On an October day in 1932, at the height of the Depression, industrialist B. F. Fulton and his wife Gladys, seated in their elegant Park Avenue apartment, listen with interest to a radio commentary by Martin Delwyn Ainsley about the speech B. F. gave the night before. Ainsley blames B. F. and men like him for the Depression and for offering simple, empty solutions to reverse the country's economic misfortunes. When B. F. tells his daughter Polly that he will be announcing the distribution of dividends from his company, Polly gives the tip to her boyfriend, stuffy attorney Robert S. Tasmin, hoping that the information will result in Bob's promotion, and, consequently, his readiness to marry her. Bob, however, refuses to act on Polly's tip, insisting that it would be unethical to do so. A short time later, while having a drink at a speakeasy with her friend Apples Sandler, Polly meets Thomas W. Brett, a well-spoken university economics professor, who has written books espousing his radical theories of economics. Polly invites Tom to her home, and their friendship quickly builds until Polly reveals who her father is. After telling Polly that he wrote three unflattering chapters about B. F. in his book, Tom leaves her home in a hurry. However, the following day, Tom professes his love for Polly and they plan to marry. B. F. opposes the marriage, but because he loves Polly, he continues to provide a comfortable life for her. After quitting his job, Tom takes Polly to a small island in Minnesota, where they build a modest home. In time, however, Polly becomes restless and leaves the island for New York City, where she secretly secures a lecture tour through the Northeast for Tom by promising to pay the lecture bureau if it loses money on him. The lecture tour brings Tom success and notoriety, and results in his appointment to an important White House position. Tom, however, turns his back on his ill-won success and his marriage, too, when he learns that Polly arranged his tour. Time passes, and following the death of B. F. and the outbreak of World War II, Polly goes to Washington in the hope of saving her marriage. Soon after arriving in Washington, Polly unjustly accuses Tom of taking a Dutch mistress. She is embarrassed by the accusation, though, when she discovers that the Dutch woman is a blind war refugee for whom Bob has been caring. Tom and Polly eventually reconcile and seal their love with a kiss.