The death of the incumbent Vice President enables the U.S. President (Jeff Bridges) to seek the appointment of the first female to the position, Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen). However, it is widely assumed by most congressmen that the candidate would be the more conservative Governor Jack Hathaway (William Petersen) particularly when opinion polls soar after his unsuccessful attempt to rescue a woman trapped in a car that had plunged off a bridge. Opponents of Senator Hanson conduct a smear campaign claiming that whilst she was in College she had been involved in a group sex session. Republican Shelley Runyon (Gary Oldman), who is chairing the public hearings, is determined to bring her down. Senator Hanson refuses to confirm or deny the allegations claiming that her sex life is nobody's business. Is she taking an ethical stand or is she covering something up? The film, which is obviously inspired by the events surrounding the Starr Commission and "Monica-gate", contrasts the ideals of American democracy with the Machiavellian machinations that make it work in practice. Joan Allen gives a strong central performance, Gary Oldman is unrecognisable as the slimy muckraker and Jeff Bridges is delightfully affable as the President who seems to show more concern about food than the wheeling and dealing that surrounds him. Sam Elliott and Saul Rubineck play Presidential aides and Christian Slater is a young Democratic representative prepared to make deals for a seat on Runyon's committee.