House Speaker John McCormack is known for his almost puritanical probity. He lives simply, drives a 14-year-old car, has amassed few worldly goods. Thus he sounds in character when he professes ignorance about the influence peddling that has emanated from his Capitol Hill office for years. What plagues McCormackand threatens his winning another term as Speakeris that the serial revelations about Martin Sweig, McCormack's now suspended aide, and Nathan Voloshen, the Speaker's longtime friend, make it increasingly incredible that McCormack could have overlooked their activities.
McCormack has attempted to pass Voloshen...