Commander in Chief

Season

2005

6.9

TV-PG

MacKenzie Allen becomes the first woman American president after she ascends to the job following the death of president Teddy Bridges.

Episode List

S1 • E1

Unaired Pilot

S1 • E1

Pilot

Mackenzie Allen, the 45-year-old Independent Vice President of the United States, is about to venture into territory no woman has entered before. While at an official ceremony with husband and Chief of Staff, Rod Calloway, she is informed by the President's Chief of Staff, Jim Gardner, and the Attorney General that President Bridges is about to undergo emergency brain surgery for a tumor. Mackenzie is stunned when Gardner tells her that in the event the President does not recover, the party doesn't want her to succeed him. Instead, she's asked to step down in order to allow the Speaker of the House to assume the post, as he shares the party's ideals. Mackenzie's doubts are confirmed when she visits President Bridges at the hospital and hears from him directly that he wants her to resign. Bridges dies before transition plans are finalized, however, and after sitting through an insulting and sexist conversation with Speaker of the House, Nathan Templeton, Mackenzie decides to forge ahead and assume the presidency despite the obstacles that lie ahead. Aside from the challenges Mackenzie faces, husband Rod has his own hurdles to overcome, as he finds himself being ushered into a pink and feminine office by the first lady's aide. Her children, six-year-old Amy, as well as twins Horace, one of the most popular kids in school, and Rebecca, a rebellious teenager with raging hormones, must also learn to deal with their mother's new role of the leader of the free world. Meeting with a saddened Congress and addressing a stunned nation, Mackenzie delivers an inaugural speech with the help of press secretary Kelly Ludlow, which manages to unite a grieving country, quell the critics who feel she's not up to the task, and look to the bright future which lies ahead, led by the first female President of the United States.

S1 • E2

First Choice

As Mackenzie Allen makes the challenging transition into the office of the President, among her first orders of business is selecting a Vice President... which Nathan Templeton tries to manipulate to his advantage. Meanwhile, her former speech writer cum press secretary, Kelly Ludlow, learns the ropes the hard way, and Mac's daughter, Rebecca, faces a teenager's worst nightmare when her diary goes missing -- containing sensitive information about her mother, the President, and causing a potential crisis.

S1 • E3

First Strike

Faced with her first national crisis - the death of nine DEA agents in Latin America - Mackenzie shows strength and resolve in dealing with a corrupt leader. Meanwhile, Nathan Templeton is approached by an ambitious congressman who served with Mac's Vice Presidential candidate, Warren Keaton, and is eager to divulge potentially damaging info in an effort to derail his nomination. Mac's teenage twins resume public school, only this time it's complete with secret service detail and press spectacle, and while popular Horace welcomes the attention, shy Rebecca finds it overwhelming.

S1 • E4

First Dance

All eyes are on Mackenzie Allen as she hosts her first official summit with the Russian President -- which is threatened to be overshadowed by Nathan Templeton's plan to engineer a series of cabinet resignations to coincide with the summit. Templeton goes after Mac with a vengeance, vowing to run - and win - against her in the next presidential election. Meanwhile, as First Gentleman, Rod must host his first state dinner for the Russian President and his wife.

S1 • E5

First... Do No Harm

A terrorist smuggles explosives across the Canadian border

S1 • E6

First Disaster

Mackenzie and Templeton deal with hurricane damage in Florida.

S1 • E7

First Scandal

When confidential information appears in a tell-all book about Mackenzie Allen, suspicions of those in her closest circle arise. Meanwhile, Mac's vice presidential nominee, Warren Keaton, begins his confirmation hearings, and his nomination is put in jeopardy when events of a sensitive nature from his past come to light. On the home front, Horace is frustrated by his poor performance at school, and things are getting serious with Rebecca and her new boyfriend -- but are they moving too quickly?

Rubie Dubidoux and the Brown Bound Express

S1 • E8

Rubie Dubidoux and the Brown Bound Express

President Allen announces a new direction for her administration.

S1 • E9

The Mom Who Came to Dinner

President Allen battles tough national decisions at Thanksgiving.

S1 • E10

Sub Enchanted Evening

A sub disaster forces a joint rescue mission with China and North Korea.

S1 • E11

No Nukes Is Good Nukes

A leak from China to the North Korean government threatens war.

S1 • E12

Wind Beneath My Wing

A distraught veteran threatens to blow up Air Force One.

S1 • E13

State of the Unions

Rod finds himself in a compromising position with an intern, which threatens Mac's standing as her first State of the Union address nears. And Templeton's up to his usual tricks with Mac's homeless bill.