A novel about the first black President, THE MAN, by Irving Wallace.

[raccoon]

The book was published in 1964.

“The time is 1964. The place is the Cabinet Room of the Where House. An unexpected accident and the law of succession have just made Douglass Dilman the first black President of the United States.
This is the theme of what was surely one of the most provocative novels of the 1960s. It takes the reader into the storm center of the presidency, where Dilman, until now an almost unknown senator, must bear the weight of three burdens: his office, his race, and his private life.
From beginning to end, The Man is a novel of swift and tremendous drama, as President Dilman attempts to uphold his oath in the face of international crises, domestic dissension, violence, scandal, and ferocious hostility. Push comes to shove in a breathtaking climax, played out in the full glare of publicity, when the Senate of the United States meets… to impeach the President.”


http://www.amazon.com/Man-Irving-Wallace/dp/067103894X


I read it many years ago.

The book's probably hard to get hold of right now, but I bet anything it will be reprinted.


Edited to add last sentence.

[LeftishBrit]

1. I read that too ages ago!

It includes examples of vicious racism in politics, and a blatantly political attempt to impeach the president I was reminded of it at the time of the Clinton impeachment, and was thinking of it again now. It does have a happy and hopeful ending. I will try and find it and read it again.

[Richardo]

2. Back when impeachment was considered the absolute last-resort nuclear-option...

...instead of the political plaything the GOP has made it.

[WCGreen]

3. That was one of the first poltical books I ever read...

The book was made into a movie back in 1972...

James Earl Jones as the Man...

[RebelOne]

5. Wow! Read the book in the '60s. Didn't know there was a movie. n/t

[Sequoia]

4. The library might have it, in the basement.

[DemoTex]

6. Brings to mind "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison (1952).

Another re-read must as Obama takes office.

[MadMaddie]

7. I just checked it out from the Library

Sigh...I have two other thick books I have to read before I can get to it.

[ChicagoSuz219]

8. Bizarre... I just posted about this... n/t

[BlueIris]

9. Oooh, interesting. Thanks for the link. nt