Free A Very Private Plot by William F. Buckley Page B

this bastard and his team. So what the hell, why not let him feel what I think of him?
    â€œMr. Blaustein, permit me to say that while you were an undergraduate screaming and yelling about our defense expenditures, some of us were doing what we could to avoid the need to use the American military. As you know, I was one of those … ‘soldiers,’ if the term does not offend you. And I will advise you, and you may repeat what I say to Senator Blanton, that there is no reason to suppose that I’d have enjoyed a nuclear war any more than you’d have done. I speak here, while I am at it, in behalf of my wife and stepson. I remind you, and Mr. Blanton, that the kind of people who have offended you since you were at college are the people who won the Cold War and, at least for a while, gave the whole world immunity from a nuclear exchange. How this was done and how credit for it should be apportioned is something historians will decide. Meanwhile, my judgment of it is that the country will not be helped by the immobilization of the CIA. The story of Cyclops the Soviets were not able to get from me. It is unlikely that you will succeed in doing so. Do you feel like going home? Because I very much feel like your going home.”
    Arthur Blaustein reached for his briefcase and inserted in it the folder and the legal pad. Blackford led him to the front door. Blaustein hesitantly proffered his hand. Blackford took it, quietly closed the door, and went to the telephone.
    â€œBob? Black.”
    â€œI’ve been pacing the floor. What did the mortician want?”
    â€œHe thought it might be patriotic for me to commit suicide.”
    â€œCome on. It’s late.”
    â€œHe said Blanton would get the jail order vacated if I spilled my beans to Blaustein about a certain Agency operation in the past. He was willing to spare me the humiliation of spilling the beans to the whole committee.”
    â€œAnd you said?”
    â€œI guess the only way to put it is that I spilled my … thoughts on him.”
    â€œTold him off?”
    â€œTold him off. But you know something, Bob? I don’t feel particularly good about it. It left me feeling sanctimonious, and I try to avoid that—maybe you’ve noticed; I hope so. I guess I just couldn’t help it. No. That’s not right. I could have controlled myself. I elected not to.”
    â€œHas he got anything on you?”
    Blackford paused. “No. Just wants information on My Secret Life, and I’m saving that for a higher bidder. Know anybody at the National Enquirer , Bob?… Bob. Bob? Still there?”
    â€œYes. I just finished letting out a sigh. They don’t register, most sighs don’t, over the phone. I’m surprised mine didn’t, though. It was a whopper.…
    â€œWell, Black, I guess there’s nothing more to it than tomorrow. I’ll come by and pick you up.”
    â€œBob, I’ve been thinking about that. I appreciate it, of course, but you know, I don’t see any reason for me to go with my lawyer at hand to the sergeant at arms en route to whatever detention center they’re going to plop me into. I mean, there’s nothing you can do. And if I go with a lawyer, somehow, it seems to me, there’s an aroma of guilty-not guilty, and I’m not eager to pitch my problem to the press in those terms. Do you see what I mean?”
    Bob Lounsbury was silent for a while. And then said, “I understand. You make your own way. If you need me, I’ll be there in a flash.”
    â€œYes, Bob. I appreciate that. But don’t be in such a hurry you forget to put on your clothes.”
    â€œFuck you, Blackford.”
    â€œThank you, Bob. I’m doing my best.”
    Blackford hung up and went then to Sally in her own study. She was waiting for him.
    He caught her up. And requested that they drop the subject for the rest of the evening.
    â€œAll right, darling.” She played