The Founders' Plot

An hour later, the young senator was shown into her office. He’d been elected when he was twenty-eight years old. He was bright and affable, but also green and vulnerable. He’d virtually memorized the senate’s parliamentary rules and thought he was ready for everything. But Stern knew you can’t always fix a car by reading a manual. Experienced technicians know the tricks and short cuts and pass them on to younger mechanics.

For this young senator, the mentor was Elizabeth Stern. She wasn’t always politically cold-hearted. That’s why she’d helped him. But she was always a calculating one. Someday she might need the young man, and she saw him as a person who wouldn’t forget her kindness.

Stern greeted him with a warm two-handed handshake, and they sat on the sofa together. She started with small talk, occasionally dropping a subtle reminder of her past assistance. Then, she got to the point. “What’s your take on a new immigration bill?”

“I’ve got mixed feelings. I’m not sure what the governor’s doing is right. But I wouldn’t want to go against my party. I haven’t thought it out.”

“Well, I’d like you to please start thinking about it,” she said pleasantly. “And don’t worry about breaking with your party. It’s not that unusual. Don’t concern yourself about it. I’ll look out for you. I have in the past, haven’t I?”

“Yes, you have, Liz, and I appreciate it.”

Perfect. Time to play the trump card. She touched his arm. “I need you to show that appreciation now. This is a big issue for me, and I need your help. Can I count on you?”

“You need my vote for the immigration bill?”

Stern sensed his nervousness. “Don’t be so edgy. Your career is just starting, and this vote isn’t going to affect it much one way or another. I do need your help. I’m sure of all my people, but we need a few from your side to come with us.”

He paused. “I need to think about this.”

“I understand. But things are moving quickly. There’s not much time. I need a commitment from you.”

“Today? Right now?”

“Yes. I don’t like putting you in this kind of spot. I think you know I’m not that kind of person. But we’ve got to act fast. I have to know if I can rely on you. Are you with me?”

“This is a tough call, Liz. How would you feel if I refused?”

She sat back into the sofa. Now came the closer. “How would you feel if the situation were reversed? If you’d taken me under your wing and I turned down a favor you asked for. I wouldn’t hate you, of course, but I’d have to rethink our friendship and perhaps my opinion of you. I don’t think a little reciprocity is too much to ask. And remember that there may be times when I can help you again in the future.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Okay. I’ll vote with you. It’s the least I can do.”

She smiled. “You won’t regret it. I promise.”

He stared down for a moment, and Stern thought he’d realized what she’d just done. He scratched his forehead. “Listen, Liz, I’m happy to help you out on this. But that doesn’t mean you can count on me every time. As I said, I’m at odds with myself on this immigration thing, so I’ll go along with you. But I won’t on something that’s really important to me.”

“I know. And I wouldn’t ask you to. This will be the exception to the rule for you and me.” She put her hand on her heart. “I promise.”

He seemed soothed, so she chatted with him a little longer, then looked at her watch. “Oops, I’ve got another meeting coming soon, and I need to bone up for it.”

She thanked him again, took his arm, and led him to the door. “Let me know if you ever need anything.”