Chapter 14 Chapter Thirteen

The plane landed at Washington Dulles Airport.The State Department sent a young official to the airport to meet Mary's family. "Mrs. Ashley, you are welcome to Washington. My name is John Burns. Mr. Rogers has asked me to meet you and to see to your safe arrival at the hotel. I have reserved rooms for you at the Rivertel Hotel, and I I hope you will have a comfortable stay." "Thank you." Mary introduced Beth and Tim to him. "Please hand me the luggage tag, don't worry, I will take care of things." Twenty minutes later, they boarded a special car and headed for downtown Washington.

Tim looked out of the window and exclaimed, "Look! Lincoln Memorial!" Beth looked out the other window: "The Washington Monument." Mary looked at John Burns with embarrassment. "The children are so naive," she said apologetically. Isn't it the White House?" Mary couldn't help being thrilled as the car pulled into Pennsylvania Avenue, surrounded by some of the most striking buildings in the world.This is the world-ruling city, the center of power, and I will be a part of it in the slightest way. When the car drove to the hotel, Mary asked, "When will I meet Mr. Rogers?"

"He will contact you tomorrow morning." CIA counterespionage chief Peter Connors was still working the night shift, and the day's work was far from done.Every day at three o'clock in the morning, a team of staff will report the intercepted telegrams, and he will compile a list of intelligence for the day for the president to read.The report was code-named "Sauerkraut".Connors had to finish it by six o'clock, so that it could be placed on the president's desk before he went to work.The report was delivered by an armed courier from the West Gate of the White House. Peter Connors was very interested in the telecommunications from the Eastern European countries he had just seen, because a large number of telecommunications involved the new ambassador to country A, Mary Ashley.

The Soviets feared that President Ellison's plan was a ploy to infiltrate their satellites, to elicit intelligence, to seduce. I worry more than anyone else.Peter Connors thought.If the president's plan is realized, the country will be open to thieves, and groups of spies will come in at will. Mary Ashley had just flown into Washington, and Peter Connors was notified that he had seen the family's photo long ago, and the best was yet to come.Connors thought happily. Just a block from the Watergate Building is the Rivertel Hotel, a small family-style hotel with comfortable, well-decorated rooms.

The hotel porter carried the luggage into the room.Mary had just unpacked the box when the phone rang. "Hello." Mary answered the phone. "Is that Mrs. Ashley?" asked a deep man's voice. "yes." "My name is Ben Cohen, a reporter for The Washington Post. I was wondering if I could speak with you for a few minutes." Mary didn't know what to do: "We just moved in..." "Only for five minutes, I just want to say hello to you." "Yes, I thought..." "I'll be right there." Ben Cohn was short and stocky, muscular, with a boxer's face—a battered face.He looked like a sports reporter.Mary thought.

He sat down in the easy chair opposite Mary and asked, "Mrs. Ashley, is this your first visit to Washington?" "Yes." She noticed that he didn't have a notebook or a tape recorder. "I'm not going to ask you stupid questions." "What's a 'stupid question'?" she asked, frowning. "Such as, 'What do you think of Washington?' It's like, 'What do you think of this place?'” Mary laughed: "I'm not a celebrity, but I'd love Washington." "You were a professor at Kansas State University?"

"Yes. The course I teach is: 'Eastern Europe - Politics Today'." "As far as I know, the President only got a preliminary understanding of you after reading your masterpiece and some articles on Eastern European issues." "indeed so." "It has been said that other reasons for your selection were based on precedent." "I thought, that's pretty unusual." "There is an example. Jenny Kirkpatrick got President Reagan's attention in the same way and became ambassador to the United Nations," he looked at her with a smile. "So, this is an example. Washington circulates quickly The word is a precedent. Your grandfather was from country A?"

"Completely correct." Ben Cohn questioned for a quarter of an hour and learned about Mary's family background. Mary asked: "When will this interview be published in the newspaper?" Her intention was to send a few copies back to Florence and the others in their hometown after it appeared in the newspaper. Ben Cohen stood up and said vaguely, "I'll send it now." He was actually puzzled by some circumstances, but he couldn't explain it for a while. "Okay, we'll talk about it later." After he was gone, Beth and Tim went into the living room: "Is he a good man, Mother?"

"He's a good guy." Mary said hesitantly, but she didn't really have much confidence in her heart. Early the next morning, Stanton Rogers called: "Good morning, Mrs. Ashley." It sounded like an old friend's voice!Probably because he is the only acquaintance I have here.Mary thought silently. "Good morning, Mr. Rogers. Thank you for sending Mr. Burns to meet us at the airport and to book a room for us." "Is the room nice?" "great." "How about we meet and discuss the formalities you must go through?" "OK."

"I said, let's have lunch at the Grand Hotel, not far from your hotel. One o'clock, will you?" "Row." "I'll wait for you at the garden restaurant." it has started. After Mary ordered room service for the children, a taxi took her to the Grand Hotel at one o'clock. She was really shocked. The Grand Hotel itself is the center of power, and the leaders of all countries in the world Both diplomats and diplomats stay here.The reason is simple: its hall is luxurious and rich, the Italian marble floor is shining, and the magnificent dome is supported by the magnificent pillars.The whole building is elegant and noble, solemn and dignified, the courtyard is full of flowers, shaded by the sun, the fountain spits out jade, and the pool water ripples.A marble staircase leads to the garden restaurant.Stanton Rogers is already waiting here.

"Good afternoon, Mrs Ashley." "Good afternoon, Mr. Rogers." He laughed heartily: "It's too formal. Let's call each other Stan and Mary." She was amused: "Of course that's good." Something seemed to have changed in Stanton Rogers, but by what, Mary could not say.When meeting with Jiang Kexin, he was indifferent, even resentful towards her.Now, all that is gone.He is warm, generous and kind.The difference is that he accepts me.Mary thought happily. "any drinks?" "No, thank you." They start to eat lunch.The main course here is very expensive, in Jiang Kexin, the price is quite cheap.The hotel suite she lived in cost two hundred and fifty dollars a day, and at this rate, the money on her body would be wiped out in a few days.Mary thought to herself. "Stan, I'm not vulgar. Still, I'd like you to tell me, what's the ambassador's salary?" He laughed. "That's a reasonable question. Your salary is $65,000 a year, plus housing allowance." "When will you be paid?" "The day of the swearing-in." "And before that?" "Pays you seventy-five dollars a day." Her heart sank, this amount of money is not even enough to pay the rent, not to mention other expenses! "Am I going to be in Washington for a long time?" she asked. "About one month, we will send you to the post as soon as possible. The Secretary of State has telegraphed the government of country A, requesting you to go to the post. Let me tell you, but keep it secret, the two governments have talked in secret several times. There is no problem with country A, the problem is you It has to go through the Senate.” It seems that the government of country A is ready to accept me.Mary thought in amazement.Did I really not realize I was qualified in the past? "I have consulted informally on your behalf with the chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, and the next step will be hearings with the full House of Representatives. They will discuss your background, your allegiance to your country, your views on doing the work, and you will achieve What grades and so on to ask questions." "and then?" "The committee votes, writes a report and submits it to the whole house for voting." Mary said slowly, "In the past, there have been instances of candidates being rejected, haven't they?" "The entire reputation of the president depends on this vote. The White House will fully support you. The president will try his best to promote your appointment as soon as possible. Also, I think your family wants to spend a few days in Washington, so I have arranged for you. A special car, and I plan to invite you to visit the White House." "Oh, how thoughtful you are." Stanton Rogers smiled and replied, "Happy to help you." The next morning, accompanied by a guide, Mary's family began to visit the White House.They were taken into the Jacqueline Kennedy Rose Garden and the American Garden.This 16th-century-style garden has a pool of spring water, thousands of trees and flowers, and various herbs and spices exclusively for the White House kitchen. The guide said: "Further ahead is the East Hall, where there are national defense and military agencies, the Congress President's Liaison Office, the Visiting Office and the Office of the First Lady." Now Mary's family walked across two halls, visiting the Oval Office from the outside. "How many rooms are there in this place?" Tim asked curiously. "One hundred and thirty-two rooms, sixty-nine closets, twenty-nine fireplaces, seventeen toilets." "They must be going to the toilet a lot." "President Washington personally supervised the construction of the White House, but he is the only president who has not lived in the White House." "I don't blame him, it's a huge place," Tim said. Mary blushed as she elbowed him. The visit took two hours and by the end the Ashleys were exhausted but excited and impressed. Everything started here.Mary thought.Im about to be a part of it. "mom!" "Beth, what's the matter with you?" "Your expression is so weird!" The next morning, the president's office called. "Good morning, Mrs. Ashley. President Ellison would like to know if it would be convenient for you to meet him this afternoon?" Mary was very excited: "I...of course...you can." "Is it three o'clock?" "Row." "At two forty-five, the special car will pick you up downstairs." Mary was ushered into the Oval Office, and the president stood up to greet her. He walked up to hold Mary's hand, smiling all over his face, "Thank you for your visit, nice to meet you, nice to meet you." Mary also smiled: "You really have a way. Mr. President, this is my greatest honor." "Sit down, Mrs. Ashley. May I call you Mary?" "Please." They sit on the couch. President Ellison said, "You will be my 'living ghost.' Do you know what that means?" "It is the soul of a living man." "Well said, the living are us. Mary, I can't express how excited I am when I read your masterpiece, as if I were reading my own. There are quite a few people who, to our folk Doubts the diplomatic plan will succeed, so we're going to play tricks on them." Our People-to-People Diplomacy Program.We're going to play tricks on them.He is such a magician.Mary thought silently.She said loudly: "Mr. President, I will do my best to assist." "I rely on you, you are my shoulder, and country A is the testing ground. Since Grossa was assassinated, your job will be more difficult. If we can do it there, we can do it in any Eastern European country. " They spent another thirty minutes discussing the problems ahead.Finally, Paul Ellison said: "Stanton Rogers is always in touch with you, and you have become his idol." He held out his hand generously: "Good luck, living soul." The next afternoon, Stanton Rogers called Mary: "At nine o'clock tomorrow morning, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has an appointment with you." The Office of the Council on Foreign Affairs is located in the Russell Building, the oldest government office building in Washington.The metal plate in the corridor on the right side of the gate is engraved with: Foreign Affairs Committee SD-419. The chairman is stout, with silver hair and piercing green eyes, but has the easy demeanor of a professional politician. He greeted Mary at the door: "Mrs. Ashley, my name is Charlie Campbell. It's a pleasure to meet you. Your name is very impressive." Good omen?Is it a bad omen?She couldn't tell. He invited her to sit down: "Coffee?" "Thank you, no need." In fact, she was so nervous that she couldn't even hold the cup steadily. "Well, let's get straight to the point. The president is eager to send you to represent the United States in country A. Needless to say, we are willing to do our best to support him in every way. The question is, are you sure you are qualified for this job?" "Not sure, sir." "I didn't hear clearly, sorry." This answer was too unexpected. "If you want me to deal with foreign countries with rich diplomatic experience, I have no confidence in it. However, I was told that one-third of our country's envoys abroad have no practical experience. I have a deep understanding of the affairs of country A. I am familiar with its economic, ideological and political background, and I can apply this knowledge in my work. I firmly believe that I will be able to reshape the good image of the United States in the eyes of the people of country A." Charlie Kempel was quite taken aback.I thought she was an idiot.In fact, Kempel was prejudiced against Mary Ashley before meeting her.He was told to do his best to get Mary Ashley through, no matter how much other people complained about her.In the government agencies, people were talking about it, saying that the president was blind and chose a rustic bumpkin from Jiang Kexin in Kansas to be the ambassador.what!Campbell thought, there are good-looking guys! He announced loudly: "Wednesday at nine o'clock, there will be a hearing with the participation of all committee members." The day before the hearing, Mary was in a state of anxiety.Honey, how do I answer when they ask me what experience I have?Are you telling them that I am Jiang Kexin's homecoming queen?A three-peat in ice skating?Honey, I'm freaking out, how I wish you were here by my side! She felt absurd again, that if Edward was alive, she would not be here.I will be in my warm home, accompanied by my husband and children.She stayed up all night. The hearing was held in the lobby of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.All fifteen committee members were present, sitting on the high platform in the hall, with four huge world maps hanging on the wall behind them.On the left side of the hall was the press box, where reporters gathered, and 200 audience members sat in the middle.The lights at the four corners of the hall are directly shining, the camera is shooting, and the audience in the hall is full.Peter Connors took a seat in the back.When Mary led Beth and Tim into the arena, the hall fell silent. Mary was wearing a black suit lined with a white bodysuit.Children were forced to shed their jeans and sweatshirts and put on new coats they wore on Sunday. Ben Cohen sat in the press box and watched the family enter.Holy shit, he thought anxiously, they're just standard Norman Rockwell cover figures. The waiter arranged for the children to sit in the front row, and Mary tried to hide her nervousness when she was ushered into the hearing booth facing the committee, under the strong, hot lights. At the beginning of the hearing, Charlie Campbell looked at Mary and smiled: "Good morning, Mrs. Ashley, thank you for coming before all the committee members. Now, we will start asking questions." The initial questions were superficial. "Name……" "Widowed..." "child……" The attitude is friendly, and there is no meaning of embarrassment. "According to your autobiography, you've been teaching political science at Kansas State University for the last few years, right?" "Yes, sir." "Are you from Kansas?" "Yes, Mr. Speaker." "Your grandparents are from country A?" "yes." "You wrote a book and published a series of articles in favor of a friendly and cooperative relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union and its allies?" "Yes, sir." "The latest paper, published in Foreign Affairs, has caught the President's attention?" "That's what happened." "Mrs. Ashley, could you brief the committee on the subject of this article?" Mary's nervousness dissipated in an instant.She was originally an expert authority on these issues, but now discussing these issues, she feels that she has returned to the classroom, with ease and ease. "In today's world, there are several regional economic blocs. Because these organizations are mutually exclusive, the world is divided into several hostile and competitive blocs rather than a whole. In Europe there is a common market, while the Eastern bloc is the 'economic There is also an 'Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development', which includes the free economic countries and the non-aligned movement countries of the third world. My assumption is very simple: I want to see the various splinter groups united under economic ties Rise up. Organizations can benefit together and not kill each other. The same principle applies to nations. I would like to see my country spearhead a movement to form a common market that includes both antagonistic states and allied factions. For example, in the current , we spend tens of billions of dollars to store surplus grain in barns, while people in many countries are starving. Only one world market can solve this problem, and it will do so in a way that is fair to everyone price, and eliminate the irrationality of distribution. I am willing to do my best to facilitate its realization.” Senator Harold Turkel, a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, is a member of the opposition."I want to ask a few questions," he said. Ben Cohn leaned forward, thinking it was going to be fun. Senator Turkel was about seventy years old, rigid and famously eccentric: "Mrs. Ashley, is this your first time in Washington?" "Yes, sir. I think it's one of the times I've..." "I suppose you must travel a lot?" "On the contrary. My husband and I had planned to travel, but..." "Have you ever been to New York?" "No." "What about California?" "No." "Been to Europe?" "No, as I said just now, we are going to..." "Mrs. Ashley, have you ever been out of Kansas?" "Yes, I have lectured at the University of Chicago, and I have lectured in Denver and Atlanta." Turkel said nonchalantly, "So you're thrilled to have the opportunity to go on a lecture tour? As far as I can remember, this committee has never had a history of approving someone who is not qualified to be an ambassador. You To be stationed in a very important Eastern European country representing the United States. And yet you tell us that all you know about the world comes from living in Junction and living there in Denver, Chicago and Atlanta. Not bad ?” Mary knew that the TV camera was on her at this moment, so she suppressed her anger: "Sir, you are wrong. My understanding of the world is based on my research. I have a Ph.D. in Political Science and taught at Kansas State University for five years. Country. With regard to the problems of country A, its government has a deep understanding of the attitudes of the United States and the reasons for these attitudes.” Her voice became passionate. "Their understanding of our country is all instilled by the propaganda machine. I would like to go there and tell them that the United States is not a greedy and warlike country. I will show them what the standard American family is like. I... " She stopped immediately, for fear that her anger would get out of hand.However, to her surprise, the committee members applauded, and only Turkel was silent. Questions continue. An hour later, Charlie Kempel asked, "Anyone else ask?" "I think the nominee made his point clearly," commented one senator. "I agree. Thank you, Mrs. Ashley. The meeting is now adjourned." Peter Connors watched Mary carefully for a while, and when the reporters swarmed up to surround her, he left quietly. "Are you surprised that the President appointed you?" "Do you think they will approve your appointment?" "You really think that lecturing on a country's problems qualifies you..." "Look this way, Mrs. Ashley, and smile and smile again." "Mrs. Ashley..." Ben Cohen stood aside, just watching.She is not bad.he thought silently.Her answer was brilliant and powerful, but unfortunately I didn't know how to ask her. When Mary returned to the hotel, her emotions had calmed down.Stanton Rogers called: "Hello, Ms. Ambassador." She felt relieved and dizzy: "You mean, I passed? Stan, thank you so much, I'm so excited!" "I'm excited too, Mary," he said with pride in his voice, "for you." Mary broke the news to the children and they hugged her tightly. "I know you'll be successful," Tim cried. Beth asked quietly, "Did Daddy know the news?" "Honey, he must know." Mary smiled. "I think he gave the committee a little boost." Mary called Florence, and she couldn't help but burst into tears when she heard the news: "Great! Wait, I'll spread the news throughout the city!" Mary laughed. "I'll get you and Douglas a room at the embassy." "When will you take office?" “It’s still going to have to wait until the full Senate votes. But, Stein told me, it’s just going to be a formality.” "and then?" "Several debriefings in Washington, then departure." "Gee, I can't wait, I have to call the Daily Union immediately," Florence called. "The whole city will definitely erect a statue of you. I'm leaving, I'm too excited to speak, and I'll call you tomorrow." Ben Cohen heard the results of the hearing when he returned to his office, but something still haunted him and made him restless.