The American President

[NYadgal]

Posted: 10/9/08 at 10:35pm

I love this movie.

I have been thinking about this scene in the movie recently. I'm craving leadership. Real leadership.


President Andrew Shepherd : For the last couple of months, Senator Rumson has suggested that being president of this country was, to a certain extent, about character, and although I have not been willing to engage in his attacks on me, I've been here three years and three days, and I can tell you without hesitation: Being President of this country is entirely about character. For the record: yes, I am a card-carrying member of the ACLU. But the more important question is why aren't you, Bob? Now, this is an organization whose sole purpose is to defend the Bill of Rights, so it naturally begs the question: Why would a senator, his party's most powerful spokesman and a candidate for President, choose to reject upholding the Constitution? If you can answer that question, folks, then you're smarter than I am, because I didn't understand it until a few hours ago. America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country can't just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then, you can stand up and sing about the "land of the free". I've known Bob Rumson for years, and I've been operating under the assumption that the reason Bob devotes so much time and energy to shouting at the rain was that he simply didn't get it. Well, I was wrong. Bob's problem isn't that he doesn't get it. Bob's problem is that he can't sell it! We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them. And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you, Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things and two things only: making you afraid of it and telling you who's to blame for it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win elections. You gather a group of middle-aged, middle-class, middle-income voters who remember with longing an easier time, and you talk to them about family and American values and character. And wave an old photo of the President's girlfriend and you scream about patriotism and you tell them, she's to blame for their lot in life, and you go on television and you call her a whore. Sydney Ellen Wade has done nothing to you, Bob. She has done nothing but put herself through school, represent the interests of public school teachers, and lobby for the safety of our natural resources. You want a character debate, Bob? You better stick with me, 'cause Sydney Ellen Wade is way out of your league.

[pauses]

President Andrew Shepherd : I've loved two women in my life. I lost one to cancer, and I lost the other 'cause I was so busy keeping my job I forgot to do my job. Well, that ends right now. Tomorrow morning, the White House is sending a bill to Congress for its consideration. It's White House Resolution 455, an energy bill requiring a 20 percent reduction of the emission of fossil fuels over the next ten years. It is by far the most aggressive stride ever taken in the fight to reverse the effects of global warming. The other piece of legislation is the crime bill. As of today, it no longer exists. I'm throwing it out. I'm throwing it out writing a law that makes sense. You cannot address crime prevention without getting rid of assault weapons and handguns. I consider them a threat to national security, and I will go door to door if I have to, but I'm gonna convince Americans that I'm right, and I'm gonna get the guns. We've got serious problems, and we need serious people, and if you want to talk about character, Bob, you'd better come at me with more than a burning flag and a membership card. If you want to talk about character and American values, fine. Just tell me where and when, and I'll show up. This is a time for serious people, Bob, and your fifteen minutes are up. My name is Andrew Shepherd, and I *am* the President.


This is a time for serious people

Truer words...

Updated On: 10/9/08 at 10:35 PM

[supportivemom]

Posted: 10/9/08 at 10:52pm

I have seen this movie so many times that I have lost count! I have referenced this speech and the contents of this movie several times in other threads. I even think Aaron Sorkin should write a speech for Obama to turn this negative crap around. Thanks for posting the last speech of Andrew shepherd- it's brilliant! (p.s.- the ONLY thing that bothered me about this movie is that Andrew never said to Sydney I love you to her face- I thought that was sort of missing- but then again- I like romance)

[mauriposa]

Posted: 10/9/08 at 11:04pm

Love that movie, and LOVE that speech! Thanks for posting it. It's almost comforting to know that in these uncertain political times, we'll always have the movies.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 10/9/08 at 11:07pm

I would vote for Andrew Shepherd.

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 10/9/08 at 11:08pm

I, too, have seen it way too much! The speech is probably my favorite part in the movie.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 12:44am

This is definitely one of my favorite movies. That speech gets me every time. I loved that after Obama's speech in Denver, all the pundits kept calling it Sorokinesque and comparing him to Andrew Shepherd.

I'm not sure who I would rather have as President though, Andrew Shepherd or Jack Marshall from Air Force One. If we're going to fight a War on Terror, I want a president who can beat the crap out of terrorists with his bare hands!

[shira467]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 12:58am

I want a Jack Sheppard - because he can beat up a terrorist AND be an eloquent president at the same time. Remember those "presidential" scenes when he's being a leader?

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 1:22am

Updated On: 1/12/09 at 01:22 AM

[jeniferrenepatricia]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 2:33am

I second the vote for Dave....

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 4:26am

During freshman year of college, I discovered that, at the right sensitivity level, "Get off my plane," would turn The Clapper on and off in my dorm room.

Not to suck up to Marc Shaiman or anything, but the score to The American President is one of my favorites!

... and Dave never gave a speech like Andrew Shepherd. It's no contest who gets that nomination.




And Glenn Close! Now there is a female Vice President!
https://www.movieactors.com/freezeframes-12/AirForceOne32.jpeg

"My name is Andrew Shepherd and I am the President!"

[supportivemom]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 7:13am

Yeah, I watched Air Force One a couple of weeks ago and I thought to myself, could John McCain handle that situation like Jack Marshall?

[romantico]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 7:23am

Nice speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44R5BapEdYY

[Elphaba]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 10:14am

an amazing movie.....love that he gives her a Virginia ham

[madbrian]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 10:17am

Annette Benning is truly remarkable in this movie.

[romantico]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 10:21am

For years I thought Martin Sheen's character in this film was the same as The West Wing. The film worked because it had a great script from Sorkin and a great cast. EVERYONE in the film was great.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 10:31am

Ohhh, Jed Bartlet for president!

[romantico]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 10:33am

Favorite President Bartlet scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD52OlkKfNs

[Jon]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 12:13pm

Here's one of my faves - from the first episode: Josh and Toby meeting with the right wing religious fanatics - interrupted by the first appearance of President Bartlet.
Enter the president

[StockardFan]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 12:23pm

Love this movie, love this speech!

[Kasie]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 1:15pm

I haven't seen this movie in a while, but I remember getting chills when I heard that speech.