President Hollywood

Jonathan Freedland reveals how 2008's dramatic race for the White House was run before on 'The West Wing'. The TV series held an election between a charismatic, non-white Democrat called Matt Santos and an appealing, experienced Republican Arnold Vinick; two candidates remarkably similar to Barack Obama and John McCain. Freedland argues that the relationship between on-screen art and political life is nothing new. Both Hollywood and Washington have been exerting their power and influence over the image of the presidency for nearly a century. This programme was originally broadcast in September 2008, before the US election.