68 pages • 2 hours read
Sinclair LewisIt Can't Happen Here
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1935A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 4-7Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 4 Summary
This chapter takes place in June 1936, six weeks before the national conventions. Jessup anxiously awaits Bishop Prang’s radio broadcast on Saturday, where he is expected to endorse Windrip, which would give Windrip a clear path to becoming the Democratic nominee, with Windrip’s “satanic secretary” (27), Lee Sarason, as the brains behind him.
As he sits in his office, Jessup reflects on Windrip’s rise to power. After graduating from a minor law school, Buzz settles down to practice in his home state. Windrip is described as charismatic and good at winning over politically-powerful groups. Though he never becomes governor himself, he rules through a puppet and “he was an absolute ruler of his state as ever a sultan was of Turkey” (28). Windrip’s most effective political move is quadrupling the size of the state militia, whom he then rewards handsomely. When Windrip is later indicted on graft charges, the militia occupies the legislative chambers and runs his enemies out of town.
Windrip becomes a senator, and then a presidential candidate, where his most popular campaign promise is that everyone in the country would receive an income of several thousand dollars per year. (The exact amount occasionally changes throughout the novel). Despite Windrip’s charisma, it is known by journalists that Sarason is the real intellectual force behind the campaign and author of Windrip’s campaign manifesto, Zero Hour–Over the Top.
The only rival to Windrip in terms of public reverence is Bishop Paul Peter Prang, who hosts a massively-popular radio sermon every week. Prang leads an organization called The League of Forgotten Men and is described by Jessup as a Priest-King and a “true fanatic.” In contrast, Jessup describes the probable Republic nominee, Walt Trowbridge, as “suffering from the deficiency of being honest and disinclined to promise that he could work miracles” (34).
Chapter 5 Summary
It’s now Saturday, the day of Prang’s broadcast, which will likely include his endorsement of Windrip. Jessup wants to stay and listen to Prang’s sermon but is dragged by his family to a picnic, though he brings a portable radio. Accompanying the family is Jessup’s best friend, Buck Titus, his lover, Lorinda Pike, and one of Sissy’s suitors, Julian Falck. As they prepare to leave, Jessup’s son, Philip, expresses his support for Windrip, saying that he is the only candidate that can protect the country from the Bolsheviks and the Jews. Jessup is dejected at his son’s anti-Semitism and tries not to dwell on it.
At the picnic, Jessup appreciates the chance to get away from politics, describing the day as pastoral and having the easy domesticity of the Victorian era. Jessup attempts to maintain the pastoral spell of the day by tuning his radio to a channel playing old songs. However, he becomes irritated upon hearing advertising and considers that perhaps the country does need a Buzz Windrip to put it back on track.
Jessup then puts on Prang’s sermon, where Prang lays out the demands of The League of Forgotten Men. He demands that the power to issue money and credit be taken from the banks, for unions to be taken over by the government, and for Jews, communists, anarchists, and atheists to be barred from public activity. Prang says that existing politicians and representatives of big business have ignored their demands, and that the league will now support Windrip for president.
Once again Jessup predicts that, on the grounds of public protection, Windrip will appoint himself dictator and take over the formerly independent institutions. Julian agrees with Jessup and admits he’s been tempted by communism; Buck argues that the dictatorship of Stalin wouldn’t be any better than the dictatorship of Windrip. Jessup’s son-in-law, Dr. Greenhill, calls the three paranoid and monomaniacal, saying that “America's the only free nation on earth. Besides! Country's too big for a revolution. No, no! Couldn't happen here!” (45).
Chapter 6 Summary
The week after Prang’s endorsement, Jessup becomes silent and begins to intensely worry, which upsets Emma, as it changes their normal routine. Jessup then spends the chapter reminiscing about his political history.
In his twenties, Jessup was accused of being a communist for advocating for the international recognition of Bolshevik Russia. Later in his life, he had written editorials suggesting that in the future, the USSR might be the best place in the world for the average working man. However, Jessup describes himself as “far from being a left-wing radical, he was at most a mild, rather indolent and somewhat sentimental liberal” (48).
Aside from writing his editorials, Jessup’s only political activity occurred when he supported a failed strike for union recognition at Tasbrough’s quarry eight years before the beginning of the novel. This activity lost him many friends among the elite of Fort Beulah but led him to befriend Karl Pascal, the leader of the union sent to jail for inciting violence. After being released from jail, Pascal (a devoted communist) goes to work in the garage of John Pollikop (a socialist) and the two spend their days arguing about politics. Jessup sometimes joins in.
Chapter 7 Summary
It is now late July, the time of the national conventions that will select the candidates for president. Unsurprisingly, the Republicans have selected Walt Trowbridge. The Democratic National Convention is in Cleveland. Though there are a large number of nominees, the two clear favorites are Windrip and FDR.
Windrip organizes a grand procession through the convention center. First is a group of both confederate and union soldiers along with soldiers injured in World War One. Following them are men, women, and children wearing ragged clothes. Bringing up the rear is Bishop Prang. Upon seeing Prang, the entire convention gives a standing ovation that lasts for four hours. Finally, Adelaide Gimmitch sings a comic song about Windrip removing corruption from Washington, as well as an inspirational hymn (both songs are written by Sarason) called “Bring Out the Old-Time Musket,” about how Windrip will lead America out of sloth and conquer the corrupted world.
As the convention settles into an all-night struggle between Windrip and FDR, Jessup leaves his house to listen at the rectory of his friend, Father Perefixe, where they are joined by several other men. As Windrip retires to his hotel, he leaves a letter to be read by one of his close advisors, Colonel Dewey Haik, which sums up Windrip’s contradictory and demagogic politics:
Summarized, the letter explained that he was all against the banks but all for the bankers—except the Jewish bankers, who were to be driven out of finance entirely; that he had thoroughly tested (but unspecified) plans to make all wages very high and the prices of everything produced by these same highly paid workers very low; that he was 100 per cent for Labor, but 100 per cent against all strikes (59).
The next morning at dawn, Windrip wins the nomination. Crowley, the only Windrip supporter in the room, announces that for the first time in his life he’ll vote Democrat. The rest of the men are gloomy, and decide to support Trowbridge out of necessity, though Jessup plans instead to support the nominee of one of the independent parties.
Chapters 4-7 Analysis
These chapters, taking place in June and July 1936, cover the background to Windrip’s campaign for president as well as show how people–both supporters and opponents–react to Windrip. They also continue to introduce characters in Jessup’s orbit, such as Buck Titus, Karl Pascal, and John Pollikop. Important to note in these chapters is that both Windrip and Prang are exaggerated versions of contemporary figures, both of whom are mentioned by name. Windrip is based on Huey Long, a far-right Republican Congressman from Louisiana who considered running for president in 1936 but was assassinated. Similarly, Bishop Prang is based on (and compared in the text to) Bishop Coughlin, another popular radio preacher. Windrip and Prang represent fears Lewis had of Long and Coughlin succeeding in their ascent to power.
These chapters also introduce the theme of technology, which becomes an important aspect of Windrip’s campaign and subsequent rule. Bishop Prang’s radio show allows him to reach millions across the country, instead of just those in his church. The organization Prang builds with the help of this new communications technology, The League of Forgotten Men, becomes a crucial early supporter for Windrip.
The recurring motif of songs and music that are used to build support for Windrip’s regime is introduced here, with the songs written by Gimmitch and Sarason. Music and song have long been used to whip supporters into a patriotic fervor, with emotion effectively overriding reason. Gimmitch and Sarason are well aware of this.
Chapter 5 introduces an epistolary literary device as chapters now begin with sections from Windrip’s book (which was actually written by Sarason), Zero Hour–Over the Top. The passages from the book are often used to contrast or emphasize elements from their respective chapters. In addition, the progression of the passages mirrors the development of Windrip’s regime: they begin folksy and humorous, but then become more sinister before stopping entirely after Chapter 20, when Windrip’s regime is at the height of its power. Together, these elements are used to demonstrate the powerful propaganda apparatus that Sarason installs around Windrip. By combining these various forms of technology and communication with Windrip’s charisma, the campaign is able to build a broad base of support.
These chapters also deepen the theme of American totalitarianism by showing the demands presented by Prang as well as Windrip’s behavior at the Democratic National Convention. It becomes clear that Windrip’s platform is full of contradictory demands that are politically and economically unrealistic. However, Windrip portrays himself as a champion of the common person, and his populist promises to restore the country to greatness and economic prosperity resonate with the population. In effect, Lewis portrays Windrip not as a true believer in his political project (in contrast to Prang), but rather a charismatic opportunist and con-man looking for power and personal enrichment. This is used to emphasize another theme of the novel: the necessity of a politically-educated and engaged population in order for democracy to function.
Related Titles
By Sinclair Lewis
