When the President and Speaker of the House are killed in a building collapse, and the Vice-President declines the office due to age and ill-health, Senate President pro tempore Douglas Dilman (James Earl Jones) suddenly becomes the first black man to occupy the Oval Office. The events from that day to the next election when he must decide if he will actually run challenge his skills as a politician and leader.
James Earl Jones
as Douglass Dilman
Martin Balsam
as Jim Talley
Burgess Meredith
as Senator Watson
Lew Ayres
as Noah Calvin
William Windom
as Arthur Eaton
Barbara Rush
as Kay Eaton
Georg Stanford Brown
as Robert Wheeler
Janet MacLachlan
as Wanda
Martin E. Brooks
as Wheeler's Lawyer
Simon Scott
as Hugh Gaynor
Patric Knowles
as South African Consul
Robert DoQui
as Webson
