President Eisenhower was a busy man, as any President of the
United States would be. One of his pleasures was to keep on top of
the news himself, rather than depend on a summary presented by his
aides.
He and Hardy Rochester had crossed paths several times during the
campaign, and although they did not always see eye to eye, he
respected him as a journalist, and liked to tune into the 6 PM
I.B.C. newscast. He especially liked the little human interest
stories, and his attention was caught by the story unfolding before
him.
“And that’s December third. Goodnight!” and the President began
pondering the implications of what he’d just seen. He’d had an
inkling over that past year that there was something coming, but
he’d never been able to put his finger on it. Something big.
Something that would change the world. Why did this story strike
such a chord with him?
He called in his chief of staff. “Jenkins! Come in here!”
“Sir?” replied Jenkins.
“I need you to arrange a trip to California right away,” he
declared.
“Sir?” puzzled Jenkins.
“I’ve just seen a news story that I believe has great implications
on the way this country is going to turn.”
“Sir?” inquired Jenkins, yet a third time.
“Just arrange the trip. I can’t explain it, but I need to be in
California tomorrow.”
“Sir!”