Jeff Vinton, an advocate for the powerless, quickly learns of the folly of idealism. He achieves substantial victories as he progresses from Vietnam firefights to bureaucratic turf wars, but his accomplishments ultimately lead to personal loss. Politician Bob Elam enters the fray as a gubernatorial candidate intent on achieving meaningful change only to be co-opted by a cynical legislator. His aide, though still the believer, is effortlessly swept...