 Benson DuBois, a sharp-tongued and fiendishly intelligent man, is assigned to serve as butler to Governor Eugene Gatling, a well-meaning but ineffectual public servant. Benson s seemingly lowly role, however, allows him to observe and involve himself with Governor Gatling s staff, with whom he frequently clashes due to their serial ineptitude or arrogance - among his most frequent adversaries are Gatling s aide-de-camp Clayton Endicott III and the German woman in charge of the mansion s kitchen, Gretchen Kraus. Benson s wit and intelligence allow him to help his adversaries and the Governor, and these twin qualities result in a steady stream of promotions, to budgetary director and eventually to serve as Gatling s lieutenant governor. However, eventually Benson finds himself running for governor against Gatling, a race that strains the two men s friendship; both men, however, realize how much more important friendship is, and their relationship is healed as they await the final tally of the election.