From SuspireWiki
Walter Haig is a member of the Carthian Movement and of the Venture clan. Childe of the disgraced and now dead Voltaire, he left his home and political base of Chicago for Atlanta, seeking to rebuild both his political influence and personal wealth.
Contents |
Family History
Walter Haig’s grandfather, Benedek Haig, immigrated to America at the turn of the century from Hungary. He arrived in America with only the clothes on his back and no relatives or contacts in his new home. Eventually, he made his way to Chicago, after hearing of available work in the stockyards. He found work in a meat packing plant. The conditions were horrible, but Benedek managed to surive and even earn the position of foreman in time. He also met and married a young Hungarian girl and in 1924. Six years later, the couple had their first son, Nicholas Haig. The family struggled during the Great Depression and Benedek died in 1938.
Nicholas, or Nick as he preferred to be called, dropped out of school at the age of 11 to help provide income for the family. At 16 Nick was hired to work in a steel mill on the south side, where he worked for the next 45 years. Nick married at age 20 to Sophia Bruno, a girl of mixed Italian-Polish heritage. Their first and only child was born in 1952, named Walter Haig.
Early Life and Education
While Walter never knew of the poverty his grandfather faced, both in old country and in the stockyards, or even what his father faced as a boy in the Depression, he developed a distinct class awareness. He knew he came from lower class stock, and was determined to rise above his beginnings. Politics was an early obsession for Walter. In high school he served in student government and on the debate team, all while maintaining nearly a 4.0 grade point average with honors.
Walter went to the University of Chicago on an academic scholarship for his undergraduate degree in economics. He was the first in his family to attend college, a source of great pride for both Walter and his family. There he ran for class president his sophomore year, but lost to a more charismatic opponent. That was Walter’s first lesson in the importance of style or substance in modern politics. It was also when Walter realized he had no great future in politics as a candidate. While he was well liked in small group or one on one settings, he lacked the charisma of a great campaigner. For a while he suffered from depression, but he bounced back, realizing every great politician required a great chief of staff behind the scenes.
Walter pursued a master’s degree in the same field at U of C and at that time became involved in local politics. He served as an intern in Mayor Daley’s office. Here Walter made his first real contacts and also got his first taste of how politics worked on the inside. Surprisingly the graft and casual corruption of the city didn’t shock him like he would’ve expected it to have.
A well placed bribe or favor greased the wheels and got things done. When that failed, other methods were used, and things got done. The rough and tumble world of Chicago politics was an invaluable training ground for young Walter. He showed a knack for “getting things done” and he was rewarded.
After Walter finished his master’s degree, he was accepted at Harvard for his PhD in the political science program. He graduated with a 3.5 GPA and quickly returned home.
Career in Politics
In his first campaign he served as a local organizer to a Democratic candidate for the state Senate. He was one of the top organizers and the top fund raiser for the candidate who won the seat in a close race. Haig was rewarded with spot on the state senator’s staff. The next cycle, Walter left to help with another campaign, this time for the governor’s mansion. The campaign was dirty, with Haig personally overseeing the mudslinging. The race was close, but ultimately the public hated Haig’s opponent just a little less and Walter and his candidate lost the election. Even though they lost, Walter had impressed the party higher ups with his ability to organize, fund raise, and his willingness to do anything to win. Haig personally uncovering the opponent’s previously covered up DUI charge was one of his shining moments.
Haig continued to work in state politics for the Democratic Party – serving at various times as a campaign manager, chief of staff, party official, and occasionally appointed office holder. He was known for his ability to read any sized report or official finding and absorb all the pertinent information immediately. He read six newspapers a day and had contacts within several of them. In all that time, he used scandal, bribery, back room deals, wedge issues, and every other dirty trick in the book to push forward his political agenda. Several political opponents and rivals had been ruined by Haig’s ruthless style. Haig relished in personally directing investigations into opponents and rivals backgrounds and he never failed to capitalize on their past failings. Haig gained a reputation as the mastermind of Democratic politics in Illinois, all the while, accumulating the two things he loved most for himself – power and wealth.
Despite his success in politics, Haig’s personal life was a wreck. By now he had two ex wives and three estranged children. His drinking was also on the rise, but that was a tightly held secret that he managed to control to some degree.
Haig’s last position before his Embrace was as a chief of staff to a Senator from Illinois. He was trying to build up momentum for a Presidential bid, which was meant to fail, but raise the Senator’s national recognition and influence for a more serious run in the future. The staff loathed him, but also feared him. He monitored their email and even their keystrokes. He berated them, down to the lowliest intern, for even minor shortcomings or imperfections. His narrow, focused stare could cower even the most seasoned staffer. And his habit of using his sizable frame and menacing scowl to physically intimidate others was well known. Yet, in times of great need, he could still turn on the charm and inspire them to new heights, “for the Senator.”
By now, Haig had spent almost half a lifetime has the man in the shadows. The power behind the throne as Haig preferred to think of it. He saw politicians as tools, fronts he could use to push his own agenda and secure his own power. He had become a wretched, selfish human being, but ironically he was still able to charm the dollars out of a donors checkbook and seal the deal with a friendly smile. But these were no longer genuine displays, they had become tools in the political manipulator’s toolbox.
The Embrace
Haig’s Embrace came suddenly, and without warning. A rogue Venture from the Carthian movement attacked Haig in his home and Embraced him immediately. The Venture was convinced a senior political operator like Haig would not only help the Movement control the Kine, but advance their cause among the Kindred.
The Embrace brought about unexpected changes in Haig. His portly middle aged body gained new strength and abilities. By Kindred standards he was still nothing special physically, but compared to his life as a mortal Haig had become an imposing physical presence, and he enjoyed his ability to mix things up physically when necessary.
Unlife in Chicago
After his Embrace, Walter had little choice but to resign his position, claiming health reasons. He was still able to maintain some of his contacts and allies in the city and to a lesser extent around the nation, but his influence was severely hampered without an official capacity or politician backing up his word.
Haig’s sire taught him the ways of Vigor to enhance his brawling ways. It would serve him well. Haig's sire, a Carthian elder who assumed the name Voltaire, was a radical who was unafraid to use violence to pursue his agenda. Haig served double duty as a low level enforcer and political advisor. Unfortunately, Voltaire rarely put Walter's prudent advice into effect, leaving his childe full of resentment. Voltaire and Haig also disagreed on politics. Haig's years as a backroom dealer gave him a jaded sense of democracy. He saw it as the best form of government, but also the best tool he could use to accumulate wealth and power. He held those views even more so when it came Kindred society. Haig pushed for democratic reforms in Chicago's political structure because he was well equiped to manipulate those same reforms for his own gain. Haig also differed from his sire in that he was more than willing to assist members of other covenants for the right price. Haig built a slight reputation as being a useful and reasonable political presence in the city. Because of these differences, Walter remained unreleased by his sire for four years.
Eventually, Voltaire's rogue ways caught up with him. After decades of needling and opposing the established order the Venture finally went too far one day. Voltaire killed the favored ghoul of the Invictus Reev and to make matters worse he commited the act in front of other rivals. Voltaire refused to make restitution and called for the rest of the Movement to join him in open defiance of the establishment. The Carthians wisely declined, leaving Voltaire dangerously vulnerable. Haig urged his sire to back down, but the radical elder was unwilling or unable - his actions had become increasingly eccentric at this time. Seeing Voltaire was alone and still defiant, the Prince wasted little time in calling for a blood hunt - naming the troublesome Voltaire and his 3 childer.
Haig's past favors to other covenants came through, and he was able to cut a deal to save his own unlife. In exchange for his own neck, Haig led his unwitting sire right into the hands of his enemies. Voltaire was staked and beheaded in front of Walter. The Prince lifted the blood hunt from Walter, reducing his sentence to exile. He had until the next night's sunrise to leave Chicago.
Walter spent his last night grabbing the few liquid assets his sire left behind as well as his own cash, and then leaving for good. He picked Atlanta as his new home. He knew a few good ole boys down there with deep pockets and the city was known for being relatively open to newcomers. Perhaps not tolerant, but at least not openly hostile.
Flight to Atlanta
Haig left the Chicago and spent the next day in Indianapolis in a cheap motel with the shades drawn tightly. Here he picked up his first hitchhiker, a discheveled vaggabond that he could easily use as a convinient snack. The man was half crazy and he didn't seem to mind a few blank spots in his memory. The next day was in Knoxville and he picked up 3 other beggars. Walter promised to get them to Atlanta and then help get them on their feet.
Walter found purchased a small condo in the downtown district and made sure to keep his herd of derranged bums close at hand. Now all that remains is formally present himself before the Prince of Atlanta and he can begin rebuilding his unlife.
Writings of Walter Haig
Since coming to Atlanta, Walter has put some of his efforts towards political writing and theory.
A New Experiment - Walter's proposal for internal Carthian organization.
What The Movement Offers- A simple piece of recruitment propoganda.