“So that’s going to be the theme of our administration, then—the unelected president.”

“It’s going to be a storyline, not a theme. As you’ve said, it’s also an opportunity to think outside the box and carve your own path, especially if you’re determined not to run for reelection.”

“I’m determined not to run, but if I were to get reelected, I would serve.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m not going to campaign for it. If the party nominates me, and they want to support my candidacy, great. But I’m not going to spend a year and a half chasing it. I’m going to spend that time doing the job I wasn’t elected to do.”

“You’re a rare bird, Mr. President,” Terry said with a grunt of laughter.

“I know. Your father tells me that all the time. I drive him crazy.” Nick turned in his seat to face his chief of staff and close friend. “Here’s the thing—when the time comes, people are either going to want me, or they’re not. I can spend hundreds of millions of dollars and time I’d rather spend at home campaigning, but in the end, it’s going to come down to how I handle the next three years. I’ll let my record speak for me.”

“You’re aware that’s not how this works, right?”

“Of course I am, but, Terry, I’m already the president. If they dump me, so what? People will call me Mr. President for the rest of my life. I’ll be out of office in my early forties and can make millions writing books and speaking. What do I care if they don’t reelect me?”

“I like the way you think.”

“I’d rather do the job and be with my family than chase a second term that’s going to be decided solely by how the next three years unfold. If they want to keep me around, they’ll reelect me. If they don’t, they’ll show me the door.”

“And you really don’t care either way?”

“I care about doing the best possible job I can while I’m here. We both know that’s not going to matter to a lot of people, but if there’re enough who approve, maybe we get a second term. If we don’t, Sam and I ride off into the sunset with the kids and go live the rest of our lives. Either way, we get an amazing opportunity to do some things. Such as… In the State of the Union, I want to talk about what my life was really like growing up.”

“That’s risky, Nick. They might use that info against you.”

“Did you hear what I just said about not caring about risks or reelection or anything other than trying to do the best job I can for all Americans?”