Chapter 08
He flipped open a new folder and handed out sheets of paper to both of them.
"We'll probably want to wait until at least the holiday season has really gotten underway - and it would probably be best to wait until after all is said and done - but in the meanwhile, I hope that neither one of you mind that I've taken the liberty of getting started on a list of potential candidates for the president to be seen with during the campaign. These are the top three."
A little color came into Cyrus' face as both Fitz and Olivia glanced down at the first name on the list. They both then simultaneously turned their eyes on him in what was a possibly ominous stare, but definitely an unhappy one that made him quake a little in his proverbial boots.
At least he hoped it was only a stare. Better a stare than a glare, he told himself.
Fitz's eyes had gone a deep, dark stormy slate-blue, but Olivia spoke before he could.
"Hear him out first, Fitz. I'm sure that Cyrus has good reasons - and explanations, I'm sure." And they had better be good ones, her eyes said.
"Elizabeth North?" Fitz's eyes went glacial, but it still wasn't a full out glare, Cyrus reassured himself. That meant that the president was still open to the idea of a reasonable explanation. Probably.
"Yes, I do. She's the Chairperson of the RNC. She's pretty, blond and -"
"Republican." Olivia and Fitz finished his sentence together.
"Republican." Cyrus nodded. "Say what you want - and I know, Mr. President, that you'll have plenty to say - but before you do, remember that you can't discount the base - not totally."
Fitz's response was a wordless sound of disgust, but otherwise, he said nothing.
Cyrus relaxed an inch, but no more than that. "No one is asking you to ask her to wear your class ring, or to make out with her behind the bleachers."
He ignored the look Olivia shot him.
"At some point, you're going to have to start making nice with her anyway once the re-election campaign begins - officially or unofficially - so why not sooner rather than later?"
In the quiet that followed his words, Cyrus watched as Fitz and Olivia looked at one another and found himself witness once again to the bond that they shared - one that apparently didn't even require words any more. As their eyes met and held for a moment, Cyrus could have sworn that an entire conversation passed between them.
A part of Fitz knew that Cyrus was right in his assessment of Elizabeth North's usefulness, but that didn't mean that he had to like it. He'd already had an overdose of the woman when he'd flown in to help Karen's Habitat For Humanity convocation during last year's unexpected storm in the Boston area. She'd shown up uninvited and he was still annoyed at her behavior from start to finish.
Olivia knew Fitz's frustration and it matched hers; the rational part of her knew that Cyrus was only trying to be helpful - but it didn't change her opinion about the other woman. She hadn't liked Elizabeth's interference any more than Fitz had. The idea of Fitz having to deal with her on a one on one basis sent a twist to her gut.
But like it or not, Cyrus was right. Elizabeth North was a necessary cog in the Republican machine and Fitz could do worse than trying to get along with her this time around.
Fitz could read and follow Olivia's thinking processes, knowing that her focus was on his campaign. It was important to him too, but there were other things on his mind as well. Olivia might be able to separate the campaign from the two of them, but Fitz found that he couldn't - and more importantly - he didn't want to.
He wanted it all, he realized - his campaign, run this time according to his rules, the win by the will of the American people, the ownership of the presidency - and most importantly, Olivia as his First Lady.
She read all of this and more in the depth of his grey-blue eyes. Hers softened even as her smile widened. His did the same.
"I'll think about it -" that was about as much concession that Fitz was willing to make in the moment. "- but you can see why I don't want her at the top of the list. People will be speculating enough about whoever the first woman I'm seen with publicly is - and I'll be honest, I don't want it to be her."
Cyrus watched all of this play across Fitz's face. "I appreciate the honesty, Mr. President - but for once, expediency needs to take precedence…"
Olivia wouldn't allow Cyrus to push Fitz any more than he already had. It was up to Fitz to make any final decisions, so she stopped him before he could finish. "This isn't a debate, Cyrus. At least not yet, so let's move on for now."
From the look on both faces, Cyrus saw that he had no choice but to back down, falling quiet as they all took a moment to consider the next name on the list.
"Kimberly Mitchell. The chief political correspondent for BNC." Olivia read the next name aloud. There were pros and cons to her inclusion on the list - and at first glance, definitely more pros than anything that she could say about Elizabeth North. At first glance…
The idea of the reporter was very much more to Fitz's liking that the RNC Chairperson. Even so - "What about a possible perspective of a conflict of interest?" he asked.
"The press vs the presidency?" Cyrus asked. When Fitz nodded, Cyrus answered him with his own opinion. "It depends on how the matter is handled."
"Handling her is the question." Fitz said. He watched as Olivia stood up and began to pace. Back and forth. That meant she was thinking, and from the look on her face, whatever it was about, it was serious.
"Do you think she can be handled?" He asked, even as he kept an eye on Olivia.
"It's possible." Cyrus shrugged. "I wouldn't have suggested her if it weren't."
"I question that we be trying to 'handle' her at all." Fitz said. "Our plan doesn't include our causing risk to anyone else. It wouldn't be fair to open her up to harm."
"Kimberly Mitchell is a big girl and she knows the game." Cyrus said. "She's a major player in the media. In her defense, she has an extremely high profile, which means that the party will probably hesitate to make an open issue of it. On the other hand, sir, it seems that you're assuming there will be an attack." Cyrus said.
"You're not?" Fitz asked. "I think it's pretty much guaranteed."
"I'm not one hundred percent sure of that." Cyrus said. "When I speak of the party's hesitation, what I mean is that those who might attack her will surely be cautious of bringing down the wrath of her network on them. Her being seen developing a closer relationship with the White House - meaning you - could be spun as a plus for the both of you, Mr. President."
Cyrus had been prepared for this argument, knowing Fitz well enough to know the thought of repercussions being made against the reporter would matter to him.
Olivia stopped pacing. "Open attacks are one thing, but there are some that would think nothing about playing dog-whistle politics with her and her career - you know that as well as I do, Cyrus. You both do - and why."
Olivia knew that she'd had more experience with that particular level of politics than either of them ever had or ever would - whether it was on behalf of a client or personally. Yes, Cyrus might have some comparable life experiences, given his relationship preferences, but even so, nothing trumped race. Fitz and Cyrus might both understand the words and the politics, but the true reality - neither of them could truly understand how truly destructive the political application of subtle racism could be to one's very sense of self.
Dog-whistle politics were exactly that - words never spoken aloud coming into play with deliberately falsely framed remarks that could and would question the very basics of who Kimberly was. There was no real way to fight it, should it start; it just became a matter of perseverance. There was no doubt in Olivia's mind that Kimberly had already had to deal with enough with that crap as she'd risen through the ranks to stand where she was standing today. Olivia knew it because she had lived that same reality.
"Let me state it clearly for the record that I'm against anything that might possibly affect Kimberly's life negatively." Olivia stated. From the fire in her eyes, it was obvious that her thoughts had ignited a fierce anger in her. "There's no way that I'm going to allow her to endure any attacks that we all know are really meant for me."