“Well sir, it will take some explaining. That’s why I asked for two hours. I have both a written transcript and the video tapes of the interviews. I have also made an edited version that doesn’t take the nearly fourteen hours of testimony,” Raymond told him.
“Let me ask you, who else has seen these tapes?”
“One of our investigators, a Station Head and myself. So far, no one else has been privy to any of this information. That’s why I wanted to get in to see you as quickly as possible.”
“Good. Good thinking,” the President said.
He stood up and started pacing the room. Eller knew it was better to just wait until he initiated the conversation. He had seen him do this same routine on other occasions. He stopped at the window and looked out for several moments.
Finally he said, “Raymond, I honestly don’t know how to respond to all of this. I could tell you to just drop it at this point. I could tell you that this is all hogwash. What I will say instead is that this information is potentially disastrous. To admit any part of it is to open the box for everything to be divulged. While we try to let the American people know what the government is up to, there are times, as you well know, that we need to keep certain things secret. This is one of those times. S-4 is our most sensitive area and to have someone making accusations about a potential cover-up and getting people all stirred up, is simply not an option.”
“Yes sir. I understand. The problem is that we have more people with knowledge than we can suppress. My people are not the problem. Why don’t you take a look at the video before you decide what to do next?” Eller suggested.
“Certainly. I think that makes sense. I’ll have it set up immediately. I would like you to make whatever arrangements you need to so that you can stay and answer any questions that I may have. I only want you and me in the room.”
“Yes sir. I’ll make some calls and be here in the White House until you send for me,” Eller said.
“Thank you. It won’t be long,” the President replied.
Raymond walked down the hall and made several phone calls from secure landlines. He didn’t like using his cell phone while in the White House.
Stella did not seem pleased by the fact that the President was going to block out even more time. It meant moving people around and she didn’t like anything that disturbed her timetable.
Eller walked to the cafeteria and grabbed a quick sandwich while he was waiting. It was thirty minutes later when he was summoned to join the President in the Executive Conference Room.
The room once called the Roosevelt Room, and later the Fish Room, because of all of the mounted fish on the walls, was chosen because it gave the added privacy and a larger space for the President to pace back and forth in. A large screen TV had been placed at the end of the long table that dominated the room.
“I have asked to have refreshments sent in so that we can continue without being interrupted,” the President said, “You can go ahead and start the video.”
Eller pushed the play button and they sat watching as first George Snapp and then Bob Lake and Dan Barrett were interviewed. Eller had edited out the parts that were not relevant to the larger implications. Even with the editing, it took almost two and a half hours. The President took notes from time to time. Eller watched out of his peripheral vision as the President grimaced on several occasions.
When it was over, Eller ejected the video and turned the lights back on. The President sat for several seconds before getting up and starting his routine pacing.
“That is quite some video. This was the edited version?”
“Yes sir. We have almost another twelve hours that I didn’t include. Some was just introductory or repeating the same material,” Eller replied.
“What do you think? Do you feel they are creditable? What kind of background check have you done on the three men?”
“Let me answer those in reverse order. We have checked George Snapp thoroughly and found him to be a highly thought of and successful investigative reporter. His credentials are excellent and we have seen some of his work. He is not a sensationalist like so many investigative reporters. He has a reputation for really digging out the truth and verifying his sources before he submits his stories. In short, he is reputable and reliable.
As for Barnett and Lake, they have been erased from all data banks. We have managed to talk to people who knew them before they disappeared off the radar and both are highly regarded in their respective fields. When we try to run background checks on them, they simply don’t exist. No birth records, no educational records, and EG&E not only has never heard of them, they don’t know anything about hiring for anyone else except nuclear facility security. They told me they had never heard of Nellis, Groom Lake, or anything like that,” Eller said, pouring a glass of water.
The President continued to pace while he was talking.
