“I have one further duty,” Will said, “before I slink into the ignominy of lame-duckhood. I must say that this duty gives me the greatest pleasure of my life—so far. It is my great honor to introduce to you a person who has already, in the many years of her public service, done more for her country than have most presidents, and done it quietly, behind the scenes in ways often brilliant, but necessarily concealed, that the public cannot know about for decades to come, who has always put her country first in her life and work, and who now seeks to come into the bright light of an election and seek the highest office in the land—one that she richly deserves.

“My fellow Americans,” Will shouted, “the next president of the United States, Katharine Lee!”

—

KATE WALKED BRISKLY from the wings, clad in a red suit, setting off her blond hair. She stood at one side of the podium, then the other, waving, pointing at people she knew and those she didn’t, then she returned and stood quietly at the podium until the last of the applause died. She reached forward, pressed a button on the podium, and the thick glass security screen descended into the floor. Kate leaned into the microphone and said, “I never want anything between you and me but air.” And the crowd went crazy again.

Finally, after she had quiet, Kate began to speak, without notes or teleprompter, which had disappeared with the glass screen. “I stand before you a proud but chastened woman, for today I have learned what every nominee for the presidency before me has felt—that accepting the Democratic nomination for the presidency is not something that can be taken lightly. It is a heavy responsibility, and I accept it. I accept your nomination!”

Much cheering.

“Next week, we begin this campaign in earnest, and when it is over, Governor Richard Collins and I will have visited every state and told their citizens what we plan to do in office, so I will not give you that long list now. Suffice it to say that we will continue the policies of my brilliant predecessor!”

Laughter.

“We will meet you at the center, where the work gets done!” This had been Will Lee’s campaign slogan. “We will use the Internet and social media to state our proposals in detail, since personal appearances are all too brief. I want every American to know what we stand for and what we won’t stand for!”

The crowd went wild yet again. When the applause petered out, Kate went on.