Liberty's moving.
The 10:15 event's been moved inside
to the lndian Treaty room.
10:15 is American Fisheries?
Yes, sir. They're giving you
a 200-pound halibut.
Janie, make a note.
We need to schedule more events...
where somebody gives me
a really big fish.
- Yes, sir.
- Janie, I'm kidding.
- Hey, Cooper.
- Morning, Mr. President.
Mr. Rothschild asked to have
a moment with you this morning, sir.
Is he upset
about the speech last night?
He seemed concerned.
It wouldn't be a Monday morning
unless Lewis was concerned...
about something I did Sunday night.
- You skipped a whole paragraph!
- And Monday morning it is.
"Americans can no longer afford to
pretend they live in a great society--"
And then you dumped
the whole handguns paragraph.
This is a time
for prudence, Lewis.
But, sir, that was
the kick-ass section.
Well, I thought what with being
president and all--
I didn't mean to imply--
I thought you'd be turning
cartwheels this morning, Lewis.
- 63% job approval.
- That is good news, sir.
- Morning, Mr. President.
- Morning, Charlie.
Sir, the press is gonna need
an explanation.
- For what?
- Because you dumped the whole section.
- Now we've got this thing hanging out.
- There's this thing hanging out?
"Americans can no longer afford to
pretend they live in a great society--"
And then nothing.
No explanation, no context.
- It's just this thing.
- And it's hanging out?
- Yes, sir.
- Maria.
- Good morning, sir.
- I'm gonna need--
Overall consumer spending
and not just first homes?
- We'll have it for you in 15 minutes.
- Thanks.
Mr. President, I really feel--
However much coffee you drink,
I want you to reduce it by half.
- I don't drink coffee, sir.
- Then hit yourself with a baseball bat.
- Yes, sir.
- Happy birthday, Laura.
- Laura, happy birthday.
- Thank you, sir.
- I should send her some flowers.
- You already did, sir.
- Good morning, Mr. President.
- How are you today, Mrs. Chapil?
Fine, sir. Mr. Kodak left a detailed
breakdown of the approval poll for you.
He seemed to indicate
that it was very good news.
Sixty-three percent of it,
at any rate.
Lucy called just a moment ago.
You forgot to sign her permission slip.
Ah, the museum trip.
I'll go get it, sir.
- What time is she getting home?
- 3:20.
- How's my afternoon look?
- Very crowded.
Schedule some time at 3:45.
Too-tall McCall!
So how was Mexico?
I didn't appreciate it
until I came back...
and discovered that America
isn't a great society.
He dumped a whole section.
Now there's this thing
hanging out?
Not a great society, sir?
With you out of the country, it wasn't.
Now that you're back, we're great again.
There's a pressroom full of people
saying, "What did he mean by that?"
- A.J., did you get one of these?
- The letter from Solomon at the G.D.C.?
It appears to be a letter
from the entire environmental community.
- These people are out of control.
- Well, they're frustrated.
Are they blaming the president
for global warming?
They don't think he caused it.
I'm on the phone with them twice a week.
I honestly don't know
what they want at this point.
They want a 20% reduction
in fossil fuel emissions.
- It won't pass at 20%.
- Well, we haven't really tried.
McSorley, McClusky and Shane
hold too many markers.
If we try to push this through and lose,
there will be a very loud thud...
and that's not what you want
in an election year.
Talk to the G.D.C. again.
Tell them the president
resents the implication...
he's turned his back
on the environment.
I'll send 455 to the floor,
but I'll ask for a 10% reduction.
If they want to pull
their support, fine.
With a 63% job approval rating, I don't
need their help to get a bill passed.
- Good deal.
- Let's get going. Where's Leon?
John, call Mr. Kodak
and tell him the president's waiting.
Sorry. My fault.
Never mind, John.
Excuse me.
Good morning, Mr. President.
- Are you all right?
- They keep moving that big ficus plant.
We're all here, Mr. President.
First of all, I wanted to say
congratulations.
Three years ago, we were elected by one
of the narrowest margins in history...
and today, Kodak tells us...
63% of registered voters
think we're doing a good job.
Wait a second.
You wanted me to poll registered voters?
The poll also tells us
what we already know.
If we don't get our crime bill
through Congress...
those numbers
are gonna be a memory.
So starting today,
we're shifting it into gear.
Can I tell my morning press gaggle
that gun control--
"Crime control," Robin.
"Gun control" means we're soft on crime.
Well, hang on. Are we not putting back
the handgun restrictions?
No, we're leaving them out.
Mr. President,
we campaigned on this issue.
We took them out when we were in the
40s, but we could push it through now.
After the elections, Lewis.
We may never have
an opportunity like this again.
Sir, let's take this 63% out for a spin.
Let's see what it could do.
We can't take it out for a spin.
We need it to get reelected.
For reasons I don't understand, people
do not relate guns to gun-related crime.
Robin, you can brief the press
this afternoon.
As of today, the crime bill is priority
one on the president's domestic agenda.
- Got it.
- Leon, you're gonna run the war room.
We'll need projections for all the
target districts by the end of the week.
Oh, and don't be the sweet,
nice guy from Brooklyn on this one.
- Do what the N.R.A. does.
- Scare the shit out of them?
- Exactly.
- I can do that.
We want you to be legislative liaison.
You're gonna run the show on the Hill.
Can I just say, to return
to the subject for one moment...
that it might be easier to fight drugs
if we weren't arming drug dealers?
We gotta fight the fights
we can win, Lewis.
- Yes, sir.
- We want to announce the crime bill...
at the State of the Union,
which is 72 days from today.
Last count put us
18 votes short.
Eighteen votes in 72 days.
Thank you, everyone.
- What's next?
- Security briefing, sir.
"Global Defense Council"
Good morning. Global Defense Council.
You wanted to see me?
- I just spoke with A.J. Maclnerney.
- Did the president read the letter?
The president's pissed as hell.
That letter was a stupid move.
It was aggressive, and I think
we should stand by every word--
This isn't the guy who needed our help.
He's incredibly popular.
He's gonna win reelection, and
he could give a shit what we stand by!
If the president passes history's most
important environmental legislation...
despite our negative endorsement,
our future political weight...
will rank somewhere below
the Save the Spotted Owl Society.
I'm bringin' in some help.
We don't need another environmental
expert to confirm what every other--
Not an environmental expert.
A professional political strategist.
We're playing hardball with Andrew
Shepherd, and we need a heavy bat.
- Who?
- Syndey Ellen Wade.
Christ, Leo! That woman doesn't know
anything about the environmental lobby!
She's a closer, Susan.
She gets the job done.
- What if I lose this?
- Then move this up here.
David Sasser from the Times wants to
know what you think is a great society.
-What did you tell him?
-That I can't speak for the president...
but for my money, Bermuda.
- Perfect.
- Your cousin Judith has the flu...
and won't be able
to join you Thursday night.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Remind me to call her later today.
- Yes, sir.
- You gonna go stag?
- Is that a problem?
- No, we've never gone wrong...
parading you around
as the lonely widower.
I can't believe I said that. That was
an incredibly thoughtless remark.
I would never dream of insulting you
with the memory of your wife.
That's okay. Forget it.
What time is it?
It's 3:30, sir.
I'm gonna go up
and say hi to Lucy.
You have the attorney general at 4:00
and the trade rep at 4:30.
- And you promised N.P.R. five minutes.
- Mr. President?
Robin, don't worry about it.
Don't stop. It sounds great.
What is it?
Scales.
Well, you're playing with gusto.
- Are my lips swollen?
- Are they supposed to be?
- Yeah.
- Well, you're doin' just fine.
- What ya got behind your back?
- I have a little surprise for you.
- Is it a dirt bike?
- No.
Is it a really old seventh grade
textbook of yours...
that you're gonna make me discuss
at dinner and drive me crazy--
I'm not comfortable with the "really
old" part, but everything else was true.
Understanding the Constitution.
Your social studies teacher said your
class will be studying the Constitution.
You talked to Mr. Linder?
Yes. It's called
a parent-teacher conference.
Mr. Linder and I were
the key players in the discussion.
So why don't you like
social studies?
I like it fine, Dad.
All your other teachers say
you're happy, enthusiastic.
Mr. Linder says you never participate
unless he calls on you...
and even then
it's a one-word answer.
I don't know, Dad.
I guess I'm just not--
I don't know.
Luce, take a look at this book.
This is exciting stuff.
It's about who we are and what we want.
Read what it says
on the first page.
"Property of Gilmore Junior High."
The next page, Luce.
"We the people of the United States,
in order to form a more perfect union--"
See what I mean? It grabs you right
off the bat. This is a page-turner.
- I can't wait.
- Well, good because...
this subject may come up at dinner.
Do you see it as your job
to torture me?
No, just one of the perks.
See you tonight, honey.
The C-STAD hardware's
been in place for a month.
We have 22 instructors from the Army
waiting to train the lsraelis.
- How soon can you deploy them?
- We can airlift them in the morning.
They'll have C-STAD operational
in 20 days.
Any security concerns?
If anybody wanted to hit it,
they'd have hit it by now.
Okay, let's move on it.
Thank you, gentlemen.
- Thank you, Mr. President.
- Good night, John.
- Thank you.
- Good night, sir.
- Good seeing you.
- You too. Good night.
Have a good evening, Mrs. Chapil.
Janie, I'll see you tomorrow morning.
- You will, Mr. President.
- Good night, Janie, Mrs. Chapil.
- Mr. President, sir.
- Thank you.
- Leo Solomon brought in a hired gun.
- It's about time.
She's a lawyer from Virginia.
Her name is Sydney Ellen Wade.
I know her pretty well. She's had a lot
of success getting congressmen elected.
Maybe we should try to steal her.
Ten percent, A.J. Don't let them leave
the room till they're clear about that.
If you've got a free second,
maybe you could stop in and say hello.
- It might smooth the way.
- Mention it to Janie tomorrow.
- Good deal.
- And let's focus on the crime bill.
I don't want to just win this one.
I want to win by a couple of touchdowns.
We will, Mr. President.
Robin said something to me today, and
I know she wouldn't have said it if--
I mean, she wasn't saying it
to me, I realize.
Forget it.
I'll see you in the morning.
- Good night, Mr. President.
- A.J.?
- Yes, sir?
- When we're out of the office...
and alone,
you can call me Andy.
- I beg your pardon?
- You were the best man at my wedding.
- Call me Andy.
- Whatever you say, Mr. President.
- Good night, sir.
- Good night, A.J.
- Hi, I'm Sydney Ellen Wade.
- He just needs your driver's license.
- I'm from Virginia.
- He doesn't care.
- I have a meeting with Mr. Maclnerney.
- He doesn't need to know.
Forgive me. This is my first time
at the White House.
I'm trying to savor
the "Capra-esque" quality.
He doesn't know
what "Capra-esque" means.
Yeah, I do. Frank Capra,
great American director.
It's a Wonderful Life,
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Sydney Ellen Wade of Virginia,
knock 'em dead.
Thanks.
...government subsidizes private schools
is when we give up on public education.
The proposal only scratches the surface,
but it's the least we can do.
We'll let Harold take a look at this.
We'll revisit it next week.
Say hello to Linda, and
have a good Thanksgiving holiday.
Thank you, Mr. President.
- So how are we doing?
- You're four minutes ahead of schedule.
Ahead? Gee, that's unprecedented.
I don't know what to do with myself.
- Mr. Maclnerney asked me to tell you--
- Oh, right, the G.D.C. meeting.
Rest assured, your concerns
are not falling on deaf ears.
The environmental lobby has known
no greater ally than President Shepherd.
Hardly an impressive
distinction, A.J.
Sydney, we should leave Mr. Maclnerney
alone now. He's given us--
Mr. Maclnerney doesn't
want us to leave him alone...
because Mr. Maclnerney has not yet done
what he needs to do today.
Sir, Ms. Wade's been thrown into the
deep end of the pool on her first day.
She hasn't even had a chance to read
the report of the Quebec Conference.
You're right.
I haven't read it.
Yesterday, I'd have told you
the Quebec Conference...
was made up of six
professional hockey teams.
But what I do know is that it's time
for the president to run for reelection.
Leon Kodak is as good as it gets
when it comes to electoral strategy...
and I'm sure he's told the president
exactly what I'd tell him.
Nail down Michigan and California where
they burn plenty of fossil fuels...
but if I'd read these 800 pages,
I would have discovered...
that burning fossil fuels is what's
mostly responsible for global warming...
and that the recommended 20% reduction
is a necessary first step...
toward arresting the greenhouse effect
which this administration has ignored.
- It's time for us--
- The White House chief of staff...
will not let us leave here
until he's broken the bad news.
I'm afraid Sydney's right, although
not about Michigan and California.
The president has asked me to tell you
that his proposed energy bill...
calls for a ten percent reduction.
The president is willing to go it alone
on this, but he's asking for--
and frankly, he's expecting--
the full support of the G.D.C.
- Our full support?
- Yes, he is.
The president's dreaming, A.J.
He has critically misjudged reality.
If he honestly thinks the environmental
community is going to whistle happily...
while rallying support around this
mockery of environmental leadership...
just because he's a nice guy and he's
done better than his predecessors...
then your boss is the
chief executive of Fantasyland.
Let's take him out back
and beat the shit out of him.
Good morning, Mr. President.
How are you today?
Couldn't be better.
My apologies for the interruption.
A.J. suggested I come by
and say hello.
You wouldn't be Sydney Ellen Wade
by any chance, would you?
Mr. President, I don't know what to say.
I'm speechless.
All evidence to the contrary.
Mr. President, I'm Susan Sloan.
I used to work with Congressman Myers.
I hope that this incident in no way
jeopardizes the good relationship--
- Yes, sir?
- Do you have a second?
Of course.
I thought maybe we might talk in private
someplace less intimidating.
- Janie?
- Yes, sir?
This is Janie Basdin, my personal aide.
Would you show Ms. Wade to the rec room?
- This way.
- I'll be with you in a second.
- Sorry to keep you waiting.
- Mr. President, l--
Is it all right
if I call you Sydney?
- Of course. Mr. President--
- Have you ever been in the Oval Office?
I've just been on the regular tour.
It didn't include--
- I hear it's pretty good.
- Mr. President...
what you saw in there
was just vanity run amuck.
I was showing off for a colleague
who doesn't think very much of me.
It would be an injustice to hold
the G.D.C. accountable for my behavior.
On top of which, I am monumentally sorry
for having insulted you like that.
- Do you think I'm mad at you?
- Well--
Seldom does a day go by
when I'm not burned in effigy.
Not by a professional political
operative 30 feet from the Oval Office!
I'll grant you that.
Did you know when the city planners
sat down to design Washington, D.C....
their intention was to build a city
that would intimidate foreign leaders?
- It's true.
- I didn't know that.
The White House is the single greatest
home-court advantage in the world.
I learned that one the hard way.
Sydney, this bill
is important to me.
Yes, sir.
I'll convey your message.
- But you don't believe me.
- The G.D.C. is asking for 20%, sir.
It's not gonna pass at 20%.
It's a long shot at ten.
How do you know until you put the weight
of the White House behind it?
Sydney, at 20%, we're 34 votes
shy in the House.
It can't be done.
But I'll tell you what.
I'll make you a deal.
If you can get 24 votes,
I'll get you the last ten.
Twenty-four votes?
If you can swing 24 votes
by the State of the Union...
I will promise you
full White House support.
Do I have your word on that, sir?
Absolutely.
Listen, are you hungry?
I skipped breakfast.
You want to have a doughnut?
Coffee or something?
Sir, I'm a little intimidated
by my surroundings...
and yes, I have gotten off
to a somewhat stilted beginning...
but don't let that diminish
the weight of my message.
The G.D.C. has been at every president
for the last decade and a half.
Global warming is a calamity...
the effects of which will be second
only to nuclear war.
The best scientists have given you every
reason to take the G.D.C. seriously...
but I'm gonna give you one more.
If you don't live up
to the deal you just made...
we're gonna go shopping
for a new candidate.
You can't do that, Sydney.
With all due respect,
who's going to stop me?
Well, if you go through that door,
the United States Secret Service.
That's my private office.
You have to go out
that door over there.
McSorley, McClusky and Shane know that
we're making our move on the crime bill.
They're circling the wagons
on the assault weapons.
- Should I meet with them?
- Let Lewis take a pass at them first.
Two-ball in the side.
- Nice shot, Mr. President.
- "Nice shot, Mr. President?"
You won't even call me by my name
when we're playing pool?
I will not do it playing pool.
I will not do it in a school.
I do not like green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam I am.
At ease!
- Would you get away from the pocket?
- I beg your pardon, sir.
Nine-ball in the corner.
Leo Solomon phoned. He said he was
thrilled with the deal you made.
- I forgot to tell you.
- It's a waste of time.
But it's not our time! G.D.C. makes
a big push to get the votes.
When they come up short,
we move in with a softer bill.
We get it passed.
We're everybody's hero.
- Three-ball in the side.
- Also, Sydney Wade called.
Sydney Wade?
She wanted to apologize
one more time for her behavior.
Excuse me, sir.
Three in the side.
- Did she say anything about me?
- Ms. Wade?
- When she called.
- Did she say anything about you?
It's just that we had
a nice couple of minutes together.
She threatened me.
I patronized her.
We didn't have anything to eat,
but I thought there was a connection.
- Excuse me, sir.
- Sure.
Thirteen in the corner.
She didn't say anything about me?
Well, no, sir, but I could pass her
a note before study hall.
Tell me this.
Hypothetically--
I feel a nightmare coming on.
What would happen if I called Sydney
Wade and asked her to be my date...
at the state dinner
on Thursday evening?
- You're not serious?
- Don't I sound serious?
The president can't just
go out on a date.
Why not? Jefferson did.
Wilson did.
Wilson was widowed during his first
term. He met a woman named Edith Galt.
He dated her, courted her
and married her.
And somewhere in there he managed
to form the League of Nations.
Mr. President,
this is an election year.
If you're looking
for female companionship...
we can make certain arrangements
that'll insure total privacy--
I don't want you to get me a girl!
What is this, Vegas?
No, this is the White House.
I'm talking about something that in
no way conflicts with my oath of office.
I'm a single adult. I met a woman
who I'd like to see again socially.
How is that different
from what Wilson did?
The difference is he didn't
have to be president on television.
You said it yourself
a million times.
If there had been a TV
in every living room 60 years ago...
this country does not elect
a man in a wheelchair.
- So what are you saying?
- I'm saying we'll take a hit.
- How big?
- Five points, maybe more.
- We're talking about five points?
- It could be more.
I drop five points when Wisconsin
doesn't make it to the Rose Bowl.
Five-ball in the corner.
Do you want me to have Kodak
put together some numbers?
Yeah-- No! I don't want
to check a polling sample...
Iike I'm asking permission
to stay out an hour past curfew.
This is not the business
of the American people.
With all due respect,
the American people have a funny way...
of deciding on their own
what is and what is not their business.
I like her, A.J.
Stop being my chief of staff
for one minute.
Give her a call.
She didn't say
anything about me?
She did say you were taller
than she thought you'd be.
Well, that's something.
- Yes, sir?
- I need you to find a phone number.
Richard, it wasn't funny.
I acted like a college freshman
at a protest rally.
Tell him the part
about walking out the wrong door.
Oh, God, I forgot about that.
Oh, God, I forgot about that.
No, Richard, I don't want to hear
your Andrew Shepherd imitation.
- I want to hear it.
- I'm hanging up now, Richard.
Tonight I was gonna go to bed early and
wake up where there's a new president.
The president must think
I'm a third-rate jerk.
If he thinks you're a jerk, I'm sure
he thinks you're a first-rate jerk.
I tell you one thing, boy.
I regrouped.
You gotta give me that.
I pulled it together at the end.
I stood in the middle of the Oval Office
and made it absolutely clear...
that he who doesn't take the G.D.C.
seriously, does so at his peril.
And then you walked out
the wrong door.
Are you gonna be throwing that
back at me the rest of my life?
That's my current plan.
That's gonna be Leo Solomon.
He said he'd call at 9:00.
- Hello?
- Yeah, hi. Is this Sydney?
- Leo?
- No, this is Andrew Shepherd.
Oh, it's Andrew Shepherd.
Yeah, you're hilarious, Richard.
You're just a regular riot.
No, this isn't Richard.
This is Andrew Shepherd.
Oh, well,
I'm so glad you called...
because I forgot to tell you today
what a nice ass you have.
I'm also impressed that you got
my number since I don't have a phone.
- Good night, Richard.
- This isn't Rich--
This used to be easier.
- I don't believe this.
- Do you want me to deal with him?
No. I may choke in front of Shepherd.
Richard Reynolds I can handle. Hello?
- Sydney?
- Are you learning impaired?
Listen, do me a favor.
Hang up the phone.
- What?
- Hang up the phone...
then dial 456-1414.
When you get
the White House operator...
give her your name and tell her
you want to speak to the president.
Oh, my God.
This isn't happening to me.
What's going on?
No, it's not possible
I did this twice in one day.
Good evening,
the White House. Hello?
Hi. My name's Sydney Allen Wade.
I'd like to--
The president's expecting your call.
I'll put you right through.
- Hello?
- Mr. President.
I'm sure there's an appropriate
thing to say at this moment.
Probably some formal apology for
the nice ass remark would be in order.
I just don't quite
know how to word it.
It's my fault.
I shouldn't have called you at home.
- Should I call you at the office?
- No, of course not.
I mean, yes.
You can call me anytime you want.
This is fine. Right now is fine.
When I said of course not, I meant--
You know what? The hell with it.
I'm moving to another country.
What did you mean when you said
that you didn't have a phone?
I just moved to Washington over the
weekend, and my apartment isn't ready.
This is my sister's apartment.
How did you get this number?
How did I get the number?
That's a good question.
I don't know.
Probably the FBl.
Oh, the FBl? Sure!
'Cause if you want to find someone and
you're the president, you call the FBl.
- You know who else is good at that?
- Uh, CIA?
Well, yeah, but I was thinking
of the lnternal Revenue Service.
You know, they have these
computer files that--
Well, I should stop stalling.
As you probably know, the French
have elected themselves a new president.
We're having a formal
state dinner at the White House...
and I was wondering--
and you're under no obligation--
but I thought it might be fun, and I was
wondering if maybe you wanted to go...
with me.
That's it.
That's why I was calling.
- Congress doesn't take this long.
- Mr. President.
You have asked me to join you
in representing our country.
I'm honored. I'm equal to the task.
I won't let you down, sir.
Sydney, this is just dinner.
We're not gonna be doing espionage.
No, of course.
I'm a little--
What do I do?
I mean, where do I go?
Will you meet me?
- Should l--
- I'll have Marsha Bridgeport call you.
She's the White House social secretary.
She'll help you with anything you want.
Now, when she calls you and tells you
her name is Marsha Bridgeport...
it'll help if you give her
the benefit of the doubt.
- Of course.
- I'll see you Thursday night.
Mr. President,
thanks for asking me, really.
This is a first for me.
Me too.
Okay, who's on lndiana?
Excuse me. I can't remember your names.
Raise your hands if you're on lndiana.
Put your hands down.
You're on Illinois.
- We got Jarrett.
- What?
George Jarrett.
He's ours. Solid yes.
I don't believe it.
You, new guy.
Jarrett, democrat, Minnesota.
Slide his name on over to yes.
His name was laminated to "undecided."
How'd you get his butt off the fence?
I wish I could take credit for it.
He says, "I support the president 100%."
Not the bill, the president.
We're gonna win this in a walk.
You know, it's like a kissing booth.
Give us a vote,
get a photo op with number 63.
- We should've gone after the handguns.
- We gotta do one thing at a time.
There's no time for one thing at a time.
Hi. It's David
in Sydney Wade's office.
Yeah, I'll hold.
It's David in Sydney Wade's office.
I want to confirm her lunch
with the congressman.
We could do with
a little party leadership.
I mean, is the majority whip
taking a break?
Congress is in session, right?
I'm not wrong about that?
I just got off with Luther Simons.
Brock's on board.
Terrific.
Well, have him get back to me.
You okay, Syd?
Sure. Why?
I don't know.
You seem a little tense.
What do you mean?
Big date tonight?
- Senator Rumson, can I have a moment?
- Certainly.
I'm standing here with
Senate Minority Leader Robert Rumson...
one of the many guests arriving at what,
for the next few hours at least...
will be a nonpartisan White House.
Senator, the latest public opinion
surveys show the president...
with approval ratings that would make
him all but unbeatable come November.
Is there a republican who can mount
a serious challenge, and are you him?
Well, Lloyd, it's a long time
till next November.
- I'm looking forward to this evening.
- Thank you, Senator.
That's a little tight, Luce.
It's supposed to be tight.
It's supposed to make you look regal.
Is it supposed to cut off
the blood flow to my face?
All done.
Well, that's not bad.
- Where'd you learn how to do that?
- Social studies.
Very funny. No, really,
where'd you learn that?
I don't know. I guess
I just picked it up somewhere.
Sweetie, did Mom teach you
how to do that?
Yeah.
Lucy, is this okay?
My having dinner with a lady?
- Dad, it's totally okay.
- You sure? lf you want to talk about--
Dad, it's cool.
Just go for it.
I'm a little nervous.
You'll be fine.
Just be yourself.
Be myself, huh?
Yeah, and compliment her shoes.
- Her shoes?
- Yeah. Girls like that.
Okay. Thanks.
- Thank you.
- Miss Wade?
Good evening. The president would like
you to join him in the residence.
- May I show you the way?
- Of course.
Sydney! Come on in.
You look beautiful.
Thanks. I have no idea
what I'm doing here.
I promise you, there's no hidden agenda.
This is my wife Esther.
Oh, sure.
It's nice to see you.
Sydney, Andrew Shepherd.
We spoke on the phone.
Yes, sir.
I remember.
Excuse me one minute.
The president told me
how you two met, Sydney.
- I think it's priceless.
- I don't know what happened.
One minute, I was calling him
a mockery of an environmental leader.
- The next minute, I had a date.
- Men like being insulted by women.
It makes them feel loved.
Don't ask me why.
Mr. President, would you allow me
to introduce to you...
Sydney Ellen Wade
of the commonwealth of Virginia?
Sydney, this is
President Rene-Jean D'Astier...
and his wife
Monique Danielle D'Astier of France.
A great pleasure to meet you.
- It's an honor to meet you both.
- I'm so pleased to meet you.
Mr. President, I'm sorry to interrupt.
The receiving line is in place.
Sydney, I think our table's ready.
When we get to the bottom of the stairs,
you'll be escorted to--
- They took me through it.
- Oh, good.
Do you do this often, sir?
This is actually
only our second state dinner.
The first one was
for the emperor of Japan.
He died shortly after, so we stopped
having them for a while, just in case.
I meant, do you go out on--
Do you often--
Do I date a lot?
No. How about you?
Me? Well, lately I seem to be going
on a lot of first dates.
- Then you're experienced at this.
- Oh, yeah. You can ask me anything.
- Well, how are we doing so far?
- It's hard to say at this point.
So far, it's just your typical
first-date stuff.
Damn. And I wanted to be different
from the other guys.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the president of the United States...
- Oh, by the way, nice shoes.
- accompanied by...
the president of France
and Madame D'Astier.
Mr. President, the president
and Mrs. D'Astier look bored.
They're not talking
to anybody.
They're hammered.
- Esther, do you speak French?
- Latin.
- I thought you spoke French.
- No, Latin.
Great, next time Julius Caesar
comes to town, you're our gal.
Sydney, I don't suppose--
That's my date.
Really?
Sydney, you didn't dissolve
our trade agreements, did you?
No, I just said we're sitting
in this beautiful room...
Iistening to the music
of this wonderful orchestra...
and I wondered why
nobody was dancing.
And I informed Miss Wade
that in my country...
a guest at the palace
of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette...
would soon find their head
in a guillotine...
if they made the impertinent
gesture of dancing...
without so much as a by-your-leave
from the king and the queen.
I'll bet no one accused Louis
of being soft on crime.
- There's a lesson there, Mr. President.
- More beheadings at the White House.
Bob Rumson would embrace it.
Yes, I'm sure he would.
I have a better idea.
Would you like to dance?
Yeah, I guess.
I mean, yes, sir, I'd love to.
I don't know how you do it.
It's Arthur Murray, six lessons.
That's not what I mean.
Two hundred pairs of eyes are focused
on you right now with two questions--
Who's this girl? And why is
the president dancing with her?
Well, first of all, the 200 pairs
of eyes are not focused on me.
They're focused on you.
And the answers are--
Sydney Ellen Wade, because she said yes.
Does this setup work for you?
- Good morning, Mrs. Chapil.
- Good morning, Mr. President.
Mr. Rothschild and Miss McCall
are in the office, sir.
They need to speak with you
before scheduling.
Fine. Janie, can you get me
the number of a local florist?
I'll take care of it, sir.
I want to do it myself.
I just need the number.
I don't understand.
I want the phone number
of a florist.
You just want the phone number?
Yeah.
I don't understand.
Is there a problem--
I want to send some flowers.
I want to do it myself.
I don't want to issue an executive
order. I just want a phone number.
I'll get it for you
right away, sir.
- Good morning.
- Mr. President, we need five minutes.
I'll be with you in two minutes.
I just need to make a call.
Thank you, Janie.
Who are we calling, sir?
I'm calling the organization of
the it's none of your damn business.
- I'll be with you in a second.
- Yes, sir.
Yeah, hi. Good morning.
How do I get an outside line?
That was simple.
- Janie.
- Yes?
What's the president doing?
I'm sorry. I'm really
not at liberty to say.
Yes, hi. Good morning.
Is this Carmen's House of Flowers?
Good. I'd like to order
some flowers, please.
Well, tell me, what is
the state flower of Virginia?
Does this have something
to do with Sydney Wade?
I'm really not
at liberty to say.
Well, is there anybody there
who might know?
No, I'm not trying
to be difficult.
Hang on, please.
Janie, what is
the state flower of Virginia?
Mrs. Chapil,
state flower of Virginia?
- The dogwood.
- The dogwood, sir.
Thank you.
It's the dogwood.
Really?
Hold on, please.
Janie, the dogwood is a tree.
It's not a flower.
Actually, it's a tree and a flower.
- Are you sure?
- Yes. What's going on?
Sir, it's a tree and a flower.
It's a tree and a flower.
I'd like a dozen, please.
Really? No dogwoods?
How about roses?
Simple. Classic.
Two dozen?
Janie, I'm the president's
senior domestic policy advisor.
It's important I have
a full understanding--
Janie, do you know where
my credit cards are?
They're in storage in Wisconsin
with your personal items.
Right. Perhaps it would be
better if you bill me.
I'm sure it'll be all right
with your boss.
Well, I don't know
if you recognize my voice...
but this is the president.
Of the United States.
Leo. You wanted to see me?
So there I was thinking,
maybe I should give Sydney a call.
She doesn't know many people.
Then I picked up the Times.
Leo, it was crazy.
He called me at home.
- What's going on?
- Nothing.
It was innocent. His cousin
got the flu at the last minute.
- Did you sleep with him?
- Leo.
- Did you sleep with him?
- That's none of your business.
- Yeah, it is, Sydney.
- How is my personal life--
Because when it's the president,
it's not personal.
I hired your reputation.
I hired a pit bull, not a prom queen.
- That's unfair.
- It's incredibly unfair!
But you've spent
a lot of time over the years...
telling me the trouble
with the environmental lobby...
is that we don't understand
that politics is perception.
This is a bad time
to develop ignorance.
- You're making too much of this.
- Am l?
This is your time. You're
sitting at the grown-ups' table.
You have a chance
to get everything you want--
run a national campaign,
be a major player inside the party.
But this relationship
had better go all the way...
because with the leader
of the free world, there's no halfway.
Politics is perception.
If this doesn't work out, the time it'll
take you to go from being a hired gun...
to a cocktail party joke
can be clocked with an egg timer.
Leo, there's no relationship.
It was one night. It's done.
This was just delivered by White House
messenger. It's marked perishable.
The White House sent me
something perishable?
- It's for Miss Wade.
- Oh, well, here we go.
Relax, Leo. I'm sure
it's just a formality.
- It's from him.
- Of course it's from him.
So he had some staff flunky
send me a fruit basket.
- He wrote the note himself.
- I'm sure he didn't take the time to--
The messenger waited for ten minutes
while the president wrote the card.
Okay, listen--
It took him ten minutes
to write the card?
Apparently, he went
through several drafts.
- What is it?
- A ham.
He sent me a Virginia ham!
Dig it, Miss Wade.
You're the president's girlfriend.
There's never an egg timer
around when you need one.
Thanks.
They're going to be pressing today
about whether the White House...
is prepared to soften
the crime bill.
There's no need to entertain
that at this point.
How do you want me to handle
the Sydney issue?
"The Sydney issue?"
We should have a consensus on how
the White House is gonna handle it.
I certainly hope the Sydney issue refers
in some way to a problem with Australia.
- If it's anything other than that--
- Mr. President.
Ms. Wade is here to see you.
Have her come in, please.
I am finished here.
- Yes, sir.
- There is no Sydney issue.
Good morning.
Thanks for seeing me
on such short notice.
- No problem. Did you get the ham?
- Yes, I got the ham.
I wanted to send you some flowers,
but there are some kinks in the system.
I'm so glad you stopped by.
I had such a good time last night.
So did l.
It's just that--
You have 45 seconds.
I have to deliver a luncheon speech
at the governors' conference.
- No, no, of course.
- Are you free for dinner tomorrow?
- Dinner?
- Casual, without the United Nations.
My daughter will be there,
so it may seem like the United Nations.
- I'd love to meet Lucy, but--
- I'm sure she'd love to meet you.
- Actually, I have some concerns--
- I can't do this.
- Robbins or Stackhouse?
- Either one. I have to be in and out.
Governor Stackhouse needs ten minutes.
He wants to talk about assault weapons.
Stackhouse wants to talk
about grazing rights, trust me.
I'm sorry.
You have concerns?
Yes. Not many. A few.
One. I have one concern.
This wouldn't have to do with the fact
that one of us is president?
- You like to make jokes about this.
- I am not mocking you, honest.
I'm just a guy
asking a girl over for a meal.
- What's that?
- That's my ride.
Leo Solomon has some
serious concerns...
about me exploring
a social, you know...
scenario with the president
of the United States.
When you put it that way,
it doesn't sound that good to me either.
Have meat loaf with Lucy and me.
How presidential can that be?
7:30?
- Hi. Miss Wade?
- Sydney.
- Hi. Lucy Shepherd. Nice to meet you.
- Hi. Nice to meet you.
My dad told me to tell you that
he's on the phone with his dentist...
and that I should behave myself
and entertain you until he gets back.
Oh. Your father's
on the phone with his dentist?
No, he told me to tell you
he's on the phone with his dentist.
He wants you to think
he's a regular guy.
Oh. Well, who's he
on the phone with?
The prime minister of lsrael.
Oh. They're probably
not discussing his teeth.
I hope not.
They're discussing an abbreviation
I can never remember.
- Mmm, C-STAD?
- Yeah.
- Capricorn Surface-To-Air Defense?
- Right.
Okay, let meat loaf night begin.
- Hi.
- How's everything with your teeth?
- My teeth?
- The dentist.
Oh, right. Yeah, I got a cavity
in my upper bicuspid region.
You have a short-range
weapons system outside Tel Aviv.
- I think somebody told on me.
- Dad!
You're overthinking this.
Voters aren't interested...
in how to achieve
economic growth.
They don't want to hear our plans
to strengthen foreign policy.
- So it comes down to character.
- The press like him.
- The networks, the newspapers.
- Reporters like him.
Networks and newspapers
like ratings and circulation.
For all the bitching we do
about liberal bias in the press...
when it comes
to a good character debate--
The press is
an unwitting accomplice.
The character debate
didn't work for us.
Because it couldn't.
Our polling told us...
that attacking his character less
than a year after he'd lost his wife...
was gonna make people
feel sorry for him.
We couldn't run the campaign we wanted
because the opponent was a widower.
But he's still a widower.
Time's passed, but--
You'll have to forgive my friend here.
He's been on a hunting trip.
- He's been cut off from the world.
- Why? What's going on?
The president's got a girlfriend.
Your dad says you're studying
the Constitutional Convention.
- She's not having any fun, though.
- Dad!
- You're not having any fun?
- This is a nightmare.
- This is a social studies nightmare.
- They're doing a mock congress.
Each kid plays one of the delegates,
and they debate the amendments.
- What's not fun about that?
- Good night, Dad.
Good night, sweetheart.
- It was nice meeting you, Sydney.
- Thanks. It was nice to meet you.
- Good night.
- Sleep well. I love you.
Love you too, Dad.
- She's wonderful.
- She's her mother.
She's you.
Would you like the 25-cent tour?
I thought C-STAD wasn't gonna be
operational until January.
It was ready ahead of schedule. We've
just been waiting for the personnel.
- The lsraelis?
- No, our guys.
We sent a team of army instructors
to train the lsraelis.
Good evening. I think--
Yeah, this is the Dish Room.
- It's not the Dish Room.
- It's the room with all the dishes.
- It's the China Room.
- I'm more of a west wing president.
If you're curious about the mansion,
I'm sure there's a book you can get.
There are about 7,000.
I'll get one for you.
Mr. President, have you
ever noticed how similar...
the Van Buren flatware
is to the Buchanan flatware?
Do you think
there'll ever be a time...
when you can stand
in a room with me...
and not think of me
as the president?
This isn't a state of mind.
You are the president.
And when I'm in a room with you--
oval or any other shape--
I'm always gonna be a lobbyist and
you're always gonna be the president.
I have news for you, Sydney.
As a lobbyist...
you'd never be alone
in a room with the president.
Do you think
this is a good idea?
Probably not.
We have a secure call
from the sit room.
Excuse me.
- I'm sorry, ma'am.
- Oh, no. Of course not.
We're gonna have to cut our night short.
The Libyans have just bombed C-STAD.
I'll try to call you in the morning.
Please show Miss Wade out.
The response scenario's in place.
The F-18s are fired up
on the Nimitz and the Kitty Hawk.
They're just waiting for your
attack order, Mr. President.
And we're gonna hit
Libyan lntelligence Headquarters?
The NSA confirmed they're the ones
who planned the bombing.
- And what's the estimate?
- We'll level the building.
The Libyan l.H.Q. is in the center
of Tripoli. What else are we gonna hit?
Nothing, unless we miss.
- Are we gonna miss?
- No, sir.
- How many people work in the building?
- We've been through this.
How many people work
in the damn building?
I have the numbers here, Mr. President.
There are three shifts.
What shift has the fewest people?
The night shift, right?
By far, sir.
Mostly custodial staff.
What time does
the night shift start?
They're on now, sir.
Sir, it's immediate,
it's decisive, it's low risk...
and it's a proportional response.
Someday someone's gonna have to explain
the virtue of a proportional response.
- Mr. President?
- Attack.
As soon as our planes have cleared
Libyan airspace, call the press...
but I don't know what time
we'll have the full B.D.A.
- General Rork says around 0800.
- 0800.
Sir, what do you think
about a national address?
Last thing I want to do
is put the Libyans center stage.
I think it's a great idea, sir.
You know Rumson's gonna be talking
about your lack of military service.
It's not about Rumson.
What I did tonight
was not about political gain.
But it can be, sir. What you did
tonight was very presidential.
Leon, somewhere in Libya right now...
a janitor is working the night shift
at the Libyan lntelligence Headquarters.
He's going about
doing his job...
'cause he has no idea in about an hour
he's gonna die in a massive explosion.
He's just going about his job 'cause
he has no idea that about an hour ago...
I gave an order
to have him killed.
You've just seen me do
the least presidential thing I do.
Mary.
Is there anything at all
about the C-STAD weapons system...
that could have been mistaken
by Libyan lntelligence...
as offensive
rather than defensive?
No, we did everything
but show them the blueprints.
The hardware had been sitting
in an airplane hangar for over a month.
They didn't hit it until
the American personnel arrived. Leslie?
Sir, you were reportedly with Sydney
Wade when you heard of the attack.
- Can you comment?
- Yes, we had just finished dinner.
- Get him off.
- Last question.
Sir, would you care to comment
on the status of your relationship?
We don't have a relationship.
We just had dinner. Thank you.
Tell us if she spent the night
at the White House.
A lot of people
were killed last night.
Let's try to keep our eye
on the ball, okay? Thank you.
That was my fault.
We should have prepped you.
It's nothing that needs prepping.
Let's meet with the leadership
after we meet with the Security Council.
Newsweek is begging
for any ten minutes you got.
Nobody gets ten minutes today.
Lewis, tell the speaker to wait.
I want to talk to him.
No, I'll be right down.
Last night the cost
of those liberal programs...
was raised to include the blood
of 22 American soldiers.
Now, Mr. Shepherd's
read a lot of books...
but it doesn't take a Harvard degree
to see this one coming a mile away.
I went to Stanford, you blowhole.
Commander in chief
has never served one day in uniform--
This box just says "miscellaneous."
Is it bedroom or kitchen miscellaneous?
Why did I have to kiss him?
- You kissed him?
- Yeah.
- You didn't tell me that.
- I kissed him.
- Where?
- On the mouth.
- Where in the White House?
- In the Dish Room.
- The Dish Room?
- The China Room.
- And then what happened?
- He had to go and attack Libya.
It's always something.
I gotta nip this in the bud. This has
catastrophe written all over it.
In what language? Sydney, the man
is the leader of the free world.
He's brilliant. He's funny. He's
handsome. He's an above average dancer.
Isn't it possible our standards
are just a tad high?
- Answer the phone.
- It's him.
- Answer the phone.
- He'll ask me to come over there.
- Answer the phone!
- I don't want to go over there!
All right, but I'm gonna
end it on the phone.
I just came over to tell you
why I can't see you anymore.
Come on in.
Thanks, Coop.
I know you've had a tough day--
Not as tough as some. Like a drink?
Let me take your coat.
Mr. President,
this isn't gonna work.
Sure it will.
You button the top button--
- That's not what I mean.
- I didn't think it was.
I enjoyed the time we've spent together,
but this has catastrophe written on it.
Please, Mr. President, don't pursue me
outside the political arena.
I have no intention of pursuing you
inside the political arena...
and that leaves everything out,
and that's unacceptable.
If I were on your staff, I would tell
you that the worst thing you can do...
coming into an election year is to
open yourself up to character attacks.
The quickest way to do that is to prance
like the playboy of the western world.
Let's clear up a couple things.
Number one: I seldom prance.
Number two: I have no intention
of engaging in a character debate.
Number three:
You're not on my staff.
- Yes, but if you'll follow--
- Why is that, by the way? Please.
- Why is what?
- Why aren't you on my staff?
- You can't afford me.
- How much do you make?
- More than you do, Mr. President.
- The name is Andy. How much?
What does it matter
how much I make?
Raise your voice
to the president?
I'm only thinking
about your presidency.
This morning's press conference
isn't gonna be the end of this.
Bob Rumson's gotta be
drooling over this.
Are you attracted to me?
I beg your pardon?
- I asked if you were attracted to me.
- That's not the issue.
Tell you what. Let's make it the issue.
Let's try something new.
Most couples when they first
get together are inclined...
to slam on the brakes because they're
concerned about Bob Rumson's drool.
- You're not most people.
- You know what your problem is?
- What's my problem?
- Sex and nervousness.
- Sex and nervousness is my problem?
- Yes.
Last night when we were looking
at those place settings...
I realized that those place settings
were provided by the first ladies.
And I'll bet none
of those first ladies...
were nervous about having sex
with their president husbands.
- And do you know why?
- No, but you'll explain it to me.
I will. Because they weren't presidents
when they first met them.
That's not the case here.
- You see what I'm getting at?
- Yes.
- May I use your bathroom?
- Go through there, right behind you.
I just want to freshen up.
As you pass through,
you'll see a large closet.
If you feel comfortable,
hang up your coat.
When you come back,
I'll have fixed us a drink.
We'll sit on the couch
and I will explain to you my plan.
You got a plan? Don't make me wait.
You're on a roll.
You're attracted to me, but the idea
of physical intimacy is uncomfortable...
because you only know me
as the president.
But it's not always
gonna be that way.
The reason I know that
is there was a moment last night...
when you were with me
and not the president.
And I know what a big step
that was for you.
So, Sydney, I'm in no rush.
Here's my plan.
We're gonna slow down...
and when you're comfortable,
that's when it's gonna happen.
Perhaps I didn't properly explain
the fundamentals of the slow-down plan.
No, you explained it great.
Are you nervous?
- No.
- Good.
My nervousness exists
on several levels.
Number one-- and this
is in no particular order--
I haven't done this
in a pretty long time.
Number two, any...
expectations that you might have
given that I'm, you know--
- The most powerful man in the world?
- Exactly. Thank you.
I think it's important you remember
that's a political distinction...
that comes with the office.
If Eisenhower were here instead of me,
he'd be dead by now.
- Number three--
- Andy.
Does New Hampshire want
traditional American values...
back in the White House?
Does New Hampshire
want the pride back?
My name is Bob Rumson,
and I'm running for president.
Put him through.
Lewis, it is 5:00 a.m.
You've gotta get yourself a life, man.
All right.
- Hi!
- What are you doin'?
I wanted to leave the building
before the press corps got here.
I have those same thoughts
every day of my life.
You know Lewis Rothschild,
don't you?
Sure. Lewis would go nuts
if he knew I spent the night.
- Well, he's on his way up.
- What?
Come on in, Lewis.
Morning, Mr. President.
Hi, Sydney.
Hi, Lewis.
Well, Mr. President...
thanks for taking the time
to go over those fossil fuel numbers.
I'll just get my coat,
be on my way.
- So what's the situation?
- Camped out at every exit.
- Who's camped out?
- The press.
- The press is camped out?
- You should have taken a cab.
- They know my car?
- Good morning, Mr. President, Sydney.
- I came as soon as Lewis called.
- Thank God.
The important thing
is not to look like we're panicking.
I think the important thing
is actually not to be panicking.
- Morning, Mr. President.
- Morning.
Morning, Ms. Wade. I see everyone's
getting an early start today.
How do we exit Sydney from the building
and what do we say to the press?
How do we exit Sydney from the building
and what do we say to the press?
- We need a diversion.
- A diversion?
I'm not suggesting that
we burn down the White House.
- Please, let's do.
- Let me state clearly.
- I can't be party to anything illegal.
- Good for you, Lewis.
It's always the guy in my job who ends
up doing 18 months in Danbury Prison.
Rest easy. We're not
gonna create a diversion.
- We're having somebody take you home.
- Esther's in my office.
- She has the station wagon.
- Good. Now, press statement.
Sydney, when you leave here...
you're gonna run into
reporters and photographers.
They're gonna
take your picture every day.
They're gonna
ask you questions every day.
Answer them. Don't answer them.
It's entirely up to you.
The White House
has no official position...
- except to say, "No comment."
- No comment?
The White House does not comment
on the president's personal life.
We can't just leave it at that.
- Lewis, we just did.
- But, sir--
Thank you very much.
Come, friends. Let us away.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Sydney, Esther will be in my office.
- Take your time.
- Thanks, A.J.
I'm sorry about this.
We'll do it better next time.
I'm no expert, but we did it
pretty good this time.
- No, I didn't mean that.
- I know.
I had a good time.
Me too. I'll call you.
I'll be in Panama,
but I'll call you.
I'd like that.
Bye.
All right. Okay.
This is good.
David, what about an incentive program?
Sydney Ellen Wade,
the political strategist...
who accompanied President Shepherd
to last week's state dinner...
reportedly spent the night at the
White House as the president's guest.
The president returned
from Panama this evening...
after a three-day tour
through Central America.
His first order of business:
an intimate dinner with Sydney Wade
at a romantic Georgetown bistro.
Conservative and religious
family organizations...
are starting to smell
blood in the water...
as the polling numbers
of the president are dropping.
Showbiz Weekly was in Hollywood
for the star-studded gala.
Also on tonight's program:
day 15 of the Sydney watch.
Is the world's most eligible bachelor
off the market?
Next caller, you're on the air.
What about Lucy Shepherd? ls anyone
concerned about this little girl?
Can we now, finally, have
a serious debate about family values?
Political polling analyst,
Ed Earl.
With the president's job approval
taking an eight-point dip...
from his personal best
of 63 percent three weeks ago...
should the White House be concerned
that the girlfriend factor...
has left Shepherd vulnerable
to the character questions...
he was able to avoid
three years ago?
If they're not concerned,
they oughta be.
Columnist Cynthia Skyler,
how will this new wrinkle...
affect his ability to put together
a win on his crime bill?
When we come back...
we're gonna meet a junior high school
classmate of Sydney Wade's...
who has some
intimate details to share.
who has some
intimate details to share.
I agree with you
110 percent, Mrs. Harper.
That's why I'm up here in the winter
talkin' about it with you folks.
That's very generous of you, ma'am.
I'll be taking that money
off your hands right now.
What do you got?
Call me Santa Claus, Senator.
She's got an FBI file.
Oh, shit, Stu!
My mother's got an FBI file.
Yeah, but I got art.
It's a demonstration outside
the Department of Commerce.
The picture's old and some faces
are obscured by the fire...
but that's a burning flag...
and that's Sydney Ellen Wade
right there in front.
It's beginning to look
a lot like Christmas
Harry--
Think like a father for a second.
Wouldn't you like your kids to be able
to take a deep breath when they're 30?
Thank you!
You're doing the right thing.
- Tote board's heavy.
- How's this?
Terrill, North Carolina.
Syd, I saw on your schedule you're gonna
meet with McSorley, McCluskey and Shane?
Yeah. The Motown Three said
they'd give me 30 minutes next week.
These are people who represent
people who make cars for a living.
- Yeah.
- Cars, you understand, run on gasoline.
I know it's a long shot...
but if I can get one of them,
it's a huge payoff in visibility.
If we're gonna try, we should prep.
You wanna order in?
I can't. I'm having dinner
at the White House.
So let's start early
tomorrow morning. Say, 7:30?
I'm having lunch
at the Kremlin...
so we'll have to start
even earlier than that.
- Good night, David.
- In order to catch the plane to Moscow.
Good night, David.
Douglas, does the N.R.A. have videotapes
of you playing golf with Satan?
We've already softened
the assault weapons.
We're leaving the S.K.S., the Mini 14
and 250 other types on the street.
How much pull
can one lobby have?
We're gonna continue this conversation
tomorrow. I'm late for the fund-raiser.
And, Douglas,
I'll put in a good word for you.
- You're incredibly late.
- Excuse me.
I just got off the phone with
the federal mediator in St. Louis.
Management just walked.
The baggage handlers, pilots...
and flight attendants are
gettin' set to walk in 48 hours.
I studied under a Nobel Prize-winning
economist. Know what he taught me?
Never have an airline strike
at Christmas?
- I'm going to St. Louis.
- Leave straight from the fund-raiser.
- Thanks, A.J.
- Good luck, Mr. President.
Liberty's moving.
- Mr. President, can we have a moment?
- He's incredibly late.
Hop in. We'll talk in the car.
- What is it?
- We have a small problem.
It could've been small.
Now it's a nightmare.
- I see it as an opportunity.
- If we'd caught it.
- We caught it.
- 5:45 doesn't do me any good.
- 5:45, network news is in make-up.
- You have 12 people working for you.
Guys, do I have to be here
for this meeting?
Sorry, sir.
It's on the evening news.
- It's buried as the third story.
- It's got a bullet.
Sydney was at a protest rally.
They burned a flag.
- Today?
- About 13 years ago.
At the Department of Commerce.
Anti-apartheid.
Let me see if I got this.
The third story on the news tonight...
was that someone I didn't know
13 years ago, when I wasn't president...
participated in a demonstration
where no laws were being broken...
in protest of something that
so many people were against...
it doesn't exist anymore?
Just out of curiosity,
what was the fourth story?
Right. I think it's important
when we deal with it--
- Don't deal with it.
- Excuse me?
They're trying to get us to swing at
a pitch in the dirt. It'll go away.
- I'm not sure that's the wisest course.
- Ah, hell!
See? It's already distracting you.
Let us put together--
You reminded me I'm supposed
to have dinner with Sydney.
It's terrific, Beth.
I love it.
I can't believe
I'm loaning you clothes.
I thought you owned
every piece of clothing there was.
Work clothes. I always have dinner
at the White House wearing a suit.
- I thought a dress would be nice.
- Go ahead, try it on.
I brought earrings too.
- Hi. What are you doing?
- Just trying on dresses.
I feel terrible, but I'm going
to have to cancel our date tonight.
Another woman?
I've gotta go to St. Louis
to avert a massive airline strike.
If I had a nickel for
every time I heard that one.
Thanks for understanding,
and I'll call you later this evening.
I hate doing that.
She was tryin' on dresses.
I tell any girl I'm going out with
that all plans are soft...
until she receives confirmation
from me 30 minutes beforehand.
- And they find this romantic?
- I say it with a great deal of charm.
Look! There it is!
Carmen's House of Flowers.
- We gotta stop.
- What?
- I gotta get her some flowers.
- Here?
That's what men do
when they break a date.
I know no men who do that.
Coop, I'm gonna hop out
at the flower shop.
- You're gonna hop out, sir?
- No, he's not. No hopping, sir.
- I'll get the flowers.
- Then it's not personal.
Let the agents do a security sweep.
We don't know who's in there.
You think there's a florist
planning an assassination...
on the off-chance
I might be stopping by?
It's possible.
You're not hearing me.
Listen to what I'm saying.
- It was at the basketball game.
- Excuse me.
No, at the game.
Kiki wasn't even there.
- Excuse me.
- Hold on.
I will be right with you.
I don't know if you're the one
that I talked to on the phone.
Virginia, Dogwood, President.
Does any of this ring a bell?
Same girl. She remembered me.
I'm glad to see that
the president has a girlfriend.
Never mind
that she's the hired gun...
of an ultra-liberal
political action committee.
Never mind that the president
takes the Fifth...
any time a reporter has the temerity
to ask him a question about a woman...
in a position
to exert enormous influence...
over a huge range of issues.
Never mind that this woman's idea of how
to unwind at the end of a tough day...
is to get together with her ACLU pals
and to set American flags on fire.
No reaction from the White House.
Because it doesn't need to be
dignified with a response.
There's no up side.
I'm leaving it alone.
What do Lewis and Robin think?
Brutus and Cassius? They want me to get
into a character debate and mix it up.
Lewis and Robin are very smart.
-Sydney says you guys are really stupid.
-I didn't say that.
- She's questioning your loyalty.
- I question it all the time.
Wait a minute.
Here comes my favorite part.
My name is Bob Rumson,
and I'm running for president.
Glad he cleared that up, because they
were about to buy some Amway products.
His numbers are climbing.
- His numbers have nowhere to go but up.
- What about yours?
We'll be in the 60s
once I get the votes for the crime bill.
- What are you doin' this weekend?
- I got some work. Why?
Negotiations are going well.
Looks like the nation's
gonna keep on flying.
Lucy's spending Saturday night
at a friend's house.
What'd you have in mind?
Ever been to Camp David?
Sure. I used to go there all the time,
but then they changed chefs and l--
It's sass, right?
You're sassing me.
Yes.
I'm gonna have somebody
pick you up on Saturday morning.
Okay. Bye.
- Good God.
- What?
I'm looking at your college transcripts.
This isn't human.
Nobody gets this many A's.
You were like a Stepford student.
Are you still reading
that ridiculous biography?
No, I finished Andrew Shepherd:
Road to the White House.
Now I'm on to
Shepherd: The Early Years.
Seven trillion dollar
communications system at my disposal...
and I can't find out
if the Packers won.
Oh, Andy.
C-minus in women's studies?
That course wasn't about
what I thought it was gonna be about.
President Shepherd
was in Maryland this week...
for his routine physical exam.
Doctors at Bethesda Naval Hospital
pronounced him in excellent health.
Who cares!
Just give us the scores!
While the president
spent the day at Camp David...
GOP presidential hopeful
Robert Rumson...
continued his attacks on
President Shepherd's character.
During the Saturday news program,
Capital Review With Kenneth Michaels...
Senator Rumson suggested that G.D.C.
political director, Sydney Ellen Wade...
whose close personal relationship
with the president...
has been causing the White House
headaches over the past two months...
may have traded sexual favors...
for key votes in
the Virginia State Legislature...
while lobbying for
the Virginia Teachers Association.
Wait a minute, Senator.
That's a heck of an accusation to make.
Let me be very clear about this.
I am not making an accusation.
I am saying, when you hear one thing,
you dismiss it.
You hear two, you dismiss it,
but when several--
several well-respected members...
and former members of
the Virginia State Legislature--
- Can you give us names?
- My God.
- He's making this up as he goes along.
- I'm so sorry, Sydney.
I don't know what we call her.
The First Mistress?
Oh, man.
My father heard that.
He's just gonna have
to turn a deaf ear.
My father doesn't have a deaf ear.
He hears fine out of both.
So do l, my sister and my friends.
You're the only one who seems to--
I can't challenge the school bully
because he picks on my girlfriend.
I'm not asking you to.
I can take care of myself.
This isn't about me.
How can you keep quiet?
How do you have patience for people
who claim they love America...
but clearly can't stand Americans?
I have one election left.
I don't have the luxury
of losing my patience.
I want to say something to you...
but I'm gonna
fumble it a little bit...
so please just wait till
I'm done before you respond.
I am in love with you.
I'm certain of it, and I want
to be with you more than anything.
But maybe things would be better for you
if I just disappeared for a while.
Things will be better
when I pass the crime bill.
And if you disappeared,
I'd find you.
- Hi, Gill.
- Mr. President.
Militant women are out to destroy
college football in this country.
- Is that a fact?
- Yes.
Have you been following
the situation down in Atlanta?
These women want parity...
for girls' softball,
volleyball, field hockey--
If I'm not mistaken, Gill, the courts
ruled on Title 9 about 20 years ago.
Yes, sir, but now these women
want that law enforced.
- It's a world gone mad.
- Gill, merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas.
- Come meet some people.
- You see, the country has mood swings.
- Mood swings?
Nineteen postgraduate degrees
in mathematics...
and your best explanation of going from
a 63 to a 46 percent approval rating...
in five weeks
is mood swings.
I could explain it better,
but I need charts, graphs and an easel.
Fellas, we haven't
slept in three years.
Can't we forget work for one night
and enjoy each other as friends?
- It's Christmas.
- It's Christmas?
Yeah. You didn't get the memo?
Sydney. Merry Christmas.
- Hi, Esther.
- Hello, Sydney.
- Merry Christmas, A.J.
- Merry Christmas to you.
- Where you been?
- I got stuck on Du Pont Circle.
I can never remember
which lane I'm supposed to take.
Then I got cut off by this idiot
cab driver who starts screaming at me.
- Sydney, it's Christmas.
- Hiya, Syd.
Did you get stuck on
Du Pont Circle again?
It's not funny.
I hate that place.
- Declare it a federal disaster area.
- I'll look into it.
What were you doing
up on the Hill anyway?
I had a terrible meeting today.
I totally lost my cool with
McSorley, McCluskey and Shane.
- You went up to see the Motown Three?
- I pitched them the bill.
- On its merits?
- The woman has no fear.
She'd lobby the Carolinas
to the American Lung Association.
- It was a disaster.
- You're in good company.
A week ago they said there was nothing
on the president's domestic agenda...
they were more committed to defeating
than the crime bill.
Congratulations.
You're out of the cellar.
McSorley told me that the only thing
on the president's domestic agenda...
that they were more committed
to defeating than the crime bill...
was the fossil fuel package.
- You're kidding.
- No, I'm not kidding.
It's funny that
he used the same words.
The Pep Boys
don't know too many words.
I'm gonna get a drink
and shake this off.
When I come back,
I'll have some Christmas spirit.
- Are you okay?
- I'm fine, yeah.
- I'll lead the way.
- Thank you.
- Merry Christmas, Mr. President.
- Happy holidays, Bob.
Did what I think
just happened, just happen?
Did the G.D.C.'s political director just
tell the president and chief of staff...
that there are three votes
on the crime bill that can be bought...
by sticking the fossil fuel
package in a drawer?
The G.D.C.'s political director
didn't tell us anything.
Sydney Wade told her boyfriend and his
best friend that she had a lousy day.
It doesn't change the facts,
Mr. President.
If Sydney gets her 24 votes and we're
three votes shy, we need to maneuver.
- I made a promise.
- You made a deal.
- I made it with Sydney.
- You made it with the G.D.C.
It's all academic anyway.
We're not gonna need those three votes.
If your approval rating
continues to drop...
things are gonna get tight.
I'm hearing rumors that your boss
is wavering on the crime bill.
I wouldn't listen to rumors.
You know this town.
That's what I wanted to hear.
I'll tell you, though, my boss
is startin' to waver on the crime bill.
Sydney, everybody cares about
the environment during a phone survey.
On election day,
nobody gives a damn.
That's why you have a job.
Pennybaker, on election day, people
give a damn about what I tell them.
That's why I have a job.
She got Pennybaker.
Congressman, it was our understanding
we had your support.
Look, I like your boy.
Always have.
But for God's sake, kid,
does the woman have to spend the night?
We've got the full backing
of the White House, Catherine.
Yes, at 20 percent.
Three more votes,
the president sends it to the Hill.
Katie, ten years from now...
any car with an internal combustion
engine is a collector's item.
Come on board.
We'll make your Volvo a classic.
Congressman,
the assault weapons are gone.
- The bill is priced to move.
- The bill isn't the issue.
I'm facing a serious challenge
in November...
and the president's coattails
aren't what they used to be.
The president's coattails are gonna
have room for you. Leave that to us.
We left that to you, and now
the president's in a free-fall.
- I wouldn't say he's in a free-fall.
- Fellas.
I just can't give you my vote.
The well is dryin' up. The president's
gotta make a move, or we're gonna die.
What if I do a new poll,
detailed public opinion?
- And we put Sydney in the new model.
- Right.
A.J., it's meaningless
unless we ask him about Sydney.
All right, fine.
Let's do it.
It's delicious. Thank you.
- Is there any more?
- Tons. I didn't think you liked it.
You kidding?
Of course I did.
It's not for me. The agent who checked
the food thought it was delicious.
I told him I'd bring him some
if there was any left.
- So you didn't like it.
- No, I loved it.
- You're lying.
- No, I'm not.
You are. I can tell.
You do a thing with your face.
When have you ever seen me
do a thing with my face?
Two days before I met you...
you were giving a speech for the
Daughters of the American Revolution.
- I was there.
- You were?
- You remember the speech?
- Vaguely.
"Americans can no longer afford to
pretend they live in a great society."
There was supposed to be
something after that.
- How did you know that?
- I told you. The face.
Cheers.
Oh, wow!
What's the occasion?
You're lookin' at a lady who's
two votes shy of the promised land.
- Two votes?
- I got Pennybaker.
- That got me Cass and Zimmer.
- That's great work, Sydney.
I'm not there yet.
No matter what happens, you have
every reason to be proud of yourself.
I'll be proud when
I see you sign the bill.
Well, yeah.
Andy? You're doing
that thing with your face.
- How are the numbers?
- Bad.
- How bad?
- Forty-one.
- Character across the board.
- George, don't tell me that!
- Who is Lewis on with?
- Jarrett.
He's trying to keep
his fingers in the dam.
You're supposed to be
a United States Congressman!
But we're not gonna stay at 41.
The numbers are gonna go back up.
But they're gonna go back up.
All right, George.
Congressman--
Congressman Jarrett.
George, listen to me.
It's crunch time.
It's personal.
This is one of those moments.
It's just you and the president.
Now what's it gonna be?
Yeah.
Yeah, all right, George.
Can I tell you something?
We're gonna win this thing.
We're gonna get the votes.
And that very night I'm gonna go
to Sam & Harry's, order a big steak...
and I'm gonna make a list of everybody
who tried to fuck us this week!
Just vote your conscience,
you chickenshit lame-ass!
- We lost Jarrett.
- I hope so.
Because if that was an undecided,
we need to work on our people skills.
Hi, Karen, it's Lewis. I need you
to find Congressman Quincy for me.
We lost Quincy too.
Did he give a reason?
Yeah. He thinks your numbers
aren't likely to rebound.
We're three votes
down again, sir.
Mr. President, as of this morning
Sydney only needed one more vote.
The Motown Three
have gotta be scared blind.
I don't think there'll
be a better opportunity.
The press expects an announcement on the
crime bill by the State of the Union.
If you stick 455 in a drawer
until after elections...
- they'll give you the three votes.
- And we declare victory.
We said as a last resort.
We're there, sir.
The State of the Union is 48 hours away.
-There's gotta be three votes someplace!
-There isn't.
- Bullshit! There's gotta be somebody!
- There isn't.
- I beg your pardon?
- What about Storch?
- Storch is a no.
- Mr. President.
- Wagner?
- No.
Sobel? Clark?
- Not that Clark! The one from lndiana.
- That one too, sir.
Mr. President,
I think we have to do this.
A.J., she is one vote away.
It's important legislation that for
the first time has a legitimate chance.
- She deserves every opportunity--
- She?
You meant "it,"
didn't you, sir?
You meant the important legislation
deserves every opportunity.
- Lewis, shut up.
- You have something to say to me?
Respectfully, sir,
we should examine the new poll--
They don't like that
I'm going out with Sydney.
It's not that simple.
This poll brings a murky problem
into specific relief.
Whose problem we talking about, yours?
You worried about losing your job?
Because this poll isn't
talking about my presidency!
This poll is
talking about my life!
264 million people--
They don't give a damn about your life!
They give a damn about their own!
All right! That's enough!
Mr. President,
you've raised a daughter...
almost entirely on your own,
and she's terrific.
So what does it say to you
that in the past seven weeks...
fifty-nine percent of this country has
begun to question your family values?
The president
doesn't answer to you.
Oh, yes, he does. I'm a citizen.
This is my president.
In this country, it is not only
permissible to question our leaders...
it's our responsibility.
But you already know that,
don't you, Mr. President?
You have a deeper love of this country
than any man I've ever known...
and I want to know what it says to you
that in the past seven weeks...
fifty-nine percent of Americans
have begun to question your patriotism?
- If people want to listen to Bob--
- They don't have a choice!
Bob Rumson is the only one
doing the talking.
People want leadership, and in
the absence of genuine leadership...
they'll listen to anyone
who steps up to the microphone.
They want leadership.
They're so thirsty for it,
they'll crawl toward a mirage.
And when they discover there's no water,
they'll drink the sand.
Lewis, we have had presidents
who were beloved...
who couldn't find a coherent sentence
with two hands and a flashlight.
People don't drink the sand
because they're thirsty.
They drink the sand because
they don't know the difference.
Mr. President,
what do you want to do about 455?
- Make the deal.
- Yes, sir.
- Make the deal.
- Yes, sir.
I just want to go on record...
and apologize for my attitude
towards you since your arrival.
I didn't notice.
Was there an attitude?
Well, I think that I have
a lot of pent-up hostility.
I'm wondering who I can blame.
I'm not really qualified--
I've been blaming it on my mother and
my ex-husband, but that doesn't work.
Syd, Leo needs to see you.
Tell him to get in here.
It's a party.
- He needs to see you in his office.
- It can't wait?
He just got off the phone with
Maclnerney. There's been a development.
Good evening.
Sounds good.
- It's progressive.
- I'll say.
What's wrong with Sydney?
Did you fight?
- What do you mean?
- She seemed pretty mad.
- You saw her?
- Yeah. She's here.
- Where?
- In your room.
- Why is she mad?
- Don't worry about it, honey.
- Were you a dork?
- Practice your music.
If you were a dork, you should
say you're sorry. Girls like that.
Have you seen
a grey cable knit sweater?
A grey sweater? No.
I called you today.
It's Beth's.
I didn't want to leave it.
Where you going?
- I'm going home, then to Hartford.
- Connecticut?
- Yes. Was it sent with your cleaning?
- What's in Connecticut?
Richard Reynolds' campaign.
He may give me a job.
When did you decide
to get a new job?
Not long after Leo Solomon
fired me from my old one.
- Beth's gonna kill me.
- Why did he fire you?
Total failure to achieve any of
the objectives for which I was hired.
I told him
he was being unreasonable.
After all, I did get to
dance with the president...
and ride in Air Force One
a couple of times.
But you know those environmentalists.
It's always gotta be something.
If it's not clean air,
then it's clean water.
It's not good enough that I'm
on the cover of People magazine.
I'll call him.
You mean you'll call him
yourself, personally?
It'll come from the president?
That's a great idea.
You should call Leo and make a deal.
He hires me back for,
say, 72 days.
I go around scaring Congress...
making them think the president's about
to drive through a very costly bill.
They'll believe me, right? Because
I'm the president's Friday night girl.
I don't know if you can dip into that
well twice since I've lost credibility.
But you never know.
I might pull it off again.
I might give you
just the leverage you need...
to pass some ground-breaking
piece of crime legislation--
Iike a mandatory 3-day waiting period
before a five-year-old can buy an Uzi.
Fuck the sweater!
She'll have to live with disappointment.
What do you think
went on here today?
I know exactly what went on
here today. I got screwed!
You saw the poll, needed the bill,
couldn't get it, so I got screwed!
The environment got screwed, Sydney.
Nothing happened to you.
Governing is choosing.
Governing is prioritizing.
I made no secret of the fact
the crime bill was my top priority.
Well, congratulations.
It's only taken you
three years to put together...
crime prevention legislation
that has no hope of preventing crime.
Syd, please.
I don't want
to lose you over this.
Mr. President, you got
bigger problems than losing me.
You just lost my vote.
What's in Hartford?
Richard Reynolds' district office.
She's thinking of running his campaign.
Twelve in the corner.
Hartford--
insurance capital of the world.
Have a good time, Syd.
Listen, I'm gonna have Janie
clear your schedule for the weekend.
- You need rest.
- You handling me?
- No.
- Good.
But I will if you don't start
taking your head out of your ass.
Excuse me?
Lewis is right.
Go after this guy.
- Has he lied?
- What?
- Has Rumson lied in the past 7 weeks?
- Has he lied?
Other than not knowing the difference
between Harvard and Stanford...
has he said something
that isn't true?
Am I not a commander in chief
who's never served in the military?
Am I not opposed to a constitutional
amendment banning flag burning?
Am I not an unmarried father who
shared a bed with a liberal lobbyist...
down the hall from
his 12-year-old daughter?
And you think you're wrong?
You don't win elections by
telling people that they are!
We fight the fights we can win.
You fight the fights that need fighting!
Is the view pretty good
from the cheap seats, A.J.?
- I beg your pardon?
- Because it occurs to me...
that in 25 years, I've never
seen your name on a ballot.
Why are you always
one step behind me?
Because if I wasn't...
you'd be the most popular professor
at the University of Wisconsin.
Fuck you!
Have Lewis put the final draft
of the State of the Union...
on my desk in the morning.
Yes, sir.
If Mary hadn't died...
would we have won
three years ago?
Would we have won?
If we had to go through
a character debate three years ago...
would we have won?
I don't know.
But I would have liked
that campaign.
If my friend
Andy Shepherd had shown up...
I would have liked
that campaign very much.
Because the president feels
there's no value...
in this kind
of character debate.
Will the president
ever respond to...
Rumson's question about being a member
of the American Civil Liberties Union?
Yes, he will. Good morning.
Please keep your seats.
Good morning.
For the last couple of months,
Senator Rumson has suggested...
that being president was,
to a certain extent, about character.
Although I have not been willing
to engage in his attacks on me...
I've been here
three years and three days...
and I can tell you,
without hesitation...
being president
of this country...
is entirely about character.
For the record:
Yes, I am a card-carrying
member of the ACLU.
But the more important question is,
why aren't you, Bob?
Now, this is an organization...
whose sole purpose
is to defend the Bill of Rights.
So it begs the question:
Why would a senator--
his party's most powerful spokesman...
and a candidate for president-- choose
to reject upholding the Constitution?
If you can answer that question,
you're smarter than I am...
because I didn't understand it
until a few hours ago.
America isn't easy.
America is advanced citizenship.
You've gotta want it bad,
'cause it's gonna put up a fight.
It's gonna say,
"You want free speech?"
Let's see you acknowledge a man
whose words make your blood boil...
who's standing center stage and
advocating at the top of his lungs...
that which you would spend a lifetime
opposing at the top of yours.
You want to claim this land
as the land of the free?
Then the symbol of your country
cannot just be a flag!
The symbol also has to be one of
its citizens exercising his right...
to burn that flag in protest.
Now, show me that, defend that,
celebrate that in your classrooms.
Then you can stand up
and sing about the land of the free.
I've known Bob Rumson for years, and
I've operated under the assumption...
that the reason Bob devotes so much
energy to shouting at the rain...
was that he simply didn't get it.
Well, I was wrong. Bob's problem
isn't that he doesn't get it.
Bob's problem is
that he can't sell it.
We have serious
problems to solve...
and we need serious people
to solve them.
Whatever your particular
problem is, I promise you...
Bob Rumson's not the least bit
interested in solving it.
He is interested in two things,
and two things only:
making you afraid of it
and telling you who's to blame for it.
That, ladies and gentlemen,
is how you win elections.
You gather a group of middle-age,
middle-class, middle-income voters...
who remember with longing
an easier time...
and you talk to them about family
and American values and character.
You wave an old photo
of the president's girlfriend...
and you scream about patriotism
and you tell them...
"She's to blame
for their lot in life."
And you go on television...
and you call her a whore.
Sydney Ellen Wade
has done nothing to you, Bob.
She has done nothing but
put herself through school...
represent the interests
of public school teachers...
and lobby for the safety
of our natural resources.
You want a character debate, Bob,
you better stick with me.
'Cause Sydney Ellen Wade
is way out of your league.
I've loved two women in my life.
I lost one to cancer.
And I lost the other 'cause
I was so busy keeping my job...
I forgot to do my job.
Well, that ends right now.
Tomorrow morning,
the White House is sending a bill...
to Congress for its consideration.
It's White House
Resolution 455...
an energy bill
requiring a 20% reduction...
of the emission of fossil fuels
over the next ten years.
It is, by far, the most
aggressive stride ever taken...
in the fight to reverse
the effects of global warming.
The other piece of legislation
is the crime bill.
As of today, it no longer exists.
I'm throwing it out.
I'm throwing it out and writing
a law that makes sense.
You cannot address
crime prevention...
without getting rid of
assault weapons and handguns.
I consider them a threat
to national security...
and I will go door to door
if I have to...
but I'm gonna convince Americans that
I'm right, and I'm gonna get the guns.
We've got serious problems,
and we need serious people.
If you want to talk
about character, Bob...
you better come at me with more than
a burning flag and a membership card.
If you want to talk about
character and American values, fine.
Just tell me where and when,
and I'll show up.
This is a time for serious people, Bob,
and your 15 minutes are up.
My name is Andrew Shepherd,
and I am the president.
You don't see that every day.
He's got the press corps
asking how to spell "erudite."
- Better call the printer.
- Gotta rewrite the State of the Union.
Every word. It's a whole new ball game.
You have exactly 35 minutes.
Oh, good. I thought
I was gonna be rushed.
I don't want a limousine.
I don't want an escort.
I want a plain, ordinary,
non-bulletproof automobile.
Somebody around here
must have a Chevy I can borrow.
Find one and have it outside
the west wing entrance in five minutes.
Excuse me, sir.
Where are you going?
I'm going over to her house, stand
outside her door until she lets me in.
- I'm not leaving until I get her back.
- How are you gonna do that?
I haven't worked that out,
but I'm sure groveling will be involved.
You're just gonna drive over?
I'm commander in chief of
the most powerful army in the world.
You don't think
I can drive ten blocks?
Just stay away from Du Pont Circle.
I hear it's murder this time of day.
Hi, A.J.
Nice to see you, Ms. Wade.
Well, if anyone needs me,
I'll be in the Roosevelt Room...
giving Lewis oxygen.
I heard your speech.
I was in my car.
It just kind of
steered its way over here.
I'm glad.
I didn't decide to send 455
to the floor to get you back.
And I didn't come back because
you sent 455 to the floor.
Mr. President,
you might want to--
Hi, Sydney.
I moved Social Security up front.
Mr. President, Mr. Leventhal at the
Treasury wants two minutes. Hi, Sydney.
Mr. President-- Excuse me, Ms. Wade.
Miss McCall is on her way over.
I got some things to do.
Yes, you do.
We're only a moment away
from the arrival...
of President Shepherd and
his State of the Union address.
George, you've served
on several past administrations.
What kind of last-minute activity
is the president engaged in right now?
There's something I wanted
to give you since our first date.
I've tried to do it
a number of times...
but somehow I've always
managed to trip over my job.
But here.
These are for you.
They're beautiful.
- Mr. President?
- Well, I've gotta go.
Should I stay here?
Walk with me.
- How'd you finally do it?
- Do what?
Manage to give a woman flowers
and be president at the same time.
Well, it turns out
I've got a rose garden.
Mr. Speaker...
the president of the United States!