Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 57 I didn’t expect it was really Fred

"Professor, I want to ask you about Kennedy and Nixon. Who do you think will win?"

Lin Ran didn't really want to ask the other party this question, but just wanted to add some persuasive power to persuade John Morgan to switch to Kennedy.

"Them? I don't care who becomes president. Why, do you care who sits in the White House?" Horkheimer asked puzzledly.

He also knew what Lin Ran wanted to do, and was even more aware of the close relationship between aerospace and politics.

After Lin Ran roughly explained his cooperation with John Morgan and the whole process of the matter, Horkheimer advised:

"Randolph, I honestly don't understand why you keep wanting to get involved in aerospace, considering you're already one of the most famous mathematicians in the world.

I believe you have similar talent in philosophy and you can become one of the top scholars of this era.

You have no shortage of material things, fame, a sense of accomplishment, and even a higher sense of accomplishment that comes from the pursuit of truth.

Why bother getting involved in politics?"

He went on to say, “In the beginning, I did want you to join NASA to see if you could fight against the Nazis. As long as they don’t have the protection of NASA, they will all end up in trouble.

But the past was the past, and the present is the present, and your ability in mathematics is obviously greater than that in aerospace.

If you don't want to, I'll help you reject Morgan's request."

Horkheimer advised.

Lin Ran pointed to the sky above his head and said, “Professor, because space is right there.

You're right, I have everything.

But for me, only space can bring me a sense of accomplishment in realizing my self-worth. I hope that we will not be confined to this small planet in our lifetime.

Professor, the development of productivity has brought about geographical expansion, geographical expansion has brought about changes in social forms, and changes in social forms have extended to the continuous evolution of philosophical thoughts. Aren’t you curious about what the philosophical thoughts in the interstellar age will be like?
I am not only curious about the evolution of philosophical thought in the interstellar era, but also curious about where humanity will lead society as a whole.”

Hawkheimer nodded silently, and after a moment he said, "I understand, but I still hold the same view: there is no difference between Nixon and Kennedy.

It makes no difference which of them comes to power.

You don't need to worry about anything else. As long as your proposal can be approved in NASA's bidding, even if Kennedy firmly disagrees with the cooperation between NASA and General Aerospace after taking office, I will find a way to let you join NASA and gain a certain degree of dominance.

If Nixon wins, you'll just have General Aerospace and Morgan.

So you don’t have to do anything.”

Lin Ran asked, "Professor, are you really so sure?"

Horkheimer's bald head gleamed in the sunlight, and it was his bald head, not his eyes, that radiated wisdom: "The Jewish community all supported Kennedy.

Polls showed that over 87% of Jews voted for Kennedy.

He will give us this face.

Plus you have the ability.

And don’t forget that the Irish don’t like the Germans either.”

Lin Ran never expected that he would be sitting on the fence before making a decision. No matter which choice he made, he would not lose. For a moment, he was already looking forward to the evening banquet.

"Also, don't forget that the subject you're given is the paradox of critical theory itself: when it attempts to intervene in reality through philosophy, it must bear the possibility of becoming a new form of domination. When reason attempts to transcend its limitations, it always carries the seeds of its own destruction.

Is there any way that critical theory can avoid this fate?"

Just as Lin Ran was about to leave, Professor Horkheimer's words came from behind him. Lin Ran turned his head and saw the other party's wise eyes. He even had the illusion that the other party could travel through the long river of time to see the tearing and chaos caused by critical theory taking root and growing in America in 2020.

"Got it, Professor."

“Is there a restaurant here too?”

Just like during the day, John Morgan drove his Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II to pick up Lin Ran and stopped at the door of 37 East 38th Street in Manhattan.

After Lin Ran got off the car, he looked left and right but didn't see any restaurant sign.

He passed by this place several times in New York 60 years later, and he clearly remembered that the exterior walls and decoration here had not changed in the past years.

The facade is also made of limestone, with rough stone on the ground floor and smooth stone on the upper floors. The central entrance has a portico supported by four Ionic columns, surmounted by a pediment with carved reliefs, including an eagle with outstretched wings and two female figures.

Sixty years from now, it will be the same as it is now, no guests will be received and there will be no visitors.

He and Li Xiaoman also speculated, and Li Xiaoman thought this might be the gathering place of a secret club.

John Morgan followed closely behind and got out of the car:
“Of course, the Union Club moved here in 1901. It was designed by the architect Whitney Warren, who also designed New York’s Grand Central Terminal, in the Paris Beaux-Arts style, which blends elements of classical Greece, Rome, Renaissance, and Baroque.

The first meeting of the Elephants in New York was held at the Union League Club, if I remember correctly, back in the 18s.

It is absolutely private and safe here, there will be no accidents, and both guests and hosts can let loose."

Lin Ran and John Morgan arrived neither early nor late.

The guests who arrived first were a little surprised to see a yellow person in such an occasion.

"Randolph, Randolph Linn, professor of mathematics at Columbia University, my partner."

With John Morgan's introduction, Lin Ran's face often appeared on the headlines of major newspapers.

These white men all seemed very polite.

The older white men, dressed in dark suits, neat ties, and their hair combed back in a trendy slicked-back style, were just being polite.

Instead, there was a white man who looked very similar to the owner of the White House in 2020 who was quite enthusiastic. When he introduced himself, it turned out to be Fred.

Fred T.
John Morgan whispered to Lin Ran, "He's just a nouveau riche. I don't know why Robert Finch invited him to the fundraising dinner."

Lin Ran turned his head to look at the white man, who was waving at him in a friendly manner.

Lin Ran's heart tightened. John Morgan thought of Fred as a nouveau riche, but what did he think of himself? A tool?

But fortunately, he only used Morgan as a tool, and they were all the same.

The dinner began with a cocktail reception, where guests chatted quietly, sipping martinis or whiskey glasses to the accompaniment of soft jazz music. Waiters shuttled among the crowd, placing exquisite appetizers on trays.

John Morgan had gone out to socialize, but Lin Ran felt a little lonely in the crowd. None of the polite old white men paid any attention to him.

Fred, who was also ignored, came to the door.

(End of this chapter)