James Sandecker
Encyclopedia
Admiral James Sandecker is a fictional character in the Dirk Pitt
and Kurt Austin adventure novels by acclaimed novelist Clive Cussler
. Sandecker is the Director of NUMA
, the National Underwater and Marine Agency. In later novels, he was appointed as the Vice President of the United States
after the Vice President's death while in office.
Born April 12 1918, Sandecker graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy class of 1939. He achieved flag rank in the Navy
before the age 50. During his career in the Navy, he was once stationed on the battleship Iowa
. He last commanded the Navy guided-missile cruiser Tucson, retiring after a long career in the United States Navy.
Sandecker is perhaps one of the most flamboyant and rigid leaders of a government organization such as NUMA. When he was first appointed to the position as Director of the agency and its creator in 1978, he was only given a staff of twelve individuals (Dirk Pitt
and Al Giordino
included). In the span of only a few years, this determined and enigmatic retired Admiral built NUMA into an agency funded by an annual budget of over four hundred million dollars, with a staff of over five thousand personnel and scientists. Sandecker is politically connected on every level of government, and his requests are often granted due to his friendship, relationship, or past dealings with a member of Congress. He has been able to accomplish more in a few years than many politicians would ever hope to complete in a lifetime. It is revealed in the novel Pacific Vortex!
that Admiral Sandecker met and decided to choose Dirk Pitt as the Special Projects Director for NUMA after Pitt shot down the plane carrying the Admiral and his staff over the China Sea.
Once married and divorced for many years, Sandecker has a daughter and three grandchildren who live in Hong Kong
. He is a vegetarian and health nut, jogs and lifts weights. It is often noted that Sandecker only sleeps four hours a night, commenting that he could sleep when he was dead. One of his most distinguishing features is a boisterous Vandyke beard complemented by his red hair. He is slightly over 5 feet tall. He smokes 10 custom made, exclusively purchased cigars a day, and is stumped and often furious by the fact that Al Giordino
always smokes the same custom brand. In early Pitt novels, Giordino is said to have tapped into Sandecker's personal supply, sometimes pick-pocketing a cigar directly from Sandecker's person. In later books Giordino is seen smoking the same custom brand but Sandecker is baffled because none of his personal stock turns up missing. In the 2001 novel Valhalla Rising, number 16 in the Dirk Pitt series, it was explained that Giordino had begun buying his cigars from the same source as Sandecker, a family in Latin America. These purchases are purposely made "on the sly" without Sandecker's knowledge, putting Giordino one-up in their "war of jests".
In the novel, Night Probe!
, Admiral Sandecker is stated to be 61 years of age.
, Sandecker was portrayed by Jason Robards
.
In the 2005 film Sahara, Sandecker was portrayed by William H. Macy
. The character was similar to the Cussler description, but there were some notable differences.
Dirk Pitt
Dirk Pitt is a fictional character, the protagonist of a series of bestselling adventure novels written by Clive Cussler. The name Dirk Pitt is a registered trademark of Clive Cussler.-Character information and the supporting cast:...
and Kurt Austin adventure novels by acclaimed novelist Clive Cussler
Clive Cussler
Clive Eric Cussler is an American adventure novelist and marine archaeologist. His thriller novels, many featuring the character Dirk Pitt, have reached The New York Times fiction best-seller list more than seventeen times...
. Sandecker is the Director of NUMA
Numa
Numa may refer to:* Numa Pompilius, legendary second king of Rome* Numa Morikazu, Meiji era Japanese politician* Numa, Iowa, U.S. town* The Numa Numa Internet meme* The Northern Paiute people...
, the National Underwater and Marine Agency. In later novels, he was appointed as the Vice President of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
after the Vice President's death while in office.
Born April 12 1918, Sandecker graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy class of 1939. He achieved flag rank in the Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
before the age 50. During his career in the Navy, he was once stationed on the battleship Iowa
USS Iowa (BB-61)
USS Iowa was the lead ship of her class of battleship and the fourth in the United States Navy to be named in honor of the 29th state...
. He last commanded the Navy guided-missile cruiser Tucson, retiring after a long career in the United States Navy.
Sandecker is perhaps one of the most flamboyant and rigid leaders of a government organization such as NUMA. When he was first appointed to the position as Director of the agency and its creator in 1978, he was only given a staff of twelve individuals (Dirk Pitt
Dirk Pitt
Dirk Pitt is a fictional character, the protagonist of a series of bestselling adventure novels written by Clive Cussler. The name Dirk Pitt is a registered trademark of Clive Cussler.-Character information and the supporting cast:...
and Al Giordino
Al Giordino
Albert Cassius Giordino is a fictional character in a series of adventure novels by Clive Cussler; he first appears in The Mediterranean Caper . He is described as being of Italian ancestry, 5'4" in height, 175 lb, with dark curly hair, swarthy skin, dark Etruscan eyes, and a Roman nose. He...
included). In the span of only a few years, this determined and enigmatic retired Admiral built NUMA into an agency funded by an annual budget of over four hundred million dollars, with a staff of over five thousand personnel and scientists. Sandecker is politically connected on every level of government, and his requests are often granted due to his friendship, relationship, or past dealings with a member of Congress. He has been able to accomplish more in a few years than many politicians would ever hope to complete in a lifetime. It is revealed in the novel Pacific Vortex!
Pacific Vortex!
Pacific Vortex! is an adventure novel by Clive Cussler. This is the sixth book released featuring the author's primary protagonist, Dirk Pitt, though the author states that this was the first story that he wrote featuring the popular action hero. It was published after much internal debate, and a...
that Admiral Sandecker met and decided to choose Dirk Pitt as the Special Projects Director for NUMA after Pitt shot down the plane carrying the Admiral and his staff over the China Sea.
Once married and divorced for many years, Sandecker has a daughter and three grandchildren who live in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. He is a vegetarian and health nut, jogs and lifts weights. It is often noted that Sandecker only sleeps four hours a night, commenting that he could sleep when he was dead. One of his most distinguishing features is a boisterous Vandyke beard complemented by his red hair. He is slightly over 5 feet tall. He smokes 10 custom made, exclusively purchased cigars a day, and is stumped and often furious by the fact that Al Giordino
Al Giordino
Albert Cassius Giordino is a fictional character in a series of adventure novels by Clive Cussler; he first appears in The Mediterranean Caper . He is described as being of Italian ancestry, 5'4" in height, 175 lb, with dark curly hair, swarthy skin, dark Etruscan eyes, and a Roman nose. He...
always smokes the same custom brand. In early Pitt novels, Giordino is said to have tapped into Sandecker's personal supply, sometimes pick-pocketing a cigar directly from Sandecker's person. In later books Giordino is seen smoking the same custom brand but Sandecker is baffled because none of his personal stock turns up missing. In the 2001 novel Valhalla Rising, number 16 in the Dirk Pitt series, it was explained that Giordino had begun buying his cigars from the same source as Sandecker, a family in Latin America. These purchases are purposely made "on the sly" without Sandecker's knowledge, putting Giordino one-up in their "war of jests".
In the novel, Night Probe!
Night Probe!
Night Probe! is an adventure novel by Clive Cussler. This is the 5th book featuring the author’s primary protagonist, Dirk Pitt. Published in 1981, it is set in the near future of 1989, a date with ironic significance .-Plot introduction:...
, Admiral Sandecker is stated to be 61 years of age.
Film portrayals
In the 1980 film Raise the Titanic!Raise the Titanic!
Raise the Titanic! is a 1976 adventure novel by Clive Cussler, published in the United States by the Viking Press. It tells the story of efforts to bring the remains of the ill-fated oceanliner RMS Titanic to the surface of the Atlantic Ocean....
, Sandecker was portrayed by Jason Robards
Jason Robards
Jason Nelson Robards, Jr. was an American actor on stage, and in film and television, and a winner of the Tony Award , two Academy Awards and the Emmy Award...
.
In the 2005 film Sahara, Sandecker was portrayed by William H. Macy
William H. Macy
William Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
. The character was similar to the Cussler description, but there were some notable differences.