Part 9
“Mr. President, be reasonable.” Bill White tried again.
“I’m the President of the United States. I don’t have to be reasonable about
this. Do I Josh?”
‘Have to? No, but Bill makes a good point-”
“I’m sorry; I didn’t hear anything after no. Bill, explain to these morons that I’
m vetoing anything that comes to my desk without higher fuel emissions
standards. I want the alternative fuel incentives too.”
“And I want a BMW, but that’s not realistic either, sir.”
“Get it done, Bill.” Bill turned his frustrated glance in Josh’s direction and
Josh motioned for Bill to excuse them.
“Yes, sir.” Bill said quietly and left the room.
“Why are you riding Bill over something you know can’t be done right now,
sir?”
“How was Florida?”
“Hot and humid. What’s going on Mr. President?”
“Can we just not- Can we just be two old friends having a conversation?”
“That’s not why you asked me to take this meeting, sir.” Josh’s eyes never
left Sam as he got up from his desk and came around it to sit across from
Josh on the opposite couch.
“I always thought if I got this far, I would somehow be endowed with the
wisdom to know what to do when I got here.” Josh laughed. “What? I did!”
“Then you’re a fool…sir.” Josh told him. “And you’re no fool. You watched
up close and personal while two other Presidents struggled with decisions
and made mistakes. Are you about to admit you have MS and never told
anyone?” This time Sam laughed.
“No, I can spare you that…Bill brought something to my desk I wish he
wouldn’t have.”
“Can we discuss it?” Josh wasn’t asking if Sam wanted to talk about it, but
rather if he could talk about it. Josh had a certain level of security clearance.
But there were plenty of issues that were above his pay grade now.
“I don’t really want to. Tell me something. Why do you have Mike Casper
working back channels to get you an interview with Leroy?” Josh looked
surprised that Sam had that information. “If you don’t think I have intimate
knowledge about every breath that man takes, then you’re a fool…and you’
re no fool.” Sam shot back at him.
“This is about a pardon, isn’t it? That’s what Bill brought to your desk?”
“He wanted to point out the political ramifications of a decision either way,
and it…upset me.”
“I’ll bet.” Josh mused. “It’s his job, sir, and I know it’s not an easy one. Cut
him some slack.”
“You don’t have anything to else to say on this subject?”
“I’m glad I don’t have your job?” Josh offered.
“I’ve never been a supporter of the death penalty. I suspended them in
California. This is different. He shot a man, a Federal agent in cold blood,
and attempted to murder- this is different.” Sam looked up at Josh again.
“Why do you want to see him?”
“I want him to see me. I need him to see me; alive and happy, going home to
be with my family. I can’t explain it; but I know it’s what I have to do…As for
the other thing; you do what you think is right. I trust you to do the right
thing.”
“You do remember that I’m the guy that accidentally slept with a prostitute,
right?”
“Yes, and even in that situation you did the right thing.”
Sam tipped his head back on the couch. “Want to go down to the Hawk and
Dove and get loaded?”
“I think your detail might have a problem with that. We could go to the
residence and get loaded though.”
“It just doesn’t have the same appeal. I miss Ainsley.” Sam admitted. “She
and the kids don’t get back for two more days.”
“You’ll make it. Let’s go have a beer and you can tell me the story about
your wife and Leo’s closet.”
“You’re on.” Sam started to rise, but Josh motioned with his head to the
Chief of Staff’s office. Sam sighed again. “Bill?!”
The door opened immediately, and Bill stepped through to the Oval. “Yes,
sir?”
“Have Wilkins pull the amendment and let the bill pass clean. We’ll get our
fuel emissions and alternative energy next time around, or use it to clobber
the Republicans during the mid-terms. Then go home…unless you’d like to
join Josh and me in the residence for a beer and complaints about women?”
“I think I could add to the conversation, sir. Let me talk to Hawkins and then I’
ll be right up.” Bill smiled as he escaped back to his own office.
“I’d better tell you about the closet story now, before Bill joins us. I don’t
think I want my Chief of Staff to have that kind of knowledge about my wife.”