Clint Eastwood on Why 'Sully' Sullenberger Should Be President, Being 'the Coolest Guy'

— -- Clint Eastwood remembers seeing images of US Airways Flight 1549 floating on New York’s Hudson River after bird strikes took out the passenger aircraft’s engines and the pilot, Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, made the fateful decision to land the plane on the river.

That 2009 emergency water landing was successful and all 155 passengers and crew aboard the aircraft survived. Sullenberger was hailed as a national hero.

The story of that landing – and the inquiry that followed – is told in the new Eastwood-directed film “Sully,” starring Tom Hanks as Sullenberger and Aaron Eckhart as First Officer Jeff Skiles.

In an interview with ABC News’ Amy Robach, Eastwood said he lived through a similar scenario in the 1950s when he was serving with the U.S. Army.

“I was on the military plane as a passenger. And we went in the Pacific Ocean off of Point Reyes, California ... the guy did a terrific job of landing it in the water, because it is tricky,” Eastwood, 86, said.

That experience helped him with the making of “Sully,” which opened in theaters over the weekend to strong critical reviews and a reported $35 million at the box office.

Eastwood revealed a discussion he had with the real-life Sullenberger.

“The first thing I did is when I was meeting with Captain Sullenberger is I asked him, ‘Who do you see playing you?’ And he says, ‘Well, I don't know. ... I said, ‘Do you like Tom Hanks?’ And he says, ‘Oh, yeah, yeah, that would be great,’” Eastwood said.

Eastwood, who is an outspoken political conservative, has said he thinks Sullenberger should run for president. Robach asked him to explain why.

“Well, because he's just a good casting,” Eastwood replied. “He's distinguished, he's smart. Something the country could use right now.”

Eastwood has a career that spans six decades, from an actor who shone in tough-guy roles to an Academy Award-winning director. While his son Scott’s star is on the rise, the older Eastwood isn’t giving up his director’s chair anytime soon.

Asked what on his career bucket list, Eastwood replied: “I don’t know. I never know until it’s there ... I don’t have anything that I’ve been ogling for years or dreaming about doing. It just comes along.”

Robach remarked on Eastwood’s understated answer, saying “are you always this cool?”

“Yeah, I can say I am the coolest guy,” he replied.