“I’m not surprised they tried to bi-pass you on this one, it’s typical of that Committee.”

“Spare me a lecture on the Committee John, please. Let’s just get on with the golf!”

“I’m just saying, the last thing you need is for them to blunder into this one. Hunter – it’s one thing to make a few mistakes in politics. But if we get caught tampering with people’s religious life… it could get very nasty.”

“That’s what worries me.”

“For good reason. Unfortunately the Committee tends to favour…”

John reached for the word.

“Obviating things?” the President said.

“Exactly,” John said with a knowing smile.

“Mmm – I see you’ve got someone in there as well.”

“No-one on the Committee can keep his mouth shut. But… I suppose, being big mouths is what got them there in the first place.”

“Big wallets more like it,” the President quipped.

“You know, Hunter, they don’t tolerate radical new ideas.”

“Or in this case, a radical old idea.”

The President put an arm affectionately around the shoulder of his old friend as they wandered down the fairway.

“Don’t worry John,” he said. “At the end of the day, the Chairman simply hasn’t got the balls to defy me.”

“Not openly but….”

“I could shut him down any time. He knows that.”

“Of course you could but… will you?”