Chapter V

Tom Hennessey dies and Joseph goes to Elizabeth Hennessey and declares his love for her, undiminished by the many years they have been apart. She reveals that Tom was the father of her son. They agree that for the sake of his presidential aspirations for his son, he will not divorce Bernadette. Joseph attempts to bribe Senator Bassett to withdraw his support of the Alien Contract Labor Act. When this fails, he resorts to blackmail. To preserve his honor and keep his family secret, Senator Bassett withdraws his support the only way he can see - by committing suicide. His letter to Joseph tells him that with his dying breath, he has cursed Joseph and all his family. Bernadette hires a private detective who gives her proof that Joseph is having an affair with Elizabeth. She then gives him an assignment to find proof of her suspicion that Elizabeth's son, Courtney Wickersham is actually Tom Hennessey's son. Bernadette confronts Elizabeth with the proof in an attempt to blackmail her into ending the affair with Joseph. This plan backfires when Elizabeth freely admits the truth and now that Tom is dead, she no longer cares if the secret is revealed. Joseph tries match-making with his son Rory and Claudia Desmond, the daughter of a business associate. Rory is smitten with Marjorie Chisholm and asks Courtney Wickersham to introduce them. She has a boyfriend and offers Rory no encouragement. When he continues to pursue her and because he is an Irish Catholic, Rory is severly beaten by her boyfriend and his Harvard classmates.