’t share it with Lexi. If the two had gotten along I would have made a three-way conference call, but I didn’t feel like being a referee first thing in the morning. Besides, Sandy must know I’ll be in shortly, and that I’m on the friggin phone.
 

“Lexi, I told Bud that we needed to play it out till we finish up in Maine. It can’t be any worse then if she was a full-on candidate.”
 

“You thought she was laying off you in Florida to cajole you into the VP Spot?” Lexi asked.

“Yeah, and instead she was positioning herself for it. Go figure.”

“Jack, you accepted her offer right there on the spot without discussing it with Bud or Lisa or anyone?”

“Decision by committee is pathetically slow; sometimes you gotta get off the dime, Lex. Bud would’ve said no first, and I would’ve spent days talking him into it. Lisa would’ve wanted to run the numbers first and get back to me. I went with my gut.”

“I agree with you, Jack, it’s a great call. What was her demeanor like? Was she at least trying to be friendly?”
 

“You be the judge. In the bitchiest voice I’ve heard since the
Wicked Witch of the West
, she said for me to take the offer or she’d spend every last dime she had painting me as a liberal or
worse
.”

“You are, Jack.”

“Are what, Lexi: a
liberal
or
worse
?”
 

“A
liberal
, Jack. I haven’t had a chance to sample the
worse
. A girl can dream, though, can’t she?”
 

“I love your sense of humor, Lexi.”

“But seriously, Jack, you’re the first guy in a long time that’s willing to shake the system.”
 

“Lexi, it’s one thing if we joke about it, but I didn’t want the number two Democrat in the race saying it. She does have a lot of credibility and she gets credit for being a moderate. Plus, she has the blessing of the party.”
 

“How do you know that?”

“I know.”

“Then, if that’s the case, why wouldn’t she try to go all the way?”

“Her people did the numbers and told her she couldn’t win. Ron told her the truth. That’s a rare commodity in this business.”
 

“What about Dr. Tim?”

“I know, I didn’t want to mention it to Griffin, but he would’ve been on a shortlist for VP, you know in a perfect world.”
 

“I know, Jack, but in this game you take your best shot.”

“He’s a friend, loves the environment, and has a great mind. I’ll probably ask him to head agriculture.”

“No one will argue with that, I think people will really believe you’re pro-environment with that choice.”

“His job will be to tame the Wackos; we’re bound to encounter some resistance planting millions of acres of feedstock. I’m going to make the offer right after I announce Griffin as VP.”

“You’re right, Jack, better to have him in your pocket.”

“Lexi, there’s no sense having him running around spouting his mouth off about the impact of overplanting, thinking he’s got a shot.”

“Speaking of shots, what about the Reverend?”

“He had that little spike in the beginning. We had three of his mistresses ready to come out and tell their stories… but then he fizzled. We decided not to kick him when he’s down. No need to wreck his marriage.”
 

“That dog and all the time preaching family values.”
 

“You should hear some of the stuff, one of the girls I’m serious could get a book deal, you know if he ever went to the nomination.”

“That would never happen, but he’s got a big mouth.”

“We’re still going to play him the tapes to keep him in line. We don’t need his histrionic bullshit on the stump. He gets so animated, especially if he thinks he’s got an audience.”

Lexi added, “The reverend never met a fight, he wouldn’t travel half way across the country to stand in front the cameras for.”

“He’s a Jesse Jackson wannabe, but he doesn’t have the chops Jesse has or the resume.”
 

“That’s it then, Jack - it’s you and Barker now.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

It was my first day back to the campaign office since winning Florida. By the time I rode the elevator to the seventh floor it was close to ten o’clock, I had spent nearly an hour on the phone with Lexi. When the door opened, I walked out into a sea of fifty anxiously waiting faces, everyone stood up, and clapped, it was the happiest I’d seen this group since the campaign started. Bud came out of his office and joined in the applause. Lisa and Bill started walking toward me. I thought imagine how excited these folks will be when they find out Griffin is on the team.
 

In my peripheral vision, I saw her… tantalizingly perfect, eyes aglow beaming with joy. Sandy always looked good, but today she had outdone even herself. Wearing a sort of zebra colored print only with wilder stripes and taking quick little steps, each as far as her dress would allow… scooting towards me. It was hard having a best friend this beautiful.
 

Looking around the room it seemed like all the girls had stepped up their game. I thought it might be Daphne’s influence or Lisa’s transformation or a combination of both.
 

Sandy got to me, practically falling into my arms, “Jack, I need you in your office right now!” She started dragging me the fifty or so steps from the elevator door.
 

“Okay, Sandy, what’s got you so wound up?”
 

“It’s the president, Jack; he’s been trying to reach you for over an hour.”
 

“Let the old lady wait,” I said.

“What if he needs you for something important, Jack, you’re the chairman of Armed Services?”

“I’ll guarantee he wants to get into my head, he wouldn’t lower himself to care what anyone thinks. He’s in full out campaign mode now.”

“Do you want me to get him back on the line, I tried to conference him in with you this morning, it was intimidating Jack.”

“Barker intimidates you?”

“Jack, of course, he’s the president.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I didn’t answer because I was on the phone with Lexi.”

“Oh, I could’ve figured she’s like your shadow. I wish I could go on the road with you.”

“Well, it’s going to get worse; she’s going to be with the campaign in Maine.”
 

“What do you mean ‘with the campaign’; she’s already on the press bus?”
 

“No, I’m talking reality-TV-style, a 24/7-type deal.”
 

“Is Bud okay with that?”

“Since when do you care about what Bud thinks? Anyway, he’s going to have to be. I already promised her.”
 

“Jack, why can’t I go with you to Maine? You speak so fondly of it. I’ve been once, but I’d love to see it through your eyes.”

Sandy’s body language gave her away, her shoulders hunched, her face holding back tears. I didn’t want any tears so I reached out and hugged her.
 

“Come here,” I said, holding her. Whispering in her ear, I measured each word carefully.

“Sarah doesn’t want you out on the road with us. It’s that simple. You’re a smart girl, you must know why.”
 

Sandy took a deep breath in and said, “I suppose she’s right, Jack. If you were my husband, I would’ve probably fired me by now. She’s a good woman and trusting. I wish I had her confidence.”
 

“Well, she trusts me, even with you parading around the office looking like Marilyn at her best.”

Sandy knew I wasn’t flattering her. She had captured the look of Marilyn but not in a cheap way, she had the essence of what Marilyn was all about, and she had done it beautifully.
 

“Well, since you put it like that, I’ll have to be happy with this. I’ll take what I can get. Are you not going to call the president back?”

“Let him wait a few minutes, the White House has called before. Besides, we’re probably on a list of calls. The operator rotates through them. I’m sure the president is oblivious to the fact they haven’t reached us yet.”
 

“Well, in that case, Jack, can I have your ear?”

“Sure, when haven’t you?”

“Oh please, want me to make a list? No, I’m going off point. I was hoping you would let me take a vacation to see my mom and dad.
 

“Of course, you haven’t had any time off in at least, how long has it been?”
 

“Eighteen months, Jack.”
 

“How are your parents?”

“They’re good, but my dad calls and texts all the time and really misses me. Mom and I stay caught up; we talk at least once a week and have deep conversations, but with my dad it’s ‘hi beautiful, how’s my girl.’ Dad really likes to see me and he likes to hug.”

“How long will you be gone”?

“A week?”

“Oh, Jack, I didn’t mean right now, I thought maybe in a couple of weeks. I wouldn’t leave for vacation on such short notice.”
 

“You deserve some time off, are you taking your little dog?”

“No. Lisa said she’d stay at the house and take care of Molly. Jack, she’s not so little anymore. Fourteen inches at the shoulder. I took her to the airport to check and she can’t fly. Well, what the guy actually said was he’d let it slide, but that he couldn’t guarantee the connections would and we might get stuck.”

“What about the cargo area?” I gently moved her towards the couch area to sit down. We sat one cushion apart facing each other.

“No way, Jack. It’s cold in there and loud. She’d be scared, and I heard there’s pressure… Well anyway, Lisa likes my apartment and it’s real close to the office, and she offered.”

“Take two weeks and really enjoy yourself.”

“Really? I hate to leave you that long when things are so hectic.”

“Crazy is the new normal around here; they’ll be plenty waiting for you when you get back.”

“I’ll still be available by phone for the senate staff. You won’t have to worry about that.”

“No way that’s not a vacation, let Lisa handle all the calls and if she gets over her head she can ask Bud. Don’t worry about me. I told Sarah that Maine will be like a vacation. We’ll be enjoying the seafood and traveling up the coast. The office will be fine. Don’t worry. Besides, let em have a chance to miss what you do around here.”