Original subtitles

[ Joe Cocker's "With a Little Help From My Friends" plays ]

? Baby ?

? High with a little help from my friends ?

? Said I'm gonna make it with my friends ?

? Try with a little help from my friends ?

? Oh, oh, I'm gonna keep on tryin' ?

? Get by with a little help from my friends ?

? I'm gonna keep on tryin', now, babe ?

? Ooh, ooh, ooh ?

I am a lot more... less interested in my prestige,

Than I am in the future of this country.

We're going to give Richard Nixon

The retirement he so richly deserves.

Every four years, our country

Is gripped by a case of temporary insanity.

We call it a presidential election.

It's democracy defined,

A chance for politicians who know better

To make promises they can't keep.

And come November, it's a chance for us to believe them.

In Richard Milhous Nixon, you have a man

Who has devoted his lifetime

To an exemplary and spotless record of selfless service

To the American people.

The 1972 campaign was no exception.

That fall was a time of excitement...

Reflection...

A time of passion...

That made America great.

A time to examine the issues.

[ both laugh ]

Kevin. Pay attention.

Sorry.

Can't take him anywhere.

So that you young people

Can continue to enjoy the benefits

Of living in the greatest country on earth.

But above all, it was a time of debate.

[ feedback ] endless debate.

- Thank you. - Thank you, Mr. Leegee.

And now with an opposing viewpoint,

The McKinley student council

Is pleased to welcome Mr. Michael Detweiller,

Head of the tri-counties citizens for McGovern office.

Mr. Detweiller.

Great.

Another speech.

Face it.

For those of us who hadn't turned 18 yet,

There was only one way to describe this charade.

Politics is a lot of crap.

[ Crowd gasps ] - crap?

Anyone who stands up here talking to you about your future

Using words like "moral values" and "law and order"

Is just shoveling that crap.

I'm afraid I have to take issue with that statement.

Like I said.

[ laughter ]

And you guys can't just sit here and listen to it.

Because it's your generation that they're shoveling it on.

It's you guys that'll inherit the planet they've polluted.

It's you guys that are gonna get sent home in body bags

From their war.

But it's also you guys that can help elect senator McGovern

Because he's the one guy I know who will cut the crap.

Maybe it was because he spoke about issues that involved us.

Or maybe it was just the first time

Someone used the word "crap" in McKinley auditorium.

In any event...

[ cheers and applause ]

There was something about that speech that grabbed us.

Got us thinking, wondering.

[ bell rings ]

Made us see politics

In a way that we couldn't help but respect.

Hey, that guy probably gets the chicks like crazy.

Well, look at that. They're all over him.

You had to admit, the guy had charisma...

The guy had charm...

The guy had my girlfriend

Practically drooling all over him.

Why? You think it's a lost cause?

- Well, no. I... - Because some of the greatest

Victories in politics have come out of lost causes.

Maybe it was time to interrupt this little caucus.

Winnie?

Oh, hi, Kevin. This is mike.

- Hey. Mike Detweiller. - Kevin Arnold.

So, uh, what did you think of the debate?

I tried to restrain myself.

Well... It was, uh... Interesting.

Interesting? I thought it was wonderful.

Yeah?

Think I'll have to agree with Kevin here.

I was getting pretty bored of listening to myself talk, too.

Uh-huh.

Well, uh... It was really good meeting you.

But we got to go.

Mike was saying he could really use our help in the election.

You bet. What do you say?

Us?

Listen, just 'cause you're not old enough to vote,

That doesn't mean you can't help.

Why don't you come on down to headquarters sometime? Check it out?

Hey, you might even enjoy it.

Cold pizza, warm soda.

All the, uh, envelopes you can stuff.

Yeah, well, uh...

- We'll think about it. - Great.

I hope I see you there.

Yeah, I'd think about it. For about a minute and a half.

[ school bell rings ]

Winnie, you coming?

Oh. Sure.

Or maybe I wouldn't think about it at all.

We've spent $150 billion on Vietnam alone.

Unfortunately, in 1972, that was hard to do.

People seemed to breathe, sleep, and eat politics.

My family included.

My father, for example, weighed all the arguments

And summed it up in one word.

Mm.

You know, most of the kids I run into at the college

Are gonna vote for McGovern.

And I like his stand on women's rights.

He really respects the new position

That women are achieving in society.

My mother, on the other hand, had a more personal view.

Great. Any more potatoes, honey?

Uh... I got them.

So, butthead, who you gonna vote for?

Then there was my brother,

Representing the great unwashed masses.

What are you talking about? I'm not old enough to vote.

Great. Then I'll sell you mine for 5 bucks.

Pass the gravy, nimrod.

Shh.

And there we were.

All in all, a kind of a cross section of America,

Each of us with totally different interests,

But all of us interested.

You did what?!

Well... All but one of us.

I signed us up to be volunteers.

You did?

He really needs us, Kevin.

Who McGovern?

No. Mike Detweiller.

And on the national front, today's Gallup poll

Shows the president with an impressive 28-point lead.

Pollers across the country are showing... [ radio clicks off ]

You see? It's important for us to get involved.

Fine then.

Let's get involved. - [ Sighs ]

But I guess when it came to politics and humor...

Winnie, do we really have to do this?

Yes.

I had a lot to learn.

[ horn honks ]

- Well, here we are. - Great.

And so I agreed to throw my hat into the ring.

Not that I really had a choice in the matter.

[ telephone rings ] McGovern headquarters.

Still, I kept telling myself this might not be so bad.

In fact, I might actually learn something here.

After all, this was my chance

To rub noses with people who cared.

People like, say...

Hey, Winnie.

- Hey, mike. - Hey, Kevin.

Mike, these finally came in from the printer.

I'll, uh... I'll put 'em in the back storeroom.

- Thanks, peg. - Mm-hmm.

[ Clears throat ] Peggy Kimball.

She's, uh, been my right hand in this campaign.

So, Kevin, I'm glad you decided to join us.

Yeah, well, I just thought I'd...

You're doing it for Winnie, right?

[ Chuckles ]

Hey, whatever brings you in, that's cool.

Everybody's got their reasons.

That guy's here 'cause he wants pot legalized.

He doesn't give a damn about cuts in Medicare,

Which is why she's here.

And neither of them could care less about subsidized housing.

Which is why she's here.

Winnie's here 'cause she lost her brother.

You're here because of Winnie.

The only thing that really counts, is that together,

We're all doing everything we can

To elect the one person that cares about all these things.

See what I mean?

Oh.

And with that, there was nothing more to say, except...

- Vote for McGovern. - Vote for McGovern.

Take one. Please. Vote for McGovern.

Right. No, thanks.

- Vote for McGovern! - Vote for McGovern.

Vote for McGovern. He really wants to make a difference.

Vote... vote for mc...

That was great. I almost got the whole thing out that time.

Nobody said it was gonna be easy, Kevin.

Excuse me. Ma'am!

Oh. I thought it was a coupon.

Still, after two hours of passing out leaflets,

One thing seemed clear...

Look, Winnie, this is a total waste of time.

I'm not gonna stand out here and make a fool of myself.

No one's paying any attention. No one cares.

Well, then we have to make them care.

Right.

Vote for McGovern!

[ Baby crying ]

Vote for McGovern. He really wants to make a difference.

Face it.

My sweet, innocent girlfriend

Was fighting a losing battle here.

Wait! This election may not seem important to you now,

But what about your children?

It's their generation

That's gonna have to deal with all this stuff

If somebody doesn't start changing things now.

Senator McGovern wants to stop the war.

He wants to stop poverty. He wants to stop pollution.

He cares about people... people like us.

He needs your vote. I'll take one of those.

- Let me take one of those. - I'll take one. Hey, thanks.

Could I have an extra one?

It was like finding out you were dating Joan of arc.

I am really proud of you.

Well, I just said what you told us.

Then again, you had to wonder

How Joan of arc's boyfriend felt about it.

You're a good campaigner, Winnie Cooper.

You're a natural.

Well, Kevin helped, too.

Oh, sure. Good job, Kev.

Yeah. Keep the change.

- Keep up the good work, Winnie. - Thanks.

Okay, let's get moving!

Not that I begrudged her her moment of glory.

You know, uh, Winnie...

I'm really proud of you, too.

Huh?

[ Sighs ]

Okay. Enough was enough.

So...

[ sighs ]

You want to go out and get a burger or something?

Uh, sure.

I just have to go ask mike something about tomorrow.

Um, I was just...

Maybe it was the way he looked at her.

Maybe it was the way she looked at him.

But suddenly I realized something about this campaign.

Maybe the names on the ballots were Nixon and McGovern,

But what we had here was a three-man race.

Immoral thing I could think of

To give amnesty to draft dodgers.

He's got to set a deadline for ending this war.

As the campaign moved into its final week,

Tensions began to rise.

There was a lot at stake here...

The future, the country, my girlfriend.

Okay. People, listen up. Listen up.

Okay.

Uh... I know you're tired.

I know you think you've given it everything you've got.

I know you think you don't have anything left.

And I know you can do it.

- We're with you, mike! - Thank you.

Thank you very much. Keep up the good work.

And in the midst of it all was mike Detweiller,

Mr. Charisma...

Mr. Politico...

Mr. Snake-my-date.

It was clear I was in the race of my life here.

My opponent was ahead.

And I had to do something to close that gap.

- Here you go. - Thanks.

You know, Winnie,

We've been working here nonstop for the last three weeks.

You know, why don't we take off early tonight

And do something?

There's a lot of stuff going on.

Yeah, I know. But maybe we can just spend some time together,

Just you and me.

Maybe you're right.

Great.

Winnie? Got a second?

Yeah, what's up?

Listen, uh, could you stay a little late this evening?

- Uh... - Well...

Actually, uh... We're kind of busy tonight.

Oh. Sure. I understand.

[Laughs]take that, buddy.

It's just that we're... we're having a meeting

Of the core group tonight, and...

With all the work you've been doing,

I-I thought you really should be part of it.

Yeah, well, that's great. But like I said...

What do you say, Winnie?

Well... If you really need me.

Of course I need you. You're my right-hand guy.

Okay.

I couldn't believe it.

"okay"?

That's it? What about our date?

I'm sorry, Kevin.

But there are only four more days until the election,

And you know how important this is to me.

I'm sure you understand.

What, was she joking? You bet I understood.

Not that I'd ever actually come out and say it.

You know, Winnie, that guy's almost three times your age.

- Who? - Who.

Mike... that's who.

You know, the guy you've been practically hanging all over.

- What? - Oh, come on, Winnie.

Figure it out. Why do you think he wants you to stay late tonight?

It's a campaign meeting.

Yeah, and I'll give you one guess

As to what he's campaigning for.

I don't believe you, Kevin.

The future of our country is at stake,

And all you care about is your stupid ego?!

Now, keep in mind, I was half-crazed with jealousy.

So I said something I'd regret the rest of my life.

What's so bad about president Nixon, anyway?

[ Telephone ringing, staffers quiet ]

Kevin, you sound like an idiot.

I may be an idiot, but at least I'm not blind.

[ Sighs ] I'm out of here.

And with that, I quit politics...

For good... Once and for all...

Forever...

Until about four hours later.

You mind if I ask what we're doing here?

Hey, I just want to see what's going on, okay?

Fine.

You know, I think I saw something like this

On "mission: Impossible."

Look at that.

What do you think they're doing in there?

My imagination was running wild.

I saw passionate kisses...

Steamy embraces... Limbs entwining.

Then I saw the lights go out.

I'm going in there.

That's great.

Hey, could you bring me back a doughnut?

Can it!

It wasn't doughnuts I was after.

It was mike Detweiller.

It seemed obvious the guy intended to bring new meaning

To the term "backroom politics."

Great.

So there was only one thing to do.

[ cat yowls, dog barks ]

Which is why, that night,

At approximately 22 minutes past 9:00,

I did something

Destined to make headlines in years to come.

I, Kevin Arnold,

Broke into McGovern headquarters.

[ door closes ]

Sure, maybe mike thought he could take advantage

Of Winnie's enthusiasm and naivet�,

Twist it to satisfy his own sordid needs.

But mike hadn't counted on one thing.

Mike hadn't counted on...

- Mike... - Hold it.

Or maybe he had.

It's okay, guys. He's cool.

What can I do for you, Kevin?

Uh...

I just came down here to, uh...

I mean...

Well, you're just in time.

Kevin, I'd like you to meet senator McGovern.

Hello, Kevin.

It's a pleasure to meet you, son.

Kevin's been working for you, too, senator.

You know, Kevin, it's the dedication and conviction

Of young people like you

That's gotten us through this campaign.

Keep up the good work.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

And I guess that's when I realized

What this one moment meant.

[ chuckles ]

I'll, uh...

Let myself out.

It meant that I was part of history.

It meant I was finally able to see the big picture.

It meant I could never compete with mike Detweiller.

The guy had George McGovern in his back pocket.

When he says the president isn't telling us the truth

On this matter...

Tuesday, November 7, 1972.

While the entire nation prepared to elect the man

Who would lead it through the next four years,

I was figuring out what riboflavin was.

So, Dad, who you gonna vote for?

Let me tell you something, Wayne.

When I walk into that booth,

I don't have to answer to anybody but myself.

Neither will you.

It's every American's right.

Nixon, right?

Let's get a move on. [ clears throat ]

Don't be late for school, honey.

- Right, mom. - Yeah, so long, scrote.

I'm off to elect the president.

Just don't forget to pull the lever.

[ laughs ]

And so, while my family headed off

To fulfill their God-given American civic duty,

I stayed behind...

And sulked.

I was bitter.

I'd seen politics for what it was...

A game played by the power-hungry few

Who thought nothing of using innocent people as their pawns.

Vote for McGovern.

I felt disillusioned, disenfranchised.

Face it, I was way ahead of my time.

Still, that evening, alone in my room,

I found myself wondering about Winnie.

And mike.

About what it really all meant.

And here's an FM 105 election bulletin.

Senator McGovern has scored a stunning upset

In the state of Massachusetts.

Early returns indicate that the senator

Has also carried the district of Columbia.

The high concentration

Of young, female, and black voters in this area

Has given the senator this unexpected victory.

A McGovern spokesman has said...

And right at that moment, all out of nowhere,

I got my answer.

Driving down those streets, I saw the blue glow

Of the television sets in every window.

And I began to understand some

Of what Winnie had been swept up in.

Across town, across America,

People were watching a new chapter of history unfold.

And I had helped write that chapter.

And now I wanted to share the thrill of victory.

The early votes we have in, counted from places...

Or the agony of defeat.

And the eastern, Midwestern,

And southern states...

And there it was, in black and white.

In the time it had taken me to drive down there,

Senator McGovern's victory

Had gone from landslide to mudslide.

People! Listen up!

Okay. I just got off the phone with headquarters.

And the senator is about to officially concede.

[ Crowd groans ]

But even though we lost,

I know the senator would like to thank each and every one of you

For what we've accomplished here.

We fought a good fight. We did some good.

And you guys should be proud of yourselves for that.

I know I am.

Thank you.

[ Applause ]

The funny thing is, at that moment,

I knew I'd been wrong about the guy.

I could almost understand what Winnie had seen in him.

Mike, how could this happen?

After all, this man had held her dreams in his hands,

Her values, her ideals.

Hey, listen. It's nothing to kill yourself about.

It's just politics.

Besides, we knew the guy never had a chance.

- Didn't we? - What?

Hey. Let's get a drink.

Take care, okay?

I hear Kennedy may launch in '74.

Maybe we should give him a call.

I guess many hearts were broken across America

That night.

But only one I really cared about.

I'm sorry.

I guess you think I was pretty stupid, huh?

But somehow, it didn't seem important anymore...

Who was right, who was wrong.

All that really seemed to matter was...

You, uh, want to go get a sandwich or something?

Thanks.

For years to come.

[ cheers and applause ]

After all, maybe in his own way, mike was right.

In politics, you live to fight another day.

Sure, the '60s were gone, but sooner or later,

There'd be other battles to fight.

No question at all, that we have pushed this country

In the direction of peace...

The thing is, that election

Forever changed the way my generation looked at politics.

We discovered, no matter how painfully,

That we could be part of the process...

That we could believe.

And even now, 20 years later,

Despite all the evidence to the contrary...

What a waste.

Nah. Wait till next time.

Then things will be different.

I can remember that night and still believe.

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