"The other party is in disarray. Five men vie for the party nomination for president. No one has a majority as the first ballot closes and the front-runners begin to decide how badly they want the job."
Henry Fonda
as William Russell
Cliff Robertson
as Joe Cantwell
Edie Adams
as Mabel Cantwell
Margaret Leighton
as Alice Russell
Shelley Berman
as Sheldon Bascomb
Lee Tracy
as President Art Hockstader
Ann Sothern
as Sue Ellen Gamadge
Gene Raymond
as Don Cantwell
Kevin McCarthy
as Dick Jensen
Mahalia Jackson
as Mahalia Jackson
Howard K. Smith
as Howard K. Smith
John Henry Faulk
as Gov. T.T. Claypoole
Richard Arlen
as Sen. Oscar Anderson
Penny Singleton
as Mrs. Claypoole (scenes deleted)
George Kirgo
as Speechwriter
George Furth
as Tom
Anne Newman Bacal
as Janet (as Anne Newman)
Mary Lawrence
as Mrs. Merwin
H.E. West
as Sen. Lazarus
Michael MacDonald
as Zealot
William R. Ebersol
as Gov. John Merwin
Natalie Masters
as Mrs. Anderson
Marie Blake
as Cleaning Woman (as Blossom Rock)
Bill Stout
as Bill Stout
Tyler McVey
as Chairman
Sherwood Keith
as Doctor
Leoda Richards
as Convention Attendee (uncredited)
Gore Vidal
as Delegate (uncredited)
John Alban
as Banquet Guest (uncredited)
Fred Aldrich
Leon Alton
as Russell Supporter (uncredited)
David Armstrong
as Russell Campaign Worker (uncredited)
Billy Beck
as Party Guest (uncredited)
George Bruggeman
as Reporter (uncredited)
Donald Chaffin
as Supporter (uncredited)
Dick Cherney
Noble 'Kid' Chissell
as Man at Pool (uncredited)
Rupert Crosse
Jack Daly
as Photographer (uncredited)
George DeNormand
as Cantwell Supporter (uncredited)
Kenneth Gibson
Herschel Graham
as Campaign Worker (uncredited)
Sam Harris
Joi Lansing
as Girl At Pool
Kathleen Dennis
Wardrobe Designer
Ben Lane
Makeup Artist
George E. Swink
Assistant Editor
Robert Johannes
Camera Operator
Richard Mansfield
Set Decoration
Marion Rosenberg
Producer's Assistant
Max Frankel
Property Master
Dorothy Jeakins
Costume Supervisor
Don Hall
Sound Editor
Robert Goodstein
Unit Manager
Virginia Jones
Hairstylist
Kay Thackery
Script Supervisor
Jack Solomon
Sound
Ted Tetrick
Ben Hersh
Production Supervisor
Lyle R. Wheeler
Production Design
Dick Moder
Assistant Director
Jim Henrikson
Music Editor
Hal Ashby
Editorial Consultant
Franklin J. Schaffner
Director
Haskell Wexler
Director of Photography
Tom Mankiewicz
Production Executive
Screenplay
Lynn Stalmaster
Casting Director
Stuart Millar
Presenter
Lawrence Turman
Producer
Robert Swink
Editor
Mort Lindsey
Original Music Composer