The Celluloid President

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On December 21, 1970, Elvis Presley materialized at the White House gates requesting a meeting with President Nixon. The photo that was taken later that after at the subsequent meeting is the most requested image in the National Archives. Jim and Gary discuss the 2016 movie that was made of this strange event and wonder what it is about famous people that makes them so kooky.

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Gary and Jim discuss the 1994 Tom Hanks film "Forrest Gump," which looks at the social history of the 1950's through the 1980's through the eyes of a low-IQ but wise soldier, runner, ping-pong player and all-around keen observer of human nature. Forrest finds his way to visit three American presidents and eventually finds love where you'd most expect it.

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Jim and Gary actually went to a couple of movie theaters to watch "Reagan," the new biopic of our 40th President.  They use this episode to discuss the movie, their own personal experiences with Reagan, and a recent field trip they took to the Nixon Museum and Library.

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Jim and Gary take a break from discussing movies and have a chat with Ken Khachigian, a former top aide to President Nixon and then President Reagan's favorite speechwriter.  Ken has written a fascinating book called "Behind Closed Doors: In The Room With Reagan and Nixon," a no-holds-bars, brutally honest look at what it's like to play politics at the highest level. In the book Ken writes about the work that went into preparing for Nixon's interviews with David Frost, which was later dramatized in the movie Frost/Nixon. Jim and Gary ask him about that movie, which they previously dissected, to get an insider's account and to find out what it's like to be portrayed onscreen. They also get candid insights into Nixon and Reagan's strengths and weaknesses and learn more about the backstabbing that takes place in the White House when aides even betray their president to advance their own objectives. For more information on Ken, the book and his public appearances go to https://www.reaganandnixon.com/.

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Gary and Jim talk about "Lee Daniels' The Butler," the slightly true story of a White House butler who served and interacted with eight U.S. presidents. The White House scenes are counterpointed by highlights from the real-life Civi Rights movement. The movie was a major hit in 2014 and stars and all-star cast of white and Black actors ranging from Forest Whitaker and Oprah to Robin Williams and Jane Fonda.

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Jim and Gary discuss "J. Edgar," Clint Eastwood's 2011 biopic of J. Edgar Hoover, who was arguably the most powerful bureaucrat in history. Several American presidents feared him; others used him as an ally. The movie says a lot about the rise of the national security state and the danger of federal law enforcement involving itself in politics.

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Jim and Gary discuss Jerry Seinfeld's homage to 1960s business and political culture, including his hilarious take on JFK.  But do only Baby Boomers find this movie funny?

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Jim and Gary discuss Martin Scorcese's epic movie about one of the most disturbing incidents in U.S. history -- the systematic murder of Osage Indians during the 1920's to steal their oil rights.  And believe it or not, there is an appearance by a President in this movie: Calvin Coolidge.

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Jim and Gary don't agree about much when it comes to Barbie, except that people who criticize it for political reasons should get a life.  Gary thought the movie had surprising philosophical depth and Jim just didn't like the execution.  They do agree, though, that they'd rather be a Ken than an Allan. 

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Jim and Gary take a look at the 1975 action/adventure movie "The Wind and the Lion," which stars Brian Keith as an overly energetic Theodore Roosevelt, Sean Connery as the last of the Barbary Pirates, and Candice Bergen as a kidnapped American widow who becomes a feisty pawn in internal Moroccan politics.