History Trivia / Nixon

* NamesTheSame: Nixon's valet wouldn't be the only one with the name [[WesternAnimation/TheBookOfLife Manolo Sanchez]].

* FakeNationality: Italian-American Paul Sorvino plays German-born Henry Kissinger.

* AbilityOverAppearance: Anthony Hopkins looks and sounds absolutely nothing like Nixon, but as one of the most acclaimed actors in history he's certainly up to the part. Siskel and Ebert's review praised him for "hinting" at Nixon's image without being overly concerned about getting it exactly right.

* FakeAmerican: Welshman Creator/AnthonyHopkins as Nixon, Brit Creator/BobHoskins as J. Edgar Hoover, and Italian-American Paul Sorvino as German-born Henry Kissinger.

** Creator/JessicaLange and Creator/MerylStreep was considered for Pat Nixon.

* DeletedRole: Scenes which featured Creator/SamWaterston as Richard Helms were deleted prior to the film's release, but later reinstated on video cassette and DVD versions. At the time of the theatrical release, Richard Helms was still living, and hotly objected to his portrayal in the film.

* DisownedAdaptation: Besides Helms, Nixon's daughters Julie and Tricia objected to the film's portrayal of their father, calling it a "character assassination," and unsuccessfully attempted to block its release. John Ehrlichman, who initially consulted with Stone and the screenwriters on early script drafts, hated the finished film and dismissed it as "made up stuff and...very cruel" (even though it portrays him in a relatively sympathetic light).

* DisownedAdaptation: Besides Helms, Nixon's daughters Julie and Tricia objected to the film's portrayal of their father, calling it a "character assassination," and unsuccessfully attempted to block its release. John Ehrlichman, who initially consulted with Stone and the screenwriters on earlier script drafts, hated the finished film and dismissed it as "made up stuff and...very cruel" (even though it portrays him in a relatively sympathetic light).

* DisownedAdaptation: Besides Helms, Nixon's daughters Julie and Tricia objected to the film's portrayal of their father, calling it (among other things) a "character assassination," and unsuccessfully attempted to block its release. John Ehrlichman, who initially consulted with Stone and the screenwriters on earlier script drafts, hated the finished film and dismissed it as "made up stuff and...very cruel" (even though it portrays him in a relatively sympathetic light).

* HostilityOnTheSet: Creator/AnthonyHopkins took a lot of ribbing from costars James Woods and Paul Sorvino over his American accent while filming. Depending on who you believe, it was either good-natured joking between actors or genuine hostility; Woods claims that Hopkins grew so annoyed with Sorvino's attempts at "coaching" him that he threatened to quit the movie and had to be talked out of it by Oliver Stone.

** According to Paul Sorvino, Creator/OliverStone originally considered him for the role of Hoover. Creator/EdHarris was Stone's first choice to play Bob Haldeman, but James Woods persuaded Stone to cast him instead, causing Harris to be re-cast as Howard Hunt.

** There were several other actors considered to play Nixon besides Hopkins, among them Creator/WarrenBeatty, Creator/TomHanks, Creator/GeneHackman, Creator/TommyLeeJones, Creator/JohnMalkovich, Creator/JackNicholson, Creator/GaryOldman, and Creator/RobinWilliams. Beatty came the closest, holding preliminary talks with Stone about the role, but Stone decided against him when Beatty demanded major revisions to the script.
** Creator/MerylStreep was considered for Pat Nixon.

* AllStarCast: This was Madeline Kahn's last role, playing Martha Mitchell.
* FakeNationality: Welshman Creator/AnthonyHopkins as Nixon, Brit Bob Hoskins as J. Edgar Hoover, and Italian-American Paul Sorvino as German-born Henry Kissinger.
* HostilityOnTheSet: Anthony Hopkins took a lot of ribbing from costars James Woods and Paul Sorvino over his American accent while filming. Depending on who you believe, it was either good-natured joking between actors or genuine hostility; Woods claims that Hopkins grew so annoyed with Sorvino's attempts at "coaching" him that he threatened to quit the movie and had to be talked out of it by Oliver Stone.
* PlayingAgainstType: Sam Waterston, best known for playing morally strong characters like [[Franchise/LawAndOrder Jack McCoy]] and UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln, as the sinister CIA director Dick Helms.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: According to Paul Sorvino, Oliver Stone originally considered him for the role of Hoover. Ed Harris was Stone's first choice to play Bob Haldeman, but James Woods persuaded Stone to cast him instead, causing Harris to be re-cast as Howard Hunt.
** There were several other actors considered to play Nixon besides Hopkins, among them Creator/RobinWilliams, Creator/JackNicholson, Creator/TomHanks, Creator/GaryOldman and Creator/WarrenBeatty. Beatty came the closest, holding preliminary talks with Stone about the role, but Stone decided against him when Beatty demanded major revisions to the script.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: According to Paul Sorvino, Oliver Stone originally considered him for the role of Hoover.

* FakeNationality: Welshman AnthonyHopkins as Nixon, Brit Bob Hoskins as J. Edgar Hoover, and Italian-American Paul Sorvino as German-born Henry Kissinger.

* PlayingAgainstType: Sam Waterston, best known for playing morally strong characters like [[Franchise/LawAndOrder Jack McCoy]] and UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln, as the sinister CIA director Dick Helms.

* PlayingAgainstType: Sam Waterston, best known for playing morally strong characters like [[LawAndOrder Jack McCoy]] and UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln, as the sinister CIA director Dick Helms.

* AllStarCast: Like most of Stone's movies, you've probably seen [[HeyItsThatGuy the entire cast]] in at least ''one'' thing.
** This was Madeline Kahn's last role, playing Martha Mitchell.

* PlayingAgainstType: Sam Waterston, best known for playing morally strong characters like [[LawAndOrder Jack McCoy]] and UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln, as the sinister CIA director Dick Helms.

** Codified with his subsequent roles in TheBourneSeries.

* PlayingAgainstType: Sam Waterston, best known for playing morally strong characters like [[LawAndOrder Jack McCoy]] and AbrahamLincoln, as the sinister CIA director Dick Helms.