The questioning went on. One hour later, Charlie Campbell asked, “Are there any more questions?”
“I think the nominee has expressed herself very clearly,” one of the senators commented.
“I agree. Thank you, Mrs. Ashley. This session is adjourned.”
Pete Connors studied Mary thoughtfully a moment, then quietly left as the members of the press swarmed around her.
“Was the President’s appointment a surprise to you?”
“Do you think they’re going to approve your appointment, Mrs. Ashley?”
“Do you really believe that teaching about a country qualifies you to—?”
“Turn this way, Mrs. Ashley. Smile, please. One more.”
“Mrs. Ashley—”
Ben Cohn stood apart from the others, watching and listening. She’s good, he thought. She has all the right answers. I wish to hell I knew the right questions.
When Mary arrived back at the hotel, emotionally drained, Stanton Rogers was on the telephone.
“Hello, Madam Ambassador.”
She felt giddy with relief. “You mean I made it? Oh, Stan. Thank you so much. I can’t tell you how excited I am.”
“So am I, Mary.” His voice was filled with pride. “So am I.”
When Mary told the children, they hugged her.
“I knew you’d make it!” Tim screamed. Beth asked quietly, “Do you think Daddy knows?”
“I’m sure he does, darling.” Mary smiled. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he gave the committee a little nudge…”
Mary telephoned Florence, and when she heard the news she began to cry. “Fantastic! Wait until I spread this around town!”
Mary laughed. “I’ll have a room at the embassy ready for you and Douglas.”
“When do you leave for Romania?”
“Well, first the full Senate has to vote, but Stan says it’s just a formality.”
“What happens next?”
“I have to go through a few weeks of briefing sessions in Washington, and then the children and I are on our way to Romania.”
“I can’t wait to call The Daily Union!” Florence exclaimed. “The town will probably put up a statue to you. I’ve got to go now. I’m too excited to talk. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Ben Cohn heard the results of the confirmation hearing when he returned to his office. He was still bothered. And he did not know why.
14
As Stanton Rogers predicted, the full Senate vote was a formality. Mary was voted in by a comfortable majority. When President Ellison heard the news, he said to Stanton Rogers, “Our plan is under way, Stan. Nothing can stop us now.”
Stanton Rogers nodded. “Nothing,” he agreed.
Pete Connors was in his office when he received the news. He immediately wrote out a message and encoded it. One of his men was on duty in the CIA cable room.
“I want to use the Roger Channel,” Connors said. “Wait outside.”
The Roger Channel is the CIA’s ultraprivate cable system, available only for use by top-level executives. Messages are sent by a laser transmitter on an ultrahigh frequency in a fraction of a second. When Connors was alone, he dispatched the cable. It was addressed to Sigmund.
During the next week, Mary called on the deputy secretary for political affairs, the head of the CIA, the secretary of commerce, the directors of the New York Chase Manhattan Bank, and several important Jewish organizations. Each of them had admonitions, advice, and requests.
Ned Tillingast at the CIA was enthusiastic. “It will be great to get our people back into action there, Madam Ambassador. Romania’s been a blind spot for us since we became personae non gratae. I’ll assign a man to your embassy as one of your attachés.” He gave her a meaningful look. “I’m sure you’ll give him your full cooperation.”
Mary wondered exactly what that meant. Don’t ask, she decided.
The swearing-in ceremony of the new ambassadors is customarily presided over by the secretary of state, and there are usually twenty-five to thirty candidates sworn in at the same time. The morning the ceremony was to take place, Stanton Rogers telephoned Mary.
“Mary, President Ellison has asked that you be at the White House at noon. The President himself is going to swear you in. Bring Tim and Beth.”
The Oval Office was filled with members of the press. When President Ellison walked in with Mary and her children, television cameras began to turn and still cameras began to flash. Mary had spent the previous half hour with the President, and he had been warm and reassuring.