The Public Burning

by Robert Coover

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Summary

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The Public Burning offers a surreal retelling of the events surrounding the execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, blending historical fact with fantastical elements. The narrative is largely driven by a fictionalized Richard Nixon, alongside mythic representations of Uncle Sam and the Phantom, who symbolizes the threat of communism. This unique storytelling approach weaves in actual documents and news clippings from the era, creatively transformed into free verse and dramatic scripts.

The Opening Drama

The novel opens with a prologue that captures the tense atmosphere of the Rosenbergs' arrest, trial, and sentencing. Here, the narrative establishes its signature blend of reality and myth, juxtaposing legal proceedings with a whimsical folk song about hunting a groundhog. Though historically accurate in their conviction, the Rosenbergs in this tale face execution not behind prison walls but in the glaring lights of Times Square, transformed into a grand public spectacle.

Nixon's Narrative Begins

The main storyline kicks off on June 17, with Vice President Nixon recounting the unfolding drama of the day. In a twist of events, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas has temporarily halted the execution, prompting President Eisenhower to convene the Supreme Court to reverse the decision. As Nixon navigates these events, he encounters Uncle Sam at the Burning Tree Golf Course, recognizing that in this mythical version of politics, Uncle Sam embodies the president. Nixon harbors aspirations of becoming the vessel for this transformation, though the means remain elusive to him. This narrative of Wednesday and Thursday is interspersed with an intermezzo, featuring Eisenhower’s public utterances arranged as free verse.

Rising Tensions

Friday sees Nixon being driven into the capital, only to find the streets swarming with people, forcing him to continue on foot. Amidst the chaos, he initially fears the crowd, mistaking their fervor until it's clear they support the execution. As he reaches the White House, Eisenhower announces the Supreme Court's decision to proceed with the execution that evening. Another intermezzo follows, portraying Ethel Rosenberg’s plea for mercy and Eisenhower’s stern refusal as a gripping dramatic exchange.

Strange Encounters

Nixon’s journey continues as he catches a taxi to the Senate offices. The cab driver, a perplexing character, claims to be an old Navy comrade, yet his stories grow increasingly bizarre and unsettling, leading Nixon to escape. Nixon remains conflicted about the Rosenbergs’ case, especially doubting their guilt. Ethel Rosenberg captivates his thoughts, eerily mirroring aspects of his own life, and as he reflects on her in his office, his thoughts turn inappropriate just as Uncle Sam intervenes, instructing him to confront Ethel directly at Sing Sing Prison.

A Confounding Confrontation

In the novel's final intermezzo, speeches from the Rosenbergs and Sing Sing’s warden are theatrically presented as if in an opera. Inside Ethel's cell, Nixon offers a last-minute reprieve, proposing to save her at the expense of her husband, which she declines. The encounter takes a bizarre turn as Nixon attempts a romantic advance, leading to an awkward moment interrupted by imaginary guards, leaving him humiliated and exposed.

The Climactic Public Display

The scene shifts back to Times Square, now poised for the execution event. A prelude of entertainment, featuring Uncle Sam and comedians like Jack Benny and the Marx Brothers, adds a darkly comedic twist to the somber occasion. Nixon arrives on the scene in a state of disarray, with "I AM A SCAMP" emblazoned on his backside, courtesy of Ethel’s lipstick. Yet, he audaciously spins this embarrassment into a rallying cry for patriotism, urging the audience to "drop their pants for America." Amidst the crescendo, a blackout occurs, only to be resolved by Uncle Sam, culminating in the execution of the Rosenbergs.

The Disturbing Denouement

The epilogue delivers a stark conclusion, with Uncle Sam initiating Nixon into future leadership through a brutal ritual of symbolic dominance, asserting, "You’re my boy." Despite the excruciating experience, Nixon ultimately submits, professing his allegiance with the words, "I love you, Uncle Sam."

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