Martin Sheen knows a thing or two about presidents — and we’re not just talking about his time spent running NBC’s “The West Wing.” The actor portrayed John F. Kennedy in the 1983 miniseries “Kennedy” and is actually a close friend of America’s First Family.
So when TheWrap spoke with the narrator and executive producer of CNN’s upcoming six-part docuseries “American Dynasties: The Kennedys” on Friday, we had to ask him how JFK might have responded to the recent rash of school shootings. For one, Sheen says our 35th president would “have confronted those bastards” at the NRA — unlike Donald Trump.
“Well, very clearly he would have had an even and direct response. And it would have been human and compassionate,” Sheen told us. “And I dare say — and no one would be able to predict what they would have done — but I think it’s clear from what we witnessed they did in the past that those weapons would not be in the hands of stark raving mad people. And very few of those weapons would probably be even accessed outside of the military. So I don’t think that they would have allowed it to become such a crisis and rolled over to the NRA. I think they’d have confronted those bastards and they would have made it real clear that this is not gonna go down.”
Nope, Sheen thinks NRA chief Wayne LaPierre’s “bullying organization” couldn’t have stood a chance against the Kennedy administration, who would have “put them in a place where they couldn’t have gotten away with all this.”
“You know, when the steel companies were going to raise their prices in JFK’s first few months in office, he went right at them,” Sheen added. “And he made it real clear that you’re not going to challenge us on these very, very fundamental issues. We’re standing between you and the people we serve. We’re not here to serve big business. We’re here to serve the American public. And you know, the first duty of a federal officer is to protect the Constitution. And the first duty of a soldier is to protect the weak. And so I don’t think we would have gotten this far had the Kennedys survived, with this bullying organization the NRA. You know, they would have put them in a place where they couldn’t have gotten away with all this.”
“American Dynasties: The Kennedys” premieres March 11 at 9 p.m. on CNN.
16 Actors Who Played JFK, From Patrick Dempsey to Michael C Hall (Photos)
Cliff Robertson, "PT 109" (1963) •
Oscar winner Cliff Robertson ("Charly" and "Spider-Man" 1 and 2) portrayed JFK during his military years as a U.S. Navy officer in command of Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 touring the waters of the Pacific amidst World War II.
William Devane, "The Missiles of October" (1974) •
Devane ("Knots Landing," "24") portrayed JFK in this made-for-TV offering, which depicted the drama in the 1962 White House while the President's administration decided the best course of action during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Martin Sheen, "Kennedy" (1983) •
Jed Bartlet on "The West Wing" wasn't the only Democratic president Sheen has portrayed on screen. In 1983, he played JFK in the miniseries "Kennedy." Nine years earlier he played "Jack's" younger brother Robert opposite William Devane in "The Missiles of October."
Steven Weber, "The Kennedys of Massachusetts" (1990) •
The "13 Reasons Why" star played a young JFK in the ABC miniseries, which focused on the 54-year marriage on the family patriarch and matriarch, Joseph and Rose, the expanding of their family and Joseph's wandering eye.
Stephen Collins, "A Woman Named Jackie" (1991) •
Long before his stint as Rev. Eric Camden on "7th Heaven" (1996-2007), and even before he beguiled a young Keri Russell in "The Babysitter's Seduction," the actor played Kennedy. Collins did so opposite Roma Downey as Jackie Kennedy in the TV miniseries that focused on the FLOTUS.
Patrick Dempsey, "JFK: Reckless Youth" (1993) •
Believe it or not, Dempsey had other roles before he became McDreamy on "Grey's Anatomy." This includes his performance as America's dreamiest Commander-in-Chief during his early years before the presidency in this two-part TV miniseries, which aired on ABC.
Jed Gillin, "Forrest Gump" (1994) •
Audiences didn't see the actor in Robert Zemeckis' Oscar-winning drama, but they did hear his voice when Gump (Tom Hanks) met the president at the White House after drinking 15 bottles of Dr Pepper. The picture features Gillin on film before the John F. Kennedy's head was superimposed.
Tim Matheson, "Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis" (2000) •
The "Animal House" star played Kennedy in the TV movie starring Joanne Whalley as his First Lady, a woman of many names and facets, as the title implies.
Bruce Greenwood, "Thirteen Days" (2000) •
This Cuban Missile Crisis drama also starred Kevin Costner as Kenny O'Donnell, a top aide to JFK and the movie's protagonist.
Brett Stimely, "Watchmen" (2009) •
The actor makes a quick appearance as Kennedy when the White House extends its thanks to Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup) for quickly ending the Vietnam War in Zack Snyder's superhero movie. Stimely also made brief appearances as the same president in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" and "Parkland."
Greg Kinnear, "The Kennedys" (2011) •
Kinnear played JFK opposite Katie Holmes as Jackie Kennedy and Barry Pepper as Bobby Kennedy on the eight-episode miniseries that aired on Reelz Channel. The piece went on to win four Primetime Emmys.
James Marsden, "The Butler" (2013) •
The "X-Men" actor played one of the many powerful Commander-in-Chiefs in Lee Daniels' civil-rights movement drama. The film centered on a White House butler who served eight presidents over the course of his career.
Rob Lowe, "Killing Kennedy" (2013) •
The former "Parks and Recreation" star played the title role in Nat Geo's adaptation of the nonfiction best-seller by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard.
Caspar Phillipson, "Jackie" (2016) •
The Danish actor who is most noted for his work in theater, played JFK in the critically acclaimed feature film that starred Natalie Portman as the First Lady during her husband's presidency and immediately following his assassination.
Jeffrey Donovan, "LBJ" (2017) •
The actor best known for the TV series "Burn Notice" appeared as JFK in the Rob Reiner-directed film "LBJ," starring Woody Harrelson as Vice President Lyndon Johnson, who stepped into the role of commander-in-chief after Kennedy's assassination.
Michael C. Hall, "The Crown" (2017) •
In the second season of the Netflix series about Queen Elizabeth II, the "Dexter" star appears as a philandering American president who's addicted to painkillers. “He was very much a functional addict," Hall told Entertainment Weekly of his warts-and-all-portrayal. "And his relationship with women was certainly a well-kept secret back then.”
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Yes, the former ”Grey’s Anatomy“ star once played America’s 35th president, John F. Kennedy
