working with text/part 1

How will you vote Senator?

Senator, what are your feelings about the President`s plan to send military aid to Central America?" The girl who had asked the question was sitting at the front of the Close Up group in Senator Young`s office.
She was a serious- looking student, who had asked a number of interesting questions during the seminar. "I am not completely convinced it is the best policy. Guns do not necessarily create the best political solutions, and those who suggest their use often don`t think about the real issues, which can be political corruption, poverty, high unemployment. I myself would like to look at the question of offering economic aid, although it is true that a lot of Americans think of foreign policy as a wild west gun battle." He was happy to see that the students were smiling at his comments. He liked to think of himself as a friendly poli- tician, who popular with his nation`s was youth. That was not difficult for the students to accept. was The senator was tall, good-looking and appeared to be quite youthful, although he was surely old enough to be the father of any one of them. "And how will you vote after this afternoon`s debate in the Senate?" The senator smiled at the young girl. "You don`t give up easily. Are you sure you aren`t from the Washington Post" The group laughed. "As you have learned in your sem inars, it is important to look at all aspects of an issue very carefully before you make a decision.And that`s exactly what I`ll do." "Yes, but Senator, what`s your opinion about The girl tried to continue with another question, but Senator Young looked at his watch. "Well, thank you for attending this seminar I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did." "Thank you," said several of the students as they rose from their seats. "You`re more than welcome," smiled Senator Young. With a warm smile he watched the group of young Close Up students walk out of his office, their seminar papers under their arms. Senator Young checked his watch again Luckily the meeting hadn`t gone on too long, so he still had enough time for lunch before the debate on the President`s plans started one thing certain, the debate in the Senate was wouldn`t be as simple as a student seminar. The vote would be close, very close indeed. At that moment people were lobbying the senators heavily to vote one way or the other senator, don`t forget you have a meeting at one o`clock," said his secretary as she came into his room with several papers for him to read. for him read "I have?" He checked his diary. "Who with?" "Lloyd Maunders. At the Georgetown Inn." The senator checked his watch again. "I still have a few things to do. Could you call a cab for me? I`ll be ready in about twenty minutes." "Yes, sir. I`ll do it at once," she said and left the room. The senator sat down at his desk. So Lloyd Maunders was in Washington and wanted to see him for lunch.Washington The senator knew the name. He came from a family of industrialists. They built vehicle and machine parts and employed several thousand people in his state. Lloyd Maunders had also been a major financial supporter for his campaign. The senator remembered that Maunders had tried to see him the week before, but he had been too busy. Senator Young called his secretary. "Did he mention what he wanted to see me about?" "No, Senator". Senator Young left the Capitol and took a taxi to Georgetown. It was a beautiful warm day, although fall was already in the air The sum- mer heat was over, and the leaves were begin- ning to turn brown. The summer crowds of tourists had also got thinner, although many were still looking at the sights. The cab drove along Pennsylvania Avenue At the Kennedy Center the cab driver drove along Wisconsin Avenue and into Georgetown. The Georgetown Inn," said the cab driver as they stopped. Senator Young saw the hotel and paid the driver. senator the driver. They met in a private dining-room. The sen ator shook hands with Lloyd Maunders and was introduced to another man, whose name was Carl Peterson. Senator Young knew the name from his home state. Petersons were large employers, also industrialists, not the largest, but certainly powerful enough to make employment figures a political issue. He wondered what had brought them together. And why they wanted to speak to their senator we still waiting for our third guest," said "I are Lloyd, the youngest of the group. "His flight must be late. But we can certainly start with a cocktail and a look at the menu. I believe the fish is especially good today." The senator accepted his drink and began to relax. He hoped it would be nothing more than a social meeting. Local bigwigs in town have to meet their senator to give themselves the feeling they are important. And these people had sup ported his campaign with large amounts of money. To have lunch with them was the least he could do. Just then the door opened, and their last guest arrived. Warren Mitchell held out his hand to the senator.The senator felt the old hand in his. It was still powerful, still healthy. The old man must be eighty, Senator Young thought to himself. Then the names came together and he knew why they were there. They were all involved in the weapons industry. Every one of them. Individually, it hadn`t made sense. Together, it did. Maunders, vehicle parts. Peterson, machine parts, and Mitchell military equipment. The man who put the parts together. Firstly, may I offer you my congratulations on reaching the Senate," said the old man shaking Senator Young`s hand warmly I`m sure the state will be very proud ofyou Thank you," said the senator "It`s very kind of you to say that Then, like an old Civil War general, Warren Mitchell waved a hand. "Gentlemen," he said and the four men sat down at the table.