Why couldn’t he have picked any one of ten thousand other outstanding Americans? Why the one most likely to cause trouble?
-- Narrator (Part 1, Chapter 1 paragraph 5)

Importance: When the novel begins, Munson is stunned to learn of Leffingwell’s nomination to the post of Secretary of State. Leffingwell is not popular even among the party of the Majority and the President. Munson knows he has his work cut out for him, and he can’t understand why the President would choose Leffingwell of all people.

Washington takes them like a lover and they are lost.
-- Narrator (Part 1, Chapter 2 paragraph 1)

Importance: Here, the narrator describes the seductive appeal of Washington. It doesn’t matter why one comes to Washington, but the place manages to get a hold on people. They spend their lives trying to stay with Washington as a result, even to the point of staying on after their official reason for being in the nation’s capital has ended...