Commander in Chief/Pilot

Pilot
Season 1, Episode 1
Airdate	September 27, 2005
Written by	Rod Lurie
Directed by	Rod Lurie
← 1x01 Pilot	1x02 → First Choice
Commander in Chief — Season One

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Pilot is the first episode of the first season of Commander in Chief, and the first episode overall.

Guest Stars: Anthony Azizi (Vince Taylor), Kristen Shaw (Norah Woodruff), Julie Ann Emery (Agent Joan Greer), Dean Shelton (Sam), Kevin Peterson (Pilot), Jackie Ling (Reporter #1), Stephen Zaleski (Honor Guard Commander), Ato Essandoh (Manute Obama), Anthony R. Jones (Staffer One), Hans Josephson (Chief Justice), Donald Campen Junior (Sergeant at Arms), Al Brown (General Pollack), Ricardo Young (Reporter #4), Sherri McKinney (Reporter #3), Juan Conde (Reporter #2), Ted Porter (Limo Agent Elderson), Greg Cooper (Mark), Mary Page Keller (Grace Bridges), Talia Balsam (Ruth), Leslie Hope (Melanie Blackston)

Plot Overview

Vice president (Mackenzie Alle) is informed that the President, (Theodore Roosevelt "Teddy" Bridges), has suffered a stroke rendering him incapable of remaining in power. She is informed by the president's Chief of Staff Jim Gardner and Attorney General Melanie Blackston that it is against the President's wishes for her to be in office and that she should resign so that Speaker of the House Nathan Templeton may become President. She later confirms this with the President before he dies from complications.

While preparing to transfer power, she has a private meeting with Templeton where he suggests that her vice presidency was a 'stunt' and she lacks the drive for power needed to be a President. She decides not to resign and instead is sworn in as President. This is not received favorably, as both the Secretary of Labor and the President's secretary both resign before her first official cabinet meeting, as well as comments from her conservative daughter, Rebecca Calloway, that she is not going to follow the spirit of the former President.

Mackenzie asks Jim Gardner to stay on as Chief of Staff, surprising both him and her husband, who had been serving as the Vice Presidential Chief of Staff and assumed he would take the role. She also retains the rest of Bridge's cabinet. Her husband begins to adjust to the role of First Gentleman.

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• One of her first major acts is to use military leverage to free Oria Medula, a Nigerian scheduled for execution by stoning for having a child out of wedlock.

• Nathan Templeton attempts to sabotage her first speech to Congress by having the telepromter cut out mid speech.

Quotes

• Jim: Tell them that you cannot in good conscience follow the socio-economic ideals of this President.
  Mackenzie: And then what? I make a deal with Random House to write a book?

• President Bridges: I want you to hear this from me. I want you...I need you to resign.
  Mackenzie: Sir, would you really rather have Nathan Templeton...
  President Bridges: You and I Mac, we just see a different America. Templeton is an SOB, and a liar, and he cheats at poker, but he shares my vision, supports my will. Can you tell me in your heart that you'd do the same?

• Nora: Well, Mrs. Clinton had her office in the West Wing. That didn't go over very well.
• Nora: After the funeral we'll discuss what kind of staff you'll be needing. Do you think it'll be more than 20? Mrs. Clinton had 20. That didn't go over very well.
• Nora: Actually, the First Lady does have quite a bit of involvement in meal preparation. There was Mrs. Clinton, of course. She shunned that. Made the kitchen staff guess. That didn't go over very well.

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