A RICHARD ROHMER
OMNIBUS
A
RICHARD
ROHMER
OMNIBUS
ULTIMATUM
EXXONERATION
PERISCOPE RED
Copyright © Richard Rohmer, 2003
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National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data
Rohmer, Richard, 1924-
A Richard Rohmer omnibus.
Ultimatum was published originally: Toronto: Clarke Irwin, 1973;
Exxoneration: Toronto : McClelland & Stewart, 1974; Periscope red: Don Mills, Ont.: General, 1980. Contents: Ultimatum — Exxoneration — Periscope red.
ISBN 1-55002-460-4
I. Title. II. Title: Ultimatum. III. Title: Exxoneration. IV. Tide: Periscope red.
PS8585.O3954A6 2003 C813'.54 C2003-905011-4
1 2 3 4 5 07 06 05 04 03
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Care has been taken to trace the ownership of copyright material used in this book. The author and the publisher welcome any information enabling them to rectify any references or credit in subsequent editions.
J. Kirk Howard, President
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To my beautiful daughters,
Cathy and Ann
CONTENTS
EXXONERATION
PERISCOPE RED
PORTER, Rt. Hon. Robert Maitland, P.C., Q.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada since August, 1980; b. Winnipeg, 7 May, 1935; s. Wilfred Martin and Nora (Carter) P.; B.A. University of Manitoba, 1956; LL.B. University of Alberta, 1960; LL.M., 1967; called to Bar of Alberta, 1960; m. Min Carpenter, 1967 (deceased); no children; practised law with Simpson & Crane, Calgary, 1960–66; mem. law firm Porter & Smith, Inuvik, 1966–74; elected to House of Commons, 1974; Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, 1977–80. Member Arctic Institute of North America, the Law Society of Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Publications: A Proud People, 1969; Reconquering Our Land, 1971. Recreations: riding, fishing, snowshoeing. Address: Prime Minister’s Residence, 24 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Canada.
—————————, President U.S.; b. Houston, Tex., Sept. 17, 1921; s. James Howard and Margaret (Stafford) B.; LL.B. University of Texas; m. Jennifer Harley, May 3, 1949; children — James Everett, Marian Stafford (Mrs. Walter Morton). Mem. law firm Whitfield, Harley, Wilkinson & Steele, Houston, 1949–53; atty for Masefield, Warfield, Hamilton & Smith, ind. oil operators, Ft. Worth, 1953–60; mem. 87th, 88th, 89th U.S. Congresses; senator, 1967–71; elected President of United States, Nov., 1976, took office, Jan. 21, 1977. Served to It. col., U.S.A.F., 1941–45, ETO. Decorated DFC, Air medal with three oak leaf clusters. Democrat. Home: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington.
Day One
9:00 a.m., EDT = 8:00 a.m., CDT = 7:00 a.m., MDT
Ottawa / 9:00 a.m., EDT
The Prime Minister’s intercom buzzed. His secretary sounded excited. “Prime Minister, the President of the United States is calling. The President himself is on the line.”
Robert Porter hesitated a moment, then he picked up the telephone.
“Good morning, Mr. President. To what do I owe the honour of being called by the President of the United States at nine o’clock on a Monday morning?”
“Good morning, Mr. Prime Minister. I’ll come to the reason for my call in a moment. But first let me say that, while you and I haven’t met, I’ve read a great deal about you. For a man who has just taken on the job — seven weeks I think it is now, isn’t it?”
“That’s right, Mr. President.”
“Well, you seem to be getting things done, putting your team together, reorganizing policies and departments. We Texans like people who can move fast, and make decisions.”
Suddenly the President’s voice hardened. “Now, Mr. Prime Minister, let me tell you why I’m calling. As you’re aware, I’m facing re-election next month. As a politician, you’ll appreciate that I want to clean up as many loose ends as I can before the beginning of November so I can show the voters.…”
“I understand, Mr. President.”
“I thought you would. Well, what I want to talk to you about is natural gas. I should tell you at this point that I’ve discussed what I’m going to say with the leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and with my Cabinet and my experts in the State Department. I have the full concurrence of all of them.
“Let me give you the background, Mr. Prime Minister. The United States is heading for another winter of disastrous shortages of natural gas. As you know, the energy crisis has been building up over the last decade. We’ve been able to offset it to a certain extent by increasing our imports of crude oil, but natural gas represents a far greater problem. Over 32% of the energy in this country is supplied by natural gas. We must have it if we are to survive. This year we expect a shortage of 2.7-trillion cubic feet. My advisers and the Federal Power Commission expect that in the area from Chicago and Detroit through to New York and Boston alone 20% of our industrial capacity will have to be shut down for the extremely cold parts of the winter. Apartment buildings and houses will be without heat; schools, hospitals and homes for the aged will have to be closed. In other words, Mr. Prime Minister, we are facing a national disaster.
“I recognize that there is absolutely nothing I can do in the short term to overcome this problem completely, but what I want to put to you is a long-term program that we can get working on right away.”
Robert Porter leaned forward in his chair. “Mr. President, we’re tremendously concerned about the problem up here. If there is any way Canada can help …”
The