Which would be perversion of the course of justice.

On the tape, President Nixon said: “Right, fine.”

The prosecutor stopped the tape again.

“Did you hear that?” George said incredulously. “Nixon said: ‘Right, fine.’”

Nixon went on: “It’s likely to blow the whole Bay of Pigs thing, which we think would be very unfortunate for the CIA and for the country and for American foreign policy.” He seemed to be spinning a story that the CIA might tell the FBI, George thought.

“Yeah,” said Haldeman. “That’s the basis we’ll do it on.”

The prosecutor said: “The president of the United States sitting in his office telling his staff how to commit perjury!”

Everyone in the room was stunned. The president was a criminal, and they had the proof in their hands.

George said: “The lying bastard, we’ve got him.”

On the tape, Nixon said: “I don’t want them to get any ideas we’re doing it because our concern is political.”

Haldeman said: “Right.”

In the room, gathered around the tape player, the assembled lawyers burst out laughing.

• • •

Maria was at her desk in the Justice Department when George called. “I just heard from our friend,” he said. She knew he meant Jasper. He was speaking in code in case the phones were tapped. “The White House press office called the networks and booked air time for the president. Nine o’clock tonight.”

It was Thursday, August 8, 1974.

Maria’s heart leaped. Could this be the end at last? “Maybe he’s going to resign,” she said.

“Maybe.”

“God, I hope so.”

“It’s either that or he’ll just profess his innocence again.”

Maria did not want to be alone when this happened. “Do you want to come over?” she said. “We’ll watch it together.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“I’ll make supper.”

“Nothing too fattening.”

“George Jakes, you’re vain.”

“Make a salad.”

“Come at seven thirty.”

“I’ll bring the wine.”

Maria went out to shop for dinner in the heat of Washington in August. She no longer cared much about her work. She had lost faith in the Justice Department. If Nixon resigned today, she would start looking for another job. She still wanted to be in government service: only the government had the muscle to make the world a better place. But she was sick of crime and the excuses of criminals. She wanted a change. She thought she might try for the State Department.

She bought salad, but she also got some pasta and Parmesan cheese and olives. George had refined tastes, and he was getting worse as he grew into middle age. But he certainly was not fat. Maria herself was not fat but, on the other hand, she was not thin. As she approached forty she was just getting, well, more like her mother, especially around the hips.

She left for the day a few minutes before five. A crowd had gathered outside the White House. They were chanting, “Jail to the Chief,” a pun on the anthem “Hail to the Chief.”