The eighth and final chapter of CAPTAINS AND THE KINGS concluded two months of weekly broadcasts, the time 1912, when the Democrat nominee for President is sure to win with the Republican ticket split between Taft and Roosevelt. Rory Armagh (Perry King) has not only married Claudia Desmond as his father decreed, he has also surprised many with his drive to succeed for the White House. As his ultimate triumph draws ever closer Joseph Armagh (Richard Jordan) suffers a heart attack, relinquishing Rory's campaign to brother Brian (Cliff DeYoung), and bidding farewell to both friends and family. Longtime attorney Harry Zieff (Harvey Jason) has little time to enjoy retirement, sacrificing himself to save a young woman (Sian Barbara Allen) from death on the Titanic; Joseph's true love Elizabeth (Blair Brown) expires in her sleep after a visit from Harry; long estranged brother Sean (David Huffman) finally learns how Joseph secretly saved him from the gallows some 30 years earlier, and guarantees Rory the labor vote; for his part Rory despises the men in charge, lusting for power in order to strike back at the cold manipulations of the powers-that-be. Sadly it would not come to pass, though for ten hours viewers were glued to their seats for this rendition of NBC's Best Sellers. Richard Jordan earned a Golden Globe for his towering performance, while Patty Duke received an Emmy.