Summary
Act 1, Scene 1
State of the Union opens with a strategic gathering at the Washington, D.C., residence of seasoned politician James Conover. He is on a quest to discover a Republican presidential hopeful capable of clinching victory in the 1948 election. Newspaper magnate Kay Thorndike is convinced that Grant Matthews, a prosperous, self-made orator who has captured the public's imagination, fits the bill perfectly, and she implores James to consider him. Present at the meeting is Spike McManus, one of Kay's astute reporters, whose political savvy transcends his journalistic duties, making him an adviser of sorts. However, Grant is hesitant about embracing the presidential mantle, a sentiment James shares. They concur that the best course of action is to accompany Grant on his nationwide speaking tour at his aircraft manufacturing plants, to evaluate his potential candidacy. Yet, whispers of Grant's dalliance with Kay have begun to circulate, prompting James to propose that Grant take his wife along on the tour, as a public gesture assuring the world of their seemingly intact marriage.
Act 1, Scene 2
As the evening unfolds, James urges Grant to temper the fervor in his speeches. Working in tandem with Spike, Grant revises his remarks. Mary arrives, and due to the cramped quarters, she accepts to share a room with Grant. While Grant mingles with politically potent figures downstairs, James confides in Mary about Grant's presidential ambitions. She intuitively deduces that her presence on the tour is a tactical move to quash the rumors of Grant and Kay's liaison, a fact she had already discerned. James, in turn, reveals his knowledge of Mary's own romance with an Army major. Amused by the gossip, Mary encourages James to inform Grant about her affair, hoping to stir jealousy as a countermeasure to her own feelings towards Kay. Instinctively, she perceives that despite Grant's avowal to remain an untainted politician, he is being skillfully maneuvered by James and his cohorts. When the maid delivers a pair of Kay's spectacles to Grant's room, inquiring about the return address, Mary surmises that Grant has recently encountered Kay, altering her disposition. Indignant, she arranges a makeshift bedding on the floor, relegating Grant there while she claims the bed.
Act 2
Fast forward several weeks, Grant and Mary find themselves at a Detroit hotel, eagerly anticipating the culmination of Grant's speech tour at a grand banquet. The enthusiastic reception of Grant's addresses has buoyed both of them. Meanwhile, James and Spike are plagued with discontent. Although Grant's speeches have resonated with the masses, pivotal special interest groups and political influencers, vital to shaping election outcomes, are displeased by his populist rhetoric, which champions the common folk at industry’s expense. Before the banquet, in the opulent Matthews suite, Spike schedules a series of brisk meetings for Grant with various special interest factions. Amidst these encounters, James, apprehensive about the content of Grant's Detroit address, attempts to persuade Grant to tone down his more progressive assertions, but to no avail.
During Grant's absence, James attempts to enlist Mary’s help in persuading Grant to alter his speech, but she remains steadfast. James and Spike are further perturbed to discover that, unbeknownst to them, Grant has arranged a pivotal meeting in New York with the foreign policy association, which will compel him to formally announce his candidacy — a move James and Spike had hoped to defer. In a final bid, James admonishes Grant against alienating his Detroit audience, a crucial source of covert (illegally siphoned) campaign funds. Mary is disheartened to learn that Grant condones accepting such clandestine sponsorship, provided the funds are funneled through...
(This entire section contains 1154 words.)
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James, not directly.
In the thick of their discourse, Spike enters to announce Grant's impending rendezvous with yet another delegation. As he steps out, James suggests that to definitively quash the rumors surrounding Grant and Kay, Mary should expand her forthcoming dinner party — which was originally intended for a lone political acquaintance — to encompass several influential Republican patrons, including Grant’s paramour, Kay. Mary is incensed, especially since the party coincides with their wedding anniversary, and she adamantly refuses. James proposes revisiting the discussion post-banquet. As Grant, Mary, and Spike depart for Grant's address, Kay makes an entrance, revealing herself as the mysterious "delegation" who had just conferred with Grant. She shares a conversation with James, assuring him that all is in order and that she has aligned Grant’s thoughts with the requisite candor for his Detroit speech.
Act 3, Scene 1
Mary, albeit reluctantly, concedes to host an evening gathering alongside Grant at their New York apartment, two weeks later. Among the guests, Kay stands out. Initially, the atmosphere is light and promising. Although Mary harbors resentment over Grant's last-minute shift in his Detroit speech, she promises to keep her peace for the evening's sake. Striving to maintain composure, she even swears off alcohol to avoid a misstep that might reveal her distaste for Kay's influence, or her discontent over Grant's malleability, potentially tarnishing the event for Grant. Yet, as guests begin to arrive, the ambiance starts to fracture. Sam, the sole attendee Mary considers a friend, is oblivious to keeping Kay's Detroit escapade under wraps. When Grant engages Kay in conversation about the Detroit banquet, it dawns on Mary—Kay is the mastermind behind Grant's altered speech. Mary's demeanor shifts drastically. She succumbs to drinking, inserting sharp comments into the political discourse, much to Grant's chagrin. Her drinking spirals until just before dinner, leaving her heavily inebriated. Grant discreetly implores her to stand by him for the remainder of the dinner, and they rejoin the gathering together.
Act 3, Scene 2
An hour passes, and Mary finds herself in the living room with Lulubelle, one of the guest's wives. While Mary fervently downs coffee after coffee, Lulubelle continues her indulgence in alcohol. Through their conversation, it becomes evident that Mary created quite a spectacle during dinner, yet her inebriated state leaves her struggling to recall the full extent of her offenses. As Lulubelle exits to another room, James approaches Mary. He urges her to recognize that if she doesn't persuade Grant to compromise his principles to secure votes, his election dreams might crumble. Moreover, James insists that the White House is their only sanctuary to preserve their marriage, warning that outside of public scrutiny, Grant might abandon Mary for Kay—an unfeasible move under the presidential spotlight. As the party disbands, guests vie to sway Grant, discussing the political maneuvers essential to secure pivotal votes. Heeding James’s coaxing, Mary attempts to align with their vision, but her patience has limits. At last, Mary erupts, this time sober, denouncing their efforts to strip away Grant's virtues and neglecting to serve the American populace. Her impassioned words resonate with Grant, prompting him to declare to James, Spike, and Kay his withdrawal from the presidential race. As they depart, leaving Grant and Mary alone, Grant proposes a return to their honeymoon retreat—a promising hint towards the rejuvenation of their marriage.
