Senator Hays Stowe accepts an invitation to speak at Garbury College despite a threat on his life. Topic of his speech: ""The Practical Uses of Dissent in the 1970's""

When Stowe throws his support behind a reform candidate as party nominee for a special election, he suddenly finds himself short of votes to secure passage of his signature education subsidy legislation. He risks alienating his grassroots supporters by considering a deal offered by State Party Chairman Mallon, who is desperate to nominate a wealthy but unqualified candidate.

The Senator wants to secure the passage of important welfare-type bills, but must also cater to the desires of those who hold the key to his re-election.

Fictional drama based on the National Guard shootings at Kent State University.

As part of an effort to bring a new power plant to his state, Senator Stowe's aide Jordan Boyle makes a major error in judgment by drafting and signing an introduction letter to a businessman who was later revealed to be a high-ranking member of the mob.

Senator Stowe proudly announces final approval for the construction of a long awaited hydroelectric dam in his home state. However, protesters bring to his attention a previously overlooked detail that the project will forcefully displace a tribe of 76 Native Americans from their reservation because of a technicality in their treaty, which was written in 1792 by George Washington.

An opponent of the welfare system who works for the Office of Enforcement Operations attempts to derail Senator Stowe's Inner City Self Help Act legislation by publishing a report containing evidence of misappropriation of funds by an administrator Stowe personally selected for a similar anti-poverty agency.