So Roaming Rebel has already posted on this article from the Guardian, one drawing on the distinct set of similarities between the current race for the White House and the final two seasons of ‘The West Wing’ and indeed the article points out how the TV shows scribes in fact modeled the character of Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) on Barack Obama, one of the shows writers and producers having been inspired by a speech from Obama. Now, I don’t know where the line lies on imitating but there is a distinct blurring of worlds, real and fictional here and the article along with a conversation with sometime commenter Richie got me to thinking as to fictional US Presidents from the movies and where writers get their inspiration from in creating characters and how they go about capturing what actually goes on in the lives of such powerful people.

6. President Jackson Evans: The Bridges Family have somewhat created a legacy for themselves. Following in the footsteps of father Lloyd (President Thomas ‘Tug’ Benson - Hot Shots Part Deux), Jeff went on to portray the leader of the free world in ‘The Contender’ defending Joan Allen’s sexual past as he sought to secure her nomination as his VP. As a side function he spends much time on the phone challenging the White House chef to create all the more outlandish dishes, never managing to trip him up.

5. President Andrew Sheperd: ‘The American President’ certainly strove to break down the dehumanising wall surrounding the character of the POTUS. Michael Douglas portrays a widowed President caught up in a tangle of romance and politics surrounded by a cabinet and saracstic supporting staff remarkably similar to the same line up supporting Martin Sheen’s terms in office in ‘The West Wing’. Aaron Sorkin’s smart, articulate writing meant of course the charming movie proved to be a launching pad for 7 years of great television.

4. President Camacho: Conversely the President Luke Wilson encounters when awoken in a distant future in ‘Idiocracy’ presides over an America where stupidity is the norm, we have become regressively docile, lazing on hybrid TV loungers and toilet. Corporate brands are so entrenched and all powerful that the Presidents term in office is sponsored by Mountain Dew, his cabinet comprising his peeps from the hood, not one amongst them able to fathom why the decision to nourish crops with the energy drink is resulting in a poor yield.

3. President James Marshall: Next to a President of Action, endeavouring to take on the bad guys some number of thousand feet in the air, his policy of non negotiation with terrorists put to test as his family and staff are held hostage aboard the seemingly impenetrable ‘Air Force One’. This movie I discovered to my shock is considered not very good, cliched and even hammy in some quarters. I say to those who cannot imagine Harrison Ford as President and who cannot appreciate a bad guy with a generic Middle Eastern accent and ridiculously simplied foreign policy dilemma you know what you can do - Get Off My Plane!

2. President Merkin Muffley: Amongst the multiple characters played by Peter Sellers in ‘Dr. Strangelove’ is a president finding himself on the brink of nuclear war, his enemies devising a Doomsday device in response to a story in ‘The New York Times’. Appeasing his cabinet he delivers one of the great lines in film:

‘Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room. ‘
1. President Thomas J. Whitmore: Equally a man of action, Bill Pullman rallies the troops in ‘Independence Day’, cities levelled, White House destoyed, recently widowed there is no defeating this guys spirit. Second term in the bag.