President Thomas J. Whitmore

President Thomas J. Whitmore

Background

Thomas "Tom" J. Whitmore is the President of the United States of America. His wife is Marilyn Whitmore and his daughter is Patricia Whitmore.

During the events of Independence Day (1996) played by Bill Pullman

July 2nd, Marilyn calls President Whitmore and after confirming that Marilyn will return after lunch, he hands the phone off to Patricia who tells Marilyn that he let her stay up late. John McLaughlin is on the television discussing the approval ratings of President Whitmore with Morton Kondracke and Eleanor Clift. President Whitmore hands the sports section to one of the Secret Servicemen and says hello to Constance Spano. Constance tells President Whitmore that he is being criticized due to his youthfulness and for compromising. Whitmore's Aide tells President Whitmore that Albert Nimziki is calling. The Chief of Staff, General William Grey, Nimziki and President Whitmore argue on what to do next. Nimziki tells Atlantic Air CINC to upgrade to DEFCON 3. A Commanding Officer walks in and tells the group that the object has split into multiple smaller objects and will be entering their atmosphere soon. General Grey tells President Whitmore about another object heading towards California. George Putnam gives a report on events taking place in Russia, which is then explained locally by Russian Reporter who describes the hysteria in the area as a large object appears out of the sky. Russian Newscaster continues that the object is headed towards Moscow. General Grey tells President Whitmore that they have an AWACS off the Pacific Coast. Military Aide says they lost the signal and Atlantic Air CINC tells everyone two more objects have been spotted heading towards New York City and Washington, D.C. Nimziki tells Whitmore's Aide to organize a military escort, but President Whitmore decides he is staying. He tells Constance to have the National Broadcast system advise people not to panic. President Whitmore, Constance, an Aide and Secret Service Guy go outside and watch as the spaceship hovers overhead. President Whitmore gives a news conference flanked by a Secret Service Agent. President Whitmore calls Marilyn and asks her to leave Los Angeles as soon as possible. A Secret Serviceman knocks at the door to let President Whitmore it is time for his briefing. David Levinson explains to President Whitmore that the aliens are using the Earth's satellites to coordinate an attack which is about to start. Whitmore's Aide tells President Whitmore that Sky Crane Pilot is about to try and communicate with the spaceship. Sky Crane Pilot initiates contact and President Whitmore tells General Grey to initiate an evacuation from the cities and to cancel Sky Crane Pilots mission. The spaceship opens up and Sky Crane Pilot's helicopter is shot out of the sky by a blue energy beam. President Whitmore has the White House evacuated and David and Julius Levinson join them.

July 3rd, President Whitmore tells Constance he regrets not evacuating the cities sooner. Capt. Steven Hiller and the rest of the Black Knights squadron head towards the spaceship hovering over Los Angeles, while simultaneously being monitored by President Whitmore. Technician tells General Grey that the squadron is ready to attack, while Commander/Tech tells him that the New York squadron is also ready to attack. The Black Knights attack, but find out the spaceships have shields and are then attacked by smaller spaceships that also have shields and one of the Pilots is killed when his jet rams into the spaceship. President Whitmore orders the squadrons to retreat and the mission is aborted. Commander/Tech tells General Grey that NORAD has been destroyed. David overhears Nimziki trying to convince President Whitmore to use nuclear weapons and starts arguing with them. Julius argues that they knew about the Harvesters from Roswell and Nimziki reveals that Roswell actually happened. Major Mitchell greets President Whitmore as Air Force One lands at Area 51. President Whitmore is introduced to Dr. Brakish Okun and Dr. Isaacs and Dr. Okun brings President Whitmore down to the hangar where they are keeping the downed Roswell craft. Dr. Okun then shows President Whitmore the bodies of the downed Harvesters. General Grey tells President Whitmore that every major city on Earth will be destroyed within the next 36 hours. Hiller is introduced to President Whitmore and General Grey tells Hiller that El Toro was completely destroyed. Secret Servicemen and Secret Service Agent, followed by Mitchell, President Whitmore and General Grey walk towards the lab. The Harvester tries to use Dr. Okun to have the lab door opened, but General Grey realizes something is wrong. President Whitmore tries to communicate with the Harvester and it attacks him psychically and Mitchell and the Secret Servicemen and Agent shoot and kill the Harvester. President Whitmore tells General Grey that he saw their plan to destroy the Earth and orders a nuclear strike. B-2 Pilot radios Technician that he is heading towards the alien spaceship near Houston, Texas, who then tells Commander/Tech. Meanwhile Tank Commander and Ed drive to the outskirts of Houston. B-2 Pilot fires the missile at the alien spaceship, but Tank Commander notifies Technician that the alien spaceship was not damaged. After she is rescued by Hiller, Butler escorts President Whitmore and Patricia to Marilyn's hospital room. Dr. Isaacs tells President Whitmore, that they can't do anything for Marilyn and President Whitmore hugs Marilyn one last time before she dies.

July 4th, David tells everyone about his plan to insert a virus in to the alien mothership which will then allow him to disable their shields. Hiller volunteers to fly the alien craft on the mission with David and President Whitmore agrees to the plan. Nimziki criticizes President Whitmore, and President Whitmore fires him. President Whitmore gives a speech about human unity and how afterwards the 4th of July will not just be an American holiday, but one celebrated by the world. He finishes his speech and then gets inside his own jet. General Grey tells President Whitmore that the alien spaceship is heading their way. President Whitmore and the others attack the spaceships and the missiles hit their targets. President Whitmore fires his last missile at the main alien spaceship firing device but misses. Lt. Peterson goes to fire his missile, but is blown up by an alien space craft. Russell Casse is the last remaining pilot with a missile and attempts to fire his last missile, but it malfunctions, forcing him to kamikaze into the firing device. The alien spaceship explodes into pieces and everyone celebrates. President Whitmore returns to Area 51 with the rest of the survivors and Technician tells General Grey that he has something on radar and a convoy goes out to meet Hiller and David. President Whitmore salutes Hiller and shakes David's hand, and everyone watches as the alien mothership evaporates as pieces of it hit the Earth's atmosphere.