First Lady

Lucy Chase Wayne quietly begins a campaign to secure the presidential nomination for her husband, Secretary of State Stephen Wayne. She leverages her position as the President's granddaughter and works behind the scenes to sway party leaders and influencers. Her campaign sets the stage for a high-stakes political maneuvering that dominates the plot.

She seeks the support of rising Senator Gordon Keane, a key ally because he is Irene Hibbard's protégé. Lucy calculates that Keane's backing could decisively tilt the race in Stephen Wayne's favor. The hunt for Keane's influence becomes a central thread in the political chess game.

Irene Hibbard schemes to divorce her Supreme Court Justice husband, Carter, marry Keane, and push him toward the presidency. Her plans would directly threaten Lucy's strategy and intensify the rivalry between the two women. The plot hinges on Irene's marital status and political ambitions.

To counter Irene's moves, Lucy fabricates a deception: she makes Irene believe Carter will be the party's candidate. Lucy knows Carter has little chance, but the ruse is intended to force Irene's hand. The maneuver deepens the web of manipulation surrounding the nomination fight.

Lucy wins support from Lavinia Mae Creevey, the provincial leader of a five-million-woman organization, convincing her to back Carter. The endorsement adds legitimacy and mass-organized pressure to Carter's bid. This move expands Lucy's influence beyond elite insiders into grassroots channels.

Newspaper magnate Ellsworth T. Banning publicly backs Carter, lending serious media heft to the candidate. His involvement elevates the nomination stakes and signals broad journalistic support. The alliance with Banning strengthens the illusion of inevitability around Carter's candidacy.

With these endorsements, Carter is formally offered the nomination, intensifying the chess match among the campaign players. The prospect of Carter as the nominee shocks Irene and heightens Lucy's sense of urgency. The scene marks a turning point in the political maneuvering.

Prince Boris Gregoravitch, Irene's ex-husband, arrives in Washington for negotiations, adding an international twist to the scheme. His presence foreshadows new leverage for Irene and potential diplomatic tensions. The arrival intertwines foreign diplomacy with domestic politics.

Lucy arranges a dinner in which Carter will publicly accept the nomination, with Gregoravitch present as the foreign envoy. The exchange is staged to deliver a message and create opportunities for manipulation. The dinner becomes a focal point for the interplay of personal, political, and international stakes.

Gregoravitch reveals that an agreement has been reached between the United States and his country, allowing recognition of each other's laws. Once the treaty is signed, he and Irene would be divorced under American law, leaving Irene technically a bigamist until that moment. The legal implications add a new layer of complication to Irene's personal and political ambitions.

Lucy uses the looming divorce to blackmail Irene into pressuring Carter to decline the nomination, clearing the path for Stephen Wayne. The threat of Irene's status provides Lucy with leverage to secure her husband's advancement. Irene's compliance would ensure the desired outcome, even if it compromises personal loyalties.

With Carter's decline, the field clears for Stephen Wayne to be nominated, fulfilling Lucy's long-game plan. The sequence shows how personal vendettas, alliances, and international politics intersect in a presidential race. The timeline ends with the strategic victory for Lucy and her husband.