Original subtitles

[Mac] Previously on Commander in Chief:

If you can't deliver, then maybe you should step aside.

I have a daughter who'd rather see Pat Buchanan in office than her old lady.

You want to be president because you want the power to control the universe!

- That's not me. - That's the problem.

If you are incapable of traveling the high road,

- I don't want you representing me. - Mr. Speaker, your star intern.

It's an honor to meet you, sir.

- When are you declaring? - Mustn't get ahead of ourselves.

Have you given any thought to who will be your next VP?

- What about you? - Me?

Think about it.

I like this artist's work.

Hmm. Serious, but warm. I wonder what he's holding.

Eviction notice?

I don't really need to decide this now, do I?

Well, any artist you choose is going to need multiple sittings.

- There's not that much time left. - Ah, my little ray of sunshine.

Good to get your portrait in the gallery sooner than later,

cement the notion of you being part of history, not a flash in the pan.

Ma'am, they're ready for you in the town hall prep.

- Thank you. You guys coming? - Uh, yeah. Just a sec.

She should definitely wear a dress or a skirt.

'Cause she's the president with hot legs?

No, so she's perceived as strong but feminine.

I know it sucks, but I'm right.

- Why are we here? - To ask sample questions.

You know, help her prep for this whole "get out the vote" thing.

The university hosts it every year.

So these sample questions, where are they?

In our minds. We're supposed to make them up.

It's not too late to cancel.

Impossible. It's been on the books for months.

White House always participates.

He still beefing about this? It's a non-partisan event.

But it should be a presidential event.

You suggest we un-invite the senate majority leader and speaker?

Mackenzie Allen'll leave with the same cachet she had going in.

Anybody else gets elevated standing next to her.

- Does more for their numbers than ours. - Hello.

- [Jim] Madam President. - Please, please.

Hi, guys. Thanks for coming.

- Sure. - No problem.

The point of the town hall is to encourage young people to vote,

not to get a bump in the polls.

- So, shall we? - OK.

[Mac] Yes.

If you run for reelection, who will be your running mate,

and what party will he or she be a member of?

Well, I haven't made a decision about my vice president yet,

but party affiliation won't matter.

What I'm looking for is someone who has integrity, who has vision,

- and who has had their appendix out. - [audience chuckles]

[Sarah] They just came in.

You don't think we're jumping the gun with this?

- Nathan, stop stalling. - [Jayne] Your numbers went up

16 percent since our stay in the White House.

- He thinks we should capitalize on it. - Lance is going by polls.

I hate polls, Jayne. I can't... I'm too old.

- You're not old. - I'm too old-fashioned.

I think you're being incredibly short-sighted about this process.

- With all due respect. - Didn't sound very respectful to me.

Well, we need someone like him.

We're going up against an incumbent.

We need more than by-the-book strategies and matching funds, you know?

We need an attack dog.

- [sighs] - I think the one in the middle is good.

Put it this way, the reality is, if we allow the greenhouse effect

that's caused by human activity to go unchecked,

it's like putting more and more blankets on a patient who already has a fever.

Horace? How'd I do with that one?

Um... I wasn't listening. Sorry.

OK, how 'bout you ask me a question that you do want to know the answer to.

- Can I get tickets to Nickelback? - [audience laughs]

Yes.

When did you vote in your first presidential election,

- and who did you vote for? - 1980, John Anderson.

I guess my Independent streak was showing even back then.

How do you feel about Affirmative Action?

As a university chancellor, I had firsthand experience

with the flaws and benefits of that program.

People of color are not on equal footing.

So you're for it?

Excuse me, ma'am? Sorry to interrupt.

- [Jim] Is there a problem? - Vernon Rubino died.

Rubino, the speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives.

- For 40 years. - Remember.

He wouldn't attend the convention 'cause Bridges nominated me.

Didn't want a bra-burner in the White House.

And all this matters because…?

- Because now, Illinois can ratify it. - The ERA.

[Mac] I want staff to meet in the morning.

We're going to amend the Constitution.

[Mac] Unfortunately, voter apathy is at an all-time high,

especially among young voters.

But maybe you'll help me convince them to use their voices.

- [all shouting] - Luis.

Madam President, is your attendance at George Mason University

meant as an appeal to vote for you in the next election?

No, it's meant as an appeal to vote in every election.

- [all shout] - Barry.

President Allen, were you aware

of Illinois Speaker Vernon Rubino's passing?

Yes. I called the Rubino family last night to express my condolences.

He was a legendary figure in

Illinois politics and a real champion of his state.

And he was also an outspoken critic of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Does your administration view his passing

as an opportunity to revisit the issue?

In the Declaration of Independence, the first truth to be

held as self-evident is that all men are created equal.

Since women didn't win the right to vote until about a century and a half later,

I'm afraid we have to assume that they did mean men.

Now, we can't amend the Declaration, but we can and must amend

the Constitution to ensure women have equal rights.

Madam President, so are we to understand that you are

putting the ERA back on the national agenda?

- Yes. - [crowd murmurs]

When Congress submitted the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972,

35 states passed it, leaving it three states shy of the 38 needed

- for Constitutional ratification. - Morning.

- Mission accomplished. - I take it you got the ERA question?

- Hard not to when Kelly plants it. - How was it received?

Uh, with surprise and confusion.

They're all going to be boning up on it, that's for sure.

We're clear about the 35 states we have?

States have the power to ratify, not rescind,

so the 35 that we have, we keep.

All right. Can anyone explain how the Illinois speaker dying

convinces the state to pick up a 30-year-old issue?

Yeah. It's an ongoing issue.

ERA legislation's passed the Illinois Senate and is currently in its House.

- Rubino was the only roadblock. - A new speaker will be in place soon,

hopefully, one more open to the amendment.

I served in Congress with the governor of Illinois.

I'll see if he's up for horse-trading with some of the holdouts.

Missouri is within reach. I can call the speaker.

He has a fair amount of pull.

If we get those states, we just need one more.

- Talk to me about Florida. - A state Templeton all but owns.

ERA legislation's stuck in Senate committee.

Majority leader's blocked it at every turn.

- What do we know about him? - Her. Christine Chambers.

Rising star of the Republican Party.

Young, dynamic. Eyes on the governor's mansion.

Jim, let's see if we can get Ms. Chambers in here

as soon as possible. I want to talk to her.

- There she is. Got a sec? - Uh, sure. What's up?

I spoke to Eric Connors at the Sunday Times Magazine

and he wants the magazine to do a story on Mac and me.

"A presidential marriage," something like that.

- You run this by the president? - Eric should've spoken to you,

but we've been friends since college.

He felt more comfortable pitching it to me.

- I hope you don't mind. - No. Not at all.

- Who's the writer? - A guy named Jeremy Dobris.

- You know him? - Yeah. You want me to set up a meeting?

No need. He's here.

Mr. Dobris, I'd like you to meet...

- Hello, Kelly. - How are you, Jeremy?

Well, so much for introductions.

Uh, we go back, uh… What? Eight years?

We met when Kelly worked Esther Chamberlain's House campaign

- for Virginia's third district. - Fourth.

Jeremy covered the race for The New Republic.

- First national press we got. - That should make things easier.

Jeremy's gonna be interviewing and observing the next few weeks.

He should know his way around.

- I was wondering if you would just... - Give him the tour? Sure.

- Great. See you two later. - Thank you, sir.

You son of a bitch!

[chiming]

[keys clicking]

- [chiming] - [scoffs] You need a silencer on that.

- Yeah. And you need to read a book. - Sorry I'm not a brainiac like you.

Well, at least I put some time into my studying.

- You wonder why you don't get dates. - [Rebecca sighs]

- [television chatter] - You watching this, Grandma?

Oh, yes, as a matter of fact, I am, dear.

- [woman] Just what is the ERA? - Irish terrorist group, right?

- Oh, for God's sake... - [woman] Laundry detergent, I think.

Since 1972, 35 states have ratified the ERA.

Some experts claim if just three more states were to ratify

the amendment, it's likely to become law.

Grandma, I can't hear myself think.

Well, perhaps you should be listening to this.

Why?

Have you ever heard of a glass ceiling?

Oh, I love those. You can see right up to the sky.

Not what she meant, squirt.

Just because it matters to Mom, doesn't mean it matters to me.

I mean, I'm no feminist.

So you don't believe that women should have rights equal to those of men?

Well, of course I do. It's just...

Well, then might I suggest, my dear,

that you look up the definition of feminist.

No mention of the article? That you're coming to the White House?

I would've told you if you'd called back.

It's the first message I get from you in seven years.

You think I'd pick up and say, "How you been?"

I was hoping our history wouldn't be a problem.

Jeremy, the only problem here

is your complete and total lack of consideration.

You look really great, have I told you that?

You said the same thing the day we got divorced.

- Thank you for coming on short notice. - Actually, it's good timing.

I have meetings on the Hill I've been putting off way too long.

Not surprising. My daughter says you're a rock star.

Let's just say she's into politics.

[chuckles] Well, hard not to be, considering who her mother is.

Christine, I asked you here to get a feel for where you are

in terms of passage of the ERA.

I know the Florida Senate is pretty evenly split,

but you hold a considerable amount of sway.

Look, obviously, I support equal rights, but I don't support unnecessary laws.

Women participate now more than ever.

Your presidency is the best example of that.

In other words, why not stop there?

Why not be content with what we have,

with what the Constitution implies, rather than what it says?

The 14th Amendment guarantees equal rights to all persons.

And it was passed in 1868, and women weren't guaranteed the right to vote

until 1920, when the 19th Amendment was passed.

Christine, look, women still earn 74 cents on the dollar.

Without a Constitutional foundation, that's never gonna change.

And that's a viable concern,

but so is increasing the government, in my opinion.

Why'd we want to amend the Constitution for something that's already in place?

At this point, it's strictly symbolic.

I see.

Let's stay in touch while you're in town.

Of course.

Ms. Chambers, Dickie McDonald. Big fan. It's a pleasure to meet you.

- Thank you. You, too. - Dickie.

The focus group of my Johns Hopkins speech was interesting.

Gave me some ideas.

Always thought my memos went straight into the burn bag.

No. Sometimes I just shred them.

OK, so what poll are you going to show me?

The ERA turns off the under 40s? The over 60s? Golfers?

Well, I'd like to show you a poll, but I can't.

Because there is no national polling data on the ERA.

Not within the last two decades.

Look, ma'am, you've reached a point in your presidency where

the people finally see you as the president, not a female president.

- To remind them of it... - Where's this going?

[sighing] It's just not worth it.

No Democrat, no Republican,

no one wants to go near this in an election year.

Except me.

When I was a girl, it was a girl and her diary.

Oh. Times have changed, I guess.

In some ways. And others not so much.

I was wondering when you were going to ask what I thought about this

equal rights thing you're doing.

OK, what do you think of this whole equal rights thing I'm doing?

Well, it seems like you're opening the door for me to get drafted.

That's what some people are saying.

- Who's saying that? - Well, the newspapers, the Internet.

Well, that could happen.

But the larger hope is that the draft wouldn't... for either gender.

But, Mom, there is a difference between the sexes.

I mean, yes, people should be paid the same to do the same job,

but otherwise, I think men should stay men, and women should stay women.

In other words, separate but equal?

Becca, we've already figured out that doesn't work.

Not for race and not for gender either.

- [chiming] - Sorry.

[Mac] You know what? You should talk to Grandma about this.

You know, Mom, maybe you're right.

In fact, maybe I should go to the town hall.

You know, hear another point of view. Cheer you on or whatever.

That was a quick change of heart, but I like it.

- Thanks, sweetie. - Yeah.

[chiming]

[exhaling deeply]

The president has her position paper and she'll respond when she reads it.

OK, thanks.

- Any update on the VP search? - Why do you ask?

Uh, because we don't have one.

And because Colby's chief of staff lives in my building.

Bugs me every morning about it. Can't really blame him, I guess.

Colby thinks he's got a shot at being VP.

And you don't?

Come on. A woman and a black guy? One or the other, not both.

Excuse me, Mr. Gardner. General Allyson's here to see you.

All right. I'll get out of your hair.

[Dickie] Sir.

- General, what can I do for you? - Some material for you on the ERA.

Since when are you interested in social policy?

Equality among the sexes means women assigned to direct combat MOSs.

What you've got there are letters from previous Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs,

policy papers, editorials. They point to the potentially disastrous

nature of something like this on morale and readiness.

I can show you as many papers defending women in combat.

And it shouldn't matter.

Our job is to carry out the president's agenda.

Jim, the president has my utmost respect.

She's earned that. But there's a culture in place here.

What I'm afraid of is that all the good work she's done

would be undone by something like this.

The military has got to be governed by a different set of regulations.

"This is one of the surest ways to break down the morale of the Army

and to destroy its efficiency." The New York Times, 1948.

Now, racial segregation was complete ignorance.

And who's to say we won't look back in 50 years and say the same thing?

I'll carry your concerns to the president.

Fair enough. That's all I can ask.

Thanks very much.

Good afternoon.

I'd like to begin by sharing some good news.

The Illinois General Assembly has scheduled a vote

on the Equal Rights Amendment later this week.

[shouting]

Is it true the president met with Chambers to open up Florida

- to another vote? - The president is interested...

- [man] What about Missouri? - The president's interested

in the status of the ERA in all the states that haven't passed it.

- Luis. - [Luis] What's the reaction

to the backlash that's against the ERA?

[Kelly] I'd hardly call it a backlash.

OK, we're talking about a handful of demonstrations, nothing more.

The president have a reaction to the National Christian Council's

suggestion that the ERA'll destroy the American family?

Is the president gonna continue pushing a feminist agenda

if she's elected to a second term?

This is hardly solely a feminist agenda. You guys, you're being...

- [indistinct shouting] - President Allen…

We need someone to take this and build a platform piece…

Right this way. Can I get you any coffee, Ms. Chambers?

- Water? - No, thank you.

Hi, Ms. Chambers. Nathan Templeton. My Chief of Staff, Jayne Murray.

- Pleasure. - Please, sit down over there.

I understand you were summoned to the Oval Office.

- First time, was it? - Yes, sir. It was.

I suspect your political journey is going to be a long one.

- I like the way you work. - Thank you.

Drawing the president out, letting her put herself out there

on this ERA nonsense, then voting it down in the Florida Senate?

Well, I wish I could take credit for that,

- but that's not what I'm doing. - Really? What is it that you're doing?

I have a lot of respect for the president.

I'd like to hear what she has to say.

- She's opened doors for women. - She certainly has.

A big door, to the most important room on the planet.

[Jayne] Which reminds me.

As a young Republican, which one of these do you respond to?

Well, um...

I guess the one on the right, if I had to choose.

We think alike. That one's on our short list.

The party needs your support, Ms. Chambers.

And the party gets it.

But I am my own person, Mr. Speaker.

[chuckles] That's for sure.

Well, it was a great pleasure to meet you.

- And you. - I want you to go by the Senate.

I want you to say hello to two great Floridians, Gil Olmstead and Lou Arkin.

You don't have to worry about getting in to see them.

Just say I sent you. They're old friends of mine.

And mine. We're meeting later for drinks at the Mayflower.

You are?

All right, well, you say hi to them from me then.

- I will. Have a nice day. - And you, too.

- What a piece of work she is. - [Jayne chuckles]

Can you believe the president's getting traction on this thing?

She's already got a foothold in Illinois.

And Florida.

When am I doing the Gordon Blake show?

A week after the town hall. Why?

Do you think that you could get it moved before the town hall?

[woman] We want a woman vice president.

It may not be...

It was, in fact, too soon in 1972 to say we could have a woman president,

but it is not too soon to say we could have a woman vice president.

- [Jim] She was quite an orator. - They all were.

Alice Paul, Steinem, Friedan.

And they changed the world.

Please.

Ma'am, I was approached by General Allyson

with concerns about the impact of the ERA on our military.

I've heard those arguments before.

I think it's worth noting that the issue of women in combat could backfire.

Do you think I'm making a mistake pursuing this?

I think that you're passionate about it.

I think you're right about it. I think that it's an uphill battle,

particularly given the fact we're nearing the end of this term.

True.

That said, if this is something that you want done,

I'll do everything within my power to make sure it happens.

[sighs]

Uh...

Jim.

It may not last...

...my time in office.

This may be our only chance.

- Morning. - Hey.

What's going on with Illinois?

Well, I'm bringing in some key reps today.

I hope they'll be able to go back and influence their fellows.

But the attack dogs are certainly out in force.

They call it spin now.

I like what we used to call it...

...lies.

Do you remember when you took me to see Gloria Steinem at the Civic?

June 1974. I'll never forget it.

You were so happy and buoyant with the pins and the bumper stickers.

- They kind of disappeared after that. - It was hard to keep them on.

Besides, I'd embarrassed your father enough already.

They called women who supported the ERA men-haters.

Truth is, we loved men.

We just wanted them to love us back equally.

Hmm...

So how long were you and this Doughboy married?

- It's Dobris. A little over a year. - I can't believe you never told me.

Divorce isn't exactly something that you brag about.

What happened?

The Financial Times offered him their Kyōto bureau.

I was coming off the Chamberlain campaign, getting lots of offers.

He asked me to go to Japan. I wanted to think about it.

He didn't. Look, no one knows about this, except you, OK?

- So, I'd like to keep it that way. - Of course. You want me to hate him?

I will if you say so.

Thank you for taking the time to see me, Madam President,

- given everything that's going on... - Well, to be honest,

- I've yet to experience a lull. - Oh, no doubt.

And for what it's worth, I support the ERA.

You already have the job.

So how's this gonna work? What is it you're gonna need from us?

To start, I'd like to interview you separately.

Perhaps shadow you both in your respective roles.

To that end, I will need full access to any events, travel, et cetera...

Full access to everything I do is not possible, but I'll do my best.

Understood.

When are we thinking this'll go into print?

My editor's given me a lot of latitude, given your schedules.

But we have to set a time limit.

Can't have you wandering the White House indefinitely.

[Mac] Unfortunately, I'm on a catch-as-catch-can basis,

but I'll have you coordinate with Kelly.

At your convenience, Madam President.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

- May as well get started. - All right.

Seems like a nice enough fellow.

Excuse me.

Look, you're never gonna get married at this rate, my friend.

I had a mother, Karen. I don't need another one.

[laughing] I mean it. You gotta get out more.

Greg and I haven't seen you for weeks.

Probably not gonna happen soon.

I may not take it, may not be picked,

but the president asked me to think about being her VP.

- Seriously? - In some ways, it'd be a demotion.

- I mean, chief of staff... - The American public doesn't know that.

As far as they're concerned, the vice president is the

second most powerful person on the planet.

- Not sure I'm all that interested. - Bull. You wouldn't have mentioned it

if you weren't thrilled by the prospect.

Still, VP... I mean, what are we talking about?

Attending funerals, glad-handing, politicking...

All over the world. So what?

Jim, you gotta do this.

I'd be a target.

Yeah, you would be.

You'd be out there, exposed, studied, commented on,

getting threats, hate mail...

...and you'd lift people higher

than they'd ever been lifted before.

[Mac] So, have you given any more thought to what we discussed?

To answer your real question, no, I haven't changed my mind.

You intend to block ERA legislation in Florida's Senate.

Yes, ma'am.

I see. You know, I remember hearing that you got

your political science degree from DePaul.

- Go, Blue Demons, go. - [chuckles]

Pretty hefty tuition, from what I understand.

Well, I was there on a full scholarship.

- That's right. For soccer, wasn't it? - Mm-hmm.

- Fullback. - Halfback.

Ah, I see. Please.

You know what's interesting about that?

Before the passage of Title IX in 1972,

DePaul wouldn't have had a women's sports program.

And if it hadn't passed, you might never have gotten that degree.

Point taken.

- Hey. - Hey!

How'd it go with Jeremy? You spill the beans about me?

I told him that you were the love of my life and that you snored.

So, how was your day?

Depending who you ask, I'm either destroying families

- or making big government even bigger. - Mmm.

Rebecca thinks I'm destroying her life.

Um, Dickie thinks I'm losing voters.

The military is not on board, of course.

God forbid we do anything to upset them. "Don't ask, don't tell."

- Don't do anything. - Look, you're doing the right thing.

You're not thinking of walking this back, are you?

You kidding? I just got Christine Chambers

to agree to call for an emergency vote in Florida.

Great! Great.

You know, some political players say she doesn't expect

to win the ERA fight, but even by losing,

she guarantees herself a majority of the women voters.

- 1,460. - I beg your pardon?

That's the number of days a president serves in a four-year term.

For 1,460 days, you're the leader of the free world.

That's it.

You got 1,460 days and she's frittering away some of those days

trying to push a bill she's pulled out of the wastebasket of history.

We're talking 1923, Gordon.

She's trumpeting a suffragette's agenda

because she doesn't have an agenda of her own.

Are you saying the president has no real agenda?

I'm afraid so.

We're floundering, Gordon.

This country can't be allowed to flounder.

We're the United States of America, for heaven's sake.

Sounds like words spoken by a man who intends to run for president.

[sighing]

I probably should have told my wife first, but...

...yes, Gordon.

I'm gonna run for president, and God willing, I'll win,

because this country needs me.

[Kelly] I have calls from every news outlet.

Now that he's announced, they're carrying the Mason event live.

Senate majority leader pulled out.

Didn't want to be an appendage to the first debate.

I saw a tape of his Blake interview. Wanna know my reaction?

- Who cares? - Ma'am?

Big deal. Templeton is running for president.

Tell me something I haven't known for a year.

We may have known, but the public didn't.

He waited until the morning of the town hall so he could upstage you.

Templeton can do all he wants to try and grab the spotlight.

But when we get on the stage tonight,

I'm still the President of the United States,

and he's still just some guy applying for my job.

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

Green tea, please.

Oh. I didn't think you ever crossed Constitution Avenue.

Only when there's good reason to. I'm glad to see you're still in town.

I try to leave, but I keep getting roped into more meetings.

Everyone wants to hitch a wagon to a rising star.

You're a rocket, Christine.

You've got the numbers, the smarts, the people skills...

Any of which these Beltway types'd give their eyeteeth for. You have it all.

With the right strategy, you can have the governorship of Florida.

This where you hand me your card and tell me you can help me get there?

This is where I tell you how to get to the White House.

I can't allow myself to think that far ahead.

Two terms in Tallahassee, it's your next stop. It's a clear trajectory.

Bad thing about trajectories, though, one little misstep, one little bump,

one divisive issue, it can go a whole 'nother way.

I thought you worked for the president.

You align yourself with the ERA, you lose northern Florida.

You lose northern Florida,

you lose the governorship and your state Senate seat.

End trajectory. In my professional opinion.

First consultation's free.

[sirens blaring]

[crowd applauds and cheers]

- Are you up for this? - Are you kidding? I love this.

Ma'am, Chambers backed out. Florida won't hold a vote.

Not this year, anyway. Looks like someone got to her.

[Jim] The speaker got to Chambers?

We'd love to take credit for her flipping, but we can't.

- [chuckling] Come on. - No, the truth is, we tried.

Christine Chambers is her own woman.

[indistinct chatter]

Don't be so obvious.

I'm not looking for your boyfriend, all right?

Well, I won't cramp your style.

Don't go too far. Your mom's gonna be up in ten minutes,

so you might want to take your seat soon.

OK. Thanks.

- I hope your Mom likes big crowds. - Oh, she's used to it by now.

Yeah, so is my boss. I work for Nathan Templeton.

Oh. Oh, that's cool.

- Yeah. - Um, see ya.

Yeah.

[Blackberry rings]

[keys clicking]

Hey, again.

Oh, my God. Katherine?

- Yeah. - Wait a minute.

Katherine's a Republican. You're...

I just used my middle name. Everything else holds true.

[exhaling deeply]

- I'm proud of you. - I love you.

Next stop, Iowa?

I'm looking forward to many spirited debates with you on the trail.

Mmm. Don't plan on seeing me out there anytime soon.

[chuckling] If I didn't know you better, I'd say you weren't running.

I'm not. Not in the way you are.

For you, next year is about campaigning to be president.

I'm not going to campaign.

For me, next year is about being president.

You know, someone once told me

that the only reason to want to be president is for the power.

And you know what? He was right.

And that's what I have to do for as long as I hold this office,

exercise that power.

[woman] Ladies and gentleman,

please welcome the Speaker of the House, Nathan Templeton.

[audience applauds]

Ma'am? Good news out of Illinois. Just thought you would want to know.

[woman] ...the President of the United States.

- [♪ Hail to the Chief] - [audience applauds]

[Templeton] I'm sure every leader worth his salt

would answer your question with High Noon, but I'm a Bogart man.

I have great admiration...

More of an Ingrid Bergman man, if you ask me.

It's nuance that I love. That's what Casablanca is chock-full of.

I mean, just look at the moral complexity of the characters.

Nothing's all good, nothing's all evil.

Redemption is everywhere.

Forgiveness, understanding, and ultimately, the attraction of opposites.

You know, it's like Rick says at the end of the movie,

"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

[audience applauds]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if your appreciation for that film has anything

to do with the fact that "Casablanca" translates to "White House"?

[audience laughs, applauds]

- Here's looking at you, kid. - [Mac laughs]

Mr. Templeton, I was wondering what made you

- declare your candidacy this morning? - It was spontaneous.

Remember Steve McQueen in that movie,

saying that he had this uncle who used to, once a year,

run buck naked out of the house and jump into a cactus patch?

The family would all run out after him, yelling

"Uncle! Uncle, what did you do that for?"

And every year he'd give the same answer.

He'd say "Seemed like a good idea at the time."

[audience chuckles]

Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time

for me to tell the American people that they had a choice.

- Me. - [audience applauds]

[Templeton] Yes, ma'am?

A lot has been made about the push to pass the ERA. But isn't it obsolete?

Well, I mean, that's really for you to decide, ma'am, not me.

But I think the lady to my right is evidence that it is.

[audience applauds]

- [Mac] Uh, what is your name? - Olivia.

[Mac] Olivia, you ask a valid question.

But the Equal Rights Amendment is not for the first female president.

It's for the girl who wants equal opportunity in school.

It's for the single mother who can't get a mortgage

or a small business loan.

For the woman who faces harassment in her office and violence in her home.

The ERA isn't gonna solve all of these problems, but it will help.

Moments ago,

the Illinois General Assembly ratified the ERA.

[audience applauds]

The amendment has now been ratified by 36 states.

A lot of people think the ERA was introduced in the 70s,

but, in fact, Alice Paul first wrote the amendment in 1923.

Women had just won the right to vote, and detractors told her,

"Well, the battle for equality is over."

But Alice Paul fought on.

She liked to quote an adage that she'd learned from her mother, a farmer.

"When you put your hand to the plow,

you can't put it down until you get to the end of the row."

And so, like Alice Paul and so many others before her

who have fought for equality,

tonight, we take one step forward.

And know this.

We will fight on, and we will take one more step, and then one more.

Because there is too much work left to do.

There is too much unfinished business.

We will keep our hands to the plow, because I ask you...

If not us, who?

If not now, when?

He met with her earlier today, pushed her to kill the vote.

- [Rod] Hey, hey, fantastic. Great. - [Kelly] Congratulations, ma'am.

- [man] Wonderful. Well done. - Thanks, honey.

Excuse me a second. Dickie.

- Ma'am. - Can I speak with you a minute?

I took a quick, unscientific poll. Overwhelmingly favorable.

- Well done. - I'm glad you think so.

So, you met with Christine Chambers.

And you somehow convinced her to block the ERA vote in the Florida Senate.

I was doing my job.

Your job is to help me fight for what I believe in.

No. My job is to keep you in office. To protect you.

- From what? - Yourself.

Next year, I plan to limit any contributions to my reelection fund

to $100 per person.

And any stumping I do, I'm gonna do from the Rose Garden.

I'm gonna campaign by doing my job, Dickie.

And if that isn't enough to get me a second term, so be it.

It's a nice thought, ma'am, but that's not how things work.

- Not in this town. - Your services are no longer required.

It was a town hall meeting, not a debate.

Oh. Well, I guess if you're gonna call us the winner,

I can live with debate. Where's it gonna be?

- Top story above the fold? - You hate reporters, don't you?

I gotta go.

I bet you got some good material tonight.

Absolutely.

I want to thank you for helping me land this gig.

I didn't really do anything, but you're welcome.

You did a lot by not having the Secret Service kick me to the curb.

The thought did cross my mind.

- [woman] There you are. - Oh, hey. I wanted you two to meet.

Kelly Ludlow, this is my wife, Chikako.

Hello. Nice to meet you. Yeah.

I'm sure the president needs me.

- It was nice to meet you, Chikako. - You, too.

- See you tomorrow? - Yeah.

Oh, Kelly, did you hear about Dickie?

- Huh? What? - The president fired him.

[door opening]

- [crowd applauds] - Thank you. Thank you. Jim.

- Do we have to do this press thing now? - Uh, yes.

Ma'am, this may not be the best time for this,

but the other day when we were talking...

- Yes. - Well, I just wanted you to know

that I would be proud and honored to be considered for the vice-presidency.

OK.

FEC filing on Monday, interviews with finance chairs on Tuesday,

press secretaries on Wednesday…

I haven't felt this invigorated since, gosh, the first Congressional campaign.

Can we still pay your staff in Chinese takeout?

I've got messages from every state party chair.

Governors from New Hampshire, Iowa,

South Carolina, all requesting appearances.

First stop should be Florida.

Childhood home, red, white and blue bunting, full brass band.

You're gonna want it for your first campaign spot.

Aren't you in the wrong room, young man?

Am I?

- [indistinct chatter] - All right. Thank you, everyone.

Thank you for coming.

- Madam President? You need to see this. - What?

[crowd chants indistinctly]

[crowd cheering]