All the ingredients of a political thriller simmered: a corrupt state governor accepts money for political favors. A new governor of another party is elected, but the inauguration is days away. The current governor appears set on transacting as many illegal acts as he can for bribes before the end of his term. Those acts include the pardoning of convicted felons, even murderers.

Then: a coup, of sorts. Members of both parties, those of the corrupt governor and those of the governor-elect, appalled that public safety is threatened, agree that the acts must be halted. They swear in the new governor in a suddenly-called, early ceremony.

The story is true. It happened in 1979 in my native state of Tennessee. Keel Hunt recounts the story in his book, appropriately titled Coup. The governor was Ray Blanton. The governor-elect was Lamar Alexander.

During a day of decision, the leaders of both political parties secretly discussed, parried, and analyzed. Was it allowed by the state constitution to administer the oath to the governor-elect days before the set inauguration? Alexander believed strongly in operating within the law and wanted nothing that hinted of illegal seizure by his party. He refused to be sworn in early unless leaders of both parties agreed to it. Finally, all agreed, and Alexander was sworn in early. Whatever felons Blanton might have released remained in prison.

Coup is heavy on local history, an endless parade of local characters, but fascinating for those of us who grew up with their stories. The memories of a bygone era are bittersweet: courthouse political speeches and face-to-face campaigning before the days of social media, as well as the effective but sometimes questionable old boy network.

Contrast this extraordinary desire to stay within the law, even when public safety is in peril, with Egypt, where power recently was seized by the military. Egypt and Tennessee operate in vastly different spheres. More differences than similarities are involved. Yet, we can be proud of a group of politicians, including one who had just won an election, for their concern for lawful process.

We are a nation of laws and not of men, said John Adams, second president of the United States, who left office after losing election to a second term. No matter that we sometimes fall short. May the Egyptians soon know such a striving for a nation of laws and not of men.