Chapter 689 - 323: I Want to Be the Vice President
"Leo, you’re too arrogant. What makes you think you can control the election in Pennsylvania?"
"Voters are living, breathing people with minds and wills of their own. Do you really think a single photograph is enough to make them follow your lead like puppets on a string?"
Stern scoffed on the other end of the line.
"If you people think I can’t control the vote in Pennsylvania, then why are you discussing these issues with me at such a sensitive time?"
Leo stared at the light and shadows on the ceiling, his tone unwavering.
"You need the Democratic Party’s resources, our platform, and our endorsement," Stern said, his voice rising.
"No, I don’t. I can control Pennsylvania all by myself. At least in Western Pennsylvania, I can control every single vote here. All I have to do is say the word, and they’ll follow me."
As Leo said this, his palms were actually a little sweaty.
Roosevelt’s earlier warning still echoed in his ears.
In the great gamble of electoral politics, it’s easy to make voters admire you, but commanding their voting intentions like an army requires an almost godlike level of control.
He was making a huge gamble, betting on the fear those people in Washington had of his destructive potential.
Stern clearly sensed the madness behind the threat.
He knew Leo was probably exaggerating, but he didn’t dare bet against that one-in-ten-thousand possibility.
Losing Pennsylvania would mean a total defeat for the entire Democratic Party in Congress.
No one wanted to fall from this position of power.
Even though everyone knew that politics had its ups and downs, no one wanted to watch the ship sink on their watch.
"Next Monday, I’m holding a press conference."
Leo didn’t give Stern any time to think.
"I’ll be in my wheelchair, in front of cameras for all of America to see, and I will announce it."
"That the man who tried to assassinate me was driven mad by the Democratic Party’s policies. I’ll announce my support for the Republican Party, and then I’ll take Pennsylvania’s nineteen electoral votes and make a deal with the other side."
"The choice is yours."
BEEP—
Leo hung up the phone.
He tossed his phone onto the blanket and let out a long breath.
’Mr. President.’
Leo asked in his mind.
’Can they really get around the Constitution? This is absurd. Thirty-five years old—that’s a number written on paper. How can they possibly change it?’
’Absurd?’
Roosevelt’s voice replied.
’Leo, you must remember one thing.’
’In politics, the laws of physics are not absolute.’
’In physics, an apple will always fall to the ground, and water will always flow downhill. But in politics, if you have enough power, an apple can fly to the sky, and water can flow uphill.’
’The Constitution is something a group of slave owners and farmers wrote on parchment over two hundred years ago. It is sacred, but it is also flexible.’
’Back in my day, I worked tirelessly to push through the New Deal, to get those damn bills passed, but those nine old men on the Supreme Court opposed me at every turn. They said I was unconstitutional, that I was a dictator.’
Roosevelt’s voice grew deep and powerful.
’So I proposed the court-packing plan. I told Congress that since those nine old men were so busy, I was going to expand the number of justices to fifteen to improve efficiency.’
’Doesn’t that sound absurd, too? I was also challenging the authority of the Constitution, also trying to change the fundamental rules of the game.’
’If it weren’t for those people in Congress desperately blocking me at the last moment, I would have succeeded.’
’In the face of absolute political will, the letter of the law can be redefined.’
Roosevelt paused for a moment.
’Besides, Leo.’
’Did you really think I wanted you to become Vice President?’
Leo froze.
’Wasn’t that the idea?’
’Of course not,’ Roosevelt laughed. ’You’re not even thirty-five. Why would you want to be that do-nothing spare tire?’
’I wanted you to generate the momentum of a potential vice presidency.’
Roosevelt explained.
’It’s a signal.’
’When the White House starts seriously discussing how to make Leo Wallace legally eligible to become Vice President.’
’When the legal elites in Washington start combing through constitutional amendments over your age issue.’
’You’ve already won.’
’Because it proves one thing to everyone.’
’That you are more important than the Constitution.’
’When the very survival of the Democratic Party is at stake, when the President’s reelection is on the line, even the Constitution has to make way for you.’
’That is the signal we need to sell to the pharmaceutical giants.’
Roosevelt’s voice turned cold.
’Your real goal is to talk to those pharmaceutical giants. You need to make them see that you possess a power that transcends the rules.’
’If not even the Constitution can hold you back, what good are their pathetic business rules and their so-called market logic? They don’t mean a damn thing.’
’You have to use this impossible nomination to crush their last line of psychological defense.’
As Leo listened, his eyes gradually lit up.
’This is a con.’
’He didn’t actually have to become Vice President. He just needed to make everyone believe he was qualified to challenge for that position.’
’That eligibility itself was the most powerful weapon.’
"I understand."
Leo nodded.
"Stern must be going crazy right now."
’Let him go crazy,’ Roosevelt’s voice said. ’The crazier he gets, the faster the rumors will spread.’
’Soon, K Street will know, Wall Street will know, and the boards of Pfizer and Johnson will know.’
’That the kid from Pittsburgh is negotiating the terms of the vice presidency with the White House.’