Set against the backdrop of John F. Kennedys alma mater, Harvard University, just prior to his assassination in 1963, tale interweaving the private stories of several individuals. Arthur Knight is an associate professor whose claim to fame is that he was Kennedys freshman-year roommate, is denied tenure. His wife, Gwen suspects him of having a relationship with his student, Molly. However, the truth is that he is having an affair with a man. Charlie Green, who has a crush on Molly, lies about his poor Jewish background, pretending to be a WASP in order to fit in with the Harvard elite.