Throughout the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s there seems to be very consistent themes regarding how the respective decades viewed politicians, their campaigning, and most of all their behavior and actions while doing so. Every single main character in the four movies has at least one obvious affair, being the most consistent scandal throughout four decades of political campaign films. This is very telling of how the American people view politicians, and especially view their personal lives. The four decades were very different in terms of political climate, social issues, and other concerns, and yet the politicians in the films are always portrayed as immoral to varying degrees. In addition to that, they are also always portrayed as having
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With the hiring of a new campaign adviser that is the grandson of a great civil rights leader, Stanton right away shows the kind of leadership he wants in the campaign, despite all his shortcomings and flawed behaviors. One of the most poignant scenes in the film that demonstrate Jack Stanton’s deep down decency and compassion for the electorate, despite all of his scandals, is actually one of the very first scenes in the film. Stanton is meeting with a group of adults who are taking adult illiteracy classes, and after listening to one man’s heartfelt story full of pain and embarrassment due to not being able to read or write, Stanton breaks down and levels with the man. He tells the story of his Medal of Honor Recipient Uncle Charlie, who despite having distinguished military service and being offered college scholarships, had to pass them up. Stanton begins to choke up and cry when explaining how he was forced to pass these wonderful opportunities up because he was too ashamed to admit he was illiterate, and then explains how he never was able to accomplish much of anything with is life after that. We do later learn that this “Uncle Charlie” most likely wasn’t as great at Stanton made him seem, but his pure and real emotions showing during the story speak of a person who truly empathized with those
With the hiring of a new campaign adviser that is the grandson of a great civil rights leader, Stanton right away shows the kind of leadership he wants in the campaign, despite all his shortcomings and flawed behaviors. One of the most poignant scenes in the film that demonstrate Jack Stanton’s deep down decency and compassion for the electorate, despite all of his scandals, is actually one of the very first scenes in the film. Stanton is meeting with a group of adults who are taking adult illiteracy classes, and after listening to one man’s heartfelt story full of pain and embarrassment due to not being able to read or write, Stanton breaks down and levels with the man. He tells the story of his Medal of Honor Recipient Uncle Charlie, who despite having distinguished military service and being offered college scholarships, had to pass them up. Stanton begins to choke up and cry when explaining how he was forced to pass these wonderful opportunities up because he was too ashamed to admit he was illiterate, and then explains how he never was able to accomplish much of anything with is life after that. We do later learn that this “Uncle Charlie” most likely wasn’t as great at Stanton made him seem, but his pure and real emotions showing during the story speak of a person who truly empathized with those