Albert Nimziki
Background
Albert "Al" Nimziki is the Secretary of Defense for President Thomas J. Whitmore in Washington, D.C. He used to be the head of the CIA.
During the events of Independence Day (1996) played by James Rebhorn
General William Grey ]calls ]Nimziki to tell him about a signal from space. The Chief of Staff, General 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. On the USS Georgia, Lieutenant is told by Sailor that they are suffering from radar black out, but the infrared shows a large object coming their way. Lieutenant then calls Atlantic Air CINC. Commanding Officer is told by Second Officer that an object has been spotted over Iraq , which Commanding Officer repeats to Atlantic Air CINC. General Grey tells President Whitmore about another object heading towards California. General Grey tells President Whitmore that they have an AWACS off the Pacific Coast. Radar Techs tell Pilots that side radar is picking up nothing. The Pilots relay this information, but their AWACS explodes when it makes contact with the suddenly appearing large object. 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. President Whitmore tells Constance Spano to have the National Broadcast system advise people not to panic. Sky Crane Pilot lifts off and heads towards the spaceship. 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 join them.
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. After he is attacked by a captured Harvester, President Whitmore orders a nuclear strike, which fails. President Whitmore agrees to David's plan, Nimziki criticizes President Whitmore, and President Whitmore fires him.