It Can't Happen Here

The title of the novel, which is also a repeated quote therein, allows Lewis to directly address the argument that a regime like Windrip’s could never happen in the United States. Through the first section of the book, in particular, characters frequently repeat this quote to Jessup as he (correctly) raises the possibility that Windrip will create a totalitarian government if elected.

The way characters respond to Jessup’s/Lewis’s argument that totalitarianism can happen in the US is also telling. A number of characters deny it outright, saying that totalitarianism is fundamentally incompatible with the American political system and with American culture, which Lewis attempts to prove wrong in his book. Other characters, particularly those in important economic and political positions, instead argue that even if Windrip does rule as an authoritarian, it won’t be as bad as in his speeches, as he will listen to “reasonable” men like themselves. However, while some of them are able to maintain their positions of power, others fall foul of the regime and are killed or incarcerated. This quote is used even after Windrip takes power and begins implementing his totalitarian regime, as people cling to their belief that it can’t happen here and deny the reality of what is happening, leading to an inadequate response to the early days of Windrip’s regime.