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Charles Logan (24 character)
Encyclopedia
Charles Logan is a fictional character
played by Gregory Itzin
in the television series 24
. During the show's fourth season, Logan is the Vice President of the United States
who is sworn into office as President of the United States
when former President
John Keeler is critically injured in a terrorist attack.
Itzin was nominated for a 2006 Supporting Actor Emmy Award for this role (losing to Alan Alda
).
degree in History
from Princeton University
. Prior to his vice-presidency, he served as the CEO
of Western Energy Coal & Reserve; he also served as Lieutenant Governor of California
, and in the California State Legislature.
Logan possesses several characteristics that diminish his capacity to serve as president. In contrast to Palmer, Logan is seemingly incapable of making hard decisions independently, relying on the recommendations of his advisors. If none are available, Logan tries to withdraw himself from the situation entirely. Additionally, his resolve is weak, as he rarely stands behind the decisions he makes. Furthermore, he boasts of his achievements after a crisis is over, even if his claims do not reflect the reality of the situation.
After Day 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.
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 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.
Itzin has acknowledged a physical resemblance between himself and President Richard Nixon
. "I have the hairline, and my posture’s mediocre."
with the intent to shoot down Air Force One
. Efforts to neutralize the stealth fighter fail, and Air Force One is shot down. As a result, the incapacitated Keeler was deemed unable to serve as president, and Logan was appointed president as a result of the 25th Amendment.
After being sworn in, Logan is informed by one of his senior advisors, Mike Novick
, that Marwan and his terrorist organization have managed to recover several 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, CTU Los Angeles
desperately attempts to track him.
Unfortunately, Logan proves unprepared for both the office and the crisis. When CTU arrests an American civilian named Joe Prado due to his employment under Marwan, Logan is hesitant to face the political risk of detain Prado without charge. Logan is slow to act, even though CTU and Novick point out that Prado is their only means of finding Marwan in time.
Unwilling to let Logan waste precious time, CTU agent Jack Bauer
convinces his superiors to release Prado; afterwards he tortures Prado into revealing one of Marwan's hideouts. Logan, furious that Bauer has acted without his approval, dispatches the Secret Service
to arrest him. However, the Secret Service disrupts Bauer's operation to capture Marwan, allowing him to escape.
Logan begins to doubt his ability to govern during the crisis. In response, Novick recruits David Palmer
as an advisor, due to the crises he has faced as president. Though Logan initially welcomes Palmer's counsel, he becomes increasingly isolated as Palmer and Novick assume a more active role in leading the search for Marwan.
Eventually, CTU locates Marwan. Although he kills himself to avoid capture, CTU manages to use Marwan's equipment to track the missile and shoot it down before it reaches its target. Despite his lack of leadership during the crisis, Logan quickly accepts credit for his presumed handling of the situation. His only concession to Palmer is a private statement that he had "played a role".
In the midst of the hunt for Marwan, Palmer authorizes a covert CTU operation led by Bauer to extract Lee Jong, an 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 link the operation to Bauer and demand his extradition.
Walt Cummings, Logan's aide, suggests arranging Bauer's murder to prevent his knowledge from being exploited by the Chinese. Though Logan vocally rejects this proposal, Novick later overhears a phone conversation in which Cummings orders a Secret Service agent to kill Bauer before he is turned over to Chinese authorities.
Palmer informs Logan of Cumming's actions, but the president disbelieves the story and refuses to take action. Palmer warns Bauer of the threat on his life, causing Bauer and his CTU colleagues to fake his death. While Bauer goes into hiding, Logan remains unaware of the truth, believing that the situation has been resolved.
, seeing the event as the highlight of his presidency. He is startled by the news of Palmer's assassination, but insists the signing continue on schedule. When Eastern European separatists take hostages at an airport in opposition to the treaty, Logan orders CTU to organize a rescue.
First Lady
Martha Logan
insists that Palmer contacted her, warning of a possible terrorist attack. Logan, while sympathetic, is skeptical given her history of mental illness. He eventually agrees to have her committed to a mental health facility. Meanwhile, CTU rescues the hostages, allowing the treaty to be signed on schedule.
Soon after, Cummings comes to Logan and admits his involvement in the airport incident and Palmer's death, but insists it to be for a greater good. He claims 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.
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, Logan is told by one of his co-conspirators, Graem, that Martha knows too much and must be silenced. 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. When the plane is obviously about to make an emergency landing, Logan is talked out of shooting it down by Mike Novick and Jack escapes with the recording.
Logan and Graem come to the conclusion that Logan must commit suicide, reasoning that a President on trial for treason and murder would do irreparable damage to the country. 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 he learns that Papazian has successfully erased the recording 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, and Logan orders Adams to kill Pierce, although Pierce subsequently escaped with help from Martha and Mike Novick.
At the end of the penultimate episode of season five, at 5:59:03 AM, Martha Logan stalls the president by sleeping with him so that Jack can sneak aboard his helicopter.
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. Jack is deeply tempted to kill Logan, but the president remarks that he would be remembered as a martyr like Abraham Lincoln
and John Kennedy
, while Jack would be viewed as an assassin like John Wilkes Booth
and Lee Harvey Oswald
. Jack decides not to kill Logan 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 emitting. 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. It was revealed in Season 6 that Logan resigned from office after pleading guilty to obstructing justice and was placed under house arrest. To prevent a damaging scandal enveloping the Presidency his role in David Palmer's assassination and providing nerve gas to terrorist groups were not publicized.
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.
to help with the Russian government, who wish to back out of a peace treaty after the assassination of President Omar Hassan. The Russians' explanation is they do not believe the new President of the IRK, Hassan's wife Dalia, will be able to hold up the peace agreement; therefore they wish to drop out and have no part in it. Also during this episode it is learned that Logan was granted a presidential pardon from President Daniels.
Later, Jack Bauer learns of Logan's involvement in the government cover-up of Russian involvement in the death of President Hassan when he checks the recent calls of the assassin of Renee Walker
. In the following hours, Logan attempts to prevent information about Russian involvement in Hassan's death being released, in order to protect himself and to prevent it undermining the treaty. As in his final hours as President, Logan is willing to go to any lengths to protect himself, including sanctioning murder, torture and press censorship. Logan persuades Taylor to have CTU mole Dana Walsh quietly tortured for the location of the evidence by men hired by him rather than grant her a pardon, and arrest journalist Meredith Reed to prevent her publishing the evidence given to her by Bauer. He also has Taylor place his aide Jason Pillar in charge of the hunt to find Jack Bauer, allowing Pillar to pass on information to Russian agents who will then kill Bauer. Numerous attempts to kill Bauer prove unsuccessful, however, increasing the pressure on Logan.
In the meantime Logan's private escort is attacked by Bauer, who kidnaps him and takes him underground. Bauer threatens to kill Logan unless he gives up the names of those behind the day's events: Logan names Novakovich, the Russian foreign minister. Unbeknown to Logan, Bauer also places a microtransmitter on him; Bauer listens in as Logan incriminates himself further in a conversation with Russian President Yuri Suvarov. Bauer leaves him there unconscious, only fifteen minutes before Novakovich is found dead. Logan is in a hospital bed when the episode ends. Bauer later finds Logan again, intending to use him to lure Suvarov into a trap so Bauer can assassinate him, although he then abandons the plan.
When Bauer is eventually captured, Logan makes arrangements for him to be murdered, taking President Taylor's silence as tacit approval. However, at the last moment she refuses to sign the peace treaty and rescinds the order for Bauer's death. Having lost what he considered to be his last chance at redeeming himself and in a final effort to have his nemesis Jack Bauer killed, Logan murders his right-hand man Jason Pillar and then shoots himself in the head in a suicide attempt. The EMTs working on Logan said that he would likely survive, but would probably suffer significant brain damage.
In real life, Gregory Itzin was commended for his portrayal of a weak President, which some comment the character was partly inspired by Richard Nixon
. Logan played his part as an undercover conspirator brilliantly, coming out as a shock when the news was first released.
Itzin was also nominated for 2010 Outstanding Guest Actor Emmy Award
for his appearance in the eighth season of 24, episode "1:00 PM - 2:00 PM".
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
played by Gregory Itzin
Gregory Itzin
Gregory Martin Itzin is an American film and television actor. He is best known for his role as disgraced U.S. President Charles Logan in the television series 24.-Early life:...
in the television series 24
24 (TV series)
24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...
. During the show's fourth season, Logan is the Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
who is sworn into office as President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
when former President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
John Keeler is critically injured in a terrorist attack.
Itzin was nominated for a 2006 Supporting Actor Emmy Award for this role (losing to Alan Alda
Alan Alda
Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo , better known as Alan Alda, is an American actor, director, screenwriter, and author. A six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner, he is best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the TV series M*A*S*H...
).
Characterization
Charles Logan has a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. Prior to his vice-presidency, he served as the CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Western Energy Coal & Reserve; he also served as Lieutenant Governor of California
Lieutenant Governor of California
The Lieutenant Governor of California is a statewide constitutional officer elected separately from the Governor who serves as the "vice-executive" of California. The Lieutenant Governor of California is elected to serve a four year term and can serve a maximum of two terms...
, and in the California State Legislature.
Logan possesses several characteristics that diminish his capacity to serve as president. In contrast to Palmer, Logan is seemingly incapable of making hard decisions independently, relying on the recommendations of his advisors. If none are available, Logan tries to withdraw himself from the situation entirely. Additionally, his resolve is weak, as he rarely stands behind the decisions he makes. Furthermore, he boasts of his achievements after a crisis is over, even if his claims do not reflect the reality of the situation.
After Day 5
24 (season 5)
Season Five, also known as Day 5 of the television series 24 premiered on January 15, 2006 and aired its season finale on May 22, 2006.The Season Five storyline starts and ends at 7:00 a.m. It is the same time frame as the previous season....
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
Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland is an English-born Canadian actor, producer and director, best known for his portrayal of Jack Bauer on the Fox thriller drama series 24 for which he has won an Emmy Award , a Golden Globe award , two Screen Actors Guild Awards and two Satellite...
also noted that people like Logan who are underestimated can become very dangerous because it gives them a sort of cover.
In the commentary for the show's fifth season DVD, Itzin mentions how he, with the help of Jean Smart
Jean Smart
Jean E. Smart is an American film, television, and stage actress. She is known for her comedic roles, one of the best known being her role as Charlene Frazier Stillfield on the CBS sitcom Designing Women. She later gained critical acclaim for dramatic work, with her portrayal of Martha Logan on 24...
, 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 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
David Palmer (24 character)
David Palmer, J.D. is a fictional President of the United States played by Dennis Haysbert as part of the television series 24. Palmer served as the show's second-most prominent protagonist, after Jack Bauer. Throughout the series, Palmer's ex-wife Sherry and brother Wayne are both key figures in...
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
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
and is searching for redemption. A scene of Logan in private confirms this, showing him grasping a Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
and quoting a passage for comfort. While he showed no ulterior motives, both President Wayne Palmer
Wayne Palmer
Wayne Palmer is a fictional President of the United States on the television series 24. He is played by D. B. Woodside.-Characterization:...
and Logan's ex-wife Martha
Martha Logan
Martha Logan is a fictional character played by Jean Smart in the television series, 24. As the first lady of the United States within the 24 universe, she is the capable but unpredictable and unstable wife of President Charles Logan...
understandably showed doubt as to whether Logan has truly changed.
Itzin has acknowledged a physical resemblance between himself and President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. "I have the hairline, and my posture’s mediocre."
24: Season 4
Logan is first contacted by President Keeler when it is discovered that Mitch Anderson commandeered a stealth fighterStealth Fighter
Stealth Fighter is an action film released in 1999. The film stars Ice-T, Costas Mandylor, Erika Eleniak, Sarah Dampf, William Sadler, Ernie Hudson, and Andrew Divoff.-Film synopsis:...
with the intent to shoot down Air Force One
Air Force One
Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. In common parlance the term refers to those Air Force aircraft whose primary mission is to transport the president; however, any U.S. Air Force aircraft...
. Efforts to neutralize the stealth fighter fail, and Air Force One is shot down. As a result, the incapacitated Keeler was deemed unable to serve as president, and Logan was appointed president as a result of the 25th Amendment.
After being sworn in, Logan is informed by one of his senior advisors, Mike Novick
Mike Novick
Mike Novick is a fictional character played by Jude Ciccolella as part of the television series, 24. He has appeared more than any other recurring character, having appeared in 58 episodes over 4 seasons, and has been given a promotional photo with the same background as the starring cast members,...
, that Marwan and his terrorist organization have managed to recover several 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, CTU Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
desperately attempts to track him.
Unfortunately, Logan proves unprepared for both the office and the crisis. When CTU arrests an American civilian named Joe Prado due to his employment under Marwan, Logan is hesitant to face the political risk of detain Prado without charge. Logan is slow to act, even though CTU and Novick point out that Prado is their only means of finding Marwan in time.
Unwilling to let Logan waste precious time, CTU agent Jack Bauer
Jack Bauer
Jack Bauer is the main protagonist of the American television series 24. His character has worked in various capacities on the show, often as a member of the fictional Counter Terrorist Unit based in Los Angeles, and working with the FBI in Washington, D.C...
convinces his superiors to release Prado; afterwards he tortures Prado into revealing one of Marwan's hideouts. Logan, furious that Bauer has acted without his approval, dispatches the Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
to arrest him. However, the Secret Service disrupts Bauer's operation to capture Marwan, allowing him to escape.
Logan begins to doubt his ability to govern during the crisis. In response, Novick recruits David Palmer
David Palmer (24 character)
David Palmer, J.D. is a fictional President of the United States played by Dennis Haysbert as part of the television series 24. Palmer served as the show's second-most prominent protagonist, after Jack Bauer. Throughout the series, Palmer's ex-wife Sherry and brother Wayne are both key figures in...
as an advisor, due to the crises he has faced as president. Though Logan initially welcomes Palmer's counsel, he becomes increasingly isolated as Palmer and Novick assume a more active role in leading the search for Marwan.
Eventually, CTU locates Marwan. Although he kills himself to avoid capture, CTU manages to use Marwan's equipment to track the missile and shoot it down before it reaches its target. Despite his lack of leadership during the crisis, Logan quickly accepts credit for his presumed handling of the situation. His only concession to Palmer is a private statement that he had "played a role".
In the midst of the hunt for Marwan, Palmer authorizes a covert CTU operation led by Bauer to extract Lee Jong, an 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 link the operation to Bauer and demand his extradition.
Walt Cummings, Logan's aide, suggests arranging Bauer's murder to prevent his knowledge from being exploited by the Chinese. Though Logan vocally rejects this proposal, Novick later overhears a phone conversation in which Cummings orders a Secret Service agent to kill Bauer before he is turned over to Chinese authorities.
Palmer informs Logan of Cumming's actions, but the president disbelieves the story and refuses to take action. Palmer warns Bauer of the threat on his life, causing Bauer and his CTU colleagues to fake his death. While Bauer goes into hiding, Logan remains unaware of the truth, believing that the situation has been resolved.
24: Season 5
Logan prepares to meet Russian president Yuri Suvarov to sign an anti-terrorism defense treatyTreaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
, seeing the event as the highlight of his presidency. He is startled by the news of Palmer's assassination, but insists the signing continue on schedule. When Eastern European separatists take hostages at an airport in opposition to the treaty, Logan orders CTU to organize a rescue.
First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
Martha Logan
Martha Logan
Martha Logan is a fictional character played by Jean Smart in the television series, 24. As the first lady of the United States within the 24 universe, she is the capable but unpredictable and unstable wife of President Charles Logan...
insists that Palmer contacted her, warning of a possible terrorist attack. Logan, while sympathetic, is skeptical given her history of mental illness. He eventually agrees to have her committed to a mental health facility. Meanwhile, CTU rescues the hostages, allowing the treaty to be signed on schedule.
Soon after, Cummings comes to Logan and admits his involvement in the airport incident and Palmer's death, but insists it to be for a greater good. He claims 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
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and promote a greater acquisition of oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
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
Jack Bauer
Jack Bauer is the main protagonist of the American television series 24. His character has worked in various capacities on the show, often as a member of the fictional Counter Terrorist Unit based in Los Angeles, and working with the FBI in Washington, D.C...
, 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
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
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
Audrey Raines
Audrey Louise Raines is a fictional character played by actress Kim Raver on the television show 24.-Characterization:Audrey was born in either Albany, New York or Providence, Rhode Island . Her mother died when she was nine...
' 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
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
until the terrorists are stopped. Logan does so, much to the dismay and concern of Martha, Novick.
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
David Palmer (24 character)
David Palmer, J.D. is a fictional President of the United States played by Dennis Haysbert as part of the television series 24. Palmer served as the show's second-most prominent protagonist, after Jack Bauer. Throughout the series, Palmer's ex-wife Sherry and brother Wayne are both key figures in...
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
Wayne Palmer
Wayne Palmer is a fictional President of the United States on the television series 24. He is played by D. B. Woodside.-Characterization:...
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
Van Nuys Airport
Van Nuys Airport is a public airport located in Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley section of the city limits of Los Angeles, California, United States. No major commercial airlines fly into this airport; it is used by private, chartered, and small commercial aircraft...
to hand off the tape to Secretary of Defense James Heller
James Heller
James Heller is a fictional character from the TV series 24, played by William Devane.-Characterization:The character Heller was given the background of receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Yale University...
, 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, Logan is told by one of his co-conspirators, Graem, that Martha knows too much and must be silenced. 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
Aircraft hijacking
Aircraft hijacking is the unlawful seizure of an aircraft by an individual or a group. In most cases, the pilot is forced to fly according to the orders of the hijackers. Occasionally, however, the hijackers have flown the aircraft themselves, such as the September 11 attacks of 2001...
a 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
plane being co-piloted by the man who has the recording. Graem fakes a VCI signal from the plane, giving Logan the pretense
Pretense
Pretense or pretence, may refer to:* pretext* pretexting * "Pretense" , an episode of Stargate SG-1* a pretender's claim to the throne...
to shoot the plane down. When the plane is obviously about to make an emergency landing, Logan is talked out of shooting it down by Mike Novick and Jack escapes with the recording.
Logan and Graem come to the conclusion that Logan must commit suicide, reasoning that a President on trial for treason and murder would do irreparable damage to the country. 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
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
from hearing its contents. Logan approves and puts the gun away. Once he learns that Papazian has successfully erased the recording 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, and Logan orders Adams to kill Pierce, although Pierce subsequently escaped with help from Martha and Mike Novick.
At the end of the penultimate episode of season five, at 5:59:03 AM, Martha Logan stalls the president by sleeping with him so that Jack can sneak aboard his helicopter.
Later, Logan is kidnapped by Jack aboard Marine One
Marine One
Marine One is the call sign of any United States Marine Corps aircraft carrying the President of the United States. It usually denotes a helicopter operated by the HMX-1 "Nighthawks" squadron, either the large VH-3D Sea King or the newer, smaller VH-60N "WhiteHawk", both due to be replaced by the...
, whose intent is to extract a confession from him. Jack tries to get him to confess, but fails. Jack is deeply tempted to kill Logan, but the president remarks that he would be remembered as a martyr like Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
and John Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, while Jack would be viewed as an assassin like John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth was an American stage actor who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. Booth was a member of the prominent 19th century Booth theatrical family from Maryland and, by the 1860s, was a well-known actor...
and Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald was, according to four government investigations,These were investigations by: the Federal Bureau of Investigation , the Warren Commission , the House Select Committee on Assassinations , and the Dallas Police Department. the sniper who assassinated John F...
. Jack decides not to kill Logan 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 emitting. Logan is consequently arrested by the Secret Service during his eulogy of David Palmer.
Karen Hayes
Karen Hayes
Karen Hayes is a fictional character on the television program 24 portrayed by actress Jayne Atkinson. She appeared as a recurring character in twelve episodes of the fifth season and was a main cast member in eighteen episodes of the sixth season....
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. It was revealed in Season 6 that Logan resigned from office after pleading guilty to obstructing justice and was placed under house arrest. To prevent a damaging scandal enveloping the Presidency his role in David Palmer's assassination and providing nerve gas to terrorist groups were not publicized.
24: Season 6
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.
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.
24: Season 8
Charles Logan makes his first appearance in the season when he offers his help to President TaylorAllison Taylor
Allison Taylor may refer to:*Allison Taylor, 24 character*Allison Taylor...
to help with the Russian government, who wish to back out of a peace treaty after the assassination of President Omar Hassan. The Russians' explanation is they do not believe the new President of the IRK, Hassan's wife Dalia, will be able to hold up the peace agreement; therefore they wish to drop out and have no part in it. Also during this episode it is learned that Logan was granted a presidential pardon from President Daniels.
Later, Jack Bauer learns of Logan's involvement in the government cover-up of Russian involvement in the death of President Hassan when he checks the recent calls of the assassin of Renee Walker
Renee Walker
Renee Walker was a fictional character on the TV series 24, portrayed by Annie Wersching. She was a former FBI special agent, and appeared in both season 7 and season 8.-Concept and creation:...
. In the following hours, Logan attempts to prevent information about Russian involvement in Hassan's death being released, in order to protect himself and to prevent it undermining the treaty. As in his final hours as President, Logan is willing to go to any lengths to protect himself, including sanctioning murder, torture and press censorship. Logan persuades Taylor to have CTU mole Dana Walsh quietly tortured for the location of the evidence by men hired by him rather than grant her a pardon, and arrest journalist Meredith Reed to prevent her publishing the evidence given to her by Bauer. He also has Taylor place his aide Jason Pillar in charge of the hunt to find Jack Bauer, allowing Pillar to pass on information to Russian agents who will then kill Bauer. Numerous attempts to kill Bauer prove unsuccessful, however, increasing the pressure on Logan.
In the meantime Logan's private escort is attacked by Bauer, who kidnaps him and takes him underground. Bauer threatens to kill Logan unless he gives up the names of those behind the day's events: Logan names Novakovich, the Russian foreign minister. Unbeknown to Logan, Bauer also places a microtransmitter on him; Bauer listens in as Logan incriminates himself further in a conversation with Russian President Yuri Suvarov. Bauer leaves him there unconscious, only fifteen minutes before Novakovich is found dead. Logan is in a hospital bed when the episode ends. Bauer later finds Logan again, intending to use him to lure Suvarov into a trap so Bauer can assassinate him, although he then abandons the plan.
When Bauer is eventually captured, Logan makes arrangements for him to be murdered, taking President Taylor's silence as tacit approval. However, at the last moment she refuses to sign the peace treaty and rescinds the order for Bauer's death. Having lost what he considered to be his last chance at redeeming himself and in a final effort to have his nemesis Jack Bauer killed, Logan murders his right-hand man Jason Pillar and then shoots himself in the head in a suicide attempt. The EMTs working on Logan said that he would likely survive, but would probably suffer significant brain damage.
Critical reception
Itzin was nominated for a 2006 Supporting Actor Emmy Award for his role in the fifth season.In real life, Gregory Itzin was commended for his portrayal of a weak President, which some comment the character was partly inspired by Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. Logan played his part as an undercover conspirator brilliantly, coming out as a shock when the news was first released.
Itzin was also nominated for 2010 Outstanding Guest Actor Emmy Award
62nd Primetime Emmy Awards
The 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, took place on August 29, 2010, at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California beginning at 5:00 p.m. PDT...
for his appearance in the eighth season of 24, episode "1:00 PM - 2:00 PM".