[TTBRAHWTMG]

Pyan’s right here, and I used the phrase incorrectly, although there is some of this as well throughout the book. I meant it more as the second point, the “There can only be one leader”, although I don’t think Heinlein thought this was necessary outside times of dire emergency.

Heinlein seems to believe, or repeatedly assert, that in high stress, dynamic, and dangerous situations (which I was probably incorrectly referring to as Life Boat situations) there needs to be a single and clear voice of authority, and that there are certain characteristics that this voice requires. Democracy may work, or be a logical choice for organization of the whole on a regular basis, but it can’t work in times of dire emergency. Military organization, for example, can’t be based on democratic principles. The same applies for humanity when under siege by the Titans.

The entire book seems to be illustrating this in the ineffective response of congress and the political machinery versus the clear and direct steps being taken by “The Section” which is under the utter control of The Old Man. “The Section” must impose their will, or bang bureaucratic heads to get them to react in an efficient manner, in fact to get them to react at all. At almost every turn, bureaucracy is proved to be inefficient or incorrect, and “The Section” needs to come in, figure it out, and guide them to the correct next action.

And even internally, within The Section, once The Old Man’s authority is successfully challenged, the successful challenger necessarily assumes command of the organization. Once Sam challenges the Old Man regarding Mary’s treatment while trying to get at her retained memory, it seems the Old Man internally resigns. When he pulls Colonel Gibsy out in the hall, I imagine that he informs Gibsy of a formal change in authority, a transfer to Sam. After they are through the immediacy of the situation, Sam and the Old Man discuss it further…

“No, Sam, you’ll have to devise a better plan than that.” “I’ll have to? I just work here.” “You did once – but now you’ve taken charge. I don’t mind; I was ready to retire anyhow.” “Huh? What the devil are you talking about? I’m not in charge of anything – and don’t want to be. You are the head of the Section.” He shook his head. “A boss is the man who does the bossing. Titles and insignia usually come after the fact, not before. Tell me – do you think Oldfield could take over my job? I considered it and shook my head; Dad’s chief deputy was the executive officer type, a “carry-outer”, not a “think-upper”. “I’ve known that you would take over, some day,” he went on. “Now you’ve done it – by bucking my judgment on an important matter, forcing your own on me, and by being justified in the outcome.”…..He smiled gently as though he could see farther into the future than I could. I went on, “I don’t want your job – understand me?” “That is what the Devil said to the Deity after he displace him – but he found he could not help himself. Don’t take it so hard, Sam. I’ll keep the title for the present and give you all the help I can. In the meantime, what are your orders, sir?”