This 44-part series began running in WCT Nov. 8. Readers can read all the installments to date at www.windycitymediagroup.com
From the journal of John 'Jack' Quincy Adams, Chief Secret Service Special Agent in Charge, The White House. Code Name: One.
Part 33. The Fight
Jack Adams, the Secret Service agent charged with assassinating President George W. Bush and being held for psychiatric evaluation, is telling the psychiatrist about a fight the First Couple had about Laura going on the road to push for the war and the anti-gay marriage amendment.
There was a huge party in the West Wing after the State of the Union. The Republican bigwigs were all there slapping each other on the back and shaking hands and declaring the speech their new marching orders. 'Our new contract with America,' someone from the old Newt Gingrich school said with a toast.
About the time it was breaking up Trailblazer and Laura headed upstairs. They had gone up in the elevator and the Secret Service escorts had walked back into the central lobby to work the door as the remainder of the guests left. I was closing up my little desk in the alcove near the elevator when the doors opened again. There stood the First Couple in the middle of what was clearly a heated conversation. Laura quickly switched to a stage whisper and said, 'I don't give a damn what he says, this is insane and you know it. Deep down you know I'm right, George.'
'Laura, every First Lady has to do her part for the party. Most women would kill for this opportunity. Let's talk about this when we're upstairs.' He then explained to me that he had come back to get something he needed out of the Oval Office.
I went with them into Diadem while he looked for the file he wanted. Laura stood seething while he riffled through things on the desk. I hung back with my hand on the door handle waiting to escort them back to the elevator.
Finally she could hold it in no longer. 'I'm not most women. I am not your mother.'
'But you are my wife. And like it or not you are the First Lady.' This was a familiar scene, one I had experienced with every First Couple. They were now fully enmeshed in their One-isn't-really-standing-there-hearing-this mode of arguing. 'Come on, Laura, it's a handful of whistle stops and short speeches.' He stood behind his desk opening manila files, looking for the papers he needed. I continued to act invisible.
'First you told me it would be one term. Then you said after the midterms you'd be a lame duck and there would be nothing for either of us to do. You even promised that after the midterms I could go back to Crawford for the last two years. Now you're reneging on that as well.'
'I can't help it if things have changed. Who thought things would go so badly? You're a tremendous asset, sweetheart. People love you,' he said, waving a hand toward the French doors, as if crowds of adoring fans lined the portico. 'Heck, they like you better than me. You could probably be president if you wanted. You could run against Hillary.'
That was the last straw. 'Damn it, George, I'm not doing it. You can tell Ken and Karl and the rest of them I'm not going on this trip, I'm through giving speeches, and I will not change my mind. In fact, I'm going back to the ranch on Saturday.' She turned and I opened the door for her. There was fire in her eyes as she stopped just short of the doorway, turned and added, 'And you can tell your mother that if she's not careful she's going to lose a daughter-in-law and gain a scandal. So don't send her to strong-arm me.' Then she walked out.
I looked at Trailblazer. 'Go with her, One. Maybe you can talk some sense into her.'
She glanced at me as I fell in step beside her. 'He can be a real son of a bitch, you know. I'm over this. He doesn't care about me. You heard him. I'm not his wife, I'm the FL,' she said. She wouldn't say First Lady.
'It sounds like they want you to do some campaigning; is that right?' I asked.
'For the MPA of all things. And the war. Again. It's always that God-damned war of his.'
'Is there absolutely no way ….'
Now the death look was directed at me. 'I don't approve of the MPA, and I've been against the war from the beginning. Haven't you been paying attention, Jack? I swear to God all you men are alike.'
We were at the elevator and she stepped inside and punched the residential code into the keypad. As the door closed, she said, 'I'm either going to divorce this family or start killing them. I mean it Jack. Get me a gun or give me a wide berth.'
Krandall Kraus has published six books, including the Lambda Literary Award winner It's Never About What It's About, co-authored with his partner Paul Borja. He is the recipient of the 2006 Christopher Isherwood Fellowship in Fiction; his first novel, The President's Son, was a bestseller. A former consultant to the Office of the Vice President, his political thrillers are filled with White House insider details.
