State of the Union Page #4

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I brought Grant to you?

Because I know you're

the best politician

in the country.

Kay, a stubborn rank amateur.

Wilke was a stubborn

rank amateur.

Get that political brain

of yours working.

This is the year

of the dark horse.

The best we could go

into that convention

with would be a small

handful of delegates.

Communists have taken over

whole countries

with a small

handful of delegates.

This guy worries me.

The way he shoots

his mouth off.

He'll make enemies.

I'm sending Spike along

for just that.

Spike? I need Spike

like I need a hole

in the head.

Jim, The Thorndyke Press

needs a new vice president,

a sort of silent

partner to advise

on political matters.

Good salary, expense account

that might include

a four-year lease

on this house.

Win or lose?

Win or lose.

Well, the dark horse is

getting whiter.

Kay, just so I don't stumble

over things in the dark,

what's your stake in all this?

I want nothing.

No. People who

want nothing worry me.

The price isn't right.

You know, I know about

your father and the

Republican Party.

You also know that

they've given me

the beautiful brush-off

ever since.

On occasions

they've even seen fit

to describe the support

of my newspapers

as the "kiss of death".

I thought if I could

present the country

and the Republican Party

with the next President

of the United States,

it would give me

more than a little pleasure

to see certain heads roll.

If they're the same heads

I'm thinking about...

They are.

Let's put this thing over,

Jim.

He's the ideal man.

He's the rare combination

of sincerity

and drive that the common herd

will go for.

They think he's one of them.

He thinks he's one of them.

But is he the kind of man

we can handle?

Will he play ball?

He's in love with me, Jim.

You can lead a dark horse to

water with that love stuff,

but can you make him drink?

A moment ago,

you very shrewdly observed

that Grant saw ideals

out of one eye

and ambition

out of the other.

You were dead right.

But wait till that

presidential bug

really bites him.

Wait till he sees

the White House

out of both eyes.

Then he'll drink.

And so will I.

The White House.

My, my, hallowed ground.

Just think.

All of the presidents

since Adams have occupied

that noble edifice.

Needs painting.

I beg your pardon?

I say, it needs painting.

Needs painting?

Sir, you're the kind

who'd whitewash the dawn.

What colors would you add

to a desert sunset

or to the cool green

of the sea,

or the blue of the sky?

Does the goddess of

liberty need make-up?

Do you know who lives

in this historic mansion?

Yeah.

The spirit of all those

who fought for human dignity

lives there.

Moses, Buddha, Confucius,

Christ, Paul, Saint Francis,

Thomas Aquinas, Roger Bacon,

Joan of Arc,

Martin Luther, Plato, Homer,

Dante, Shakespeare,

Michelangelo,

Pasteur, Newton, Galileo,

Edison, Franklin, Lincoln,

Washington, Jefferson,

Crispus Attucks,

Lafayette, Garibaldi,

Bolivar, Kosciusko.

The martyrs, the saints,

and the poets.

Civilizations past

and present.

Man's whole history.

His evolution from worm

to animal to Einstein,

his long search for God,

all those things live

in that noble dwelling,

but I still say

it needs painting.

Sir, may I buy you

a glass of beer?

With pleasure.

Could you bring my bags in

for me? Thank you.

Check with Leith

before you print that one.

The rest of...

Jess, no more good stuff

from now on,

just the cheap stuff.

If that's

a long-distance call,

you'll pay for it yourself.

Mr. Conover, Mr. Conover,

Mrs. Matthews is here.

Mrs. Matthews? Already?

Jim, don't faint now,

but what if she

won't make this trip?

She's got to make it.

Jess, the good stuff for

Mrs. Matthews

and put a bottle

of champagne on ice.

Yes, sir.

Where'll I put her?

Put her in

Mr. Matthews' bedroom.

Take care of her bag.

Remember that phone call's

on your own.

I'll mail everything in

from now on. Right.

I hope it doesn't

inconvenience you,

my flying down tonight.

I'm delighted,

I'm only sorry you didn't

get here earlier.

Spike, this is Mrs. Matthews.

Mr. MacManus.

Oh, the writer?

How do you do, Mr. MacManus?

And you're very beautiful.

How are you, Mrs. Matthews?

I'll take this.

Where's my husband got to?

A politician's

smoke-filled room's

got too much for him.

Oh, you're that Mr. Conover.

I'm afraid I am.

Grant went for a walk.

He didn't expect you

until tomorrow.

I sent him a wire.

The fact is, Mr. Conover,

I was so excited

about this trip,

I couldn't bear to wait.

Oh, is this my room?

No, this is Grant's room.

I'm getting you another.

Leave the bags here a minute.

You're moving Senator Fosdick.

Again?

Put him in the

south bedroom

with Mr. Godfrey.

But the Commissioner's

in there with Mr. Godfrey.

Commissioner?

He can have the pool table.

That's nonsense.

Don't move Senator Fosdick.

Grant and I can stay here.

Here?

It's all right.

We're really married.

Unless the rest of the Senate

is in here with Grant.

No, no, he's in

sole possession.

Good, I'll stay here.

After all, Senator Fosdick

was an isolationist.

I think he should be isolated.

Shall I unpack for you, ma'am?

Don't bother.

I'll do it later.

This is very pleasant.

Now I can boast that

I've really been

behind the scenes

in Washington.

You certainly can.

The Republican Party has

been behind the scenes

for 15 years.

But that's over now.

We've won Congress

and there'll be a change

in the White House

after the next election.

Has Mr. Truman

heard about this?

I'm gonna like you.

I'm a good Republican.

The voters do control the

lease on the White House,

don't they?

Not just the Republican Party.

Your husband's

been lecturing me

along the same lines.

Then I'd better

change the subject.

Grant can be very outspoken.

But not by anybody I know.

May I fix you a drink?

I'm a very inexpensive guest.

I don't drink.

You'll make history

in this house.

Has she moved in there?

She's established a beachhead.

Tell Jim it's all right

to convince the world

there's nothing between me

and Mr. Matthews,

but not to bother convincing

Mrs. Matthews.

I thought that was the idea.

Don't be naive, Spike.

I want her against me.

I want her fighting for him.

That way she'll do

everything possible

to get him elected.

Women.

Goodbye, Mr. MacManus.

Goodbye.

Bye.

Oh, thank you.

Mrs. Matthews,

I have a great admiration

for your husband.

Look at that.

What did you say?

I say, I have

a great admiration

for your husband.

I'm many years

ahead of you on that,

Mr. Conover.

The whole country

will feel as we do after

hearing the speeches

he's going to make

on this trip.

Speeches?

Is he gonna make speeches?

Yes, in several places.

Oh, dear,

I should've packed

my earmuffs.

I didn't mean that

the way it sounded.

Grant makes

a very good speech,

but public appearances

for me...

Would it be considered

bad form,

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