The Blackfire Protocol by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 58

Deciding to continue playing their game, Frank would complete his term of office, but as had been planned, he would start his campaign to run for the presidency. Following their previous strategy, he constructed his bid for the highest office in the land, relying on the one factor he needed to win— likeability. He never demonstrated desperation or a calloused attitude. These things he considered weaknesses and not at all characteristics of a leader. His campaign staff was once again chosen for him;

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the plan set into motion for him. Conferences, media appearances, and town hall meetings all arranged in advance. When speaking to the public, Frank outlined the good he had done while serving as senator while evading questions pertaining to his failures. He felt that what was important to convey was that mistakes are inevitable and no one is perfect, but with the assistance of talented, intelligent people, miracles could be worked—miracles that could benefit the good of the country and its people. This time, his democratic rival was left to his own campaign. Considering how Frank had won his senate seat, a repeat of history might be seen as suspicious. One year later, after all the questions, interviews, and web broadcasts, Frank found himself standing at the west front of the Capitol building. With his hand on the Bible, he spoke the oath of office, becoming the President of the United States. Yet there was one thing that had never been overlooked: Frank was single, and in the eyes of history, he was the first single president since Grover Cleveland, but the American people didn’t seem concerned. The country had seen this before. What they had not seen was a female vice president. This was accomplished according to a carefully laid plan. A woman as Vice President would satisfy the Democrats, but in quiet conversation, Frank discovered that they shared the same political beliefs. This included the necessity for political control and, in some instances, the use of force. The plan was almost too perfect, and now both sat in the west wing, shaking hands with those in Congress who had also been fooled. And as modern political tradition would have it, both would be protected by

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the Republican Party no matter what the country’s new leaders did. The great unknown was in how far they would go.