Character Relationship Map: Primary Colors

Characters

• Jack Stanton (played by John Travolta) — protagonist
• Susan Stanton (played by Emma Thompson) — protagonist
• Richard Jemmons (played by Billy Bob Thornton) — supporting
• Henry Burton (played by Adrian Lester) — supporting
• Daisy Green (played by Maura Tierney) — supporting
• Fat Willie (played by Tommy Hollis) — minor
• Howard Ferguson (played by Paul Guilfoyle) — supporting
• Libby Holden (played by Kathy Bates) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Fat Willie → Howard Ferguson (Professional Crisis Interlocutor)

  Henry and Howard jointly tell Willie that his daughter should undergo an amniocentesis to determine paternity.

• Libby Holden → Jack Stanton (Professional Investigator)

  The Stantons hire Libby to investigate allegations that opponents could use against Jack.

• Henry Burton → Daisy Green (Professional Campaign Colleague)

  Henry and Daisy are both listed among Jack's inner-circle advisers during the early campaign journey.

• Susan Stanton → Henry Burton (Professional Senior Adviser)

  Susan is part of Jack's inner circle, and she later sends Henry and Libby on opposition research into a rival's past.

• Jack Stanton → Howard Ferguson (Professional Political Operator)

  Howard Ferguson is described as a sly political operator in Jack's inner circle.

• Jack Stanton → Daisy Green (Professional Spokesperson And Candidate)

  Daisy Green is identified as the campaign's intelligent spokeswoman while Jack is its presidential candidate.

• Jack Stanton → Richard Jemmons (Professional Strategist)

  Richard Jemmons is introduced as Jack's unconventional political strategist within the governor's inner circle.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Fat Willie → Henry Burton (Narrative Informant)

  Fat Willie approaches Henry to report that his teenage daughter is pregnant and claims Jack is the father.

• Jack Stanton → Fat Willie (Social Old Friend)

  The plot describes Fat Willie as Jack's old friend before he approaches Henry with the paternity allegation.

• Libby Holden → Henry Burton (Alliance Investigation Partner)

  Libby and Henry track down the person responsible for doctored recordings and later investigate a rival's past together.

• Libby Holden → Susan Stanton (Social Old Friend)

  The plot calls Libby an old friend whom the Stantons hire for the investigation.

• Henry Burton → Howard Ferguson (Alliance Political Collaborator)

  Henry and Howard jointly tell the distressed father that his daughter should undergo amniocentesis.

• Henry Burton → Richard Jemmons (Alliance Teammate)

  Henry joins the same advisory team as Richard during the journey to the New Hampshire primary.

• Susan Stanton → Howard Ferguson (Alliance Campaign Colleague)

  Susan and Howard work within the same inner circle, including the response to the paternity allegation.

• Susan Stanton → Richard Jemmons (Alliance Campaign Colleague)

  Susan and Richard both belong to Jack's inner circle of political advisers during the primary campaign.

Story Analysis

A young idealist enters presidential politics and confronts the ethical compromises behind a successful campaign.

Plot Progression

1. A Voice Joins The Machine
2. Scandals Beneath The Surface
3. The Cost Of Winning
4. Opposition Research Turns Toxic
5. Victory After Disillusionment