This book focuses mainly on trust in the Congress and examines patterns of trust in societal institutions and the presidency, especially in light of the Clinton impeachment controversy. It details the present character of distrust, analyzes its causes and the dangers it poses, and suggests remedies.

Foreword: Trust and Democracy -- The Puzzle of Distrust -- Insiders with a Crisis from Outside -- Appreciating Congress -- Congress and Public Trust -- How Good People Make Bad Collectives -- Congress, Public Trust, and Education -- Performance and Expectations in American Politics -- Epilogue -- Trends in Public Trust: 1952-1998