Mr. President

Show Information based on John Dunning's book "On The Air"

Historical drama. (1947-1953).

This series told stories of "Mr. President at home in the White House - the elected leader of our people, our fellow citizen and neighbor." It specialized in "little-known stories of the men who have lived in the White House - dramatic, exciting events in their lives that you and I so rarely hear." The president was never identified by name during the story: listeners were challenged to guess his identity, which was revealed in a brief epilogue. Often the background was so general that it challenged even students of American history.

In one show, reviewed by Radio Life in 1951, the listener is told that the president, as the play opened, is the vice-president. A close election has given none of the candidates a majority, and the election is to be thrown into the House of Representatives. The president-to-be has close friends named Smith, which helps the Radio Life reviewer not a bit. There is a feud brewing with Aaron Burr, a solid clue as it now sets a specific time frame. He has a daughter named Martha and is said to be "a godless man." At the end, it is revealed that he founded the University of Virginia and authored the Declaration of Independence. The listener does not need this week's epilogue to know that Mr. President is Thomas Jefferson.

To play the role, the producers wanted an actor with "the aggressiveness of Teddy Roosevelt, the warmth and humility of Abe Lincoln, and the tenacity of Andrew Jackson." Their choice, Edward Arnold, made no attempt to characterize the men he played. "They're all Edward Arnold," he said, "or else there'd be no guessing game on the show." But the problem with the show was aptly stated by the Radio Life critic: the novelty of the guessing game wore thin, leaving the show steeped in boredom. For Arnold it was a prestigious part, earning him the admiration of Harry Truman despite the actor's Republican nature. Arnold was a frequent guest at the White House, where Truman referred to him as "Mr. President."

CAST:

Edward Arnold as the president of the United States, a different president each week.

Betty Lou Gerson as Miss Sarah, the president's generic secretary.

CREATOR: Robert G. Jennings.

PRODUCER-DIRECTOR: Dick Woollen.

WRITERS: Jean Holloway, Bernard Dougall, Ira Marion, etc.

BROADCAST HISTORY:

June 26, 1947-Sept. 23,1953, ABC. 30m,

Thursdays at 9:30 until Jan. 1948;

Sundays at 2:30, 1948-50;

Wednesdays at 9:30, 1950-52; at 9, 1952-53.