Chapter 514: A Natural Draw

[Chapter 579: A Natural Draw]

Texas, as the second-largest state in the United States both in terms of economy and population, held substantial power; it only lagged behind California in economic strength, and its land area was just smaller than Alaska.

Arthur met with John Edwards, CEO of Western Oil, and George W. Bush at George H.W. Bush's estate in Houston.

"Arthur, good to see you again!" George W. Bush greeted Arthur with an enthusiastic embrace.

"Yeah, Texas is indeed a great place," Arthur replied, recalling that he had first met George W. Bush at the Elite Conference in San Francisco at the Fairmont Hotel last September.

"Texas welcomes folks like you. There are so many Hollywood films choosing Texas for filming; the western scenery is quite appealing." George W. Bush chuckled.

Arthur nodded and sat down on the sofa alongside George.

The Bush family had built its wealth through oil early on, and for over a century, they remained at the center of American politics; presidents, capitalists, senators, representatives, ambassadors, governors, federal judges, along with countless close allies in politics.

Now, the large Bush family consisted of over 270 members from 18 different states, with surnames like Bush, Walker, Clement, House, and Ellis; through intermarriage and lateral growth, the Bush family had its own financial backing. No wonder George W. Bush would eventually succeed in his presidential campaign.

Arthur only stayed in Houston for three days before heading to New York, maintaining his friendship with the Bush family -- a plan he had always intended.

...

Manhattan, Times Square, Galaxy Building.

Arthur stood near the window, twirling a baseball bat in his hand, while Emily Shead briefed him: "The four major international hedge funds led by the Quantum Fund, Omega Consulting, Tiger Fund, and Long-Term Capital Management have all entered the Southeast Asian market. The Indonesian rupiah, Thai baht, Philippine peso, and Malaysian ringgit are all targeted for shorting."

Arthur smiled, "What's the current exchange rate for the Indonesian rupiah?"

"It's already broken 6000 and is heading towards 7000."

"What a shame; it seems the funds aren't fully unleashed yet," Arthur remarked, glancing at Emily Shead. "Let's keep a low profile, using more shell companies to proceed; let's guide public opinion in Southeast Asia; financial harvesting is a specialty of Jewish capital, and these hedge funds are all Jewish-run. Especially in Indonesia; the reputation of Western Oil doesn't compare to some of these others. The name of the Quantum Fund doesn't even need any guiding; it's already universally reviled."

"Uh, got it," Emily Shead replied, knowing she would head to Singapore and Hong Kong after the New Year, understanding Arthur's intent to avoid the limelight.

After Emily left, Arthur swung the baseball bat, "Why must I make so much money? Making money is addictive -- you could say it was a headache."

...

That evening, at the Carlyle Hotel in New York, a Christmas ball was underway, and Walter Mondale, recently returned from his position in Japan, sat on the sofa with Arthur.

"This ball was specifically organized by Donald Graham," Arthur leaned casually against the couch, holding a glass of wine. "He just took over the publication of The Washington Post from his mother, Katharine Graham. Multiple presidents, countless congressmen, and government officials have maintained contact with the Graham family."

Walter Mondale chuckled, "The relationship between The Washington Post and the government is deeper than you might imagine. Katharine came from the Meyer family; her father, Eugene Meyer, was not only a media tycoon but also served as the chairman of the Federal Reserve and the first president of the World Bank..."

Graham was her husband's surname; she had taken over the Washington Post Group from her father-in-law.

"A ball like this, the Graham family could host 300 times a year," Arthur shook his head, "but unfortunately, The Washington Post is mainly maintained by Katharine Graham herself; she's already 80 years old, and her three sons lack the capacity."

Donald Graham was also 52 but was relatively unknown in media circles; people mostly remembered his mother, Katharine Graham.

Walter Mondale took a sip of his drink, "Things have changed; the significance of newspapers has diminished in the media industry compared to television. How could a subsidiary television station of The Washington Post Group compete with your CBS Network? Give it a few more years, and your media empire will be even more desirable!"

Arthur merely smiled slightly, "Clinton has secured his reelection, and the Secretary of Defense is stepping down next year; it seems you'll need to stay in Washington for a while."

After all, the other party was competing for the position of Secretary of Defense.

Moreover, the resume of the Ambassador to Japan was a shining accomplishment.

"This incident in Indonesia involves not just oil companies but also various mining firms; these companies have maintained significant relations with the Pentagon. We'll see how it goes."

"Don't worry; I'm confident," Walter Mondale patted Arthur on the shoulder, "Let's go meet the hosts."

At the same time, Arthur spotted a fascinating figure at the ball -- Princess Diana...

...

Later that night, after leaving the Carlyle Hotel and riding back to the Upper East Side villa, Arthur asked Kate Beckinsale, who was beside him, "Diana and Charles got divorced this year, right?"

"Yeah, officially divorced in August; it took quite a long time," Kate Beckinsale was certainly familiar with the details.

Arthur nodded, leaning back in his seat and resting his hand on the lady's thigh. "Diana's public appearances have increased tremendously post-divorce."

Kate Beckinsale agreed, "Though Prince Diana is divorced, she still retains the title of Princess of Wales and is considered a member of the royal family, co-raising her two sons with Charles. However, she can no longer be called 'Her Royal Highness.' Now, Princess Diana's fame and popularity worldwide haven't diminished at all."

Arthur pinched his forehead, vaguely remembering that Princess Diana would tragically pass away in a car accident the following year; it seemed she was trying to evade the paparazzi when her car overturned while being driven by her lover.

Never mind, he thought; Arthur really didn't care much about royal news, although the Daily Mirror showed plenty of interest; after all, the British royal family naturally attracted attention, and the public had always been curious about their private lives. Over these years, Charles and Diana must have contributed significantly to the sales of British newspapers!

*****

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