Chapter 25 honeymoon life around the president

There is a famous saying in the American political circle that the feng shui of the White House is that the Republican and Democratic parties rotate in turn.There are also two sayings in the Republican Party and the Democratic Party: Fragrant plums are always fragrant, and Wanruo is evergreen.The former refers to Ms. Chen Xiangmei, a Chinese female politician in the Republican Party. She enjoys a high reputation in the American Republican Party and is an oriental face who has always been popular.The latter refers to Li Wanruo, a member of the Democratic Party. She is also known as an evergreen tree in the Democratic Party.The difference between them is that Ms. Chen Xiangmei entered the American political arena because of her husband Flying Tiger General Chennault and won honors; Li Wanruo entered the American political arena through her own hard work from a grassroots identity as an overseas student.The different political paths taken by the two outstanding Chinese women of the same race can also reflect the different political ideas and party colors of the American Republican and Democratic parties.

What makes me curious is that the appearance of Li Wanruo after middle age is very similar to that of Chen Xiangmei in his prime.When I saw Li Wanruo's close-up for the first time, I cried out suddenly: Why does she look so similar to Chen Xiangmei! When I saw Li Wanruo in person, I couldn't help asking her this question curiously.She smiled and said: Yes, but not like. When I asked again where the image was and where it was not, Li Wanruo smiled and did not answer, and changed the topic elsewhere.But this question has never been eliminated in my mind.Later, after I finished the interview, I slowly realized what Li Wanruo said was similar or not.From my personal understanding, the two of them are very similar in terms of their unyielding struggle for the interests of the Chinese in the United States and their efforts to participate in politics, as well as the lofty prestige they enjoy in American politics.The difference is that I feel that Li Wanruo's political path is much more difficult and rugged, so it can better embody the American spirit, especially for the younger generation and new immigrants. It is more educational and influential.After carefully looking at the photos of Chen Xiangmei and Li Wanruo, I still found many differences. For example, Chen Xiangmei’s eyes, eyebrows and eyelashes are just like her name. A pair of eyelashes are always raised high to both sides, full of nobility and arrogance.On the contrary, Li Wanruo, her eyelashes are always flat, like two willow silks, and her sweet smile is full of tenderness and approachable beauty just like her name.

The story of Chen Xiangmei is well-known in China.But Li Wanruo seems to be more American before this work.In fact, when I walked into her world, I discovered that her political status in the United States is far more influential than any overseas Chinese person we know.It is a pity that the Chinese do not understand her or understand her late.Because she herself grew from an ordinary foreign student to the first Chinese female mayor in American history, which is a wealth of wealth that Chinese people should be proud of.However, she later used her special status in the Democratic Party to do a lot of beneficial work for Sino-US relations, especially during the last eight years of the Democratic Party's administration, and her political honeymoon period in the White House and President Clinton's administration. People have a feeling of being intoxicated--

Lily, come on! One day in April 1995, my husband received a heavy letter from the postman outside the door. When he opened it, he couldn't help but shouted: Amazing!Impressive!This time I'm going to be busy again. What need to trouble you again?Li Wanruo poked her head out from the back room. good thing.But your Excellency, Admiral Samsung, you have to comfort me, a family soldier, first.Look, there are so many forms that I have to fill out for you, General! The wife felt like she was spinning in the clouds after her husband's inexplicable words. You have been appointed by the Department of Defense as an Advisor to Women in the Armed Forces!The husband, who has passed the sixtieth year, still couldn't help hugging his wife and congratulating him as he did when he saw his wife receive a master's degree certificate from the University of Washington in Seattle.

Indeed, this appointment is a great honor to Li Wanruo and the entire Chinese community.Just like when Li Guiruo became the first Chinese-American female mayor in the United States, when she was appointed by Secretary of Defense Perry of the Clinton Administration as a women's advisor to the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force. and Chinese newspapers around the world quickly reported it.Those who know the history of the U.S. military know that the U.S. Armed Forces Women's Advisory Committee was established 50 years ago by then-General Marshall when he was secretary of defense. . In 1995, the Women's Committee appointed by Secretary of Defense Perry had a total of 16 members, and Li Wanruo was the only member of Asian descent.

On the 27th of that month, Li Wanruo set off from Los Angeles and flew to the capital Washington.Since then, she has been to this beautiful city countless times, but it is the first time to enter the Pentagon of the Department of Defense.For the highest command headquarters of the most powerful army in the world, let alone immigrant people of foreign origin have a sense of mystery, even people born in the United States hardly have the opportunity to enter it.Now if Li Wan came here with the honor of three-star general to accept the award and take the oath of office.She was also appointed together with retired female general JEANE HOLM and so on.When Li Wanruo climbed the high steps of the Pentagon, she deliberately raised her head and straightened her chest. At that moment, I thought that I was a yellow-skinned Chinese.I feel very proud of being a representative of an oriental nation that was once ignored by Westerners... Li Wanruo said afterwards that when she was leaving the gate of the building, soldiers with guns on both sides saluted her, and she was very polite , Walking slowly and gracefully into the hall.At this time, Secretary Perry and other senior officials of the Ministry of National Defense were already waiting in the hall.The inauguration ceremony was performed in the American military song, which was a novel and sacred inauguration ceremony for Li Wanruo.And when the majestic military song sounded, Li Wanruo faced the Stars and Stripes, and what she thought most about was that her political career was not just like a female soldier who went to the battlefield again and again?And just as the slogan said by the American female soldiers, we are elite soldiers, not just female soldiers, Li Wanruo also proved to the world on the road to politics: As a Chinese American, she participated in the American Federation and is an outstanding political elite soldier, not just a minority American woman.

Speaking of Li Wanruo entering the White House to accept appointments, this is not the first time.Since her setbacks in running for Congress, she has made important revisions in her approach to politics, from participating in politics through elections in the past to seeking for appointments.These are two completely different forms of political participation. The former requires individuals to spend a lot of energy and financial resources to compete with political opponents for a decisive battle and gain opportunities by pulling votes.The latter is usually introduced by acquaintances, and you are appointed by virtue of your personal prestige and political qualifications, as well as special interests with political parties and government officials.

For example, Bush Jr. was elected president. He himself entered the White House through the national election, and although all his cabinet members were appointed by him, how to allocate the official positions of these cabinet members is usually based on the needs of the government and your personal talents. But at the same time, it was Bush Jr. who had to consider who contributed to him when he was running for the presidency.Now we see that the black general Powell who became the secretary of state of the new Bush administration can be regarded as the kind of candidate with special talents, while another Bush junior, the black girl Rice National Security Assistant, is a reward for meritorious service Because Bush Jr. was almost a failing student in diplomacy, it was the black girl who was born as the provost of a famous university who helped him solve a lot of troubles, so after Bush Jr. came to power, he was rewarded with a black girl for such an important position. on the head.After almost every new president takes office, they have to carry out the same as Song Jiang in Liangshan?It's such a headache to arrange seats for all the green forest heroes for nothing.According to Li Wanruo, some appointments and arrangements were arranged and confirmed when the president was still a candidate.Take the Clinton administration as an example. The governor of a small state from Arkansas wants to be elected president. Apart from his own political factors and personal charisma, why are so many local people in the city, especially the Democrats, so enthusiastically campaigning for the election? Vote for him?An important reason is that there are a lot of articles here, that is, whoever contributes a lot will have the right to let the future president make a wish to give me what official and how many official positions he will give us. The deal is in it.

The unwritten contract was made earlier. Li Wanruo said that at that time, Clinton very much hoped that rich Asian Democrats would help him with political donations and Asian votes, so Asian leaders had to negotiate with Clinton: Mr. President, you must first make a deal with us in the future. In the White House, we have to arrange as many ministers or deputy ministers in our federal government.We unanimously recommend Tian Changlin, President of the University of California, Berkeley, as the Minister of Energy. This is a form of transaction. Another type of White House appointment is Li Wanruo, for example, she has a certain influence among Asians and Chinese, and Clinton needs someone to be an intermediary in relations with China, so Li Wanruo may be an important appointment in the Clinton administration.However, the huge federal government has thousands of important positions, and these important positions also change with personnel changes, and a large number of vacant official positions need another way, that is, if you want to be appointed, you must first be recommended by someone, and secondly be yourself You have to apply and take the initiative to fight for it.

From the many years of honor and disgrace political career when he was in charge of Mongolia, Li Wanruo began to realize that due to the limited power of Chinese in American society and the fact that the consciousness of Chinese Americans to participate in politics has not yet reached the strength and power of Jews and blacks, it is difficult to rely on a single campaign. It is still quite difficult to participate in the political life of mainstream American society. At least sometimes you spend a lot of money and energy, and you may not be able to achieve the desired results. So she later relied on her accumulated political capital and enthusiasm for participating in politics. Appointed political career.And this way of participating in politics has enabled her to jump directly from a limited state to the top of the U.S. federal government, and her political influence has also been greatly enhanced, making her a true leader of Chinese Americans.

She therefore called this political experience the political honeymoon stage she gained from working with the president. A honeymoon is sweet, but a sweet honeymoon requires hard work and redoubled harvesting.Li Wanruo, who has been engaged in social work and grassroots activities for a long time, has established good working and personal relationships with people from all walks of life, relying on her professional talent and enthusiasm to do things for others. opened a bright path. Talking about this political anecdote, Li Wanruo was a little fond of talking about it.I write her words, I believe it will benefit Chinese readers and those experts who are engaged in the study of American politics. As early as 1984, Li Wanruo was nominated by the National Chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr. Mornard, and voted by the Democratic National Committee to serve as a member of the Democratic Party Program Committee.The committee has a total of 25 members, all of whom are senior leaders of the Democratic Party and hold important positions in the federal government and Congress.The chairman of the party platform committee is usually served by the vice presidential candidate or the party chairman himself.Ms. Ferraro, the vice presidential candidate at the time, chaired the committee.The committee is divided into three groups, namely defense foreign affairs, economic internal affairs and civil rights.During the meeting of the Democratic National Committee, a senior leader of the Latin American Democratic Party suddenly asked Li Wanruo, who was new to the leadership of the Democratic Party, whether she would like to serve as the chairman of the Defense Foreign Affairs Subcommittee. Li Wanruo's first reaction was: Are you kidding me?Because she knew that heavyweight political leaders such as Senator Monaghan from New York State and Congressman Solaz were experts in foreign affairs and national defense. How could it be her turn, an unknown person! Do not worry.I have already analyzed that: In our party, the drafters of the current party program are divided into two factions, one faction is running for president, and the other is the party veterans, and the two factions are evenly matched.It just so happens that centrists like you will least offend any party, so it is easy to gain the support of all.Do not believe us to try.The scheming politicians helped Li Wanruo make such an estimate, so he nominated Li Wanruo first during the meeting, and the result was passed unexpectedly, and he became the chairman of the defense and foreign affairs subcommittee of the meeting in one fell swoop. A yellow-skinned oriental woman became the chairman of the most important group of the party platform revision committee of an American political party, which is rare in the history of American political parties. Li Wanruo is well aware of the responsibility on her shoulders.She tried her best to play this role well during the meeting, which laid the foundation for determining the political status of Chinese Americans and herself in the Democratic Party in the future.Regarding the national defense and foreign policy within the political party, it is actually the national defense and foreign policy of the United States. At that meeting, Li Wanruo’s deepest impression was witnessing the uncompromising spirit of political struggle of the Jewish leaders, which she will never forget.Following Martin Luther King, Rev. Jackson, the most famous contemporary black leader in the United States, was one of the Democratic Party's presidential candidates at that time.At a meeting of the Party Program Committee, this upright black pastor stood up and suggested that the U.S. authorities should establish a dialogue with Israel’s deadly enemy, the Palestine Liberation Organization. It was like rumbling artillery fire, suppressing the pastor's suggestion into silence.Seeing that the situation was not good, several other presidential candidates dared not mention a single word on the Middle East issue. The power insider of the top political parties in the United States made Li Wanruo see more clearly the importance of Chinese participation in politics.She secretly made up her mind to win over the high-ranking politicians, because only in this way can the value of Chinese participation in politics be most directly and most importantly reflected.However, there is a saying in China that it is too cold to be at a high place.There are also many shady scenes and bloody scenes at the top of the American political arena that you can't imagine. If you don't pay attention, you will be crushed to pieces and ruined. When Li Wanruo first entered the high-level circle of the Democratic Party, it can be said that she had no capital in the party except that she was the mayor of Montgomery City who had made American community construction and urban reform a successful image.When entering the vortex of transactions in front of and behind the scenes in the high-level circles of American politics, the only way for people with her background to be appreciated by those in the center of power is to use all their abilities to serve important party members. The presidential election every four years is the best time to test the allegiance of an ethnic leader to his party, because at this moment, the inner core of the party is desperately eager to compete with another party for the White House. All ethnic groups and factions came out to vote for their party's candidates.California is a large state in the United States. It has always been the place where the Republican Party and the Democratic Party have the most intense competition, and here is the place where the power of the Chinese is the most concentrated. The political intention of the Chinese community will affect the political power of the entire California.Li Wanruo is an influential Chinese-American female politician in this area, so she often becomes a member that the top leaders of the Democratic Party value in this area, intentionally or unintentionally.Naturally, because of her influence in this place, her political opponents, the Republican Party, also respect her very much. For nearly 20 years from the early 1980s to the present, Li Wanruo has been a senior representative of the California delegation to the Democratic National Convention, and Los Angeles and San Francisco are important cities in California. held in cities.If Li Wan fulfilled her friendship as a landlord, she would become a natural leader in the party.The party congress in the United States is actually the largest political stage in the United States, and its influence and momentum are no less than that of the presidential candidates of the two parties.According to Li Wanruo, what is particularly interesting about the National Party Congress is that the whole meeting is like a world-class big party. Let the Chinese people see it and they will laugh out loud. I've been to several Democratic National Conventions.It is a big political gathering in the United States every four years, and it is also a total performance of American politics.An important agenda of the party congress is to elect its own presidential candidate, which also makes the congress particularly attract the attention of the world.Usually the congress is held in a large stadium, which can hold at least tens of thousands of people.Because in addition to party representatives from all over the world, all major companies in the United States will be present, and more than 10,000 journalists from the United States and around the world will participate. Do you think it is a big battle?When Li Wanruo vividly described the grand events she experienced, her eyes were full of light. As long as anyone can step into such a venue, it is impossible for you not to feel exciting.Think about it, what kind of stage in the world has tens of thousands of people singing a song at the same time, beating drums and dancing in the same venue?Those are politicians!Who has ever seen a political party convention in the United States turn out to be a downright big dance!The future president, the party chairman and all the members of the delegations from all over the country can sing and shout as they please.If you agree with any presidential candidate, you can beat the gongs and drums and wave the flag there.If you disagree, you can also yell and curse there.The most interesting thing was that there were so many non-Party people at the party congress venue to join in the fun.Let’s take our Democratic Party Congress as an example. Of course, the representatives of party members from all over the country didn’t say anything about it, but Hollywood’s big-name stars also appeared on the stage, sitting side by side with the presidential candidates and party chairmen, saying that they were to win votes for the future president. here.This is American politics, everything is for the votes, as long as the votes can be obtained, it is completely allowed to striptease at the party congress... My heroine said this and appeared in front of me I couldn't help twisting my body, and seemed to want me to experience the crazy and funny scenes of the American party congress. The fun is yet to come.It is understandable for you to say canvassing votes, but all the giants of industrial and commercial enterprises have also come, and for all famous companies, not only the bosses have to be present, but a large group of people such as deputies and public relations managers have settled in the venue of the party congress Inside.That's not to mention, the conference allows companies to set up houses and sheds in the venue, pull up advertising signs, and open temporary shops.That show was really beautiful. Representatives of party groups from all over the country were sitting here, and facing the rostrum there were all kinds of company advertising signs, or the logos and banners of corporate firms. What do you think the party congress is not an act?Why do you ask companies to come in?No invitations, the party headquarters only invites representatives from various regions of the congress, and does not specifically invite enterprises!Or someone took the initiative to enter the venue!Seeing so many big companies and big companies coming, the party chairman and presidential candidate who presided over the meeting were not only not angry at all, but showed uncontrollable joy and smiles on their faces.Why do you ask?It's for money!Don't you need money for your presidential election?The bosses are here, and they are sending money to your XX presidential candidate.So the party chairman and the presidential candidate are not happy.Do representatives have any comments?Why are there opinions?Isn't the purpose of electing you as a representative to jointly send the candidate of your own party to the White House?People think highly of your party's candidates, don't they think highly of your representatives!Besides, as a representative, can you usually meet so many big bosses?Isn't such an opportunity beneficial to everyone, isn't it great!Those big bosses are very shrewd. They know that whether their enterprises and business can do better depends on the relationship and policies with the future government and president.If a small amount of money is donated to politicians at the party congress, the company's earnings may be several times dozens of times or even an astronomical figure tomorrow. Why not do it?So the bosses don't have to attend the inauguration ceremony of the president, but they must pave the way before the birth of the new president.Did you find it amusing to hear it? Of course it was fun, very rare fun!I say. But such a messy meeting is really exciting and fresh, and it can really achieve the purpose designed by the party and the headquarters - to elect the presidential candidate and donate the money that his presidential candidate sent to the White House.This is American politics, a juggling politics.When I attended the Party Congress for the first time, I saw so many world-renowned companies, and wondered why there were no Chinese-owned companies.But at the Democratic Party Congress in Los Angeles last year, my eyes suddenly lit up, and I saw Yang Zhiyuan’s Yahoo company also prominently appearing at the venue holding a big sign. I happily ran over and took Yang Zhiyuan’s hand to take a photo with him Take a souvenir.At that moment, I suddenly felt that we Chinese are too great. Look, we don’t want everyone and everything to hit the political heart of the United States!Isn't that proud enough?So proud!Besides, a plain Chinese face like me, isn’t it running back and forth on the stage of American politics and power center?If we leave us, there will be some troubles in the American political arena!This is really a very interesting thing. Li Wanruo couldn't erase those honeymoon careers and good memories that he experienced as a capable general of the American Party.It was her outstanding efforts that earned her many appointments by the White House. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not lose heart... On January 20, 1993, as the 42nd President of the United States Clinton delivered this inaugural speech ending with the Bible in front of the congressional stage representing the symbol of power, a 21-gun salute was fired on the lawn in front of the White House. , when the new president and the salute echoed over the United States of America at the same time, a new president began to be born in the new continent of North America. As an Asian leader of the Democratic Party, Li Wanruo's political career entered a new glorious stage with the birth of President Clinton.As early as the year before the general election campaign, Mr. Brown, the chairman of the Democratic Party who had established a good relationship with the White House, served as Secretary of Commerce in the White House. Clinton, on Brown's recommendation, appointed Li Wanruo as an advisor to the Federal Industry and Trade Policy Committee.This is an economic committee with considerable power, and most of its members are executives of well-known American companies, which have an important influence on the US and global economy.The newly restructured Federal Trade Commission soon completed a historic job of urging Congress to pass the United States' entry into the World Trade Organization.The United States also attaches great importance to joining the WTO. President Clinton personally presided over the signing ceremony at the White House and signed the bill.The ceremony was extremely grand that time. In addition to inviting all the members of his cabinet, Clinton also invited into the White House one by one the leaders of the Democratic Party who had worked hard for him. Li Wanruo was one of them, and was arranged at the front. Row.This was originally a matter for the United States, but what happened? When I saw President Clinton signing the pen, I suddenly thought: How wonderful it would be when China can join the WTO!It was also at that moment that I realized that no matter how important a role I played in the United States, deep down in my heart I deeply loved the oriental mother country that raised me... Li Wanruo said to me affectionately. It is precisely this deep affection and love for the mother country that during her tenure as a consultant to the Federal Industry and Trade Commission, the United States and China had the most heated disputes about intellectual property rights. This is to force China to make concessions in protecting American intellectual property rights.The pressure from industry and Congress made it hard for the Clinton administration to ride a tiger. When China's most-favored-nation status (later renamed permanent trading partner status) encountered resistance in the US Congress, several Committee of 100 representatives were invited to Congress to provide opinions on this issue.The Committee of 100 issued a statement at a press conference held in Congress, making it clear that it is in the interests of the United States to continue to grant China most-favored-nation status.They also emphasized that US-China relations must follow a major principle, that is, strive to seek common ground and respect differences.The Chinese-American community directly speaks to the President and Congress on the major foreign policies of the United States, and the Committee of 100 is the first to start.