by Jerry Bruce
I wonder what he meant by “all my projects,” Richard thought to himself. He made it seem like there are many more to come. What could he possibly have in the works?
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“I can’t believe we’re talking about Randall’s SAT scores. It amazes me that we’ve been living in the White House for three years.” Veronica had to force herself not to cry. “I guess my little man is growing up.”
“Oh, Mom, don’t start getting all teary eyed again.” It always embarrassed Randall when his mother reminisced.
“Don’t be hard on your mother, Son. It won’t be long before you go away to college; and I guarantee you will miss her as much as she will miss you.”
“Speaking of growing up, I would like permission to start dating.” Jennifer decided to rescue Randall and seized the opportunity to promote her own agenda.
“What! Did I hear what I thought I heard?” Richard almost choked on the words.
“I’m fifteen, Dad, and in high school. Most of my friends already have had dates.”
“Your friends aren’t living in the White House.” Richard was hoping to end the conversation with that comment. He had been dreading the day when Jennifer would push the issue. She had brought it up about a year ago and was satisfied when Richard told her that once she turned fifteen he would consider it. Unfortunately, Veronica was on Jennifer’s side.
“Richard, she is old enough and trustworthy enough that I feel we can allow it.”
“And do both of you realize what it will be like? Are you ready to have the Secret Service watching you every minute you are on your date?”
“If that’s how it has to be.”
“Well, if it’s okay with your mother, then I guess I’ll have to go along. But I want to meet the boy. White House or no White House, I’m still your father and you don’t go out with anyone without my approval.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Jennifer got up from the table and gave her mother a hug.
“Hey, what about me?” Richard protested, looking for a hug of his own.
* * *
Richard returned to the Oval Office, after having dinner in the residence with the family, to finish making entries in his notebook, before calling it an evening. As he started on his last notebook entry, the cell phone rang.
“Hello.”
“Good evening, Richard. I trust I haven’t interrupted anything pressing?”
“No, I was just finishing up for the day.”
“Good. I won’t keep you long. I just wanted to give you a heads up on another little project of mine.”
“Don’t tell me you have something as significant as the crop project underway?”
“No, not as significant; simply put, much more significant.” The Controller emphasized the “as” and the “more” for effect.
“I still haven’t recovered from the uproar over the last one and you’re going to spring a new one on me?” Richard couldn’t believe this was happening.
“I assure you, Richard, that you will welcome this new project. It isn’t as far along as the crop project was when I turned it over to you, but once you have heard me out, I’m sure you’ll agree how vital it is to see it to fruition.”
“So what is it?” Richard’s interest was definitely aroused.
“Not now. I don’t want to infringe on your evening. I just wanted to make you aware that something significant was coming your way. I want you to clear about fifteen minutes from your schedule to discuss this with me in more detail. I would like you to be available on Thursday, at one p.m. That gives you three days to rearrange your schedule.”
“I’ll make myself available at that time. Can’t you give me some clue as to what will be the nature of our discussion?”
“Patience, Richard, patience.”
* * *
Richard was awaiting the Controller’s call in the residence. No one was around, the kids were in school and Veronica was giving a speech at some women’s luncheon. The three days wait to find out about the Controller’s new project seemed like three weeks. After two years of hard work, the crop project was self-sustaining and returning fabulous results.
Richard glanced at his watch just as the cell phone rang—at exactly one p.m.
“Hello, Controller.”
“Why Richard, I believe that to be the first time you have addressed me by name. I suppose that should be classified as a milestone in our relationship.”
“I hadn’t realized. Maybe I’m getting more comfortable with our arrangement.”
“That’s encouraging. Well, to the topic of this conversation, not being one who lives off past glories, I have another project to undertake with you. A long time ago we talked about several major hindrances that were keeping mankind from what it is capable of achieving. We came to the conclusion that the threat of global conflict, starvation, and disease were the culprits. Well, we have eliminated the threat of war, it seems; and we have come up with a solution to feeding the hungry. That leaves us with disease as our next target. This will be the hardest nut to crack, so it is logical that it is next on the list.”
“When you say it will be the hardest, do you mean that you don’t have a solution up your sleeve?”
“Not exactly. I’m sure you realize Richard, that the biggest problem to solving this is the broad diversity of diseases that plague mankind. We are faced with the need to eliminate different diseases in different countries and on different continents. The biggest obstacle to eliminating something such as smallpox, for example, is getting the serum to everyone needing to be inoculated. Granted, there are a few diseases for which cures have yet to be found, but for the most part, distribution is the problem.”
“I sense a big announcement.”
“I have some very good news for you. Many, many years ago I started, and continue to finance, a research facility in Europe. I assembled the best of the best minds in research medicine. They were broken into splinter groups, each with a different disease as their target. Unlike other research organizations or institutes, I gave my scientists no restrictions. Usually they have to operate within the parameters of cost effectiveness and time schedules. Even if they had an open bank account to do their research, they still were limited to thinking about the cost versus dose aspects of a cure and were pressured to find cures in limited time frames. Let’s face it, pharmaceutical companies are not interested in drugs, no matter how great they may be, if the cost-per-dose is astronomical. They have businesses to run. I, on the other hand, took the approach that cures had to be found at any cost. I told my scientists that they needed only to concentrate on finding the cures. I also instructed them to think outside the box, as the saying goes. All too often science limits itself by basing decisions on current knowledge. The great scientific discoveries have always been made by those who cast aside the known and reach toward the unknown.”
“And has this approach been successful?” Richard could only imagine the amount of money such research could have cost.
“Highly successful. In fact, even I am amazed at the results. Richard, these teams have found the cures, come up with ways to synthesize serum cheaply, and have determined the best way to administer the drugs to those in need.”
“That’s really something. Can you give me more details?”
“That’s why I asked you to set aside time this afternoon for our discussion. The saying that ‘anything is possible given enough time and money’ has proven to be true in this case. I have come to the conclusion that the true scientific mind is dedicated to its goal to the exclusion of everything else. By giving my teams an open checkbook, and no time constraints, they gave more than one hundred percent of themselves to the effort. We now have vaccines for all the major diseases, including AIDS. But of even greater significance, we now know how to see that every man, woman and child gets inoculated. Once cures were found, we had to find methods to produce the vaccines in mass quantities. Without exception, all the serum can be produced synthetically in large amount
s. The biggest task then became distribution and administration of the drugs. This is the most exciting aspect of this project, at least to me. This is where some original thinking paid off. Tell me, Richard, what is the primary thing that a man needs to live?”
“Well, I suppose it would be food.”
“You’re close; food is a close second. A human being can survive for quite some time without food intake, but he can only survive a matter of days without water. Water is the lifeblood. All our vaccines can be added to water supplies. Currently, a great number of people drink water that is not fit for consumption, water that contains pollutants that contribute to disease and death. So, we had a cure and a method to administer the cure, but we needed clean water to make it feasible. That led us to research how we could see that everyone on the face of the planet had access to drinkable water. Coincidentally, this overlapped with the crop project. That project, even though dealing with drought-tolerant plants, still had to address water supplies. Drinking water wasn’t a mandate for that project, but coming up with water sources was. The biggest source of water we can draw upon is our oceans. For years we have had the technology to desalinate seawater. Several large desalinization plants are already in operation. My team studied those and came up with further refinements that improve efficiency to the point where the plants can operate at considerably reduced costs. With a combined effort, the countries with means can provide the support, both logistically and financially, to see that the third world countries can get all the water they need. So you see, Richard, we are going to undertake a project unlike anything mankind has ever conceived. We will be building processing plants, pipelines, and anything else we need to make this work.”
“I have to admit, when you come up with solutions to problems, they are whoppers.” Richard’s head was spinning with the notion of such an undertaking. “How do you propose to get the rest of the world to buy into this project?”
“That is where you are going to prove valuable. Your influence grows with each passing day. I want you to put together another team dedicated to this project. Their biggest task is going to be working out the details of how each country can contribute to the project. My teams have all the numbers crunched from their side of the fence. All costs have been projected and I think you will be surprised at how little it actually is. I have been bearing the full cost of the development up to this point. Now it is time for the rest of the world to step up.”
“While I admit that I’ve gained some respect in the international arena, I also have been perceived as a man to be feared. I don’t know that to be such an advantage.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Richard. In my dealings with other heads of state, I’ve heard more positives than negatives regarding your desirability as a leader. Most rational people see you for what you are, a man capable of exerting force when required, but also a compassionate man who has the best interests of the world at heart. Believe me, you can convince them to go along with the United States in bringing this project to fulfillment.”
“Well, it can’t hurt to try, I suppose. I’m going to need a lot more time to assemble a team for this project than I did for the last one. Also, the United Nations provided all the workers we needed to help with the agricultural tasks. This is going to be a horse of a different color. While I think the U.N. and other organizations can be of help, I don’t think they can provide the leadership required. We are the ones with the technology and they are the ones with the money. I’m going to have to convince the rest of the world that they need to bear the financial burden. I can’t see our Congress and Senate supporting such a costly project. They will insist that the rest of the world write the checks this time. And I don’t blame them one bit.”
“I think you are correct in your assessment. I also think that you can pull this off. But like last time, you’re going to have to come up with some funding to take over my scientific teams for support. I will give you ledgers showing how much annual costs are for the maintenance of the teams. I assure you, they are much less costly to fund now than they were at the beginning. Of course, once everything is in place you can gradually cut back on their involvement.”
“I’ll contact you when I have a handle on the members of the team.” Richard was overwhelmed and needed to take a few steps back to clear his head.
“I want you to do one thing for me, Richard. Give me your word that you will inform me of any opposition, foreign or domestic. I am not without influence, as I’m sure you can attest.”
“I definitely will. I don’t want to butt heads with some of those whom I think are going to be a problem. I’ll gladly let you handle them.”
“Very good. Now I think I’ll give you a chance to digest all this and mull it over. I’ll talk with you soon.”
Richard was planning to go back to the Oval Office after his discussion with the Controller, but instead decided to finish his day’s work in the residence. Everything he needed he had with him—his brain. In light of what the Controller had told him, he knew he wouldn’t be able to think of anything else but this new project. He had made entries into his notebook while talking with the Controller, filling up two pages. Now he turned to a new page and at the top, in bold letters, wrote “Project Mankind” and underlined it. He started a numbered list of questions and found the questions coming faster than he could write them down. After the last question was noted, he started a corresponding list to be filled in with answers. Richard made sure to leave ample space for the multiple answers and solutions that he hoped his staff would provide.
On his way to the Oval Office the next day, Richard asked Mrs. Williams to “Schedule a meeting with Christine, Adam, and the vice president. They should be prepared for a long session, with a mid afternoon start and dinner to follow the meeting.”
“I’ll see to it immediately, sir. Will there be anything else?”
“Thank you, Mrs. Williams, that will be all for now.”
Richard closed the Oval Office door behind him. He appreciated that the drapes had been pulled aside and the brilliant sunshine was lighting up the office with clean crisp rays reflecting off the fresh snow. For a long time the days in Washington D.C. had been dark and cold, making him dreary. Now with this bright day he felt more alive. There would be more gloomy days before winter abated, but to Richard there was a glimmer of hope. He was going to be far too busy to fret over the weather.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“I’ve set up this meeting to discuss something that I consider of immense importance.” Richard had a serious look on his face.
“If you thought that the crop project was a mind-boggling undertaking, you’re going to go nuts when I tell you about this new project. The same benefactor that gave us the agriculture project has turned over an even greater endeavor to us. This time the logistics are formidable. I hope that all of you will be as excited about it as I am.”
He paused and took a deep breath.
“Our benefactor wants us to take over a project which will eliminate disease worldwide.”
Everyone present was shocked and amazed.
“Apparently, his scientific teams have developed vaccines for just about everything that is plaguing mankind, including AIDS. Several breakthroughs were required to make this possible—first to develop the vaccines, then the manner in which to widely administer the drugs, and lastly the problem of supply of the administering source.”
“This started off simply, but has rapidly progressed to downright complicated,” interjected Adam, not fully grasping the concept.
“Well, it turns out,” continued Richard, “that the best way to ensure that everyone gets the vaccine is to add it to a water source. Since everyone needs water to survive, if each source can be treated, then we would get the biggest bang for our buck. This means that everyone needs to have a source of potable water. Part of the disease problem is the contaminated water that many people are forced to consume out of desperation. The scientists have come up with low-cost methods of
purifying those sources, and new desalinization methods where that would be appropriate. Plants could be built for a fraction of their current cost. Of course, there will be a cost to run pipelines to remote areas. That, in a nutshell, is the next project we are going to undertake. What’s your opinion of this? Be honest and up front.”
Stephen started off. “This is going to cost too much for the United States to handle. What other countries are going to help with this?”
“I should have known that you would come up with the central question out of the gate, Stephen.” Richard smiled. “Actually, I was thinking that one key member of our team will be an individual who can travel the globe looking for support from other nations. This person would foster the notion that involved nations would be responsible for the funding and building of the plants, etcetera, in exchange for which they would become business partners with other countries involved in the project. They need to understand that what they will lose in arms sales, for example, as more treaties are signed could be made up for in the building and selling of water processing equipment and services. The benefits could outweigh the initial outlay many times over. Can you think of anyone who might fill the bill, Stephen?” The president stared at Stephen with an anticipatory look.
“Oh, I see; you want me to volunteer for this particular job.”
“After the way you handled the Middle East situation, this should be a piece of cake.” Richard gave Stephen that boyish grin of his. “It is crucial to the success of the project to have someone with experience in international politics involved. You fit the bill. Even after we have enlisted the aid we require, we’re going to need someone to oversee the entire project and keep things moving along swiftly. You don’t have to give me an answer now, Stephen; just promise me that you will give it the consideration it deserves before making up your mind.”