The Portland Trip

"The Portland Trip" is the 29th episode of The West Wing.

Plot

C.J. is made to join the President on a trip to Portland, Oregon after making a joke about Notre Dame. The President will be giving a speech on education when they arrive, and hopes to announce a major initiative, though he doesn't have a specific idea. Sam faces a serious bout of writers' block in spite of Toby's efforts to help him out, and asks C.J. to get back copies of his draft of the speech. Charlie suggests that the government offer tuition incentives in exchange for people teaching at an assigned public school. The President is enthralled, but reluctantly agrees that the funding for such a plan will be difficult to secure. Toby talks Sam out of using Mao Zedong's phrase "a permanent revolution" in the speech, but recommends to the President that they pursue a small pilot program based on Charlie's suggestion. The President glumly says it's "a start."

Josh spends the evening discussing an anti-gay marriage bill (similar to the actual 1996 Defense of Marriage Act) with a gay Republican congressman, and can't really understand how a gay man could throw his support behind a measure that says he's a lesser citizen of the U.S. The Congressman says that he agrees with most of the Republican agenda and doesn't have to base his entire life around his sexuality, but does show visible contempt when some GOP colleagues fawn over his efforts in support of the bill.

Margaret, Leo's secretary, is concerned that Leo will drink after being served with divorce papers. Leo says he doesn't need an excuse to drink but appreciates her concern. He spends his evening monitoring a situation in the Persian Gulf where an American oil company has been caught smuggling Iraqi petroleum for sale on the black market. After going through the military measures to stop the ship and the process of testing to determine its origin, Leo acknowledges that under the UN sanctions plan, the company will have to pay a fine but will be allowed to sell the oil. This means they will bring in revenues that far exceed the relatively small fine figures. The President is visibly irritated by his impotence with respect to both this issue and the education initiative.

Donna goes on a date in a dress she can't afford and plans to return the next day. She returns to the office after her terrible date, and Josh tells Donna that the dress looks good on her and she should keep it.

External links

• The West Wing Episode Guide