JR goes away with his girlfriend to a major business convention in Waco. That same weekend his cousin Amy Kathleen gets married and begins a happy marriage. Tom urges Jim to quit his political Chase, but he introduces him to a political lobbyidt who would at some point come to meet JR

Vacationing in Flagstaff, Jim learns some disturbing news about a past supervisor if he is in Washington DC. Betsy admits her love for the ranch, but she misses Jim. Brad is ready to admit that he is jealous of JR because of his own battle with Karen over weight loss

Jr's father we go to the power of the press on the conservative side criticizing the liberal media for the gossip and innuendo against him.

Jr roommates about his situation with his brother and his friends to the point that he was becoming a closet alcoholic. Jim is trying to counter a whispering campaign against him in the tabloids by responding to the media and talk radio. Betsy gets ready to meet Jim for the weekend in Flagstaff Arizona

May 30 1996. Jim Hendrick lays into the Clinton administration's vacillation on the economy and effective campaigning. He also castigates the Clinton administration on the smear campaign against him in the tabloids

In a political panel on live TV Jim Hendrick and Gordon Deckard castigate the Clinton administration about Whitewater and blast the news media for the smear campaign against Jr's father and his family

Things heat up at the ranch for memorial Day weekend when a war awards breaks out between JR and Kyle over their worth as men. Max comes to the ranch for a few weeks to work the ranch and spend time with JR. Jim spent his time at a rally in New York City

Betsy and Mike Fields are vying for Jim to return back to the ranch. Christine is bored with the prospect of spinning the whole summer at the ranch with family, and Jr and his friends are struggling with the culture of dating and image along with the issue of Chastity in dating relationships.

Criticizing Congress for not moving fast enough on his legislation Jim Hendrick blames the Democrats and the libertarians for getting what he sees is a perverted form of bipartiisan politics.

Anxious about an inspection of the ranch Betsy has a Louisiana mob boss for a political favorite in Texas. NR continuous working on a final chapter of his book to be sent to a third publisher in June. Jim continues to adjust for life in Washington DC without Betsy