There were a lot of attention-grabbing choices of actors to play famous politicians in The Butler, but John Cusack as Richard Nixon might be the oddest. When casting the presidents and their wives, Daniels gave consideration to big names out of necessity. ''We had to finance it through bringing in names that meant something overseas,'' says the director. ''It's a very sad testament that Oprah Winfrey and Forest Whitaker can't greenlight a film.''