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114-569: Josiah Edward " Jed " Bartlet is a fictional character from the American television serial drama The West Wing created by Aaron Sorkin and portrayed by actor Martin Sheen . The role earned Sheen a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama in 2001, as well as two SAG Awards . Bartlet's tenure as a fictional Democratic President of the United States is a preeminent aspect of

228-480: A story editor throughout the first season. Lawrence O'Donnell worked as executive story editor for the second half of the season. With the second season, Kevin Falls became a co-executive producer. Cleveland left the production team and Redford and O'Donnell were promoted to co-producer. Peter Parnell and Patrick Caddell became co-producers and Julie Herlocker and Mindy Kanaskie became associate producers. O'Donnell

342-501: A 303–235 margin in the Electoral College . He is sworn into his first term on January 20, 1999. Bartlet's accomplishments as president include appointing the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice and first female Chief Justice , negotiating a peace settlement between Israel and Palestine , creating millions of new jobs, providing strong support for alternative energy, and orchestrating a Social Security reform plan (although it

456-424: A Virtual "Big Block of Cheese day", on January 29, 2014. The event was promoted with a video featuring stars from The West Wing . The event was repeated on January 21, 2015, again promoted by stars from the show. On April 29, 2016, Allison Janney appeared in character as C.J. Cregg during a White House press briefing. Despite its commercial and critical success, The West Wing has also received criticism from

570-525: A critical analysis of the show's political views can present a worthwhile learning experience to the viewer. While it aired, The West Wing offered viewers an idealist liberal administration that provided a sort of catharsis to those on the left who felt that their political beliefs were largely forgotten or ignored in the era of the Bush administration. Writer Hédi Kaddour remarked that The West Wing "show[ed] what [liberals] would have liked to have seen and had:

684-535: A deal for Sunday Night Football to return to the network in the fall of 2006), and the series finale aired on May 14, 2006. The West Wing took a large ratings hit with the move, which put it up against ABC 's Top 20 hit Extreme Makeover: Home Edition , and CBS ' Top 30 hit Cold Case in its timeslot. The show's legitimacy, political slant, and idealist representations of Washington, as well as its notable writing and film merits, have generated considerable discussion. In 2011, The New York Times reported

798-496: A different American administration, closer to our desires as people more or less on the left." One of the stranger effects of the show occurred on January 31, 2006, when The West Wing was said to have played a hand in defeating a proposal backed by Tony Blair 's government in the British House of Commons , during the so-called " West Wing Plot". The plan was allegedly hatched after a Conservative Member of Parliament watched

912-705: A discussion with writer Eli Attie at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics . In 2016, Sorkin and the cast reunited to mark the 10th anniversary of the show's finale at the ATX Festival . In 2021, cast members reunited virtually as part of the Stars in the House series. In 2024, the Paley Center for Media in New York hosted an exhibition marking the 25th anniversary of

1026-401: A few hours), Josh Lyman is critically injured. It is eventually discovered that the shooters were white supremacists from West Virginia and that his bodyman Charlie Young was the intended target of the assassination attempt, not Bartlet himself. In the second-season finale, " Two Cathedrals ," Bartlet announces to the country that he suffers from multiple sclerosis , and has been keeping it

1140-453: A flash forward during season seven, before the election. West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin briefly revived the character for Maureen Dowd 's September 20, 2008 New York Times column, where he scripted a hypothetical meeting between Bartlet and then-Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama . He did the same after Obama's first debate against Mitt Romney in 2012. The West Wing ' s portrayal of multiple sclerosis through Bartlet

1254-529: A full-blown conflict over oil in Kazakhstan , and this becomes a key issue in the 2006 presidential campaign to succeed him. President Bartlet shows the most affection among his staffers to Josh Lyman , C.J. Cregg , and Sam Seaborn . He predicts that Sam will one day run for president and expresses his faith in Sam's capability. While he clearly respects Toby Ziegler , the two are prone to clash, usually when Toby feels

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1368-404: A genuine goodness in people," and his "'Aw, Dad' sense of humor." In the middle of the show's first season, it is revealed that Bartlet has multiple sclerosis . According to Sorkin, this was not planned; the plot came about because he wanted to write an episode in which the president was in bed watching a soap opera and the audience discovered that the first lady was a physician . "When I wrote

1482-405: A particular argument may be obscured by the viewer's opinion of the character. Beavers also noted that characters with opposing viewpoints were often set up to be "bad people" in the viewer's eyes. These characters were 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' opinion,

1596-470: A record for most won by a series in its first season. In addition, the series received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 2000 , 2001 , 2002 , and 2003 , tying Hill Street Blues , L.A. Law , Mad Men and Game of Thrones for most won in this category. Each of its seven seasons earned a nomination for the award. With its 26 total awards, The West Wing tied with Hill Street Blues as

1710-452: A second term as president. Bartlet puts his hands in his pockets, looks away, and smiles, indicating his intention to seek re-election. Aaron Sorkin was inspired to write the death of Mrs. Landingham into the show after Kathryn Joosten told him that she had auditioned for a role in a pilot episode for another series (CBS's Joan of Arcadia ). Sorkin explained how he opted to "embrace the problem rather than just sweeping it away", and find

1824-547: A secret, although this had previously been revealed to the show's audience in the first-season episode " He Shall, from Time to Time... " This leads to an investigation of Bartlet's administration by a special prosecutor and by the United States House of Representatives , a storyline which dominates much of the show's third season. Eventually, Bartlet accepts a censure from Congress, which settles all investigations against him. While Bartlet's campaign efforts are damaged by

1938-503: A short essay, " The West Wing as a Pedagogical Tool". She concluded, "While the series' purpose is for-profit entertainment, The West Wing presents great pedagogical potential." The West Wing , in her opinion, gave greater depth to the political process usually espoused only in stilted talking points on shows like Face the Nation and Meet the Press . However, she noted that the merits of

2052-536: A show of loyalty to the President. C. J. Cregg ( Allison Janney ) gathers reporters from several news agencies in her office to 'leak' information about the President's disease. Josh Lyman ( Bradley Whitford ) gives her a brief for a press briefing about an ongoing tobacco lawsuit, but she tells him that with the story the President is about to reveal, even news about an ongoing diplomatic situation in Haiti will be ignored by

2166-574: A supervising producer. Hissrich returned to his role as producer for the final season. Multiple story arcs on The West Wing span several episodes and entire seasons. In addition to these long-running narratives, each episode contains smaller storylines that usually begin and end within a single episode. Most episodes follow President Bartlet and his staff through particular legislative or political issues. Plots can range from behind-closed-doors negotiating with Congress to personal problems like post-traumatic stress disorder, from which Josh suffers during

2280-487: A trademark of the show. The final two seasons presented a narrative change, with the focus of the show divided between plots in the West Wing with President Bartlet and his remaining senior staffers and plots revolving around the rest of the main cast on the campaign trail for the 2006 election . The series was developed following the success of the 1995 theatrical film The American President , for which Aaron Sorkin wrote

2394-505: A trip to Gaza . Eventually, after intense negotiations at Camp David between the Israelis and the Palestinians , Bartlet manages to secure a peace agreement but at a great cost, firing his chief of staff Leo McGarry in a disagreement over the conflict. McGarry has a heart attack but later returns to work as Special Counsellor to the President. CJ Cregg succeeds him as chief of staff. On

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2508-509: A trip to China, Bartlet is left temporarily paralyzed by an attack of multiple sclerosis. As a result, he briefly uses a wheelchair but soon recovers although he is left somewhat weakened by the attack. After seeing Congressman Matt Santos' stirring speech at the Democratic National Convention , Bartlet has a chat with a New York Democratic leader who had previously refused to support Santos due to concerns over education policy;

2622-510: A typical "walk-and-talk" shot, the camera leads two characters down a hallway as they speak to each other. One of these characters generally breaks off and the remaining character is then joined by another character, who initiates another conversation as they continue walking. These "walk-and-talks" create a dynamic feel for what would otherwise be long expository dialogue, and have become a staple for dialogue-intensive television show scenes. In its first season, The West Wing garnered nine Emmys,

2736-559: Is 12 in the pilot (although she is shown as and is referenced as being much younger in later episodes), and Gus, who is about 5 in the fifth season. It is also revealed in the seventh season that middle daughter Ellie is pregnant with Bartlet's third grandchild. He is depicted as a stern but very loving and indulgent father, in contrast to his own father, who (as is seen in flashbacks) was cold and physically abusive. President Bartlet also has paternal feelings towards members of his staff, referring to Charlie Young (his personal aide, with whom he

2850-441: Is beset by memories of Mrs. Landingham as her funeral approaches. Meanwhile, the staff deals with a crisis in Haiti and questions from congressional Democrats regarding Bartlet's health, following his disclosure that he has multiple sclerosis (MS). "Two Cathedrals" is widely considered to be one of the greatest episodes of The West Wing and one of the best episodes in television history. Leo McGarry ( John Spencer )

2964-539: Is especially close, denoted by the gift of the Bartlet family carving knife made by Paul Revere ) and Josh Lyman (his deputy chief of staff) as his sons, and telling C.J. Cregg (his press secretary and later chief of staff ) that she is part of his family. Bartlet suffers from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis , which at one time puts the future of his presidency in doubt. He and his wife concealed his illness during his initial presidential run and would not disclose

3078-539: Is good for. For reasons presumably tied to his own lack of military service, he is somewhat intimidated by acid-tongued Secretary of Defense Miles Hutchinson and deferential to respected Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Percy Fitzwallace. Bartlet is shot in the first season cliffhanger finale " What Kind of Day Has It Been ". While it is revealed in the season 2 opening episode that his wounds are not serious (quick medical intervention having him on his feet within

3192-557: Is missing, President Bartlet fears he is incapable of maintaining the necessary dispassion while his daughter is in such danger and invokes Section 3 of the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution , declaring himself incapacitated and transferring the powers of the presidency to the next person in the presidential line of succession . Due to the resignation a few days earlier of Vice President Hoynes,

3306-640: Is never made clear whether the plan is passed by the United States Congress , the show indicates that a revolutionary agreement is achieved with bi-partisan support). He does, however, express regret at his inability to balance the budget in his eight years in the White House. Bartlet does not shy away from using the military when he feels it is necessary during his eight years in the White House , and deals with major foreign policy crises in various parts of

3420-450: Is talking to two Democrats who are convinced that the White House's cover-up of President Bartlet's multiple sclerosis will be a significant obstacle for Democrats in the House seeking re-election. They ask whether the President will seek re-election, but Leo only says that there will be a press conference that night, and that they should watch. Toby Ziegler ( Richard Schiff ) is preparing

3534-416: Is that he adopted his mother's religion." Sorkin said that Bartlet's tirade against God in the episode " Two Cathedrals " is therefore directed just as much at Bartlet's own father as it is at God. However, when his father's unkind and sometimes abusive treatment of him is mentioned by Toby Ziegler , Bartlet attempts to defend his father. Though he is long dead, Toby suggests that Bartlet is still trying to get

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3648-492: Is the author of a book entitled Theory and Practice of Macroeconomics in Developing Countries , and his research in economics is described as being focused on the developing world . Bartlet's wife, Abigail Bartlet , is a thoracic surgeon and they have three daughters: Elizabeth Anne Westin, Eleanor Emily Bartlet , and Zoey Patricia Bartlet . There are two grandchildren from his oldest daughter, Elizabeth: Annie, who

3762-632: Is the name of the Times ' medical correspondent, who for decades reported on the health of presidents and vice presidents. Lawrence O'Donnell , a writer and producer on The West Wing , was cast as Bartlet's father after impressing Sorkin and Schlamme during a read-through for the episode. Jane Lynch appeared as a reporter in the White House Press Room. St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Delaware served as young Bartlet's boarding school. It

3876-514: The Buddha ." At one point, the producers of The X-Files considered having Sheen portray Bartlet in the final episode of the show, in a scene where he would be informed by members of The Syndicate that Fox Mulder escaped from government custody. Instead, Bartlet was replaced by an actor playing George W. Bush , although the scene was cut from the final episode altogether. A Wall Street Journal poll in 2016 named Martin Sheen's Josiah Bartlet as

3990-546: The Constitution and the law. He is devoted to his wife and daughters. Being unfaithful to his wife would never cross his mind. He is no wimp when it comes to foreign policy—no quid pro quo for him." Journalist Matthew Miller wrote, "Although the show indeed has a liberal bias on issues, it presents a truer, more human picture of the people behind the headlines than most of today's Washington journalists." In its first season, The West Wing attracted critical attention in

4104-463: The Democratic Party , in some cases as part of campaign ads and fundraisers, including Joe Biden 's 2008 primary campaign , the 2008 Barack Obama campaign , the 2012 Barack Obama campaign , Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown 's 2012 campaign, the 2014 Democratic Party of Wisconsin campaign in support of Mary Burke , the 2016 Hillary Clinton campaign , the 2020 Joe Biden campaign , and

4218-466: The Mural Room for the President's statement when Sam Seaborn ( Rob Lowe ) asks if the President is ready, so soon after Mrs. Landingham 's death in a car accident at the end of " 18th and Potomac ". Toby tells him that they have no choice and despite her funeral, they will be proceeding with the plan to publicly address Bartlet's MS. Toby is offered a 'lifeboat' by way of a job offer, but turns it down in

4332-737: The National Cathedral . Afterward, a grief-stricken Bartlet remains alone in the cathedral, railing at God in both Latin , and English. He then lights a cigarette, drops it on the cathedral floor, and grinds it under his foot before angrily declaring that he will not run again: "You get Hoynes !". Later, in the Oval Office , as a pre-season tropical storm rages outside, Bartlet has a vision of Mrs. Landingham ( Kathryn Joosten ), who tells him that if he isn't going to run because he thinks he won't win or because it will be too hard, she doesn't even want to know him. Bartlet and his entourage then travel to

4446-542: The Speaker of the House , Republican Glen Allen Walken, becomes Acting President of the United States . Zoey recovers with only minor injuries several days later and President Bartlet reassumes his office shortly thereafter. Soon after Bartlet resumes the presidency, he faces off against Jeff Haffley, the newly elected Speaker of the House (replacing Walken, who was forced to resign in order to fulfil his duties as acting president) on intense budget negotiations that break down to

4560-464: The State Department to give a press conference on the disclosure of his MS. Shots of the motorcade driving in the rain are intercut with shots in the cathedral, where a janitor finds the extinguished cigarette. Beginning the press conference, Bartlet disregards advice to first call upon a handpicked reporter who will not ask about re-election, choosing instead one who immediately asks if he will seek

4674-407: The federal government . The president, the first lady , and the president's senior staff and advisers form the core cast. Numerous secondary characters , appearing intermittently, complement storylines that generally revolve around this core group. Each of the principal actors made approximately $ 75,000 per episode, with the established Sheen receiving a confirmed salary of $ 300,000. Rob Lowe left

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4788-409: The right . Jewish Journal columnist Naomi Pfefferman once referred to The West Wing as "The Left Wing" because of its portrayal of an ideal liberal administration, and the moniker has also been used by Republican critics of the show. Chris Lehmann, former deputy editor and regular reviewer for The Washington Post 's Book World section, characterized the show as a revisionist look at

4902-449: The walk and talk , a continuous shot tracking in front of the characters as they walk from one place to another that became part of The West Wing 's signature visual style. Sorkin's hectic writing schedule often led to cost overruns and schedule slips, and he opted to leave the show after the fourth season, following increasing personal problems, including an arrest for possession of hallucinogenic mushrooms. Thomas Schlamme also left

5016-496: The 2001–2002 season, nine cast members were nominated for Emmys. Allison Janney, John Spencer and Stockard Channing each won an Emmy (for Lead Actress, Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress respectively). The others nominated were Martin Sheen (for Lead Actor), Richard Schiff, Dulé Hill and Bradley Whitford (for Supporting Actor), and Janel Moloney and Mary-Louise Parker (for Supporting Actress). In addition, that same year Mark Harmon, Tim Matheson and Ron Silver were each nominated in

5130-808: The Bahji network based in Qumar, is a continual problem and in the season 4 finale, Bartlet has to confront the kidnapping of his own daughter at the hands of the group. In Latin America, Bartlet has to deal with situations in Haiti , Colombia and Bolivia . A conflict and genocide in the fictional African nation of Equatorial Kundu lead Bartlet to intervene militarily and declare a bold interventionist foreign policy doctrine. In Asia , Bartlet deals with tensions and near-conflicts between India and Pakistan, China and Taiwan , and Russia and China. The latter crisis, in his final year, leads to him deploying 140,000 peacekeepers to prevent

5244-621: The Clinton presidency. However, criticism of the show has been made from the left as well. Cultural critic and Jacobin columnist Luke Savage has taken issue with the show's portrayal of "technocratic governance" as "exciting, intellectually stimulating, and, above all, honorable", and its attendant liberal elitism, saying, "there is a general tenor to The West Wing universe that cannot be called anything other than smug." The hosts of socialist podcast Chapo Trap House are frequent critics of Sorkin and have called The West Wing an "expression of

5358-509: The Guest Actor category (although none won the award). This gave the series an Emmy Award record for most acting nominations overall (including guest performer category) in a single year, with 12 acting nominations. Twenty individual Emmys were awarded to writers, actors, and crew members. Allison Janney is the record holder for most wins by a cast member, with a total of four Emmys. The West Wing won at least one Emmy in each of its seasons except

5472-454: 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 performance raised his character's profile, decreasing Lowe's perceived significance. In addition, the storylines began to focus less on Sam and more on Josh Lyman, the Deputy Chief of Staff. This shift

5586-427: The President is not acting according to his true morality or is ducking important issues. He is pained when he finds out Toby has leaked classified national security information and fires him. Bartlet eventually signs a pardon for Toby in his last official act as president. He does not get along well with either of his vice presidents, John Hoynes or Bob Russell , saying at one point he does not know what either of them

5700-463: The President's father as a "prick". Explaining its use, Sorkin stated, "It was the right word and the slightly startling nature of it was really what you needed." Casting director Kevin Scott described the process of casting the younger versions of Bartlet ( Jason Widener ) and Mrs. Landingham ( Kirsten Nelson ): We were looking for Martin Sheen at about 17 and Mrs. Landingham at about 22. That

5814-534: The Wisconsin Democrats 2022 Midterms campaign. In 2024, they supported the organization Red Wine & Blue , Pennsylvania senator Bob Casey Jr. , Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, and the 2024 Kamala Harris campaign . While The West Wing is not completely accurate in its portrayal of the actual West Wing, former White House staffers and journalists have described the show as capturing its feel. President Gerald Ford 's daughter Susan made

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5928-461: The campaign of his successor, Matt Santos. Bartlet is characterized by manifest integrity, quick witticisms, a fierce intellect, and compassionate stoicism. Show creator Aaron Sorkin had not initially intended to feature the president at all. He envisioned the series as focused on the White House senior staff who execute and advise on major policy and political matters. "Then I felt that would become hokey ," he said. "We'll constantly be just missing

6042-689: The character as being drawn largely from Bill Clinton : "He's bright, astute, and filled with all the negative foibles that make him very human," he told Radio Times . Sheen said elsewhere that he adored Clinton and was welcomed into the Clinton White House for visits during the period between the show's beginning in the fall of 1999 and the inauguration of George W. Bush as president in January 2001. Sorkin said he took some of Bartlet's characteristics from his own father, namely his "great love of education and literature [and] all things old," his "[belief] in

6156-448: The comment "I can't watch [the show]. They turn left and right where you are not supposed to." Some West Wing veterans have said it exaggerates the formality and volume of chatter in the West Wing, under-represents the number of people involved in a decision, and over-idealizes its occupants. Former Senate aide Lawrence O'Donnell and former White House aide and presidential campaign speechwriter Eli Attie were both longtime writers on

6270-573: The controversy, he nonetheless defeats the Republican nominee, Governor Robert Ritchie of Florida, by a landslide and is returned for a second term. The election is forecast to be close until Bartlet scores a decisive debate win over Ritchie. Zoey Bartlet is kidnapped on the day of her graduation from Georgetown University , possibly in retaliation for the assassination of the Qumari defence minister, Abdul ibn Shareef, which her father authorized. While Zoey

6384-476: The departure of series creator Sorkin after the fourth season (with him having been the writer or co-writer of 85 of the first 88 episodes), yet it remained popular among high-income viewers, a key demographic for the show and its advertisers, with around 16 million viewers. The West Wing employed a broad ensemble cast to portray the many positions involved in the daily work of the Executive Branch of

6498-572: The drama in the opportunity: I decided in that moment that, by the end of the season, I wanted to push Bartlet to the place where he would renounce his faith in God—this very devout Catholic. Sorkin explained that the Latin monologue in the National Cathedral was written in the language in order to avoid censorship by network NBC . NBC initially refused to allow a line where Mrs. Landingham describes

6612-469: The drama with the most Emmy wins until Game of Thrones broke the record for most wins in 2016, with 38 total awards. The series shares the Emmy Award record for most acting nominations by regular cast members (excluding the guest performer category) for a single series in one year. ( Hill Street Blues , L.A. Law , Game of Thrones , Succession and The White Lotus also hold that record). For

6726-535: The episode " A Good Day ", in which Democrats block a bill aimed at limiting stem cell research, by appearing to have left Washington D.C. but actually hiding in a congressional office until the Republican Speaker calls the vote. A number of episodes referred to a practice of the administration having one day each year on which they accepted meetings with people or groups who would not normally receive an audience with high-level White House staffers, referring to

6840-399: The event as "Big Block of Cheese Day". The name came from the fact that President Andrew Jackson had a large wheel of cheese placed in the White House from which the public were invited to eat during a reception, while discussing issues of the day with politicians. In 2014, the White House announced that it was to host an online Q&A with Obama administration officials and staff, called

6954-479: The fall of 1997, writing the slogan "Bartlet for America" on a cocktail napkin. Although initially a dark horse , Bartlet eventually defeats the Democratic frontrunner, U.S. Senator John Hoynes of Texas, whom Bartlet asks to join the ticket as his vice-presidential running mate . He defeats the Republican nominee for president, winning a close election with just 48 per cent of the vote, 48 million popular votes, and

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7068-576: The fictional two-term Democratic administration of President Josiah Bartlet . Watching The West Wing is a throwback to a more docile, optimistic era in American politics . "The West Wing" makes politicking and changing alliances binge-worthy and absorbing. The West Wing was produced by Warner Bros. Television and features an ensemble cast , including Rob Lowe , Dulé Hill , Allison Janney , Richard Schiff , John Spencer , Bradley Whitford , Martin Sheen , Janel Moloney , and Stockard Channing . For

7182-497: The first four seasons, there were three executive producers: Sorkin (lead writer of the first four seasons), Thomas Schlamme (primary director), and John Wells . After Sorkin left the series at the end of the fourth season, Wells assumed the role of head writer, with later executive producers being directors Alex Graves and Christopher Misiano (seasons 6–7), and writers Lawrence O'Donnell and Peter Noah (season 7). The West Wing has been regarded by many publications as one of

7296-446: The four again demanded a doubling of their salaries, a few months after Warner Bros had signed new licensing deals with NBC and Bravo . John Spencer died of a heart attack on December 16, 2005, about a year after his character experienced a nearly fatal heart attack on the show. Martin Sheen gave a brief memorial message before " Running Mates ", the first new episode that aired after Spencer's death. The loss of Spencer's character

7410-501: The greatest television shows of all time. It has received praise from critics, political science professors, and former White House staffers and has been the subject of critical analysis. The West Wing received a multitude of accolades , including two Peabody Awards , three Golden Globe Awards , and 26 Primetime Emmy Awards , including the award for Outstanding Drama Series , which it won four consecutive times from 2000 to 2003. The show's ratings waned in later years following

7524-438: The ideal president, possessing "the compassion and integrity of Jimmy Carter ... that shrewd decision-making and hard-nosed realism of a Richard Nixon ... the warmth and amiability and the throw-the-arm-around-the-shoulder of a Bill Clinton ; and... the liberal passion of a Teddy Kennedy ." James Poniewozik described the character in 2002 as "a folksy Nobel laureate with touches of F.D.R. , Stephen Hawking , Will Rogers and

7638-413: The importance of voting and announce the winner for Outstanding Drama Series. Later that week, cast members and producers were invited to the White House where they met President Joe Biden before participating in an outdoor anniversary celebration with First Lady Jill Biden . In his remarks, Sorkin referred to Biden's decision not to run for reelection on July 21, 2024, as a " West Wing moment." Before

7752-598: The information until well into his first term, leading to allegations of fraud . He receives a Congressional censure for covering up his MS while running for president. Bartlet began his political career when he was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives . He later served three terms in the United States House of Representatives , representing New Hampshire's 1st congressional district . Like his ancestor, Jed Bartlet served as Governor of New Hampshire , and he won re-election to his final term with 69% of

7866-440: The last word of the series. Mrs Bartlet asks the introspective former president what he is thinking about, and Bartlet replies: "Tomorrow." The Bartlet Presidential Library opens three years after the end of his term and Bartlet is present at the opening ceremony, along with Kate Harper, C. J. Cregg, Danny Concannon, Charlie Young , Toby Ziegler, Josh Lyman, and Will Bailey. The new president does not appear, as this scene occurs in

7980-540: The leader reverses his course and Santos becomes the Democratic nominee for president. In the seventh and final season of The West Wing , Bartlet is in the last year of his term as president. Near the end of the season, Congressman Matt Santos of Texas defeats the Republican nominee, Senator Arnold Vinick of California , in the 2006 presidential election and thereby becomes Bartlet's successor. After Santos' inauguration, Bartlet returns to his New Hampshire home aboard Air Force One with his wife and while en route has

8094-483: The man to like him, hoping that "maybe if you get enough votes, win one more election," Bartlet will finally be able to earn his father's approval. He displays a remarkable ability for chess. Once, he engaged several members of his staff in separate matches at the same time and won. Bartlet scored 1590 out of 1600 on his SAT college admission test. Later he retook the exam, and received the same result, something both Leo McGarry and Dr Stanley Keyworth find amusing. He

8208-714: The news about Biden had broken that day, Sorkin had written an op-ed in The New York Times comparing Bartlet's decision to run for reelection to Biden's dilemma, and suggested the Democrats could nominate Mitt Romney . But after the news about Biden's decision and endorsement of Kamala Harris became public later that day, he communicated via cast member Joshua Malina 's social media profiles: "I take it all back. Harris for America!" Cast members have individually become active and jointly reunited in person and virtually to support several candidates and organizations associated with

8322-492: The patronizing self-entitlement of liberals." On the other hand, some Republicans have admired the show since its inception, even before the departure of Sorkin and the show's resulting shift toward the center. In his 2001 article "Real Liberals versus The West Wing ," Mackubin Thomas Owens wrote, ″Although his administration is reliably liberal, President Bartlet possesses virtues even a conservative could admire. He obeys

8436-610: The pilot, I didn't have any idea what was going to happen in Episode 2, much less 12," he says. Bartlet was born in 1942 and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire . He is a descendant of Dr Josiah Bartlett , a real-world signatory of the Declaration of Independence . Bartlet is a devout Roman Catholic . This is due to the influence of his mother, as his father would have preferred that he be raised Protestant . His relationship with his father

8550-500: The pilot. Michael Hissrich acted as a co-producer. The first season proper saw the return of all of the pilot production team along with the addition of Ron Osborn and Jeff Reno as consulting producers and Rick Cleveland as a second co-producer with Robert W. Glass as an associate producer. Glass left the production team after only five episodes. Julie Herlocker joined as Associate Producer beginning with episode six. Osborn and Reno departed after nine episodes. Paul Redford served as

8664-540: The point where the federal government is shut down (similar to the real world 1995 and 1996 shutdowns during the Clinton administration). Eventually, Bartlet topples Haffley's influence and sees to it that the Speaker's power declines thereafter. At the end of the fifth season and the beginning of the sixth, the Bartlet administration is dragged into the Israeli-Arab dispute after terrorists attack U.S. government officials on

8778-401: The potential for great good," he said, suggesting that as Bartlet was able to overcome the challenges of his disease to succeed, "the public will become more accepting of individuals with MS and individuals with MS will become more accepting of themselves and their abilities to lead fulfilling lives." Mike McCurry , a former press secretary for the Clinton administration, described Bartlet as

8892-431: The president. As he walks around the corner, we'll see the back of his head." The character of Josiah Bartlet was then created as a recurring figure, and Martin Sheen was signed to appear in four episodes. Alan Alda (who went on to portray Senator Arnold Vinick), Jason Robards , and Sidney Poitier were also considered for the role. After seeing Sheen's dailies, the producers were so impressed that they asked him to join

9006-851: The press. Throughout the day, Bartlet revisits his early memories of Mrs. Landingham ( Kirsten Nelson ) when she was a secretary at the school where he studied and where his father was headmaster. In one flashback sequence, she pushes a young Bartlet ( Jason Widener ) to challenge his father about pay inequality between women and men working at the school. Mrs. Landingham clearly sees something in Jed, "a boy king ... blessed with inspiration." She comments that if Bartlet won't say anything because he's afraid or can't be bothered, then she doesn't even want to know him. He then puts his hands in his pockets, looks away, and smiles, which Mrs. Landingham understands to mean that he has decided to act, and will talk to his father. Bartlet and his staff attend Mrs. Landingham's funeral at

9120-464: The production team and Dylan K. Massin became a co-producer. Cahn was promoted to executive story editor and Singer replaced her as story editor. Lauren Schmidt filled the staff writer role. The fourth episode saw the departure of original crew member Llewellyn Wells. Debora Cahn was promoted to co-producer with the fourteenth episode. The seventh season saw Noah and O'Donnell promoted again, this time becoming additional executive producers. Attie became

9234-495: The production team as a consulting producer. Wells also added Carol Flint , Alexa Junge , Peter Noah , and John Sacret Young as consulting producers. Andrew Stearn came aboard as a producer and Attie was promoted to producer. Cahn became story editor and Josh Singer replaced her as staff writer. With the tenth episode Flint, Junge, Noah and Sacret Young became supervising producers. With the sixth season Misiano and Graves were promoted to executive producers. Redford and Junge left

9348-426: The regular cast. "They realized that people might catch on that I'd be there only once a month, so they talked to me about a longer commitment," says Sheen. The actor said that part of the reason he took on the role of Bartlet was because of his involvement in social issues. Sorkin's main interest in writing for the character was exploring the side of the president that the public does not generally see. Sheen described

9462-590: The screenplay, and in which Martin Sheen played the White House Chief of Staff. Unused plot elements from the film and a suggestion from Akiva Goldsman inspired Sorkin to create The West Wing . Sorkin said that the airing of the show was delayed for about a year due to the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal . According to the DVD commentary, Sorkin intended to center the show on Sam Seaborn and the other senior staff with

9576-405: The season saw Redford promoted to supervising producer and Kanaskie, Ward and Attie promoted to co-producers. The fifth season saw the departure of both Sorkin and Schlamme as executive producers. Schlamme remained attached to the series as an executive consultant. John Wells remained the sole executive producer and showrunner. Co-executive producer Kevin Falls also left the show. O'Donnell rejoined

9690-578: The second greatest fictional president, behind Harrison Ford 's President James Marshall in Air Force One . The West Wing The West Wing is an American political drama television series created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999, to May 14, 2006. The series is set primarily in the West Wing of the White House , where the Oval Office and offices of presidential senior personnel are located, during

9804-404: The second season. The typical episode loosely follows the President and his staff through their day, generally following several plots connected by some idea or theme. A large, fully connected set of the White House allowed the producers to create shots with very few cuts and long, continuous master shots of staff members conversing as they walk through the hallways. These " walk and talks " became

9918-443: The series in the fourth season, reportedly because he did not get a salary increase. 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 persuade the studio to more than double their salaries. Two years later,

10032-547: The series. His origin as a recurring character evolved due to Sheen's acting finesse; Sorkin and fellow West Wing writers shaped Bartlet's role within the show accordingly. The first season depicts part of Bartlet's first two years in the White House . The remainder of the series fleshes out the details of Bartlet's administration, including friction between his policies and those of the Republican -dominated Congress , his tribulations with multiple sclerosis , his reelection, and

10146-479: The show (O'Donnell for seasons 1–2 and 5–7, Attie for seasons 3–7). Former White House Press Secretaries Dee Dee Myers and Marlin Fitzwater and pollsters Patrick Caddell and Frank Luntz also served as consultants, advising the writing staff for part of the show's run. Other former White House staffers, such as Peggy Noonan and Gene Sperling , served as consultants for brief periods. A documentary special in

10260-444: The show after the fourth season. John Wells , the remaining executive producer, took the helm after their departure. The West Wing aired on Wednesdays at 9:00 pm ET from its debut until the end of its sixth season. NBC elected to move the series to Sundays at 8:00 pm for its seventh season, a move universally regarded as the beginning of the series' end (since NBC and the NFL had reached

10374-414: The show as unrealistically optimistic and sentimental. A large part of this criticism came from the perceived naiveté of the characters. Television critic Heather Havrilesky asked, "What rock did these morally pure creatures crawl out from under and, more important, how do you go from innocent millipede to White House staffer without becoming soiled or disillusioned by the dirty realities of politics along

10488-443: The show created a "subversive competitor" to the cynical views of politics in media. In the essay " The West Wing and the West Wing", author Myron Levine agreed, stating that the series "presents an essentially positive view of public service and a healthy corrective to anti-Washington stereotypes and public cynicism." Dr. Staci L. Beavers, associate professor of political science at California State University, San Marcos , wrote

10602-528: The show's premiere, which cast member Janel Moloney wrote about attending. Sorkin had previously marked the show's 20th anniversary at a Paley panel in New York in 2019, while both Sorkin and cast members had previously participated in a Paley panel in Los Angeles in 2000. In September 2024, cast members also reunited to mark the 25th anniversary in an appearance at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards to stress

10716-757: The sixth. In addition to its Emmys, the show won two Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, in 2000 and 2001 , Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Martin Sheen was the only cast member to win a Golden Globe Award , and he and Allison Janney were the only cast members to win SAG Awards. In both 1999 and 2000, The West Wing was awarded the Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting. The following table summarizes award wins by cast members: Many cast members were Emmy-nominated for their work on The West Wing but did not win, including Martin Sheen—who

10830-489: The television community with a record nine Emmy wins. The show has been praised for its high production values and repeatedly recognized for its cinematic achievements. The series has also been praised for Sorkin's rapid-fire and witty scripts. The series had a budget of $ 2.7 million per episode. The West Wing is noted for developing the " walk-and-talk "—long Steadicam tracking shots showing characters walking down hallways while involved in long conversations. In

10944-471: The then-fledgling government of Myanmar used DVDs of The West Wing episodes to study democracy. This was corroborated by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the following year. In March 2014, cast members Bradley Whitford, Janel Moloney and Richard Schiff participated in a Harvard Institute of Politics event with show writer and MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell to discuss the impact of the show. The following month, Whitford and Schiff also participated in

11058-454: The third season compared the show's depiction of the West Wing to the real thing. Many former West Wing denizens applauded the show's depiction of the West Wing, including advisor David Gergen , 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 . While critics often praised The West Wing for its writing, others faulted

11172-411: The use of the track: Driving around in my car trying to work on the episode was really the first time I listened to the words and thought 'this is too good to be true. This is gonna really work well.' And on the one hand I felt like, 'am I handing off the end of the second season of The West Wing to Dire Straits and then saying you guys take it away?' And then I thought, or rationalized, no, that this

11286-545: The vote. A recurring motif throughout the series is Bartlet's inability to remember the names of junior staffers, a trait taken directly from Sheen's own memory tendencies. However, in the series finale episode, he meets and thanks a long series of White House staff members and addresses them all accurately by name. Bartlet also displays an obsession with trivia, often quizzing family, friends, and staff, whether they are interested or not — generally not. Bartlet's best friend, Leo McGarry , persuades him to run for president around

11400-423: The way?" Despite acclaim for the veracity of the series, Sorkin said, "our responsibility is to captivate you for however long we've asked for your attention." Former White House aide Matthew Miller noted 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 noted that by portraying politicians with empathy,

11514-554: The world. The Middle East is a recurring source of problems, particularly Iran , Syria , the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the fictional gulf state of Qumar . Bartlet is able to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by negotiating a historic agreement at Camp David in 2005 and deploying peacekeepers to the region, despite opposition to these efforts from both Democrats and Republicans. Terrorism, particularly from

11628-451: Was a tenured professor prior to entering politics. He speaks four languages, including Latin, English, and German. He is a Nobel Laureate in Economics , and is generally portrayed as a macroeconomist sympathetic to Keynesian views. He was required to split his Nobel Prize with another economist, a much more conservative Japanese man whom Bartlet respects but does not particularly like. He

11742-596: Was accepted to Williams , Harvard , and Yale , but instead chose to go to the University of Notre Dame , as he was considering becoming a priest, though decided against it after meeting Abbey, his future wife. He graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in American studies and a minor in theology . He received a Masters and Ph.D. in economics from the London School of Economics , as well as an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Dartmouth College , where he

11856-448: Was addressed beginning with the episode " Election Day ", which aired on April 2, 2006. In an interview on the first season DVD, Bradley Whitford said that he was originally cast as Sam, even though Aaron Sorkin had created the Josh character specifically for him. In the same interview, Janel Moloney stated she had originally auditioned for the role of C.J. and that Donna, the role for which she

11970-454: Was also the shooting location of Dead Poets Society . During filming in the National Cathedral, Sheen as Bartlet stubbed out a cigarette on the floor, prompting the cathedral to ban filming inside the building. "The reason I think the song worked so well in it, [is] the piece was about rising above something for self, and doing something for the collective, and in The West Wing there

12084-482: Was always a battle going on between right and wrong."  — W. G. Snuffy Walden The episode featured the song " Brothers in Arms " by Dire Straits . The show's composer W. G. Snuffy Walden explained that Sorkin had specified the use of the song: "There was no question that this song was going to end the show which is really quite rare." Sorkin, however, explained in 2017 that he initially had some reservations about

12198-538: Was applauded by Mike Dugan, president of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society . Dugan stated that the group was especially pleased that the affected character was a world leader, that the show educated viewers about MS and made it clear the disease is not fatal, and that Bartlet was shown as taking advantage of medical breakthroughs to treat his condition. "Since fiction often becomes more real to people than fact, President Bartlet's life with MS has

12312-511: Was eventually cast, was not meant to be a recurring character. Other actors were seriously considered for other roles, including Alan Alda and Sidney Poitier for the President, Judd Hirsch for Leo, Eugene Levy for Toby, and CCH Pounder for C.J. The series was created by Aaron Sorkin , who served as executive producer for the pilot episode alongside director Thomas Schlamme and John Wells . Kristin Harms and Llewellyn Wells were producers for

12426-402: Was nominated for six of the seven seasons of the series without receiving the award—as well as Janel Moloney, who was nominated twice, and Dulé Hill, Rob Lowe, and Mary-Louise Parker, who were all nominated once. Matthew Perry , Oliver Platt , Ron Silver , Tim Matheson , and Mark Harmon also received Emmy nominations for guest starring on the show. Two Cathedrals President Bartlet

12540-404: Was not easy. It wasn't just about a look, but a quality that each actor has, I wanted to hire actors that would make you say, "Wow! That is Kathryn Joosten at 22. That is Martin Sheen as a teenager." C.J. instructs the President to select medical correspondent Lawrence Altman of The New York Times for the first question, although he does not. While portrayed by an actor (Alfred Hurwitz), Altman

12654-402: Was often strained from parental abuse. In a discussion with his subconscious, personified by the "ghost" of Mrs Landingham, his father is described as "a prick who could never get over the fact that he wasn't as smart as his brothers". Sorkin has stated that Bartlet's father, "obviously convinced he married some Catholic whore, treats his son terribly for a number of reasons, not the least of which

12768-578: Was one of the reasons for Lowe's eventual departure from the show in the fourth season. For the first four seasons, drawing on research materials, scene drafts, and occasionally entire draft scripts from his writing staff, Sorkin wrote almost every episode of the series, occasionally reusing plot elements, episode titles, character names, and actors from his previous work, Sports Night , a sitcom on which he began to develop his signature dialogue style of rhythmic, snappy, and intellectual banter. Fellow executive producer and director Thomas Schlamme championed

12882-416: Was promoted again to producer five episodes into the season and Hissrich joined him twelve episodes into the season. The third season saw the departure of Parnell, Caddell, and Herlocker and the temporary absence of O'Donnell. Director Christopher Misiano became a supervising producer, Patrick Ward joined the series as an associate producer, and Eli Attie joined the writing staff as a staff writer. Redford

12996-413: Was promoted to producer. With the thirteenth episode of the third season director Alex Graves became an additional supervising producer and Attie became a story editor. The fourth season marked the temporary departure of Hissrich. Misiano and Graves became co-executive producers alongside Falls. Attie was promoted to executive story editor and Debora Cahn became a staff writer. The fourteenth episode of

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