Fourth Lake, Chapter 2

Chapter 1 was posted at the end of January.

Later, while eating a breakfast of bacon and eggs together at their kitchen table, Phil, sipping his black coffee, read Judy an excerpt from that morning's Sunday New York Times.

"By a vote of 27-11, the House Judiciary Committee approved an article of impeachment against President Richard M. Nixon yesterday, July 27, 1974, in an historic Saturday night session.  They accused him of the following high crimes and misdemeanors: 

Article 1-Personally, and through his agents, President Nixon attempted to delay, impede and obstruct the investigation into the illegal entry, by agents of the Committee to Re-elect the President (CREEP), of the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, located at the Watergate building in Washington, D.C.  He attempted to cover-up, conceal and protect those responsible."

While Phil's nose was deep into the pages of the newspaper, Judy was eyeballing her husband and thinking about their escapade in the shower only a couple hours ago.  She had a smirk on her face and didn't care if anybody noticed.  Judy would have preferred that they go back and make love again, this time on their king-size bed.  They were alone, for a change.  Their two daughters, Kiley and Megan, were both at gymnastics camp in upstate New York.  They dropped them off last weekend and planned to pick them up when they return in two weeks from their getaway to Fourth Lake.

Judy knew that Phil was saddened by the latest development in the ongoing Watergate saga.  Both he and Judy had been supporters of Nixon.  They had voted for him every time he had run for president, in 1960, 1968, and 1972.  They were registered Republicans.

When Watergate first appeared in the press, Phil and Judy thought that it was some kind of an attempt by the liberal media to unjustly tarnish the President's image during the 1972 re-election campaign where he was otherwise unbeatable.  However, as more and more revelations came to the surface, they assumed that Watergate had been the work of the President's ill-advised underlings.  They couldn't believe that Nixon was actually involved in any way, shape, or form.  Then, with the release of the "smoking gun" tape, Phil and Judy realized that the President had done something wrong.  However, did that mean Nixon should be removed from office?  He was a very good president.  The country needed him.  Would removing him from the presidency fit the crime?  Would it serve the national interest?

"Look," said Phil, "he covered up, sure, trying to save those on his staff.  That's what a loyal executive does.  Maybe he should be censured or something, but thrown out of office, I don't know."

"Darling, you're a CPA, not a lawyer.  We don't know all the legalities.  Apparently, he broke the law being loyal, as you say.  Would you knowingly protect one of your managers if you knew he had done something illegal?"

"Maybe I already have."

"Don't say that, Phil."

"I'm admitting nothing."

"Look, Nixon's got a problem.  Let him deal with it.  But, we've got to get going.  It's a five hour trip to the lake and I want to get there as soon as possible."

Judy wanted to get there as soon as possible because she wanted them to try out the bed in their rustic cabin overlooking Fourth Lake.

To be continued next month...