Commander in Chief

While Templeton's forcing a harsh crime bill through Congress, an old friend of Jim Gardner's from their gritty suburban Washington home town shows up at the White House to tell Jim that his wife has been murdered. Meanwhile, missiles lost in a military-plane crash in Pakistan surface on the black market, and Keaton is particularly testy as he deals with it; and Dickie urges Vince not to invite Mac to his commitment ceremony because he fears political fallout.

Mac's appendix bursts mid-flight on Air Force One and, with Vice President Keaton having resigned, House Speaker Templeton becomes acting president, and he relishes the role. Meanwhile, an airline strike is crippling air traffic on the eve of Memorial Day weekend, and Templeton deals with it in a way Mac certainly wouldn't.

On Mac's birthday, Kurdish militants take Americans hostage in Turkey. Meanwhile, Mac interviews vice-presidential candidates, with Dickie's opinions about the political implications of her choice ringing in her ears. And daughter Rebecca makes a new friend.

Mac makes a new push for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment when a longtime congressional ERA foe dies and his widow prepares to take his seat. Mac also participates in a Get Out the Vote function with Templeton that turns into an impromptu debate. Meanwhile, a reporter approaches Rod about a story on his relationship with Mac; Rebecca makes a surprising discovery; and Mac's differences with Dickie become apparent.