After the monumental Watergate scandal of 1972, when members of Nixon's campaign were caught attempting to bug the Democratic National Party's headquarters, the political landscape was forever altered. As a result, a staggering 400 million viewers tuned in to witness Richard Nixon depart from the White House in 1974 aboard Marine One, doing so without any admission of guilt or apology. Among those captivated by this spectacle was British journalist David Frost, who, while recording a talk show in Australia, felt inspired to seize the opportunity to interview Nixon.
After Nixon was granted a full pardon by Gerald Ford, he avoided trial altogether. Meanwhile, he endeavored to pen his memoirs with the assistance of Diane Sawyer (Kate Jennings Grant) and Frank Gannon (Andy Milder). Nixon's literary agent, Irving Lazar (Toby Jones), envisioned the interviews as a chance for Nixon to redeem his tarnished image and secure financial gain. Initially demanding $500,000, Lazar ultimately negotiated a staggering $600,000 for the series, far exceeding Frost's other offers.
With determination and some persuasion, Frost convinced his producer and friend, John Birt (Matthew Macfadyen), that the interviews could indeed be a success. On their way to meet Nixon, Frost struck up a romantic connection with Caroline Cushing (Rebecca Hall), who accompanied him on the journey.
Despite facing significant challenges, including struggles to secure American networks for the interviews, Frost opted to fund the project through private investments. He negotiated deals with advertisers and local TV networks, pouring all his efforts into this venture to finance Nixon's fee. To prepare adequately, he enlisted investigators Bob Zelnick (Oliver Platt) and James Reston Jr. (Sam Rockwell) to help shape the discussions.
Reston was particularly motivated by a desire to hold Nixon accountable for his actions, urging Frost to pursue a confession. On encountering Nixon beforehand, Nixon expressed his eagerness for what he called their impending ‘duel.’
As Frost navigated the constraints and pressures of the interviews, he faced close scrutiny from Nixon’s chief of staff, Jack Brennan, who mandated that a significant portion of the discussions highlight Nixon's presidential achievements. As Frost struggled to ask poignant questions, Nixon frequently redirected the conversation towards his successes, even manipulating details about the Vietnam War to his advantage.
Despite investing nearly $2 million in the project, Frost encountered difficulties when advertisers began to withdraw their support, exacerbated by troubling reports from the sessions. As Nixon continued to toy with Frost, taunting him both professionally and personally about his relationship with Caroline, Frost found himself at a perilous crossroads after 11 interviews—each of which Nixon had managed to dominate.
Days before the pivotal final interview set to focus on Watergate, a drunken Nixon reached out to Frost, acknowledging the high stakes involved for both men. This conversation inspired Frost to push himself harder in preparation for the final stretch.
As the concluding interview commenced, Frost took an audacious step by confronting Nixon with incriminating transcripts that had been unearthed, leading to a critical moment when Nixon conceded, “When the President does it, that means it's not illegal.” However, the interview was interrupted by Brennan, who stopped the recording but ultimately allowed it to resume.
In the aftermath, Frost's relentless questioning resulted in Nixon finally admitting his wrongdoings, acknowledging that he had indeed “let the American people down.” Sometime later, Frost and Cushing bid farewell to Nixon at his villa, where appreciation and a hint of reflection bridged their shared experience. Nixon, accepting defeat, extended gratitude to Frost, who reciprocated with a symbolic gift of Italian shoes.
The interviews proved to be a commercial success, but Nixon remained embroiled in controversy until his death from a stroke in 1994, forever staining his legacy.
