The American President, released in theaters on Nov. 17, 1995, directed by Rob Reiner and written by Aaron Sorkin, is a sharp, witty, and surprisingly hopeful romantic comedy-drama. It successfully navigates the high-pressure world of Washington D.C. politics, using the relationship between the leader of the free world and a lobbyist to examine the compromises required for both public office and private happiness.
The plot centers on President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas), a popular, widowed Democratic President facing a re-election campaign. Despite his success in the polls, Shepherd’s carefully controlled life in the White House is routine and lonely.
That changes dramatically when he meets Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), a sharp and passionate environmental lobbyist who visits the White House to push for a new energy bill.
Their immediate, professional attraction blossoms into a clandestine romantic relationship.
This relationship quickly becomes political fodder, however, when Shepherd’s chief Republican rival, Senator Bob Rumson (Richard Dreyfuss), seizes on the romance, attempting to exploit it as a sign of the President’s moral weakness and inability to govern.
This forces Shepherd to confront the difficult choice between his personal desire for happiness and the political expediency demanded by his staff.
The film is populated by a stellar supporting cast who bring Sorkin’s signature rapid-fire dialogue to life.
Shepherd’s fiercely loyal Chief of Staff, A.J. MacInerney (Martin Sheen) and Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy Lewis Rothschild (Michael J. Fox), represent the pragmatic, often cynical face of politics.
They desperately try to manage the crisis while the President’s personal life unravels in the press.
David Paymer plays Leon Kodak, White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Samantha Mathis portrays Janie Basdin, Personal aide to the President of the United States.
Shawna Waldron plays Lucy Shepherd, the president’s daughter, whose perspective on the sudden attention is crucial.
John Mahoney also features prominently as Leo Solomon, the head of the GDC who hires Sydney.
Nina Siemaszko, Wendie Malick and Gail Strickland round out the cast.
Michael Douglas in The American President (Photo/Columbia Pictures)
Reception for The American President
The American President grossed $10 million on its opening weekend, finishing third at the box office.
The film would gross $107.9 million worldwide.
Roger Ebert gave the film four out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
The legacy of The American President is twofold: it defined the modern cinematic style of West Wing politics (foreshadowing Sorkin’s later television series) and offered a romanticized, idealized vision of principled leadership.
The film remains a beloved political fable that asserts a leader must be willing to fight for his beliefs, whether they involve policy or matters of the heart.
