America 1982-Chapter 388 - 44: Again?
"So, you’re telling me that the President has to go through the Pentagon Navy Department to get updates from the Kennedy, and now any average Joe in America can turn on the TV and get more information than the President?" the plump-faced White House press secretary and spokesman, Marin Fitzwater, rarely showed such a stern face. In a low and serious voice, he fixed his gaze on James Salina, the White House press relations assistant before him, and asked:
"Although I’m leaving the White House with the President in two weeks, I promise I can kick you out in disgrace before that day comes! Because you have me in this embarrassing position now!"
"The incident happened suddenly, Marin. The Associated Press got the news from the Pentagon and broadcast the urgent briefing right away. Normally, they are supposed to be the fastest news agency on Earth," said James, the press assistant responsible for collecting global news for the White House, with a bitter face. "I assure you there was no delay in contacting you."
"Both the President and I saw that AP alert with just one dry sentence, and you expect me, as a spokesman, to go fend off those reporters who seem to be in heat because of the alert? Without even trying I know my old bones can’t withstand their mauling!" Fitzwater said, ignoring Larry’s defense and pressing on:
"And furthermore, that’s not the point. One sentence is enough for an urgent briefing, but only when speed is the priority. And now?"
As he spoke, he grabbed the remote and turned up the volume of the TV.
At that moment, the VOX news channel host was discussing the sudden event with a reporter aboard the USS Kennedy and an expert from a think tank specializing in North African issues.
"Clearly, the AP wasn’t first this time! If I deal with those rowdy reporters with just one alert, everyone will know that the White House gets its news even slower than a private television network!" Marin complained angrily.
Handling those sharp-tongued reporters was no easy task. Even having spent his life dealing with journalists and being a veteran reporter himself, he was often left speechless by his peers.
James defended himself on the side: "I looked into it, and it happens that VOX news just got lucky. Their reporter was granted permission by the Navy to film and record the lives of the U.S. Navy during the Kennedy’s cruise. They just happened to catch this military conflict, so they got the scoop."
"I don’t care if it’s luck or not. Where is our Plan B for dealing with situations like this? Call the VOX White House correspondent here quietly. Get me some more detailed details, and in exchange, I’ll give VOX a few more opportunities to ask questions at the next press conference. Anyway, I can’t let reporters, who get more information than I do by watching the VOX live broadcast, besiege me on stage to death!"
"VOX... doesn’t have a White House correspondent. We haven’t issued a press pass to their reporter yet, so... the regular Plan B can’t be used." James said in a voice of despair, lowering his head: "It’s a newly established news network, and their request to station a reporter in the White House is still under review..."
Fitzwater almost laughed angrily at James’s answer: "This news network released the news faster than the AP, and it doesn’t have the credentials to be housed in the White House? Are you trying to let it gain fame by stepping on the White House? Is its owner a damn Canadian like you? The Canadians once humiliated the White House, and now you want VOX to do it again?"
"Mr. Fitzwater?" A middle-aged woman dressed like a secretary hurriedly came over and handed a stack of documents to Marin: "Kenneth from the Office of Administration sent these over, thinking you might find them useful for the White House briefing later."
Marin flipped through the materials while asking, "If these are normal materials, I don’t think they’ll be of much use. It’s a sudden military operation. The Pentagon didn’t expect Gaddafi to send fighter jets up to intercept our reconnaissance aircraft."
"These are not normal materials; they’re just in—sent by Charles Salmon, an intern who did a summer internship at the White House. His mentor beat him to it and sent this detailed report on the incident, which he got from VOX news, involving some detailed numbers. He has already called the Pentagon Navy Department to confirm it’s accurate. He said VOX has no White House correspondent, so he had to submit the materials himself, hoping they’d be helpful to the White House," the secretary told Marin.
Marin immediately looked up, staring at her in shock and asked, "How did his advisor get hold of it?"
"The expert currently preparing to make comments on VOX is his mentor," the secretary hinted, tilting her head toward the TV.
"Whoever brought that kid in for a White House internship, make sure to thank them for me! Kelly!" Marin, feeling relieved, carefully stored the documents and hurried to his office to have the speech drafted based on this information. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
Seeing James stand there with a defeated look, he growled softly, "Are you fucking staying here to mourn for Gaddafi? Get me VOX’s application through as fast as possible! They’ve shown goodwill, so don’t be stingy with the response!"
