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This woman, he soon learned, was his secretary, and her name was Saunders. The only other man in the room was Mr. "Diz" Moore, a reporter whom she seemed to know very well.

This woman, he soon learned, was his secretary, and her name was Saunders. The only other man in the room was Mr. "Diz" Moore, a reporter whom she seemed to know very well.

Now that he at least knew where his office was, he felt that he was getting his bearings at last. A few minutes later, Saunders told him that she would drive him to his Washington apartment, which she did. He interrupted her several times to point out one sight or another, including the Capitol Dome with its night lights; Saunders would then tell him to save his energy.

Now that he at least knew where his office was, he felt that he was getting his bearings at last. A few minutes later, Saunders told him that she would drive him to Senator Paine's hotel suite, which she did. He interrupted her several times to point out one sight or another, including the Capitol Dome with its night lights; Saunders would then tell him to save his energy.

The next day, he released the first of his carrier pigeons, which flew once around the Capitol Dome and then headed west. Later that day he saw Senator Paine at his Washington residence. There he met Susan Paine once again. He was still unused to the attentions of a woman, and Susan Paine's glamorous appearance dazzled him. He was so distracted that he couldn't even hold on to his hat, and as he took his leave, he knocked over a table lamp and several items of bric-a-brac, and perhaps never noticed that Susan Paine was doing her best to stifle her giggles.

The next day, he received several reporters in his office, all of whom wanted to know his impressions of Washington, and any special issues he wanted to propound. He named one: that he had always wanted to have a National Boys' Camp in Colorado, and knew the best spot for it. Then the reporters asked him to sound a few bird calls, and even demonstrate the friction fire-starting method, all of which he was happy to do.

The day after that, he received several reporters in his office, all of whom wanted to know his impressions of Washington, and any special issues he wanted to propound. He named one: that he had always wanted to have a National Boys' Camp in Colorado, and knew the best spot for it. Then the reporters asked him to sound a few bird calls, and even demonstrate the friction fire-starting method, all of which he was happy to do.

Finally came the day when he appeared before the Senate for the first time. The Senate convened at noon, so first he took a trip to [[George Washington]]'s [[Mount Vernon]] plantation, which struck him as a suitable thing to do to put him into a proper civic mood. He also released the first of his carrier pigeons, which flew once around the Capitol Dome and then headed west.

He got back from that trip in plenty of time, and was in the chamber of the Senate with minutes to spare. A young page boy showed him to his desk—which once had been used by Senator [[Daniel Webster]]. The page showed him the Senate Manual and the Senate Calendar, which were kept in the desk, and pointed out a few prominent Senators, the [[Vice President of the United States]] who served as the Senate's presiding officer, and the various sections of the Senate galleries, including the tourist section, the press section, and the diplomatic section. Of the foreign dignitaries privileged to sit in that section, the boy said,{{cquote|They and the page boys are the only class we have in the place!}}

Finally came the day when he appeared before the Senate for the first time. The Senate convened at noon, so first he took a trip to [[George Washington]]'s [[Mount Vernon]] plantation, which struck him as a suitable thing to do to put him into a proper civic mood. He got back from that trip in plenty of time, and was in the chamber of the Senate with minutes to spare. A young page boy showed him to his desk—which once had been used by Senator [[Daniel Webster]]. The page showed him the Senate Manual and the Senate Calendar, which were kept in the desk, and pointed out a few prominent Senators, the [[Vice President of the United States]] who served as the Senate's presiding officer, and the various sections of the Senate galleries, including the tourist section, the press section, and the diplomatic section. Of the foreign dignitaries privileged to sit in that section, the boy said,{{cquote|They and the page boys are the only class we have in the place!}}

Jeff thanked the boy profusely, and even gave him a Boy Ranger pin to wear.

Jeff thanked the boy profusely, and even gave him a Boy Ranger pin to wear.

As Smith approached the podium, another Senator raised a point of order, saying that Smith had conducted himself in a sensationally improper and comical manner on his arrival in Washington. A baffled Smith tried to defend himself, but the VP reminded him that he was not permitted to speak until sworn in. Paine answered the question, however, saying that Smith had been misquoted. Although one other Senator tried to object, the VP firmly overruled all other objections, and administered to Smith the Constitutional oath.

As Smith approached the podium, another Senator raised a point of order, saying that Smith had conducted himself in a sensationally improper and comical manner on his arrival in Washington. A baffled Smith tried to defend himself, but the VP reminded him that he was not permitted to speak until sworn in. Paine answered the question, however, saying that Smith had been misquoted. Although one other Senator tried to object, the VP firmly overruled all other objections, and administered to Smith the Constitutional oath.

On his way to his desk, Smith stopped at another Senator's desk, where the ''Washington Gazette'' was on display. There he saw what Senator Agnew had been talking about: it was his interview with all those reporters, and the story made him out to be a total clown!

On his way to his desk, Smith stopped at another Senator's desk, where the ''Washington Gazette-Journal'' was on display. There he saw what Senator Agnew had been talking about: it was his interview with all those reporters, and the story made him out to be a total clown!

Directly after the Senate finished for the day, Smith went out onto the streets of Washington, hunted down the reporters in turn, and slugged each one. He chased three into the National Press Club, where Diz Moore, another reporter named Sweeney, and several other reporters tackled him and shoved him into a booth. Then they proceeded to tell him that he had no business being in the Senate, because he didn't even know what a Senator did, or how a bill became a law. "Honorary stooge!" one reporter called him.

Directly after the Senate finished for the day, Smith went out onto the streets of Washington, hunted down the reporters in turn, and slugged each one. He chased three into the National Press Club, where Diz Moore, another reporter named Sweeney, and several other reporters tackled him and shoved him into a booth. Then they proceeded to tell him that he had no business being in the Senate, because he didn't even know what a Senator did, or how a bill became a law. "Honorary stooge!" one reporter called him.

Mortified, Smith went to see Joe Paine in his office. He complained that he couldn't answer those reporters' criticisms with any justice, because he had to admit that he was an empty suit decorating a chair. He asked for guidance in understanding the bills, and for reasons that he would understand only later, Paine was evasive and said,{{cquote|These bills have been put together by some of the greatest legal minds. I don't understand half of them myself, and I used to be a lawyer.}}

Mortified, Smith went to see Joe Paine at his home. He complained that he couldn't answer those reporters' criticisms with any justice, because he had to admit that he was an empty suit decorating a chair. He asked for guidance in understanding the bills, and for reasons that he would understand only later, Paine was evasive and said,{{cquote|These bills have been put together by some of the greatest legal minds. I don't understand half of them myself, and I used to be a lawyer.}}

Paine then suggested that if Smith was serious about establishing a National Boys' Camp, then he should get his secretary, Saunders, to help him draft a bill to do just that.

Paine then suggested that if Smith was serious about establishing a National Boys' Camp, then he should get his secretary, Saunders, to help him draft a bill to do just that.

== Writing a bill ==

== Writing a bill ==

Saunders went on, working herself up into a more distressed state with every word she spoke. She spoke of a man named Jim Taylor, whom Smith had never heard of, and spoke of graft. And then she said,{{cquote|Go home! Go home and stop making people feel sorry for you!}}

Saunders went on, working herself up into a more distressed state with every word she spoke. She spoke of a man named Jim Taylor, whom Smith had never heard of, and spoke of graft. And then she said,{{cquote|Go home! Go home and stop making people feel sorry for you!}}

And then, about ready to collapse in tears, she and Diz rushed out of the office, leaving Smith alone.

And then, about ready to collapse in tears, she summoned Diz and rushed out of the office, leaving Smith alone.

== The revelations ==

== The revelations ==

The next day, Saunders, of course, was gone. But Smith didn't have time to think about hiring another secretary. He sought out three members of the Colorado House delegation, one of whom represented the district that included Ambrose County, and demanded from them everything they knew about the Willett Dam project.

The next day, Saunders, of course, was gone. But Smith didn't have time to think about hiring another secretary. He sought out three members of the Colorado House delegation, one of whom represented the district that included Ambrose County, and demanded from them everything they knew about the Willett Dam project.

Eventually he received an invitation—actually more like a summons—to appear at the Paine home. There he met the infamous Jim Taylor for the first time, and also saw the three members of the House delegation whom he had been questioning earlier. Taylor proceeded to tell him that he, Taylor, could guarantee him an executive position in any business in Colorado, or any political office he wished, for as long as he wished to hold it. Taylor even said that those three Representatives, ''and'' Senator Paine, all were "smart" and took his "advice." In fact, Taylor said that Paine had been taking his advice for the twenty years that he had been serving in the Senate.

Eventually he received an invitation—actually more like a summons—to appear at the Madison Hotel, this time in a suite newly occupied by the infamous Jim Taylor. There he met Taylor for the first time, and also saw the three members of the House delegation whom he had been questioning earlier. Taylor proceeded to tell him that he, Taylor, could guarantee him an executive position in any business in Colorado, or any political office he wished, for as long as he wished to hold it. Taylor even said that those three Representatives, ''and'' Senator Paine, all were "smart" and took his "advice." In fact, Taylor said that Paine had been taking his advice for the twenty years that he had been serving in the Senate.

Smith, now thoroughly angry, looked Taylor in the eye, and said, {{cquote|You're a liar.}}

Smith, now thoroughly angry, looked Taylor in the eye, and said, {{cquote|You're a liar.}}

Smith lost no time in going to see Senator Paine in his office. Paine's staff, a much larger staff than Smith had ever had, told Smith that Paine was out of town. Which Smith knew to be impossible, so he barged into Paine's private office. Paine was present, and in a good-natured manner asked whether Smith had had a talk with Jim Taylor.

Smith lost no time in going to see Senator Paine in his office. Paine's staff, a much larger staff than Smith had ever had, told Smith that Paine was out of town. Which Smith knew to be impossible, so he barged into Paine's private office. Paine was present, and in a good-natured manner asked whether Smith had had a talk with Jim Taylor.

Smith could say nothing to this. Visitors in the gallery booed him, and young pages took off their Boy Ranger pins.

Smith could say nothing to this. Visitors in the gallery booed him, and young pages took off their Boy Ranger pins.

The hearings in the Committee on Privileges and Elections (in real life, this is the Senate Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, or "The Ethics Committee") were like something out of that novel by that weird [[German]] author, [[Franz Kafka]], titled [[The Trial]] (assuming that Jeff Smith ever read anything by Kafka, which is possible). He saw a deed of record showing him to be the owner of the two-hundred-acre plot that included Willett Creek, and, worse yet, a contract, with his signature on it, saying that he promised Kenneth Allen fifty percent of any profits that he might make on the sale of that land. Three different handwriting experts testified to the commitee, and two of the three said that his signature was real. Finally, Joe Paine told the biggest lie of all: that after Smith had presented his bill, Paine had congratulated him, but pointed out the Willett Dam project, which had prompted Smith to say, "Move the dam!" Of course, no such conversation had ever occurred. When Smith had presented his bill, Paine had left the chamber in the middle of its reading—and here Paine was, telling a story made up out of the whole cloth!

The hearings in the Committee on Privileges and Elections (in real life, this is the Senate Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, or "The Ethics Committee") were like something out of that novel by that weird [[German]] author, [[Franz Kafka]], titled [[The Trial]] (assuming that Jeff Smith ever read anything by Kafka, which he might have done, even to keep up with yet another book that [[Adolf Hitler]] had ordered burnt). He saw a deed of record showing him to be the owner of the two-hundred-acre plot that included Willett Creek, and, worse yet, a contract, with his signature on it, saying that he promised Kenneth Allen fifty percent of any profits that he might make on the sale of that land. Three different handwriting experts testified to the commitee, and two of the three said that his signature was real. Finally, Joe Paine told the biggest lie of all: that after Smith had presented his bill, Paine had congratulated him, but pointed out the Willett Dam project, which had prompted Smith to say, "Move the dam!" Of course, no such conversation had ever occurred. When Smith had presented his bill, Paine had left the chamber in the middle of its reading—and here Paine was, telling a story made up out of the whole cloth!

When the committee invited him to speak, he found that he couldn't. He walked out of the committee hearing room without saying a word.

When the committee invited him to speak, he found that he couldn't. He walked out of the committee hearing room without saying a word.

== Saunders Returns ==

== Saunders Returns ==

Smith packed his bags and prepared to walk to Union Station. But on his way he had to stop to see Abraham Lincoln's statue one last time. As he looked into Lincoln's face, all that he could think of was that Lincoln must think him a traitor. How could he expect Mr. Lincoln to understand that all those men in that Committee, including Governor Hopper, of all people, had paraded in to tell a tissue of lies?

Smith packed his bags and prepared to walk to Union Station. But on his way he had to stop to see Abraham Lincoln's statue one last time. As he looked into Lincoln's face, all that he could think of was that Lincoln must think him a traitor. How could he expect Mr. Lincoln to understand that all those men in that Committee, including Governor Hopper, of all people, had paraded in to tell a tissue of lies? But what had actually paralyzed him was not Governor Hopper, whom he didn't know from [[Adam]], but Senator Paine, a man he had worshipped, as his father had.

Then he felt a hand on his arm. It was Clarissa Saunders, who said that she had come back to Washington in spite of herself, and had found a jar of strawberry preserves waiting for her. Clarissa knew all about what had happened, and knew equally that it had to be a lie—because she had known all about Jim Taylor's corrupt, graft-ridden political machine for years. She told Smith something else: that he could fight it, and with her help, he might even win. And if he did ''not'' fight it, then Mr. Lincoln (if he were alive) and his Boy Rangers (who were all very much alive) would reproach him, ''not'' for being a dishonest politician (which he wasn't,) but for quitting. He agreed to talk to her, and, with one last wave of his hand to Lincoln, he left the Memorial.

Then he felt a hand on his arm. It was Clarissa Saunders, who said that she had come back to Washington in spite of herself, and had found a jar of strawberry preserves waiting for her. Clarissa knew all about what had happened, and knew equally that it had to be a lie—because she had known all about Jim Taylor's corrupt, graft-ridden political machine for years. She told Smith something else: that he could fight it, and with her help, he might even win. And if he did ''not'' fight it, then Mr. Lincoln (if he were alive) and his Boy Rangers (who were all very much alive) would reproach him, ''not'' for being a dishonest politician (which he wasn't,) but for quitting. He agreed to talk to her, and, with one last wave of his hand to Lincoln, he left the Memorial.

The next morning, he appeared in the Senate and answered to his name in the roll call. He overheard a lot of murmuring, both on the floor and in the galleries (especially the press section), but he paid it no heed. He sat at his desk, gripping it with both hands, and waited for Clarissa's signal to stand.

The next morning, he appeared in the Senate and answered to his name in the roll call. He overheard a lot of murmuring, both on the floor and in the galleries (especially the press section), but he paid it no heed. He sat at his desk, gripping it with both hands, and waited for Clarissa's signal to stand.

The Chairman of the P&E Committee delivered his report. At once Senator Agnew rose to call for a vote, but Smith was already on his feet. Both men shouted for recognition simultaneously.

The Chairman of the P&E Committee delivered his report. At once Senator Agnew rose to call for a vote, but Smith, at Saunders' signal, was already on his feet. Both men shouted for recognition simultaneously.

Senator Agnew protested that Smith could "have nothing further to say." The Vice President gaveled him to silence and sternly said, {{cquote|He is still a member of this body, and as such has an equal claim on the attention of this chair.}}

Senator Agnew protested that Smith could "have nothing further to say." The Vice President gaveled him to silence and sternly said, {{cquote|He is still a member of this body, and as such has an equal claim on the attention of this chair.}}

So he turned to Joe Paine and addressed him directly. He said that this was simply another lost cause, the kind for which a man ought to fight harder than for anything else. He reminded Paine of his association with the late Clayton Smith, and of the love that Paine had earned from Jeff Smith himself.

So he turned to Joe Paine and addressed him directly. He said that this was simply another lost cause, the kind for which a man ought to fight harder than for anything else. He reminded Paine of his association with the late Clayton Smith, and of the love that Paine had earned from Jeff Smith himself.

Then Smith defiantly turned to the rest of the Senate, saying,{{cquote|You think I'm licked. You all think I'm licked. Well, I'm not licked! I'm going to stand right here and fight for this lost cause—even if this room gets filled with lies like these—even if Taylor and his minions come marching in here to drag me away! Somebody'll listen to me...somebody...}}

Then Smith defiantly turned to the rest of the Senate, saying,{{cquote|You think I'm licked. You all think I'm licked. Well, I'm not licked! I'm going to stand right here and fight for this lost cause—even if this room gets filled with lies like these—even if Taylor and his armies come marching in here to drag me away! Somebody'll listen to me...somebody...}}

Everything went black at that moment. The wooden floor of the Senate chamber rushed up to meet him and clout him in the temple. He then could speak, hear, and think no more.

Everything went black at that moment. The wooden floor of the Senate chamber rushed up to meet him and clout him in the temple. He then could speak, hear, and think no more.