MAD MEN: NIXON VS. KENNEDY {ANAMORPHIC} (TV)
Summary
One in this drama series about the goings-on at a New York City advertising agency in the 1960s, centering on high-level executive Don Draper.
In this episode, Don introduces Bert to Herman "Duck" Phillips, who wants to move back to Manhattan after a stint in London and become Sterling Cooper's new head of account services. Meanwhile, the lower-level workers prepare for a party that evening to celebrate the election returns. Later, Pete pays a visit to Don, trying to get the head of account services position, and angered when Don refuses. Once Don has left for the evening, Paul, Ken, Harry, and the others begin drinking, partying hard, and flirting with the secretarial pool, much to Peggy's consternation. Back at home, Pete ponders whether he should blackmail Don with his knowledge of his past, having recently intercepted a package of personal effects meant for Don.
As the election returns come in, Paul finds a play written by Ken. Ken grudgingly lets the group take part in a reading of it, with Salvatore and Joan performing a steamy scene. As Nixon continues winning state after state, the party heats up, and soon the married Harry is kissing Hildy. Both feel awful and blame their drunkenness, but eventually they sleep with each other. By night's end, everyone is passed out in the office, while the election is still undecided. With Ken and Joan the only two still awake, they end the evening dancing cheek to cheek.
In the morning, Harry is shocked to find himself unclothed with Hildy, while Peggy returns to work to find the office an absolute wreck and her locker having been broken open. She tells Ken, Paul, and Harry that she'll alert security. Don asks Bert if he knows anything more about who is going to win the election and Bert blames voting fraud for allowing Kennedy to get close. Then, Pete again visits Don, showing him the Dick Whitman photograph he found, inferring that he knows all about the man's past. When Don still refuses to play ball, Pete insinuates that he will blackmail him to Bert. Don remains calm, but once alone he begins to fret, recalling the incident that started everything.
Afterward, Don goes to visit Rachel, suggesting that they skip town and move to Los Angeles. However, Rachel tells Don that he is acting like a child and needs to stay in New York with his children. Don returns to work to find a crying Peggy in his office, who reveals that she inadvertently got two innocent underlings fired. She wonders to Don why everyone hates her. Then, Don goes to Pete, telling him he has a "deep lack of character" and that he will be hiring Duck for the position. Don goes to Bert's office to call Pete's bluff, stunning Pete. Even more stunning: Bert doesn't care about Don's past since he's such a good ad man, dismissing Pete from the room. Bert encourages Don to keep an eye on Pete from now on.
Afterward, Don recalls how he became the man he is today. Specifically, he recalls being in Korea under his given name: Dick Whitman. He encounters his lieutenant, Donald Draper, who is burned beyond recognition following a strafing. Having taken Donald's dog tags, Dick wakes up in the hospital with a new identity. He's charged to take the body of "Dick" back to his home town, at which point he refuses to get off the train. Adam sees him from the station but the little boy's cries of recognition go unheeded as the train pulls out of the station. Finally, back in the present, Don returns home to Betty and the children, just as Nixon makes his concession speech and Kennedy is awarded the presidency. Commercials deleted.
This selection from the Alan Gerry Cable Collection has been made available by the Gerry Foundation, Inc.
Details
- NETWORK: AMC
- DATE: October 11, 2007 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:47:48
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 107450
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Advertising
- SERIES RUN: AMC - TV series, 2007-2015
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Matthew Weiner … Executive Producer, Created by
- Tom Palmer … Co-Executive Producer
- Andre Jacquemetton … Producer, Writer
- Maria Jacquemetton … Producer, Writer
- Lisa Albert … Producer, Writer
- Scott Hornbacher … Producer
- Blake McCormick … Co-Producer
- Alan Taylor … Director
- David Carbonara … Music by
- Jon Hamm … Cast, Don Draper
- Elisabeth Moss … Cast, Peggy Olson
- Vincent Kartheiser … Cast, Pete Campbell
- January Jones … Cast, Betty Draper
- Christina Hendricks … Cast, Joan Holloway
- Bryan Batt … Cast, Salvatore Romano
- Michael Gladis … Cast, Paul Kinsey
- Aaron Staton … Cast, Ken Cosgrove
- Rich Sommer … Cast, Harry Crane
- Maggie Siff … Cast, Rachel Menken
- Robert Morse … Cast, Bertam Cooper
- Alison Brie … Cast, Trudy Campbell
- Mark Moses … Cast, Herman "Duck" Phillips
- Troy Ruptash … Cast, Lieutenant
- Alexa Alemanni … Cast, Allison
- Stephanie Courtney … Cast, Marge
- Brynn Horrocks … Cast, Abigail Whitman
- David Kronenberg … Cast, Young Adam
- Julie McNiven … Cast, Hildy
- Morgan Rusler … Cast, Mack Johnson
- Heather Seiffert … Cast, Mae
- Kiernan Shipka … Cast, Sally Draper
- Stewart Skelton … Cast, Colonel
- Kevin Symons … Cast, Doctor
- Cassius Willis … Cast, Sergeant
- Dared Wright … Cast, Army Chaplain Lt. Mitchell
- John F. Kennedy
- Richard M. Nixon