Answer the following question: Build a movie plot around this: What was Hockstader's position? former President
Answer:
William Russell (Fonda) and Joe Cantwell (Robertson) are the two leading candidates for the presidential nomination of an unspecified political party. Both have potentially fatal vulnerabilities. Russell is a principled intellectual (said by Vidal to be based on Adlai Stevenson). A sexual indiscretion has alienated his wife Alice (Margaret Leighton). In addition, he has a past nervous breakdown to live down. Cantwell (whom Vidal wrote was based on Richard Nixon)[1] portrays himself as a populist "man of the people," and patriotic anti-communist campaigning to end "the missile gap" (a Kennedy campaign catch-phrase). Cantwell is a ruthless opportunist, willing to go to any lengths to get the nomination.Neither man can stand the other; neither believes his rival qualified to be President. They clash at the nominating convention in Los Angeles and lobby for the crucial support of dying former President Art Hockstader (Tracy). The pragmatic Hockstader (a character based on Harry Truman, particularly his comments on "striking a blow for liberty" whenever he drinks a bourbon) prefers Russell, but worries about his indecision and principles; he despises Cantwell but appreciates his toughness and willingness to do what it takes.Hockstader decides to publicly support Cantwell but the candidate blunders badly. When the two speak privately, Cantwell attacks Russell with illegally obtained psychological reports (obtained by his brother and campaign manager, Don Cantwell, a character clearly based on Bobby Kennedy who was known as "Ruthless Robert" in political circles during the 1950s and early 1960s). Cantwell has mistakenly assumed that Hockstader was for the more liberal man. The former president tells Cantwell that he doesn't mind a "bastard" but objects to a stupid one. He publicly endorses neither man.Cantwell's attractive, ambitious wife (Edie Adams) actively campaigns, while Russell's pretends for the time being that everything is fine with their marriage. The candidates go to the convention trying to...