Contributors: Abigail McCarthy, Alice R. Longsworth, Art Buchwald, Arthur M. Schlessenger, Jr., Barbara Howar, Ben Bradlee, David Brinkley, David McCullough, Dean Acheson, Drew Pearson, Robert S. Allen, Eleanor Roosevelt, Grace Tully, Harry Truman, Henry Allen, Henry Kissinger, Isabel Anderson, Jack Anderson, Jack Valenti, James Thurber, John dos Passos, Jonathan Daniels, Lady Bird Johnson, Lilian R. Parks, Liz Carpenter, Merriman Smith, Michael K. Deaver, Will Rogers, Nancy Reagan... [et al.]

"A huge, rich gathering of articles, memoirs, humor, and history, chosen by Mrs. Graham, that brings to life her beloved city"-- Cover.

Washington overview: Washington scene -- City of magnificent intentions -- Main Street-on-Potamic -- Natural setting -- Washington evening -- Living in Washington, D.C. -- It's Middleton-on-the-Potamic -- Drums of conflict -- True grit and imitation grandeur -- Mr. and Mrs. Smith come to Washington: Old order changeth -- New boy on capitol hill -- Report on a life lived in Washington -- Life intertwines along the Potamic -- Unpaid manager of a small hotel -- Social Washington: Society of the nation's capital -- Don'ts in Washington -- Boiled bosoms -- Innocence and mischief -- Dining-out Washington -- Washington parties -- Rumblossoms on the Potomac -- Bigwigs, littlewigs, and no wigs at all -- She teaches Washington to put on airs -- Period pieces: Washington portraits -- One sits by the fire and surveys the world -- Old Washington vanished, never to return -- Capital underworld -- President and his cabinet -- View from E Street -- Memoirs of a congressman's daughter -- Same place, different frenzy -- World War I: War-time Washington -- Capital at war -- Topsy-turvy capital -- World War II: Washington is a state of mind -- Main gate -- Churchill brightens the first war Christmas -- Boom town and the strains -- Alleys of Washington -- Visitors to Washington: Letter from a self-made diplomat to his constituents -- Will Rogers out of his element ; Young hero from Colorado ; Lindbergh, the perfect ghost -- Greatest man in the world -- Washington -- I love Washington -- Washington events: Hope tempers sorrow of whole people at tomb of humble dead soldier -- High point -- Era's end -- Depression days -- Lion at bay -- Royal close-ups -- Royal visitors -- Morning means another day -- Parade of '53 -- Thursday night: first sparks of anger -- President watching: Foremost man of his age -- Reminisces of the Hardings -- Timely death of President harding -- Coolidge days -- First Christmas with the Roosevelts -- Life with Mamie -- JFK -- Kennedys -- Outrageous memoirs of the presidential kennel keeper -- Never send to know for whom the wedding bell tolls -- Peace at last -- Man in the emergency room -- How we lived -- Washington women: On women's suffrage and a notable Washington woman -- Alice R. Longsworth: defying convention -- Herald angel -- Pioneer woman of the 20th century -- Private lives of government girls -- Political wife -- Women and children -- Washington humor: Attic in my edifice: some random notes -- Natives: their work and curious temperament -- Four funny columns -- Winners go to Washington, D.C. -- How Washington works: Mrs. Boggs gets seated -- Washington's curious caste system ... [et al.]