good of you to see me on such short notice, Mr President.’
‘A bad business,’ the President said.
‘And one which could be a considerable personal embarrassment to you if Father Conlin is brought to trial, as is suggested. I refer, of course, to your Berlin visit.’
‘Does the Vatican intend to make any kind of official representation to the East German Government?’ Dean Rusk asked.
‘What would be the point? At this stage in the game they would certainly deny having him in their hands, and there are other considerations. The position of Roman Catholics, indeed of all declared Christians, is a difficult one in East Germany these days. We must tread very carefully.’
‘In other words, you’ll do nothing,’ the President said.
‘Nothing official,’ Vagnozzi said. ‘On the other hand, Father Pacelli of the Society of Jesus is going to Berlin as soon as possible to assess the situation.’
The President smiled, ‘Pacelli himself, eh? So you’re letting him off the leash? Now that is interesting.’
‘His Holiness, in spite of his unfortunate illness, is taking a personal interest in the matter. He would like to know, in view of the fact that Father Conlin is an American citizen, what your own views are.’
The President stared down at the folder, a slight frown on his face, and it was the Secretary of State who answered. ‘There are various aspects which are far from pleasant.
This man, Van Buren, for example, has been a considerable embarrassment to us for years. Naturally, we’ve kept a very low profile on him, and so far that’s worked.’
‘And then there’s Conlin’s own position,’ the President said. ‘They’ll try to brainwash him into saying his Christian Underground has been a tool of the CIA for years. The point of the exercise: a total smear to ruin every good thing I’m hoping to achieve by the German trip. The improvement in relations between ourselves and Moscow since Cuba has been considerable. Together with the British, we’re to resume three-power talks in Moscow aimed at a nuclear test-ban treaty. In a few days’ time I’m making a speech here in Washington at the American University in which I intend to make clear our recognition of the post-war status quo in Eastern Europe.’
‘A move of profound significance,’ Vagnozzi said.
The President continued. ‘As far as East Germany is concerned, Ulbricht is a Stalinist. He hates Krushchev, so my visit to Berlin is of great importance in the general scheme of things because it shows Ulbricht that we mean business.’
‘Which helps Krushchev to handle him.’
‘But more than that – it shows the Russians where we stand also. That trying to be reasonable doesn’t mean we’ve gone soft. We stand by West Berlin.’
Vagnozzi said, ‘So there is nothing we can do about Conlin?’
The President shook his head and the steel that was always there just beneath the surface showed coldly in the eyes for a moment. ‘I didn’t say that. What I’d like you to do is give me a little more time, that’s all.’
Vagnozzi stood up. ‘Very well, Mr President. I will delay making my official reply until I hear from you.’
‘Before morning,’ the President assured him. ‘I think I can promise you that.’
The archbishop went out. Dean Rusk said, ‘With the greatest respect, Mr President, I must point out that to attempt an official move at this time – to involve the CIA, for example – would be madness. If anything went wrong, it could only add substance to the kind of charges they intend to bring against Conlin anyway.’
‘Exactly,’ the President said. ‘Which is why anything that is done will have to be on a completely unofficial basis.’ He reached for a copy of the Washington Post . ‘Did you know Charles Pascoe was in town?’
‘No.’
‘There’s an article here on page three. He’s giving the Vanderbilt Memorial Lecture at the Smithsonian tonight.’
‘I thought he’d given up the academic life,’ the Secretary of State said. ‘I heard his brother died last year and left him a fortune.’
‘No, he’s still Professor of Modern English Literature at Balliol.’ The President folded the newspaper, stood up and eased his back. ‘I’d like to see him – when he’s finished his lecture, of course.’
‘As you say, Mr President.’
The Secretary of State started for the door and President Kennedy called softly, ‘And – Dean?’
‘Yes, Mr President?’
‘Let’s make it the west basement entrance when you bring him in. No Press on this one – by request.’
Professor Charles Pascoe was bored, for the subject of his lecture at the Smithsonian, Aspects of the Modern Novel, was one he found increasingly unrewarding, as he did the company of the academics who surrounded him at the reception afterwards. The arrival of the polite young man from the State Department with a request that he visit the White House that very night had come as a happy release.
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