Matthew Vincente 'Matt' Santos is a fictional character on the American television show The West Wing, played by Jimmy Smits. His initial appearance is as a Democratic U.S. Representative from Houston, Texas. Actor Jimmy Smits as Democratic Presidential Nominee Matt Santos on NBCs The West Wing. Photo by NBC. This is a copyrighted image that has been released by a company or organisation to promote their works in the media. ... The presidential seal was first used in 1880 by President Rutherford B. Hayes and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. ... The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast from 1999 to 2006. ... The incumbent, in politics, is the current holder of a political office. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini era. ... Ed ONeill as Governor Eric Baker (D-PA). ... Leo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character played by John Spencer on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... Dr. Josiah Edward Jed Bartlet is a fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... Nickname: Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Country United States State Texas Counties Harris County Fort Bend County Montgomery County Incorporated June 5, 1837 Government  - Mayor Bill White Area  - City  601. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... Helen Santos (played by Teri Polo) is the fictional First Lady of the United States in the television drama The West Wing. ... FicTioNaL is a Gaming Legend. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... The West Wing is a popular and widely acclaimed American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin and produced and co-written by John Wells. ... Jimmy Smits as President Matt Santos on The West Wing. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... Seal of the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the Senate. ... Nickname: Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Country United States State Texas Counties Harris County Fort Bend County Montgomery County Incorporated June 5, 1837 Government  - Mayor Bill White Area  - City  601. ...

Personal life

Santos was born at St. Joseph's Hospital in Texas. One of seven children born to Luis and Marita Santos, he grew up in the Second Ward — the oldest Mexican-American neighborhood in Houston and home to six generations of the Santos family. Luis Santos was a barber, while Marita Santos was a domestic servant. When the city of Houston was founded in 1836 and incorporated in 1837, its founders—John Kirby Allen and Augustus Chapman Allen—divided it into political geographic districts called wards. ... A boy visiting a barber A barber (from the Latin barba, beard) is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, give shaves, and trim beards. ...

He has been married to Helen Santos (played by Teri Polo) for fifteen years and they have two young children, Peter and Miranda. Helen Santos (played by Teri Polo) is the fictional First Lady of the United States in the television drama The West Wing. ... Teri Polo Teri Polo (born Theresa Elizabeth Polo in Dover, Delaware on June 1, 1969) is an American actress best known for her role of Pamela Byrnes in the movie Meet the Parents (2000) and its sequel Meet the Fockers (2004). ...

The show has introduced some conflicting information with regard to Santos's age. In one episode, Josh Lyman remarks that, at 42, Santos is too young to retire from Congress. However, Santos himself later says that he was baptized 45 years ago. Santos presumably knows his age a little better than Josh did at the time he made that statement, which was before they began working together.

Santos attended the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, graduating at the top of his class; at Annapolis, he played football until he injured his knee. He was the first member of his family to attend and graduate from college. He was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, where he was qualified as a pilot. Santos flew missions as a combat pilot during the first Gulf War. Since retiring from active duty in 1993 he has served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and is in Annapolis, Maryland, near Washington D.C. The Academy often is referred to simply as Annapolis although naval officers normally refer to it in conversation... City nickname: Americas Sailing Capital Location in the state of Maryland Founded 1649 Mayor Ellen O. Moyer (Dem) Area  - Total  - Water 19. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... Combatants UN Coalition Republic of Iraq Commanders Norman Schwarzkopf, Michel Roquejeoffre , Peter de la Billière, Khalid bin Sultan, Saleh Al-Muhaya, Mohamed Hussein Tantawi Saddam Hussein Strength 883,863 360,000 Casualties 378 dead, 1,000 wounded see section below The Gulf War or the Persian Gulf War (2... The Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) (also known as the United States Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR)), a part of the United States Marine Corps, is the largest command in the Marine Corps. ...

Santos was elected to the Houston City Council in 1994, where he served for two years until his election as mayor in 1996. He served for four years as mayor where he opened four new health clinics to serve Houston's families. As mayor, Santos also created a new housing assistance program to make rent more affordable for the city's two million residents. Santos was then elected to the United States House of Representatives during the 2000 mid-term elections representing the 18th Congressional District and served for three terms. It was mentioned that during his third term as a congressman he had received a spot on the prestigious House Committee on Ways and Means. The Houston City Council is the a city council for the city of Houston, Texas. ... This is a list of people who have served as mayor of the city of Houston, Texas. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Seal of the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the Senate. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The current boundaries of Texas District 18. ... The Committee on Ways and Means is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. ...

Presidential campaign

Congressman Santos announcing his candidacy for the presidency.

Santos is first seen as a member of United States House of Representatives who is about to retire. However then Deputy White House Chief of Staff Josh Lyman convinces him to run for President of the United States, and becomes his campaign manager. He began his run for the Democratic nomination as a long-shot candidate with little name recognition or funding; polls showed him far behind the sitting Vice President Bob Russell and the former Vice President John Hoynes. However, as the primaries progressed, Santos rose to third place in most opinion polls. On the day before the California primary, Hoynes was engulfed in a sex scandal. He had already been forced to resign as President Josiah Bartlet's Vice President in a similar scandal two years before, and his further sexual imprompriety allowed Santos to receive the implicit endorsement of the Governor of California, helping him to win the primary in an upset victory. Image File history File linksMetadata Santosannouncement. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Santosannouncement. ... Seal of the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the Senate. ... The Deputy White House Chief of Staff is the top aide to the White House Chief of Staff, who is the senior aide to the President of the United States. ... Joshua Josh Lyman is a fictional character played by Bradley Whitford on the television drama The West Wing. ... The presidential seal was first used in 1880 by President Rutherford B. Hayes and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Counties/Parishes/Boroughs, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      The Vice President of the United States is the first in the presidential... Bob Russell, the former Vice President of the United States, was a fictional character played by Gary Cole on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... A vice president is an officer in government or business who is next in rank below a president. ... John Hoynes is a fictional character played by Tim Matheson on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Dr. Josiah Edward Jed Bartlet is a fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gray Davis with President George W. Bush (2003) Seal of the Governor of California (without the Roman numerals designating the governors sequence) See also: List of pre-statehood governors of California, List of Governors of California The Governor of California is the highest executive authority...

One of his major Presidential campaign platform planks is the reform of public education in the United States. Santos says the school year should be at least 240 days out of the year, in order for America to more effectively compete in the world marketplace. He also supports increased teacher accountability through decreasing teacher tenure. Look up tenure in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Picking up steam, Santos proceeded to win primaries in many more states. By the start of the Democratic National Convention, he had won enough delegates to virtually tie with the front-runner, Russell. Prior to the convention, Santos turned down Russell's offer of the vice-Presidential nomination and decided to try to win the top spot on the ticket. Featured at the Democratic National Convention are speeches by prominent party figures. ...

The Democratic Ticket: Santos-McGarry.

During the convention, Governor Eric Baker of Pennsylvania, who had previously decided against running for President and turned down Russell's offer of the vice-Presidential nomination, presented himself as a candidate from the floor, drawing delegate votes from all of the candidates and stretching the balloting to an unprecedented third day. When members of the Russell campaign revealed to the press that Baker had concealed his wife's history of clinical depression, he lost substantial delegate support. Image File history File linksMetadata Tww_dnc_2006. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Tww_dnc_2006. ... Ed ONeill as Governor Eric Baker (D-PA). ... Official language(s) English, Pennsylvania Dutch Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... Clinical depression (also called major depressive disorder, or sometimes unipolar when compared with bipolar disorder, which is sometimes called manic depression) is a state of intense sadness, melancholia or despair that has advanced to the point of being disruptive to an individuals social functioning and/or activities of daily...

Ordered by the convention organizer, former Secretary of Labor and former White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, to step aside in favor of either Baker or Russell, Santos was given a chance to address the convention with the understanding that it would be his farewell speech. The United States Secretary of Labor is the head of the United States Department of Labor. ... Joshua B. Bolten, the current White House Chief of Staff. ... Leo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character played by John Spencer on the television serial drama The West Wing. ...

Santos-McGarry ticket

Instead of withdrawing, however, Santos gave a rousing speech that swung the momentum in the balloting back to him. Thanks to the behind-the-scenes intervention of President Bartlet, who had decided to end the balloting before it further damaged the party's image, Santos received the support of a key New York teacher's union which had earlier spurned him because of his views on education. Santos clinched the nomination, choosing Leo McGarry as his vice-Presidential nominee. Image File history File links Mattsantos. ... Image File history File links Mattsantos. ... NY redirects here. ...

In the seventh season of the show, Congressman Santos and former Secretary McGarry ran against Senator Arnold Vinick of California, the Republican Party's Presidential nominee, and his running mate, Governor Ray Sullivan of West Virginia. Throughout the campaign, Santos and Vinick treat each other with mutual respect. (In the episode "King Corn," it is revealed that, two years before the election, Santos and Vinick co-sponsored an immigration reform bill that was defeated in committee on Capitol Hill.) Arnold Vinick was a fictional character on the television series The West Wing played by Alan Alda. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... The Republican Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic Party. ... Ray Sullivan is a fictional Republican governor of West Virginia, played by Brett Cullen. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Area  Ranked 41st  - Total 24,244 sq mi (62,809 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 240 miles (385 km)  - % water 0. ...

Presidential debate between Santos and Vinick.

In Santos's only debate with Vinick, both candidates agreed to ignore the rules their campaigns had laboriously agreed upon and instead have, in Vinick's words, "a real debate," without time limits on their responses. During the debate, Santos reiterated his commitment to greater federal involvement in public education, opposed oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, supported a moratorium on the federal death penalty, and pledged never to go to war for oil. He also explained that he had initially supported the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) on the Ways and Means Committee, but then voted against it when special interest amendments were attached. He also criticized Senator Vinick for relying too heavily on tax cuts to grow the economy. Perhaps his most surprising comment of the night, though, came when he said that he "wasn't crazy" about his health care plan, since it would not provide universal coverage, but it was the best he thought he could get through Congress. Image File history File linksMetadata Tww_live_debate1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Tww_live_debate1. ... The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) covers 19,049,236 acres (79,318 km²) in northeastern Alaska, in the North Slope region. ... Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is the execution of a convicted criminal by the state as punishment for crimes known as capital crimes or capital offences. ... The Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) is a free trade agreement between the United States and the Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras, and Canada, and Mexico. ... The Committee on Ways and Means is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. ...

After a nuclear plant accident in San Andreo, California, Santos picked up ground in several states after it was revealed that Vinick was key in authorizing construction of the nuclear plant in question. Several days later, national polls showed that Santos was tied with Vinick at 44%. San Andreo is a fictional city in California from the television series The West Wing. ...

Victory

President-elect Santos taking the oath of office.

Despite the death of his running mate Leo McGarry on election night, Santos was narrowly elected President of the United States after defeating Arnold Vinick in the Electoral College by a vote of 272-266. Santos carried his home state of Texas, while Vinick won his home state of California; Santos clinched the election by winning Nevada with a margin of 30,000 votes. Despite the strong urging of his senior campaign staff, Vinick chose not to contest the results and conceded the election. Santos later offered Vinick the position of Secretary of State in his administration. Vinick accepts the offer under the condition that he will be free to shape policy at the State Department without interference from Democratic Party political operatives. Image File history File linksMetadata SantosinauguralC.jpg Summary Source: FootnoteTV Licensing This image is a screenshot of a copyrighted television program or station ID. As such, the copyright for it is most likely owned by the company or corporation that produced it. ... Image File history File linksMetadata SantosinauguralC.jpg Summary Source: FootnoteTV Licensing This image is a screenshot of a copyrighted television program or station ID. As such, the copyright for it is most likely owned by the company or corporation that produced it. ... Leo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character played by John Spencer on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... The presidential seal was first used in 1880 by President Rutherford B. Hayes and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. ... Arnold Vinick was a fictional character on the television series The West Wing played by Alan Alda. ... An electoral college is a set of electors, who are empowered as a deliberative body to elect a candidate to a particular office. ... Official language(s) No Official Language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Seal of the United States Department of State. ...

The last few episodes of the series cover the end of the Bartlet administration and the transition to the new one. Santos's administration takes shape in advance of his inauguration, with Josh Lyman being appointed as his Chief of Staff. Lyman recruits his old friend and former White House Deputy Communications Director Sam Seaborn as his deputy. From the Santos-McGarry campaign come Louise Thornton as the new Director of Communications, Ronna Beckman as the President's personal secretary and Bram Howard as his personal aide, while Donna Moss and Annabeth Schott join the First Lady's Office as Chief of Staff and Press Secretary respectively. Amy Gardner is offered the post of Director of Legislative Affairs, whilst Ainsley Hayes puts her name forward for the post of White House Counsel. Santos indicates his wish to appoint Oliver Babish as Attorney General and Nancy McNally as Ambassador to the United Nations. His first choice for Vice President is Eric Baker, the Governor of Pennsylvania. Baker had been an early front-runner for the Democratic nomination in 2006 who dropped out before the New Hampshire primary, then staged a surprise comeback at the deadlocked convention before conceding to Santos. Santos decides to nominate Baker under the terms of the 25th Amendment once his term has begun, rather than submitting his name to the Electoral College for virtually automatic appointment. An inauguration is a ceremony of formal investiture whereby an individual assumes an office or position of authority or power. ... Samuel Norman Sam Seaborn, Deputy White House Chief of Staff in the Santos Administration and former Deputy White House Communications Director in the Bartlet Administration, is a fictional character played by Rob Lowe on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... Spoiler warning: Louise Thornton is a character in the NBC television series The West Wing portrayed by Janeane Garofalo. ... Ronna Beckman is a character in the NBC television series The West Wing. ... Donnatella Donna Moss is a fictional character played by Janel Moloney on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... Schott in The West Wing episode A Good Day (Season 6). ... Amelia Amy Gardner is the fictional Director of Legislative Affairs in the Matt Santos administration and a womens rights activist on The West Wing. ... Ainsley Hayes is a fictional character on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... Oliver Platt as The West Wings Oliver Babish Oliver Babish is a fictional character in the NBC television series The West Wing. ... Anna Deavere Smith as Nancy McNally in the episode The Women Of Qumar Dr. Nancy McNally is the fictional National Security Advisor to President Josiah Bartlet on the television series The West Wing, played by Anna Deavere Smith. ... Ed ONeill as Governor Eric Baker (D-PA). ... Official language(s) English, Pennsylvania Dutch Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... Amendment XXV (the Twenty-fifth Amendment) of the United States Constitution clarifies an ambiguous provision of the Constitution regarding succession to the Presidency, and established procedures both for filling a vacancy in the office of the Vice President as well as responding to Presidential disabilities. ... An electoral college is a set of electors, who are empowered as a deliberative body to elect a candidate to a particular office. ...

Trivia

[*]Jimmy Smits previously appeared with John Spencer, who played running mate Leo McGarry, in L.A. Law. John Spencer, born John Speshock (December 20, 1946 – December 16, 2005), was an American actor, best known for his role as Leo McGarry, the White House Chief of Staff on the television drama The West Wing. ... L.A. Law (1986 - 1994) was one of the most popular American television shows of the late 1980s and early 1990s. ...

See also

• The West Wing
• The West Wing presidential election, 2006
• List of characters on The West Wing
• List of politicians on The West Wing
• List of The West Wing episodes

The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast from 1999 to 2006. ... The West Wing title screen The U.S. presidential election of 2006 is a fictional event portrayed during the sixth and seventh seasons on the American television show The West Wing. ... The television series The West Wing is a political drama series which originated for broadcast on NBC. In addition to the main (regular) cast, there are numerous secondary characters who only appear periodically, and some characters who are only mentioned but never appeared. ... The following is a list of fictional political figures that have appeared or been mentioned in the television program The West Wing. ... The following is an episode list for the NBC serial drama television series The West Wing. ...

External links

• Official Campaign Website
• Candidate and issue analysis