Chapter 59: Are You Guys Really That Confident?
Nixon completely overwhelms Kennedy in the brain?
Only possible after Kennedy’s wild ideas burst open.
Lin Ran thought to himself, so you’re that confident?
Standing from the perspective of posterity, he naturally knew that this television debate completely crushed Nixon, causing the originally balanced scales to tip toward Kennedy.
No wonder Nixon made such a decision with the staff so confident.
Lin Ran observed the white men present; everyone was seriously listening to Finch’s speech, and when mentioning Nixon’s brain overwhelming Kennedy, many of them started laughing, but not mocking laughter, rather approving laughter.
As a yellow race person, he would naturally feel out of place in such an occasion, Lin Ran thought; wait until the results come out, you’ll cry.
However, no matter what Lin Ran thought, Finch and the Elephant Party supporters present undoubtedly believed it, and Finch continued:
“Now, about the campaign. As we all know, running a presidential campaign is no small matter. It requires vast resources to disseminate our information to Americans. We need funding for advertisements, to organize rallies, and to tour nationwide visiting voters.
Tonight your donations will directly support these efforts, helping us spread the message of Nixon’s experience, stability, and prosperity.
I assure you, every US dollar donated will be used efficiently and effectively.
Our campaign team consists of a group of professionals dedicated to getting Dick Nixon elected.
We have a detailed plan, and with your help, we can ensure its successful execution.
I must emphasize that this election will be very close. The latest poll shows Nixon and Kennedy evenly matched. In such a tight race, every vote and every US dollar is crucial. Your donations tonight could be the deciding factor, changing the balance in our favor.
Finally, let me leave you with this idea: the future of our country hangs in the balance. The decisions of the next four years will shape generations to come. With Richard Nixon as president, I believe we can face any challenge and become stronger than ever. Thank you for your time, your attention, and most importantly, your support. Together, we can make Richard Nixon the next president of America.”
After the speech ended, everyone came forward with checks and cast them into the transparent donation box in the center; what Lin Ran and John Morgan prepared were the same, the threshold price, that is, 5000 US dollars.
Lin Ran had carefully observed that most people’s donation amounts were between 10,000 US dollars and 50,000 US dollars, with very few donating 100,000 US dollars.
“Looks like 100,000 US dollars is the upper limit.” Lin Ran thought, “That guy Fred also gave 5,000 US dollars; indeed the T family style, give one cent if possible and never two cents.”
After the last white man cast his check into the donation box, the staff came forward to collect it, Robert Finch clapped his hands, and all the tables began to be cleared away, sofas were moved to both sides of the hall
Gentle jazz accompaniment began to play.
The expressions of the white men around were full of expectation.
Lin Ran asked in a low voice: “What is this mysterious segment?”
John Morgan was also a bit tense: “I don’t know, I’ve only heard about it but never seen it.
Four years ago during the presidential election, I was preparing for the Olympics, how could I come to such an occasion to relax!”
“Clap~ clap~” With Robert’s applause, the lights in the banquet hall suddenly all went out, leaving only a few faint wall lamps casting dim light and shadows.
A trace of unusual tension permeated the air, and whispers gradually replaced the previous laughter and chatter.
The curtain in the center of the hall slowly opened, and thirty dancers in gorgeous clothes took the stage.
They wore sequined tops and fringed skirts, their movements light and rhythmic. The background music shifted from jazz to a more energetic rock rhythm.
The dancers’ figures swayed under the dim lights, fringes swinging with their steps, reflecting twinkling light spots, as if turning the previous banquet hall into a temporary stage.
“There are rooms on the second floor, hope everyone enjoys.”
Despite the dim lights, Lin Ran could still sense that these dancers were all uniformly blonde, blue-eyed, and big-breasted, like the overly sweet desserts popular in America.
The ladies’ clothes became fewer and fewer, until only a few thin pieces of fabric remained.
Some guests were invited to join the dance; the men took off their jackets, the women kicked off their high heels, and the atmosphere became relaxed and heated. Laughter and applause rose one after another.
Lin Ran saw John Morgan preparing to rush up and quickly pulled him back: “There won’t be any problems, right?”
John Morgan looked puzzled: “What problems?”
Lin Ran asked: “Like getting pregnant and asking you for child support or something?”
John Morgan said speechlessly: “Brother, here thirty people each shelled out at least 5,000 US dollars; do you know what 5,000 US dollars means? These dancers are all just-turned-eighteen girls, okay.
If there were problems, would the Elephant Party dare to hold such a fundraising dinner? Over all these years with the Elephant Party, I’ve never heard of such things.”
Lin Ran thought about it and realized it was true; this was 1960, where were all those MeToo, or deliberately getting famous people pregnant and then taking a big cut from the man—such things were equally unimaginable in this era.
On one hand, women’s status had not yet risen; on the other hand, it was not until 1975 that America established the Child Support Enforcement Program, strengthening the enforcement of child support obligations for unwed fathers, and with the widespread use of DNA tests improving the precision of determining parent-child relationships, making it easier for women to prove celebrities’ paternity in court and claim child support.
Therefore, Lin Ran’s worries were purely superfluous in this era.
“No, haven’t you never been here before? How do you know?”
“My friend told me.”
The entire performance undoubtedly added a lot of wild and free atmosphere to the dinner.
There was no need for Lin Ran to go up and find dancers himself; these dancers would automatically come to find the guests.
Because it was exactly one dancer per guest.
Compared to being selected, Lin Ran still preferred to select himself; at least he could choose one more to his taste.
So much so that the next day, waking up in a room on the second floor of the Union League Club, Lin Ran sighed that sex and violence were indeed the best ways to release pressure.
Because of obtaining the gate, his nerves had always been tense, and finally they relaxed, the whole person loosening up.
“So Randolph, should we switch to supporting Kennedy?”
After breakfast, in the Rolls-Royce, John Morgan asked.
He didn’t know if it was an illusion, but Lin Ran felt that the other’s attitude toward him was much friendlier. Before, although they were friends, it was more like a partner mode; now it was developing a bit toward close friends.
Lin Ran shook his head:
“I can’t make a judgment; I really don’t understand your American politics.
But is Kennedy’s campaign fundraising dinner this wild too?
