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The West Wing
S7.E7
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  • User reviews
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IMDbPro

The Debate

  • Episode aired Nov 6, 2005
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 51m
IMDb RATING
8.8/10
843
YOUR RATING
Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits in The West Wing (1999)
Drama
A live debate between Santos and Vinick, performed once for the east coast and once for the west.A live debate between Santos and Vinick, performed once for the east coast and once for the west.A live debate between Santos and Vinick, performed once for the east coast and once for the west.
IMDb RATING
8.8/10
843
YOUR RATING
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Alex Graves
    • Writers
      • Aaron Sorkin
      • Lawrence O'Donnell
    • Stars
      • Janeane Garofalo
      • Ron Silver
      • Teri Polo
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Alex Graves
    • Writers
      • Aaron Sorkin
      • Lawrence O'Donnell
    • Stars
      • Janeane Garofalo
      • Ron Silver
      • Teri Polo
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 3User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info

    • Photos

    Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits in The West Wing (1999)
    Jimmy Smits in The West Wing (1999)
    Alan Alda in The West Wing (1999)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Janeane Garofalo
    Janeane Garofalo
    • Louise Thornton
    Ron Silver
    Ron Silver
    • Bruno Gianelli
    Teri Polo
    Teri Polo
    • Helen Santos
    Patricia Richardson
    Patricia Richardson
    • Sheila Brooks
    Forrest Sawyer
    Forrest Sawyer
    • Self
    Alan Alda
    Alan Alda
    • Senator Arnold Vinick
    Kristin Chenoweth
    Kristin Chenoweth
    • Annabeth Schott
    • (credit only)
    Allison Janney
    Allison Janney
    • C.J. Cregg
    • (credit only)
    Mary McCormack
    Mary McCormack
    • Kate Harper
    • (credit only)
    John Spencer
    John Spencer
    • Leo McGarry
    • (credit only)
    Bradley Whitford
    Bradley Whitford
    • Josh Lyman
    • (credit only)
    Jimmy Smits
    Jimmy Smits
    • Matthew Santos
    Martin Sheen
    Martin Sheen
    • President Josiah Bartlet
    • (credit only)
    Alan Blackney
    Alan Blackney
    • Debate Audience Member
    • (uncredited)
    Chaz Fatur
    Chaz Fatur
    • Santos Secret Service
    • (uncredited)
    Christopher Misiano
    Christopher Misiano
    • Debate Heckler
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Alex Graves
    • Writers
      • Aaron Sorkin
      • Lawrence O'Donnell
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Debate was advertised as a "live presidential debate" and was actually telecast live twice, once for the East and West coasts, with limited commercial interruption. It was also one of the few times actors were allowed to go "off script."
    • Goofs
      When Vinick says: "The same people who told you we were gonna run out of oil by the end of the twentieth century are now trying to scare us with global warming", he forgets to say theories at the end, but Santos still responds "Theories?!".
    • Quotes

      Matthew Santos: This is not a law enforcement problem. This is an economic problem. If Mexico's economy was as strong as Canada's, there wouldn't be a problem. The President cannot solve this problem. You cannot seal a 2,000-mile border. Mexico has to solve it. Mexico has to grow its own economy. It has to provide enough jobs so that it's not worth it to try to cross into our borders illegally. There is no other real solution to this. And Senator Vinick is smart enough to know that, and I think you are, too.

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

    User reviews3

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    the reason i love this series
    This is a lesson in democracy or how the parties view themselves.I f you want to understand, albeit a scripted , slightly biased version of democracy, this is it. loved it
    helpful•1
    1
    • mudbone-42885
    • Jul 30, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 6, 2005 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Stage 23, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • John Wells Productions
      • Warner Bros. Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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