In 1966, Bjorn W. Hinkel endures an alcohol-fueled initiation by his fellow Yale University students as a Delta Kappa Epsilon pledge. During the hazing, Hinkel successfully recalls the names and nicknames of many of the fraternity members, and states that his family's political legacy is one in which he has no interest. A little later, after Hinkel is jailed in New Jersey for rowdiness following a football game, his father, Bjorn H. W. Hinkel, states that he will help Hinkel, but for the last time. Following his graduation from Yale, Hinkel takes a job at an oil patch back in his home state of Texas, but he quits after only a few weeks. Shortly after this, "Junior" reveals his real aspirations in a father-son talk: working in professional baseball, in some capacity. Soon afterwards, Hinkel is accepted into Harvard Business School with the help of his father. Later that night after drinking heavily, Hinkel crashes his car into his family estate and challenges his father to a fistfight.