The West Wing
The West Wing Title Screen
Format	Political drama
Created by	Aaron Sorkin
Starring	Alan Alda Stockard Channing Kristin Chenoweth Dulé Hill Allison Janney Moira Kelly Rob Lowe Joshua Malina Mary McCormack Janel Moloney Richard Schiff Martin Sheen Jimmy Smits John Spencer Bradley Whitford
Country of origin	United States
No. A political drama can describe a play, Film or TV program that has a political component whether reflecting the author's political opinion Aaron Benjamin Sorkin (born June 9 1961 is an American Screenwriter, producer and Playwright. Alan Alda (born January 28 1936 is an American Actor. He is well known for his role as " Hawkeye Pierce " in the Television series Stockard Channing (born February 13, 1944) is an American Academy Award - and Golden Globe Award-nominated three time Emmy Kristin Chenoweth (born July 24, 1968) is an American Singer and Musical theatre, Film and Television Actress Karim Dulé Hill (born May 3, 1975) is an Emmy Award -nominated American actor Allison Brooks Janney (born November 19, 1959) is an Emmy Award -winning American actress, best known for playing C Moira Kelly (born March 6, 1968 in Queens, New York) is an American actress. Robert Hepler Lowe (born March 17, 1964) is an American Actor. Joshua Charles Malina (born January 17, 1966) is an American Film and stage Actor. Mary Catherine McCormack (born February 8, 1969) is an American television and Film Actress. Janel Moloney (born October 3 1969) is an American Actress, known for her role as Donna Moss on ''The West Wing''. Richard Schiff (born May 27, 1955) is an Emmy Award -winning American actor Martin Sheen (born Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez on August 3, 1940) is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning American Actor who earned Jimmy Smits (born July 9, 1955) is an American Golden Globe - and Emmy -winning Actor. John Spencer ( December 20 1946 – December 16 2005) was an Emmy - and Screen Actors Guild Award -winning American Bradley Whitford (born October 10, 1959) is an Emmy Award -winning American Actor. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the of seasons	7
No.  of episodes	156 (including two special episodes) (List of episodes)
Production
Running time	42 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	NBC
Original run	September 22, 1999 – May 14, 2006
External links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast from 1999 to 2006. The following is an episode list for the NBC serial Drama Television series The West Wing. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic Serials in Television and Radio are series often in a weekly Prime time slot that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a serial fashion Drama is the specific mode of Fiction represented in Performance. Aaron Benjamin Sorkin (born June 9 1961 is an American Screenwriter, producer and Playwright. It was produced/written by Sorkin (for the first four seasons) and also produced by Thomas Schlamme. Thomas Schlamme (born May 22, 1950) is an American Television director. After season four it was produced by John Wells. John Marcum Wells (born May 28, 1956) is a Theater and Television producer and Writer. The series is set in the West Wing of the White House, the location of the Oval Office and offices of presidential senior staff, during the fictional Democratic administration of Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen). The West Wing is the Official offices of the President of the United States See also Executive Office of the President of the United States The White House, formerly known as the Executive Mansion, is the Official residence | |-| |-| |- | |-| |-| |-| |-| |} The Oval Office is the official office of the President of the United States. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. The term administration, as used in the context of Government, differs according to Jurisdiction. Dr Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet is a Fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the Television serial Drama Martin Sheen (born Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez on August 3, 1940) is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning American Actor who earned

The West Wing was produced by Warner Bros. Television. Warner Bros Television is the television production and distribution arm of Warner Bros It first aired on NBC in 1999, and has been broadcast by many networks in dozens of other countries. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's A television network is a distribution network for Television content whereby a central operation provides programming for many Television stations The following is a list of television broadcasters who air The West Wing and a list of home video releases for The West Wing. The series ended its seven-year run on May 14, 2006. Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[1]

The show received positive reviews from critics, political science professors, and former White House staffers. Political science is a branch of Social sciences that deals with the theory and practice of Politics and the description and analysis of Political systems In total, The West Wing won three Golden Globe Awards and 26 Emmy Awards, a tie with Hill Street Blues for the most Emmy Awards ever won by a television drama series. The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and Television programs given out each year during a formal dinner Hill Street Blues is a serial Police drama that was first aired on NBC in 1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987 Included in this record-equalling haul were four straight awards for Outstanding Drama Series (2000–2003). ^[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]

Contents 1 Cast 2 Plot 3 Evolution 4 Critical reactions 4.1 Realism 4.2 Social impact 4.3 The Left Wing 4.4 Filming techniques and reactions 4.5 Awards 5 Exploration of real world issues 6 The West Wing universe 6.1 Domestic 6.1.1 San Andreo 6.1.2 Hartsfield's Landing 6.1.3 Kennison State University 6.2 Foreign 6.2.1 Qumar 6.2.2 Equatorial Kundu 7 Presidential elections 7.1 Timeline skew 7.2 1998 presidential election 7.3 2002 presidential election 7.4 2006 presidential election 8 See also 9 References 10 External links

Cast

Main article: List of characters on The West Wing

The West Wing employed a broad ensemble cast to portray the many positions involved in the daily work of the federal government. List of politicians on The West Wing The television series The West Wing is a Political drama series which was originally broadcast on NBC. An ensemble cast is a cast in which the principal performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance in a dramatic production The federal government of the United States is the central United States Governmental body established by the United States Constitution. The President, the First Lady, and the President's senior staff and advisors form the core cast. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by First Lady of the United States is the unofficial title of the hostess of the White House. In the Performing arts, casting (or casting call) is a vital pre-production process for selecting a cast (a meaning of the word recorded since 1631 of Actors Numerous secondary characters, appearing intermittently, complement storylines that generally revolve around this core group.

Summary of the main cast

Actor/Actress	Character	1st Position	2nd Position (if any)
Stockard Channing	Abigail Bartlet	First Lady
Dulé Hill	Charlie Young	Personal Aide to the President (Seasons 1–6)	Deputy Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff (Seasons 6–7)
Allison Janney	C. J. Cregg	Press Secretary (Seasons 1–6)	Chief of Staff (Seasons 6–7)
Moira Kelly	Mandy Hampton	White House Media Consultant (Season 1)
Rob Lowe	Sam Seaborn	Deputy Communications Director (Seasons 1–4)	Deputy Chief of Staff-Designate (Season 7)
Janel Moloney	Donna Moss	Senior Assistant to Josh Lyman (Seasons 1–6)	Russell Campaign Spokesperson/Santos Campaign Spokesperson (Seasons 6–7)
Richard Schiff	Toby Ziegler	Communications Director
Martin Sheen	Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet	President of the United States
John Spencer	Leo McGarry	Chief of Staff (Seasons 1–6)	Senior Advisor to the President (Season 6)/Democratic Candidate for Vice President (Season 7)
Bradley Whitford	Josh Lyman	Deputy Chief of Staff (Seasons 1–6)	Santos for President Campaign Manager (Seasons 6–7)
Joshua Malina	Will Bailey	Deputy Communications Director (Seasons 4–5)	Chief of Staff to Vice President Bob Russell (Seasons 5–7) White House Communications Director (Season 7)
Mary McCormack	Kate Harper	Deputy National Security Advisor (Seasons 5–7)
Kristin Chenoweth	Annabeth Schott	Deputy Press Secretary (Seasons 6)	Santos for President campaign team (Season 7)
Jimmy Smits	Matt Santos	Congressman from Texas (Season 6)	Democratic Candidate for President (Seasons 6–7)
Alan Alda	Arnold Vinick	Senator from California (Season 6)	Republican Candidate for President (Seasons 6–7)

Each of the principal actors made approximately $75,000 an episode, with Sheen's most recently confirmed salary being $300,000. Karim Dulé Hill (born May 3, 1975) is an Emmy Award -nominated American actor Allison Brooks Janney (born November 19, 1959) is an Emmy Award -winning American actress, best known for playing C Richard Schiff (born May 27, 1955) is an Emmy Award -winning American actor Janel Moloney (born October 3 1969) is an American Actress, known for her role as Donna Moss on ''The West Wing''. Robert Hepler Lowe (born March 17, 1964) is an American Actor. Stockard Channing (born February 13, 1944) is an American Academy Award - and Golden Globe Award-nominated three time Emmy Martin Sheen (born Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez on August 3, 1940) is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning American Actor who earned John Spencer ( December 20 1946 – December 16 2005) was an Emmy - and Screen Actors Guild Award -winning American Bradley Whitford (born October 10, 1959) is an Emmy Award -winning American Actor. Stockard Channing (born February 13, 1944) is an American Academy Award - and Golden Globe Award-nominated three time Emmy Abigail Anne 'Abbey' Barrington Bartlet MD is a Fictional character played by Stockard Channing on the Television serial Drama First Lady is a term used in the United States to describe the wife of an elected male Head of state. Karim Dulé Hill (born May 3, 1975) is an Emmy Award -nominated American actor Charles 'Charlie' Young is a Fictional character played by Dulé Hill on the Television serial Drama The West Wing A body man is in American political jargon a Personal assistant to a politician or political candidate Allison Brooks Janney (born November 19, 1959) is an Emmy Award -winning American actress, best known for playing C Claudia Jean 'C J' Cregg 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 The White House Chief of Staff is the highest-ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and a senior aide to the President Moira Kelly (born March 6, 1968 in Queens, New York) is an American actress. Dr Madeline 'Mandy' Hampton is a Fictional character played by Moira Kelly on the Television serial Drama The West Wing Robert Hepler Lowe (born March 17, 1964) is an American Actor. Samuel Norman "Sam" Seaborn is a Fictional character played by Rob Lowe on the Television serial Drama The West The White House Director of Communications, also known as Assistant to the President for Communications, is part of the senior staff of the President of the United States Janel Moloney (born October 3 1969) is an American Actress, known for her role as Donna Moss on ''The West Wing''. Donnatella 'Donna' Moss is a Fictional character played by Janel Moloney on the Television serial Drama The West Wing Richard Schiff (born May 27, 1955) is an Emmy Award -winning American actor Tobias Zachary 'Toby' Ziegler, is a Fictional character played by Richard Schiff on the television serial drama The West Wing. The White House Director of Communications, also known as Assistant to the President for Communications, is part of the senior staff of the President of the United States Martin Sheen (born Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez on August 3, 1940) is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning American Actor who earned Dr Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet is a Fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the Television serial Drama The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by John Spencer ( December 20 1946 – December 16 2005) was an Emmy - and Screen Actors Guild Award -winning American Leo Thomas McGarry is a Fictional character played by John Spencer on the television serial Drama The White House Chief of Staff is the highest-ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and a senior aide to the President Bradley Whitford (born October 10, 1959) is an Emmy Award -winning American Actor. Joshua "Josh" Lyman is a Fictional character played by Bradley Whitford on the television drama The West Wing. The Deputy White House Chief of Staff is officially the top aide to the White House Chief of Staff, who is the senior aide to the President of the United States. Joshua Charles Malina (born January 17, 1966) is an American Film and stage Actor. William 'Will' Bailey is a Fictional character played by Joshua Malina on the Television serial Drama The West Wing A speechwriter is a person who is hired to prepare and write speeches that will be delivered by another person Mary Catherine McCormack (born February 8, 1969) is an American television and Film Actress. Katherine "Kate" Harper is a Fictional character on the Television show The West Wing. The Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the Deputy National Security Advisor, is a member of the Executive Office of Kristin Chenoweth (born July 24, 1968) is an American Singer and Musical theatre, Film and Television Actress Annabeth Schott, played by Kristin Chenoweth, is a Fictional character on the Political drama The West Wing. A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the News media and using News management techniques helps Jimmy Smits (born July 9, 1955) is an American Golden Globe - and Emmy -winning Actor. Matthew Vincente 'Matt' Santos is a Fictional character on the American Television show The West Wing, played by Jimmy Smits Alan Alda (born January 28 1936 is an American Actor. He is well known for his role as " Hawkeye Pierce " in the Television series Arnold Vinick is a Fictional character on the Television series The West Wing played by Alan Alda. Martin Sheen (born Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez on August 3, 1940) is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning American Actor who earned ^[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. Allison Brooks Janney (born November 19, 1959) is an Emmy Award -winning American actress, best known for playing C Richard Schiff (born May 27, 1955) is an Emmy Award -winning American actor John Spencer ( December 20 1946 – December 16 2005) was an Emmy - and Screen Actors Guild Award -winning American Bradley Whitford (born October 10, 1959) is an Emmy Award -winning American Actor. 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. Breach of contract is a Legal concept in which a Binding agreement or bargained-for exchange is not honored by one or more of the parties to the contract by non-performance Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (or Warner Bros, Warner Bros Pictures) is one of the world's largest producers of Film and ^[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. Bravo is a Cable television network owned by NBC Universal. It is currently seen in more than 80 million homes and was the first service dedicated to film drama ^[7]

John Spencer, who played Leo McGarry, died from a heart attack on December 16, 2005 — about a year after his character experienced a nearly fatal heart attack on the show. John Spencer ( December 20 1946 – December 16 2005) was an Emmy - and Screen Actors Guild Award -winning American Leo Thomas McGarry is a Fictional character played by John Spencer on the television serial Drama Myocardial infarction ( MI or AMI for acute myocardial infarction) also known as a heart attack, occurs when the blood supply Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A brief memorial message from Martin Sheen ran before "Running Mates", the first new episode that aired after Spencer's death. A memorial is an object which serves as a memory of something usually a person (who has died or an event Martin Sheen (born Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez on August 3, 1940) is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning American Actor who earned " Running Mates " is episode 142 of The West Wing. It begins with an introduction from Martin Sheen, who pays tribute to John Spencer The loss of Spencer's character was addressed by the series beginning with the episode "Election Day", which aired on April 2, 2006. " Election Day Part I " is episode 148 of The West Wing. Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

Different performers had been originally considered for many of the roles. Bradley Whitford states in an interview on the Season 1 DVD that he was originally cast as Sam, though the character of Josh was the role Whitford had wanted and for which he had auditioned. Bradley Whitford (born October 10, 1959) is an Emmy Award -winning American Actor. In addition, Josh's character had been written specifically for him by Aaron Sorkin. In the same interview, Janel Moloney states that she had originally auditioned for the role of C. J. , and that the role she eventually received, Donna, was not meant to be a recurring character. Other actors who were seriously considered included Alan Alda and Sidney Poitier for the President, Judd Hirsch for Leo, Eugene Levy for Toby, and CCH Pounder for C. Alan Alda (born January 28 1936 is an American Actor. He is well known for his role as " Hawkeye Pierce " in the Television series Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE (ˈpwɑːtie born February 20, 1927) is an Oscar - Golden Globe - BAFTA - and Grammy Judd Hirsch (born March 15, 1935) is an American Actor, known for playing the character Alex Reiger on the television comedy series Eugene Levy (born December 17, 1946) is a Canadian Emmy - and Grammy Award -winning Actor, Television director Carol Christine Hilaria Pounder (born December 25, 1952) is a three-time Emmy Award -nominated English - American Film and J. ^[8]

Plot

See also: List of The West Wing episodes

The West Wing, like many serial dramas, stretches storylines over several episodes or entire seasons. The following is an episode list for the NBC serial Drama Television series The West Wing. In addition to these larger storylines, each episode also contains smaller arcs which usually begin and end within an 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 ("Five Votes Down") to personal issues like sex ("Pilot", "Take Out The Trash Day") and personal drug use (a major plotline throughout the first and second seasons). " Five Votes Down " is the 4th episode of The West Wing. " Pilot " is the first episode of the American serial drama The West Wing. " Take out the Trash Day " is the 13th episode of The West Wing. 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 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 master shot is a Film recording of an entire dramatized scene from start to finish from an angle that keeps all the players in view These "walk and talks" became a trademark of the show. Walk and Talk - sometimes referred to as pedeconferencing - is a distinctive storytelling-technique used in film and television in which a number of characters have a conversation The final two seasons delivered somewhat of a narrative change, with the focus of the show dividing between plots in the West Wing with President Bartlet and his remaining senior staffers and plots revolving around the rest of main cast on the campaign trail for the 2006 election. The US presidential election of 2006 is a fictional event portrayed during the sixth and seventh seasons on the American Television show The

In the first season, the administration is in the middle of its first year and is still having trouble settling in and making progress 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 for a second term. The third and fourth seasons take an in-depth look at the campaign trail and the specter of both foreign and domestic terrorism. In the fifth season, the president begins to encounter 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 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is the presiding officer&mdashor speaker &mdashof the United States House of Representatives. 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 about a secret NASA program from inside the White House, while the Democratic and Republican candidates battle to replace him in the general election.

Evolution

The series developed from the 1995 theatrical film The American President, for which Aaron Sorkin wrote the screenplay. The American President is a 1995 Romantic comedy film directed by Rob Reiner and written by Aaron Sorkin. Aaron Benjamin Sorkin (born June 9 1961 is an American Screenwriter, producer and Playwright. Unused plot elements from the film and a suggestion from Akiva Goldsman inspired Sorkin to create The West Wing. Akiva J Goldsman (born July 7, 1962) is an American Screenwriter and producer in the motion picture industry

According to the DVD commentary, Sorkin intended to center the show on the senior staff 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 performance raised his character's profile, decreasing Lowe's perceived significance. In addition, according to Sorkin, the storylines began to focus less on Sam and more on Josh Lyman, the deputy chief of staff. This shift is one of the reasons for Lowe's eventual departure from the show in the fourth season. ^[9] For the first four seasons, 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 in which he began to develop his signature dialogue style of rhythmic, snappy, and intellectual banter. Sports Night is an American Television series about a fictional Sports news show (also called Sports Night) and the people who 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 became part of The West Wing's signature visual style. Thomas Schlamme (born May 22, 1950) is an American Television director. Walk and Talk - sometimes referred to as pedeconferencing - is a distinctive storytelling-technique used in film and television in which a number of characters have a conversation ^[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 an arrest for possession of illegal drugs. ^[12] Thomas Schlamme also left the show after the fourth season. Thomas Schlamme (born May 22, 1950) is an American Television director. John Wells, the remaining executive producer, took the helm after their departure. John Marcum Wells (born May 28, 1956) is a Theater and Television producer and Writer.

The show aired its series finale on Sunday, May 14, 2006. Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. It had suffered a significant ratings fall after being placed in the same timeslot as ABC's Top 20 hit Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and CBS's Top 30 hit Cold Case. Extreme Makeover Home Edition, sometimes shortened EMHE, is an Emmy Award -winning Reality television series providing Home renovations CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Cold Case is an American Police procedural Television series revolving around a fictionalized Philadelphia Police Department division

Critical reactions

The West Wing offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of America's most powerful address, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and the show's legitimacy, political slant, and film merits have generated considerable discussion. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the See also Executive Office of the President of the United States The White House, formerly known as the Executive Mansion, is the Official residence

Realism

The West Wing is not completely accurate in its portrayal of the actual West Wing^[13]; however, former White House staffers agree that the show "captures the feel [of the West Wing], shorn of a thousand undramatic details. "^[14]

Former White House Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers as well as expert pollster Patrick Caddell served as consultants for the show from the beginning, helping writers and actors depict the West Wing accurately. 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 Patrick Hayward Caddell (also Pat or Patrick H) (born May 19, 1950, in Rock Hill, South Carolina) is an American public Other former White House staffers, such as Peggy Noonan and Gene Sperling, have served as consultants for brief periods. Peggy Noonan (born Margaret Ellen Noonan on September 7, 1950, in Brooklyn New York) is an author of seven books on politics religion and culture 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 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, 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 best known as a political consultant and presidential advisor during the administrations of Nixon Dee Dee Myers (born Margaret Jane Myers on 1 September 1961 in Providence, Rhode Island) served as White House Press Secretary Secretary of State is a commonly used title for a Government Official. Henry Alfred Kissinger (born Heinz Alfred Kissinger on May 27, 1923) is a German -born American bureaucrat diplomat and 1973 Leon Edward Panetta (born June 28, 1938) is Democratic politician and scholar from California's Central Coast. Karl Christian Rove (born December 25, 1950) was Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr (July 14 1913 December 26 2006 was the thirty-eighth President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977 and the fortieth Vice President James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr (born October 1 1924 was the thirty-ninth President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981 and the recipient of the 2002 William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III, August 19 1946 served as the forty-second President of the United States

While critics often praised The West Wing for its writing, others faulted the show as unrealistically optimistic. ^[15] A large part of this criticism came from the perceived naiveté of the characters. Television critic Heather Havrilesky asked "… 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?"^[16]

Social impact

Despite acclaim for the veracity of the series, Sorkin believed, "My obligation isn't to the truth … my obligation is to captivate you for however long I've asked for your attention. Millipedes (Class Diplopoda, previously also known as Chilognatha are Arthropods that have two pairs of legs per segment (except for the first segment behind " 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, the show created a "subversive competitor" to the cynical views of politics in media. ^[14] 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. "^[13]

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. Political science is a branch of Social sciences that deals with the theory and practice of Politics and the description and analysis of Political systems California State University San Marcos (also CSUSM or Cal State San Marcos) is a campus of the California State University (CSU system located in She concluded, "While the series’ purpose is for-profit entertainment, The West Wing presents great pedagogical potential. Pedagogy (ˈpɛdəgɒdʒi or paedagogy is the Art or Science of being a Teacher. " 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. A talking point is a Neologism for an idea which may or may not be factual usually compiled in a short list with summaries of a speaker's agenda for public or private engagements Face the Nation is an American Sunday-morning political interview show which premiered on the CBS Television network on Meet the Press is a weekly American television news/interview program produced by NBC. However, the merits of 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's opinion, a critical analysis of the show's political views can present a worthwhile learning experience to the viewer. ^[17]

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". Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair (born 6 May 1953 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to The House of Commons' is the Lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords The plan was allegedly hatched after a Conservative Member of Parliament watched the episode, "A Good Day", in which Democrats passed the president's stem cell bill while the Republicans weren't looking. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. " A Good Day " is episode 127 of The West Wing. This episode was said to have played a hand in defeating Tony Blair 's government in the British ^[18]

The Left Wing

The West Wing is sometimes called The Left Wing by detractors because of its portrayal of the ideal liberal administration and an alleged penchant for demonizing conservatives. Liberalism in the United States is a broad political and philosophical mindset favoring individual Liberty, and opposing restrictions on liberty whether they come from ^[19][20][21] Chris Lehmann characterized 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. For the critical reexamination of historical facts see Historical revisionism. The Whitewater controversy (also called the Whitewater scandal, or often simply Whitewater) was an American political controversy that began with the The Lewinsky scandal was a political Sex scandal emerging from a sexual relationship between United States President Bill Clinton and a then ^[22] 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. ^[23] In his 2001 article "Real Liberals versus the West Wing", Mackubin Owens pointed out,

“

Although his administration is reliably liberal, President Bartlet possesses virtues even a conservative could admire. He obeys the Constitution and the law. He is devoted to his wife and daughter [sic]. 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. Quid pro quo ( Latin for "something for something") indicates a more-or-less equal exchange or substitution of goods or services [24]

”

Some praise the show for helping to bridge the gap between the left and the right in America. In Politics, right-wing, the political right, and the Right are positions that uphold traditional values and/or authorities By showing Democratic views on issues and the debate surrounding them, the series has provided many Republicans with useful insights about the views of the left. ^[14]

Filming techniques and reactions

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 repeatedly recognized for its cinematic achievements. See also Filmmaking Cinematography (from Greek: kinesis κινησις (movement and grapho γραφω (to record is the discipline ^[2] With a budget of $6 million per episode, many consider each week's show to be a small feature film. ^[25] However, many in the film community believe that the true genius of the show was Sorkin's rapid-fire and witty scripts. ^[26]

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. A steadicam is a stabilizing mount for a Motion-picture camera, which mechanically isolates the operator's movement from the camera allowing a very smooth shot even when In Motion picture terminology, a tracking shot (also known as a dolly shot or trucking shot) is a segment in which the camera is mounted on a wheeled platform In 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. ^[27]

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. The 52nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held Sunday September 10, 2000. The 53rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held Sunday November 4, 2001. The 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held Sunday September 22 2002 The 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held on September 21, 2003. Hill Street Blues is a serial Police drama that was first aired on NBC in 1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987 LA Law is an American television Legal drama that ran from 1986 to 1994. Each of its seven seasons earned a nomination for the award. As of 2006, The West Wing ranks 8th all-time in number of Emmy Awards won by a series.

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. (Both Hill Street Blues and L.A. Law also hold that record). Hill Street Blues is a serial Police drama that was first aired on NBC in 1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987 LA Law is an American television Legal drama that ran from 1986 to 1994. For 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, Dule 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 the Guest Actor category (although none won the award). This gives 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 have been 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.

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. The Screen Actors Guild ( SAG) is an American labor union representing over 120000 Film and television principal performers and background 7th SAG Awards 8th SAG Awards Martin Sheen is the only cast member to have won a Golden Globe, and he and Allison Janney are the only cast members to win a SAG award (best actor and best actress respectively) In both 1999 and 2000, The West Wing was awarded the Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting. The George Foster Peabody Awards, better known as simply the Peabody Awards, are annual international awards for excellence in Radio and Television broadcasting

The following table summarizes award wins by cast members:

Actor	Awards won
Alan Alda	Emmy, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2006)
Stockard Channing	Emmy, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2002)
Allison Janney	Emmy, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2000, 2001)
	Emmy, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (2002, 2004)
	SAG Award, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (2000, 2001)
Richard Schiff	Emmy, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2000)
Martin Sheen	Golden Globe, Best Actor in a TV Series - Drama (2001)
	SAG Award, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (2000, 2001)
John Spencer	Emmy, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2002)
Bradley Whitford	Emmy, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2001)

W.G. "Snuffy" Walden received an Emmy Award for Main Title Theme Music in 2000 for "The West Wing Opening Theme". Alan Alda (born January 28 1936 is an American Actor. He is well known for his role as " Hawkeye Pierce " in the Television series Stockard Channing (born February 13, 1944) is an American Academy Award - and Golden Globe Award-nominated three time Emmy Allison Brooks Janney (born November 19, 1959) is an Emmy Award -winning American actress, best known for playing C Richard Schiff (born May 27, 1955) is an Emmy Award -winning American actor Martin Sheen (born Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez on August 3, 1940) is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning American Actor who earned The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and Television programs given out each year during a formal dinner John Spencer ( December 20 1946 – December 16 2005) was an Emmy - and Screen Actors Guild Award -winning American Bradley Whitford (born October 10, 1959) is an Emmy Award -winning American Actor. William Garrett Walden (born February 13, 1950, often credited as Snuffy Walden or W

Many cast members have been Emmy-nominated for their work on The West Wing but have not won, including Martin Sheen—who was nominated each year for all 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. Mary-Louise Parker (born August 2, 1964) is an American Tony - Emmy - and Golden Globe -winning actress Matthew Perry, Oliver Platt, Ron Silver, Tim Matheson, and Mark Harmon have also received Emmy nominations for guest starring on the show. Early life and education Perry was born in Williamstown Massachusetts. Oliver Platt (born January 12 1960) is a Canadian stage film and television Actor. Ronald Silver (born July 2 1946) is an American Actor, director, and producer. Tim Matheson (born Timothy Lewis Matthieson on December 31, 1947) is an American Actor. Thomas Mark Harmon (better known as Mark Harmon; born September 2, 1951) is an American Actor.

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. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. 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.

In its second season episode The Midterms, President Bartlet admonishes fictional radio host Dr. " The Midterms " is the 25th episode of The West Wing. Jenna Jacobs for her views regarding homosexuality at a private gathering at the White House. Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex or to a Homosexual orientation. Dr. Jacobs is a caricature of radio personality Dr. Laura Schlessinger, who strongly disapproves of homosexuality. Laura Catherine Schlessinger (born January 16, 1947) is an American Radio host, Author and conservative Commentator According to Barbara Mikkelson of snopes. com, many of the president's biblical references in his comments to Dr. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin Jacobs are thought to have come from an open letter to Dr. Schlessinger, circulated online in early May 2000. ^[28]

The Bartlet administration experiences a scandal during the second and third seasons that has been compared to the Monica Lewinsky affair. Monica Samille Lewinsky (born July 23, 1973) is an American woman with whom then- United States President Bill Clinton admitted to ^[29] President Bartlet was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1992. Multiple sclerosis (abbreviated MS also known as disseminated sclerosis or encephalomyelitis disseminata) is an autoimmune condition in which the The scandal centers 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 accepts Congressional censure. The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. Not to be confused with Censor, Censer or Sensor. Censure (ˈsɛnʃəɹ is a process by which a formal Reprimand 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:

“

For the first time on national television or even in film, the public encountered a lead character with both an MS diagnosis and the hope for a continued productive life. Because [The] West Wing is a fictional drama and not a medical documentary, writers could have greatly distorted MS facts to further their story line [but did not]. [30]

”

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. Events 1217 - The Estonian tribal leader Lembitu of Lehola was killed in a battle against Teutonic Knights. The episode "Isaac and Ishmael" aired on October 3 and addresses the sobering reality of terrorism in America and the wider world, albeit with no specific reference to September 11. " Isaac and Ishmael " is a non-sequential episode of The West Wing which unofficially launched the third season in 2001 Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's Terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion Events 9 - The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest ends 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul While "Isaac and Ishmael" received mixed critical reviews, it illustrated the show's flexibility in addressing current events. The cast of the show state during the opening of the episode that it is not part of The West Wing continuity. In Fiction, continuity (also called time-scheme) is consistency of the characteristics of persons plot, objects places and events seen by the reader or

While the September 11th attacks do not occur in The West Wing continuity, the country does enter into a variation of the War on Terrorism. The War on Terrorism (also known as the War on Terror) is the common term for the military political and legal, and ideological conflict and specifically for U The war begins during the show's third season, when a plot to blow up the Golden Gate Bridge was uncovered; in response, the President orders the assassination of terrorist leader Abdul ibn Shareef. The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension Bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay onto the Pacific Ocean Abdul Ibn Shareef, former Defense minister of Qumar, is a Fictional character played by Al No'mani At the end of the fourth season, the conflict escalates when Zoey Bartlet (Elisabeth Moss), the president's youngest daughter, is kidnapped by Islamic extremists from a fictional country named Qumar. Zoey Patricia Bartlet is a Fictional character played by Elisabeth Moss on the Television serial Drama The West Wing Elisabeth Moss (born July 24, 1982) is an American Actress best known for her portrayal of first daughter Zoey Bartlet on the Qamar al-Qamar القمر in arabic meaning Moon. It is a common name among Muslims. The result of this kidnapping is the bombing of Qumar. Qamar al-Qamar القمر in arabic meaning Moon. It is a common name among Muslims. This storyline draws similarities to the real-world U.S. invasion of Afghanistan as well as U. The War in Afghanistan, which began on October 7 2001 as the U S. relations with Saudi Arabia, as it brings the Middle East to the forefront of U. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi S. foreign relations and elevated terrorism as a serious threat in The West Wing universe. In Seasons 3, 4 and 5, the fictional Bahji terror group seems to act as a fictional stand-in for the real world Al Qaeda, but in Seasons 6 and 7, characters mention Al Qaeda itself as a threat, despite no clearly stated history of Al Qaeda terror attacks in The West Wing continuity (although Nancy McNally does refer to Osama Bin Laden as a potential threat at the beginning of Season 2. Qamar al-Qamar القمر in arabic meaning Moon. It is a common name among Muslims. Al-Qaeda, alternatively spelled al-Qaida, al-Qa`ida or al-Qa`idah, ( Arabic:; ar-Latn ''al-qāʿidah'' Translation: The Osama bin Laden, with some spelling variations is the name used in English to refer to (أسامة بن محمد بن عوض بن لادن born 10 March " In the Shadow of Two Gunmen Part I " is the 23rd episode of The West Wing and the first episode of the second season )

In the middle of the fourth season, Bartlet's White House is confronted with the genocide in the fictional African country of Equatorial Kundu which was compared to Rwandan Genocide of 1994. The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass killing of hundreds of thousands of Rwanda 's minority Tutsis and the moderates of its Hutu majority The result was new foreign policy doctrine for Bartlet Administration and military intervention to stop the violence, which came after much hesitation and reluctance to call the conflict a genocide. In reality, Clinton Administration didn't intervene in Rwanda, making series events look like a moral imperative. The United States Presidency of Bill Clinton, also known as the Clinton Administration, was the executive branch of the Federal A moral imperative is a principle originating inside a person's mind that compels that person to act ^[31]

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. The phrase Plame Affair (also known as the CIA leak scandal, the CIA leak case, the CIA leak grand jury investigation, and Plamegate) refers ^[32][33] In the storyline, the International Space Station is damaged and can no longer produce oxygen for the astronauts to breathe. Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the An astronaut or cosmonaut (космона́вт) is a person trained With no other methods of rescue available, 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. Judith Miller (born January 2, 1948) is an American journalist 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 resulted in the arrest and conviction of Lewis Libby, the vice president's chief of staff. Irve Lewis "Scooter" Libby (born August 22 1950) is a former Assistant to the President of the United States, George W However, Libby was convicted of perjury in testimony to a grand jury. No one was convicted for "blowing the cover" of Plame. (Richard Armitage, an official in the Bush State Department, acknowledged leaking information about Plame to reporters but was never charged with a crime. Richard Armitage may refer to Richard Armitage (actor, English actor Richard Armitage (politician, American politician ) Libby's two and a half year prison sentence was later commuted by President Bush, though the other facet of his sentence ($250,000 fine) stands until Libby's appeals were to be considered.

Other issues explored in The West Wing include:

• North Korean and Iranian nuclear ambitions
• Strained relations and a state of brinksmanship between India and Pakistan
• Legislation of the Central American Free Trade Agreement
• The formation of the Minuteman Project
• Peacemaking and terrorism in Israel, West Bank and the Gaza Strip, including a peace negotiation at Camp David, similar to the Camp David 2000 Summit. North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Brinkmanship is the practice of pushing a dangerous situation to the verge of disaster in order to achieve the most advantageous outcome India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and The Minuteman Project is an activist organization started in April 2005 by a group of private individuals in the United States to monitor the United For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. The West Bank (الضفة الغربية, הגדה המערבית Hagadah Hamaaravit) also referred to in Israel as " Judea and Samaria The Gaza Strip (قطاع غزة, רצועת עזה Retzu'at 'Azza) is a coastal strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea, bordering Egypt on the south-west The Naval Support Facility Thurmont, popularly known as Camp David, is the rustic 125-acre (0 The Middle East Peace Summit at Camp David of July 2000 took place between United States President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister
• The genocide in Darfur, Sudan
• AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa
• The Northern Ireland peace process
• War on Drugs and conflict in Colombia
• Controversy over Intelligent design in schools
• Brinksmanship and potential conflict between the People's Republic of China and Republic of China over Taiwan's political status (including a situation similar to the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis when the PRC holds military exercises in response to the ROC's first democratic elections)
• A hate crime murder, similar to the death of Matthew Shepard
• A federal government shutdown
• The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (referred to directly, along with the fictional Marriage Recognition and Sanctity of Marriage Acts)
• Anthrax attacks against the Bartlet Administration
• The deaths of 3 Americans in the attack on a diplomatic convoy in the Gaza Strip
• A mysterious nuclear detonation in the Indian Ocean, similar to the Vela Incident
• A bombing of apartment blocks in Moscow, leading to allegation that the Russian President orchestrated the attacks
• Federal funding for the arts. Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction in whole or in part of an ethnic racial religious or national group The War in Darfur is a military conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan. Sudan (officially the Republic of Sudan) ( السودان al-Sūdān is a country in northeastern Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa is a geographical term used to describe the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara, or those African countries When discussing the History of Northern Ireland, the " peace process " is generally considered to cover the events leading up to the 1994 Provisional Irish Republican The War on Drugs is a prohibition campaign undertaken by the United States government with the assistance of participating countries intended to reduce the Illegal The Colombian armed conflict or Colombian Civil War are terms that are employed to refer to the current asymmetric low-intensity armed conflict in Intelligent Brinkmanship is the practice of pushing a dangerous situation to the verge of disaster in order to achieve the most advantageous outcome Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The controversy regarding the political status of Taiwan hinges on whether Taiwan, including the Pescadores (Penghu should remain effectively independent as territory The Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, also called the 1995-1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis or the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, was the effect of a series of missile tests conducted Matthew Wayne Shepard (December 1 1976 – October 12 1998 was a gay American student at the University of Wyoming who was murdered near Laramie The 1995 shutdown of the United States federal government was a major political crisis in which the U The Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, is the short title of a Federal law of the United States passed on September 21 1996 as Public Law No The 2001 Anthrax attacks in the United States, also known as Amerithrax from its Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI case name occurred over The Gaza Strip (قطاع غزة, רצועת עזה Retzu'at 'Azza) is a coastal strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea, bordering Egypt on the south-west The Vela Incident (sometimes referred to as the South Atlantic Flash) was an as-yet unidentified double flash of Light detected by a United States The Russian apartment bombings were a series of explosions that hit four apartment blocks in the Russian cities of Buynaksk, Moscow and Volgodonsk

The West Wing universe

See also: List of politicians on The West Wing

Domestic

All contemporary domestic government officials in The West Wing universe have been fictional. The following is a list of fictional political figures that have appeared or been mentioned 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 United States Secretary of Defense ( SECDEF) is the head of the U Many other government officials, such as mayors, governors, judges, representatives, and senators, have been mentioned and seen as well.

Fictional locations inside the United States have been created to loosely represent certain places:

San Andreo

San Andreo is a fictional Californian city. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. It is located near San Diego, has a population of 42,000 and is the location of the San Andreo Nuclear Generating Station. The city's title, Spanish for St. Andrew, seems to be an attempt at an ambiguously Californian locale, due to the prevalence of Spanish place names in the region.

A near meltdown at the nuclear plant becomes the focus of an October surprise for Republican nominee Senator Arnold Vinick during the 2006 presidential election, due to Vinick's strong pro-nuclear stance and revelations of his active lobbying for the construction of the plant. In American Political Jargon, an October surprise is a news event with the potential to influence the outcome of an election particularly one for the presidency Arnold Vinick is a Fictional character on the Television series The West Wing played by Alan Alda. The US presidential election of 2006 is a fictional event portrayed during the sixth and seventh seasons on the American Television show The This was seen to be a key factor in Vinick's narrow defeat in the election by Democratic nominee Congressman Matt Santos. Matthew Vincente 'Matt' Santos is a Fictional character on the American Television show The West Wing, played by Jimmy Smits

Hartsfield's Landing

Hartsfield's Landing is a town in New Hampshire. " Hartsfield's Landing " is episode 58 of The West Wing. It is stated to be a very small community of only 63 people, of whom 42 are registered voters, that votes at one minute past twelve on the day of the New Hampshire primary, hours before the rest of the state, and has accurately predicted the winner of every presidential election since William Howard Taft in 1908. The New Hampshire primary is the first in a series of nationwide Political party Primary elections held in the United States every four years as part of Elections for President and Vice President of the United States are William Howard Taft (September 15 1857 – March 8 1930 was an American politician, the twenty-seventh President of the United States, the tenth Chief Justice The United States presidential election of 1908 was held on November 3 1908 It is based on the true New Hampshire communities of Hart's Location and Dixville Notch, which in real life do vote before the rest of the state during the primaries, and also loosely upon the concept "bellwether states" in US presidential elections. Hart's Location is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. Dixville Notch is an unincorporated village with a population of approximately 75 in the Dixville township of Coos County New Hampshire, USA. A bellwether is any entity in a given arena that serves to create or influence trends or to presage future happenings

Kennison State University

Kennison State is a fictional university in Iowa that was used as the setting of a bombing in the beginning of the fourth season. A university is an institution of Higher education and Research, which grants Academic degrees in a variety of subjects The State of Iowa ( is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America.

Foreign

While several real-world leaders exist in the show's universe, most foreign countries have fictional rulers. Some real persons mentioned in The West Wing include Muammar al-Gaddafi, Yasser Arafat, Fidel Castro, Queen Elizabeth II, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, King Carl Gustaf, Thabo Mbeki and Osama bin Laden. Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi 1 (معمر القذافي) (born 7 June 1942) also known as Colonel Gaddafi Mohammed Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini ( Arabic: محمد عبد الرؤوف عرفات القدوة الحسيني (August 24 1929 – November 11 Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born August 13 1926 is a Cuban revolutionary leader who was prime minister of Cuba from December 1959 to December 1976 and then president until For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II The Chakri dynasty has ruled Thailand since the founding of the Ratthanakosin era in 1782 following the end of Taksin of Thonburi 's reign when the Bhumibol Adulyadej (ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช pʰuːmipʰon adunjadeːt Royal Institute: Phumiphon Adunyadet;) (born Monday 5 December 1927 The monarch is the Head of state of the Kingdom of Sweden. Sweden being a Constitutional monarchy with a Representative democracy based on a Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki (born 18 June 1942 is a South African politician who served as President of South Africa from 1999 to 24 September 2008 Osama bin Laden, with some spelling variations is the name used in English to refer to (أسامة بن محمد بن عوض بن لادن born 10 March 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 the fictional Nizar Farad, not Arafat. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. The President of the Palestinian National Authority ( رئيس السلطة الوطنية الفلسطينية) is the highest-ranking political position (equivalent to (By that time, Arafat was dead, and a successor had been elected, Rawhi Fattuh. Rawhi Fattuh ( روحي فتوح, also transliterated as Rauhi Fattouh) (born 1949 is the former Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council )

Entire countries are invented as composite pictures that epitomize many of the problems that plague real nations in certain areas of the world:

Qumar

Qumar, is a fictional oil-rich, terrorist-sponsoring Middle Eastern state is repeatedly a source of trouble for the Bartlet administration. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. According to maps on the show, Qumar appears to consist of a small part of southern Iran, including the important Strait of Hormuz. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Navigation Ships moving through the Strait follow a Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS which separates inbound from outbound traffic to reduce the risk of collision After the September 11 attacks, it became the main venue for the show's terrorism subplots.

Jabal Nafusah (also the name of a real-life Libyan city) seems to be the largest city and the capital, according to maps shown of the country. Qumar is an absolute monarchy, ruled by a sultan and his family. Absolute monarchy is a monarchical Form of government where the king and queen have absolute power over everything Sultan (سلطان is an Islamic title with several historical meanings The country is a former British protectorate. The nation was first introduced in the third season where it was mentioned as a close ally of the United States. " The Women of Qumar " is the 52nd episode of The West Wing. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Qumar continues on the show to be a U. S. ally, though the Sultan and other officials were extremely troubled by the assassination, bombing campaign and invasion. AssassiNation is the sixth album by Krisiun, released in 2006 on Century Media. As a result of the air strikes, gas pipelines were damaged, leading to economic troubles for the country and its European allies.

Equatorial Kundu

Equatorial Kundu is a fictional African nation blighted by AIDS and a civil war resembling the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass killing of hundreds of thousands of Rwanda 's minority Tutsis and the moderates of its Hutu majority

When Kundu was first mentioned in season 2, it is led by President Nimbala. " In this White House " is the 26th episode of The West Wing. In January 2003 of the series' timeline ("Inauguration, Part I"), the Arkutu-run government of President Nzele (described as a "sadistic madman") begins an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Induye in Bitanga, killing 200 people. " Inauguration Part I " is episode 79 of The West Wing. The violence soon spreads outside Bitanga and into the countryside. In President Josiah Bartlet's second inaugural address ("Inauguration Over There"), he announces the new Bartlet Doctrine for the use of force: America shall intervene whenever there are humanitarian interests at stake. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by Dr Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet is a Fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the Television serial Drama An inauguration is a ceremony of formal Investiture whereby an individual assumes an office or position of authority or power " Inauguration Over There " is episode 80 of The West Wing. United States Presidential doctrines are key goals, attitudes, or Stances for United States foreign affairs outlined by Presidents With that new doctrine, Bartlet sends a brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division, the 101st Airborne Division, and a Marine expeditionary unit, a force of 11,000 troops in total, to Kundu ("The California 47th"). " The California 47th " is episode 81 of The West Wing. As of the episode "Twenty Five," US forces are still operating in Kundu. " Twenty-Five " is episode 88 of The West Wing. The season four finale to The West Wing centers around the graduation of President Bartlet

In its original appearance, Kundu's location is somewhat ambiguous. President Nimbala and his aide appear to speak Setswana, a Bantu language spoken in South Africa and Botswana, which would imply a Southern African setting. Tswana ( Setswana) is a Bantu language written in the Latin Alphabet. Bantu may refer to Bantu expansion, a series of migrations of Bantu speakers Bantu languages Bantu people Southern Africa is the Southernmost Region of the African Continent, variably defined by Geography or Geopolitics. The Season 4 appearance seems to more firmly place the country in West Africa, near to the Ivory Coast and Ghana. West Africa or Western Africa is the Westernmost Region of the African Continent. Côte d'Ivoire (ˌkoʊt divˈwɑː(r ' in English, kot diˈvwaʀ in French) or Ivory Coast, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a The Republic of Ghana is a country in West Africa. It borders Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast to the west Burkina Faso to the north Togo to the Its capital city is Bitanga, which contains a major airport, TV station and a radio station.

Presidential elections

Timeline skew

The last real president who is known to have existed in the show's universe is Richard Nixon. Leo Thomas McGarry is a Fictional character played by John Spencer on the television serial Drama Joshua "Josh" Lyman is a Fictional character played by Bradley Whitford on the television drama The West Wing. The Governor of the State of New Hampshire is the supreme executive magistrate of the U Dr Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet is a Fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the Television serial Drama Presidents who served between Nixon and Bartlet include one-term Democrat D. Wire Newman (James Cromwell) who was the last Democrat in the White House before Bartlet and two-term Republican Owen Lassiter. " The Stormy Present " is episode 98 of The West Wing. James Oliver Cromwell (born January 27, 1940) sometimes credited as Jamie Cromwell, is an American Film and Television " The Stormy Present " is episode 98 of The West Wing. Also in the second-season episode "Galileo," a portrait of Bill Clinton can be seen hanging on the wall of the Situation Room, when President Bartlet is being briefed about the Russian missile silo explosion, although Clinton is never mentioned at any time in the series. William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III, August 19 1946 served as the forty-second President of the United States

Leo McGarry is mentioned as being Labor Secretary in the administration that was in office in 1993 and 1995 - directly prior to Bartlet's, suggesting a Democratic administration. However in the first season, an outgoing Supreme Court Justice tells president Bartlet that he had been wanting to retire for 5 years, (1994) but waited "for a Democrat. " In the series four episode "Debate Camp", we see in flashback to the days just before Bartlet's inauguration, as Donna Moss meets with her Republican predecessor, Jeff Johnson who makes it clear that the outgoing Republican administration has been in office for eight years and in the sixth season Leo says the Republicans have been "out of power for eight years" and Republicans at their convention say "eight (years) is enough", making it clear that the President before Bartlet was a Republican, but it was never disclosed if this President was President Lassiter. Donnatella 'Donna' Moss is a Fictional character played by Janel Moloney on the Television serial Drama The West Wing

The passage of time on the show relative to that of the real world is somewhat ambiguous when marked by events of smaller duration (e. g. , votes, campaigns). Sorkin 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. DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is On disc based video formats an audio commentary is an additional audio track consisting of a lecture or comments by one or more speakers that plays in real time with video " 18th and Potomac " is the 43rd episode of The West Wing. Despite this, real years are occasionally mentioned, usually in the context of elections and President Bartlet's two-term administration.

The show's presidential elections are 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. ). The election timeline in The West Wing matches up with that of the real world until early in the sixth season, when it appears that a year is lost. For example, the filing deadline for the New Hampshire primary, which would normally fall in January 2006, appears in an episode airing in January 2005. The New Hampshire primary is the first in a series of nationwide Political party Primary elections held in the United States every four years as part of

In an interview, 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. ^[34]

In the season 5 episode "Access," it is mentioned that the Casey Creek crisis occurred during Bartlet's first term, and network footage of the crisis carries the date of November 2001. " Access " is episode 106 of The West Wing. Plot Producing a program on past and present White House press secretaries a television documentary

1998 presidential election

Bartlet's first campaign for president is never significantly explored 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. An electoral college is a set of many electors who are empowered to elect a candidate to a particular Office. Bartlet faced three debates with his Republican opponent. It is mentioned that Bartlet won the third and final debate, which was held eight days before election day in St Louis, Missouri, and that this helped swing a close election in his favor. Missouri ( or) is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee Josh Lyman said in the days prior to the election "Bartlet was punching brick walls" as the result seemed too close to call, before the result broke his way. Joshua "Josh" Lyman is a Fictional character played by Bradley Whitford on the television drama The West Wing. Leo McGarry said the same thing in "Bartlet for America" when he said "It was eight days to go, and we were too close to call". Leo Thomas McGarry is a Fictional character played by John Spencer on the television serial Drama " Bartlet for America " is the 53rd episode of The West Wing.

The campaign for the Democratic nomination is 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. " Bartlet for America " is the 53rd episode of The West Wing. John Hoynes is a Fictional character played by Tim Matheson on the American Television series The West Wing. Tim Matheson (born Timothy Lewis Matthieson on December 31, 1947) is an American Actor. Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The flashbacks also reveal 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. New Hampshire ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America.

2002 presidential election

Main article: The West Wing presidential election, 2002

The West Wing's 2002 presidential election pits Bartlet and Vice President John Hoynes against Florida Governor Robert Ritchie (James Brolin) and his running mate, Jeff Heston. The United States presidential election in 2002 was a fictional Robert Ritchie may refer to Robert Ritchie American rapper known as Kid Rock Robert Ritchie (TV character, fictional character played by James Brolin (born July 18 1940) is an American Television, Film, Character actor, producer, and director Bartlet faces no known opposition for renomination, though Democratic Senator Stackhouse does launch a brief independent campaign for the presidency. Ritchie, not originally expected to contend for the nomination, emerges from a field of seven other Republican candidates by appealing to the party's conservative base with simple, "homey" sound bites.

Bartlet's staff contemplates replacing Vice President John Hoynes on the ticket with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Percy Fitzwallace (John Amos), among others. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ( CJCS) is by law the highest ranking military officer overall in the United States Armed Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks of the highest Naval officers Admiral Percy "Fitz" Fitzwallace, played by John Amos, is the Fictional Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the Television series John Amos (born December 27, 1939) is an American Actor and former football player who has received both a Primetime Emmy After it is clear that Ritchie will be the Republican nominee, Bartlet dismisses the idea, declaring that he wants Hoynes in the number two spot, "Because I could die. "

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

2006 presidential election

Main article: The West Wing presidential election, 2006

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, resulted in the omission of the 2004 midterm elections and an election during the seventh season. The sixth season extensively details 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 slows down to concentrate on the general election race. The election, normally held in November, takes place across two episodes originally broadcast on April 2 and April 9, 2006. Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of Events 193 - Septimius Severus is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the army in Illyricum (in the Balkans)

Congressman Matt Santos (D-TX) (Jimmy Smits) is nominated on the fourth ballot at the Democratic National Convention, during the sixth season finale. Matthew Vincente 'Matt' Santos is a Fictional character on the American Television show The West Wing, played by Jimmy Smits Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. Jimmy Smits (born July 9, 1955) is an American Golden Globe - and Emmy -winning Actor. The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. Santos was planning to leave Congress before being recruited to run for the presidency by Josh Lyman. The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses Joshua "Josh" Lyman is a Fictional character played by Bradley Whitford on the television drama The West Wing. 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 vaults him to a third-place finish with 19% of the vote. The Iowa caucuses are an electoral event in which residents of the U The New Hampshire primary is the first in a series of nationwide Political party Primary elections held in the United States every four years as part of Josh Lyman, Santos's campaign manager, convinces Leo McGarry to become Santos's running mate. Leo Thomas McGarry is a Fictional character played by John Spencer on the television serial Drama However, John Spencer, the actor portraying Leo McGarry, died on December 16, 2005. John Spencer ( December 20 1946 – December 16 2005) was an Emmy - and Screen Actors Guild Award -winning American Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Senator Arnold Vinick (R-CA) (Alan Alda) secures the Republican nomination, defeating Glen Allen Walken (John Goodman) and the Reverend Don Butler (Don S. Davis), among others. Arnold Vinick is a Fictional character on the Television series The West Wing played by Alan Alda. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Alan Alda (born January 28 1936 is an American Actor. He is well known for his role as " Hawkeye Pierce " in the Television series Glen Allen Walken (sometimes spelled 'Glenallen' or 'Glen Alan' Walken is a fictional character on The West Wing played by John Goodman. John Stephen Goodman (born June 20 1952 is a Golden Globe - and Emmy -winning American Actor. The Reverend is a style used as a Prefix to the names of many Christian Clergy and ministers It is correctly called a style rather Reverend Don Butler is a Fictional conservative Televangelist from Virginia, played by Don S Don Sinclair Davis ( August 4 1942 - June 29 2008) was an American Character actor, Theatre Professor Initially, Vinick wants Butler to become his running mate. However, Butler does not want to be considered because of Vinick's stance on abortion. An Instead, West Virginia Governor Ray Sullivan (Brett Cullen) is chosen as Vinick's running mate. West Virginia ( is a state in the Appalachian Upland South, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, bordered by Ray Sullivan was a Fictional Republican governor of West Virginia, played by Brett Cullen. Peter Brett Cullen (born August 26, 1956) is a native of Houston, Texas, who has appeared in numerous Motion pictures and Television Vinick is 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. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Vinick, however, faces difficulty with the pro-life members of his party as a pro-choice candidate, and criticism for his support of nuclear power following a serious accident at a Californian nuclear power station. Overview See also Ethical aspects of abortion Pro-life individuals generally believe that human life should be valued either from conception or Implantation Overview See also Ethical aspects of abortion Pro-choice advocates emphasize their beliefs that having a child is a personal choice that affects a woman's body and

On the evening of the election, Leo McGarry suffers a massive heart attack and is pronounced dead at the hospital, with the polls still open on the West Coast. Myocardial infarction ( MI or AMI for acute myocardial infarction) also known as a heart attack, occurs when the blood supply The " West Coast " " Western Seaboard " or " Pacific Seaboard " are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the Western United States The Santos campaign releases the information immediately, while Arnold Vinick refuses to use Leo's death as a "stepstool" to the presidency. Arnold Vinick is a Fictional character on the Television series The West Wing played by Alan Alda. Santos emerges as the winner in his home state of Texas, while Vinick wins his home state of California. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The election comes down to Nevada, where both candidates need a victory to secure the presidency. Nevada ( is a state located in the western region of the United States of America. Vinick tells his staff repeatedly that he will not allow his campaign to demand a recount of the votes if Santos is declared the winner. Josh Lyman is seen giving Santos the same advice, although the Santos campaign does send a team of lawyers down to Nevada. Santos is pronounced the winner of the election, having won Nevada by 30,000 votes, with an electoral margin of 272–266.

Santos organizes his administration, choosing Josh Lyman as Chief of Staff, who in turn calls on former colleague Sam Seaborn to be Deputy Chief of Staff. In need of experienced cabinet members, Santos taps Arnold Vinick as Secretary of State, believing the senior statesman to be one of the best strategists available and respected by foreign leaders. The United States Secretary of State (commonly abbreviated as SecState) is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with Foreign affairs

President Bartlet's final act as President of the United States is pardoning Toby Ziegler. The series ends with Bartlet returning to New Hampshire. Having said his goodbyes to his closest staff, former President Bartlet tells President Santos, "Make me proud, Mr. President", to which Santos responds, "I'll do my best, Mr. President. "

According to executive producer Lawrence O'Donnell, the writers originally intended for Vinick to win the election. However, the death of Spencer forced him and his colleagues to consider the emotional strain that would result 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. John Marcum Wells (born May 28, 1956) is a Theater and Television producer and Writer. ^[35] Other statements from John Wells, however, have contradicted O'Donnell's claims about a previously planned Vinick victory. The script showing Santos winning was written long before the death of John Spencer.

Similarities between the fictional 2006 election and the real-life 2008 U.S. presidential election have been noted in the media. The United States presidential election of 2008, scheduled for Tuesday November 4 2008 will be the 56th consecutive Specifically, it has been noted that a young minority Democratic candidate (Matthew Santos on the show, Barack Obama in real life) has a grueling but successful primary campaign against a more experienced candidate (Bob Russell on the show, Hillary Clinton in real life), whereas the Republican contest is determined early in the primary season with an aging maverick senator being the nominee (Arnold Vinick on the show, John McCain in real life). Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton (born October 26 1947 is the junior United States Senator from ^[36][37]

See also

• List of The West Wing broadcasters and home video releases
• Big Block of Cheese Day
• Commander in Chief, an ABC series about a female President that has drawn comparisons to The West Wing
• Sports Night, Aaron Sorkin's first television series. The following is a list of television broadcasters who air The West Wing and a list of home video releases for The West Wing. " The Crackpots and These Women " is the 5th episode of The West Wing. Commander in Chief is an American drama Television series that focused on the fictional administration and family of Mackenzie Allen (portrayed The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network. Sports Night is an American Television series about a fictional Sports news show (also called Sports Night) and the people who Many of its storylines were recycled in The West Wing.
• Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme's latest television series collaboration
• Yes Minister, 1980s satire of British government
• Politics in fiction

References

External links

Official websites

• United States: NBC, Bravo, and Warner Bros
• United Kingdom: More4 (Channel Four) and Warner Bros
• Japan: NHK Official Homepage of The West Wing - Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, and Season 4
• Canada: CTV
• Sweden: SVT
• Netherlands: RTL4
• Norway: NRK

General

• The West Wing at the Internet Movie Database
• The West Wing Transcripts or Fan Transcribed Scripts
• The West Wing Episode Guide
• The West Wing Episode Guide with consumer ratings
• The West Wing Wiki
• White House Museum: "The West Wing of The West Wing" with layout, pictures, and reviews comparing the TV West Wing to the real West Wing

Articles

• PBS Newshour Special Report on The West Wing

Preceded by The Sopranos

Golden Globe – Best Television Series – Drama 2001

Succeeded by Six Feet Under

The Sopranos is an American Television drama series created by David Chase. Documentary series and mini-series are also eligible for this award as shown by the consecutive awards to Rich Man Poor Man, Roots, and 60 Minutes. Six Feet Under is an American Television Drama created by Alan Ball that was originally broadcast from 2001 to 2005

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