Lethal Trajectories - Michael Conley [63]
“I can’t argue with your logic, Mr. President,” Clayton replied after a short pause.
Relieved, Burkmeister continued, “Candace is also helping me with tonight’s speech, and we both agree that it should be brief, firm, and to the point. I’ll announce my terminal illness and inability, before long, to perform at 100 percent. I will stress how our constitution has made provision for a smooth transfer of power; that it has been done before and will probably be done again; and that there will be continuity in the U.S. government and commitment to our values, responsibilities, and allies. I will remind our friends and foes alike that ours is a government of laws rather than men, and that there will be no discontinuity in leadership because of the loss of one person. I’ll then assure them of my confidence in you and your leadership experiences as a Marine Corps officer, CEO of a major company, governor of California, and the work you have done as an activist vice president.”
“In a short while, I’ll be making a few personal phone calls to the leaders of the House and Senate and maybe one or two others. I’ll meet with Secretary of State Cartright shortly to fill her in on the situation, and then I’ll have her call some of our key allies around the world right around the time of our cabinet meeting tonight.”
“Is there anything I can do, Mr. President?” Clayton asked. The president paused, surprised, then realized that McCarty probably chafed at having nothing to do but wait as the heavy burden of the presidency loomed over him.
“You’re going to be a busy man in the coming days, Clayton, but there’s not all that much you’ll have to do tonight other than show up and look like presidential material. Candace suggested, and I agree, that we should have a joint press conference tomorrow morning. We would both be sitting at a table, facing the audience of reporters, demonstrating physically and symbolically the continuity of our government. I would suggest we meet here at about eight o’clock tomorrow morning to get our stories straight and then meet with the press at ten. At this point in time, transparency and continuity are of crucial importance.”
“I’d be fine with that, Mr. President. It’s a good idea.” Clayton replied, and then added, “If it’s all right with you, I’d also like to talk to Candace before the meeting.”
“That would be fine, Clayton. By the way, I asked her to work outside her office today so as not to draw attention to the work she’ll personally be doing. I’m sure her secretary will know where she can be reached. In fact, I’ll have Ginnie give her a call and then get back to you.”
Cabinet members started to arrive at the White House about half an hour before the scheduled seven o’clock meeting. Their presence was no surprise to the crowd of reporters camped out on the White House grounds, because the White House had requested an all-media network hook-up for an address by the president on an issue of national importance. The cabinet meeting merely added to the drama of what was about to unfold.
Speculation ran rampant, but the consensus was that it had something to do with the Chunxiao Incident or collateral issues. Something major was in the works, and all cable and network stations cleared the air for an hour or so in advance of the president’s eight o’clock announcement to the nation. News commentators were buttonholing any government or congressional official available for scuttlebutt, but no one seemed to know anything. There was an air of excitement and anticipation; rarely had a news story been covered so thoroughly on such short notice.
There was a hushed silence as the president walked into the Cabinet Room to address his full cabinet. This was the first they had seen the president since his return from the hospital, and they simply didn’t know what to expect.
“My friends, thanks so much for being here tonight,” said Burkmeister,