On January 20th, Joe Biden will become our country’s 46th president. I personally think it’s cool because I voted for him, and he’s not a proto-fascist supported by white supremacists, call me old-fashioned. Over the last four years, I’ve watched a lot of TV and movies with presidents, and I can assure you they are all better than what we’ve had in reality, but which fake president is worthy of Mt. Rushmore?

4. President Get Off My Plane (James Marshall), Air Force One

I have no idea what this man stood for as president. He was open-minded enough to have Glenn Close (a woman) be his Vice President so that’s cool. This movie rules because President Get Off My Plane is played by Harrison Ford, and is basically John McClane for the most of this movie, as he hides from Russian terrorists who take over the titular plane. President GOMP takes them out one at a time saving his staff on board, and America or something.

Most Presidential Moment:

One terrorist left for the methodical killer leader of the free world to take out. President Get Off My Plane squares off with Oscar Award winner Gary Oldman and movie magic happens.

3. President Andrew Shepherd, The American President

This movie is a sneaky great rom-com on top of having an upper echelon (thank you Chris Sito) fictitious president. I just want to point out that this was Michael J Fox’s last movie. It came out in 1995. We had a great 10ish year run and then it was just taken away. What a bummer. Also, the two points the president focused on in this movie were: global warming and gun control…in 1995. Pretty great how far we’ve come over the last 25 years. This movie has a loaded cast, a Sorkin script, and spawned the West Wing. Chef’s kiss.

Most Presidential Moment:

After using his information from his lobbyist girlfriend, President Shepherd trades climate control legislature for weak gun control laws. Not what you want. Ineffectual politics, using your girlfriend for political capital, and dating a lobbyist, are all tough beats which should kick Shepherd off of Rushmore contention, but then he drops the greatest presidential speech in a movie ever made.

2. President Thomas J Whitmore, Independence Day

In the two spot we have President Thomas J Whitmore. Early on in his presidency, President Whitmore pushed for legal reform, health care reform, and wanted to protect us against environmental change, but his initiatives became bogged down by Congress, as well as rumors of an affair with his Press Secretary, made him seem weak like a President. I remember none of this, but google said it so it must be true. None of these facts matter. President Whitmore has distinction of being the only President to fly a fighter jet and defend America AND the planet from aliens. He helped coordinate the planetary defense and saved us all.

Most Presidential Moment:

Nuking the alien ship, and his own people collaterally, was not his best moment. Firing Secretary of Defense Nimziki was great. Let’s be clear, it’s his speech before the 4th of July battle that takes Whitmore to the two spot. Even though this is the 2nd greatest fake president speech of all time, but his heroics and and vision elevate to the near apex of this exercise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVW3wCm3BLA

1. Josiah “Jed” Bartlet, The West Wing

This should be obvious to all who have watched movies or TV shows of this genre. Jed Bartlet, of the New Hampshire Bartletts who founded one of our OG 13 colonies. He’s educated, he’s progressive, and he’s a Notre Dame fan. President Bartlet in an 8 year stretch creates a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestine conflict, createst millions of jobs, appoints the 1st Hispanic Supreme Court Justice, appoints the first female Chief Justice, and was so committed to what was best for the country that he willfully stepped down during personal crisis for the greater good…and gave the presidency to someone from the opposing political party…because his daughter was kidnapped by terrorists. President Bartlet gave countless examples of how American leaders should be in times of peace and conflict.

Most Presidential Moment:

President Bartlet gave us a cavalcade of great moments during the West Wing’s 7 year run. Whether it was staring down Speaker of the House Haffley over the budget or assassinating a leader of a country who wished us harm during his reelection bid, Bartlet exuded presdientiallity. At no point, has there been a better smackdown than this moment. I’m not a religious man, but I wish churchy people were more like Bartlet.