The Man (Wallace novel)
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The Man is a 1964 novel authored by Irving Wallace that explores the potential socio-political consequences of an African American ascending to the office of President of the United States. The book's title alludes to the American slang phrase "The Man" prevalent in mid-20th century culture.
Plot summary
Set prior to the adoption of the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the story presents a constitutional dilemma: with no Vice President in place, both the President and Speaker of the House perish in an overseas incident. Consequently, Douglass Dilman, who serves as the black President Pro Tempore of the Senate and was partly elected due to his ethnicity, assumes the presidency. His administration encounters resistance from white supremacists, black activists, and survives an assassination attempt. Subsequently, Dilman is impeached based on fabricated allegations following his dismissal of the United States Secretary of State. Meanwhile, his family endures racially motivated intimidation. Although Dilman earns some approval for his leadership, he ultimately decides against pursuing another term.
Historical context
The impeachment storyline mirrors that of President Andrew Johnson, notable as the sole presidential impeachment before those involving Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. Released amid the peak of the Civil Rights Movement, and prior to landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965, the concept of a black president was widely regarded as unlikely at that time.
Commercial reception
The Man achieved considerable commercial acclaim, maintaining a presence on the New York Times best seller list for 38 weeks and reaching as high as number two. It was ranked among the top five bestselling novels in 1964.
Film adaptation
In 1972, a film version of the novel was produced as a political drama with a screenplay by Rod Serling, directed by Joseph Sargent, featuring James Earl Jones portraying President Douglass Dilman.