Four Days In February

by Roy Diestelkamp

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Pinchon sat alone in the Oval Office, looking at the picture hanging on the wall of another General, George Washington. He spoke to Mrs. Mary Margaret Roland, his secretary, who has just come into the Oval Office.

  "Do you know what epitaph was given to George Washington?"

  "Yes Sir," she said. "Henry Lee of Virginia said that Washington was: 'First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.'"

  Pinchon said, "How simple, yet how eloquent and elegant. You cannot have a better epitaph. George Washington deserved it. He commanded the Continental Armies during the Revolution. When the war was won, and some wanted him to become a military dictator or king of the new country, and others feared that he might take such power; Washington resigned his military commission and went home. He believed in a republic, and would not be a king or dictator. Later he became the country's first President, and after two terms, declined to run again, and keep himself in power. He again went home.

  "What humility, what wisdom, what courage. He set an example that only Franklin Roosevelt ever broke; no more than two terms for a President. No one stays President too long, accumulates too much power, or refuses to let go of power. America gets new, elected Presidents, with fresh new ideas to move the country ahead and meet new challenges. What a contrast to countries that have the same militaristic and authoritarian leader for years and years. Those dictators think they are more important than their nation, and they often start taking their nation's wealth for themselves, their families, and their cronies.

  "Washington put the nation ahead of his own self. He sacrificed for the nation. The people trusted and appreciated him for his integrity. He would fight their wars, he would serve as President, and then he would go back to being a citizen, like everybody else. He never was a politician.

  "The people loved him. He wasn't without problems. There were some people who caused some trouble, but Washington stood firm and did his duty, and then went home.

  "Mrs. Roland, I want to do my duty, finish this presidency, take the country through this trouble, and then go home. I have no desire to hold onto this office after the people have a chance to elect a new President."

  "Yes, Mr. President, but the country will need you for the next four years until then. Maybe you will change your mind later and decide to run for the following term."

  "No... No! I will serve for now... but it will be better for the republic, if this General, and every General, just goes home."

  Just then Charles Adams returns and says:

  "Mr. President, we have the Chinese President on the phone. He seems a little dubious about your status."

  "Okay, I am not surprised he has doubts about me, if I were him, I would too. I will speak to him.

  "Mr. President, this is President Ulysses Pinchon, I need to speak with you about the situation on the Korean peninsula and the seas surrounding it.

  "Yes, I am a retired General, but I am now President.

  "Yes, Mr. President, I can understand that you are disturbed, and find it difficult to understand what is happening in Washington, and that the situation is unprecedented... I agree that the situation is difficult for you, and that you are not the one to decide who is President of the United States. That will become very clear in the next twenty-four hours.

  "But we agree that you are the President of China, and that you can exert your influence in North Korea to restrain them from further attacking South Korea.

  "Yes, Mr. President, I am aware that the Monroe carrier battle group has moved into the South China Sea. I am the President of the United States, and am Commander-in-Chief of the American Armed Forces. I control those forces... including that carrier group.

  "No, it is not operating out of control of the American government. It will follow my commands.

  "You have already talked with Mr. Ishnik....

  "Yes I know he claims to be 'Acting President' now, but he is not, our Constitution and laws have placed me in the presidency.

  "The battle group proceeding to the Korean Peninsula will do what I command it to do. Frankly, considering the situation, I am going to have it continue on its course, but not to endanger China. Neither will it attack North Korea, if North Korea stops its provocations.

  "Mr. President, I have to say that American forces have been in and around Korea for well over a half century. South Korea is our ally, and they have the right to ask our assistance. The waters of the South China Sea, and the seas around Korea are international waters through which our ships have the right of passage.

  "I could wish that a peace treaty could be signed with North Korea, but frankly it and its leaders are too unstable and untrustworthy for America and South Korea to successfully negotiate with. No one is prepared to trust what they say, because they often do the opposite of what they say. The North Korean government is provocative and deceitful.

  "Yes, I am aware of your attitude to American warships near your shores. If you really do not like a lot of American ships, planes, and soldiers, in the area, you need to use your good offices to bring real stability to North Korea. A proverb says that if you take away the wood, the fire will go out. North Korea is full of wood, and it seems much of the time its leaders are throwing firebrands around.

  "It is in China's interests to stabilise North Korea too. If North Korea starts another war, or if it just starves its own people to desperation, China is surely going to be affected. I am sure that you don't want another war, I assure you that I don't either. I am also certain that you don't want millions of North Koreans to flee to China as refugees from their own impoverished land.

  "If you will use China's economic and military relationships with the North Koreans, I believe you can rein in, and even in the future alter their leadership. China is the one country that has real influence in North Korea.

  "Yes, Mr. President, my suggestion has some inherent difficulties and dangers, but not as much danger as you doing nothing to restrain the government of North Korea. Then the situation may spiral out of control and turn into a confrontation, ultimately between China and the United States."

  "I agree, I wish the circumstances were immediately clearer, and that you could know who is President of the United States. I tell you again I am the constitutionally authorized President of the United States, and I am Commander-in-Chief of all American Armed Forces. Secretary Ishnik's claims will shortly be seen to be false."

  "What's that... No, President Woods cannot further help resolve the issue of succession. He is the one who set in motion the events that brought me to succeed him... No, Mr. President, you cannot speak to President Woods. He is not now able to communicate even with his doctors. I am sorry."

  "Yes... twenty-four hours will see the issue in Washington resolved. Let us plan to talk again tomorrow, and in the meantime let both of us do nothing that could endanger either one of us. Thank you, Mr. President, we will talk soon."

  Charles Adams said, "that wasn't exactly good."

  "No," Pinchon replied, "but I can sympathize with China and all foreign governments around the world trying to figure out what is happening in Washington, D.C. They have always known in modern times, a stable American government, that changes Presidents by elections, or by a Vice President succeeding a President. They don't always like a new President, but they know who he or she is.

  "Now the Chinese President thinks Woods is still officially President, and either Ishnik or I, am an "Acting" one. His problem is he doesn't know which one to talk to. He doesn't claim to know the intricacies of our constitutional arguments, and thankfully he doesn't want to "choose" the one who is President."

  Adams spoke agitatedly, "The Chinese President has no part in 'choosing' the American President. That is totally unacceptable!"

  "Yes, but he is trying to deal with somebody about a looming crisis in the Korean peninsula. He is also trying to figure out who... right now... controls the American military. T
hat is of interest to him, he does need to know that."

  Adams snuffed, "How many times over the years have Americans had to wait to figure out who really was in charge in China? Was it the guy with the official title, the guy without the title but who just retired; was it one of the old revolutionary leaders that were still alive, or maybe even an Army General. The Chinese can now wait a day or two for clarity in Washington."

  Pinchon said, "The Chinese President does have to consider an American naval battle group sailing to the Koreas, and possible hostilities that could result. I claimed to have control of the carrier, James Monroe, not Ishnik, though I suspect he knows that point is not yet certain.

  "We are going to have to do things that give world leaders, and specifically, the Chinese President, the assurance that I am in control of our government and military. All the dissension and commotion in Washington isn't helping the situation."

  An aide comes in and hands Adams a note.

  Adams frowns and says, "Well, if they were confused before, the Chinese are going to be even more so now. The House and Senate are getting into the act."

  "What happened," Pinchon said?

  "The Senate got 'rolled' by Senators Olds and France. Can you believe it, they actually just passed a "sense of the Senate" that says that they recognize Secretary of Defense, Mitch Ishnik, as the constitutionally provided, 'Acting President.' Senator Sharon, and a handful of others stood to oppose the motion, but could not stop it. Then the Senate also passed a censure motion against you, Mr. President."

  "Did the Senate motion censure me as 'Acting President?'"

  "No Sir, they censured you for unconstitutionally claiming to be such."

  "That's too bad, Pinchon replied, because if they had, they would have inadvertently recognized me in the office. But they didn't. We learned one thing though. Who says the Senate cannot act rapidly, and with bi-partisan cooperation between the political parties. The Senate has gone mad. Did you know that when Thomas Jefferson returned home from being ambassador to France, that he dined with George Washington. Jefferson is said to have asked Washington why a Senate had been created by the Constitutional Convention. Washington is said to have asked Jefferson why he had just poured his tea from his cup to his saucer. Jefferson's reply was because he wanted to cool it; that it was too hot for him to drink. Washington then replied 'we pour our legislation into the Senatorial saucer to cool it.' The Senate sure isn't cooling anything right now.

  "Senators have six year terms so they will not be vulnerable to constantly having to face the next election. That was supposed to make it so that Senators did not have to go along with whatever political theory was raging in the country, and probably also in the House of Representatives, which has to face re-election every two years. The theory was that the Senate was supposed to be the house of second reflection, to cool some of the possible hot headedness of the House of Representatives.

  An Aide hands Adams a note, who then exclaims, "But it's worse! The House has just elected a new Speaker. They rejected Burlson. Now some Congressmen want to impeach 'Acting President' Pinchon, while others say that is unnecessary, that 'Acting President' Ishnik should just arrest you, and put you on trial for treason! Then they want you hanged."

  "Don't they know I am a retired Army General. Hanging is not a proper way to execute a soldier... They would need a firing squad!"

  "I am sure if you suggest it, they will do it, probably on the National Mall," Adams said.

  "Well, then it would need to be done halfway between the Lincoln and Washington monuments."

  "Why there, Sir?" asked Adams.

  "Because if they are going to go against a lawful succession... they might as well do it in a way that dishonors the remembrance of those two Presidents who protected and defended the Constitution at critical times.

  "And Adams, if they shoot me, I am sure there is also going to be a spot for you in front of the firing squad."

  "I will have you know, that there are a lot of people in this town that would like to see me shot."

  "Well, Adams, I am amazed, this shows just how fickle and changeable the Congress has become. One day the House elects me Speaker, full well knowing that I am to succeed an incapacitated President Woods. Now some of them have changed their minds and seek to deny, that what they did before, was legitimate.

  "The Senate then wants to become the 'decider' of something previous Congresses have already 'decided.' The Presidential succession act was passed over the years by different Congresses, following constitutional authority. The legislative acts were then largely unchallenged for years and years, until President Woods used them to arrange for his successor. Woods only did this because there was not a Vice President, nor the time to appoint one, considering how long it would take to get Congressional approval.

  "You talk about lurching from one decision to another! The Congress thinks Woods outmaneuvered them, and got them to make decisions too quickly, and without proper consideration. So now, if they would think about it, Senators France and Olds have surely done the same thing to them. Are they going to wake up tomorrow, after the firing squad, and say they acted precipitously?

  "Knowing the Congress, I would say, probably . Of course by then, a 'President Ishnik' will be arranging their firing squad too. In this present distress he will surely declare that expediency requires that Congress must not interfere with his defending the nation."

  Another note is passed to Charles Adams. "Mr. President, it looks like the White House is now getting phone calls from our allies too, demanding to know what is going on here. They are getting scared, and oh yes, the markets are getting scared. They are down ten percent as of close today, and when they open tomorrow, there may be a bloodbath on Wall Street. They really are shaken by the Army on the streets of Washington, and two Presidents of the United States."

  "The situation is getting rapidly out of hand. I am going to have to act quickly and decisively or Ishnik might actually win. A good General will out flank his enemy, deny him re-enforcements, and cut off his supplies. He will then attack the enemy at a weak point, and rout him.

  "Adams, did you know that I am a good General. Ishnik started this war; he had the advantage of surprise. However, now we know what he is doing, and I am going to go around his flank where he doesn't think I can go. I am going to keep him from getting more troops, and I am going to cut him off from those that would help him. Then I am going to face him, and attack him."

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