Philip Dru: Administrator- A Story of Tomorrow, 1920-1935

Philip Dru: Administrator is a political fantasy novel about a military overthrow of the United States government and its Constitution. Its significance rests upon the fact that the novel represents the "political and ethical faith" of the most influential presidential advisor in American History, Edward Mandell House. House was a close adviser to Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt. Wilson called House his "alter ego" and much of the economic program outlined in Dru can be found in Roosevelt's New Deal. It has been said that House "copyrighted fascism" before Mussolini took power in Italy. House was not adverse to the allegation, writing in 1935 that he had "anticipated Mussolini by several years" in the midst of an article which heeped praise upon Il Duce. Dru has had a greater impact on American government then the Communist Manifesto, Mein Kampf or any other tract of political extremism, yet by comparison, Dru is unknown. Philip Dru: Administrator belongs on the short shelf of any American interested in public affairs.