Murray smiled and joked with Hahn while they ordered another round. It was the first time they had a chance to let down their hair since the first day at Mt. Vernon. And they took full advantage of it. The next set of drinks had just arrived when the Virginian pointed to the television over the bar tender’s right shoulder. The TV might have been muted but there was no missing William Fredericks’ familiar face.
As the cool hint of lime passed his lips and added to his pleasant buzz, Murray noticed Fredericks was not wearing his usual arrogant smirk but instead a look of genuine grief. On the flat screen just to Fredericks’ right was a video insert from a helicopter showing an overturned school bus that had obviously plunged over an embankment.
Murray asked the bartender to turn up the volume. Fredericks’ voice revealed genuine horror as he talked about the tragic accident and possible fatalities of the teenagers aboard. He spoke of his own kids back in California and the pain he felt for the kids and families involved.
“Is that a tear I see on his cheek? The guy is human after all!” Hahn’s comment got a good number of laughs.
Fredericks announced that he would personally spearhead the collection of donations and organize the volunteer corps in the Central Virginia area. He asked for his audience to pray for the families as he went to commercial.
The scroll across the screen read, “Live, HS baseball team school bus accident near Harrisonburg, Virginia.”
Murray had his glass to his lips when the caption finally caught his attention. His heart stopped as he froze for what seemed like an eternity. He could not remember the schedule Dottie told him. Wasn’t Todd headed to Washington, DC for a baseball tournament? He thought it was this week but could it have been today? Murray hated himself for not being able to think clearly. He just did not know.
Rader approached the duo as Hahn chatted with two women at the bar. Rader asked Murray if he was all right.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated again. Rader slapped Hahn on the shoulder, interrupting his romantic overtures. Both men saw the panic in Murray’s face as he read Dottie’s name on the display. He ran toward the door while he hit the green answer button.
“Hello Dottie. He was in the bus, wasn’t he?”
Murray froze again. As he digested his wife’s words, a million thoughts instantly passed through his mind.
“Oh my God, Dottie. Where are you? Yes, I’ll talk to him and try to get there as soon as I can.”
The Walters tour continued with his arrival in the Golden State, where Mr. Walters marveled at the beauty of the San Francisco terrain, the bay and the majestic bridges. He concluded that the people of northern California were very nice but a little odd. They did not seem to have the same level of intensity nor sense of urgency exuded by their East Coast brethren.
The tour continued to Los Angeles where Walters addressed a Baptist congregation in East LA. They finished the campaign stop with a tour of Universal Studios before a red-eye flight back across the country to Atlanta.
The flight back gave Washington time to ponder the campaign and evaluate the events to that point.
The trip lived up to expectations and had been deemed an overall success. But the news from Virginia had put a damper over the tail end of the journey. Walters was distressed over Todd Murray’s accident. Murray had taken the news hard and Walters was sympathetic. Todd had been in a coma now for almost seventy-two hours since his head hit the side of the bus as it flipped over the highway guardrail. The baseball tournament at George Washington University was cancelled in light of the accident.
The first president stared out the airplane window, thinking back to how Jack Murray had burst into his hotel room that night, demanding to leave the campaign for his son’s hospital bedside in Virginia. Walters reacted to Murray’s demands with his typical stoicism, which angered the distraught father. Walters agreed that Murray should be with his family but still coerced Jack into completing the west coast trip.
The father of the country knew that in his day and age, over thirty five percent of children never made it to adulthood. He just didn’t understand how twenty-first century medicine in America had changed that grim eighteenth century reality. As a result, he didn’t really appreciate why a twenty-first century father would react as Jack Murray did; why he would want to leave the excitement of the campaign to lay vigil over his son’s hospital bed. Walters decided wisely it was best to not verbalize his thoughts. Walters told Jack to continue on to LA and fly back to DC separately while the rest of the team headed for Atlanta.
Now, seventy-two hours later, Walters reflected on the way he manipulated Murray. The grieving father looked deflated the rest of the west coast swing as he constantly checked in with his wife. Walters was also perceptive enough to observe the fact that Murray was drained by the barrage of apologies and excuses he continued to give his wife. Each hourly call resulted in a frustrated man mumbling and venting to himself.
Walters knew Jack felt awful, yet he still pressured him into agreeing to rejoin the campaign within a couple of weeks, regardless of whether Todd was in or out of the hospital. The candidate deduced that he needed Murray and therefore had no qualms about his expectations.
He turned his attention back to the campaign trail. Crowds had grown larger and more enthusiastic with each day and the media continued its fascination with the Walters’ campaign. The voracious reader that he was, the candidate read every newspaper and magazine that he could get his hands on. He also borrowed Hahn’s iPad, something that had become habit over the previous weeks. Walters was somewhat embarrassed to discuss it with anyone and certainly not in front of Rader (who still did not know his true identity). But he believed the iPad must have been magic.
This was certainly a wondrous country. As flawed as it had become, it still infinitely exceeded his wildest expectations from the eighteenth century. Perhaps what was most fantastic to Walters was that, in this age of miracles, there were still so many Americans who valued freedom and would dedicate their lives to the liberty of others the way his generation did. Walters was grateful to Providence for providing him a second opportunity at this time in history.
Intrigued by the electronic media since his exposure to the wonders of Skype that very first day in Philadelphia, Walters focused on using the modern mediums to reach the populous. Even though he was not a fan of the policies he had read about from the 1930s and ‘40s, Walters borrowed an idea from FDR and recorded a library of “fireside chats” based on current issues. He and the team created five minute video briefs on issues from spending to defense, immigration to healthcare, and overall liberty. The videos posted on a new website, www.WeWinAmerica.com, which Rader created for the campaign. The series of chats went viral and donations poured in from across the country.
As the jet winged toward Atlanta, Hahn made his way to the seat next to Walters. He looked behind him to make sure the two men were alone.
“Mr. President, you should try to get some rest. Rader has a hell of an agenda for you tomorrow, morning to night. The room in the back of the plane is all yours.”
Walters thanked him for his concern and assured him he was fine. He then asked his trusted adviser what he thought about the whole series of events to date.
“It’s been a wild ride, that’s for sure. You’re getting to the people. Virtually every news report is carrying the same theme, that you are different. It doesn’t matter if they’re left or right, they all say that this candidate is different. They love that you don’t pound your own chest. The conservative media is eating it up. And don’t worry about Murray. You did the right thing.”
The General leaned in close to Hahn and asked for more assurance that the team was going about all of this the right way. Hahn, always an opinion at the ready, gave it to his leader.
“You should just challenge the president to a debate and end all of this right now. No more campaigning, no more rhetoric, no more red-eye flights. I’m just venting. You’re in the best hands possible with Rader
and the team we’ve assembled. You have a lot of smart guys here and we’re devoted to seeing this through, but I think it’s time we end this thing. Let’s beat this guy now.”
Walters put his arm on Hahn’s forearm, a gesture of thanks without saying a word. He handed the iPad back to Hahn and made his way for the bedroom at the rear of the aircraft, setting his sights on Atlanta.
The reports in the local Georgia newspapers focused on Walters’ unwavering values. The slant of the mainstream liberal media viewed this as dangerous, a step backwards. They derided Walters and his followers and asked how America could move forward by taking the quotes, ideas and values of men that died two hundred years before.
In contrast, the more conservative television and radio talk show outlets relayed how a quickly growing populous now understood the founding principles that built Walters’ platform. And the populous identified them as timeless values that would eventually lead us out of the dark ages of the current administration.
It was in Atlanta that the team got a welcome surprise. The current president finally acknowledged the Walters phenomenon by attacking Walters’ platform in public. He scoffed at the notion that scrapping vast regulations such as PresidentCare in favor of the basic liberty expressed in our founding documents would help the people and the economy.
The team knew they had now reached critical mass and would soon be in the daily crosshairs of the president’s attack machine. Rader assured the team and the candidate that coming to the attention of the White House was a positive. It meant they were gaining legitimacy and traction.
Upon arrival in Baltimore, Walters pulled Rader aside. “See if you could get me on the Fredericks’ show tomorrow. We’ll be in DC in the morning and I would like to speak with that charming fellow once again. Please see what you could do. Thank you.”
Rader was not used to taking instruction from a candidate, but he liked the fact that he didn’t have to play wet nurse to the usual spoiled and inconsiderate politicians. His client was always engaging and always concerned with his well being, even to the point that he made sure Ken called his wife each night from the road. He immediately dialed the producer of The World Today.
“No way, not so soon after the last one! Who the hell does this guy think he is?” Fredericks barked.
His producer reminded him that Walters was the leading candidate for president in the polls and it may be a good idea to have Walters on again. He also reminded him that the last show was his highest rated show ever. Still, William Fredericks balked at the idea and stormed back to his office.
Within minutes, the general manager of WNN was on the phone with Fredericks. One minute later, candidate Frank Walters was scheduled for his second appearance on the most popular liberal television talk show in the country. Everybody at the station was excited except the host himself. He was visibly nervous and called his wife in Los Angeles.
He arranged for her to fly to Washington DC later that morning because he missed her and needed her support as work had become taxing. When she agreed, he turned his attention to the interview preparation and focused back on his work. The voices in his head that chastised him for originally taking it easy on Walters cheered his resolve and goaded him to attack the candidate. William Fredericks readied himself for round two.
Chapter 25
Walters stepped out of the car first and looked around at the growing audience. How ironic he thought, it seemed like a lifetime ago that he made his first public appearance on these very steps. But whose lifetime? George Washington’s or Frank Walters? It didn’t matter now. Rader had set up another impromptu gathering on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and the Tea Party candidate had a job to do.
As he moved to the podium he thought to himself how politics had not changed in over two hundred years. In what other world, except maybe show business, did someone “set up” an “impromptu gathering?”
He had to put those thoughts out of his mind. Once again, he was resolved to do his job. He would unseat this most treacherous of monarchs; of that, he had never a doubt. But unlike the last time he was on these hallowed steps as this miraculous adventure was just beginning, this time he understood his own endgame. As he stepped up to the podium, his eyes met the massive crowd. As he scanned the friendly faces, he wondered who else knew of Destiny’s plan.
Young and old, boys and girls, thousands of people of all races had played hooky this warm August day to be a part of growing legend of Frank Walters. They came to hear his direct no-nonsense style and unbridled optimism.
One of the DC papers described the Walters phenomenon in baseball terms. Frank Walters’ no-nonsense style was like a strikeout pitcher in baseball blowing fastball after fastball by his opponents. He did not try to trick anybody as the current president was accustomed to do. He just brought old-fashioned heat and people loved it. After all, fans loved strikeouts. The other candidates, including the president, kept trying to fool the American people with their curveballs and changeups. The editorial even called one of the candidates a screwball.
Frank Walters stepped to the podium.
“Hello, my fellow Americans. It is truly my privilege to speak with you again from this historic site and before one of the great men of American history. I am humbled to stand in his shadow.”
The crowd cheered and began chanting, “Walters, Walters, Walters.”
Frank put his massive hands up, asking the crowd to quiet for a moment. “In deference to Mr. Lincoln, whose two most important speeches were engraved in this magnificent memorial, I will endeavor to remain succinct.” Mr. Walters surveyed the audience and smiled broadly. “As you know, I am a man of few words, having held my tongue for a considerable part of my life. Unlike my opponents, I am not a lifelong campaigner. This, as a matter of record, is my first campaign. I seek the presidency with all humility as I understand the position to be that of a temporary steward of our great society. My goal as president is far different than that of our current resident, who believes he is larger than the office he holds. Indeed, he believes himself greater than the millions of electorates who provided him with this position.”
Walters pointed to several examples of the current president’s flouting of the Constitution on the way to tyranny. He held up three fingers to emphasize his point and started to count each down one at a time. They included:
The PresidentCare monstrosity that mandated the people make a purchase they do not want to make.
The pressing of government appointments while the Senate was in recess.
The strong-arming of private industry and religious institutions to provide free goods and services and pay for devises and procedures that violate religious tenets.
“This man has become a tyrant! Actions speak louder than words. Don’t listen to his words. Observe his actions—carefully.”
The crowd erupted in cheers.
He explained that he saw the president’s role much differently, believing that as steward of this society, the president’s role was to allow the people to choose for themselves. He pointed at the citizens in the first few rows and asked them if they knew what was best for them.
“Of course you know what’s best for yourself. The role of the president is to make sure people have the ability to bring happiness to their lives.”
The candidate looked to his left to see Rader and Pepper one step down from his own perch. Walters took a sip of water and winked to the two trusted advisers.
“We only live once. So government’s job is to provide the framework that allows us to meet our God given individual potential. That job includes protecting our people, protecting our borders, protecting our property, protecting our thoughts, our religion, and our families.”
The crowd grew larger and even more impassioned. Like most Tea Party rallies, the throng of well wishers was well mannered, behaved, and enjoying themselves in the mid morning sunshine. They had their man and were delighted by the majesty of his vision for America.
“Dr. King s
tood on these very steps almost fifty years ago. He echoed the words of Jefferson, Madison, Jay, Hamilton, Franklin, Adams, and Washington, when he said that he had a dream for America where people were judged on their character and not the color of their skin. The founders agreed when they wrote the immortal words, “All men are created equal” and created a Constitution that would guarantee that promise. Mr. Lincoln agreed when he fought a war to remove the curse of slavery from these shores. All of you here agree?”
The pitch grew louder and more intense. Mr. Walters seemed to be very much enjoying the moment. “I will promise nothing if I am elected as your president, except that I will do what I know is right in my heart to protect America. I am not so arrogant to think that a group of politicians or advisors, or even I myself, could ever know what is right for you as individuals.”
Chants and cheers rose again across the mall. And one more time, Walters raised both hands asking for silence. A hush came over the crowd instantaneously. The sound of birds chirping in the trees was all that was audible. Frank took note as the peaceful sound was interrupted by a plane approaching the Potomac River. The jets engines would not deter him from delivering the last few words of his speech.
“Please allow us to pull the anchor of government intrusion off you. Allow the rising tide of individual liberty to raise the ship of our society, enabling it to sail into the open waters of prosperity. You, the American people, are the captain. I would be honored to be your first mate. Thank you, and may God bless these United States of America.”
Chapter 26
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to The World Today. As always, I am your host William Fredericks. Our guest this evening, for the second time, is none other than the Lincoln Continental himself, Frank Walters. Good day Mr. Walters. Another fine show you put on today on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Don’t you think it’s getting a little stale, maybe, ‘Been there, done that?’ But I digress. My real question is, why did you want to come on our show so shortly after your first appearance? Are you here today to reveal your true identity?”
The New Founders Page 23
