Chapter One Thousand and Three New Friends

"Li, I'm sorry, this happened so suddenly." The next day, before Li Zitao got up from the sofa, the door of the office was pushed open by a strange figure.

Truman, former vice president, now president of the United States.

Li Zitao didn't expect that the other party would come in person. Shouldn't he be having the inauguration ceremony?

Calmly raising his wrist, Li Zitao probably understood that the other party's ceremony should have ended.

The inauguration ceremony of the vice president was much simpler than the inauguration of the president. It seemed that Truman's actions were as confident as he was.

"Can you tell me what's going on now? I'm here..." Li Zitao pointed to the surroundings, meaning that he was isolated here without any news.

"Oh, I almost forgot." Truman slapped his forehead, his face turned sad and said: "Just last night... our beloved Mr. President passed away."

"This...is really unfortunate news." Li Zitao's tone sank, and his straight body seemed to fall downwards.

"We must hold on, my friend... America's future needs us." Truman put his hand on his shoulder and said softly, meaningfully.

'Looks like our new president needs to find some allies. ’ Li Zitao thought with a sluggish surface, but he was full of inner activities.

Li Zitao felt a little sad about Roosevelt's death, but it was far from a shock.

It's just that he needs to show a heavy grief, so that he can be honest and reliable, and value the performance of friendship.

As the Big Three of the Allied Forces and a great president respected all over the world, Roosevelt's death had a huge impact.

Just when Li Zitao was able to leave the White House office, a dark crowd had already gathered outside the White House gate.

They were crying, or confused and empty.

The president who had been with him for 12 years, a great president just left forever, it was like something was missing in their lives.

It was as if all the future was entrusted, all hopes and visions disappeared.

The flag at the White House was flown at half-mast for the first time since Warren Harding died in 1923 to mourn the death of a sitting president.

Allied prime ministers Churchill and Stalin mourned it, and Churchill wept bitterly at a memorial service at St. Paul's Cathedral, although it was suspected that he was faking it, perhaps stuffing his cuffs with onions.

The flag was lowered at half-mast on Moscow's Red Square and replaced with black borders to show more sincerity and win the goodwill of the American people.

Even, even the enemy of the Allied Powers, Japan's Tokyo Radio Station played a few minutes of dirge to pay tribute to the great man.

In front of the gate of Huafu, men, women and children stood on both sides of the street, when a carriage pulled by three white horses, carrying a coffin, passed by.

There was only silence, sobbing, choking and saluting at the scene, and it was terribly quiet for a while.

According to Roosevelt's last wish, he wanted to be buried at his home in Atlanta, in a park next to his garden villa, in a cemetery called Hyde Park.

The cadets of the West Point Military Academy formed a guard of honor and fired drums and guns to pay President Roosevelt a final salute and greeting.

The entire ceremony lasted for a long time, three days, during which all public opinion and reports in the United States were related to Roosevelt's death.

From where he was born, childhood, where he went to elementary school, middle school, high school, university, how he became a lawyer, and finally entered the political arena.

Take charge of Washington and become one of the most powerful people in the world.

But it also ushered in the worst moments, the reversal of the Great Depression, re-election, World War II...

Almost as long as it is related to him, it can become a piece of news, and there is nothing that cannot be written.

Even his favorite cake shop during his stay in Washington became the address that the media scrambled to interview, so the business of the cake shop was so good.

People want to buy the 'Roosevelt same style' cake to mourn this great man.

However, the work in Washington still has to go on, and the big shots also need to deal with the changing situation. They don't have so much time to devote to mourning.

In the process of his burial, Li Zitao had many closed-door talks with Truman.

Two people, just the two of them.

Li Zitao didn't need to worry about being imprisoned suddenly this time. Truman was in the prime of his life, and his health seemed to be in good shape.

As for Roosevelt's condolences, the conversation between the two only occupies a very small space, and it is more about the prospect of the future and new cooperation.

Although he became president, he was not a qualified candidate selected by the two parties.

The embarrassment of the vice president's succession is exactly that. It is almost difficult to get support. They are almost all runners and decorations.

In the past, the role was to tailor, sweep graves, and act as the facade and mascot of the government.

Especially when meeting a strong president like Roosevelt, with unprecedented achievements and prestige, the vice president is equivalent to a "transparent person." '

But in such a situation, Truman was very lucky to step on the presidency, which is a good thing and a bad thing.

The good thing is that he did not go through a difficult election, and he spontaneously became the president of the United States and became the most powerful person.

The bad thing is that he doesn't have any henchmen, assistants, reliable and useful people.

In Washington, the two parties, and the key positions in various government agencies, there are all people who need to be bought or subdued by him.

Failure to do so will mean the end of his term.

Impeachment of a president almost never happens, but that's not to say it never will.

Truman needed to use an iron fist to convince party and cabinet-level ministers to work for him and form his own government for him.

Truman administration.

If it is said that Roosevelt's responsibility is to allow the United States to win the war, expand its influence and gain stronger influence.

Then Truman's primary responsibility is how to arrange the post-war demobilization work and make adequate preparations for the end of the war.

Because everyone knows that the war is coming to an end.

Maybe a few months, maybe a year, maybe two years, but it's coming to an end.

Therefore, when Truman first emphasized his ruling philosophy, he focused on 'rectifying government institutions'.

"Charlie, I have a lot of problems to solve. Roosevelt won for us, and what I have to do is how to continue the victory and turn it into practical benefits... It is not easy to do this. It is up to you knew."

Truman had to face too many problems, such as the employment problem caused by the demobilization of soldiers returning home, the inflation caused by the war, housing, post-war foreign policy, the United Nations proposed by Roosevelt...

The innumerable questions were just driving me crazy, I couldn't believe the pressure Roosevelt was under, and it proved how strong he was.

"You should use the influence of your friends appropriately, such as... Anna." Roosevelt's influence is unparalleled, especially at this time.

His widow can handle diplomatic issues very well, and Li Zitao believes that she is also willing to continue to fight for her husband's legacy.

For Truman, this will allow him enough time to free up his hands to solve domestic problems first and secure his presidency.