First African American female vice-president of the United States becomes president for six weeks after the sitting president dies.
A month after an election that will turn the country over to a new president, Carla Hamilton, fashion model turn politician--and the first African American woman to serve as vice president of the United States--receives startling news: The sitting president has died so she will occupy the Oval Office for only six weeks. She soon discovers in Washington, D.C. a great deal can happen in six weeks.
Excerpt
Just before five-thirty, Carla entered the windowless Roosevelt Room in the West Wing of the White House, primarily used for small conferences and meetings. Light from the vast, false skylight and thirty recessed overhead fixtures flooded the room. She was surprised to see Isaac sitting near the door at the end of a large conference table, alone. She had expected to see a dozen or so presidential advisors awaiting the entrance of the commander-in-chief.
Isaac stood, straightened his tie and tucked it inside the jacket of his rumpled, gray pinstriped suit. His appearance clashed noticeably with the room’s colorful Chippendale and Queen Ann Style furniture. His usually baggy eyes were even more so, and red. He greeted Carla as she neared the table. “Good morning, Madame Vice President,” he opened. “How was your trip?”
Carla approached the obviously tired man. Both stood five feet, ten inches tall but Carla’s heels gave her the advantage. She found his formality puzzling but returned his greeting and opened her hands. “Where is everybody? Where’s the president?”
“Well, Madame Vice President,” Isaac mumbled. “He—they’re waiting in my office, but the president…” His voice trailed off. “Can I have someone bring you something? A bite to eat, some tea or something?”
“No, thank you. I’m fine,” Carla answered. “You were telling me about the president?”
“He’s not here.”
“I can see that,” Carla snapped, beginning to lose patience. “I don’t understand what’s going on, but somebody better tell me,” she ordered. “And I mean right now.”
“I apologize,” Isaac muttered. “This isn’t easy.” He removed his glasses.
"Well, y-you see—”
Just then Carla heard a knock on the door and another man about Isaac’s age entered the room. He held a large, black book in his right hand. Carla felt pleased and relieved to see her mentor and predecessor; the man who had until a year ago been vice president. He and Carla shook hands.
“Christian,” Carla said. “What are you doing here?”
Christian Witherspoon frowned and turned to Isaac. “Jesus, Isaac, you mean you haven’t told her yet?”
Carla rolled her eyes at the resumption of the personal rivalry in which the two men had been engaged for years. Isaac had been opposed to Christian as the president’s vice presidential running mate. Christian’s lifetime appointment to chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, which had also been opposed by Isaac, allowed him to speak however he wished to whomever he wished. Carla glanced at Isaac, then Christian. “He hasn’t told me what?”
Isaac ran his hands through his thinning, graying hair. “I was just telling her, Christian, before we were interrupted,” he explained, clearly annoyed. He turned back to Carla. “What I’ve been trying to say and obviously not very well is…” He sighed and took a deep breath. “The chief justice is here to administer the presidential oath of office.” He paused and pointed. “To you.”
Carla’s heart beat so fast and hard she feared the two men would notice her torso shaking. “To me? W-what do you mean?”
Isaac lowered his head. “The president died earlier this morning in his sleep. For the next six weeks you’ll be president of the United States.”
Professional Reviews
A fun read and solidly recommended
Six months as leader of the free world is more stressful than one world thing. "President Pro Tem" tell s the story of Carla Hamilton, an African American serving as Vice President during the lame duck period between an Election and Inauguration of a new president. When the serving president passes, on, Carla is charged with the presidency and the world begins to fall apart. "President Pro Tem" is a fun read and solidly recommended.
Midwest Book Review
November 10, 2010
Kelvin L. Reed's PRESIDENT PRO TEM Is Top Rate
Author Kelvin L. Reed's PRESIDENT PRO TEM is a thought-provoking political thriller with something for everyone. You have Carla Hamilton---what some would consider an unlikely politician---thrust into a world as rewarding and treacherous as anything she has ever known. But she realizes along the way that with hard work, dedication and the values that have been instilled in her, she is able to overcome obstacles and excel.
As the drama of the book unfolds, however, we learn more about not only Carla's rise but her upbringing which brings into focus social issues that alot of readers can appreciate.
I found myself not only relating to the fact that all of our lives could change for the better or the worse in a twinkling of an eye, but also the fact that alot of the end result is the way we deal with those changes.
PRSIDENT PRO TEM shows that all is really temporary in the large scale of things. Nothing really lasts forever, so it is up to us how we use the time we have no matter what we are doing in life.
Truly an excellent read.
C. A. Webb "Conversations Book Club"
September 9, 2010
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