[MAD MEN] 112: Nixon vs. Kennedy, with Rachel Fisher

·1 hr 14 min·5 clips

Comedians Matt and Vince analyze Mad Men's Nixon vs. Kennedy episode as Los Angeles burns and guest Rachel Fisher evacuates her home.

The episode begins with hosts Matt Lieb and Vince Mancini introducing the podcast and guest Rachel Fisher from Hollywood Crime Scene, against the backdrop of Los Angeles wildfires. They briefly touch on listener feedback before diving into Mad Men season 1, episode 12, 'Nixon vs. Kennedy.' The hosts provide a synopsis: the Sterling Cooper office watches the 1960 Nixon-Kennedy election, Pete Campbell tries to blackmail Don Draper over his past, and Don considers fleeing to L.A. with Rachel Menken. A segment called 'the news machine' offers historical context from October 1960, including details about Camp Century, a U.S. military Arctic base with a nuclear reactor. The analysis covers key plot points: the office election party with sexual harassment hijinks, Harry Crane's infidelity with Hildy, and Pete's discovery of Don's true identity as Dick Whitman. Don's backstory is fully revealed—in Korea, he pissed himself, dropped a lighter, and accidentally killed the real Don Draper, leading him to switch dog tags. The hosts examine character motivations, such as Don's refusal to give Pete a job out of principle and Rachel Menken's rejection of Don's impulsive escape plan. Themes include presentation over past, generational humor through advertising, and parallels between Don and Nixon's humble origins. The episode concludes with the hosts rating it a B-plus and sharing patron shout-outs.

As heard by us

An election-night Mad Men rewatch where office ambition, TV-news riffs, and loose comedy share the room.

Election night gives this Mad Men rewatch its spark, as Don Draper brings Duck Phillips to Bert Cooper and Pete eyes the job Duck seems ready to claim.

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Why you'd press play

You get a Mad Men rewatch with office ambition, guest Rachel Fisher, and a Los Angeles fire situation licking at the edges.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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