Creating America: My campaign manager was Roosevelt

Chapter 84 Rewarding Merit

Chapter 84 Rewarding Meritorious Service (Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader "The Still Clock on the Wall")

The office door was pushed open.

Frank Kowalski was the first to walk in.

He looked around the large office, at the empty bookshelves and walls, and finally his gaze settled on Leo sitting behind the huge desk.

"Ha." Frank let out a short exclamation, strode over to the table, and tapped the surface with his large knuckles. "This place is much more spacious than that tin shack we had in the South District."

"It's much quieter now," Leo added.

Sarah followed behind, looking around, her gaze lingering for a moment on the cityscape outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Her face held a dazed, unreal look, as if she hadn't yet recovered from the scene of cheering crowds in the square.

"We really did it," Sarah said softly, walking over to the sofa and sinking into the soft leather. "I feel like I'm dreaming."

Following closely behind her was Karen Miller.

Ethan Hawke was the last to enter. He closed the door behind him, shutting out the noisy congratulations and footsteps outside.

"It's not a dream, Sarah," Ethan said. "This is our victory."

Everyone sat down except Karen Miller, who took a pack of cigarettes from her handbag and lit it.

Smoking is illegal here.

But Leo sat behind his desk, watching the wisp of smoke rise slowly, and did not say anything to stop it.

This is a privilege, and also a farewell.

Karen's handbag was already fastened, making a crisp metallic clanging sound.

"Mr. Mayor."

Karen exhaled a puff of smoke and looked at Leo through it.

"My work is done."

"Congressman John Murphy is very pleased with the result. Our victory in Pittsburgh has given him a lot more confidence in Washington. He called me yesterday to ask me to convey his congratulations to you and to tell me to get back to Washington as soon as possible, as there is other work waiting for me there."

Leo looked at the woman who had fought alongside him for the past few months.

She is cold, shrewd, and even somewhat mercenary.

But she did teach him a lot.

"You can stay," Leo said. "We need you. The governance work ahead is more difficult than the election, and I need someone knowledgeable to help me keep an eye on those bureaucrats."

Karen smiled.

She stubbed out her cigarette in the paper cup.

"No, Leo. You don't understand me, and you don't understand my industry."

She straightened her expensive business suit.

"I'm a campaign manager. What I'm good at is conquering territory, creating conflict, and turning the impossible into possible. I enjoy the adrenaline rush."

"But governance?"

Karen shook her head, a hint of disgust on her face.

"Governance is about compromise, balance, day-to-day paperwork, and arguing with a bunch of idiots in boring hearings. I'm not good at that, and I'm not interested in it."

She picked up her handbag and walked up to Leo.

Leo also stood up and extended his hand.

"Thank you, Karen."

Karen grasped Leo's hand, this time with great force, not like a handshake, but more like conveying some final message.

"Before I leave, I'll give you one last piece of free advice, Mr. Mayor."

Karen's eyes sharpened.

"Be careful of the people in this building."

"Beware of section chiefs and bureau chiefs who seem obsequious to you."

"They are more difficult to deal with than Douglas Morganfield."

"Morganfield is a wolf. He wants to eat you. You'll see his fangs. You can pick up a gun and fight him."

"But the people in this building are termites."

"They'll smile and bow to you, then, where you can't see, they'll hollow out your foundation. They'll use procedures, compliance, and countless excuses to delay your orders until you're left all alone."

"They'll stab you in the back while laughing, and afterwards, you won't even bleed."

Karen released her grip.

"Good luck, Leo. Hopefully, the next time I see you on TV, it won't be your impeachment hearing."

She turned around, her high heels clicking rhythmically on the wooden floor.

The door opened, then closed again.

Karen Miller is gone.

The sound of high heels clicking on the marble floor gradually faded away.

Leo looked at the closed door and let out a soft sigh.

But he had no time to lament.

Karen is gone, which means the temporary structure built for the campaign has been dismantled.

Now, he must build a team that is truly capable of governing the city.

"In this country, there is an ancient political tradition called the spoils system."

Roosevelt's voice echoed in Leo's mind.

"Don't be scared by this unpleasant name, kid. Its core logic is very simple: winner takes all."

"You won the election, and you won one of the most important powers in this city—the power of political appointment."

"Look at this building, think about all those bureaucrats bowing to you. Many of them are Cartwright's men, Morganfield's men, or just people who want to coast along."

"You can't expect these people to carry out your will."

"You need a purge, a complete overhaul, and to replace all the key positions with your absolute trusted confidants."

"Chief of staff, directors of various departments, special advisors, spokespersons—these positions are extensions of your power, the levers through which you control this vast machine."

"Now, let's begin the distribution of fiefs and rewards."

Leo sat back down in his chair and picked up the list that had already been prepared.

The first name is Frank Kowalski.

Frank didn't wear the suit that made him uncomfortable; instead, he changed back into his signature union jacket and held a baseball cap in his hand.

He looked somewhat uneasy, which was unusual for Frank.

"Sit down, Frank," Leo said, gesturing to the chair opposite him.

"This chair is too soft," Frank muttered. "It makes me want to fall asleep."

Leo smiled.

"You'll get used to it, Frank."

Leo pushed a document in front of Frank.

"This is your draft appointment letter."

"I have two positions for you to choose from. First, Director of Public Works. Second, Director of the City Labor Department."

"Both of these positions have real power. You can directly mobilize resources to help those unemployed brothers, and you can investigate those unscrupulous bosses who withhold wages."

"You deserve it, Frank. You're a hero in this battle."

Frank looked at the document, at the gold-embossed national emblem and the titles that represented power.

He wiped his hand on his trouser leg, as if afraid of getting the paper dirty.

He remained silent for a long time.

Then he pushed the document back.

Leo was stunned.

"What's wrong? If you're not happy with the position, we can still talk."

"No, Leo," Frank shook his head, his voice low, "it's not about position."

He looked up at Leo.

In those bloodshot and wrinkled eyes, there was a clarity that Leo had never seen before.

"I don't belong here, Leo."

Frank pointed to the spacious and bright office, and then to the city square outside the window.

"Leo, my battlefield is on the streets, outside the fences of construction sites, in those workshops full of oil and sweat."

"If you tie me to this office, make me face a pile of forms and documents every day, and make me deal with bureaucrats who speak in roundabout ways..."

"I'll go crazy."

Frank gave a wry smile.

"And I'll get you into big trouble too. I won't be able to resist punching those politicians who talk nonsense, and I won't be able to resist swearing at hearings."

"At that time, you'll have to go to great lengths to protect me, or deal with me the way Cartwright dealt with Miller."

Leo was eager to retort: ​​"Frank, you're different, we're comrades-in-arms—"

"Precisely because we are comrades-in-arms."

Frank interrupted him.

"That's why I can't come in."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the street where he had led countless protests.

"Leo, you're the mayor now."

"You sit inside, you need to compromise, you need to find a balance, you need to deal with all sorts of people, that's your job."

"But the workers need someone to watch over you from the outside."

Frank turned around, his expression becoming extremely serious.

"Power changes a person, Leo. I've seen too many good people who started out full of enthusiasm turn into bastards after sitting in this chair."

I don't want you to become like that.

"So, I want to stay in the union, to stay outside."

"I will be watching you, watching every single one of your policies."

"If you do well, I will lead the brothers to cheer for you and be your strongest support."

"But, Leo, listen carefully."

Frank pointed his finger at Leo.

"If one day you change, if you forget your promises, if you start betraying us like Cartwright did."

"I'll be the first person to lead a group into City Hall, drag you off this chair, and then give you a good scolding to wake you up."

Leo looked at Frank.

"He is right."

Roosevelt's voice echoed in Leo's mind.

"Let him go, Leo, leave him outside."

"You need someone inside the system to steer the ship for you, but you also need someone outside the system to create leverage for reform through shouting and pressure."

"When you want to push through a radical policy but are blocked by parliament and bureaucrats, you need Frank to mobilize the masses outside and provide you with the ammunition of public opinion."

"This is called a pincer attack from both inside and outside."

"This is a brilliant political strategy."

Leo stood up and walked around the desk.

He opened his arms and hugged Frank tightly. "Thank you, Frank," Leo whispered in Frank's ear. "Keep an eye on the door for me. If I really get lost, remember to yell at me to wake me up."

Frank patted Leo's back hard, so hard that Leo coughed a little.

"Don't worry, kid. I have a loud voice."

Frank is gone.

He rejected the comfort of the office and returned to his smoky and noisy union shack.

He took away a trust, but left behind a clear mind.

Next up is Ethan Hawke.

Leo looked at Ethan.

"And you, Ethan? Are you going back to Washington? Senator Sanders is there—"

"Senator Sanders asked me to stay."

Ethan replied.

He said that Washington doesn’t lack a staff member who writes policy documents, but Pittsburgh lacks an executive who can turn those documents into reality.

"He told me to keep an eye on you, and also on this show flat."

Ethan smiled.

"And, to be honest, I also want to see if what we write on paper can actually work in a real city."

Leo produced another letter of appointment.

"Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Pittsburgh"

This is the most powerful position in the entire city hall, second only to the mayor himself.

He is the mayor's chief steward, the outlet for all administrative orders, and the hub connecting the mayor and the vast bureaucratic system.

"This position requires someone who understands the law, policy, and Washington rules, and who has extremely high execution capabilities."

Leo said, "You're the only one."

Ethan took the letter of appointment and glanced at it.

"Chief of Staff — this means I'll be responsible for cleaning up all your messes, fending off those annoying congressmen, and getting money from Washington."

"That sounds like a tough job."

Ethan took a pen out of his pocket and signed his name on the document.

"But I accepted it."

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, boss."

Finally, there's Sarah Jenkins.

Sarah changed into a business suit and looked much more mature than during the campaign.

But her eyes still shone with that idealistic light.

"Sarah." Leo looked at his partner who had been with him since day one.

"Karen's gone, Frank's back to the union, and Ethan's in charge of liaising with Washington and setting policy. But we still need someone who can really get this huge machine running."

"We need a chief steward. Someone who can manage thousands of employees in the municipal system, keep track of the exact flow of every budget, and ensure that every one of my executive orders doesn't end up in the shredder of those old hands."

"Minister of Operations and Administration"

Leo handed her the letter of appointment.

"Sarah, this isn't as simple as managing a YouTube channel; you're managing the nervous system of this city."

"You'll be in charge of the city hall's personnel, financial audits, and daily administrative operations. You'll need to get rid of those bastards who are just drawing salaries without working and optimize those rigid processes."

"You are my COO."

Sarah took the document.

Her hands trembled slightly.

A year ago, she was a college student who was worried about finding a job.

Now, she is one of the city's youngest senior officials.

"I won't let you down, Leo," Sarah said firmly.

Everything has settled down.

Leo stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, with Ethan and Sarah standing behind him.

This is his core cabinet.

This is the youngest, most inexperienced, but also most dynamic governing team in Pittsburgh's history, and perhaps in the history of any city in the United States.

They didn't have a powerful background or a complicated network of relationships.

All they have are a head full of ideas and a burning desire to turn the world upside down.

"Look at them, Leo."

Roosevelt's voice rang out.

"This reminds me of my think tank back then."

"Young, arrogant, and ignorant of their own limitations."

"But it is precisely these kinds of people who can build new edifices on the ruins."

"The old era has ended."

"Now, this city hall belongs to you."

Leo turned around and looked at his young companions.

"Alright, everyone."

Leo clapped his hands.

"The celebration is over."

"Ethan, I need you to put on my desk within a week a list of the first projects I'll launch within my first 100 days in office, along with a plan for federal funding."

"Sarah, I want you to secretly launch a full internal audit. I need to find out just how much trouble Cartwright left us with. But be careful not to provoke a backlash from the lower-level departments; we still need them to do the work."

"Now, let's begin."

Ethan and Sarah accepted the order and left.

The office door was closed.

The room returned to silence.

Leo walked back to his desk and sat down in the leather chair.

He stroked the handrail.

This is the touch of power.

It is also the feeling of responsibility.

He opened the drawer, inside which was a brand new diary.

He turned to the first page, picked up his pen, and wrote a line.

"Mayor of Pittsburgh, Day One."

He paused for a moment, then added another sentence to the public.

"For those who stood in line in the rain."

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