Seven Days in May (1964) - full transcript

Lyman lovers!

Break it up!

Come on, break it up.

Man: And when it comes

to jurisdictional strikes
of this nature,

the administration's job
is quite clear.

The 90-day cooling-off period
will be observed.

And if industry is so hellbent
to invoke Taft/Hartley,

any support they get from me
will have to get flogged out.

Underline
and exclamation point.

How many men
involved there, Paul?



By next Tuesday,

the entire industry from
San Diego to Seattle.

I'm not through yet,
Mr. President --

you stick one more zing
in me, Horace,

and I'll take up
faith healing.

And your pressure's gone up
three points

for every letter
you've dictated.

Your predecessors
would go to the clinic.

My predecessors
didn't have a riot

outside the White House.

They were at least
sufficiently popular

to get their faces
on stamps.

The Gallup Poll -- 29% of the
people

of the United States
approve of what I'm doing.



When that thing reaches
stroke proportions,

put it out as a bulletin.

It's probably the one thing
that will make labor,

management,
and the Pentagon

join hands and declare
a national holiday.

When did you have
your last vacation?

When I was six months old,
back in Cleveland, Ohio.

Don't forget your
CIA appointment at 2:00.

Phone Lieberman.
Tell him to meet me here,

assuming I'll be alive
after lunch.

The White House physician
makes no such assumption.

Your blood pressure's
up again, Mr. President,

and I don't like it
one little bit.

Now this is an order --

you should go away
for at least two weeks.

Two weeks!

And he can have
damn few phone calls.

How about
a compromise, Horace?

I'll take a quick swim
in my pool.

Can I squeeze that in, Paul?

Those people from
West Virginia are waiting

for the crowning of
the rhododendron queen.

Have the secretary of
the interior handle that.

How are ya, Horace?

What's new
in fee splitting?

It's quite a mob scene
you've got outside.

Why in God's name do
we elect a man president,

then try to see
how fast we can kill him?

The Vice President showed
a vast amount of valor

to go good-willing
when he did.

Pity you didn't
join him, Jordy.

I envy Mr. Gianelli,

his Chianti
and Italian sunshine.

My own diet will be
crow and bitters.

Mr. President, Senator.

Goodbye, Horace.

Come on, Ray.

You can watch me
do the Lyman Crawl.

Thank you.

Half-hour from now I'm due
at a committee meeting

with the illustrious
Senator Prentice.

To hear him tell it,

you're a third-grade idiot
with clay arches.

But the chairman
of the joint chiefs,

one General
James Mattoon Scott,

will be in front
of the committee.

He is a reincarnation
of George Washington

who could walk
on that water.

That Gallup Poll
shake you up?

Well, let's say I've felt
more popular in my time.

Don't get your nanny up.

You knew there would be
some dislocations.

You can't gear a country's
economy for war for 20 years,

then slam on the brakes
and expect the transition

to go like grease
through a goose.

Think how the whole
psychology of the thing

has been screwed up
from the outset.

We've been
hating the Russians

for a quarter of a century.

Suddenly we sign a treaty
that says in two months

they are to dismantle
their bombs,

we're to dismantle ours,

and we all ride
to a peaceful glory.

This country will
probably live as if peace

were just as big
a threat as war.

Damn it, Ray, we could
have had our paradise.

We could have had
full employment,

whopping
gross national product,

nice, cushy feeling
that we've got a bomb

for every one of theirs.

But just as sure as God
made the state of Georgia,

there would come one day

when they'd have blown us up
or we'd have blown them up.

The good doctor worries
about my blood pressure.

You know who the gentleman
is with the black box?

There are five of them.

One of them sits outside
my bedroom at night.

You know what
he carries in that box?

The codes.

Codes by which I
can give the orders

sending us
into a nuclear war.

Instead of my blood pressure,

I think Horace should
worry about my sanity.

You want to know
something, Jordy?

Riots and unemployment
notwithstanding,

you're an exceptionally
fine president.

The day may yet come when
the name "Jordan Lyman"

and the expression
"Senator"

will come out as one word.

Mention that to General
James Mattoon Scott

when he's up in front
of you this morning.

And try tea
sometime, too, huh?

I'll give it a taste,
now and then.

I personally visited
the President.

I presented him
with a documented case

listing the reasons
for concern.

Three weeks before
the treaty was ratified,

three of us sat
in the same committee

and urged a reevaluation
of that treaty.

Only last week
in Pravda --

excuse me, General,
sorry to interrupt.

But as I understand it,

you feel that the signing
of this pact

- has been detrimental --
- fiddle-de-dee and fiddle-de-dum.

If my colleague
from the state of Georgia

could confine his comments

not only to appropriate
business at hand,

but do me the goodness --

In my own boorish way,
I'm only suggesting

that if you two continue
to work from a script,

with cues
and stage directions,

these proceedings
take on all the dignity

of a very bad
Gilbert and Sullivan.

Man: I'd like to hear what
General Scott has to say.

Thank you. So would I!

The audience has spoken,
and I beg forgiveness.

I'll make the point
again, Senator.

I think the signing of
a nuclear disarmament pact

with the Soviet Union is, at
best, an act of naivete

and, at worst,
an insupportable negligence.

We've stayed alive because
we've built up an arsenal,

and we've kept the peace
because we've dealt

with an enemy who knew
we would use that arsenal.

Now we're asked to believe

that a piece of paper
will take the place

of missile sites
and Polaris submarines

and that an enemy who hasn't
honored one solemn treaty

in the history
of its existence

will now, for our convenience,
do precisely that.

I have strong doubts.

Hear, hear!

Senator Prentice, if you
would indulge me, sir.

You know perfectly well --

if you would indulge me
for a moment, sir!

From the chairman of
the joint chiefs of staff,

I would welcome and
respect any judgment

having to do with
military considerations.

Insofar as his political
attitudes are concerned,

these, I'm sure,
we could dispense with.

We're talking about the
survival of the United States.

Is my uniform
a disqualification?

I presume that an
alternative to the treaty

that would meet
with your approval

would be continuing
to build bombs --

bigger bombs,
better bombs, more bombs.

Until at some given instant

a trigger-happy idiot
presses the button

and we go down the drain waving
the American flag!

I prefer that, Senator,

to a Pearl Harbor, where
we went down the drain --

I did not address the
question to the Senator!

I was talking
to the witness!

There hasn't been
a single piece of paper

in the history of mankind

that could serve as a deterrent
to a Pearl Harbor.

I wonder why we haven't
learned that lesson by now.

Every 20 years or so,
we have to pick ourselves up

off the floor bleeding
and pay for that mistake.

And I might add, Senator,

those mistakes
are delivered to us, C.O.D.,

by peace-loving men
and bought and paid for

with the lives of other men,
men in uniform.

Have we ever forgotten
to thank you?

I wasn't soliciting
your appreciation,

only your memory.

Prentice: With all
due respect, Senator,

might I elicit one small
admission on your part?

Clark: I'll make an admission
to the chairman...

Thank you.

They listened, but I'm
not sure they heard.

Your testimony, General,

was the most effective
defense I've ever heard.

Coming from you, Jiggs,
that's fulsome praise indeed.

That forces me
to invite you for a drink,

in the name of gratitude.

Well, in the name
of military protocol,

you force me to accept.

Your first appointment
is at 2:00, General.

Thank you.

Incidentally, Jiggs,

the alert on Sunday --

nobody from the hill,
no congressmen.

This one must be
deep and dark.

Right straight
down the line.

I noticed that nobody
from congress

was on the list.

Hello, Colonel,

hot poop from all
around the globe.

Hi, Grayson.

All properly decoded
in 4.0 fashion

and respectfully submitted
by yours truly,

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Dorsey Grayson.

Give this one a reading.

Last call
annual Preakness Pool?

Top secret code, too.

$10 already deposited
with Murdock.

Give length
your pick will win.

Deadline 17:00 Saturday,

post time 19:00, Sunday, 18 may.

Scott, where
did this come from?

General Scott's aide,
Colonel Murdock.

He gave me that message
at 07:25 this morning.

Did you get that name,
Colonel?

General Scott!

I'm so disillusioned
I could sit down and cry.

My hero turned out
to be a bookie.

So who does this go to?

Oh, nothing but
the cream --

Commander Vandenberg Missile
Center, California,

Commander Strategic
Air Command, Omaha,

Vice-Admiral
Farley C. Barnswell,

commanding sixth fleet,
Gibraltar,

CINCPAC, Pearl Harbor,

and Commander
First Airborne Corps

United States Army,
Fort Bragg, sir.

They must have
a sure thing.

Uh-uh, Colonel,
look at this.

Barnswell
doesn't think so.

Just proves, Grayson, that
sometimes even an admiral

can't cough up 10 bucks
for a bet.

Hiya, Jiggs.

Well, for...Mud.
How are you, mud?

Just fine.
Good to see you, Jiggs.

You look great.
Where are you stationed?

I haven't gotten around

to giving a straight answer
to that one in four months.

Hell, you probably got me my
orders.

I'm exec. of ECOMCON, Jiggs.

ECOMCON?

Yeah, site "Y".

Don't blame me
for your orders.

You live at the base
at site "Y"?

Nobody could live
at that hellhole.

It's bad enough
the old man keeps me there

for four or five days
at a time.

Mabel and I have
a house in El Paso.

I'll give you the number.

If you're ever down that way,
we can break open a bottle.

Oh, listen, I have to go
to a party tonight.

If you're free,
it might be fun for you.

Ah, Jiggs, I'd love to,
but I just can't.

How long
will you be in town?

Just till the old man
briefs Scott.

I think you know him --
Colonel Broderick?

Broderick?

Good officer,
don't you think?

Yeah, for certain armies.
The kind that goose-step.

You don't find a happy
medium in this man's army.

Say, how many men are
there in your outfit now?

I don't think you're up
to strength yet, are you?

We got the full T.O. --

100 officers,
3,600 enlisted.

The last of them
came in six weeks ago.

But, you know, it's funny.

What?

We seem to spend more time

training for seizure
than for prevention.

Like the commies
already had this stuff,

and we had to get it back.

Colonel Henderson, Colonel
Broderick's waiting for you.

The sergeant at the desk
will show you where to go.

Oh, thank you, Colonel.

Jiggs, it's wonderful
seeing you.

When you get to El Paso,
that's the number.

You call.

You bet I will.

And mud, stop growing,
will you?

Casey, I hope you didn't
discuss Sunday's alert

with Colonel Henderson.

I needn't remind you
that it's top secret.

If you needn't remind me,
why do you bring it up?

I see no reason for humor.

I made a note of it
on my calendar.

Or was it to place a bet

on the Preakness Pool
with General Scott?

How did you
find out about that?!

You got Grayson lathered
up about racehorses.

That kid better learn
to keep his mouth shut!

Don't jump the kid.

How was he to know that
the security of the nation

rests on Admiral Barnswell
parting with 10 bucks?

That was the General's
personal business!

What are you getting
so hot about?

You're right.
It's not important.

Operator, have you got
a listing for ECOMCON?

E-C-O-M-C-O-N.

You don't?
Thank you very much.

ECOMCON, horse racing.

What the hell
is going on here?

Then can you explain to me
why the good general

walks into a senate hearing
as if he were St. George

and the administration
was a dragon?

Simmer down, Paul.

Jiggs, I mean it.

Your boss did everything
but draw a sword.

They ask, he answers.

You guys
are getting sensitive.

A little too sensitive,
if you ask me.

Good evening, Senator.

Good evening, Colonel.
How are you, Paul?

It's as simple as this --
the President trusts Russia,

the American people don't.

The people don't believe
the Russians

are going to take those
bombs apart on July 1,

and neither do I.

Do you think that
the President's position

is so unreasonable?

- Hi, Jiggs.
- Hi, Hal.

If Russia reneges,

the chiefs would find out
about it immediately.

The deal is then off.
There would be no danger.

Now, doesn't that
make sense?

Let's hear the view
of someone

a little
more knowledgeable

as to the Soviet Union's
capacity to destroy us.

Colonel Casey?

As a military officer,
I steer clear of politics.

Let's forget for the moment
you're a military officer.

You also happen to be
a citizen.

Then I'll have to
take the fifth.

Colonel, do you like
the treaty or don't you?

Oh, Senator, pardon me,
come along, I want you

to meet the wife
of the Indian ambassador.

We're discussing
the treaty.

Now I want you to hear
the Pentagon's viewpoint.

Go ahead, Colonel.

The treaty isn't viewed
very favorably.

Neither are income taxes,
but we pay them.

But you make me think that
fruit salad on your chest

is for neutrality,
evasiveness,

and fence straddling.

On the contrary, Senator,
they're standard awards

for cocktail courage
and dinner table heroism.

I thought
you'd invented them.

Excuse me.

Hear, hear.

Ellie, I didn't know
you were back in town.

You never looked.

You surprise me tonight,
Colonel Casey.

The voice of reason
coming out of a military man.

I've got a lot
of hidden talents.

Oh, I suspected that
right along.

Ever since my ex-lover
introduced us.

And how is the staunch
General Scott

and his lovely wife?

Well, he keeps busy.

So I read.

There's a sizable portion
of the citizenry who says

he's the "savior
of the Western world."

He does his job, Ellie.

See that he rests
on the seventh day.

I'll try.

Mmm...That marvelous
military stoicism,

the iron mask.

Is that
for quenching a torch

or washing out a wound?

Let me put it to you
this way, Jiggs darling.

What the hell business
is it of yours?

I want that.

No, you don't.

Now, you listen to me.

Now what is it?
Is it just Scott?

Oh, it's Scott
and everything.

It's...It's
my whole damn life.

You're not the first dame

to ever wind up on
the bottom of the deck.

It happens every day.

What matters is how
a person lives with it.

Stop playing the part
of the anguished drunk

digging olives
out of Martinis

and boring everybody
with tragic stories.

Sober, you're a bright,
beautiful dame,

good to have around.

Will you
drive me home, Jiggs?

Whenever you say.

I'll get my coat.

Sure.

Goodnight, Stu, thank you
for a very nice party.

Thanks for coming,
Senator.

Real pleasure having you.

I hope you'll forgive
my little outburst.

A combination of deep
concerns and dry Martinis.

That can be
a dangerous combo.

I've been reamed
by experts, Senator.

I was simply trying
to get you to say

what I happen to know
you believe in.

You're working for the one man
who commands confidence

that could possibly
lead us out of this mess.

You just remember --

there are plenty of us
up on the hill

who stand right
alongside of you.

We've all got to stay
on the alert these days.

Especially on Sunday,
right?

Thank you.

There you are.

I've got to drive
to Fort Myer

to see the General.

May I call a cab for you?

No, thank you.
I'll manage.

I'm sorry, but this
is very important.

All right, Jiggs,

but just in case someone
forgets to mention it,

you're a great crutch.

It's too bad
you're only available

20 minutes at a time.

Well, you can't tell.

Sometimes the country
can spare me

for a whole evening.

Give me a rain check
and I'll prove it.

Tuck it somewhere safe,
where you won't forget it.

Good night, Ellie.

Good night, Jiggs.

Hi, Dick.

Hi, Jiggs.

Colonel Roberts with him.

Well, well, well.

If it isn't my favorite

jarhead himself,
Jiggs Casey.

Hello, Broderick.

I thought you'd be in Okinawa,
or maybe worse.

Ah, not me,
Casey boy, not me.

Still protecting
the great unwashed?

I thought you'd be a civil
liberties lawyer by now.

You might make it yet.
You might make it yet.

By the way, Casey my boy,
I hear you're doing

a fine job as director for
the joint chiefs of staff.

Hello, Jiggs.

Good morning, sir.

How was
the party last night?

You missed a good one.

Anyone there I know?

Well, Paul Girard,
from the White House

and Senator Prentice
were the ranking guests.

With those two,

there must have been quite
a hassle over the treaty.

There was, sir.

Prentice uphold
our side all right?

He was pretty candid,

also quite complimentary
about you.

Oh, by the way,
Ellie Holbrook was there.

It was nice
seeing her again.

Let's get on with it,
Jiggs.

Yes, sir.

These are from January's
all-red alert, sir.

Pearl Harbor 12 minutes
after the threat warning.

12 minutes, and over
80% of the fleet

still sitting there
like overfed ducks.

Next.

Wright field,
22 minutes into the alert.

This one really gives me
an ache in the gut.

Half those aircraft
aren't even scrambled,

let alone off the ground.

Over mount thunder.

The President's
in the middle helicopter.

Right out in the open.

34 minutes
into the alert.

Canned sound
indicates possibility

of hostile action
by the Soviet Union.

There are
30 more shots, sir.

Each one of them more
fouled up than the others.

Let's hope Sunday's alert
will be different, sir.

It damn-well better be.

Sir, wouldn't it help
if you changed your mind and...

About what, Jiggs?

And invited some
of the congressional people

to observe the alert?

It wouldn't hurt us
if a congressman or a senator

saw how effectively
we can work when we have to.

Nobody from the hill is
to know a thing about this.

Yes, sir.

Yes?

Man: It's 9:20.

They're waiting for you
in the conference room.

Thank you.

I've even persuaded
the President

to come down
without the press.

No newspapermen?

None.

Get to bed late, sir?

Got to bed too early.

Slept from 8:00 to 8:00.
Too much sleep.

I may never wake up.

Stay close, Jiggs.

I'll want to see you after this
meeting.

Oh, Jiggs,
Colonel Murdock tells me

you've heard about
our Preakness Pool.

Yes, sir.

I'd appreciate it if you'd
keep it to yourself.

All I want
is the right horse.

Ha ha ha.

And Admiral Barnswell's
reply.

I'd appreciate that

if you'd keep that
in confidence, too.

Of course, sir.

I see the Navy
wasn't here today.

Admiral Palmer
couldn't make it.

We'll brief him later.

Oh, speaking of the Navy,
that reminds me --

that young J.G.
In all-service radio.

Grayson, sir?

Grayson. He is a bit
of a gossip, isn't he?

He means well.

I'm off to New York
and the A.V.O. Convention.

If you get a chance,
Jiggs, listen in.

I'd like to know
what you think about it.

Certainly, sir.
Good luck.

Thank you.

Hey, Colonel,
get a load of this!

What is it, Grayson?

A transfer.

Pearl Harbor?

I got some kind
of a guardian angel.

Good old Pearl Harbor.

By the way, big Barnswell
was the only one

to poop out of the
chairman's racing form.

All the others came
through with their IOUs.

Ladies and gentlemen,

you have heard me
in my nightly newscasts.

You know where I stand.

I'm not a lover
of communists, socialists,

or intellectual
bleeding hearts.

I happen to have
only one interest,

and that is symbolized

by the red, white, and blue
of our glorious flag.

And now I'm going to give you
the one man

who not only speaks
for that flag,

but has fought for it
with distinction

and now represents it
with honor --

four-star general,

winner of the congressional
medal of honor

and two distinguished
service crosses,

a hero of war, a stalwart
protector of the peace.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the chairman
of the joint chiefs of staff,

General James Mattoon Scott!

We want Scott!

We want Scott!
We want Scott!

We want Scott!
We want Scott!

We want Scott!
We want Scott!

We want Scott!
We want Scott!

We want Scott!
We want Scott!

We want Scott!

Ladies and gentlemen,

members of the American
veterans order,

I would like to thank
Mr. McPherson

for his
most laudatory comments.

You're very generous, Harold.

Perhaps patriotism
is old-fashioned.

Perhaps love of country
is outdated.

Perhaps even a minute degree
of sentiment

to one's motherland
is to be considered passe.

But God help us
and God help our country

if the cynics,
the one-worlders,

the intellectual dilettantes
ever persuade us

that these things
have passed us by,

because, ladies and gentlemen,

patriotism, loyalty,
sentiment --

they are
the United States of America!

In my lifetime,

I have seen the 1,000 ways
a man can die.

And I know that
in this country of ours,

we have a perverse habit...

Operator, could you connect me
to the White House, please?

The President's
expecting you, Colonel.

The study,
second door on the right.

All I can tell you, pal,

is that this better be
damned important.

How are you,
Colonel Casey?

Mr. President.

Please, sit down.

Thank you, sir.

Ever been up here
before, Colonel?

No, sir.
It's a big room.

Too big for living and
too small for conventions.

Do you want a drink,
Colonel?

Yes, sir.
Scotch, please.

Fine.
I'll keep you company.

How about you, Paul?

No, no thanks.

And now, Colonel,

that matter of...
National security.

Mr. President,
have you ever heard

of a military unit
known as "ECOMCON"?

"E" what?

I'm sorry.
E-C-O-M-C-O-N, ECOMCON.

No.

What does it mean?

I'm not sure, sir.

Well, in formal
military abbreviations,

it could stand for

"emergency communications
control," but...

I've never heard
of anything like that.

Have you, Paul?

No, I haven't.

Well?

Have you ever authorized
the formation

of any type of secret unit,
regardless of its name,

that has something to do
with preserving

the security of things

like television,
telephone, or radio?

No, I haven't.

Well, uh...Do you know

of any secret
army installation, sir,

that's been set up
near El Paso recently?

The answer
is no again. Why?

Sir, this is something

very difficult
for me because...Well...

It concerns
a superior officer --

let's get on with it,
Colonel, huh?

Yes, sir.

Yesterday, I learned
from a friend of mine,

Colonel Henderson,

that he is the exec. Officer
of ECOMCON.

His commanding officer

is an Army Colonel
named John Broderick,

and they're both
from Signal Corps,

which indicates
communications.

They've had 100 officers
and 3,600 men

training secretly
at a desert base

near El Paso
for six weeks or so.

Then Henderson said
an odd thing to me, sir,

something that...I can't
shake quite loose of.

He said they were
spending more time

training for seizing
than for preventing.

Who set up this outfit?

Well, Henderson
and Broderick

reported directly
to General Scott,

so I assume
General Scott did.

You work directly under
General Scott, don't you?

Yes, sir, but I guess

I'd been cut out
for some security reason.

Go ahead, Colonel.

Mr. President, this is
General Hardesty's writing.

I know it pretty well.

That paper came from

the joint chiefs'
meeting room.

I can't make much out
of this scrawl.

"Airlift ECOMCON
40 K212s at site 'Y'

"by 07:00 Sunday.

Chi, New York, LA, Utah."

Air Force
jet transports, sir.

What do you
make of it?

They're scheduled to lift
this whole command

out of site "Y",
if that's what Henderson

called the base
near El Paso,

before the alert Sunday,
and take those troops

to Chicago, Los Angeles,
New York, and Utah.

Why Utah?

Telephone company
has big relay facilities

for its long lines
in Utah.

Precisely what are you
leading up to?

Well, I'm not certain,
Mr. President, but...

Well, let me try
to tell you

the other things
that have happened

the past two days.

Now, General Scott
has some kind of pool

going on the Preakness race
which runs on Sunday.

He sent messages to every
important field commander

talking about getting
their bets in on time.

Admiral Barnswell
was the only one

who sent in
a "no bet" message.

Your General Scott's
interest in horses

isn't classified,
Colonel.

I don't think those messages

had anything to do with horses,
sir.

I think it was
some kind of a code.

That's a fair-sized
assumption.

General Scott wanted those
messages kept under wraps.

Under wraps?

A J.G. Who decoded
those messages

is being shipped out
to Hawaii.

There are other things,
Mr. President.

Last night at a party
at Stuart Dillard's house,

Senator Prentice indicated to me

a knowledge of the alert.

No one on the hill's
supposed to know.

Senator Prentice knows,

and General Scott
knows that he knows.

- That's a hell of an assumption.
- How do you know that?

The General lied --

he said he was
in bed at 8:00,

but I went to his quarters
after the party

because I was concerned.

The General wasn't in bed.

He was with Senator Prentice,

who arrived at his house
at 11:45.

And that's all?

Congress
recessed yesterday,

Vice President Gianelli
is in Italy,

and this Sunday,

you're going to be in an
underground command post

on mount thunder,
completely alone.

You won't even have
press people in attendance.

That's true.

General Scott asked
that I come alone.

All right, Colonel.

Let's sum it up,
shall we?

You're suggesting what?

I'm not sure,
just some possibilities,

what we call "capabilities"
in military intelligence.

Got something against
the English language?

No, sir.

Then speak it plainly,
if you will.

I'm suggesting,
Mr. President,

there's a military plot
to take over the government.

This may occur sometime
this coming Sunday.

Do you realize you could be
broken out of the service

for what you've said
and done tonight?

I've thought
about the consequences.

I've been a marine
for 18 years.

Comment, Paul?

With all due respect
to Jiggs here,

it's just incredible
that a secret base

could have been constructed
without our hearing about it.

When you think of the people
and the supplies involved...

Frankly, sir,
it doesn't seem logical.

It could be
checked out, though.

I'll call Bill Condon
at the bureau of budget,

right now.

I know what Scott's attitude
is on the treaty.

What's yours?

I agree
with General Scott, sir.

I think we're being played
for suckers.

I think it's really
your business,

yours and the senate.

You did it, and they agreed.

I don't see how we in
the military can question it.

I mean, we can question it,
but we can't fight it.

We shouldn't, anyway.

"Jiggs," isn't it?

Isn't that
what they call you?

Yes, sir.

Do you stand by
the constitution, Jiggs?

I never thought of it
just like that,

but that's what we've got,

and I guess it's worked
pretty well so far.

I sure don't want to be

the one to say
we ought to change it.

Neither do I.

You, um...
Have any bright ideas

on what else I can do,
Jiggs?

No, sir, not a one.
I'm just a buck-passer.

Remember what Harry Truman
said one day,

that "inside this room,

inside this room,
the buck stops."

Thanks for coming
to see me, Colonel.

Yes, sir.

Call Miss Townsend,
my secretary, in the morning

and keep her up to date
on where you'll be.

Thanks for coming in.

That's all right, sir.
It was a --

pleasure, Colonel?

To get it out of my gut,
yes, sir.

I don't know whether you
believe this, sir,

but I hope I'm wrong.

Colonel,
I hope you're wrong, too.

Good night, sir.

Good night, Jiggs.

Good night, Paul.

It isn't.

Okay, Bill. Thank you.

Well?

Condon says there's never
been any money cleared

for anything called
"ECOMCON"

or whatever it is.

So your conclusion is negative,
hmm?

My conclusion is that
my friend, Colonel Casey,

is one marine with a hell
of an imagination.

You know something, Paul,

I'm not about
to disregard his story.

Mr. President --

we've only got four days
left before Sunday.

We're going
to have to come up

with a list of men
I can trust.

I can't move very far
without the head

of the White House
secret service.

And Chris Todd.

He has the best mind
in the government,

and can keep
his mouth shut.

And get Ray Clark.

With all due respect
to Colonel Casey,

let me give you
my unequivocal reaction.

To believe
any fraction of it,

you have to believe
in this ECOMCON business.

Nobody's heard of it before.

Not you, Mr. President,
not Girard,

not even Bill Condon,
who should have heard of it.

What makes you think
it does exist?

We've only -- and again
my apologies, Colonel Casey --

your conjecture,
no supportable facts.

The Hardesty note --
that refers to it.

And to a site "Y".

That could easily
mean another place.

These military games.

Why, the multiplicity
of our secret bases

confuses ourselves
more than the Soviets.

Army intelligence was asked
to run a security check

on this Colonel Broderick
almost two years ago.

The man's views are more
than just extreme.

They border on
out-and-out fascism.

Again that's suspect,
but not evidence.

Exactly.

Colonel Casey...

What about this communications
setup at mount thunder?

Whoever controls it

controls the communications
across the country.

Gentlemen, if I went into
court as Scott's counsel,

I'd move
to quash the indictment,

and we'd be out of that
courtroom inside of 10 minutes.

I'm offering presumption
of evidence, Chris.

The Navy being left out
of the J.C.S. meetings,

the Hardesty note,

this business
of the jet transports.

But if they're flying troops
to the big cities in an alert,

that seems to be not only
logical, but prudent.

Obviously,
if the Russians struck,

we'd need to send in troops
in the metropolitan areas

to keep order and prevent
complete breakdown.

And if I may say so,

the conversion of a
wagering pool into a code

for some sinister plot
to seize the government,

seems to me suggestive
of lurid deductive powers,

to say the very least.

Look, Mr. secretary,

you saw Scott's performance
on television last night!

That was no apolitical
military officer!

That was
a dedicated politician!

We've always
known that, Senator,

but that's no
conclusive proof

of this military junta
you people are suggesting!

Gentlemen, gentlemen.

We've pretty much exhausted
the information

as well as ourselves.

I don't know if the evidence
is as damning as it seems.

I do know it's sufficiently
damning to proceed

as if there were more than
a few grains of truth in it.

So the following is
the plan of procedure --

Chris will stay here
to coordinate things.

Art's job is to keep tabs

on any of the joint chiefs
who have been mentioned.

You'll have to have
men you can trust

to handle any situation
that comes up.

Ray...I want you
to go to El Paso.

Take the phone number
from Colonel Casey

of his friend down there,
and find that base.

If it means
crawling underground

until you hit a tunnel,
but find that base.

I don't like sending you
down there, Ray.

But if there were anyone
else I could trust --

forget it, Jordy.

Outside of getting parity
for Georgia cotton,

I haven't accomplished a hell
of a lot for this country.

Maybe this is my chance.

Paul?

Yes, sir?

This is a note to Admiral
Barnswell in Gibraltar.

Get his reply
in writing, understand?

In a court of law, your word
wouldn't count for much

against that of
Barnswell's or Scott's.

Mr. President,
it's now Wednesday evening.

My feeling is that
next week at this time,

we'll all be
laughing about this.

I hope you're right.

Colonel Casey, you'll
have the thankless job

of informer.

Keep your eye
on General Scott.

Keep in touch with us
as to whom he talks to,

whom he hears from,
where he goes.

Find out everything
you can about him.

Yes, sir.

Ah, I think that does it,
gentlemen.

It strikes me
that you're taking

all the necessary steps,
save one --

Chris, I hope you're quite
correct in your assumption

that we're all
panicky idiots.

But if you're incorrect
in that judgment,

we're in for a week

of unadulterated
nightmare.

Good evening, sir.

Working late, Jiggs?

Well, just checking out
some final touches

so there won't be any foul-ups
on the alert, sir.

Some problems in Texas?

No, sir, no problems.

I hope
everything goes well.

I called you after I got back
from New York, about 4:00.

They said
you'd already gone.

As you can see, not so.

How was the big city,
General?

You know these conventions.

A rat race --
luncheons, dinners.

If I ate one more piece
of chicken, I'm afraid...

Did you hear the speech?

Yes, sir.

And?

Impressive.

Now there's
a carefully chosen word.

You wouldn't be holding
something back,

now would you, Jiggs?

Well, that commentator who
introduced you -- McPherson --

he struck me as being
a little overripe.

He is, but he provides

a platform
for stating my position.

I don't have to like him
or trust him.

I see.

Do you see?

This country's
in trouble, Jiggs.

Deep trouble.

Now, there are two ways
we can handle this.

We can sit here
on our duffs,

ask for divine guidance,
and hope for it.

Or we can...
Or we can what, Jiggs?

What would your advice be?

Well, sir...

We're a nation
of laws, rules.

We're military men,

so we've taken an oath
to uphold the constitution.

The Democratic way.

The Democratic way --
do your duty,

and, as you put it,
ask for divine guidance.

You're right, Jiggs.
You're absolutely right.

You've been
working too hard

on this damned alert.

You look tired.

Why don't you take
the rest of the week off?

Duck down to
White Sulphur Springs

and employ yourself
to a good time.

I couldn't do that, sir.

There are too many
details on the alert.

Murdock will handle it.

I should be with you
at mount thunder.

And you will be.

Check back on the job
Sunday morning,

and we'll pick it up
together.

You've got a three-day pass.
Enjoy it.

When do you think
I ought to leave, sir?

Right now.

Yes, sir.

Have a good time, Jiggs.

Thank you, sir.

Announcer: American Airlines
Astrojet flight number three,

nonstop to Los Angeles,
departing at gate six.

All aboard, please.

Paul Girard
get off all right?

Still skeptical, but he's
on his way to Gibraltar.

Me, I get to go to Texas.

Enough to make a man
want to quit politics.

This is mud Henderson's
home phone.

Flight 453
for Dallas and El Paso...

Well, that's me.

Good luck, Senator.

Oh, incidentally, Jiggs,

a Miss Eleanor Holbrook,
you know her?

Yes?

I'm told that she knows more
about General Scott

than his wife or the Air Force
knows about him.

Could be.

If fact, she may know
enough about him

to put some ammo
in our guns.

You catch my meaning?

I'm not sure I want to catch
your meaning, Senator.

Just because
General Scott booted you out

and told you
to take a vacation,

that don't mean you're going
to take a vacation.

I think you should see
this Miss Holbrook.

If she's got something
on Scott, we want it.

There are all sorts of ways

of protecting the President
of the United States.

Takes care of yourself,
Senator.

You, too, Colonel.

Isn't that McPherson,
the commentator?

Yeah.

That's General Scott's car.

Buddy, you've just
been impressed

into the secret service.

Harold McPherson
and General James Scott.

Good morning, General.
This is Jordan Lyman.

Good morning, Mr. President.

I see we're both
early birds today.

To come
right to the point,

I'm not going to participate
in the alert after all.

Frankly, I'm tired out.

I've decided to go up
to my place at Blue Lake

and fish
for two or three days.

You'll forgive me, sir,
but I don't like it.

As Commander in Chief, orders
can only be given by you.

I don't think the Russians
are going to be impressed

by an alert that takes
place while you go fishing.

Suppose you let me be
the judge of that.

I'm afraid
my decision is final.

Of course.
It's up to you, sir.

When do you expect
to go to Blue Lake?

Late Friday, probably.

I envy you.
Good luck with the fish.

Goodbye, General.

Goodbye, Mr. President.

Hold my calls.

Colonel Broderick, please.

What's that,
Mrs. Henderson?

Well, I'm an old friend
of his,

and I'm real anxious
to see him.

Clark, ma'am, Ray Clark.

Well, I-I-I know
it's restricted,

but I thought perhaps
if I could talk to him.

What's that, Mrs. Henderson?!
I didn't quite hear you?!

Would you say that again?

Well, is there any way
I could get a message to him?

I see.

Well, would you be good enough
to just tell him

that Ray Clark called?

Thank you very much,
Mrs. Henderson.

Fill her up?

No, thanks, honey.
I just checked my oil.

Hey...Do you mind?

Not at all.

Tell me, could you turn
that down some?

Oh, sure, honey.

Hey, Charlie,
turn it down!

Do you rent space
in that thing?

Oh, you.

Here.

Hey, you want to dance?

No, thank you, honey.

I just had
a hernia operation.

You are funny.

I was sort of hoping
you were in the army.

Why?

Charlie heard

there was a new base
being put up here.

That's why
he bought the place.

You see any soldiers?

How long
has the base been here?

Who knows?

You know Charlie.

He's always
decorating this place.

He has a talent for that.

And on Saturday night,

he puts out a huge sign
that says "big party,"

and he doubles
his drinks, too.

I don't water them none,
either.

You wonder what
the country's coming to.

All those boys,
sitting up in the desert,

never seeing no girls.

They might as well
be in stir.

How far is the base
from here?

About 50 miles or so.

You hear the planes coming
in and out all the time,

but you don't see
any pilots.

Not so much
as one single pilot.

I mean, what's the matter,

don't they drink
in the Air Force?

How would I get in there?

Oh, lots of luck.

You can't even
see the place.

There's just a road over
leading to the left,

and then, nothing.

I was telling Charlie,

we ought to drive up
there some time

with a couple of kegs
of beer for the boys,

and tell them
where it's from.

You know, leave cards
or something.

I told you,
I bought a place...

Well, I'm glad
we can offer you

some real Mediterranean
weather, Mr. Girard.

Thank you, Admiral.

Not that dirty stuff
they have in the Atlantic.

Care for a cigar?

Admiral, I understand you're
not much of a betting man.

Depends on the game.

Hmm, well,
what is your pleasure?

Poker, roulette, what?

No, those are
house games.

I don't much care
for the odds.

What about horse racing?

On occasion.

It depends on the race,
sometimes the weather,

and the horse
does make the difference.

Hmm, that's true.

What about the Preakness?

You got anything good
going there?

I only bet on sure things.

Admiral, you're
a very lucky sailor.

That's exactly what
I've got for you --

a sure thing.

What is the bet,
Mr. Girard?

That there are members
of the joint chiefs of staff

who are involved in treason.

We know who they are.

We know the essence
of the plan.

Now, from you, Admiral,
I want a signed statement

indicating at what moment you
first heard of this operation,

and your complicity
in this entire matter.

Frankly,
I wish I had more time.

I wish you did, too,
Admiral.

Unfortunately, you don't.

Jiggs.

I'm looking for a
girl named Eleanor.

Come in.

Thank you.

You're a long way from the
barracks.

Oh, I was
in the neighborhood.

A fact?

A lie.

I just thought
the country could spare me

for an evening.

I wondered how you were.

I'm fine, Jiggs.

Would you like a Martini?

That sounds great.

This is very nice.

Oh, yes, that's right.

You've never been here
before.

Not even close.
Thank you.

What is it, Jiggs?

You have something
in your mind?

Hasn't your mother ever
told you about marines?

Well, I know
all about this marine,

never a wasted moment
or a thrown-away day.

What do you want?

Well, you invited me.

Remember, a rain check

handed out
the night of the party?

Oh, yes,
good for one visit anytime.

Here I am.

What should we talk about?

Nuclear disarmament,
uh, high cost of living,

ladies' fashions.

Or should we fall back on the
familiar item of conversation,

gentleman Jim Scott.

Well, this must come
as a shock to you,

but I lock up the office
now and then.

You're a beautiful woman,
Ellie.

Don't tell me
after all this time,

you're making a pass, Jiggs?

The window's open,
you could always scream.

This is when I scream?

Do you want to scream?

Well, that's a rather
unfair question.

I'm a little vulnerable now.

Particularly
when it concerns

an old friend
I happen to like.

Do me a favor --

don't complicate
my life right now.

I just got over
a very bad breakup.

Would you like
another Martini?

Perhaps
we should talk about...

It's funny.

It doesn't feel
like an iron mask.

You're a fraud, Jiggs.

Hey, how about
dinner someplace?

You might even
talk me into

wheeling you
around the dance floor.

No, I'll fix something
for us here.

Did you know that
I'm a swinging cook?

Sounds like I've got
myself a good deal.

You might have, Jiggs.
A very good deal.

I'll make you two promises --

a very good steak,
medium rare,

and the truth,
which is very rare.

And it's in writing?

Thank God.

Now, when can you get back?

Transocean, Flight 42,
out of Madrid.

Good, I'll see you
for breakfast.

Someone I knew
a thousand years ago.

It's funny. I can't
even remember his name.

Scott.
James Mattoon Scott.

General of the
United States Air Force.

Doesn't ring a bell.

Why the hell does a girl
keep a photograph of a man

she doesn't even remember?

I-I can't imagine.

Well, that's an easy way
to get rid of a ghost.

It works wonders.

No symptoms remaining?

None that I'm aware of.

If I find
that I'm kidding myself,

I know where to go
for help.

There's an easy test.

Yes?

Bring it out in the open,
look at it,

talk about it,
see if it hurts.

I don't know what's
to be gained by hurting.

But if you think
it's right...

I think it's right.

I was in love with him.

I found...Excitement
in his strength.

I didn't mind about
the back-street angle...

Sneaking time together,
stolen moments from his wife.

Eleanor Holbrook, emancipated
woman.

Go on.

I don't know.
I don't know when it changed.

But I began to realize

that he -- he really never
felt anything.

Each move was calculated.

He's a very careful man,
your General.

I don't believe that he ever
took a chance in his life,

or ever really felt anything,
any real emotion.

He was so sure of me that
he could even write letters.

A careful man

doesn't incriminate himself
in writing.

That's where you're wrong.

If he's sure enough,
he can do anything --

anything to amuse himself.

I've kept them.

I told myself

that I'd use them
against him for revenge.

Well, at least, Jiggs,

he was right about me
in that respect.

I was pretty low,
but not that low.

Is that what you wanted?

Does that
prove anything to you?

I'm sorry, honey.

You said to bring it out
in the open, now it is.

We go from here,
all right?

Sure.

Well, I'll go
and repair the damages.

Get back to that steak.

Don't go away.

You know, it's
a funny thing, Jiggs.

I'm not surprised
at Scott.

But do you know
what does cut?

The fact that he sent you,
and the fact that you came.

I need these, Ellie.

The reason doesn't matter.

And trying to soften me up with
a little lovemaking.

That was dirty pool,
Jiggs.

You didn't come here
to salvage me!

You came here
to salvage his good name.

Look, Ellie, if I could tell
you why I had to do this...

I was a stupid,
impressionable female,

who let
an Air Force General

use her like
his personal airplane.

I don't rate any applause,
God knows, but you...

Scott didn't want to dirty his
hands

collecting those letters,

but Colonel Casey
is always ready

to clean up
the General's privy!

Jiggs:
The man on the right,

that's Murdock,
General Scott's aide.

On the left,
that's Colonel Broderick.

He commands the base
at site "Y."

I don't know
who the other man is.

So the rabbit
laid bait for the fox.

If I'd gone up
to Blue Lake,

they'd have tried
to kidnap me.

I've no doubt
of that at all.

I'll make the following
admission, Colonel Casey,

any lingering doubts
I may have had,

have been properly placed
in a waste basket.

Good man, Chris.

Your group did a great job
this morning, art.

Thank you, sir.

I can bring out
another point

that's made in that film.

Scott had to dispatch Broderick
from El Paso

on a job that any
investigator could have done.

This must mean,
in terms of numbers,

that he's no better off
than we are.

That's good, solid
evidence right there.

And gentlemen,

Paul Girard should be
here very shortly.

This document you
unearthed, Colonel Casey,

is dynamite.

Very revealing

of General Scott's
extracurricular love life.

Any taste of victory we
have in our mouth, Colonel,

is due in no small measure
to your efforts.

The taste I've got
in my mouth, Mr. secretary,

is unmentionable.

I can understand
that feeling, Colonel,

but when you deal
with a jackal,

like your General --

look, Mr. Todd, this is
a full Air Force General,

six times wounded,

and wearing only half
the medals he deserves.

Whatever else he is,
he's no jackal.

My God, the sensitivity
of our warriors.

Did I step on your
old school tie, Colonel?

You're just like a lot
of civilians, Mr. Todd.

After every armistice,

you want to put us away
in moth balls.

Hold up, Colonel!
That's enough, Colonel!

Please, please.

I'm sorry, sir.

Jiggs, you have every right

to resent what you
were forced to do.

It was a dirty,
thankless job.

The fact
that it was necessary

doesn't make it
more palatable for you.

I deeply appreciate
what you've done.

I find it difficult
to believe

I could ever bring myself
to use this against Scott.

Suppose it comes down
to bare knuckles?

Chris, I'm not prepared
to answer that just now.

Thank God, I don't have to.

For the first time,
for the very first time,

I'd say we were on top.

Mr. President...

Right on top.

Paul Girard is dead.

Oh, my God.

His plane crashed
in the mountains,

outside of Madrid.

Any effects?

The wreckage was strewn out
for a couple of Miles.

Nothing left of anybody.

Mr. President,

you've got to give out
some kind of statement.

May I draft one for you?

What?

About his being away.

Say he was abroad
on a vacation.

Don't -- don't say
any more than that.

I've had...

Two close friends
in my life,

I mean, really close.

One was Paul Girard...
The other is Ray Clark.

One of them helped me
to become President.

This one helped me
to remain President.

It cost Paul Girard
his life.

What about Ray Clark?

Where's he?

Where in God's name is he?

Now look here, Prentice,
don't you jolly me, boy.

I'm 24 hours stuck
in this oven.

You heard me right, boy.

When I get out of here,

you better be ready with
a long list of answers.

You heard me right, boy.
You heard me right.

Yes, Senator.

Oh, I agree, sir.

By all means, Senator.

Very well, sir.

Well, Senator, Senator
Prentice assures me

that your committee
was notified

of the existence
of this base.

But you were vacationing
someplace, off in Georgia.

Getting a change of scene
or something.

You better get yourself
a change of story,

because
that don't cut any ice.

I've been doing
no vacationing

since congress has been
in session.

There is no record
of any ECOMCON base,

or any designation
like it.

Senator, why don't you
have yourself a drink,

and finish your dinner?

I'll show you around
our base, little later on.

I'm proud of it,
mighty proud.

I'd like to take
that tour right now.

That won't
be possible, Senator.

That won't be possible,
but I'll see you later.

We'll look around
when it's cooler.

Jordy boy, right now, surely
they consider it a miracle.

You're going to be walking
in a parade

with both your legs cut off.

I'm not going
to make matters worse

by getting drunk on the job.

Are you from the
American consul, señor?

Yes, I'm from the embassy.

I'm Captain Ortega.

Henry Whitney.

We are
collecting the effects,

but there really
isn't very much.

As I told them
over the telephone,

there were only two
American nationals on board --

a Mrs. Agnes Buchanan

from Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania,

and a Mr. Paul Girard,

whose destination
was Washington.

There was no address
in the passengers manifest.

You find any effects
of the Americans?

Anything at all?

Nothing yet, señor.

Senator Clark?

Yeah.

I'm Colonel Henderson,

Colonel Broderick's
adjutant.

I didn't think Colonel Broderick
had an adjutant,

just a bartender.

I don't understand, sir.

It's just that you're so
hospitable around here.

I got a message yesterday
that you had called my home.

I didn't connect you
with the message

until I found out
you were here.

Incidentally,
I'm sorry about

your having to stay
in your room.

Frankly,
I don't understand it,

but the orders
were quite specific.

I'll just
have to live with it.

As to the call,
I was really phoning

for a mutual friend of ours,
Jiggs Casey.

"Mud," isn't it?

Yes, sir,
that's what they call me.

How do you know Jiggs?

Oh, Jiggs has been up
before our committee

a number of times,

and he's done some favors
for me on occasion.

Well, I hope
you'll be comfortable.

Could I get you a drink?

Those part of
your orders, Colonel?

I don't understand, sir.

To get me snuggered?

No, sir, I just...

These bottles been coming
every hour on the hour.

Doesn't that seem
a little odd to you?

Keep me cooped up in here
with a flow of bourbon!

Sir, I don't know
what you're talking about.

Just what do you know,
Colonel?

About what, sir?

Have you got
a few minutes?

Would you sit down there
and hear me out?

I want to preface this
with an assurance to you.

My mind is sound,

even though
I've been cooped up here

for a day and a night.

Mud, do you trust
Jiggs Casey?

You name it,
he can have it, sir.

If he were
to tell you something,

would you believe him?

I would, indeed.

All right, then,
check this one out.

When you told Jiggs
about ECOMCON last Monday,

he'd never
heard of it before.

That's funny.

There was a moment,
just one moment.

How did you know about
my seeing Jiggs on Monday?

He told me.

He told
some other people too.

He had never
heard of it before.

After you left,

Jiggs went over all the JCS
orders for the last year.

There was no record
of ECOMCON

or anything like it.

Oh, Senator,
that's impossible.

Colonel Broderick goes
to Washington all the time

to brief the brass.

Not all of the brass.

Not President Lyman, not me,
a very selective briefing.

All you got to know
is this --

right now the government
of the United States

is sitting on top of
the Washington monument,

ready to fall off and
break up on the pavement.

There are just a handful of
men who can prevent that,

and you're one of them.

Now you listen to me, mud.

I'm going to tell you
the damnedest story

you ever heard.

That's all for tonight,
sergeant, you're relieved.

I'm taking the civilian
in my custody.

You can go back to the barracks.

Senator Clark.

Post 10.

Give me Colonel Broderick's
office.

I'm sorry, Colonel,
but I have orders

that the civilian is not
to leave the base, sir.

Oh, that's all right,
sergeant,

I'm countermanding
those orders

and escorting the civilian
into town.

Well, sir,
now I don't know.

Colonel Broderick said
that if...

Throw those keys over here.

Eject that cartridge belt
and throw it down on the ground.

Halt! Step back!

You stay put right here.

I'm going to phone
the White House.

Tell you what, friend.

When this is over,

you can take off
your girdle,

and have yourself
a real good cry.

Say, you got a dime
to stop a revolution with?

Ma'am? Ma'am?

Did you see a real tall
soldier with a funny hat

waiting right here?

No.

Your men couldn't have been
mistaken, could they, art?

Not a chance, sir.

Gate guard
was too positive.

It was Henderson
all right,

brought into the Fort Myer
stockade 10:30 this morning.

Rode in the back of an
army sedan, under guard.

Now held incommunicado.

Okay, Arthur, thank you.

At least he's alive.

Admiral Barnswell, sir.

Admiral Barnswell,
this is the President.

Well, sir, he came aboard
a few days ago,

passed on
your personal greetings,

and that's about the size
of it, sir.

Frankly, no, Mr. President,
he gave me nothing to sign.

No, sir.

I'm sorry, sir.

I can only recount to you

the situation
as it occurred.

I signed no paper.
He took nothing with him.

Well, if anything

happens to revitalize
your memory, Admiral,

I'd appreciate
a phone call!

It's now 2:20
on a Saturday afternoon,

and at 2:20
tomorrow afternoon,

somebody will have thrown
a switch at mount thunder,

General James Scott

will be on all three
television networks,

explaining to the people
of the United States

why this
particular crucifixion

is an act of faith.

What would you call this,
gentlemen,

sponge-throwing time?

Mr. President,
what are you waiting for?

Fire Scott, Hardesty,
Diefenbach, Riley.

Sedition, pure and simple.

Close down mount thunder,

declare a state
of martial law.

Then where do I stand?

Lunatic, paranoic,
screaming, wild man

with nothing
to back him up.

His proof is scattered
over a Mountain in Spain,

disappeared
in a Washington airport,

or result of some
delirium treatments

of a dipso senator...

Great.

Will you allow me to strike
that last idiotic remark?

There's no need, Jordy.

It's just what
the congress would say.

But you do have
one last alternative.

And that is?

Use these letters that
Casey got from the girl!

When you get to the bottom
of the barrel,

where we are now,
you use expedience.

Get the network cut off.

Network cut off.

Good.
Now, one more time.

Position "a."

Site "G," Polk Field.

Take one.

Position "B."

You count down for us.
Site "Y."

Take two.

Position "C."

Site "X,"
mount thunder, "CP."

Take three.

Let's hear it.

Barney Rutkowski,
Air Defense.

He's screaming bloody murder

about those
12 troop carriers

dispatched to El Paso.

He says they're checked
for El Paso,

and then lost
on the radar screen.

Wants to know
where they went and why.

He also wants to know
why 30 more are at Bragg

with the same destination.

What did you tell him?

I told him it was
classified and forget it.

That ought to do it.

Jim, he's a hard-nosed
book-player

with a radar screen
in his bed.

If I know him, he's not
going to stop here,

he'll go right up
to the President.

Go ahead, Barney.

One of my controllers

was watching a flight of troop
carriers heading for El Paso.

They turned northwest and
dropped off our radar screens.

Now, we both tried to find out
about it through channels,

and all we get
is the big stall.

There's some kind of
a secret base out there,

Mr. President,

and I think I should
have been notified of it.

Keep going, General.

Thirty more
of these transports

were due at this
classified place at 07:00,

7:00 A.M. tomorrow.

Now I learn it's been
moved up to 23:00 tonight.

General, I want all
those aircraft grounded.

You're to give the order
that they're to stand down.

You may say that's been
authorized by the President,

can be verified
by phoning the White House.

You understand that?

I guess I do, sir.

I want you available.

Phone in, let this office
know where you are.

Yes, sir.

The next step should be
to your liking, Chris.

Esther,
call the Pentagon.

Tell General Scott I want
to see him right away.

Yes, sir.

I think it's time we faced the
enemy, Mr. President.

He's not the enemy.

Scott, the joint chiefs,
even the very emotional,

very illogical,
lunatic fringe,

they're not the enemy.

The enemy is an age,
the nuclear age.

It happens to have killed
man's faith

in his ability to influence
what happens to him.

And out of this
comes a sickness,

a sickness of frustration,
a feeling of impotence,

helplessness, weakness.

And from this --
this desperation --

we look for a champion
in red, white, and blue.

Every now and then,

a man on a white horse
rides by,

and we appoint him to be our
personal God for the duration.

For some men,
it was a Senator McCarthy.

For others,
it was a General Walker.

Now, it's a General Scott.

Yes?

Esther: General Scott
is here, sir.

Send him in, please.

Good evening, Mr. President.

Sit down, General.

Thank you.

I'm glad you've decided to call
off that fishing trip.

Don't bother about that.

We don't need it tonight.

We aren't going to have
an alert tomorrow.

I beg your pardon,
Mr. President.

You wish
the alert canceled?

I do.

I intend to cancel it.

May I ask why?

Certain facts have come
to my attention lately.

I won't waste time
by detailing them all now.

I'll simply say that I want
your resignation tonight

and those
of Generals Hardesty,

Riley, and Diefenbach,
as well.

You are either joking,
Mr. President,

or you have taken leave
of your senses.

I know of no reason why
I should remove my name

from the active list,
voluntarily,

or for that matter, any
of the other joint chiefs.

You could give me
the reasons, General!

But if you want me
to itemize them,

I should be glad to do so.

Please do.

You abused, without my
authority, substantial sums

from the joint chiefs'
contingency fund

to establish a base,

to train a special unit
of troops, whose purpose,

and even whose existence
was kept secret from me,

from responsible officials of
the bureau of the budget

and members of the congress.

And the name of that unit?

You know the unit!

Its designation is ECOMCON.

I'm afraid your memory
fails you, Mr. President.

You gave me
verbal authorization

for the base and the unit.

As I recall it, we covered
quite a few items that day.

Perhaps you didn't pay
much attention to this.

I assumed you'd informed
the director of the budget.

What was the date
of that meeting, General?

I can't recall, exactly.

But it was right here
in this office last fall.

You have a record
of the date and subject?

Certainly, Mr. President,
in my office.

If you care
to make a point of it,

I'll drive over
to the Pentagon right now

and get it.

That won't be necessary,
General.

No, it won't be necessary.

Colonel Murdock,
my aide, is outside.

He sat in on the meeting.

He will substantiate
my memorandum

as to the date
and the discussion.

I'll ask him in.

That won't be necessary
either.

You kept a member
of the United States senate

forcibly detained
at this base,

and he will so testify.

And that would be?

That would be
Senator Raymond Clark!

The senior senator
from Georgia.

I wasn't aware
that Senator Clark

had ever visited the base.

He will also testify as to the
collusion

between the Commander
of the base

and one Senator Frederick
Prentice of California,

who, with yourself and
only a handful of others,

knew of the existence
of the base.

Any other charges,
Mr. President?

Would you like them
in chronological order?

The selection of a commanding
officer for a secret base

who was openly contemptuous
of civilian authority

and who has made
some statements

that come close to violations
of the sedition laws.

I never discuss politics
with my officers,

but I do demand
the highest competence.

Colonel Broderick
is an excellent officer

with a fine combat record.

And an interesting travel
record, you might add.

What, for example,
was he doing the other day

on a boat cruising around
my island at Blue Lake?

And don't tell me that's
a figment of my imagination

because I've got him
on film.

And what about the
kidnapping and detention

of Colonel William Henderson
at Dulles airport?

I know about that case,
Mr. President.

Colonel Henderson
struck an enlisted man

and left his post.

He's now being held
for disciplinary action.

Incommunicado, you might add,

so that he doesn't tell
what he knows.

Then there are the wagering
activities of yours, General.

Particularly, a betting
pool on the Preakness.

Oh, come now, Mr. President.

Or, perhaps,
more aptly classified

your personal
and private code.

It covers your plan
for the military overthrow

of the United States
government.

I presume, Mr. President,

you're prepared
to back up that charge?

I am prepared to brand you
for what you are, General.

A strutting egoist with
a Napoleonic power complex

and an out-and-out traitor.

I know you think
I'm a weak sister, General,

but when it comes
to my oath of office,

defending
the constitution of...

Nobody has to teach me
how to salute a flag.

Somebody has to teach you
about the Democratic processes

that that flag represents!

Don't presume to take the job
because you're not qualified.

Your course of action
in the past year

has bordered
on criminal negligence.

This treaty
with the Russians

is a violation of any
concept of security.

You're not a weak sister,
Mr. President.

You're a criminally
weak sister.

And if you want to talk
about your oath of office,

I'm here to tell you, face
to face, President Lyman,

that you violated
that oath

when you stripped this
country of its muscles,

when you played upon the fear
and fatigue of the people,

and told them they could
remove that fear

by the stroke of a pen.

When this nation
rejected you

and began militantly
to oppose you,

you violated that oath

by not turning this country
over to someone

who could represent the
people of the United States.

And that would be
General James Mattoon Scott,

wouldn't it?

I don't know whether to laugh
at that kind of megalomania

or simply cry.

James Mattoon Scott,
as you put it,

hasn't the slightest interest
in his own glorification,

but he does have
an abiding concern

about the survival
of this country.

Then, by God,
run for office!

You have such a fervent,
passionate,

Evangelical affection
for your country.

Why, in the name of God,
don't you have any faith

in the system
of government

you're so hellbent
to protect?!

You say I've duped
the people, General,

I've bilked them,
I've misled them,

I've stripped them naked
and made them defenseless.

You accuse me
of having lost their faith,

deliberately and criminally
shut my ears

to the national voice?

I do.

Where the hell have you heard
that voice, General?

In freight elevators,
in dark alleys,

in secret places
in the dead of night?

How did that voice seep
into a room of conspirators?

That's not where you hear the
voice of the people, General,

not in this Republic.

You want to defend
the United States of America?

Then defend it with the tools
it supplies you with --

its constitution.

You ask for a mandate, General,
from a ballot box.

You don't steal it
after midnight

when the country
has its back turned.

Are you serious,
Mr. President?

Are you honest to God
serious?

Well, I could...

I could walk out of here tonight

and offer myself as candidate
for the office of presidency.

And by tomorrow morning,
I'd be sitting at that desk

with precisely the mandate
you hold so dear.

You know it, I know it,
and this country knows it.

So don't tell me I'd have seized
an office without support.

If you really had the guts
to call for a show of hands,

you'd be on an airplane
right now back to Ohio.

You can get your show
of hands, General.

Just wait a year and nine months

for something
called "election."

A year and nine months
from now

I don't think they'll be
an electorate,

let alone an election.

I think we'll be sitting
in our own rubble.

A minimum of 100 million dead.

And on the gravestone
we can carve,

"they died for Jordan Lyman's
concept of peace."

General...

General,
did it ever occur to you

that if you took over
this government by force,

you wouldn't have to wait
a year and nine months

for the funeral?

If the Soviet Union saw our
government being taken over

by a military dictatorship,

how long do you suppose
it would take them

to break the treaty?

Possibly even attack us?

I think perhaps a question
of days, perhaps hours...

Certainly weeks.

I want your resignation,
General.

I want it tonight. I'm expecting
it.

Along with the other members
of the joint chiefs

who are involved
in this retreat.

I'll tell you,
quite unequivocally,

I'll not tell the reason
for your resignation.

If that were ever
made public,

this country
would go down the drain.

Will you resign, General?

I will not resign.

I can demand
your resignation,

as you well know.

Demand and be damned,

I will not
resign voluntarily,

nor will any of the others,

but what I will do is take
this issue to the people.

We'll see which one the
United States will follow.

Anything else...
Mr. President?

General...I've called
a press conference for tomorrow.

I'll announce that I've asked
for all of your resignations.

I'll use as a reason...

Our differences over the treaty.

Without proof, you couldn't
possibly say otherwise.

You simply wouldn't dare.

I'm going to fight you.

I'm sorry, Jiggs.

Return them
to Miss Holbrook.

This will be delivered at 9:00
tonight on all major networks.

I'll be taping it in one hour.

This is strong stuff,
General.

Are you sure --

thank you, General.

You're sure he won't use
this press conference

to make any accusations?

He will use
this press conference

to support a position
that is totally indefensible.

General,
he accuses us of sedition

whether he has the proof
or not,

which could be
a pretty sticky business.

Jordan Lyman is finished...

No matter what he says
during his press conference,

no matter what he does after.

An educated guess would be
that within a week

there will be a move
for his impeachment.

That's it, gentlemen.

You're welcome to stay here
and watch on television.

I'll be at the studio.

Colonel Murdock will be in touch
with me if I'm needed.

Good day.

Stay tuned
for the Preakness...

Stay tuned
for a special broadcast...

The President next on
the ABC television network.

Announcer:
Ladies and gentlemen,

the President
of the United States.

All right, gentlemen,
let's begin.

Mr. President...

The Gallup Poll
of last week

indicated what appears to be
a very universal rejection

of your entire
political philosophy.

Namely, sir, the nuclear
treaty with the Soviets.

Would you care
to comment on that?

Insofar as the treaty
is concerned,

my reasons for asking
that it be ratified

have been stated and restated.

We have reached a point
on this earth...

Excuse me just a moment,
gentlemen.

Jordy, you better talk
to this fellow.

Mr. President,
this is Henry Whitney

from our embassy in Madrid.

He brought this.

Mr. President,

I'm the only one
who's read that paper.

Nobody knows I'm here.

Chris, delay the press
conference for half an hour.

You are never to disclose
or even hint

at the existence of
this paper, Mr. Whitney.

I emphasize
the word "never."

Ray,
have this photostatted.

Thank you, Mr. Whitney.

Colonel Casey, see that
Scott and the others

get copies right away.

Yes, sir.

That's a signed statement
from Admiral Barnswell.

You're a night crawler,
Colonel.

A peddler.
You sell information.

Are you sufficiently up
on your Bible

to know who Judas was?

I suggest you read
that letter, sir.

It's from the President.

I asked you a question!

Are you ordering me
to answer, sir?

I am!

Yes, I know who Judas was.

He was a man I worked for
and admired

until he disgraced the
four stars on his uniform.

Mr. President,
for the past 48 hours,

there's been
considerable scuttlebutt

concerning the joint
chiefs of staff.

There have been rumors

that there's to be some
kind of mass resignation.

Would you care to comment
on that, sir?

I'll answer that,

but I'd like to preface
with a few other comments.

In a democracy, once
the President and the Senate,

as responsible authorities,
make a decision

then debate an opposition
among the military,

who, as you know, have opposed
this treaty from the outset,

must come to an end.

This is the way in war.

So it also must be
in the councils of government

here in Washington.

I have had no choice

but to ask for the resignation
of General James Scott.

At the same time, I have asked
for

the resignations
of three other officers,

General Hardesty,
General Diefenbach --

the chiefs of staff
of the Air Force and Army --

and General Riley,
Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Yeah?

Yes, I've already heard.

He told me so.

Woman:...Solely because
of the difference...

General,
I'll be right out.

Difference of opinion

regarding our nuclear pact
with the Soviet Union.

That's correct.

Jim, all hell's
broken loose.

General, he's asked them
to resign --

Hardesty, Diefenbach,
Riley, and yourself.

Riley called here.
He tried to reach you.

Lyman got a hold of Farley
Barnswell's statement.

It implicated all of us.
Names, dates, the works.

Jim, what are we
going to do?

When do we tape? You got
my speech, didn't you?

Yes, but when this thing
came out a few minutes ago,

I had five network Vice
Presidents on the phone.

Do I get on the air
or don't I?

We've gone along
with you on this,

but for God's sake,
we're in jeopardy now.

The last thing on God's
earth we want is publicity!

Shut up, Prentice!

Harold?

General,
it's out of my hands now.

What are
you going to do, Jim?

I'm going to cut in on
those television networks.

But he's asked for all
of your resignations.

He won't get them.

He'll find that Diefenbach,
Riley, and Hardesty

are made of sterner stuff
than present company.

Man: ...With reference
to the Soviet treaty.

I can comment
on that to this extent --

Americans, traditionally
and historically,

have given vent to their views.

On the day that this government
does anything arbitrarily

to stifle those views,
it will have to change form.

It will cease to be
a democracy.

And I can state, quite frankly,
that this day will not come.

Gentlemen, the papers just
handed me are the resignations

of Generals Hardesty, Riley,
and Diefenbach.

I'll repeat that, gentlemen.

These three officers

have just officially
tendered their resignations.

Their statements will be made
public after this conference.

Before we have
any further questions,

may I insert these comments?

The point of this treaty,

and I've reiterated this on a
number of occasions,

is that in every true sense,
we force ourselves gradually

to step away
from an offensive posture.

We gradually move away from...

I'm sorry, sir.

Where to, sir?

...by accident or design,

someone would push
that button --

sir?

Take me home.

...and they must be
responded to

in the manner that...

Your General's just
been shot down, Jiggs.

Yeah.

I have had
to request the resignations...

Are those the bullets?

They might have been.

They weren't.

Ellie?

Yes?

Another rain check?

...the test of the action is,
is it right?

Tuck it somewhere safe
where you won't forget.

...to do it
because it is what you must.

There's been abroad
in this land in recent months

a whisper that we have somehow
lost our greatness,

that we do not have the
strength to win, without war,

the struggles for liberty
throughout the world.

This is slander.

Because our country is strong,

strong enough
to be a peacemaker.

It is proud, proud enough
to be patient.

The whisperers
and the detractors,

the violent men, are wrong.

We remain strong and proud,
peaceful and patient.

And we will see a day
when on this earth

all men will walk out
of the long tunnels of tyranny

into the bright sunshine
of freedom.

Announcer:
Ladies and gentlemen,

that was the President
of the United States.

Captions by Vitac --
Burbank, Pittsburgh, Washington

Captions paid for by
Warner Bros. Inc.