Following the outbreak of war in Europe, President Stanley of the United States takes a non-interventionalist stance in the conflict and disregards congressional pressure to do otherwise. As a result, a secret meeting of some of America's most powerful men is held to discuss the ways in which they can get America involved in the war. The meeting takes place at Washington lobbyist D. L. Voorman's house and is attended by Martin Drew, a wealthy banker; Edward Cullen, a steel magnate who sees great profits in munitions manufacturing; Roger Grant, owner of a chain of newspapers reaching over ten million readers; Mr. Corcoran, a retired judge; and Richard Norton, an oil tycoon. Before the meeting commences, Voorman's wife Sally praises the men, calling them the "eagles who will safeguard America's democracy," and Grant suggests that they adopt her pronouncement as their slogan. The men agree that the headline "saving the country's honor" should be used in newspapers to sway public opinion in favor of American military intervention in the war. Voorman and his co-conspirators soon ally themselves with the Gray Shirts, the foot soldiers of American opposition to President Stanley's policies, whose leader, Lincoln Lee, engages in a nationwide campaign to bring America into the war. Invoking the patriotism of the American people, the Gray Shirts's campaign provokes riots and results in an attack on a pro-pacifist propaganda artist in his studio. With the approach of a critical congressional vote that could overrule the president's decision to stay out of the war, Stanley anticipates that he may be impeached over the matter. When the president is late for his meeting with Congress, it is feared that he has been kidnapped, and an investigation is immediately begun. The investigation results in the roundup of suspects Lincoln Lee, the president's secretary, Harris Brownell, and Val Orcott, a grocery delivery boy who was the last person seen with the president. Secretary of War Lewis Wardell interrogates the suspects and threatens to send the uncooperative Lee to an insane asylum if he does not talk. Wardell strikes Lee for his insolence and continues to attack him until Chick Moffat of the White House Squad intervenes. Later, Chick's sweetheart, Alma Cronin, is contacted by someone bent on subverting Chick's investigation. Alma is offered $10,000 for Chick's diary, but she refuses to accept it and tells Chick about the incident. Meanwhile, Americans begin to focus their attention not on the war but on their concern over the president's whereabouts and safety. Chick tries to set a trap to catch the men who tried to bribe Alma, but he is knocked out when the thugs punch him. While Chick lies unconscious, Alma finds a watch with an inscription that she believes will lead the police to Chick's attackers and perhaps the president's kidnappers. Before Alma is able to call the Secret Service, however, Chick prevents her from doing so by socking her in the jaw. While a nationwide search for the president turns up nothing, Norton manages to secure a war declaration from Vice President Bob Molleson, the man they hope to put in office to replace Stanley. It is then learned that the president, with the aid of Chick, has hidden himself in an empty parking garage where the Gray Shirts usually hold their meetings. Stanley, gagged and bound, has been planted there by Chick to make it look like as if the Gray Shirts were his abductors. Chick tips off the police as to the president's whereabouts, but before the police arrive, Lee drives into the garage, discovers the frame-up attempt, and prepares to kill the president. Chick returns to the garage just in time to save Stanley and shoot Lee. The police arrive and Chick is honored as a hero for having saved the president. Later, Chick explains to Alma that the president saw the need to "do something extraordinary to bring the people back to their senses," so he concocted a plan have himself kidnapped. After returning to the White House, Stanley consents to be Alma and Chick's best man at their wedding and makes a speech reaffirming his opposition to war.