Inauguration, Part I

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“Inauguration Part I”
The West Wing episode

Episode no.	Season 4 Episode 79
Written by	Aaron Sorkin (teleplay) Michael Oates Palmer & William Sind (story)
Directed by	Christopher Misiano
Guest stars	Timothy Busfield Granville Van Dusen Danica McKellar Steve Ryan Victor McCay Thomas Kopache Gibby Brand Faran Tahir John Cothran, Jr.
Production no.	175314
Original airdate	February 5, 2003
Season 4 episodes
20 Hours in America, Part I 20 Hours in America, Part II College Kids The Red Mass Debate Camp Game On Election Night Process Stories Swiss Diplomacy Arctic Radar Holy Night Guns Not Butter The Long Goodbye Inauguration, Part I Inauguration Over There The California 47th Red Haven's on Fire Privateers Angel Maintenance Evidence of Things Not Seen Life on Mars Commencement Twenty Five
List of The West Wing episodes

"Inauguration Part I" is episode 79 of The West Wing.

[edit] Plot

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 digging on the Shareef matter is getting on C.J.'s nerves; and Charlie's having difficulty finding a Bible for Bartlet to use at the inauguration.

A subplot in this episode involves reports of strange behavior of the Chief Justice (who is neither explicitly named nor shown in this episode). The Chief Justice wrote at least two opinions partially in verse (a cinquain) and is rumored to have called for the use of powdered wigs for the Justices. This subplot is followed up later in the 5th season when Chief Justice Ashland was introduced and shown to be slowly going senile, eventually leading to his stepping down in favor of Evelyn Baker Lang in "The Supremes."