The President Vanishes

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The President Vanishes is a novel by Rex Stout that was first published in 1934. As such it predates Fer-de-Lance, the first Nero Wolfe novel.

The book concerns the mysterious disappearance of the President of the United States, who was facing a serious political crisis, perhaps even impeachment, over his handling of a foreign situation, namely the impending war (what we would now call World War II). The disappearance of the president seems like a kidnapping, but no ransom is demanded.

[edit] Plot summary

Although not revealed in detail until near the end, it is fairly apparent from an early stage that the president has staged his own disappearance to counter an impending military coup staged by an upstart army of fascist "grey shirts" allied with a small coterie of industrialists. The aim of all this is to involve the US in a European war when none of the combatants has attacked American territory. The President wants to preserve his sole right, under the US Constitution, to declare war, and denies he is a pacifist.

[edit] Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

The book was adapted into a movie by screenwriter Ben Hecht.