Крестный отец

           FromeverythingthatJohnnysaid,HagenknewhewouldneverbeabletopersuadeWoltz.ButhealsohadnodoubtwhatsoeverthattheDonwouldkeephispromisetoJohnny.Hisownrolewasthatofnegotiatorandcontact.

           Lyingbackinhisseat,Hagenwentoveralltheinformationgiventohimthatday.JackWoltzwasoneofthethreemostimportantmovieproducersinHollywood,ownerofhisownstudiowithdozensofstarsundercontract.HewasonthePresidentoftheUnitedStates’AdvisoryCouncilforWarInformation,CinematicDivision,whichmeantsimplythathehelpedmakepropagandamovies.HehadhaddinnerattheWhiteHouse.HehadentertainedJ.EdgarHooverinhisHollywoodhome.Butnoneofthiswasasimpressiveasitsounded.Theywereallofficialrelationships.Woltzdidn’thaveanypersonalpoliticalpower,mainlybecausehewasanextremereactionary,partlybecausehewasamegalomaniacwholovedtowieldpowerwildlywithoutregardtothefactthatbysodoinglegionsofenemiessprangupoutoftheground.

           Hagensighed.Therewouldbenowayto"handle"JackWoltz.Heopenedhisbriefcaseandtriedtogetsomepaperworkdone,buthewastootired.Heorderedanothermartiniandreflectedonhislife.Hehadnoregrets,indeedhefeltthathehadbeenextremelylucky.Whateverthereason,thecoursehehadchosentenyearsagohadprovedtoberightforhim.Hewassuccessful,hewasashappyasanygrownmancouldreasonablyexpect,andhefoundlifeinteresting.