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Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and Dunbar Shelton, the chief justice of the supreme court of Mississippi.
    “Judge Lefler was appointed to the bench fifteen years ago,” Porter said as he read from his printed report. His briefcase contained a complete dossier on each candidate. “He was elevated to the chief judge’s position five years later. His written opinions have consistently held to conservative social and economic philosophies. He has consistently voted to interpret the Constitution as it was written. Strong supporter of Second Amendment rights—”
    “What about Shelton?” President Wallace interrupted.
    “You want me to finish the report on Judge Lefler?”
    “Later, perhaps, but I want to talk about Shelton first.”
    Obediently Porter placed Judge Lefler’s dossier on the corner of President Wallace’s desk and removed the one on Judge Shelton from his briefcase. “He has served on the Mississippi Supreme Court for the last ten years and is as conservative, if not more so, as Lefler. His writings have restricted the reach of affirmative action. Like Lefler, he is a strict constructionist on constitutional issues. He has overturned excessive personal-injury awards. He—”
    “I hear what you are telling me, Porter,” President Wallace interrupted again.
    He already knew every word in each dossier from memory. But it wasn’t biographical sketches that interested him. It was philosophical and theological issues that concerned him. He wanted to know what each man thought about when he was alone in his own bedroom and stared at himself in the mirror. He rose from his chair and began to pace between the desk and the window that overlooked the Rose Garden.
    “But you’re not telling me what I want to know.” President Wallace stopped pacing, thrust his hands in his pants pockets, and peered through the window at the garden that had yet to reach its full bloom. “What I want to know is where do they stand on Roe v. Wade , and can they be confirmed by the Senate?”
    “I don’t know, sir. I really don’t.”
    President Wallace spun around from the window briskly and waved his arms out to the sides of his body. “Don’t give me that, Porter,” he chastised. “You’re my chief of staff, and you worked for me when I was governor of South Carolina. I know you, Porter, and I know that you know the answer.”
    President Wallace shook the index finger of his right hand at Porter, and Porter squirmed in his chair. “You know it. You’re paid to know it. It’s your job to know it. President Mitchell knew that Justice Robinson would vote to uphold, if not extend, Roe v. Wade before he appointed her. She was the deciding fifth vote two years ago when the abortion issue was last before the court.”
    President Wallace rested the palms of his hands on the desk and leaned toward Porter. “I plan to appoint someone who will vote to overturn Roe . That’s why I’m here, Porter. That’s why I’m here. Now tell me which one.”
    Porter uncrossed his legs and crossed them again in the other direction. He averted his eyes from President Wallace. “You’re not going to like the answer.”
    “Tell me,” President Wallace ordered.
    Porter crossed his arms in front of his chest as if he were already disappointed with his own words, which had yet to be spoken. He looked directly into President Wallace’s eyes. “Shelton would vote to overturn, but you can’t get him confirmed. You have a better chance at getting Lefler confirmed, but I’m not convinced he would vote to overturn.”
    “What do you mean?” President Wallace inquired as he finally returned to his seat behind the resolute desk.
    “I mean that Lefler has been very careful over the years in what he has said both publicly and privately about the issue.” Porter uncrossed his arms and gestured with his hands as he continued. “You may find yourself with another David Souter.”
    President Wallace took another sip of coffee. It was