The American President Page #8

is there was a moment last night...

when you were with me

and 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 gonna slow down...

and when you're comfortable,

that's when it's gonna happen.

Perhaps I didn't properly explain

the fundamentals of the slow-down plan.

No, you explained it great.

Are you nervous?

- No.

- 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, any...

expectations that you might have

given that I'm, you know--

- The most powerful man in the world?

- Exactly. Thank you.

I think it's important you remember

that's a political distinction...

that comes with the office.

If Eisenhower were here instead of me,

he'd be dead by now.

- Number three--

- Andy.

Does New Hampshire want

traditional American values...

back in the White House?

Does New Hampshire

want the pride back?

My name is Bob Rumson,

and I'm running for president.

Put him through.

Lewis, it is 5:
00 a.m.

You've gotta get yourself a life, man.

All right.

- Hi!

- What are you doin'?

I wanted to leave the building

before the press corps got here.

I have those same thoughts

every day of my life.

You know Lewis Rothschild,

don't you?

Sure. Lewis would go nuts

if he knew I spent the night.

- Well, he's on his way up.

- What?

Come on in, Lewis.

Morning, Mr. President.

Hi, Sydney.

Hi, Lewis.

Well, Mr. President...

thanks for taking the time

to go over those fossil fuel numbers.

I'll just get my coat,

be on my way.

- So what's the situation?

- Camped out at every exit.

- Who's camped out?

- The press.

- The press is camped out?

- You should have taken a cab.

- They know my car?

- Good morning, Mr. President, Sydney.

- I came as soon as Lewis called.

- Thank God.

The important thing

is not to look like we're panicking.

I think the important thing

is actually not to be panicking.

- Morning, Mr. President.

- Morning.

Morning, Ms. Wade. I see everyone's

getting an early start today.

How do we exit Sydney from the building

and what do we say to the press?

How do we exit Sydney from the building

and what do we say to the press?

- We need a diversion.

- A diversion?

I'm not suggesting that

we burn down the White House.

- Please, let's do.

- Let me state clearly.

- I can't be party to anything illegal.

- Good for you, Lewis.

It's always the guy in my job who ends

up doing 18 months in Danbury Prison.

Rest easy. We're not

gonna create a diversion.

- We're having somebody take you home.

- Esther's in my office.

- She has the station wagon.

- Good. Now, press statement.

Sydney, when you leave here...

you're gonna run into

reporters and photographers.

They're gonna

take your picture every day.

They're gonna

ask you questions every day.

Answer them. Don't answer them.

It's entirely up to you.

The White House

has no official position...

- except to say, "No comment."

- No comment?

The White House does not comment

on the president's personal life.

We can't just leave it at that.

- Lewis, we just did.

- But, sir--

Thank you very much.

Come, friends. Let us away.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Sydney, Esther will be in my office.

- Take your time.

- Thanks, A.J.

I'm sorry about this.

We'll do it better next time.

I'm no expert, but we did it

pretty good this time.

- No, I didn't mean that.

- I know.

I had a good time.

Me too. I'll call you.

I'll be in Panama,

but I'll call you.

I'd like that.

Bye.

All right. Okay.

This is good.

David, what about an incentive program?

Sydney Ellen Wade,

the political strategist...

who accompanied President Shepherd

to last week's state dinner...

reportedly spent the night at the

White House as the president's guest.

The president returned

from Panama this evening...

after a three-day tour

through Central America.

His first order of business:

an intimate dinner with Sydney Wade

at a romantic Georgetown bistro.

Conservative and religious

family organizations...

are starting to smell

blood in the water...

as the polling numbers

of the president are dropping.

Showbiz Weekly was in Hollywood

for the star-studded gala.

Also on tonight's program:

day 15 of the Sydney watch.

Is the world's most eligible bachelor

off the market?

Next caller, you're on the air.

What about Lucy Shepherd? ls anyone

concerned about this little girl?

Can we now, finally, have

a serious debate about family values?

Political polling analyst,

Ed Earl.

With the president's job approval

taking an eight-point dip...

from his personal best

of 63 percent three weeks ago...

should the White House be concerned

that the girlfriend factor...

has left Shepherd vulnerable

to the character questions...

he was able to avoid

three years ago?

If they're not concerned,

they oughta be.

Columnist Cynthia Skyler,

how will this new wrinkle...

affect his ability to put together

a win on his crime bill?

When we come back...

we're gonna meet a junior high school

classmate of Sydney Wade's...

who has some

intimate details to share.

who has some

intimate details to share.

I agree with you

110 percent, Mrs. Harper.

That's why I'm up here in the winter

talkin' about it with you folks.

That's very generous of you, ma'am.

I'll be taking that money

off your hands right now.

What do you got?

Call me Santa Claus, Senator.

She's got an FBI file.

Oh, sh*t, Stu!

My mother's got an FBI file.

Yeah, but I got art.

It's a demonstration outside

the Department of Commerce.

The picture's old and some faces

are obscured by the fire...

but that's a burning flag...

and that's Sydney Ellen Wade

right there in front.

It's beginning to look

a lot like Christmas

Harry--

Think like a father for a second.

Wouldn't you like your kids to be able

to take a deep breath when they're 30?

Thank you!

You're doing the right thing.

- Tote board's heavy.

- How's this?

Terrill, North Carolina.

Syd, I saw on your schedule you're gonna

meet with McSorley, McCluskey and Shane?

Yeah. The Motown Three said

they'd give me 30 minutes next week.

These are people who represent

people who make cars for a living.

- Yeah.

- Cars, you understand, run on gasoline.

I know it's a long shot...

but if I can get one of them,

it's a huge payoff in visibility.

If we're gonna try, we should prep.

You wanna order in?

I can't. I'm having dinner

at the White House.

So let's start early

tomorrow morning. Say, 7:30?

I'm having lunch

at the Kremlin...

so we'll have to start

even earlier than that.

- Good night, David.

- In order to catch the plane to Moscow.

Good night, David.

Douglas, does the N.R.A. have videotapes

of you playing golf with Satan?

We've already softened

the assault weapons.

We're leaving the S.K.S., the Mini 14

and 250 other types on the street.

How much pull

can one lobby have?

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