List of The West Wing episodes

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The following is an episode list for the NBC serial drama television series The West Wing. The series ran from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006 airing 154 regular season episodes and two special episodes.

[edit] Overview

1. Seasons
Season Episodes Originally aired DVD release date (U.S.) 1 22 1999–2000 November 18, 2003 2 22 2000–2001 May 18, 2004 3 21 2001–2002 November 2, 2004 4 23 2002–2003 April 5, 2005 5 22 2003–2004 December 6, 2005 6 22 2004–2005 May 9, 2006 7 22 2005–2006 November 7, 2006
2. External links

[edit] Season 1: 1999–2000

The first season, which begins in the middle of Bartlet's first year in office, is loaded with images of a West Wing "stuck in neutral" and powerless to govern (thought by many to mimic President Clinton's early days in office, when he was forced to compromise on campaign promises such as gays in the military). Several episodes (notably "Five Votes Down" and "Mr. Willis of Ohio") feature the White House desperately digging for a backdoor through which to pass a particular piece of legislation. This powerlessness ends in "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet" when Leo and the president finally agree to fight any battle they believe to be important, even if they are not sure they can win. The season ends with a cliffhanger assassination attempt with an ominous call over a Secret Service radio: "Who's been hit?! Who's been hit?!"

[edit] Episodes

#	Title	Writer(s)	Director	Original airdate
1	"Pilot"	Aaron Sorkin	Thomas Schlamme	September 22, 1999
Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman is in hot water after a television appearance attacking a Christian commentator, Deputy Communications Director Sam Seaborn meets a woman who turns out to be a call girl, and the President has crashed his bicycle into a tree.
2	"Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc"	Aaron Sorkin	Thomas Schlamme	September 29, 1999
Sam decides to pursue a relationship with Laurie, the call girl he recently met, while C.J. arbitrates a disagreement between the President and the Vice President.
3	"A Proportional Response"	Aaron Sorkin	Marc Buckland	October 6, 1999
President Bartlet seeks vengeance for a downed jet, while Charlie Young applies for a White House job, and C.J. talks reporter Danny Concannon out of writing a story involving Sam.
4	"Five Votes Down"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. and Patrick Caddell (story)	Michael Lehmann	October 13, 1999
The West Wing staff works around the clock to secure the five votes they need for the passage of a new gun control bill.
5	"The Crackpots and These Women"	Aaron Sorkin	Anthony Drazan	October 20, 1999
The staff participates in "Big Block of Cheese Day", when they allow meetings with fringe special interest groups that normally cannot get attention from the White House.
6	"Mr. Willis of Ohio"	Aaron Sorkin	Christopher Misiano	November 3, 1999
West Wing staffers court votes for a new census-taking methodology bill and the President's daughter Zoey has an unfortunate encounter in a Georgetown bar.
7	"The State Dinner"	Aaron Sorkin & Paul Redford	Thomas Schlamme	November 10, 1999
The President tries to focus on key problems–a hostage standoff, a hurricane, and an impending truckers' union strike–all while trying to prepare for an important state dinner with the Indonesian President.
8	"Enemies"	Rick Cleveland, Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. & Patrick Caddell (story) Ron Osborn & Jeff Reno (teleplay)	Alan Taylor	November 17, 1999
C.J. tries to quash rumors that the President and John Hoynes got into an argument at a Cabinet meeting, and Leo's daughter Mallory begins to date Sam, to Leo's dismay.
9	"The Short List"	Aaron Sorkin & Dee Dee Myers (story) Aaron Sorkin & Patrick Caddell (teleplay)	Bill D'Elia	November 24, 1999
President Bartlet considers candidates for an open seat on the Supreme Court, and a publicity-seeking Congressman accuses the West Wing staff of drug use.
10	"In Excelsis Deo"	Aaron Sorkin & Rick Cleveland	Alex Graves	December 15, 1999
Amid Christmas preparations, Toby looks into a homeless person's background, while Danny Concannon and C.J. discuss the possibility of a first date.
11	"Lord John Marbury"	Aaron Sorkin & Patrick Caddell (teleplay) Patrick Caddell & Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. (story)	Kevin Rodney Sullivan	January 5, 2000
As a border war between India and Pakistan poses the threat of a nuclear clash, a flamboyant British expert on the matter, Lord John Marbury, is summoned to the White House.
12	"He Shall, From Time To Time..."	Aaron Sorkin	Arlene Sanford	January 12, 2000
Crises abound as the President is found unconscious, the situation in India and Pakistan intensifies, and Leo faces scrutiny from the press about his previous drug and alcohol problems. The First Lady tells Leo that the President has relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
13	"Take Out The Trash Day"	Aaron Sorkin	Ken Olin	January 26, 2000
While Bartlet and his staff debate the best way to handle a controversial sex education study, a Congressional committee expands its efforts to expose and condemn Leo's past substance abuse.
14	"Take This Sabbath Day"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. & Paul Redford and Aaron Sorkin (story)	Thomas Schlamme	February 9, 2000
Bartlet spends the weekend deciding on whether to commute the death sentence of a man convicted of drug-related murders.
15	"Celestial Navigation"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Dee Dee Myers & Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. (story)	Christopher Misiano	February 16, 2000
While Sam and Toby go to Connecticut to get the President's Supreme Court nominee out of jail, Josh tells a group about a typical day at the White House.
16	"20 Hours In L.A."	Aaron Sorkin	Alan Taylor	February 23, 2000
The President and his staff head to Los Angeles for a whirlwind visit and a celebrity fundraiser.
17	"The White House Pro-Am"	Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. & Paul Redford and Aaron Sorkin	Ken Olin	March 22, 2000
The staffs of the President and First Lady clash, as do Presidential daughter Zoey and Presidential aide Charlie when she suggests they heed Secret Service warnings and not attend a party together.
18	"Six Meetings Before Lunch"	Aaron Sorkin	Clark Johnson	April 5, 2000
An arrest at a frat party attended by the President's daughter could prove explosive, as could the views of a controversial nominee for Assistant Attorney General.
19	"Let Bartlet Be Bartlet"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Peter Parnell and Patrick Caddell (story)	Laura Innes	April 26, 2000
A damaging memo which is critical of the President is discovered, and Mandy wrote it when she was working for Lloyd Russell.
20	"Mandatory Minimums"	Aaron Sorkin	Robert Berlinger	May 3, 2000
The President nominates controversial advocates of campaign finance reform to the Federal Election Commission. Toby spars with his ex-wife, Congresswoman Andrea Wyatt.
21	"Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics"	Aaron Sorkin	Don Scardino	May 10, 2000
The staff anxiously awaits poll results while potential crises flare, including the possible revelation of Sam's call girl associate.
22	"What Kind of Day Has It Been"	Aaron Sorkin	Thomas Schlamme	May 17, 2000
Season finale: Bartlet hosts a town-hall meeting as the military races to recover a downed U.S. pilot before the Iraqis can capture him, and a space shuttle (carrying Toby's brother) is plagued by mechanical problems. As Bartlet and his staff exit the town hall meeting, white supremacists open fire on the crowd below. It is not revealed who is wounded or to what degree, providing an end-of-season cliffhanger.

[edit] Season 2: 2000–2001

The second season detailed the period between the end of President Bartlet's second year in office and the middle of his third. It covered a wider legislative array than the first season did, and presented issues including the rights of hate groups and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

The West Wing characters were shown as being more capable of legislating thanks to increased polling numbers (described as a temporary "bubble" due to the shooting that ended the first season). Also vital to this theme is the new doctrine for legislating laid out in the first season episode "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet."

The second season also made consistent use of flashbacks, demonstrating the campaign for the presidency, and the period prior to events covered in the first season. The first two episodes, "In The Shadow of Two Gunmen" parts one and two, showed the fashion in which many of the central characters were introduced to Josiah Bartlet at the time that he was seeking nomination and election.

The Multiple sclerosis thread (also introduced in the first season) became central in the second season as staff members were introduced one-by-one to the president's ailment. This theme would remain central to the series.

Mrs. Landingham, the personal assistant to President Bartlet, died in the penultimate episode, "18th and Potomac." In the final episode, "Two Cathedrals," Mrs. Landingham's funeral was central as was the question of whether the president would run for re-election.

The season ended with the President having announced his multiple sclerosis. Centrally, it also concluded moments away from him answering a reporter's question, "Mr. President, will you be seeking a second term?"

[edit] Episodes

#	Title	Writer(s)	Director	Original airdate
23	"In The Shadow of Two Gunmen Part I"	Aaron Sorkin	Thomas Schlamme	October 4, 2000
The Bartlet Administration is in chaos after an assassination attempt on the president. Josh flashbacks to the formation of the Bartlet campaign.
24	"In The Shadow of Two Gunmen Part II"	Aaron Sorkin	Thomas Schlamme	October 4, 2000
The President's staff scramble in the chaotic wake of an assassination attempt that leaves Josh fighting for his life. Meanwhile, as a manhunt continues, the wounded drift in and out of surgery recalling how Bartlet's team came together years prior.
25	"The Midterms"	Aaron Sorkin	Alex Graves	October 18, 2000
With the midterm elections 12 weeks away, the Administration is polling at 81 percent approval from the shooting. Toby wants to use this honeymoon period as leverage for a domestic-terrorism initiative.
26	"In This White House"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Peter Parnell & Allison Abner (story)	Ken Olin	October 25, 2000
After she demolishes Sam on a TV talk show, Bartlet insists on hiring a young Republican lawyer named Ainsley Hayes as Associate White House Counsel. Meanwhile, the President of an AIDS-ravaged African country visits the White House.
27	"And It's Surely To Their Credit"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Kevin Falls & Laura Glasser (story)	Christopher Misiano	November 1, 2000
Ainsley Hayes meets her new boss, White House counsel Lionel Tribbey, and receives her first assignment: clean up after two domestic-policy staffers who presented inaccurate testimony before a House committee.
28	"The Lame Duck Congress"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. (story)	Jeremy Kagan	November 8, 2000
Josh, Toby and Sam want the President to consider calling a lame-duck session of Congress to try to pass a nuclear test-ban treaty, and C.J. leaks news of this to Danny.
29	"The Portland Trip"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Paul Redford (story)	Paris Barclay	November 15, 2000
The President is taking a red-eye with Toby, Sam, and C.J. to Portland, Oregon, to deliver an education address At the White House, Josh spars with a gay Republican congressman over a bill on homosexual marriage.
30	"Shibboleth"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Patrick H. Caddell (story)	Laura Innes	November 22, 2000
Just before Thanksgiving, a group of Chinese Christians who claim they're the victims of religious persecution are found trying to sneak into the United States, and President Bartlet must decide their fate.
31	"Galileo"	Aaron Sorkin and Kevin Falls	Alex Graves	November 29, 2000
A Russian missile silo is on fire and the Russian government is covering it up. The President is in hot water with Oregon after a news story is released reporting he doesn't like green beans, their signature crop.
32	"Noël"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Peter Parnell (story)	Thomas Schlamme	December 20, 2000
During the holiday season, Josh is agitated and anxious. After yelling at the president, Leo orders Josh to seek therapy. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma makes a guest appearance.
33	"The Leadership Breakfast"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Paul Redford (story)	Scott Winant	January 10, 2001
With Congress reconvening, the White House is planning a "leadership breakfast" to encourage bipartisan cooperation and Sam wants to move the press corps to new quarters across the street.
34	"The Drop-In"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. (story)	Lou Antonio	January 24, 2001
Leo tries to convince President Bartlet of the importance of supporting a missile defense plan, while Lord John Marbury is appointed British ambassador to the United States.
35	"Bartlet's Third State of the Union"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Allison Abner & Dee Dee Myers (story)	Christopher Misiano	February 7, 2001
The President addresses the nation, and a group of DEA agents are taken hostage in Central America. C.J. discovers an invited guest to the State of the Union speech has a questionable background.
36	"The War at Home"	Aaron Sorkin	Christopher Misiano	February 14, 2001
The crisis over the missing DEA agents in Colombia intensifies, as well as the fallout from the State of the Union Address.
37	"Ellie"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Kevin Falls & Laura Glasser (story)	Michael Engler	February 21, 2001
The President is put in a tricky spot when his Surgeon General publicly supports the legalization of marijuana, and his daughter makes a controversial comment to Danny Concannon.
38	"Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail"	Paul Redford and Aaron Sorkin	Jessica Yu	February 28, 2001
The staff again participates in "Big Block of Cheese Day," Toby is assigned to speak with a group of obnoxious young people protesting the WTO, and a friend of Donna's asks Sam to consider a pardon request for an alleged Cold War spy.
39	"The Stackhouse Filibuster"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Pete McCabe (story)	Bryan Gordon	March 14, 2001
Staffers are blindsided when an elderly senator begins a Friday night filibuster. Meanwhile, Toby is puzzled when the Vice President, normally a champion of the oil industry, volunteers to attack it for "price gouging".
40	"17 People"	Aaron Sorkin	Alex Graves	April 4, 2001
Toby is told about the President's multiple sclerosis, becoming the 17th person to know. Meanwhile, staffers struggle to punch up a speech the President is set to give at the White House Correspondent's Dinner.
41	"Bad Moon Rising"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Felicia Wilson (story)	Bill Johnson	April 25, 2001
The President decides that he needs an opinion from White House Counsel Oliver Babish on whether his MS cover-up constituted a criminal conspiracy. Meanwhile, an oil spill off the Delaware coast hits home to Sam; Josh must deal with a Mexican economic crisis; and Toby searches for the source of a press leak about a possible change in the President's position on school vouchers.
42	"The Fall's Gonna Kill You"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Patrick H. Caddell (story)	Christopher Misiano	May 2, 2001
White House Counsel Oliver Babish questions C.J. and Abbey about the President's MS cover-up.
43	"18th and Potomac"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. (story)	Robert Berlinger	May 9, 2001
While staffers work together to prepare to announce the President's condition, Mrs. Landingham details her plans after work to pick up a new car. Charlie receives a phone call at the end of the episode and is the first person to hear that Mrs. Landingham has been killed by a drunk driver at the intersection of 18th and Potomac.
44	"Two Cathedrals"	Aaron Sorkin	Thomas Schlamme	May 16, 2001
A tropical storm is bearing down on Washington on the day the President is to disclose to the American people that he has MS. Bartlet attends Mrs. Landingham's funeral, beset with memories of how they met. Staffers must also fashion two responses to the question that is certain to be asked first at Bartlet's prime-time press conference: Will Bartlet seek re-election?

[edit] Season 3: 2001–2002

The third season, which covers the administration's third and fourth years in office, starts off with Bartlet announcing his intention to run for reelection and is heavily devoted to the upcoming presidential election. Other prominent plotlines include Congressional investigations into whether Bartlet committed electoral fraud by concealing his MS, a death threat against C.J. and the ensuing relationship she develops with a Secret Service agent assigned to her, the Qumari defense minister Abdul Shareef plotting terrorist attacks against the US, and a troubling meeting between Toby and the President that leaves Bartlet with a bout of insomnia in "Night Five." The season finale, "Posse Comitatus" closes several of these storylines as Bartlet meets his opponent in the elections and reaffirms his commitment to beat him. The episode ends with the president finally deciding to order Shareef's assassination (a questionably legal act) and C.J.'s agent getting killed just after the man threatening C.J. was caught.

[edit] Episodes

#	Title	Writer(s)	Director	Original airdate
45	"Manchester Part I"	Aaron Sorkin	Thomas Schlamme	October 10, 2001
Season premiere: Surprising everyone, President Bartlet definitively announces his intentions to run for re-election, angering Abbey. Meanwhile, Haiti's obstreperous dictator is giving National Security Advisor Nancy McNally fits.
46	"Manchester Part II"	Aaron Sorkin	Thomas Schlamme	October 17, 2001
Senior staffers clash with newly hired political operative Bruno, and his aides Connie and Doug. Josh is upset because Leo won't let him "wave off the FDA" on RU-486.
47	"Ways and Means"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Eli Attie & Gene Sperling (story)	Alex Graves	October 24, 2001
The Special Prosecutor begins his probe, with the White House seeing him as too soft. Meanwhile, Sam and Bruno are concerned about a powerful California labor leader and Toby and Josh are preoccupied with a congressional battle over the estate tax.
48	"On the Day Before"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Paul Redford & Nanda Chitre (story)	Christopher Misiano	October 31, 2001
The President vetoes his first bill, the estate tax repeal, and staffers scramble to counter the GOP's override threat. Meanwhile, Charlie has been offered legal immunity in the MS matter and everyone urges him to take it.
49	"War Crimes"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Allison Abner (story)	Alex Graves	November 7, 2001
The President asks the reluctant Vice President (Tim Matheson) to speak at an anti-gun rally in Texas after a church shooting, while Donna goes before a Congressional committee investigating Bartlet's lack of disclosure–and she lies under oath.
50	"Gone Quiet"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Julia Dahl & Laura Glasser (story)	Jon Hutman	November 14, 2001
An American spy submarine suddenly goes silent in hostile North Korean waters, and Bartlet must decide whether he should notify the enemy or attempt a risky, secret rescue.
51	"The Indians in the Lobby"	Allison Abner & Kevin Falls and Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Allison Abner (story)	Paris Barclay	November 21, 2001
On the day before Thanksgiving, the President is talking turkey to whomever will listen (and everyone must). Meanwhile, C.J. deals with two Native Americans who have encamped in the lobby.
52	"The Women of Qumar"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Felicia Wilson & Laura Glasser & Julia Dahl (story)	Alex Graves	November 28, 2001
C.J. argues with senior staff over whether to make public the possibility of an outbreak of mad cow disease. Toby meets with veterans upset about the content of a Smithsonian Pearl Harbor exhibition.
53	"Bartlet for America"	Aaron Sorkin	Thomas Schlamme	December 12, 2001
It's Christmas time, and the most pressing matter is a threat to firebomb black churches in Tennessee on Christmas Eve. Also, Leo's about to testify before the House committee probing the MS matter.
54	"H. Con-172"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Eli Attie (story)	Aux2=	January 9, 2002
Leo defiantly rejects the Congressional Oversight Committee's offer of a public censure of Bartlet that would end the investigation into Bartlet's concealment of his illness and spare Leo of any possible personal repercussions.
55	"100,000 Airplanes"	Aaron Sorkin	David Nutter	January 16, 2002
Sam is interviewed for a Vanity Fair profile by Lisa Sherborne, his former fiancée. The White House staff works intensely on Bartlet's crucial State of the Union speech, and Bartlet suddenly demands that a passage ambitiously promising a crusade to cure cancer within 10 years be included.
56	"The Two Bartlets"	Kevin Falls and Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Gene Sperling (story)	Alex Graves	January 30, 2002
The staff debates whether to counter a fast-rising Republican presidential candidate's verbal assault on affirmative action and Josh must postpone his tropical vacation with women's rights advocate Amy Gardner to defuse a risky situation in Vieques, Puerto Rico.
57	"Night Five"	Aaron Sorkin	Christopher Misiano	February 6, 2002
Bartlet consults a psychiatrist, Dr. Stanley Keyworth, for a troubling sleep disorder and receives a sobering personal assessment and C.J. lobbies vigorously to help secure the release of a White House reporter who has been taken hostage while on assignment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
58	"Hartsfield's Landing"	Aaron Sorkin	Vincent Misiano	February 27, 2002
Bartlet engages both Sam and Toby in intricate chess matches that mirror the wily game of brinksmanship that Bartlet is playing with the Chinese, who are conducting war games in the Taiwan Strait.
59	"Dead Irish Writers"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Paul Redford (story)	Alex Graves	March 6, 2002
As Abbey contemplates her medical license being taken away the following day, she grudgingly attends a big White House party for her birthday.
60	"The U.S. Poet Laureate"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Laura Glasser (story)	Christopher Misiano	March 27, 2002
Bartlet makes a disparaging comment about a potential Republican nominee after a television interview, not realizing that he is still being recorded. Meanwhile, Toby tries to dissuade the newly named U.S. poet laureate, Tabatha Fortis, from publicly objecting to the government's lack of support for a treaty on land mines.
61	"Stirred"	Aaron Sorkin & Eli Attie (teleplay) Dee Dee Myers (story)	Jeremy Kagan	April 3, 2002
When a large truck carrying uranium fuel rods crashes in a remote Idaho tunnel, Bartlet's staff prepares for a potential environmental–or terrorist–crisis. Donna seeks a presidential proclamation honoring the retirement of her favorite teacher.
62	"Enemies Foreign and Domestic"	Paul Redford and Aaron Sorkin	Alex Graves	May 1, 2002
As Sam is finalizing the details of Bartlet's upcoming summit with the Russian president, satellite photographs reveal an Iranian nuclear bomb facility built using Russian technology. C.J. is assigned Secret Service protection after she voices her personal opinion in a press briefing on a group of schoolgirls in Saudi Arabia who were prevented from escaping a burning building by religious police because they were not dressed properly according to religious law.
63	"The Black Vera Wang"	Aaron Sorkin	Christopher Misiano	May 8, 2002
While C.J. gets used to being tailed by Special Agent Simon Donovan, the President must deal with a terrorist threat on a military installation.
64	"We Killed Yamamoto"	Aaron Sorkin	Thomas Schlamme	May 15, 2002
Bartlet agonizes over whether to forfeit the principle of diplomatic immunity for an important Middle Eastern official who is known to be plotting terrorism. Also, Bartlet is advised not to attend a fundraiser for a politically sensitive cause.
65	"Posse Comitatus"	Aaron Sorkin	Alex Graves	May 22, 2002
Bartlet makes a life-or-death decision regarding a foreign diplomat who is a known terrorist. The flirtation between C.J. and her Secret Service bodyguard, Simon Donovan, is limited by their professional relationship. Later in the episode, Donovan accidentally walks into a convenience store robbery, arrests one thief and is then shot dead by a second who was hiding in the back.

[edit] Special episodes

#	Title	Writer(s)	Director	Original airdate
00	"Isaac and Ishmael"	Aaron Sorkin	Christopher Misiano	October 3, 2001
The main cast introduce the episode out of character by paying tribute to those affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks and informing viewers about what to expect from the delayed premiere of the third season. The cast also makes it clear that this episode doesn't fall in the West Wing continuity. In the episode, The White House is "crashed" (locked down for security purposes) due to an unspecified event (presumably related to terrorism but not specifically 9/11). This causes a group of teens who were visiting the White House to become stuck in the mess hall with Josh and Donna. Throughout the episode, several other White House staffers, as well as the President and First Lady, drop in to join the discussion which is related to the reasons behind terrorism. Meanwhile, Leo and Ron confront a potential threat from within. The episode tackles issues of race, fear, and vengeance. The most notable moral of this episode is an analogy written on the board by Josh: "Islamic extremism is to Islam as KKK is to Christianity"
00	"Documentary Special"	William Couturie Eli Attie & Felicia Wilson (interview material)	William Couturie	April 24, 2002
Drama is blended with reality in this documentary episode that includes interviews with former Presidents and White House figures. Paying tribute to the real-life counterparts of the show's fictional Bartlet administration, the installment features U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, White House staffers David Gergen, Dee Dee Myers and Leon Panetta and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Highlights from the first three seasons of the show are interspersed throughout.

[edit] Season 4: 2002–2003

The fourth season covers the end of Bartlet's fourth year and first term in office through the beginning of the first year of his second term. The season begins with the continuation of the election storyline with the president touring the nation and his staff trying to firm up presidential debates. Surprisingly the election is not used as a cliffhanger, but seen as a clear victory for Bartlet, the storyline ending less than halfway through the season in "Election Night." Other plots include Sam leaving the White House to run in a special election in California, Will Bailey taking Sam's position having come from the California campaign's staff, and Vice President Hoynes being forced to resign after a sex scandal is uncovered. The fourth season ends with Bartlet's youngest daughter being taken hostage by Qumari forces that know the US was behind Shareef's assassination. Bartlet ends up invoking the 25th Amendment in the final episode, Twenty Five." Since Hoynes had recently resigned, the presidency passes to the Republican Speaker of the House, Glen Allen Walken.

[edit] Episodes

#	Title	Writer(s)	Director	Original airdate
66	"20 Hours in America Part I"	Aaron Sorkin	Christopher Misiano	September 25, 2002
In this expanded "day-in-the-life" episode, it is an especially long day for Toby, Josh and Donna, who are stranded in Indiana when the Presidential motorcade leaves without them after a campaign speech. Back in the West Wing, Sam fills in for Josh as the President's "wide-angle lens," and the President interviews various secretarial candidates. Meanwhile, Abbey creates a firestorm when she calls herself "just a wife and mother"; the Qumaris are making noise about their missing Defense Minister; and the Dow keeps dropping. C.J. asks a favor of Charlie, who politely refuses.
67	"20 Hours in America Part II"	Aaron Sorkin	Christopher Misiano	September 25, 2002
The President interviews feisty secretarial candidate Debbie Fiderer for a second time. Again, it doesn't go well. He's also rattled by the tumbling Dow, and takes it out in an odd way on an elderly White House visitor. C.J.'s press briefing takes an ominous turn as she relays details of a bombing at a college swim meet. Meanwhile, Fitz and Nancy McNally worry about what the Qumaris might know about the Shareef affair. A statement borne out of misdirected anger causes Charlie to make a stunning move and Toby, nearing the end of the daylong Indiana odyssey he's sharing with Josh and Donna, meets a man in a hotel bar who's visiting Notre Dame with his teenage daughter. He's worried about paying for college. "It should be a little easier," he tells Toby. "Just a little easier."
68	"College Kids"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Debora Cahn and Mark Goffman (story)	Alex Graves	October 2, 2002
Bartlet, concerned about potential liability in the Qumari matter, tells Leo to get him a lawyer. Leo tabs Jordan Kendall, who is understandably wary. And the campaign suffers a setback when a Federal judge rules that Presidential debates must be open to minor-party candidates. It is a ruling that might put Josh in a ticklish position personally, but he and Toby are on top of things professionally: they're back from their Indiana odyssey and with a new plan to help parents pay tuition bills. Meanwhile, Debbie Fiderer is having problems with her security check.
69	"The Red Mass"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Eli Attie (story)	Vincent Misiano	October 9, 2002
Liberal third-party candidate Howard Stackhouse is becoming a thorn in Bartlet's side—and Amy Gardner is consulting for him. Elsewhere, the Ritchie camp wants as few debates as possible; Leo meets with the Israeli Foreign Minister about the Shareef matter; a government siege of a house occupied by domestic terrorists is compromised by a sick child in the house; Josh makes Donna bone up on a self-help guru who has advised Governor Ritchie.
70	"Debate Camp"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) William Sind & Michael Oates Palmer (story)	Paris Barclay	October 16, 2002
As the West Wingers prep for the presidential debates at a North Carolina conference center, a vexing question about a failed attorney-general nomination (amid charges of racial profiling) leads to flashbacks of the administration's first weeks in office. At that time, Toby's marriage to Rep. Andrea Wyatt was about to end, but now he wants a reconciliation with his ex-wife, and Sam and Charlie are helping him in the effort to win her back. Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force weighs in on the Qumari matter; and Joey Lucas reports that the president is likely to lose New Hampshire.
71	"Game On"	Aaron Sorkin & Paul Redford	Alex Graves	October 30, 2002
One day before a debate between Bartlet and his Republican rival, Governor Robert Ritchie (James Brolin), even skeptical Toby must admit that Bartlet is ready. After a debate rehearsal, Toby meets with his ex-wife, Congresswoman Andrea "Andy" Wyatt, who is advising on the campaign. Toby also tells C.J. that Albie Duncan, a rather old, slightly crazy Republican, will help Bartlet deal with the aftermath of the debate. Later, the staff joyously watches Bartlet trounce Ritchie in the debate. Meanwhile, Leo and attorney Jordon Kendall negotiate a peaceful settlement to the escalating Qumar-Israel conflict. Sam attempts to persuade an idealistic campaign manager, Will Bailey, to remove a recently deceased Democratic candidate from the Congressional ballot in the Republican stronghold of Orange County, California.
72	"Election Night"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) David Gerken and David Handelman (story)	Lesli Linka Glatter	November 6, 2002
On Election Day, Bartlet and his staff begin counting exit poll votes across the country. In a conservative California congressional district, the results have important implications for Sam and a maverick Democratic campaign manager, Will Bailey. Meanwhile, Donna meets an intriguing Navy Lieutenant Commander, Jack Reese, who has been transferred to the White House as Deputy Military Aide.
73	"Process Stories"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Paula Yoo & Lauren Schmidt (story)	Christopher Misiano	November 13, 2002
It is election night, and Bartlet isn't the only winner. Horton Wilde won his House race in Orange County, CA, which puts Sam in a delicate position, especially since someone leaked his promise to Wilde's widow. Andy Wyatt won her House race in Maryland (with 85 percent of the vote), but Toby's still worried about how her pregnancy will play politically. Meanwhile, a coup is developing in Venezuela, and it is the first night in the situation room for Cdr. Jack Reese, the gallant Ritchie supporter who swapped votes with Donna.
74	"Swiss Diplomacy"	Kevin Falls & Eli Attie	Christopher Misiano	November 20, 2002
The election's barely over but Hoynes is already maneuvering for the next one, and the Senate minority leader, a likely candidate himself, is crying foul and threatening to thwart the president's legislative agenda. Meanwhile, the 15-year-old son of an Iranian leader needs a heart-lung transplant, and can get it only in the U.S. But the politics of it are as complicated as the surgery. Toby tries to repay a Congresswoman who "walked a plank" for the president by proposing a gasoline-tax hike, and paid for it at the polls.
75	"Arctic Radar"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Gene Sperling (story)	John David Coles	November 27, 2002
Sam heads out to California to begin his campaign, leaving Toby in need of speechwriting help. Sam's suggestion: Will Bailey. Meanwhile, a celebrated female fighter pilot is about to be dishonorably discharged after having been caught having an affair, and women's groups (as well as the women in the White House) want the president to do something about it. Donna asks Josh to find out if Cdr. Jack Reese likes her.
76	"Holy Night"	Aaron Sorkin	Thomas Schlamme	December 11, 2002
It is two days before Christmas, and who should appear but reporter Danny Concannon? Though dressed as St. Nick, he isn't exactly spreading good cheer. Also showing up at the White House is Toby's father; Bartlet's daughter Zoey, who's accompanied by her French boyfriend Jean-Paul; and psychiatrist Stanley Keyworth, to whom Bartlet complains about concentration lapses. Meanwhile, the president decides to rip up the HHS budget just before it is due at the printer's, which means the staff will have work to do well into the holidays. Also, both the President and Leo contemplate telling somebody else about the Shareef action.
77	"Guns Not Butter"	Eli Attie & Kevin Falls and Aaron Sorkin	Bill D'Elia	January 8, 2003
On the administration's agenda: a foreign-aid bill. However, Senate Republicans—and some Democrats—have other ideas. It is up to Josh to get the vote to come out right. He sends Donna in search of one freshman senator who doesn't seem to want to be found. One fence-sitter remains who vote the administration's way if it will agree to fund a medical study on the efficacy of prayer. Meanwhile, Danny Concannon is getting closer to the truth in the Sharif affair. Charlie wants to help a female soldier whose family needs food stamps.
78	"The Long Goodbye"	Jon Robin Baitz	Alex Graves	January 15, 2003
C.J. goes home to Dayton and to speak at her 20th high-school reunion. When she arrives at her father's house, she discovers that his new wife has left him. C.J.'s father has Alzheimer's, and C.J. struggles to connect with him and make sense of their family's struggles throughout her time back home. C.J. also spends time with a former high school classmate named Marco, who was a punk rocker in high school and now repairs watches. (This episode is notable as a change of pace from the typical West Wing format, as it focuses solely on one character's home life and does not touch upon operations at the White House.)
79	"Inauguration Part I"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Michael Oates Palmer & William Sind (story)	Christopher Misiano	February 5, 2003
In the week before Bartlet's second inauguration, an escalating genocide in a remote African country prompts him to consider "a new doctrine for the use of force." (Toby terms it "Mother Theresa with first-strike capabilities.") Not surprisingly, this idea doesn't meet with universal approval, even in the West Wing. Meanwhile, Danny's probing questions about the Sharif matter is getting on C.J.'s nerves. Charlie has difficulty finding a Bible for Bartlet to use at the inauguration.
80	"Inauguration Over There"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) David Gerken & Gene Sperling (story)	Lesli Linka Glatter	February 12, 2003
Will Bailey's work on the inaugural address makes quite an impression (as does the foreign-policy doctrine it espouses), and Danny Concannon's reporting makes quite a splash. Meanwhile, Charlie's luck in finding a Bible for Bartlet's swearing-in isn't improving.
81	"The California 47th"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Lauren Schmidt & Paula Yoo (story)	Vincent Misiano	February 19, 2003
While U.S. troops intervene in an African country's genocide, the President flies to California to campaign for Sam. Unfortunately for the White House (and Sam), Congressional Republicans have just announced a tax-cut proposal. The Administration's response: a plan that would raise taxes for the rich, which no one on the White House staff wants the President to talk about in Sam's affluent Orange County district.
82	"Red Haven's on Fire"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Mark Goffman & Debora Cahn (story)	Alex Graves	February 26, 2003
The hostage crisis in Africa has cut short the president's California trip, though Toby remains in Orange County to manage Sam's faltering congressional campaign. Meanwhile, Josh stiffs the First Lady on a budget request involving immunization education, so she takes his advice and hires a "professional" chief of staff. Will, under the gun to produce speeches fast on the White House tax proposal, is having a tough time getting along with his new speechwriting interns.
83	"Privateers"	Paul Redford & Debora Cahn and Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Paul Redford & Debora Cahn (story)	Alex Graves	March 26, 2003
It is Amy's first day as Abbey's chief of staff and she has quite a challenge: get the President to veto his own foreign-aid bill (which contains a Senate-inserted antiabortion rider). A college friend of Toby's has an ethical problem involving the EPA; and a glacier in Alaska has melted, causing 14 flood deaths. Zoey is to be installed into the DAR at a White House fete. But Abbey's membership is being challenged because it appears her "qualifying" ancestor was a pirate.
84	"Angel Maintenance"	Eli Attie and Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Eli Attie & Kevin Falls (story)	Jessica Yu	April 2, 2003
At the end of an 18-hour return trip home from Manila, just as Air Force One is about to begin its descent into Andrews Air Force Base, a cockpit indicator light leads the crew to believe that the landing gear might not be locked down. The plane stays in the air while the problem is examined. Tensions in the plane and on the ground grow as the people aboard become more and more concerned that something may be wrong with the plane.
85	"Evidence of Things Not Seen"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Eli Attie & David Handelman (story)	Christopher Misiano	April 23, 2003
Matthew Perry begins a two-episode stint as a White House job-seeker. The Friends costar plays Joe Quincy, a lawyer applying for Ainsley Hayes' old job in the counsel's office. While his interview with Josh in the Roosevelt Room runs smoothly, Josh suspects there's more information Joe hasn't revealed about himself. Meanwhile, shots have been fired at the press briefing room, resulting in a lockdown. Poker night continues despite the lockdown, but the president keeps getting interrupted—a spy plane has been lost over Russia.
86	"Life On Mars"	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Paul Redford & Dee Dee Myers (story)	John David Coles	April 30, 2003
A seemingly benign press leak begins a journey that lasts for a day and a night and ends with the discovery of a scandal affecting the uppermost levels of the administration. What the staff doesn't yet know is this is merely the beginning of a chain reaction—and things are about to get considerably worse. Matthew Perry appears as Joe Quincy, a newly hired White House attorney who has the bad luck of finding the problem.
87	"Commencement"	Aaron Sorkin	Alex Graves	May 7, 2003
The U.S. is in a heightened state of alert because suspected terrorists have gone missing. Meanwhile, Bartlet struggles with the message that he wants to convey to his youngest daughter, Zoey's, graduating class at Georgetown University. C.J. must stop reporter Danny Concannon from filing a story. Charlie decides whether to keep a romantic promise he made to Zoey when they were dating. Taye Diggs appears as the new head of Zoey's Secret Service detail.
88	"Twenty Five"	Aaron Sorkin	Christopher Misiano	May 14, 2003
As the series' fourth-season finale begins, Zoey has just been abducted from the nightclub in Georgetown where she and Jean-Paul had been celebrating her graduation. The White House goes into crisis mode, fearing that the kidnapping is the work of terrorists. In the episode's final moments, Bartlet realizes that he cannot act as President, because he cannot make impartial judgments about what to do next as Zoey's father, and temporarily steps down from the Presidency using the 25th Amendment. Due to the lack of a Vice-President, Speaker of the House Glen Allen Walken becomes Acting President.

[edit] Season 5: 2003–2004

The fifth season opens with US forces successfully rescuing Zoey Bartlet from her abductors. Bartlet takes the presidency back from Walken, but is forced back into a Season One level of powerlessness. He comes to terms with his actions at the end of Season Three leading to his daughter's kidnapping, a powerful new Republican Speaker of the House (Walken had to resign in order to assume the presidency) who forces Bartlet into several decisions he didn't want including the nomination of a less-than-stellar Democrat, "Bingo Bob" Russell, for Vice President. This conflict with the new Speaker comes to a head in "Shutdown," when the Speaker tries to force Bartlet into cutting federal spending more than had been agreed to and Bartlet refuses to sign the budget (forcing the federal government into a shutdown). Bartlet regains some minor power, cutting a deal to get a liberal Chief Justice of the United States, and season five ends with a bombing in Gaza leading Bartlet to push for Israeli peace talks and Josh to come closer to Donna. The fifth season begins toward the end of Bartlet's first year of his second term (fifth year overall) in office. By the end of the season, however, significantly over a year has elapsed.

[edit] Episodes

#	Title	Writer(s)	Director	Original airdate
89	"7A WF 83429"	John Wells	Alex Graves	September 24, 2003
As the fifth season opens, it is seven hours after Zoey Bartlet's kidnapping and the President has temporarily relinquished his office to Republican House Speaker Glenallen Walken, who reviews military options upon receiving a ransom note demanding the release of Pakistani terrorists and a pullout of U.S. troops from Saudi Arabia and Qumar. Meanwhile, Danny Concannon tells C.J. he's going to post his story on the Shareef assassination; and the Democratic congressional leadership is unhappy with Bartlet's handover (as is Josh). Also unhappy with the President is his eldest daughter, Elizabeth, who has arrived at the White House with her husband and two children.
90	"The Dogs of War"	John Wells	Christopher Misiano	October 1, 2003
As the Zoey Bartlet kidnapping crisis enters its second day, Acting President Walken bombs terrorist training camps in Qumar. Meanwhile, Josh is certain that Walken's aides are plotting to ram their conservative agenda through Congress. Josh must also contend with an unwanted new intern, a freshly minted Harvard grad from an established political family named Ryan Pierce. And Will and Toby struggle to write two speeches for Bartlet to deliver once the crisis is resolved.
91	"Jefferson Lives"	Carol Flint (teleplay) Carol Flint & Debora Cahn (story)	Alex Graves	October 8, 2003
With Bartlet back in the Oval Office attention is turned to the choice for a new vice president. The ideal choice: Secretary of State Lewis Berryhill, but the new house speaker has his own ideas. Gary Cole joins the cast as "Bingo Bob" Russell, a folksy Colorado representative who's on a short list (not the president's). Upstairs at the White House, meanwhile, the residence is not a happy home in the wake of Zoey's kidnapping. Says Abbey: "I blame Jed."
92	"Han"	Peter Noah (teleplay) Peter Noah & Mark Goffman and Paula Yoo (story)	Christopher Misiano	October 22, 2003
A renowned North Korean pianist is greeted at the White House for a solo performance, but the formalities change when the musician slips a message to the President stating that he wants to defect. Despite C.J.'s passionate argument, others counsel Bartlet that granting the defection would endanger crucial ongoing negotiations with the nation. Also, members of the staff work hard to get the President's new choice for Vice President, Colorado Congressman Robert Russell, unanimously approved by both houses of Congress—but there's one holdout whose "nay" vote could embarrass everyone.
93	"Constituency of One"	Eli Attie (teleplay) Eli Attie and Michael Oates Palmer (story)	Laura Innes	October 29, 2003
After Josh is hailed as the "101st Senator" in a newspaper profile, he clashes with conservative Senator Carrick, a Democrat from Idaho. Carrick withholds his approval of a backlog of military promotions so he can secure an expensive but faulty missile launcher to be built in his home state. Will gets a flattering offer from the newly approved Vice President, Robert Russell, while C.J. runs afoul of Leo's temper when she deviates from the administration's scripted line regarding an Environmental Protection Agency report on coal-based energy. Likewise, Amy earns the President's wrath when she aggressively pushes for funding of the first lady's agenda on violence prevention. Meanwhile, Toby creates a message calendar to maintain focus during Bartlet's second term.
94	"Disaster Relief"	Alexa Junge (teleplay) Alexa Junge & Lauren Schmidt (story)	Lesli Linka Glatter	November 5, 2003
A national emergency is declared by Bartlet in light of a killer tornado in Oklahoma that then preoccupies him. He flies there to lend his support. But his compassion overrules good judgment, and Bartlet stays longer than planned. Meanwhile, Leo worries about several crises in the capital that need the president's immediate attention. Josh fears the worst after a political miscalculation costs the Democrats dearly. And Donna becomes concerned about Josh's welfare after he becomes Washington's latest target of scorn.
95	"Separation of Powers"	Paul Redford	Alex Graves	November 12, 2003
Matthew Perry returns as deputy counsel Joe Quincy, a former clerk to the Chief Justice of the United States, who's tabbed by Toby to try to persuade the aging jurist to retire following a collapse. Meanwhile, Josh is on the sidelines as budget negotiations with Congressional Republican leaders reach a critical stage; and C.J.'s worried about Zoey's impending TV interview.
96	"Shutdown"	Mark Goffman	Christopher Misiano	November 19, 2003
A disastrous fiscal crisis looms when the federal government is shut down after the President and the powerful Republican Speaker of the House disagree over an extra two percent in budget reductions that would trim many of Bartlet's key social programs. Opinion polls reveal that the public blames the Democrats for the impasse. As Leo, Josh and Toby send the staff home, the trio remains uneasy as the President refuses to compromise—until he hatches a bold plan to personally and publicly challenge the Republicans in the halls of the Capitol. Meanwhile, Abbey suddenly reappears from her self-imposed exile for a State dinner that she might have to cook herself.
97	"Abu el Banat"	Debora Cahn	Lesli Linka Glatter	December 3, 2003
As the entire Bartlet clan gathers for the White House Christmas tree lighting ceremony (though Ellie's late, as usual), Christian missionaries are arrested in Sudan for proselytizing. Meanwhile, the DEA has suspended the license of a doctor who assisted with the suicide of a terminally ill patient in Oregon (where it is legal), and Bartlet's attorney general is siding with the DEA; and Bartlet's son-in-law, Doug Westin, has decided to run for Congress. He won't get White House backing.
98	"The Stormy Present"	John Sacret Young (teleplay) John Sacret Young & Josh Singer (story)	Alex Graves	January 7, 2004
When a former President of the United States dies, the two remaining ex-Presidents fly on Air Force One with Bartlet to attend the funeral. Onboard, Bartlet's two historic guests partake in a lively debate about their administrations. Their past mistakes haunt the current administration including a recent event—protestors have surrounded a Saudi Oil headquarters, taking 200 hostages, including 50 Americans. Meanwhile, C.J. investigates government experiments on mind control. Leo discovers his ex-wife is engaged to be married. And Josh referees a debate concerning an original copy of the Bill of Rights.
99	"The Benign Prerogative"	Carol Flint	Christopher Misiano	January 14, 2004
Toby finishes the State of the Union Address a few weeks early, and a pregnant Joey Lucas polls responses to the speech from everyday people. Charlie is intrigued by Meeshell Anders, an aspiring female journalist with a secret. Abbey pressures her husband to pardon a Native American tribal leader convicted of killing two FBI agents in North Dakota. Bartlet opposes minimums and guidelines for prison sentences and pardons over 30 inmates. And Toby hires a new assistant, Rena.
100	"Slow News Day"	Eli Attie	Julie Hebert	February 4, 2004
Toby convinces Bartlet to secretly sanction his solo attempt to make history by reforming Social Security, but Toby's efforts to recruit a Republican senator and a Democratic cohort are publicly divulged—forcing the administration to back down while Josh and Leo are left clueless and furious. Meanwhile, an equally unaware C.J. parries with a reporter who is ready to print all the backstage details.
101	"The Warfare of Genghis Khan"	Peter Noah	Bill D'Elia	February 11, 2004
When the flash of a secret nuclear detonation is detected over the Indian Ocean, Bartlet calls upon his people to investigate which nation now has the atomic bomb—and since conventional thinking favors Iran, Bartlet orders bombers into the air to destroy that nation's most likely uranium-enriched targets. Meanwhile, Josh chides NASA personnel on the future of space exploration—until he is introduced to an attractive female administrator. C.J. fumes when a combative television talk-show host, Taylor Reid, denigrates her on the air, and Will discloses to Vice President Russell that Russell is considered a buffoon by the White House staff. However, it is Russell whose smarts come to keep the President from bombing the wrong country. In light of the international situation, Toby wonders why they don't utilize the U.N. in times like this.
102	"An Khe"	John Wells	Alex Graves	February 18, 2004
When five crew members of an E-2C Hawkeye AEW aircraft are shot down by North Korean jets near the hostile country, President Bartlet dispatches a Navy SEAL team to retrieve them—prompting Leo to recall his own harrowing experience when he was downed as a F-105 Thunderchief pilot over North Vietnam. Leo's good friend and fellow flyer saved Leo's life and now is in trouble for allegedly paying bribes to defense contractors to obtain military contracts. Meanwhile, C.J. accepts the challenge of dueling on live television with an opinionated, conservative talk show host, Taylor Reid. Josh fumes when he briefs the President about a contested tax cut for stay-at-home mothers and is undercut by brash, young intern Ryan. And the commander in chief balks at posing for his official portrait.
103	"Full Disclosure"	Lawrence O'Donnell Jr.	Lesli Linka Glatter	February 25, 2004
John Hoynes is back in the news—in a magazine article in which he says that Bartlet and Leo tried to talk him out of resigning once his sex scandal was about to break. The White House contemplates how to respond to allegations that misquote Bartlet and Leo, characterizing them as simply wanting to help him "beat the rap". This is political dynamite, and C.J. learns of it from pugnacious cable talker Taylor Reid—on Reid's live show. Meanwhile, Toby spars with union representatives over Chinese trade policy; Josh reluctantly leaves a meeting on military-base closings to the tender mercies of Ryan Pierce; and the mayor of Washington, D.C., decides that he wants a school-voucher pilot program that congressional Republicans are trying to force on him.
104	"Eppur Si Muove"	Alexa Junge	Llewellyn Wells	March 3, 2004
Bartlet becomes furious when a rival conservative congresswoman tries to end funding for a controversial National Institutes of Health medical study by exposing the fact that Bartlet's daughter Ellie is working at the institute as a scientist. As Toby searches for the internal White House leak that led to Ellie's press scrutiny, Josh tries to convince an old college friend to remain in contention as a judge on the 6th Circuit Federal Court—even though his confirmation has been blocked for the past 12 months. Meanwhile, C.J. urges Abbey to increase her public profile as the First Lady and a working doctor. Part of C.J.'s plan includes educating children about medicine via a public service announcement with Abbey and characters from the children's show Sesame Street, Big Bird, Elmo, Rosita and Zoe.
105	"The Supremes"	Debora Cahn	Jessica Yu	March 24, 2004
Glenn Close plays a federal judge whom Josh is pushing for the Supreme Court. Trouble is, she's too liberal to be confirmed (and she has a skeleton in her closet that can be described as poetically just). Meanwhile, Andy Wyatt is joining a congressional fact-finding mission to the Middle East that troubles the White House. Other guests include Milo O'Shea (as the Chief Justice) and Robert Picardo (another prospective nominee).
106	"Access"	Lauren Schmidt	Alex Graves	March 31, 2004
Producing a program on past and present White House press secretaries, a television documentary crew follows C.J. around to film a "typical" day. But the presence of outsiders adds stress when a crisis involving a terrorist shootout with the FBI has a smiling C.J. trying to keep the story a secret. Meanwhile, C.J. supervises her team in preparation for a formal papal visit with Bartlet and dodges difficult questions about the imminent future of the current FBI director.
107	"Talking Points"	Eli Attie	Richard Schiff	April 21, 2004
On the eve of the President's controversial trade summit meeting in Brussels, Josh is troubled when he learns that Bartlet will reverse his position about sacrificing American jobs to foreign lands. C.J. is frustrated with a new Federal Communications Commission ruling allowing multimedia companies increased ownership of TV stations. Meanwhile, the administration tries to downplay job-loss statistics, and Donna tells Josh about her dissatisfaction with her limited role on his staff. In the midst of it all, Bartlet meets Kate Harper, the brash, new deputy national security advisor.
108	"No Exit"	Carol Flint & Debora Cahn (teleplay) Carol Flint & Mark Goffman (story)	Julie Hebert	April 28, 2004
Resentments fester when the White House is locked down after a suspicious substance is found in the air near the Oval Office. Staffers must remain where they are—and with whomever they're with. This is particularly bad news for Toby and Will, whose already-unraveling relationship is spiraling downward ever faster in the wake of a Russell speech (written by Will) that Toby feels undercut Bartlet. Meanwhile, C.J. has some career advice for Donna; Leo and Abbey spar over health issues, personal and political; and Josh gets to know new NSC staffer Kate Harper. And it is off to the showers for the President, Charlie and Debbie Fiderer, on the orders of no-nonsense guys in HAZMAT suits.
109	"Gaza"	Peter Noah	Christopher Misiano	May 12, 2004
A fact-finding tour to the hotly disputed Gaza Strip includes Donna, Admiral Fitzwallace and a few members of congress as they sort through the thicket of rival issues between the Palestinians and Israelis—but the killing fields soon claim some of the delegation when a deadly bomb shatters their vehicle and has the President considering targets for military action. In flashbacks, Donna is attracted to a dashing British photojournalist who opens her eyes to his graphic world of recording mankind's most heinous acts of violence.
110	"Memorial Day"	John Sacret Young & Josh Singer	Christopher Misiano	May 19, 2004
In the season finale, Gaza slayings of key U.S. officials might drag the fuming President into an unending cycle of violence. In the season finale, events in the tinderbox Gaza Strip spin out of control after the murders of high-ranking U.S. officials as the angry President weighs appropriate military action—even as Israel launches its own strikes and surrounds the Palestinian chairman, prompting more retaliatory terrorism. The dangers are compounded when Bartlet suddenly cannot communicate with the chairman and a strange undertow of intrigue finds a wary Josh meeting with a mysterious foreign operative while tending to Donna in Germany. Meanwhile, Bartlet dons a bulletproof vest and practices his sluggish fastball when he's called to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a game in Baltimore.

[edit] Season 6: 2004–2005

The sixth season starts with the president negotiating an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord, Leo having a heart attack and leaving the staff, and the president trying to fund peacekeepers for the accord. Josh is pondering whether he will stay with Bartlet or support a presidential candidate. Three events shape his decision: Santos not running again for Congress, Vinick running for president and Donna leaving the White House to work for the Russell campaign (further fraying Josh and Donna's relationship). The later parts of the season center heavily around the 2006 presidential election (in which Bartlet cannot run). Josh leaves with Santos, a Congressman from Texas whom Josh convinced to run for President, on the campaign trail. Leo returns near the end of the season to refocus the Bartlet administration (in a similar style to Season One's "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet") in "365 Days." Russell is the consistent leader for the Democratic nomination with former Vice President Hoynes a close second and Santos a distant third. After another sex scandal, Hoynes is forced into the third position, and Santos ends up winning a closely contested Convention (and announces Leo as his running mate). The final episode also features a leak from the White House about a classified military space shuttle to the press (similar to the real-life Plame affair), which is heavily investigated in Season Seven.

[edit] Episodes

#	Title	Writer(s)	Director	Original airdate
111	"NSF Thurmont"	John Wells	Alex Graves	October 20, 2004
The world watches the aftermath of the Gaza attack on U.S. officials. The President learns that 82% of the American people, almost all of Congress, Vice President Bob Russell, Secretary of Defense Miles Hutchinson, the Joint Chiefs, and all of his staff besides C.J. Cregg and Kate Harper want him to launch retaliatory military strikes immediately. Meanwhile, he tries to arrange peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians at Naval Support Facility Thurmont, commonly known as Camp David, the President's retreat in Maryland. Finally, he strikes one of three suggested targets and readies for peace talks.
112	"The Birnam Wood"	John Wells	Alex Graves	October 27, 2004
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks at Camp David result in a momentous peace accord. President Bartlet fires White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, who was strongly against the talks. Moments later, Leo suffers a massive heart attack. ("The Birnam Wood" is believed to be a reference to the warning given to Macbeth in the Shakespeare play of the same name, in which he is warned that "Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until / Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill / Shall come against him.")
113	"Third-Day Story"	Eli Attie	Christopher Misiano	November 3, 2004
The senior staff clash with Congressional leaders on how to fund U.S. peacekeepers destined for the Middle East following the peace accord signed by Israel and the Palestinians. As Leo McGarry recovers from his heart attack, the Cabinet secretaries and senior staff members continually make missteps without a Chief of Staff. Bartlet eventually asks C.J. to become the new Chief of Staff.
114	"Liftoff"	Debora Cahn	Alex Graves	November 10, 2004
C.J. Cregg begins her tenure as White House Chief of Staff, as Toby and Donna begin searching for a new Press Secretary. The Republic of Georgia offers to give the United States its stockpile of weapons-grade uranium. Josh meets with Representative Matthew Santos of Texas, who is retiring from Congress despite having only recently been elected to his seat. Santos will become a recurring character this season, as he begins a campaign for the Presidency.
115	"The Hubbert Peak"	Peter Noah	Julie Hebert	November 17, 2004
Josh crashes an SUV into a hybrid vehicle, causing a public relations disaster. He meets with environmental supporters who berate the White House for doing too little to beef up laws in this area, including raising fuel emissions standards; Josh points out that they have had seven years of a hostile Congress.
116	"The Dover Test"	Carol Flint	Laura Innes	November 24, 2004
Santos gets friendly with Republicans over a Patients' Bill of Rights, and the first American soldier dies in the Gaza peacekeeping mission.
117	"A Change Is Gonna Come"	John Sacret Young & Josh Singer (teleplay) John Sacret Young (story)	Vincent Misiano	December 1, 2004
While preparing the upcoming China summit, the Chinese are insulted by President Bartlet's acceptance of a Taiwanese independence movement flag at a prayer breakfast. Meanwhile, former Vice-President John Hoynes asks Josh to run his presidential campaign.
118	"In the Room"	Lawrence O'Donnell Jr.	Alex Graves	December 8, 2004
At Zoey Bartlet's birthday party, magicians Penn and Teller appear to burn an American flag in the White House, prompting a publicity nightmare. Aboard Air Force One, Bartlet is stricken by a paralyzing MS episode, while Josh is approached to run the Vice President's presidential campaign.
119	"Impact Winter"	Debora Cahn	Lesli Linka Glatter	December 15, 2004
In China, an impaired Bartlet is having trouble sitting through meetings following his MS attack. In Washington, a NASA functionary warns that an asteroid could strike Earth, while Josh wonders who should be the next guy to occupy the Oval Office and puts off a talk with Donna about her future.
120	"Faith Based Initiative"	Bradley Whitford	Christopher Misiano	January 5, 2005
A senator attaches a rider to the federal budget bill that would ban gay marriage, almost daring the President to veto it. The Internet is rampant with a story that questions C.J.'s sexual orientation, and it is only fueled further when the White House refuses to dignify the allegations by putting out a statement. Donna joins the Vice President's campaign staff and heads for New Hampshire, while Santos decides that he will run for president if Josh will run his campaign.
121	"Opposition Research"	Eli Attie	Christopher Misiano	January 12, 2005
Santos starts up his presidential campaign in New Hampshire, where he and Josh immediately disagree on campaign philosophy, and Josh has a reunion with Russell campaign staffer Donna.
122	"365 Days"	Mark Goffman	Andrew Bernstein	January 19, 2005
On the day after Bartlet gives his last State of the Union address, Leo returns to the West Wing figuring out what to do during the remaining 365 days of Bartlet's term.
123	"King Corn"	John Wells	Alex Graves	January 26, 2005
The presidential candidates journey to Iowa, where Democrats Russell and Santos, and Republican Vinick, are all told by their handlers that when they appear before the corn growers association they must support subsidies for ethanol as fuel, regardless of their true feelings.
124	"The Wake Up Call"	Josh Singer	Laura Innes	February 9, 2005
When a British passenger aircraft is accidentally shot down over Iran, causing an international crisis, C.J. battles with the First Lady over the how much to let Bartlet's MS affect his schedule; Toby and constitutional scholar Lawrence Lessig work with Belarusian diplomats on a new constitution.
125	"Freedonia"	Eli Attie	Christopher Misiano	February 16, 2005
It is five days before the New Hampshire primary, and Josh is desperately trying to find a "silver bullet" that will get his candidate into the local debate between front-runners Russell and Hoynes. Then, Josh and Santos's disagreements over how to run the campaign come to a head when Santos hires Josh's ex-girlfriend Amy Gardner to help him prepare for the debate.
126	"Drought Conditions"	Debora Cahn	Alex Graves	February 23, 2005
Senator Rafferty, a new presidential candidate garnered much media attention with a ground-breaking speech about health care. But her words contain interesting echoes of President Bartlet's original health plan known only to White House insiders. Meanwhile, Toby is more than usually morose after the death of his brother while C.J. is having problems dealing with lobbyist Clifford Calley.
127	"A Good Day"	Carol Flint	Richard Schiff	March 2, 2005
Congressman Santos masterminds a plot to pass the president's stem cell bill while the Republicans aren't looking. A group of middle school children who are part of the Future Leaders for Democracy visit the White House and seek out Toby to discuss the voting age. Kate has to deal with an impending invasion of Canada.
128	"La Palabra"	Eli Attie	Jason Ensler	March 9, 2005
As Super Tuesday apporaches, the three Democratic nominees battle it out to win California as the state legislature passes a contorversial anti-immigrant bill.
129	"Ninety Miles Away"	John Sacret Young	Rod Holcomb	March 16, 2005
When speculations fly surrounding the nexus between communist Cuba and the democratic United States, President Bartlet is propelled into a dubious conundrum--that is, to continue secret talks with Cuba's ailing dictator and lift an antiquated embargo or to yield to bi-partisan political fallout and reaffirm 40-year-old sanctions. Meanwhile, Leo and Kate learn that they have more in common than politics when a distant memory of corrupted elections and bar room antics reveal a more intimate connection.
130	"In God We Trust"	Lawrence O'Donnell Jr.	Christopher Misiano	March 23, 2005
Senator Vinick wins the Republican nomination for presidency and begins working on his campaign. He gets political advice from Bruno about choosing a vice president and how to deal with the latest controversy of Vinick's church attendance, or lack thereof. Meanwhile the Democrats are stuck in a three-way race for enough delegates to win the Democratic nominations; Russell barely leads Santos and Hoynes is a distant third. Bartlet tries to show unity in the party by wrangling the candidates.
131	"Things Fall Apart"	Peter Noah	Nelson McCormick	March 30, 2005
The clear organization of the Republican Convention is making the Democrats look in disarray as the three candidates continue to battle for a clear Democratic Presidential nominee. Bartlet asks Leo to take control and organize the Democratic Convention. Meanwhile, the International Space Station has a leak and is losing oxygen which jeopardizes the lives of the three astronauts aboard and morality and mortality are examined.
132	"2162 Votes"	John Wells	Alex Graves	April 6, 2005
It's the Democratic National Convention and the race to become the Democratic Presidential candidate has narrowed to three candidates: Russell, Santos, and Hoynes, with a fourth, Baker, being nominated from the floor. Also, Bartlet must wrestle with the decision to launch the super-secret defense shuttle to rescue the astronauts trapped at the space station and risk national security or let them die.

[edit] Season 7: 2005–2006

The seventh and final season mainly follows Santos on the campaign trail and the aftermath of the shuttle leak investigation. The Bartlet administration's last year in office is featured, but not prominently. Toby admits to leaking the story about a military spacecraft and President Bartlet is forced to fire him. Later, he refuses to name his brother as the source of the classified information. Also, C.J.'s tenure as Chief of Staff becomes more stressful as she deals with the war between Russia and China over Kazakhstan. The presidential race tightens up when Vinick makes a number of mistakes on the campaign trail. Leo suffers a heart attack, and dies on the night of the election, which Santos eventually wins.

[edit] Episodes

#	Title	Writer(s)	Director	Original airdate
133	"The Ticket"	Debora Cahn	Christopher Misiano	September 25, 2005
The season opener starts with a scene from three years in the future; a reunion of several main characters at the opening of Bartlet's Presidential library. The show then returns to the main timeline with the Santos/McGarry campaign getting off to a rough start with tensions between Santos and Leo and between the campaign and the White House, despite poll numbers which show the campaign doing better than expected. C.J. is questioned by the White House counsel as to her involvement with the leak about a secret military space shuttle.
134	"The Mommy Problem"	Eli Attie	Alex Graves	October 2, 2005
The Santos campaign takes a media hit on security issues because of the Bartlet administration's handling of the leak investigation. A White House reporter, Greg Brock, is sent to jail for failing to disclose his sources, and Josh clashes both with the White House and with a new communications director (Janeane Garofalo). The campaign debates whether Santos should respond to a summons to a weekend of military reserve training.
135	"Message of the Week"	Lawrence O'Donnell, Jr.	Christopher Misiano	October 9, 2005
The episode follows the ups and downs of the Vinick campaign as Santos gains momentum on national security, then loses momentum as Vinick presses him on immigration issues, although this prompts the resignation of a top Vinick aide. The religious right tries to corner Vinick into promising to appoint pro-life judges, although Vinick's deception to appease them backfires.
136	"Mr. Frost"	Alex Graves	Andrew Bernstein	October 16, 2005
The Santos campaign's "education week" is derailed by a controversy over teaching intelligent design, however, the Santos campaign turns the issue around, playing off Vinick's vulnerability as a pro-choice Republican on religious issues. In the White House, subpoenas are being handed down, and Palestinian Chairman Farad is assassinated. As Bartlet is determined to attend the funeral despite security concerns, C.J. is hounded by a lone intelligence agent who believes Farad's death was part of a larger conspiracy. In the closing moments of the episode (similar to "18th and Potomac") Toby reveals to C.J. that he was responsible for the security leak.
137	"Here Today"	Peter Noah	Alex Graves	October 23, 2005
C.J. deals with the immediate repercussions of Toby's confession, and White House Counsel Oliver Babish questions Toby until his lawyer intervenes. President Bartlet's daughter and her fiance visit with the news that she is pregnant. Josh struggles with the necessity to "clean house" on the Santos campaign, firing dozens of inexperienced staffers, including one close to the candidate. Kate Harper tangles with both the National Security Council and intelligence agent Frost as tensions rise between Russia and China. The president fires Toby and addresses the nation as Toby is led from the White House.
138	"The Al Smith Dinner"	Eli Atte	Lesli Linka Glatter	October 30, 2005
An ad by a 527 group attacking Santos for his pro-choice stand has both campaigns up in arms, trying to avoid the campaign going negative or diving into the abortion issue -- a touchy subject for both candidates: Vinick because his pro-choice position risks alienating the religious right, Santos because it risks alienating pro-choice moderates, including a major pro-choice interest group who are considering endorsing Vinick. Back at the White House, Will struggles with dealing with the press as the new Communications Director, settling into Toby's old office, and Josh struggles with Lou Thornton's decision to bring Donna into the campaign as a spokesperson. In the final moments, as both candidates wait backstage at the Al Smith Dinner, Santos and Vinick agree to an unexpected deal: a live debate the following week.
139	"The Debate"	Lawrence O'Donnell, Jr.	Alex Graves	November 6, 2005
Candidates Matthew Santos and Arnold Vinick debate live in a forum moderated by Forrest Sawyer. During Vinick's opening statement, he proposes dropping the negotiated rules and having a freer debate format. During the hour-long debate (originally broadcast live in two tapings for East and West Coast audiences), the two candidates cover topics ranging from immigration to job creation to health care to African debt relief.
140	"Undecideds"	Debora Cahn	Christopher Misiano	December 4, 2005
Santos must face the challenge of visiting an African-American family in Los Angeles whose child was shot by a Latino police officer. C.J. must manage a crisis between China and Kazakhstan.
141	"The Wedding"	Josh Singer	Max Mayer	December 11, 2005
Wedding plans for the Bartlet's daughter move forward as Josh tries to pay for a windfall in the polls with a dwindling campaign warchest. Meanwhile the president must balance his daughter's most important day with a potential war between two nuclear powers. Democratic Party leaders want Leo to be campaign manager rather than Josh, but Josh has the trust of Santos and Leo.
142	"Running Mates"	Peter Noah	Paul McCrane	January 8, 2006
At the beginning of the episode, Martin Sheen directly addresses the viewers out of character to pay tribute to co-star John Spencer, who played Leo and had recently died when this episode was originally broadcast. In the episode, Leo does poorly in Vice Presidential debate practice, and Lou and Josh are nervous. Will and Kate set up a date, which turned out to be watching the VP debate in Will's office. Santos takes time off of the campaign trail to visit his family, amid a flurry of media coverage. Josh calls Toby, who is currently between arraignments, about the VP debate.
143	"Internal Displacement"	Bradley Whitford	Andrew Bernstein	January 15, 2005
C.J. realizes that she barely has any time left in office and decides to try and solve the (real world) crisis in Darfur, Sudan along with the (fictional) crisis between Russia and China over Kazakhstan. Adding more to her stress level, the President's son-in-law, Doug Westin, is rumored to be having an affair with his kids' nanny; Danny makes his first appearance (outside of the season opener flash forward) since the fifth season to go on a date with C.J.
144	"Duck and Cover"	Eli Attie	Christopher Misiano	January 22, 2006
Elections are underway in Kazakhstan, but Russia and China both on the brink of going to war in Central Asia over oil are the least of Bartlet and C.J.'s concerns as they face a nuclear reactor in California on the verge of a meltdown. While agonizing over the decisions over whether to evacuate nearby citizens and to release radioactive steam into the atmosphere, the Santos and Vinick campaigns stare each other down, trying to avoid being the first to turn the crisis into a political issue -- all the more complex as decades ago, Vinick lobbied for the plant's construction. When the news comes out, the election becomes, in Josh's words, "too close to call."
145	"The Cold"	Debora Cahn (teleplay) Debora Cahn & Lauren Schmidt (story)	Alex Graves	March 12, 2006
When new polling puts Santos and Vinick neck-to-neck nationwide, the Santos campaign staff are elated -- Josh and Donna so much so that they end up sharing a kiss, which forces them to confront their feelings for each other. Vinick, on the other hand, has a cold, and is feeling pressure from the RNC to make a rightward turn in his campaign and play to the Republican base. This makes Bruno nervous, as he's afraid he's going to be fired. And at the White House, President Bartlet summons both candidates to the White House so he can advise them that he's ordering thousands of U.S. troops into Kazakhstan. But before he meets with either Presidential candidate, he meets with Leo McGarry, whom he has also called to the White House. Bartlet's meeting with Leo is more personal as he shares his concerns about the consequences of his decisions with Leo back in his old role as the President's closest confidant. This scene would be John Spencer's last appearance.
146	"Two Weeks Out"	Lawrence O'Donnell, Jr.	Laura Innes	March 19, 2006
With the election two weeks out and both candidates polling even in California, both the Santos and Vinick campaigns scramble to the state to try and gain free media from public events. Vinick, whose hand is broken by constant handshakes, catches a break when Bruno discovers Santos' briefcase in a holding room. Vinick and Bruno must make a difficult decision; Do they open the case and use its contents against the owner or take the high road and give it back to Santos? In the briefcase: evidence which suggests that the Congressman may be supporting an illegitimate child. Vinick asks to meet with Santos where the Congressman denies the allegation, stating that he was making up for the mistakes of his brother.
147	"Welcome to Wherever You Are"	Josh Singer	Matia Karrell	March 26, 2006
It's 5 days 'til the election -- Halloween -- and the Santos campaign's stress level rises as they kick off a whirlwind tour of battleground states, with Jon Bon Jovi along for the ride.[1] Among the crises of the day: Helen Santos makes provocative statements about ex-felons voting, Donna can't work out a sketch for the Tonight Show, Santos is irked that his security briefings are cut short, and Josh is receiving campaign tips from Toby -- who is himself facing a federal prosecutor that threatens new indictments which could derail the Santos campaign. Toby gets a brief respite from visits to the prosecutor's office to see his kids (Molly and Huck) and his ex-wife, Andi, who urges Toby to blame his late brother for the sake of their children.
148	"Election Day"	Lauren Schmidt	Mimi Leder	April 2, 2006
The episode opens late at night on the day before election day. Josh finally relaxes long enough to see various campaign staff hooking up, and he and Donna sleep together -- twice. Election day brings stress in both campaigns, Josh is convinced he is finding problems in exit poll data while the Vinick campaign worries the data shows them losing in key places. West Virginia is unexpectedly called for Vinick and the traditionally Republican South Carolina is called for Santos. The episode closes with Annabeth finding Leo in his room, her screaming for help, and Secret Service agents closing in calling over their radio, "He's down, he's down!"
149	"Election Day Part II"	Eli Attie & John Wells	Christopher Misiano	April 9, 2006
During an exhausting and adrenalin-filled night, the electoral votes come in as the Santos and Vinick campaigns wait anxiously. C.J. breaks Leo's death to President Bartlet, and the news hits the airwaves less than an hour before polls close on the West Coast. After Santos and Vinick win their home states of Texas and California, respectively, the two campaigns agonize over whether to mount legal challenges before final results are announced in Nevada and Oregon. In the end, both states break for Santos, who gives his election night speech as the new President-elect.
150	"Requiem"	Eli Attie & Debora Cahn & John Wells	Steve Shill	April 16, 2006
Leo's funeral brings back fond memories and old friends, including Amy Gardner, who urges Josh to consider appointing a Congresswoman from Florida Vice President; Ainsley Hayes, who approaches C.J. about a job in the Santos administration; Danny Concannon, who tries to rekindle his relationship with C.J.; and Bob Russell, who offers himself as a Vice Presidential prospect. Meanwhile, Santos and Josh clash over Barry Goodwin's place in the transition, Santos eyes numerous Speaker of the House candidates, and Bartlet and the staff reminisce about Leo in the Residence.
151	"Transition"	Peter Noah	Nelson McCormick	April 23, 2006
Josh's astoundingly hectic schedule begins to catch up to him, and friends and co-workers worry that if he doesn't take some time off very soon, he won't be able to function as chief of staff in the long run. Meanwhile, Josh has his hands full, acting as liaison between the President-Elect and the White House, and trying to staff the West Wing for the new administration. The top of his list is Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe), who is reluctant to leave his happy life working in the private sector. Meanwhile, Santos enrages C.J. by undermining Bartlet's military agenda with a phone call to the President of China, and Donna gives Josh an ultimatum to define their relationship.
152	"The Last Hurrah"	Lawrence O'Donnell, Jr.	Tim Matheson	April 30, 2006
The transition is speeding ahead, and Matt and Helen Santos are overwhelmed by almost everything about their new lives -- including Secret Service protection, choosing a DC school for their kids, and dealing with the White House household staff. Meanwhile, Vinick has too much time on his hands, and his staffers come to realize he's plotting another run for the presidency. Meanwhile, Santos is trying to figure out how to get his vice-presidential choice confirmed, and makes a surpising offer to Vinick: be the new administration's Secretary of State.
153	"Institutional Memory"	Debora Cahn	Lesli Linka Glatter	May 7, 2006
The episode is set two weeks before the inauguration and the Bartlet administration staff is preparing to leave the White House. Most are seeking jobs in the Santos administration or elsewhere. C.J. is offered two jobs she is interested in - one to manage a philanthropic foundation and one as a high-ranking counselor in the Santos administration. C.J.'s relationship with Danny is suffering because he feels she is not taking it seriously. C.J. also visits Toby for the first time since his resignation and considers whether she should urge President Bartlet to pardon him before leaving office. Will Bailey is offered a job with the DNC to help get Democrats elected but finds himself becoming interested in one apparently unwinnable Congressional seat in Oregon.
154	"Tomorrow"	John Wells	Christopher Misiano	May 14, 2006
(series finale) President Santos is inaugurated and President Bartlet leaves office. It is revealed that Santos plans to try and make Baker the vice-president (previously discussed as a possibility) through the Twenty-fifth Amendment and Bartlet pardons Toby in the last hours of his presidency.

[edit] External links

• The West Wing Episode Guide
• Bartlet4America.org Episode Guide
• The West Wing Unofficial Continuity Guide Episode Guide
• Political-Affairs.net Complete transcripts of every Josh & Donna scene throughout the entire series