Primary Colors by Joe Klein Read Free Book Online Page A

decided to manage a hippie runnin' for Senate down here, 'stead of hangin' out and being a student like a normal person."
    "He wasn't a hippie," Stanton said. "Just antiwar."
    "Last I heard, Jack, he was livin' on a farm in northern California, makin' goddamn furniture."
    "You seen the stuff?" Stanton said. "It is awesome great. We're sleepin' under his headboard, at the Mansion."
    "C'mon back, you fool," Johnson said, throwing an arm over Stan-ton's shoulder.
    It was a small office, piled with reports and lawbooks, diplomas on the wall, pictures of Bill Johnson elegant in midair, driving the lane against Michigan in the NCAAs--and another picture ofJohnson, in an enormous Afro, with Jack Stanton, his face camouflaged by what appeared to be a costume mustache, sitting side by side on a couch, deep in what seemed a very serious conversation. It was a surprisingly intimate photograph for a politician's wall--usually, you don't want to risk much beyond your children's orthodontia and handshakes with people more famous than you--and it moved me. "Law school," Johnson explained, noticing my interest. "What were we arguing aboutjack? Sending the North Vietnamese guns or bandages?" "Naww, you were pined off at me for asking your sister out," Stanton said.
    "Susan was pined off at you 'bout that," Johnson replied. "I thought Cyrilla'd teach you some manners, 'specially 'bout not eating off other folks' plates. You remember what we really were talking about?"
    Stanton nodded. "What we always talked about: white folks. Dr. King had just died--"
    "No, it was months later--it was Bobby," Johnson said. "We were in finals. You were about to go off to work for him. Remember, you were trying to get Professor Screechy--whatsisname . . ." "Markowitz."
    "Yeah, Markowitz--to reschedule torts, or let you take it long-distance, so you could be out there on primary night?"
    "Yeah, I remember," Stanton said softly.
    "You figured you would've spotted Sirhan."
    "And you were ready to pick up a gun, or somethin'."
    "Right," Johnson said, turning to me. "This asshole talked me out of it. I was ready to walk out of law school. I mean, what was law? Who gave a shit about law with all our guys gettin' capped? But he said we had to stick with it, stick with the program. I had to think about my responsibility to the kids, the message I'd be sending if I walked. 'A lot of people would like to believe a black ballplayer can't make it through Harvard Law,' he said. 'You're givin' them aid and comfort if you don't.' Right, Jack? And look where it got me," he said, spreading his arms and nearly touching the two side walls, "--the lap of luxury, right?"
    "You wouldn't trade it for a white-shoe partnership if your life depended on it," Stanton said.
    "If my wife depended on it?" Johnson laughed. "Lucky she don't depend on my measly bucks--she's makin' a fortune"--he glanced over at me--"teaching elementary school." He reached into a small refrigerator and tossed the governor a Diet Dr Pepper. He nodded toward me, I gave him the high sign and he tossed me one. They talked wives. They talked shop.
    "You gonna go for it, now Jim Bob's lookin' to move up?" Stanton asked.
    "Can't--it's still Alabama," Johnson said. "Might ifJim Bob or the governor endorsed me. But they're too cute for that. Why risk a single, skinny-assed redneck vote?"
    "Uh-huh, uh-huh," Stanton nodded, then got serious. "Now listen, Billy. I know you got a family to support, can't do it now--but I want you to think about coming on with me y'hear? I need you, man. I make it, you can start house-shopping in Arlington, okay?"
    "Vice president's staff don't pay too good, I hear," Johnson said. "0 ye of little faith," Stanton said. "You didn't think I could pass Contracts either."
    "Not without going to class."
    "But I did, I seem to recall," Stanton said. "Now look, tell me 'bout my favorite program. If I'm gonna try it, you'd better have made it happen." He turned to me: "Dr. Johnson over here has been