The Best Man (1964)

Cliff Robertson: Joe Cantwell

Photos 

Quotes 

• Joe Cantwell : I don't understand you.

  William Russell : I know you don't. Because you have no sense of responsibility toward anybody or anything. And that is a tragedy in a man, and it is a disaster in a president.

• President Art Hockstader : Oh, there have been moments when I've questioned your methods.

  Joe Cantwell : Well, you got to fight fire with fire, Mr. President.

  President Art Hockstader : And the end justifies the means, huh?

  Joe Cantwell : Yes, I believe that.

  President Art Hockstader : Well, son, I got news for you about both politics and life. And may I say the two are exactly the same? There are no ends, Joe, only means.

• Joe Cantwell : All the big words are there: manic depressive, paranoid pattern, and all that combined with playing around with women.

  President Art Hockstader : So what?

  Joe Cantwell : I suppose you find promiscuity admirable.

  President Art Hockstader : I couldn't care a less. I was brought up on the farm and the lesson of the rooster was not entirely lost on me. Lots of men need lots of women. And there are worst faults, let me tell you.

• Joe Cantwell : I personally find any kind of discrimination wrong. But, I don't think it's up to the federal government to decide something that is a local matter. I may not like what they do in Mississippi; but, I will fight for their right to run their state the way they want to.

• Joe Cantwell : I favor tax reform. I think that by cutting down government spending we can eventually eliminate the income tax entirely.

• Joe Cantwell : We got to get us more military hardware. Because, when it comes to defense, we're being sold down the river by the so-called liberals!

• Joe Cantwell : Look, I think we're all concerned, North and South, with the Communist agitation that's going on. I think the colored people are often used by the Commies - who are everywhere, all around us, high and low.

• Mabel Cantwell : Why is big Papa Bear so mean to poor little Mama Bear?

  Joe Cantwell : Oh, I'm sorry baby. You know Papa Bear isn't mean to his Mama Bear. Ever. Ever.

• Joe Cantwell : I don't know why I don't appeal to those would be intellectuals.

• President Art Hockstader : Look, I don't object to your headline grabbing and your crying wolf all the time. That's standard stuff in politics. What disturbs me is - you're taking your own phony stuff so seriously. It's par for the course trying to fool the people, but, its down right dangerous when you start fooling yourself.

  Joe Cantwell : Mr. President, I take myself seriously because I am serious.

• Joe Cantwell : Nothing's easy, is it?

  Don Cantwell : Nothing good.

• Mabel Cantwell : Joe, I'm scared to death.

  Joe Cantwell : Well, don't be! Come here, poor Mama Bear. Now, don't you worry. Papa Bear isn't going to get shot down this close to that honey tree.

• Joe Cantwell : You don't understand me, you don't understand politics. You don't understand this country, the way it is and the way we are.

• Joe Cantwell : What have you got this joker Bascomb standing by for except to spear me as a homosexual?