The Titanic Plan (20 page)

On the deck of the
Lusitania
, Big Bill Haywood saw America’s labor unrest as part of a grand struggle that was boiling into a global workers revolution.

At the
International Socialist Congress
in Copenhagen, Haywood met with the most prominent revolutionaries of the day, including a cerebral socialist theoretician named Vladimir Lenin. When the Congress concluded, Haywood was more convinced than ever that the arrival of a worldwide revolution was imminent. He saw it as his mission to bring that revolution to America.

CHAPTER 21

I
n Bar Harbor, Maine, William Howard Taft was having a bad day on the golf course. He had traveled to the
Kebo Valley Country Club
to play one of the oldest and most elegant golf courses in America. But on the par four 17th hole, he was having a nightmare. Hitting the ball in the rough, and then the sand, and then the water hazard. When he addressed the ball for his 11th stroke on the hole, Archie tried to calm him. “Mr. President, you don’t have to…”

“
Don’t say a word,” Taft cut him off. “Let me play it out.

“
But…”

“
I shall play it out,” Taft said emphatically, and then proceeded to swing, hack, slash, chop, strike and flail until, after twenty-seven agonizing strokes, he putted the ball into the cup. It was hardly a triumph.

Coincidentally, John Astor was playing three holes behind the Presidential party. Astor had come to Bar Harbor that summer to escape the stifling social scene of Newport. He sailed into the town’s port on his yacht
Nourmahal
, with his son Vincent. From his vantage point on the golf course, Astor was able to catch glimpses of the President and his entourage. He couldn’t help but notice Taft’s frustrations. He also could see Captain Butt soothing Taft, trying to take the President’s mind off the miserable hole he was having.

Back at the Kebo Clubhouse a small group of people was waiting for the President to finish his round so they might shake his hand. Taft was in no mood to shake anyone’s hand. Flanked by Archie, he strode quickly past the well-wishers into a private locker room. “Keep them away, Archie,” were the only words he muttered as he shut the door to brood alone.

Archie stood outside the door, turning the people away by saying that the President was not feeling well, which wasn’t exactly a lie – Taft was sick about his golfing. After a half hour the area had cleared out. Archie was waiting for the President to emerge when a man approached. “Captain Butt!” the man called. “So good to see you again.” Archie couldn’t place the face until the man saluted.

“
Colonel Astor. Why, hello.” Archie saluted back.

“
I saw you and the President on the links today. I trust you had an enjoyable time?”

“
It’s a beautiful golf course,” Archie answered diplomatically.

“
It’s very challenging,” Astor said, being equally diplomatic. “Especially the 17th. I noticed the President struggled with the hole.”

“
A bit,” Archie added in understatement.

“
And I also noticed how good you were with him.”

“
Thank you for saying that, Colonel,” Archie said coolly, not wishing to engage Astor.

“
Captain, don’t think I haven’t noticed the skills you have with people. They like you. Trust you. Listen, have you thought of what you might do after this is all over?”

“
After what is all over?”

“
You and the President. Your White House position. Administrations don’t last forever, you know.”

“
I really haven’t given it much thought.”

“
Well…” Astor stuttered a little, sensing Archie’s irritation. “I have a project. Not just me, George Vanderbilt and me and a number of other businessmen. It’s a very important project. If you were ever thinking about returning to civilian life…”

Archie cut him off. “I’m a lifelong soldier. I love serving my country.”

“
Of course you do,” Astor said. “We all love serving this country. But that’s why this project is so important. All I’m saying is that perhaps one day you might like to explore the opportunities that private business can offer. A man with your talents could do very well. Quite honestly, you could be a terrific liaison with the government. Do some very important work. Especially with the contacts you have established.”

The door opened and Taft emerged. His eyes looked tired and defeated. He glanced at Astor then turned away without saying a word.

“
Thank you for the conversation, Colonel Astor. It’s time for the President to go,” Archie said.

Astor turned toward Taft. “An honor to see you again, Mr. President. I remain your great admirer.” Taft nodded slightly, pursed his lips and looked away.

* * *

Meeting Archie and the President was not the most eventful moment of John Astor’s week at Bar Harbor. That happened the next morning on the Kebo Country Club’s tennis courts. He was playing a set with his son Vincent, who was running Astor ragged. At age eighteen, Vincent was emerging from his awkward adolescence. While he would never be mistaken for a handsome, graceful young man, he began to exude a confidence that came with growing up. On the grass tennis courts he cut a noticeable figure in his pressed tennis whites and dark, slicked back hair. On one hand, Astor was very proud that Vincent was finally coming into his own. On the other hand, he was feeling his age and hated losing to his son.

“
One more game and I’ve had it,” Astor called out.

“
But we’ve only played a set,” Vincent replied. “Three sets to a match.”

Astor said nothing, just served the ball. Vincent lobbed it back softly, taking it easy on his father. After a long rally, Vincent hit the ball into the net, giving Astor a small victory. A loud “awwww” rose from behind him and Vincent noticed four young girls, all his age, watching them play. He smiled, gave them a little nod then waited for his father to serve again. It took a moment. Astor had noticed the teenaged girls as well.

“
Serve it, dad,” Vincent yelled. Astor did, sending the ball high over the net, over Vincent’s head and right at the group of girls who shrieked and giggled as the ball came at them like a runaway missile.

“
Good game, Vincent,” Astor said, scampering around the net, totally ignoring his son and heading right toward the teenagers. “So sorry, ladies. I didn’t mean to scare you like that.”

Vincent rolled his eyes and walked up to the group.

“
You didn’t scare us,” one of the girls said. She was tall and slender, with light brown hair and a shy smile.

“
That’s good. No need to be scared of me,” Astor replied.

“
What scared us was your tennis game,” another of the girls said. “It was actually quite terrifying.” All the girls laughed, as did Vincent.

“
For any fright I may have given you ladies, I do apologize. Let me offer you all lunch to make up for it.” An awkward silence descended over the girls. “Of course, you will be joining with my son, as well. I am John Astor and this is my boy Vincent.”

The girls tried to swallow their surprise upon hearing the name “John Astor.” While they may have been young, they were quite aware of the name “Astor” and the riches associated with it. “Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Astor,” the tall brunette said quietly. “But we are busy this afternoon.”

“
Tomorrow then?” Astor pressed. “My pleasure. You, me, Vincent, we’ll all have a gay old time.”

The girls looked at each other. A chubby blond in the group chirped, “Sounds like fun.”

“
Great,” Astor said quickly. “Noon at the Club’s lounge. And now I must ask you lovely ladies to introduce yourselves.”

“
I’m Henrietta Thaw,” the chubby blond said, all the while eyeing Vincent.

“
I’m Carol Brown,” a slight, mousy one said, bowing a little to Astor.

“
And I’m Leta Wright,” a full figured, more mature one said.

The last girl, the tall brunette, waited, her eyes exploring Astor.

“
Yes, m’dear, don’t be shy, do end the mystery of your identity,” Astor said.

“
Madeleine Force,” the girl said softly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Astor.” And she smiled at him again.

“
What in the world were you thinking?!” Vincent Astor screamed at his father. They were on the bow of the
Nourmahal
, taking an afternoon sail through Frenchman Bay just off Bar Harbor.

“
What was I thinking? I was thinking, ‘Oh, what an enchanting girl. I’d love to get to know her.’”

“
Dad, she’s my age.”

“
You think?” Astor answered.

“
I bet she’s still in finishing school.”

“
I like that name. Madeleine. It’s common but with a musical lilt to it. Madeleine.” Astor let her name roll off his tongue. “And you have to admit, Vincent, she had a delightful quality about her.”

“
It’s called innocence. And I can understand why you might be attracted to it, as it left you long ago.”

Astor laughed. “You’re a very clever boy, you know that?”

“
The girl is too young for you, dad. Let me be the Astor who flirts with débutantes.”

“
There are three others you could flirt with at lunch, Vincent. You have to understand, age is blind when it comes to matters of the heart.”

“
I’m not going to lunch. I’m not going to watch you try and make conversation with a group of silly young girls. You’re forty-six years old, for god sakes.”

“
In spirit, my dear son, I believe I’m younger than you. So let’s not argue about trivial matters. We’re on vacation, after all. Relax. Enjoy yourself. We only live once. Besides, it’s only some harmless bit of fun.”

“
No, I’m not sure it is a harmless bit of fun. She could be your daughter.”

“
But she’s not,” Astor said. “She’s a lovely young woman.”

“
And why would she be attracted to you? Because you’re rich?”

“
God gives gifts to everyone. To some he gives good looks, to some he gives muscles, to some he gives musical talent. God gave me money and I see no reason to deny it. If she’s attracted to me because of my wealth, well then, she is attracted to me and that’s all I care about. Would you deny a beautiful woman because you have money?”

“
If that’s the sole reason of her attraction,” Vincent said with the indignation of an insolent teenager, “then yes, I would deny her.”

“
That’s good, son. I hope you remember that in thirty years.” A wave rolled into the bow, spraying a mist of salt water over them. “You know, I do love the sea,” Astor said. “I feel so at home on it.”

At lunch the next day, Astor ordered raw oysters and showed the girls how to slide them down the throat. Vincent actually enjoyed himself, as he was the main focus of attention for three of the four girls. Madeleine let Astor flirt with her. As it turned out, she wasn’t Vincent’s age – she had just turned 17, more than a year younger than him.

Later that evening Astor asked his uncle, John Kane, whose estate he and Vincent were staying at, if he knew of Madeleine’s family and if they were from proper society. Kane told him that her great-grandfather had been the mayor of Brooklyn. The family, while not wealthy, had vacationed in Bar Harbor for many years. He also informed Astor that Madeleine was engaged to William Dick, a twenty-two year old heir to a sugar fortune. The wedding was to be in the fall.

Rather than being discouraged, the news that Madeleine Force was to marry sent Astor off on a romantic quest. He became obsessed with Madeleine, showering her with gifts of flowers and jewelry. Though they appeared an ill-matched couple – he, the shambling, middle-aged man; she, the shy, virtuous young maiden – it was becoming obvious that they were growing fond of each other. Astor and Madeleine were seen together at social events and parties throughout the summer. He was always attending to her every whim like a chivalrous knight. And she delighted in the attention.