24 (2001–2010)

Dennis Haysbert: President David Palmer, Senator David Palmer, David Palmer

Photos 

2 more photos

Quotes 

• Sherry Palmer : We've had a hard day, but when you look at it in perspective, you'll realize I was acting in your best interest. And I know you're so mad at me.

  President Palmer : I'm not mad at you.

  Sherry Palmer : Oh, good.

  President Palmer : I feel sorry for you.

  Sherry Palmer : You feel sorry for me?

  President Palmer : You've lost touch of what it is to be a friend... a parent... a wife. After today, I never want to see you again.

  Sherry Palmer : David!

  President Palmer : Please, Sherry, I've heard it all before. And I don't care what this may do to my candidacy. And it's not because I don't want to be President. I do. I just don't think you're fit to be the first lady.

  Sherry Palmer : Do you really think you can just leave me? Don't you think for a second it'll be that easy!

  President Palmer : Secret Service will escort you back to Washington when you're ready.

  [turns away from her and walks towards the room exit] 

  Sherry Palmer : [screaming after David, who is ignoring her rantings]  David, you don't just walk away from me! David, you can't do this without me! David, I'm talking to you!

  [a secret Service Agent stops her from following after David Palmer after he leaves the room] 

  Sherry Palmer : Get your hands off of me!

• President Palmer : I'm the president Mike. You do not call me by my first name.

• President Palmer : Let's skip the sound bytes and cut straight to the chase.

• President Palmer : Mike, I want to thank you for calling CTU in the eleventh hour.

  Mike Novick : Of course, Mr. President.

  President Palmer : [leans in close]  But you should have been with me to the end. That's what I expected of you, that's why I appointed you! I'm relieving you of your post, effective immediately.

  Mike Novick : [starts crying]  Yes, Mr. President.

• President Palmer : [Explaining to President Logan, whom he is advising, why he authorized a covert operation that could be construed as an act of war; Logan disagrees]  We didn't bring this crisis on ourselves, but we'll be the ones to settle it. This is a dirty business and we have to get our hands dirty to clean it up!

• Sherry Palmer : Mike's job is to tell you what you want to hear. Mine is to tell you the truth

  President Palmer : You're not qualified for that job.

• [after Jack Bauer's team attacks the Chinese Consulate] 

  President Palmer : It was a covert operation, not dissimilar to those carried out by countries on a routine basis around the world.

  Charles Logan : Don't give me a social studies lesson, David. We marched onto Chinese soil, we kidnapped one of their nationals, and in the process the Chinese consul was killed.

• President Palmer : What are you trying to do? Start a war with the Middle East?

  Roger Stanton : No.

  President Palmer : Then what?

  Roger Stanton : Your defense policy is too passive. You need more resources...

  President Palmer : You're trying to hijack my presidency.

  Roger Stanton : No, no, no. But, I'd like to give it some balls.

• Sherry Palmer : What? What's Funny?

  President Palmer : No, nothing really. It's just that, when I wanted you to pull back, just let things be, you were a shark. Now that I've asked you back. I need you to be a shark.

  Sherry Palmer : I can still be, whatever you need me to be.

• President Palmer : Jack, you saved my life. I trust you as much as I trust anybody.

• President Palmer : Make no mistake: if we unleash our military power on nations that later prove innocent, it will rank as one of the most despicable sneak attacks in history. Any chance for peace in the Middle East will vanish forever. Even if it'll cost American lives in the future, we must delay this attack until we are certain of our ground.

• Sherry Palmer : You finish the speech?

  President Palmer : Taking a break. The guys got tired of me yelling at them.

• President Palmer : Now, Jack, if it were anyone else, I would ask you if you were sure. But with you, I already know the answer. God bless you, and good luck.

• President Palmer : All right. This is what we're gonna do. We may be short on manpower, but it doesn't have to appear that way. Send all the Eastern Georgia National Guard to Marietta, and tell the media that this is where something's going to happen.

  Mike Novick : Uh, what's going to happen, sir?

  President Palmer : If this is what the people are going to be watching, let's show them how we're going to respond. I want them to see how we protect our citizens. We will not put up with racism or xenophobia. If this is where it's going to start, this is where it's going to stop.

• President Palmer : [asking about Alan Milliken's death]  What happened, Sherry?

  Sherry Palmer : I went... to the house.

  [sees David's look, raises a hand slightly] 

  Sherry Palmer : to speak to Julia. Alan interrupted us... there was an argument... and... he had a heart attack.

• President Palmer : [repeated line, after knocking on his door, granting them permission to enter the room his working in]  come