MOST OF the characters in this novel, and the background of most of the

events in it, have appeared in its predecessors, Advise and Consem

and A Shade of Difference.

In Advise and Consent (1959) will be found the story of th~

nomination of Robert A. Lefl~ngwell to be Secretary of State; the acee~

sion of Vice President Harley M. Hudson to the Presidency upon th~

sudden death of his predecessor; the successful Soviet manned landin~

on the moon; the death of Senator Brigham Anderson of Utah; tht

appointment of Senator Orrin Knox of Illinois to be Secretary of Stat~

following the defeat of Bob Leffingwell by the Senate. There, also, wi~

be found the marriage of Orrin s son Hal to Crystal Danta, the marriage~

of Senate Majority Leader Robert Mnnson of Miehigan to Washington!

hostess Dolly Harrison, and many other episodes leading into later!

books.

In A Shade of Difference (196~) will be found the visit to South

Carolina and New York of His Royal Highness Terence Wolow0

Ajkaje, ruler of Gorotoland, with all its explosive effects upon th~

racial problem in the United States and the United Nations; the begin.

nings of the rebellion in Gorotoland which produces major events

Capable of Honor; the early stages of Ambassador Felix Labaiya s~

activities in Panama, also inspiring major events in this novel; the open-

ing moves of California s Negro Congressman, Cullce Hamilton, in his

raeo for the Senate; the opening moves of California s Governor Ed-

ward M. Jason in his campaign for the Presidential nomination; the

death of Senator Harold Fry of West Virginia and his decision to en-

trust his son Jimmy to Senator Lafe Smith of Iowa; and many other

episodes leading into later books.

Running through both previous novels, through this and through

Preserve and Protect yet to come--as it runs through our times-is the

continuing argument between those who favor the responsible use 0fi

strength to oppose the Communist drive for world dominion, and those

who hope to find in diplomatic negotiation and the refusal to employ

force the surest path to a secure and stable world society.