The Nine Billion Names of God

Senator Steelman looks out at the beautiful spring weather in Washington, DC. He is depressed about his heart condition, which will lead to an early death. He wonders if there is anyone who will mourn his death; he spent most of his life in pursuit of power and has neglected his personal relationships. He calls his daughter, Irene, and asks to see his grandchildren so he can spend the afternoon taking them to the Smithsonian Museum. Once there, the lively children keep the Senator very busy, running from one animal exhibit to the next. Being in the museum calms him and helps put his problems in perspective. He thinks about his ambition to become President and lets it go, knowing it won’t be possible now. He thinks to himself, “Each day, each hour could be a universe of experience, if one used it properly. In the last weeks of his life, he would begin to live” (138).

The Senator keeps his illness a secret for many weeks because he doesn’t want any false sympathy from his political enemies. When the secret is finally out, the Senator is surprised by how well people treat him: “For overnight, indeed, he had no enemies […] ancient quarrels evaporated, or turned out to be founded on misunderstandings” (139).