Our capable, composed, and charming protagonist, George B. Cortelyou was the steady hand behind three American presidents. Known for his tireless work ethic and precision, he helped shape the inner workings of modern American government - quietly driving results where others sought attention.

Energetic, unpredictable - a peer. Theodore Roosevelt Jr., also known as Teddy or T. R., was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. Bold, impatient, and reform-driven, Roosevelt is a contrast to Cortelyou’s quiet precision. Their working relationship evolves from formal to strategic partnership.

Fatherly and steady. William McKinley was the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. He mentors Cortelyou and relies on him heavily during the Spanish-American War and in daily White House operations. Their relationship is exceptionally warm - almost father to son - cut short by tragedy that reshapes the series’ course.

Direct and principled, Cleveland gives Cortelyou his start in federal government. Their relationship is built on competence and mutual respect despite party differences.

At first, Cortelyou works quietly under John Addison Porter, McKinley’s official Private Secretary - a Yale graduate, poet, and self-proclaimed intellectual who views the daily mechanics of the office as a chore beneath his pedigree. Porter sees in Cortelyou a threat - and with good reason.

Mr. Isaiah Wilson, the Chief Stewart of the White House, who witnesses Cortelyou’s rise in government. Mr. Wilson is based on Wilson Jerman - a former White House butler who worked for 11 presidents, from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Barack Obama.

George’s wife and emotional anchor. Intelligent, witty and supportive, she pushes her husband to pursue greater recognition by the world. She also navigates the demands of public life and long absences. Their relationship highlights the personal cost of public service.

Ida McKinley was the wife of President William McKinley. Fragile in health, her wellbeing becomes a priority after the assassination, as Cortelyou delivers the news with care and discretion. She never recovered from losing their daughters as children and remained in a fragile state of health for the rest of her life, including having seizures.

Ruthless financier and occasional ally. One of the richest men in the world, Morgan is strategic and commanding. He first meets Cortelyou as a player for the opposite team, but later depends on him during the 1907 financial panic. By the end of series, Morgan backs Cortelyou for president.

Booker T. Washington’s 1901 dinner at the White House with President Theodore Roosevelt was the first time a Black American was invited to dine socially with a sitting president. The event sparked national controversy, revealing the deep racial divisions of the time and marking a bold, though politically costly, statement on equality by the new Administration.

Thomas Edison was an American inventor of the light bulb, electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures and more. Edison serves as a touchpoint for the merging of technology and policy. At the request of Cortelyou, Edison sends the new X-Ray machine to Buffalo to help locate the assassin’s bullet, lodged in President McKinley.

Edith Kermit Roosevelt was the second wife of President Theodore Roosevelt. Sharp and perceptive, Edith quietly shapes the Roosevelt presidency from behind the scenes. She connects with Lilly over shared pressures and social concerns.

Leon F. Czolgosz was an American laborer and anarchist who shot President William McKinley on September 6, 1901, in Buffalo, New York.

Hanna was a key figure in McKinley's political rise. A shrewd political tactician, he advocated for the interests of big business while also promoting fair wages and labor rights, a position that sometimes drew criticism.

The man who tackles McKinley’s assassin moments after the shooting. Initially viewed with suspicion, Parker briefly earns public praise but is quickly sidelined. His story reflects the racial dynamics of the era.

George’s daughter appears later in the series as a thoughtful, intelligent presence who helps reveal a more personal side of her father. She serves as the series’ narrator, opening and closing the story with reflections on who he was. Through her eyes, we come to understand the full measure of his character and the lasting impact he had on the people around him—and on the nation itself.

There was the Chief Stewart, then beneath him were the maids, footmen, cooks and laborers. About one-third of the servants lived in the White House.

Postmaster General under Cleveland who recognizes Cortelyou’s talent early and facilitates his move to Washington. A minor figure but key to Cortelyou’s trajectory.

In 1902, President Roosevelt instructed Attorney General Knox to break up the Northern Securities Trust/business cartel. The case worked its way up to the Supreme Court, where the justices ruled 5-4 in favor of the federal government.