The President who owns foreign capital

Shortly after his election, President Peake announced that although he was creating a semi-blind trust, he would not be liquidating his capital holdings abroad.  (Read more here.)  Yet for years Peake had been seeking to expand his commercial operations in the enemy nation of Ruritania, by some measures soon to be the world’s largest economy.

Observers questioned whether Peake could deal fairly and objectively with Ruritania in matters of foreign policy, including the all-consuming conflicts in the South Ruritania Sea.  But of course Peake was a wealthy man and also an honest man.  Furthermore each action of his was under extreme public and media scrutiny, most of all when he dealt with Ruritania.  Some even suggested that the mere possibility of conflicts of interest made Peake tougher on Ruritania than another President would have been.

To make sure no rumors of favor-trading would ensue, thereby weakening Peake’s American influence, Ruritania moved to give Peake’s commercial operations free rein, thus removing the issue from the daily headlines.  Peake, now having avoided the risk of blame, returned to the policy optimum and ceased being so unnecessarily tough with Ruritania.

I hope there will be more installments to this story.