Voices Behind the Curtain

by Gordon Zuckerman

  * * *

  THE NEXT MORNING, THE VISITING EXECUTIVES AWOKE TO BRIGHT sunlight on their balconies. Cool ocean breezes and the smell of hot coffee and frying bacon permeated their elegant open-air suites. One by one, they struggled out of bed and into hot showers. They shaved, slipped into tropically patterned sport shirts, white linen Bermuda shorts, and sandals before making their way down to the poolside veranda where breakfast was being served.

  At precisely nine o’clock, J. Jordan McWilliams opened the meeting. “Considering how long some of you stayed at the bar last night, I’d say you all look rather presentable!”

  Pleased with the men’s laughter, he continued. “I might add, however, that if people back home could see these outrageous shirts and all these pale, hairy legs, they’d never recognize you for the all-powerful executives they know you to be. Just take a look at Peter, standing over there by the pool; his white legs look like two white out-of-bounds stakes!” That drew an even bigger laugh.

  “Okay, gentlemen, enough levity. Let’s get down to business! As I’m sure you all know by now, we’re here to talk about one thing: how to persuade the government that our country needs to adopt a more aggressive military posture if it is to protect itself from the spreading threat of Communism. Our work starts with encouraging the American public to support the rearming of America. This will not be an easy task. Poll after poll indicates that a significant majority of American voters believe we have fought our last Great War. Our most loyal congressmen are convinced that without a material change in public opinion, the introduction of a more aggressive military budget would prove fruitless.”

  “Jordan, I don’t want to appear negative,” an automobile executive from Detroit said, “but nearly every major economy besides ours has been severely wounded. Does any country, even Russia, really pose a threat credible enough to encourage such a drastic change in public attitudes?”

  “I’ve been hoping someone would ask that particular question,” Jordan said. “We may have won the war, but we have to still prove we can manage the peace. The severe damage so many economies have absorbed suggests that regional governments’ efforts must be focused on solving more immediate local problems required to feed and employ their people. Unless solutions are found for these problems and hope is quickly restored, redeveloping economies will remain vulnerable to external threats.

  “Meanwhile, a well-equipped victorious Russian army remains in Berlin, the back door to a deeply wounded Western Europe and a front door to Eastern European countries. The United States is the only viable remaining source of opposition to prevent an ambitious Soviet government from expanding its sphere of influence.

  “Our best information suggests the Russians are developing their own atomic weapons, and they are reverse engineering American B-29 bombers capable of delivering atomic payloads across oceans and attacking America.

  “As long as the probabilities of intercontinental atomic warfare exist, we have convinced ourselves that it should be possible to persuade the American public of the importance of a major increase in military spending. No matter how remote the possibility may be, it’s our job to further convince them that it represents a risk we aren’t prepared to accept.”

  “Are you suggesting, Jordan,” the automobile executive said, “should we accept the foundation of your entire plan, we will be able to modify public attitudes, pack Congress with a sufficient number of members loyal to our cause, and introduce and pass needed legislation required to raise military procurement spending levels?”

  Smiling, the cagey veteran Wall Street attorney answered, “I guess that pretty well sums it up. There’s nothing like a good dose of preventive medicine to cure what doesn’t ail you!”

  The audience, unprepared for such a flip answer to such a penetrative question, carefully reflected on the implications of what they had just heard.

  McWilliams broke the silence. “Fortunately, gentlemen, we have a special guest who has come to Acapulco prepared to address this particular problem. He is California’s freshman congressman, the Honorable Richard Allen Bailey. You may have heard of Dick. In college, he was an all-American quarterback at USC. He is a graduate of Loyola Law School and a member of the California bar. Since his discharge from the army, the well-decorated war hero has become a practicing member of Bean & Bean, a highly respected Southern California law firm that specializes in all things political. Dick is also a highly decorated war veteran. While he was stationed in England—and for reasons he refuses to reveal—he gave up his cushy, safe position in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps and asked to be assigned to the infantry. According to our review of his war record, Dick volunteered for the most dangerous assignments, beginning with his landing on Normandy, France’s Omaha Beach. He also served in Patton’s Third Army as it made its way to Berlin.

  “Shortly after his return, working at Bean & Bean, his father-in-law’s law firm, Dick began to exhibit a strong interest in the political side of the practice. Despite his fashioning an outstanding record as a political lobbyist, Dick realized he both needed and wanted to be more engaged in the political process than his current position allowed. Approaching Southern California’s Republican Committee, he inquired about the feasibility of his running for the vacant congressional seat. Thoroughly vetted, he became the committee’s unanimous choice. With the support of his father-in-law, Bean & Bean, and their conservative friends in Southern California, Dick was elected as his district’s representative to Congress. More recently, he has been appointed to the House Un-American Activities Committee.

  “In the coming days and weeks,” Jordan continued, “you’ll be hearing a great deal about Dick and this committee. They will be conducting hearings into the subversive Communist activities of certain members of the State Department, government officials, higher-ranking military officers, and highprofile Hollywood film producers, writers, and actors. We anticipate that the committee’s investigations will create an enormous amount of publicity, fan the public’s fear of Communism, and make people more aware of anything else they see or read related to the spreading threat of Communism.”

  Jordan paused as he noticed the highly respected aircraft manufacturer from Seattle rising to his feet. “Jordan,” the man said, “before you bring Mr. Bailey out here, perhaps you wouldn’t mind if we asked a few questions of our own.”

  Jordan, anticipating the question, said, “Of course not, fire away.”

  “That is one hell of an ambitious program you just described. How confident are you of Bailey’s ability to complete the task, particularly if the going gets tough? He’s young and inexperienced. He may be a decorated war veteran, but what about his legal skills? From what I’ve heard from opposing counsel, he doesn’t seem too concerned about the accuracy of the accusations he enjoys making. Clearly, he depends on the fear created by intimidation to win cases. Is he really someone with whom we want to be associated?”

  Jordan smiled. “You’ve heard right. Mr. Bailey isn’t known for establishing rock-solid foundations for his accusations. He prefers to rely on his use of intimidating courtroom tactics.”

  “Perhaps I’m confused,” began the tool manufacturer from Oklahoma City, “but how in a high-profile arena like a congressional hearing can a young and inexperienced attorney expect to succeed by relying on his use of intimidating tactics?”

  “Good question!” Jordan responded. “Our review of prior questioning of witnesses has revealed that they are not confident or well prepared. They wish to avoid any possible confrontation and exposure to contempt of congressional citations. Bailey’s intimidating practices may be perfectly suited for his new role.”

  “It’s been reported Bailey has never seemed too concerned about personal values or ethics,” the tool manufacturer said. “He just wants to win.”

  Jordan smiled and nodded. “I commend you on the accuracy of your homework. We are convinced as long as Bailey is convinced that his political future depends on continued support of party
leaders, he can be controlled. Let me assure you that he is precisely the kind of person we want.”

  “What about his personal life?” a chemical manufacturer from Delaware asked. “Anybody who is going to be dishing out so much dirt has to be able to withstand the heat in the kitchen. Does he have a drinking problem or gambling habits? Does he have an eye for the ladies?”

  “More good questions,” said Jordan. “When his friends were questioned, almost to a person they admitted they were never quite sure if Dick earned his nickname, ‘Slick,’ for his skills on the football field or his ability to bed beautiful, rich women or his adeptness at talking his way out of trouble. The one thing they all agreed on was his demonstrated fondness for a good time, which generally included liquor and adoring women. That said, I don’t think we have to worry; these indiscretions appear to have been confined to his behavior before the war and before he was married.

  “From what we have been able to learn, something happened during the war to radically change him. I personally spoke with his father-in-law, the managing partner of Bean & Bean, and he told me Dick returned from war a far more serious man who’s devoted to his family and the practice of law. He also told me he had every reason to believe that it’s a sensible proposition for us to believe we can depend on Dick.”

  Jordan scanned the group of men. No one stood to speak. “If I’ve adequately addressed—and allayed—your concerns, gentlemen, I’d like to ask Mr. Bailey to join us. Once you hear him talk and answer your questions, you should be able to judge for yourselves.”

  Jordan excused himself from the veranda and reappeared shortly thereafter. “Gentlemen, may I present the Honorable Richard Allen Bailey.”

  After waiting for the polite applause to subside, Dick Bailey took the podium, and with an air of command, said, “Gentlemen, thank you for inviting me to speak. I’m deeply honored to stand before a group of such powerful leaders. I’m also honored to be speaking to you about such a serious matter.

  “As my friend Jordan has no doubt told you, the House Un-American Activities Committee has faced some pretty evil foes and achieved an admirable track record. Originally organized back in the thirties, the committee started looking into reported subversive acts of Nazi agents and certain activities of the Ku Klux Klan. During the war years, the committee lay dormant. It has been recently reactivated and is already busy working to investigate the activities of Americans suspected of having subversive affiliations with the Communist Party or the Soviet Union.”

  “Excuse me for interrupting,” said the chemical executive. “How will you identify your prospective witnesses? How well founded are the charges you expect to make?”

  “Our investigators, along with agents of the FBI, will be questioning prospective witnesses. Targeted people will be given the choice of either signing specially prepared affidavits or appearing before the committee. I have been told that in the past, most witnesses subpoenaed to testify in person chose to sign the affidavits, even if they didn’t believe all of the content was accurate. With regard to the evidence we will be using, we will be relying on material provided by the FBI and the information extracted from the signed affidavits.”

  A raised and waving hand in the back caused Bailey to stop. He nodded toward the man, the steelmaker from Pittsburgh.

  “Excuse me, Congressman,” he said. “To what standards of law are those affidavits, and the evidence you present, expected to comply?”

  “Sir, you are thinking in terms of a court of law. We’re talking about congressional committee hearings, organized for the purpose of gathering information. Since none of the witnesses will have been charged with a crime, nothing compels the committee to follow the rules of evidence. If I might add, should the witness refuse to testify, invoking his First or Fifth Amendment rights, he will be informed that the exercise of those rights is specifically reserved for those who have been charged with a crime.”

  The steelmaker frowned. “Congressman, it sounds very much like you’re suggesting that people come before the court of public opinion and be expected to answer questions that could incriminate them or their friends. Aren’t you concerned about what the public will say? What could happen if the public becomes concerned about the possible infringement of their civil rights? Might a groundswell of negative opinion prevent the achievement of our objectives?”

  Bailey laughed. “By the time we finish questioning the witnesses, it will be too late. The threat of Communism will seem too real, and the witnesses will have already been convicted, if only in the, as you put it, ‘court of public opinion.’ Witnesses refusing to cooperate will be charged with contempt of Congress and held over for trial.”

  The faces in Bailey’s audience registered shock, and there were a few seconds of silence before another executive spoke up.

  “If you are going to interfere with people’s lives, how are you planning to distinguish between the people with a purely intellectual interest in the politics and economics of Communism and, for example, a secret agent of the Russian government?”

  “We don’t plan to make that distinction,” Bailey responded. “By the time we get through, we hope to convince the American public that improved military preparedness is our best and possibly our only course of defense against the growing threat.”

  * * *

  LATER THAT SAME AFTERNOON, THE FRESHMAN CONGRESSMAN WAS comfortably settled into his first-class seat on a plane flying back to Los Angeles. He leaned back and waited for takeoff.

  Once they were airborne, he allowed himself to take his first deep breath, relax, and reflect on the meeting. I wonder how the rest of the world would react were it to find out some of America’s most powerful industrial executives had convened in Acapulco for the purpose of approving and funding a plan designed to compromise the integrity of the U.S. congressional appropriations process.

  * * *

  AFTER REMOVING HIS SHOES, HE LEANED BACK IN HIS RECLINING SEAT and began to think about the possible implications of the secret meeting. That’s a dangerous game they are planning. By including me, have they extended their exposure . . . or have they just provided me with my just-in-case-get-out-of-jailfree card?

  CHAPTER 2

  Mike Stone & Jacques Roth

  NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 1948

  The regularly scheduled board of directors of Stone City Bank required Cecelia and Mike to return in time for Mike, the bank’s executive vice chairman, to be in attendance. The meeting had already started and was well underway when unexpectedly, the big, heavy wooden door of the executive conference room slowly swung open. Mike’s secretary, trying to remain as unobtrusive as possible, walked down the far length of the room, passing behind the padded leather chairs with the brass grommet edging where directors were sitting, to the far end of the highly polished, very old conference table where Mike was sitting.

  * * *

  JOE WRIGHT, ONE OF THE SENIOR DIRECTORS, WHO WAS IN THE MIDDLE of attempting to make what he considered an important point, was noticeably annoyed by her unexpected intrusion. However, along with the other directors, Director Wright was curious. What could be of such importance to warrant such an unexpected interruption? Has some emergency occurred with one of his family members?

  * * *

  IT WAS A BRIEF NOTE THAT READ: IMPERATIVE WE TALK AT YOUR EARLIEST opportunity. We are in possession of new information strongly suggesting a highly threatening new Power-Cycle type problem may be about to appear. Jacques.

  * * *

  NOTICING MIKE’S REACTION, DIRECTOR WRIGHT INTERRUPTED WHAT he was saying to ask, “Mike, would you prefer to adjourn and reconvene at a later time?”

  Mike shoved the note into his pocket as he stood to speak. “No, I don’t think that will be necessary. If you wouldn’t object, however, why don’t we take a short break while I attend to what appears to an urgent situation.”

  * * *

  AFTER EXITING THE CONFERENCE ROOM, WALKING DOWN THE WIDE corridor that led to the offices of the bank�
��s most senior executive offices, he entered his office located on the southeast corner of the building. After crossing the large office, he plunked himself down in his big leather executive chair, located behind the big mahogany desk in the far corner. Pausing to collect his thoughts, an extremely curious Mike picked up the receiver of the transatlantic telephone and politely informed the overseas operator he was ready to accept the call.

  Mike’s mind was racing as he waited for Jacques to come on the line. It has been less than 5 years since the six of us decided to oppose the efforts of German industrialists to smuggle their “fortunes of war” out of Germany. During that time, we have already dealt with two Power Cycles. Now, Jacques is waiting to explain why we may be faced with a third threat. Could it be what we thought were merely isolated efforts to abuse the privileges of “Free Enterprise” are becoming part of a continuous process?

  After a series of clicks and scratches, the strong, deep, heavily accented French voice of Jacques could be clearly heard. Jacques thanked Mike for taking his call and immediately began to explain the urgency of the call. “Mike, have you heard anything strange or unusual about a secret plan to escalate the rearming of the American military?”

  Not waiting for an answer, he continued. “Mike, do you remember meeting Mary Wheeler Clarke?” he asked. “She attended one of the parties Claudine and I had in our New York apartment just before we returned to Geneva. She is the woman who worked for the OSS for 7 years in Bern, Switzerland, before and during the Second World War. It was her work that provided her with the opportunity to meet Henri when he was serving as the head of the French Resistance in Switzerland. Apparently, they had reason to work together on a highly interdependent basis for several years. In the process, it was only natural that she and Claudine would become friendly. On more than one occasion, Claudine would tell me how reliable Henri regarded Mary’s work and her instinct to sense what might be happening well before it actually occurred.