Before President Bartlet's press conference, C. J. instructs him to take his first question from science journalist Lawrence Altman because that will allow the press conference to start with a discussion about MS rather than one about reelection. Bartlet chooses to answer another reporter's question first instead, but there is a shot of a reporter meant to be Altman. Lawrence K. Altman is a qualified medical doctor and, since 1969, a New York Times reporter on medical and scientific issues; although he was portrayed by an actor in this episode, he did write an October 9, 2001, New York Times article about the MS storyline in the context of real-life presidents who have chosen to disclose or to hide health issues.
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