Chapter 3: Percy Hemingway

Percy, born in 1913, was the sole child of Martha Hemingway, who was 80 at the time. He never knew her, as she died giving birth to him, but he did feel close through his godfather, Ronald Bader and his aunt. Ronald practically raised him, even though he lived with Aunt Kay, who had shared the house with Percy and his mother.

Aunt Kay was a gentle woman with a tiny voice; it was difficult to hear her unless you were standing less than three feet away. Percy wasn't sure whether it was because they had difficulty conversing in general, or that his memories of her always went to resting his head on her left arm when they were in bed while she read his mother's journals to him, or that these were the moments when he felt most loved. He would often drift off to sleep to the scent of her lavender perfume and her tiny voice. He never thought of her as old, but he knew he always felt he needed to be around in case she started stumbling.

Through Martha's journals and random comments from Ronald, Percy learnt it was unusual for someone to be pregnant at 80. It was only possible for Martha because she developed conception and anti-aging formulas and made herself the test subject. To a degree, it worked; she managed the pregnancy but did not survive the birth. Thus, it became Percy's lifelong goal to perfect her formulas. Little did he know where the path of this pursuit would take him.

Ronald, an attorney and advocate for education, wasn't entirely comfortable with why Percy wanted to be a Chemist, but he did everything he could to support his educational ambitions.

Percy began his studies at Whittier College in 1930, where he met his lifelong friend Richard Nixon. Both hailed from working-class backgrounds and shared interests in football and politics; however, they couldn't have looked more different. Richard's angular features and slicked-back dark hair complemented his serious demeanour, while his neat, dark clothing and tie added to his formal appearance. He had a prominent nose and deep-set eyes and was always very neatly dressed, often in dark colours and wearing his only tie. His overall look was serious and intense, reflecting his often combative political style.

In contrast, Percy was known for his striking good looks, charismatic presence and impressive academic achievements at a young age; he was just 17 when he began college. His captivating bright blue eyes, strong jawline, high cheekbones and sandy blond hair, which often appeared tousled, gave him a relaxed yet handsome look. Percy had a fit physique, reflecting his athletic background, and he often exuded a sense of confidence and charm. His style ranged from casual to classic denim and simple shirts. Overall, he embodied a blend of rugged masculinity and refined elegance.

Herbert Hoover was the U.S. President at the time and strongly appreciated science and technology, particularly chemistry. He believed that they could improve living standards and address social issues. He viewed chemistry as a crucial tool for progress and problem-solving in society. This environment supported science subjects as a major part of the college curriculum, allowing Percy to access some of the greatest scientific minds through the competitions he won during his studies.

While Richard admired Hoover's past accomplishments, he viewed his presidency as a "wait-and-see" situation.

Although Percy kept his mother's journals close, not disclosing them to anyone but Richard, he could test her theories and build on them in the various labs he had access to. Changes in government policy often offered avenues for financial grants. From 1913 to the 1940s, although anti-aging was not in the government's vocabulary, public health measures aimed at improving life expectancy were gaining traction. Using those concerns, Percy was able to experiment under the guise of public health initiatives.

As Percy delved deeper into anti-aging research, Richard's political career soared. In 1969, he was elected president of the United States. Although Percy congratulated him, he didn't hear from him again until 1972, when Richard reached out informally to involve Percy in the evacuation of the Vietnam Veterans.

While Percy's work was seen as too essential to draft him into the military, he opposed the war and participated in peace marches. Both men had friends affected by the draft, and their correspondence revealed the Vietnam War's devasting impact.

Uncertain how he could help but eager to support his friend, Percy was flown to a remote military base in the desert. The heat and sand hit him upon disembarking.

Having navigated many unusual situations in recent years and trusting Richard, Percy felt no concern. In the mid-20th century, he had made significant advancements in medicine, sparking a growing interest in ageing, though he remained uncertain how this would relate to the veterans.

Left in a small concrete room with only a jug of water and doughnuts on a corner table, Percy waited for about an hour until Richard arrived. Richard looked tired and much older than when Percy had last seen him, but his warm hug eased the momentary distance. Speaking quickly, Richard expressed urgency. Fortunately, they had developed a shorthand language over the years, which allowed Percy to catch on quickly.

Richard explained his worries about returning soldiers who had been exposed to experimental chemical weapons during their time in Vietnam. He wanted Percy to leverage his anti-aging expertise to counteract the effects these substances had on the veterans. Richard knew this would take time, so he sought to establish a credible organisation under which Percy could work.

Eager to seize the opportunity, Percy agreed to operate from his own lab, with increased security, until the new entity was established. It was crucial to keep this work discreet, as discussing the experimental chemical weapons publicly would likely lead to backlash. Revealing that his anti-aging medications were intended to nullify the chemical weapons' effects and prolong life could provoke public outrage.

True to his word, Richard established the National Institute of Ageing on 1 July 1974. This institute publicly focused on age-related disease research, and Percy was appointed as the head. The timing was critical, as Richard was forced to resign in August 1974.

Despite Richard's departure from office, Percy, through his networks, ensured bipartisan support for the Institute. As he witnessed progress with the veterans, Percy's confidence in expanding his mission grew. However, the secrecy surrounding his experiments remained imperative, leading him to implement various security protocols and three separate labs: Martha's lab required the highest security, Nixon's lab was medium security, and Bader's lab was low security.

Percy continued to navigate the political landscape adeptly, and with rising interest in gerontology and age-related health issues in the 1980s and 1990s, his budget flourished. The government continued funding studies and promoted policies to improve the quality of life for older adults. With Percy at the forefront of the Institute, the concept of "successful aging" took hold, emphasising longevity, health, and well-being in later years. It became commonplace to discuss the necessity for policies supporting aging, including healthcare, social services, and research initiatives to enhance the aging process.

In 2003, Percy first crossed paths with Trump Senior. Obsessed with youth and beauty, Trump initially showed little interest in Percy's work until he asked how old he was. Looking decades younger than his actual age, Percy replied, "Ninety." This revelation caught Trump off guard, prompting him to exclaim, "Wow, you must have good genes. Let's catch up sometime, and you can tell me how you do it."

However, it was becoming a challenging period for Percy. While discussions of ageing increasingly included health and longevity, the ethical implications surrounding anti-ageing interventions began to emerge.