Executive Privilege: A Washington Novel

"When President Jenner's confidential log is leaked to the Washington Post, the nation's capital begins to buzz. Why is the President spending so much time with a White House staffer who also happens to be a psychiatrist? For Newstime magazine's White House reporters Rudy Dodman and Sarah Hoff-and for the rest of the national media-the Post story sparks an examination of the the President's activities unparalleled since Watergate. Working against the clock and against their fellow reporters, Dodman and Hoff quickly find themselves entangled in a complex political crisis involving members of the press and the highest Washington officials, including: President Zern Jenner, the man from Montana, determined to stop the stories about the White House log without delay-even if it means lying to the American people; Nicholas Frye, the unscrupulous Post reporter, who would betray anyone, do anything, for a story; Vice-President Robert Boyston, whose own popular support swells as the President's emotional stability is questioned; Mary Jenner, the President's wife, a woman of intense tenacity and self-control, who refuses to admit to any weakness; Allen Crawford, the obsequious White House staffer, who uses the power of the Presidency to pursue his private passions; Jane Minnick, "Crazy Jane," a paranoid reporter who finds herself in the middle of a power struggle she doesn't understand; Malcolm Ewing, the missing White House staffer-is he merely a loyal aide, or the President's analyst? Dodman and Hoff's investigation takes them to the heart of a major government cover-up, and brings the country to the brink of an international crisis-forcing the two reporters to face questions that have become increasing difficult for today's press corps. Does the people's right to know always come before a public figure's right to privacy? Should the Chief Executive be able to declare some areas that might influence national policy "privileged"? Dodman's life is further complicated by his growing feelings for Sarah, as he also has an old-fashioned sense of responsibility to his wife and child that is rare in the social whirl of the capital."--Jacket.