The Invitation(32)
“Steve, you made it,” the President says.
“Yes, Sir, I did. Mr. President, this is my wife, Rebecca.”
“Hi, Rebecca.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Sir.”
“How was the flight? Did they treat you well?”
“Yes, Sir, very well.”
“Rebecca and I talked for the whole flight. I asked her to come to the White House sometime for dinner,” says the First Lady.
“I think that’s a great idea. I’m really glad you both came today,” the President says.
“Thank you for the invitation, Mr. President,” says Congressman
Kearns.
At that point the newly elected Mayor of Miami, Maria Sanchez taps the microphone at the podium to summon the crowd’s attention.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve just been told the Olympic torch is about five minutes away, so if everyone would take their seats, please. Anyone who intends to get a picture of this might want to get their cameras ready. Once the torch passes you won’t get another chance. So, ladies and gentlemen, I repeat, the Olympic torch is now less than five minutes away.”
With this the President excuses himself and takes his seat directly behind the podium, and all others quickly find their chairs. On both sides of the President in the front row are his wife, the Vice President, General Croft, Congressman Kearns, his wife Rebecca, the Mayor of Miami, and the Florida Congressional delegation. By his own order only two Secret Service agents are posted near him.
As all settle in waiting for the torch to enter the stadium, a general sense of collective anticipation seems to be expressed on every face. The air itself seems pregnant with expectation. TV crews from all over the world are streaming live coverage to their native audiences, with estimated global viewership topping one hundred million. This is not just another start of the Olympic cycle, momentous as that might be. This is also an event very much connected with the person and prestige of the President of the United States. Ken Myers is the first President to have a truly global following. Most of the thousands gathered are there to see, and hear Ken Myers, and also the lighting of the Olympic flame, not the reverse. To understand why, is to know something about the considerable influence, political and personal, that Ken Myers has had on those who know him, and the millions of Americans who have watched him, and his Presidency for the past three, and a half years.
More than anything else it was his commanding oratory that first set him apart from other politicians, and this quality never shone brighter then when he was campaigning for the White House. He never used notes or any other visual aids in any of his public speeches, which always had the appearance of a completely impromptu performance. No original drafts of any speech given by Ken Myers have ever been seen. Some say the reason is because they don’t exist, and never did. They simply believe he has an unrivaled power to speak in any situation extemporaneously.
Most of the people in Olympic Stadium want the President to give a speech, and not a short one, but that preference is not unanimous. Vice President Scott Conner would prefer the speech to be as brief as possible, followed by a quick return flight to Washington. Foreseeing the possible criticism the President might receive if his speech is longer than the brief, traditional welcome customarily offered, he expects the President to speak no more than a few words.
It is now almost eight o’clock, that time of day when light and darkness balanced in equipoise shade the sky with a radiant glow that signals the approach of night. Though steadily relinquishing its hold on the day, the sun now well beneath the western horizon illuminates a perfect full moon rising in the eastern sky, as if the Man in the Moon himself will be watching the games. The evening seems to exude pure magic.
Then another tapping of the microphone is heard, and a crisp, well-enunciated voice follows.
“Ladies and gentlemen, The Olympic torch has entered the stadium, carried this year by Emily Larson, breast cancer survivor and national advocate for breast cancer awareness. Ladies, and gentlemen, the passing of the Olympic torch!”
As the Olympic torch passes, thousands take the photo they were waiting for. A few minutes later the torch is poised to perform its sacred ritual, and the Olympic flame will be lit once again. Mayor Sanchez looks at the President, and says, “Mr. President, if you’ll do the honors, please.”
“Thank you, Maria,” he says as he approaches the podium.
For the entire course of human existence, from the dawn of man’s earliest beginnings, this day has been waiting. This day, this hour, this coming moment, was inevitable. No one knew, or could have known, that human history is about to be jolted permanently off its course. The President stands at the podium, and as the Olympic flame is lit, he begins speaking.