Socrates'N Suitcase

THE STORY OF THE SECRETARY

IN ST. LOUIS WHO

WOULDN’T ARRANGE A MEETING

I am sure she was a very nice lady; most corporate executive secretaries are. But some do, at times, get a little bit haughty and over protective of their domain. This woman had the barbed wire and electrical current.

I was calling---let’s say her name was Ms. Bongo Drums---from Los Angeles to a particular aerospace company in St. Louis seeking an appointment with a particular executive. I deemed the executive to be in trouble on a large overseas contract because someone was lying to him. I knew from experience a particular man was making too strenuous an effort to secure unearned, at the time, money. I thought fraud and deception was prevalent. The only way I could be sure was to call personally on the executive and explain what I thought were serious flaws in the contract.

I called Ms. Bongo Drums to seek an appointment. When she asked what the meeting would be in reference to I told her, in all due respect, the subject was of a confidential nature and it was in the best interest of Mr. Tuttle to meet with me.

She said, “Wrong! I can’t tell Mr. Tuttle a man is flying in from California to speak to him on a confidential matter. Do you know how many men and ladies try to pull the wool over my eyes in a week with a phony story just to try to sell something to Mr. Tuttle?”

“Ms. Bongo Drums, I don’t care how many. I only know I have a responsibility to brief Mr. Tuttle and I would appreciate you asking him when we could meet.”

I called four times from Monday through Thursday. I was told: He’s in a meeting! Mr. Tuttle is out to lunch! Mr. Tuttle has been called to corporate. He left early to give a speech at Rotary. He will not return! He has executive personnel from XYZ Company this morning through lunch! Etc., etc., etc!

I called on Friday from my ranch in Springville. Mrs. Bongo Drums answered the phone. I said, “Ms. Drums, this is Mr. Simpson. I am now located 3 and 1/2 hours north of Los Angeles International. I am going to leave here Monday morning at 4:30AM. I am going to drive one hour to Bakersfield and catch a 6:15AM United Express to LA. I am then going to catch a TWA flight to St. Louis arriving at 2:50PM. I will then take a cab to your executive office building. If I do not have an appointment with Mr. Tuttle, I will walk out to the grass on the side of your building and set up camp as I have done a hundred times at my ranch. I will have a sleeping bag, a Coleman stove and lantern, bottles of water, a steak, a can of beans, and some bread. And I will STAY there, Ms. Drums, until I meet with Mr. Tuttle. If you desire, send him down; I’ll split my steak with him.”

“Now I know your aerospace police, the sheriff, the local police, and probably the National Guard will throw me in jail. But before they do, I will tell them I was there because of the refusal of a particular individual to offer me a time to meet with Mr. Tuttle. Now, Ms. Bongo Drums, if you think I am kidding, don’t give me the courtesy of a meeting. Have a nice week end!”

When I walked into the executive office building, I had a visitor’s pass ready and a company security officer waiting to escort me to the 8^th floor. Mr. Tuttle was waiting. After an hour and a half of straight talk, he said, “Mr. Simpson, I can’t thank you enough. I will call all personnel involved, cancel the contract, and tell everyone they are not to talk to Mr. Such and Such again.

I caught a late flight for LA. I wrote to Ms. Bongo Drums and thanked her for setting up the meeting.

What I have just told you is a true story!