Summary

In Part II, Chapter 4, one night in September, the candidate speaks at Washington Square Park. He seems as excited as he was when he announced his campaign “seven months earlier” (67). David spends the event meandering through the crowd and studying the candidate’s movements and “the corresponding movements” of his listeners (68). Afterwards, David rides in the candidate’s car. He urges David to eat some of the pizza sitting on the back seat, insisting he cannot eat it because of his dietary regime.

The next day, David talks to Beverly from the office. She reveals that Blackshear wants to contribute a large sum of money and might host an event at his home in Connecticut. She then organizes a lunch for her, David, and Wilson Taylor, who she thinks might help David with his “future career” (72). During lunch, Wilson urges David...