A successful war hero and official in State Department in McCarthy era. Charismatic, ambitious with sophisticated charm. He uses his charm to his advantage, maintaining a distance from emotional intimacy. He struggles deeply with the balance between his real self and the man he has to pretend to be. Engaged to Lucy Smith out of obligation, but his heart is with Tim Laughlin, whom he calls Skippy affectionately. He has a bad habit of being extremely possessive and protective of Tim.