One of the things I most like about clematis, aside from the blooms, is their ability to "resurrect". Of course I have had plants that died, but so many have unexpectedly returned to life that I now always, always wait at least a year before assuming one is dead. In several places in my garden I have clems that are so close together that I'm sure I thought one had died and I planted another in its spot, only to have the first one come back to life. Also, this spring, I dug out one that was MIA all last year, and found roots! No sign of a shoot yet this spring, but I'm waiting. I wouldn't give up on The President yet if I were you.