Buddy Ebsen

as Vice President Kermit Madigan

Peter Graves

as Mark Jones

Arthur Kennedy

as Gunther Damon

Raymond Massey

as Secretary of State Freeman Sharkey

Mercedes McCambridge

as Hester Madigan

Rip Torn

as George Oldenburg

Louise Sorel

as Joanna Spencer

James Wainwright

as Gen. Dunbar

Dabney Coleman

as Sen. Bert Haines

Joseph Campanella

as Col. Doug Henderson

Richard Eastham

as Gen. Colton

Jim B. Smith

as Maj. Earl Foster

Tod Andrews

as President Jeremy Haines

Maida Severn

as Judy Nance

Ivan Bonar

as Colonel to Dunbar

Gary Haynes

as Rod Pitcher

Patty Bodeen

as Girl in Desert

Robert Reiser

as Boy in Desert

Byron Morrow

as Adm. Phillips

Bill Walker

as Thomas

Richard Bull

as First Controller

Vernon Weddle

as Second Controller

Hoke Howell

as Control Supervisor

Richard Stahl

as Dentist

Gil Peterson

as Tower Controller

Dale Tarter

as Airman

James W. Gavin

as Helicopter Pilot

Barry Cahill

as Ground Crew Chief

Lillian Lehman

as Genesse

James B. Sikking

as Aide to Dunbar

Barbara Leigh

as WAF

Jerry Crews

as News Cameraman

Jeff Burton

as Reporter

John Rayner

as Aide to Colton

George Barrows

as Mr. Meyers

John Amos

as Marine Corporal

John Ward

as Maj. D'Andrea