SOLVED. Sci-fi short story, entire U.S. bureaucracy wiped out in nuclear attack, chief of Forestry Service is next in succession and becomes president. [s]

[Erin]

Asking this on behalf of my dad. He's 71, born in 1949, and the subject of our search is likely a sci-fi story. From his youth onward he's read sci-fi anthology magazines, book anthologies, but many other genres as well. He does not at all remember how long ago he might have read this, but the story involves the entire U.S. bureaucracy falling victim to a nuclear attack (?)

The chief of the Forestry Service is somewhere out in the western wilderness at the time, and since he is the first survivor in the entire chain of command, he is made president. Not sure if this is played for comedic effect but it isn't Headlong or the movie King Ralph.

Thanks in advance for any help. I've tried to find this to no avail! And yes, the search for this story was sparked by recent news headlines.

[Andy]

Probably not what you're looking for, but somewhat similar

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity...

[Erin]

Oh, wow, thank you! My dad thinks this is it, and how many stories could involve a nuclear attack with the Secretary of the Interior becoming president? So we had some details wrong, and it sounds like it's a more serious work.

Solved! Thank you again. I was eager to read the story myself, only to find it's a novel and a movie. Curious, had you heard of it before or was your Google-fu better than mine? I'm always looking to improve my searching ability.

[Kris]

Glad you found your book, Erin. Link for Andy's find - Trinity's Child by William Prochnau

Here's a detailed plot summary - with Spoilers - on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity...