24 co-creator Joel Surnow has switched his focus from fictional hero (or antihero as the case may be) Jack Bauer to another powerful Jack – John F. Kennedy. Surnow, who left 24 in 2008, is producing The Kennedys, the History Channel’s first scripted project. Why is one of Hollywood’s most well-known conservatives producing an eight-hour mini-series about a Democratic political dynasty? TV Guide Magazine talked to the producer about the decision.

How did you get involved with a Kennedy family project?
My partner and I knew that History wanted to do a mini-series and they were interested in the Kennedys. I called Steve Kronish (24’s co-executive producer) who’s like a Kennedy scholar. He had all this unbelievably rich material and we took it to the channel.

What’s the story arc that got you intrigued?
It’s the father’s ambitions being lived out by his sons. Joe Kennedy Sr. wanted to be the first Catholic president of the United States. His political career came crashing down because he was very vocal about America not going to war against Hitler. So he poured all his efforts into his son Joe, Jr. When Joe died in WWII, it was JFK’s turn. Joe told him, “You’re going to be congressman, then senator, then president.” The machination of that and the dynamics between father and son and brother and brother and Jack’s relationship with Jackie – it was like a never-ending Greek tragedy. It reminded us of I Claudius, which is one of our favorite series. Like I Claudius, the nature of these relationships were larger than life and played out against the events of the day. What’s bigger than the Cold War and bringing the world to the brink of annihilation in the early 1960’s?

What years will the mini-series cover?
Our story opens on (JFK’s) election day in 1960 and ends in 1968 (with Robert Kennedy’s assassination) at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. But there are many flashbacks all the way back to the 20’s when Joe and Rose were a young couple. There’s some amazing material that will make you go “wow!” Did you know that Joe Kennedy’s girlfriend lived with him in his bedroom while his wife Rose was down the hall? It’s a magnificently baroque story.

You’re an outspoken conservative Republican. What’s your point of view? Do you think the Kennedy dynasty has been good or bad for the country?
I think they were good for the country. The Kennedys could have skated by their entire lives as sons of a man who in today’s terms was a billionaire. They chose to serve their country nobly. What’s interesting about Jack and Bobby is that they really grew up in the White House. They sort of became real men after their father had a stroke and was out of the picture.

No problem with the people who beat GOP icon Richard Nixon in the famous debate, then in the 1960 election?
Oh, God, no. There’s no politics in this at all. It’s very much a family drama. We will explore Bobby’s transformation into a more socially liberal-minded person. Steve Kronish is writing the script, based on many sources. This isn’t the Fictional channel, it’s the History channel, and they demand accuracy. This is all vetted very carefully.

Who’s your favorite Kennedy?
I would say Jack is pretty fascinating. He’s so complex and such a great character, so funny and self-deprecating, but had a real love of American history and leadership and wanted to honor that in his presidency.

So is there some Jack Bauer save the country know-how in Jack Kennedy?
He wasn’t as impulsive as Jack Bauer (laughs) or we would have invaded Cuba a long time ago. Bobby was closer to Jack Bauer. He was a very aggressive hawkish person.

Any actors in mind?
Yes! But I can’t tell you who yet.

When do you start filming and expect the mini to air?
We plan to start filming in May and air in January 2011 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy inauguration.

Are you looking forward to 24’s return?
I am! I’m no longer involved but I’m still friends with all the guys. They call to complain to me all the time (Laughs). I’m looking forward to Freddie Prinze Jr; they tell me he’s great. Everyone’s very happy with the show this season, including the network.

You always predicted La Femme Nikita’s Roy Dupis would become a big American star. What happened?
He was offered everything and just does not want to leave Montreal. He could have been Mel Gibson, he’s such a good actor. The women just loved him. He turned down the Billy Crudup part in “Almost Famous.” He wouldn’t even come to LA to meet people.

Have to ask you. Is Sarah Palin qualified to be president?
By the same metric that Obama’s qualified: yes.

Are you looking forward to a Kennedy mini-series? Do you have any suggestions on who you’d like to play Joe, Rose, Jack and Bobby?