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If you thought seeing President Eisenhower in American Horror Story was cool, you’re not ready for what’s to come. Last night, Double Feature unveiled not one, but two, more presidents: Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. And before you ask: yes, they all know about the aliens.
It’s all part of the Death Valley‘s trippy timeline. The four-episode story of Season 10 is split between the 1950s, when President Eisenhower made a deal to let aliens experiment on Americans in exchange for their technology, and the present day, when that pact is paying off in a disturbing way. There were a lot of historical references packed into a single hourlong episode. Wondering what you may have missed or where you’ve seen these actors before? We have you covered. Here’s your guide to what you may have missed in American Horror Story: Double Feature Episode 8.
'Double Feature's John F. Kennedy has a steamy IMDb page.
If you’re up on your Netflix originals, chances are you spent most of “Inside” wondering how you know American Horror Story’s Jack Kennedy. That particular face is familiar thanks to Sex/Life. Mike Vogel plays both President John F. Kennedy and Sex/Life’s husband who’s too nice for his own good, Cooper Connelly. Prior to this year, Vogel starred in The Help, Under the Dome, and She’s Out of My League. He even has some horror credentials to his name: Vogel also appeared in Cloverfield and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
This Richard Nixon has a 'One Tree Hill' connection.
Now that we know our JFK, what about his successor? Craig Sheffer portrays the constantly sweating Richard Nixon before his presidency. And if you’re a One Tree Hill fan, you already know his face. Sheffer starred as Keith Scott in the teen drama. He’s also starred in Palmer, A River Runs Through It, and Some Kind of Wonderful.
Yes, that was Alisha Soper playing Marilyn Monroe.
There’s one more major historical figure who needs to be identified: Marilyn Monroe. In an emotion scene, Vogel’s JFK confides in Monroe about the existence of aliens, a revelation that barely garners a reaction from his lover. This legendary beauty is portrayed by Alisha Soper. This is actually the second time Soper has played Marilyn Monroe in a Ryan Murphy project since she portrayed the star in FEUD: Bette and Joan. Does that mean these universes are officially connected?
That’s not the only wild connection American Horror Story makes. In the episode, Monroe reveals that she was once visited by aliens. There’s nothing that supports these claims, but a common conspiracy theory is that Monroe was assassinated over her knowledge of aliens. It’s likely that AHS is nodding to that.
Mamie Eisenhower's love of birthdays and pink is a real thing.
While Dwight Eisenhower (Neal McDonough) fretted over the fate of the American people, Mamie Eisenhower (Sarah Paulson) spent a good chunk of the episode chatting about birthday cakes and decorating schemes. These conversations echo what made Mamie Eisenhower famous in her own right. She was a dedicated homemaker who would order fancy decorated cakes for almost every occasion, even the birthdays of staff members. She also loved the color pink. The Nettie Rosenstein gown she wore to the 1953 inaugural ball remains one of the most popular of its collection in the Smithsonian. In fact, Eisenhower’s love of a specific shade of pink led to it being called the “First Lady” and inspired a trend of pink clothing and households.
That Rock Hudson reference was a nod to another Ryan Murphy show.
While Mamie Eisenhower is planning her birthday, she mentions that she hopes Rock Hudson will help her blow out the candles. Hudson was one of the most famous movie stars of Golden Age of Hollywood. He’s also been portrayed by Ryan Murphy before. In Netflix’s Hollywood, Hudson (played by Jake Picking) emerges as an aspiring actor who eventually chooses to publicly be himself despite knowing that his sexuality may cost him some of his fame. In real life, Hudson was discreet about his sexuality, though many in the industry believed him to be gay. Rock Hudson became one of the first major celebrities to die of an AIDs-related illness in 1985.
