Synopsis
In the winter of 1974, a time of great political unrest, Samuel J. Bicke is a forty-four-year-old
man who wants to believe in something -- anything. But at every turn, his faith -- in himself and
in the world around him--is undermined. He is separated from his wife, Marie, who refuses to consider
the reconciliation he wants so desperately. He is estranged from his brother Julius, a businessman
whose success mocks Bicke’s constant string of professional failures. And, with his personal life in
such disarray, he is also struggling to hold onto yet another job for which he is fundamentally unfit.
An idealist who detests lying in any form, Bicke is miserable working as a salesman in an office supply
company, a position that routinely requires him to be insincere, opportunistic, and deceitful.
The only bright spot in Bicke’s life is his dream of opening a door-to-door tire repair service with his
auto mechanic friend, Bonny. Their business proposal requires a modest bank loan. Bicke applies and
nervously waits the requisite period for the loan application to be processed. He is on edge the whole
time because the outcome--his only chance at a meaningful future -- is so important to him. As his anxiety
mounts, Bicke begins to fall apart, and in his vulnerable state, sees injustice and hypocrisy everywhere.
He thinks it is wrong that Marie, who works at a bar to support their three children, has to wear short
skirts to get bigger tips. Or, that Bonny’s customers at the garage get away with being abusive just because
he is black.
Bicke would like to strike out at all the offenders, but there are too many dragons to slay. However, there
is one villain who looms large. For Bicke, Richard Nixon, described by Bicke’s boss as the greatest salesman
in history because he swindled the American people twice, becomes the embodiment of everything that is wrong
with the world.
When Bicke experiences a series of ill-fated events -- his loan is rejected, his ex-wife and his brother abandon
him, and his dreams of starting his own business die unrealized -- he decides the only way to reclaim his
insignificant life is to carry out a grand, historic gesture that will make his presence felt. At this point,
dreams give way to delusions. A new Samuel Bicke, uncharacteristically resolute and resourceful, sets out on a
chilling crusade to right the world’s wrongs. He has an appointment with history.
A chilling drama that explores and exposes the dark side of the American dream, The Assassination of Richard
Nixon stars Sean Penn in the true story of the man who plotted an abortive attempt on the life of our 37th
President.
Other Titles
- N/A
Trivia
- This was originally conceived as a fictitious story but, whilst doing research, the writers discovered something
very similar had occurred, so decided to let that influence their script.
- Sean Penn was attached to this project for six years before they found the financing for it.
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