Edwin Meese was feeling incredibly upset. William White had reached out, stating they needed a CEO, with generous compensation. Since Edwin Meese was good at management, he could at least secure a board seat.
There were rumors that when Edwin Meese learned the news, he was very excited and had to be hospitalized for observation.
Well, everyone knew that it wasn't excitement; it was more like he was furious.
As an old-school bureaucrat, Edwin Meese had seen this sort of game before. He wanted to ask, "Can't you stick to the plan?"
The old guy trying to escape from it all in the hospital soon found that he couldn't hide. Reporters rushed into the hospital like they had been given a shot of adrenaline. The hospital security couldn't stop them, and maybe they didn't even want to.
The reason for this spectacle was simple: William White demanded a hearing. He claimed that Edwin Meese had visited Australia last year, where the main beneficiary, Mr. Murdoch, was also present. To ensure the integrity and seriousness of the judiciary, he asked that Edwin Meese be sidelined.
Public opinion erupted again. A U.S. company offers to sell something, and now they're selling it off cheap to Australians. Now you're telling me there's nothing suspicious about this? It's completely fair and square?
Ha! I don't believe that for a second.
William White believed that no matter how this was handled, the old guy would never come out clean after jumping into the Pacific.
Is it ruthless? Is it sleazy? Perhaps.
But, does that really matter?
From start to finish, William White had orchestrated the drama. He wanted to know why he had to put up an extra twenty million dollars when they wouldn't sell to him.
Murdoch felt like he could cry blood. He couldn't just buy it! You put in a counteroffer after we signed a handshake deal, and you know that's a bogus offer, right?
Sure! That's why I'm deliberately trying to mess with you.
Meanwhile, many people started weighing in to make their presence felt. They questioned whether it was appropriate to hand over these TV stations to foreigners.
The peanut gallery expressed their displeasure, stating that old guy looked downright villainous and absolutely could not be allowed to control American minds.
...
Edwin Meese realized he was wrong; William White didn't even show up for that so-called hearing. It was a classic case of all bark and no bite. The few lawyers sent over were basically useless.
Of the three lawyers, two were interns. Well, they were just there for the ride, exchanging a few laughs and then going quiet. They could just carry on with their antics.
On one side, there was a show of force as if facing a formidable enemy, while on the other, there was just a handful of kittens. The contrast was stark, and the result was as expected: William White dramatically lost, and all his demands were dismissed.
But the peanut gallery saw it differently.
"This has to be collusion, right?"
Sure seems like it. Anyone with a clue knows that William White's legal team was the top-notch crew in the U.S.
What's on our screens now? It's all smoke and mirrors.
William White's legal team? They used their own funds for that. What does the Justice Department have to do with this? That's all our tax dollars at work.
...
The B-list actor sitting in the White House was overwhelmed. In just a month, his approval ratings plummeted. If this kept up, there would be no good days ahead for him.
"Man, that kid is formidable. He's just playing with people's hearts."
"Just got a call from the White House, and they're really unhappy with our progress."
"Ugh, how's Murdoch holding up?"
"He's gonna swear in as an American today."
"Get that sorted quick; this is serious business."
The frustrated old guy was swearing loyalty, but it didn't stop there; the acquisition costs jumped by another twenty million dollars. There was simply nothing to be done. If it weren't for this, some folks would jump into the Pacific and still come out dirty.
...
This time, many people saw just how tough William White was. Winning the hearing didn't mean much; he was the only true winner in this affair. No one thought he cared about that small TV station, and as for Fox, well, it was hardly a threat.
Well, now that guy has become the American Empire. Who knows if these two will continue to take cheap shots at each other.
Speaking of which, they had been at odds for years. However, the old guy had been trampled all this time. Now that he had acquired Fox, would the battleground shift to Hollywood?
No one was betting on Murdoch. He was just an outsider, while the local bigwigs had been battered by William White for years. This was like him serving up a gift on a silver platter.
The peanut gallery could underestimate Murdoch, but not William White. They could hinder his development, but stopping him was a different story. Fortunately for White, Murdoch's financial status was not great, so at some point, he could yank a little off the top.
"Ha! Aren't you the one stirring the pot in America? I'm here to dig into your nest." Without mentioning William White's scheming, Murdoch was already suffering from the additional twenty million dollar stress.
He couldn't afford to reduce his stake now; it was already at a precarious level, and those colossal loans were a headache as well.
In short, if he lost this bet, there'd be no way to make it back.
...
"Dear, come comfort me; I'm getting bullied by a bunch of old fogies."
"Ha! You've got plenty of people to comfort you. Think you can handle them?"
"What? I've been left behind. Boo hoo."
Seeing how this guy was flopping around, Sophie was at a loss. He was just a big kid; there was nothing cunning about him.
Seeking comfort was merely nonsense. He was too overburdened with negative feelings after playing mind games with the old guys. If he didn't find a way to adjust, he might blow up over something trivial.
As for 20th Century Fox, he wasn't worried at all. The old guy was indeed capable but just couldn't handle all the attention he was getting.
There were only so many good movies out there, and quality American TV shows were even scarcer. Without those, the old guy wouldn't stand a chance.
Most importantly, he had established a satellite broadcasting company early on. With this ace up his sleeve, the foundation in America wouldn't change.
...
Unlike William White, ABC and CBS didn't seem to mind Murdoch's entry. Their main target was NBC. As for that Australian punk, it was just a tiny company; what impact could it really have?
As for why William White was making such a big fuss?
That guy was just petty. For years, their rivalry had never ended. The most infuriating part was the Justice Department. If Fox was sold to William White, it wouldn't change a thing. In fact, Murdoch would probably siphon off some ratings.
The most aggravating part was that Murdoch might not be able to take NBC's viewership but could diminish the combined strength of the two networks. If that happened, there'd be no tears left to cry.
Keep in mind, the two networks were still vying for that top spot. And now you introduce another player? Isn't that just a headache?
*****
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