America’s Road To Wealth

  Chapter 256 Rifle Association Director Laurel

  Abel answered the call from LaPierre.

   LaPierre is the vice president of the National Rifle Association.

  Compared to the chairman whose term is only one year.

   Lapierre, the executive vice chairman, has been in office for almost ten years now.

   Follow the rules of the association. The Executive Vice President, who is not one of the 75 members of the Council, but is appointed by the Council, assumes the role of Chief Executive Officer.

   These days, LaPierre is also in Indianapolis. After he knew that Abel and little Laura were also here, he invited Abel to have a party.

  The meeting place is at the Conrad Indianapolis Hotel, a club not far away.

  The clubhouse is owned by the NRA association industry, which is the American Rifle Association.

  When Abel and little Laura arrived.

   It was discovered that Lapierre was not the only one in the clubhouse.

   There was also a native named Richard Lugar, with his wife, and many other guests and their wives.

  Richard Lugar's wife knew little Laura, and little Laura knew her.

  She quickly pulled little Laura into the lady circle not far away.

  Lapierre's wife is there too.

  In the spacious hall of the clubhouse, around a dozen sofas, twenty or thirty people gathered in small circles.

  After little Laura left.

   Lapierre smiled and introduced Richard Lugar's identity to Abel.

   "Abel." The well-known executive vice chairman of the NRA Association introduced Richard Lugar with a smile.

"This is Mr. Lugar. You may have heard of his name. But I still want to introduce you. Mr. Lugar is the chairman of our association this year. At the same time, he is one of the senators from Indiana. Chairman of the Relations Committee."

  Lapierre's introduction had just finished.

  Standing in front of Abel, Richard Lugar, who was a head shorter than Abel, with regular features and white hair, smiled and stretched out his hand to Abel:

   "Hi, Mr. Smith. I'm Richard Lugar. I've wanted to meet you for a long time, but never had the chance."

  Abel also shook hands with him with a smile, and said softly:

"Hello, Mr. Rugar. I'm Abel Smith. Actually, I am too. Because Herbert mentioned you to me many times, and he praised you many times in front of me as an excellent master of diplomacy. It's not that diplomats are better than diplomat."

   "Hahaha~" Richard Lugar seemed to laugh happily, "Is Herbert okay? I haven't seen him for half a year."

   "He's fine." In fact, Abel hadn't seen the old shrub for almost half a year.

   But Abel can open his eyes and tell a lie, and both people in front of him will believe it.

  In the upper class of the United States, many people already know that the Smith family, which has some influence in Texas, has formed an alliance with the bush family.

   Knowing that the young man in front of him is the bond of alliance between the two families.

   is one of the future sons-in-law of the Bush family.

   Everyone naturally thought that it would be very easy for the young man to see Herbert.

  Seeing that the two people have finished their introduction, the atmosphere is also very good.

  Lapierre took the opportunity to explain the purpose of inviting Abel.

  Lapierre said straight to the point: "Abel, you know. The annual internal election of our association is about to begin."

  Abel didn’t know, he didn’t care much about the NRA, and he didn’t follow his father’s path.

  Abel's business often does not use the NRA Association.

   But at this time, of course Abel smiled and nodded, showing that he really knew.

   "As usual." LaPierre said:

   “25 board members will be re-elected this year. Dear Abe, Richard and I agree that you are already eligible to be a member of the board.”

  Richard Lugar smiled next to him:

   "This is for sure. As the largest funder of the NRA Association last year, if you are not qualified. Then who is qualified to be the director of the NRA Association?"

  Abel had already understood a little, and smiled reservedly.

   Things are simple.

  The highest authority of the NRA Association is a council, which will always have only 75 members.

  The council will elect a chairman internally, and the current chairman is Richard Lugar.

  The general term of the chairman of the board is only one year, and most of them are honorary names, regardless of things.

  The chairman himself is also one of the 75 directors, who are re-elected every three years.

  The internal elections of the association are held every year. Each year, the terms of twenty-five directors expire, and their positions are then subject to re-election.

  In this way, just every year, a group of new directors will join and a group of old directors will withdraw.

   But at the same time, there are also many council members, because of their strength, they can always stay in their seats.

  Like Abel’s father, Alexander, Abel knew that his father had served as a director of the NRA Association for at least five terms.

  This is a bit like a senator in the Senate. As long as he can successfully run for office, he may even be a lifetime.

   "Then where is my constituency?" After understanding why the two were looking for him, Abel smiled and said, "You won't let me go back to Texas to vote?"

  NRA association director status.

   It is voted by more than four million members of the Rifle Association every year.

  The election process is roughly the same as other elections in the United States.

  The 4 million members of the association are divided into 75 constituencies across the country according to their addresses.

  Each electoral district has three candidates.

   Members of the NRA Association in the constituency choose one of the three candidates to vote.

  The final winner is the director of the NRA Association in the constituency for a three-year term.

  Alexander's constituency, in Tarrant County and three nearby counties.

   This neighborhood happens to be a place that the Smith family can influence, and the previous director has always been Alex Smith

  Richard Lugar and LaPierre asked Abel to choose.

   Abel, who knew about these situations, asked which constituency he was going to vote in.

   You can't go back and grab Dad's throne, can you?

   "New York and Los Angeles are fine." LaPierre said:

   "Even any place is fine. As long as you are in that place, have a house and pay land taxes."

   "Understood." Abel smiled: "Then New York."

   "No problem." Lapierre said with certainty.

  Little Laura is on the other side, same as Abel.

  She also integrated into a small circle of five or six ladies headed by the wives of Lapierre and Richard Lugar.

  Richard Lugar is a senior senator who has been an Indiana representative since the 1980s.

   In the late 1980s, he successfully ran for the Senate and has been re-elected until now.

   When little Laura's grandfather was the master of the white house.

  Richard Lugar is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

  The cooperation between the two is very pleasant. At the same time, they are both big bosses in the party and have a very good relationship.

   Richard Lugar and his wife have visited the bush family many times.

   This lady named Lisa naturally knew little Laura.

  Lapierre's wife is Susan Znydoka, the second wife of the deputy executive director.

  Lapierre has a weak character and holds a lot of power. He develops according to the normal human script, and it is only a matter of time before he is used by others.

  Lapierre's new wife, Susan, is generally considered to be such a behind-the-scenes manipulator.

  From Lisa and Susan's attitude towards little Laura, it can be seen that Susan wants to get closer to her and her attitude tends to be more flattering.

   "This is Miss Lauren Shrub Lauren." Susan Znidoka took the initiative and eagerness to introduce little Laura into the small circle

  The five or six noble ladies in this small circle are all high-level NRA associations or their wives.

  They probably don't even know little Laura. But it was impossible for them not to have heard of the name Shrub.

  Susan took the initiative to introduce eagerly, letting everyone know the identity of little Laura.

   This made little Laura suddenly become the core of the small circle.

  Everyone's topic revolves around her.

   Lisa planned to watch from the sidelines. Then when little Laura couldn't cope, she, the old lady, would come forward to help.

  What surprised Lisa was that the young Laura was able to cope with everyone with ease.

  Lisa heaved a sigh of relief, and at the same time felt the excellence of the shrub family.

   Chatting and chatting, everyone in this small circle of ladies. So the topic came to Abel who came with little Laura.

  Susan looked at Abel who was talking and laughing with her husband and the chairman of the association Richard Lugar in the distance.

  The power-loving new wife of LaPierre said with a smile: "Miss Shrub and Mr. Smith are really a good match."

  A noble lady also said at this time: "That's right. You can't find a few pairs of Bi people like this in the whole of the United States."

   Several ladies around echoed, and little Laura responded with a smile:

   "This is God's arrangement. All of us must obey God's arrangement. To our great Lord."

  When she said this, the women around her had no choice but to pray together with her and recite the name of God.

   "That's right." The lady who spoke just now suddenly said, "Mrs. Luge."

  She looked at Lisa and said softly:

   "I heard rumors within the association. I heard that after Mr. Lugar resigns this time, he will elect Mr. Abel Smith as the new chairman candidate? Ma'am, is this true?"

  The lady's question drew everyone's attention to Lisa.

  Even little Laura.

  Little Laura only now figured out what kind of party this evening was.

  This is an internal senior member initiated by the NRA Association, and launched a senior salon about this year's internal election of the association.

  Since the current chairman is the Indiana State Senator, he has been in Indiana recently and has no way to leave.

  The meeting place is also placed here.

   But then again, Indiana has always been a red state.

  The NRA Association has many members here, and this is one of the Rifle Association's staunch support states.

   It is normal to put the high-level gathering of the association here.

  That's all little Laura knows.

   But she didn't know before today that Abel might become the director of the Rifle Association!

  She didn't even know that Abel had been elected as the director of the New York constituency.

  Because of these things, Abel didn't think it was very important, so he didn't tell her.

  There are two NRA board members on the Bush family side, Jeb and George.

   But these two people are busier than the other. Except for elections, they don't bother to care about the NRA.

  Abel and the bush family didn't tell her, so little Laura naturally didn't know all this.

   At this time, little Laura also widened her beautiful eyes, looking at Richard Lugar, the wife of the outgoing chairman.

   Greeting the curious eyes of everyone, including little Laura.

  Richard Lugar's wife looked very reserved, and then gently took little Laura's hand.

  Lisa holding the hand of little Laura said:

   "I didn't want to talk about it. After all, this is Richard's decision, and he hasn't announced it yet. But now that my dear Lauren is here, I don't think it's okay to talk about it."

   "Yes." Lisa admitted:

   "Richard did tell me. He thinks that after he leaves office, Mr. Abel Smith will be a good candidate for the new chairman. He will elect Mr. Smith to the council."

  Although the chairman of the NRA Association is an honorary position, it is a mascot and a symbol.

  But it also has certain powers. For example, before retiring, the old chairman can elect the next chairman candidate.

   Then Lapierre, the executive vice chairman, recommends another candidate.

   Two candidates will be voted on within the council.

   The one with the highest number of votes will be the next chairman of the American Rifle Association.

  Richard Lugar's wife Lisa said so, basically telling these ladies.

  Abel Smith is one of the two candidates for the new chairman.

   This made the ladies a little surprised and moved.

   "The rumors are actually true. Mr. Smith, he is too young. He doesn't even seem to be old enough to drink." A lady said.

  U.S. law stipulates that people who have reached the age of 21 can drink alcohol.

  But in many cases, you can buy a gun in a gun store when you reach the age of sixteen.

  If you encounter some gun shops that have bad business and dare to violate the rules.

  The age at which you can buy a gun, maybe even younger.

  You can legally buy guns but not drink alcohol. There are too many such outrageous things in the United States.

  Little Laura wants to say that Abel is twenty-one

   She spent his birthday with him.

   Someone faster than her.

  Lapierre's wife, Susan Znydoka, said with a smile:

"Mr. Smith is twenty-one years old. Also, LaPierre and I feel that sometimes age is not a barrier to a person's achievements. With Mr. Smith's achievements, age is no longer an issue. If he announces his candidacy In the next general election, I will probably vote for him."

   "Uh" The lady who first asked this topic couldn't help but glance at Susan Znydoka, a trace of disdain flashed deep in her eyes.

  Susan Znydoka, for ruining LaPierre's marriage.

   In addition, apart from the identity of the NRA Association, there is no energy in the outside world.

  In their small circle, Susan's status is relatively low.

   The despised Suzanne Znydoka liked to pull Lapierre out every time she opened her mouth, saying that what she said was said by Lapierre.

  Lapierre is a weak character, but he is still the CEO.

  NRA executives must show some face in public.

  Susan owed her husband a little face to have something to talk about in the small circle.

  Everyone sighed again about Abel Smith's youth and promise.

  Since they were talking about Smith, the topic was chatting, and of course they talked about little Laura.

  Looking back to Abel.

  When Little Laura just knew that he might become the new director of the Rifle Association.

  Abel's side, as well as Lapierre and Richard Luger's side, got the news.

  Abel was a little surprised: "Me? Let me be the chairman of the Rifle Association? Did I hear correctly?"

   "You heard me right." LaPierre smiled smugly. "This is the result of my discussion with Richard."

  Richard Lugar smiled and nodded beside him.

   In fact, this is Lapierre's handwriting.

   It was Lapierre, who found Richard Lugar.

   Said his idea of ​​electing Abel as the new chairman of the NRA Association.

  The reason why Lapierre did this is also very simple.

   Without it.

   Abel gave too much.

  Abel’s donations to the NRA Association throughout last year were more than the top ten donations.

  The NRA Association has many top rich members.

  But their donations to the NRA Association are generally only hundreds of thousands of dollars, or hundreds of thousands of dollars.

  Abel is fine. Last year, his annual donation to the NRA Association totaled more than seven million dollars.

   In the NRA Association, Abel is already one of the big donors.

  Although the NRA Association is not without return to Abel.

  For example, last year’s Storm Smith, the NRA Association helped.

  In addition, when Abel lobbied against Sony Columbia Films, the NRA Association, the largest lobbying group, also contributed a lot.

   Otherwise, relying on K Street in Washington alone, the effect would not be so strong.

   What made Sony really discouraged was the pressure from this aspect.

  At the same time, Lapierre also hinted that Abel would definitely give him the status of a council member.

  These are NRA associations, in return for Abel's donation of up to seven million dollars.

   It's halfway through this year.

  Abel also continued to donate to the NRA Association.

  The total amount is two million US dollars.

   Already the largest donor to the NRA Association this year.

  Lapierre was a little dissatisfied.

  Last year it was seven million!

   Lapierre felt a little less. This guy had an idea, thinking that he should not only make Abel the director, but also directly make him the chairman.

  The NRA Association is so generous, Chairman Smith, you can’t be stingy this year, right?

   Seven million last year.

  You have become the boss this year, at least not less than this number, right?

  The chairman of the board of directors is mainly an honorary position, which needs to be changed once a year.

   Use a one-year honorary title in exchange for Abel's generous donation.

  Lapierre thought it was worth it.

  He approached Richard Lugar, who was leaving office this year.

  The reason why he was looking for Richard Lugar was because Lapierre knew that Richard Lugar, the leader of the Senate, could be regarded as Herbert's younger brother to some extent.

  Richard Lugar was Herbert's secretary when Herbert was the party whip.

   Lapierre felt that he proposed to make Richard Lugern the grandson-in-law of the Lord.

   Come to be the chairman of the association.

  Richard Lugar had no reason to refuse.

   It turns out that LaPierre was right.

  Richard Lugar agreed without thinking long.

  CEO and Chairman of the NRA Association.

  The two have already decided internally to make Abel the new chairman of the board.

  The method of operation is also simple.

   Richard Lugar selected Abel as one of the candidates.

   Lapierre directly elected Alexander Smith as one of the candidates.

  Then, the directors of the NRA Association can only choose one chairman from these two people.

   At that time, halfway through the election, just ask Alexander to announce his withdrawal, and then Abel will win without a fight.

  As long as Alexander does not withdraw from the election.

   Lapierre has already lost the chairman's crown to Smith.

   As for which Smith will do it, that is an internal matter for you Smith.

  In the United States, this is not considered a black box operation.

   This is the aboveboard rule.

  (end of this chapter)