As Rudy's political career thrives, Julie continues her battle with drinking. A bad break for Tom turns into good luck when he meets Kay and they begin to fall in love. Rudy contacts Tom with good news: Tom's troubles with the underworld are over and Rudy has located Tom's son Wes. Tom rushes home where he and Wes have an awkward reunion. Julie's concerns about her own son Billy prove accurate as their visit ends poorly. Tom and Wes grow closer until a boating accident threatens to separate father and son once more.
The small screen adaptation of Irwin Shaw's best-selling 1970s novel Rich Man, Poor Man was the first great American mini-series. It was an epic television event of historical proportions. The story of the Jordache family grabbed the attention of a nation during the winter of 1976. Originally… More broadcast as a limited twelve-part dramatic series, the series topped the weekly ratings and ended the 1975-76 TV season as the second highest rated show. It was nominated for 20 Emmys (winning 4) and 6 Golden Globes (winning 4, including Best TV Series - Drama.) "Rich Man, Poor Man" recounts the lives of brothers Rudy (Peter Strauss) and Tom (Nick Nolte) Jordache from 1945 - 1965. One will gain great wealth and power as a businessman and politician while the other will struggle through life as a boxer and gangster thug. They both compete for the love of Julie Prescott (Susan Blakely) with one of them finally making her their wife.