The White House Press Room in The Battle for Jesus
The White House Press Briefing Room is central to the book, The Battle for Jesus, a novel set in 2006.
Saint Matthew, the chief editor of the Washington Truth, gets Jesus a pass to attend briefings at the White House with Mary Magdalene.
Mary Magdalene is already a seasoned journalist at the Washington Truth and is known by the other journalists covering The White House.
Mary is a highly respected, supremely articulate journalist. (Having lived over two thousand years since the time of The Cross she is the most informed lady on the planet). Jesus is guided by her, but he is a quick learner and he proves his worth through his column ‘Jesus’ Say’ at the Washington Truth and garners friendship and respect within the White House press corps.
This photo gives you an overview of the press room. However, in the story there is a central aisle which journalists and aides use to get from the back of the room to the lectern.
Note: This picture of the newly renovated Press Room was taken in 2007, a year after the story which is set in 2006.
In the story the President has no idea that Mary Magdalene has lived through the ages from her time in the Holy Land and that Jesus is the real deal. He is frustrated by their persistent questioning over the invasion of Iraq and their concern about global warming.
However, to his credit the President tolerates them, but he considers them a pest and relegates them to the back of the room.
This Photo (left) shows you the size of the room. it is pretty tight for the journalists.
Notice: the centre seat, first row is empty. This is where Helen Thomas, the first female to join the press corps, usually sat. She was highly respected by the President and often referred to as the matriarch of the press corps. Helen was known for asking tough questions.
The President cuts quite a dash with a strong personality and a wry sense of humour.
In the story, he is extremely patient with both Mary Magdalene and Jesus. He respects their integrity and determination as journalists, and he expresses this in the privacy of the Oval Office, but he is also exceedingly frustrated with them. He feels that they are overly pushy, acting as if they are entitled in some way. He sees Jesus as a newcomer playing on his name sake. Indeed, a phoney, which of course he is not, but the President is not to know this.
Both Jesus and Mary relentlessly push for action on global warming. Their goal is to swing the White House Administration away from the futility of war and onto the importance of global warming/climate change.
In the story, set in 2006, tensions build and inevitably there is a clash. The President makes a flippant remark that Jesus feels he must act upon and the lamb turns into the lion. Jesus strides down the aisle of the press room and pushes the lectern aside causing it to tumble to the ground. The two men stand toe to toe.
The White House demand an apology and Saint Matthew, being the chief editor of the Washington Truth, is willing to concede but Mrs Eastman, the proprietor of the newspaper and an ardent believer in global warming, refuses. She knows that Jesus really is Jesus and she stands by him…