Because of the importance of the matter, the total number of members of the entire investigation committee was as high as 10, with Democrats and Republicans accounting for 5 each, of which the chairman was appointed by Roosevelt as president, and the vice chairman was appointed by the Republican leader of Congress, whose duties were to investigate the truth of the 40 percent toll incident, the legitimacy of the naval decision-making in the Battle of Cape Verde, and the substantive causes of the "pre-battle uprising" of the two army divisions. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info

Since it is currently a time of war and all of the people involved in the joint chiefs of staff are at the top of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, it is required that the committee be completed by February 7 and that the investigation be completed and reported to Congress within the following six weeks. In order to improve efficiency and capacity, it also stipulates that the Independent Inquiry Committee has enormous powers "to send subpoenas to any person in the United States", but that if the Commission of Inquiry does issue subpoenas to senior government officials, it must obtain the unanimous approval of the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman or the consent of at least six members.

At the Democratic Party's internal closed-door meeting, Roosevelt, who was physically and mentally exhausted, made a bitter self-criticism in the face of the party bigwigs -- he knew the inside story, and the top level of the Joint Chiefs of Staff knew the truth about tolls, at least Lehi and Admiral King basically knew about it, and Marshall probably not. But in that public scene, Lehi gritted his teeth and said that he didn't know, and everyone had to go all the way to the dark, because it was not a good idea to admit and justify, and it was likely to cause the parliamentarians to chase after him. Of course, the risk is very high, and once this kind of blatant lying is confirmed, it can lead to ruin and imprisonment. Roosevelt himself could get away with it, but the top brass of the Joint Staff Committee was all finished.

They were all masters of politics, and of course everyone understood what Roosevelt was talking about, and the direction of their speculation was not far from the truth of the matter -- the vast majority of people concluded that Roosevelt himself had a tacit attitude towards this, and used the act of hospitalization and instructing Wallace to act as president, and then the Joint Chiefs of Staff went to Wallace to take the blame, and the only thing that was screwed up was that Wallace not only refused to sign the document, but also poked it out in public.

This kind of betrayal is unbearable, and everyone is not very interested in the maverick Wallace, if it wasn't for Roosevelt's support, how could he be today? Things belong to things, parties belong to parties, he only has individuals in his eyes, and is there any interest of the party?

"President, it's not that I'm accusing you, but it seems like a big mistake to choose Wallace as vice president in the first place."

Roosevelt nodded disheartenedly: "I really didn't expect it to be like this, how did Dewey and Wallace hook up?" ”

"This is no longer important, but we will never spare him in the future, otherwise where is the dignity and prestige of the party? Where is the reputation of the president and the unity of the government? Truman said angrily, "This despicable villain not only stabbed us in the back, but also pulled several speculators to announce the establishment of the Progressive Party to prepare for the next presidential election independently." ”

Speaking of the presidential campaign, everyone sighed again, Roosevelt's body was no longer able to support him in the fourth presidential election, and successive military defeats and political blows also made Roosevelt's approval rating fall to the bottom. I was going to use Wallace to top it, but I didn't expect it to be self-defeating and make matters worse!

"Ladies and gentlemen, I will not run in the next presidential election, but our party will unite and go all out to win the next election." Roosevelt explained, "So this incident must be resolved as soon as possible, and if it is resolved, it will not only save the reputation of the government and the party, but also win the understanding and support of the military." Although the military has always been politically neutral, I don't believe that there will be no subtle changes in their position after this happens. ”

Everyone nodded yes, of course, this incident is a major crisis, but on the other hand, a good solution is also an opportunity - to be able to win over the military community! In peacetime, military personnel can be left to the hands of politicians, but in wartime, the status and importance of military personnel cannot be ignored -- otherwise, how dare the Joint Chiefs of Staff scold the vice president to his face?

"Harry......" Roosevelt turned his gaze to Truman, "I heard that you were angry at Wallace at the meeting that day, and I think you did a great job." ”

"Thank you! I have long seen that this guy is not a thing, he has no responsibility at all, he has no sense of responsibility, and he is the biggest and most outright hypocrite I have met in politics for more than 30 years! ”

"Harry, do you want to be president of the United States?" Roosevelt asked coldly.

"Me? Absolutely! How don't you want to? Truman subconsciously asked, "Can I do it?" ”

"Now is a great opportunity." Roosevelt said, "I know that you are in charge of auditing and economic responsibility auditing in the military, and you have a good relationship with the military, and I have won their respect. If you wish, I would like to nominate you to be the chairman of this independent commission of inquiry, and Dewey is not a senator, and he is not even eligible for election! ”

The party bigwigs looked at each other and nodded their heads one after another, thinking that this was feasible, and the committee that Truman now presided over was doing a good job, which showed that he was capable. Judging by his attitude towards Wallace, his loyalty to the party would not be bad.

"The results will be announced in a month and a half at the latest, so it won't take too much time. If you can thwart Dewey's plot, not only will you completely overwhelm him in momentum, but you will also be sincerely loved by these soldiers, and then I will nominate you as vice president. ”

The U.S. Constitution stipulates that after a vice presidential vacancy, the president nominates a new vice presidential candidate and the congress votes on it, and only a simple majority agrees to take office without having to be voted for.

Truman was stunned for a moment, and his eyes suddenly glowed with a strange brilliance -- the attraction of this position was still very great.

Perhaps in order to increase the weight, Roosevelt added: "I still have 11 months left in my current term, and I am afraid that it will be difficult for my body to fully support it, and you will have more opportunities to act as president, especially when you enter the peak of the election campaign, your meaning as acting president to voters is completely different, and this is a favorable condition for you!" If there is any downside that needs to be taken accountable, I can come forward and take it, and I won't live for a few years anyway. ”

"President...... You ......" Truman was a little moved, this is Roosevelt fully supporting him to the throne.

Although everyone still has different ideas about nominating Truman as the next presidential candidate, as Roosevelt said, if Truman can successfully settle these two things, his prestige, his ability and means will be proven, and it is not a big deal to give him a vice president's remuneration. If he can do a good job, it will not be difficult to win the nomination of the party as a candidate.

Truman was quick to elaborate: "The matter of tolls is not particularly difficult to deal with, because Wallace also admits that there is no word for tolls written in black and white on the paper, but that it was purely communicated to him by General Li Haihai. General Li Haihai has now categorically denied this view, so whether the file exists or not, it will not change the fact that there is no conclusive evidence. And I also believe that even if the Joint Chiefs of Staff really wants to do this kind of thing, the bigwigs will not leave meeting or discussion minutes when they meet. ”

Everyone nodded, and as soon as Truman said that the situation might not be as serious as they thought, it was not as serious as they thought - if you talk about something that has no basis, you Wallace should have produced a recording or some other evidence.

"The only concern is that there are only two breakthroughs: first, these generals' confidants or confidential personnel around them, they may more or less hear the rumors, once they make testimony or testimony against the generals, it will be difficult to end even without actual evidence; Second, the attitude of the Soviet side, if the Soviets stupidly admit that there is such a thing and communicate with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, then the generals are doomed. Truman thought for a moment, "Actually, there is a breakthrough, if Congress can find the Japanese and let them prove ......."

The latter half of the sentence amused everyone, looking for the Japanese? Don't be kidding, in case I say that the Joint Chiefs are all Japanese spies, do you believe it or not?

Senator Richard interjected: "I don't think the generals' cronies and people around them should betray their superiors, and it is not good for them - politicians turn over the clouds and rain, and then lose them after using them, how can any commander be reliable in carrying them step by step?" There shouldn't be any stupid people who can mix around the general, right? ”

"I'm afraid there's another Wallace!"

Now Wallace is almost synonymous with a traitor, Roosevelt knocked on the table, remembering Lehi's confident appearance, he thought that the other party was sure of the people around him, so he ordered: "The people around the general must be reviewed, please Harry find a way to coordinate this......"

Everyone understands what coordination means.

"As for the Soviet side...... Roosevelt said, "I'll think of a way to make it clear if the Russians want help in the future." ”

Everyone nodded, and their hearts were determined, this matter is the most troublesome, but as long as it bites to death and has no evidence, it will pass, but the matter of Cape Verde is a little troublesome. According to Roosevelt's idea, Turner must be saved, and the responsibility of Cape Verde has been borne by Admiral Ingersoll, how can he get another Turner? And Turner was right, if the fleet was lost that time, what now? None of this can be done.

"It may take a little more effort on Turner's side...... Roosevelt said slowly, "I have a little idea, but I'm not mature, I'll talk to you in a few days." ”

Just when the Democratic Party was discussing how to deal with the situation, the chaotic Joint Chiefs of Staff also formed a decision-making team: Led by Stimson, including Arnold, Nimitz, Eisenhower, and Mark Mitchell, Mitchell was originally the commander of the aircraft carrier force, and his ability was slightly worse, but he returned to China last year to take charge of naval aviation and air vigilance on the west coast, and his military rank was also promoted to lieutenant general. Originally, Roosevelt's preferred person in this position was Spruance, but Nimitz believed that he himself was no longer working on the warship as commander-in-chief of the Atlantic Fleet, and Spruance could no longer be drawn from the fleet, otherwise it would be completely out of control.

The development of events confirmed Nimitz's judgment that the test of the Joint Chiefs of Staff had just arrived......