Anna Hastings by WordFire Press

Author:WordFire Press [Drury, Allen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Scandal, Pulitzer prize, journalism, allen drury, advise and consent, political, classic
Publisher: WordFire Press
Published: 2015-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

6

I had originally been scheduled to appear at the end of the hearings. With typical craft, acting no doubt at my opponent’s instigation, the committee tried to catch me unprepared by calling me unexpectedly to the stand the day after my husband testified. It did them no good. In fact, I believe they soon regretted it.

—ANNA HASTINGS, by Anna Hastings

I agree with Anna: I believe they speedily did. But for a brief while it appeared that they had succeeded in catching her off balance. Certainly she had one of her rare flustered moments when the chairman suddenly rapped the gavel smartly and said, “Mrs. Hastings, please!”

Dutifully George Watersill started from his chair to protest, but although her face was a study in surprise and annoyance, she reached up a white-gloved hand and pulled him firmly back.

“I’ll handle it,” she said, loudly enough so that amused colleagues heard and dutifully noted it down. And after a rather stumbling start, she did.

Her first interrogator was the committee’s newest and youngest member, and since he agreed with her views on the war and therefore was one of those the Inquirer invariably identified as “an outstandingly effective member of the new generation in the Senate,” his questioning was swift and painless. How long had she known Tal? Was he an old and respected friend? Had she ever had cause to doubt his loyalty? Did she trust him? Would she continue to trust him? Did she not agree that this was a vicious and unwarranted attack launched by a desperate President whom he and she both mistrusted? It all went very smoothly.

“Senator Cooley?” the chairman said, and Seab eased forward a bit, elbow comfortably on the table, chin in hand, eyes sleepy and thoughtful as he stared at Anna. She gave no sign to those who did not know her, but we who did could sense her immediate tension as she stared back at this old friend who now, she felt, had become her permanent enemy.

“There never was,” Seab said softly, “a cuter, more attractive, more intelligent, more capable reporter to hit this Hill than you were when we first met, Anna. You’ll never know what a breath of spring you brought to us tired old folks on this tired old Hill.”

Of all possible approaches this was the least expected, and for a moment she was genuinely and entirely taken aback.

“I—I’m glad you felt that way, Senator,” she said. “It was fun in those days. I hoped that you liked me.”

“We did, Anna,” Seab said, still softly. “We still do. That’s why we regret what’s happenin’ now.”

“You don’t regret it any more than I do, Senator,” she said, recovering a little.

“Yes,” Seab agreed. “Then why is it happenin’, Anna? Why is it happenin’? How come you’ve gotten so far away from that sweet, smart, pretty little gal who used to walk this Hill? Where’s she gone, Anna? Where’s she gone?”

“She’s still here, Senator,” Anna said, trying not to let herself be moved by this direct assault on her emotions, but not succeeding entirely.

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