President Andrew Shepherd The White House is the single greatest home court advantage in the modern world.
Most-quoted character in The American President (1995): in 30 of its 47 quotes
Most scenes with: A. J. MacInerney (16), Lewis Rothschild (4), Sydney Ellen Wade (4)
We've got serious problems, and we need serious people. And if you want to talk about character, Bob, you'd better come at me with more than a burning flag and a membership card. If you want to talk about character and American Values, fine. Tell me where and when, and I'll show up. This a time for serious people, Bob, and your fifteen minutes are up. My name is Andrew Shepherd, and I am the president.
More lines from President Andrew Shepherd
10 quotes President Andrew Shepherd President Andrew Shepherd [about Sydney]
We had a nice couple of minutes together. She threatened me, I patronized her. We didn't have anything to eat, but I thought there was a connection.
President Andrew Shepherd Okay. You're attracted to me, but the idea of physical intimacy is uncomfortable because you only know me as the President. It's not always gonna be that way, and the reason I know that is because there was a moment last night when you were with me and not the President, and I know what a big step that was for you. So, Sydney, I'm in no rush. Here's my plan: We're gonna slow down. And when you're comfortable, that's when it's gonna happen.
[Sydney comes back into the room. She's wearing one of Shepherd's dress shirts and nothing else. She walks toward him, he continues:] Perhaps I didn't properly explain the fundamentals of the "Slow Down" plan.
President Andrew Shepherd [Discussing a "Sydney-story" with Lewis and Robin]
Let me see if I got this. The third story on the news tonight was that someone I didn't know thirteen years ago when I wasn't president participated in a demonstration where no laws were being broken in protest of something that so many people were against, it doesn't exist anymore. Just out of curiosity, what was the fourth story?
President Andrew Shepherd For the last couple of months, Senator Rumson has suggested that being president of this country was to a certain extent about character. And although I'm not willing to engage in his attacks on me, I've been here three years and three days, and I can tell you without hesitation, being president of this country is entirely about character.
President Andrew Shepherd America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say 'You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, and who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.' You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free.
President Andrew Shepherd We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them. And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things, and two things only : Making you afraid of it, and telling you who's to blame for it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win elections. You gather a group of middle age, middle class, middle income voters who remember with longing an easier time, and you talk to them about family and American values and character and you wave an old photo of the president's girlfriend and you scream about patriotism. You tell them she's to blame for their lot in life. And you go on television and you call her a whore.
President Andrew Shepherd People don't drink the sand because they're thirsty. They drink the sand because they don't know the difference.
President Andrew Shepherd I've loved two women in my life. I lost one to cancer, and I lost the other 'cause I was so busy keeping my job I forgot to do my job. Well, that ends right now.
President Andrew Shepherd For reasons passing understanding, people do not relate guns to gun-related crime.
Scenes with President Andrew Shepherd
19 scenes President Andrew Shepherd Lewis, however much coffee you drink in the morning, I want you to reduce it by half.
I don't drink coffee, sir.
President Andrew Shepherd Then hit yourself over the head with a baseball bat.
Good night, Mr. President.
President Andrew Shepherd A.J.?
Yes, sir?
President Andrew Shepherd When we're out of the office, and alone, you can call me Andy.
I beg your pardon, sir?
President Andrew Shepherd You were the best man at my wedding, for crying out loud. Call me Andy.
Whatever you say, Mr. President.
Mr. President, this is an election year. If you're looking for female companionship, we can make certain arrangements that will ensure total privacy.
President Andrew Shepherd I don't want you to get me a girl, A.J.! What is this, Vegas?
No sir, this is the White House.
President Andrew Shepherd [Discussing whether or not President Sheperd should call Sidney]
This is not the business of the American people!
With all due respect, sir, the American people have a funny way of deciding on their own what is and what is not their business.
President Andrew Shepherd It's Arthur Murray. Six lessons.
That's not what I mean. Two hundred pairs of eyes are focused on you with two questions on their minds - who's this girl, and why is the President dancing with her?
President Andrew Shepherd Well, first of all, the two hundred pairs of eyes aren't focused on me. They're focused on you. And the answers are Sydney Ellen Wade, and because she said yes.
Who're we calling, sir?
President Andrew Shepherd I'm calling the organization of the United Brotherhood of It's None of Your Damn Business, Lewis. I'll be with you in a minute.
[Discussing a reprisal for an attack on US troops]
Sir, it's immediate, it's decisive, it's low-risk, and it's a proportional response.
President Andrew Shepherd Someday someone's going to have to explain to me the virtue of a proportional response.
Sen. Bob Rumson [on TV]
Last night, the cost of those liberal programs was raised to include the blood of 22 American soldiers. Now, Mr. Shepherd's read a lot of books, but you don't need a Harvard degree to see this one coming a mile down the road.
President Andrew Shepherd I went to STANFORD, you blowhole!!!
President Andrew Shepherd What I did tonight was not about political gain.
Yes sir. But it can be, sir. What you did tonight was very presidential.
President Andrew Shepherd Leon, somewhere in Libya right now, a janitor's working the night shift at Libyan Intelligence headquarters. He's going about doing his job... because he has no idea that in about an hour he's going to die in a massive explosion. He's just going about his job, because he has no idea that about an hour ago I gave an order to have him killed. You've just seen me do the least presidential thing I do.
President Andrew Shepherd Are you nervous?
President Andrew Shepherd Good. My nervousness exists on several levels. Number one, and this is in no particular order, I haven't done this in a pretty long time. Number two, uh, any expectations that you might have, given the fact that I'm... you know...
President Andrew Shepherd Exactly, thank you. I think it's important you remember that's a political distinction that comes with the office. I mean, if, uh, Eisenhower were here instead of me, he'd be dead by now.
President Andrew Shepherd [Andrew and Sydney's first time sleeping together has concluded with his staff scrambling to deal with the press fallout.]
I'm sorry about this. We'll do it better next time.
Well, I'm no expert but I think we did it pretty good this time.
President Andrew Shepherd [President Shepherd watches a campaign speech by his opponent while talking to Sidney on the phone]
Wait, wait, here comes my favorite part.
Bob Rumson My name is Bob Rumson, and I'm running for President!
President Andrew Shepherd I'm sure glad he cleared that up, 'cause those people were about to buy some Amway products!
President Andrew Shepherd I want to buy her some flowers. That's what men do when they break a date.
That's not what men do. I know no men who do that.
People want leadership. And in the absence of genuine leadership, they will listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone. They want leadership, Mr. President. They're so thirsty for it, they'll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there's no water, they'll drink the sand.
President Andrew Shepherd Lewis, we've had Presidents who were beloved who couldn't find a coherent sentence with two hands and a flashlight. People don't drink the sand 'cause they're thirsty. They drink the sand 'cause they don't know the difference.
Nice shot, Mr. President.
President Andrew Shepherd Nice shot, Mr. President? You won't even call me by my name when we're playing pool?
I will not do it playing pool, I will not do it in a school. I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them, Sam I Am.
President Andrew Shepherd At ease, A.J, at ease!
President Andrew Shepherd You handling me, A.J.?
No, sir.
President Andrew Shepherd Good.
But I will, unless you start taking your head out of your ass.
President Andrew Shepherd Is the view pretty good from the cheap seats, A.J.?
I beg your pardon?
President Andrew Shepherd Because it occurs to me that in twenty five years I've never seen your name on a ballot. Why is that, A.J.? Why are you always one step behind me?
Because if I wasn't, you'd be the most popular history professor at the University of Wisconsin.
President Andrew Shepherd **** you!
At least let the agents do a security sweep. We don't know who's in there!
President Andrew Shepherd You think there's a florist in there planning an assassination on the the off-chance that I might be stopping by?
...It's possible.
Excuse me, Mr. President, I just got off the phone with the federal mediator in St. Louis. Management just walked away from the table; the baggage handlers, pilots and flight attendants are all getting set to walk out in forty-eight hours.
President Andrew Shepherd You know, I studied under a Nobel Prize-winning economist, and you know what he taught me?
Never have an airline strike at Christmas?
President Andrew Shepherd I'm going to St. Louis.
President Andrew Shepherd Yeah, hi, is this Sydney?
Leo?
President Andrew Shepherd No, this is Andrew Shepherd.
Oh! It's Andrew Shepherd! Yeah, you're hilarious, Richard, you're just a regular riot!
President Andrew Shepherd No, this isn't Richard, this is Andrew Shepherd.
Oh! Well, I'm so glad you called, because I forgot to tell you today what a nice ass you have. I'm also impressed that you were able to get my phone number given the fact that I don't have a phone. Good night, Richard.
President Andrew Shepherd Uh, this isn't Richard- [Sydney hangs up] This used to be easier.
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