The West Wing is arguably one of the best TV series of all time. On the fifteenth anniversary of the show being green-lit, the Hypable staff looks back at this dynamic series.
When it is well-written, TV has the power to influence, to motivate, and to inspire. Aaron Sorkin achieved this with his groundbreaking series The West Wing. Using the background of the fictional White House of the Bartlet administration, Sorkin wrote characters who were not one-note, political stereotypes spouting party platforms. The show aspired to demonstrate what might be achieved if partisanship and demonizing of the opposition wasn’t the norm of the day, and what a real examination of issues with intelligent debate might be. At the same time, the program showed that tremendous power can corrupt even the most altruistic, can lead to over confidence, and at times can have very unpredictable consequences.
One of the things that made The West Wing special, was that in its simplest terms, it was a character study. How would a diverse group of people who were both motivated to serve, and at the same time deeply flawed react in any given situation? Their triumphs and pitfalls made us love them and watch what they would do each week. They were the heroes we wanted to actually be in public service.
Take a look back with the Hypable team at some of our favorite characters and moments from the series.
Sam Seaborn
By Hypable Staff Writer: Laura Byrne-Cristiano
Deputy White House Communications Director: One of my very few disappointments in The West Wing is that the character of Sam Seaborn left after several seasons. It was a classic case of “creative differences” where Rob Lowe, who played Sam, left because he believed he’d have the starring role, and then the show morphed into more of an ensemble piece. Thankfully, he put aside his differences with the producers and returned the final season, this time as the future Chief of Staff.
Sam could sometimes be the pompous Princeton graduate, but his boy-next-door charm tempered it. At his best, he had a gift of language coupled, an appreciation of the ironic and sardonic humor that left many an opponent staring open-mouthed. At the very same time, Sam had an empathy for the underdog that was unmatched by the other characters. Sam was also one of the few people who could reign in Toby and Josh, who both outranked him, when they would have burned bridges to make a point. Eventually, they’d begrudgingly thank him for it. He could match wits and banter with President Bartlett and C.J. in exchanges that left them all smiling. To his credit, Sam could concede a point when he realized that he had been out-argued, and respect his opponent based on the merits of the argument. In the end, Sam’s best quality was his willingness to put aside personal differences and work to achieve goals.
Favorite Quote: “It’s not just about abortion, it’s about the next 20 years. In the ’20s and ’30s it was the role of government. ’50s and ’60s it was civil rights. The next two decades are going to be privacy. I’m talking about the Internet. I’m talking about cell phones. I’m talking about health records and who’s gay and who’s not. And moreover, in a country born on the will to be free, what could be more fundamental than this?” Sam Seaborn – stating in 1999 what the coming issues of the next 2 decades will be.
Favorite Scene/Episode: In season 2, episode 5, the character of Ainsley Hayes is introduced. After she is harassed by members of Sam’s staff for being a Republican who was just doing her job, he fires them based upon their actions. He doesn’t defend them simply because they are from the same political party and Ainsley isn’t.
Favorite Guest Star: Oliver Platt as White House Counsel Oliver Babbish brought a sense of humor and decisive action to the Oval Office. Oliver would vigorously defend the President, but at the same time let him know when he had crossed a line. He also wasn’t afraid to bend the rules a bit, like the time he smashed a recording device to smithereens when President Bartlett announced that he might have broken the law when he failed to disclose his medical issues.
Leo McGarry
By Hypable Staff Writer: Brittany Lovely
White House Chief of Staff: Whether he is arguing with the New York Times over the misspelling of foreign leaders’ names in the crossword, or working out rescue missions in the Situation Room, Leo McGarry, portrayed by the late John Spencer, made everyone wish they had a Chief of Staff to guide them through the ups and down of daily life. The definition of stoic, Leo’s battles with alcoholism and his prevailing relationship with work over his family are not detriments to his character, but rather help make him the man who fields the struggles of Josh, Toby, CJ, Sam, and even Margaret at times. His respect for the office of the President, and his calm, loyal, friendship with President Bartlet left an impression not only on viewers, but also on the men who served as Chief of Staff in Washington, D.C. Writing the immortal words, “Barlet for America” and “Let Bartlet be Bartlet” lit a fuse in every character close to the administration. Perhaps above all, Leo’s fatherly presence in the halls of the White House gave The West Wing soul.
Favorite Quote: President Josiah Bartlet: “Twenty-seven lawyers in the room. Anybody know “Post hoc, ergo propter hoc”? Josh?”
Josh Lyman: “Uh, uh, ‘post’ – after, after hoc, ‘ergo’ – therefore, ‘After hoc, therefore’ something else hoc.”
President Josiah Bartlet: “Thank you. Next?”
Josh Lyman: “Well, if I had gotten more credit on the 443…”
President Josiah Bartlet: “Leo?”
Leo McGarry: “After it therefore because of it.”
President Josiah Bartlet: “After it therefore because of it.” It means one thing follows the other, therefore it was caused by the other. But it’s not always true. In fact, it’s hardly ever true.”
Favorite Scene/Episode: In season 3, episode 16, Josh learns the painful lesson that it is never productive to feed the Internet trolls.
Favorite Guest Star: Timothy Busfield as Danny Concannon, the Washington Post White House Correspondent played an interesting role over the course of the 7 seasons. He had to maintain the integrity of his job while at the same time attempting to romance C.J. Cregg.
Toby Ziegler
By Hypable Staff Writer: Richard Reid
White House Communications Director: Toby is a sad, miserable bastard, and I love him for it. He’s often the sole voice of reason, of stability, and of annoyance to President Bartlet. He doesn’t suffer fools gladly, possesses a sharp political mind on par with Joshua Lyman, and is ridiculously self-righteous. Perhaps more importantly, he’s a realist. Never foolishly optimistic, he ensures Sam, the President and Josh to stay grounded and on track; Bartlett relies on Toby to tell him no, even if he doesn’t want to hear it.
One of The West Wing’s greatest blunders is when they brutally hacked Toby’s character in the final season, having him perform an action that was contrary to 6 years of character development. In spite of that, Toby’s loyalty to the President, to Sam, and to his political beliefs make him arguably the most patriotic character in the series.
Perhaps most enjoyable is his ruthlessly cutting wit, evident from the pilot episode. “I’m going to make a suggestion which might help you out, but I don’t want this gesture to be mistaken for an indication that I like you.”
Favorite Quote:“I don’t know from where you get the idea that taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for anything of which they disapprove. Lots of ’em don’t like tanks… even more don’t like Congress.” Toby Ziegler – reiterating why the allocation of NEA grants aren’t subject to public approval.
Favorite Scene/Episode: In season 1, episode 18, Toby has to put up with Mandy’s bizarre request for replacement pandas.
Favorite Guest Star: Ron Silver as Bruno Gianelli, the Campaign Manager for President Bartlet’s second term was wise, ruthless, and discreet. He is the master of reading the polls and giving the public what they need to hear for his candidate to win.
Jed Bartlet
By Hypable Staff Writer: Kristen Kranz
President of the United States: When a character is made, not just written, there’s a certain kind of magic in it, and that is illustrated no more adeptly than in Martin Sheen’s President Josiah Bartlet. Initially, the President was only going to appear in every 10 episodes or so on The West Wing, but after Sheen stomped into the pilot declaring, “I am the Lord your God thou shalt have no other gods before me” and established himself as the heart of the show, it was easy to see that his presence would raise the stakes every single episode. In order to tell the story of the West Wing staffers, they needed a force for good toward which to steer them all. President Bartlet was that force for them to rally around. He could play the benevolent leader, the staunch professor, the out-of-touch old man, or the dad with the awkward sense of humor in equal measure, and it gave The West Wing the backbone it needed to last seven beautiful seasons.
Favorite Quote:“More than any time in recent history, America’s destiny is not of our own choosing. We did not seek nor did we provoke an assault on our freedom and our way of life. We did not expect nor did we invite a confrontation with evil. Yet the true measure of a people’s strength is how they rise to master that moment when it does arrive. 44 people were killed a couple of hours ago at Kennison State University. Three swimmers from the men’s team were killed and two others are in critical condition. When, after having heard the explosion from their practice facility, they ran into the fire to help get people out. Ran *in* to the fire. The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels tonight. They’re our students and our teachers and our parents and our friends. The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels, but every time we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we’re reminded that that capacity may well be limitless. This is a time for American heroes. We will do what is hard. We will achieve what is great. This is a time for American heroes and we reach for the stars. God bless their memory, God bless you and God bless the United States of America. Thank you.” — After campaigning on the road in less than ideal circumstances in an area more Republican than Democratic in support, President Bartlet focuses his attention to a national crisis whose victims were not asked, “What party do you support?” before being slaughtered.
Favorite Scene/Episode: The scene from the pilot that leads into the introduction of President Bartlet is a classic. The scene is The West Wing in a nutshell. Toby is righteously indignant and deliciously grumpy. Josh is haughty and arrogant until the situation warrants his serious face. C.J. tries her best to keep this boys club in order and stop problems from escalating. The President comes in, commands the room, tells awkward jokes, and closes with a metaphorical slap in the face. If you want one scene to illustrate everything that makes this show great, this would be it.
Favorite Guest Star: Glenn Close as Evelyn Baker Lang and William Fichtner as Christopher Mulready make notable appearances in season 5. Whether you love or hate (or love to hate) the latter 3 seasons or not, there was occasional greatness, and these two guest stars are just one example of that greatness. Thank you Lang and Mulready for being incredible one-off characters that you just can’t seem to forget. There is a lot of talk about judges throughout the seven seasons of The West Wing, but none of the rest stand out like these two.
C. J. Cregg
By Hypable Staff Writer: Marama Whyte
Press Secretary/Chief of Staff: When appreciating characters, you simply can’t go past the infectious laughter and emotional depth that Allison Janney brought to C.J. “The Jackal” Cregg. But it was more than being funny and making us cry; Claudia Jean truly was the heart of The West Wing. Her compassion and passion was evident in everything she did, whether she was defending the President to hostile journalists, choosing a Thanksgiving turkey to pardon, or sacrificing her romantic happiness in order to not compromise her own journalistic ethics. She could hold her own in any situation, and was frequently the lone female voice in a male dominated workplace. C.J. didn’t always get it right, but she did always make you care.
Favorite Quote: “There were 36 homicides last night. 480 sexual assaults. 3411 robberies. 3685 aggravated assaults, all at gun point. And if anyone thinks those crimes could have been prevented if the victims themselves had been carrying guns, I only remind you that the President of the United States was shot last night while surrounded by the best-trained armed guards in the history of the world.” C.J.Cregg – facing the media after the President is shot. C.J. puts things in perspective for the White House Press Corps in one of her most important, and most memorable, press conferences.
Favorite Scene/Episode: In season 1, episode 18, C. J. wins the entire show with her lip syncing of “The Jackal.” Interestingly, this was added into the episode after Aaron Sorkin discovered that Allison Janney could lip sync the entire song.
Favorite Guest Star: Recurring guest star Emily Procter as Ainsley Hayes, amazing for being feminist and fabulous, unflinchingly standing up for her own (unpopular, at least in that building) beliefs, and never saying no to a cupcake.
Josh Lyman
By Hypable Staff Writer: Marama Whyte
White House Deputy Chief of Staff: If C.J. was the heart of The West Wing, then Josh was the soul. On the outside he was a pragmatist, but underneath that attack dog exterior was a slightly broken man searching for approval. Josh felt everything so deeply and so personally, and as a result, so did we. He made more than his share of mistakes; in fact he was often the most frustrating character. But try watching “In the Shadow of Two Gunmen” or “Noel” without crying your eyes out for him. This was in large part due to Bradley Whitford, whose show-stealing performance was one of the reasons the role of Josh was expanded, and became a focal part of the show. Of a cast of liberal idealists, Josh was perhaps the biggest dreamer of them all. It was no coincidence that after everyone else had left, Josh was still there, trying to change the world.
Favorite Quote:
Josh: “If you were in an accident, I wouldn’t stop for a beer.”
Donna: “If you were in an accident, I wouldn’t stop for red lights.”
Although Donna gets the punchline, this conversation absolutely sums up Josh and Donna’s relationship, which was a cornerstone for The West Wing, and Josh’s character.
Favorite Scene/Episode: As the Deputy Chief of Staff, Josh is given a special card from the NSA that tells him where to go if there is a nuclear attack. When Josh realizes that he has been singled out from the rest of the staff, who were not given a card, he decides that he can’t accept it and in one of his most moving speeches, gives it back to the President.