Tom Lennox

Thomas "Tom" Lennox, Ph.D., is a fictional character from the television series 24, played by Peter MacNicol.

Characterization

He first appeared in the first episode of 24's 6th season, where he plays the White House Chief of Staff of President Wayne Palmer. He convinces Palmer to run for president prior to Day 6. Prior to serving as White House Chief of Staff, Lennox served as Policy Director on both Wayne and David Palmers' Presidential Campaigns. Thomas Lennox is a former member of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. He also serves on the boards of the Georgetown Institute, the James P. Williams Center for Public Affairs, and the Catalyn Foundation. He has published numerous articles and essays on topics including constitutional law, political philosophy, and public policy, and has co-edited several books. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Yale University and a Ph.D. in government from Harvard University.

Appearances

24: Season 6

Palmer dislikes Lennox, as he is willing to go beyond the boundaries of the Constitution when matters of national security arise. This is evident in hour 6 of Day 6.

Despite Lennox's urging, the President convenes the cabinet and the Vice President to tell them he refuses to sign off on Lennox's proposals. Despite a personal apology and expression of appreciation from Palmer immediately after, Lennox's frustration explodes into rage when he returns to the privacy of his office with his subordinate Reed Pollock. He declares he intends to resign, dismissing Palmer as weak, and asks Pollock to draft his letter of resignation.

Later, Pollock approaches him and hints at a conspiracy to "remove" Palmer from office in order to allow Vice President Noah Daniels to assume the Presidency, as Daniels would be much more likely to authorize the plan put forward by Lennox.

Lennox and Pollock meet in an unmonitored room in the bunker, where Pollock asks Lennox to bring him a copy of Palmer's itinerary, particularly regarding Hamri Al-Assad's upcoming televised appearance. Lennox demands to know who else is involved in this conspiracy, but Pollock refuses to say. Lennox agrees to obtain Palmer's itinerary.

Later, Lennox tries to warn the Secret Service about the assassination plot but is knocked out by Pollock. Pollock proceeds to tie up Tom, and he can only watch as the bomb maker and Pollock carry out their threat. After Pollock unsuccessfully attempts to kill President Palmer, he and the bomb maker release Lennox, on the promise that he will stay quiet. When Karen Hayes returns in response to the assassination attempt on Palmer, both she and Lennox show apprehension at Daniel's decision to launch a nuclear missile at Fayed's country should another nuclear attack happen on US soil, knowing it could start World War Three.

Daniels confronts Lennox on the recording. The two agree to continue to work together; Lennox also agrees to not blackmail Daniels should they disagree on policy matters.

Lennox asks Daniels to pardon her. After some deliberation, Daniels agrees. Lennox also turns over to Daniels the recording that he had made of the conversation with Lisa Miller.

24: Redemption

Tom Lennox made a brief appearance in 24: Redemption, set on President Daniels' final day in office.

References