“Are you talking about the home governments?”
“The home governments themselves in some cases, the technocrats in others. And not only the technocrats-this reaches nearly every quarter. Much of what’s coming in from individual citizens on the public lines is critical— often crudely and ignorantly, but there it is.”
“And you think I should be reading this?” Leia said wryly. “Look, Nanaod- -I don’t understand why you’re calling my attention to this.
I’m unhappy with the situation, so why would I be surprised if others are? What’s there to do about it?”
“Well, we’ve been talking about this downstairs for several days now,” Engh said. “The emerging consensus is that all of that mess is the result of our not having prepared the New Republic for what was coming, and not moving fast enough to educate them after the fact.
I’d like to put a couple of staff members on the problem full-time, preferably in consultation with someone in your office—I was thinking that Tarrick would be the best suited.”
The turbolift eased to a stop, and the doors flashed open on fifteen.
“What do you propose to have them doing?”
“Why, to plan a program to buff up your public image a bit. I like to think that it’s mostly a matter of getting the word out—informing rather than influencing.
We might want to think about making you a bit more available to the grids, not only the big ones based here, but the regional and local nets—” “Now you want me to give interviews? What next?
Preside over spaceport openings? Endorse a line of little Leia dolls?
Let myself be recorded dancing for Han in a Huttese slave-girl costume?”
“Now, Leia, no one is suggesting—” “You’d get there, eventually. And that’s not what I’m here to do,” Leia said firmly. “What’s more, I’d be deeply discouraged to discover that you can take someone who’s shown terrible judgment and get people to support her just because she has a nice smile. I earned whatever criticism’s aimed at me right now, and I’m going to try to earn back the respect I’ve lost—not replace it with something false.”
“That’s not what we’re talking about, Leia,” Engh said. “We’re talking about taking your case not just to the Senate, but to the people the senators represent.
We’re talking about combating misinformation and mis-impressions before they take hold firmly enough to be mistaken for the truth. Leia, this can only strengthen your hand.”
They were closing in on the presidential suite. “Am I supposed to do the right thing, Nanaod, or the popular thing? Where’s the line between wanting to be understood and wanting to be liked?” She stopped and faced him, blocking him from coming further. “How does it help me provide the leadership everyone expects from me if there’s a little man standing behind me whispering that the people aren’t ready yet to go where I know we have to? Don’t make it any harder than it is, Nanaod.
Because I have to tell you, it’s hard enough already.”
“All I want is to give you all the tools you need to be successful,” Engh said. “Your public image is one of them.”
“Except it needs rehabilitation.”
“In some circles—where you haven’t been well served by gossip, rumor, and the news. This isn’t about fogging the air with lies, Leia—it’s about clearing away the fog that others create.”
“Mon Mothma never had to resort to image strategists, and she led us through harder times than these,” Leia said. “No. I’m not interested.”
“Will you think about it? Perhaps if you sampled what’s coming in, you’d understand why we’re concerned–” “I understand,” Leia said. “I just don’t want that kind of help. And I have work to do now.”
Engh did not press the point further, but Leia had trouble leaving the conversation behind when she entered her office. Hours later, still burning over it, she repeated much of the exchange to Han when he joined her with the children for lunch at the indoor waterfall cascade.
She expected his sympathy, but Han’s face acquired an uncomfortable expression as she talked.
“What? What is it?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing—go on, I’m listening.”
“No, I know that look,” Leia insisted. “It’s your ‘I’m not going to say this because it’ll just make things worse’ trying-to-bite-your-tongue look. Except you always have to let me see how hard you’re working to be nice. I don’t know how you ever won a single hand of sabacc with that face.”