The Best Man

Presidential candidate William Russell: "People in a democracy tend to think they have less to fear from a stupid man than an intelligent one." (0:03)

Russell tells former President Art Hockstader, referring to politics, "I like it so much, I’m beginning to worry."
Hockstader: ”... gave me these little pills, here, to help cut the pain...”
”Now, you go out and talk to those crazy Texans.” (0:13)

Television reporter: "It’s a pretty frenzied demonstration for Joe Cantwell." (0:25)

His wife Mabel tells candidate Senator Joe Cantwell, "Don’t worry. Don’t worry."
”What have you got to worry about?”
Joe: ”Don’t you worry. Don’t you worry.” (0:27)

Hockstader tells Joe’s brother Don, "Joe doesn’t have the habit..." (0:31)

Joe tells Hockstader, "It’s all here, psychiatrists’ reports and everything..."
”Three years ago your candidate had what is known as a nervous breakdown. He was raving mad for almost a year.”
Hockstader: ”He was not raving mad...”
Joe: ”... complete record of his mental state...”
Joe: ”... manic depressive, paranoid pattern...”
”... mentally unstable?”
Hockstader: ”He is not mentally unstable...”
Joe: ”A manic depressive cracked under stress.”
”... every delegate gets a copy of this psychiatric report.”
”... if he really thinks a man with his mental record should be President...”
”... think twice before endorsing this neurotic.” (0:35)

Hockstader tells Russell, "The first thing is to counteract that head doctor report."
”You aren’t crazy, are you?”
Russell: ”Any man who wants to be president is crazy.”
”I’m not worried.” (0:46)

Joe tells Hockstader, "You don’t have to worry about our boy John Merwin..." (0:48)

Joe tells Don, "We’ve got to release that psychiatric report." (0:54)

Candidate Governor T. T. Claypoole tells Russell, "... that crazy idea of yours..." (0:55)

Russell asks campaign manager Dick Jensen, "Tell’em I’m not crazy?... I’m not crazy. I just had a nervous breakdown... It’s too idiotic." (0:56)

Hockstader: "Bill, I just heard that head doctor of yours is in town."
Jensen: ”He’s preparing a statement to the effect that we’re not crazy.”
Hockcstader: ”... those big words like maniac mania sound pretty scary...”
Joe’s former Army comrade Sheldon Bascomb tells Hockstader, ”I’m a little nervous...” (0:57)

Joe tells Claypoole, "You don’t have to worry about my administration..." (1:03)

Alice asks Russell, "Well you mean you can keep them from bringing up all that mental business?" (1:08)

Joe tells Mabel, "Now don’t you worry."
”We’re gonna make it, so don’t you worry.” (1:12)

Joe tells Russell, "... spear me as a homosexual..." (1:15)

Russell asks Joe, "How can I possibly run for vice president when I’m at this very moment suffering from one of my frequent nervous breakdowns?"
Joe, referring to Hockstader: ”... he died right after you left him.” (1:33)

Reference in It's My Party