Original subtitles

[music playing]

CROWD (CHANTING): V-O-T-E, vote, vote.

V-O-T-E vote, vote.

[cheers]

Thank you.

I suspect most of you came out here

today to listen to a speech.

And I further suspect most of you are dreading it.

Well, you're in luck, because I came here today to listen.

I came here today because I thought I knew just about all

there was to know about life in the inner cities of America.

And I found out a couple of days ago

I don't know anything at all.

I'm a candidate for President of the United States,

and I'm surrounded by the tightest security in the world.

Yet Tuesday night in the Cass Corridor section of Detroit,

I came out of a meeting and we crossed a vacant lot.

And we found an 8-year-old boy who'd been shot three times

and left to die.

Now, I hope to God that you're shocked by this as I am, but I

know that some of you aren't.

And you're the people that we need to hear from,

because that's the only way the people of this country

are going to realize that we are losing a whole generation

to the streets.

So tell it to me.

Tell it to the people.

Tell it to the politicians.

Now's your chance.

They don't deal with politicians.

They don't listen to us. - That's not true.

I'm here to listen to you.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, but you're crazy, man.

JACK TANNER: Well, what about your governor?

I know him.

He'd listen.

How do you know?

He's just like the rest of you.

Well, he may be different.

He-- he may surprise you.

[groaning and shouting]

What are we supposed to do, go and knock on his door?

Yeah, let's go-- let's go find out.

You want to go find out?

[cheers]

Go find out if he's different?

[cheers]

You want to go over and knock on his door?

REPORTER (ON TELEVISION): In a scene reminiscent

of an early Steve Martin routine,

Tanner then led the students out of the stadium.

Moments later, however, the march

was abruptly halted by local authorities who refused

to allow the students to proceed until the necessary permits had

been secured.

Governor Blanchard had no comment

on the bureaucratic accusations charged by the Tanner camp.

People, can you please stop watching television?

Tempus fugit, you know what I'm saying?

TJ CAVANAUGH: It was a crazy stunt, Jack.

JACK TANNER: It wasn't a stunt.

I didn't plan it.

It just happened.

Right, but why do these things always happen to you?

Now--

This centerpiece.

--things are just getting out of hand, and I think

it's beginning to hurt us.

Jack, you're a major presidential candidate.

You've just been compared to Steve Martin.

Who's that?

TJ CAVANAUGH: He's a guy with an arrow through his head.

CROWD (CHANTING): Speaking of a guy

with an arrow through his head, listen to this.

This is Reagan on Dukakis here.

"President Ronald Reagan, in his first direct attack

on the apparent democratic presidential nominee Wednesday,

accused Michael Dukakis of falsely claiming

that quote, 'People are homeless and people

are going without food and medical attention.

You know, Reagan continued, 'if I listen to him long enough,

I'd be convinced that we're in an economic downturn

and that people are homeless and that people are going

without food and medical attention,

and then we've got to do something

about the unemployed."

TJ CAVANAUGH: Notice how he's been saying stuff like that

ever since the writer's strike.

[music playing]

[bell ringing]

[traffic noises]

General Tanner?

Hi, I'm Joanna Buckley.

Look at this.

That goddamn kiddie parade is over-- all over the papers.

It's turned the race into a burlesque show.

Where is he?

Oh, well--

Are you driving me?

Yes, I am, actually.

Jack wanted to come, but he had a meeting

suddenly with the editors of the free press so--

Maybe they're damn weighting another

of his public spectacles.

What can that woman be like that he's marrying?

Well, you're about to find out, sir.

She's driving you back to the house.

[music playing]

Harpsichord, OK.

Good.

The palm trees.

Where are the palm trees?

Excuse me.

Jack, Jack, you guys.

Great news.

Ralph Nader has agreed to serve as attorney general.

All right.

Ralph Nader.

Now, there is probity.

Goodbye, Meese-keteers.

TJ CAVANAUGH: What Meese-keteers?

There's nobody left at the Department of Justice.

JACK TANNER: Can you believe it?

What does Meese have to do to get it indicted,

knock over a liquor store?

JACK TANNER (ON TELEVISION): He probably already has.

JACK TANNER: Look at that.

JACK TANNER (ON TELEVISION): Six of Bud, fifth of bourbon--

Dad, why are you still here?

Hm?

Please, read your schedule.

You're supposed to be assembling in the dining room.

I am?

For the-- the pre-rehearsal, you remember?

Oh my god.

JACK TANNER: Excuse me.

TJ CAVANAUGH: Go get 'em, Jack.

These are not the tablecloths I ordered.

These are supposed to be peach floral.

Peach floral!

The tablecloths!

This is the kitchen country pattern.

I told Victor I do not want these.

This is not a barbecue!

MAN: [spanish], senorita.

I said-- does anybody here speak Spanish?

Yeah.

Gee where's-- where's Mike Dukakis

when you really need him?

Great.

Dad, would you please go in the dining room.

The reverend's waiting for you.

You're supposed to be rehearsing your vows.

I get to choose my own vows?

Oh, yeah.

Ask about the specials, Jack.

I'm sure Joanna's in there waiting for you.

Honey, no.

She went down to the train station

to get your grandfather.

Look, she'll be here on time.

Take it easy, Alex.

Everything's going to be fine.

This is great.

There is no bride at the rehearsal.

The vows still haven't been worked out.

And we have Tex-Mex tablecloths.

I give up!

[music playing]

[car horn]

GENERAL TANNER: You might have said something.

You don't look a thing like your pictures

in "National Enquirer."

So how was your trip, sir?

You know Jack's mother was diabetic.

No, sir, I-- I didn't know that.

I had to give her her shots.

She couldn't bear to do it herself.

I gave her a shot on our third date.

Oh.

Well, that doesn't sound very romantic.

You have to trust someone to let them give you a shot.

You have to love someone to want to do it.

That's how I knew.

After it was over, I wiped her arm with a cotton ball

and asked her to marry me.

There's a point here, isn't there?

Of course there's a point here.

You don't tell a story like that just to make chitchat.

I mean, what you're wondering is how do Jack and I know?

Not how do you know, how could you know?

It's a goddamn shotgun wedding.

The press made you do it.

You're doing it for the campaign, not for yourselves.

With all due respect, sir, I don't see how

you could possibly know that.

I want to ask you a question, young lady.

And I'd appreciate a direct answer.

What's that, sir?

When you were growing up, did you

even once dream about getting married in Detroit

in the middle of July?

[bells ringing]

Caution.

Do not enter.

I knew it was going to be a bad day.

Hey, hey.

Hey, campers.

The ice tea lady is here, don't fear.

How are you doing?

No, there's no guest list at all.

And-- and there's not going to be one, OK?

Just family and friends.

Barney's sitting about three feet from me.

Family and friends is about it.

Tea?

Let me hear you say yeah.

Yeah.

Let me hear you say, oh, yeah.

Give me one of those. Thank you.

Thank you.

Here you go.

WOMAN: You guys want some tea in here?

Look, here's the schedule, folks.

We're going to take a break in about five.

Want one?

And that's your only photo op, all right?

Tea?

Yeah.

Ask about the statue, either the backyard

or the living room.

15 minutes, that's all I need.

Listen, I'm sorry.

The lid is on, Mol.

We'll get a photo for you before your evening feed.

That's the best we can do.

Oh, come on.

Frank, do you want some tea?

Excuse me.

It's sun tea.

I made it myself.

Wait till you hear this.

It's like when I was in Bali covering the--

Emil.

Emil. - Yes?

Would you go down to the end of the road,

and if you see Joanna's car, you know,

just, oh, wave at them a little, get

a handkerchief or something. - Sure.

Because I'm-- I'm sure they're probably

in the neighborhood and they're just driving around.

They-- - Ms. Tanner.

I know. OK.

Here we go. Dad, come on!

Here we go.

OK.

And why don't you sit down?

TJ?

Sweetheart, I'll go up.

TJ can stand in for Joanna till Joanna

gets here, if Joanna gets here.

- The bride's not coming? - She'll be here.

Don't worry. - I will.

I mean, I do.

Well, I don't, but-- well, I've thought it on occasion.

[car engine]

MAN: This is a happy occasion.

ALEX TANNER: Think this is funny?

What do you say?

Oh, nothing.

Everything's going to be all right.

He says, my, this is a happy occasion.

Daddy?

OK, sweetie.

Dad.

God.

Well, now, I have some tea for you, so--

There's my granddaughter!

Oh.

Dad, you look great.

Did you remember to bring the formal uniform?

You asked me to, didn't you, honey?

Finally, somebody around here that has his act together.

I'm sorry, Ms. Tanner, but I've

really got to be going now.

I do too, honey.

I got to make a couple of calls.

Nobody is going anywhere, goddammit!

[music playing]

WOMAN: Every course has been incredible.

Alex?

The dessert is incredible.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

[clinking]

[chatter]

WOMAN: All right.

Let's hear the dirt.

Stories about little Jackie Tanner.

[chatter]

[clinking]

I just want to say that I'm so honored

that my-- my favorite nephew--

JACK TANNER: Your only nephew!

My favorite interrupting nephew and his darling bride

to be, who clearly could have found

someone with better manners, I think, if she'd tried.

But I must say, I'm so honored to have you choose my home

to be married in, even though the front yard is torn

to divots with all those TV trucks,

and I'm still picking beer cans out of the zinnias.

OK, well, I'm sorry.

I really thought I got it all.

AUNT: Oh, well, that's all right, dear.

The zinnias will survive, and so will all of us, I'm sure.

Now if you'll just all join me to wish this darling

couple a lovely toast.

To the dear groom and his lovely bride,

much happiness and Godspeed.

[clinking]

Cheers.

We just got here.

Godspeed?

[chatter]

Know what you're going to do after the convention, Dick?

Did I just get fired?

You knew you were a temp.

Oh, come on.

Yeah, but I thought you said my stuff was going

down real well in New York.

You could be the best shooter on the staff.

Doesn't matter.

Now, the networks have already announced major cutbacks

in the election unit.

Yeah, like who?

Everybody.

Producers, techies, talent.

Anybody I've heard of?

Oh, I hope not.

You?

Oh, get out of here, Molly.

No way.

I mean, you've been with NBC a-- gee, how long?

A-- a-- a lot of years, right?

I mean, I grew up on you.

Oh, thank you, Dick.

What a lovely career marker.

[clinking]

This is a very special occasion, and I hope all of you

are having as wonderful a time at it as I've had planning it.

MAN: I'm having a great time.

WOMAN: We are.

Joanna, I just want to say I don't know you very well yet.

But I really want to because I've always

wanted a big sister, and because you

spent a year monitoring the Sullivan plant in South Africa.

That's what did it for me.

And Dad, I just want to say how happy I am for you,

and all the hassle that went into pulling this off was--

was worth it, because now you guys can

finally hold hands in public.

[laughter]

ALEX TANNER: Well, you know what I mean.

MAN: All right.

And I love you both.

[chatter]

OK.

Excuse me, Congressman and Ms. Buckley,

I wanted to share something with you from the prophet

but I couldn't find a copy at any of the bookstores.

So I tried to get my parents to FedEx me my copy from home.

But anyway, the air bill got screwed up,

and I have no idea at this point where it ended up.

But the gist of what that passage says is that--

Molly?

Molly?

What's up, what's up?

Am I getting fired?

Well, are you getting fired?

How should I know if you're getting fired?

You know Grossman.

I know his wife, and not even that well.

Well, I want you to find out from her

whether I'm getting fired.

Look, Molly.

I don't know what brought this on,

but can we discuss this at another time?

No!

Oh, goddammit, I want to know now.

WOMAN: Lovers should be like two trees,

growing side by side but never in each other's shadows,

protecting one another from the elements,

the wind, the harsh sunlight--

The acid rain.

[laughter]

So TJ, you're going to call her.

You're going to call her right now.

Whoa, whoa. Molly, honey.

I'm in the middle of a wedding dinner.

Now go to the motel, get some sleep.

I'll call her in the morning.

Molly, I promise.

What am I going to do?

Huh, TJ?

What am I going to do?

Well, I guess you're going to get by, honey,

just like all the rest of us.

Oh, thank you, Mary Richards.

Well, you asked.

Congressman Tanner and Ms. Buckley.

Come on, get it up!

All right.

OK.

Thank you.

Molly Hart.

She thinks she's going to be fired.

Jesus.

I know.

OK, I just-- I just want to say-- I just want to say--

what did I want to say?

Oh, yeah, yeah.

OK.

I wanted to say I am really sorry about what happened

on the plane, Alex, and it's never going to-- it's

never going to happen again.

And you were a great sport, really.

You were great.

Great, you know, about the whole thing.

And so you know, anyway, to you and Jack and Joanna, I'm-- God

bless you, and best of luck.

God bless you.

Well, thank you very much.

Well, well, well.

What we have forgotten to mention

is how lucky Jack is to be walking into the fall

with this woman at his side.

Now, let us just forget for a moment

that Joanna is drop dead gorgeous,

that she just happened to be a Phi Beta at Barnard,

and she was a Nieman fellow, and all

of that other terrific resume stuff.

I hate it that you know that and I don't.

TJ CAVANAUGH: But what is most important about Joanna

is how she feels about Jack, how she is sustaining,

and how she is fiercely loyal.

Oh, she is a major asset, Jack.

And I would like to raise a toast to,

in my humble political estimation,

the most exciting power couple since Liddy and Bob Dole.

[cheers]

Bob Dole!

Far right.

Well, we've all got to get up early tomorrow,

so I think I might call an official end to this.

Unless you-- Grandpa.

OK, Grandpa's going to make one last toast,

and then we're all going to call it a night.

Grandpa?

100 Years ago, William Gladstone, after a particularly

acrimonious debate in Parliament,

bellowed across the floor at his arch rival Benjamin Disraeli,

"You sir," he said, "will one day

end your days on the gallows or of venereal disease."

Israeli raised himself up and replied, "That, sir,

would depend on whether I embrace your principles

or your mistress."

Grandpa.

GENERAL TANNER: I tell this humorous story

because it hasn't been altogether clear to me

this past year exactly what my son is embracing.

Dad.

GENERAL TANNER: Now, it's none of my business,

I suppose, but getting married is a serious business,

and it shouldn't be conducted in a circus-like atmosphere.

It-- that's right.

That's right.

Run away.

Run away!

ALEX TANNER: Grandpa.

MAN: What's all this shit about veneral disease?

TJ CAVANAUGH: Dear, dear, dear.

[bells ringing]

This is Loretta Higgins, KSFB channel three in Detroit.

We're reporting live from the wedding of Congressman Jack

Tanner and Ms. Joanna Buckley, former deputy campaign manager

of Governor Mike Dukakis.

The press has been barred from the ceremony,

which is very private.

Be careful with that.

That's a $600 cake.

Don't drop it.

LORETTA HIGGINS: --officials will be at the wedding,

and we'll try to get some reports for you as some

of these people come outside.

So once again, reporting live from Lansing, Michigan,

this is Loretta Higgins.

[helicopter noise]

You're doing pre-- what the hell is that?

That sounds like a helicopter.

What?

Yeah.

[helicopter noise]

Over here, bring it in closer!

[helicopter noise]

How close is it?

Oh my god.

What is going on, Jack?

Hey, Lexi!

It's me!

It's me!

Deke!

I'm going to have your head for this!

I'm going to have your head on a silver--

get the fuck out of here!

When are they coming out?

Go!

[helicopter noise]

Deke!

[helicopter noise]

Oh my god.

[helicopter noise]

TJ CAVANAUGH: Now, now, now, now.

Hold on. - Everything is ruined!

Everything!

TJ CAVANAUGH: Now, look.

It's just a couple of tables, and I'll call the florist

and I'll get new arrangements for you--

Why don't you just hold on that, TJ.

TJ CAVANAUGH: What do you mean, Jack?

I mean there isn't going to be a wedding.

This has gotten out of hand.

What?

JACK TANNER: This is no way for Joanna

and me to start a life together.

It's wrong.

ALEX TANNER: Daddy.

Honey, let's do it in November.

You call it off?

Oh, Jack.

Oh, Jack, thank you.

They're hugging, oh.

[laughing]

Fucking Deke.

[pop]

[shriek]

JACK TANNER: Whoa.

[music playing]

RANDY MILLER (ON RADIO): I'm so confused,

but I do know it's Randy Miller on hot new Z93WZGC Atlanta,

the home of the 1988 Democratic National

Convention, which means the circus is coming to town.

[circus music]

It's going to be incredible, with Mike Dukakis on his want

into town by plane, Jack Tanner by limo,

and Jesse Jackson with his thumb out on 75 North.

[music playing]

TJ CAVANAUGH: Huh, look at this.

Speculation about your cabinet has been all over the Atlanta

papers for days.

With Dukakis a foregone conclusion,

you're the storyline going into the convention.

JACK TANNER: Well, if Dukakis and Bentsen

are a foregone conclusion, why does anybody care what I do?

TJ CAVANAUGH: Press has got to keep it interesting, Jack.

They have to hold out that thin reed of hope for an upset,

or there's no story.

We-- hey, we counted over 150 reporters at your press

conference in Chicago.

JACK TANNER: Yeah.

Where were they when we needed them?

TJ CAVANAUGH: Now is when we need them.

JACK TANNER: Yes, folks.

It's smiling Jack Tanner and his all stars, Bobby, Nickie,

Gloria, and on the drums--

Thank you very much.

[applause]

Now, if I can ask you to hold off on your acerbic comments

until I've read the whole list, we can get

out of here with some dispatch.

And I will hang around, and we'll

discuss this end if that's OK.

Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board,

Nicholas von Hoffman US Representative to the United

Nations, Barbara Jordan.

Secretary of Transportation, Joan Claybrook.

Attorney General, Ralph Nader.

Secretary of Health and Human Services, Gloria Steinem.

WOMAN: Yeah!

WOMAN (ON TELEVISION): Nader, Steinem,

and several other designated cabinet appointees were

quick to outline their agendas.

Surprised.

Because, you see, I stand for law and order

against corporations.

TJ CAVANAUGH: What a coup.

What a coup.

RALPH NADER (ON TELEVISION): Right now, the Justice

Department is very weak.

Do you know how many people have

been trying to talk Ralph Nader out of his political virginity?

JACK TANNER: Hm. Well, we may not have.

Told me after he was sworn in, he didn't want

to hear from me for four years.

That's no fun.

I want you to beat him when he indicts Meese.

RALPH NADER (ON TELEVISION): --by wire tapping.

And it's time for a change.

I'm very surprised and honored to be thought of as a member

of a presidential cabinet.

I-- I have spent most of my time picketing

outside those buildings, and I certainly never expected to be

thought of as somebody inside.

But it-- the more I think about it, the more tempting it gets.

ALEX TANNER: Hasn't she accepted yet?

GLORIA STEINEM (ON TELEVISION): Either the point

of this campaign is that--

She's waiting for Jack to call.

GLORIA STEINEM (ON TELEVISION): --the outsiders are the country

and the insiders are a very small percentage.

And right now, the insiders--

I want to marry her.

I want her to have my children.

GLORIA STEINEM (ON TELEVISION): So--

Exactly the mentality she's been fighting

against for the last 20 years.

OK, OK, you're right.

You're right.

I want to date her.

Ambassador to France, Art Buchwald.

I don't know what Tanner is up to, frankly.

I really think he's crazy.

But I really--

Isn't this kind of an extreme way to neutralize a columnist?

ART BUCHWALD (ON TELEVISION): What he's trying to do is--

Oh, come on, babe.

With Artie out of the country, you can function.

You can govern.

I think you're just jealous cause

you didn't think of him first.

ART BUCHWALD (ON TELEVISION): I am negotiating now

if they agree to send me American food,

I'm willing to be Ambassador of France.

But I can't eat French food.

It's just-- it's just not good food, you know?

And--

That's amusing, but will it play in a country

where Jerry Lewis is god?

JACK TANNER (ON TELEVISION): Secretary

of State, Lee Hamilton.

I was very flattered that he selected me as his nominee

for Secretary of State.

It's obviously an enormously important responsibility

to be the chief spokesman for American foreign policy, and--

This stuff plays great.

Do we have responses from all these people?

I think so.

Andrea?

Da da da da da, pretty much everybody except Mr. Redford.

I can't get a hold of him.

I even tried reaching him through Sydney Pollack,

but no go.

We have a new dynamic Soviet leader.

America must test the proposals and the propositions

that he is putting forward.

But I think we have an opportunity

to see a marked improvement in the climate between the two

great superpowers in the world.

Secretary of Labor, Studs Terkel.

Well, what impresses me most ever since the first time I met

Jack Tanner when he was congressman-- first term,

I think it was-- he's one of the few young men in politics--

he's young in my book-- to know who the hell Walter Ruther was.

And so we-- - OK, gang.

Pop quiz.

Who was Walter Ruther?

STUDS TERKEL (ON TELEVISION): --whom I've known

through the years, and--

He's the lead guitarist for Twisted Sister, isn't he?

STUDS TERKEL (ON TELEVISION): --and sat next to him.

Thoughtful about the state of the country,

especially corporate America and labor unions.

And I don't mean to compare him to Kennedy.

I think this guy's way better than Kennedy, quite frankly.

Kennedy was a Cold War.

You got to face that, too.

I like that.

STUDS TERKEL (ON TELEVISION): Coming

back to secondary labor-- - All right.

Another pop quiz. Who was Jack Kennedy?

TJ?

STUDS TERKEL (ON TELEVISION): --willing discussions--

Joe Kennedy's uncle.

Yeah!

Good answer.

Good answer.

STUDS TERKEL (ON TELEVISION): --Secretary of State.

It doesn't have to be departmentalized

just that way, because nothing in the long

will be departmentalized.

Too much specialization.

I like the idea.

I guess you say I'm a generalist.

Honey, let's take a walk.

I'm eating breakfast.

No, we're taking a walk.

JACK TANNER (ON TELEVISION): Secretary

of Defense, Lee Iacocca.

And Secretary of Agriculture, Jim Hightower.

[clapping]

JACK TANNER: Look, honey.

I know you're upset about the wedding.

ALEX TANNER: It's OK, Dad.

It was your wedding, not mine.

Besides, everything was going wrong anyway.

JACK TANNER: Well, look, we're still going to do it.

We're still going to get married, but only

after all this is over.

Only in the clear.

ALEX TANNER: Wouldn't invite Grandpa

next time if I were you.

JACK TANNER: I think your grandfather's

going to hit up the family shit list for years to come.

ALEX TANNER: Can you imagine him at a state

dinner at the White House?

JACK TANNER: Well, we've got to get there first.

Come on.

Let's check out the venue.

[construction noises]

Dad.

We made it.

We sure did, honey.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT (RECORDING):

Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister

nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace.

A peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men.

MAN (VOICEOVER): That men can be not

by violence and by boot strength, but at last by reason

and by law.

I'd also like to say--

LYNDON B. JOHNSON (VOICEOVER): The time

has come for Americans of all races and creeds

and political beliefs, to understand

and to respect one another.

JOHN F. KENNEDY (VOICEOVER): Let the word

go forth from this time and place to friend and foe alike

that the torch that has been passed to a new generation

of Americans--

MARIO CUOMO (VOICEOVER): We believe--

we believe as Democrats that a society as blessed as ours

ought to be able to find work for all who can do it,

room at the table, shelter for the homeless,

care for the elderly and infirm, and hope for the destitute.

And we proclaim as loudly as we can the utter insanity

of nuclear proliferation and the need for a nuclear freeze,

if only to affirm the simple truth

that peace is better than war because life

is better than death.

[cheers]

CROWD (CHANTING): Four more years.

Four more years.

Four more years.

Four more years.

Four more years.

Four more years.

Four more years.

Four more years.

Four more years.

Four more years.

Four more years.

Four more years.

Four more years.