Page 372 of Edge of Eternity (The Century 3)

When the TV announced that Nixon had taken the state by one hundred forty thousand votes, the Nixon volunteers erupted with joy. It was over, and they had won.

They congratulated one another for a while, then the party broke up and they headed for their rooms, to get a few hours' sleep before Nixon's victory speech in the morning. Cam said quietly to Stephanie: "How about one more drink? I have a bottle in my room."

"Oh, gosh, no, thanks," she said. "I'm beat."

He hid his disappointment. "Maybe another time."

"Sure."

On his way to his room Cam ran into John Ehrlichman. "Congratulations, sir!"

"And to you, too, Cam."

"Thank you."

"When do you graduate?"

"June."

"Come and see me then. I might be able to offer you a job."

It was what Cam dreamed of. "Thank you!"

He entered his room in high spirits, despite Stephanie's refusal. He set his alarm and fell on the bed, exhausted but triumphant. Nixon had won. The decadent, liberal sixties were coming to an end. From now on people would have to work for what they wanted, not demand it by going on demonstrations. America was once again going to become strong, disciplined, conservative, and rich. There would be a new regime in Washington.

And Cam would be part of it.

PART SEVEN

TAPE

1972-1974

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Jacky Jakes cooked fried chicken, sweet potatoes, collard greens, and corn bread. "To heck with my diet," said Maria Summers, and tucked in. She loved this kind of food. She noticed that George ate sparingly, a little chicken and some greens, no bread. He had always had refined tastes.

It was Sunday. Maria visited the Jakes house almost as if she were family. It had started four years ago, after Maria helped George get his job at Fawcett Renshaw. That Thanksgiving, he had invited Maria to his mother's house for the traditional turkey dinner, in an attempt to cheer them all up after their hopes had crashed in Nixon's election victory. Maria had been missing her own family, so far away in Chicago, and had been grateful. She loved Jacky's combination of warmth and feistiness, and Jacky had seemed to take to her, too. Since then Maria had visited every couple of months.

After dinner they sat in the living room. When George was out of the room, Jacky said: "Something's eating you, child. What's on your mind?"

Maria sighed. Jacky was perceptive. "I've got a hard decision to make," Maria said.

"Romance, or work?"

"Work. You know, at first it seemed President Nixon wouldn't be as bad as we all feared. He's done more for black people than anyone ever expected." She ticked off items on her fingers. "One: He forced the construction unions to accept more blacks in their industry. The unions fought him hard on that but he held out. Two: He helped minority businesses. In three years, minorities' share of government contracts has gone from eight million dollars to two hundred forty-two million dollars. Three: He desegregated our schools. We had the laws in place already, but Nixon enforced them. By the time Nixon's first term ends, the proportion of children in all-black schools in the South will be below ten percent, down from sixty-eight percent."

"Okay, I'm convinced. What's the problem?"

"The administration also does things that are just plain wrong--I mean criminal. The president acts as if the law doesn't apply to him!"

"Believe me, honey, all criminals think that."

"But we public servants are supposed to be discreet. Silence is part of our code. We don't rat on the politicians, even when we disagree with what they're doing."

"Hmm. Two moral principles in conflict. Your duty to your boss contradicts your duty to your country."

"I could just resign. I'd probably earn more outside the government anyway. But Nixon and his people would just carry on, like Mafia hoodlums. And I don't want to work in the private sector. I want to make America a better society, especially for blacks. I've dedicated my life to that. Why should I give it up just because Nixon's a crook?"

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