appellate court and came up without a negative—no controversial political associations, no drug use, no personal problems of any kind.
“But she’s got one more big advantage, at least in the current environment.” Turning at last to Clayton, she granted him a smile of benign sweetness. “She has no record on abortion: no articles, cases, or public statements. There’s nothing Gage can pin on her.”
Seeing Clayton’s look of bemusement, Kerry asked, “What is she, Ellen—the Manchurian candidate? I almost believe you about the drug use. For that matter, maybe she’s a vestal virgin. But how does a forty-nine-year-old woman have ‘no record’ on abortion? And what does that say about her?”
Stung, Ellen faced him. “She’s not a cipher, Mr. President. She’s progressive on the environment, affirmative action, labor issues, and First Amendment rights. But even where she was out of step with Bannon, the Supreme Court never reversed her. And she’s called for liberalizing adoption procedures to help minority children find homes. How can the Republicans complain about
that?
”
Kerry gazed at her, then at his desk, lit by a square of winter sunlight. “I want the best, Ellen. Not just the most confirmable.Or even the most congenial to the people who put me here.
“Caroline Masters, if I chose her, could still be Chief when all of us are dead. And her impact on the lives of ordinary people would last far longer than that. I don’t want some bloodless technician, even if she turns out to be the darling of legal scholars across America. I want a terrific lawyer who also gives a damn about the world outside her courtroom.
“Maybe she’s both. But I need to know much more than what you’ve told me.”
“For example,” Clayton followed at once, “how do you know that she’s even pro-choice? The last thing we need
there
is a surprise.”
The Vice President folded her arms. “She’s pro-choice, Clayton. Trust me.”
“Did you ever ask her?”
“I don’t need to. She’s an independent woman, a Democrat, and a feminist. Nothing about her suggests that she’ll try to repeal
Roe v. Wade
, or start ordering women to have children they don’t want.”
Clayton gave her a pensive look. “Does
she
have children?”
“No. But neither does the President, I might point out.”
Kerry examined the square of sun again. Evenly, Clayton answered, “That doesn’t make it a plus, as the President would be the first to agree. What about marriages?”
“None.”
“Then how do you know she’s not a lesbian? Mac Gage and his friends have an unwholesome curiosity about things like that.”
Kerry looked up at Ellen. Tight-lipped, the Vice President answered, “She keeps her private life private. But I’ve known her for almost twenty years, since I was a San Francisco supervisor. There’s never been a whisper of anything like that.” Facing Kerry, she added, “Maybe she’s got no children of her own. But her position on adoption speaks to family values.”
Ellen was sounding defensive, Kerry knew. Perhaps Clayton and he had pressed her hard enough; she clearly believed in Caroline Masters, and wanted to put her imprint on a new administration. And it could not be easy to subordinate her views to a man who had been her younger colleague in the Senate, and whose election she had helped ensure.
“I’ll put Judge Masters in the mix,” he told her. “Please make sure the White House counsel’s office has everything you’ve got.”
While gracious, this was also a dismissal. Ellen hesitated, then stood. Clayton did not; Kerry watched Ellen register a reality of power—that Clayton Slade would always be the person left alone with Kerry Kilcannon, and no one else would know what passed between them unless Kerry or Clayton wished them to.
“Thank you, Mr. President,” she said, and left.
Clayton stood, arms folded. “You weren’t just humoring her.”
“No.”
Clayton glanced back at the
“But she’s got one more big advantage, at least in the current environment.” Turning at last to Clayton, she granted him a smile of benign sweetness. “She has no record on abortion: no articles, cases, or public statements. There’s nothing Gage can pin on her.”
Seeing Clayton’s look of bemusement, Kerry asked, “What is she, Ellen—the Manchurian candidate? I almost believe you about the drug use. For that matter, maybe she’s a vestal virgin. But how does a forty-nine-year-old woman have ‘no record’ on abortion? And what does that say about her?”
Stung, Ellen faced him. “She’s not a cipher, Mr. President. She’s progressive on the environment, affirmative action, labor issues, and First Amendment rights. But even where she was out of step with Bannon, the Supreme Court never reversed her. And she’s called for liberalizing adoption procedures to help minority children find homes. How can the Republicans complain about
that?
”
Kerry gazed at her, then at his desk, lit by a square of winter sunlight. “I want the best, Ellen. Not just the most confirmable.Or even the most congenial to the people who put me here.
“Caroline Masters, if I chose her, could still be Chief when all of us are dead. And her impact on the lives of ordinary people would last far longer than that. I don’t want some bloodless technician, even if she turns out to be the darling of legal scholars across America. I want a terrific lawyer who also gives a damn about the world outside her courtroom.
“Maybe she’s both. But I need to know much more than what you’ve told me.”
“For example,” Clayton followed at once, “how do you know that she’s even pro-choice? The last thing we need
there
is a surprise.”
The Vice President folded her arms. “She’s pro-choice, Clayton. Trust me.”
“Did you ever ask her?”
“I don’t need to. She’s an independent woman, a Democrat, and a feminist. Nothing about her suggests that she’ll try to repeal
Roe v. Wade
, or start ordering women to have children they don’t want.”
Clayton gave her a pensive look. “Does
she
have children?”
“No. But neither does the President, I might point out.”
Kerry examined the square of sun again. Evenly, Clayton answered, “That doesn’t make it a plus, as the President would be the first to agree. What about marriages?”
“None.”
“Then how do you know she’s not a lesbian? Mac Gage and his friends have an unwholesome curiosity about things like that.”
Kerry looked up at Ellen. Tight-lipped, the Vice President answered, “She keeps her private life private. But I’ve known her for almost twenty years, since I was a San Francisco supervisor. There’s never been a whisper of anything like that.” Facing Kerry, she added, “Maybe she’s got no children of her own. But her position on adoption speaks to family values.”
Ellen was sounding defensive, Kerry knew. Perhaps Clayton and he had pressed her hard enough; she clearly believed in Caroline Masters, and wanted to put her imprint on a new administration. And it could not be easy to subordinate her views to a man who had been her younger colleague in the Senate, and whose election she had helped ensure.
“I’ll put Judge Masters in the mix,” he told her. “Please make sure the White House counsel’s office has everything you’ve got.”
While gracious, this was also a dismissal. Ellen hesitated, then stood. Clayton did not; Kerry watched Ellen register a reality of power—that Clayton Slade would always be the person left alone with Kerry Kilcannon, and no one else would know what passed between them unless Kerry or Clayton wished them to.
“Thank you, Mr. President,” she said, and left.
Clayton stood, arms folded. “You weren’t just humoring her.”
“No.”
Clayton glanced back at the
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