Roosevelt looked around. Agony was etched on his face as he finally absorbed what he’d been told. “They’ve played me for a fool, haven’t they?”
Donovan tried to soothe him. “Sir, they’ve lied to everyone. At least now we know what they are capable of and can react to it.”
Roosevelt’s voice was barely a whisper, “Too late.” His eyes rolled back in his head. He fell forward and hit his forehead on the desk with a terrible thud.
Vice President-Elect Harry Truman walked into the Executive Office building located across the street from the West Wing of the White House. He was puzzled by the nighttime summons. He only knew that Jim Byrnes, FDR’s trusted advisor, had requested his presence to discuss some matters related to the transition between him and outgoing Vice President Henry Wallace. Truman had almost laughed at the caller. There was nothing Wallace did to justify a transition, and Truman had the terrible feeling that the vice-presidency would be the same for him. Wallace’s predecessor, John Nance Garner, had accurately described the vice presidency as being as exciting as a bucket of warm piss. Truman could see no reason for any such transition meeting to take place at night.
He was met by a uniformed guard and taken to a meeting room. Henry Wallace had arrived and was sipping a cup of coffee. The two men asked each other about the summons and both pleaded ignorance. Truman asked for and got some coffee. He would have preferred some bourbon, but he sensed that this was neither the time nor the place.
Jim Brynes entered and took a seat. He looked like he hadn’t slept in a while.
Truman caught on immediately. “My God, does this have anything to do with Roosevelt’s flu?”
The press had been informed that FDR was suffering from a mild form of influenza and had been ordered to rest for a couple of days. That had been two days ago.
Byrnes mouth quivered. “There was no flu. The President has suffered a stroke.”
“How bad?” asked a shocked Wallace.
Byrnes swallowed. It was difficult for him to speak. “At the moment he is in a coma. He does not communicate and does not respond. Doctors are not hopeful of a full recovery and some feel he will never come out of the coma.”
“Then who is running the country?” asked Truman. He had a sinking feeling he knew what the answer was going to be in a short while.
“Right now, it’s a committee made up of Secretary of State Stettinius, General Marshall, Secretary of War Stimson, Secretary of the Navy Forrestal, Admiral King, Treasury Secretary Morgenthau, and, myself. It is obviously a war cabinet and an expedient.”
“And why wasn’t I on it?” Wallace said angrily, his face turning red. “Or had you all forgotten that the office of vice president exists?”
Byrnes flushed. “Let me be blunt. FDR never included you in anything substantive for reasons best known to him. We thought-prayed?-that this crisis would pass quickly, but it appears that it isn’t going to happen. Therefore it is indeed time to begin including both of you for reasons both constitutional and honorable.”
“Good,” said Truman. He’d harbored the fear that he too would disappear like FDR’s previous vice presidents.
Byrnes continued. He seemed relieved that the two men would now be informed. “I have discussed the matter with Chief Justice Stone and he confirms that, while the President yet lives, neither of you has any authority whatsoever. The President can die, or he can resign, but you cannot become President or assume the duties of President until one or the occurs. The Constitution makes no provision for an acting President, not even in the event the President is merely ill or, in this case, has suffered a stroke. Congress might be able to pass legislation to enact a succession, but that would take time we don’t have.”
“That should be changed,” muttered Truman. “There’s a god damn war on. At least Woodrow Wilson’s stroke and incapacity occurred during a period of relative peace. What the devil do we do if something requires the President to act?”
Byrnes shrugged. “At best, the law is murky, and you’re right Mr. Truman, the law should be changed and doubtless will be. However, for the moment we are stuck with what we have.”
“What about Tom Dewey?” Truman inquired. The New York governor had been the Republican candidate defeated by Roosevelt in November by a more than four to one margin in the Electoral College. “And what about the Democratic Party? Can there be changes in the candidates at this time?”
“I need a good night’s sleep,” Byrnes said as he rubbed his eyes. “First, Justice Stone says that the Democratic Party could have changed the names on the ballot before the election, but not after. Therefore, FDR has been elected and you, Mr. Truman will be at least the Vice President. If FDR is unable to take the oath on January 20th, you will become President.”
“Dear God,” Truman said with deep emotion. That date was just a little more than a month away. “I feel like the roof is falling in on me.”
“Much like we all do,” Byrnes said. “And to answer your question about Dewey, Justice Stone said there can be no do-over election. What is done is done. General Marshall took an air force plane to Albany this morning to inform Governor Dewey about FDR’s health. Governor Dewey is an honorable man and I doubt that he will do anything contrary to the best interests of the country.”
“Other than those mentioned, who else knows about this, ah, dilemma?” Wallace asked.
“Eleanor, of course,” said Byrnes, “and she is with the President in the White House. Also, a woman named Lucy Mercer who is not in the White House.”
Truman suppressed a smile. So the rumors were correct. FDR had a mistress. “Will we be a part of this war committee?”
“Effective immediately, yes.” He handed each man a binder. “This is a summary of our position vis a vis the war in Europe. The war against Japan is proceeding just as the newspapers are saying so there’s little new in the binder about it; however, it is the situation in Germany and Russia that is most disturbing. With your permission, we will adjourn. You will doubtless have many questions to ask after you’ve read the reports. Tomorrow morning, I’ll have cars pick you up and return you here where the committee will meet. It was considered unseemly to continue to meet in the White House.”
“How long can we keep up this charade?” asked Wallace.
“God only knows,” Byrnes answered.
They left and an exhausted Byrnes stared at the table. One or both of them would likely become President of the United States. If the worst happened, the U.S. could have three presidents in six weeks. Even if FDR was to die today, Wallace’s term in office would be mercifully short. An inauguration would take place on January 20, 1945, come hell or high water, and if Roosevelt was unable to take the oath, it would be given to Truman. Which man was most qualified to be President, Byrnes wondered, and then realized it didn’t matter. Justice Stone had confirmed it-if Roosevelt didn’t recover, Harry Truman, the virtually unknown senator from Missouri, would be President.
Byrnes took a deep breath. As of now, neither Wallace nor Truman knew anything about the Manhattan Project and the plans for an atomic bomb. He would continue to keep it from them. Wallace would fade into well- deserved obscurity in a couple of weeks, while Truman might or might not become President. Roosevelt had intentionally not included him in the secret, so Byrnes would not add him, at least not yet. He made a mental note to tell those on the committee who knew about it to keep quiet in Truman’s presence. Some day Truman might be pissed, but so be it.
CHAPTER 18
A day in the sky was a welcome elixir for Morgan. on the ground, the world was snow-covered and cold, brilliant white except where it was bloodied and black-scarred from the intermittent fighting. Near blizzard conditions had prevailed in much of the area, blanketing the world in snow depths that made walking difficult and
