[1][2] The title is more ironic than ambivalent, referring principally to hopes expressed by young Americans shortly after winning World War II.

This includes the families of conservative Democratic Senator James Burden Day, and powerful newspaper publisher Blaise Sanford.

The book inserts the character of Caroline Sanford, Blaise's half-sister and publishing partner, who was introduced in the prequels to Washington, D.C.

It covers America's entry into World War II and the national politics of that time in some detail, and highlights of the post-war years, and then closes with a year-2000 retrospective.

The novel also covers some of the American artistic and cultural scene after the war, with attention given to John La Touche, Dawn Powell, Vidal himself, Tennessee Williams, and postwar Hollywood.