activity while stationed in Alaska during World War II. Hockstader and Russell's closest advisors press Russell to seize the opportunity but he refuses to do so. After the first ballot, Russell arranges to meet Cantwell privately but when Bascomb is confronted face-to-face by Cantwell, Cantwell angrily counters the charges. Russell threatens to use the allegation anyway but Cantwell knows Russell does not have the stomach for such smear tactics. As the rounds of balloting continue, neither man has enough votes to win though Cantwell holds a narrow lead. Cantwell offers Russell the second spot on his ticket but Russell shocks him by instead releasing his delegates and recommending they throw their support behind Merwin, who secures the nomination. Cast Henry Fonda as William Russell, a former secretary of state whom Vidal based on Adlai Stevenson Cliff Robertson as Joe Cantwell, a sitting U.S. senator based on Joe McCarthy Edie Adams as Mabel Cantwell Margaret Leighton as Alice Russell Shelley Berman as Sheldon Bascomb, a former Army comrade of Cantwell Lee Tracy as Art Hockstader, the former president of the United States, based on Harry Truman Ann Sothern as Sue Ellen Gamadge, the party's vice chair Gene Raymond as Don Cantwell, Joe's brother and campaign manager Kevin McCarthy as Dick Jensen, Russell's campaign manager Mahalia Jackson as Herself Howard K. Smith as Himself John Henry Faulk as Governor T. T. Claypoole, another candidate Richard Arlen as Senator Oscar Anderson, a candidate Penny Singleton [credited but does not appear] George Kirgo as Speechwriter George Furth as Tom Anne Newman as Janet Mary Lawrence as Mrs. Merwin H. E. West as Senator Lazarus Michael MacDonald as Zealot William R. Ebersol as Governor John Merwin, a candidate Natalie Masters as Mrs. Anderson Blossom Rock as Cleaning woman Bill Stout as Himself Tyler McVey as Chairman Sherwood Keith as Doctor Uncredited (in order of appearance) Shep Houghton as Reporter Fred Aldrich as Delegate Gene Roth as Delegate from Pennsylvania William Henry as Reporter Rupert Crosse as Reporter Byron Morrow as Banquet Master of Ceremonies Colin Kenny as Man at pool John Indrisano as Mobster Billy Beck as Guest at party Gore Vidal as Senator at convention Character names are not indicated in the screen credits. The closing credits feature film clips depicting the faces and names of cast members Henry Fonda, Cliff Robertson, Edie Adams, Margaret Leighton, Shelley Berman, Lee Tracy, Ann Sothern, Gene Raymond,