Executive orders - Tom Clancy [132]
I think we need to see what he has to say. The quintessential lawyer's reply.
How long at Justice? Jack asked next, returning to his seat.
Twenty-three years. Four years in the FBI before that. Martin poured a cup and decided to stand.
Here we go, van Damm observed, unmuting the TV.
Ladies and gentlemen, with us here in our Washington bureau is Vice President Edward J. Kealty. CNN's chief political correspondent also looked as though he'd been dragged from his bed and genuinely shaken. Ryan noted that, of all the people he'd seen that day, Kealty looked the most normal. Sir, you have something unusual to say.
Yes, I do, Barry. I probably need to start by saying that this is the most difficult thing I've ever had to do in over thirty years of public life. Kealty's voice was quiet and restrained, speaking in the tone of an essay by Emerson, slow and clear, and painfully earnest. As you know, President Durling asked me to resign from my post. The reason for this was a question of my conduct while a senator. Barry, it's no secret that my personal conduct has not always been as exemplary as it should have been. That's true of many people in public life, but it's no excuse, and I do not claim that it is. When Roger and I discussed the situation, we agreed that it would be best for me to resign my office, allowing him to select a new running mate for the elections later this year. It was his further intention to have John Ryan fill my post as interim Vice President.
Barry, I was content with that. I've been in public life for a very long time, and the idea of retiring to play with my grandchildren and maybe teach a little bit actually looked pretty attractive. And so I agreed to Roger's request in the interests of-well, really for the good of the country.
But I never actually resigned.
Okay, the correspondent said, holding his hands up as though to catch a baseball. I think we need to be really clear on this, sir. What exactly did happen?
Barry, I drove over to the State Department. You see, the Constitution specifies that when the President or Vice President resigns, the resignation is presented to the Secretary of State. I met with Secretary Hanson privately to discuss the issue. I actually had a letter of resignation prepared, but it was in the wrong form, and Brett asked me to redraft it. So I drove back, thinking that I could have it done and resubmitted the following day.
None of us expected the events of that evening. I was badly shaken by them, as were many. In my case, as you know, well, so many of the friends with whom I'd worked for years were just snuffed out by that brutal and cowardly act. But I never actually resigned my office. Kealty looked down for a moment, biting his lip before going on. Barry, I would have been content even with that. I gave my word to President Durling, and I had every intention of keeping it.
But I can't. I just can't, Kealty went on. Let me explain.
I've known Jack Ryan for ten years. He's a fine man, a courageous man, and he's served our country honorably, but he is, unfortunately, not the man to heal our country. What he said last night, trying to speak to the American people, proves it. How can we possibly expect our government to work under these circumstances without experienced, capable people to fill the offices left vacant?
But he is the President-isn't he? Barry asked, scarcely believing what he was doing and what he was hearing.
Barry, he doesn't even know how to do a proper investigation. Look at what he said last night about the plane crash. Hardly a week has passed and already he says he knows what happened. Can anyone believe that? Kealty asked plaintively. Can anyone really believe that? Who has oversight over this investigation? Who's actually running it? To whom are they reporting? And to have conclusions in a week? How can the American people have confidence in that? When President Kennedy was assassinated, it took months. The investigation