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american comcis _ tales of caltiveter _chapter_0173_part_01
Chapter 321
chapter 0173 part 1
# Chapter 173: The Gathering Storm Before the Rain
"Judging by your expression, things must be progressing smoothly!"
Francis Underwood returned to his residence, hung his suit jacket on the clothes rack, and sat tiredly on the sofa, his face unable to hide his excitement.
The Secretary of State's wife brought him a cup of hot coffee, while she herself held a cup of freshly squeezed apple juice and sat opposite him.
Claire Underwood, the Secretary of State's wife, was a woman with extremely keen political acumen and had been a capable assistant throughout Francis Underwood's political career.
Claire's contribution accounted for at least half of Francis becoming the Secretary of State.
"Everything is proceeding smoothly according to the plan!" Francis Underwood took a couple sips of hot coffee, then took out a document from his briefcase and handed it to his wife.
"What is this?" Claire took the document and flipped through it a few times!
"The guest list I've drawn up for the cocktail party. The President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, President pro tempore of the Senate, and I, the Secretary of State, will all attend."
Francis Underwood said, "Of course, some Important Figures will also come. The Chairman of the Federal Reserve, as well as influential families/clans in the Federation like Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Stark, have also been invited."
"You've turned a secret meeting into this kind of cocktail party. Doesn't the occupant of the White House have any opinions?"
Claire looked at the tired Francis, walked over, cradled his head in her arms, and gently massaged his temples with her thumbs.
"That's just how the Federation's political system works. Behind these invited people are the Federation's enterprises and consortiums that are too big to fail.
Once the peace talks with Wakanda are successful, the benefits involved are something the government alone cannot swallow. It's called a cocktail party, but it's really just everyone sitting together to divide the cake!"
Francis Underwood explained, resting his head in his wife's arms, "Neither the invited guests nor the Wakandan side will suspect the true purpose of this cocktail party!"
Claire massaged Francis's head, with a worried look on her face, she said, "Isn't this a bit too risky? With your political strategy, we still have opportunities; there's no need to take this risk!"
Claire naturally knew her husband's scheme. Although she had accompanied him for many years and was accustomed to the open and hidden struggles in the political arena, she was still shocked by Francis's grand plan.
"There are no more opportunities. Based on Garrett's current prestige, he can likely be re-elected for another term if nothing unexpected happens. If the term after next goes to the Democratic Party, how many opportunities do you think I have left?"
"But, those attending the cocktail party are all Important Figures of the Federation. If something happens to them, it will send shockwaves throughout the entire Federation!"
"Isn't that good?" Francis looked up at his wife. Their eyes met, and his gaze carried a hint of ruthlessness:
"Washington suffers a terrorist attack, the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, and President pro tempore of the Senate are assassinated, and a large number of heads and presidents of well-known companies perish."
"According to the Federal Constitution, I will directly take over the presidency, and when the Federation is under terrorist attack, I can directly exercise the Federal President's wartime powers!"
"For this cocktail party, I specifically invited the heads of consortiums like J.P. Morgan Chase, Rockefeller, and DuPont to attend. Once something happens to these heads, these consortiums are bound to fall into internal strife for a period."
"At that time, as the wartime President, I will eliminate those terrorists, then rectify the economy, lower the unemployment rate, and maybe even deal with one or two consortiums that are too big to fail.
Claire, tell me, as the hero who saved the Federation, will my term exceed Franklin Roosevelt's?"
Claire looked down at her husband with some astonishment. It was the first time she had known Francis harbored such ambition.
"But Roosevelt's experience cannot be replicated. You must know, he was re-elected because during the WWII period, the Federation had to face WWII (World War II), and he gained public approval, which is why he was re-elected for four terms. Moreover, after him, the Federal Constitution stipulated that each President can only be re-elected for a maximum of two terms!"
Franklin Roosevelt was the first and also the last President in Federation history to successfully be re-elected for four terms.
Since its founding, the Federation has always implemented a presidential system. Including the current one, there have been a total of 45 Presidents, only eleven of whom did not succeed in re-election. According to the Federation's initial constitutional provisions, it only stipulated that the term of each Federal President is four years and did not explicitly stipulate a term limit for re-election.
In other words, as long as there is sufficient public approval, the President can be continuously re-elected.
But the Federation's first President, Washington, had a clear understanding of his own status.
After being elected Federal President unanimously for two consecutive terms, he resolutely did not seek a third term, leaving behind the tradition for the Federation that each President could be re-elected for a maximum of two terms.
This tradition was only broken 150 years later by the Federation's 32nd President, Franklin Roosevelt. He was unprecedented and unrepeatable in being re-elected for four terms and also became the President with the longest term in the Federation's history to date.
But the reason why Roosevelt was able to be re-elected for four terms at that time was because it was during the Great Depression and the WWII period. The long-term war triggered panic in the hearts of the people of the Federation. They yearned for stable rule, and Roosevelt's election could maintain policy continuity and minimize the turmoil caused by a change in administration.
But after Franklin Roosevelt left office,
In 1951, the Federal Congress passed the Twenty-second Amendment to the Constitution, stipulating that no one shall hold the position of President for more than two terms.
"Roosevelt could leverage public opinion to be re-elected, why can't I?" Francis looked at his wife and counter-questioned.
"Since Roosevelt was re-elected because of the WWII (World War II) war, then I will create an enemy for the Federation to face!"
Francis's eyes seemed to burn with flames of ambition. Leaving one's name in history is the ultimate goal of every politician.
Claire looked at her husband and did not speak. As a woman who also had ambition, she could distinguish which position was higher between the Secretary of State's wife and the First Lady of the Federation.
She massaged Francis's head for a while, then sat on the sofa next to him, picked up the invitation list, and checked it for omissions and errors.
"Tony Stark, Frank, cross out his name!" Claire looked at the name on the invitation list, then looked up and said to Francis.
(Frank is a nickname for Francis! It is generally used by acquaintances and between husband and wife.) Francis looked at Claire with doubt.
Claire calmly analyzed, "You must know, this head of the Stark family/clan has another identity. You don't want a troublemaking Iron Man appearing in your plan, do you!"
Francis, who had made a mistake while busy, only then remembered that Tony Stark also had the identity of Iron Man. Although he was very confident in the secret weapons Cobra had produced,
Facing Tony Stark, who was at the height of his popularity in the Federation at this time, he was also unsure.
"If we don't invite him, won't it seem very abrupt?" Francis frowned.
Although the Stark family/clan cannot compare to those established consortiums, after WWII (World War II), the management of two generations of Starks gave the Stark family/clan deep influence in the Federation military.
And now Stark Industries is involved in the energy sector, truly a veritable energy magnate! If Tony Stark is not invited to this cocktail party, it would indeed seem too conspicuous, too deliberate! "You forgot, the current president of Stark Industries is not Tony Stark!" Seeing Francis's predicament, Claire enlightened him with a single sentence.
Hearing this, Francis immediately realized, embraced Claire, and kissed her: "Then change the name on the invitation to Pepper Potts!"
Claire took out a fountain pen and directly crossed out Tony Stark's name on the invitation list, writing down Pepper Potts's name! Of course, this draft was just Francis's initial draft! The real invitation had not yet been made.
The time for the cocktail party was scheduled for three days later. These few days were enough time for the White House staff to send the invitations to the intended recipients.
"Song Tang!" Claire saw an unfamiliar name on the invitation list. She looked at Francis with doubt.
"Someone has to be the scapegoat for this matter. This person is just the right height, weight, and build!"
Claire nodded understandingly.
"There's one more thing, help me find information on a ** organization from the WWII period. I need a batch of their clothes, slogans, and badges! And make it fast!"
Francis thought of the Hydra that T'Chaka had mentioned, which had resurfaced.
# Chapter 173: The Gathering Storm Before the Rain
"Judging by your expression, things must be progressing smoothly!"
Francis Underwood returned to his residence, hung his suit jacket on the clothes rack, and sat tiredly on the sofa, his face unable to hide his excitement.
The Secretary of State's wife brought him a cup of hot coffee, while she herself held a cup of freshly squeezed apple juice and sat opposite him.
Claire Underwood, the Secretary of State's wife, was a woman with extremely keen political acumen and had been a capable assistant throughout Francis Underwood's political career.
Claire's contribution accounted for at least half of Francis becoming the Secretary of State.
"Everything is proceeding smoothly according to the plan!" Francis Underwood took a couple sips of hot coffee, then took out a document from his briefcase and handed it to his wife.
"What is this?" Claire took the document and flipped through it a few times!
"The guest list I've drawn up for the cocktail party. The President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, President pro tempore of the Senate, and I, the Secretary of State, will all attend."
Francis Underwood said, "Of course, some Important Figures will also come. The Chairman of the Federal Reserve, as well as influential families/clans in the Federation like Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Stark, have also been invited."
"You've turned a secret meeting into this kind of cocktail party. Doesn't the occupant of the White House have any opinions?"
Claire looked at the tired Francis, walked over, cradled his head in her arms, and gently massaged his temples with her thumbs.
"That's just how the Federation's political system works. Behind these invited people are the Federation's enterprises and consortiums that are too big to fail.
Once the peace talks with Wakanda are successful, the benefits involved are something the government alone cannot swallow. It's called a cocktail party, but it's really just everyone sitting together to divide the cake!"
Francis Underwood explained, resting his head in his wife's arms, "Neither the invited guests nor the Wakandan side will suspect the true purpose of this cocktail party!"
Claire massaged Francis's head, with a worried look on her face, she said, "Isn't this a bit too risky? With your political strategy, we still have opportunities; there's no need to take this risk!"
Claire naturally knew her husband's scheme. Although she had accompanied him for many years and was accustomed to the open and hidden struggles in the political arena, she was still shocked by Francis's grand plan.
"There are no more opportunities. Based on Garrett's current prestige, he can likely be re-elected for another term if nothing unexpected happens. If the term after next goes to the Democratic Party, how many opportunities do you think I have left?"
"But, those attending the cocktail party are all Important Figures of the Federation. If something happens to them, it will send shockwaves throughout the entire Federation!"
"Isn't that good?" Francis looked up at his wife. Their eyes met, and his gaze carried a hint of ruthlessness:
"Washington suffers a terrorist attack, the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, and President pro tempore of the Senate are assassinated, and a large number of heads and presidents of well-known companies perish."
"According to the Federal Constitution, I will directly take over the presidency, and when the Federation is under terrorist attack, I can directly exercise the Federal President's wartime powers!"
"For this cocktail party, I specifically invited the heads of consortiums like J.P. Morgan Chase, Rockefeller, and DuPont to attend. Once something happens to these heads, these consortiums are bound to fall into internal strife for a period."
"At that time, as the wartime President, I will eliminate those terrorists, then rectify the economy, lower the unemployment rate, and maybe even deal with one or two consortiums that are too big to fail.
Claire, tell me, as the hero who saved the Federation, will my term exceed Franklin Roosevelt's?"
Claire looked down at her husband with some astonishment. It was the first time she had known Francis harbored such ambition.
"But Roosevelt's experience cannot be replicated. You must know, he was re-elected because during the WWII period, the Federation had to face WWII (World War II), and he gained public approval, which is why he was re-elected for four terms. Moreover, after him, the Federal Constitution stipulated that each President can only be re-elected for a maximum of two terms!"
Franklin Roosevelt was the first and also the last President in Federation history to successfully be re-elected for four terms.
Since its founding, the Federation has always implemented a presidential system. Including the current one, there have been a total of 45 Presidents, only eleven of whom did not succeed in re-election. According to the Federation's initial constitutional provisions, it only stipulated that the term of each Federal President is four years and did not explicitly stipulate a term limit for re-election.
In other words, as long as there is sufficient public approval, the President can be continuously re-elected.
But the Federation's first President, Washington, had a clear understanding of his own status.
After being elected Federal President unanimously for two consecutive terms, he resolutely did not seek a third term, leaving behind the tradition for the Federation that each President could be re-elected for a maximum of two terms.
This tradition was only broken 150 years later by the Federation's 32nd President, Franklin Roosevelt. He was unprecedented and unrepeatable in being re-elected for four terms and also became the President with the longest term in the Federation's history to date.
But the reason why Roosevelt was able to be re-elected for four terms at that time was because it was during the Great Depression and the WWII period. The long-term war triggered panic in the hearts of the people of the Federation. They yearned for stable rule, and Roosevelt's election could maintain policy continuity and minimize the turmoil caused by a change in administration.
But after Franklin Roosevelt left office,
In 1951, the Federal Congress passed the Twenty-second Amendment to the Constitution, stipulating that no one shall hold the position of President for more than two terms.
"Roosevelt could leverage public opinion to be re-elected, why can't I?" Francis looked at his wife and counter-questioned.
"Since Roosevelt was re-elected because of the WWII (World War II) war, then I will create an enemy for the Federation to face!"
Francis's eyes seemed to burn with flames of ambition. Leaving one's name in history is the ultimate goal of every politician.
Claire looked at her husband and did not speak. As a woman who also had ambition, she could distinguish which position was higher between the Secretary of State's wife and the First Lady of the Federation.
She massaged Francis's head for a while, then sat on the sofa next to him, picked up the invitation list, and checked it for omissions and errors.
"Tony Stark, Frank, cross out his name!" Claire looked at the name on the invitation list, then looked up and said to Francis.
(Frank is a nickname for Francis! It is generally used by acquaintances and between husband and wife.) Francis looked at Claire with doubt.
Claire calmly analyzed, "You must know, this head of the Stark family/clan has another identity. You don't want a troublemaking Iron Man appearing in your plan, do you!"
Francis, who had made a mistake while busy, only then remembered that Tony Stark also had the identity of Iron Man. Although he was very confident in the secret weapons Cobra had produced,
Facing Tony Stark, who was at the height of his popularity in the Federation at this time, he was also unsure.
"If we don't invite him, won't it seem very abrupt?" Francis frowned.
Although the Stark family/clan cannot compare to those established consortiums, after WWII (World War II), the management of two generations of Starks gave the Stark family/clan deep influence in the Federation military.
And now Stark Industries is involved in the energy sector, truly a veritable energy magnate! If Tony Stark is not invited to this cocktail party, it would indeed seem too conspicuous, too deliberate! "You forgot, the current president of Stark Industries is not Tony Stark!" Seeing Francis's predicament, Claire enlightened him with a single sentence.
Hearing this, Francis immediately realized, embraced Claire, and kissed her: "Then change the name on the invitation to Pepper Potts!"
Claire took out a fountain pen and directly crossed out Tony Stark's name on the invitation list, writing down Pepper Potts's name! Of course, this draft was just Francis's initial draft! The real invitation had not yet been made.
The time for the cocktail party was scheduled for three days later. These few days were enough time for the White House staff to send the invitations to the intended recipients.
"Song Tang!" Claire saw an unfamiliar name on the invitation list. She looked at Francis with doubt.
"Someone has to be the scapegoat for this matter. This person is just the right height, weight, and build!"
Claire nodded understandingly.
"There's one more thing, help me find information on a ** organization from the WWII period. I need a batch of their clothes, slogans, and badges! And make it fast!"
Francis thought of the Hydra that T'Chaka had mentioned, which had resurfaced.
