There are very few real-life figures that have been depicted on-screen as the various Presidents of the United States, but plenty of movies and TV shows have also created their own characters to adopt these titles. From long-running political dramas to more short-form comedies in the genre, the White House has always been a popular location for TV shows to take over. Some of thebest political thrillers of all timehave centered themselves around the US government, using the POTUS as a lens through which to explore wider society.
Netflix’s recent seriesZero Dayis another addition to this genre, following Robert De Niro’s former President George Mullen, as he investigates a devastating cyberattack that has drastic consequences for US national security. WhileZero Dayhas opened to mixed reviews, it effectively proves one important thing: audiences will never grow tired of shows that bring them behind the curtain of the White House.
10Matt Santos - Played By Jimmy Smits
The West Wing (1999-2006)
The West Wingis arguably the defining political drama of this century, so it’s no surprise that some of the show’s fictional presidents are still remembered fondly today. WhileMatt Santos isn’t the best president from the show, he was still a brilliant addition to the cast whose dynamic with the existing ensemble really brought those later seasons to life. He was undeniably fit for the role, exemplifying all the stoic leadership that citizens would expect from the President of the United States. Jimmy Smits gave an excellent performance that managed to keepThe West Wingalive despite many seasons.
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Madam Secretary (2014-2019)
Madam Secretarydoesn’t always get the recognition it deserves for its rich, layered exploration of American politics, but one aspect of the show that’s widely praised is Keith Carradine’s portrayal of President Conrad Dalton. While the series mostly focused on protagonist Elizabeth McCord and her work as Secretary of State,Carradine’s supporting role was still a huge highlight. AlthoughMadam Secretarywasn’t renewed for a seventh season, it’s still remembered as one of the strongest and most realistic depictions of White House politics in recent memory.
8Mackenzie Allen - Played By Geena Davis
Commander In Chief (2005-2006)
There’s lots to be admired aboutCommander in Chief, from its progressive take on gender stereotypes in American politics to its sharp, precise writing that constantly kept audiences on the edge of their seats. The show followed the fictional administration and dysfunctional family life of Mackenzie Allen, the first female President of the United States. The show did a brilliant job ofinterweaving personal drama with more global, international politicsthat managed to whet the appetites of many different audiences. Davis’ fictional president was an extremely strong one who faced countless challenges in the show, but always survived.
7Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III - Played By Tony Goldwyn
Scandal (2012-2018)
Scandalwas another hugely successful drama that explored daily life in the White House through countless interesting characters and complex relationships, really bringing to life the stress involved with this line of work. While the show focused on the president’s former media consultant Olivia Pope,Grant still played a huge role in the storythroughout its many seasons. While many audiences are calling forOlivia Pope to return in another show,Scandalwouldn’t have worked half as well without Goldwyn’s supporting role - and a new project would struggle to recapture that energy.
6Charles Logan - Played By Gregory Itzin
24 (2001-2010)
While Charles Logan certainly isn’t a “good” president in an objective sense, he brought so much tension and intrigue to24that really elevated the show after a couple of seasons that struggled to find their purpose.He was the successor to Geoff Pierson’s President Keeler, who was sworn in after the former suffered a critical injury at the hands of a terrorist group. This subplot is easily one of24’s most interesting overarching narratives, and Logan’s character development throughout the later seasons is captivating to watch.
5Selina Meyer - Played By Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Veep (2012-2019)
While several of TV’s most iconic presidents are either sworn in suddenly in the show’s later seasons or serve in the White House for the entire show, the great thing aboutVeepis thataudiences get to watch Selina Meyer climb the political ladder in real-time. She doesn’t become President of the United States until the third season, by which point viewers have already come to love her as the Vice President. This makes the show so much more compelling, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ critically acclaimed performance makes this even more engaging.
4Tom Kirkman - Played By Kiefer Sutherland
Designated Survivor (2016-2019)
It’s hard to discuss thegreatest fictional presidentswithout at least mentioningDesignated Survivor; the show introduced a whole new audience to political thrillers, cashing in on Kiefer Sutherland’s iconic status as Jack Bauer and bringing him to the other side of the Oval Office. The show follows his protagonist Tom Kirkman ashe’s suddenly promoted to POTUS after a devastating attack on the White Housethat leaves every other candidate dead.Designated Survivordoes an excellent job of navigating the difficult decisions that American politicians make on a daily basis, focusing on the effect this has on Kirkman’s family.
3Claire Underwood - Played By Robin Wright
House Of Cards (2013-2018)
House of Cardswas the biggest show on Netflix for a long time, and remains one of the most influential political thrillers in the history of the genre. The show followed Kevin Spacey’s protagonist Frank Underwood following his appointment as Secretary of State, where he works alongside his wife Claire to climb the political ladder and get revenge on those who tried to sabotage his career.
Robin Wright’s portrayal of Claire Underwood was a shining beacon that kept the show alive in its darkest moments.
Whileboth Frank and Claire tried their hands at the presidencythroughoutHouse of Cards, the latter was undeniably the stronger candidate for the role. While Frank’s politics were often shrouded by ulterior motives and personal vendettas, Claire was a much more utilitarian leader who ultimately proved herself to be the winner of the entire show in its final season. Although fans criticized the show’s final seasons so heavily thatHouse of Cards’ showrunners ultimately had to apologize, Robin Wright’s portrayal of Claire Underwood was a shining beacon that kept the show alive in its darkest moments.
2David Palmer - Played By Dennis Haysbert
The complete opposite of24’s other president Charles Logan, the show’s first POTUS David Palmer was an excellent addition to the cast whose fiery dynamic with protagonist Jack Bauer created much of the intrigue and tension of the first few seasons. Not only was Palmer an integral part of the story, but Dennis Haysbert’s charismatic performance made him somebody that audiences cared about even when he wasn’t on-screen. He’s initially sworn into office afterJack Bauer prevents his assassination, leading to a sharp camaraderie between the two characters that lasts until the latter’s death in season 5.
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The most enticing thing about David Palmer throughout24is that he represents the objective good of American politics. Where many dramas would shy away from a character that represents democratic values so cleanly and openly,24realizes that you don’t need a morally ambiguous president to make tensions in the White House boil over. Even the most well-intentioned people can fall victim to political trouble, and that’s exactly what happens to Palmer.
1Jed Bartlet- Played By Martin Sheen
The West Wingis a political drama at its core, but it’s surprising how long it took the writers to realize that Martin Sheen’s president was undeniably the most engaging part of the show’s early seasons. His portrayal of Jed Bartlet was everything audiences wanted from this kind of sharp thriller, with his witty stoicism and fierce integrity that once again displayed the purest part of American politics.
Many ofThe West Wing’s best episodesare those that focus on Bartlet’s struggles to keep his policies on the White House floor, fighting against the Republican majority in his congress. It’s a very simple character arc that doesn’t require too many complicated ideas or tangential subplots, but it works because of Aaron Sorkin’s excellent writing and the charisma exuded by Sheen’s fictional president.
The West Wing
Cast
In Aaron Sorkin’s classic political procedural, the senior staff of President Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen) face the daily challenge of helping to run the country from the West Wing of the White House. The series features an ensemble cast that also includes Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Bradley Whitford, Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, and John Spencer.
