The phone rang in the President's suite. Jed fumbled around until he found it and picked it up.
"Good morning, Mr. President. This is Charlie, and it's 6:00 am."
"Charlie?"
"Yes, Sir?"
"Are you sure its six?"
"Yes, Sir."
"It's not five?"
"No, Sir. Sir, you have to get up."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Ok." Jed hung up the phone and snuggled back down in the bed.
The phone rang again. He picked it back up.
"Mr. President, it's 6:15, You must get up."
"Who's this?"
"It's Charlie, Sir. Sir, please put your feet on the floor. You are going to be late if you don't get up now."
"Okay. I promise." Jed hung up the phone, but this time he threw the covers back and put his feet on the floor. He rubbed his face and got up. And started getting ready for the day's activities.
By the time he got out of the shower and was dressed, breakfast had been delivered to the living area of the suite. Leo had also let himself in and poured himself a cup of coffee, waiting on the President to emerge from the bedroom.
"Good morning, Mr. President."
"Good morning, Leo. I need coffee." Jed made his way over to the food cart and poured his first cup and gratefully sipped the hot liquid. "Now, you can tell me anything. I'm awake."
Leo smiled. He knew just how grumpy somebody was until that first sip.
"Sir, we are to meet Ambassador Lancaster downstairs at 7:30, that's about 30 minutes from now. Then we proceed to the Casa Rosada, where the President of Argentina has his offices, and where you will start the day with an official greeting and photo-op with President Duhalde. The rest of the day will be spent in meetings and lunch. About 3 pm, you will come back here. After a brief rest and a change of clothes, all of us will return for the State Dinner, which will start about 6 pm. It should be over by 9, no later than 10. They don't believe in late hours for formal dinners."
"Thank God."
Jed sat down with a plate of fruit and toast. "Leo, please help yourself. There's plenty there."
"No, thank you, Sir. I've eaten."
A knock and the door opened. Toby and CJ came in with broad smiles.
"Good Morning, Mr. President."
"Good morning, yourself. You both look like you just won the lottery."
CJ replied. "Sir, in a way we have. And I think you and Leo both will think so as well when we tell you our news."
"Well, tell us." Leo had no clue what they were going to say.
Toby spoke next. "We know the leaker regarding John Miller. I guess I should say, liar."
"Well, who?" Both Leo and the President asked the same question at the same time.
"Sam Smith."
"Sam Smith? Who does he work for?" Leo had never heard of the man.
"Sam Smith used to work for Walter Franks, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as an Assistant Secretary. And I emphasize used to. He got fired Monday for insubordination and decided to take out his anger on Secretary Franks by creating a fake story on John Miller."
"How the hell did he even know John Miller?"
"Well, it seems John Miller had been on the short list for HUD Secretary before you choose Secretary Franks…"
"He was."
"…and Smith had access to the vetting files on all the nominees. So he knew had much the MS reveal had hurt the administration. He decided that another similar scandal would be the so-called final nail in the coffin of the Bartlet administration when it came to the public trust. So he met with the second-string White House reporter from the Times and gave him the fake story. And the reporter, anxious to make a name for himself, swallowed the story and got it past his editors who agreed to print it."
"I'll be dammed."
"That's right, Leo."
The President stood. "How did you find all this out?"
Toby replied. "When we got to the hotel last night, CJ and I approached Greg Brock, the Times reporter, and asked him point blank about it. Of course, initially he denied it, but once he made a few calls, he called us later with the truth. He said that his editors would be publishing an apology in the Times this morning and faxing the apology over to Toby's office this morning."
"I can't believe that Greg Brock of all people gave up one their reporters," Leo replied.
"I can't either," said CJ. "But he did, and the Times apologized."
Leo looked at his watch. "Mr. President, we need to get going."
"Right. CJ, Toby, we'll see you there. Leo, let's get downstairs and meet the Ambassador."
The duo left the suite and, with their Secret Service escort, including Ron, got in the elevator and went to the basement. Waiting for them, the United States Ambassador to Argentina, Charles Lancaster.
"Welcome, Mr. President."
"Thank you, Charles. Good to see you. I think you know Leo McGarry."
"Yes, Sir. How are you, Leo?"
"Good, Charles. Let's get this day going."
The two men waited, allowing the President to enter the limousine first, then Leo slid in beside him, and then the Ambassador slid in the seat facing the other two men. Ron closed the door and got in the front seat, beside the driver.
"Mr. President, I'm sure you've been briefed on all the economic problems going on down here right now. Do you have any questions that I could answer for you?"
"What is the current political climate down here? Will Duhalde be reelected or are there underground parties stronger than the ruling party?"
"It doesn't look good for him, right now. Argentinian politics have always been a cutthroat affair. Even Duhalde's so called election was hardly that. But the country is striving toward stabilization. In my personal opinion, I wouldn't promise a whole lot to this administration. The country's economy is tenuous and the military is looking for any opportunity to regain control. But I don't think the people will allow that to happen again. Just you being here gives strength to the process of democracy's development in Argentina. And I think that should be your point. Don't tie yourself to a particular person, but to the ideal. And how the United States will stand behind and support that ideal."
"Thank you, Ambassador. It really helps to have an inside perspective."
The three men chatted for the remaining twenty-minute drive.
The motorcade pulled into a circular drive and stopped in front of a two-story pink building, in front of a well-groomed green plaza.
Jed looked through the window of the limo and couldn't resist informing his guests of some of his knowledge about the place. "Leo, did you know that this building was constructed on the site on an old Spanish Fort that was built in 1580? And then that was torn down and this building was built in the late 1800's. And, also did you know that it was from the balconies of the Casa Rosada that Juan and Evita Peron addressed the masses during the late 1940s and early 1950s?"
"No, I didn't, Mr. President."
"Leo, show a little more enthusiasm for this country's history. I think it is fascinating."
"Yes, Sir."
By this time, Ron had opened the side door, and the Ambassador and Chief of Staff exited the car.
Jed waited for the signal to exit. When it was given, he exited, and smiled for the both the waiting President Duhalde and the press.
"Hello, Mr. President. So happy you are here."
"Hello, Mr. President. I am happy to finally meet you," the President of the United States replied.
They both turned, shaking hands, and smiled for the cameras. Each country's national anthem was played while each stood respectfully silent. The Argentinian military guard snapped to attention as both men then turned and walked inside to begin their meetings.