Robert Aldrich turned down a large salary and a 10% profit stake in A Bridge Too Far (1977) in order to make this film.
Richard Widmark's scenes were shot separately from everyone else's. He insisted on doing everything in his scenes himself (where a stand-in might otherwise be used) such as reverse/over the shoulder shots or just picking up a telephone. Melvyn Douglas was the same.
The Air Force One plane was only painted on one side.
Melvyn Douglas called Charles Durning "kid" during the rehearsals for this film. However, Douglas started referring to Durning as "Mr. President" after a few days of shooting the Oval Office scenes.