Chapter 1319: Chapter 451: Commander of the Seventh District
Long before Edgar Hoover stepped down as FBI Director, Donnie wanted Rhode Granger to take up the post, but was rejected by the then U.S. Attorney General, John Sargent.
And he appointed his own confidant as the FBI Director.
However, John Sargent clearly underestimated Rhode Granger’s influence within the FBI, and in less than a year, Rhode Granger had sidelined Sargent’s confidant.
During this period, some frictions occurred between the parties, but eventually, they were easily resolved by Rhode Granger.
This situation also led to a continuously tense relationship between Donnie and John Sargent.
Yet both sides had their reservations, so even if frictions occurred, they remained within a manageable scope for both of them.
“Mr. Block, this is a bottle of fine wine I’ve stored for years. If it weren’t for your visit, I definitely wouldn’t have been willing to bring it out!”
William Donovan had a square face, his hair was somewhat sparse, and he always wore a smile on his face. This, together with his face shape, gave him a trustworthy appearance. However, anyone who truly trusted him would definitely suffer as a result.
After all, in a few years, he was to become the de facto head of intelligence in the United States.
At this moment, William Donovan held a bottle of red wine without a label and walked into Tang Fei’s living room.
“Really? Then I must have a taste!”
Donnie smiled as he took the bottle of red wine from William Donovan’s hands, saying, “I’ve been having my fleet search for some vintage red wine these years, so Mr. Donovan, when you leave, you can take a few bottles with you!”
“Is that so?” William Donovan smiled. He had known Donnie for a long time, but their interactions were different from Donnie’s with other high-ranking U.S. officials.
In dealing with other government officials, Donnie always adhered to the principle of interest-binding.
But with William Donovan, their interactions were like those of friends who appreciated wine meeting; each time they met, they would prepare a bottle of red wine.
“Of course!” Donnie said with a smile.
“Then I must have your treasured bottles of Beaune wine!” William Donovan said excitedly.
In later years, people would be tired of hearing about the 1982 Lafite, but at this time, there were also red wines of such renown, such as some famous ones produced in 1811.
Besides the excellent rainfall that year, there was another reason: a comet appeared that year, so when discussing the vintage wines of this year, people liked to say, “This is a comet year wine!”
“OK!” Donnie acted as if he was reluctant, saying helplessly, “I knew you’ve always had your eye on my Beaune wine, you can take it when you leave!”
William Donovan’s eyes flickered briefly, then he laughed heartily and said, “I’m just joking. I know Mr. Block that Beaune wine has always been your favorite. If I took it, wouldn’t I be taking someone’s cherished item? Better not!”
Seeing William Donovan’s response, Donnie also smiled: “This shows you are indeed a gentleman!”
“Naturally!” William Donovan said with a prideful smile.
Donnie waved a servant over, instructing them to decant the red wine for a while, then said to William Donovan: “Shall we first taste my wine?”
William Donovan laughed: “Isn’t this how it’s always been!”
Then the two drank wine and chatted. They didn’t really discuss personal profits, rather they had a casual conversation, ranging from international situations to U.S. domestic affairs, or anecdotes of certain celebrities.
And so, the afternoon slipped away.
William Donovan’s face slightly reddened, he stood up and took his leave.
Donnie watched William Donovan leave, shaking his head slightly. Someone who could become the head of U.S. intelligence was indeed not easily won over!
Just now, Donnie proposed to give the Beaune wine to William Donovan, which was actually a kind of probe. William Donovan sensed Donnie’s probe but declined Donnie’s invitation, subtly indicating that he wished to maintain their current relationship.
“Boss, is this Donovan going to become the Attorney General?” Henry Dale approached Donnie and asked in a low voice.
William Donovan, being the Assistant Attorney General, seemed high-ranking in the eyes of ordinary people, but this identity seemed somewhat inadequate in front of Donnie. Therefore, from Henry Dale’s perspective, Donnie’s efforts to forge a connection with William Donovan meant that William Donovan was naturally going to be one of the Attorney Generals in the next Herbert Hoover Cabinet!
Donnie shook his head and said: “He won’t become the Attorney General!”
Henry Dale assumed that Donnie was dissatisfied with William Donovan’s lack of insight, so he thought Donnie decided to prevent William Donovan from becoming the Attorney General.
This notion, though Henry Dale didn’t express it, was noticed by Donnie.
“Your boss doesn’t have such great power to freely appoint or dismiss all Cabinet Ministers!”
Cabinet Ministers seem to be appointed by the President, apparently being the President’s confidant ministers, but in reality, it’s not the case.
Simply put, each U.S. Presidential election is a competition between the Republican and Democratic parties, but it can also be seen as a competition between different U.S. financial groups.
Simultaneously, when a candidate from a certain party becomes the President of the United States, his Cabinet Ministers aren’t arbitrarily appointed; there is a compromise between Republicans and Democrats, as well as between the President and the various consortiums that supported him. Therefore, in the President’s Cabinet Ministers, it can be understood that these individuals represent the interests of various financial groups, represent the interests of various parties, and also represent the President’s own interests.