The President’s Mistress

The President’s Mistress

Year: 1978

Runtime: 83 mins

Language: English

Director: John Llewellyn Moxey

MysteryThrillerDramaTV Movie

A lethal mix of death, deceit and sexual scandal erupts at the highest level of power. When a government courier learns that his slain sister had been the president’s secret mistress and a Soviet operative, he is thrust into a perilous cover‑up, racing against shadowy forces to expose the truth before the conspiracy destroys him.

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Timeline & Setting – The President’s Mistress (1978)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The President’s Mistress (1978). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Cold War era

The events unfold during the Cold War, a tense period of US-Soviet rivalry marked by espionage and political intrigue. The plot moves between Washington, D.C., and Moscow as spies maneuver behind official facades. The timeframe underpins the paranoia and high-stakes decisions surrounding the presidency.

Location

Washington, D.C., Moscow

Washington, D.C. is the political epicenter where the president's affair unfolds under Secret Service watch. Moscow is the Kremlin hub of intelligence where a clandestine document surfaces, triggering a transatlantic espionage chase. The White House and nearby safe houses become stages for power plays and personal risk.

🏛️ Political hubs 🗺️ Cold War geography

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:49

Main Characters – The President’s Mistress (1978)

Meet the key characters of The President’s Mistress (1978), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Donna Morton (Karen Grassle)

Donna Morton is the president’s mistress who maintains a secret life in Washington, D.C., meeting him in a safe house under Secret Service watch. A document in Moscow branding her as a KGB agent triggers CSA surveillance and a deadly hunt for answers. Her death catalyzes a political and personal crisis, exposing how state actors manipulate truth.

💼 Secret life 🕵️ Espionage 💔 Dangerous liaison

Ben Morton (Beau Bridges)

Ben Morton is a Washington businessman and occasional CSA courier who is drawn into the case after Donna's death. He uses his connections to uncover the truth and pursue the conspiracy, often walking a fine line between loyalty and danger. His pursuit brings him into contact with Secret Service and CSA leadership as he confronts reality.

💼 Businessman 🕵️ Investigator 🧭 Risk-taker

Margaret 'Mugsy' Evans (Susan Blanchard)

Mugsy Evans is a socialite who meets Ben on a plane and becomes part of the tangled personal web around the case. Her presence adds romantic and social pressure to the political intrigue, illustrating how personal ties can intersect with state secrets.

💃 Socialite ❤️ Romantic subplot

Anatoly (Titos Vandis)

Anatoly is the Soviet Naval Attaché and the head KGB agent in Washington. He reveals that the classified document identifying Donna Morton as a Soviet agent was a fake designed to mislead American authorities. His interrogation exposes a Kremlin strategy to destabilize the White House during crucial talks with China.

🗡️ Spy 🎭 Deception 🌍 Cold War

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:49

Major Themes – The President’s Mistress (1978)

Explore the central themes of The President’s Mistress (1978), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Espionage

Spying, double identities, and covert operations drive the narrative. The film explores how information manipulation and surveillance shape decisions at the highest levels of power. Personal relationships become fronts for political maneuvering, revealing the fragility of loyalty.

💔 Betrayal

Affair and political manipulation create a web of betrayal that entangles lovers, allies, and enemies. Trust fractures as fake documents and conflicting loyalties surface. The human cost of statecraft is shown through the protagonist's dramatic downfall.

🏛️ Power & Secrecy

State power depends on secrecy, and the plot centers on how information is controlled and distorted. Institutions like the CSA and KGB act as facades for larger geopolitical battles. The film portrays how the personal and the political collide in the corridors of government.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:49

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The President’s Mistress Summary

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The President’s Mistress Summary

The President’s Mistress Timeline

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The President’s Mistress Timeline

More About The President’s Mistress

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The President’s Mistress (1978) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

The President’s Mistress (1978) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

The President’s Mistress (1978) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow