America 1929: John F. Kennedy, the Great Writer

Chapter 141 Political Bulletproof Vest

Arthur recognized him immediately; it was Fiorello LaGuardia, whom he had contacted in New York.

After Walker's downfall, he returned to Washington to handle congressional work, ready to return to New York to run for mayor.

He can also represent the voice of Republican reformists.

"Arthur, long time no see! I can treat you to whiskey this time!"

LaGuardia strode over and patted Arthur on the shoulder without any hesitation.

"Your article 'Sixteen Tons' in the newspaper was the most lethal bombshell I received during today's debate in the House of Representatives!"

"Let those bastard lawmakers who take political donations and whitewash their bosses be completely speechless!"

Arthur smiled and shook hands with him, saying modestly, "Congressman LaGuardia, I'm glad that the shells I dug out of the Pennsylvania mines have finally found the most suitable artillery in Washington."

LaGuardia didn't mince words, asking Arthur directly about his plans: "Don't call me Congressman, call me Fiorello! I heard you're planning to drive your pickup truck all the way west to California? To write about those bankrupt farmers and workers whose homes were bulldozed by banks?"

Arthur's smile faded, and he said seriously, "Yes, Fiorello. This is not just a book; it's the most thorough dissection of this era. However, I need practical help now."

Arthur's smile faded. He pulled a crumpled map from his pocket and spread it out on the table.

The map shows a line drawn in red pen, extending westward from Washington, passing through Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and finally pointing to California.

"For the next three thousand miles of my journey, the county sheriffs were local tyrants, and the banks' private armed forces were larger than the military."

"Although they wouldn't dare kill me openly, they could easily imprison me in a dilapidated rural jail on charges of being a 'vagrant' or 'inciting riots,' and legally confiscate or burn my manuscripts."

Alice, seated in the main seat, exhaled a smoke ring and looked at Arthur with admiration.

What she likes most are young people who are straightforward and clearly know what kind of power they need.

"If you get arrested by those country bumpkin-speaking sheriffs for not having a license, you deserve it. Who told you to drive that beat-up Ford?"

Alice gave a mocking laugh, then gestured with her chin toward LaGuardia.

"Fiorello, this kid isn't just a writer, he's also the best hunter for gathering evidence for you during this Great Depression. Aren't you going to do something about it?"

"What do you mean? I'll give him a cannon!"

LaGuardia burst into laughter.

He pulled a dark blue leather ID from the inside pocket of his body.

The leather surface is printed with a dazzling gold eagle emblem of the U.S. Congress.

He turned around and solemnly placed the document in Arthur's hand.

"Kid, this is a warrant and search waiver for a specially appointed independent senior investigator of the U.S. House Select Committee on Labor and Monopolies!"

"Alice's husband, our Speaker Nicholas, secured this for you in the House of Representatives. He is unable to attend today due to health reasons, but has specifically entrusted me to present this badge to you."

"With this, unless you rob a bank in the street or kill someone with a gun, anyone who wants to detain you without cause, or search or confiscate your personal belongings, will have to think twice!"

"If they dare to detain the owner of this ID without any federal felony charges, I will request the U.S. Marshals to skin them alive!"

Arthur opened the blue document.

The first page is blank, and the second page contains Nicholas Romworth's signature and a series of authorization numbers.

The third page bears the House seal, which reads "Special Investigator, Independent Authority, Interstate Evidence Waiver".

Turning the page further, there are several blank supplementary pages, each bearing the watermark of the Congressional emblem.

His heart began to race involuntarily.

This is the perfect talisman for this era!

With this license stamped with the seal of Congress, he will be more than just a New York writer labeled as "radical".

He transformed himself into a special envoy with certain "imperial envoy" attributes, legally collecting evidence for members of the U.S. Congress.

Alice Roosevelt rose gracefully and walked over to Arthur: "It's not just this."

She took out a small black leather notebook from her extremely expensive crocodile skin handbag and handed it to Arthur.

"You need gasoline on the highway, you need a safe house, and if your manuscripts are to avoid unofficial interception by the local post office, you need an extremely secure transmission network."

"This book contains the editor of an independent newspaper who is extremely opposed to the monopoly of agricultural corporations, a conscientious lawyer who sympathizes with labor unions, and several local senators who owe favors to our Roosevelt family."

"Just take out this list and tell them you are Alice Roosevelt's friend, and they will help you."

"Take it with you on your journey, Arthur. I want you to use every means at your disposal to strip bare the skin of every oligarch you see committing evil deeds, right there in your book!"

Arthur carefully tucked the priceless list of contacts and the special congressional investigation pass into the inside of his coat.

He knew that his extremely brief two-day stopover in Washington had given him an unimaginable amount of political leverage.

Taft's memo locked down the highest-level federal agents' assassination attempts.

LaGuardia's congressional credentials severed the legal seizures and harassment by local law enforcement.

Alice Roosevelt's network of connections paved a transmission route for his manuscript of The Grapes of Wrath.

It could be said that he wore a "triple political bulletproof vest".

It's comparable to Jia Yucun's protective talisman, Li Yunlong's Italian cannon, Mei Changsu's Nirvana in Fire, and the painting in Ziwei's house.

In short, it works, and it works three times as well.

"Thank you all for your generosity."

Arthur placed one hand on his chest and bowed slightly in greeting.

"I assure you that every chapter of this book I have written will be a sharp blade piercing the heart of the old era."

LaGuardia walked over and patted him on the shoulder again.

"Don't make it sound so tragic, Arthur. You're just going to write some stories, stories about people who have been driven from their homes, stories about people who have starved to death on the road."

"Write those things down and let those people sitting in their offices drinking coffee see what's really going on in this country."

Arthur shook LaGuardia's hand and thanked them again.