Richard V. Rupp

September 13, 2021

Good Monday morning. I'm author Richard V. Rupp, writing from Burbank, California. Welcome to Rupp's Notes/FBI Special Agent Hartman Series posts.

 

My RAMS looked great, and for a change, my CHARGERS were on the winning side of a close game. I can't believe USC lost to Stanford. Looks like a coaching change is in the works. And UCLA made it into the top 25.

 

Looks like I'm going to be drinking more of my Italian wines for a while. Many of my favorite California wines have been affected by the recent wildfires. The smoke has blanketed the vineyards and coated the grapes with particles that make the wines taste like an ashtray. I guess that's okay if you are a wine drinker who also smokes. Scientists are urgently working on solutions to help winemakers adapt to the smoke problem.

 

Many West Coast winemakers lost their 2020 vintage due to the fires, and the same may be true for 2021. It is reported that the 2020 vintage fire loss cost the wine industry in the United States $3.7 billion.

 

In my last post, I mention my SKYWARD  manuscript timeline screw-up. The following is what this has done to me and increased my wine consumption.

 

Many a year ago, I took my two sons to Washington D.C. for a few days to learn about our Government. It was summer, and coming from California, we were not used to the heat and humidity. We discovered it was a hotter than usual summer in D.C. To us, it was so bad, we kept going back to the hotel to cool off. I wanted to incorporate this trip that many families take into SKYWARD.

 

In my initial draft, the Bowman family makes a substantial donation to a PAC that allows them to meet with President Clinton at the White House. Then when I started writing dates on my pages, I determined that they would be meeting with either Presidents Obama or Trump. Based on a review of their speeches, I selected Obama. Because of what I did, there is a little Clinton in Obama. Most of the dialogue attributed to the two Presidents is from speeches they made during their presidency. There is no question that Clinton was more verbose than Obama. As you read, notice the difference in their reference to the size of government. The good news is that after this point, the story goes into the future, so I can do whatever I want with the timeline. Here's what I had to do to fix the manuscript -

 

CLINTON VERSION

 

Jordon, Daniela, Tessa, Maye, and Jacklyn looked on as a Presidental Aide moved from one Boy to the next in the White House Roosevelt Room. "Mr. President, your young visitors here are Norman and Chris. Then this is Gavin, Elon, and Jeff. They are visiting from California."

 

Tessa leaned over toward Daniela, "I can't believe you were able to arrange this meeting."

 

"It took a $100,000 donation to one of Clinton PAC's to seal the deal."

 

"Nice. He is good-looking and does have a certain charm."

 

"Certainly more than his wife."

 

"Oh, that's nasty. I kind of like her."

 

"To each their own."

 

In a genuinely friendly manner, President Clinton bent down and shook each Boy's hand, saying their name as he did so. "Well, welcome to the White House." He then stood and looked at them. "Are you enjoying your visit to Washington?"

 

"Yes, we are, Sir," responded Gavin, who had been selected by the others to be the spokesman. "We've got a couple of questions to ask you if that's all right, Sir."

 

"You certainly may ask me any question you want. That's how I get to know what people want of me."

 

Gavin waved his hand as if pointing to the others. "Mr. President, is this a good time for the five of us. Our parents keep talking about the good old days. So are the good days gone?"

 

Clinton took a good look at each of the boys and estimated them to be about ten or eleven years old. "I'll say this. That's a well-thought question. Now to answer it. You five have entered the age of possibility. A hundred years ago we moved from farm to factory. Now we are moving to the age of technology, information, and global competition. These changes will open vast new opportunities for each of you. But, they will also present each of you with some stiff challenges. The key for you to meet those challenges is to get a good education and learn to work with others."

 

"Mr. President, you head up our countries government. From reading about its history, the government here in Washington has grown enormous in size. Is that a good thing," asked Gavin?

 

"Good question Gavin. I have learned over the past few years that a big government does not have all the answers. I can tell you from experience there's not a program for every problem. My team and I are actually working hard to give the American people a smaller, less bureaucratic government here in Washington. We have to give the American people one that lives within its means. So to answer your question, the era of big government is over."

 

Clinton was now in his usual full speaking stride. "Boy's, I believe that a smaller government must work in an old-fashioned American way. We must work together with all of our citizens through state and local governments, in the workplace, in religious, charitable, and civic associations. My goal is to enable you and your parents to make the most of your lives. I want to have stronger families, more educational opportunities, economic security, safer streets, a cleaner environment, and a safer world. And, I need your help in achieving my goal."

 

Daniela leaned over and whispered in Maye's ear. " In watching him, I feel like he doesn't care about anything or anybody else but us. He's an interesting man."

 

"That he is," whispered back Maye.

 

Norman asked, "Sir, what do you think about space exploration?"

 

"You know I just got back from the Johnson Space Center. We discussed a mission to conduct twenty-six experiments on the impact of space on the human body, including how the brain adapts and what happens to the inner ear and the human balance system. The International Space Station will be conducting the tests on an upcoming mission to Mars. It's real existing stuff."

 

Clinton thought for a moment. He loved interacting with the Boy's, and his usual spontaneity put him in his teaching mode. "Did you know that in 1959 the U. S. Military had plans to establish a lunar military outpost? It was to be manned by twelve soldiers, who were to protect U.S. interests on the Moon. But, the concept was rejected by then-President Eisenhower. The proposed program would have started in 1965. First cargo would be sent up. Then two men would be landed at the sight to build the outpost. Finally, in 1966 the twelve military men would be sent up to permanently man the outpost. It was estimated that all these phases would involve 149 rocket launches to transport 220 tons of useful cargo to the Moon."

 

Before he could go on further, an aid walked up to him. "Mr. President, you're a little late for your next appointment."

 

"Oh, right. Jordon and Ladies, thank you for bringing your sons here to the White House. You have to be proud of them. They asked some great questions." He then turned to the boys. "And, thank you for the questions. Please, help me with my goal of making America a better place."

 

There was a chorus of "Thank you, Mr. President."

 

As they were walking out of the room, Gavin commented to his mom, "Mom, I had the feeling he really did understand us, and I could really understand him."

 

Norman then commented to Daniela. "Mom, did you hear what the President had to say about Eisenhower. It's exactly like the plaques at the museum."

 

OBAMA VERSION

 

Jordy, Dani, Tess, Maye, and Jackie looked on as a Presidental Aide moved from one Boy to the next in the White House Roosevelt Room. "Mr. President, your young visitors here are Norman and Chris. Then this is Gavin, Elon, and Jeff. They are visiting us from California."

 

Tess leaned over toward Dani, "I can't believe you were able to arrange this meeting."

 

"It took a $100,000 donation to one of Obama's PAC's to seal the deal."

 

"Nice. He does have a certain charm."

 

"Yes, he and his wife both seem nice."

 

President Obama bent down in a genuinely friendly manner and shook each Boy's hand, saying their name as he did so.  "Well, welcome to the White House." He then stood and looked at them. "Are you enjoying your visit to Washington?"

 

"Yes, we are, Sir," responded Gavin, who had been selected by the others to be the spokesman. "We've got a couple of questions to ask you if that's all right, Sir."

 

"You certainly may ask me any question you want. That's how I get to know what people want of me."

 

Gavin waved his hand as if pointing to the others. "Mr. President, is this a good time for the five of us. Our parents keep talking about the good old days. So are the good days gone?"

 

Obama took a good look at each of the boys estimating them to be about ten or eleven years old. "I'll say this. That's a well-thought question. Now to answer it. You five have entered the age of possibility. A hundred years ago we moved from farm to factory. Now we are moving to the age of technology, information, and global competition. These changes will open vast new opportunities for each of you. But, they will also present each of you with some stiff challenges. The key for you to meet those challenges is to get a good education and learn to work with others."

 

"Mr. President, you head up our countries government. From reading about its history, the government here in Washington has grown enormous in size. Is that a good thing," asked Gavin?

 

"Good question Gavin. Jokingly he turned to his aide and asked, "You sure Gavin here is not with Fox News?"

 

"Oh, I'm positive, Mr. President."

 

"Gavin, that's a question a lot of people are asking. Some believe the government is sinister and the root of all our problems. I believe our government is a brave, creative, and unique experiment in self-rule that can be trusted to help people. People like you and your parents. We have never been a people who place all of our faith in government to solve our problems. We shouldn't want to. But we shouldn't think the government is the source of all our problems either. If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists – to protect them and to promote their common welfare – all else is lost." 

 

Dani leaned over and whispered in Maye's ear. "In watching him, I feel like he doesn't care about anything or anybody else but us. He's an interesting man."

 

"That he is, "whispered back Maye.

 

"Sir, what do you think about space exploration," asked Norm.

 

"I fully support it. Early in the next decade, a set of crewed flights will test and prove the systems required for exploration beyond low Earth orbit. And by 2025, we expect new spacecraft designed for long journeys to allow us to begin the first-ever crewed missions beyond the Moon into deep space. By the mid-2030s, I believe we can send humans to orbit Mars and return them safely to Earth. And a landing on Mars will follow. And I expect to be around to see it."

 

Before he could go on further, an aid walked up to him. "Mr. President, you're a little late for your next appointment."

 

"Oh, right. Mr. Bowman and Ladies, thank you for bringing your sons here to the White House. You have to be proud of them. They asked some great questions." He then turned to the boys. "And, thank you for the questions. Please, help me with my goal of making America a better place."

 

There was a chorus of "Thank you, Mr. President."

 

As they were walking out of the room, Gavin commented to his mom, "Mom, I had the feeling he really did understand us, and I could really understand him."

 

Until next time.

Cheers,

 

Richard V. Rupp, Author

Website – www.richardvrupp.com

Email – rupprisk@gmail.com

Copyright©2021 by Richard V. Rupp