Bartlet for America (12 Dec. 2001)

In an episode dotted with flashbacks, Leo and his attorney Jordon Kendall (Joanna Gleason) face a Congressional inquiry into whether the president lied to the American people regarding his ... See full summary »

Director:

Thomas Schlamme

Writers:

Aaron Sorkin (creator), Aaron Sorkin,

Stars:

Rob Lowe, Stockard Channing, Dulé Hill

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Rob Lowe	...	Sam Seaborn
Stockard Channing	...	Abbey Bartlet
Dulé Hill	...	Charlie Young
Allison Janney	...	C.J. Cregg
Janel Moloney	...	Donna Moss
Richard Schiff	...	Toby Ziegler
John Spencer	...	Leo McGarry
Bradley Whitford	...	Josh Lyman
Martin Sheen	...	President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet
Tim Matheson	...	Senator John Hoynes
Joanna Gleason	...	Atty. Jordon Kendall
Mark Feuerstein	...	Sen. Maj. Counsel Cliff Calley
Clark Gregg	...	FBI Special Agent Michael Casper
James Handy	...	Rep. Joseph Bruno, R-PA
Steven Gilborn	...	Rep. Paul Dearborn, R

Storyline

In an episode dotted with flashbacks, Leo and his attorney Jordon Kendall (Joanna Gleason) face a Congressional inquiry into whether the president lied to the American people regarding his MS, but this particular day of hearings concerns itself more with Abby and her secretly medicating Jed, and later with Leo's having fallen off the wagon during the campaign (a politically motivated Republican rep on the committee witnessed Leo drunk in his room three days before the nomination); we see the meeting in which Leo talked N.H. Governor Bartlet into running for president, introducing his idea, "Bartlet for America", on a cocktail napkin, which the president later frames and returns to Leo as a gift in thanks for all he's done for the president over the years; Cliff Calley, Donna's boyfriend and special counsel to the judicial oversight committee, asks the committee chair to halt the inquiry before the rep can compel Leo to admit his personal transgression; Leo asks Jordon to Xmas Eve ...

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Plot Keywords:

flashback | alcoholic | alcoholism | multiple sclerosis | congressional hearing | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 December 2001 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 23, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

John Wells Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

44 min 44 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The phrase "the economy, stupid" can be seen written on a white board in Bartlet's campaign headquarters, a nod to the famous phrase coined during Bill Clinton's presidential campaign.

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Quotes

Sen. Maj. Counsel Cliff Calley: That's where you're going with this?
[surprise line of questioning]
Rep. Darren Gibson, R-MI: Yeah.
Sen. Maj. Counsel Cliff Calley: Just to embarrass the guy.
Rep. Darren Gibson, R-MI: Just?
Sen. Maj. Counsel Cliff Calley: Leo McGarry's sobriety isn't the subject of these hearings. These hearings are to investigate if any rules, ethical or otherwise, were broken by Jed Bartlet while he was running for President.
Rep. Darren Gibson, R-MI: That's nice, but I live in the actual world, where the object of these hearings is to win.
Sen. Maj. Counsel Cliff Calley: No, it's not.
Rep. Darren Gibson, R-MI: It's the object of the majority.
Sen. Maj. Counsel Cliff Calley: Not while I'm the majority counsel it's not; this is bush ...

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Soundtracks

"West Wing Main Title"
(uncredited)
Written by W.G. Snuffy Walden
Performed by Pete Anthony

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