Fact1: Young political idealist and grandson of civil rights leader Henry Burton is recruited to join campaign of Jack Stanton, Fact2: charismatic Southern governor win Democratic Party nomination for President of United States, Fact3: Henry is impressed by Stanton 's genuine warmth and empathy with people, Fact4: Henry ’s ex-girlfriend shows up to question Stanton, Fact5: Jack and Susan send Henry and Libby on opposition research mission on Picker 's past
Output: Young political idealist and grandson of a civil rights leader Henry Burton Adrian Lester is recruited to join the campaign of Jack Stanton John Travolta, a charismatic Southern governor who is trying to win the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States. Henry is impressed by Stantons genuine warmth and empathy with people. He joins Stantons inner circle of political advisers: Stantons formidable wife, Susan Stanton Emma Thompson; ruthless political strategist Richard Jemmons Billy Bob Thornton; intelligent and attractive spokeswoman Daisy Green Maura Tierney; and sly political operator Howard Ferguson Paul Guilfoyle as they journey to New Hampshire, the first state to hold a presidential primary. After Stanton completes an impressive debate performance against his Democratic rivals, Henry’s exgirlfriend shows up to question Stanton about his arrest for an antiwar protest during the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. In addition its revealed that Stanton called a U.S. senator to help him get released then Stanton persuaded the mayor of Chicago to have his police record expunged. The team becomes worried that Stanton’s past indiscretions may be used against him by the press and his political opponents. They hire Jack and Susans old friend, tough but unbalanced Libby Holden Kathy Bates, to investigate allegations that could be used by Stantons political opponents to undermine his candidacy such as Stantons notorious womanizing. One of Stantons mistresses and Susans hairdresser, Cashmere McLeod Gia Carides, produces secret taped conversations between them to prove they had an affair. Henry discovers that the tapes have been doctored, so Libby tracks down the man responsible for the tapes and forces him at gunpoint to confess his guilt in a signed letter to the American public. The campaign is then rocked by a fresh allegation when Stantons old friend, Big Willie McCollister Tommy Hollis approaches Henry to tell him that his 17yearold daughter Loretta who worked for the Stantons as a babysitter is pregnant and that Stanton is the father. Henry and Howard tell Willie he must allow his daughter to undergo an amniocentesis to determine paternity. Although they convince Willie to remain silent on the issue, Henry is nonetheless sickened and disillusioned with the experience. Realizing the campaign is falling behind in the polls, Stantons team adopt a new strategy. Stanton begins going on the offensive by attacking his nearest rival, Senator Lawrence Harris Kevin Cooney for casting antiIsrael votes and favoring cuts in Social Security and Medicare. Harris confronts Stanton during a radio talk show in Florida but suffers two heart attacks after the encounter. He suffers a medical setback, subsequently withdraws from the race, and is replaced by his friend, former Florida governor Fred Picker Larry Hagman. Pickers wholesome, straighttalking image proves an immediate threat to the Stanton campaign. Jack and Susan send Henry and Libby on an opposition research mission on Pickers past. They discover from his exbrotherinlaw, Eduardo Reyes Tony Shalhoub, that Picker had a cocaine addiction as governor, which led to the disintegration of his first marriage. They also meet with Pickers cocaine supplier Lorenzo Delgado John Vargas, with whom Picker had a homosexual affair. Not expecting the information to ever be used, Libby and Henry share their findings with Jack and Susan, but are dismayed when they both decide to leak the information to the press. Libby says that if Jack does so, she will reveal that he tampered with the results of the paternity test, proving that he slept with Willies daughter. Libby commits suicide after she realizes she spent her life idealizing Jack and Susan only to learn how flawed they truly are. Racked with guilt over Libbys death, Stanton takes the incriminating information to Picker, and apologizes for seeking it out. Picker admits to his past indiscretions, and agrees to withdraw from the race and to endorse Stanton. Henry intends to quit the campaign, admitting he has become deeply disillusioned with the whole political process. Stanton begs Henry to reconsider, persuading him that the two of them can make history. Months later, President Stanton is dancing at the Inaugural Ball with First Lady, Susan. He shakes the hands of all his campaign staff, the last of whom is Henry.