Jordan Boyle says he read "The Selling of the President." This bestselling 1969 book by Joe McGinniss documented the role of media in the1968 presidential campaign. The 1968 campaign is referred to again when the young hippie Sylvia mentions attending the Democratic National Convention in Chicago when the riots broke out.
Jon Lormer played retired Senator Stowe, a role played by E.G. Marshall in the pilot movie, A Clear and Present Danger (1970). Peter White assumed the role of Howard Eager, a role played in the pilot film by James Douglas. This will be the sole series appearances for each actor and character.
Hal Holbrook (Hays Stowe) and Felton Perry (Donovan) would both appear in the Dirty Harry movie Magnum Force (1973).