Primary Colors is a dramatic comedy starring John Travolta as a southern governor who is intent on becoming the next president of the United States. The film is told from the viewpoint of Henry Burton (Adrian Lester), the African-American manager for Jack Stanton's (John Travolta) presidential campaign. Stanton, while charming and personable, engages in several dishonest and manipulative actions as his campaign progresses, including lying about his uncle's war record and cheating on his wife with an underage babysitter. When he uncovers dirty details about his competitor's past, Stanton and his support team cannot decide whether to take the high road or expose the man for who he used to be. Primary Colors was directed by Mike Nicols and is based on a novel by Joe Klein, who used President Bill Clinton's career and 1992 presidential campaign as his inspiration. The film was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published.moreless