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.The miracle about our constitution, you know, is that it works at all.” The President’s voice ranged lustily on.“The trouble was, the Founding Fathers were so damned anxious to cut loose from everything British that they threw out the best things along with the bad.But one makes the best of what one has, whether it’s the body politic or the body personal.”With the last words they had reached the wide, balustraded steps leading under the curved and colonnaded South Portico.Preceding his guest, the President leaped upward two steps at a time and, not to be outdone, James Howden followed at the same pace.But at the halfway mark the Prime Minister stopped, short of breath and perspiring.His dark blue worsted suit, ideal in Ottawa, was uncomfortably heavy in the warm Washington sunshine.He wished he had brought one of his lightweight suits, but on looking them over none had seemed quite good enough for this occasion.The President was reported to be meticulous about dress and sometimes changed suits several times a day.But then, the U.S.Chief Executive was not subject to the personal money worries of a Canadian Prime Minister.The thought reminded Howden briefly that he had not yet broken the news to Margaret of just how serious their own financial position had become.The man from Montreal Trust had made it clear: unless they stopped eroding the few thousands of capital remaining, his resources on retirement would be equal to the wages of a minor artisan.Of course, it would never really come to that: the Rockefeller Foundation and others could be appealed to—Rockefeller had granted Mackenzie King a hundred thousand dollars on the day of the veteran Prime Minister’s retirement—but the thought of actively seeking an American handout, however generous, was still humiliating.A few steps up the President had stopped.He said contritely, “Do forgive me.I’m always forgetting, and doing that to people.”“I should have known better.” James Howden’s heart was pounding; his heavy breathing punctuated the words.“I expect it was your remark about the body personal.” Like everyone else he was aware of the President’s lifelong passion for physical fitness in himself and those around him.A succession of White House aides, including dispirited generals and admirals, staggered exhausted from daily presidential sessions of handball, tennis, or badminton.A frequent complaint from the President’s lips was that “This generation has the bellies of Buddhas and shoulders like bloodhounds’ ears.” It was the President, too, who had revived the Theodore Roosevelt pastime of taking country walks in straight lines, going over objects—trees, barns, haystacks—instead of around them.He had even attempted something of the kind in Washington and, remembering, Howden asked, “How did those local forays of yours go—the A to B idea?”The other man chortled as they moved together, leisurely, up the stairs.“I had to quit in the end; got into a few problems.We couldn’t scramble over buildings here, except some small ones, so we started going through them wherever a straight line led.Got in some strange places too, including a toilet in the Pentagon—in the door and out the window.” He chuckled reminiscently.“But one day my brother and I wound up in the Statler Hotel kitchens-walked in the cold room and short of blasting there was no way out.”Howden laughed.“Perhaps we’ll try it in Ottawa.There are some of the Opposition I’d like to see depart in straight lines—especially if they’d keep on going.”“Our opponents are sent to try us, Jim.”“I suppose so,” Howden said.“But some try harder than others.By the way, I’ve brought some new rock samples for your collection.Our Mines and Resources people tell me they’re unique.”“Well, thank you,” the President said.“I’m really most grateful.And please thank your people too.”From the South Portico’s shade they passed into the cool White House interior, then threaded a hallway and corridors to the presidential office on the building’s southeast corner.Opening the white-painted single door, the President ushered Howden in.As usual, on the several occasions he had been here, the Prime Minister was conscious of the room’s simplicity [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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