Slattery's People

Seasons

1964

USA

8.1

Jim Slattery enters the state legislature, hopeful that he can make a difference. He finds dealing with endless rules and the majority opposition party frustrates any meaningful change but he stubbornly perseveres.

Episode List

S1 • E1

Question: What Is Truth?

Dynamic young state legislator James Slattery finds himself in an extremely uncomfortable position when he is chosen to investigate Representative Harry Sanborn, an older, well-respected colleague, who is accused of deliberately sabotaging a local bill.

Question: Why the Lonely?... Why the Misbegotten?

S1 • E2

Question: Why the Lonely?... Why the Misbegotten?

Jed Haskell, a young GI who defected to the VietCong during unbearable pressure from the enemy, seeks help from Slattery. Haskell now wants his abandoned citizenship restored. Slattery reluctantly agrees to help, but must navigate carefully as his own career could be destroyed by helping a traitor.

Question: Remember the Dark Sins of Youth?

S1 • E3

Question: Remember the Dark Sins of Youth?

Slattery supports Dr. George Allison to continue as the state's school board president. Powerful news publisher Paul Hungerford prefers another candidate for the job and would do anything to prevent Allison winning a second term.

S1 • E4

Question: What Ever Happened to Ezra?

Ezra Tallicott, a lively octogenarian, impresses Slattery when the old man bicycles over sixty miles to meet with him. Tallicott is a resident in a senior citizen's home run by the rather unorthodox administrator Dr. Robert Kelly who doesn't want its residents to be merely shadows waiting for death. The men fight to save the home from closure.

Question: What Are You Doing Out There, Waldo?

S1 • E5

Question: What Are You Doing Out There, Waldo?

Slattery meets Della Murphy, a seductive lobbyist, and finds her intriguing. Willing to do whatever it takes to get what she wants, Murphy plans to exploit their relationship by convincing Slattery to abrogate an existing bill that prohibits state employees from political activity.

Question: What Became of the White Tortilla?

S1 • E6

Question: What Became of the White Tortilla?

Ricardo Montalban plays a Latino state legislator who tries to pass a bill without co-sponsors. This segment of "Slattery's People " was directed by Sydney Pollack.

Question: Where Vanished the Tragic Piper?

S1 • E7

Question: Where Vanished the Tragic Piper?

After a legislature committee finds fault in current state adoption procedures and moves to make changes, Slattery initially agrees. However, his position wavers when he meets James and Annette Rowan, adoptive parents who are in danger of losing their Asian son.

Question: Is Laura the Name of the Game?

S1 • E8

Question: Is Laura the Name of the Game?

Representative Harry Tamiris wants a vacated Congressional seat, but his party selects another candidate. Harry's grasping wife Laura, determined to be a powerful political influence in Washington, goads Harry into promoting a sensationalist, hot button issue that will certainly earn him recognition while likely dividing his party.

Question: What Is a Genius Worth This Week?

S1 • E9

Question: What Is a Genius Worth This Week?

Slattery is drawn into the hostilities between a small town and the owner of a space research plant. Idealistic scientist and industrialist Robert Harrison refuses to accept government hardware contacts in lieu of scientific research projects. When the state moved to shutter the business, threatening the survival of a small town's economy, Slattery goes to battle for its citizens.

Question: What Is Honor?... What Is Death?

S1 • E10

Question: What Is Honor?... What Is Death?

When lawmaker James Patrick Shepherd suddenly changes his mind and approves a ridiculous bill that Slattery opposes, Slattery suspects something is seriously amiss. Unknown to all, Shepherd is dying and has been offered a substantial life insurance policy for his family's welfare in exchange for his vote.

Question: Do the Ignorant Sleep in Pure White Beds?

S1 • E11

Question: Do the Ignorant Sleep in Pure White Beds?

High school student Susan Breland inadvertently reveals that teacher Mr. Mulgay has been lecturing students in an unauthorized sex education class. Outraged parents quickly have Mulgay suspended from his position, while Slattery goes against popular opinion to support a sex education in schools bill.

S1 • E12

Question: Which One Has the Privilege?

Newspaper reporter Frank Radcliffe prints a story implying that an unnamed member of the state legislature accepted a bribe. When pressured to identify the source of the information, Radcliffe invokes newspaper privilege to protect his source; however, his state is one that does not allow that protection, opening him up to a libel suit and the end of his career.

Question: How Long Is the Shadow of a Man?

S1 • E13

Question: How Long Is the Shadow of a Man?

During a heated debate with Slattery on the House floor, Arnold Hampton suffers a heart attack and dies. Though his widow Lucy is elected to carry out the remainder of his term, she harbors a vengeful grudge against Slattery and intends to sabotage his career.

S1 • E14

Question: What's a Requiem for a Loser?

Against Slattery's advice, freshman representative Scott Fleming wants to push through a bill ending capital punishment in the state and is aided by his brazen wife Aurora. Meanwhile, citizen Eugene Henson also has a strong interest in Fkeming's bill; he's a convicted killer sitting on death row.

Question: What Did You Do All Day, Mr. Slattery?

S1 • E15

Question: What Did You Do All Day, Mr. Slattery?

In a departure from the typical dramatic format, an average work day in the life of state representative James Slattery is presented, revealing the small, daily victories and losses, internecine relationships among colleagues, and multiple demands of their constituencies.

Question: How Do You Fall in Love with a Town?

S1 • E16

Question: How Do You Fall in Love with a Town?

Samuel Walton, one time employee at the town's mill, runs for mayor , boldly placing himself in opposition with the son of the mill's corrupt and powerful owner Jonathan Blaine. Walton is aided in his campaign against local corruption by the town's newspaper editor and Representative Slattery.

Question: Does Nero Still at Ringside Sit?

S1 • E17

Question: Does Nero Still at Ringside Sit?

Just before a prize fight, word reaches Slattery that boxer Jerry Leon isn't physically ready, and Leon's wife agrees. Slattery appeals to the boxing commissioner to stop the fight, but he refuses. When Leon is seriously injured during the bout, Slattery undertakes a mission to have the matches outlawed in the state.

Question: How Do You Catch a Cool Bird of Paradise?

S1 • E18

Question: How Do You Catch a Cool Bird of Paradise?

Murray Kelly's son is killed by a drug addict on his high school campus, he very publicly pushes for legislation that would distinguish addicts as criminals and create harsher punishments for drug crimes involving children. Slattery takes up Keller's cause.

Question: When Do We Hang the Good Samaritan?

S1 • E19

Question: When Do We Hang the Good Samaritan?

Dr. Roy Kirk tries to help a man who took a nasty fall down a hill while on a fishing trip with Slattery. Kirk is sued for malpractice.

Question: Is Democracy Too Expensive This Year?

S1 • E20

Question: Is Democracy Too Expensive This Year?

Retired college professor Jonathan Styx wants to put his skills and years of experience to better use by running for public office. He calls upon Slattery and professional fund raiser Harvey Peabody to teach him the ins and outs of campaign financing, which proves to be an eye-opening, if not cynical, lesson in politics.

Question: Did He Who Made the Lamb Make Thee?

S1 • E21

Question: Did He Who Made the Lamb Make Thee?

Outraged over a child's injuries, Dr. Kay Peterson decides to report the child's parents to the proper authorities for suspected child abuse, and they later file a million dollar slander suit against her. Dr. Peterson turns to Slattery to defend her.

Question: Who You Taking to the Main Event, Eddie?

S1 • E22

Question: Who You Taking to the Main Event, Eddie?

Arlene Mancuso, the Assistant District Attorney in a small town that has passed a gambling law, seeks Slattery's help. She wants his assistance in investigating corruption within the gambling industry to take down Arnold Layton a powerful, local leader.

S1 • E23

Question: What's New in Timbuktoo?

After a long, distinguished career, veteran assemblyman Raymond J. O'Riordan feels he's being pushed out of office and fiercely resists retirement. His stance places him in direct conflict with his daughter Liz, as well as his party's leader Representative Slattery.

Question: Bill Bailey, Why Did You Come Home?

S1 • E24

Question: Bill Bailey, Why Did You Come Home?

Self-made millionaire Bill Bailey begins buying up his old neighborhood with the intent of leveling and replacing it with Tracy housing. He's aided by indefatigable real estate developer Evelyn Willis, but opposed by Jim Lorgan, the incensed leader of local homeowners.

Question: What Time Is the Next Bandwagon?

S1 • E25

Question: What Time Is the Next Bandwagon?

During an intense convention of his party, Slattery works hard to get votes for Daniel Ralston, the candidate Slattery hopes will win the gubernatorial nomination. However, they face an uphill battle against formidable campaign manager Claudia Strickland who seeks to stop his nomination.

Question: What's a Swan Song for a Sparrow?

S1 • E26

Question: What's a Swan Song for a Sparrow?

Slattery and state officials find their plan to build a highway thwarted by an unlikely, peculiar but seemingly benign Louella Woodward. The proposed highway is set to run through Woodward's property, destroying an animal sanctuary she has created, and Woodward is willing to go to surprising lengths to stop it.