Dora (Frontier in Space)

The President of Earth in 2540 was a woman named Dora. (AUDIO: The Transcendence of Ephros) She was closely advised by Earth's primary military officer, General Williams.

After a series of raids against Earth cargo ships, believed to be the work of Draconia, the president personally met with the Draconian Emperor's son in order to negotiate an end to hostilities. She came under pressure from both her military advisors and the political opposition to take military action against Draconia. Eventually, she agreed to break off diplomatic relations. However, she refused to fire the first shot in a war.

Thanks to the Third Doctor, it was revealed that the raids were the actions of Ogron mercenaries and war was averted. (TV: Frontier in Space)

Behind the scenes
According to the novelisation, she was not the first female to hold the office. The adaptation also sheds greater light onto her uneasy relationship with John Williams. In it, readers discover that Williams had actively campaigned against her for an "aggressive inter-stellar policy". When she won, she appointed Williams as her military aide "to heal political wounds". The novel also gives rise to the notion that the two were former lovers, something the episode offers only vaguely through body language. Adapter Malcolm Hulke tells readers that the president had a silver locket around her neck and within that was a picture of a 20-year-old Lieutenant Williams.