Quoted By:
You ultimately decide that, since you’re a wartime president, it would help your image to appoint someone experienced in war as your running mate. You think through your mental list of living generals that are generally noncontroversial among the broader American public, but still has name recognition. One name comes to mind again and again. You pick up the phone with your assistant on the line.
“Could you get Richard Everett on the line for me? Thank you.”
Richard “Hammerhead” Everett. If anyone has experience in combat, it’s him. After graduating from the Virginia Military Institute in 1972, he fought in the last years of the Vietnam War. He was made a general in 1990 around the same time that the Gulf War was kicking off, and he proceeded to serve in that capacity until his retirement in 2009. 37 years of dedicated military service and a mostly clean record to boot, he’s a safe and easy choice if you want a military man as your VP. Everett has managed to keep any political opinions he might have to himself, which means that the risk of alienating a swath of voters with this pick is minimal. The only things publicly known about his politics is that Richard is a registered independent and a paying member of the National Rifle Association of America. Other than that is anybody’s guess.
“Mr. President?”
A deep and gravelly voice is heard on the other side of the phone.
“That’s me. This is General Everett?”
“Yes, sir. To what do I owe the honor?”
“Perhaps it would be better to discuss this in person. How soon could I get you here to the White House?”
You don’t mind whether or not it’s a phone call or an in-person meeting, but frankly you need some time to prepare for him. It took convincing for Ashton Wells to get onboard, and now you’re pining for another retiree. On top of that, this one’s much more (openly) apolitical. You need to prepare on how to convince this man to be your second in command for at least four years.
“Hmph…it sounds important. I could be there sometime tomorrow if you can fit me in, Mr. President.”
You peek at your schedule.
“I can. Do I need to send anybody down to Norfolk?”
“No thank you.”
You scribble down on a piece of paper in order to remind yourself about the general’s arrival tomorrow.
“Well, that’s all I have to ask from you today. Take care, General.”
“You as well, Mr. President.”
(1/3)
