Free Preserve and Protect by Allen Drury

couple of state troopers were on duty, a few tourists wandered even on so sweltering a day, a janitor or two shuffled along the gleaming halls. Otherwise he had his domain to himself, and that was the way he liked it, at this moment when so many things were crowding in upon him, clamoring for decision.
    The most important of all, of course, was already decided: immediately after the news of Harley’s death had flashed upon the screen in his room at the Mark Hopkins Hotel, he had cut himself loose, with an instinctive, almost animal, repugnance, from the tatterdemalion rag-tag-and-bobtail of the foredoomed “Peace Party.” Within five minutes he had framed his statement repudiating the third-party movement and affirming his renewed determination to seek the Presidential nomination. He had spent the next hour rewriting it until it was as succinct and powerful as he felt it should be. As soon as the Speaker’s swearing-in had been completed at Tahoe, Ted was on the telephone dictating it to his secretary in Sacramento. Fifteen minutes later she had called the wire services, and within the hour it was top news across the nation.
    Not, inevitably, the only top news: right along with it had come Orrin Knox’s confident statement that he expected to head the ticket. Ted Jason did not know how confident his opponent was in reality, but of necessity he had to sound confident, and he had managed it very well.
    “The United States has lost a great President and a great leader in the cause of world peace,” Orrin had said. “He was my friend and my commander in the battle against the forces of aggression that everywhere threaten free men. I honor his memory as I valued his friendship.
    “The task he began must be completed. American foreign policy must have the continuity and firmness that alone can guarantee the survival of this nation and of freedom everywhere.
    “A leader is fallen but the battle goes on.
    “An election must be fought and won.
    “I expect to head the ticket.
    “I expect to finish the great work he began.
    “I call upon all of you who believe in an America firm in strength and firm in justice to give me your help and support in the task we must all carry forward together.”
    Ted had been no less confident, forceful and uncompromising:
    “America has lost a distinguished and able leader, who led her, as he sincerely believed best, through perilous times. Those of us who disagreed with some aspects of his policies were ever aware that his ideals were admirable, his purposes sincere, his integrity unimpeachable. No one could have asked for a more dedicated and honorable man to lead this nation.
    “His tragic death reopens many issues that appeared to have been settled by his nomination at the convention just concluded. Because of this, those of us who disagreed with certain policies are now freed of political commitments. Many things must now be re-approached and reappraised. The way is open to reconsider decisions that only yesterday seemed settled for the duration of the present campaign.
    “For myself, let me make it clear that I repudiate, once and for all and absolutely, any attempt to divide America by the creation of a so-called ‘peace party.’ The formation of such a third party was proposed, as you know, by those claiming to be my supporters. This was done without my instigation and without my approval. Now, any such political adventuring is even more inexcusable and pointless than it was before.
    “What happens now must occur through the regular channels of the party. A nominee for President and, presumably, a nominee for Vice President, must be selected. And our great party must decide once and for all what it stands for.
    “I was a candidate for President before. I am a candidate now. Whether by selection of the National Committee or through a reconvened convention, the party must choose.
    “Either this great nation follows the course of further international adventuring, ever-spreading