The American President Movie Quotes
President Andrew Shepherd
[in the White House Press Room]
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.
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Lewis Rothschild
[in the Oval Office]
You have a deeper love of this country than any man I've ever known. And I want to know what it says to you that in the past seven weeks, 59% of Americans have begun to question your patriotism.
President Andrew Shepherd
Look, if the people want to listen to...
Lewis Rothschild
They don't have a choice! Bob Rumson is the only one doing the talking! People want leadership, Mr. President, and in the absence of genuine leadership, they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone. They want leadership. They're so thirsty for it they'll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there's no water, they'll drink the sand.
President Andrew Shepherd
Lewis, we've had presidents who were beloved, who couldn't find a coherent sentence with two hands and a flashlight. People don't drink the sand because they're thirsty. They drink the sand because they don't know the difference.
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Lewis Rothschild
Oh, yes he does, A.J. I'm a citizen, this is my President. And in this country it is not only permissible to question our leaders, it's our responsibility!
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Sydney Ellen Wade
[to the President]
This isn't about me. How can you keep quiet? How do you have patience for people who claim they love America, but clearly can't stand Americans?
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[dancing at a state dinner]
Sydney Ellen Wade
I don't know how you do it.
President Andrew Shepherd
It's Arthur Murray. Six lessons.
Sydney Ellen Wade
That's not what I mean. Two hundred pairs of eyes are focused on you with two questions on their minds: Who's this girl, and why is the President dancing with her?
President Andrew Shepherd
Well, first of all, the two hundred pairs of eyes aren't focused on me. They're focused on you. And the answers are Sydney Ellen Wade, and because she said yes.
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Lewis Rothschild
But we're not gonna stay at 41. The numbers are gonna go back up.
[listens]
Lewis Rothschild
But they're gonna go back up.
[listens]
Lewis Rothschild
All right George...
[listens]
Lewis Rothschild
Congressman...
[listens]
Lewis Rothschild
Congressman Jarrett...
[listens]
Lewis Rothschild
Look George, listen to me... it's crunch time. It's personal. This is one of those moments. It's just you and the President. Now what's it gonna be? Yeah.
[listens]
Lewis Rothschild
Yeah.
[shakes his head as he listens]
Lewis Rothschild
All right George, can I tell you something? We're gonna win this thing. We're gonna get the votes we need and we're gonna win this thing. And you know what I'm gonna do after that, I mean that very night, I'm gonna go to Sam & Harry's, I'm gonna order a big steak, and I'm gonna make a list of everybody who tried to *fuck*
[smacks pop can off his desk with a fist]
Lewis Rothschild
us this week!
Robin McCall
Lewis!
[slams the phone down]
Leon Kodak
[beat]
I hope so. 'Cause, you know, if that was an "undecided," then we need to work on our people skills.
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A. J. MacInerney
[to President Andrew Shepherd]
Oh, you only fight the fights you can win? You fight the fights that need fighting!
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[Sydney is unaware the President is listening]
President Andrew Shepherd
Well, let's take him out back and beat the shit out of him!
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Sydney Ellen Wade
Hello?
President Andrew Shepherd
Yeah, hi, is this Sydney?
Sydney Ellen Wade
Leo?
President Andrew Shepherd
No, this is Andrew Shepherd.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Oh! It's Andrew Shepherd! Yeah, you're hilarious, Richard, you're just a regular riot!
President Andrew Shepherd
No, this isn't Richard, this is Andrew Shepherd.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Oh! Well, I'm so glad you called, because I forgot to tell you today what a nice ass you have. I'm also impressed that you were able to get my phone number given the fact that I don't have a phone. Good night, Richard.
President Andrew Shepherd
Uh, this isn't Richard-
[Sydney hangs up]
President Andrew Shepherd
This used to be easier.
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Beth Wade
You kissed him? You didn't tell me that. Where did you kiss him?
Sydney Ellen Wade
On the mouth.
Beth Wade
Where in the White House?
Sydney Ellen Wade
The dish room.
Beth Wade
The dish room?
Sydney Ellen Wade
The... China Room.
Beth Wade
And then what happened?
Sydney Ellen Wade
He had to go and attack Libya.
Beth Wade
It's always something.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Yeah... I gotta nip this in the bud. This has catastrophe written all over it.
Beth Wade
In what language? Sydney, the man is the leader of the free world. He's brilliant, funny, handsome. He's an above-average dancer. Isn't it possible our standards are just a tad high?
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Leon Kodak
Yes sir. But it can be, sir. What you did tonight was very Presidential.
President Andrew Shepherd
Leon, somewhere in Libya right now, a janitor's working the night shift at Libyan Intelligence Headquarters. He's going about doing his job... because he has no idea, in about an hour he's going to die in a massive explosion. He's just going about his job, because he has no idea that about an hour ago I gave an order to have him killed. You've just seen me do the least Presidential thing I do.
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A.J.
I beg your pardon?
President Andrew Shepherd
Because it occurs to me that in twenty-five years I've never seen YOUR name on a ballot. Now, why is that? Why are you always one step behind ME?
A.J.
Because if I wasn't, you'd be the most popular history teacher at the University of Wisconsin!
President Andrew Shepherd
Fuck you!
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President Andrew Shepherd
[in his bedroom]
You're attracted to me, but the idea of physical intimacy is uncomfortable because you only know me as the President. But it's not always going to be that way, and the reason I know that is there was a moment last night when you were with ME, not the President. And I know what a big step that was for you. So, Sydney, I'm in no rush. Here's my plan. We're going to slow down, and when you're comfortable, that's when it's going to happen.
[Sydney emerges from the bathroom wearing nothing but one of his shirts]
President Andrew Shepherd
Perhaps I didn't properly explain the fundamentals of the slowdown plan.
President Andrew Shepherd
Are you nervous?
President Andrew Shepherd
Good. My nervousness exists on... several levels. Number one, and this is in no particular order, I haven't done this in a pretty long time. Number two, uh, any expectations that you might have, given the fact that I'm... you know...
President Andrew Shepherd
Exactly, thank you. I think it's important you remember that's a political distinction that comes with the office. I mean, if, uh, Eisenhower were here instead of me, he'd be dead by now... and number three...
Sydney Ellen Wade
Andy...
[she kisses him]
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[President Shepherd watches his opponent finish a speech on CNN]
President Andrew Shepherd
Oh, wait a minute, here comes my favorite part.
Bob Rumson
My name is Bob Rumson, and I'm running for President!
President Andrew Shepherd
Sure glad he cleared that up, because that crowd was about to buy some Amway products!
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President Andrew Shepherd
I'm calling the Organization of the United Brotherhood of It's None of Your Damn Business, Lewis. I'll be with you in a second.
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A.J.
[to President Andrew Shepherd]
You've said it yourself a million times. If there had been a TV in every living room sixty years ago, this country does not elect a man in a wheelchair.
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Lucy Shepherd
My Dad told me to tell you that he's on the phone with his dentist, and that I should behave myself and entertain you until he gets back.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Oh. Your father's on the phone with his dentist?
Lucy Shepherd
No, he told me to tell you he's on the phone with his dentist. He wants you to think he's a regular guy.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Oh. Well, who's he on the phone with?
Lucy Shepherd
The prime minister of Israel.
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[after asking Sydney to join him for the state dinner. Long pause]
President Andrew Shepherd
Sydney, Congress doesn't take this long.
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President Andrew Shepherd
[after playing pool]
If Mary hadn't died, would we have won three years ago?
A.J.
Would we have won?
President Andrew Shepherd
If we had to go through a character debate three years ago, would we have won?
A.J.
I don't know. But I would have liked that campaign. If my friend Andy Shepherd had shown up, I would have liked that campaign very much.
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President Andrew Shepherd
For reasons passing understanding, people do not relate guns to gun-related crime.
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[after President Shepherd's speech]
Leon Kodak
Well, you don't see that every day of the week.
Lewis Rothschild
He's got the whole White House press corps asking each other how to spell "erudite"!
A.J.
Better call the printer, Lewis.
Lewis Rothschild
I know, we gotta rewrite the State of the Union.
A.J.
Every word, kid. It's a whole new ballgame. You have exactly 35 minutes.
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President Andrew Shepherd
[in the White House China Room]
Do you think there will ever be a time when you can stand in a room with me and not think of me as the President?
Sydney Ellen Wade
This isn't a state of mind. You are the President. And when I'm in a room with you, oval or any other shape, I'm always gonna be a lobbyist, and you're always gonna be the President.
President Andrew Shepherd
I have news for you, Sydney. As a lobbyist, you'd never be alone in a room with the President.
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President Andrew Shepherd
[to Lewis and Robin in the President's limo]
Let me see if I got this. The third story on the news tonight was that someone I didn't know thirteen years ago when I wasn't president participated in a demonstration where no laws were being broken in protest of something that so many people were against, it doesn't exist anymore. Just out of curiosity, what was the fourth story?
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Lewis Rothschild
[in the President's limo; the President wants to get flowers for Sydney]
At least let the agents do a security sweep. We don't know who's in there!
President Andrew Shepherd
You think there's a florist in there planning an assassination on the the off-chance that I might be stopping by?
Lewis Rothschild
It's possible.
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President Andrew Shepherd
[over the phone]
Listen, I feel terrible about this, but I'm going to have to cancel our date tonight.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Another woman?
President Andrew Shepherd
No, I've gotta go to St. Louis to avert a massive airline strike.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Boy, if I had a nickel for every time I've heard that one.
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Sydney Ellen Wade
Mister President...
President Andrew Shepherd
Is it all right if I call you Sydney?
Sydney Ellen Wade
Of course, Mister President.
President Andrew Shepherd
Have you ever been in the Oval Office?
Sydney Ellen Wade
Uh... I've just been on the regular tour. It didn't include...
President Andrew Shepherd
I hear it's pretty good.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Mister President, what you saw in there was nothing more than vanity run amuck. I was showing off for a colleague who doesn't think very much of me. It would be a real injustice for you to hold the GDC accountable for my behavior today. On top of which, I am monumentally sorry for having insulted you like that.
President Andrew Shepherd
Are you under the impression I'm mad at you?
Sydney Ellen Wade
Well, uh...
President Andrew Shepherd
Sydney, seldom does a day go by where I am not burned in effigy.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Not by a professional political operative standing 30 feet from the Oval Office.
President Andrew Shepherd
Nah, I'll grant you that.
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Robin McCall
[in his bedroom]
I think the important thing is not to make it look like we're panicking.
President Andrew Shepherd
See, and I think the important thing is actually not to BE panicking.
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[Watching Bob Rumson on television]
Bob Rumson
Last night, the cost of those liberal programs was raised to include the blood of 22 American soldiers. Now, Mr. Shepherd's read a lot of books, but it doesn't take a Harvard degree to see this one coming a mile down the road.
President Andrew Shepherd
I went to Stanford, you blowhole!
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[last lines, walking with each other before delivering his State of the Union address]
Sydney Ellen Wade
How'd you finally do it?
President Andrew Shepherd
Do what?
Sydney Ellen Wade
Manage to give a woman flowers and be president at the same time?
President Andrew Shepherd
Well, it turns out I've got a rose garden.
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A.J.
Yes, sir?
President Andrew Shepherd
When we're out of the office, and alone, you can call me Andy.
A.J.
I beg your pardon, sir?
President Andrew Shepherd
You were the best man at my wedding, for crying out loud. Call me Andy.
A.J.
Whatever you say, Mr. President.
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Leo's secretary
[in Leo's office]
Mr. Solomon? This was just delivered by a White House messenger. It's marked perishable.
Leo Solomon
The White House has sent me something perishable?
Leo's secretary
It's for Ms. Wade.
Leo Solomon
Oh, here we go.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Relax, Leo, I'm sure it's just a formality.
Leo's secretary
It's from him.
Leo Solomon
Of course it's from him.
Sydney Ellen Wade
So he had some staff flunky send me a fruit basket.
Leo's secretary
Well, he wrote the note himself.
Sydney Ellen Wade
I'm sure he didn't take the time to...
Leo's secretary
The messenger said he waited in the Oval Office for ten minutes while the president wrote the card.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Okay, listen- It took him ten minutes to write the card?
Leo's secretary
Apparently he went through several drafts.
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Robin McCall
It's Christmas.
Lewis Rothschild
It's Christmas?
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[Looking through Andrew Shepherd's college transcript]
Sydney Ellen Wade
Oh, Andy, a C minus in Women's Studies.
President Andrew Shepherd
Yeah, well, that class wasn't about what I thought it was about.
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Lucy Shepherd
Do you see it as part of your job to torture me?
President Andrew Shepherd
No, just one of the perks.
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President Andrew Shepherd
[as Sydney is angrily leaving]
Syd, please, I don't want to lose you over this.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Mr. President, you got bigger problems than losing me. You just lost my vote!
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A. J. MacInerney
Ms. Wade?
President Andrew Shepherd
When she called?
A. J. MacInerney
Did she say anything about you?
President Andrew Shepherd
No. We had a nice couple of minutes together. She threatened me, I patronized her. We didn't have anything to eat, but I thought there was a connection.
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David
[in her office]
We should do some prep work. You wanna order in?
Sydney Ellen Wade
Uh, I can't. I'm having dinner at the White House. So let's start early tomorrow morning, say 7:30?
David
Okay. I'm having lunch at the Kremlin, so we'll have to, you know, start even earlier than that.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Good night, David.
David
In order for me to catch the morning plane to Moscow.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Good night, David!
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Sydney Ellen Wade
[with dread as she realizes that she was in fact speaking with the president on the phone]
Mr. President... um... uh... I'm sure there's an appropriate thing to say at this moment... probably some formal apology for the "nice ass" remark would be in order, I just... I don't quite know how to word it.
President Andrew Shepherd
No, it's my fault. I shouldn't have called you at home. Should I call you at the office tomorrow?
Sydney Ellen Wade
No, no, of course not... I mean, yes, you can call me anytime you want... this is fine, right now is fine, when I said, "of course not," I meant... that... You know what, to hell with it, I'm moving to another country!
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[Discussing a reprisal for an attack on US troops]
A. J. MacInerney
Sir, it's immediate, it's decisive, it's low-risk, and it's a proportional response.
President Andrew Shepherd
Someday someone's going to have to explain to me the virtue of a proportional response.
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[Sydney and President D'Astier were conversing in French during the state dinner]
President Andrew Shepherd
Sydney, you didn't dissolve our trade agreements, did you?
Sydney Ellen Wade
No, I just said we're sitting in this beautiful room, listening to the music of this wonderful orchestra, and I wondered why nobody was dancing.
President René Jean D'Astier
And I informed Miss Wade that in my country, a guest at the palace of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette would soon find their head in a guillotine if they made the impertinent gesture of dancing without so much as a by-your-leave from the King and the Queen.
[laughs]
A. J. MacInerney
I bet no one accused Louis of being soft on crime.
Sydney Ellen Wade
There's a lesson there, Mr. President.
President Andrew Shepherd
More beheadings at the White House!
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President Andrew Shepherd
She's her mother.
Sydney Ellen Wade
She's you!
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President Andrew Shepherd
[in the Oval Office]
Listen, are you hungry? I skipped breakfast. You wanna... have a doughnut? Coffee or something?
Sydney Ellen Wade
Sir, I'm a little intimidated by my surroundings. And yes, I have gotten off to a rocky and somewhat stilted beginning, but don't let that diminish the weight of my message. The GDC has been at every president for the last decade and a half that global warming is a calamity the effects of which will be second only to nuclear war. The best scientists in the world have given you every reason to take the GDC seriously, but I'm going to give you one more. If you don't live up to the deal you just made, come New Hampshire we're going to go shopping for a new candidate.
[turns to leave]
President Andrew Shepherd
You can't do that, Sydney.
Sydney Ellen Wade
[starts to open door to a side room]
With all due respect, Mr. President, who's going to stop me?
President Andrew Shepherd
Well, if you go through that door, the United States Secret Service. That's my private office.
President Andrew Shepherd
You have to go out that door,
[points to his right]
President Andrew Shepherd
over there.
[Sydney closes the door to his private office, crosses the room, and leaves]
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A.J.
With all due respect, sir, the American people have a funny way of deciding on their own what is and what is not their business.
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A.J.
[in the Oval Office]
Excuse me, Mr. President, I just got off the phone with the federal mediator in St. Louis. Management just walked away from the table; the baggage handlers, pilots and flight attendants are all getting set to walk out in forty-eight hours.
President Andrew Shepherd
You know, I studied under a Nobel Prize-winning economist, and you know what he taught me?
A.J.
Never have an airline strike at Christmas?
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Sydney Ellen Wade
[in Beth's apartment]
I regrouped. You have to give me that. I stood in the middle of the Oval Office and made it clear that he who doesn't take the GDC seriously does so at his peril.
Beth Wade
And then you walked out the wrong door.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Are you going to keep throwing that back in my face for the rest of my life?
Beth Wade
That's my current plan, yes.
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Lewis Rothschild
[in the President's limo]
I tell any girl I'm going out with to assume that all plans are soft until she receives confirmation from me thirty minutes beforehand.
Robin McCall
And they find this romantic?
Lewis Rothschild
Well, I say it with a great deal of charm.
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President Andrew Shepherd
[while walking to the Oval Office]
Lewis, however much coffee you drink in the morning, I want you to reduce it by half.
Lewis Rothschild
I don't drink coffee, sir.
President Andrew Shepherd
Then hit yourself over the head with a baseball bat, would you please?
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President Andrew Shepherd
I'm going over to her house. I'm going to stand outside her door until she lets me in, and I'm not leaving 'til I get her back.
A. J. MacInerney
How are you going to do that, sir?
President Andrew Shepherd
Well, I haven't worked that out yet, but I'm sure groveling will be involved.
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Leo Solomon
[referring to her damaging her career if she has a romantic relationship with the President]
There's never an egg timer around when you need one.
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A.J.
[after playing pool]
Listen, I'm going to have Janie clear your schedule for the weekend. You need to get some rest.
President Andrew Shepherd
Are you handling me, A.J.?
A.J.
No, sir, but I will if you don't start taking your head out of your ass.
President Andrew Shepherd
Excuse me?
A.J.
Lewis is right, go after this guy!
President Andrew Shepherd
Has Rumson lied in the past seven weeks?
A.J.
Has he lied?
President Andrew Shepherd
Other than not knowing the difference between Harvard and Stanford, has he said something that isn't true? Am I not a Commander in Chief who's never served in the military? Am I not opposed to a Constitutional amendment banning flag burning? Am I not an unmarried father who shared a bed with a liberal lobbyist down the hall from his twelve-year-old daughter?
A.J.
And you think you're wrong?
President Andrew Shepherd
I don't think you win elections by telling fifty-nine percent of voters that they are!
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A.J. MacInerney
[sarcastically, jokingly]
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the Roosevelt Room, giving Lewis oxygen.
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[Ushering Sydney out of the White House after spending her first night there]
President Andrew Shepherd
I'm sorry about this. We'll do it better next time.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Well, I'm no expert, but I think we did it pretty good this time.
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President Andrew Shepherd
Well, we had a state dinner for the prime minister of Japan, who died shortly thereafter, so we stopped having them just in case.
Sydney Ellen Wade
No. I mean, do you date often?
President Andrew Shepherd
Oh. No. You?
Sydney Ellen Wade
Yeah, well, lately I seem to be going out on a lot of first dates.
President Andrew Shepherd
Oh, so you've got experience with this kind of thing.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Oh yeah, you can ask me anything.
President Andrew Shepherd
So, how are we doing?
Sydney Ellen Wade
Ohhh you know pretty much everyday first date kind of stuff...
President Andrew Shepherd
Darn, and I wanted to be different than the other guys.
[leaves her with her escort]
President Andrew Shepherd
Oh, by the way, nice shoes.
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Sydney Ellen Wade
What's my problem?
President Andrew Shepherd
Sex and nervousness.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Sex and nervousness is my problem?
President Andrew Shepherd
Yes. Last night when we were looking at those place settings in the Dish Room, I realized those place settings were provided by the first ladies. And I'll bet none of those first ladies were nervous about having sex with their President husbands. And do you know why?
Sydney Ellen Wade
No, but I'm sure you'll explain it to me.
President Andrew Shepherd
I will. Because they weren't Presidents when they first met them. That's not the case here.
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President Andrew Shepherd
Janie, can you get me the number of a local florist?
Janie
I'll take care of it, sir, where would you like them sent?
President Andrew Shepherd
No, I want to do it myself. I just need the number.
Janie
I don't understand
President Andrew Shepherd
I want the phone number of a florist.
Janie
You just want the phone number?
Janie
I don't understand, sir, is there a problem...
President Andrew Shepherd
Janie, I want to send some flowers. I want to do it myself. I don't want to staff it out, and I don't want to issue an executive order. I just want a phone number.
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[Shepherd looks up]
President Andrew Shepherd
The "Sydney issue"?
Lewis Rothschild
We should have a consensus on how the White House is going to handle it.
President Andrew Shepherd
Well I sure hope the "Sydney issue" refers in some way to a problem we're having with Australia, because if it's anything other than that...
[Janie pokes her head in]
Janie
Mr. President? Ms. Wade is here to see you.
President Andrew Shepherd
Send her in, please. I'm finished here.
Janie
Yes, sir.
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President Andrew Shepherd
Two-ball on the side.
[He makes the shot, and the two-ball goes into the pocket]
A. J. MacInerney
Nice shot, Mr. President.
President Andrew Shepherd
"Nice shot, Mr. President"? You won't even call me by my name when we're playing pool?
A. J. MacInerney
I will not do it playing pool, I will not do it in a school. I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them, Sam I Am.
President Andrew Shepherd
At ease, A.J. At ease.
[He prepares to hit the nine-ball into the corner pocket; A.J. stands by that pocket]
President Andrew Shepherd
Would - would you get away from the pocket?
A. J. MacInerney
I beg your pardon, sir.
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Bob Rumson
[singing giddily that an aide has found a compromising photo of Sydney]
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
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Robin McCall
[in the Oval Office]
Never gone wrong parading you around as a lonely widower. I can't believe I said that, Mr. President that was an completely thoughtless remark. I would never dream of insulting you or the memory of your wife.
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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 haven't been will 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.
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Lewis Rothschild
Mood swings? Nineteen post-graduate degrees in mathematics, and your best explanation for going from a 63 to a 46 percent approval rating in five weeks is mood swings?
Leon Kodak
Well, I could explain it better, but I'd need charts, and graphs, and an easel.
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President Andrew Shepherd
[in the President's limo]
I want to buy her some flowers. That's what men do when they break a date.
Robin McCall
That's not what men do. I know no men who do that.
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[On the phone with the florist]
President Andrew Shepherd
Perhaps it would be better if you bill me for the flowers, I'm sure it'll be all right with your boss... Well, I don't know if you recognize my voice, but this is the president... Of the United States!... Hello?
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President Andrew Shepherd
Seven-trillion-dollar communications system at my disposal and I can't find out if the Packers won.
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Janie
[while walking to the Oval Office]
The 10:15 event has been moved inside to the Indian Treaty Room.
President Andrew Shepherd
10:15 is American Fisheries?
Janie
Yes sir. They're giving you a 200-pound halibut.
President Andrew Shepherd
Janie, make a note. We need to schedule more events where somebody gives me a really big fish.
Janie
Yes sir.
[starts making note]
President Andrew Shepherd
Janie, I'm kidding.
Janie
[Stops and starts to smile]
Of course, sir.
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Lucy
If you were a dork, you should say you're sorry. Girls like that.
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[Right before their first kiss in the White House China Room]
Sydney Ellen Wade
Do you think this is a good idea?
President Andrew Shepherd
Probably not.
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President Andrew Shepherd
She's questioning your loyalty.
Lewis Rothschild
Hell, I question it all the time.
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Lewis Rothschild
[in his bedroom]
Can I just state very clearly I can't be part of anything illegal.
A.J.
Good for you, Lewis.
Lewis Rothschild
Say what you want. It's always the guy in my job that ends up doing 18 months in Danbury minimum security prison.
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A. J. MacInerney
Oh, and Leon, don't be the nice, sweet guy from Brooklyn on this one. Do what the NRA does.
A. J. MacInerney
Exactly.
Leon Kodak
I can do that.
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A.J.
[while playing pool]
Mr.President, this is an election year. If you're looking for female companionship, we can make certain arrangements that will ensure total privacy.
President Andrew Shepherd
I don't want you to get me a girl, A.J.! What is this, Vegas?
A.J.
No sir, this is the White House.
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Sydney Ellen Wade
Camp David? Sure, I used to go there all the time, but then they changed chefs.
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[Watching Rumson on television with Andrew]
Bob Rumson
I don't even know what we call her. Is she the First Mistress?
Sydney Ellen Wade
Oh, man... my father heard that.
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A. J. MacInerney
Well, she did say you were taller than she thought you'd be.
President Andrew Shepherd
Well, that's something.
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Lucy
[in his bedroom]
Just be yourself.
President Andrew Shepherd
Be myself.
Lucy
Yeah, and compliment her shoes. Girls like that.
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President Andrew Shepherd
[over the phone]
Douglas, does the NRA have videotapes of you playing golf with Satan?
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Sydney Ellen Wade
[to the President]
I'm in love with you. I'm sure of it, and I want to be with you more than anything in the world. But maybe it'd be better for you if I disappeared for a while.
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Leo Solomon's Secretary
Dig it, Miss Wade... you're the President's girlfriend!
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Leo Solomon
[referring to her damaging her career if she has a romantic relationship with the President]
I hired your reputation, Sydney. I hired a pit bull, not a prom queen.
Sydney Ellen Wade
That's unfair.
Leo Solomon
It's *incredibly* unfair.
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Lucy Shepherd
It's supposed to be tight. It's supposed to make you look regal.
President Andrew Shepherd
[sarcastically, jokingly]
Is it supposed to cut off the blood flow to my face?
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Sydney Ellen Wade
More than you do, Mr. President.
President Andrew Shepherd
The name is Andy. How much money do you make?
Sydney Ellen Wade
What the hell does it matter how much money I make?
President Andrew Shepherd
You raise your voice to the president?
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President Andrew Shepherd
[Lewis calls the President early in the morning]
Lewis, it is five a.m. You have got to get yourself a life, man.
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Susan Sloan
I just want to go on record and apologize for my attitude towards you since your arrival.
Sydney Ellen Wade
Oh, I didn't notice. Was there an attitude?
Susan Sloan
Well, I - I think that um, that I - I have a lot of pent-up hostility...
Sydney Ellen Wade
Well, I...
Susan Sloan
You know, and I'm wondering who I should blame that on.
Sydney Ellen Wade
I'm not really qualified to...
Susan Sloan
You know, because I've been blaming it on my mother and my ex-husband and, well, that doesn't seem to be working.
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[picking up the Oval Office phone]
President Andrew Shepherd
Yeah, hi, good morning... how do I get an outside line?
[hears dial tone immediately]
President Andrew Shepherd
Well, that was easy.
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Sydney Ellen Wade
If someone had asked me yesterday, I'd have told them that the Quebec Conference is made up of six professional hockey teams.
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President Andrew Shepherd
You have concerns?
Sydney Ellen Wade
Yes. Not many. A few. One. I have one concern.
President Andrew Shepherd
This wouldn't have to do with the fact that one of us is president?
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Lucy
Do you see it as part of your job to torture me?
President Andrew Shepherd
No, just one of the perks.
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President Andrew Shepherd
Are you attracted to me?
Sydney Ellen Wade
I beg your pardon?
President Andrew Shepherd
I asked if you were attracted to me.
Sydney Ellen Wade
That's not the issue.
President Andrew Shepherd
Well, I tell you what, let's make it the issue. Let's try something new, because I know that most couples when they first get together are inclined to slam on the brakes because they're concerned about Bob Rumson's drool.
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President Andrew Shepherd
The White House is the single greatest home court advantage in the modern world.
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Leo Solomon
Politics is perception.
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President Andrew Shepherd
Too tall McCall, how was Mexico?
Robin McCall
I didn't truly appreciate it until I came back and discovered that America isn't a great society?
Lewis Rothschild
He dumped a whole section.
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A. J. MacInerney
I feel a nightmare coming on...
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Lewis Rothschild
Two hundred and sixty-four million Americans don't give a damn about your life, they give a damn about their own! Mr. President, you raised a daughter, almost entirely on your own, and she's terrific, so what does it say to you in the past seven weeks, fifty-nine percent of Americans question your family values?
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Sydney Ellen Wade
Congressman Pennybaker, on Election Day, people give a damn about what I tell them to give a damn about. That's why I have a job.
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Sydney Ellen Wade
Well then, congratulations. It's only taken you three years to put together crime prevention legislation that has no hope of preventing crime.
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