The President is Missing

“As I’ve said many times before, and as you should already know, not everything we do to keep our country safe can be disclosed publicly.”

President Duncan makes this statement after being questioned about why he called Suliman Cindoruk, establishing the theme of Leadership Requiring Controversial Decisions. The statement represents a challenge that Duncan faces throughout the novel: The complex web of lies and betrayal around him means that he often cannot be transparent about his actions and motivations. Duncan must rely on his inner judgment and also tolerate being misunderstood, and his comment “As I’ve said many times before” highlights that this is the ongoing reality, not a new situation.

“Which means President Jonathan Lincoln Duncan will be remembered in history for one thing and one thing only. You’ll be the first president forcibly removed from office.”

One of Duncan’s advisors urges him to take the possibility of being impeached more seriously, using his full name to impress upon him the seriousness of the situation. She references the risk of him being impeached and removed from office because she misunderstands and thinks that Duncan is underestimating how fragile his position is. However, Duncan has to tolerate the risk of impeachment because he is navigating a situation that is more complex and volatile than anyone realizes.

“Surely you are smart enough to realize that if I’m going to violate every political instinct I possess and remain mute, there must be a pretty damn important reason why I’m doing that. There must be something vitally important at stake.”

Duncan makes this statement to Speaker Rhodes as he tries to persuade Rhodes not to pursue impeachment proceedings, developing the theme of Misunderstandings and False Accusations Due to Limited Information.