Chapter 277: Adam's Public Persona
The Perils of Power
Luke was fully aware of the danger inherent in his current undertaking: manipulating the President of the United States, single-handedly controlling the entire country, and becoming the puppet master behind global change.
The thought was exhilarating, but the consequences of exposure would be unimaginable.
To preempt unforeseen dangers, Luke had to proceed with the utmost caution, eliminating every possibility of exposure.
"Adam, you need to understand something: for anyone to succeed and gain fame, their public persona is crucial. A good persona can help you gain popularity and become an admired figure, and this is especially vital for your current role."
"You are the President of the United States, a hero who fought aliens, lost his memory after the attack, and won re-election. This is your current persona, and it's why the public voted for you."
"Winning the election was only the first step. Next, you must use various methods to refine your persona, giving it distinctive personal traits."
"The 'no lies, no deceit' characteristic is excellent. While it might not seem entirely fitting for a politician, the public loves it. Your next move is to demonstrate your capability so that admiration turns into acceptance."
"Many media outlets have learned through internal channels that you plan to reorganize the cabinet, and some even have the list you reviewed. They will use that list to spin stories and label you as a puppet," Luke paused, then continued,
"In fact, many people already suspect this, as you are a memory-loss patient who supposedly lacks the ability to think and judge, making it reasonable to assume you're being manipulated. At this point, you must stand up and say 'No' to everyone. Open recruitment is the best way to declare your independence."
"This move might look foolish, but it perfectly fits your persona. You need to convince the voters that you are an independent, decisive, and strong President who absolutely will not be controlled. That is what most people want."
"Furthermore, open recruitment has a critical advantage: it allows you to escape the control of the Republican Party and the Senate. By recruiting openly, you can build a power base loyal only to you. I will give you a list of politicians connected to me, the Shaw family, and the Hongmen gang. You must use the open recruitment process to install them into key positions of power. This is crucial for your future safety."
Adam nodded. "I will do as you instructed."
Luke took a drink of water to clear his throat. "In short, think carefully about everything, and proceed with caution. If you don't understand something, tell me, and I'll handle it."
"Adam, your current identity is extremely important to me. You must succeed. If you decide you want out after four years, I will arrange your departure. If you find you enjoy it, I will find a way for you to remain the master of the White House."
"Understood, Young Master. I will not disappoint you."
"Good! That's all for today."
After talking so much, Luke felt parched. He turned off the screen and lay down on the sofa to rest. Frankly, he wasn't sure if having Adam impersonate the President was a good idea or a bad one. After all, this was the US President. If the Senate and Department of Defense ever discovered that a cold-blooded, emotionless undead was occupying the President's body...
Forget it. A demon was President before; why not an undead? If things went wrong, he could just make Adam disappear. The trail would never lead back to him.
A President's Stand
Just as Luke anticipated, the White House was besieged by doubts over the next few days.
Multiple high-ranking political figures and Democrats analyzed the future power structure based on the rumored cabinet list and reached the same conclusion: the President was merely a puppet controlled by his staff and the Republican Party.
This conclusion quickly gained traction and angered many supporters. In fact, anyone with a basic understanding of politics could see the manipulation on the list.
Two days later, Joel Nash called a press conference. In front of the cameras, he publicly dismissed his Chief of Staff and, despite the grim looks of several Republicans, announced his decision for "open recruitment."
In addition to holding open recruitment, he declared that he would personally serve as the interviewer to select the cabinet members, emphasizing the principle of fairness and justice.
This move angered many Republicans but earned loud praise from the public. Joel Nash's strong, decisive performance at the conference was memorable. It was clear that although he had lost his memory, his judgment remained intact.
Such a President would never become a pawn in someone else's game. Joel Nash's actions not only overturned the media's and the public's negative impressions but also served a valuable lesson to the Republican Party and the staff.
He demonstrated to everyone through concrete action: "Even without memory, I am still the most powerful person in the world. I give orders to others; no one orders me."
In a strange atmosphere, the recruitment officially began.
This was a rare opportunity, and many talented but frustrated individuals came to Washington, joining the application pool.
Adam, following Luke's instructions, set up a rigorous screening process. The final interview was personally conducted by Adam to underscore the principles of fairness and impartiality.
After several busy days, the recruitment finally concluded. The resulting cabinet list stunned many. While historically, over ninety percent of cabinet members were white men, nearly half of this new cabinet were people of color, and many names were completely new to the media, such as *** and Cavill Zhao. The former was reportedly an Illinois state legislator, and the latter was said to be from Coast City.
The list sparked widespread discussion. When a reporter found Joel Nash and asked why he made these choices, the President offered only two explanations: "A sense of responsibility" and "No lies."
This phrase became the unofficial motto of the current White House administration.
Gant's Bewilderment
Inside the Pentagon, Norman Gant leaned back in his chair, lost in thought, after reviewing the White House's new cabinet list. His assistant whispered beside him,
"The President just called and invited you to the White House for the cabinet meeting."
Norman Gant sighed inexplicably, raising a hand to signal his assistant to leave. Once the door was closed, he quietly addressed Sam Lane, who was sitting across from him:
"What is your take on this list?"
Sam Lane was tense, his expression exceptionally serious. "I had my people investigate the people on the list. Their backgrounds are clean, and their abilities and character are excellent. They are fully qualified for the cabinet positions."
"That's not what I'm asking," Norman Gant said, waving his hand impatiently. "I don't understand why Joel Nash would keep me in a position as important as Secretary of Defense. And you—he actually wants to transform A.R.G.U.S. into an executive department like the FBI and CIA, and he named you its first director. If I recall correctly, Amanda Waller built A.R.G.U.S. from the ground up. What is going to happen to her?"
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