David Palmer (character)
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Image:DavidPalmer.jpg David Palmer is a fictional character played by Dennis Haysbert as part of the television series, 24. He is the first African-American president of the United States.
Contents |
Overview
In the show, Palmer is:
- ex-husband of Sherry Palmer
- father of Keith Palmer and Nicole Palmer
- brother of Wayne Palmer
Life in politics
David Palmer was a United States Democratic Senator for Maryland who ran for President. He was elected after the assassination attempts made on him were foiled by Jack Bauer. Although he initially sought a second term, he bowed out of the race after the opposing candidate learns that David lied to the chief of police in order to protect his ex-wife, Sherry Palmer, who was under suspicion for involvement in a man's death.
Uncharacteristic for a politician, David Palmer has built his political career on integrity, honesty, commitment, and honor. He appears to genuinely care about the welfare of the American people.
Throughout the series, Palmer's role as president is often vital to the successful foiling of terrorist plots. Palmer is seen as a good leader who makes difficult decisions without much hesitation. On several occasions, his intervention as president and the execution of his presidential powers helped counter-terrorism agency CTU.
At the end of Season 3, after a presidential debate, he decided to cancel his re-election campaign. His opponent in the primary, United States Democratic Party Democrat Senator John Keeler, becomes president in Season 4. However, after Keeler is incapacitated when Air Force One is shot down by terrorists, Palmer is called in to advise the Acting President, Charles Logan, the former Vice President.
Family and personal life
Although not much is known about Palmer's family and personal life, he was married to Sherry Palmer, also an African-American, whom he divorced after losing trust in her. However, he maintained contact with her, using her as an informal special assistant during both Season 2 and Season 3's terrorism crises. He was horrified when she was killed by a woman Sherry had implicated in a murder. He also has a daughter named Nicole (a rape survivor) and a son named Keith, who was accused of murder during his campaign for the presidency.
Around the time he was running for re-election, he dated his personal physician, Dr. Anne Packard, a divorcee. On the day of the first debate with his opponent, that debate was complicated when his opponent brought up charges that Packard had conspired with her husband to 'cook the books' at a pharmaceutical company they were previously involved with. She was innocent and Palmer supported her. She sometimes came between Palmer and his chief of staff and brother, Wayne, who disliked her. On that same day, Packard broke up with him because his life was too complicated for her to continue the relationship.
Experience
- President of the United States
- United States Congress, Senator (Maryland)
- Senate Appropriations Committee, Member
- Senate Special Defense Appropriations Committee Chairman
- Senate Commerce Subcommitee, Member
- United States Congress, Representative (Maryland)
- House Ethics Committee, Chairman
- House Ways and Means Committee, Member
- House National Security Subcommittee, Member
- Maryland State Congress, Representative (Baltimore)
- Fidley, Barrow & Bain, Attorneys at Law
Education
- Juris Doctorate, University of Maryland School of Law
- Bachelor of Arts, Political Economy, Georgetown University
Honors
- NCAA All-American, Men's Basketball
- Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year
- Sporting News College Player of the Year
- Wooden Award for Player of the Year
Published papers
- The New York Times, Op-Ed Page, "Serb Intransigence and European Destabilization"
Voting history (pre-season 1)
- Voted for:
- Balanced budget amendment
- Authorizing funds for the U.S. Export-Import Bank
- Budget cuts and lessened jurisdiction for the federal law enforcement agencies (including the CIA and FBI)
- Y2K Act
- Voted against:
- Campaign finance reform
- Increased funding for Army construction
Major legislation
- Defense Appropriations Bill (sometime between Season 1 and Season 2)
- Social Security Bill (sometime between Season 1 and Season 2)
- Job Creation and worker Assistance Act (sometime between Season 2 and Season 3)
- A bill to improve health care for Americans (Palmer's biggest contributor, Alan Miliken, threatened to stop this bill, and it is unknown whether the bill was passed) (Season 3)
Selected cabinet and administration officials
- Vice President: Jim Prescott (Season 2-3)
- Chief of Staff: Mike Novick (Season 2), Wayne Palmer (Season 3)
- Director of the National Security Agency: Roger Stanton (Season 2)
- Deputy Director of the National Security Agency: Eric Rayburn (Season 2)
- Counselor to the President: Lynne Kresge (Season 2)
- Press Secretary: Jenny Dodge (Season 2)
- Secretary of Homeland Security: Joseph O'Laughin (Season 3)
Controversial decisions
- Illegally authorized an operation to take out Balkan war criminal Victor Drazen (2 years before Season 1)
- Took reporter Ron Weiland into custody against his will (Season 2)
- Ordered the torture of NSA Director Roger Stanton (Season 2)
- Enlisted ex-wife Sherry Palmer's help (Seasons 2, 3)
- Authorized a prison break-in to covertly release terrorist Ramon Salazar, as per terrorist demands (Season 3)
- Gave in to demands of terrorist Steven Saunders several times (including the murder of Ryan Chappelle) (Season 3)
- Lied to LA police chief to provide an alibi for Sherry Palmer (Season 3)
- Authorized a covert operation to extract a vital witness who was a Chinese national from the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles. During this operation the consule was killed, which could be considered an act of war, even though he was killed by friendly fire. (Season 4)
Near-assassinations
- During a campaign speech at a breakfast rally by man posing as photographer Martin Belkin (Season 1, around 7:55 AM)
- In a hotel room by a bomb planted in a cellular phone by Drazen family (Season 1, around 10:30 PM)
- Infected with unknown virus by an assailant known only as "Mandy" (Season 2, 7:59 AM)
| 24/CTU characters: |
| Jack Bauer - Teri - Kim - Nina - Chase - Tony - Michelle - Novick - George - Chapelle - President and Mrs. Palmer - Kate - Lynne - Erin |
