Summary

Chapter 1 begins with Governor Willie Starks, his right-hand man Jack Burden, and Willie’s political group in a car driving to Willie’s hometown. Jack is reminiscing about the first time he met Willie. The men were in a bar and Jack was working as an investigative reporter for a newspaper. The first thing Jack had noticed was Willie didn’t make an impressive politician. Years later, though, Willie still had his constituents in mind. He instructed Jack to find a lawyer for the son of a farmer. The boy had been accused of murdering a doctor’s son. The case seemed impossible because of the doctor’s social standing, but Willie wanted the boy have the best aide possible.

During Willie’s photo opportunity at his childhood home, Jack became disgusted with how staged the pictures were. Willie leaves the photos and speaks with Jack...