Fact1: President of United States nominates Robert A. Leffingwell as Secretary of State, Fact2: Vice President Harley Hudson continue administration 's foreign policy, Fact3: Senate Foreign Relations Committee appoints subcommittee chaired by majority member Brigham Anderson of Utah to evaluate nominee, Fact4: White House withdraw nomination due to Leffingwell 's perjury, Fact5: Munson criticizes Cooley for opposing nominee but not exposing Fletcher forcing Anderson to bear pressure alone
Output: The President of the United States nominates Robert A. Leffingwell as Secretary of State. The secondterm President, who is ill, has chosen him in part because he does not believe that Vice President Harley Hudson—whom both he and others usually ignore—will successfully continue the administrations foreign policy should he die. Leffingwells nomination is controversial within the United States Senate which, using its advice and consent powers, must either approve or reject the appointment. Both the Presidents party, the majority, and the minority are divided. Majority Leader Bob Munson, the senior senator from Michigan, loyally supports the nominee despite his doubts, as do the hardworking Majority Whip Stanley Danta of Connecticut and womanizer Lafe Smith of Rhode Island. Demagogic peace advocate Fred Van Ackerman of Wyoming is especially supportive, in spite of Munson repeatedly advising him not to aggravate the situation. Although also of the majority party, President pro tempore and curmudgeon Seabright Seab Cooley of South Carolina dislikes Leffingwell for both personal and professional reasons, and leads the opposition. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee appoints a subcommittee, chaired by majority member Brigham Anderson of Utah, to evaluate the nominee. The young and devoted family man is undecided on Leffingwell. Cooley dramatically introduces a surprise witness, Herbert Gelman, during the subcommittees hearing. The minor Treasury clerk testifies that he was briefly in a Communist cell with Leffingwell and two others at the University of Chicago. Leffingwell denies the charge and effectively questions Gelmans credibility, but later tells the President that he had committed perjury and that Gelman was essentially correct. He asks the President to withdraw his nomination, but the President refuses. Cooley identifies another member of the cell, senior Treasury official Hardiman Fletcher. He forces Fletcher to confess to Anderson, who tells Munson. Despite personal lobbying by the President, the subcommittee chairman insists that the White House withdraw the nomination due to Leffingwells perjury or he will subpoena Fletcher to testify. The President angrily refuses but the majority leader admits that the White House will soon have to nominate another candidate. Anderson delays his committees report on Leffingwell, but the President sends Fletcher out of the country, angering the senator. Anderson and his wife receive anonymous phone calls from Van Ackermans men warning that unless the subcommittee reports favorably on Leffingwell, information about what happened with Ray in Hawaii will appear. A worried Anderson visits a fellow Army veteran, Ray Shaff, in New York. Shaff admits that he sold evidence of a past homosexual relationship between the two. Hudson, Andersons friend Smith, and others attempt to counsel the troubled chairman but, unable to reconcile his duty and his secret, Anderson commits suicide. The President denies knowing about the blackmail to Munson and Hudson. He tells the majority leader that he is dying and that Leffingwells confirmation is vital. Munson criticizes Cooley for opposing the nominee but not exposing Fletcher, forcing Anderson to bear the pressure alone. Andersons death, nonetheless, permits the subcommittee and the Foreign Relations Committee to proceed with the nomination. Both report favorably to the full Senate. In the Senate Chamber Cooley apologizes for his vindictiveness. While he will vote against Leffingwell and his alien voice, the senator will not ask others to follow. Munson, moved by Cooleys action, cites the tragic circumstances surrounding the confirmation. Although the majority leader will vote for Leffingwell, he will permit a conscience vote from others. Hudsons quorum call and the majority leaders refusal to yield the floor prevent Van Ackerman from speaking until Munson asks for the Yeas and Nays, ending debate. The majority leader tells Van Ackerman that were it not for the Andersons privacy, the Senate would censure and expel him. Van Ackerman leaves the chamber before the vote. Munsons side is slightly ahead until Smith unexpectedly votes against Leffingwell, and the majority leader prepares for the Vice President to break the tie in the nominees favor. Secret Service agents enter the chamber and Hudson receives a message from the Senate Chaplain. He announces that he will not break the tie, causing the nomination to fail, and that the President has died during the vote. As he leaves with the Secret Service, Hudson tells Munson that he wants to choose his own Secretary of State. The film ends as Munson makes a motion to adjourn due to the former presidents death.