The President was just thinking about leaving to get some supper when his secretary buzzed. "Yes?" he remarked.
"Sir," his secretary announced, "That annoying man from the fabric softener people is out here. He's been waiting some time. Should I send him home, sir? Or, can you give him a few minutes? He says it's about the Maria Sanchez problem."
The President knew how much his secretary wanted this particular situation resolved. The President had never considered that firing a laundry worker because she disobeyed his instructions and put fabric softener and scented detergent in his clothes would have caused so much trouble, but it had turned into a minor international incident!
"Send him in!" The President moaned. "I'll give him a few minutes."
The seedy looking man about The President's own age, entered.
"Well, Gerry!" He remarked, "I've got a little proposal here from my people. I think we can work something out."
"Masterson!" The President snapped, "How many times have I told you people are not permitted to call me Gerry! You will address me as Mr. President!"
The man shrugged. "Whatever!" he remarked. "Look, Mr. President, that you won't let your laundry people use fabric softener or scented detergent in your clothes is hurting our business. Our sales are down 35% since you've come into office. If you will tell people that you've decided fabric softeners are all right, and you're letting your laundry use them, we'll pay $500,000 into your party's general fund. If you'll reinstate the dear lady who was fired because she thought your clothes should smell better and be softer, we'll throw in another 500,000! And we know you like the young ones. We've got a special place down in the Carribean. When your Presidency is over you can come down there on vacation all you like and use our stock to your heart's content. Now, come on! We can make a deal! If the money isn't enough name your price. Maybe we can go as high as two mil. But we really need your endorsement of our products! You're hurting the livlihood of many people, and come next election they'll remember. We will make it well worth your while one way or another and no one has to know."
"Get out of my office!" The President snapped.
"What?" the representative answered.
"GET OUT OF MY OFFICE!" The President screamed, "NOW!"
The man rose, angrily. "Not until we have an agreement!" he answered. "You're costing us money, you pompus son of a bitch! We're offering to make it worth your while. You're stupid ideas that our products are health hazards just aren't acceptable. We do billions of dollars in business a year. We're NOT going to be put out of business. Make the deal!"
The President pressed a button on his desk. The door burst open and two Secret Service Men rushed in. "Yes, Mr. President?" one of them asked.
"Remove this person from my office!" The President snapped. "And see to it that he is never permitted in The White House again! He is forbidden from my presence!"
"Let's go!" The Secret Service Man snapped.
The representative angrily rose. "Don't think this will be forgotten!" he snapped. "Come the next election those opposing you are going to have a considerable amount of funding!"
"OUT!" The President screamed.
The Secret Service Men grabbed the representative, hauled him away from the chair, and proceeded to drag him from the office. When he was gone their superior entered. "Do you wish charges filed, Mr. President?" he asked.
The President shook his head. "No," he answered. "But have someone review the video tape of his visit. He mentioned something about them having some facility in The Carribean. If it exists I want it found and dealt with!"
"Yes sir, Mr. President!" The Secret Service Man snapped. "I'll see to it personally, sir.
"I'm going to supper," The President continued, "Get my secretary's night relief. I will be coming back to do some more work before I go to bed."
As The President entered the outer office his way was blocked by a young woman with a very angry expression on her face.

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