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The Leonard Lopate Show / July 01, 2008 / Political Projections: Commander in Chief

Political Projections: Commander in Chief

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

As Commander in Chief, the President of the United States controls the Army, Navy, Air Force, and state militias. On this month’s Political Projections, we look at how Hollywood has taken on this specific function of the President. Robert Sklar is Professor of Cinema in the Department of Cinema Studies at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Geoffrey Perret is an award-winning author of books on military history and presidential biographies, most recently Commander in Chief: How Truman, Johnson, and Bush Turned a Presidential Power into a Threat to America's Future.

You can watch the films we’ve selected and weigh in on the conversation by posting your reactions below. We may incorporate your comments into the on-air discussion.

Films we’ll discuss:

“Fail-Safe” (1964): Sidney Lumet directed this Cold War thriller about the President’s efforts to avert nuclear war with the Soviet Union.

"Seven Days in May" (1964): John Frankenheimer directed this docudrama about one general’s plot to militarily takeover the US government.

"Air Force One" (1997): Wolfgang Petersen directed this action drama about the hijacking of Air Force One and the President’s attempt to stop the terrorists while on board the plane.

"Thirteen Days" (2000): Roger Donaldson directed this thriller based on the actual events surrounding the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, taking place during the thirteen days wherein the US and Soviet Union nearly engaged in full-scale nuclear war.


Comments

  • [1] Laura from Nyack NY July 01, 2008 - 09:55AM

    You list several movies... but it seems to me that you should also include the TV show West Wing, which was probably an important cultural representation of the role of the President of the US. Possibly more important, because it broke down the boundary of 'movie theater', and appeared in people's living rooms every week for many years.
  • [2] Rayna from NY, NY July 01, 2008 - 01:26PM

    Fail-Safe is playing at Bryant Park at 5pm on Monday July 14, 2008.
  • [3] Ted Reider from Eastern Long Island July 01, 2008 - 01:27PM

    Where then did the civilian commander in chief idea evolve from?
  • [4] Sherman L. Greene from Manhattan July 01, 2008 - 01:31PM

    Why didn't you include "Dr. Strangelove"?
  • [5] Scott from Brooklyn July 01, 2008 - 01:36PM

    "Dr. Strangelove" was included in a previous installment about political comedies.


  • [6] David Honneus from Brewste July 01, 2008 - 02:07PM

    "Fail Safe" is based on a false premise. I was in the Strategic Air Command form 1962-66. The bombers, when alerted, would fly to a fail safe line over nothern Canada and automatically turn home if a specific presidential order was not given. In the movie, they were to keep on flying to the USSR unless ordered not to. Only a madman would set it up that way. Therefore, a false, but dramatic premise.

    Also, my wife and I saw "Dr. Strangelove" in an Air Force base theatre with 300 people. Only two people laughed, my wife and me. the rest took it seriously. It was a very strange moment.

    David Honneus
  • [7] Marc Naimark from Paris July 01, 2008 - 03:57PM

    This looked like a good segment, but I quickly stopped listening to it. I couldn't stand the horrible phone connection with a guest who was on the air too long for me to ignore it...
  • [8] Leon Freilich from Park Slope July 02, 2008 - 01:16PM

    FAITH-BASED WIRETAPPING

    Obama, metapolitician, you

    Have kept your promise and given us something new

    But give Bill Clinton credit for education--

    He's taught you well the art of triangulation.

This thread is closed.


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