The 1972 political film that Dan Quayle mistakenly used as a personal career guide
In short: When Bill McKay runs for Senate in The Candidate, he starts as an idealist but ends as a hollowed-out vessel for political machinery. While critics praised its documentary-style realism, the film’s writer intended it as a warning, not a manual—a distinction lost on at least one future vice president.
Released during the 1972 presidential election, The Candidate follows Bill McKay, a public-interest lawyer recruited to run against a popular incumbent. The film’s screenwriter, Jeremy Larner, drew heavily from his own experience as a speechwriter for Eugene McCarthy. Larner worked under intense pressure, writing the script in about a month, often from noon until 3 a.m. daily. He incorporated real-life campaign incidents, such as a moment where a candidate is slugged in the face while holding a hot dog and a soda.
The production was a labor of love for star Robert Redford and director Michael Ritchie, who aimed for a gritty, observant tone. The character of McKay was modeled after U.S. Senator John V. Tunney, with the film’s campaign manager, Nelson Rising, providing authentic logistical support and political extras. Despite the film's cynical portrayal of how consultants like the fictional Marvin Lucas strip away a candidate's values to win, the movie resonated with audiences. It secured an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and maintains an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film’s legacy remains contentious. While some critics, like those at The New Yorker, dismissed it as a shallow satire, others lauded its cold, comic look at American politics. Its impact reached beyond cinema; George McGovern reportedly felt angry after viewing it. Most famously, Dan Quayle later claimed he modeled himself after McKay. Larner responded with an open letter, clarifying that the film was a 'watch-out picture' rather than a 'how-to' guide, pointedly telling Quayle that he was exactly the type of politician the film warned against.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Candidate (1972 film)
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