The Night There Was No President opens with a glimpse into the Roosevelt family's life, led by Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. The family is enjoying a serene morning in the Adirondacks, unaware of the turmoil brewing back in Buffalo, where President McKinley has been shot. Young Theodore reflects on the uniqueness of his situation, being the son of a vice president, and the excitement and fear that accompany such a title. The atmosphere is light-hearted, filled with familial banter and the joys of childhood, but an undercurrent of tension looms as the news of McKinley’s condition fluctuates.