[3] The novel describes the rise of Berzelius "Buzz" Windrip, a demagogue who is elected President of the United States, after fomenting fear and promising drastic economic and social reforms while promoting a return to patriotism and "traditional" values.

After his election, Windrip takes complete control of the government via self-coup and imposes totalitarian rule with the help of a ruthless paramilitary force, in the manner of European fascists such as Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

Portraying himself as a champion of "the forgotten man" and "traditional" American values, Windrip defeats incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt for the Democratic nomination, and then beats his Republican opponent, Senator Walt Trowbridge, in the November election.

In time, Windrip's hold on power weakens as his promised economic prosperity fails to materialize, and increased numbers of disillusioned Americans, including Vice President Perley Beecroft, flee the country.

Haik's government tries to arouse patriotism by launching an invasion of Mexico, slandering the country in state-run newspapers and ordering a mass conscription of young American men, infuriating many who had until then been Corpo loyalists.

General Emmanuel Coon, one of Haik's senior officers, defects to the opposition with a large portion of his army, giving strength to the resistance movement.

Reviewers at the time,[4] and historians and literary critics ever since, have emphasized the resemblance to Louisiana politician Huey Long, who used strong-arm political tactics and who was building a nationwide "Share Our Wealth" organization in preparing to run for president in the 1936 election.

[5][6][7][8] The inspiration for Windrip backer Bishop Prang was renowned radio priest Charles Coughlin,[9][10] who in real life conspired with Long to oust Roosevelt in the 1936 U.S. presidential election.

Starting in 1936, the Works Progress Administration, a New Deal agency, performed the stage adaptation across the country; Lewis had the goal of hurting Long's chances in the 1936 election.

[21] Studio head Louis B. Mayer indefinitely postponed production, citing costs, to the publicly announced pleasure of the Nazi regime in Germany.

Joseph Breen, head of the Production Code Administration department under Hays, thought the script was too "anti-fascist" and "so filled with dangerous material".

The film was placed back on the production schedule for the third time with shooting starting in June and Lewis Stone playing Doremus Jessup.

[29] The 1968 television movie Shadow on the Land, which also went by the title United States: It Can't Happen Here, was produced by Screen Gems as a backdoor pilot for a series.

A 6-part radio play version based on the book titled "It Happened Here 2024" started airing on October 2, 2024 in the United States, produced by WNYC Studios, a New York City NPR affiliate.

Starring the voice talents of Tony Shalhoub, Edie Falco and John Turturro it adapts both the original book by Lewis and Richard Dresser's novel, "It Happened Here.

"[32] The story revolves around the impacts of the rise of a fascist dictator in America, who is called "The Great Leader," and how the family and country were torn asunder by white nationalist violence and extremism.

In retrospect, Franklin D. Roosevelt's internment of Japanese Americans during World War II has been used as an example of "It can happen here," despite nominally being a measure against the fascistic Empire of Japan.

[36][37] In May 1973, in the middle of the Watergate scandal, Knight Newspapers published an ad in their own and other publications, headlined "It Can't Happen Here" and emphasizing the importance of free press: "There is a struggle going on in this country.

Michael Paulson wrote in The New York Times that the Berkeley Repertory Theatre's 2016 rendition of the play aimed to provoke discussion about Trump's presidential candidacy.

"[44] Following the results of the 2016 United States presidential election, sales of It Can't Happen Here surged significantly, and it appeared on Amazon.com's list of bestselling books.