:23:05
Tell me this. Hypothetically--
:23:07
I feel a nightmare coming on.
:23:09
What would happen
if I called Sydney Wade...
:23:11
...and asked her to be my date
at the state dinner on Thursday evening?
:23:17
You're not serious.
:23:18
Don't I sound serious?
:23:20
The President can't just go out on a date.
:23:22
Why not? Jefferson did. Wilson did.
:23:25
Wilson was widowed during his first term.
He met a woman, Edith Gault...
:23:28
...dated her, courted her, married her.
:23:30
And somewhere in there he managed
to form the League of Nations.
:23:34
Mr.President, this is an election year.
:23:37
If you're looking
for female companionship...
:23:38
...we can make arrangements
that will ensure total privacy.
:23:42
I don't want you to get me a girl.
What is this, Vegas?
:23:45
No, sir. The White House.
:23:46
I'm talking about something
that is not a conflict with my oath of office.
:23:50
I'm a single adult. I met a woman
who I'd like to see again socially.
:23:53
How is that different
from what Wilson did?
:23:55
The difference is he didn't have to be
president on television.
:23:59
You said it yourself:
:24:00
If there had been a TV
in every living room 60 years ago...
:24:04
...this country does not elect a man
in a wheelchair.
:24:07
So what are you saying?
:24:09
That we'll take a hit.
:24:11
How big?
:24:13
Five points, maybe more.
:24:15
- We're talking here about five points?
- Could be more.
:24:18
I'd drop five points if Wisconsin doesn't
make it to the Rose Bowl.
:24:21
Five ball in the corner.
:24:24
Want me to have Kodak put together
some numbers so we know?
:24:28
Yeah.
:24:29
No! I don't want a checkup polling sample
to see if it's okay...
:24:32
...like I'm asking permission
to stay out an hour past curfew.
:24:36
This is not the business
of the American people.
:24:38
With all due respect, sir...
:24:40
...Americans have a funny way of deciding
what is and what is not their business.
:24:46
I like her, A.J.
:24:52
Stop being my chief of staff
for one minute.
:24:57
Give her a call.