A Hawaiian traditional food restaurant.
The walls were lined with carvings and decorations symbolising Hawaii, and at the center of it all, Senator Obama was waiting for me without a single aide by his side.
"Thank you so much for inviting me. With the election so close, I know how busy you must be, so it's an honor that you made time."
"At last, we meet in person. I almost went through the entire campaign without ever seeing the face of my biggest supporter."
It was clear—becoming president wasn't for just anyone.
Meeting him in person, Obama left not only a good impression but also carried a powerful presence that ordinary people didn't have. His voice had weight.
"As a business leader, supporting a politician is never simple. I had to tiptoe, and I hope you'll understand."
"Of course, completely understandable. But there is one thing I've been curious about. Until now, you were known as a major supporter of the Republican Party. Why support me this time?"
The biggest donor to the Republicans suddenly becoming the biggest donor to the Democrats? Naturally, it was a question worth asking—and I had prepared my answer in advance.
"I don't know much about politics. I can't even say I fully understand the differences between Republican and Democratic values. What I do know is that whichever party leads, they're all working for America's progress. That's why I support the most capable candidate."
"So you're saying I'm the most capable among them. Hearing that said to my face is… quite humbling. Ah! I went ahead and ordered our meal."
At his signal, the food was brought out—fresh sashimi and salad.
It almost felt like we'd stepped into a Japanese seafood restaurant.
"This is a dish we eat often in Hawaii, called poke. It's healthy and delicious. Do you eat raw fish? If not, I can order something else."
"In Korea, sashimi is just as common as it is here in Hawaii. And I'm very fond of it."
"That's good to hear. Then let's satisfy our hunger first and continue talking afterward."
The primaries were a battle of endurance.
To keep his energy up, Senator Obama shovelled poke into his mouth with little ceremony. To keep pace, I also ate quickly, and in less than ten minutes, the table was cleared, only empty bowls left behind.
"It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a meal this much. It's very different from the sashimi we have in Korea. Thank you for letting me experience something new."
"I'm glad it suited your taste. But there's something else I'd like to ask. You said earlier that I'm the most capable candidate in this race. But as I think about it now, isn't it true that the best candidate doesn't always become president?"
It was the voice of unease.
He masked it well with his long political experience, but beneath the calm expression, Obama was clearly unsettled. Nothing weighs heavier than seeing a lead in the polls suddenly slip away, and that was exactly the situation he was facing.
"I believe the most capable candidate does become president."
"A belief alone isn't much comfort."
"It may look as if the tide has turned against you now, but the comeback will come soon. And once it does, there won't be another reversal."
"How can you be so certain?"
Obama was searching for assurance.
It was no wonder politicians so often turned to fortune-tellers: when anxiety gnawed at them, they wanted to hear something—anything—that promised hope. And now it was my turn to play that role.
"The subprime mortgage crisis isn't over yet. One more big collapse, and Republican support will crumble."
"Is there really such a collapse left to come?"
"There is. Its name is Lehman Brothers. They're in talks with Korea's state-owned Industrial Bank, but if those talks fail, Lehman will go bankrupt. And I've just returned from a meeting with the Korean president. I was assured the Industrial Bank will not buy Lehman Brothers."
Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy was an explosion.
Up until then, the housing bubble had been called the subprime mortgage crisis. But the moment Lehman Brothers collapsed, it would become known as the "Lehman Brothers Crisis" instead—a disaster powerful enough to define the era.
"Even if Korea's Industrial Bank doesn't acquire Lehman Brothers… isn't it possible that some other country's firm might step in?"
"Impossible. It would take the equivalent of an entire national budget just to keep it alive, and even then there's little benefit to be had. No company will declare interest in buying it."
"But still… there's always the chance of a 'what if.'"
Even after everything I'd explained, unease still lingered in him. Which meant I had to settle it once and for all.
"If that unlikely scenario were to happen, I would trigger every insurance contract I hold against Lehman Brothers. No matter who acquires it, they wouldn't be able to prevent the bankruptcy."
"So you're saying Lehman Brothers is bound to collapse."
"Yes. And when it does, you'll win this election by a wide margin. After that, you won't need to worry about the polls again."
"Phew… only now do I feel at ease."
"I can guarantee you a 100 percent chance of victory."
At last, Senator Obama allowed himself a relaxed smile.
But it didn't last. He quickly raised a new concern.
"What troubles me now is this: once I'm elected, I don't know what I could possibly do for you in return."
"There's no need to worry about that. All I ask is that I'm not treated unfairly. I've never once asked for favors from the political world."
"…Supporting someone just to avoid discrimination? That's a hard notion to accept."
Every politician reacted the same way.
To give enormous sums in support without asking for a piece of the pie? If that were truly the case, why donate at all?
"Most companies need political help to grow. I don't. As long as I'm not obstructed politically, I can continue to grow on my own."
"You sound very confident. Still, given your track record, I wouldn't call it arrogance."
"If I sounded overconfident, I apologize. Of course, I do want to maintain a good relationship with the U.S. government."
"If you keep that spirit even after I'm elected, then we can remain good friends for life."
"And if you ever feel I've changed, you're free to cast me aside."
"I'm not the sort to discard people easily. I try to resolve things through dialogue. Only if that fails would I take such a step."
I could sense goodwill in the way Senator Obama looked at me.
For a politician, there's no better supporter than one who doesn't demand favors. That made it easier for me to continue in a more comfortable tone.
"I've been working hard for the joint growth of both the U.S. and Korea. But in both countries, too many projects stall because of regulation."
"Are you asking me to push for deregulation?"
"Not exactly a request—just consider it a complaint. Take smartphones, for example. Regulations made their release incredibly difficult. The iPhone itself rarely saw the light of day because of it."
I used the iPhone as a shield to frame my point. Apple was one of America's most beloved brands, and Obama was clearly inclined to agree.
"Yes, it's true. New businesses often suffer under outdated regulations."
"All I ask is that such things don't happen again. I won't apply pressure or make formal requests. I just hope that when the White House officials and lawmakers review these matters, they pause to think a little more carefully."
"That much, at least, you can call a request. If I do make it to the White House, I'll consider easing restrictions on new industries. Though of course, the immediate priority will be finding a way out of this economic crisis."
Was he unlucky, or fortunate?
The crisis had broken out under the previous administration, leaving Obama's to handle the aftermath. That was misfortune in one sense, but the same crisis had paved his way to power—so perhaps luck and misfortune came hand in hand.
"If there's any way I can help, please don't hesitate to reach out."
"I suspect I'll be in touch often. Well then, shall we wrap up here? I'd love to talk longer, but during a campaign, every minute counts."
"Just being granted this time is an honor. Next time, I look forward to meeting not a senator, but the President of the United States."
Obama smiled warmly and extended his hand.
After a brief handshake, he left the restaurant. I followed soon after, no less pressed for time myself.
***
Two days later.
It was the day I had to return to Korea, so I headed for the airport.
When I arrived, David was already waiting, looking like he'd lost half his weight in just a few days.
"I feel like I see you more often at the airport than in the office, Boss."
"We're both busy, that can't be helped."
"I've cleared the task you gave me. I secured agreements from twelve financial institutions to move their Asian headquarters to Korea."
"Twelve contracts in just two days? You must have been running yourself ragged."
Honestly, I hadn't expected more than ten. Even five would've been enough material to hand over to the Blue House, so I hadn't set my hopes high.
"I had help from the Quantum Fund. Their representative, George, not only agreed to relocate his firm's Asian base, but he also went around with me strong-arming other investment companies into signing as well."
"Strong-arming? He didn't need to go that far… what an eccentric man."
"I told him it wasn't necessary, but he's still out there pressuring firms. At this rate, I expect we'll have contracts from at least twenty institutions by next month."
Well, the Quantum Fund had made a killing thanks to me.
I hadn't directly helped them, but they'd been closely watching my every move and following suit.
"Tell George I'd like to meet him in person later."
"Oh, and there's one company still undecided. They don't currently have an Asian headquarters, but they're considering opening a branch in Korea."
"If they don't have an Asian base, I assume they're not very big. Why mention them specifically?"
"The company's name is Berkshire Hathaway."
"You can't mean Warren Buffett's Berkshire?"
"That's right. The company of Warren Buffett, the so-called Sage of Omaha."
I was at a loss for words.
David had brought me a giant I never expected.
"Push back my flight. I'll need to meet him myself."
"I'll arrange a meeting as quickly as possible."
This was an opportunity I couldn't let slip.
Even if it meant rearranging all my other plans, meeting him was worth it.