by John Price
How did it come to this? What could we have done to prevent the wholesale destruction of our rights? Oh yeah, I know. We could have denied the President a second term. That would have done it. I tried, I certainly tried, and look where that got me. Depending on how the trial goes, I could be a free man, or, alternatively, if the White House, and its Department of Justice, and the federal judiciary (based on past court rulings in my case) have their way, I’ll become a long term guest of the federal government.
One side note to anyone who may read my letter from jail.
The prison grapevine says that Gunning Bedford, Jr. is being transferred to this prison, with his case venued to the same judge who has my case. Things may be looking up, after all. Gunning and I might get along quite well.
SIXTY SIX
Washington, DC – Cannon House Office Building
Offices of Congressman Adam Nation
Offices furnished to freshmen Congressmen are notoriously small and inconveniently located. Offices are selected based on seniority and freshmen don’t have any. Among the incoming class a random drawing determines who picks in what order from the remaining bad offices. Newly seated Congressman Adam Nation had the misfortune of picking the equivalent of number 433 of 435 positions. When he finally selected his office, it was in what was originally the attic level of the aged Cannon Office Building, proven by the fact that the elevators didn’t go to his level. Visitors from his Congressional District in Ohio had to be told to take the elevator to the top floor, exit, take the nearest stairwell, turn right, and look for the first office on the left. Welcome, Congressman Nation, to the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Congressman’s official office was the largest room in the suite, which in total contained fewer square feet than a good-sized mobile home. When the Congressman met with his fourteen employees, there was barely enough room, but, the rent was free, the mailing address was impressive and the chances for advancement to a nicer suite of offices were high, for those who won re-election, of course. Congressman Nation had convened today’s staff meeting for what he considered to be a critical purpose. How should he respond to the seizure of the Montana State House by gun rights supporters? As a leader of the Tea Party Caucus he would be asked by reporters at their afternoon news briefing, and he needed to be ready with his official position for the media.
“OK, folks, we’ve all heard the news from Helena,” the Congressman said. “You know they’ll pound those of us on the right to try and get us at the afternoon news conference to disavow the protestors who took over the State House. Mark it down.”
The Congressman’s Chief of Staff, who had worked for five prior members of the House, immediately chimed in, “Well, duh, of course, you have to not only disavow the protestors, you have to make it really clear that you are concerned about the questionable tactics of the pro-gun people who are opposed to the McAlister Act.” His Legislative Director agreed. “Right on, you can’t be seen as being on the side of the gun nuts. The media’ll crucify you. Standing up for the Second Amendment is one thing, but supporting violence is another.”
The Congressman listened carefully as he heard his two top staff members recommend that he attack the Montana protestors at the news conference. He was most interested, though, in hearing his District Director’s views, as she was closer to his District’s voters than the members of his DC-based staff. The District Director had been asked to fly to DC for this meeting. She wasn’t hesitant to disclose her views.
“Look Mark, you’re thinking like a voter in the District of Columbia, all wobbly-kneed over the cowboys in Montana opposing the gun bill by shaking their rifles. Out in our District people are still very upset about losing their rights to own guns and their right to criticize government officials. I understand that the Congressman’s gonna’ get pummeled by the mainstream media if he doesn’t attack the protestors, but so what? The Montana group had the right to express their opposition to this insane law. Maybe they could have been a bit more subtle, but it worked, we’re talkin’ about what they did, aren’t we? If they had invited the media to join them for jelly doughnuts and conversation at a coffee shop in Billings, who would have shown up? Nobody. The media cover news. These guys made news.
“The shootings are another matter, of course. Nobody wants to see deaths in political controversies, but more and more people are seeing the shootings as either an accident or, more likely, an over-reaction by the government. Kinda like Waco, where they brought in tanks. I think the Congressman should just come out and support what they did in Helena.”
The Chief of Staff left his chair, confronting the District Director by leaning over and positioning his face in front of hers, placing both hands on her shoulders, “Allie, have you totally lost your political senses? They’ll label him as America’s newest nut job. Time magazine will front cover him as America’s latest political walnut, or worse. Our only choice is to distance ourselves from these gun rights supporters.”
“I agree”, the Legislative Director added. “We have to be consistent and do the same thing in the future with every protest that captures media attention”. Other staff members added their thoughts, no one agreeing with the District Director’s advice to support the Montana protestors.
After extended discussion, silence took over, the staff members turning to their boss, as they realized that he was no longer engaged in the debate. It was obvious that Congressman Nation was deep in thought. He was considering several ideas, many at variance with his other thoughts. If he dissed the Montana protestors, he knew he would appear to be more moderate than many in the media may have previously thought. That would score him points. If he attacked the protestors it would raise his standing with some of the more liberal members of the House Republican Caucus. If he ever wanted to rise in leadership in the House, he would need their votes.
By attacking the protestors he could probably pick up some advantage with the White House, and maybe get a push from the President for the federal highway grant for the eastern part of his District that needed infrastructure improvement. He had been told by a former Senator, he recalled as he was considering what to do, that if you don’t bring home the bacon, in federal grant money, the voters will find a new ‘sugar daddy’ who will. That remembered thought from a former member of Congress, though, reminded him of the advice that he had received from the Congressman who came to see him after his election. What had he told Adam? He had seen many members of Congress stray, not all from their spouses, many had strayed from their core principles?
Congressman Nation had made up his mind. Now it was time to tell his staff what he would say at the afternoon news event, “Look, I’m not going to attack or even mildly criticize any American who protests the McAlister Act, even if they used poor judgment in how they protested. There are plenty of libs, public service union guys and federal government employees to do that, let alone all the non-stop media coverage.”
“But, Congressman, with all due respect, this could cost you re-election. Won’t you re-consider? There’s a lot riding on how you handle this.”
“Yes, I know that, which is why I’m not going to cave on one of the first big decisions I am faced with making as a Member of Congress. I didn’t come here to impress anybody. I’m never going to be a darling of the media. I don’t care if I get re-elected. I don’t care if I’m never a leader in the GOP House Caucus. I will support the protestors because they had the guts to lay it all on the line to save their rights under the Constitution. Could they have done it better, in a more acceptable manner? Of course. But since they’ve done what they’ve done, millions of Americans are beginning to see just a little bit of what it took for the guys who started this country to make it happen. It took guts. It took a personal willingness to lose it all, which many did. Attack the Montana protestors? Never. If I lose this over-exalted job because I praise Americans who took a stand to protect their Constitutional rights, so be it.”
By now his Chief of Staff, believing
that he was about to count six former Congressmen as his past employers, was beside himself, “But, Congressman, you just can’t do that. That’s not how things are done here. You have to go along to get along. I couldn’t work for a Member of Congress who actually supported such hooliganism, and I think….”
“Well, then, Mark, I accept your resignation. Clean out your desk. Mary, get him a bankers box for his stuff.”
“But….but….I didn’t mean to….”
“That’s okay, your time in this office is over, and our meeting is concluded, also. Mary, stay with your notepad. I need to dictate what I’m going to say in a couple hours to the media. And let me give you the phone number of a former Congressman I want to call and thank for the best advice I’ve had since I was elected.”
SIXTY SEVEN
Office of the Director of the CCC
Every government agency includes at least a few employees who are disgruntled about some aspect of how their agency treats them. Given the right circumstances, some will even leak internal documents intended to place their place of work in an unfavorable light with the tax-paying public. Thus, it was by an internally-leaked memo that the world came to know how the Director of the relatively newly created Civilian Conservation Corps had internally suggested arrest powers for his department’s employees, well before the White House Press Office eventually made the announcement.
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY-CONFIDENTIAL-
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION
TO: Section Commanders – CCC
From: Director Alcorn
Subject: Law Enforcement Functions – Conservators – IM#1037
I don’t need to dwell on the unpleasant reaction that our new agency has experienced from many on the right wing, religious activists and former gun owners. Even though the McAlister Act clearly gives the federal government an oversight role to prevent hate speech, there appear to be increasing numbers of hate speakers who are not willing to obey the law. The shrill and vitriolic words coming from these folks poses a danger to the nation, as the President noted when he formally announced our agency in Asheville. In fact, I have just received a report showing that there have actually been more hate filled attacks on the President and the Congress since the establishment of the CCC than in the three months immediately preceding its creation.
Obviously, this situation cannot be allowed to continue.
The President and I were both given assurances by White House staff who worked on setting up the CCC that by placing our agency’s Conservators in public meetings, including church services, lodges, veterans’ meetings, etc., hate speech would be severely curtailed. Unfortunately, the presence of our trained CCC Conservators has had the opposite effect. Referrals for criminal prosecution by the CCC to the Department of Justice were supposed to have the added effect of drying up hate speech. That also has not happened.
Therefore, CCC Conservators, with White House approval and upon official Presidential announcement, will have arrest powers, similar to any other law enforcement agency. Each will be given a numbered agency badge and will be given training in providing Miranda warnings, in appropriate cuffing techniques and in booking procedures. Each of you will shortly receive a draft training manual for your review and input.
I want to emphasize that we are not implementing this program until the WH announces that the CCC Conservators will be granted arrest powers. It’s critical that this matter be kept on an internal confidential basis until the WH goes public. Any premature leak could be quite harmful to the future of the agency. There are still several in Congress, primarily in the minority, naturally, who oppose our goals and who would use knowledge of this new arrest authority to attempt to thwart our efforts going forward.
Watch your incoming for the draft of the arrest training manual. I want responses to the draft within three days of receipt of this non-existent memo. I have the impression we have very little time to get ready. Critical concerns or questions? Call me. (Don’t e-mail for obvious reasons).
SIXTY EIGHT
Sheridan, Oregon
Sheridan Federal Correctional Institution is located in northwest Oregon, almost to the Pacific coast. It’s about as far from Tyler, in east Texas, as one can get, still be in the U.S. and also be a medium security federal prison. With the intervening mountain ranges, ground travel from Tyler to Sheridan is a 2,100 mile, thirty-four hour, multi-day effort. The federal government’s decision to transfer John Madison to the Oregon federal prison was thought by many to be punitive, to separate him from his family and supporters.
That theory, however, changed somewhat when Gunning Bedford, Jr. was transferred to the same federal prison, the week before Thanksgiving. Once it became known that both would be inmates at the Sheridan federal prison, their counsel searched for any other reason why the two prisoners would be in the same facility. Chuck Webster told Bedford’s attorney that in his opinion a major part of the decision was based on the federal judge in Oregon who would be presiding over the trials of both men. U.S. District Judge Hiram ‘Hanging Judge’ McDermott did not come by his nickname by accident. He worked at it. He held the record among federal district court judges for sentencing criminal defendants convicted in his Court to maximum terms, with a particular emphasis on sentencing to full terms on each count brought against defendants charged with firearms violations.
John Madison’s attorney had filed preliminary motions with Judge McDermott to transfer his client back to a location closer to his home in Texas; to require the Department of Justice to pay for expenses of their witnesses and others forced to come to Sheridan; and to extend the time before the trial to allow for added preparation time due to the increased distance. Judge McDermott denied all three motions, all without a hearing to consider oral argument of counsel. The Judge routinely used a large two inch by five inch rubber stamp which simply said DENIED. He would stamp it on motions, with red ink, to clearly convey what he thought of motions that didn’t meet his favor. John Madison’s attorney knew that he not only had his work cut out for him, he was facing possibly the most anti-defendant judge in the federal system. It appeared to Counsel that the Judge’s assignment to preside over the case was no accident.
Everybody in Sheridan prison, inmates and guards, knew when Gunning Bedford, Jr. arrived at the facility. As the inmates had a high regard for John Madison, they likewise were looking forward to meeting Bedford, who was now at least as prominent a federal prisoner as John Madison. His assigned cell was at opposite ends of the prison from Madison’s cell, by choice of a Deputy Attorney General monitoring the case. What the suits in DC could not control, however, was what the guards did inside the Oregon prison to allow their two high-profile prisoners to interact. All but two of the guards had been gun owners, and were not at all pleased with the McAlister Act, which took away their right, as individuals to own guns. They had discussed the irony that they could carry inside the prison, but it was a felony outside. Consequently, the guards arranged morning personal, recreational and free time to allow maximum interchange opportunities between Madison and Bedford, who were more than appreciative.
John Madison was slightly apprehensive as he waited in the recreation room for his first time meeting with Gunning Bedford, Jr. Like the rest of America, he knew that Bedford was charged with a long list of serious federal crimes. That, of course, did not cause him to be wary of Bedford, after all, he himself was likely to be charged with violating the federal criminal code, eventually. As he understood what happened at the Montana State House, Bedford was a leader in the occupation, but he had no connection with the one shot that was fired, many thought, by accident. He had concluded that Bedford was a civil protestor in a demonstration that went bad, mostly because of over-reaction by the feds, such as happened at Waco or Ruby Ridge. He was anxious to meet him and see if his initial conclusion was correct, or if alternatively, that Bedford was what the feds and the mainstream media said he was. It didn’t take him long to learn who Gunning Bedford, Jr. really was.
A friendly Sheridan guard brought Bedford into the recreation room, introducing his two famous guests. “Mr. Madison, meet Mr. Bedford.”
Madison stood and grabbed Bedford’s rather large, leathery hand. “Name’s John Madison, Mr. Bedford, nice to meet ‘ya.”
“Same here, but it’s not Mister. Just Gunning.”
“What kind of a name is Gunning? Just kidding,. You must get that a lot.”
With a big smile, Bedford replied, “Yep, I do. If I can call you John, let me ask you how are you doin’? Lots of rumors about you. They say you’re America’s number one political prisoner. What’s it like here?”
“Well, like the comedian W.C. Fields once said, ‘On the whole, I’d rather be in Philadelphia.”
“Didn’t he also say, ‘there comes a time in the affairs of man when he must grab the bull by the tail and face the situation’? So how are you facing your situation?”
“The inmates here, Gunning, will treat you respectfully. They know why you’re here. Most, but not all, of the guards will do the same. It’s pretty obvious the prison administration and the Bureau of Prisons are under a lot of pressure from the Administration in DC. So you’ll get little breaks like this meeting, but on things that show up in the official records, like outside visitors, you won’t get any breaks. None. We each get 12 visitor points a month. A weekend visitor costs you two points, so you can expect that you won’t see a lot of family or friends. Won’t happen.”
