In honor of President's Day, we decided to present a run-down of some of the most memorable presidents ever portrayed on screen or in books in the realm of Science Fiction and Alternative History.
Here are our picks for some of the best ever presidents ever to grace the world of fiction:
"Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter"
Seth Grahame-Smith gave President Abraham Lincoln a supernatural super hero twist with the story of how young Abe witnessed his mother being fed on and murdered by a bloodsucking monster which he vowed to hunt down and annihilate for the rest of his days. The book eventually became a movie which starred Benjamin Walker as the vampire hunting 16th President of the United States.
Unnamed President - "Fail Safe"
In one of the most memorable performances of his career, Henry Fonda portrayed an unnamed president in the 1964 movie based on the novel of the same title, "Fail Safe". Fonda tried to rescind a "go code" to a bomber group which received the signal to bomb Moscow due to a technical error. In order to prevent nuclear holocaust, the President must make some difficult decisions.
President Snow - "The Hunger Games" Trilogy
Tyrannical, sadistic, and utterly ruthless, President Coriolanus Snow did everything in his power to keep the power in The Capital as the President of Panem. While he basks in the luxury of his mansion and safety of his high balconies, he plays a game of cat and mouse with Katniss Everdeen, victor of the Hunger Games and symbol of hope for all the Districts suffering under the rule of The Capital.
Chancellor Palpatine - "Star Wars" Prequel Trilogy
True, the "Star Wars" Prequel Trilogy leaves much to be desired, but putting aside Anakin Skywalker's rant against sand, over the top costumes and dialogue, and overly-indulgent use of CGI, the story of how a Senator from a small planet called Naboo who rose up the ranks to become a Senator in the galactic Republic and later on elected as Chancellor and then having the same democratic leaders welcome him as the Emperor, is one that is certainly interesting to witness on screen.
President Thomas J. Whitmore - Independence Day
President Whitmore in 1996's Independence Day, was not only one to rouse up morale with a heartfelt speech but also took up arms himself against earth's alien invaders as he lead a fleet of fighters planes into the fray. As a seasoned air force pilot before he became President, he was certainly qualified to lead the troops. Bill Pullman reprises his role as Whitmore in "Independence Day 2: Ressurgence."
President Tom Beck - "Deep Impact"
President Tom Beck, played by Morgan Freeman, must break the news to the nation that an Extinction Level Event (ELE) was heading towards the earth.
Arnold Schwarzenegger - "The Simpsons Movie"
As the first Austrian-born actor turned U.S. politician to be elected to the highest seat in the land, President Arnold Schwarzenegger shows what it truly takes to be a great leader: pointing randomly to an option that will affect hundreds of lives without even reading the fine print first.
Unnamed President - "Iron Sky"
The unnamed female president is very much preoccupied with how her image will affect the polls and how her policies and decisions will affect her possibilities of being re-elected. It is even teased that she will make reappearance in the upcoming "Iron Sky 2" with a promise of a dino-riding Hitler, Reptile people, and more Nazis on the moon!
President James Dale - "Mars Attacks"
Jack Nicholson makes an excellent President James Dale in Tim Burton's "Mars Attacks" who can't understand why we can't all just get along.
President Merkin Muffley - "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb"
Peter Sellers played four major roles in this Stanley Kubrick political satire of the Cold War. As President Merkin Muffley, he tries to telephone some bombers who were given orders from a Commander who "went a bit nutty" to commence a nuclear attack against the Soviet Union.
