81 - Washington, D.C.
President Quaid turned from the television monitor carrying live coverage of the March. He walked to the window and looked out across the Ellipse to the Washington Monument.
“This is not going well,” he said to acting Attorney General Harrison and Carol Cabot, his legal counsel. Gen. Paterson, his Homeland Security director, sat on a sofa in front of the television.
“How the hell can they say I’m another Hitler?” the President screamed. “This is about protecting the country from a nuclear attack. Can’t they see that? I tell the country we’ve been invaded, that there is an atom bomb floating around somewhere in New England, or anywhere in the country, and these people call me a Hitler?
“They’re going too far, too far. I won’t tolerate this.”
“I agree, Mr. President,” Gen. Paterson, a man who had not displayed as much emotion in his lifetime, cumulatively, as he’d witnessed from President Quaid in the past half hour, commented dryly, “Free speech sucks, sir.”
President Quaid swiveled back to the television monitor. During the pause between speakers, the television network showed historic photographs of men, women and children dressed in long overcoats, carrying bundles over their shoulders, all with large yellow Stars of David pinned to their chests. The announcer reminded viewers of how the Nazis forced European Jews to wear such symbols.
Harrison nodded.
“Those yellow stars were a brilliant move. You’ve got to hand it to whoever came up with that, and so fast. Brilliant,” he said.
The President turned on him. “I don’t need comments like that, understand?” he growled.
“Yes, sir, yes, sorry, sir, just thinking out loud,” Harrison stammered.
“Well then, I don’t need thoughts like that either,” the President answered. He turned to Gen. Paterson.
“What’s the status of those troops, the Virginia Guardsmen?”
“They’re all set, Mr. President,” Gen. Paterson said, glad to change the topic. “Sitting in their trucks, can be at the Mall in fifteen minutes. One thing though, Mr. President, they’ve got riot gear, shields, helmets, armor, even gas, and they’ve got their firearms.
“Hold them off for now,” the President replied. He added, his voice dripping in sarcasm, “Only a Hitler would send armed troops against his own people in his nation’s capital, right?”
Nobody commented. After a long moment, Gen. Paterson spoke.
“They’re waiting for your command, sir, you and nobody else. It will be your call whether to send them in,” he said.
“Let’s move them in a bit closer,” the President answered. “Get them into the city but keep them back from the Mall. Keep them in their trucks for now. Maybe we can get through this weekend without giving them anything more to complain about. We’ll wait and see what happens,” the President said, turning back to the television set.