John Keeler

Template:24 character John Keeler is a fictional character played by Geoff Pierson on the television series 24. During its fourth season, he is President of the United States.

Appearances

Day 3

During the third season, Keeler, a United States Senator, ran against incumbent President David Palmer. Keeler had early success in the campaign, closing the gap between Palmer and himself in the time up to the Presidential debate. Keeler attempted to use information regarding Palmer's partner, Anne Packard, to discredit the President, but Palmer, having had prior information about this tactic, was not fazed by it. However, when Palmer was forced to cancel the debate at a crucial moment, Keeler seized this opportunity and tried to show that President was unable to cope. When Palmer raised the nation's terror alert level, proving there was a national emergency, Keeler's campaign appeared to be in tatters, before a timely visit from Sherry Palmer, who gave Keeler information regarding Palmer's role in the death of Alan Milliken. Keeler went to Palmer with this information, demanding the President's withdrawal from the race, which would guarantee Keeler a win in the election. Palmer stood his ground, but after learning of the death of Sherry, he withdrew from the race anyway.

Day 4

After Season 3, Keeler won the election and became President. He was aboard Air Force One throughout Season 4, due to the terrorist threat on the ground. It was later learned that the mastermind of the attack, Habib Marwan, had orchestrated the attacks in order to keep Air Force One in the air. This gave Captain Mitch Anderson, a disgraced Air Force pilot working for Marwan, the time to commandeer a stealth fighter and intercept Air Force One.

At this point Jack Bauer and the Counter Terrorist Unit discovered Marwan's plan and warned Air Force One. Shortly thereafter, Keeler contacted Vice President Charles Logan, urging him to carry forward should anything happen to him. Minutes later, Anderson fired on Air Force One, scoring an indirect hit. The plane was unable to stay in the air and crash-landed in the Mojave desert. Several people on board were killed including the President's son Kevin Keeler. Keeler himself was found alive but in critical condition. With the President unable to fulfill his duties, the cabinet unanimously voted to invoke the 25th Amendment and Logan was sworn in as Acting President of the United States, overseeing the current crisis for the remainder of the day.

The show has never stated whether Keeler ever recovered, but presumably he is deceased or has resigned office. Day 5 makes it clear that Logan would be President for the remainder of his term.

In the second episode of 24 Inside's season 6 shows, the interviewer claimed there were too many "dead presidents." Howard Gordon responded with, "there has only been 1, and he was an ex-president." According to Gordon, The death of Keeler was planned, but Fox executives banned the idea. Keeler survived the crash, but his whereabouts are simply never mentioned on the show. However, his location is mentioned within the interview.

Keeler's Cabinet & Staff

• Vice President: Charles Logan (Season 4)
• Secretary of State: Mr. Taylor (Season 4, only referred to)
• Secretary of Defense: James Heller (Season 4)
• Campaign Manager/Aide: Mark Kanar (Seasons 3 & 4)
• Speaker of the House: Don Ashton (Season 4)
• Aide: Robert Franklin (Season 4)
• Aide: Melissa (Season 4)

Trivia

• In an interview on The Charlie Rose Show from May 20, 2005, Joel Surnow disclosed that the writers and producers originally intended to have President John Keeler die in the crash of Air Force One. However, FOX network executives vetoed that idea and at the conclusion of the season he was comatose. The writers then changed the outcome to have Keeler survive, but be incapacitated, still resulting in Logan's ascendency to the Presidency.
• Keeler is one of several 24 characters who were last seen critically injured or in danger but whose fate was never made clear. Other examples include Lynne Kresge, Mitch Anderson, Evelyn Martin, Charles Logan, and Lisa Miller.
• In an interview, 24 Executive Producer Howard Gordon said that Keeler was in fact not dead but recovering in a convalescent home in Maryland. Whether this is canon is debatable.
• The character John Keeler is the only on-screen president to not sign a death warrant for Jack Bauer. President David Palmer signed a presidential pardon for the death of Jack Bauer to Nina Myers (even though it was never carried out) in Day 2 as well as authorize a chopper piloted by Jack to be shot down in order to prevent Ramon Salazar from leaving the country, who was also on board the chopper; President Charles Logan ordered a warrant for Jack Bauer's arrest and/or death in Day 5; and President Wayne Palmer asked Jack to sacrifice himself at the start of Day 6.

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