[Chapter 757: Finally Couldn't Sit Still]
Clinton really didn't grasp the intricacies of Silicon Valley. Of course, he didn't have to; as a showcase, Silicon Valley had already fulfilled its mission.
Don't think for a moment that the president just strolled around; with such clear support for a certain industry, it seemed nearly impossible for it not to be successful.
The folks on Wall Street clearly had more insight than those politicians. Intel and HP's stock prices didn't show any significant changes. It was apparent that the capital markets were far more optimistic about the burgeoning Internet.
"Sir, in just three days, Cisco's stock shot up 15%, but their current revenue cannot justify this price."
"Cisco? Right, why didn't Clinton go this time? A company that started from scratch could represent the American Dream even better."
"Sir, after all, he isn't a professional. Most people view the Internet more as a concept."
"Hmm, let's hold off on Cisco; I don't really have any investment needs at the moment. By the way, it looks like they are rapidly expanding."
"Yes, Sir. John Morgridge is impressive; almost all the competitors appearing in the market have been absorbed by them."
"Ha! Did you see? Everyone says monopolies are bad, but isn't Cisco racing down the path of monopolization? Keep an eye out for any competitors; if there aren't any, we need to reassess their valuation."
"Got it, I'll have someone follow up. They've been making some big moves lately."
Unless William White went crazy, there was simply no way he would sell off his Cisco stock.
People talked about how Microsoft was the big player, but really, Cisco could be considered the real winner. This guy was stealthily cashing in, with a market value that once surpassed Microsoft's.
However, now clearly wasn't the right time. This sudden surge in price could definitely raise some red flags.
Sometimes, rapidly declining stocks wouldn't scare off investors. In fact, it was this kind of abrupt rise that often had underlying problems.
Most investors in the American stock market were institutional investors. While they would chase gains and cut losses, it was extremely rare. Cisco might be overlooked by Pentagon, but it wouldn't be ignored by the big sharks. The American society truly was just a playground for the few.
Because of William White's interference, Cisco was far more powerful compared to its historical counterparts. This meant that the group hiding behind it wouldn't be blind to that fact.
...
"Tanner, keep an eye on Silicon Valley; something feels off."
"Master, the entertainment venues in San Francisco are obviously livelier. It used to be just those IT elites goofing around, but recently, more people from finance showed up."
"Ha! I thought so. It looks like they're planning to change their strategy."
"Master, is there anything we need to do?"
"No need; economic issues should obviously be resolved through economical means. When traditional industries falter, capital will naturally seek new outlets. Alas, it seems the days of quietly making money are gone."
"Master, does that mean we need to ramp up our workforce in this area? We are quite short on technical talent."
"Yeah, we need to increase staffing. The few companies I've highlighted need people to keep an eye on them. If there's an MBO, it could lead to significant losses for me."
"Okay, I'll arrange that right away."
William White's dilemmas were, of course, not without reason. For instance, Cisco's equity was all tied up with trust companies and family funds. The part belonging to investment funds was actually quite limited.
...
"Warren, there haven't been any changes to William White's fund account." Warren Buffett was not surprised by Charlie Munger's words. If Buffet appreciated long-term investments, then William White was somewhat the same.
Buffet favored internal purchases, but William White seemed to prefer investing from the onset. Companies like Dell, Compaq, and Cisco brought him immense profits. Even so, this guy didn't show any intention of cashing out.
"Charlie, I don't understand these high-tech companies; their price-to-earnings ratios and stock prices diverge too much. I'm not the one looking to buy this time; if that's the case, let them be."
"If William White doesn't want to sell, well, tough luck for them."
"Old pal, these old guys just don't know when to quit."
"Charlie, human greed can never be satisfied. Venture capitalists are wary; scooping up an existing setup isn't that easy."
"Yeah, they're familiar with mining and railroads. As for high-tech, I don't have much faith in their development."
At this point, Warren Buffet found himself getting a bit of a headache. He faced similar issues with those older gentlemen.
...
What William White didn't know was that those old-timers were indeed getting anxious. They realized that their wealth was growing at a rate that couldn't keep up with the changing times.
Clinton had changed the original plans, which left them both furious and somewhat helpless.
It wasn't that Clinton didn't want to fight; he picked the softest target and still ended up with a black eye. With such a level of skill, did he really think he could take on Gaddafi? Did he intend to deliver himself as a meal?
Well, the military-industrial complex was out of play. As for those pharmaceutical companies, they worked against the cycle and wouldn't perform well in the short term.
As for Hollywood, nobody dared to face off against White Films. That simply amounted to suicide. They were planning to make $200 million movies; what were others going to pit against that?
Go bother the Justice Department?
They had tried that; as long as William White didn't do anything that stirred public outrage, the Justice Department generally preferred to stay away from his name. He was just too difficult to deal with; it was simply not worth the effort.
"Damn, do I look like a pushover? You actually want me to help you rob? You've really lost your minds." William White gulped down half a glass of whiskey and let out a long belch.
Well, all he could do now was internally complain. Since they didn't want to play nice, why should he cooperate?
It was funny that even to this day, William White remained an anomaly.
Actually, William White knew who those guys were.
They looked down on William White as a country bumpkin, and he naturally looked down on them as well. Just some decaying folks; could they really be that mysterious?
Of course, despite looking down on them, William White would never underestimate them. The Rockefellers and the Morgans were nearly fifth or sixth generations deep. Being able to stay on top of the pyramid for such a long time was no easy feat.
Old money families would never mix with the new money ones. The adage that it takes three generations to create a noble reflects this situation well.
However, William White's case was a bit special. The family fund he operated, many would chuckle at in private.
Come on, you're just a lone ranger, and you want to speak of family? Are you planning to create a lineage? If so, you've got some hard work ahead.
What followed next shattered many expectations yet again.
It was clear that the so-called illegitimate child they spoke about actually had inheritance rights. Even more absurdly, that rascal didn't seem to have any plans to get married officially.
A person could be so individualistic to such an extent; it was truly astonishing.
Old money families maintained close ties largely due to arranged marriages. These so-called old nobles in America had crafted tight-knit relationships through a long history of marriages.
If William White planned to mingle with them, he clearly needed the same. Yet, it was evident he had no intention of that.
Illegitimate children were nothing significant; directly establishing trust companies for those kids changed the meaning entirely.
*****
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