All language subtitles for ENG4354534

Subtitle transcribed with Whisper AI.

This great honor,
which has fallen to me,

to put in nomination for
President of the United States,

that great American
and Secretary of State,

the next President
of the United States,

the Honorable William Russel.

That's what I call
a real demonstration.

How long will it last?

This is a spontaneous demonstration.

Carefully planned.

We expect about 22
minutes of spontaneity.

This is a nominee,
I must be on my way.

What about ex-President
of the Hochstadter?

Yes, he's here in the hotel.

What about him?

Do you have his support?

He's going to speak
tonight at the banquet.

It's between you and
Catwell, which one he's for?

We'll just have to wait till then.

How about the platform yesterday?

I'm very pleased with
our party's platform.

On integration, you felt...

That it's the federal responsibility to
guarantee our rights to all our citizens.

If our party did not endorse that point
of view, I would not be a candidate.

But the property rights on which
this country is based is...

Our thought on life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...

Look, we've got a poll schedule and I'm
happy to an hour late for everything.

Mr. Secretary, how did you interpret
the Gallup poll this morning?

I don't believe in
polls, accurate or not.

Do you think people mistrust intellectuals
like you in politics?

Intellectual? You
mean I wrote a book?

Well, as Bertrand Russell said, people
in a democracy tend to think

they have less to fear from a stupid
man than an intelligent one.

Actually, it's the other way
around. It's the stupid man.

Bertrand...

Bertrand Russell.

Wasn't Bertrand Russell fired
from City College of New York?

He was fired, but only for teaching free
love, not for incompetence as a philosopher.

What image do you feel Senator Cantwell
is projecting at the moment?

I'm afraid I don't know
anything about images.

That's a term from advertising
where you don't try

to sell a product, you sell
the image of the product.

Sometimes the image is a fake.

But after all, your own image is...

A poor thing, but mine own.

Take me as I am, wart and all.

What?

Thank you, Mr. Secretary.

There he is.

William Russell.

Well, so would I, I mean.

Very nice of you.

Anybody got a pencil?

I just know you're going to win.

Thank you very much, I hope so.

Mr. Secretary...

Here she comes.

My favorite vice chairman.

The old one.

The only known link between the
NAACP and the Ku Klux Klan.

Oh, hello, how are you?

Bill! Bill!

Brace yourself.

Keep walking.

Bill.

Bill Russell, my favorite candidate.

Nice to see you again, Mrs. Gammon.

You know my campaign
manager, don't you, Dick Jansen?

Nice to meet you.

Oh, Mr. Jansen, how do you do?

I love eggheads in politics.

Oh.

Yes, yes, I mean it, I really do.

You professors give a
tone to these conventions.

Well...

Of course, a lot of the women
don't like them, but I do.

You don't mind my speaking like this?

No, no, no, Mrs. Gammon, after all, talking to
you is like talking to the average American housewife.

I mean, you're not
average, but you speak for them.

Yes, well, that's very
nicely put, Mr. Jansen.

Now, Bill, you don't
mind if I talk turkey?

No, by all means, turkey.

You are not the ideal
candidate for the women.

Which women do you have in mind?

The women don't like you trying
to be funny all the time.

Oh, it is a flaw, I agree.

Yes, they want a regular
kind of man, like...

Well, like General Eisenhower, with that
smile, and he's not pushy or aggressive.

Or any of those things we, we
women don't like in our men.

He was just grand.

Well, you could imagine him washing up after dinner,
or listening to his wife's views on important matters.

Yes, indeed, you can.

So just don't try to be smart
aleck, and talk over our foreheads.

Thank you.

Now, we want to see a lot more
of your wife, a great deal more.

You know, there are still people
who don't trust the English.

Well, Mrs. Russell was
sick during the primary.

Yes, yes, I know, but she has
to be at your side at all times.

She must seem to be advising you.

It did Adlai Stevenson great harm not having a
wife and trying to be funny all at the same time, too.

Great harm.

Now, I want to ask
you a blunt question.

What truth is there in the rumor that
there's marital discord between you and Mrs. Russell?

My wife will definitely campaign with
me if I'm nominated, of course.

Yes.

She's here, of course?

Yes, of course, she's here.

May I see her?

Yes, come up to the suite, unless...

I'm afraid that we have an
appointment right now with Governor Merwin.

Maybe later this afternoon.

Yes, good.

Now, Mabel Cantwell is really such a
nice woman, really one of the girls.

So they say.

Oh, Mrs. Gamadge.

Oh, yes, yes.

Us girls are going to hustle
with Russell, he's our candidate!

Uh, has Mrs. Russell arrived yet?

Oh, yes, of course, she's here.

And they'll make a fighting team, a
winning pair! Will and Alice Russell!

George and Martha Washington.

Shut up.

There he is.

Mr. Secretary.

Mr. Russell.

Mr. Secretary.

Mr. Russell, Mr. Russell.

Can you use a very
good speech writer?

See, Jackson?

I'll work cheap.

Really.

Do it.

Can't see what?

I said, I can't see
the snowball on the set.

What?

Turn that thing up.

I said, I can't see the snowball.

The snowball?

We're going to pick up three
more from Texas on the second ballot.

Get me President Hockstader.

This race is going very well, sir.

Where is the snowball?

It's the largest snowball
since Adlai Stevenson.

Yeah, but where is it?

They're having trouble.

I don't know what's wrong.

There she comes.

That's very satisfying.

What do you mean, where is it?

When's Joe Cantwell being nominated?

As soon as we're finished.

Tell President
Hockstader I was trying to get him.

We're so close, we can almost
make it on the first ballot.

If I can swing our Hockstader.

Where do we stand with Thailand oil?

Drink more oil.

Oh, that's milk.

Cancel the position paper on oil.

Mr. Secretary, sorry to interrupt.

That's all right, Janet.

Mrs. Russell would like
to see you right away.

What? Where?

Well, right here, in your
suite. She just telephoned.

Thank you, Janet. I've got
to call in our Hockstader.

Okay. Oh, Bill, I've
got a schedule for Alice.

Here you go.

Where's the speech for tonight?

Oh, it's coming right up.

Right. Alert Mimeo.

Right.

Where did that snowball go?

Alice?

Well.

Hello there.

I'm certainly glad you got here.

Everyone's been asking
where you were and so on.

You have a nice flight?

As someone sooner or
later is bound to say,

politics makes strange bedfellows.

I was hoping it wouldn't
be you who said it.

I'm here because I read
the Gallup poll yesterday

Apparently, you're going
to be the next president.

Join the bandwagon.

I like that. No nonsense,
no sentimentality, no...

No nonsense, that's it.

I mean it, Bill. I've had 20 years of nonsense
of being a good sport, a good front.

Well, all the time my husband was devoting
himself to his favorite hobby.

Alice, come on.

For the first time
since we were married,

you really need me.

If I were to ask for a divorce now,
you couldn't be president, could you?

I wouldn't count on that.

You'd make it awfully tough.

It's considered bad form to
get rid of the old wife.

Especially when I don't
want to get rid of her.

You mean when you
can't get rid of her.

You know, I find I'm
unexpectedly ambitious.

I'd like to be first
lady. I really would.

I wouldn't mind seeing
you now and then.

Oh, not often, of
course, just occasionally.

An ambiguous encounter
in the Lincoln bedroom.

I didn't know you cared.

Do I?

Well, anyway...

I'm going to insist
on my one condition.

There's going to be
no house on K Street.

Oh, wherever it was that President
Harding used to go.

And no girls in the White House.

Or even on tour.

That's the treaty of suite 674,

agreed this 14th day of
May in Los Angeles County.

Agreed.

Thank you.

How's it look?

Close.

I hope you make it.

I think we will.

Here's your schedule for today.

You knew I'd come?

I really think you'll
make a good president.

But what happens to
the treaty if I lose?

We go our separate ways.

Which is what you want.

Hello, Dick.

Glad you dropped in, Alice.

It looked amusing.

Hockstader's disappeared.
Nobody can find him.

Stop looking in the mirror.

I never pass a mirror, I
don't look in it. I wonder why.

Do you shy smile?

The one the housewives adore.

Any more indecent than a
human face when it smiles.

All those predatory teeth reminding
us of our animal descent.

Steady. No mention of Darwin.

Or the Garden of Eden was the word.

Here's your speech for tonight.

I think you'll enjoy it. It's
one of your best. Read it.

Where do I speak it? I
like to surprise myself.

Mr. President.

Hi, Alice.

What are you doing here?

Aren't you going to
give me a big hug?

Mr. President.

I'm really glad.

Just plain old Art to you.

I didn't want anybody
to see me just yet.

So I got into the suite next door
and sneaked in through your privy.

You look wonderful the operation.

Oh, I should.

It's just a hernia from bouncing
my grandson too hard.

What can I get you to drink? No,
no, don't tell me. Bourbon and water.

Right. With which I will
strike a blow for liberty.

Oh, don't let anyone know I'm here.

Well, son.

How do you like politics?

I like it so much,
I'm beginning to worry.

It's awful, isn't it? It's worse
than gambling, I sometimes think.

Me, I was hooked when I was
no more and this high.

And a certain fourflusher by the name
of William Jennings Bryan came to town.

You shall not press down upon the
brow of labor this crown of thorns.

You shall not crucify
mankind upon this cross of gold.

Hot damn, that was a speech.

Then Bryan lost the election.

So he did, so he did.

Hark, your endorsement is a very
important thing to anybody who wants the nomination.

I know it is.

So indulgent, old dupper.

Getting you fellows to listen to my
stories and watching you squirm a bit waiting to

see who I'm going to put my money on is
just about the only pleasure I've got left.

I'm squirming.

You know, politics has
changed a lot since my day.

The age of the great Hicks to
which I belong is all over.

You rich boys got it all sewed up.

I didn't know you were a Marxist.

Marxist.

Never heard of the word.

Now, time was when you rich boys
liked to play games like polo.

Now you play politics.

But I am nothing, not a realist.

The people like your sort.

They figure since you got so much money of
your own, you won't go stealing theirs.

That poor but honest line of Joe Cantwell's
doesn't seem to hurt him.

Oh, Joe Cantwell.

He hasn't got your money, hasn't
got your brains either.

As a matter of fact, very few
of us are as bright as you.

Come off it, Art.

No, no, no, I mean it.

You're a very superior man.

The kind we don't often find in politics, while
Joe is one of these mediocre boys like me.

Only smoother, of course.

He is not like you. He'd do
anything to win and that makes him dangerous.

No, no, no, no, no. I
wouldn't go that far.

At least, he knows his own mind.

You think I don't?

Well, son, you've got such a good
mind that sometimes you get so busy

thinking how complex everything is that
important problems don't get solved.

Look, suppose... suppose the
Chinese were to attack India.

That's the kind of thing you
and I understand. I think we

could handle it without
starting an atomic war or losing India.

But what would Joe do? He'd
look at the Gallup poll.

And what would the
Gallup poll tell him?

Well, ask any average American, you want to run the risk
of being blown up to save India? He'd say, hell no.

Well, Joe would do the popular
thing. He'd say, to hell with India.

And we'd be the weaker for it.

That day we're all
afraid of would be closer.

Son, you've been reading too
much of that Joe Alsop fellow.

Things are never that bad.

Do you believe in God?

Do I? Well, I was confirmed
in the Episcopal Church.

Well, I'm a Methodist
and I'm still asking.

Do you believe in God? Do you believe
in a day of judgment and hereafter?

No, I believe in us, in man.

I've often pretended to
believe in God for political purposes.

So far I haven't told a lie in this
campaign. I've never used the word God in a speech.

Well, the world sure
changed since I was politicking.

In those days we had to pour God
over everything like ketchup.

No, I don't believe in an hereafter.

We passed this way just
once and then nothing.

Bill...

I'm dying.

What?

The thing about hernia, that was just another
lie, I'm afraid. I hope you don't disapprove.

I got cancer of the innards.

They tell me I may last just long enough
to attend the next inaugural.

Art, I'm...

Isn't there anything?

No, nothin' they can do. Oh, they give me these
little pills here to help cut the pain.

I tell you, son, I'm scared to death.

There's a phrase for you. Scared
to death, it's exactly right.

I wish I could say something reassuring, but
I know you wouldn't fall for it anyway.

The only good thing I find is the rest
of you so-and-sos are going to join me.

Bill, you're going to
have to talk to those Texans.

Hello, Mr. President.

Bill, don't tell
anybody what I told you.

Of course not.

Meanwhile, I'm going to keep you in
suspense until tonight at dinner.

And then?

And then I shall throw my support like
a bridal bouquet to the lucky man.

So long, son.

Oh, those rumors about
you and your lady friends,

they won't do you a bit of harm.

You haven't written them
any letters, have you?

No, no letters.

Good. Now, you go on and talk
to those crazy Texans.

I wish I could be a fly
on that wall in there.

Goodbye, Miss Alice. Listen
to you tell the whole truth

about what you really think of the depletion
of oil resources allowance.

Get out of here, you old bum.

Is that a respectful way to
talk to the end of an era?

The last of the great Hicks as he shuffles
off the stage by way of the privy?

What did he say?

Yes, what did he say?

It's what he didn't say.

He's going to support Joe Cantwell.

He couldn't.

- I don't believe it.
- He thinks Joe's tough and I'm not.

I was afraid of this.

Are you sure you understood
him? You know politicians.

They're talking morse code.

I decoded it.

Jensen.

Yes?

The volunteer women for Russell
are on the mezzanine.

They'd like to know
if you can join them.

Of course.

She'll be right down.

Mr. Secretary.

She's here.

Who's here?

Mrs. Gamadge.

Oh, my God.

Oh, Mrs. Gamadge.

Ah, Bill.

So, she is really here after all.

Alice, you remember Mrs. Gamadge.

Of course.

How wonderful to see
you and looking so well.

Love it.

Absolutely love it.

You couldn't look better. I mean it.

I like the whole thing.

Now, my dear.

When you are a first
lady, remember this.

Don't do too much
like Mrs. Roosevelt.

The women didn't like that.

On the other hand,
don't do too little.

Like Mrs. Eisenhower, the
women didn't like that either.

All in all, Grace Coolidge
was really the best.

Bless her heart.

Mr. Secretary, about tonight...

Mr. Russell.

Do you favor impeaching
the Chief Justice?

Not immediately. No, sir.

Are you aware that five members of the Supreme
Court are card-carrying communists?

Well...

Mr. Russell.

You do not.

Mr. Secretary.

We're a member of a
cell of communists.

That wasn't a cell. It
was a hasty pudding show.

Don't blow it.

That's right.

His name is Bascom,
Sheldon Bascom with a D.

Get him on a jet.

I don't care if he
doesn't want to come.

Then put him in a bag. I want him
here the first thing tomorrow morning.

The Cantwell
demonstration just started.

He was put in nomination
by Governor Carver.

How's it look?

Well, they spent money.

So did we.

Now we take you to Senator Cantwell's press
conference at the Ambassador Hotel...

Joe Cantwell.

Public enemy number one.

Now, don't get me wrong. I have a
lot of respect for William Russell.

Thank you, Joe.

But I don't think he's
got the people's touch.

Never met a payroll.

I think we need a real man
of the people for president.

Somebody like Art Hockstader who's
been my ideal all my life.

I would not buy a
used car from that man.

Senator, during the primaries, you and
Mr. Russell disagreed on integration.

Now, we didn't disagree over
the moral issue involved.

I personally find any
kind of discrimination wrong.

But I don't think it's up to the federal
government to decide something that is a local matter.

I may not like what they do in
Mississippi, but I will fight

for their right to run
their state the way they want to.

At the moment, you have
all the southern delegates.

Look, I think we're all concerned, north and
south, with the communist agitation that's going on.

I think the colored people are often used by the commies,
who are everywhere, all around us, high and low.

And on tax reform?

I favor tax reform.

I think that by cutting down government spending, we
can eventually eliminate the income tax entirely.

On Cuba, we gotta get tough.

That's all those people
really appreciate.

And we gotta get us
more military hardware.

Because when it comes to defense, we're being
sold down the river by the so-called liberals.

So you feel we can increase military spending
while eliminating the income tax?

And I think it's a
pretty swell thing.

That in a country like this, somebody like me can be
here today, able to speak for the real people of this country.

Where else but in America could somebody from a
poor family be running for the greatest job in the world?

May the best man win.

Once more, Senator.

May the best man win.

Joe, you are my boy. Anything you want, you let
me know. Show those Easterners how we do it, will ya?

Senator. Senator, we're with you.

Thank you very much, sir.

Conservatism has its voice.

We must stop communism now.

That's right. You're right,
son. Thank you very much.

We must eliminate the
social security system.

And the fluorine,
Senator. The fluorine.

Don, you better get to
Hockstader right away.

Tell him we gotta see him
before that dinner tonight.

You think you ought to
tell him about Russell now?

I do. It's now or never.

Joe Cantwell!

I just want you to know I'm for you.

Because you're not rich.

Well, may the good Lord
increase your kind, ma'am.

And your big brother.

Oh, I like you, too.

I always hoped you'd be
president, Mr. Cantwell.

Thank you. We all
did. Thank you, ma'am.

And don't you forget
it's November, you hear?

See, I still have my followers.

Sure you do.

It's a pretty frenzied demonstration
for Joe Cantwell.

He's always been the darling of
the conservative element of the nation,

but they're not behaving
very conservatively today.

Look at them.

Yay, team!

Now for some scenes from
the candidate's life.

There he is as a boy, back in Tracy
Junction, son of a store owner.

From that small-town background, Joe Cantwell rose through
several local offices to the United States Senate.

He first became nationally known when he sought to prove that
the Mafia was really a part of the Communist conspiracy.

That was the beginning of
a meteoric rise to fame.

Do you deny that the Communists instructed your group to
infiltrate the seven legitimate businesses whose names I have here in my hand?

What is your name, sir?

What could be more clear?

There sits the enemy around us.

Now, a network exclusive.

An interview with Joe Cantwell's
mother, back in Tracy Junction.

You must be a very proud woman, Mrs.
Cantwell, today, with your son nominated for president.

He was always a fine
boy, so ambitious.

Oh, I remember when he said to me one day, I have met this
fine girl who is just like my mom, and it was Mabel.

Who he married, and here
is her picture right here.

Yay, Mom!

Mrs. Cantwell, you certainly have a lot
of friends here in Tracy Junction.

Mabel?

Come on out, honey, it's only me.

That's it.

Hey, now, come on.

Come on, now, honey, come on.

Now, get dressed, we only got 30 minutes
before that press reception.

Don't worry, don't
worry, I'll be dressed.

You look so tired.

Tired? I never felt
better in my life.

Come on, come on.

You got pretty good coverage on TV.

Mom's on.

Hope he does like he says
when he says the best man will win.

Good old Mom.

So, that's it for today.

William Russell, Joe
Cantwell, Governor John Perlman...

Hello, Charlie.

...and Governor T.T. Claypool
have all been nominated.

Tomorrow, balloting begins.

William Russell is in the lead, but the best information
is that he is at least 50 or 60 votes shy

You know I am tired.

of the magic number it takes to
be nominated on the first ballot.

Come on, Mabel, get
dressed, will you?

No, don't get dressed.

What have you got to worry about?

Don't get so head up.

Why is Big Papa Bear so mean
to poor little Mama Bear?

Oh, I'm sorry, baby, you know Papa
Bear isn't mean to his Mama Bear ever, ever.

You got to get dressed, come on.

Well, well.

Joe, when are you going to spring
that stuff on Russell?

Tomorrow.

Then Papa Bear and Mama Bear and all the baby
bears are on their way to the White House.

Right.

Come on, get my electric razor.

Right away.

Just get some clothes on.

You've seen the latest Gallop poll.

Russell, 35 percent.

Cantwell, 28 percent.

Merwin, 12 percent.

Claypool, 10 percent.

Anderson, 8 percent.

And 7 percent, don't know.

Honey, do you think
I'm gaining weight?

Around the hips?

You listening to me?

No, I don't suppose you are.

I never listen to Mama
Bear at all anymore.

Honey?

You ever been unfaithful to me?

No. Did you read Walter
Lippman this morning?

Listen to what that guy said.

The country's affairs will be in good hands
should William Russell be our next president.

I don't know why I don't appeal
to those would-be intellectuals.

Miami just doesn't project
to them the way it is over here.

Well.

Look at you.

You look good enough to eat.

Come on, Joe, come on.

Come on, you're going
to wreck my hair.

Come on, sit me up.

Joe, are you sure you've
never been unfaithful to me?

Maybe just one little time on one of those junkets
like that awful one when you went to Paris

and all the senators got drunk and Clarence
Wettlau contracted a social disease

and Alice Wettlau was fit to be tied.

Honey, you know there's nobody else.

Even if there was, I
wouldn't have the time.

Operating a tight
schedule, you know that.

Hi, Doc.

Hi, Mabel.

Hockstadt is waiting for you.

Good. Good. Get the file on Russell.

Honey, now you play it
cool like the kids say, huh?

Don't you worry.

Don't you worry.

Remember, flatter him.

I taught you that.

Hi, Tom.

Senator Cantwell.

How are you?

Hello, Tom.

Mr. Cantwell.

Mr. President.

Hiya, Joe.

Well, we're getting near that time.

We got my speech right here, my
teeth are in, and I'm rarein' to go.

Ah, Don, it's good to see you again.

Will you join me in
striking a blow for liberty?

No, no, thank you, sir.

Oh, that's right, Joe doesn't
have the habit, does he?

I do, however.

You know, you fellows who don't drink, you don't
realize how thirsty we old bucks get along about sundown.

No, sir.

You don't drink, you don't
smoke, you don't philander.

You're just about the purest young man
that I've ever known in public life.

Well, I try to be, sir.

Sure, Joe, sure.

Young man, you've done a remarkable
job in the Senate, most of the time.

Most of the time?

Well, there have been moments when
I've questioned your methods.

Well, you've got to fight
fire with fire, Mr. President.

In the end, it
justifies the means, huh?

Yes, I believe that.

Well, son, I've got news for you
about both politics and life.

May I say the two
are exactly the same?

There are no ends, Joe, only means.

I don't like to disagree with you, sir,
but that's just plain sophistry.

You tell me there are no...

Oh, no, no, no, none of those highfalutin words that
poor old Art Hochstadter, I'm just an ignorant country boy.

All I'm saying is that what matters in
our profession, which is really life,

is how you do things and how you treat people
and what you really feel about them.

And not some ideal goal for
society or for yourself.

You know, I do assume, Mr. President, from the
statement you just made, that you were against planning anything.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, here it
comes. I know that voice.

Senator Cantwell, boy
crusader, up there on TV with all...

Oh, I realize some of my methods upset a lot of
people, particularly criminals and communists.

Look, I don't object to your headline grabbing
and your crying wolf all the time.

That's standard stuff in politics.

What disturbs me is you're taking
your own phony stuff so seriously.

It's par for the course
trying to fool the people.

But it's downright dangerous when
you start fooling yourself.

Mr. President, I take myself
seriously because I am serious.

This is important
to me, to all of us.

Which is why I don't want any little lectures
from you on how to be a statesman.

Joe, if you really must know, I think the record of your administration
is the heaviest load this party has to carry.

Why, you little...

He's pretty edgy, Mr. President. It's
the old pre-convention jitters.

Yeah, of course it is.
We've all gone through it.

I must say I had them myself when
you almost knocked me off.

I'm sorry, sir, I flew off the
handle. Don, would you excuse us, please?

See you later, Mr. President.

Well...

I know you don't like me.

Now that you mention it,
I don't. I never have.

And I don't expect you to
come out for me tonight.

I've often endorsed men that I
dislike because I thought they'd do the job.

Well, I've got something here I want to show
you about your friend William Russell.

It's all here in this file.

I want you to look at it and...

What's the matter?

What's that? Take one of
my pills? They pep me up.

Joe, you believe in God, don't you?

I do.

Do you believe in a day
of judgment and a hereafter?

I do.

If I didn't think there was some meaning
to all this, I wouldn't be able to go on.

I'm a very religious guy
in a funny sort of way.

I'm sure you are.

At times like this, I wish I was.

Dying is no fun,
Joe, let me tell you.

That's what I'm doing.

Now, it's all here. Psychiatrist
reports, everything.

And don't ask me how I got it. My
means might have been ruthless,

but this is one time I think you'll
agree the end was worth it.

What is all this crap?

A few years ago, your candidate, William
Russell, had what is known as a nervous breakdown.

I know that.

He was going crazy for almost a year.

He wasn't going crazy. He
was exhausted from overwork.

That was a press release. The
real story is right there.

I know the real story.

You know it's political dynamite.

A complete record
of his mental state.

How he deserted his wife.

How their marriage has always
been a fraud, a political front.

I won't begin to speculate on
how you got hold of all that.

And all the big words are there. Manic,
depressive, paranoid pattern,

and all that combined
with playing around with women.

So what?

I suppose you find
promiscuity admirable.

I couldn't care less.

I was brought up on the farm and the
lesson of the rooster was not entirely lost on me.

Lots of men need lots of women.

And there are worse
faults, let me tell you.

What do you mean by that?

Oh, just that there are rumors
about every man in public life.

When I was in the White
House, they used to say that I...

Well, a lot of people got a lot
of pleasure talking about it.

All right, putting
the moral issue aside,

do you think it's a good idea to elect
a man president who is mentally unstable?

He's not mentally
unstable and you know it.

A manic depressive, apt
to crack under stress.

Oh, so that's your
little number, is it?

If you try to come out
for Russell tonight,

I will personally see to it that every delegate
gets a copy of this psychiatric report.

Are you giving me orders?

And then I will openly challenge Russell
and ask him if he really thinks

that a man with his mental record should
be president of the United States.

Wow, you play rough, don't you?

I consider this a public service.

I suggest you think twice before
endorsing this neurotic.

Thanks for that suggestion, Joe.

And now, I am going to
get your political scalp.

Don't mix with me, Hockstader.

You can't touch me, but I can send you
right back to the insurance business.

And just think, I was going
to endorse you for president.

I don't believe you.

You know, it's not that I object to your
being a bastard, don't get me wrong there.

It's your being such a stupid
bastard that I object to.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Jackson.
Thank you again.

Ladies and gentlemen, the former
president of the United States,

Art Hockstader.

Thank you, thank you.

I'm sort of like a clock, I
only talk when I'm running.

But I've been invited to say a few words here tonight
and I've never been able to resist the sound of my own voice.

Not that anyone ever pays
me the slightest mind.

Now, we are all going into that big convention
and we are going to start voting.

And when we finish, we are going
to vote ourselves a president.

Luckily, we have some
fine men to choose from.

Now, there's my old friend, Attorney
General, now Senator, Oscar Anderson.

And, and there's another old friend, the last flower
of the Confederacy and yet also a progressive liberal,

everybody's favorite son,
Governor T.T. Claypool.

Thank you.

That's a fine young westerner, with a good
record of minding his own business, unlike some of us.

I name no names.

Governor John Merwin.

Now, we have had some bad
old customs in this country.

And one of them was that a Jew or a Negro
or a Catholic couldn't get to be president.

Well, a Catholic can
now be elected president.

And someday we're going to have a Jewish
president and we're going to have a Negro president.

Then, when all the minorities
have been heard from,

we're going to do something for the downtrodden
majority of this country, and I mean the ladies.

A woman president, I see no reason why it shouldn't
be the beautiful and the energetic Sue Ellen Gamadge.

And what we call the front runners.

Those two men who got themselves
the most pledged votes.

One of them alerted this
nation to the dangers of the Mafia.

And as president, he will be able to bring the leaders of
the Mafia, who have so far evaded the law, to justice.

This young man also has a profound
sense of right and wrong.

Now, that sometimes means that
they are wrong and we are right.

No, no, that's true.
They are wrong, we are...

Finally, we come to my old
friend and comrade in arms.

One of this country's
great secretaries of state.

He's a lot smarter than me, not saying a lot,
despite what you sometimes read in the papers.

Bill Russell, you
and Alice take a bow.

And now, one last word.

Folks, we are going to
nominate one of these men.

And the one that we nominate is going to get
the full support of every man and woman here.

So that, come November, we win
for the good of this country.

Thank you.

Just the break we needed.

How's this?

Mark, they're still against you.

Yeah, but he's not for
Russell, that's the point.

Bill isn't easy to say, but...

I came here to support
Cantwell for president.

I knew that this morning.

Did you now?

I have some gift for politics.

I never said you didn't.

Tonight you warned me about Cantwell's smear, so
that means you've changed your mind about him, doesn't it?

Yes, I have changed
my mind about him.

He lost me because he wasn't
smart, he made a mistake.

He figured I was going
to back you when I wasn't.

You got my message.

Joe didn't, that's a serious error, shows
he doesn't understand character.

And then, this smear thing.

He fires off a cannon to kill a
bug and that is just plain dumb.

So, I mean to knock him off.

Which means, I guess, that you
are going to be our next president.

President by default.

Because you still have
your doubts about me, don't you?

Yes, you are not
decisive, you never were.

I mean, I shoot from the hip, but...

Sometimes you don't shoot at all.

I'm sorry.

Anyway, I'm sort of
working for you now.

And my advice is to start scrapping and the
first thing is to counteract that head doctor report.

The doctor is on his way here
now, he'll testify, I'm all right.

You aren't crazy, are you?

Any man who wants to
be president is crazy.

Speak for yourself, son.

Jensen just found out that Don Cantwell bribed
the nurse to give you my case history.

Clinic plans to sue for theft.

That's the ticket.

I think we can scare
Joe off, I'm not worried.

Right now, I need votes.

I can get you Claypool.

How much?

Vice President.

Too high.

Picky, aren't we?

Yes, and decisive.

How about Merwin?

Vice President?

Yes.

Okay. Anderson?

If I have to.

I'll see what I can do.

Oh, I tell you, there's nothing like a dirty,
low-down political fight to put the roses in your cheeks.

How do you feel?

Immortal.

Before sunrise, Joe Cantwell
will be out of presidential politics.

I'm delighted to see you. Welcome
to a little bit of the old South.

I want to talk to you.

Are you with the press?

Well, I'm his secretary.

Well, you tell him old
T.T. has done more for civil

rights in our state than anybody
ever has before or since.

Since what?

T.T. has made a fine conservative president with
a dynamic and progressive approach to real problems.

Like integration?

T.T. has done more for
integration than any governor we ever had.

Well, how many integrated schools
are there in your state?

None, thank God. But we are making
the most remarkable progress.

Wonderful to see you, Mr. President.

Well, it's wonderful to see you, Joe.

Well, you don't have to worry about our boy
John Merwin. He's with us all the way.

You don't say.

Going to run with Joe?

Well, that's nice to know.

What do you say, Joe?

Oh, we're over the top.

Let's go.

Why doesn't Hockstader
support our boy?

The vice president?

President?

New Brooms?

Well, what about Russell?

What about Cantwell? He's just
promised us the key to the treasury.

Well, you've got to admit we're in
the best spot. The man in the middle.

Who calls the turn?

Oscar, I feel positively you are...

What's this about Russell
being sick or something?

Oh, he looks okay to me.

Who's the old boy supporting?

Well, he's not supporting Cantwell.

Oscar Anderson is perhaps the
greatest conservationist in the United States.

His soil erosion control program
was a great success.

You know, we had this dust
bowl, but now it's a flowering garden.

Good evening.

Oh, just make him a round. Spreading
sweetness and light.

How's our old buddy Oscar Anderson?

Oh, just fine. We got him.

Keep up the good work, John.

Thank you, Mr.
President. I sure will.

He's at the airport.

All right, bring him straight
here, but don't let anybody see him.

That is the end of Joe Cantwell.

Well, I hope so.

Whatever it is, Jim Connor, California
delegation, just called.

Uh-huh. Another split in
the Golden State. Good news.

Forget it.

Anderson just called. He's agreed
to run moving after the first ballot.

Anderson?

Well, why not?

You know, with his votes, we just
might make it on the second ballot.

Art made the deal, but
she called me first.

Anderson's not bad, you know.

Hello? Yes, he's here.

Yes?

Who?

Oh, Governor Claypool.

Oh, hello.

You saw Art?

Good.

Good.

Oh, he did?

Yes.

You what?

Of course, I'd be happy to have you on the
same ticket if I'm nominated, of course.

Look, can I call you
back? I've got a meeting here.

Fine.

Thank you.

Art promised the vice
presidency to Claypool.

Well, why not have
two vice presidents?

It's never been done before, but
then this is the party of progress.

I don't find that very funny.

Listen, play along
with the old buzzard.

Yes?

Who?

Oh, Mrs. Gamadge.

No, no, I'm not here.

That little bird told you
T.T. is going to be vice president.

We had sort of counted
on you, Mrs. Gamadge.

Why not?

The hand that rocks
the cradle and all that.

Will the convention
please be in order?

Today is the big day. At noon,
balloting begins to choose the candidate

who will almost certainly also
become the president of the United States.

William Russell is in the lead,
but all our information suggests

he does not have the 761 votes needed
to win on the first ballot,

assuming that the favorite sons
hold fast, as they're expected to do.

What do we want? Freedom!

Where? What do we want? Freedom!

When? Now!

What do we want? Freedom!

Where? Now!

What do we want? Freedom!

Where? What do we want? Freedom!

Hi, Dick. I'm on my
way to the convention.

What's this rumor about
Bill not being all right?

Our usual Cantwell smear.

Well, you'd better get busy.

I'm having a tough time
holding my boys in line.

We'll make it on the second
ballot. That's a promise.

Well, Harvey, nice to see you.

Hello, how are you?

How are you, Senator?

Now, you vote for my Joe now.

Of course, I will.

What are you up to?

I'm just chaperoning the girls.

Well, Governor, how are you?

Mrs. Gingrich, how are you doing?

Today's the big day.

Take it easy, honey.
It's a lot of work.

I don't like what Joe's
doing. It's just plain dirty.

It's a public service. I
read those reports on him.

How are you, Mayor?

Oh, how are you,
gentlemen? Nice to see you.

Today's the big day, isn't it?

Thank you.

Well, I'm a loyal party worker, and the
women are solidly behind Bill Russell.

Under him is their
more usual position.

It's sex, sex, sex, morning, noon,
and night with Bill Russell.

And that's just plain immature.

Go with Joe.

Charlie, turn that thing
down, will you, please?

We're okay on the first.

Okay? We haven't got Merwin,
we haven't got Anderson,

even that ape Claypool
is sitting tight.

Mr. Merwin, delegation?

They've got to hold tight on the
first, but on the second, we'll get T.T.

I don't trust him.

Oscar Anderson has just announced
he's in the race to the end.

Damn, damn.

Okay, there's still Merwin. We can
still make a deal for vice president.

We didn't have any luck last night.

Neither did Hockstader,
as far as we know.

What did we get in
the final on Merwin?

Nothing.

There must be something we
can use to shake him up.

Don, we've got to release
that psychiatric report.

I wouldn't, Joe.

Of course you wouldn't. That's
why you're a loser and I'm not.

At least wait until
after the first ballot.

All right, let's sweat out the first
ballot and get that stuff ready.

It's ready.

One mimeographed copy to each
delegate, all neatly bound.

Don, I'm sorry what I said just
now about being a loser.

It's true.

Nothing's easier.

Nothing good.

I'm with you, Bill, all the way.

I just wanted to come down
here and tell you so myself.

I appreciate that, D.T.

Now, of course, on the first
ballot, I've got to hold.

My people sent me out here as a favorite
son and I cannot betray that trust.

But on the second ballot,
I'll switch to you.

That's a promise, a solemn promise.

Thanks, D.T.

Hey, you stay out of trouble and try not to be
making so many inflammatory statements about integration

like that crazy idea of
yours of a Negro in the cabinet.

I promise only to
quote Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln started the Civil
War. I hope you're less ambitious.

Well, bye now.

Governor, nice to see you.

Thank you, Dick. You take
care of yourself over at home.

Come back now. You're
on the other way.

Did you get him?

Second ballot, so he says.

So he says.

You may have to pull a Nixon.

What does pulling Nixon mean?

Go on television. Weep
on the nation's shoulder.

With two cocker spaniels.

Tell them I'm not crazy? No.

I admit it's possible to look
directly into a camera and persuade the people.

I won't steal their
money, but I promise you, Dick,

you can't look a camera
in the face and say,

I'm not crazy. I just
had a nervous breakdown,

the way any regular fellow might.

That wouldn't work.

Why not? Because it won't.

Even if it did, I couldn't
do it. I might laugh.

It's too idiotic.

Well, there he is, our candidate.

I'm the 50th ballot.

No, no, things don't look that black.

T.T. come to see you?

Yes, we agreed. All colored
people are highly musical,

with wonderful white teeth,

but essentially children
who never telephone

when they aren't coming to work.

Well, who wound him up this morning?

Not I, said the campaign manager.

71 seconds to address.

Record still stands at 58 and a half.

Bill, I just heard that
head doctor of yours in town.

He's preparing a statement to the
effect that we're not crazy.

Well, even so, those big
words like maniac mania

sound pretty scary
to the average person.

Anybody's case history sounds scary?

The South candidate for
sheriff once got elected

by claiming his opponent's
wife was a thespian.

Excuse me.

I want to thank you for those
three vice presidents

you got me last night.

Two and a half.

Marvin's on the fence,
he's holding tight.

Ever since Joe started spreading
those little hints of his,

they're all waiting.

Joe made a bleeding...

This is Sheldon Bascom.

Who the hell is Sheldon Bascom?

Oh, how are you?

Excuse me, sir.

It's all right.

I never thought I'd meet a president.

My hands sweat.

I'm a little nervous, I guess.

I just now came in from
Wilmington, where I live.

Outside Wilmington's
actually where I live.

It's a little suburb.

Dick, what have you been up to?

Mr. Bascom was in the
army with Joe Cantwell.

In the army?

Well, now we're getting somewhere.

What was it?

Was he a member of
the Communist Party?

Of the Ku Klux Klan?

Or did he run the other way
when the guns went off?

Well, sir...

Mr. President, sir,

we weren't anywheres around
where there were guns.

They were both in the Aleutians,

the island of Adak,
quartermaster corps.

We were there a year.

Oh, well, maybe more
like 18 months for me,

and oh, maybe 16, 17 months for Joe.

And, well, you see, he
came there February 43,

and I got there...

I'm sorry, Mr. Bascom, I'm
afraid we're not interested.

Bill, let's hear the
dirt, whatever it is.

Well, uh...

Joe, uh...

I sure hate talking about him.

I mean, telling something so awful.

I had a line on this months ago
and finally tracked it down.

Go on, tell him, Mr. Bascom.

Well...

Joe Cantwell was, uh,

the captain and I was the captain.

And, uh...

Joe Cantwell was, uh...

Well, you know how it is, sir,

sometimes when...

when there's all those...

all those men together,

and, uh...

and...

No female companionship?

That's right, that's right.

Although we had some nurses later on,

not enough to make much difference.

And, uh...

Well, it was just, uh...

I mean, there were all those men...

And no women.

Come on, Dick, stop it, will you?

Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

I know, Joe, it's not like that.

I find this very interesting.

Now, Mr. Bascom,

I should say Captain Bascom,

as a major, actually,

I was promoted just before
my discharge in 1946.

And, uh...

I'm in the reserve,

the inactive reserve,

but if there's another war,

I'll be the...

Major Bascom!

Do I understand,

by the way you are slowly
beating around the bush,

that Joe Cantwell was what

we used to call,

when I was a boy,

a degenerate?

Yes, sir, Mr. President, sir.

That's just what I mean.

I don't believe it.

No man with that awful wife
and those ugly children

would be anything but normal.

Bill, whether you believe it
or not is beside the point.

And even if it's true, so what?

Bill, I too am a tolerant man.

I personally do not
care if Joe Cantwell

enjoys carnal knowledge
of a McCormick reaper,

but I do care about
finding a way to stop him cold.

Look here, Art, I'm the one
who's running for president.

As for you, Dick...

Bill, will you at least
listen to this man?

No.

I'm beginning to wonder

if I'm on the wrong team.

Perhaps you are. Perhaps
you'd be happy with Cantwell,

helping him throw his mud.

Sorry.

Bill, as a favor to an
old man in his sunset years,

just listen to Major Bascom.

That's all. Just listen.

All right.

I'll listen.

As a favor to a friend.

That's fine.

You know, how often does a million
dollars drop into your lap?

Not to mention the presidency.

Major Bascom,

you just sit right down here.

Make yourself comfortable.

And tell us your story,

omitting no details,

no matter how sordid.

Pennsylvania!

State of Pennsylvania casts its
81 votes for William Russell.

Here goes Pennsylvania.

And the first ballot.

Now we start to play rough.

Hello, Don.

Joe.

Hello, Don.

Pennsylvania went for Russell.

Yeah, I saw it.

Get ready to pass out
that stuff on Russell.

Okay. When?

Just as soon as the ballot's over.

During the recess?

During the recess.

We're ready.

Swell.

Well, that does it for me, Joe.

I'm with you all the way.

You won't regret it, T.T.

You know I'm looking
forward to running with you.

T.T.,

I think we make a pretty swell team.

But about this
integration business...

You don't have to worry
about my administration.

And that's a promise.

Nice thing about you, Joe,

is that you can sound like a liberal,

but at heart you're an American.

Hi, T.T.

How are you?

I'll get it, honey.

I had the nicest chat with
your lovely wife, Lorene.

Who? Dick Jensen?

Just a minute.

This is it, honey. They're giving up.

Well, I've got to go.

See you in the White House, Joe.

Hi, Dick. How's the boy?

Fine. Just fine.

Well, Dick, I don't see how
I can delay it much longer.

I told everybody right
after the first ballot,

which won't be long.

Do I know who?

Sheldon Bascom?

No, I don't think...

From where?

Tell her I said it.

Tell her I want to
see him right away.

Right now.

Right after the first ballot.

John?

Yes, Joe.

What did he say to you?

Hold that stuff.

I said hold it!

What's the matter, Joe?

Get up here right away.

Okay.

Come on, what did he say?

What's he doing to you?

It's not...

Mr. Bascom, I want to thank you.

I know all this must be as distasteful
to you as it's been to us.

Well, yes, it was.

Peggy, my wife, oh,
she was fit to be tied

when I said I'd talk to Mr. Jensen,

who was coming over here to see you.

Yes.

Of course, she knew the whole story.

I tell her everything.

Wait in my office, Mr. Bascom.

That's the second
room across the hall.

Thank you, Mr. Jensen.

Certainly.

Well, I...

I guess this is...

about the...

the biggest moment in my life

meeting you, Mr. President, sir.

Yes, I expect this is the
biggest moment in your life, Major.

You may have changed history.

Excuse me for not getting out.

Well, I'll say one thing.

I certainly never thought back in 44

when old Joe Cantwell
and I were on ADAC

that 20 years later we
would be here in this hotel

with him running for president

and me... me talking to you, sir,

who I always admired so...

And I... I...

Though I didn't vote
for you the second time.

You see, Mrs. Bascom, Phil...

Let your vote, Major Bascom, remain
between you and your God.

Many thanks, Mr. Bascom. Many thanks.

I'll see you in a few minutes.

Thank you.

Wonderful seeing you.

Let's cross the hall.

Bill.

We've done it.

We've stopped Joe Cantwell.

I just spoke to him. He wants
to see you during the recess.

And you told him I would see him?

I had to.

Well, then you talk to him. I won't.

This is exactly the sort of thing
I wanted politics to stop.

All the business of
gossip instead of issues.

Personalities instead of policies.

We've got enough on Cantwell's
public life to defeat him

without going into his private
life, which is nobody's business.

Any more than yours is?

Any more than mine is.

Cantwell is using your private life.

All the more reason I don't
use his. I'm not Cantwell.

Well, no one's used anything yet.

Jensen.

See if you can arrange a
meeting where nobody can see them.

Go on.

Now.

I won't do it.

You have to.

Do what?

You've got the stuff
to stop Cantwell.

Only your lily-livered
husband won't go through with it.

Well, you mean you can keep them from
bringing up all that mental business?

Maybe.

Definitely.

Well, then do it.

Listen to her, Bill. She
don't run from a fight.

You know I'm not afraid.

Then why are you
hesitating this time?

I'm not being righteous and I do want to win, but how can I in
any conscience use a thing like this even against Cantwell?

What would happen if you had to make
a quick decision in the White House

and maybe all our lives depended on whether
you could act fast and you just sat there

having a high old time
with your divided conscience?

I'm not divided. I know what
I should do and this is not it.

Then you don't want to be king of
the castle, so stay away from us.

Be a saint on your own time because
you ain't fit to lead anybody.

Why? Because I won't shoot
off a cannon to kill a bug?

Because I don't have that
mindless reflex you confuse with strength?

Don't you understand? If I start to fight
like Cantwell, I lose all meaning.

If you don't start to
fight, you are finished.

Now, I am here to tell you this.

That power is not a toy that
we give to good children.

It's a weapon and a strong
man takes it and he uses it.

And if you don't go down there and beat Joe
Cantwell to the floor with this very dirty stick,

then you've got no
business in this big league.

Because if you don't
fight, this job is not for you.

And it never will be.

And so...

one by one, these
compromises, these small corruptions...

destroy character.

To want power is corruption already.

Dear God, you hate
yourself for being human.

No, I only want to be
human and it is not easy.

Once this sort of thing starts, there's no end
to it, which is why it should never begin.

And if I start...

Well, Art, how does it
end, this sort of thing?

Where does it end?

In the grave, son.

Where the dust is
neither good nor bad.

Just nothing.

Don't you be alarmed.

But I want you to go over there and pick
up that phone and call Dr. Latham.

He is here in the hotel.

Tell him to come quick,
through the back way.

And to bring a stretcher.

Because...

I can't move.

Yes, the name is Conyers.

General Conyers,
C- O-N-Y-E-R-S.

Yes, this is Senator Cantwell.

Yes, it's an emergency.

Oh no, we can't find him.

But he has to be there.

Well, try his quarters then.

Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it.

Are you sure General
Conyers will back you up?

He better.

Well, is there a phone
anywhere near there?

He's playing golf.

All right, tell him to call Senator Cantwell as soon
as he comes in, in Los Angeles, at the Ambassador Hotel.

Joe, I'm scared to death.

Well, don't be!

Come here, poor Mama Bear.

Now, don't you worry.

Papa Bear isn't going to get shot
down this close to that honey tree.

I just don't see how they could use something
like that, which is completely untrue,

which is a dirty lie, which
everybody knew was a lie, even at the time.

Oh, I hate politics.

Now, listen to me.

We're going to make it.

You hear me? We're going to make it.

So, don't you worry.

Joe?

Be careful, huh?

I'll be careful.

Well, Bill?

Here we are.

The main event, like they say.

The main event.

And here we stand,
as Martin Luther said.

Oh, I'm sorry. Sit down.

And it is not safe to move.

Who said that?

Martin Luther said it
is not safe to move.

Luther was...

You don't have to tell me who Martin
Luther is. I happen to be a Protestant.

A very religious sort of guy, Bill.

Don't have to tell me, Joe.

The time has come for the party
to unite behind a candidate.

You? What makes you so sure?

Because I expect you to withdraw because
you've got no choice, considering your medical record.

Never defend, always attack.

You're very good at
this, Joe. I mean that.

Of course I am, because
I was born to it.

I understand the people of this
country because I'm one of them.

I think like they do and I'm not afraid
to fight for what I believe in.

Nobody ever handed me anything
on a silver platter, Bill.

Self-made man with
a self-made issue.

Your imaginary communist mafia.

Now I got here is not the
question. What matters is I am here.

Now I'm going to question Mr. Sheldon Bascom and you're
going to get the surprise of your life, Bill.

Nothing you do ever
surprises me, Joe.

But what I do is
beginning to surprise me.

Well, then what are you
doing down here, then?

What do you got this Joker Bascom standing by for
except to smear me as a homosexual, which I'm not.

I never said you were.

I hope you realize you've just practically
admitted you don't believe the accusation against me.

That you're openly
confessing collusion.

Mr. Chairman, Mr.
Chairman, point of order.

Oh, how are they going to keep him down
in the Senate after they've been on TV?

Well, that's very funny and
very cute, but you haven't...

Well, Mr. Cox said it was right when he
said you're not very sensitive to people.

Now, let's get this
dirty business over with.

I won't throw my mud if
you won't throw your mud.

And let you get nominated
on the next ballot?

Well, then, good luck. And may the best man win, assuming
we don't knock each other off and the party.

Where's Bascom?

He's waiting in the basement.

Is that the court-martial testimony?

Okay.

Let's go.

Hi, Shelly. How's the boy?

Long time, no see.

Yeah, Joe, long time.

Hello again, Mr. Russell.

Joe wants to ask you a few questions.

Well, I really... I ought to be
getting back to Wilmington. You see my wife...

Oh, you live in Wilmington,
huh? Great town, Wilmington.

You used to have some
cousins there named Everly.

Maybe you knew them. Bill and Ellen
Everly, they were in real estate.

Well, it's not actually Wilmington
proper. It's a suburb where Peggy and I live.

And I don't... I don't think
I know anybody named, uh...

...Everly.

Shelly, you look fine.

Just fine.

Why, so do you, Joe.

I uh, I thought, Mr.
Russell, that I wouldn't have to...

To see your old buddy?

Oh, you know I would have
been fit to be tied if I'd known

Shelly Bascomb from Adak was in
town and hadn't bothered to look me up.

Well, I... I know how busy you are.

Both you men are, you know, running
for this... this president thing.

And... I was just... passing by.

And you thought you'd pause long enough
to smear your old buddy, huh?

Oh, Joe, don't get mad at me.

I mean, it was... it was my duty.

To get even with me for seeing you were
passed over for promotion because of incompetence.

Always a good idea to
start with a motive.

Is this true?

Well, no, not really. I
mean, my efficiency report...

And he found an army
records unsatisfactory.

I was the adjutant and I personally stopped his
transfer and his promotion and he knew it.

Now, what happened to those 28 officers
and men who were named at the court-martial?

Well, they were all separated from
the service. Section 8, we call it.

For the good of the
service, they were all kicked out.

All except one.

That's right. All except you.

And why wasn't I?

Well, I...

I don't know.

I suppose it's in the
records or something.

But I know.

I thought then, what a
lot of people thought,

Joe must have pulled some pretty
fancy wires to save his neck.

Yes, sir.

Boy, he was an operator, all right.

He could get out of anything
and that's the truth.

Anyway, it's all right
there, right at that court-martial.

He was one of them named under
oath by Lieutenant Fenn.

Where's Lieutenant Fenn now?

He's dead.

That's right. He died after
the war in that plane crash.

You remember the one, how did you try that freak
one where the lightning hit the engine?

You were innocent.
Why did Fenn name you?

Because I was the one
that turned him in.

You turned him in?

That's right, Shelley.

When I found out what was going on, I went to
Conyers and told him what I discovered about my roommate.

He laid a trap for
Fenn, Fenn fell into it.

And at the trial, I
gave secret evidence.

And that's why Fenn
named me in revenge.

And that's why no evidence or action was
ever or could ever be taken against me.

I even got promoted on the streak of
having helped clear that type out of the command.

Can you prove this?

This clown wouldn't know, but I'm
surprised at you, Bill, for not doing your homework,

for not checking with a certain Colonel
Conyers, now General Conyers in Colorado.

I talked to him a few minutes ago. He
said he'd back me up in every way.

Here's his phone number.

He's expecting a call from you, Bill.

And now, Shelley Baskin, if you ever say
another word about this to anybody,

I'll have you up for libel. In fact, I'll
involve you in that whole mess on A-Day.

I bet he's with you.

Don't you bully me. Don't
you try to intimidate me.

Sorry to disappoint you,
Bill. This won't work.

I'm covered on every side.

Go ahead, call Conyers. If you don't
believe me, you've got his number.

You're worse than a liar.

You have no sense of right
or wrong, only what'll work.

No, this is going to work.

You're not going to use that now?

Oh, yes, yes. I'll use anything against
you. I can't let you be president.

All right, Bill. It's your funeral.

Against me, you haven't got a chance.

What's this all about?

Joe?

Hey, Joe.

Hi, Don.

What's Russell up to? What's this
all about? What's he got on you?

You know what he said?

He said I'm not sensitive to other people's
feelings, that I'm not a very good judge of character.

Is that why he wanted to see
you? To give you a lecture?

Yeah, pretty much.

I got news for him. I'm a
very good judge of character.

You can get that stuff out on Russell
now. One copy to every delegate.

Don, we're home free.

Sixty-eight votes for
Russell. Forty-six votes for Capitol.

It certainly looks like a
standoff from down here, Howard.

There is Nick Jensen, Mr.
Russell's campaign manager.

Mr. Jensen, Mr. Jensen,
how is it going, sir?

How do you think it's
going? Oh, we're holding our own.

And Senator Cantwell, sir?

He can't get it on
this ballot, excuse me.

Do you expect to get in
the Anderson or Merwin votes?

Yes, I do.

Has the health issue
hurt, would you say?

Mr. Russell is in excellent health.

Mr. Jensen, there is a rumor, sir, that Pennsylvania
may go for Cantwell on this ballot.

If that happens, he can win.

Pennsylvania is still
pledged to us. Excuse me.

Thank you, sir.

That was William
Russell's campaign manager.

As you can see, Pennsylvania is
the key, the keystone statement.

Oh, we practically
won. We're in the bag.

You're not.

I know.

Do the right thing.

I mean this thing on Russell.

Exactly.

It's the dirtiest bit
of politics since...

It's a public service.

I don't care what it is if
those things about Russell are true.

They're not.

The point is, people think they are.

The point is, we are
committed to Russell.

The point is, Cantwell is winning.

We have to focus first.

So let's do it right now.

Right, do it right now. After all, we
get Mervyn's support on the next ballot.

They're lying.

You don't have to lie.

By the way, the delegates ought to know
that we are suing Joe Cantwell for theft.

And we've got something in reserve.

Something which won't be in
reserve gone unless you get out of here.

Oh, you guys can never
play it straight, can you?

Okay, we stick for this
ballot. Then we caucus.

What the hell is wrong with Russell?

I've got those
court-martial papers all ready to go.

Bill says to hold him. He's
trying to see Hawksetter.

He feels if he can get a statement
from the old man...

A statement from God won't
help after this ballot.

What's the matter with him?

He feels...

He feels, he thinks, he sits.

Keen, aggressive leadership.

Pennsylvania!

The state of Pennsylvania casts
its 81 votes for William Russell.

Joe! Joe!

Joe, you...

Oh, you're watching?

Yeah, we're a little ahead.

Pennsylvania wants to
split, but Lazarus won't let them.

We've got momentum, but we
can't win in this ballot.

Okay, I'm coming down there.

Here?

Yeah, I know it's not
dumb, but I'm doing it anyway.

Now, you line up the Merwin
people and I will personally sew them up.

What about Russell?

Nothing.

Not a peep?

Not a peep.

I was right. No guts.

Boys, we got it made.

Now, I want you to get the files on the
Merwin, Anderson and Claypool delegates.

We're gonna twist a few arms.

Right.

Okay Don, this guy Warren. He's in debt to International
Tool and Dye. Put the pressure on.

Copeland got an ex-wife. She's willing to
make trouble. Cost us maybe a thousand. Get to her.

Ruger, R-U-G-E-R, wants a
federal judgeship. Promise it.

Okay, I'll send a wire.

No, not in writing.

Congressman Maynard got a defense
contract for his brother-in-law.

How... how's it going?

Don't talk.

You do like I say?

I talked to him.

That's a ticket.

Mr. President, here's
the latest ballot.

You wanted to know the votes.

What's the score?

Cantwell, 664.

Russell, 597.

Merwin, 133.

You didn't do it, did you?

I couldn't, Art.

I tried to.

I wanted to. I couldn't.

And...

to hell with both of you.

O'Malley, arrested for car theft
in 1927, suspended sentence.

Meyer, named in Liquor Commission
scandal, New York City, 1949. Turn the heat on.

Okay, I'll see the Merwin people
first, then the Anderson people. Keep pushing.

Go, go, go.

Arizona...

Mr. Chairman, Arizona...

I know it's impossible,
but he's here.

He's strong-arming
everybody in sight.

The Merwin people are ready to fold.

Fourth ballot is just beginning.

Are we holding our own?

We are holding our own barely.

Cassius, 27 votes...

for the man of opportunity,

Willard.

But listen, you lost
more than 120 votes.

Pennsylvania Caucus and Lazarus barely
managed to hold it for you.

He says you've got to
hit Cantwell hard now.

Wonderful.

Spread the word. Our boy is on his
way here. We are about to fight.

It's a strange sort of power to have.

To be able to put an end
to Mr. Cantwell's career.

One word from me and Joe Cantwell
retires from politics.

Will you say the word?

Would you?

I'm not very good at
other people's consciences.

I have a hard enough
time with my own.

Whatever you do, I'm
sure it'll be right.

Well, pick up nine votes, you.

Five, one on the face.

No, that's not enough.
We only have more time.

Joe, Russell is here.

What? That's impossible. Candidates
are not supposed to be here.

I know.

Yeah. Come on.

The sovereign state casts its 33 votes for
the next president of the United States,

Biden Joe Cantwell.

T.T. Claypool has all the characteristics
of a dog except loyalty.

Gentlemen.

Bill.

Hi, Joe. Long time no see.

This just came in.

Mr. Russell, I'm Joe
Cantwell. I don't think we've met.

I do, do.

I thought you'd be busy
working on your acceptance speech.

Bill, I'm not so sure...

I've been working for
months on my acceptance speech,

trying to strike that delicate
balance between humility and confidence.

Yeah, well, I can
understand that, but...

You, of course, have a gift
for hitting the right note.

Well, I'm not so sure I do.

I like the way you always manage to state the
obvious with such a sense of, real discovery.

Yeah, well...

Oh, Bill, give me a chance to get
in a word edgewise, will you?

Sorry, Joe, I couldn't resist it.

I was using Joe's technique.

Never let the other man get
started. Talk right through him.

Of course, when Joe
starts a sentence with,

Now, Bill, you know
he's up to no good.

Bill, I... You see?

Very funny, very cute.

But this convention is hung up
and we may never nominate a candidate.

Believe me, Bill, when I tell
you, I've given it serious thought

and I want you on my ticket.

That's very generous
of you, Joe, but...

How could I possibly
run for vice president

when I'm at this
very moment suffering

from one of my frequent
nervous breakdowns?

There was no way to keep
a report like that secret.

The truth will out, as
Art Hockstader would say.

Oh, by the way, he...

died right after you left him.

Now, Bill, with your support...

Will you two get out of here?

We can hold the weight later.

There are a lot of reasons we
want you on our ticket, Bill,

and frankly, if I were you, I'd
show a little more gratitude.

Gratitude?

Do you realize all I have to
do is to call Senator Lazarus?

I solemnly promise to you
in front of these witnesses

I'll give you anything.

Vice presidency, secretary
of state, anything

if you throw me your
votes on that next ballot.

Bill, they're scared.
Look at them sweat.

I want a united front for
the sake of this party.

We've got him. We've really got him.

Bill, let me call Lazarus.

I wish you would and
tell him you'll support me

and take second spot on that ticket.

And tell him to lower
the boom on Joe Cantwell.

All right, Dick, get
me Senator Lazarus.

Bill, you can't use
that stuff on Joe.

Now he's our only hope. He's
the party's only hope.

Shut up, Don. Don't worry about Bill.

He always does the right thing.

Thank you.

Senator, brace yourself.

This is it.

Senator, this is William Russell.

I want you to get to the chairman
of the next delegation

pledged to me.

Wisconsin.

All right, tell the chairman
to announce to the convention

that I have withdrawn from the race.

Bill, no!

Mr. Secretary, you'll
never regret this.

And I'm releasing
my pledged delegates

with instructions to
support Governor John Merwin.

Merwin?

But you can't.

I can and I have.

Merwin's nobody.

Well, he is now somebody.

I don't understand you.

I know you don't.

Because you have no
sense of responsibility

toward anybody or anything.

And that is a tragedy in a man

and it is a disaster in a president.

You don't understand me.

You don't understand politics.

You don't understand this country.

The way it is and the way we are.

You're a fool.

27 votes for Kennedy.

You don't even know him, Merwin.

Nobody knows him.

A man without a face.

So was Art when he was nominated.

Men without faces tend
to get elected president.

And power or responsibility
or personal honor

fill in the features.

Usually pretty well.

Wisconsin!

Mr. Chairman,

I have just been informed
by Mr. Russell himself

that he would like his
name withdrawn from nomination

Order!

Mr. Chairman,

at the explicit
instructions of Mr. Russell,

who urges all his
delegates to do the same,

Wisconsin casts its 31 votes

for the next president
of the United States,

John Merwin.

John Merwin!

Mr. Chairman!

Mr. Chairman!

Mr. Chairman!

Wyoming casts 15
votes for John Merwin!

The deadlock has been broken.

It looks like all
Russell's delegations

are trying to get the
attention of the chairman

to switch their votes.

Everybody hustled except Russell.

Disappointed?

Yes.

Seriously?

No.

You did do the right thing.

I think so.

But what about the
treaty of suite 674?

Abrogated or...

renewed?

You don't have to
stay with me, you know.

I know.

But would you like to, even
without the Lincoln bedroom?

Yes.

I'm glad.

But I must warn you,

the fires of autumn
burn notoriously low.

Well, I've been cold
for such a long time.

Mr. Secretary!

Vice President!

I just want to say that
I think Governor Merwin

will make a fine candidate

and I'm going to do everything I can

to see that he is
elected in November.

And I am, of course,

happy that the best man won.