Marilyn asked me, "Are you ready for this?"
"As ready as I will ever be. I can't back out now."
"Then we'll be ready, too."
I laughed and said, "I know you said you'd stick around for better or worse. Is this the better or the worse?"
"Ask me this time next year!", she replied, and then gave me a hug. "You'll be America's greatest President. A hundred years from now, historians will be telling people that Washington and Lincoln would have wanted to be as good as you. Your birthday will be a national - no, an international! - holiday! Children will be named after you! Churches will..."
"All right, enough out of you. I just hope I don't blow up the country! Now, what's for dinner?"
"The cook has a glazed ham going. Whenever you want to eat, say the word."
I smiled. "Sounds good. Let's do this now. I can change after dinner."
We left about a quarter after seven, with me in a dark suit, Charlie in a Marine Corps Class A Service Uniform, and the ladies in knee length dresses and heels. Security was tight, with a convoy of vehicles. We rode in an armored limo, but not the official Presidential limousine. That was buried in the parking lot under the World Trade Center. I knew the Secret Service wouldn't be happy until we were actually living in the Residence portion of the White House, but that couldn't happen until Laura and the girls moved out. I couldn't push them out. That would be pretty tacky for a guy who killed Laura's husband and the twins' father.
At the Capitol we separated. Marilyn and the kids would be watching from the gallery, like they did last January during the State of the Union speech. I was directed towards the Speaker's office, where Denny Hastert was sorting out the ceremony. We really didn't have any precedent for this. It wasn't an inauguration, which is just an excuse for a big party. Likewise, while everybody was present in the House chamber, it wouldn't be all smiles and congratulations, like in a State of the Union Address. Denny told me that they were passing the word that everybody was supposed to be quiet and somber.
"I've got John and Dave telling everybody to behave. There is to be nobody reaching out to shake hands in the aisle or whatever when you come in.", he told me.
"Let's do it one better. When the doors open, how about we have the House and Senate leadership, the Majority and Minority Leaders and Whips, the eight of them, march me down the aisle in a phalanx. You can already be at your seat. They need to be down front for the vote anyway. Is Ashcroft still planning on asking them to vote?", I asked.
"Yes. I talked to him about ten minutes ago. After you enter we are going to turn it over to him to run the vote." He slid over a proposed ceremony. "Let's just hope we never have to dust this off again in the future."
"Agreed!"
"Did you prepare something to say?", he asked.
I tapped my coat. "I had Matt and Mike whip something up quick. I won't be long, but I do need to say a few things."
"Do you have any idea how we are going to run a funeral without a body?", he asked.
I shrugged. "I had the guys simply jot something in that next week we will begin a month of national mourning. We can come up with something over the weekend. Hell, Denny, I was eight years old when Kennedy died! I just remembered it screwed up my cartoon watching schedule! Somebody is going to have to dig through the archives."
We talked a bit more as I glanced over the ceremonial plan, and then there was a knock on the door. An aide stuck his head in and said, "We need to get ready."
I glanced at Denny and nodded. He responded to the aide, "Are the Leaders and Whips out there?"
"Yes, sir."
"Let's go." He led the way out of his office and into the corridor beyond, where the others were waiting. A flash went off and I realized there was a photographer there. Not one of the reporters, but an archival photographer for the President. For the rest of my Presidency I would be under constant scrutiny.
John Boehner and Harry Reid were there, and I thanked them for getting back. "Any changes?", I asked.
John shook his head sadly, and Harry simply answered, "None, Mister President."
"Thank you."
Denny glanced at his watch and got us in order, and then said, "At the signal, just escort the President down the aisle and take your seats. Wait here until somebody comes for you." We murmured something and he left.
A few minutes later the same aide as before hustled up. "They're ready now, gentlemen."
John Boehner looked over at me and said, "Are you ready for this, Carl?"
"Is anybody?", I answered with a sad smile. "It's the job I signed up for, John. Let's do it." I started forward and the others stepped out and caught up to me. I had two Republicans on my right and two on the left, the same with the Democrats, and two Congressman on each side and two Senators on each side. I didn't want anybody claiming I wasn't being 'bipartisan' or some such shit.
We halted before the large double door, which then was opened, and the stentorian voice of the House Sergeant at Arms called out, "Mister Speaker, the Acting President of the United States of America!"
Several eyes glanced at me, and I just nodded resolutely and stepped out. The others were in lockstep as I marched down the aisle. There was a low murmur, but it was the quietest I had ever heard the place. We marched down to the well at the bottom, and I continued on and up to the podium. I waited there silently as the others took their places. In their appointed places were the Cabinet members present, the Justices of the Supreme Court, and the Chiefs of Staff of the military services. I glanced over at the Cabinet and saw John Ashcroft holding a leather covered clipboard. He nodded at me discreetly and it was show time. "Mister Speaker, I call on the Attorney General to come forth and preside." Then I stepped away from the podium. I saw John stand and come forward and I moved around to my regular seat next to the Speaker. That was when I saw the first President Bush sitting next to Denny on the other side. His face was blank and he simply stared forward.
John Ashcroft stepped up to the podium and opened his covered clipboard. He looked out at the audience and began speaking. "Mister Speaker, Mister President Pro Tempore, Congressmen, Senators, distinguished guests ... Pursuant to Section 4 of the 25th Amendment, on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, the Cabinet voted unanimously to confirm Vice President Buckman as Acting President of the nation. Tonight we meet to vote again, to confirm Acting President Buckman as the President and to swear him in as such. I have consulted with Chief Justice Rehnquist as to how we should commence."
His voice took a slightly more formal tone. "Congressman Boehner, Senator Reid, you have returned from the site of the World Trade Center in New York, where you witnessed the recovery efforts. Is it your opinion that there is any chance that President Bush will be found alive?"
Both John and Harry stood up and said in a loud voice, "No!"
I glanced over at the former President, and tears were streaking down his face, yet he sat there stock still. I remembered hearing that this was his second child to die. Their second child, a daughter, had died as a toddler from leukemia.
My contemplation was short lived. Ashcroft was speaking again. "I will now poll the Cabinet, in order of seniority. A vote of Yes will be to confirm the Acting President as President, a vote of No will be to maintain him as Acting President. Secretary O'Neill?"
Paul stood and said clearly, "Yes!"
"Secretary Powell?"
"Yes."
When it came to his own name, John voted Yes. Then he continued down the list. Everybody voted Yes. At the end, he reached into his clipboard and pulled forth the Yes vote from Dick Cheney, read it aloud, and asked that it be placed into the record. Then he continued on, going down the list of the House and Senate leadership. All eight voted Yes, as did Denny and President Pro Tempore Byrd.