Chapter 260: The Next Step – March to Europe

Anthony left, and Hardy went to the casino. It was bustling with activity, as it was time for the lottery draw. The prize had reached over $90,000, and a large crowd gathered to watch.

The lottery began, with Las Vegas TV cameras focused on the lottery machine. After three rounds, the winning numbers were drawn.

The people from the agency investment company cheered, as a guest from their company won the grand prize. There was excitement and admiration all around.

Hardy had a sudden thought and stopped a waiter. 

"Mr. Hardy, how can I assist you?" the waiter asked respectfully.

"Please call Manager Upton for me," Hardy instructed.

The waiter nodded and soon Manager Upton arrived, hurrying over. "Mr. Hardy, you wanted to see me?"

"I want to open a betting market on who will win the presidential election. Have the actuary calculate the odds. Include not just President Dewey and Johnson, but also all other candidates," Hardy said.

Manager Upton looked surprised. Betting on the presidential election was bold, but Hardy seemed unfazed.

"I'll get it prepared," Upton said.

Two days later, an advertisement aired on Las Vegas TV. Hardy Casino had launched a betting market for the presidential election, featuring 11 candidates. President Johnson and Dewey were the frontrunners, but others were included as well.

Johnson's odds were set at 1.46, Dewey at 2.16, with other candidates having higher odds reflecting their lower chances of winning.

The announcement quickly garnered nationwide attention. No one had done this before, and Hardy Casino's move was unprecedented.

The betting market opened with enthusiasm, with significant money flowing in. Within a week, the amount wagered exceeded $30 million, with most bets on Johnson and Dewey.

The newspapers reported on the new betting market daily. Johnson was pleased, noting the high volume of bets on him as a positive indicator of his support.

Dewey's campaign was troubled by the release of Hardy's documentary "Black Gold," which had damaged his reputation. Johnson's approval ratings were rising, which encouraged him.

Johnson called Hardy. "Hadi, I'll be in Los Angeles tomorrow. Is everything set for the event?"

"Absolutely," Hardy replied with a smile. "The Los Angeles speech tour will be the grandest event ever."

Johnson's upcoming speech in Los Angeles was highly anticipated. The event was set on Hollywood Boulevard, with extensive preparations made. ABC Television advertised the speech heavily, promising a star-studded event.

The speech featured performances from the four mentors of the 'Super Idol' audition show and 32 finalists. Hollywood stars also made appearances, adding to the excitement.

ABC TV broadcasted the event live, and thousands of people gathered to watch. Free Pepsi bottles were distributed to the crowd, creating a buzz.

The event surpassed expectations. The crowd exceeded 200,000, and the free Pepsi quickly ran out, prompting emergency resupplies. The performance by Ava Gardner and others drew enormous cheers, culminating in President Johnson's speech.

Johnson's speech was well-received, with enthusiastic applause. He addressed future policies, including criticisms of certain foreign leaders and his plans for domestic improvements.

The speech event concluded with overwhelming support for Johnson, and media coverage highlighted the massive turnout and the successful advertising for Pepsi.

Johnson was thrilled with the outcome and thanked Hardy for his support. The two shared a moment of celebration, with Johnson expressing his renewed confidence.

"I'm planning to shift focus to Europe," Johnson said. "Are you familiar with the Marshall Plan?"

Hardy nodded. "Yes, I know about it. The Marshall Plan was crucial for Europe's recovery after the war."

Johnson explained that the Marshall Plan, set to be signed in April, would provide substantial aid to Western European countries. The aid would include funds, industrial products, technology, and more, with an annual total of around $4 billion.

The plan aimed to help Europe recover and, importantly, channel funds back to the U.S. through trade and investments. Johnson also mentioned organizing a private business delegation to explore investment opportunities in Europe.

Hardy realized the potential business opportunities this presented and was eager to participate. Johnson invited Hardy to form one of the three inspection teams that would explore investment prospects in Europe.

This opportunity was the first major profit from Hardy's investment in Johnson. The initial teams would have the prime opportunities, and later teams would face more competition for the remaining prospects.

Johnson's plan to pivot towards Europe was set, and Hardy prepared for his role in this new phase of economic strategy.