Chapter Twenty-Eight Executive Power

President Egan calls his personal secretary on the intercom. “Janet, please come into the Oval Office. We have work to do and I need you now.”

“Yes, sir,” comes the quick reply.

Janet picks up her steno pad and the president’s schedule log, walks over to the door of the and knocks. On hearing the president’s okay, the Secret Service man standing in front of the door opens it for her. Janet takes her usual seat in front of the president’s large desk.

“Before we start scheduling a meeting I’m planning, I’d like your opinion on something, Janet. Your security clearance allows me to ask you this. I’m looking for an opinion of an American citizen, not a politician.”

Janet thinks about it for a moment, then nods. “I can do that. What are you asking, sir?”

“Picture this, if you would: a foreign government attacks the United States without warning and takes out top levels of our government. Our Constitution allows for a succession process that replaces those in authority. In fact, the process for successions goes eighteen levels deep, though if anyone on that list were not native-born, he or she would not be able to take office as president. Working through it would be long, tedious and difficult, particularly in the chaos of a such a situation. My question is: would you expect the remnants of the government to follow the Constitutional guidelines to a T? Or would you – just as a citizen, remember – be willing to consider having the nation’s military commanders take charge of retaliation, to protect our country and our citizens?”

“Phew, sir,” Janet says, clearly overwhelmed. “Let me digest this a moment.” She pauses, half of her brain addressing the question, the other half wanting to cry out, What are you telling me? Are we in imminent danger of attack?