Page 50 of 107 Days
I’d flown to Philadelphia to be interviewed by the National Association of Black Journalists. They pressed me hard, especially on the Gaza issue.
I was explicit about our goals: “That there be no reoccupation of Gaza, that there be no changing of the territorial lines in Gaza, that there be an ability to have security in the region for all concerned in a way that creates stability…
“We need to get this deal done and we need to get it done immediately—and that is my position and that is my policy.”
I was backstage at the WHYY studios in Philly when it was the time agreed for the call.
When we connected, his people said he’d be just one more moment.
In the background, I heard him on another call.
I couldn’t believe they hadn’t put me on mute.
I could hear him, flacking his new book.
“It’s sold out at Barnes & Noble and just about everywhere…
go out and get it… I hope you’re gonna buy the book… ”
When he finally got on the line with me, I said I was calling to check how he was.
“Well, I’m okay. And I hope it never happens to you. It’s not a good feeling.”
“I can only imagine for you, for your family. I’m so relieved you’re safe, but I’m sorry you had to go through this. It’s actually quite unbelievable that in our country this would happen. I pray for your safety.”
He stressed how much he appreciated the call and stood up for “your Secret Service—they did a fantastic job”—despite the criticism he was hearing on television.
He mused, “We’re all in this very precarious position being president or vice president.
It’s dangerous, worse than race car drivers and bull riders. ”
Then he started to get surprisingly effusive.
“It’s very nice that you called, and I appreciate it. You’ve done a great job, you really have. You’ve done a very, very good job… my only problem is it makes it very hard for me to be angry at you. It’s like, what am I going to do? How do I say bad things about you now?”
“Well, then don’t!” I said, laughing.
“I’m going to tone it down. I will. You’re going to see. I said, ‘I hate to speak to her because I can’t be vicious.’?”
I noted that it was important for us to be civil, especially at a moment like this.
As I was wrapping up the call, he suddenly declared, “My daughter, you know, is your big fan. Okay?” And then after a few fulsome sentences about Ivanka’s regard for me, he started gushing about Doug.
“And say hello to your husband. He looks like a really good guy. He did a good job at the convention, by the way. I watched his speech. He really was good.”
He was being amiable. This man who had called me dumb, lazy, crazy, and mentally impaired.
Implied that I drank and took drugs. Said I was a Marxist, a fascist. People had told me that he had the capacity, one on one, to show a warmer side.
That he could even be charming. I hadn’t believed it.
But now I was experiencing it. And then, a reality check: He’s a con man. He’s really good at it.
Jason Carter, eulogizing his grandfather, observed that Jimmy Carter “was the same person, no matter who he was with or where he was. And for me, that’s the definition of integrity.”
Trump epitomized the exact opposite.
I’d readied myself for a phone conversation with Mr. Hyde, but Dr. Jekyll had picked up the call.