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of abearer of momentous news. “Because this isn’t going to be just anotherdocumentary. Pat Traymore, you have the chance to be a kingmaker.”She thought of what Sam had told her. “ The Vice President? ”“The Vice President,” he confirmed, “and I’m glad you have your ear tothe ground. That triple bypass last year hasn’t done the job for him.
     
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My spies at the hospital tell me he has extensive heart damageand if he wants to live he’s going to have to change his lifestyle. Thatmeans he’s virtually certain to resign—and now. To keep all factionsof the party happy, the President will go through the motions of havingthe Secret Service check out three or four serious contenders for thejob. But the inside bet is that Abigail has the best shot at it. When weair this program we want to motivate millions of Americans to sendtelegrams to the President in Abigail’s behalf. That’s what the programmust do for her. And think about what it can do for your career.”Sam had talked about the possibility of the Vice President’sresignation and Abigail’s candidacy. Luther Pelham clearly believedboth were imminent probabilities. To be at the right place at the righttime, to be there when a story was breaking—it was the dream ofevery newswoman. “If words leaks out about how sick the VicePresident is . . .”“It’s more than leaking out,” Luther told her. “I’m carrying it onmy newscast tonight, including the rumors that the President isconsidering a woman replacement.”“Then the Jennings program could sweep the ratings next week!Senator Jennings isn ’t that well known to the average voter.Everyone’s going to want to find out about her.”“Exactly. Now you can understand the need to put it together fastand make it something absolutely extraordinary.”“The Senator . . . If we make this program as bloodless as sheseems to want, you won’t get fourteen telegrams, never mind millions.Before I proposed this documentary I did some extensive surveyingto find out what people think about her.”“And?”“Older people compared her to Margaret Chase Smith. They calledher impressive, gutsy, intelligent.”“What’s wrong with that?”“Not one of the older people felt they knew her as a human being.They think of her as being distant and formal.”“Go on.”“The younger people have a different approach. When I told themabout the Senator being Miss New York State, they thought it wasgreat. They want to know more about it. Remember, if Abigail
     
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Jennings is chosen to be Vice President, she’ll be second in commandof the whole country. A number of people who know she is from theNortheast resent the fact that she never talks about it. I think she’smaking a mistake. And we’ll compound it if we ignore the first twentyyears of her life.”“She’ll never let you mention Apple Junction,” Luther said flatly.“So let’s not waste time on that. She told me that when she resignedher Miss New York State title, they wanted to lynch her there.”“Luther, she’s wrong. Do you seriously think anyone in AppleJunction gives a damn anymore that Abigail didn’t go to Atlantic Cityto try to become Miss America? Right now I’ll bet every adult there isbragging that he or she knew Abigail when. As for resigning the title,let’s face it head on. Who wouldn’t sympathize with an answer likeAbigail saying it had been a lark entering the contest but she found shehated the idea of parading around in a bathing suit and having peoplejudge her like a side of beef? Beauty contests are passé now. We’llmake her look good for realizing it before anyone else did.”Luther drummed his fingers on the desk. Every instinct told himPat was right, but Abigail had been definite on this point. Supposethey talked her into doing some material on her early life and itbackfired? Luther was determined to be the power that put Abigailacross as Vice President. Of course the party leaders would exact