control, not yet, but by God we won't let it spread."
"You— you? —threaten the Reich?" Hitler swelled like a venomous reptile. His rages were legendary. "Do you think we fear your mongrel nation? I hope you intended to start a war here today, because that is what you have done!" His fist too slammed the table. Louder, harder. He turned to leave.
Harrison watched as he stalked toward the oak door at the far side of the room. He knew it was histrionics, part of the famous act. He also knew that Hitler would back up those histrionics with all the power of what was at this moment the worlds greatest military machine. As for him, his administration was barely ten months old, and he was less than popular. The Isolationists and others who smelled a chance at last to undo all that Roosevelt had accomplished would surely accuse him of creating a new crisis as a diversion. As for his own party, they still looked to FDR as their leader, and might well accuse his successor of triggering an incident out of lack of experience or, worse yet, simple stupidity. Support for war in the military was nonexistent; given the current state of military preparedness they knew too well what odds they would face.
Harrison stood and uttered a single word, thereby performing the most difficult act of his life.
"Wait."
Hitler turned, even as his hand touched the door.
"Did you say something?"
"Let us continue with our discussion."
"Why? You have made your intentions clear."
"I don't want a war. The purpose of this meeting was to ensure that we don't have one."
Hitler nodded slowly, as if his better, more statesmanlike self were coming to the fore. "That was my intention as well," he finally said, and walked halfway back to the table. "How then shall we have peace?"
Harrison drew a long slow breath. "We need to find common ground. First you must understand that England's continued independent existence is a vital interest of the United States. I promise you that you will find my congressional support not so flimsy after all, if England is attacked."
"That at least I can understand." Hitler paused theatrically. "Very well then," he continued grandly, as if offering a major concession: "England may live—and keep her tottering Empire too. But they, and you, must cease all interference with the Reich's internal concerns. That is our vital interest."
There are also matters to be discussed regarding Africa, Argentina and Mexico, and the right of refugees to leave Europe."
"Details. But your OSS's clandestine support of terrorists, and your pressure against our French allies, must stop."
"Yes . . . our staffs can deal with such things later," Harrison replied, suddenly very weary. He wanted to sit again, but would not while Hitler stood before him.
"Then we are agreed in principle," Hitler announced. There are grounds for mutual understanding between us."
"Yes." Harrison had known from the beginning that something like this was about the best he could have hoped for. Still, he had the nagging feeling that Franklin would have done a better job, and not left Hitler in a mood to gloat.
"Good. After dinner we'll talk again and our staffs can start their work."
"Very well."
"Your German is excellent," Hitler said, as if they were now close friends again. "Our universities are still the best. In fact—do you know Speer?"
"I know of him."
"My Minister of Strategic Planning and Industry. Like you, he is a Heidelberg graduate. He heard me speak there, back in the early days, and joined the party. Your university has provided some of my best planners. Since they took over in '42 Speer and his staff have worked wonders."
"I'm sure they have," Harrison replied.
In fact some of those wonders they had produced were now the American President's chief concern; new German superweapons were beginning to pose a severe threat to nearly every aspect of American military technology, especially in rocketry and the secret weapons of the Luftwaffe.
"You
"You— you? —threaten the Reich?" Hitler swelled like a venomous reptile. His rages were legendary. "Do you think we fear your mongrel nation? I hope you intended to start a war here today, because that is what you have done!" His fist too slammed the table. Louder, harder. He turned to leave.
Harrison watched as he stalked toward the oak door at the far side of the room. He knew it was histrionics, part of the famous act. He also knew that Hitler would back up those histrionics with all the power of what was at this moment the worlds greatest military machine. As for him, his administration was barely ten months old, and he was less than popular. The Isolationists and others who smelled a chance at last to undo all that Roosevelt had accomplished would surely accuse him of creating a new crisis as a diversion. As for his own party, they still looked to FDR as their leader, and might well accuse his successor of triggering an incident out of lack of experience or, worse yet, simple stupidity. Support for war in the military was nonexistent; given the current state of military preparedness they knew too well what odds they would face.
Harrison stood and uttered a single word, thereby performing the most difficult act of his life.
"Wait."
Hitler turned, even as his hand touched the door.
"Did you say something?"
"Let us continue with our discussion."
"Why? You have made your intentions clear."
"I don't want a war. The purpose of this meeting was to ensure that we don't have one."
Hitler nodded slowly, as if his better, more statesmanlike self were coming to the fore. "That was my intention as well," he finally said, and walked halfway back to the table. "How then shall we have peace?"
Harrison drew a long slow breath. "We need to find common ground. First you must understand that England's continued independent existence is a vital interest of the United States. I promise you that you will find my congressional support not so flimsy after all, if England is attacked."
"That at least I can understand." Hitler paused theatrically. "Very well then," he continued grandly, as if offering a major concession: "England may live—and keep her tottering Empire too. But they, and you, must cease all interference with the Reich's internal concerns. That is our vital interest."
There are also matters to be discussed regarding Africa, Argentina and Mexico, and the right of refugees to leave Europe."
"Details. But your OSS's clandestine support of terrorists, and your pressure against our French allies, must stop."
"Yes . . . our staffs can deal with such things later," Harrison replied, suddenly very weary. He wanted to sit again, but would not while Hitler stood before him.
"Then we are agreed in principle," Hitler announced. There are grounds for mutual understanding between us."
"Yes." Harrison had known from the beginning that something like this was about the best he could have hoped for. Still, he had the nagging feeling that Franklin would have done a better job, and not left Hitler in a mood to gloat.
"Good. After dinner we'll talk again and our staffs can start their work."
"Very well."
"Your German is excellent," Hitler said, as if they were now close friends again. "Our universities are still the best. In fact—do you know Speer?"
"I know of him."
"My Minister of Strategic Planning and Industry. Like you, he is a Heidelberg graduate. He heard me speak there, back in the early days, and joined the party. Your university has provided some of my best planners. Since they took over in '42 Speer and his staff have worked wonders."
"I'm sure they have," Harrison replied.
In fact some of those wonders they had produced were now the American President's chief concern; new German superweapons were beginning to pose a severe threat to nearly every aspect of American military technology, especially in rocketry and the secret weapons of the Luftwaffe.
"You
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