The Fall of a Giant (10)
As everyone had expected, the 1928 U.S. presidential election ended in Hoover's victory.
At the time, his Democratic opponent, Al Smith, had a fatal weakness—he was a Catholic. On top of that, he was associated with the notoriously corrupt Tammany Hall political machine.
The Republican Party, already battered by internal strife during the primaries, bared its teeth and unleashed an even harsher negative campaign—and it worked.
"Al Smith as president? Ladies and gentlemen, Catholics are all under the rule of the Pope and submit to the authority of the Vatican! They say those papists are already gathering every night, pledging to dedicate the United States to His Holiness the Pope! God, save the United States!"
"If the Democrats take power this time, all of our current prosperity and glory will vanish, and the wealth that should belong to us will be sucked into the pockets of those corrupt politicians!"
Of course, the Democrats didn't just sit there and take it.
"Hoover as president? Ladies and gentlemen, Hoover—who just loves negroes—will sell this sacred United States to them! They say those negroes are already gathering every night, vowing to kill whites and take over this country! God, save the United States!"
"If the Republicans take power, that damned Prohibition will be extended for another four years! Let's at least have a drink! We must reform this insane law that only fattens the bellies of criminals!"
After this dizzying and filthy clash, Hoover finally seized the throne and entered the White House in triumph.
The hope for the future that Hoover had promised.
The belief that this boom would continue.
That belief itself was his strongest base of support.
And so, on March 4, 1929, President Hoover's administration began.
Even at this point, there were not a few voices warning about the economy and financial markets.
"It's time for a correction."
"We should start investing more conservatively."
And yet, astonishingly, under the blessing of the great economic president Hoover, the stock market continued its upward climb. Those analysts—whatever they called themselves—crowding Manhattan could only stand there speechless.
Institutions sold, but individuals bought.
As a result, stock prices—which had briefly stalled—surged upward again as if that pause had merely been a moment to catch their breath. The small investors did it! They really did it!
Of course, a more cynical observer might interpret it differently.
The institutions had realized their profits, and the small investors had bought up the bomb.
And so, the stock market charged headlong toward October 1929.
***
"As Commander-in-Chief, my heart aches for the suffering farmers. Therefore, I promise innovative measures for rural reform and relief."
Hoover had opposed the rural relief bill led by Curtis, but he wasn't a heartless man like Ford, shouting, "If rural investment fails, let them all die!" If he were that kind of person, he wouldn't have made it in politics.
However, as a champion of free-market economics backed by capitalists, Hoover's proposal was far from enough to calm the enraged farmers.
"A severe drought has struck the countryside. If they are to farm at all, they at least need to buy seeds—where are they supposed to get the money?"
"There are commercial banks. If farming is competitive, naturally the banks will provide loans."
"All those banks that used to deal with rural areas have already gone bankrupt! The countryside is already dead!"
"Government intervention in the market is unconstitutional. Of course, I sympathize with the farmers' suffering, but this is a nation of freedom, and government intervention must be minimized. As president, I have been granted authority under the Constitution—not the authority to violate it."
"You bastard!! If someone attacked your wife, would you refuse to fight because you lack authority?!"
"Well said, Hoover! Don't give in to those red whiners!"
"It is better to teach a man how to fish than to give him fish. I will pursue long-term improvements in agricultural competitiveness and inventory, in ways that minimize government intervention."
The intention was good—yes, the intention.
But perhaps because this country had too many irregular variables, the situation began to unfold in a direction I had never imagined.
"President Harding established US MILK in the past. He had a warm heart and believed in human goodness and will more than anyone else. That is why he thought US MILK could save both dairy farmers and war veterans.
But what is the reality? Farmers who have already tasted government intervention are now clinging even more to welfare. They cry out, 'Why do you save milk but kill wheat?'
While it cannot be said that the policy had no positive effects, the harmful consequences of such populist measures have taken root like a deadly poison over decades.
The reason the American people chose me is because they believed I could lead this nation to prosperity with firmness and discipline. To honor that will, I will thoroughly reform US MILK, the breeding ground of corruption—"
"What… what is this nonsense?!"
Hoover's first blade was pointed at us.
Even I—who had been casually rOotating through command positions after graduating from the Army War College, managing my career—had no choice but to rush to Washington, D.C. the moment I saw the newspaper.
"I knew you'd come."
"Are you alright?"
Congressman Curtis looked remarkably calm.
"What was bound to happen has happened."
"I don't mean that… you're talking about US MILK, right?"
"Of course. I anticipated this from the moment I refused the vice presidency."
Instead of sharing a drink, we stepped out into the yard.
"The reason Hoover offered me the vice presidency was simple. He wanted to castrate me politically—lock me in a pretty cage where I'd look good and do nothing."
"That much is obvious."
"That's why I refused. Even though I lost the primary, I realized that quite a number of people support me. That's enough to speak my mind as an opposition voice within the ruling party."
As Senate Majority Leader and a heavyweight presidential contender with overwhelming rural support, he still had considerable political assets.
Though he must have lost a good portion of them after the primary defeat.
"Do you think Hoover doesn't know this simple fact? Since he knows I won't quietly enter the cage, he's now trying to rip out the bird's claws and beak."
"Even so, is it acceptable to overhaul national policy like this?"
"He has justification. That's all he needs."
My father-in-law plopped down onto the dirt and stared blankly up at the sky.
"The citizens of the United States simply don't like their taxes going to country bumpkins."
"It's not necessarily that simple, is it?"
"Hoover seized even traditional Democratic strongholds and planted his flag there. A president who's achieved such a feat has now declared he will carry out 'reform' based on principles. Not abolition—reform. And in just his first year in office. Of course he can push it through."
At a loss for words, I sat down beside him and looked up at the sky as well.
It was so high, and so clear.
"My time is over."
"You still have a long way to go. You can't grow this weak just because you lost an election."
You're the one who insisted on running when I tried to stop you. Don't go soft now.
"I'm almost seventy. I feel it every day. I can't accomplish anything new anymore… and instead, I just watch the things I built crumble one by one. I'm too… tired to keep burning with anger and passion."
"Sir."
"But I'm fine. I may not have been able to tear down those towering walls of D.C., but right here beside me is a worthy successor who can carry on my banner."
He was looking at me now instead of the sky, but his gaze hadn't changed.
"I won't tell you to become a politician anymore."
"Let's stop this. Why don't we head inside? It's getting pretty cold out here—"
"But remember just one thing. Whatever path you choose is your freedom… but you, my son-in-law, are someone who can change this country's history—its future. Please… accomplish what I could not."
"No. You have to do it. Be a proper adult and handle your own work. You still have your seat, and no one knows how long Hoover will keep up this momentum."
If I just agreed right here, it'd feel like I was about to ascend to immortality on the spot.
This damned old man. Instead of acting like you're about to order your coffin already, get back to work. What are you going to do when US MILK blows up, huh?
"Perhaps I've burdened you too much. Don't mind it. I must be getting sentimental in my old age."
"Why are you suddenly like this— I mean, I will do it! I'm a capable guy, so of course I'll break through whatever walls come my way and live just fine! But wouldn't it make my life easier if you knocked down one or two walls first? Hm?"
"Ha. That's the spirit. Let's head inside. It may be a widower's house, but the new housekeeper we hired is an excellent cook. What would you like to eat?"
As he had boasted, dinner was excellent. But for some reason, my mouth felt dry, and the meat just wouldn't go down easily.
We parted ways like that, each leaving things unsaid.
***
US MILK, the biggest corruption scandal in history!Former US MILK president Harry M. Daugherty, a complete set of crimes!Bribery, kickbacks, mismanagement, lobbying… a scandal shaking Washington, D.C.!What percentage of US MILK employees are veterans? Is this really a program for veteran welfare?The result of government intervention: rising milk prices! Now is the time for free competition!
"Wasn't US MILK something you worked on?"
"Huh? No, I just said it might be a good idea. I wasn't really involved. Don't worry too much."
Haaaarding!!
I wanted to grab the dead Harding by the collar and ask what kind of friends he kept. Give me back my card! Give me back my Black Lotus! That so-called friend of yours went and dumped a massive pile of crap all over US MILK!
Hoover's attack was ruthless.
US MILK—the messiah that had saved children from chalk-filled milk—was now, after the media gleefully blasted its horns, reduced to the level of a criminal cartel on par with Al Capone, its image plunged into the depths. Even Dorothy, who usually didn't comment on what I did, was worried—just how fiercely was this thing burning?
Congressman Curtis was dragged into hearings and publicly humiliated. Of course, given his role and position in US MILK, he couldn't avoid it—but this was outright retaliation. No, that had been the goal all along.
It wasn't long before I received a call from my father-in-law, his voice hoarse.
—They mentioned you during the hearing. I thought you should know.
"What do you mean?"
—Daugherty, that bastard, spilled everything about when we met Harding in Wabock. He said US MILK was your idea!
Before I could even ask anything, he continued rapidly.
—That testimony hasn't been made public. Your involvement amounts to nothing more than suggesting it would be a good idea, and no one in D.C. wants the Wabock story revealed anyway.
"Then—"
—It's nothing serious. Just something that's come to light internally. Still, better you know than not.
If Curtis said it was fine, then it was probably fine. Back then, Harding hadn't even been a presidential contender—just another gambling-loving drifter in D.C.—so it didn't carry much weight.
And besides, something far bigger than a milk scandal had begun to unfold.
!Stock market crash!!Investors throwing themselves into the Hudson River!Market collapse! An unimaginable plunge!!
The time had come for the giant to receive its death sentence.
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