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60.69% HARDY EMPIRE / Chapter 260: Chapter 260: The Next Step – March to Europe

Chapter 260: Chapter 260: The Next Step – March to Europe

Anthony left, and Hardy went to the casino. It was bustling with activity, as it was time for the lottery draw. The prize had reached over $90,000, and a large crowd gathered to watch.

The lottery began, with Las Vegas TV cameras focused on the lottery machine. After three rounds, the winning numbers were drawn.

The people from the agency investment company cheered, as a guest from their company won the grand prize. There was excitement and admiration all around.

Hardy had a sudden thought and stopped a waiter. 

"Mr. Hardy, how can I assist you?" the waiter asked respectfully.

"Please call Manager Upton for me," Hardy instructed.

The waiter nodded and soon Manager Upton arrived, hurrying over. "Mr. Hardy, you wanted to see me?"

"I want to open a betting market on who will win the presidential election. Have the actuary calculate the odds. Include not just President Dewey and Johnson, but also all other candidates," Hardy said.

Manager Upton looked surprised. Betting on the presidential election was bold, but Hardy seemed unfazed.

"I'll get it prepared," Upton said.

Two days later, an advertisement aired on Las Vegas TV. Hardy Casino had launched a betting market for the presidential election, featuring 11 candidates. President Johnson and Dewey were the frontrunners, but others were included as well.

Johnson's odds were set at 1.46, Dewey at 2.16, with other candidates having higher odds reflecting their lower chances of winning.

The announcement quickly garnered nationwide attention. No one had done this before, and Hardy Casino's move was unprecedented.

The betting market opened with enthusiasm, with significant money flowing in. Within a week, the amount wagered exceeded $30 million, with most bets on Johnson and Dewey.

The newspapers reported on the new betting market daily. Johnson was pleased, noting the high volume of bets on him as a positive indicator of his support.

Dewey's campaign was troubled by the release of Hardy's documentary "Black Gold," which had damaged his reputation. Johnson's approval ratings were rising, which encouraged him.

Johnson called Hardy. "Hadi, I'll be in Los Angeles tomorrow. Is everything set for the event?"

"Absolutely," Hardy replied with a smile. "The Los Angeles speech tour will be the grandest event ever."

Johnson's upcoming speech in Los Angeles was highly anticipated. The event was set on Hollywood Boulevard, with extensive preparations made. ABC Television advertised the speech heavily, promising a star-studded event.

The speech featured performances from the four mentors of the 'Super Idol' audition show and 32 finalists. Hollywood stars also made appearances, adding to the excitement.

ABC TV broadcasted the event live, and thousands of people gathered to watch. Free Pepsi bottles were distributed to the crowd, creating a buzz.

The event surpassed expectations. The crowd exceeded 200,000, and the free Pepsi quickly ran out, prompting emergency resupplies. The performance by Ava Gardner and others drew enormous cheers, culminating in President Johnson's speech.

Johnson's speech was well-received, with enthusiastic applause. He addressed future policies, including criticisms of certain foreign leaders and his plans for domestic improvements.

The speech event concluded with overwhelming support for Johnson, and media coverage highlighted the massive turnout and the successful advertising for Pepsi.

Johnson was thrilled with the outcome and thanked Hardy for his support. The two shared a moment of celebration, with Johnson expressing his renewed confidence.

"I'm planning to shift focus to Europe," Johnson said. "Are you familiar with the Marshall Plan?"

Hardy nodded. "Yes, I know about it. The Marshall Plan was crucial for Europe's recovery after the war."

Johnson explained that the Marshall Plan, set to be signed in April, would provide substantial aid to Western European countries. The aid would include funds, industrial products, technology, and more, with an annual total of around $4 billion.

The plan aimed to help Europe recover and, importantly, channel funds back to the U.S. through trade and investments. Johnson also mentioned organizing a private business delegation to explore investment opportunities in Europe.

Hardy realized the potential business opportunities this presented and was eager to participate. Johnson invited Hardy to form one of the three inspection teams that would explore investment prospects in Europe.

This opportunity was the first major profit from Hardy's investment in Johnson. The initial teams would have the prime opportunities, and later teams would face more competition for the remaining prospects.

Johnson's plan to pivot towards Europe was set, and Hardy prepared for his role in this new phase of economic strategy.


Chapter 261: Chapter 261: The Temptation of Big Business

"Your Excellency, you mentioned there are three teams. Could you tell me who the other two teams are?" Hardy inquired.

Johnson smiled. "One is Rockefeller, and the other is Citibank. They will each form a team."

Hardy was taken aback by the mention of these two names.

The Rockefeller Consortium controls a significant portion of the global oil and finance industries. It is the second-largest consortium in the United States, only behind Morgan, and it has grown even more influential over time.

Kissinger once said: "Whoever controls oil controls countries; whoever controls currency controls the world; who controls food controls mankind!"

The Rockefeller Consortium is deeply entrenched in both oil and finance, and it spans nearly every industry imaginable.

Hardy was initially puzzled as to why Rockefeller was involved instead of Morgan. Traditionally, the Democratic Party is associated with Morgan, while the Republican Party aligns with Rockefeller. Since Johnson is the President from the Democratic Party, it was unexpected for Rockefeller to be included in the European Investment initiative.

However, Hardy quickly resolved this puzzle. Before Johnson, he lacked substantial capital support, leading to his lower approval ratings compared to Dewey, who was bolstered by the consortium's propaganda. With Hardy's support and his successful campaigns against Dewey, Johnson's situation improved significantly. His newfound support from Jewish communities and the Citibank Consortium, linked with Wall Street's Jewish background, had strengthened his position.

The Rockefeller Consortium's involvement signaled a shift in allegiance, suggesting that they might have switched support from Dewey to Johnson.

Large consortium funders do not adhere strictly to political affiliations. They back whoever promises benefits. As Truman put it: "The two-party system in the United States is a two-party cooperation system."

The cooperation between politicians and funders is about mutual benefit rather than control. It is a partnership where each party supports the other, utilizing their strengths for shared goals.

With Johnson granting Hardy a team quota, Hardy had substantial authority to form his team, which provided him with significant influence.

---

The following day, Hardy accompanied Johnson to San Francisco, where local dignitaries and business leaders greeted them. The reception included notable figures like Giannini, a significant player in the San Francisco business community.

At the reception, Giannini remarked, "I saw in the newspapers that you gave President Johnson the lowest odds for winning. It seems you're quite confident in his victory."

Hardy replied with a smile, "That's part of the strategy. By setting those odds, we influence public perception to lean towards Johnson's victory. It's about shaping belief."

Giannini nodded, impressed by Hardy's strategic acumen.

"Moreover, I am genuinely optimistic about Johnson. My confidence has only grown," Hardy added.

Giannini was aware of Dewey's issues with foreign political donations, which had hurt his reputation. Hardy had capitalized on this with the "Black Gold" documentary, intensifying Dewey's downfall.

Hardy then mentioned, "Johnson has invited me to join the Marshall Plan's inspection team, which is one of the three teams."

Giannini's eyes widened. The Marshall Plan's European investments presented a huge opportunity. "Tell me more about this," he urged.

Hardy agreed, suggesting they continue their conversation in a more private setting. After the reception, Giannini eagerly took Hardy to his manor. In the study, as they lit cigars, Hardy began detailing the plan.

"You're familiar with the Marshall Plan, right?" Hardy asked.

"Of course. Secretary of State Marshall proposed it to aid European recovery after World War II. It involves 16 countries and aims to help them rebuild," Giannini responded.

Hardy nodded, "Exactly. The U.S. will provide aid, but it won't be enough to meet all needs. Johnson plans to form a non-governmental inspection group to assist with private loans and investments. European countries need materials and infrastructure, and this presents significant opportunities."

Giannini's excitement grew. A $20 billion investment opportunity, even a small slice, could greatly benefit their consortium.

"Who are the other two teams?" Giannini asked, eager for details.

"Rockefeller and Citibank," Hardy replied.

Giannini, processing this information, realized the implications. Johnson's support from Rockefeller and Citibank could lead to significant gains if Johnson is re-elected. Giannini saw the chance to realign his consortium's investment strategy to secure a profitable future with Hardy's guidance.


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