King Corn (The West Wing)
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| “King Corn” | |
|---|---|
| The West Wing episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 6 Episode 123 |
| Written by | John Wells |
| Directed by | Alex Graves |
| Guest stars | Gary Cole Teri Polo Patricia Richardson Stephen Root Karis Campbell Evan Arnold Jay Paulson Miriam Shor Chris Coppola |
| Production no. | 2T5013 |
| Original airdate | January 26, 2005 |
| Season 6 episodes | |
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| List of The West Wing episodes | |
"King Corn" is episode 123 of The West Wing.
[edit] Plot
The episode is related from three different viewpoints that roll forward from exactly the same moment, the 5:45 wake up call they receive from the hotel. The stories are, in order: Donna (the Russell campaigner); Josh (the Santos campaign), and finally Vinick (his own campaign). The background news involves a chemical fire and explosion in Louisiana and the upcoming execution of a woman in Turkey for committing adultery.
The presidential candidates journey to Iowa. Donna goes out to the rural areas where she finds a number of odd characters who are on the official Iowa caucus ballots. Will Bailey gets to see more of Bob Russell up close and doesn't seem that impressed. Democrats Russell and Santos, and Republican Vinick, do share one feature of the day: they're 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. Though Russell and Santos choose to publicly support the subsidies, Vinick chooses to be honest and tells the farmers that ethanol is a bad bet. The theme of Santos torn between what he believes and what he should say continues in this episode. In a scene between him and Vinick it is evident he admires the stand the Republican made (it's also revealed that the two men like and respect each other, and once worked together on an immigration bill that died in committee). Finally, though, Josh thinks Santos is able to see the "bigger picture", although his wife is evidently annoyed at his volte face.
Josh and Donna are staying in the same hotel, in opposite rooms, and each are finding it very difficult to keep away from the old, easy intimacy they both shared. Josh nearly knocks on Donna's door at the very end of the day but hesitates and then walks back to his room.
