republican senator russell kramer of ohio (jack lemmon) wins the presidential election, narrowly defeating archrival democratic governor matt douglas of indiana (james garner). four years later, douglas wins a landslide victory over the now-incumbent kramer. another four years later, kramer's former vice president, william haney (dan aykroyd), defeats douglas. his vice president, ted matthews (john heard), is widely seen as an idiot, and becomes a continuing embarrassment for the administration. a further three years later, kramer is spending his time writing books and speaking at various inconsequential functions, while douglas is finishing his own book and going through a divorce.