Hollywood starts with an agent

Chapter 534: What Level?

Following the exposure and confirmation of the Clinton-Lewinsky sex scandal, and after the Ken Starr Report was accepted by Congress, the House Judiciary Committee passed a resolution to launch an impeachment inquiry against Clinton!

"That's true, he's quite famous now. He's the second president in American history to be impeached!"

Ventura, Simi Valley, Aaron, and former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta are enjoying afternoon tea at a coffee shop.

"A Senate impeachment trial requires the consent of more than two-thirds of the senators to remove Clinton from the presidency."

"There's still a lot that can be done here!"

Leon Panetta explained.

Aaron nodded. "The intelligence community's budget investigation proposal has been scrapped, and the repeal of the Glasssteeger Act is a foregone conclusion."

"Clinton's approval rating is still very high, and most people do not want to change the president directly. It will be very difficult for the Republicans to remove Clinton from office through an impeachment trial!"

In recent months, the Ken Starr Report has been widely circulated in newspapers and magazines such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, Newsweek, and Time.
Monica Lewinsky's blue dress, Clinton's lies, Linda Tripp's recordings, and other gossip and scandals involving US presidents have attracted a great deal of attention.

Leon Panetta sighed, "The image of the US president has been completely changed after this incident."

The US president is no longer a "moral icon," but a public figure who can be ridiculed, judged, and mocked.

The media, netizens, and public opinion have formed a new "political court"!
"Ding," Aaron lit a cigarette and exhaled a smoke ring. "The President of the United States is, after all, the President of the United States, a symbol of freedom and power."

"By the way, you visited former President Reagan. What did you learn?"

Leon Panetta changed the subject.

Aaron shrugged. "He's had Alzheimer's for two or three years now. I've talked to his wife about it."

Furthermore, none of Reagan's children went into politics; instead, they made a living in Hollywood!
"It seems like there's a large-scale urban planning project underway in Irvine, Orange County. There must be a lot of friction between Irvine Corporation and your environmental department, right?"

Aaron asked Leon Panetta, who is now the president of the California Environmental Protection Commission.

Irvine was originally a company, which started as a large farm founded by James Irvine and later developed into the city it is today.

Even the land for the University of California, Irvine was donated by the Irvine Corporation.

Leon Panetta shrugged. "A few years ago, California real estate tycoon Donald Brun used underhanded tactics to seize the Irvine Corporation from the Irvine family at a low price."

"We want to carry out large-scale urban development, but our Environmental Protection Committee hopes that Irvine can retain more urban public space!"

Donald Brun acquired controlling interest in the Irvine Corporation from Jones Irvine Smith, the granddaughter of James Irvine.

With California's real estate market currently booming, Leon Panetta naturally believes that Aaron is preparing to enter the California real estate market!
Aaron tapped his fingers on his knees. Now that he had $4 million in cash in his hands, he was definitely going to invest in some industries.

Irvine is just a small city now, but Aaron knows that in the future, Irvine will attract a large number of wealthy Asians and become one of the most economically vibrant cities in California.

"Donald Brun, what kind of person is he?" Aaron now looked down on such people. Even Philip Anschutz was getting further and further behind him, let alone Donald Brun.

Leon Panetta smiled. "Donald Brun and Edward Roski, a real estate tycoon from Southern California, are partners."

“So it was him,” said Edward Roski Jr., Philip Anschutz’s partner, the two of whom had previously co-owned the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.

Later, when the Staples Center in Los Angeles was being built, Edward Roski withdrew from the project.

The Lakers' home arena, the Staples Center in Los Angeles, which is currently under construction, is a project jointly developed by Anschutz Entertainment, led by Philip Anschutz, and the Los Angeles County Department of Athletic Sports!

Leon Panetta thought for a moment, then offered a suggestion, "Aaron, if you're also interested in getting into the real estate business, I suggest you choose a city in the San Francisco Bay Area near Silicon Valley;"

“Cities like San Francisco, San Jose, and Santa Clara are all good choices. With the rapid development of the technology industry, the Bay Area is attracting a large number of highly skilled talents, resulting in a high demand for real estate.”

Aaron, of course, agreed with the other party's point of view. Actually, his interest in Irvine stemmed mainly from his work at the newly built Wells Fargo Centre in Inglewood, where he had heard about the company.

The Irvine Corporation currently controls approximately 10 acres of land. Once the city of Irvine develops, the Irvine Corporation's assets will increase exponentially!

"Well, in that case, I will seriously consider your suggestion..."

After returning to Los Angeles, Jack Wells also returned to Long Beach.

"The negotiations are still unsuccessful, and we will hold another round of negotiations next month!"

If there hadn't been a lockout, the 98-99 NBA regular season would have already started.

Aaron shrugged, unconcerned. "Anyway, the league arbitrator ruled that team owners don't have to pay players' salaries during the shutdown."

"These players are definitely too greedy right now!"

Of course, the players should give Kevin Garnett a good scolding. It was this guy who signed a six-year, $1.26 million contract extension with the Timberwolves last year, which made the owners lose their temper.
It's worth noting that the Timberwolves were traded for only $8800 million in 1994.

Jack Wells frowned as well, "The players' union president Patrick Ewing's remarks caused quite a stir before."

"Many voices have criticized the players, saying they've softened their stance towards the owners. But the players' union seems determined to stand up to the owners this time?"

Aaron shook his head. "I reminded David Stern during the last lockout to pay attention to player salaries at each stage, as well as the highest-paid players."

"See? In just three years, the league has been backfired on by the high salaries of its players!"

"Sigh, the lockout, plus Michael Jordan's second retirement, the NBA is really going to have a lot going on," Jack Wells said with a sigh.

However, fortunately, the Houston Rockets defeated the Chicago Bulls in the Finals this year to win the championship;
Not only did they avenge last year's defeat, but they also successfully prevented the Chicago Bulls from winning their second three-peat!
Next up was the Rockets dynasty...

(End of this chapter)