In the novel Passenger to Frankfurt, Herr Heinrich Spiess is the Chancellor of West Germany. In Chapter 17 he comes to London to meet Cedric Lazenby and other members of the British government. He brings with him Dr Reichardt, a psychiatrist, who has some disturbing news about what happened at his mental hospital during the last days of World War 2.
Spiess is described as someone whose principal asset is the sense of reassurance he brings to others. He is "a solid man, a thoughtful man, a man who could bring common sense to any assemblies he attended". Yet for all that, is extremely worried during the meeting.