In a world ruled by patronage and privilege, a young postal clerk with unique skills, integrity, and tireless work ethic, catches the attention of powerful men in Washington DC - beginning a rise through the machinery of American power, not by connections, but by merit.

As the economy wobbles under the weight of reckless speculation and unchecked corporate power, a full-blown panic erupts on Wall Street in October 1907. A run on the banks spreads nationwide. There’s no Federal Reserve, no deposit insurance - just fear and collapsing confidence. While Roosevelt is away, Cortelyou, now Secretary of the Treasury, meets with J.P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, and other financial titans tackled the crisis head-on. Yet, just as Cortelyou’s star shines brighter than ever, his nine year old daughter, Hazel, dies suddenly from diphtheria.