Man of Destiny

Self-styled good-government gadfly Gross (The Government Racket) tells a melodramatic tale of campaign skullduggery that stumbles as both a propaganda vehicle and a novel. Freshman Ohio Congressman Charles Palmer, a man who ""seemed to see government clearly, as Matisse saw colors,"" tweaks his party convention by rejecting the aging presidential candidate's veep choice, a fat-cat Southern logroller. This supposedly novel act of courage and principle wins him the admiration of some in his party and propels him into the national spotlight. When a billionaire admirer antes the bucks for Charlie to mount an independent run for president and a respected old pro defects to join him, his surge in the polls sends the entire establishment to their dirty tricks war chests. Private eyes are paid to dig up dirt, and tabloids hear of the unbelievably naive candidate's doings (including a mid-campaign tryst with an opposition Mata Hari at a public resort). Throughout, Gross adopts a simplistic political morality. Instead of ideology (even the political parties are unnamed and indistinguishable), he gives us a tired tale of innocence battling corruption, as if political conflict were never the result of conflicting good intentions. The election outcome and aftermath provoke the ultimate wrath of the establishment. Palmer's naivete, the inexplicable romance, the ho-hum blackmail secrets, a truly improbable D.C. police side plot, creaky dialogue and the constant and rather fatuous posturing defeat Gross's own noble intentions in a landslide. (July)