Mackenzie Allen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the television show Commander in Chief, a political drama aired by ABC, the fictional character Mackenzie Spencer Allen, played by Geena Davis, is the first female President of the United States. She usually is called "Mac" by those close to her (except some relatives) and "Madam President" by others.

[edit] Life and politics

Mackenzie Spencer Allen is the daughter of Michael Allen, a lawyer in his days, and Katherine "Kate" Spencer Allen, the owner and manager of a restaurant. She was born in late 1960, in Connecticut. She is educated in public schools, and goes on to marry Rod Calloway, by whom she has three children; fraternal twins Horace ( a liberal who is older by four minutes) and Rebecca (a conservative who disapproves of her mother's decision not to resign); and Amy, who is very young. All three children also attend public school, following in the footsteps of both Allen and her husband. After serving as a prosecutor, Allen is elected to the U.S. House of Representatives twice as an indepedent representing a district in Connecticut. When she graduates from law school, she is recommended to her first job by Anthony Prado, who would eventually become her National Security Advisor.

[edit] Candidate for Vice-Presidency and victory

Allen is a moderate Republican who is encouraged by fellow moderates in her party to run as an Independent when a far right Republican secures victory in the primary election. Both she and her husband, Rod Calloway, are surprised at the suggestion; both assumed that they were going to ask Rod, who was then Attorney General of Connecticut. After four years in Congress, she decides not to seek a third term, outraged that campaign finance reform measures are failing and unwilling, in her own words, "to be part of a corrupt system that couldn't heal itself." She is then chancellor of the University of Richmond, with expertise in Middle Eastern affairs. One evening, while dining with the then Vice President, Theodore Roosevelt "Teddy" Bridges, she is asked to be his running mate. She is then elected as Vice President on a ticket with Republican Bridges, although she technically remains a political independent. She accuses Bridges at first for only wanting her for being a woman, as she would help him greatly with his 40 percent approval rating among women. Bridges admits to this, but also advises her it would open the door for women in politics. Mackenzie is, at first, skeptical about running, for she worries about her lack of experience, having only served four years in the United States Congress, and about running as an Independent for a Republican. She is elected along with Bridges, and Rod becomes her chief of staff.

[edit] Rise to the Presidency

About two years into his term of office, Bridges suffers a massive stroke which soon leads to his death, causing Allen to succeed to the presidency. However, prior to his death, Bridges and key figures in the Republican Party urge Allen to resign her office before Bridges' death so that Nathan Templeton, the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, would instead be in line for the presidency in the event of Bridges' resigning. Bridges would have to resign, if he had survived, to receive treatment, and would be paralyzed. His absence would be for well over a year. The cabinet is afraid of having an Independent as President, and all urge Mackenzie to resign. Bridges refuses to resign before Allen, while he is still alive. Allen, after thinking about it, has her Communication Director draft a resignation speech. However, after talking with Templeton, who shows prejudice against both Muslims and women, Allen decided to take the oath of office, and be inaugurated as the nation's first female president.

Listen to this article (info/dl)

This audio file was created from a revision dated 2005-11-15, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. (Audio help)

More spoken articles

[edit] Madam President

Her first act as president is to rescue a Nigerian Muslim woman who was sentenced to death by stoning for having sex outside marriage. She appoints as her Vice President Warren Keaton, the Democratic running mate of the man whom she and Teddy Bridges had defeated in their election. Rod becomes First Gentleman of the United States, and her mother Kate Spencer Allen becomes her White House Hostess.

While on board Air Force One en route to negotiate a trade deal between protesting airline unions and managers, Allen suffers a ruptured appendix requiring several hours of surgery and at least a day of recovery. Prior to surgery she invokes the 25th Amendment, believing the Senate President Pro Tempore would temporarily assume the presidency. Templeton steps up instead, costing him his seat in the United States House of Representatives (though in reality, a special election would be scheduled to fill the vacancy and he could return to his seat in 90 days). With his new position of power, he quickly forces an end to the airline labor strikes, undoing Allen's weeks of careful negotiations. He is officially Acting President for approximately one day during Allen's medical leave.

The series ended right before the election season began between Templeton, Allen and an unknown Democrat. Polls early on showed Allen and Templeton tied, but after his day as president Templeton surges in polls. Allen puts the race back into a dead heat with her apparent town hall performance win. The town hall was considered the "first presidential debate" with just potential and announced presidential candidates attending. The series cuts off so we do not find out who won the election.

Bridges, while alive, had intended to appoint Allen to the United States Supreme Court and have Templeton be his vice-president; however, Bridges dies before re-election, and Templeton refuses, saying a move to the vice-presidency would be a demotion.

[edit] Current Cabinet

• Secretary of State - Martin Wye
• Secretary of Agriculture - Francis Barnes
• Secretary of Defense - Francis Mills
• Attorney General - Carl Brantley
• Nominee for Secretary of the Treasury - Stan Dennison

[edit] Senior Staffers

• Chief of Staff - Jim Gardner
• Deputy Chief of Staff - Dan Pierce
• White House Press Secretary - Kelly Ludlow
• National Security Advisor - Anthony Prado
• Special Aide to the President - Vince Taylor

[edit] Former Cabinet and Senior Staffers

• Vice President of the United States - Warren Keaton (D)
• Attorney General - Melanie Blackston
• Secretary of the Interior - Charlie Witherspoon
• National Security Advisor - Roman Wolfe
• White House Press Secretary - Hale Richardson
• Deputy White House Press Secretary - Alex Williams
• Presidential Secretary - Ruth