Introduction. The long shadow of scandal : the forgotten legacy

Part I. The rise of a politician. The foundations for success : family and childhood (1922-1939)

The lessons of life : college and war (1939-1944)

Ambition and frustration : state legislature (1944-1948)

Preparation and payoff : businessman, mayor, and election to Congress (1948-1954)

Part II. Congress in an age of tradition. Learning the ropes : the new congressman (1954-1956)

Building a record : the Eisenhower years (1956-1960)

Challenges : the Kennedy years (1960-1963)

Access to power : Johnson takes control (1963-1965)

The rough path forward : years of change (1965-1968)

Part III. Leadership in an age of dynamism. Old school : a moderate in the Nixon years (1968-1972)

Bombshell : the Watergate crisis (1972-1974)

The ripples of Watergate : a new congress and new opportunity (1972-1976)

The new majority leader : critical decisions in an age of partisanship (1976-1978)

The struggle for unity : the Carter years (1978-1980)

Part IV. Victory and defeat in the age of Reagan. A challenge like none before : Reagan (1980-1982)

Rallying the opposition : friends and enemies (1982-1986)

On the mountaintop : Speaker of the House (1986-1989)

In the valley : resignation and its aftermath (1987-2015)

Epilogue. The politics of scandal and the judgment of history.