NationMaster - Encyclopedia: The West Wing (television series)

The West Wing is a popular and widely acclaimed American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin. It was produced and in its later years co-written by John Wells. Sorkin left the show at the end of its fourth season. The series is set in the West Wing of a fictionalized White House, the location of the Oval Office and offices of presidential senior staff, during the Democratic administration of Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen). Image File history File links The West Wing Title Shot File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Serial is a term, originating in literature, for a format by which a story is told in contiguous installments in sequential issues of a single periodical publication. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into theatre. ... Aaron Benjamin Sorkin (born on June 9, 1961 in New York City) is a American screenwriter, producer and playwright. ... Alan Alda as Benjamin Franklin Hawkeye Pierce Alan Alda (born Alphonso Joseph DAbruzzo on January 28, 1936) is an Oscar-nominated American actor, writer, director and sometimes political activist. ... Stockard Channing press kit photo Stockard Channing (born Susan Antonia Williams Stockard on February 13, 1944) is an American actress. ... Kristin Chenoweth Kristin Chenoweth (born July 24, 1968) is an American soprano and actress. ... DulÃ© Hill as The West Wings Charlie Young. ... Allison Janney at a Red Carpet event Allison Brooks Janney, born November 19, 1960 in Dayton, Ohio, is an American actress, most famous for her portrayal of C.J. Cregg on the American television series The West Wing. ... Moira Kelly in The West Wing. ... Rob Lowe (2003) Robert Rob Hepler Lowe (born March 17, 1964) is an American actor who was a member of the Brat Pack. ... Joshua Malina Joshua Malina (born 17 January 1966) is a Jewish-American film and stage actor. ... Mary McCormack in The West Wing episode The Wedding Mary McCormack (born February 8, 1969 in Plainfield, New Jersey) is an American television and film actress. ... Janel Moloney at a rally for John Kerry in October 2004 in Fort Collins, Colorado Janel Moloney (born October 3, 1969) is an American actor, best known for her role as Donna Moss on The West Wing. ... Richard Schiff on the set of The West Wing as Toby Ziegler Richard Schiff (born May 27, 1955 in Bethesda, Maryland) is an American actor, best known for playing Toby Ziegler on the NBC television drama The West Wing, a role for which he has won an Emmy Award. ... Martin Sheen RamÃ³n Gerardo Antonio EstÃ©vez (born August 3, 1940), better known as Martin Sheen, is an American actor, best known for his roles in the film Apocalypse Now, and currently as President Josiah Bartlet on the television drama The West Wing. ... Jimmy Smits as President Matt Santos on The West Wing. ... John Spencer John Spencer, born John Speshock (December 20, 1946 â€“ December 16, 2005), was an American actor who was best known for his role as Leo McGarry, the White House Chief of Staff on the television drama The West Wing. ... Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman on The West Wing. ... NBC, the National Broadcasting Company, is an American television and radio network based in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ... September 22 is the 265th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (266th in leap years). ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (135th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... List of episodes of the television series The West Wing, with plot synopses. ... Serial is a term, originating in literature, for a format by which a story is told in contiguous installments in sequential issues of a single periodical publication. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into theatre. ... Aaron Benjamin Sorkin (born on June 9, 1961 in New York City) is a American screenwriter, producer and playwright. ... For other John Wells, see John Wells. ... The West Wing (in foreground). ... The southern side of the White House The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States of America. ... The Oval Office is the official office of the President of the United States, in the West Wing of the White House, built in 1909. ... The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... Look up Administration in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Josiah Edward Jed Bartlet is a fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... Martin Sheen RamÃ³n Gerardo Antonio EstÃ©vez (born August 3, 1940), better known as Martin Sheen, is an American actor, best known for his roles in the film Apocalypse Now, and currently as President Josiah Bartlet on the television drama The West Wing. ...

The West Wing was produced by Warner Bros. It first aired on NBC in 1999, and has been broadcast by many networks in other countries, including the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia. The series ended its seven year run on May 14, 2006. ^[1] The WB Shield, used from 2001 to late 2003. ... NBC, the National Broadcasting Company, is an American television and radio network based in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ... A television network is a distribution network for television content whereby a central operation provides programming for many television stations. ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (135th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The show received positive reviews from critics, political science professors, and former White House staffers. Overall, The West Wing has won two Golden Globe Awards and 24 Emmy Awards — winning the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series four times consecutively. ^[2] The show's popularity waned in later years, but it remained popular among high-income viewers, a key demographic for the show and its advertisers. ^[3] Political science is an academic and research discipline that deals with the theory and practice of politics and the description and analysis of political systems and political behavior. ... The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... An Emmy Award. ...

Cast

The West Wing employed a broad ensemble cast to portray the many positions involved in the daily work of the federal government. The President, the First Lady, and the President's senior staff and advisors form the core of this cast. Numerous secondary characters, appearing intermittently, complement storylines that generally revolve around this core group. 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, and have, as yet, never appeared. ... An ensemble cast is a cast in which the principal performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance in a dramatic production. ...

The following table summarizes the main cast. The position listed is the job that the character held in the first season, before any changes took place. Image File history File links West_wing_cast. ... Image File history File links West_wing_cast. ... DulÃ© Hill as The West Wings Charlie Young. ... Allison Janney at a Red Carpet event Allison Brooks Janney, born November 19, 1960 in Dayton, Ohio, is an American actress, most famous for her portrayal of C.J. Cregg on the American television series The West Wing. ... Richard Schiff on the set of The West Wing as Toby Ziegler Richard Schiff (born May 27, 1955 in Bethesda, Maryland) is an American actor, best known for playing Toby Ziegler on the NBC television drama The West Wing, a role for which he has won an Emmy Award. ... Janel Moloney at a rally for John Kerry in October 2004 in Fort Collins, Colorado Janel Moloney (born October 3, 1969) is an American actor, best known for her role as Donna Moss on The West Wing. ... Rob Lowe (2003) Robert Rob Hepler Lowe (born March 17, 1964) is an American actor who was a member of the Brat Pack. ... Stockard Channing press kit photo Stockard Channing (born Susan Antonia Williams Stockard on February 13, 1944) is an American actress. ... Martin Sheen RamÃ³n Gerardo Antonio EstÃ©vez (born August 3, 1940), better known as Martin Sheen, is an American actor, best known for his roles in the film Apocalypse Now, and currently as President Josiah Bartlet on the television drama The West Wing. ... John Spencer John Spencer, born John Speshock (December 20, 1946 â€“ December 16, 2005), was an American actor who was best known for his role as Leo McGarry, the White House Chief of Staff on the television drama The West Wing. ... Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman on The West Wing. ...

Additions to the cast following the first season include Joshua Malina as speech writer and campaign guru Will Bailey, Mary McCormack as deputy National Security Advisor Kate Harper, Kristin Chenoweth as communications advisor Annabeth Schott, Jimmy Smits as Texas Congressman Matt Santos, and Alan Alda as Senator Arnold Vinick of California. Stockard Channing press kit photo Stockard Channing (born Susan Antonia Williams Stockard on February 13, 1944) is an American actress. ... Abigail Abbey Bartlet, First Lady is a fictional character played by Stockard Channing on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... First Lady is an unoffical term that is sometimes applied to the female spouse of a male head of state or head of government. ... DulÃ© Hill as The West Wings Charlie Young. ... DulÃ© Hill as Charlie Young. ... A body man is, in American political jargon, a personal assistant to a politician or political candidate. ... Allison Janney at a Red Carpet event Allison Brooks Janney, born November 19, 1960 in Dayton, Ohio, is an American actress, most famous for her portrayal of C.J. Cregg on the American television series The West Wing. ... Claudia Jean C.J. Cregg, White House Chief of Staff (formerly Press Secretary) to Democratic President Josiah Bartlet, is a fictional character, played by Allison Janney on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... The White House Press Secretary is a senior White House official with a rank one step below Presidential Cabinet level. ... Moira Kelly in The West Wing. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... Madeline Mandy Hampton, White House media consultant is a fictional character played by Moira Kelly on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... Rob Lowe (2003) Robert Rob Hepler Lowe (born March 17, 1964) is an American actor who was a member of the Brat Pack. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Samuel Norman Sam Seaborn, Deputy White House Communications Director in the Bartlet Administration and Deputy White House Chief of Staff-designate in the Santos Administration, is a fictional character played by Rob Lowe on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... The White House Communications Director is responsible for developing and promoting the voice of the administration. ... Janel Moloney at a rally for John Kerry in October 2004 in Fort Collins, Colorado Janel Moloney (born October 3, 1969) is an American actor, best known for her role as Donna Moss on The West Wing. ... Janel Moloney as Donna Moss. ... Richard Schiff on the set of The West Wing as Toby Ziegler Richard Schiff (born May 27, 1955 in Bethesda, Maryland) is an American actor, best known for playing Toby Ziegler on the NBC television drama The West Wing, a role for which he has won an Emmy Award. ... Tobias Zachary Toby Ziegler, former White House Communications Director, is a fictional character played by Richard Schiff on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... The White House Communications Director is responsible for developing and promoting the voice of the administration. ... Martin Sheen RamÃ³n Gerardo Antonio EstÃ©vez (born August 3, 1940), better known as Martin Sheen, is an American actor, best known for his roles in the film Apocalypse Now, and currently as President Josiah Bartlet on the television drama The West Wing. ... Josiah Edward Jed Bartlet is a fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... The presidential seal was used by President Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ... John Spencer John Spencer, born John Speshock (December 20, 1946 â€“ December 16, 2005), was an American actor who was best known for his role as Leo McGarry, the White House Chief of Staff on the television drama The West Wing. ... John Spencer as Leo McGarry Leo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character played by the late actor John Spencer on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... It has been suggested that Assistant to the President of the United States be merged into this article or section. ... Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman on The West Wing. ... Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman. ... 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 Malina Joshua Malina (born 17 January 1966) is a Jewish-American film and stage actor. ... William Will Bailey, a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Oregons 4th District, and former White House Communications Director, is a fictional character played by Joshua Malina on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... Mary McCormack in The West Wing episode The Wedding Mary McCormack (born February 8, 1969 in Plainfield, New Jersey) is an American television and film actress. ... Mary McCormack as Kate Harper and Anna Deavere Smith as Dr. Nancy McNally. ... Kristin Chenoweth Kristin Chenoweth (born July 24, 1968) is an American soprano and actress. ... Schott in The West Wing episode A Good Day (Season 6). ... Jimmy Smits as President Matt Santos on The West Wing. ... Official language(s) See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area Ranked 2nd - Total 268,581 sq. ... A Congressman or Congresswoman (generically, Congressperson) is a politician who is a member of a Congress. ... Matthew Vincente Santos is a fictional character on the American television show The West Wing, played by Jimmy Smits. ... Alan Alda as Benjamin Franklin Hawkeye Pierce Alan Alda (born Alphonso Joseph DAbruzzo on January 28, 1936) is an Oscar-nominated American actor, writer, director and sometimes political activist. ... The United States Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress, smaller than the United States House of Representatives. ... Alan Alda as Arnold Vinick. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area Ranked 3rd - Total 158,302 sq. ...

Each of the principal actors made approximately $75,000 an episode, with Sheen's most recently confirmed salary being $300,000. ^[4]^[5] Rob Lowe also had a six-figure salary, reported to be $100,000, because his character originally was supposed to have a more central role. ^[6] Disparities in cast salaries led to very public contract disputes, particularly by Janney, Schiff, Spencer, and Whitford. During contract negotiations in 2001, the four were threatened with breach-of-contract suits by Warner Bros. However, by banding together, they were able to convince the studio to more than double their salaries. ^[4] Two years later, the four again demanded a doubling of their salaries, a few months after Warner Bros. had signed new licensing deals with NBC and Bravo. ^[7] Bravo is a cable television network owned by NBC Universal. ...

The show suffered an unexpected loss by the death of John Spencer, who played Leo McGarry. Spencer experienced a fatal heart attack on December 16, 2005 — about a year after his character experienced a nearly fatal heart attack. There was a memorial message from Martin Sheen before the first new episode after Spencer's death. The loss of Spencer's character, McGarry, was addressed by the series beginning with an episode which aired on April 2, 2006. December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Different performers had been originally considered for many of the roles. Bradley Whitford originally auditioned for the role of Sam and Janel Moloney for the role of C.J.. Other actors who had been seriously considered were Sidney Poitier for the President, Judd Hirsch for Leo, Eugene Levy for Toby, and CCH Pounder for C.J.^[8] Sidney Poitier Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE (born February 20, 1927) is a Bahamian-American actor. ... Judd Hirsch (born March 15, 1935 in The Bronx, New York) is an American actor, best known for playing the character Alex Reiger on the acclaimed television comedy series Taxi. ... Eugene Levy Eugene Levy (born December 17, 1946 in Hamilton, Ontario) is a Jewish-Canadian actor, television director, producer and writer who is best known for his work in Canadian television series and American movies and television series. ... CCH Pounder portrays fictional HUD secretary Deborah OLeary on the serial drama, The West Wing Carol Christine Hilaria Pounder (born on 25 December 1952 in Guyana) is a film and television actor. ...

Plot

The West Wing, like many serial dramas, stretches storylines over several episodes or entire seasons. In addition to these larger storylines, each episode also contains smaller arcs which usually begin and end within an episode. Plot synopses, both for individual episodes and overall seasons, are included with a list of The West Wing episodes. List of episodes of the television series The West Wing, with plot synopses. ... Image File history File links TVGuidewestwing. ... Image File history File links TVGuidewestwing. ... TV Guide is the name of two North American weekly magazines about television programming, one in the United States and one in Canada. ... List of episodes of the television series The West Wing, with plot synopses. ...

Most episodes follow President Bartlet and his staff through particular legislative or political issues. Plots can range from behind-closed-doors negotiating with Congress ("Five Votes Down") to personal issues like sex ("Pilot", "Take Out The Trash Day") and drugs (a major plotline throughout the first and second seasons). The typical episode loosely follow the president and his staff through their day. A large, fully connected set of the White House allows the producers to create shots with very few cuts and long continuous master shots of staff members walking and talking through the hallways, a show trademark. A master shot is a filmic recording of an entire scene, start to finish, from an angle that keeps all the players in view. ...

In the first season, the administration is entering its second year and is still having issues settling in and making ground on legislative issues. The second season brings scandal as the White House is rocked by allegations of criminal conduct and the President must decide whether he will run again. The third and fourth seasons take an in-depth look at the campaign trail and the specter of terrorism, foreign and domestic. In the fifth season, the president begins to see more issues on the foreign front, while at home he must face off with the newly elected Speaker of the House over the future of the federal budget. The sixth season chronicles the quest to replace Bartlet in the next election, following the primary campaign of several candidates from both parties. In the seventh season, the president must face a leak of confidential information from inside the White House, while the Democratic and Republican candidates battle to replace him in the general election. Dennis Hastert, the current Speaker, presiding from a chair in the front of the chamber. ...

Show's evolution

The series developed from the 1995 theatrical film The American President, for which Aaron Sorkin wrote the screenplay. Unused plot elements from the film inspired Sorkin to create The West Wing. Image File history File links Westwing_statedinner2. ... Image File history File links Westwing_statedinner2. ... Josiah Edward Jed Bartlet is a fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... Tobias Zachary Toby Ziegler, former White House Communications Director, is a fictional character played by Richard Schiff on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... Abigail Abbey Bartlet, First Lady is a fictional character played by Stockard Channing on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... Samuel Norman Sam Seaborn, Deputy White House Communications Director in the Bartlet Administration and Deputy White House Chief of Staff-designate in the Santos Administration, is a fictional character played by Rob Lowe on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... John Spencer as Leo McGarry Leo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character played by the late actor John Spencer on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: The American President (film) This article is about a movie. ... Aaron Benjamin Sorkin (born on June 9, 1961 in New York City) is a American screenwriter, producer and playwright. ...

Sorkin intended to center on Sam Seaborn, Bartlet's deputy communications director, with the president in an unseen or a secondary role. However, Bartlet's screen time gradually increased, and his role expanded as the series progressed. Positive critical and public reaction to Sheen's sometimes Clintonesque performance raised his character's profile, decreasing Lowe's perceived significance. This shift is one of the reasons for Lowe's eventual departure from the show.^[9] William Jefferson Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ...

For the first four seasons, Sorkin wrote almost every episode of the series, occasionally reusing plot elements, character names, and actors from his previous work, Sports Night — a show on which he also began to develop his signature dialogue style: rhythmic, snappy, intellectual banter. Fellow executive producer and director Thomas Schlamme developed the "walk and talk," a continuous shot tracking in front of the characters as they walk from one place to another that has became part of The West Wing's signature visual style. ^[10] Sorkin's hectic writing schedule often led to cost overruns and schedule slips ^[11], and he opted to leave the show after the fourth season, following increasing personal problems, including a very public arrest for possession of illegal drugs. Thomas Schlamme also left the show after the fourth season. Following their departure, many expected the show to shift from a liberal to more bipartisan footing. This article is about the fictional American television series. ... Thomas Schlamme (born May 22, 1950) is one of the leading directors of television. ... Thomas Schlamme (born May 22, 1950) is one of the leading directors of television. ...

The perceived switch of emphasis from Sorkin's dialogue-centric style of writing to John Wells' focus on plot-driven drama angered some of the show's fan base. Some disliked the switch so passionately that they actively campaigned for the series to be cancelled, citing Sorkin's departure as the sole cause of its "decline".^[12] However, many viewers continue to tune into The West Wing regularly, with the show consistently averaging eight million viewers a week at the close of its run. ^[13]

Critical reactions

The West Wing offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of America's most powerful address, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Many criticisms have been written concerning the show's legitimacy, political slant, and film merits. From http://www. ... From http://www. ... This article is about the former United States Vice President. ... Saturday Night Live (SNL) is a weekly late-night 90-minute comedy-variety show based in New York City which has been broadcast by NBC nearly every Saturday night since its debut on October 11, 1975. ... Motto: E pluribus unum (1789 to 1956) (Latin: Out of Many, One) In God We Trust (1956 to present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at federal level; English de facto Government â€¢ President â€¢ Vice President Federal Republic George... The southern side of the White House The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States of America. ...

Realism

The West Wing is not completely accurate in its portrayal of the actual West Wing because of the certain amount of melodrama that must be added to each episode to captivate viewers. ^[14] However, former White House staffers agree that the show "captures the feel [of the West Wing], shorn of a thousand undramatic details." ^[15]

Former White House Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers as well as expert pollster Patrick Caddell have served as consultants for the show since the beginning, helping writers and actors depict the West Wing accurately. Other former White House staffers, such as Peggy Noonan and Gene Sperling, have served as consultants for brief periods. The White House Press Secretary is a senior White House official with a rank one step below Presidential Cabinet level. ... Dee Dee Myers (born Margaret Jane Myers on 1 September 1961 in Providence, Rhode Island) served as White House Press Secretary for the first two years of the Clinton administration, from January 20, 1993 to December 22, 1994. ... Patrick Hayward Caddell (also Pat or Patrick H.) (born May 19, 1950, in Rock Hill, South Carolina) is an American public opinion pollster and a political film consultant. ... Peggy Noonan, on Hannity and Colmes. ... Gene B. Sperling is an American economist and political expert, currently serving as a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress. ...

A documentary special in the third season attempts to lend legitimacy to the show's depiction of the real West Wing. Many former West Wing denizens applauded the show's depiction of the real West Wing, including advisor David Gergen, Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove, and former Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton. David Richmond Gergen (born May 9, 1942) is a political consultant and presidential advisor during the Republican administrations of Nixon, Ford, and Reagan; he also was a campaign staffer for George H.W. Bushs 1980 presidential campaign. ... In several countries, Secretary of State is a senior government position. ... Henry Kissinger circa 1970s. ... Leon Edward Panetta (born June 28, 1938) is a former White House Chief of Staff to Bill Clinton, a former member of the United States House of Representatives, and the founder and director of the Panetta Institute. ... Karl Rove Karl Christian Rove (born December 25, 1950) is U.S. President George W. Bushs Deputy Chief of Staff, heading the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Public Liaison, and the Office of Strategic Initiatives at the White House. ... Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. ... For the submarine, see USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23). ... William Jefferson Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ...

Social impact

Despite acclaim for the veracity of the series, Sorkin believes, "My obligation isn't to the truth ... my obligation is to captivate you for however long I've asked for your attention." Former White House aide Matthew Miller notes that Sorkin "captivates viewers by making the human side of politics more real than life — or at least more real than the picture we get from the news." Miller also notes that by portraying politicians with empathy, the show has created a "subversive competitor" to the cynical views of politics in media.^[15] In the essay "The West Wing and the West Wing", author Myron Levine agrees, stating that the series "presents an essentially positive view of public service and a healthy corrective to anti-Washington stereotypes and public cynicism." ^[14]

Dr. Staci L. Beavers, associate professor of political science at California State University, San Marcos, wrote a short essay, The West Wing as a Pedagogical Tool, concerning the viability of The West Wing as a teaching tool. She concludes, "While the series’ purpose is for-profit entertainment, The West Wing presents great pedagogical potential." The West Wing, in her opinion, gives greater depth to the political process usually espoused only in stilted talking points on shows like Face the Nation and Meet the Press. However, the merits of a particular argument may be obscured by the viewer's opinion of the character. Beavers also notes that characters with opposing viewpoints are often set up to be "bad people" in the viewer's eyes. These characters are assigned undesirable characteristics having nothing to do with their political opinions, such as being romantically involved with a main character's love interest. In Beavers's opinion, a critical analysis of the show's political views can present a worthwhile learning experience to the viewer.^[16] Political science is an academic and research discipline that deals with the theory and practice of politics and the description and analysis of political systems and political behavior. ... California State University, San Marcos (also known as CSUSM or Cal State San Marcos) opened in 1990 as the 20th campus of the California State University system, the first new campus in nearly 30 years. ... Talking points are small arguments or phrases that political strategists issue to representatives or supporters of a party or administration to be used over and over again in speeches, talk show appearances and debates. ... Face The Nation logo Face the Nation is an American Sunday-morning interview show which premiered on CBS on November 7, 1954. ... Meet the Press (MTP) is a weekly television news show produced by NBC. It started as a radio show in 1945, as American Mercury Presents: Meet the Press, and was later adapted for television. ...

One of the stranger impacts of the show occurred on January 31, 2006, when The West Wing was said to have played a hand in defeating Tony Blair's government in the British House of Commons, during the so called "West Wing Plot".^[17] The plan was allegedly hatched after a Conservative Member of Parliament watched the episode, "A Good Day". January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953) is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service, and MP for Sedgefield. ... The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... The Conservative Party is one of the two largest political parties in the United Kingdom and the most successful party in political history based on election victories. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to a parliament; in the Westminster system, specifically to the lower house. ... List of episodes of the television series The West Wing, with plot synopses. ...

The Left Wing

The West Wing is sometimes called by detractors The Left Wing because of its portrayal of the ideal liberal administration. Some view the show as a revisionist look at the Clinton presidency: an attempt to solidify the Clinton legacy and to make America forget the Whitewater and Lewinsky scandals. ^[18] On the other hand, some Republicans have admired the show since its inception, regardless of the departure of Sorkin and the show's resulting shift toward the center.^[19] In his 2001 article "Real Liberals versus the West Wing", Mackubin Owens pointed out, In politics, left-wing, the political left or simply The Left are terms that refer to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism, social democracy or social liberalism, and defined in contradistinction to its polar opposite, the right. ... American liberalism is a political current of modern liberalism in the United States that is descended from classical liberalism in terms of devotion to individual liberty, but rejects absolute free-market economics in favor of an economic system in which the government intervenes where it considers freedom to be threatened... Revisionism is a word which has several meanings. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... TIME magazines special report. ...

Some praise the show for helping to bridge the gap between the left and the right in America. By showing Democratic views on issues and the debate surrounding them, the series has provided many Republicans with a useful insight to the views of the left.^[15] Image File history File links Cquote1. ... Quid pro quo (Latin for something for something, many times understood by English speakers as what for what or tit for tat) is used to mean, in the English speaking world, a favour for a favour (in other linguistic contexts, such as Portuguese and French, it means a misunderstanding, a... Image File history File links Cquote2. ... In politics, right-wing, the political right, or simply The Right, are terms that refer to the segment of the political spectrum often associated with any of several strains of conservatism, the religious right, and areas of classical liberalism, or simply the opposite of left-wing politics. ...

Film criticism

In its first season, The West Wing attracted critical attention in the film community with a record nine Emmy wins. The show has been praised for its high production values and continuously recognized for its cinematic achievements. ^[2] With a budget of $6 million per episode, many consider each week's show to be a small feature film. ^[21] However, many in the film community believe that the true genius of the show was Sorkin's rapid-fire and witty scripts. ^[22] Image File history File links Westwing_trackingshot. ... Image File history File links Westwing_trackingshot. ... Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman. ... Samuel Norman Sam Seaborn, Deputy White House Communications Director in the Bartlet Administration and Deputy White House Chief of Staff-designate in the Santos Administration, is a fictional character played by Rob Lowe on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... An Emmy Award. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

The West Wing is noted for its Steadicam tracking shots, long sequences showing staff members walking down hallways. In a typical tracking shot, the camera follows two characters down the halls as they converse, often referred to as pedeconferencing. One of these characters generally breaks off and the remaining character is joined by another character who initiates another conversation as they continue walking. These long shots allow the show to make long eloquent statements through many characters, despite the scripts's fractured dialogue. ^[23] To film this recreated Victorian London street scene, the cameraman next to the lamp post is using a steadicam and wearing the harness required to support it. ... In motion picture terminology, a tracking shot is the same as a dolly shot or a trucking shot--the camera is mounted on a wheeled platform that is pushed on rails while the picture is being taken. ...

While some critics often praise The West Wing for its writing, others fault the show for its unrealistic optimism in the face of all odds. ^[24] A large part of this criticism rises from the perceived naiveté of the characters. Television critic Heather Havrilesky asks "... how do you go from innocent millipede to White House staffer without becoming soiled or disillusioned by the dirty realities of politics along the way?" ^[25] However, many fans believe that the show's scripts have changed since Sorkin left the show in 2003. ^[12] Subclasses Helminthomorpha Penicillata Pentazonia Millipedes or millepedes (Class Diplopoda, previously also known as Chilognatha) are very elongated arthropods with cylindrical bodies that have two pairs of legs for each one of their 20 to 100 or more body segments (except for the first segment behind the head which does not...

Awards

In its first season, The West Wing garnered nine Emmys, a record for most won by a series in a single season. In addition the series has received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003, tying Hill Street Blues and L.A. Law for most won in this category. As of 2006, The West Wing ranks 8th all-time in number of Emmy Awards won by a series. The 52nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held Sunday, September 10, 2000. ... The 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held Sunday, September 22, 2002. ... // Outstanding Drama Series 24, Fox CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS Joan of Arcadia, CBS The Sopranos, HBO The West Wing, NBC Outstanding Comedy Series Arrested Development, Fox Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS Sex and the City, HBO Will & Grace, NBC Outstanding Mini-Series American Family, PBS Angels... Hill Street Blues was a serial police drama that first aired on NBC in 1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987. ... The L.A. Law opening title featured a personalized license plate mounted on a Jaguar. ... 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Nineteen individual Emmys have been awarded to writers, actors, and crew members. Stockard Channing received six Emmy nominations for her work on the show, the most received by any cast member. Allison Janney is the record holder for most wins by a cast member, with a total of four Emmys.

In addition to its Emmys, the show has won two Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, in 2000 and 2001, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Martin Sheen is the only cast member to have won a Golden Globe. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Movie award winners Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Benicio Del Toro, Traffic Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Julia Roberts, Erin Brockovich Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Albert Finney, Erin Brockovich Outstanding Performance by a Female... Movie award winners Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Russell Crowe, A Beautiful Mind Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Halle Berry, Monsters Ball Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Ian McKellen, The Lord of the Rings...

W.G. "Snuffy" Walden received an Emmy Award for Main Title Design in 2000 for "The West Wing Opening Theme". The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... W.G. Snuffy Walden is an accomplished composer for television shows, having scored Ellen, Roseanne, My So-Called Life, Sports Night, and The West Wing. ... The Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Design is an award for the best main title sequence of a television program. ...

Many cast members have been Emmy-nominated for their work on The West Wing but have not won, including Alan Alda, Dulé Hill, Rob Lowe, Janel Moloney and Mary-Louise Parker. Several people have also received Emmy nominations for guest starring on the show: Matthew Perry, Oliver Platt, Ron Silver, Tim Matheson, and Mark Harmon. Mary-Louise Parker as Amy Gardner in the West Wing Mary-Louise Parker (born August 2, 1964 in Fort Jackson, South Carolina) is an American actress whose work in theater and film has won her international acclaim. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Oliver Platt as The West Wings Oliver Babish Oliver Platt (born January 12, 1960 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian film and television actor. ... Ron Silver Ron Silver (born July 2, 1946 in New York City, New York) is an American movie and television actor, director, and producer. ... Tim Matheson, an American actor, was born Tim Matthieson on December 31, 1947, in Glendale, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. ... Mark Harmon Main title caption for Flamingo Road. ...

Exploration of real world issues

The West Wing often features extensive discussion of current or recent political issues. After the real-world election of Republican President George W. Bush in 2000, many wondered whether the liberal show could retain its relevance and topicality. However, by exploring many of the same issues facing the Bush administration from a Democratic point of view, the show continued to appeal to a broad audience of both Democrats and Republicans. Image File history File links Westwing_situation_room. ... Image File history File links Westwing_situation_room. ... White House Situation Room in March 2003. ... John Spencer as Leo McGarry Leo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character played by the late actor John Spencer on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... Josiah Edward Jed Bartlet is a fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States and a former governor of Texas. ...

The show gained notoriety in its second season when President Bartlet admonished fictional radio host Dr. Jenna Jacobs for her views regarding homosexuality at a private gathering at the White House. Dr. Jacobs is a caricature of radio personality Dr. Laura Schlessinger, who strongly disapproves of homosexuality. Many of the president's biblical references in his comments to Dr. Jacobs, which can be heard here, are thought to have come from a letter circulated online in early May 2000.^[26] The word homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings over time. ... Dr. Laura Schlessinger Laura Schlessinger (born January 16, 1947) is an American cultural and moral commentator, most known as host of the very popular Dr. Laura radio therapy call-in show. ... The Gutenberg Bible owned by the United States Library of Congress (Hebrew: ×ª× ×´×š tanakh, Greek: Î· Î’Î¯Î²Î»Î¿Ï‚ hÄ“ biblos) (sometimes The Holy Bible, The Book, Work of God, The Word, The Good Book or Scripture), from Greek (Ï„Î±) Î²Î¯Î²Î»Î¹Î±, (ta) biblia, (the) books, is the name used by Jews and Christians for their differing (and...

The Bartlet administration experienced a scandal during the second and third seasons that has been compared to the Monica Lewinsky affair.^[27] President Bartlet was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1992. The scandal centered around President Bartlet's nondisclosure of his illness to the electorate during the election. He is investigated by an opposition Congress for defrauding the public and eventually accepted a Congressional censure. Multiple sclerosis advocacy groups have praised the show for its accurate portrayal of the symptoms of MS and stressing that it is not fatal. The National MS Society commented: Monica Lewinsky as she appeared on the cover of her book, Monicas Story. Monica Lewinsky receives a hug from U.S. President Bill Clinton during a fundraising event in Washington, DC, October, 1996 Monica Samille Lewinsky (born July 23, 1973) is an American woman who was thrust into the... Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. ... The House of Representatives is the larger of two houses that make up the U.S. Congress, the other being the United States Senate. ... Censure is a process by which a formal reprimand is issued to an individual by an authoritative body. ...

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the start of the third season was postponed for a week, as were most American television premieres that year. A script for a special episode was quickly written and began filming on September 21. The episode "Isaac and Ishmael" aired on October 3 and addressed the sobering reality of terrorism in America and the wider world, albeit with no specific reference to September 11. While "Isaac and Ishmael" received mixed critical reviews, it illustrated the show's flexibility in addressing current events. The episode is not part of The West Wing continuity. Image File history File links Cquote1. ... Image File history File links Cquote2. ... The explosion resulting from the crashing of United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower. ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). ... October 3 is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... It has been suggested that Political terrorism be merged into this article or section. ... September 11 is the 254th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (255th in leap years). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

In the sixth and seventh seasons, The West Wing explores a leak of top-secret information by a senior staffer at the White House. This leak has been compared to the events surrounding the Valerie Plame affair.^[29]^[30] In the storyline, the International Space Station is damaged and can no longer produce oxygen for the astronauts to breathe. With other methods of rescue unavailable, the president is reminded of the existence of a top-secret military space shuttle. Following the president's inaction, the shuttle story is leaked to a White House reporter, Greg Brock (analogous to Judith Miller), who prints the story in the New York Times. Brock will not reveal his source and goes to jail for failing to do so, as did Miller. In order to stop the investigation, in which authorities suspect Chief of Staff C.J. Cregg, Toby Ziegler admits to leaking the information, and the President is forced to dismiss him. In comparison, the Plame affair is still under investigation, but charges have been brought against Lewis Libby, the vice president's chief of staff, who has since resigned. The Plame affair refers to the political controversy surrounding allegations by critics of the Bush administration that White House officials deliberately leaked Valerie Plameâ€™s identity as an undercover U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operative as political retaliation against her husband, retired ambassador Joseph C. Wilson. ... International Space Station insignia ISS Statistics Crew: 2 As of March 5, 2006 Perigee: 352. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series Nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 15. ... U.S. Space Shuttle astronaut Bruce McCandless II using a manned maneuvering unit (MMU) outside the Challenger in 1984. ... Judith Miller is the name of several people, including: an American journalist a French philosopher This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... I. Lewis Libby I. Lewis Scooter Libby Jr. ...

North Korea, officially the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK; Korean: Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk; Hangul: 조선민주주의인민공화국; Hanja: 朝鮮民主主義人民共和國), is a country in eastern Asia, covering the northern half of the peninsula of Korea. ... Brinkmanship is the practice, especially in international politics, of seeking advantage by creating the impression that one is willing and able to push a highly dangerous situation to the limit rather than to concede, e. ... The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view. ... The Minuteman Project Civil Defense Corps is a border security project started in April 2005 by a group of private American individuals to monitor the United Statesâ€“Mexico borders flow of illegal immigrants, although it has expanded to include the United States-Canada border as well. ... Main Lodge at Camp David during Nixon administration, February 9, 1971. ... The Middle East Peace Summit at Camp David of July 2000 took place between United States President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat. ... Genocide is defined by the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG) Article 2 as any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such: Killing members of the group; Causing... The country of Sudan The Darfur conflict is an ongoing conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan, mainly between the Janjaweed, a militia group recruited from local Arab tribes, and the non-Arab peoples of the region. ...

The West Wing universe

Sorkin, the show's creator, has noted in a DVD commentary track for the second season episode "18th and Potomac" that he has tried to avoid tying The West Wing to a specific period of time. Despite this, real years are occasionally mentioned, usually in the context of elections and President Bartlet's two-term administration. Image File history File links Westwing_actingpresident. ... Image File history File links Westwing_actingpresident. ... Dennis Hastert, the current Speaker, presiding from a chair in the front of the chamber. ... John Goodman as Glen Allen Walken. ... Acting President of the United States is a temporary office in the government of the United States, established under the auspices of the Constitution of the United States, particularly its 25th Amendment (ratified in 1967). ... The following is a partial list of all the fictional political figures that have appeared or been mentioned in the television program The West Wing. ... DVD-R writing/reading side DVD (also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is an optical disc storage media format that can be used for data storage, including movies with high video and sound quality. ... A major selling point of DVD video is that its storage capacity allows for a wide variety of extra features in addition to the feature film itself. ...

The September 11th attacks did not occur in The West Wing, but the country has entered into a variation of the War on Terrorism. The war began in the show's third season, when a plot to blow up the Golden Gate Bridge was uncovered; in response, the President ordered the assassination of terrorist leader Abdul Shareef. At the end of the fourth season, the conflict escalated when Zoey Bartlet (Elisabeth Moss), the president's youngest daughter, was kidnapped by Qumari extremists. The result of this kidnapping was the bombing of Qumar, a fictional terror-supporting and oil-rich Muslim Middle Eastern country. This storyline drew similarities to the real-world U.S. invasion of Afghanistan as well as U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia, as it brought the Middle East to the forefront of U.S. foreign relations and elevated terrorism as a serious threat in The West Wing universe. The War on Terrorism or War on Terror (officially the Global War on Terrorism or GWOT[1]) is a campaign by NATO governments and their allies with the stated goal of ending international terrorism by stopping those groups identified as terrorist groups, and ending state sponsorship of terrorism. ... The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening into the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. ... Elisabeth Moss as Zoey Bartlet in The West Wing episode Commencement (2003). ... American actress, Elisabeth Moss, in her role as Zoey Bartlet on The West Wing. ... Qumar is a fictional Middle Eastern country in the television show The West Wing. ... Nodding donkey pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Petroleum (from Greek petra â€“ rock and oleum â€“ oil), crude oil, sometimes colloquially called black gold, is a thick, dark brown or greenish liquid. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Combatants al-Qaeda, Taliban Northern Alliance, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, New Zealand, Italy, Germany Commanders Mohammed Omar Osama bin Laden Tommy Franks Mohammed Fahim Strength Casualties {{{notes}}} The United States invasion of Afghanistan occurred in October 2001, in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on...

Other recent historical events from the real world that are mentioned in The West Wing include the U.S. invasion of Grenada in 1983, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, the wreck of the Exxon Valdez, the Gulf War, U.S. military operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, and the 1998 Northern Ireland Good Friday Agreement. Exxon Valdez was the original name of an oil tanker owned by the former Exxon Corporation. ... Combatants U.S.-led coalition Iraq Commanders George H. W. Bush, Norman Schwarzkopf, Colin Powell Saddam Hussein, Ali Hassan Al-Majid, Hussein Kamel Strength 660,000 ~545,000 Casualties 345 dead, 1,000 wounded 25,000 - 100,000 dead, 100,000 - 300,000 wounded The 1991 Gulf War (also Persian... This article needs to be updated. ... Kyoto Protocol Opened for signature December 11, 1997 in Kyoto, Japan Entered into force February 16, 2005. ... Dieu et mon droit (motto) (French for God and my right)2 Northern Irelands location within the UK Main language English Other recognised languages Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Peter Hain MP Area - Total Ranked 4th... The Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement and, more rarely, as the Stormont Agreement) was signed in Belfast on April 10, 1998 by the British and Irish Governments and endorsed by most Northern Ireland political parties. ...

Domestic

Politicians, cabinet members, and Supreme Court justices are necessary to create a believable political drama. President Bartlet has made three appointments to the fictional Supreme Court and maintains a full cabinet, although the names and terms of all members have not been revealed. Some cabinet members, such as the Secretary of Defense, appear more often than others. The full presidential line of succession for the Bartlet administration, including all cabinet members, is also available. Seal of the United States Department of Defense The United States Secretary of Defense is the head of the United States Department of Defense, concerned with the armed services and The Secretary is appointed by the President with the approval of the Senate, and is a member of the Cabinet. ... The following is a partial list of all the fictional political figures that have appeared or been mentioned in the television program The West Wing. ...

Foreign

Several real-world leaders exist in the show's universe, but most foreign countries are given fictional rulers. Some persons from the real world mentioned in The West Wing include Muammar al-Qaddafi, Yasser Arafat, Fidel Castro, Queen Elizabeth II, and Osama bin Laden. However, when a peace accord was worked out between Israel and the Palestinian Authority at the start of the show's sixth season, the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority was Nizar Farad, not Arafat. Muammar Abu Minyar al-Qaddafi 1 â€” pronounced Gaddafi â€” (Arabic: Ù…Ø¹Ù…Ø± Ø§Ù„Ù‚Ø°Ø§ÙÙŠ ) (born c. ... Arafat redirects here; for the hill east of Mecca, see Mount Arafat Yasser Arafat (Arabic: ÙŠØ§Ø³Ø± Ø¹Ø±ÙØ§Øªâ€Ž) (August 24, 1929 â€“ November 11, 2004), born Mohammed Abdel-Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini (Ù…ØÙ…Ø¯ Ø¹Ø¨Ø¯ Ø§Ù„Ø±Ø¤ÙˆÙ Ø§Ù„Ù‚Ø¯ÙˆØ© Ø§Ù„ØØ³ÙŠÙ†ÙŠ) and also known by the kunya Abu `Ammar (Ø£Ø¨Ùˆ Ø¹Ù…Ù‘Ø§Ø±), was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (1969â€“2004); President of... Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born August 13, 1926) has been the head of Cuba since 1959, when he commanded the attack that overthrew Fulgencio Batista. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor) (born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen independent nations known as the Commonwealth Realms. ... Osama bin Laden UsÄmah bin Muhammad bin Awad bin LÄdin (Arabic: ; born March 10, 1957 [1], most commonly known as Osama bin Laden or Usama bin Laden (Ø£Ø³Ø§Ù…Ø© Ø¨Ù† Ù„Ø§Ø¯Ù†) is an Islamic fundamentalist, a primary founder of the al-Qaeda Islamic organization and a member of the immensely wealthy bin... The West Bank The Palestinian National Authority (PNA or PA) is a semi-autonomous state institution nominally governing the bulk of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (which it calls the Palestinian Territories). It was established as a part of Oslo accords between the PLO and Israel. ... The President of the Palestinian National Authority is the highest-ranking political position (equivalent to head of state) in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). ...

Entire countries are invented as composite pictures that epitomize many of the problems that plague real nations in certain areas of the world. Qumar, a terrorist-sponsoring Middle Eastern state is repeatedly a source of trouble for the Bartlet administration. According to maps on the show, Qumar appears to consist of a small part of southern Iran, including the important Strait of Hormuz. Elsewhere, Equatorial Kundu is an African nation blighted by AIDS and a civil war resembling the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Qumar is a fictional Middle Eastern country in the television show The West Wing. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... -1... The Republic of Equatorial Kundu is a fictional African country from the television series The West Wing, based on the real-life nation of Rwanda. ... Africa is the worlds second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia. ... The Red Ribbon is a symbol for solidarity with HIV-positive people and those living with AIDS. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS or Aids) is a collection of symptoms and infections in humans resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by infection with... The Rwandan Genocide was the slaughter of an estimated 800,000 [1] to 1,000,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus, mostly carried out by two extremist Hutu militia groups, the Interahamwe and the Impuzamugambi, during a period of 100 days from April 6th through mid-July 1994. ...

Presidential elections

Timeline skew

The passage of time on the show relative to that of the real world has always been somewhat ambiguous when marked by events of smaller duration (e.g., votes, campaigns), though each season occupied the equivilant of a year in the real world until Season 6. The show's presidential elections have been held in 2002 and 2006, setting them off by two years from actual presidential elections in the United States (e.g., 1996, 2000, 2004, etc.). Although, at one point, the timeline in The West Wing matched up with that of the real world, it appears that in the middle of the fifth season a year was lost. For example, the filing deadline for the New Hampshire primary, which would normally fall in January 2006, appeared in an episode airing in January 2005. The West Wing Title Screen In the American serial drama The West Wing, the timeline of the show differs from that of the real world, leading to many timeline skew theories for The West Wing. ... Image File history File links Westwing_recruit_josh. ... Image File history File links Westwing_recruit_josh. ... John Spencer as Leo McGarry Leo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character played by the late actor John Spencer on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman. ... See also New Hampshire Province of New Hampshire List of Colonial Governors of New Hampshire I am a doodlebug Categories: Lists of United States governors | Governors of New Hampshire ... Josiah Edward Jed Bartlet is a fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... The New Hampshire primary is the opening gun of the quadrennial U.S. presidential election. ...

In interviews John Wells stated that the series began one and a half years into Bartlet's first term and that the election to replace Bartlet was being held at the correct time.^[31] There is evidence against this claim, which is discussed further in the main article. The West Wing Title Screen In the American serial drama The West Wing, the timeline of the show differs from that of the real world, leading to many timeline skew theories for The West Wing. ...

1998 presidential election

Bartlet's first campaign for president has never been significantly explained in the series. Bartlet won the election with 48% of the popular vote, 48 million votes, and a 303–235 margin in the Electoral College. Bartlet faced three debates with his Republican opponent. It is believed that his opponent was the incumbent Republican Vice President, who had served under two term Republican President Owen Lassiter. There is, however, absolutely no evidence to support this claim. It is mentioned that Bartlet won the third and final debate and that this helped swing a close election in his favor. An electoral college is a set of electors who are empowered as a deliberative body to elect someone to a particular office. ... This article is about the modern United States Republican Party. ... Owen Lassiter was a fictional character on the television serial drama The West Wing. ...

The campaign for the Democratic nomination was extensively addressed. In the episodes "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen" and "Bartlet for America", flashbacks are used to tell how Bartlet defeated Texas Senator John Hoynes (Tim Matheson) and Washington Senator William Wiley for the Democratic nomination. The flashbacks also revealed how Leo McGarry persuaded Bartlet, who was then governor of New Hampshire, to run for president and how Bartlet ultimately selected John Hoynes as his choice as running mate. Tim Matheson as John Hoynes John Hoynes, former Vice President of the United States, is a fictional character played by Tim Matheson on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... Tim Matheson, an American actor, was born Tim Matthieson on December 31, 1947, in Glendale, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. ... This article deals with the U.S. state. ... Official language(s) English Capital Concord Largest city Manchester Area Ranked 46th - Total 9,359 sq. ...

2002 presidential election

The West Wing's 2002 presidential election pitted Bartlet and Vice President John Hoynes against Florida Governor Robert Ritchie (James Brolin) and his running mate, Jeff Heston. Bartlet was unopposed for renomination, while Ritchie, not originally expected to contend for the nomination, emerged from a field of seven other Republican candidates by appealing to the party's conservative base with simple, homey sound bites. Image File history File links Westwing_rockthevote. ... Image File history File links Westwing_rockthevote. ... Claudia Jean C.J. Cregg, White House Chief of Staff (formerly Press Secretary) to Democratic President Josiah Bartlet, is a fictional character, played by Allison Janney on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... Rock the Vote is a controversial non-profit organization, founded in 1990 in what the group claims was a response to a wave of attacks on freedom of speech and artistic expression. ... The West Wing title screen The West Wing presidential election in 2002 was a fictional event that took place on the television program The West Wing in the 2002 season, the programs fourth season. ... James Brolin James Brolin (born July 18, 1940) is a popular American television, film, character actor, producer and director who starred in three television series in a career that spanned four decades, such as Dr. Steven Kiley on Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969-1976), as Peter McDermott on Hotel (1983...

Bartlet's staff contemplated replacing Vice President John Hoynes on the ticket with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Percy Fitzwallace (John Amos), among others. After it was clear that Ritchie would be the Republican nominee, Bartlet dismissed the idea, declaring that he wanted Hoynes in the number two spot, "Because I could die." The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer of the United States military, and the principal military advisor to the President of the United States. ... Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. ... Admiral Percy Fitz Fitzwallace is the fictional Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the television series The West Wing, played by John Amos. ... John Amos as The West Wings Percy Fitzwallace John Amos (born December 27, 1939 in Newark, New Jersey, USA) is an American actor, perhaps best known for playing the character James Evans, Sr. ...

Throughout the season it was anticipated that the race would be close, but a stellar performance by Bartlet in the sole debate between the candidates gave Bartlet a landslide victory in both the popular and electoral vote.

2006 presidential election

A speed-up in The West Wing's timeline, in part due to the expiration of many cast members' contracts and a desire to continue the program with lower production costs, has resulted in the omission of the 2004 midterm elections and an election during the seventh season. The sixth season extensively detailed the Democratic and Republican primaries. The seventh season covers the lead-up to the general election, the election, and the transition to a new administration. The timeline will slow down to concentrate on the general election race. The election, normally held in November, took place across two episodes originally broadcast on April 2 and April 9, 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. ... Image File history File links John Spencer as Leo McGarry and Jimmy Smits as Matt Santos on NBCs The West Wing. ... Image File history File links John Spencer as Leo McGarry and Jimmy Smits as Matt Santos on NBCs The West Wing. ... Matthew Vincente Santos is a fictional character on the American television show The West Wing, played by Jimmy Smits. ... John Spencer as Leo McGarry Leo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character played by the late actor John Spencer on the television serial drama The West Wing. ... Featured at the Democratic National Convention are speeches by prominent party figures. ... April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ... April 9 is the 99th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (100th in leap years). ...

Congressman Matt Santos (D-TX) was nominated on the fourth ballot at the Democratic National Convention, staged as the sixth season finale. Santos was planning to leave Congress before being recruited to run for the presidency by Josh Lyman. Santos polled in the low single digits in the Iowa caucus and was virtually out of the running in the New Hampshire primary before a last-ditch direct television appeal vaulted him to a third-place finish with 19% of the vote. Following allusions during the Bartlet administration, Josh Lyman, Santos's campaign manager, convinced Leo McGarry to become Santos's running mate. However, John Spencer, the actor portraying Leo McGarry, died on December 16, 2005. Matthew Vincente Santos is a fictional character on the American television show The West Wing, played by Jimmy Smits. ... Official language(s) See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area Ranked 2nd - Total 268,581 sq. ... Featured at the Democratic National Convention are speeches by prominent party figures. ... Congress in Joint Session. ... Since 1976, the Iowa caucus has been the first indication of which candidate for President of the United States would win the nomination of his or her political party at that partys national convention. ... The New Hampshire primary is the opening gun of the quadrennial U.S. presidential election. ... John Spencer John Spencer, born John Speshock (December 20, 1946 â€“ December 16, 2005), was an American actor who was best known for his role as Leo McGarry, the White House Chief of Staff on the television drama The West Wing. ...

Senator Arnold Vinick (R-CA) (Alan Alda) secured the Republican nomination, defeating Glen Allen Walken (John Goodman) and the Reverend Don Butler (Don S. Davis), among others. Initially, Vinick wanted Butler to become his running mate. However, Butler did not want to be considered, citing the differences in their abortion rights views. Instead, West Virginia Governor Ray Sullivan (Brett Cullen) was chosen as Vinick's running mate. Vinick was portrayed throughout the sixth season as virtually unbeatable because of his popularity in California, a typically Democratic state, his moderate views, and his wide crossover appeal. Vinick, however, has faced difficulty with the pro-life members of his party as a pro-choice candidate, and criticism for his support of nuclear power. Alan Alda as Arnold Vinick. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area Ranked 3rd - Total 158,302 sq. ... Alan Alda as Benjamin Franklin Hawkeye Pierce Alan Alda (born Alphonso Joseph DAbruzzo on January 28, 1936) is an Oscar-nominated American actor, writer, director and sometimes political activist. ... John Goodman as Glen Allen Walken. ... John Goodman on NBCs The West Wing John Stephen Goodman (born June 20, 1952 in Affton, Missouri) is an American actor. ... The Reverend is an honorary prefix added to the names of Christian clergy and ministers. ... The Reverend Don Butler is a fictional conservative televangelist from Virginia, played by Don S. Davis. ... Don Sinclair Davis (born August 4, 1942) in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri, is an American actor. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Area Ranked 41st - Total 24,244 sq. ... Ray Sullivan is a fictional Republican governor of West Virginia, played by Brett Cullen. ... Brett Cullen was born August 26, 1956 in Houston, Texas. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area Ranked 3rd - Total 158,302 sq. ... It has been suggested that Anti-abortion movement be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Anti-abortion movement be merged into this article or section. ...

On the evening of the election, Leo McGarry suffered a massive heart attack and was pronounced dead at the hospital, with the polls still open on the West Coast. The Santos campaign released the information immediately, while Arnold Vinick refused to use Leo's death as a "stepstool" to the presidency. Santos emerged as the winner in his homestate of Texas, while Vinick won his homestate of California. The election came down to Nevada, where both candidates needed a victory to secure the presidency. Vinick had told his staff repeatedly that he would not allow his campaign to demand a recount of the votes if Santos was declared the winner. Josh Lyman was seen giving Santos the same advice, although the Santos campaign did send a team of lawyers down to Nevada. Matthew Vincente Santos was pronounced the winner of the election, having won Nevada by 70,000 votes, with an electoral margin of 272–266. A myocardial infarction occurs when an atherosclerotic plaque slowly builds up in the inner lining of a coronary artery and then suddenly ruptures, totally occluding the artery and preventing blood flow downstream. ... The West Coast States. ... Alan Alda as Arnold Vinick. ... Official language(s) See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area Ranked 2nd - Total 268,581 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area Ranked 3rd - Total 158,302 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Largest city Carson City Las Vegas Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 7th 110,567 sq mi 286,367 kmÂ² 322 miles 519 km 490 miles 788 km 0. ...

Santos organizes his administration, choosing Josh Lyman as Chief of Staff, who in turn called on former colleague Sam Seaborn for Deputy Chief. In need of experienced cabinet members, Santos tapped Arnold Vinick as Secretary of State, believing the senior stateman to be one of the best strategists available and respected by foreign leaders. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. ...

President Bartlet's final act as President of the United States was to pardon Toby Ziegler. The series ends with Bartlet returning to New Hampshire, having said his good-byes to his closest staff, and telling the new president to "make me proud".

It was recently revealed that Vinick was originally slated to win the election. According to executive producer Lawrence O'Donnell, the death of Spencer forced him and his colleagues to consider the taxing of emotions that would come from having Santos lose both his running mate, and the election. It was eventually decided that the last episodes would be rescripted by John Wells, executive producer of ER and The West Wing. ^[32] For other John Wells, see John Wells. ... ER is a long-running serial drama created by novelist Michael Crichton and set primarily in the emergency room of County General Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. ...

Contents

Cast

Plot

Show's evolution

Critical reactions

Realism

Social impact

The Left Wing

Film criticism

Awards

Exploration of real world issues

The West Wing universe

Domestic

Foreign

Presidential elections

Timeline skew

1998 presidential election

2002 presidential election

2006 presidential election

See also

References

External links

Contents

Cast GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Plot

Show's evolution

Critical reactions

Realism

Social impact

The Left Wing

Film criticism

Awards

Exploration of real world issues

The West Wing universe

Domestic

Foreign

Presidential elections

Timeline skew

1998 presidential election

2002 presidential election

2006 presidential election

See also

References

External links

Cast