The Bradford Legacy

By Brian Blashfield

The Bradford Legacy is the story of Carter Bradford, a fabulously rich descendant of an American family of entrepreneurs with a financial empire worth billions. Carter is a seriously flawed human being suffering from destructive narcissism and is, by all standards of measurement, a sociopath. From his earliest years Carter has been manipulative and cruel but amazingly charming when the need was there. Following his grandfather, Hiram Bradford, Carter chooses a political career and sets his sights on the Presidency. As the story progresses Carter uses his wealth and political power, augmented by a willingness to commit murder, to reach his goals. In many ways Carter Bradford is an extreme example of the worst of any number of American politicians or, maybe he isn’t. Let the reader judge.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796070927

Brian Blashfield

About the Author and Acknowledgements Brian Blashfield was born in Battle Creek, Michigan. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the United States Navy and served with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean and the 7th Fleet in the Pacific. He is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Western Michigan University with a major in Political Science and History and minors in Sociology and American Literature. He attended the Graduate School at the University of Maryland at College Park where he studied American Culture. Brian enjoyed a successful career in residential and commercial real estate in Michigan, California and Florida. Writing and politics have been his lifelong hobby and “The Bradford Legacy” is his first work submitted for publication. Brian resides in Delray Beach, Florida. This story would not have been possible without the critical editing of Danka Blashfield, Brian’s wife of nearly 30 years. Danka organized a big stack of written work and with Brian’s direction helped turn it into the story of Carter Bradford.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

On the day Carter Bradford was officially sworn in as the Congressional Representative for his District, the Republican House Minority Leader, an old school politician from Indiana, invited him to come to his office for a meeting and a brief orientation. Carter turned on his best smile, shook the Leader’s hand and said he would see him in the morning. The following morning Carter sat, for almost 30 minutes, in the Leader’s reception room waiting to see him as others walked in and out. Each minute increased Carter’s anger.

Who the hell does this old man think he is?

thought Carter. Just as he decided to get up and leave, the secretary motioned for him to go into the Leader’s office.

The Minority Leader Representative, Charles Hallack, was a professional politician and knew his way around the House. Even before Carter arrived in Washington, Hallack made phone calls to his contacts in New York and was fully briefed on the young smart ass who just planted himself before him. With the barest level of cordiality the Minority Leader outlined Carter’s duty to the Party. Most of what Hallack covered related to fundraising. New members were expected to dive into the job of refilling the Party’s war chest for the next election. Hallack knew, from his calls to political friends, that Carter would never lift a finger to raise money. He would always have unlimited financial backup when it came time for his own reelection and could care less about the Party. Hallack did not reach his position in Party leadership by banging his head against brick walls. He went right at Carter with a tone that basically matched Carter’s demeanor.

Look Carter, I’m not going to waste my time trying to get you to call donors in the boiler room across from Lafayette Park. Just make a few calls to the really big ones that you and your family are close with. Get us a few million and then everyone will be happy. When you get back to your office, take a look at the House committees on the organizational chart and see what might best suit you. Some of them are political dead ends and others get a lot of play on TV and in the newspapers. But, be careful. Keep in mind what happened to old Joe McCarthy back in the 1950’s. He got himself too popular and then all of a sudden became shit on a stick.

Carter couldn’t help but to actually like this old guy. He sat up in his chair, leaned forward and allowed himself to be interested. Hallack caught Carter’s every gesture. He paused for a second and asked:

What are you doing here and what do you expect to get out of it? You are a rich, good looking young man who has it all going for himself. There must be something burning in you to cause you to run for election and spend the time it takes to be an even half assed Congressman?

Why hell yes, Mr. Minority Leader, I want to be the President.

Hallack looked at Carter for a few seconds and thought of Kennedy. Maybe the Congress was going to become a place where wealthy families send their sons. He finally said:

Well then son, let’s get to it.

He reached into his drawer, laid a chart of the House Committees on his desk turned towards Carter and said:

Carter, in my opinion Appropriations and Armed Forces are the best places to get noticed. One hands out the money and the other the patriotism. I can make it happen if you agree. And, as you will soon learn, Washington is a place founded upon compromises and promises. Someday I will want something from you. It might be a vote on a bill that you disagree with or a job in the Trust network of companies for one of our big donors’ kids, or a simple favor. Is it a deal?

Carter stood, took the Leader’s hand, shook it and said:

I already like the way this place works. I think you and I are going to get along beautifully.

Being elected to Congress, at such a young age, blew Carter’s already overblown self image completely out of proportion. It didn’t help when he heard some political TV pundits predict that Carter Bradford may represent a new wave of young, rich politicians who would change the world. One thing the speaker said struck Carter as an important clue to his success:

Look at some of our most recent presidents: Truman served in WWI, Eisenhower and Kennedy in WWII. Voters like war heroes.

Once he completed the move into the previous congressman’s office, Carter decided to evaluate Barry Levine’s staff. In his mind there was no reason to reinvent the wheel. The people Levine was happy with might be an asset. Carter immediately realized that he had no idea how to approach judging the staff.

Of the total, seven staffers already quit saving him those decisions. The first person Carter talked with was his Chief of Staff Jeremy Kline. At 51 Kline looked quite young for an old hand. In the notes former Congressman Levine left about the staff, he praised Kline as being well versed in how the House functioned and what would and would not work. Carter wasted no time and came right to the point,

Jeremy, I don’t have a clue as to who on this staff is a keeper and who should be shown the door. Moreover, I have no idea of what to look for when hiring replacements for those who left and what to do with those who decide to stay.

Kline felt the butterflies of happiness in his stomach. He was deeply concerned that a big businessman, like Bradford was supposed to be, would show up with a huge axe and begin chopping off heads including his own. Kline liked his job. He was respected and made just under $50,000 a year plus a ton of really nice benefits. He responded, Congressman, as your Chief of Staff, I am here to help you with all administrative and personnel decisions so you can be free to do your job.

Carter immediately liked what Kline had to say except he had no idea what his own job was. For now he decided to let Kline run the show. In time he would figure out how to proceed.

Jeremy, I’m counting on you. The Leader gave me a list of current staff members assigned to me and their salaries. He explained that I have some latitude in redistributing compensation. Do you agree?

Kline was a bit nervous as to where this was going. He had no choice but to respond, Yes sir. It is up to you to evaluate a given position and its worth based on its importance to your vision. Every Congressman has a list of those he needs to repay for helping him get elected and for projects that he intends to fight for and those that are important to his District. Congressman Levine was a big picture guy and left the running of the office to me and Sarah Grimes, the Office Manager.

Good, then I have what I want. The first change I will make is in the position of Executive Personal Assistant. That salary will be elevated from $21,000 to $60,000. The current employee will be terminated or, if in your judgment Mark Fowler is a keeper, he will be placed somewhere else, at a few bucks more, to make him feel good about the change. The Executive Personal Assistant position will be filled by a Mr. Phillip Kewley. Just as Kline was absorbing his employer’s decision to make him the second highest paid member of the staff, Carter started laughing at Kline’s obvious discomfort and said:

Oh, did I neglect to mention that your position seems to be underpaid for the weight of responsibility that I intend to drop in your lap? So let’s just make an adjustment to say $70,000, okay?

None of the salaries were coming out of Carter’s pocket and he didn’t care about the raises. If they had to drop a couple of staff members, so be it. Just before Carter shooed Kline out of his office, he told him to order a television set to be mounted on his office wall, and totally shocked Kline by saying,

One more thing Jeremy, starting this Friday and every Friday forward, I want you or one of your staff to order a lunch buffet from whatever deli or restaurant the staff likes. Tell the manager, of the place you pick, to contact me and I will establish the method of payment. For the record, I am paying for this out of my own pocket.

Jeremy Kline thanked Carter on behalf of the entire staff even before making the announcement.

Carter was learning and picked up a lot from the Minority Leader’s comments about favors and causing others to be indebted to you. The cost of the buffets did not concern Carter. He already had a place to stick the expense and be reimbursed by the Trust. The next call he made was to his father. James answered:

Good day, Congressman, what can a lowly constituent do for you?

Well dad, this is how you can help me. I need Phillip as my Executive Assistant here in Washington. Can you spare him from the Office?

I don’t see any problem son, let me get with Jonah and call you back.

"Great Dad, just so Phillip knows this job will pay $60,000 a year.

Phillip Kewley’s father had been Hiram’s accountant until he and his wife, were murdered in 1947. Mrs. Kewley had one living relative. Her mother, Josephine, resided in a state facility for those suffering from dementia. Mr. Kewley’s only brother was serving a long term sentence in Federal prison for tax fraud. From a practical standpoint the 10 year old Phillip Kewley was an orphan without extended family. Just as the judge assigned to the case was nearing a decision where to place Phillip, three prominent Manhattan attorneys stepped forward and asked to be heard. The spokesman of the group presented a document, signed by Mrs. Josephine Spellman, waiving her custodial rights as young Phillip’s only living relative and granting full custody to James and Alice Bradford. The brief prepared by Bradford’s attorneys neglected to mention Mrs. Spellman’s dementia, Mr. Kewley’s brother’s prison sentence, or that Mrs. Alice Bradford was currently institutionalized. The judge looked over at Phillip, seated by a County Social Worker, and said:

Young man, you have just hit the jackpot.

Once the order was signed Phillip Kewley got his first ride in a Cadillac limo. It would not be his last. The Bradford mansion in Manhattan was huge. It was built by one of the robber barons of the previous century and dominated a major portion of a city block. Phillip was escorted upstairs by a housekeeper to a room directly across from Carter’s suite. Fifteen minutes later he was served a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, potato chips, a Coca Cola and a promise of ice cream dish for dessert. That day Phillip became the brother Carter Bradford never felt he had. Carter and his natural brother, Jonah, were simply not compatible but not for Jonah’s lack of trying. Whatever the reason Carter simply did not like Jonah and was cruel to him from the time they were children until their father had enough and shipped Carter off to military school. Phillip was another story. Carter treated him like his little buddy even though they were almost the same age. Those who encountered the two assumed, before they knew, that Carter and Phillip were brothers and very close. Carter’s positive reaction to Phillip pleased and, quite frankly, surprised his father. Phillip was a quiet boy. He was obviously still in shock from the loss of his parents and then from having to adjust to new surroundings. James Bradford did his best to step into a father’s role for Phillip. He raised him much like his own boys. They attended the same schools. When Carter was away in military school, Phillip and Jonah became close and eventually graduated together from a private high school. Phillip could have followed Jonah to Harvard but chose to join Carter in Ohio for college and graduated a year behind him with a degree in Business Law and Finance. The closeness between Carter and Phillip remained in spite of the two year separation. James took note of Phillip’s gentle behavior and hoped that his manner would one day rub off on Carter. He was greatly intrigued by Carter’s kindness and concern for Phillip as, unfortunately, such feelings toward the other members of the Bradford family were much out of character for Carter. Upon graduation Phillip was offered a position with the Trust’s Finance Department and to assist Jonah with the Foundation. In spite of his happiness and satisfaction in working at the Trust, Phillip was thrilled when Carter called and told him about the job in Washington. Unlike Carter, Phillip did not worship money or seek to use it as a tool to manipulate. He was excited to be working in a job where he believed he could help Carter and serve his country at the same time. One of the few things Phillip was able to hang on to from his parents was a photo of his father and mother taken just after the war. In the photo his father was still wearing an Army officer’s uniform. While Phillip didn’t know what all the ribbons above his father’s left jacket pocket meant, he knew there were a lot of them and it made him proud.

CHAPTER 2

Congressman Carter Bradford was quite pleased with himself. In just 3 days his office was running smoothly thanks to Jeremy Kline and Phillip Kewley. Carter was able to convince his father and brother to continue to loan him Jeannie Alcott, a Public Relations expert and a terrific writer, who helped him with his campaign. During the late afternoon and evening of the day before the scheduled meeting with Jeannie, Carter did something he had never done before; he actually read a book from cover to cover.

In Carter’s short time in Washington he was able to see President Kennedy up close on two different occasions. Even as impossible as it was for Carter to imagine anyone else being better looking or more intelligent than he saw himself, Kennedy really got to him. Carter sent the office receptionist out to purchase Kennedy’s Pulitzer Prize winning book Profiles in Courage written by JFK in 1957. After lunch he went straight to his apartment with the book under his arm. Once he started reading, he continued until past midnight and surprised himself by finishing the entire book. When he turned the last page and stood up to stretch, after spending hours sitting in the same position, he could feel a rush in every inch of his entire 6’ 3" body. Carter was tired but excited. Even if it were a fruit of someone else’s labor, a book would be an impressive element to add to his campaign to, one day, become President. Carter found it easy to rationalize that if it was his idea he should enjoy the credit. He would pay Jeannie Alcott to write a book for him and would capitalize on it just like Kennedy did with his own.

The next day Carter slept late. When he roused up he called his office and told the receptionist he had an early meeting with a campaign donor just in case one of the Leadership vultures called. He then rolled over and went back to sleep. About 3 PM, as he showered, his first thoughts were of the Kennedy book. He decided that, in addition to the book, he needed to figure out how to get into a uniform for a short period of time, off into a hot area like Vietnam, but not risk getting himself killed.

On the way to his office Carter suddenly remembered his mother’s cousin, Carl, the Navy Admiral. Once at his desk he placed a call to the Pentagon and asked to speak to Admiral Carl Benson, a member of the support staff for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Uncle Carl was someone he remembered well as he was growing up. Carter was always impressed with his uniform and all the colorful decorations Carl had earned.

Carter’s call went right through and within seconds he heard the voice of Admiral Benson.

Well it is sure good to hear from you Carter. I noticed your name on the Appropriations and the Armed Forces committees and have it on my calendar to call you to extend an invitation to have a look at the Pentagon.

Carter smiled to himself and silently thanked Leader Hallack for his advice and for the always special benefits of being born into a rich family.

You have read my mind, Admiral. I am most anxious to get briefed on what you guys need so I can be an effective asset on the committees. I know these Democrats will starve you to death without some good Republican strength on the other side of the committee.

The Admiral sighed and said,

Music to my ears, son. Is it possible to get you over here next week, for a lunch, so we can spend a while going over old times and maybe I can fill in some of the blanks on military budgets and the real reasons we ask for certain appropriations ?

Carter looked at the small calendar on his night stand. He didn’t want to wait a whole week. So in typical Carter style he lied to see if he could manipulate the meeting date.

Would love to Admiral, but next week is packed. However, I do have this Thursday open for lunch and a few hours in the afternoon. What do you say to that?

We have a date, Congressman. I will send a car to meet you at 11:30, if that works.

Done sir, see you on Thursday.

Admiral Carl Benson was an old hand at politics and was not going to let a partisan asset on the two top committees, slip through his fingers. He did wonder at how Carter had managed to pass over Congressmen with far more seniority waiting their turn to get on these two high profile committees?

Once Carter finished his call to Benson he immediately ushered in Jeannie Alcott.

Has Jonah or my father advised you that they have agreed to let you stay with me for a bit longer?

Jeanie Alcott was well versed on the episodes and adventures of Carter Bradford from her co-workers at the Trust. From the moment she reported to him, at his campaign headquarters and throughout the campaign and the election, she quietly measured Carter against his father and brother. In Jeannie’s opinion, James and Jonah were the kind of men one expected to see in charge of a massive, financial empire. Carter, on the other hand, was a complete wild card. Fabulously rich, yet he didn’t contribute a minute to the work of any of the Bradford entities that produced his wealth. Whatever he was trusted with, in the past, he usually screwed up. Yet, when the profits were distributed, he received his share. The only financial difference between Carter, his father and brother was that Carter did not receive a corporate salary. James drew the line at that.

Jeannie decided to keep her answers at the minimum until she figured Carter out.

Yes sir. They gave me a choice but I offered to stay here as long as you need me.

Jeannie’s answer went right to Carter’s ego, made him happy and allowed him to, somehow, twist Jeannie’s decision and confirm her as yet another woman who worshipped him and lived to be near him.

Carter smiled and said,

Good, this is what I want you to do. First take the copy of Kennedy’s book on my desk and read it. Then using all that biographical information, you have on the Bradford’s, put together an outline of a book based on me with all that Bradford Yankee can do spirit. Include the rest of the bullshit the members of my capitalist class sell the rest of the world to defend the fact that they have more money than they need and will kill to protect. Come up with some catchy titles like Kennedy did and make me into The Man of the Future, Youngest in Congress, A New Breed of Business and Political Warriors Determined to Make America Great for Everyone, and throw in whatever else you can come up with.

By now Jeannie was waiting for the catch but Carter went on:

Oh, and I added $25,000 per year to your salary. This additional sum has nothing to do with the Trust. Your Trust salary will be paid the same way as always. The extra cash will come in a form of monthly payments from a perfectly legitimate source of mine. You will be paid by cashier’s check. If you do a good job and if the book is published, your name will join mine as an author and we will split whatever profit that thing brings. What do you say Miss Alcott?

Before Jeannie answered, Carter chuckled to himself. Jeannie’s checks would come from the Hiram Cyprus account. He guessed that she would deposit them in her bank account, and when tax time came she would do what most people do and just leave that income off her return. Carter assumed it was what most people would do because he would do just that. Carter was surprised when little mousy Miss Alcott reacted with such enthusiasm.

Jesus H. Christ!! Mr. Bradford, are you serious? Of course I want to do this. I have dreamed, all my life, about writing a book and you are handing me the time and opportunity to do just that.

Jeannie and Carter went over a few logistics, with regard to submitting Jeannie’s work in progress for Carter’s review, and an estimate of how long the project should take. After Jeannie left his office Carter sat back totally satisfied that his plan was underway. Next step was to get Cousin Carl to go along with what Carter wanted, and he would be on his way.

The previous day Carter put in a call to Mr. Stone the family fixer and man of mystery. He had a job for Stone. Ordinarily Carter would have stayed inside and made whoever was coming to meet with him to wait, but he didn’t want Stone in the office.

When the elevator doors opened he could see Stone coming up the steps to the main lobby where Carter expected his ride to the Pentagon to appear. Carter walked past Stone without acknowledging him and went outside. A minute later, after some others passed by, Stone appeared beside him. Carter handed him a slim envelope and said,

"A woman I have working for me, as a researcher, needs to be vetted. She is on loan from the Trust. I once heard her say what a great guy Jonah is and need to know if she is just impressed or if they are fucking. She is working on something for me that, for now, I don’t want shared with Dad or Jonah. I know the level of your loyalty to my Dad and the Trust and I assure you that what I am doing will bring no harm to either. Give me as much as you can and put someone on her for a couple of weeks. Let me know the