That court ruling was necessary, Plumber thought. The First Amendment guaranteed freedom of the press, and the reason for it was that the press was America’s first and, in many ways, only guardian of freedom. People lied all the time. Especially people in government, but others, too, and it was the job of the media to get the facts–the truth– out to the people, so that they could make their own choices.
But there was a trap built into the hunting license the Supreme Court had issued. The media could destroy people. There was recourse against almost any improper action in American society, but reporters had such protections as those once enjoyed by kings, and, as a practical matter, his profession was above the law. As a prac-
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tical matter, also, it worked hard to stay that way. To admit error was not only a legal faux pas, for which money might have to be paid. It would also weaken the faith of the public in their profession. And so they never admitted error when they didn’t have to, and when they did, the retractions were almost never given the prominence of the initial, incorrect, assertions–the minimum necessary effort defined by lawyers who knew exactly the height of the castle walls they defended. There were occasional exceptions, but everyone knew that exceptions they were.
Plumber had seen his profession change. There was too much arrogance, and too little realization of the fact that the public they served no longer trusted them–and that wounded Plumber. He deemed himself worthy of that trust. He deemed himself a professional descendant of Ed Murrow, whose voice every American had learned to trust. And that was how it was supposed to be. But it wasn’t, because the profession could not be policed from without, and it would never be trusted again until it was policed from within. Reporters called down every other profession–medicine, law, politics–for failing to meet a level of professional responsibility which they would allow no one to enforce on themselves, and which they themselves would too rarely enforce on their own. Do as I say, not as I do was something you couldn’t say to a six-year-old, but it had become a ready cant for grown-ups. And if it got any worse, then what?
Plumber considered his situation. He could retire whenever he wanted. Columbia University had more than once invited him in to be an adjunct professor of journalism . . . and ethics, because his was a trusted voice, a reasoned voice, an honest voice. An old voice, he added to himself. Maybe the last voice?
But it all came down, really, to one man’s conscience, to ideas inculcated by parents long dead, and teachers whose names he had forgotten. He had to be loyal to something. If he were to be loyal to his profession, then he had to be loyal to its foundation. To tell the truth and let the chips fall. He lifted his phone.
“Holtzman,” the reporter answered, because it was the business line in his Georgetown home.
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“Plumber. I’ve done some checking. It appears you were right.”
“Okay, now what, John?”
“I have to do this myself. I’ll give you the exclusive on print coverage.”
“That’s generous, John. Thank you,” Bob acknowledged.
“I still don’t like Ryan very much as a President,” Plumber added, rather defensively, the other thought. That made sense. He couldn’t appear to be doing this to curry favor.
“You know that’s not what this is about. That’s why I talked to you about it. When?” Bob Holtzman asked.
“Tomorrow night, live.”
“How about we sit down and work out a few things? This will be a biggie for the Post. Want to share the byline?”
“I might just be looking for another job by tomorrow night,” Plumber observed, with a rueful chuckle. “Okay, we’ll do that.”
“SO. WHAT’S THAT mean?” Jack asked.
“They do not mind anything we’re doing. It’s almost like they want the carrier there. They have requested that I shuttle back and forth to Taipei–”
“Directly?” The President was astonished. Such direct flights would give the appearance of legitimacy to the Republic of China government. An American Secretary of State would be shuttling back and forth, and a ministerial official did so only between capitals of sovereign countries. Lesser disputes were left to “special envoys,” who might carry the same power, but nothing approaching the same status.
“Yeah, that kinda surprised me, too,” Adler replied over the encrypted channel. “Next, the dogs that didn’t bark: a cursory objection to your ‘two Chinas’ gaffe at the press conference, and trade never raised its ugly head. They’re being real docile for people who killed a hundred-plus airline passengers.”
“Their naval exercises?”
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“They will continue, and they practically invited us to observe how routine they are.”
Admiral Jackson was listening on the speakerphone. “Mr. Secretary? This is Robby Jackson.”
“Yes, Admiral?”
“They staged a crisis, we move a carrier, and now they say they want us around, am I getting this right?”
“That’s correct. They do not know that we know, at least I don’t think they do–but you know, I’m not sure that matters at the moment.”
“Something’s wrong,” the J-3 said immediately. “Big-time wrong.”
“Admiral, I think you might be correct on that one, too.”
“Next move?” Ryan asked.
“I guess I go to Taipei in the morning. I can’t evade this one, can I?”
“Agreed. Keep me informed, Scott.”
“Yes, Mr. President.” The line went dead.
“Jack–no, Mr. President, I just had a big red flashing light go off.”
Ryan grimaced. “I have to go be political tomorrow, too. I fly out at, uh”–he checked his schedule–“leave the House at six-fifty, to speak in Nashville at eight-thirty. We need an assessment on this in one big hurry. Shit. Adler’s over there, I’m on the road, and Ben Goodley isn’t experienced enough for this. I want you there, Rob. If there’s operational ramifications to this, that’s your bailiwick. The Foleys. Arnie on the political side. We need a good China hand from State …”
ADLER WAS SETTLING into his bed in the embassy VIP quarters. He went over his notes, trying to figure the angle. People made mistakes at every level. The wide belief that senior officials were canny players was not nearly as true as people thought. They made mistakes. They made slips. They loved to be clever.
“Travel is a curse,” Zhang had said. His only words. Why then, and why those? It was so obvious that Adler didn’t get it then.
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“BEDFORD FORREST, EH?” Diggs said, spreading relish on his hot dog.
“Best cavalry commander we’ve ever had,” Eddington said.
“You’ll pardon me, Professor, if I show diminished enthusiasm for the gentleman,” the general observed. “The son of a bitch did found the Ku Klux Klan.”
“I never said the man was politically astute, sir, and I do not defend his personal character, but if we’ve ever had a better man with a cavalry command, I have not learned his name,” Eddington replied.
“He’s got us there,” Hamm had to admit.
“Stuart was overrated, sometimes petulant, and very lucky. Nathan had the Fingerspitzengefuhl, knew how to make decisions on the fly, and damned if he made many bad ones. I’m afraid we just have to overlook his other failings.”
History discussions among senior Army officers could last for hours, as this one had, and were as learned as those in any university’s seminar room. Diggs had come over for a chat with Colonel Hamm, then found himself embroiled in the millionth refighting of the Civil War. Millionth? Diggs wondered. No, a lot more than that.
“What about Grierson?” Diggs asked.
“His deep raid was a thing of beauty, but he didn’t actually conceive it, remember. Actually, I think his best work was as commander of the 10th.”
“Now you’re talking, Dr. Eddington.”
“See how the boss’s eyes just lit up. You–”
“That’s right! You had that regiment until a little while ago. Ready and Forward!” the colonel of the Carolina Guard added.
“You even know our regimental motto?” Maybe this guy was a serious historian after all, even if he did admire that racist murderer, Diggs thought.
“Grierson built that regiment from the ground up, mainly illiterate troopers. He had to grow his own NCOs, and they drew every shit job in the Southwest, but they’re the ones who defeated the Apaches–and only one
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damned movie ever made about ’em. I’ve been thinking about a book on the subject after I retire. He was our first real desert fighter, and he figured things out in a hurry. He knew about deep strike, he knew how to pick his fights, and once he got hold, he didn’t let go. I was glad to see that regimental standard come back.”
“Colonel Eddington, I take back what I was thinking.” Diggs lifted his beer can in salute. “That’s what the cav is all about.”
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