History Film / TheAmericanPresident

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: In an earlier draft of the script, right before his RousingSpeech, Shepherd is having breakfast with Lucy, and he finally finds out the reason [[ChekhovsGun why she doesn't speak up in Social Studies]]; she doesn't agree with a lot of what Shepherd says politically - in fact, she finds herself agreeing with Senator Rumson on some things - and she doesn't want to say so in class, because she doesn't want to embarrass Shepherd. Shepherd is stunned by this, and tells her she'll never embarrass him, and he's her father first and the President second. This scene combines both AuthorCatchphrase (Shepherd tells Lucy, "The only thing you have to do to make me happy is come home at the end of the day", which Sorkin re-used on ''Series/SportsNight'' and ''Series/TheWestWing'') and an IronicEcho (Shepherd unwittingly quotes one of Sydney's lines to Lucy), the latter of which leads to a EurekaMoment that leads to the RousingSpeech. It's not clear if the scene was never filmed, or was filmed and never used.
** Also in that same draft, at the end, Shepherd makes up with Lewis, Lucy gives her father back his old Social Studies book, which is open to the part of the Constitution that allows for State of the Union speeches, and [[spoiler: A.J. calls Shepherd "Andy"]]. Sorkin reworked the first two parts onto ''Series/TheWestWing''.

* ProductionPosse: Sorkin's "good luck charm" Joshua Malina has his usual small role, along with a bunch of other actors who would pop up in later Sorkin projects, including Martin Sheen (A. J./President Bartlet), Anna Deavere Smith (Robin [=McCall=]/NSA Nancy [=McNally=]), and Nina Siemaszko (Beth Wade/Ellie Bartlet).
* RealitySubtext: This film was made during the Clinton administration, when two main criticisms of the then-president concerned Hillary Clinton's influence in presidential matters, and about Bill Clinton's extramarital affairs.

* AllStarCast: Top to bottom filled with veteran name actors.

* RunningGag: Andrew has a very difficult time being President and personally buying flowers for Sydney.

* ShownTheirWork: You'd be hard-pressed to find a more accurate portrayal of the day-to-day workings of the White House. The sets would be re-used for ''TheWestWing''.

* ParentWithNewParamour: Andrew is a widower with a 12 year-old daughter.

''The American President'' is a 1995 romantic drama directed by Rob Reiner (in his first film after the infamous ''{{North}}'') and written by Creator/AaronSorkin, starring MichaelDouglas, Annette Bening, Creator/MichaelJFox, and Creator/MartinSheen. These days it is most noted for being basically a dress rehearsal for Sorkin's later TV series ''Series/TheWestWing'', which included a number of the same actors, albeit in different parts.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Filled with character actors you're bound to recognize, including Samantha Mathis, David Paymer, and Anne Haney.

* WhatTheHellHero: Louis gives this one to Shepherd, but he has a good response to it.

* EverybodyCallsHimBarkeep: Much to his chagrin, everyone calls Shepherd "Mr. President", to include close friends playing pool in private.

** Also in that same draft, at the end, Shepherd makes up with Lewis, Lucy gives her father back his old Social Studies book, which is open to the part of the Constitution that allows for State of the Union speeches, and [[Spoiler: A.J. calls Shepherd "Andy"]]. Sorkin reworked the first two parts onto ''Series/TheWestWing''.

* StrawmanPolitical: Bob Rumson, GOP candidate.

''The American President'' is a 1996 romantic drama directed by Rob Reiner (in his first film after the infamous ''{{North}}'') and written by Creator/AaronSorkin, starring MichaelDouglas, Annette Bening, Creator/MichaelJFox, and Creator/MartinSheen. These days it is most noted for being basically a dress rehearsal for Sorkin's later tv series ''Series/TheWestWing'', which included a number of the same actors, albeit in different parts.

''The American President'' is a 1996 romantic drama directed by Rob Reiner (in his first film after the infamous ''{{North}}'') and written by Creator/AaronSorkin, starring MichaelDouglas, Annette Bening, MichaelJFox, and MartinSheen. These days it is most noted for being basically a dress rehearsal for Sorkin's later tv series ''TheWestWing'', which included a number of the same actors, albeit in different parts.

* TheyCallMeMisterTibbs: A.J. consistently calls Andrew "Mr. President" even when they're alone, despite them having been the best of friends for years. (When Andrew calls him out on this once, he delivers his reply in the form of a ShoutOut to Dr. Seuss.)
-->'''A.J.:''' Nice shot, Mr. President.
-->'''Andrew:''' "Nice shot, ''Mr. President''"?! You won't even call me by my name when we're playing pool?
-->'''A.J.:''' 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--
-->'''Andrew:''' At ease, AJ. '''At ease!'''

''The American President'' is a 1996 romantic drama directed by Rob Reiner (in his first film after the infamous ''{{North}}'') and written by AaronSorkin, starring MichaelDouglas, Annette Bening, MichaelJFox, and MartinSheen. These days it is most noted for being basically a dress rehearsal for Sorkin's later tv series ''TheWestWing'', which included a number of the same actors, albeit in different parts.

* MoodWhiplash: After Andrew and Sydney consumate their relationship, a montage follows of the media pouncing all over their relationship, which causes his approval numbers to start dropping as Rumson begins to gain momentum by dragging their relationship through the mud.

* StrawmanPolitical: Bob Rumson, whose political party is never named, but that's not fooling anyone.
** Actually, he is named as a GOP candidate at one point, so he's confirmed as a Republican. It's just easy to miss.

* DidNotDoTheResearch: During the film, evidence that the President might have a girlfriend shows up when her boss shows Sydney a copy of ''The Washington Times'' with a page one black-and-white photo of her and Shepherd dancing at the state dance. Only problem is, the ''Washington Times'' has been a full-color newspaper since it was founded, and never runs black and white pictures on the front page.

* InferredHolocaust: Think the speech at the end was a CrowningMomentOfAwesome? Not according to [[http://www.overthinkingit.com/2010/03/18/the-american-president/ this]] article.