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Myth Boxes
One Good President
In 1993, director Ivan Reitman entertained millions of Americans withhis frothy but charming little movie Dave. The farfetched plot ofthe movie begins with the fictional president, President Bill Mitchell,incapacitated by a stroke—described by his communications director as "aminor circulatory problem of the head." Reluctant to turn over power tothe vice president, the president's scheming chief of staff replaces thedying president with Dave, a look-alike with an uncanny ability toimpersonate President Mitchell. Dave, an American everyman played byKevin Kline, is supposed to serve simply as a figurehead for BobAlexander, the chief of staff. In the meantime Alexander plots to forcethe vice president's resignation so that he can be named vice president.At that point, Dave is supposed to fake another stroke, this one fatal,leaving Bob Alexander as the president.
Of course, as is the case in Hollywood productions, things do notwork out as planned. Dave, as President Mitchell, becomes a big hit withthe press, Congress, the American public, and even President Mitchell'sestranged wife. More importantly, Dave begins to assert himself and actlike a president, eventually firing the unscrupulous chief of staff.
Charming as the movie is, it also contains some well-worn themesregarding the American presidency. Implied in the movie is that thenation is troubled because President Mitchell is weak and devious. But,of course, the nation can be saved by a good president.
Dave's transformation begins with a visit to a homeless shelterpopulated by children. Moved by the plight of the children, Dave decidesto restore $650 million of federal funds to the homeless. (The money wasoriginally contained in a bill that was vetoed by Bob Alexander.) To aidhim in finding the needed money, Dave calls on an old friend who is anaccountant to go over the U.S. budget. Frightened by the charade, Dave'sfriend asks him if he realizes the trouble they could get in with thegovernment. Dave, by now fully in character as the president, responds,"I'm the government!"
After an all-night session that includes a few gags about theirrationality of government accounting, Dave and his accountant friendfind the needed money. The next day Dave convenes the cabinet and onedepartment at a time reduces expenditures until the $650 million isfound. Dave even makes the cabinet members feel good about trimmingtheir budgets for the worthy cause. But nowhere in the scene is thereany indication that it is Congress, and not the president, that appropriatesmoney. Instead we are treated to an exhilarating image of a goodheartedpresident exercising the vast powers of the office. The homelesschildren, and by implication the nation, are saved by the beneficentefforts of an all-powerful president.
Having saved the nation, Dave, like the heroes in countless westerns,walks off into the sunset. Of course, in the final scene Dave also getsthe girl—in this case the recently widowed Mrs. Mitchell.
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