10.15.2008 / EP. 47
Dealing at the Top Table
Pam despaired after such visits. Disappointment at the end of human life, frustration at its inevitable collapse, horror, sympathy, sorrow, fear and rage all entered the mix. The emotions hurtled against one other like ravens inciting one another to madness. Sometimes they were blanketed by gratitude, more often not. For hours at a stretch, the people Pam met bore the brunt of this emotional thunderstorm. She couldn’t help it. Tonight it was the Governor’s turn.
Governor Albert T. Brull was in jubilant mood. He rode high in the opinion polls of the Republican Party and the nation as a whole. He was 54 and his unwrinkled face and full head of light brown hair made him appear more like a high school football coach than the Governor of New York. His innocent, open expression inspired confidence. In politics, he knew, it was ingenuity more often than reason that carried the day. Successful politicians have committees that prepare policies for speeches and debate. When the time comes, the politicians read the script. In the meantime, a politician’s task couldn’t be easier: smile, let others sweat the message.
Albert greeted Pam at his door. It was always a pleasure to see her. An attractive self-made woman with intelligence and money to spare, she gave generously and persuaded her friends and colleagues to do the same. Albert was the primary object of her support. Tonight she was bringing a new acolyte from the drug sector. Pam had expanded into pharmaceuticals. A wise move, in Brull’s opinion. The population would swallow any medicine that promised them a better life. Politics and pharmaceuticals had a lot in common in that respect. Most of what they provided was panacea. Pam thought the new man had something Albert should hear. Well, considering how much Pam poured into his coffers, Albert would listen and more.
Pam introduced Andreas Rinehart, a Frenchman whose family antecedents were German. Fred had researched him and Albert knew the details. Fred had brought their own expert to assess Andreas. The expert sat on some of the Governor’s policy committees and, to Fred’s way of thinking, was destined for the top. Fred said he impressed everyone he met. “A good mind and everybody likes him. We want the drug industry with us, and Steven Lin can deliver it. The companies love him.” To which the Governor asked what Lin wanted, and Fred replied nothing so far. “He’s Mr Congeniality and a quick study. I read him our outcome list for a couple of key meetings and he steered the groups right where we wanted. No questions asked. He’ll volunteer an opinion, but knows when to shut up. In short, the perfect executive.” The Governor had chatted with Lin and found him affable. Meetings like tonight’s were a good test. If Lin had a secret agenda, tossing him in a casserole with someone from the same hometown, pharmaceuticals, would reveal it soon enough.
Albert looked at the dynamics. There were seven people in the room. There would have been eight, but Albert’s wife, Nancy, had died a few months ago of cancer. Her legacy was a strong sympathy vote. Overwhelming, in fact; it was his election to lose. Albert sometimes still talked to Nancy at night, when he lay thinking of the lonely years ahead. Politics was a savage business. She’d brought him the human touch. Life was hard without her.
Again Albert studied the small group. Fred Beaudine, his executive assistant, sat by his side, competent and in control, ensuring everyone was happy with the atmosphere and content of the meeting. Two security guards commanded each door like prowling lions, oblivious to what was said. Steven and Andreas sized each other up, accustomed to power, knowing this wasn’t time to butt heads. Smart, both of them, thought the Governor.
On the couch, Pam Carrera and Sam Carver rounded out the troop. Sam was a short, plump, rich and eccentric old friend. Albert and Sam had long ago abandoned formality. Sam puffed at a cigar even in the no smoking rooms of the Governor’s mansion. Albert ignored Sam except when Sam’s political antennae twitched. Sam had 40/20 vision when it came to liars and manipulators. He regarded Steven and Andreas speculatively. Albert figured Sam hadn’t yet nailed them to their seats in the political spectrum. Sam watched Andreas as though the latter planned to steal the silverware. Albert bet that Sam had a question or two about him. That was his own take on the man.
Pam was talking. She played the perfect hostess in Nancy’s absence. Polite as a southern belle and dynamite power broker, she could make or break careers in an instant. People listened to her because she counted. Albert pictured her dominating pharmaceuticals in New York. It wouldn’t take much: a major European company behind her supplied by Andreas, some expedited licences to manufacture, expansion of her husband’s lab and factory, a distribution network on the standard pattern. Was this meeting really about politics or swaying Rinehart and Lin into backing Pam? Albert didn’t mind. Using and being used paved the yellow brick road to the White House.
“We have to move faster than we’d like, folks,” said Fred. “I apologize. The Governor has another group waiting and an early breakfast.” Fred’s wide-set eyes made him seem regretful when all he really felt was tired. It was near the end of a long day, with about 300 more till the election. “You know how it is. Mr Lin, you had an idea for the Governor? We’ll get to yours in a minute, Mr Rinehart.”
They were both batting tonight, thought Albert. This would be juicy.
Steven nodded. This wasn’t a test run, he’d told Pam. Two committees had approved the plan in principle. More importantly, the spindoctors thought they could fly with it. By which they meant the public would approve and it would help the Governor’s ratings. Steven contemplated Fred’s poker face. Was it designed for Andreas’s consumption? Pam’s? Brull himself? Lin didn’t like an assistant keeping information from his boss.
“The United States likes bilateral agreements,” said Steven Lin. “In public, we praise the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, but we do better one-on-one with other countries. The reason is simple. None of them punch at America’s weight and everyone wants to be our friend. We exempt ourselves from international arrangements through these private deals with other countries. American companies get preferential treatment and the countries get American trade guarantees and foreign aid. You know the history. I don’t have to quote chapter and verse. But think about an agreement with China, the largest consumer market in the world. And the biggest labour force. Harness American know-how to the Chinese population and you get powerful growth for decades. We contribute our technology and patent rights and guarantee China a slice of the profit. China guarantees us unlimited labour and raw material plus an open door to its enormous consumer and industrial base. And China shares its profit with us.”
Albert Brull looked at Fred, who nodded. He’d studied Steven’s proposal. Economists at Yale thought it made sense. “This sounds excellent,” said the Governor. “But it’s complicated and loaded with political minefields. We’ll work on it after the election.”
“Imagine a campaign speech,” Steven spread his arms wide, “in which you announce a plan to create a thousand jobs a month and a 20% boost in average income.”
“Fantasy,” said the Governor.
“That’s the economic forecast,” Lin told him. “The dawn of a new age.”
Fred interrupted. “Americans would condemn the Chinese for interfering in our election. The Democrats would call us dupes of the Communists. And who’s to say the Chinese won’t reject the idea absolutely? You’re delivering the Governor into their hands.”
“The Chinese will be committed before we utter a word,” said Lin. “And the spin doctors will present it as negotiations long overdue to make America rich. You’ll say it’s high time we created jobs instead of exporting them, selling instead of buying. America will get a percentage of everything made in China. Americans know what that means. You’ll announce you want to study the deal carefully, but the opportunity is now and you put America first. You favour American jobs and American wealth. Who won’t agree with you?”
Fred stroked his chin. “We’ll run focus groups to test the idea.” He glanced at his watch.
“There’s no harm trying it,” said Brull. He looked at Andreas, “What do you think?”
“I’m a research man. My field is medicine. I stick to what I know.”
“That’s wise, but Fred said you had your own idea to propose.”
“I gather you’re running late. Can Pam or Fred arrange another time?”
The Governor asked Fred to set something up. Albert shook hands warmly with everyone. He and Fred left the room.
The others sat in silence. The guards remained immobile. Sam chewed on his cigar and watched the others. He seemed in no hurry. Pam said they could chat a few minutes. Andreas tapped his foot. Steven linked his fingers behind his head.
“How do we test the China plan?” asked Sam, studying his cigar.
Lin circled his pen on a notepad. “We start with pharmaceuticals. On one hand, we represent a good sample of the industry: my company, Ms Carrera, and Andreas. We’re heavy players or soon to be. On the other hand, we have my contacts on the mainland. They know what they have to do, namely get government approvals and the right photo ops and sales figures. We already have the key ingredient, China’s tacit approval. The program will initially be experimental and strictly private. If any information leaks to the press, a few businessmen will say they’re running a routine contract. The goal is to expand their companies to cover the United States and China. These are family businesses; we have photos of smiling grandmothers with children on their knees. Nothing political.”
“Sounds safe,” said Sam. “Can you keep it that way?”
Lin nodded.
Sam turned to Andreas. “You have partners and contacts all over Europe. Which means you do too, Pam. What do you think of Lin’s idea?”
Andreas: “Too big for a political campaign. Too many things can go wrong. And Albert doesn’t have experience in international affairs. The opposition will crucify him.”
Pam: “If the figures look right, other people will float the idea. Albert will comment about the jobs and staying ahead of China. He takes no responsibility, but gets all the credit. The script writers know what to do.”
Sam nodded. “You’re both right.”
“My advice is stay flexible,” said Andreas. “Tell the analysts to factor in 25% more from Europe, of everything, labour and materials. Eastern Europe is under-exploited, big and cheap. It has higher wages than China, but not by much. Accuracy of the labour force is superior and there’s less sickness. Plus, the European Union will bring cash to the table. And China is a traditional enemy; you don’t want Albert branded a traitor.”
Sam laughed. “Competition. I love it. We need a follow-up meeting.”
They arranged a date. Sam would handle communications. “You’re project director,” he told Lin. “You make things happen. You,” he pointed to Pam and Andreas, “you birddog for errors. Don’t overdo it. All information goes through my hands. I’ll see that Fred and Albert know what they have to. And don’t know what they shouldn’t. We’re in the middle of an election campaign. The idea is votes and winning. Everybody clear?”
Sam asked Pam if she could remain a minute. “A coolness in the air,” Sam said. “Did you notice?”
Pam: “It was subtle. Something was off.”
“And Andreas didn’t present his idea. Do you know what it is?”
“Vaguely.”
“You like him?”
“I never ask that question. I work well with him.”
Sam nodded.
***
Sam presented Fred with the results next morning. “What do you think?” Sam asked.
Fred stared into space. “Steven and Andreas are talented, both of them. But I can’t make them out. There are wheels within wheels here, all spinning at the same time. I’ll bet we didn’t hear a tenth of the truth.”
“If any of it was true.”
“You’ll keep me posted, Sam?”
“Count on it.” Sam departed in a cloud of cigar smoke.
