Commander in Chief

by J. A. Armstrong

  ***

  Only a few minutes had passed as the children’s chorus began its rendition of America the Beautiful. Candace had made it clear that she didn’t want her inauguration burgeoning with celebrities. There would be a poem from an award-winning poet, and one of Candace’s greatest advocates, Karla Reiff, a popular Broadway actress would sing a medley. There was no way to avoid the spectacle of this day. Candace desired that it reflect the sea of people below more than it celebrated those seated above. Jameson had listened to Candace’s end of several conversations on the subject. Even Dana had warned that people might perceive Candace’s reluctance to invite celebrities as evidence of a fear her star might be eclipsed. Candace had scoffed at the notion. Jameson’s brain tuned out the sights and sounds around her as she replayed Candace’s words.

  “Contrary to what you all keep telling me, it is not my day. It’s the day we peacefully transfer power. It’s as much President Wallace’s day and a day for every person who votes as it is for me. That is what it will reflect.”

  A smile curled Jameson’s lips. Sitting behind Candace, she could not see the expression on her wife’s face. She didn’t need to. Candace was thinking about the people looking up to her, not just literally but metaphorically. That is why Candace sat in the seat she now occupied. Jameson allowed herself to return to the present, still wondering how a few minutes could feel like a lifetime.

  ***

  Candace hugged Nate Ellison as he stepped back from taking his oath. “Congratulations, Mr. Vice President.”

  “I won’t let you down,” he said.

  Candace smiled. “I know.”

  ***

  “I can’t watch it.”

  Petru Rusnac laughed. “Shut it off.”

  “I can’t look away.”

  “Lawson, are you in love with Candace Reid?”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  Rusnac laughed heartily and took a sip of his drink. “You’re obsessed with the woman.”

  “She threatens everything.”

  “Ah, where there are challenges, Lawson, there are also opportunities. Look at your daughter.”

  Klein threw his glass across the room. “Don’t talk about my daughter.”

  Rusnac laughed harder and shook his head. “Waste of good scotch, Lawson.”

  “Fuck you.”

  Rusnac moved closer to Klein’s chair. “Be careful, Lawson. People might get the wrong idea about you.”

  Klein bristled and returned his focus to the television, unable to look away.

  ***

  Candace stood and walked a few steps toward the podium. Jameson stepped beside her and held John Merrow’s Bible in her hands. Marianne stood beside Jameson with Cooper in front of her and Michelle and Jonah to her side. She took a deep breath as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, William Biel addressed her.

  “Governor Reid, are you prepared to take the oath?”

  “I am.”

  “Would you please raise your right hand and repeat after me.”

  Candace placed her left hand on the Bible that Jameson held, and raised her right as instructed.

  Justice Biel began. “I, Candace Stratton Reid do solemnly swear.”

  “I, Candace Stratton Reid do solemnly swear.”

  “That I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States.”

  Candace took a breath. “That I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States.”

  Michelle’s hand fell into Marianne’s. Marianne gripped Cooper’s shoulder.

  “And will to the best of my ability,” Justice Biel continued.

  “And will to the best of my ability.”

  “Preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

  Candace repeated the words confidently. “Preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

  “So, help me, God.”

  “So, help me, God,” Candace said.

  Justice Biel smiled. “Congratulations, Madame President.”

  Candace let out the breath she’d been holding. She shook the Chief Justice’s hand. “Thank you.”

  The Marine Band began to play All Hail the Chief. She turned to Jameson. Tears glistened in Jameson’s eyes. She kissed Jameson’s lips lightly.

  “I’m so proud of you,” Jameson said.

  Candace nodded, unable to speak. One shared word with Jameson and she feared her emotions might take hold of her. She bent over and held Cooper close for a moment. “I love you, sweetheart.” She squeezed him tightly as a cannon salute began in the distance.

  Cooper beamed with pride. He didn’t fully understand the meaning of what had just occurred. The steady rumble of applause and shouts of congratulations weren’t unfamiliar. The tears that gathered in his momma’s and in his sisters’ eyes were those of pride and affection. That much he did understand. That made him proud; proud of the mother he adored, and proud to be part of his family.

  “Congratulations, Mom,” Marianne said with a kiss.

  “You did it,” Michelle offered.

  “We did,” Candace corrected her.

  “I can’t believe my mom is the president,” Jonah whispered. “I love you, Mom.”

  “I love you too,” Candace said.

  She shook a few more hands, hugged the former president again and finally turned to offer the crowd a wave. She smiled brightly, wishing she could see the faces attached to the millions of hands clapping and waving. No one could prepare for a moment like this. Candace didn’t think there was an adjective to attach to the moment. So, few people had stood here. Pride, gratefulness, excitement all swelled within her; all of it reminding her that this was a moment for sobriety. This was a day of celebration. It marked a new beginning for Candace and for the country. How many prayers could she offer in the space of a few hours? As she waved, she again asked for guidance from above to help her remain resilient and grounded as she accepted the task before her. Who was she? She was only a woman who had loved, lost, struggled, worked, questioned, and hopefully, who tried to better herself each day. But Candace was only human. Standing on this platform, she realized that for all their deeds and words, the monuments erected across this city to those who stood here before her represented men—just men, not gods. Every person who had taken the oath she just had, had been fallible, hopeful, even misguided at times. She hoped they might be watching too, and in some way stand beside her as she promised to walk the path they had laid while carving a new landscape for the future. She offered the crowd another wave of acknowledgment, hoping they understood her sentiment—I see you. She stepped back to stand beside Vice President Ellison.

  Senator Debbie Monroe made her way to the platform amid the continued rumble of an enthusiastic crowd. “I am humbled and honored to introduce to you the forty-fifth President of these United States, Candace Reid.”

  Candace thanked the senator as she passed and took her place before the nation.

  “Candace, Candace, Candace,” the crowd chanted the president’s name as they had for months on the campaign trail.

  “Thank you,” Candace said. She waited a beat for the crowd to quiet and took a deep breath.

  “My Fellow Americans,

  Today marks a new day in American history, not because I stand before you; because each day provides us an opportunity to move forward. I want to thank President Wallace for his dedication and service to this wonderful country we share. And, I want to thank him for his partnership and leadership as we participate in the peaceful transition of power this nation has engaged in since its founding.

  Each time a person has laid his or now, her hand on the Bible and taken the presidential oath, our country has faced obstacles. Change is constant in our world. It provides humanity a chance for growth. It also presents challenges that, at times, seem daunting. The story of America is not one of the few who seek and hold the highest office in the land, nor is it simply a tale of those who ha
ve toiled to build the railways, roads, and bridges we travel daily. It is a story of how Americans come together to serve the ideals set forth by our forefathers and foremothers, and the institutions they created. Institutions that we have endeavored to preserve for more than two centuries. And, endeavor to preserve them we must—together.

  America, like every corner of the world, is no longer isolated. Gone are the days when the messages leaders deliver are carried by horseback. The crackle of radios is a distant memory to most. As I speak to you now, the world is listening. My words, our actions, the sights and sentiments that America offers are experienced by billions of people across the globe. And, for all our fallibility and faltering; millions still dream of crossing oceans, climbing mountains, and toiling through deserts to reach our shores. It has always been and will always be our commitment to building a prosperous society that seeks greater equality and understanding that captivates the human imagination. It is our ability to thrive in our diversity that makes America a beacon of light in the world.

  But prosperity has eluded far too many of our fellow citizens. Where we once built roads and bridges, skyscrapers, and submarines, we now find crumbling factories and declining steel mills. As technology has advanced, the landscape for American prosperity has too often failed to keep pace. We must revitalize our efforts to build anew. The superhighway of the internet cannot take precedence over the roads that carry us across an expansive nation or the airports and harbors that provide our gateway to the world beyond our borders. Our economy can only thrive when we invest in creation; the creation of new technology in partnership with tried and true methods to build and produce the finest materials and infrastructure in the world. We can do it. Americans possess the ingenuity and the tenacity to accomplish anything we set our minds to.

  Too often, we romanticize the past or dream only of the future. Yesterday is our teacher. It instructs us and reminds us where we have triumphed and where we have fallen short. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us, yet it inspires our actions today. Today is where we live. We cannot remain content to walk only in the footsteps of our parents and grandparents. We must forge new paths. We are stewards of the planet we share. We are the guardians of our fate. Preserving our planet’s health, promoting the health of our society must be and will be paramount in our effort to create a brighter tomorrow. Industry and government, schools, our many houses of worship, and our kitchen tables all must participate in this endeavor. Few things threaten our security more than the declining health of our planet and its people.

  There will be cynics; those who believe that government has no interest in the people it is meant to serve. There is reason to be cynical at times. Those who seek to serve in the halls of power must be steeped in both confidence and humility. I, like those who serve beside me, have been entrusted with your care. It is in our best interest to work toward consensus rather than to immerse ourselves in conflict, to seek to do what is best rather than to prove we are right.

  We cannot lose sight of those who, at this moment, traverse the most dangerous parts of our world to keep us safe at home; the soldiers, airmen, and sailors who sacrifice personal freedoms, and willingly risk their lives that we may enjoy the rights and privileges America bestows upon us.

  We must commit to the care of the men and women who dedicate their talent, their time, and often their lives to the defense of our nation. We must, and we will ensure that they are equipped with the finest technology and resources available. The pinning of medals and the rhetoric of glory pales in the light of a country that does not provide for the needs of its military. Grateful sentiment is not a substitute for the provision of resources to the men and women who serve in our military. We entrust our protection to our servicemen and women. We can do no less than promise them the best healthcare, emotional support, and educational opportunities available.

  The world is not without its dangers. There are those who will seek to do us harm. We have combatted fascism and communism. We have faced terrorists with a steely resolve and refused to allow their misguided ideology to inform our way of life. Throughout our history, we have overcome those who have sought to undermine our ideals. We have, and we will use every means at our disposal to ensure that America endures. Our goal has always been to achieve peace. Ironically, that mission has often led us to war.

  Tanks and missiles, bombs and guns alone cannot pave the way to peace. Diplomacy, steady resolve, investing in old alliances and building new bridges will provide the cornerstones of peace. In times of peril and uncertainty, people often speak of walls and fences. There is no wall that cannot be scaled, no fence that cannot be climbed. We are better served by bridges, mindful that bridges and walls share one thing in common; without our care both will crumble.

  In this new, global world, the frontlines of peace will not always come in the form of barbed wire. Technology and communication have changed the requirements for securing our nation. We must speak, act, and engage thoughtfully while never yielding to the threats of those who determine to undermine our democracy.

  We are a nation of immigrants. We represent the world as a whole. Our culture is rich because of it, and we must remember our roots as we water our garden. We are black and white, brown and yellow, red and every shade in between. We worship in temples, churches, mosques, homes, and nature. We do not all look the same. We do not all speak the same language. We do not all love the same. We do not all vote for the same people. Same is not what America has ever been. We have struggled with our diversity. Men and women have marched, fought, risked their livelihoods and their personhood so that we may enjoy a nation in which we are allowed equal opportunity. We cannot turn the page backward. We must write a new chapter, seeking greater understanding. What seems to divide us provides our greatest hope for the future. Every parent wishes a healthy, happy future for his or her child. Every child desires a parent that will be nurturing and accepting.

  We begin to peel away the layers of prejudice when we close our eyes and listen. Each of us is a leader. Leadership does not require a proclamation, promotion or an election. Parents, teachers, pastors, doctors, lawyers, law enforcement, judges, Congress, no matter where we sit, we must commit to listen to each other as much as we speak.

  Strengthening communities through education and economic revitalization is the key to diminishing bias. Only by investing in each other can we all climb higher. Our community is no longer defined by street signs. It encompasses continents.

  To our neighbors, rich and poor, struggling and soaring, we promise to offer our hand to you in partnership. Indifference to suffering, whether around the block or across the world cannot be tolerated. Indifference leads to intolerance. A peaceful, hopeful world depends on those who enjoy the greatest benefits showing generosity and compassion. America, along with its allies must lead by example.

  America was forged through revolution; a revolution not only fought in the forests of colonies but also imbued in the human spirit. Today we renew our commitment to the principles of equality and justice that our forebearers set forth. We resolve ourselves to cast aside the politics of divisiveness and vindictiveness. Americans are explorers. We are creators. We are the architects of our destiny.

  Theodore Roosevelt, when he addressed a hopeful nation on the day of his inauguration said this: “They did their work, they left us the splendid heritage we now enjoy. We in our turn have an assured confidence that we shall be able to leave this heritage unwasted and enlarged to our children and our children's children. To do so we must show, not merely in great crises, but in the everyday affairs of life, the qualities of practical intelligence, of courage, of hardihood, and endurance, and above all the power of devotion to a lofty ideal.”

  Now, we go forward together with conscience and commitment to that lofty ideal; knowing that it will continue to inspire generations to come. We will be judged by more than our words. We will be measured by our deeds. Let us go now with grace and humility, confidence and compassion, and d
edication to this shining city upon a hill we call America. Thank you all for your courage, commitment, and your love for this great nation. God Bless you, and God Bless the United States of America.”

  A renewed chorus of cheers and chants greeted Candace’s ears. She waved to the people spread across the National Mall. The Washington Monument towered in the distance, another reminder of the gravity of this moment. For the first time, she heard herself acknowledge reality. I’m the President of the United States.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Long days were something Candace and Jameson had grown accustomed to. Until now, Jameson had thought the day of the presidential election had been the longest in recorded history—until now.

  “Tired?” Candace asked.

  “Does it seem to you that today has lasted a week already?”

  “Only a week?”

  “Not that I don’t love parades,” Jameson said.

  “I know; it’s cold.”

  “Cold enough that we could be getting a head-start on our tour of The White House’s fireplaces.”

  Candace laughed. “Behave, and I’ll buy you a balloon.”

  “Is that part of protocol?”

  “I don’t know. It should be,” Candace replied.

  “Can I ask for one favor before we get out of this nice, warm car and walk?”

  Candace raised her brow.

  “Can I kiss the president?”

  Candace smiled. “No. You can kiss your wife.”

  Jameson’s lips met Candace’s with a grateful kiss. “Are you sure we can’t skip straight to the fireplaces?”

  “Don’t tempt me,” Candace said. She pulled away with a deep breath. “Ready?”

  Jameson nodded. She followed Candace out of the car. They would make the rest of the trek to their new home on foot, waving to the people who lined the streets in hopes of catching a glimpse of the new president. Jameson chuckled softly at the constant call of Candace’s name.