[Reagan] He said to his wife, "What do you mean change the baby?
I'm a ball player. That's not my line of work."
And she turned around with her hands on her hips and she communicated.
- [crowd laughs] - She said, "Look, Buster,
you lay the diaper out like a diamond.
You put second base on home plate.
Put the baby's bottom on the pitcher's mound.
Hook up first and third, slide home underneath.
And if it starts to rain, the game ain't called.
You start all over again."
[crowd laughing, applauding]
So I'm going to communicate.
Now, I know that we can't make things right overnight,
but we will make them right.
Our destiny is not our fate.
It is our choice.
You and your forbears help build this nation.
- [camera shutter clicking] - Now, help us rebuild it.
Thank you very much.
[camera shutter clicking]
Thank you, Mr. President.
Good job, Mr. President.
Rawhide's on the move.
[officer on radio] All clear.
Went great, sir.
Boy, a trip down memory lane.
Haven't seen him in decades, Roy, with AFL-CIO.
Oh, he said the two of you fought with a guy in Hollywood, named Sorrell.
Sorrell. Herb Sorrell.
Yes, he was working for the Soviets,
trying to infiltrate Hollywood through the unions.
Roy and I used to call him "sore-as-hell" after that.
- What's next on the agenda? - [Brady chuckles]
[indistinct radio chatter]
- [camera shutter clicking] - [crowd shouting]
[officer on radio] Rawhide coming through the south exit.
Prepare the chopper...
[crowd shouting]
[Reagan] My mother used to say,
"Everything in life happens for a reason,
even the most disheartening setbacks.
And in the end, everything,
even seemingly random twists of fate
is all a part of the divine plan."
[gunshot]
[two gunshots]
[gunshot lands]
[crowd shouting, screaming]
[tense music playing]
- [bleep] - [indistinct shouting]
[officer] Get him out! Get him out!
Details are very sketchy at this moment.
We don't know precisely what happened. We don't know the sequence.
First of all, the president is safe.
That is just as--
- Pardon me please. - [staff] Bob Berkowitz.
Hello, Bob?
I'll wait for somebody in the back room to come up here and tell us.
We had been reporting to you that the president was not injured.
The White House has confirmed now just in the last few minutes
that President Reagan has indeed been shot.
- He isn't communicating. - [camera shutter clicking]
- [female reporter] Larry, can we ask you a question? - [male reporter] Larry,
is there any evidence the assassin was working for the Soviets?
- [female reporter] Larry... - I can't say. That's it.
We have gotten confirm...
[tense music playing]
[reporter] Communists have seized power by force in Russia.
[revolutionary] Anyone standing in the way of revolution will be removed.
[Churchill] An Iron Curtain has descended across the continent.
[Dick] The seeds of totalitarian regimes are nurtured by misery and war.
They spread and go on the evil side of poverty and strife.
They reach their full growth when the hope of a better life has died.
We must keep that hope alive!
[reporter 1] The world witnessed a new level of destruction
in the first atomic bomb.
This show of atomic force
is only a warning of things to come.
[reporter 2] Soviet Union has by violence and intimidation
bordered the rights of Poland, Ukraine, and Czechoslovakia
holding millions in a prison unable to escape.
[reporter 3] The world is focused today on Berlin
where East and West face off.
The Soviet regime looks to close its border
in East Germany against those fleeing
the totalitarian crackdown.
[reporter 2] Castro's takeover of Cuba
secures the Soviets a base
for nuclear aggression aimed at the United States.
[Kennedy] Now, it is time for this nation to take
a clearly leading role in space achievement,
which in many ways may hold the key to our future on Earth.
[whooshing]
[car horns honking]
[phone ringing]
[receiver thuds]
[Russian official] Do you still worry they are listening?
[Viktor] They stopped listening to me a long time ago.
[Russian officia] Not me. I'm sending him to see you.
[Viktor] This is no longer a fight for old men.
[Russian official] Perhaps not, but he's our youngest cabinet member
being groomed to be the next president.
He has little experience,
but some of us believe he can be the next leader.
However, he will need to learn from our mistakes.
[Viktor] You mean my mistakes?
[Russian official] Ah, try to look at this as an opportunity
to make things right.
[Viktor] Does anyone else know he's coming to see me?
[Russian official] Let's hope not.
[knock on door]
[footsteps approaching]
- [doorknob clicks] - [door creaks]
- Hello. - Hello.
I'm here to see Viktor Petrovich.
Please come in.
Thank you.
[dog barking in distance]
Thank you for seeing me, Comrade.
"Comrade"?
We don't use that term much any longer.
Offered in respect.
For you, and a time that deserves equal respect.
1981.
Oh.
Special.
[mutters]
So...
what brings the rising star of Mother Russia
to visit with a-- an old spy?
[chuckles]
To ask just one question of you.
Why?
- "Why"? - If I'm about to regain
our rightful place in this world, I must know
why we failed 30 years ago.
Why we gave up without even a fight?
Why did we allow ourselves to become a mere shadow of our once great nation?
Wiser men than I...
have already answered that.
Not to my satisfaction.
What makes you think I am more capable?
Because of who you are, Comrade.
[tense music sting]
What you did.
And you were there.
Yes, I was there.
I was there.
[tense music playing]
[Viktor] My official title was Analyst
at the Committee for State Security,
our beloved KGB.
But I was a psychologist
profiling those who could become threats to our nation,
sometimes decades away.
[Brezhnev coughing]
- Mm, ah. - [thuds]
[Viktor] Some say I was responsible
- for the fall of the Soviet Union. - [door closes]
Let's rest this little stagnation.
Yes? What is it, Comrade?
[Viktor] The actor.
[paper rustling]
He will win.
I've been warning about this man for many years.
Prepare a file.
Uh... Comrade Secretary,
I have prepared dozens of these documents.
Yes, and I appreciate that,
Comrade Petrovich.
But go prepare another.
Of course.
[door opens, closes]
[Viktor] Yes, I was there.
When I began as analyst, we had one goal:
spreading communism to every corner of the globe.
[speaking Russian]
[Viktor] Some countries we invaded with military force,
but we had special plans for the USA.
We sought to break them down from within,
strategically infiltrating their society
even their movie industry.
[whirring]
My assignment was to track and influence their key players
and to merge their labor unions into one
which we could control.
But it's the wrong question you ask.
History is never about when, where why, how.
It always comes down to who.
- You ready? - Yes, sir, I'm ready.
All right. Ronald Reagan,
come give us that Hollywood smile.
[Viktor] And I just so happened to have been assigned
to "The Crusader."
That is what we mockingly called him.
It became my obsession
to understand what was beneath the facade.
And I learned to never leave a detail behind as unimportant,
because...
it is all important.
[Jane] After we get married, how many sons are we gonna have?
Well, how many do you want?
Well, it would be nice to have a full team.
[chuckles] What's your favorite sport?
That's the trouble.
Football.
Cut! And print it!
Nice work, Ron and Jane. Moving on to the next shot.
Well, that felt pretty natural.
Really? What part?
[director] Let's move into those baby blues.
- [puffs smoke] - [lighter clicks]
["Swinging On A Star" playing]
♪ Mmm, would you like to swing on a star? ♪
♪ Carry moonbeams home in a jar? ♪
♪ And be better off than you are? ♪
♪ Or would you rather be a mule? ♪
[Eddie] But we're more than actors.
- We're symbols, leaders. - Yes.
We should be speaking to the important issues of the day.
Oh, Eddie. Give it a rest, will you?
Leave that to the writers.
[Dalton] You're still new here, Reagan.
Trust me, the studios control every word I write.
And God help me, if I don't write,
or you don't read what they tell us to.
Uh, they're paying the bills, Dalton.
- They should have some say. - Yes.
I mean, we're doing pretty well, aren't we?
- I think so. - You don't get it, Holden.
All we are is a mouthpiece to a system,
to a society, a society that ignores the working man.
Trust me, it won't last.
Well, what do you mean by that, Dalton?
Exactly what it says.
Honey, come on. Let's go dance.
Just a second, honey. No, no, really,
explain it to me. I'd like to know.
Well, let's just say this whole American Dream thing
doesn't exactly apply to everyone equally.
And some of us aren't sitting still for it.
We're doing something about it.
Doing what?
Dalton, maybe we should talk about this some other time.
At some point, you're gonna need to pick a side.
[sharp exhale] Well, not tonight. [chuckles]
Tonight, the only thing I'm gonna pick is my dance partner
and I'm dancing with my beautiful wife.
If you'll excuse me, fellas, and lady.
- [Dalton scoffs] - We'll be back.
[Viktor] He did not initially appear to be a great concern for us.
He was too busy enjoying his honeymoon.
Not to mention, the Hollywood glitz and glamour.
[camera shutter clicking]
[Viktor] To understand what made this man unique,
I needed to understand the boy.
- [car approaching] - [horse whinnying]
[Viktor] He grew up in a small town in the middle of America.
[horse whinnying]
[Viktor] His father had a nickname for him.
They called him "Dutch."
He had experience speaking to crowds at an early age,
as his mother, Nelle,
pushed him to read poetry and Bible verses at their church.
"If my people which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves and pray,
seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin,
and heal their land."
[Dutch] Are we God's people?
Well, anybody can be God's people
so long as they choose Him.
How did you memorize those verses so fast?
I don't know. I just read it and remembered.
It's a gift, Dutch. You have to look for those talents
because God has a purpose for your life.
Something only you can do.
[horse whinnying in distance]
[chuckles]
[Jack] "Unfortunately, Miss Brenda, your dear husband, Shamus,
drowned to death in the vat at the Guinness brewery."
"Oh, me poor Shamus, please tell me he went quick."
"No," said the old priest.
"The old bugger got up three times to pee!"
[laughter]
[Viktor] His father, Jack, was a charismatic storyteller
and Dutch idolized him for that.
[patrons shouting]
[Viktor] But he saw that talent drown
in the bottom of a bottle.
- [Dutch] Jack. - [Jack groans]
- Jack, come on. - [grunts]
- [bottles clink] - Come on, Jack.
[Dutch grunting]
[Nelle] Did you get fired again?
[Jack] They didn't fire me. I quit.
- You quit? - I got big things cooking, Nelle!
[Nelle] Spare me, Jack!
We are already late on rent.
Do not force our children to move yet again.
- [Jack] Blah-blah-blah-blah! - [thudding]
[footsteps tapping]
Why does Jack drink so much whiskey?
It makes him forget.
Forget what?
[sighs] All he wanted to be.
All he knows he never will be.
Does God have a plan for his life?
Oh, Dutch, of course He does.
Unfortunately, Jack has other plans for now.
Hey.
Open this.
It's from me and Reverend Cleaver.
[Viktor] They call it...
dime-store novel
about a boy with a drunk for a father.
The boy finds God
and he is elected to the American Congress.
[birds chirping]
Well, you have to be 12,
and you go through membership and confirmation class--
I know that, sir,
but it has to be now.
I read the book
and I wanna be like that man.
Ronald Wilson Reagan, I baptize you
in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dutch reads this book.
This book was a roadmap for him
of the world where good triumphs over evil.
This book. Here, look.
Russian copy.
[Viktor] But to find what I was really looking for,
I had to go back to Reagan, the lifeguard.
Help!
- Help! - [woman] Somebody save her!
- Although he would later claim... - Help!
- ...to have saved 77 lives... - Help me!
- ...over those summers... - Help!
- There was a question as to whether... - Help!
Hold on, hold on. I got you. I got you.
...those were all legitimate.
- You okay? - Yeah.
Yeah.
Almost there.
- [man coughing] - There you go.
[Viktor] He also learned that performing his duty
- would not always result in praise. - [man panting]
What the hell are you doing? I was fine.
You trying to make me look like a fool?
I'm sorry.
- [indistinct command] - [overlapping chatter]
Thirty-six, thirty-two.
Set! Hut!
[grunting]
- Yeah! - [whistle blows]
[coach] Good practice, gentlemen. Bring it all in.
[indistinct chatter]
- [Viktor] At his university... - Fellas, I got tough news.
...he was bringing people together and solving problems.
- [Reagan] Hey, Coach! - [player] Next week, right?
Coach.
How come Sal and Palmer aren't traveling with us?
- They're colored. - I can see that. Thanks, Coach.
- Hotel wouldn't take 'em. - [knock on door]
[Jack] Come on in, boys. Welcome to Hotel Reagan.
[chuckles] There's a room upstairs for you, boys.
I hope you don't mind sharing with Dutch.
- His brother says he snores. - [laughter]
- [door closes] - That there is the Reagan training table.
[Sal] Thank you, sir.
Come on in. [chuckles]
I knew you'd come through, Jack.
- [percussion chimes] - [stick thuds]
It's 8:00 p.m., I'm Dutch Reagan. Here now the news.
The new German Chancellor, Adolf Hitler,
declares that his intentions in rebuilding Germany
are peaceful and will comply with all international agreements.
- [Viktor] And it was radio... - Yeah, sure they are.
...through which he began to show his skills.
But I finally traced his disdain for communism.
It's hell on Earth.
People are frightened, hungry, divided.
[Viktor] ...back to when a dissident of our country visited his church.
State runs and controls everything to the smallest detail.
Your speech, your actions, even your thoughts.
You know what they took away from us first thing?
God.
Church like this.
You will not find it in the Soviet Union.
They closed down most of them.
And the clergy, many are dead or disappeared.
Americans should know more about the communists
because it's coming here.
Freedom is only one generation away from extinction.
[applause]
[Viktor] And just like that,
the seed was planted.
- [alarm bell rings] - [bugle call blares]
[Reagan] And remember,
loose lips sink ships.
This is Ronald Reagan.
So until next time,
so long,
- and God bless America. - [director] Cut.
- That's a wrap on Reagan today. - Excuse me?
Oh, Mr. Warner. That's a wrap, everyone.
[bell rings]
Am I in trouble, boss?
Let's have a walk. Congratulations.
Vice president of Screen Actors Guild, huh? I'm impressed.
You know you stepped into a hornet's nest, don't you?
- [indistinct chatter] - How's that?
There's about to be another war right here in Hollywood,
with the commies on one side, the mob on the other.
And you're caught right in the middle, son.
Okay, Jack. Hey.
Let's get one thing straight, okay?
I'm not gonna do any union busting for you
just because I'm on your payroll.
It's a conflict of interest for me.
It's not about busting up the unions.
But it's this new group, this, uh...
Yeah, the Conference for the Studio of Unions.
Herb Sorrell, he's a commie.
- Yeah. - They're not just talking strike.
They're talking about taking over all the unions.
Well, if it's a turf war, just let them work it out. That's all.
They're not gonna work it out, they're gonna fight it out,
and that's where you come in.
The actors are the biggest union.
If they go to Sorrell, I'm telling you right now,
the commies win.
- That ain't happening here. - Well, look,
I don't feel comfortable getting into the middle of something.
Do you think you're gonna be a leading man forever?
You need to face the facts, son.
This war took the best years of your life.
You got, what, five years of smiling for the camera
until they put you out to pasture?
- Well, thanks for the pep talk, Jack. - Or...
do you make a difference?
A real difference.
[soft music plays]
The movies are a platform.
That we, as actors, are proud and privileged to be a part of.
We are the face and the lifeblood of American movies.
And so we must be vigilant
and make ourselves aware of others
that may seek to use our platform
to use us for their own purposes.
[applause]
♪ Of all the boys I've known, and I've known some ♪
♪ Until I first met you, I was lonesome ♪
♪ And when you came in sight, dear, my heart grew light ♪
♪ And this old world seemed new to me ♪
♪ You're really swell, I have to admit you ♪
♪ Deserve expressions that really fit you ♪
- * And so I've racked my brain... ♪ - [lighter clinks]
Was it something I said?
I'm just curious. [long sigh]
Are you an actor or a politician?
Jane, not here. Not now. Please.
If you put as much work into your career
as you do making your speeches,
you'd have an Oscar by now.
- Jane... - [women laughing]
This is SAG. This is our union.
And being Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild
is like a gift from God. I really feel
like I can do something that matters here.
Is there anything worse than an actor with a cause?
[long sigh] Kill your career if you must, Ronnie,
but spare me your damn speeches.
You are an actor.
- That is your job. - Jane, just don't.
- Not politics! - Please don't.
[glass thuds]
["Stormy Weather" playing]
[indistinct background chatter]
- [insects trilling] - [siren wailing in distance]
- [Reagan] No. - What do you mean "no"?
Higher wages, better working conditions.
That's what we all want. That's what we're all going for.
And you wanna shut it all down?
What is it that you really want?
One union, and united.
Look, you don't wanna go to war with us, Reagan.
- [bangs table] - [suspenseful music plays]
[Viktor] But what nobody knew
was that Reagan was an FBI informant.
His codename T-10,
and he was exposing our growing influence in Hollywood.
[judge] Mr. Warner, can you provide the name
of the leader of the organization
attempting to infiltrate your studio?
- [shutter clicking] - [whirring]
His name is Sorrell.
Herb Sorrell.
We're not joining you, Herb.
[crowd jeering, shouting]
- [gasps] - [gun clacks]
Put it down. It's okay.
[man] Settle down. Settle down.
You don't get it, do you?
We own this town.
You don't own me.
You don't own them.
You wanna take a vote right now? Go ahead.
Let's put it to a vote! See what happens.
- See what happens. - [crowd agreeing]
[tense music playing]
- [crowd shouting] - [siren wailing]
- [shouting] - [men grunting]
- [dog barking] - [whistle blowing]
[dog barking]
[judge] Mr. Hayden, in your opinion,
why weren't the communist's efforts successful?
[Hayden] There was just one problem.
They ran into the Board of Directors of the Screen Actors Guild,
in particular, Ronald Reagan...
who was a one-man battalion against this thing.
Let's go to work.
- [cheering] - Yeah!
[Reagan] As a citizen, I would not like to see
any political party outlawed
on the basis of its ideology.
Democracy is strong enough to stand up for itself
against the inroads of any ideology,
no matter how much we may disagree with it.
Because I still believe, Mr. Chairman,
that democracy can handle it.
[Viktor] He had shut us down. He was clever in his message
that it was okay to be communist,
but not while being paid by us.
[soft music playing]
[camera whirring]
And cut! That's lunch, everybody.
- [crew] Okay. Nice work. - [Jane] You were great too.
- [actor] Can I buy you lunch? - [Jane] Sure. I have time.
- Let's grab a bite. - Honey...
[Viktor] While his wife's career was skyrocketing...
- [Jane] ...commissary or my dress... - [kid] Mama!
[Viktor] ...he was reduced to the sidelines
and their marriage...
- deteriorated. - [kid babbling] Mama...
[Viktor] And to break more his damaged heart,
their third child, Christine,
died the very day she was born.
[mournful music playing]
[Nelle] How's my son?
I lost a child...
marriage, a career.
How do you think your boy is?
You know, Nelle,
I think I kinda missed the boat on that whole purpose thing.
Maybe I'm just Jack all over again.
No, Dutch.
You're not your father.
Just remember
to listen to that small, soft voice,
the one that you can't hear
unless you're alone
and quiet,
and he has your full attention.
Remember whose you are
and whom you serve.
Yes, Sandy?
Can you give an actress five minutes?
Uh... [exhales]
- Of course. - Miss Davis?
Hello. [clears throat] I'm Nancy Davis.
Hello, Nancy Davis. I'm Ron Reagan.
- Yes, I know. - [both chuckle]
- How about a cup of coffee? - Oh, sure.
- Have a seat. - Ah.
I'm afraid I've been a pest to your secretary.
- Oh. - But I persist when it's important.
- Cream, sugar? - Oh, well,
- sure, uh, black. - Oh!
- [coffee pours] - [glass clinks]
Well... how can I help you, Nancy Davis?
Well,
I'm listed as a signer on a letter of support
for two communist sympathizers
but I never signed any such letter.
There's another Nancy Davis.
Oh, I see.
Well, uh, the easiest thing to do, is just change your name.
It happens all the time in Hollywood.
Oh, no. No. I cannot do that, no.
My name is very important to me.
It's-it's my family.
Oh, of course.
Uh, family's important.
Yes.
Very important.
So, uh, I guess there's only one thing left to do,
and that is to launch an exhaustive and a detailed investigation.
Well, of course, I've retained an attorney.
Oh, there won't be any need for that.
We can knock this out over dinner.
- Excuse me? - Yes, uh, we can discuss it then.
But I can't be late. I, uh...
Yes, I have an early studio call tomorrow morning.
Oh, well, I'll have to check my date book.
[chuckles] I'm just gonna-- Just give me...
Yes?
Yes. Um...
Well... Oh, I think I can manage it,
but I have an early call too.
Well, then it's a date!
- Yeah. Yes. - Yeah.
- Okay. - Thank you.
- Pleasure. - Goodbye, for now.
[secretary] Bye, Miss Davis.
[whistles]
[bright music playing]
Okay, Bobby, thanks.
I'm gonna take care of that in the morning.
[ballad song playing]
- Well... - Well, it looks like
we've shut the place down.
Huh, yes, we did. Here.
- [chuckles] - Oh...
Thank you, Joseph. Uh...
- Miss Davis? - Yes?
I'm gonna get on this first thing in the morning
and I'll make all the calls myself.
Your name will be off that list.
Oh, just like that?
- Just like that. - [chuckles]
So, um,
when-when you're not acting or being SAG president,
what-what do you like to do with your time, Mr. Reagan?
Well, I... I like the outdoors.
Mm-hmm.
- I-I play golf. - Mm.
And...
I-I love riding horses.
Yes. Do you ride?
- Sure, I do. Mm-hmm. - You do?
Well, there's nothing like a relationship with a horse, is there?
They're beautiful animals.
- Yeah. - Mm-hmm.
- Ooh! Ooh! - ["Little Girl" playing]
Look, just...
- How do I slow down? - Well, just...
- Ooh! Okay. - You're doing fine. You're doing fine.
[both chuckling]
[breathes shakily] Oh! Oh!
- You look good on a horse. - Oh, thank you.
[horse whinnies]
[Nancy] I have a confession to make.
Oh, what's that?
I don't ride horses. [chuckles]
- Really? You could have fooled me. - Oh! [chuckles]
Well, it's beautiful up here.
Come on over here.
- Yes, it is. - It's like we're a million miles from LA.
Yes. You know, I did my first location shoot here in fact.
- Really? - Yes.
I jumped on the back of that horse,
looked around at all this, and said, "Wow, I'm in heaven."
Oh!
Yeah, it's heaven.
You know, I have a confession to make of my own, Nancy.
- Mmm. - [horse whinnies]
Uh...
I'm what you call "damaged goods."
I'm divorced, I got kids.
I haven't had a decent role in years
and I'm just about broke.
How's that for a come-on?
We're all damaged goods, Ronnie.
What's next for you? I mean...
what do you want out of this life?
I don't know, I used to have big ambitions.
Dreams.
Now, I...
I don't know. I just wanna do something good in this world.
Make a difference.
I think you've done that.
I'd like to make a difference too.
But I have figured something out, Ronnie.
- What's that? - It's really hard
to make a difference in this life
when you have to do it alone.
["Nancy (With the Laughing Face)" playing]
[Nancy] Mmm.
- Are you sure you wanna go? - [baby crying]
You know, this is not exactly Academy Award stuff.
Well, you know we don't like to be apart,
and I love to watch my husband work.
I know, I know, work's work.
[engine starts]
Bye, Patti!
[car revs]
["This Town" playing]
[crew] Mr. Reagan, your agent's on the line.
Look, Lou, if I go out there, my career, it's...
it's dead.
[sighs]
Lou, listen to me.
I'm not going out there.
It is Pabst Blue Ribbon time!
- What'll you have? - I'll have a Pabst Blue Ribbon!
- I'll take a Pabst, Bonzo! - Oh, yeah.
[audience laughing]
[Ziggy] Looks like it's bedtime for Bonzo, folks!
- [music cue] - [Reagan grunts] Thank you, ladies and gentlemen,
and now the Pabst Blue Ribbon dancers!
[audience applauds]
- Mm. - [glass thuds]
[sighs, forced chuckle]
Ladies...
do you happen to have an extra smoke
for a clown? Thank you.
[electricity buzzing]
[lighter clinks, flicks]
[puffs smoke]
[lighter clicks]
- Thanks. - No problem.
- [singer singing] - [crowd cheering]
[electricity buzzing]
- [grunts] - [glass shatters]
[buzzing]
This season, I'm sending all my friends Chesterfields.
[Viktor] Meanwhile, his career as movie star
continued to fade.
Wow! I could've had a V8!
Oh, Ronnie!
That's a super smooth shave.
That's because I used Gillette.
Soothe your skin with Campho-Phenique antiseptic powder.
At the movies or at home, honey, they're the perfect snack.
ICEE. The coldest drink in town
...at a sweet, low price.
Come on, Colman's. Light my fire.
[bell dings]
[Viktor] He continued to focus on his role as the president of Screen Actors Guild
where he did quite well, actually.
But the movie opportunities started to evaporate.
Yes, he was a B-movie star. This is well-known.
But what does this have to do with losing our Motherland?
Communism is not the Motherland.
They're the Motherland.
Turgenev, Leo Tolstoy, Chekhov.
That's the Motherland! The Motherland...
is here!
- [Viktor mumbling] - [aide speaking]
I can't. I must be...
[phone ringing]
[Nancy] Hello?
Oh, no.
Ronnie?
Thank you, Lord, for my mother.
Take care of her.
I know you will.
Your good and faithful servant has come home.
[Viktor] While he mourned the loss of his mother,
and continued to struggle with his career,
the world was passing him by.
[reporter] The United States and Soviet Union
now face off in a new Cold War.
- Nuclear retaliation looms. - [men shouting]
"The purpose of these bases
can be none other than to provide a nuclear strike capability
against the western hemisphere."
[reporter 2] President Kennedy's blockade
stops the advance of nuclear weapons into Cuba.
[reporter 3] Movements across Germany had stopped
as the East Germans built a wall overnight,
separating not only the country,
but neighbors and family.
[Viktor] He became host of TV show for appliance company.
He toured across the country, meeting factory workers
and giving speeches.
He was like politician with no party.
So, he decided to set his sights on something else.
Us. He devoured books about communism, espionage,
our takeover of Eastern Europe,
and the construction of the Berlin Wall.
You know our bed's a lot more comfortable.
Well, unless you prefer, uh, Whittaker Chambers to me?
- Oh, you know that's not true. - [chuckles]
Come to bed, honey. It's late.
[sighs]
You know, all they have are missiles and oil.
If we get them to spend money they don't have,
they can't support themselves.
- The Soviets. - The Soviets.
We've been going about this all wrong.
We don't have to match them missile for missile.
All we have to do
is just keep up the pressure.
We have deeper pockets than they do.
And here I thought I married an actor.
Well, you could always talk to Dick Nixon,
President Kennedy, or any of your political friends.
But why is it that my husband seems to know
what's gonna happen before they do, hmm?
- Well... - Yeah.
I was a lifeguard at a public swimming hole on a river.
And I studied that river.
And I learned how to read the currents.
Not just the ones on the surface.
But also the ones that were deep underneath the water,
flowing way under.
And I got good at it.
I knew people were in trouble before they did.
- [metal thudding] - [seagulls squawking]
Moon, thank you for bringing your brother up here on such short notice.
It wasn't easy, he's not a fan of flying.
Well, we'll remedy that. Thank you for coming, Mr. Reagan.
Thanks for having me, Mr. Tuttle.
[Holmes] Now, we understand that you jumped the aisle
- and switched parties. - Well,
my brother and I both, we came of age under FDR.
Our dad, Jack, he was a huge fan,
and we were proud to be New Deal Democrats.
So why did you leave 'em?
I didn't.
- They left me. - [laughter]
Well, how do you feel about campaigning for Goldwater?
He's gonna get shellacked in November.
No way he takes the White House.
Mr. Tuttle's right, he can't beat LBJ.
I'm curious, Ron.
What would you say is the issue of our time?
No question about it.
Communism and the Soviet Union.
Domestic issues is what I'm more curious about.
What's more domestic than survival, Mr. Tuttle?
Communism is the natural enemy of freedom.
It won't stop attacking us from the outside or the inside.
And it's spreading around the world while we wring our hands
trying to negotiate.
What did I tell you, guys? He's not just a pretty face.
Why don't you put your money where your mouth is, Ron?
Get in the game. Support Goldwater and then run for office.
Well, he'd win State Senator in a landslide.
State Senator. How does that sound?
Well,
I played a senator once.
[chuckling]
But I've never played a governor.
[laughter]
[Viktor] Seventeen years after I had begun following him,
he made his debut on American political stage.
Well, I'd like to suggest to you, there is no such thing as left or right.
There's only up or down.
- Look, there's daddy. - [Reagan] I believe that the issues
confronting us cross party lines.
Now, one side of this campaign
has been telling us that the issues of this election
are the maintenance of peace and prosperity.
The line has been used.
"We've never had it so good."
Somewhere, a perversion has taken place.
Should Moses have told the children of Israel to live
in slavery under the pharaohs?
Should Christ have refused the cross?
Should the patriots have thrown down their guns
and refused to fire the shot heard around the world?
You and I have the courage
to say to our enemies...
there is a price we will not pay.
A point beyond which they must not advance.
We'll preserve for our children this,
the last best hope of man on Earth,
or we'll sentence them to take the last step
into a thousand years of darkness.
When great forces are on the move in the world,
we learn that we are spirits, not animals.
There's something going on in time and space,
beyond time and space,
which, whether we like it or not,
spells duty.
You and I...
have a rendezvous with destiny.
[audience applauds]
[Viktor] Mr. Goldwater lost decisively.
But The Crusader had arrived.
And he was putting us on notice that he was not afraid to take us on.
[audience whistling, applauding]
- [upbeat music playing] - [camera shutter clicking]
[Betty chuckles]
- Hello. - Hello.
Oh, hi! It's you!
- [chuckles] Well, yes. - What are doing you here?
I-- Did I win something?
No. We're canvasing the neighborhood,
and I'm running for governor and I would like your vote.
Well, of course! Of course! I...
Now I'm embarrassed. I forgot your name.
Do his initials help? RR?
[gasps, breathes out]
[inhales deeply] Honey! Roy Rogers is here!
And he's running for governor!
["Wild Thing" playing]
[crowd whooping, applauding]
[camera shutter clicking]
[Viktor] He was on the US stage now.
But my colleagues still refused to take him seriously.
After all, they said,
"What could state governor do to us?"
[crowd cheering] Reagan! Reagan!
[upbeat music playing]
The police are overburdened. There's just too many of them.
Where are these kids' parents?
Well, they're not all students. Mostly agitators.
They don't even know what they're protesting.
They're just doing it to do it,
and they're getting outside help.
They've issued a new set of demands.
Of course they have.
They want you to present them to them personally.
- The National Guard... is on standby. - [Reagan sighs]
They can be on-site within an hour.
That's going federal. Ramifications for that.
Communities, schools, especially the press.
If they wanna talk,
let's go talk.
[bells tolling]
- [siren whooping] - [crowd shouting]
[protester] Love rules!
Governor Reagan! Make love, not war!
From the looks of him, he can't do either right now.
Bill's gonna meet us inside.
Lead the way.
Peace now! Peace now!
We want to hear you speak openly about this to the state of California!
Well, what do you think I'm doing here?
If you would come out against the police escalation, they might listen.
When did you ever stand up in front of your students
and beg them not to do this?
They told you that they were going to destroy the university
if you sought to go ahead with this construction.
- But they offered to negotiate! - Negotiate what?
All of this happened, professor, the very first time
that some of you who are old enough to know better
let students think that they have the right to choose
which laws they were gonna obey,
as long as it was done in the name of social protest.
I've had enough.
- I'm calling in the National Guard. - [door closes]
[overlapping chatter, shouting]
[footsteps tapping]
Shh!
[protesters laughing]
[Viktor] The protestors pushed him hard,
but he pushed them harder.
- [film clicking] - He was controversial governor,
but limited in what he could accomplish.
At least, as far as the things he cared most about, like us.
He enraged many sympathetic to our cause,
but he also inspired many fanatics
who would go to great lengths
to get a glimpse of their hero.
[dog barking in distance]
Ron, who's this?
Young man, uh...
why are you in my yard?
Hey, Mrs. Gov!
I'm, uh, I'm Dana.
I'm the head writer for Youth for Reagan.
And they're shutting us down. I just want five minutes with the Gov.
Oh, for heaven's sake.
I-I'll be respectful, scouts honor.
I-I won't swear or throw anything.
- And I don't burn buildings. - [Nancy] No, the problem is,
is that the governor is on a very tight schedule
and he won't give you five minutes.
- He'll give you an hour. - Sweet!
No, it's not sweet. You need to go home.
Please, just call the office and I'll make sure you get an appointment, okay?
- Honey? Is everything all right? - Hey, Gov!
These young people spent the night in our yard.
I just wanna talk. Five minutes.
You look tired. How about a cup of coffee?
- Oh. - Hell, yeah, dude!
Thank you. I'm sorry, I mean, Governor.
[whimpers]
[Reagan] So the politician says, "What did I do to deserve this?"
Saint Peter said, "Well, we didn't know what to do with you,
because you're the first politician we've had up here."
[Viktor] Nelle had been gone for a decade,
but The Crusader managed to find others
who shared her fundamentalist beliefs.
And one evening, our surveillance picked up
one of the strangest exchanges I ever heard...
- [camera shutter clicking] - ...involving a pop star,
a preacher,
and a prophecy.
If you continue to walk uprightly before me,
you will dwell at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Amen.
[exhales]
Well, that was something.
All right, well, we should probably head out.
- Yes, yes. - Thank you, Governor.
- Thank you, Pat. - Yeah, thanks for coming.
Yes. [chuckles]
You can't possibly believe this.
Doesn't matter if I believe it.
Did he believe it?
Who knows?
[tense music playing]
[sighs]
[birds chirping]
[soft music playing]
Well, Bill, there she is.
688 acres in all.
That sounds about enough. How much they asking?
Too much for an honest politician. [chuckles]
Well, there's nothing like stomping around on your own piece of dirt.
Work and sweat,
think about your next move.
[sneers] Next move.
You know, they taunt, unfortunately.
Won't last.
The Soviets, they're here to stay.
There's nothing a retired governor can do about The Soviets.
Well, you got a point. Not much.
But a president...
Now, he can do a thing or two.
[chuckles]
[hopeful music playing]
"So multiply that by a billion, double that,
and that's only the surface of how deep it really is.
'It' being my love for you.
I really love you mucher than that.
ITWWW..."
- In The Whole Wide World. - In The Whole Wide World.
- [chuckles] Aw. - [chuckles]
Reminds me of one of your old movies.
I should have a parasol and a mint julep.
Well, Nancy Pants, I can row back and get you one.
[chuckles, breathes deeply]
Bill thinks I should run for president.
- Oh, Bill thinks so, does he? - What?
- You think I'm too old? - No.
You look 20 years younger than you are.
Your mind is sharp as a tack.
Well, you know I can't do this without your support.
You'll always have my support.
I know I can't just let you chop wood for the rest of your life.
- Why not? - [both chuckle]
I've actually been thinking about what that preacher said by the pool.
You thought he was a kook.
I still do.
But maybe he was onto something.
You just may need to save us.
[newscaster] Good evening. Tonight's showdown
might be the most thrilling convention we've ever seen.
It's a true toss-up between the incumbent president
and a serious challenger from within his own party.
- Dick thinks if he can talk to Drew-- - What?
Dick thinks that if he can talk to Drew, Pennsylvania might go our way.
Okay. I heard James Baker had Pennsylvania on lock before.
- He said they're in play. - We lost Oregon.
- Oregon? - It's gone. All right?
Ohio, Indiana, Florida, or Pennsylvania,
- they'll have to break our way. - Anyone else looking for a Ford hat? How about you?
I think you need to change that hat. Here you go.
Oh, that's gonna look good. I'll get rid of this.
Okay, we may need to rethink that strategy.
Indiana, Florida, Pennsylvania.
I'll get Schweiker to connect with Drew about Pennsylvania.
- I'll circle back to Ohio. - Okay. I will take Florida,
and, Mike, why don't you go talk with Rich and Marilynn...
- Marilynn. Okay. - ...about Indiana? Okay?
Hey, hey. We gotta win one for the Gipper.
- Huh? - Come on!
- One, two, three! For the Gipper! - Ready, go... What?
[newscaster] For the next President of the United States,
California casts all 167 for Governor Ronald Reagan!
[cheering]
- Thank you, California. - [laughter]
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
has 93 votes for Gerald Ford!
[crowd cheering]
The state of West Virginia proudly presents its vote
on behalf of our party's candidate for the presidency...
Twenty votes for Gerald R. Ford.
[crowd cheering]
[buzzing]
[Viktor] There is no defeat more bitter
than a political defeat,
especially if you think it is your last chance.
[Ford] And right now, I predict
that the American people are going to say that night,
"Gerry, you've done a good job!
Keep right on doing it!"
Ford stole it, sir.
He was handing out ambassadorship
and rides on Air Force One like candy to babies.
[Reagan sighs] Backstage politics.
[grunts, exhales]
What I really wanted, Mike, was to be the guy
who finally got to say "nyet" to the Soviets.
Guess it wasn't God's will.
[Viktor] Democrats and Republicans
presented a united front against us for 30 years.
But we sensed an opportunity with the election of Jimmy Carter.
Then, in 1979,
my worst fears began to take shape.
It is a crisis of confidence.
Yes, Jimmy, it's a crisis of confidence, all right.
Are you listening to this?
We can see this crisis drawing down...
We are the greatest country in the world and we have just forgotten it.
[Jimmy Carter continues speaking over TV]
Like I didn't see this coming.
It's okay to say it, Ronnie.
Okay. I'll say it.
I want to run again.
[sighs]
What do you think about that?
If I can do it all again...
[sighs]
The public scrutiny, the attacks on your character,
all the lies.
But mainly,
I want you to be happy.
Well, you've already made me the happiest man in the world.
[both chuckle]
I've had to share you my whole life.
But... that's what I signed up for,
and who I fell in love with. Hmm.
[exhales]
It's not over for you, Ronnie.
You know what you have to do.
And this time...
- Win it. - Win it.
[Nancy chuckles]
No, Mr. President,
we don't have double-digit inflation
because the people are living too well.
We have double-digit inflation because the government is living too well.
Our first priority must always be world peace.
The use of force is always the last resort.
These are the kind of elements of a national health insurance
important to the American people.
Governor Reagan, again, typically is against such a proposal.
[sneers]
- There you go again. - [audience laughs]
Next Tuesday, you will all go to the polls and make a decision.
And when you make that decision,
I think it would be well to ask yourself,
are you better off than you were four years ago?
Is it easier to buy things in the store than it was four years ago?
Is there more or less unemployment in the country?
Is America as respected throughout the world?
Do you feel as safe?
Are we as strong as we were four years ago?
If your answers are "yes,"
then I think it is obvious who you will vote for.
But if you don't agree...
then may I suggest another choice.
...and will, to the best of my ability.
[Berger] Preserve, protect and defend.
Preserve, protect and defend.
The Constitution of the United States.
- So help you God. - So help me God.
Congratulations, sir.
[crowd cheering]
[Reagan] We will again be the exemplar of freedom
and the beacon of hope for those who do not now have freedom.
As for the enemies of freedom,
they will be reminded
that peace is the highest aspiration
of the American people.
We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it,
but we will not surrender for it.
Now or ever.
[crowd cheering]
[tense music playing]
[hopeful music playing]
James Baker whips our butt in '76 working for Ford,
- now he's Chief of Staff. - Well, that's why he's Chief of Staff.
Ed, someone who agrees with you 80% of the time
is an 80% friend, not a 20% enemy.
Excuse me.
- Mr. Speaker. - Mr. President.
Congratulations. Welcome to the Bigs.
Now you enjoy tonight because tomorrow, we go to work.
Well, I've been well-briefed on you, Tip.
I've been told I better get a pretty good head start.
- Ah, that's very Irish of you. - Yes.
You plan on going ten rounds every day, that's how we do things here.
All right. Just remember, every day has a 6:00 p.m.
What do you mean by that, sir?
Well, after 6:00, we're not political enemies.
We're just two Irishmen having a beer.
Deal.
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, the First Lady and President
of the United States of America.
[crowd cheering, applauding]
- Would you do me the honor? - Of course.
♪ My eyes adored you ♪
♪ Though I never laid a hand on you ♪
♪ My eyes adored you ♪
♪ Like a million miles away from me,
♪ You couldn't see how I adored you... ♪
Everyone's here for you,
excited for a new tomorrow.
Oh. They're just watching me dance with the prettiest girl in the room.
Huh.
You know, I've thought about this moment a lot.
And after '76...
Well, I just didn't think it would happen.
I knew.
I always knew.
♪ 'Til we grew into the me and you ♪
♪ Who went our separate ways ♪
- * My eyes adored you ♪ - [crowd exclaims, cheers]
♪ Though I never laid a hand on you ♪
♪ My eyes adored you... ♪
Ladies and gentlemen, The President of the United States.
[Reagan] Thank you, thank you.
Everybody, just be seated.
Good morning, everyone, good morning.
Now the father can't find his little optimistic son
so he calls out to him and the little boy pops out of that huge pile of manure,
says, "Yes, Dad?"
The father says, "What are you doing in there?"
And the little boy says, "Well, with all this manure,
I know there's gotta be a pony in there somewhere."
[laughter]
Anyway, that was my father's favorite joke.
And, ladies and gentlemen, we have a pony ourselves,
and it's the American people,
and we're gonna do everything for them that we can.
We just have to dig 'em out. Mm.
He wasn't President for one half-hour
before Iran released the American hostages
they had been holding for a year and a half.
It was morning in America,
as his supporters would say.
But in just a few days,
that morning nearly disappears as quickly as it had come.
You and your forbears built our nation,
now help us rebuild it.
Thank you very much.
- [applause] - [camera shutter clicking]
No, I like it brighter. Oh, and the yellow,
- you know, Ronnie loves-- - There's been a shooting at the hotel.
- What? - It's all right, ma'am.
Your husband wasn't hit.
Get me there.
Ma'am, I can't do that.
Get me there now or I'm walking.
[tense music sting]
[indistinct, overlapping chatter]
A little hard to breath.
[muffled, indistinct chatter]
- Right here under his arm. - [Reagan grunts]
[siren whoops]
You told me he wasn't hit.
- No, he was. - Where was he hit?
I don't know. They're looking for the bullet.
- What? - And Jim Brady was shot in the head.
Miss Reagan, I'm sorry, no one's permitted back there.
- You don't wanna see him-- - He has to know I'm here.
- Yeah, okay. - Yes. Excuse me. Excuse me!
We've given him another 300 cc.
He's lost a third of his blood already.
Okay. Get him prepped.
Where-- where's Nancy?
- [gasps] Ronnie? - Oh, hey, honey.
- I forgot to duck. - Oh, honey...
Try not to talk.
- I'm sorry. I'm sorry. - You're gonna be okay.
- I'm fine.
[nurse] Mrs. Reagan.
[tense music playing]
[machine beeping]
[surgeon] Good evening, Mr. President.
- Please tell me you're Republicans. - [laughter]
Today, Mr. President,
- we're all Republicans. - [laughter]
[car horns honking]
Come here... Nancy...
[machine beeping]
[labored] Hi, Nancy Pants.
Mmm.
I brought you jelly beans.
I knew you'd want them when you woke up.
I had to believe you were waking up.
I don't do so good without you.
[sniffles, sobs]
I should have been there.
I always walk on your left side.
No, no.
No.
But then it would have been you.
[birds chirping]
[machine beeping]
Boy, you'll do anything to get that damn tax cut.
I left specific orders. No democrats within 100 yards.
You'll have to grin and bear it.
- How you doing, pal? - Well,
- I don't recommend getting shot. - No.
[sighs] You know, Tip, I think there is...
I think there is a reason for all this.
There's a big job left to be done, and...
whatever time I have left, it...
belongs to Him.
Ah. [inhales]
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I shall fear no evil,
- for thou art with me." - "...with me."
"Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all
the days of my life.
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever."
[both chuckle]
You know, you may have been an actor if it wasn't for that mug of yours.
[laughs] Well, there were too many leading men.
[Viktor] It should have killed him and it almost did.
Most people don't know how close it came.
Did we do it?
No, we didn't do it,
which isn't to say that some version of a similar plan
didn't exist in a drawer somewhere,
as it certainly does to this day.
[upbeat music plays]
- [Mike] You're who? - I'm Dana.
- I start work today. - [laughs]
It's... Yeah, right.
Is this Nofziger's idea of a joke?
I suggest you leave before the Secret Service get here.
The Secret Service let me in.
I mean, you're Mike Deaver, right?
A speech writer? For the President...
- [door closes] - ...of the United States?
- I think that there's been... - Dana, you're finally here.
Just flew in, sir. I don't even have a place to stay yet.
Did not spend the night on the lawn, Mr. President.
- So you know this gentleman? - Yes.
We go way back.
Soviet grain report.
Nice nap. I'll trade ya.
Well, Dana, I want you to hurry up and settle in
'cause we have a lot of work to do.
[door opens]
[door closes]
We wear suits here.
Right on, Mike. Yeah.
Would you maybe have an extra I could borrow before payday?
Wh--
Let me know.
[door closes]
[Stockman] First quarter numbers are below expectations.
Unemployment hasn't budged.
I think we should reexamine
some of the revenue enhancers on the table, sir.
Revenue enhancers?
Re-- Is that what you're calling
tax increases these days in Washington?
- [laughter] - I told the American people
that I would lower taxes.
So if that's what you really think,
then what the hell are you doing in my administration?
Mr. President, we simply have to balance this budget.
You know, I've learned a thing or two about economics.
I majored in Economics at Eureka College.
Now, it wasn't your Ivy League college,
but there I learned about Ibn Khaldun,
he was a ruler in Egypt.
And he had a philosophy that really hit home
when I was in the 94% tax bracket in Hollywood.
And that is when taxes are low, people have more money.
And when people have more money, they buy more things.
Now, these things have to be made by other people
who have to hire more people to help them do that.
And as for taxes,
well, the good Lord only asks for 10%,
why should Uncle Sam ask for more?
- [laughter] - Mr. President,
the Air Traffic Controllers are threatening a strike.
- Well, can they do that? - No, sir.
- Legally? - Essential public service,
they have all signed a no-strike contract.
A contract is a contract.
That's the way I learned it.
They forfeited their jobs.
[Viktor] If he was willing to risk chaos in his own country,
we could only imagine what he might do to us.
- [shutter clicking fast] - [clacks]
The Soviets are conducting full exercises right out in the open.
German border is quiet but it looks like they're moving
some brand new SS-20s by rail.
That's confirmed. They're 20 miles east of Berlin.
Each rail car contains a ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead.
John, how many nuclear missiles do they have?
Thirty-five thousand.
- Officially. - And us?
Twenty-five and change, sir.
So roughly 60,000 nuclear warheads
pointed at each other, each one can take out a city.
That's about the size of it, Mr. President.
So while we have been,
over the past ten years, reducing our military,
they've been building up their arsenal
and thumbing their noses at us,
violating every treaty that we have with them.
More than possible, sir, that's exactly what's happening.
And what have we done about it except take a picture of it?
Well, after you fire off the first thousand or so,
there's no one around to keep score, is there?
It's insane.
One little mistake, somebody has too much vodka,
none of this matters.
[tense music playing]
- [clacks] - [crowd cheering]
[reporter] Thousands were gathered in St. Peter's Square
at the Vatican today, cheering the arrival of the Pope.
But soon, gunshots turn the celebration into horror,
as the Pope collapsed into the arms of his aids.
He's in surgery. The official story
is that he was grazed but it's worse than that.
- They gave him his last rites. - [newspaper thuds]
What do we know?
[Casey] John Paul is from Poland under Soviet control.
Polish people want self-rule and democracy.
Solidarity movement is taking over the nation.
The Pope is with them,
basically giving Moscow the middle finger because he can.
Visit to the homeland is basically the second coming.
The writing's on the wall, this comes from Moscow via Bulgaria, Mr. President.
This is KGB all the way.
Well, that doesn't make sense, Bill.
They're either gonna create a martyr
or they're gonna unleash the Catholic Church
against themselves.
They're scared.
[Viktor] The Pope lived.
And now, The Crusader and the Pope
shared a bond of having survived an assassin's bullet.
And his new ally just happened to have a billion followers.
[crowd cheering]
[Viktor] Get out of Poland.
Get out of Afghanistan.
Throw away ten years of treaties
and eliminate all nuclear missiles.
As they say in America, Brezhnev's mind was blown.
He scribbles
a personal note to me on yellow paper?
The President of the United States?
Now we know who shot him.
His own State Department.
[grunts softly] Eh?
[Viktor] No, thank you.
- [chuckles] - [alcohol pours]
[Viktor] And now, enter his new Secretary of State,
- George Shultz, the Tiger Man. - [Andrei] The who?
He had a tattoo of a tiger on his ass.
How do we know that?
KGB. Here.
[Reagan] We'll just get this little ceremony over with.
This is what I used to quit smoking back in the '60s.
[chuckling]
Oh, I knew it.
- I knew it. - [Shultz] What?
Well, you can tell a lot about a man's character
by if he chooses just one color
or if he grabs a handful.
[Shultz] I see.
And, uh, what does this say about my character?
It says that you're focused,
you're determined,
and that you're not easily distracted.
You're gonna do great here.
Okay, then. [laughs]
[Reagan] America has hired us to do two things.
Let them be prosperous again,
and keep them safe.
Peace through strength.
May I speak freely?
I expect it.
Clarity is power.
Now, I believe you are clear in these objectives.
Now, the rest of the world needs to be.
As long as those objectives are your objectives.
They are, Mr. Clark. Which isn't to say
that I won't push back or voice opinions
if I see conflict in those objectives.
That's exactly why I chose you.
Peace through strength is, it's--
It's just a-a bit opaque.
I-I need you to articulate a message about the Soviets
that I can take to the world.
Well, that's simple.
We win.
They lose.
And you can quote me.
[laughter]
Well, that's a clear message.
[chuckles]
[hopeful music playing]
- Hey, Dutch, where you going? - Come on, Dutch!
[laughter]
- Scaredy-cat! - Four eyes!
[Nelle] That's the boy that's been threatening you?
- [Dutch] Every day. - [bully] Get over here!
- Mama's boy. - He'll be there tomorrow too.
That's what bullies do until you stand up to them.
It's time for you to settle this, Dutch.
Go on.
[bully taunting]
Come on, Mama's boy.
- [bully taunting] - [sidekicks laughing]
- Get him. - [punch lands]
- [taunting] - [punches landing]
- [grunting] - [punches landing]
[police siren wailing]
[sighs]
[pen scratching]
It's a little soft.
We'll get it there, sir.
- Dana? A word. - [door opens]
- [pen holder clinks] - [door closes]
Well, I see you still have one foot in California.
I am about to start the biggest war of this century.
Maybe of all time.
And I'm not gonna fire a single shot.
I'm gonna fight it with words.
And they have to count every single one of them.
So say what you mean,
mean what you say.
I need the guy who camped out in my yard.
You understand?
- [hopeful music playing] - [birds chirping]
[audience applauds]
[Reagan] And let us pray
for the salvation of those who live
in that totalitarian darkness.
Let us pray that they will discover
the joy of knowing God
and let us be aware that while their unelected leaders
preach the supremacy of the State,
declare its omnipotence over individual man
and predict its eventual domination
of all the peoples of the Earth,
they are the focus of evil in the modern world.
It was C.S. Lewis,
who in his magnificent Screwtape Letters wrote,
"The greatest evil is not done
in those sordid dens of crime that Dickens loved to paint
nor is it done in the concentration camps and labor camps.
In them, we see its final result.
But it is conceived and ordered
in clear, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices
by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails
who do not need to raise their voices,
but speak in soothing tones of brotherhood and peace."
Beware the temptation to ignore the facts of history,
and the aggressive impulses of an evil empire.
[crowd cheers, applauds]
Yes!
I think the President's words were a little irresponsible.
Last thing we need to do is heat this Cold War up.
- [scoffs] - While the President clearly thought tonight...
What is wrong with these people?
I mean, whose side are they on, anyway?
Oh, honey, you can't pay any attention to that.
But I have to. Most of the country is paying attention to them.
Well, if you think that got their undies in a wad, you just wait.
We have prevented nuclear war for more than three decades.
Recently, however, it has become clear we cannot rely solely
on offensive retaliation to maintain peace.
I call upon the scientific community,
those who gave us nuclear weapons
to turn their great talents now to the cause of mankind and world peace.
To build this defensive "missile shield,"
rendering these weapons impotent and obsolete.
If we take these measures...
[Viktor] He got the idea from a movie he starred in, in 1940.
And with his economy booming, he now had the money to spend.
But it didn't exist.
Small detail.
- Small detail? - Let's just say
he was characteristically optimistic.
So he was lying.
Here. Eat something.
Viktor Petrovich, it didn't exist.
It was science fiction.
But the missiles, missiles did!
Doesn't matter.
The Crusader was making his move.
And we knew it.
And then something happened.
Like what?
[engines whirring]
[FA speaking Korean]
[whooshing]
[pilot] Korean Airlines, you are in Soviet airspace.
Move out now.
[call button chimes]
[chattering in Korean]
[tense music playing]
[pilot] Command, there is no response.
Appears to be commercial flight.
- [comm officer] Shoot it down. - [pilot] Are you sure?
I see flashing indicators.
- [comm officer] Shoot it down. - [pilot] Copy that.
[distant screaming]
A civilian airliner?
[Anatoly] CIA spy plane.
They were warned repeatedly.
It was a commercial flight!
Two hundred and sixty-nine people
are dead, Anatoly,
including one of our congressman!
- [man] George... - You crossed a line.
[reporter 1] Tensions between the Cold War adversaries continue to escalate.
[reporter 2] President Reagan called it an act of barbarism.
[reporter 3] NATO forces remain on alert across Europe.
[reporter 4] Many are concerned at home and abroad
that these actions bring the United States and the Soviet Union
a step closer to a direct military conflict.
[Viktor] And three weeks later,
our radar systems detected the unthinkable.
[clanks]
[Viktor] Triggering a terrifying response of action.
- This is not a drill. - Do we have confirmation on this?
Soviets are heating up six sites.
That's 18 million American lives.
They think we're launching, sir.
Prepare for DEFCON 1.
I need confirmation.
Mr. President, if this is real, we won't have time for confirmation.
We need a decision.
[computer beeping]
[beeping]
[tense music playing]
[phone rings]
They're aborting, sir. They're standing down.
- [sighs of relief] - Okay, sir. I'll let them know.
- [sigh] - We're that close.
Looks like a flock of geese triggered a positive radar hit.
- Ah, Jesus. - Ah.
I can't believe it.
[Viktor] The Cold War was in full swing.
The Crusader knew he had to keep the pressure on us,
but making sure there were no more mistakes.
But before he could resume his crusade against us,
he would have to face his voters.
And let's just say, not everyone thought he was the right choice.
[geese quacking]
["Land of Confusion" by Genesis playing]
Ah. Goody two-shoes.
[protesters chanting]
[videogame sound effects]
[protesters chanting]
[videogame sound effects]
[gurgling]
["Land of Confusion" continues playing]
Mr. Mondale's poll numbers have been steadily rising.
Concerns have been raised as the President has stumbled,
appearing tired in the last debate.
President Reagan could very well end up
a one-term president.
So how do you adjust for inflation, uh,
between the six and twelve percent projections?
Well, you know,
that with the adding of four million...
- [staff coughing] - [paper rustling]
Three million new jobs
and the rate of unemployment being...
[sighs deeply]
Okay.
Stop. Stop.
I need a break.
- [switches thudding] - [electricity buzzing]
[indistinct whispering]
- [exhales] - Mr. President, we really feel that...
w-we just need to do this all over again.
No. I've had enough, Ed.
Say, M-Mr. President, I forgot, what's your favorite movie?
The Sound of Music.
What do you say, you and Mrs. Reagan
get together and watch it tonight?
Relax, calm your mind.
You'll be back in the saddle tomorrow.
And we'll be ready to go.
- That's a great idea. - [Reagan] Well...
when God closes a door, He opens a window, doesn't He?
[chuckling]
Gentlemen,
instead of cramming his head with useless numbers,
why don't you let Ronnie be Ronnie?
Okay?
[sighs]
Uh, anybody else have...
Aha. Martha?
[Martha] Yes, Father.
You tell me.
Friedrich told you, Father.
We were berry picking.
[von Trapp] I forgot! You were berry picking.
- [kids] Yes! - We love berry picking.
- [von Trapp] All afternoon? - Mm-hmm!
- [Martha] We picked thousands. - Thousands?
They were all over the place.
[von Trapp] What kind of berries?
- [Maria] Blueberries, sir. - Blueberries!
- Yes! - Yes! Blue!
[von Trapp] It's, uh, too early for blueberries.
[Maria] They were strawberries.
[host] Mr. Trewhitt, your question to President Reagan.
Mr. President, I wanna raise an issue that I think has been lurking out there
for two or three weeks, and cast it specifically
in national security terms.
You already are the oldest President in history
and some of your staff say that you were tired
after your most recent encounter with Mr. Mondale.
I recall yet that President Kennedy had to go for days on end
with very little sleep during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Is there any doubt in your mind that you would be able to function
in such circumstances?
Not at all, Mr. Trewhitt.
And I want you to know that, also,
I will not make age an issue in this campaign.
I will not for political purposes,
exploit my opponent's youth and inexperience.
[audience laughing, applauding]
[Viktor] And with that one thrust of wit...
he turned the tide.
[upbeat music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[chanting] USA, USA, USA, USA!
[indistinct chatter]
- He'll be there. - You wanted to see me, sir?
No, we'll figure it out.
- Yeah. Yeah, John. - [sighs]
Uh, there's a rumor around here that you're a... a horse guy.
Yup, I rode for Boston PD.
I've been riding my whole life, really. Why?
We've been having some issues at the Western White House
- out in California. - What kind of issues?
Nobody can ride.
Yeah, Rawhide isn't gonna say anything but it's pretty embarrassing
when one of ours has to walk his horse when he wants to run.
You mean gallop.
Yeah. Whatever.
But, uh, do you wanna head up that detail when we travel?
So I'd be riding horses with the... with the President?
Giddyap.
- Okay. - All right.
- [coughing] - [Viktor] Unlike other presidents,
The Crusader was in no rush to meet with us.
- This created a problem. - [coughing]
[funeral march playing]
Here's the latest.
[grunts, groans]
[funeral march playing]
This here,
this is only...
[coughing]
[funeral march playing]
How can I talk to them if they keep dying on me?
We are starving for energy, Ron, and we've got to get it somewhere
and we can't afford what we've been paying.
But buying it from the Soviet Union?
You know that that money is going directly into a missile pointed at you.
Mr. President,
give me an alternative.
The Saudis have agreed to increase oil production,
as long as we buy it from them, not the Russians.
And if we can get our friends to go along with us.
And you can sell this at home? To your Texans?
It will drop oil to under ten dollars a barrel.
Oh, I'll take a political hit for it, that's for sure.
And Texans love to make money, yes, they do.
We all do.
But they love their freedom even more.
First, the Evil Empire and now this.
You're certainly not looking to make friends.
No, I'm not.
But perhaps you should.
I met their new man, Gorbachev.
He is a very different kind of Russian.
And I told him you were a very, very different kind
of an American.
- Pushing up the draft. All right. - Ah!
- Ow! Oh, oh. - Hey, hey. Quiet. Shh!
Good evening. President Reagan is in Geneva tonight
ready for the Gorbachev summit.
[tense music playing]
The baron is honored to have you stay at his home
- for this occasion. - Thank you.
Please let him know how much we appreciate it.
Uh... [chuckles] The goldfish.
It seems that the baron's son is very attached to it.
It needs to be fed twice every day.
Well, I will, uh, do it personally.
[Nancy chuckles]
There are a few things I can do myself, you know?
- [aide] They've arrived. - Oh.
Oh, then... Yes.
Here we go.
Oh, no. Coat off.
It's below freezing out there.
The whole world is watching this meeting, George.
He needs to look his best, and that overcoat is not working.
Well, you guys are in charge of policy,
but even the leader of the free world has a boss,
- and she's in charge of presentation. - [chuckles]
[Viktor] And before the summit had begun,
we found ourselves already at a disadvantage,
as the President looked better than the General Secretary.
[indistinct chatter]
[speaking Russian]
- Let me state at the outset. - [continues in Russian]
You should have no illusions
that you can bankrupt us.
[Viktor] The Crusader took it all in stride...
- We can match you on land... - ...hearing it for what it was.
- [speaking Russian] - [interpreter] ...and air and space.
[speaking Russian]
[Viktor] Mandatory messaging from the Party.
[clears throat]
As I see it,
we don't mistrust each other because we're armed.
- [translating in Russian] - We're armed
because we mistrust each other.
But I think that we both agree on the most important thing.
A nuclear war can never be won
and must never be fought.
- [translating in Russian] - [soft music playing]
He's definitely ambiguous.
It's perfectly clear, there's nothing ambiguous about it.
You come out ahead as you usually do.
Violation after violation of SALT I and II.
Violation? This is nothing more than you militarizing space.
[indistinct, overlapping chatter]
["This Is How The World Ends" playing]
[Viktor] I saw a gentle smile that never left his face.
He was disarming, but still he was the zealot
that called us an Evil Empire.
And we could not let our guard down.
You know, I used to do a little acting
a couple hundred years ago back in Hollywood.
Let me show you how we used to handle this sort of thing.
Take two.
Hello, Mikhail. My name's Ron.
How would you like to go for a little walk?
[indistinct chatter]
[Gorbachev] What they say about you, Mr. President,
"He picks your pocket and makes you feel good about it."
Well, I've had much worse said about me before, way worse.
As have I. Hazard of our job.
I want to let you know
that we seek the same thing, Mikhail.
Do we, Ron?
We are not here because we need to be.
We desire peace, just as you do.
But your proposal is not so simple.
Oh, actually, it is very simple.
It's just not easy.
But I believe that you and I, we can do it.
In fact, we must.
The world demands it.
And after all, isn't that who we work for?
The people and the man upstairs.
Ah. The man upstairs.
My grandmother was a Christian woman,
go to church every day.
And after, would say,
"Mikhail, I went to church today.
I prayed for the atheist.
I prayed for you."
Well, I think that your grandmother and my mother
could have been very good friends.
[Russian official] So you're the Tiger Man.
Excuse me? Tiger Man?
I like American baseball, very much.
Oh, yeah? Who's your favorite team?
New York Yankees. And you?
Uh, St. Louis Cardinals.
Game 7, World Series.
Very sorry, but what series?
Oh, next time you're in the States, I'll make sure you get to a game.
No, no, no, no. Let them talk.
You go in there, you're fired.
Tiger Man.
My proposal...
is this.
That you and I,
by the time that I leave office,
can reduce our missile counts by half.
Hmm.
I'm not a patient man either.
I do not intend to leave office
before they are gone,
completely.
[hopeful music playing]
[Reagan] Oh, no.
Honey, look what I've done.
Oh, dear.
Maybe we can find another one.
Uh, Mr. President, we-we go live in five-five minutes.
Oh, I-I think we should find another one.
Oh, no!
Every kid knows his goldfish.
I'm gonna write him a note.
W-we need to go now.
I mean, the entire world is waiting.
The world can wait.
I'm going to write him a note.
- [grunts, mouths] Nancy... - That's my Ronnie.
- We have to wait. - [Viktor] Nothing was really agreed to yet
beyond agreeing to meet again.
But the Soviet Union and USA were talking to one another
instead of at one another.
- [indistinct] - [camera shutter clicking]
[hopeful music playing]
[Viktor] Reagan's allies against us included the Pope,
Thatcher, the Iron Lady,
and leaders of West Germany and Japan, Cole and Nakasone.
We stand firmly behind you.
When you speak with Secretary Gorbachev,
you are speaking for us in free world.
[Reagan] Well, we understand
that you are surrounded by communists,
and we appreciate you standing with us.
[Nakasone] Be careful. Remember,
communists have no problem with lying to achieve their goals.
They are testing you to see if you will stand firm.
Don't worry. I dealt with these guys back in Hollywood.
I even have the scars on my back to prove it.
And I promise you,
we're not going to lose.
[reporter] In other news, President Reagan has landed in Reykjavík, Iceland
to continue discussions with Soviet Premier Gorbachev over nuclear disarmament.
Fifty percent across the board reduction.
All weapons groups, tactical, INF, ICBM.
In exchange, suspension of your Strategic Defense Initiative.
"Star Wars," some refer to it.
Counter proposal.
We share all SDI technology,
we develop it together,
we'll even pay for it.
And we eliminate all ballistic missiles
in ten years. Together.
You refuse to share oil-drilling technology
and you offer this?
SDI is a completely defensive system.
This is the line, Mr. President.
If you walk away,
you will have missed the chance of going down in history
as the president who paved the way for nuclear disarmament.
How will you explain this to your "free people?"
Mr. President,
I'm offering you the biggest win of your presidency.
Just drop SDI.
[tense music playing]
[exhales deeply]
Nyet.
[thuds]
Let's go, George.
You would lose the whole deal over this one thing?
This is a fair offer.
As was mine.
I don't know what more I could have done.
[exhales]
You could have said yes.
[Viktor] After he walked away from the negotiating table,
we were in a very dark place.
We knew it was over,
unless something extraordinary happened.
We've intercepted two more shipments of Soviet RPGs and AK-47s
coming out of Cuba, headed for Nicaragua.
The freedom fighters are holed up in the mountains.
It's David and Goliath, but they're making a go of it.
Well, I like these guys.
They remind me of Washington and the Continental Army.
What do they need?
What do they always need?
Band-Aids, guns, and money.
Well, give them what they want.
Mr. President, we won't have the Congress with us on this one.
[exhales deeply]
[judge] And nothing but the truth, so help you God?
- I do. - Please be seated.
[Viktor] The American Congress had said no
to giving money to his friends in Nicaragua.
And The Crusader had hostages in the Middle East
and needed to free them.
But it was American policy never to negotiate with terrorists.
But somewhere, a plan was hatched.
Reagan's Iran-Contra situation comes down to this.
What did the president know, and when did he know it?
And if you, people of the press, want any more answers,
you ask President Reagan.
[Viktor] Five decades of his struggle against us
and it came down to whether he could survive a domestic scandal.
In spite of the wildly speculative and false reports,
we do not negotiate with terrorists
and we did not trade arms
- for hostages. - [reporters indistinct]
[reporter] These accusations are potentially impeachable offenses.
And if true, some observers believe his presidency
could be hanging in the balance.
For W News 4 at the White House, I'm Carl Long.
[tense music playing]
Ronnie, you have to do something.
Have you seen this?
[Reagan] Yes, I've seen it.
[Nancy] Are you listening to these people?
They want nothing more than to see you burn.
You know, they may smile and call you "Mr. President," but they hate you.
They hate what you say, what you believe in, who you are.
Honey, I just can't accept that.
No, no, you never could.
You're the optimist. You're the one who wants to see the good in people.
But it's my job to see through them and protect you.
Well, that's why we're such a good team.
[mutters]
Honey, you know Washington. You know the way it works.
- It's politics, that's all. - Ronnie, they're talking impeachment!
- No impeachment. - Yes, they wanna destroy you!
They're putting you on trial, removing you from office!
This isn't about politics anymore.
This is about you.
Everything is at stake. One more headline,
one more star witness, one more arrest, and they will do it.
I have cooperated with them.
I appointed a special prosecutor.
I've turned over every document I have.
What would you have me do?
I want you to fight
or this is all over!
[sighs]
[grunts]
[horse whinnying in distance]
You could always hire someone.
Ha!
Why, you looking for work? [grunts]
I got a job for you
back in Washington.
You're the president. You could always order me back there.
Are they gonna impeach me, Bill?
Well, it's moving in that direction, sir.
Mr. President, you're my friend.
I can only speak to you straight.
Some laws got broken, for sure,
whether you broke them or somebody else did.
So now you're clamming up and lawyering up.
It's the wrong move.
It confuses everybody, even the ones that love you.
People are thinking that maybe you're...
I'm losing it? Yeah.
I've heard it.
What do you think I should do, Judge?
What you do best.
Tell 'em the truth.
[horse whinnying]
[Reagan] A few months ago, I told the American people
that I did not trade arms for hostages.
My heart and my best intentions still tell me that's true
but the facts and the evidence tell me it is not.
Now, what should happen when you make a mistake is this.
You take your knocks, you put things in perspective,
you pull your energies together,
you make changes, and you go forward.
[Viktor] Americans.
You do them wrong, you'll pay for it.
But look them in the eye, admit you made a mistake,
they forgive you every time.
[grunts, exhales]
[Andrei] He was president.
He had to know.
[chuckles] He was still the lifeguard.
He was going to get his people home.
[soft music playing]
I'm not pleased with you, Ron. Let's just get that said right up front.
Well, I can't imagine how I've upset you, Margaret.
Are we gonna go over Grenada again?
Well, you're certainly not walking away
from what happened at Reykjavík...
- No. - Looks like you're picking a fight.
No, but I'm not afraid of one.
Perhaps that is why Mitterrand calls you
a "dangerous cowboy."
Well,
at least I have Margaret Thatcher on my side.
- He wants to say it. - He does, but we'll never get it past Shultz.
I mean, it's the one thing they don't want him talking about.
My family in Germany is talking about it.
Everybody is talking about it. He needs to talk about it.
He's going to Camp David, then he's back here for a day,
then he's going to Europe. We have one shot to have him say this.
It's now or never.
[breathes deeply]
[whirring]
Hey, give me this! I-I'll take that. Thank you.
Mr. President, some light reading.
- Shh! - [Nancy chuckles]
[Nancy] Good afternoon.
Hello, fellas, good day to fly.
No barrel rolls though.
[hopeful music playing]
Well, I think that's a First Lady question, actually.
Why would you do this to Gorbachev?
You know how long it's taken us to get to this.
They're at the table. They're ready to make a deal
and you wanna embarrass him?
Gorbachev's the first friend we've had over there in 70 years!
- [door closes] - [sighs] You can't say this.
I'm-I'm begging you to listen to me.
You know, I stood by you with SDI when it was ridiculed.
I supported you with the Contras.
I even walked out of Reykjavík with egg on my face.
But this goes too far.
This is worse than Evil Empire.
You're gonna blow up Geneva, you blow up eight years of diplomacy.
We'll be right back where we started from, or worse!
"Clarity is power."
You know, a very great man once said that to me.
What are we here for, George...
but to win?
[soft music playing]
[Reagan] Behind me stands a wall.
Part of a vast system of barriers
that divide the entire continent of Europe.
A gash of barbed wire, concrete,
dogs, and guard towers,
imposing the will of a totalitarian state.
As long as this gate is closed
and this scar is permitted to stand,
there is a question of freedom for all mankind.
[cheering, applauding]
[Reagan] The totalitarian world produces backwardness
because it does such violence to the spirit.
Thwarting the human impulse to create, to enjoy, even to worship.
Here in Berlin, like the city itself,
symbols of love, symbols of worship
cannot be suppressed.
[whooping, cheering]
There is one sign that the Soviets can make,
that would unmistakably and dramatically advance
the cause of freedom and peace.
General Secretary Gorbachev,
if you seek peace,
if you seek liberalization and change,
come here to this gate.
[crowd cheering]
Mr. Gorbachev,
open this gate.
Is he gonna say it?
Mr. Gorbachev,
tear down this wall.
[cheering, applauding]
Whoo!
[yells] Whoo!
[laughs]
[whooping, yelling]
Well done, cowboy.
[cheering]
[hopeful music playing]
[Viktor] In the chess game of the Cold War,
it was checkmate.
["Sweet Child O' Mine" playing]
[reporter 1] The unimaginable is happening
right now in Berlin.
[reporter 2] Shocking developments overnight
as East Germany announced its citizens
can travel freely to West Germany.
[reporter 3] What no one thought could happen
is happening right now.
[crowd cheering]
[reporter] Within hours, the city erupted in celebration
as East and West Germans took hammers to the wall
that had separated them for 30 years.
[crowd cheering]
[Viktor] Two years, after the wall fell,
the Soviet Union was no more.
I knew he was the one.
He was the one who would bring us down.
Not with missiles or guns or even politics.
Something much greater.
[soft music playing]
[horse whinnying]
[Viktor] People will not give their lives for power,
or a State, or even ideology.
People give their lives for one another,
for the freedom to live those lives as they choose and for God.
We took that away.
The Crusader...
gave it back to them.
And that is the answer to your question.
[exhales deeply]
Thank you, Viktor Petrovich.
[Viktor] Take it.
Thank you.
Good night.
What's going on there, Mr. President?
This means something to me.
[Nancy] I know what you're saying, John,
but I'm not gonna do it.
Ma'am, I need you to tell him we can't do this anymore.
I can't. I can't. I can't do it.
He got lost yesterday.
I couldn't find him for half an hour.
Horses know when a rider doesn't know what he's doing, okay? He's...
He's gonna get thrown again.
I can't tell him that he can't ride anymore.
He loves it too much.
Please.
Okay.
He loves you more, ma'am.
[door opens, closes]
Mr. President?
What is it, John?
You know, uh...
I don't think we're having as much fun riding as we used to.
Oh, the agent on, uh... [sniffs]
- On Mrs. Reagan, she is... - What do you want, John?
Mr. President, I don't--
I don't think we should ride anymore.
Oh.
[sighs deeply]
[pats saddle]
One more ride.
Yes, sir, Mr. President.
Mm.
["Take Me Home, Country Roads" playing]
[Reagan] My fellow Americans.
I have recently been told that I am one of the millions of Americans
who will be afflicted with Alzheimer's disease.
At the moment, I feel just fine.
I intend to live the remainder of the years God gives me
doing the things I have always done.
Unfortunately, as Alzheimer's disease progresses,
the family often bears a heavy burden.
I only wish there was some way I could spare Nancy
from this painful experience.
I will continue to share life's journey
with my beloved Nancy and my family.
I plan to enjoy the great outdoors
and stay in touch with my friends and supporters.
When the time comes,
I am confident that with your help,
she will face it with faith and courage.
In closing, let me thank you, the American people,
for giving me the great honor
of allowing me to serve as your president.
When the Lord calls me home, whenever that may be,
I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours
and eternal optimism for its future.
I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life.
I know that for America,
there will always be a bright new dawn ahead.
Thank you, my friends.
May God always bless you.
Sincerely,
Ronald Reagan.
[drums beating]
["Amazing Grace" playing on bagpipe]
["Don't Fence Me In" by Bob Dylan playing]
[song fades]
["Walls Will Fall" performed by BJ Thomas playing]
[little boy reading the letter]
[song ends]