Gary Oldman and co-producer Douglas Urbanski complained after the film was released that the film was changed from the more balanced script by DreamWorks Pictures to reflect the liberal politics of the studios head at DreamWorks (Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen). The English Oldman, who according to long-time business partner Urbanski is "the least political person I know", was simply contending this since he didn't enjoy how negatively his character was portrayed. DreamWorks vehemently denied tampering with the film.
An entire subplot involving Laine Hanson's father, Oscar Billings (Philip Baker Hall) was dropped in post-production. In it, the character was given more depth and portrayed as a corrupt former Governor, who used his influence and money to help his daughter get a Senate seat (without her knowledge). This information leaks, and Oscar, guilt-ridden, kills himself out of shame. Rod Lurie cut this out because of time, and because he felt the audience would have a hard time believing the Senator could beat these nepotism charges and get confirmed.
President Barack Obama told Entertainment Weekly in 2008 that Jackson Evans (Jeff Bridges) was his favorite movie President.
Jeff Bridges said he modeled President Evans after his father Lloyd Bridges, whom he worshiped, and also had just recently died in 1998.