Inauguration, Part I

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

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 Teresa 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."

Errors

When the President is practicing his speech in the briefing room, the word "obliged" is misspelled as "abliged" on the teleprompter screen.

External links

• The West Wing Episode Guide