Chapter 58: Total Intellectual Domination

"Randolph."

Lin Ran had originally thought he could quietly stay in a corner, wait for Robert Finch's speech, and watch the grand show afterwards.

Just from this banquet alone, he could see that America was still very much a white man's world.

No wonder Black people did not support the Elephant Party.

With not a single Black person at your fundraising gala, it was obvious you didn't put Black people in your eyes at all, nor did you want to make any moves to attract Black votes.

Put another way, perhaps in this era, making moves to attract Black votes was equivalent to losing white votes, Lin Ran thought to himself.

Just as Lin Ran was quietly enjoying some small cookies in the corner, Fred had already walked silently to his side.

Lin Ran raised his champagne flute:

"Hello, Mr. Fred T."

He thought to himself that the irony of fate was probably that if you told this man his son would become the President of America sixty years later, he wouldn't even believe it himself.

He might even think you were joking, and then rack his brain without believing for a second that his fourteen-year-old son possessed any qualities whatsoever to become president.

"Randolph, you are the smartest Chinese person I've ever met." Fred's expression was animated, his phrasing exaggerated.

Lin Ran corrected him: "Chinese American. I am Chinese American."

Both terms translate simply, but Chinese American specifically denotes heritage rooted in the United States.

"Alright, Chinese American, whether Chinese American or Chinese, you are the smartest one I've ever known." Fred didn't care in the slightest about his linguistic slip, eager to steer the conversation to what he wanted to say:

"Randolph, we can cooperate. I do real estate business in New York. If we work together, I believe we can make a fortune together.

That's right, make a fortune together, earn a lot, a lot of money, more money than you can imagine."

Fred clinked glasses with Lin Ran, his words dripping with temptation.

Lin Ran asked curiously: "Real estate? I'm a mathematician, not an architect."

"No, no, no, what I need is your image.

I've built many apartment buildings in Flushing, Queens, rented specifically to Chinese people and Chinese Americans.

If you come to be our spokesperson, I believe every single one of those Chinese American households would be willing to shell out at least fifty dollars more every month.

If you're willing to come and stay there for a day or two every month, I believe they'll shell out even more."

Fred beamed with delight: "Although I only have two thousand apartments in Flushing right now, if we cooperate, I can expand the apartment scale in Flushing and expand throughout the Flushing area.

Fifty dollars more per household every month—what a massive fortune that is! That's pure cash flow!"

Whether now or in the future, that area of Flushing had never had anything to do with wealthy people.

The people living in Flushing weren't rich to begin with, yet you actually want to use me to squeeze blood from stones out of my compatriots' pockets? You're going a bit too far, aren't you? Lin Ran thought to himself, truly cut from the exact same cloth as your son when it comes to making money.

"I don't lack money, and I don't want to take money from my compatriots' pockets." Lin Ran refused flatly, not even bothering to say sorry.

Lin Ran was about to turn and walk away, but after a moment of thought, he added:

"Fred, if you can lower the rent for the Chinese people by expanding your scale—

expanding scale to lower the rent—then we might still have a chance to talk."

As for the other man's affordable housing business, the Morgan family looked down on it completely; it belonged to the absolute bottom tier of small-time operations.

Lin Ran hoped to help his compatriots in America secure some tangible benefits, essentially group-buying affordable housing in the 1960s.

However, after John Morgan returned to his side, Lin Ran learned the real reason why the man looked down on Fred.

"Fred T., although he is registered as a member of the Elephant Party, he has always supported the Donkey Party in local New York elections and has consistently stumped for Wagner's campaign.

I really don't know how he managed to sneak in here."

(The Mayors of New York City were William O'Dwyer from 1946 to 1953 and Robert F. Wagner Jr. from 1954 to 1965; both were Democrats.)

After the banquet officially began, the guests took their seats one after another, and the meticulously prepared dishes were gradually consumed against the backdrop of silverware.

Robert Finch took the stage:

"Gentlemen, good evening. It is an honor to speak tonight on behalf of our candidate, Richard Nixon.

First of all, thank you for your presence and your support for our cause. Your presence shows that you understand the importance of this election and the role each of us plays in shaping America's future.

We are standing on the threshold of a new era, facing unprecedented challenges. The Cold War continues to cast a shadow over our country, and the threat of Soviet Russia is spreading globally.

At home, we are striving to address issues of civil rights and economic stability. At a time like this, we need a leader with rich experience and superior wisdom to guide us through the difficulties."

As Vice President, Richard Nixon had visited more than 50 countries and dealt with world leaders. His experience in handling Soviet Russia and other nations was unparalleled.

He understood the complexities of the Cold War and knew how to stand firm against aggression while seeking paths to peace.

Just this May, a U-2 plane was shot down over Soviet airspace, leading to a major international incident. President Eisenhower was forced to cancel the summit with Soviet Russia.

In this crisis, Vice President Nixon played a crucial role, managing the situation and communicating with our allies. His steady hand and diplomatic skills were vital in preventing further escalation.

On the domestic front, Nixon had a vision emphasizing economic growth, educational opportunities, and civil rights. He believed in a strong America where every citizen, regardless of background, had the opportunity to succeed.

Today's presence of the renowned mathematician Randolph Lin is the best proof of equal citizenship in America."

A polite wave of applause rippled through the room. Lin Ran thought to himself, *Holy shit, you can spin it like that?* As expected of a politician, always able to find an opportunity to support their own argument.

Amidst the applause, Lin Ran subconsciously nodded to acknowledge those around him.

"He supports the implementation of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and believes in the importance of expanding voting rights for all Americans.

However, he also understands the importance of maintaining law and order, especially when protests and demonstrations can sometimes escalate into violence.

His balanced approach will ensure we make progress on civil rights without sacrificing the peace and stability of our communities."

"I know our opponent, John Kennedy, has a charismatic image, and his youth and vitality are appealing.

But let's remember, this is not a popularity contest; this is about electing a president who can handle immense responsibilities from day one. Nixon has the experience and the record to do just that.

The upcoming televised debates will prove everything. Kennedy might look better on screen, but substance matters over form. He is utterly incomparable to Nixon in terms of experience.

Nixon will completely overwhelm his opponent intellectually."