Margaret Leslie Davis's biography follows Edward L. Doheny from his days as an itinerant prospector in the rugged western territories into the jungles of Mexico, where he built an oil empire that helped inaugurate a new era of petroleum. But it was a tale that ended in tragedy when - at the peak of his power and prestige - Doheny became embroiled in the notorious Teapot Dome scandal and was charged with bribing the U.S. secretary of the interior.

As accusations mounted, two special prosecutors vigorously pursued criminal charges of bribery, fraud, and conspiracy. At the height of the prosecution, Doheny's son was murdered by a family confidant, who then took his own life. The case against Doheny ended in an astounding jury decision: the cabinet official accused of taking a bribe from Doheny was found guilty and sent to prison, yet Doheny was fully acquitted.

Despite the verdict, the relentless pursuit by special prosecutors and the massive press coverage overshadowed the achievements of a lifetime, and Doheny died in disfavor in 1935. Previously hidden personal correspondence adds to this first complete portrait of the man and answers questions about Doheny that have eluded researchers for almost seventy-five years.