“Why?” someone shouted. “Why are you quitting?”
“For the same reason that I quit politics in 1978. Now, I know
I said that I quit in 1978 because I was having family problems,
but that wasn’t the real reason. The real reason was that I had a
problem with cocaine.”
There was a moment of silence before Picker continued.
“There’s one more thing I want to say. I want to thank Jack
Stanton. He knew about my cocaine problem, but he didn’t tell
the press. I’ve gotten to know Jack Stanton very well and I can
say that he would make a good President. Thank you and
goodbye.”
Jack turned off the television and looked at me. “You still want
to quit, Henry?”
“Yes,” I said.
* Members of the Boy Scouts are taught to be honest and to help other people.
52
“Henry,” he said. “I’m going to be the next President of the
United States. I’m going to the White House! Don’t you want to
go with me?”
I stood up to leave.
“Come on, Henry,” said Stanton. “You can’t quit. This is silly!
You can’t quit!”