Charles Logan (24)
 | This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. (August 2008) |
| Charles Logan | |
|---|---|
| 24 character | |
 Gregory Itzin as Charles Logan | |
| Portrayed by | Gregory Itzin |
| Appearances | 4, 5, 6 |
Charles Logan is a fictional character played by Gregory Itzin in the television series 24. During the show's fourth season, Logan is the American Vice President who is sworn into office as Acting President after President John Keeler is critically injured in a terrorist attack.
It is presumed that Logan was a Republican. His predecessor, John Keeler, was the Republican candidate who defeated a Democrat who ran in the place of Democrat David Palmer (who chose not to seek a second term).
Itzin was nominated for a 2006 Supporting Actor Emmy Award for this role (losing to Alan Alda).
Characterization
 | This section possibly contains original research. (July 2008) |
Charles Logan has a Bachelor of Arts and History at Princeton University.[1] Prior to his vice-presidency, he was CEO of Western Energy Coal & Reserve; he also served as Lieutenant Governor of California, and in the California State Congress.[1]
He possesses several characteristics that diminish his capacity as a President of the United States. He is seemingly incapable of making hard decisions quickly and for himself and relies on the recommendations of his advisors. If no advisors are available, he would rather withdraw himself from the situation entirely. Additionally, his resolve is weak, as he rarely ever stands firmly behind a decision he has already made. Furthermore, he usually boasts of his achievements after a crisis is over.
After Season 5 revealed that Logan was behind the backfiring conspiracy, show executive producer Evan Katz said that the President was more of a man hiding a secret and was just being a little smarter about how he projects himself. Star Kiefer Sutherland also noted that people like Logan who are underestimated can become very dangerous because it gives them a sort of cover.[2]
In the commentary for the show's fifth season DVD, Itzin mentions how he, with the help of Jean Smart, who played his wife Martha, developed an extensive backstory for Logan to help focus his performance. Among other things, he decided that Logan was the son of a distinguished military and political leader. Logan's father physically abused him as a child, which Logan references twice in the finale; first when he tells Jack that he's a lot tougher than he appears to be, then again when he warns Martha that she doesn't know what pain is.
The backstory also included the Logans' son, who died tragically in his twenties several years ago (which might have been the cause of Martha's mental breakdown). Throughout the day, Logan carried a small chain in his pocket which had been a gift from his son, though most shots that show the chain (such as when his pockets are emptied when Jack interrogates him) were cut for time. Itzin also commented that David Palmer was also a friend to Logan's son and would visit him extensively.
Logan's reappearance in the sixth season show a man who is deeply sorry about his actions in the previous season. Logan has all but stated he is now a born again Christian and is searching for redemption. A scene of Logan in private confirms this, showing him grasping a Bible and quoting a passage for comfort. While he showed no ulterior motives, both President Wayne Palmer and Logan's ex-wife Martha understandably showed doubt as to whether Logan has truly changed. His recent actions have, once again, mirrored that of Richard Nixon, who himself became more religious and deeply sorrowful about his criminal activities in the years following the Watergate scandal. Itzin has acknowledged a physical resemblance between himself and Nixon. "I have the hairline, and my posture’s mediocre."[3]
Appearances
 | This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (October 2008) |
Logan is first contacted by President Keeler when it is discovered that Mitch Anderson commandeered a stealth fighter with the intent to shoot down Air Force One. Efforts to neutralize the stealth fighter fail, and Air Force One was fatally damaged. As a result, Keeler was deemed inable to serve as president, and Logan was appointed president as a result of the 25th Amendment.
Immediately after being sworn in, Logan is informed by one of his senior advisors Mike Novick that Marwan and his people have managed to recover several of the codes to the nation's nuclear arsenal. While Marwan's people manage to steal a nuclear warhead and successfully launch it on board a missile, government forces, in particular the Counter Terrorist Unit in Los Angeles, are desperately tracking Marwan.
Unfortunately, Logan soon proved unprepared for the grave responsibility that had been thrust upon him or for the grave threat he had inherited. One clear example of this occurred when CTU personnel arrested Joe Prado, an American civilian who had worked for Marwan. After an attorney on Prado's behalf demands that he be charged with a crime or released, Logan is hesitant to face the political risk of continuing to detain Prado, despite the insistence of CTU and of Mike Novick that Prado is their only link to Marwan and their only hope of finding him in time.
Unwilling to let Logan waste precious time while coming to a decision, CTU agent Jack Bauer convinces his superiors to release Prado, then, acting on his own, proceeded to torture Prado until he reveals one of Marwan's hiding places. Logan, furious that Bauer has acted without his approval, dispatches the Secret Service to arrest him, however they reach Bauer during an operation to capture Marwan and their interruption allows Marwan to escape.
For a time, at least, Logan doubts his own ability to govern during this crisis. In response, Novick suggests recruiting David Palmer as an adviser, due to the crises he has faced.
Though Logan initially welcomes Palmer's counsel, as hours passed, Logan becomes increasingly isolated while Palmer and Novick assume a more active role in leading the search for Marwan.
Eventually CTU forces locate Marwan. Though he kills himself to avoid capture, they are able to use his equipment to track the missile and shoot it down before it reaches its target. Despite his awkward handling of the situation and his eagerness to pass responsibility onto others, Logan is quick to accept credit and congratulations from various officials for his presumed handling of the crises. His only concession to Palmer is a private statement that he had "played a role".
In the midst of the crisis, a second one emerges when Palmer authorizes a covert CTU operation led by Bauer to extract Lee Jong, a Chinese citizen and associate of Marwan's, from the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles. During the incident, the Chinese Consul is killed by friendly fire.
Chinese officials eventually linked the operation back to Jack Bauer and demand his extradition. Walt Cummings, Logan's security aide, points out the danger of turning someone with Bauer's knowledge over to the Chinese. He suggests arranging Bauer's murder to prevent this. Though Logan vocally rejects this proposal in front of Palmer and Novick, Novick later overhears a phone conversation in which Cummings orders the Secret Service agent sent to pick up Bauer to kill him before the transfer.
Novick warns Palmer, who in turn informed Logan. Logan, however, refuses to believe Palmer, or at least do anything about it. Palmer himself then warns Bauer of the situation, and Bauer and several of his associates at CTU arrange a scenario in which Bauer appears to have been killed while trying to escape. While Bauer goes into hiding, Logan believes the situation has been taken care of, unaware of the truth.
Logan is still president at the start of season 5 and is preparing to meet Russian president Yuri Suvarov to sign an anti-terrorism defense treaty. Logan, seeing the treaty as the highlight of his Presidency, will not permit any delays. He is startled by news of the assassination of David Palmer but insists the signing continue on schedule. The situation is further complicated when a group of east-European separatists attack a nearby airport and take several hostages. They demand the treaty be renounced or they will begin executing hostages. Logan immediately orders CTU to organize a rescue.
The First Lady insists that Palmer had tried to contact her to warn her of a possible attack. Logan is sympathetic but is skeptical given her history of mental illness. He eventually agrees to have her sent away to a mental health facility.
CTU is ultimately successful in rescuing the hostages and the treaty is signed on schedule, though one terrorist, a sleeper posing as one of the hostages, manages to escape with a large shipment of nerve gas.
Soon after, Walt Cummings comes to Logan and admits his involvement in everything that has happened but insists it to be for a greater good. He claims the nerve gas will be released before it can threaten any American or Russian targets. Cummings' claims the nerve gas threat will provide a justification for a stronger U.S. presence in Asia and promote a greater acquisition of oil from the region. Cummings tells him the American agent monitoring the nerve gas has gone dark and even Cummings cannot stop him now. Logan is appalled but does not see any way out of the situation.
Meanwhile, Jack Bauer, who had emerged from hiding to find who had ordered Palmer's assassination, has discovered Cummings is involved and knew more than he had told Logan. After Jack manages to convince Secret Service agent Aaron Pierce to let him speak with the President, he is able to reveal the truth to Logan and physically confront Cummings, who confesses. Logan promptly orders Cummings arrested. Unfortunately when government forces move in on the location of the nerve gas, they find it missing and the American agent dead. The terrorists had apparently discovered Cummings's plan.
Logan has Jack temporarily reinstated with CTU, though both men agree he will have to go back into hiding once the crisis passed, due to fears of how China would feel, should they learn Bauer is still alive.
Logan also manages to stop his wife before she leaves the retreat. She initially reacts coldly to him for not having trusted her, though the two soon reconcile and begin drafting a public statement about Cummings' actions. This is interrupted when Mike Novick informs them that Cummings has been found, after committing suicide. Following Cummings' death, Logan decides against the release of the statement to avoid any political fallout.
Later on, the terrorists, led by Ivan Erwich, take a canister of the nerve gas into a shopping mall in Los Angeles. CTU head Lynn McGill urges Logan to allow them to use the gas in the mall, potentially killing up to 900 people, in the hopes of catching the terrorists and finding the other 19 canisters of Nerve Gas and rationalizing that few may have to die in order to save potentially hundreds of thousands. Despite Audrey Raines' insistence that allowing nine hundred American citizens to be killed would be immoral, Logan decides to allow the release of the nerve gas. Due to intervention from Jack Bauer, acting undercover, many lives are saved in this incident and only 11 people are killed.
Immediately thereafter, Vladimir Bierko, head of the Russian separatists, forces Logan to make a critical decision; give up the Russian President's motorcade route or risk the launch of the 19 remaining nerve gas containers on US soil. Ultimately, Logan decides to provide the terrorists with the route. However, as the motorcade departs, Logan's wife decides to join the motorcade behind his back in a final attempt to have him order them back. Logan is shown agonizing over the decision to not turn back the motorcade, and prays with Novick. CTU eventually realises the threat and notifies the motorcade. However, the terrorists believe Logan double crossed them and now plan to use the Sentox against the American people. After this, Logan receives a visit from Vice President Hal Gardner, who suggests that Logan implement martial law until the terrorists are stopped. Logan does so, much to the dismay and concern of Martha, Novick.
Treason revealed
By 11:00 p.m. on Day 5, it is revealed that Charles Logan is orchestrating and/or approving of all of the actions of Christopher Henderson, thereby making him complicit in the assassination of David Palmer and the attempted murder of several others. He also authorized Henderson and James Nathanson to frame Bauer for Palmer's death. He helped co-ordinate the Sentox plan with them.
With the terrorist threat having finally been thwarted by CTU, Logan turns his full attention to eliminating all evidence connecting him to the day's events. Specifically, Logan orders Henderson to stop Bauer and Wayne Palmer from recovering an audio tape in which he reveals his involvement in Palmer's death. Martha Logan's aide Evelyn Martin had hidden the audio tape in a safety deposit box in a bank.
Logan issues an executive warrant for the arrest of Jack Bauer for the murder of David Palmer. When questioned, he claims to have evidence which he will disclose after he is in custody but refuses to elaborate.
Once Jack retrieves the recording, he heads to Van Nuys Airport to hand off the tape to Secretary of Defense James Heller, with the intent to bring down Logan.
Once Heller is in possession of the recording, he attempts to cut a deal with Logan, requesting he step down quietly, and in return the recording will never see the light of day. Logan prepares to sign his resignation with Gardner being his witness before Henderson reveals he has retrieved the recording from Heller's men and Jack. Logan then asks Heller to tender his resignation.
Later, a co-conspirator behind Day 5 is revealed to be a man named Graem. He orders Logan to silence Martha, who knows too much. Logan confesses to Martha his culpability in Palmer's death and implores her to remain quiet for the good of the country. Logan tries one final time to control the situation, when Jack Bauer hijacks a 727 plane being co-piloted by the man who has the recording. Graem fakes a VCI signal from the plane, giving Logan the pretense to shoot the plane down. Jack manages to avoid getting shot down and escapes with the recording. Logan and Graem come to the conclusion that Logan must commit suicide, rather than face a trial. After apologizing to Martha, he goes to his office and prepares to shoot himself. Before he can, Logan receives a call from Miles Papazian, telling him that he will prevent the United States Attorney General from hearing its contents. Logan approves and puts the gun away.
Once the recording is erased, he cancels the arrest warrant for Jack. Logan meets with Aaron Pierce, whom he had taken prisoner before he could meet with Martha several hours earlier. Pierce refuses any deal with Logan, forcing him to order Agent Adams to kill Pierce.
Later, Logan is kidnapped by Jack aboard Marine One, whose intent is to extract a confession from him. Jack tries to get him to confess, but fails and is subsequently arrested. However, unbeknownst to the president, Jack placed a microtransmitter in Logan's pen while frisking him. He accuses Martha privately of helping Jack and threatens to send her to a psychiatric facility. He ends up confessing his part in the day's events with the microtransmitter still emmitting. Logan is consequently arrested by the Secret Service during his eulogy of David Palmer.
Karen Hayes speculates that Logan may be granted clemency for his actions in exchange for his immediate resignation, in order to protect the country from the embarrassment of a trial. Hal Gardner was then expected to be sworn in as the new President.
When Jack is left a phone number by his father Phillip Bauer, his call is answered by Logan, who is now under house arrest. He agrees to help Jack find Dmitri Gredenko.
Jack visits Logan at his ranch. Logan reveals that one of Gredenko's supporters, Anatoly Markov, was involved in his conspiracy, and that Logan intends to use this as leverage in order to gain information on Gredenko. Logan insists that he is only looking for redemption. President Wayne Palmer reluctantly grants Logan a temporary release to confront Markov.
Logan enters the consulate alone to confront Markov. He threatens to implicate Markov in the Sentox conspiracy unless he gives up Gredenko, but Markov claims not to know anything. Logan leaves the consulate convinced that Markov is lying, prompting Jack to sneak into the consulate alone. Logan tries to warn him, but fails in stopping him.
When Jack is in their custody, Logan requests he speak to Martha, who is now institutionalized. During the visit, Martha is resentful of Charles and is disgusted by his presence. Just when it is agreed that Martha would make the call, in a sudden fit of rage she stabs him in the shoulder with a kitchen knife, severing an artery. Logan is rushed to the hospital, but begins to flatline en route, with his last word being "Martha" before losing consciousness. He is not heard from for the rest of the season.
Critical reception
Itzin was nominated for a 2006 Supporting Actor Emmy Award for his role in the fifth season.
Overall, reaction was mixed to the revelation that Logan was one of the main villains. Many praised the revelation as one of the show's better plot twists, while others criticized the twist as nothing more than shock value, and speculated how Logan could not have been involved in the conspiracy.
In real life, Gregory Itzin was commended for his portrayal of a weak President. Logan played his part as an undercover conspirator brilliantly, coming out as a shock when the news was first released.[4]
References
- ^ a b "FOX Broadcasting Company: 24". FOX 24. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
- ^ '24' prez pivots from weasel to evil
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/27/arts/television/27itzk.html
- ^ Itzin Is '24's' Petrified POTUS
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