Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 136 Huntsville Midfield Match

"Pity him who sits up late at night, asking not about the common people but about ghosts and gods." This was the only line of poetry that came to Lin Ran's mind after hearing it.

He thought Nixon was contacting him to find out if Kennedy had any dirt on him.

The question turned out to be so grand in scope.

I don't even know your current situation, so how am I supposed to know what you should do?

"The media doesn't like me because I implied unfairness in the media during my Cheeks speech."

As part of the East Coast elite, the media has historically disliked the Elephant Party and its candidates.

In my case, this trend has intensified further.

To make matters worse, I lost the presidential election two years ago and the California gubernatorial election the day before yesterday. I will be firmly positioned as a loser in the eyes of voters.

How terrible it is, I feel like I might never win even one more election in my life.

Nixon's voice was low and his expression was dejected. Even though he was dressed in a suit and had cleaned his face, Lin Ran could tell at a glance that he was depressed.

This was the lowest point in Nixon's life.

Things used to go smoothly, but in the last two years, nothing I've done has worked out.

He had such a smooth career in the past that his first political career was in California, where he won a landslide victory with 65586 votes over the Democratic candidate's 49994 votes.

Nixon served as a congressman for only eight years before becoming Eisenhower's vice presidential nominee and following him into the White House.

This politician, who had never experienced setbacks, first lost to Kennedy in 60, and then the day before yesterday, lost to Pat Brown in California, where he rose to power.

For politicians, losing itself is not terrible; what is terrible is leaving an impression of incompetence in the minds of voters, which will prevent you from winning in the future.

In addition, Nixon himself had a poor relationship with the media, a relationship that persisted throughout his political career.

The media will only kick Nixon when he's down, further reinforcing his image as a loser.

After listening to Nixon's explanation of his situation, Lin Ran did not answer directly, but instead began to tell a story:
"This reminds me of a story that is popular among the people of China."

There was once a general in ancient times who consistently lost battles. In his reports to the emperor, he used the phrase "repeated defeats" to describe his failures. His strategist advised him to change it to "repeated defeats but persistent efforts," because the emperor would blame him for using the latter. He submitted his revised battle report, and surprisingly, he received praise from the emperor.

Mr. Nixon, what do you think is the reason for this?

To elaborate further, some say this story comes from Zeng Guofan's memorial to the throne after suffering heavy losses in the Battle of Poyang Lake.

In fact, there is no evidence to prove that this story is related to Zeng Guofan.

In his memorial to Emperor Xianfeng after the Battle of Poyang Lake, he wrote: "After more than a year of governing the army, just as our prestige was beginning to rise, this setback suddenly occurred. Your Majesty's tireless efforts and mismanagement have caused me no leniency."

The entire text contains no phrases such as "repeatedly defeated" or "repeatedly defeated but still fighting," only "the minister's army suffered repeated setbacks."

Neither Liu Jianghua in "The Record of Zuo Zongtang's Letters" nor Yang Shuda in "The Rhetoric of Classical Chinese" found any actual evidence regarding this matter in later generations.

After listening, Nixon seemed to be deep in thought. "Defeat is an unchangeable fact, but how can I let voters see my fighting spirit through defeat?"

Lin Ran nodded: "That's right, failure is an objective fact, and no one can change objective facts."

But your fighting spirit, your never-give-up attitude, can be cultivated.

You need to convey positive messages to voters, transforming the negative objective fact of defeat into a positive subjective feeling of never giving up.

Lin Ran's words gave Nixon a completely new perspective.

He thought to himself that Randolph was the real master compared to Kissinger, whom he had met yesterday.

Lin Ran continued, "You said earlier that you don't have a good relationship with the media, so they are unlikely to help you with this kind of image."

You can then complete this conversion yourself.

After Lin Ran finished speaking, he could clearly feel that Nixon's eyes lit up.

"Professor, please lend me a hand. If you can help me become president, I'll be willing to be either a special assistant for White House affairs or the director of NASA." Nixon had already started making empty promises.

However, Lin Ran doesn't care whether you're just making empty promises.

"Are you planning to run for president in two years?" Lin Ran asked.

Nixon shook his head: "Probably not."

Lin Ran asked, "Is it because you know you can't beat Kennedy?"

Nixon nodded: "That's right."

"After the Cuban Missile Crisis was resolved, unless Kennedy made a fatal mistake, no one could beat Kennedy two years later."

Lin Ran nodded: "So your goal should be the presidential election six years from now, that is, in 1968."

Lin Ran continued, "Then you need to do everything you can to help the Elephant Party candidate two years from now. Assuming he is destined to lose, you not only need to help him, but you also need to help him mobilize all the forces that the Elephant Party can mobilize to help him in the election."

The more miserably he loses in the end, the more it proves your ability.

Because voters will make comparisons and reflect. You lost to Kennedy by only a small margin, but this time the Elephant Party lost by a larger margin, which proves your ability and shows that although failure is an objective fact, it is not because of your ability.

In this way, in your subsequent campaign speeches, you can cultivate an image of someone who repeatedly fails but gets back up and fights again, emphasizing that you are not afraid of failure, but rather of losing the courage to try and the ambition to make progress.

And express that you did this to save the Elephant Party from its precarious state.

Even if you fail, you're accumulating energy for the next success.

After listening, Nixon got up and paced back and forth in his upscale hotel suite in Huntsville, clapping as he pondered.

He was completely impressed. As a seasoned politician, Nixon knew very well that Lin Ran had helped him find a path to victory.

The media targeted him, calling him a loser, so he admitted to being a loser and used a series of actions to emphasize that his failure was not due to his ability but to the bad environment. He then relied on speeches to create a virtual image of courage, perseverance, and resilience.

From today's perspective, this is definitely a top-notch trader.

Lin Ran then added, "Under such circumstances, the candidate from the Elephant Party will be particularly important two years from now."

The worse he loses, the more it proves that the failures of the past 60 years have nothing to do with him. As for this gubernatorial election defeat, who will remember it?

Therefore, I have a good candidate to recommend to you.

Nixon asked, "Who?"

Lin Ran said, "Fred T."

Lin Ran was already laughing inwardly; he loved watching this kind of fun.

When Mr. T runs for office in the future, he can say that he has inherited his father's unfinished wishes, carried forward the legacy of the second generation, and is now governing the world with his long-term strategies.

Nixon racked his brains for a long time but still couldn't figure out who this was. "I've never heard of him before?"

Lin Ran said, "He has always been a registered Elephant Party voter, a real estate businessman in New York, and very good at promoting himself through the media."

Nixon vaguely remembered this.

He flipped through the guestbook he had brought and found the name. He finally remembered: "I have a vague recollection of him. In 54, he was summoned to a hearing of the Senate Banking Committee to be questioned."

Because he was accused of profiting excessively from FHA loans, he remained calm and confident during the hearing, insisting that he was simply making efficient use of government policies and that his prices were higher than other FHA housing projects because he was catering to the middle class.

He is indeed a good choice, but he is a complete political novice.

Nixon hesitated.

As Old T's father, Fred is also very good at creating hype.

Unlike T's hype, Fred's hype was more targeted and specific.

After World War II, America experienced a severe housing shortage, and Fred seized this opportunity to build affordable housing on a large scale using the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan program. He published news in the local newspaper, the Brooklyn Eagle, emphasizing how he was providing an "affordable America dream" for ordinary families.

These reports often highlight his efficiency and "patriotism".

Fred later learned the importance of cultivating relationships with politicians and used these relationships to generate news. He frequently invited local officials to the ribbon-cutting ceremonies of his projects, ensuring these events made the newspapers.

For example, in the early 50s, he posed for photos with officials at the opening ceremony of a new residential project in Queens, and the photos and reports appeared in media outlets such as the Long Island Daily. This strategy not only demonstrated his influence but also garnered policy support for his business activities.

Doesn't it seem similar to the operations of real estate developers in later generations of China?

That's why when Lin Ran was talking about how great things were at his villa, Fred's family listened with such rapt attention, almost as if their souls were resonating with his words. It's a resonance that transcends time and space among real estate developers, isn't it?

Lin Ran said, "It is precisely because he is an ordinary person that he needs your help."

The presidential election two years from now is a show for you, a show that you are destined to lose miserably.

Since the Elephant Party couldn't win anyway, they might as well lose even more miserably to prepare for the presidential election six years from now.

Whether a political novice can successfully become a candidate for the Elephant Party depends on your abilities.

In short, even if it's not Fred, but anyone else, as long as they lose, you can follow the strategy I've given you.

The more you lose, the greater your chances of winning six years later.

Do you get me?

Even if you don't win after six years, you'll still have a chance after ten years. Every failure is accumulating energy for your eventual success in entering the White House.

This is a long marathon, but as long as you grit your teeth and persevere, you will eventually win.

Nixon grasped Lin Ran's hand: "Professor, thank you for your guidance."

If I ever do enter the White House, I will certainly have a very generous gift to offer.

“Richard, how did the talks with Randolph go?” Robert Finch asked.

Robert Finch, Nixon's aide, his campaign manager during the last presidential election, a veteran member of the Republican Party, had previously run for Congress twice without success.

According to historical records, Finch was one of Nixon's initial vice-presidential candidates. During the 1968 campaign, Nixon stated that Finch was his first choice as running mate because of their close relationship.

Finch didn't become vice president because he refused; he wanted the position of Minister of Health, which he eventually did become Minister of Health, Education and Welfare.

After leaving the White House, Finch returned to Pasadena and opened a law firm, providing legal services to a range of entities, including pharmaceutical companies and hospitals.

One of the historically documented cases is ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc., for which Finch's law firm provided legal services and he served on the board of this company that developed antiviral drugs.

America's political and business revolving door is so simple and unpretentious.

On the table next to Nixon were two glasses of brandy with ice. He gestured for Robert to sit down: "Come on, have a drink."

The gloom brought on by the loss in the California gubernatorial election the day before yesterday has been swept away.

Robert immediately knew that the other party and Randolph Lin must have had a good talk.

"Randolph agreed to help us?" Robert asked.

The reason for the visit was because Lin Ran himself was of great value.

This is related to his reputation, his Chinese identity, and the connections he has built.

As one of the most famous mathematicians of our time, Lin Ran's support naturally means he can gain favor with some members of the academic community, which can improve Nixon's public image.

Furthermore, regarding Lin Ran's relationship with Jenny Hearst, if Lin Ran joins Nixon's camp, it means that the media resources controlled by the Hearst family can also be used by them.

Finally, Lin Ran's intellect might be able to offer them some valuable advice.

In the prior discussions between Nixon and his team, the reasons for trying to win over Lin Ran, and the valuable suggestions he could offer, were ranked lower in the priority list.

Nixon shook his head: "No."

After taking a sip of brandy, he said, "But he charted a road for me to the White House."

"A road that, if you keep following, will eventually lead you to the White House."

Robert looked incredulous and asked, "What road?"

Nixon took another sip, and then slowly laid out Lin Ran's entire plan.

"Compared to Kissinger, who didn't even know what we wanted, Randolph was the real master."

After listening, Robert had only one feeling: he was indeed a master.

Robert said, "I spoke with McNamara, who said that Randolph was a master in the field of mathematics, and that he could easily find solutions to any problem related to mathematics."

He described Randolph's achievements in mathematics in Chinese:

Every movement and gesture flows effortlessly, as if sculpted by nature itself. The master's composure radiates from every movement, unparalleled and incomparable in his field of expertise.

It seems Randolph not only reached this level in mathematics, but also in other areas.

The method Lin Ran described was actually the path Nixon himself would eventually take.

Lin Ran simply presented it from a high-level perspective, using theory to package it.

But in the present moment, it can indeed be a wake-up call for members of Nixon's team who are caught in the middle of the situation and cannot see the future.

This included seeking out Lin Ran, which was also McNamara's suggestion.

Nixon and McNamara had a good relationship; both were members of the Elephant Party, although McNamara did not remain in office after Nixon entered the White House.

However, one detail reveals the nature of their relationship: in the White House recordings, Nixon mentioned McNamara, calling him "a good man."

The timing of his claim that McNamara was a good person is also complicated. During his tenure, McNamara secretly launched a comprehensive study on the America-Baiyue policy, which later became the famous Pentagon Papers.

The Pentagon Papers were leaked to The New York Times by Daniel Ellsberg, and it's difficult to prove that McNamara was not involved, but Nixon still said that Ellsberg was a good person.

"Now that we have a blueprint drawn up for us by top strategists, let's get started," Nixon said, clinking glasses with Robert Finch.

Robert Finch asked, "Where should we begin?"

Nixon said, "The natural thing to do is to put Fred in the position of the Elephant Party candidate two years later."

Now that we're going to make him a candidate, a lot of work needs to start.

He's also in the autograph book, so I'd like to trouble you to make a trip and talk to him.

Robert Finch nodded and said, "Okay."

A spacious office in Brooklyn, New York, with maps of New York and photos of architectural projects on the walls, and bookshelves filled with real estate documents and family photos.

A huge wooden desk occupied the center of the room, with documents and a telephone scattered on it. Outside the window was the Brooklyn skyline.

Fred certainly knew who Robert Finch was—Nixon's lackey, a washed-up figure.

But he was still very polite to the other party, after all, even a starved camel is bigger than a horse.

What if Nixon makes a comeback someday?

Robert Finch was led into the office by Fred's secretary. Fred looked up, put down the documents he was holding, and stood up to greet him.

Fred smiled and said, "Robert, it's been a long time. Come in, please have a seat."

After shaking hands, Finch responded warmly, "Fred, I'm always so happy to see you. Thank you for taking the time to see me."

The two sat down; Finch took a seat in the leather chair opposite the desk, while Fred returned to his own seat.

Finch leaned forward slightly and said solemnly, "Mr. Nixon asked me to give you his regards. He sent me to discuss an important opportunity with you."

Fred raised an eyebrow, slightly curious: "Oh? What are Mr. Nixon's plans?"

Finch said, "The Elephant Party needs a strong candidate for the presidential election two years from now. Mr. Nixon thinks you are the best candidate."

Fred was surprised and frowned: "Me? Running for president? Robert, I'm honored, but I don't think I'm suitable. I'm a businessman, not a politician."

Finch spread his hands and emphasized, "That's exactly why Mr. Nixon valued you. The country needs someone who understands the real world, not someone who just plays political games. You built a real estate empire, which proves you're capable of managing big things."

In reality, Finch was thinking, "I have to convince him that this isn't just empty talk."

Who could have known that Nixon was looking for someone who would lose as badly as possible to prove that he was not guilty of any war-related crimes?

After a moment's thought, Fred said, "I understand what you mean, but politics is a completely different matter. I'm not sure I have the patience and energy for it."

“It was the professor who recommended you,” Robert Finch said.

(End of this chapter)