Advise and Consent by Allen Drury

Author:Allen Drury [Drury, Allen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Contemporary, Genre Fiction, Political, Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: WordFire Press
Published: 2014-02-21T05:00:00+00:00

“Before the press gets on the floor,” the Majority Leader murmured casually, resting one hand on Senator Strickland’s shoulder and looking thoughtfully up at the crowded galleries fifteen minutes before the opening, “I think I should tell you that I would like mighty much to adjourn this here old Senate in about five little old minutes flat. Would you be willing to go along with little old me on that?”

“I might,” the Minority Leader said with a smile, “if the price is right What’s it all about?”

“We have a problem, as you know,” Senator Munson said, “and I don’t want to give anybody a chance to get up and sound off about it and make it worse before we can make it better.”

Particularly Fred,” the Minority Leader suggested, and Bob Munson smiled.

“Particularly that case of overhypoed venom,” he agreed. “I think we’ll get along much better all around if we just quit in a hurry. Harley’s agreeable. Okay?”

“Well, let me see,” Warren Strickland said in mock thought. “Sam Eastwood has his heart set on taking off after the Indian Bureau; Walter Calloway was going to attack the British; Harold Kidd thinks we ought to reduce excise taxes; and I believe Verne Cramer told me he wanted to say a few significant words about Algeria. And of course there is a certain amount of business pending—the Justice Department appropriation, for one thing. Will Seab let you get by with putting that over until next week?”

“I have some hopes,” Bob Munson said, “that we will be long gone by the time both the distinguished Senator from South Carolina and the distinguished Senator from Wyoming reach the chamber.”

“Have you talked to Brig?” Senator Strickland asked, and the Majority Leader nodded.

“Yes, I’m satisfied he has something on his mind,” he said, “and we’re trying to work it out. That’s why I want to avoid aggravating everything here. Are you with me?”

The Minority Leader smiled.

“I’m against this nomination,” he said, “but for you, Bobby”—he bowed slightly, with a little twinkle—“sure.”

“Thanks, pal,” the Majority Leader said hurriedly as the first reporters began to come on the floor for the pre-session briefing. “Collect when you want to.”

“I will,” Senator Strickland promised with a chuckle.

“Well, Bob,” AP said, “anything to add to that clear, forthright statement we got earlier?”

“Not a thing,” Senator Munson said blandly, “so why don’t you run along?”

“What do you think, Senator?” UPI asked Warren Strickland. “Does it make sense to you?”

“Heavens,” Warren Strickland said. “Washington stopped making sense to me about one month after I got here, and it never has since. Surely you old hands don’t expect it to?”

“Are you going to protest the subcommittee’s action?” the Houston Post asked, and the Minority Leader looked more serious.

“Certainly not,” he said. “I’m quite content to await developments.”

“There will probably be some on the floor today,” the Times suggested, and the Minority Leader laughed.

“Oh, I think we’ll get by without too much trouble,” he said comfortably.

“What’s coming up, Bob?” the Herald Tribune asked. Senator Munson looked thoughtfully through the papers on his desk.

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