Brammer, who served on Lyndon Johnson's staff, uses his knowledge as a political insider to show the good and the bad of politics. Three interlocking tales each feature a different protagonist--a state legislator, a junior senator, and the governor's press secretary--and illuminate the figure of Arthur "Goddam" Fenstemaker, a master politician and the governor of Texas. Considered a ruthless, exuberant politician, Fenstemaker works for the ultimate good of the people, even though he often employs questionable methods.