Forest Whitaker character Cecil Gaines
David Banner character Earl Gaines
Michael Rainey Jr. character Cecil Gaines (8)
LaJessie Smith character Abraham
Mariah Carey character Hattie Pearl
Alex Pettyfer character Thomas Westfall
Vanessa Redgrave character Annabeth Westfall
Ami Ameen character Cecil Gaines (15)
Clarence Williams III character Maynard
John P. Fertitta character Mr. Jenkins
Jim Gleason character R.D. Warner
Oprah Winfrey character Gloria Gaines
John Cusack character Richard Nixon
Robin Williams character Dwight Eisenhower
James Marsden character John F. Kennedy
Alan Rickman character Ronald Reagan
Minka Kelly character Jackie Kennedy
Liev Schreiber character Lyndon B. Johnson
Jesse Williams character Rev. James Lawson
Lenny Kravitz character James Holloway
Cuba Gooding Jr. character Carter Wilson
Terrence Howard character Howard
Jane Fonda character Nancy Reagan
David Oyelowo character Louis Gaines
Yaya DaCosta character Carol Hammie
Stephen Rider character Admiral Rochon
Nealla Gordon character Senator Kassebaum
Rusty Robertson character Senator Robertson
Elijah Kelley character Charlie Gaines
Duane Cothren character Military Social Aide (uncredited)
Jimmy Carter character Self (archive footage)
Rosalynn Carter character Self (archive footage)
Gerald Ford character Self (archive footage)
Barack Obama character Self (archive footage)
Colman Domingo character Freddie Fallows
