Mounting Fears

21

WILL LEE WAS SITTING UP IN BED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE OF THE HOTEL Bel-Air in Los Angeles when his phone rang. It was six forty-five a.m. He picked it up. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry to disturb your breakfast, Mr. President," Kitty Conroy said, "but there's been something of a bombshell in Governor Stanton's confirmation hearing." She related the events of a few minutes before.

"Where the hell did that come from?" Will demanded.

"Right out of left field, sir. Apparently Senator Melfi has been doing some digging."

"You get on the phone to Bob Kinney. His people have already checked out Marty's story, and they have the testimony of the man who delivered Marty in the car. Get moving!"

"Yes, sir," Kitty replied and hung up. She went to her laptop, found Bob Kinney's direct line, and called it.

THE SENATE COMMITTEE reconvened after a lunch break, and Jacob Friedman, Stanton's attorney, rose. "Mr. Chairman, since Governor Stanton was pretty young at the time of the events described by Mr. Sheedy, I would like to call a rebuttal witness on the events of January 9, 1958."

"You may do so, Mr. Friedman," the chairman replied.

"I call Special Agent Shelly Bach of the Federal Bureau of Investigation," Friedman said.

There was a stir in the audience and many strobes firing as the tall blonde agent walked purposefully down the aisle and stopped to be sworn. Then she sat down where Mr. Sheedy had sat.

"Good morning, Special Agent Bach," Friedman said, rising.

"Good morning, sir, and Mr. Chairman," Shelly replied with a fetching smile.

"A little background first, please," Friedman said. "How long have you been an agent of the FBI?"

"For seven years," Shelly replied. "I was recruited out of Yale Law School."

"And what are your current duties?"

"I'm assigned to the office of Assistant Director Kerry Smith for general duties in the Washington, D.C., area."

"And what was your most recent assignment?"

"I was assigned to the background check of Governor Martin Stanton after the president selected him. This is a routine examination of persons appointed to high office in the government."

"And what did your review of Governor Stanton's background reveal?"

"Nothing of a derogatory nature, but the full report could be released only by the director of the FBI."

"Let me be specific: Did your investigation reveal the birthplace of Governor Stanton?"

"Yes. Governor Stanton was born between the United States border and Women's Hospital in San Diego, California."

"And how did you learn this?"

"First from Governor Stanton's own account of his birth, as related to him by family members and a staffer."

"And how did you substantiate this account?"

"At the direction of Director Kinney, Assistant Director Smith and I traveled to Mexico, where we interviewed Mr. Pedro Martнnez, who was an employee of Martin Stanton, Senior, and who actually delivered the baby who is Martin Stanton, Junior, while the elder Mr. Stanton drove the car."

"Did you find the account of Mr. Martнnez convincing?" Friedman asked.

"Yes. He confirmed every detail of the story Governor Stanton had told us and in a most convincing manner."

"So we have an accurate account of events from the only person still living who knows every detail of that morning's events?"

"That is correct."

"And as a result of your investigation, you have determined beyond any doubt that Governor Stanton was born on United States soil?"

"Yes, sir. That is correct."

"I've no further questions at this time, Mr. Chairman," Friedman said, then sat down.

The chairman turned toward Melfi. "Does the junior senator from Arizona have any questions for this witness?"

"Yes, Mr. Chairman, just one or two." Senator Melfi leaned into his microphone. "Special Agent Bach," he said, "are you aware of the testimony given this morning by retired Border Patrol Agent Martin Sheedy as to the actual birthplace of Governor Stanton?"

"Yes, sir, I have read the transcript."

"And that is from direct testimony before this committee?"

"Yes, sir."

"But your testimony is secondhand, isn't it? This Mr. Martнnez has not appeared here today."

"That is correct." Melfi smiled and took a deep breath. "But," she said, interrupting him, "I have a tape recording of the interview that we conducted with Mr. Martнnez three days ago, and I would be happy to play it for you."

"Please do so, Special Agent Bach," the chairman said, before Melfi could react.

Shelly removed a CD from her briefcase and handed it to a committee staffer, who inserted it into a machine and pressed a button. The voices were clear, as Pedro Martнnez told his story.

When the recording had ended, Shelly said, "Mr. Chairman, I spoke with Mr. Martнnez by phone this morning, and he has expressed his willingness to come to Washington and repeat his story in person should the committee ask him."

"I don't think that will be necessary," the chairman responded.

"Mr. Chairman," Senator Melfi cut in, "I have another question or two for Ms. Bach."

"Proceed."

"Special Agent Bach, you have told us of the investigation of Mr. Martнnez's story, but have you also investigated the story of the retired Border Patrol agent, Mr. Sheedy?"

"Since we heard of Mr. Sheedy's account of events only this morning," Shelly said, "we have not had time to fully investigate his assertions." Melfi was smiling again. "Except," Shelly said, "that I spoke to the gentleman who was Mr. Sheedy's commanding officer at the time, Mr. Ronald Wicks, who is now retired and living in San Diego. He told me that when Mr. Sheedy was in training, in December 1957, his account of the position of the U.S. Border Control Station in Mexico was accurate. However, he also told me that on January 1, 1958, both the Mexican and American Border Patrol stations were moved onto their respective soils, and that the U.S. station was several yards inside the United States. Mr. Sheedy's first day on duty at the border was eight days later, and apparently, he was not aware of the change."

Melfi sat, staring at her, speechless.

The chairman spoke up. "Mr. Melfi, do you have any further questions for this witness?"

"Ah, no, Mr. Chairman, not at this time."

"Do you wish to recall your previous witness, Mr. Sheedy, for rebuttal testimony?"

"No, Mr. Chairman," Melfi replied.

"Special Agent Bach," the chairman said, "you are excused, with the committee's gratitude."

Shelly closed her briefcase, rose, and left the room, followed by the lens of every camera.

"We will continue with the questioning of Governor Stanton," the chairman said.