National Affairs: Reluctant Fist

The anti-de Cespedes revolution in Luba was barely a day old last week when Secretary of the Navy Claude Augustus Swanson strode out of the White House and thrust himself into the thick of it. Not since this 71-year-old Virginian took office in the Cabinet had the Washington air been so electric with martial preparations. Fresh from the Presidential presence, he felt the thrill of national excitement as newshawks clustered about him plied him with questions.

"Mr. Secretary, we hear you're going to Cuba?"

"Yep!" retorted the Navy's chief drawing himself up importantly. "I'm...

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