The Destroyer of Worlds

And Now I Am Become Death...

"Uh, sorry, Admiral. Stopped off to get this." The Senate Aide opened the door, holding up Time Magazine. Strauss was on the cover, the caption reading "The Strauss Affair, Senate v. President". Strauss puts his reading glasses on to see what he was holding. "It seems pretty favorable." The Senate Aide said, walking over to Strauss.

The Senate Aide flipped to a page, showcasing a picture of J. Robert Oppenheimer in the center of the page. "There's Oppenheimer. What's the caption?" Strauss' Counsel asked, looking over the Senate Aide's shoulder. "Uh, 'J. Robert Oppenheimer, Strauss fought... and the US won.'" The Senate Aide read, realizing that was what Strauss said the other day. "That'll work." Strauss' Counsel turned to Strauss, a grin appearing on his face.

"Those were your words from the other day." The Senate Aide mentioned. The magazine almost fell out of his hands once he realized. "We needed to pivot." Strauss said, looking down at his shoes. "But how would you know what Time magazine's gonna write?" The Senate Aide questioned. "Henry Luce is a friend." Strauss said, motioning for the magazine. The Senate Aide handed him the magazine, almost falling in his seat. All the puzzle pieces were clicking now.

"You sat here and let me tell you how it's done, but you've been far ahead all along." The Senate Aide said as Strauss flicked through the pages of the magazine. "Survival in Washington is about knowing how to get things done." Strauss said. He finally stopped in order to actually read a page. "Right. What was it you said about Borden? 'Why get caught holding the knife yourself?' I'm beginning to think Borden was holding the knife for you." The Senate Aide accused, as Strauss put the magazine down on the coffee table. All Strauss did was look at the Senate Aide like he had it all figured out, even though he figured it out way later than Strauss had expected.

***

"It's gonna come down to how much influence Borden's been able to exert on Teller." Garrison explained, as I sat down next to him. Kitty was on the other side of the room, most likely getting another drink. "Did I say something funny?" Garrison asked Kitty, as she swiftly turned around, pouring herself a drink of alcohol from a miniature bottle. "Just 'Borden, Borden, Borden' when we all know that it's Strauss." She said.

"Lewis brought me to Princeton, Kitty." I exhaled, a cigarette between my fingers. "And then you humiliated him in front of Congress." Kitty said, staring into her drink. "That was six years ago." I shook my head, not wanting to believe it. "You know, the truly vindictive, patient as saints." Kitty said. In a sense, she was right. But Strauss of all people? "Strauss has been perfectly clear that he is neutral." Garrison said.

Suddenly, something was whirled at my head. It missed thankfully. Kitty had thrown the miniature bottle at the wall behind me, almost hitting me in the process. "Wake up! It is Strauss. It's always been Strauss, and you know it!" Kitty yelled as she walked up to me. "Why won't you fight him? Christ's sake." She said, slamming the bathroom door.

***

"It wasn't Nichols or Hoover or one of Truman's guys. It was you. You gave the file to Borden. You set him on Oppenheimer. You convinced him to-" The Senate Aide began before Strauss cut him off completely. He was fascinated that Strauss was able to pull this off over the course of six years. "Borden... Didn't take any convincing." Strauss said.

"Take your time, use the entire file. Write up your conclusion, send them to the FBI." Nichols told Borden, who was sitting across from him in his office. "The material is obviously extensive, but there's nothing new here." Borden pointed to the file he was handed thirty seconds ago. "Your conclusions will be." Strauss said, as Nichols and Borden's eyes darted to his side of the room. "And they'll have to be answered."

"Hoover passes them to McCarthy?" Nichols asked. Strauss simply shook his head. "Oppenheimer's too slippery for that self-promoting clown. I've talked it over with Hoover, he'll hold McCarthy at bay while you do this with the AEC." Strauss said, looking at Nichols. "A trial?" Nichols asked him. "No. No trial. You can't give Oppenhiemer a platform. You can't martyr him. We need a systematic destruction of Oppenheimer's credibility so he can never again speak on matters of national security." Strauss explained thoroughly.