A U. S. Senate committee is investigating the moral fitness of Buddy Barker to continue as congressional coordinator. During the closed hearings, Barker's "social secretary," Samantha Ashley, recalls the events leading up to the investigation: Samantha, a hotel hostess, meets Buddy in Miami. He persuades her--for a price--to keep company with Massachusetts senatorial candidate Frank Carlton. Samantha goes to work for Buddy, moving into his home in Chevy Chase, and continues to see Frank. While accompanying Frank on a campaign trip to Boston, Samantha meets English beauty Angela, whom she persuades to "be nice" to Frank. Buddy arranges a fundraising party for Frank in Washington, and there Frank becomes involved with party girl Mona Archer. Mona becomes pregnant, and Samantha takes her to a prominent Washington physician for an abortion. Instead, the doctor allegedly rapes her. Frank and Angela announce their plans to marry, but the following day during the hearings a stag film of Angela burlesquing a rape by a Chaplinesque character is shown, causing Frank to have a fatal heart attack. Samantha leaves Buddy, and his career ends in failure and loneliness.
