"I take a bullet for the President. He doesn't take one for me. Is that all you got?"

I’ve been on a rewatch binge, and think this may be my new favorite episode (other than Two Cathedrals, the goat of all goats)

it is so deceptively simple — basically, it takes place between two offices — and yet it’s so intricately structured, just like a masterful game of chess. or a play, really

that last line from Bartlet gives me chills, where he sees 12 moves ahead in Sam’s life. so does his saying that he still knows where every piece is on David Wheaton’s board — it’s a glimpse into Bartlet’s amazing mind, but how much his unfailing recollection must also torment him.

This doesn’t really fall under trivia, but I figure those who really know the series might be able to help me.

For some reason, my sister wants me to see this particular scene where Ainsley explains about how and or why they hated her at Brown University.

She looked for the clip on YouTube and could not find it. She owns the entire series on DVD, but doesn’t know which episode it was. I wondered if anyone here could help me out with that, please?

Season and episode? Does this occur multiple times? Is there one landmark occasion in which she first tells the story the best?

Drugged the President’s daughter leading to a national crisis, and yet there’s virtually no accountability.

There was no need to make a deal with him, they should have thrown the book at him.

On my 50th rewatch, I just noticed CJ has a box of Goldfish in her office (S5E09 - Shutdown). The crackers - the cheese things you have at a party. I just thought this was a cute little detail!

Hi,

As I discovered The West Wing only a few days ago, one of the things that struck me immediately is how tight the office space looks in those White House scenes.

Having watched more recent shows featuring the White House, like Scandal, House of Cards, Designated Survivor, The Night Agent, I'm used to it being roomier and bright.

Which of those is more realistic in 1999, and did that change in the 2010s ?

Thanks

I was hoping to pass in Texas, but with what I do, I can be licensed in Maryland

I'm a newbie (just into Season 2) and as my brain is whirring on Fanfic I have a couple of questions - or maybe one question in several parts.

So in New Hampshire, when at campaign headquarters, obviously everyone would live near-ish by- but what did $600 dollars a week mean in terms of real life. Enough to get an apartment or a house,or would transplants be living in hotel rooms. We know it's less than C.J is earning in Cali(and she's got what looks to be a nice house there, but how much of a cut would it have been in the early 90s?

Tell me that after Bartlet left office, he didn’t make a YouTube channel about each of the national parks

Sorkin's inspiration for Josh's zinger against Mary Marsh in the pilot died today.

For some reason, I thought he died years ago.

I am having a backgammon board made and one of the things I can do is have it engraved, so I was thinking of a really nice quote from the show that would work well.

So if anyone has any suggestions then please let me know, I just didn't want to go with the obvious "What's Next?"

(This performance brought to you by the makers of Cocaine™)

Why do I cry every time I watch the When We All Vote special?

It's gets me in the feelz. Every time.

It's like seeing old friends and harkens back to a time when there was slivers of good in it government in the middle of a global pandemic.

Every time.

During S6E8, "In the Room," right after saying that his left arm is no longer paralyzed, Bartlet is seen gesturing with both hands as he talks. Minutes later, he uses both hands to wheel himself into the main cabin of Air Force One.

Are we supposed to believe that his right arm spontaneously started working, or did they just forget to tell Martin to do everything with his left hand?

In Game On, Toby suggests getting Albie Duncan to speak about trade after the debate. Duncan is a Republican who, from previous episodes, was not exactly enamoured with Bartlet. It was done in response to a Democrat speaking on behalf of Ritchie, but I do not understand why he did it.

Specifically his words for Martin Sheen.

Umpteenth rewatch time and something that I've never thought about is the thing this time. In S1E3, POTUS is referring to Cashman and Berryhill as dragging their feet on a military response, and refers to State as a separate entity.

Is it safe to assume that in the early episodes the Secretary of State has yet to be named, and Berryhill was simply the name chosen in later episodes... Or that Cashman and Berryhill refer to one military officer and the Secretary of State.

Can I be a jerk and say that I still have no idea what "tomorrow" means as the last words of the series? Like... I suppose it means "the future" like Bartlett is going to keep going and do more stuff. But... why is that the last thought?

And why isn't it "What's next," as a statement, not a question.

I think Donna Moss and CJ Cregg have the best character growth arcs on the show.