The West Wing s03e01 Episode Script
Manchester: Part 1
Previously on The West Wing: Most troubling is Haitian troops parked in front of every police station in Port-au-Prince.
If they take the embassy, how will we know? They're taking the embassy.
- Mrs.
Landingham was driving back here.
- Is she all right? No.
She's dead.
Ten years ago the president was diagnosed with MS.
He concealed it during election, but we're going public with an interview and press conference.
Is the president gonna run for re-election? There's gonna be a press conference tonight.
I'd watch.
Please! I can only answer Has there been discussion of a special prosecutor? Tomorrow the president will direct the Attorney General to appoint a special prosecutor.
Yes.
- I can't see.
Joan? - Can you tell us how that will work? A list of three prosecutors is given to a three-judge panel.
The prosecutors as well as the judges were all appointed by Republican presidents.
- How soon until witnesses are called? - I don't know.
Any idea who will be on the witness list? I can't comment on a witness list that doesn't exist.
I imagine subpoenas will be issued to most senior White House staff including myself.
- C.
J.
! - What about Congress? - I'm sorry? - Will Congress hold hearings? - I'd imagine.
- Which committee will have jurisdiction - I can't comment on what hearings Congress has in mind.
There will be one, but you have to talk to Congress.
Okay.
Here now, the president of the United States.
Front row on your right.
Yes, Sandy.
Mr.
President, can you tell us right now if you'll be seeking a second term? I'm sorry, there was a little bit of noise there.
Can you repeat the question? Yes, sir.
Can you tell us right now if you'll be seeking a second term? Yeah.
And I'm going to win.
C.
J.
C.
J.
C.
J.
Yeah.
- We're here.
- Oh, yeah, thank you.
Thanks.
- Mr.
President.
- Bruno.
- I got a new section that I'd like you to - Give it to Leo.
C.
J.
The speech is written.
They're ironing a few things out.
It's written.
- I'm not talking about the speech.
- What? I got a source that says the FDA's gonna pull the trigger on mifepristone.
- Mifepristone is? - RU-486.
The FDA is an independent agency.
I could get in trouble for knowing this.
No, it's nonproprietary information delivered by a nongovernmental person.
You're fine.
I'll ask one of my 14 lawyers about that.
When are they gonna announce? That's the thing.
They're doing it on Monday.
- Monday? - Right before his speech.
Okay, thanks.
C.
J.
! There are now seven different drafts of the speech.
The president likes none of them.
Toby and Doug can't get together.
Sam and Doug can't get together.
Leo and Bruno can't get together.
- I gotta talk to you - If anyone asks, the speech is done.
That's what I've been saying.
Listen.
Come here.
Paulson got it from a source, the FDA is signing off on RU-486.
- When are they going to announce? - On Monday.
Come on! You didn't take care of this? I told all departments, no news on Monday.
We get the cycle to ourselves.
FDA's an independent agency.
We're kicking off our campaign on the same day - Yeah.
- Perfect.
- I'm sorry, but - I'm also not wild about pictures of him on the plane without his wife.
- I can't generate images of her.
- She's getting in in the morning? - We'll do some pictures.
- I'll call Gail Trent, confirm this thing.
- Maybe we want to postpone.
- Why? I don't know, he's got laryngitis or something.
C.
J.
Anybody asks, the speech is done.
We're putting - Yeah.
What's Toby's problem with me? - What do you mean? He's got a problem with me.
I'd like to understand it.
- I wouldn't worry about it.
- I do worry.
I have a job to do.
He's making it harder.
I don't Connie? The place has a communications center conference room, an operating room, offices and an apartment.
This is a nice ride.
Yes.
If anyone asks, the speech is done, they're putting finishing touches on it.
- Yeah.
- Thank you.
M&M's with the seal of the president.
- C.
J.
, when do we see an advance? - Very soon.
- The speech's done? - Done.
They're ironing a few things out.
Toby and Sam have no problems with Bruno's people? Everybody's getting along great, dotting the I's and crossing the T's.
This thing reads like an Andy Williams special! We're starting over on a white piece of paper! - I'm gonna take my seat now.
Good evening.
From the flight deck, this is Lieutenant Colonel Gantry.
We're closing our cabin doors and we ask that you be seated in preparation for takeoff.
We'll be flying at a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet.
Our flight path will take us over Hartford, Connecticut Greenfield, Massachusetts.
And our flight time to Pease Air Force Base, New Hampshire will be approximately one hour and 10 minutes.
We anticipate a smooth flight.
Can you tell us right now if you'll be seeking a second term? Yeah.
And I'm going to win.
That announcement coming about 15 minutes ago was made on the heels of the president's stunning disclosure - Abbey? - Jed? - Listen.
- You missed it.
It was incredible.
- Look - All over the news.
- Abbey - This crazy man got up in front of millions of people and screwed his wife.
That's funny, because that's sort of what I did.
You can't think this is funny.
- I don't.
- You can't think this is a joke.
I don't.
I swear.
- There are ways of getting out of this.
- Yeah? You buried Dolores Landingham this afternoon.
- You couldn't be expected to make - Are you gonna? Let time go by, a few weeks.
Say you've consulted with your doctors, your family which, amazingly, people would believe.
- And then you say you decided - I'm running again, Abbey.
Yeah? - Look, I have a lot to say.
- You and me both.
Go ahead.
- What? - Say what you have to say.
No.
I have to go down.
They're gonna brief me on an evacuation plan for Haiti.
All right.
You gonna be up later? When? Probably 3 or 4.
Am I usually up at 3 or 4 in the morning? Not usually.
Then let's assume I won't be tonight.
Donna! - Where you been? - Motorcade left without me.
- I drove back with Ed and Larry.
- They couldn't drive faster? Not faster than a presidential motorcade.
Set up a conference call so Cabinet Affairs can brief.
- The subcabinet too? - Yeah, and congressional leaders.
- You ever seen anything like this? - No.
- I'm monumentally pumped.
- Me too.
Set up the calls, would you? - Toby? - Leo's gotta cancel the public schedule.
- Done.
- You're talking to Cabinet Affairs? Donna's setting it up.
Why aren't you smiling? - Because I'm wet.
- I'm wet and I'm smiling.
I'm smiling on the inside.
Ginger? Public Liaison wrote up talking points two hours ago.
- They're no good anymore.
- When will we get new ones? - Public Liaison? Half an hour.
- Fifteen minutes.
Call the network.
Get one of our people on every single broadcast tonight.
Okay, let's try not to do that a lot.
- Why isn't he smiling? - On the inside.
Round up medical experts for morning shows and divvy up columnists.
Nancy? - Need C.
J.
as soon as she's free.
- She'll be down there for hours.
- She's surrounded.
- Get her on the phone.
- And I need Oliver Babish.
- You gonna put him in the briefing room? Send a message we're not worried about the legal side.
What are you all looking at? Good evening, Mr.
President.
What do you guys think the news is gonna lead with tomorrow? Sir? Yeah.
- Haiti? - Yeah.
All right.
Don't worry about Haiti.
Let's do what we have to.
Mike, is that four AV-8s? Yeah.
And four AH-1 s.
- Good evening.
- Good evening, Mr.
President.
Mr.
President, this is Operation Swift Fury.
We deploy a landing ship helicopter assault to evacuate both the Americans and Dessaline.
What's in the LHA? Four CH-53E's with 35 troops for combat support and eight CH-46 helicopters.
- That's for cargo and ammunition? - Yeah.
We also have four Cobras two Hueys for command and control, and four Harriers.
- Where do you launch? - A soccer stadium there.
- Le Stade Alain Toussaint.
- It's a quarter-mile from the embassy.
So these helicopters land on the roof and Take the Americans and Dessaline to the Enterprise.
Code word"Paris" for the operation.
What are the possibilities of civilian casualties? A curfew's been imposed, the Signal Intelligence flights say there aren't civilians within 2 blocks.
- How long do I have? - Paris will be in place in two hours, sir.
- Okay.
Thank you.
- Mr.
President.
- Yeah? Hey, redheaded girl.
Margaret.
Okay.
I need to see him.
He's in his cabin.
You can go back.
Yeah.
- Listen - Bruno - Look - Hang on.
No, I won't hang on.
Who told Doug to write a draft? - This was simply in order - Who told him? - I told him.
- It's got an apology.
Also, it stinks.
Yeah.
Okay, it lacks a certain - Quality? - Yeah.
Doug isn't here to write poetry.
The purpose is to demonstrate that an apology can work.
- He won't apologize.
- Why? It's his official campaign announcement, not Oprah.
- Doing Oprah wouldn't kill him.
- I believe it might.
In four weeks In four weeks, he's made a full disclosure of his health.
He has educated the public about MS.
He has done this every day.
He has done everything Except apologized.
In four weeks, he has saved Haiti for democracy funded the Justice Department's tobacco lawsuit watched the market rebound.
He has done everything, but apologize.
You think he apologizes and his numbers go up? I think you brought me because they haven't yet.
- They have.
- Two points in a month? If he runs for re-election 27 years from now, he's got a fighting chance.
I gotta make calls.
Talk to me about this in town.
Ladies, gentlemen, Lieutenant Colonel Gantry.
We're making our final approach to Pease Air Force Base.
If you'll take your seats and fasten your seat belts.
- Listen.
- You should sit down.
We're landing.
- I talked to Gail Trent.
- And? She confirmed it.
The FDA is going to announce.
- On Monday.
- Yeah.
What were they talking about back there? - Leo and Bruno? - Yeah.
A lack of yeast in our numbers.
"Yeast" is a fun word to say.
I'm sorry I got in your face before.
Our numbers are less than yeasty.
They are.
We need a new poll in the field right now.
- Yes.
I'll tell you why.
- Because the first one was bogus.
Totally.
I'll tell you why.
isn't representative of the country.
Plus, people respond differently to voting out a governor versus a president.
Governors are expendable.
If the country's on track they want to keep the president - In charge, if at all possible.
- Bartlet's always scored - High in trustworthy.
So he has a shield against character attacks? Yes.
Not to mention, the information presented during the interview informed the public MS isn't fatal.
We need to put another poll in the field now.
Thank you all for coming around to the self-evident point I made five minutes ago.
- We gotta put another poll in the field.
- What happened? - My ride left without me.
- Mine too.
I got a ride with Larry and Ed.
Yes.
Didn't you see me jumping up and down, waving my arms in the air? - I thought you were happy.
- Me too.
- You're an idiot.
- Which one of us are you talking to? Listen to me.
He did incredibly well on TV tonight.
- We gotta put another poll in the field.
- We know.
There's a difference between a governor and a president.
won't give you a good sample.
- This is a lot like Dupont Circle.
- We're there already, Joe.
- I was stuck in the rain.
- Put the poll in the field.
The hotel is up on the right.
What's mifepristone? A pill that will abort a pregnancy up to 49 days.
- Mifepristone is RU-486? - Yes.
- And the FDA's approving it? - Yes.
Hallelujah! See, I think you're thinking somehow this pill means more sex for you.
No.
I'm thinking it's a terrific medical advancement for women.
- You didn't think I'd be for it? - Of course you are.
I'm for it.
- Everybody's for it, just not on Monday.
- Why not? It'll get folded into our news cycle when we want it to ourselves.
It gives pro-lifers something to scream about.
It'll look like the campaign screwed up.
The press will write a process story instead of about our issues.
- Isn't this one of our issues? - Not on Monday.
I'm checking in.
Sure, I'll get the bags.
- What do you need? - Absolut martini on the rocks.
- Olives? - Thank you.
- Is it always this crowded? - Only when the circus is in town.
Toby Ziegler, what did you bring me? M&M's from Air Force One, Lois.
Thank you.
Jack Daniel's.
Yes, please.
- Did you? - I read it, yes.
It was to demonstrate that an apology can work.
He's not gonna apologize.
- What about the rest of the speech? - We're starting over.
Toby, if he doesn't apologize on Monday we're going to spend the next Then when he does, it's gonna be because he had to.
There are moments, and when they're missed - I've done this before.
- Like Haiti.
Don't talk about military strategy in a conversation like this.
If the table had been set, he'd been able to invade You wanna speak up? I'm not sure the press corps heard you.
- Toby.
Jack Daniel's.
- Thank you.
You guys friends? Yeah.
- Is he in? - He's waiting for you.
Joey's putting a poll in the field in the morning.
Good.
The first poll was bogus.
- Leo, we've been through this.
- All right.
Well, good.
- Where's the president? - In the residence.
How's the first lady? With everything on our plates we don't need to be marriage counselors now.
No, we should, because you and I would be really good at it.
- Excuse me.
- They're ready? - Here we go.
- Cobra 2, copy.
Cobra 2, what's your position? Raven, Cobra 1 is Charlie.
Raven, Cobra 2 is Charlie.
Copy.
Cobra 1, Cobra 2, you are go for mission status.
We'll hear Ratner from Port-au-Prince completing each operation phase.
- Where are we? - Both Cobras are in position.
Raven, Dragon is Delta.
Copy.
Dragon, you are go for Operation Swift Fury.
- How long does it take? - They'll start in 40 seconds.
They ready the two pairs of Cobras over Bazan's troops to secure the landing.
Then we pick up And haul ass to Paris.
Yeah.
How are you doing? Not bad.
How about you? Not bad.
Wish I could have been at the funeral.
You had your hands full.
I was proud of our boy.
- Yeah.
- How's the first lady doing? - Let's not do that right now.
- Yeah.
This silence makes me crazy.
Come on.
Raven, Dragon has all personnel secured.
Dragon is lifting to Paris.
Copy.
Dragon is lifting to Paris.
Dragon is away.
Raven, Cobra 1 is taking fire.
It's from across It's from inside the building across from the embassy.
Engaging.
I'm hit.
Raven, Cobra 2.
Cobra 1 has taken some fire.
Smoke's coming from the tail.
-He's hit in the cockpit.
-Cobra 1, what is your status? Raven, Cobra 1.
I've got some injuries.
Copy that.
Cobra 1, can you make it back to Paris? Yeah, we're gonna try.
Raven, Cobra 2.
I'm engaged with a squad of HNP troops.
Several light machine guns.
Engaging with 20-millimeter and 2.
75 rockets.
Raven, Cobra 2.
Target neutralized.
Returning to Paris.
Copy that.
All right.
Well, we're in it now.
Our hotel is located just a few miles from the sight of John Goffe's Mill.
"Hunter John, as he was called, was granted the land as a reward for his services to the colony in the French and Indian Wars.
" Let me tell you something, we don't do that enough anymore.
"I seek re-election to the presidency not because of its glories but because of its difficulties.
" Challenges? Challenge is better than difficulties.
Yes.
"Later in life he built the water-powered grist mill with his son Colonel John Goffe and his grandson Major John Goffe.
" The Goffes.
Will"challenges" make us think one of the difficulties is that he's got MS? It makes us think he's up for a challenge.
I agree.
- C.
J.
? - Yeah.
- You wanna play some pool? - I don't know how.
You want to play for money? - Sure.
- What are you doing? I'm drawing inspiration from the strength of the Goffe family.
The descendants of Hunter John have been owners and operators of the Goffe family mill for over two centuries now.
"In 1845 when Theodore 'Ody' Goffe was the proprietor the mill burned to the ground.
" Well, that totally blows.
C.
J.
! The operation was launched from the deck of the USS Enterprise 60 miles off the coast of Haiti.
If you need details about troops and equipment, I refer you to the Pentagon.
- C.
J.
! - Getting back to last night for a second.
The president was briefed on the evacuation after the press conference? - That's right.
- What was his state of mind? His state of mind was he's commander in chief.
Was he prepared to make a life-and-death decision after what he'd been through? He'd been through a TV interview and a press conference.
The president finds you annoying, but not debilitating.
- C.
J.
! - Chris.
The president announced a plot to conceal a life-threatening illness from the people.
- His MS isn't life-threatening.
- So it had no effect on his And there was no plot.
Steve.
-When did he tell you of his condition? -Sorry? -When did he? -A week ago.
-Did the president tell you? -No.
Leo McGarry told me.
-Why didn 't the president tell you? -Because Leo McGarry did.
Describe your relationship with the president.
Just good friends, Katie.
How is she doing? - It's getting away from her a little.
-I'm not answering that.
They're making her the story.
Yeah, listen, I wanted to ask you about something.
The Justice Department needs another 30 million dollars to fund its suit against the tobacco companies.
We want them to have it.
The Appropriation Subcommittee on Commerce, State and Justice handles that money.
They won't bring it to a vote.
- Kalmbach's the chairman? - Yeah.
And now I want to turn the heat up and issue a release.
Incendiary? Yeah.
It calls them well-fed members lining their campaign war chest and being complicit in hundreds of thousands of negligent homicides.
- Nice.
- We didn't send the release out because of the MS announcement and Mrs.
Landingham.
But in a day or two, I want to leak it.
What do you think? Yeah, that's really stupid.
- Why? - Offense makes people play defense.
I'm raising the profile to bring public opinion down on him.
- Play defense with that.
- Congress appropriates the money.
You're not gonna get it by pissing off the appropriators.
Watch me.
Thanks for asking my opinion.
- No sweat.
-I'm not answering that.
You don 't know? It has nothing to do with the president sharing health information with the public.
- Let's get away from it all.
You need to be able to distinguish between the things we're supposed to know and the things we're supposed to know and you don 't.
The Pentagon briefing's scheduled for 3 this afternoon.
I'll keep you posted on the changes.
Leo talked to me, you know.
I said, Leo talked to me.
Yeah? - Yeah.
- About what? Your shot.
Strategically, I felt that was the wise thing to do.
Leo talked to me.
I know what you're thinking about doing.
- Good morning, Mr.
President.
- Good morning, Mr.
President.
We're talking about a display of force? Yes, sir.
Bazan sees what he's up against.
And what is he up against? We can buzz Port-au-Prince with a strike formation.
- Five F-18 fighters.
- It'll get his attention.
Isn't it possible they could shoot at us again? We'll fly an E-2 Hawkeye with a radar dome.
It picks up weapon signals? Yes, sir.
We'd know before they reached Port-au-Prince if they were in danger.
Peter, State's exploring the effectiveness of immediate sanctions? We're exploring it.
But we've been down that road with Haiti before.
With terrible results that hurt the wrong people.
Not to pile it on but we have reports of 12 incidents of cutters intercepting Haitians off the Florida Keys.
If we stretch out the resolution - We'll have a refugee crisis.
- Guantánamo Bay.
All right, let's start here.
Nancy, Peter, get a message to the Canadian prime minister.
We intend to restore Dessaline.
The Canadians should tell Bazan if he doesn't move out, we're willing to move forward with military options.
In the meantime, I'm willing to consider the flyby.
If the flyby doesn't work? Now you're just bugging me.
That's all.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
- Sir? - Yeah.
We should bear in mind that if we end up invading Haiti, there will be a belief That it was politically motivated.
Yeah.
That at the very least we welcomed an opportunity to distract attention from the MS story and to show strength as commander in chief.
Think it's a sign of strength to invade Haiti? - I meant - Missouri could invade Haiti.
- Yes.
- Sanctions aren't gonna work.
You said it.
The Haitian National Police will get rich off the contraband.
Dessaline was democratically elected.
He's been sitting in his office.
He's sitting on the USS Enterprise.
Not to mention they shot at us.
You don't get to do that.
- Sir? - I'm late.
Everybody's tired.
At some point, we're gonna have to check the first lady's temperature.
- Okay, you first.
- Yeah.
On Haiti, tell your people to be careful with public posture not to say or do anything that could taint any options.
Nobody wants to invade.
Nobody wants to contemplate invading till we've exhausted diplomatic options.
Yeah.
Charlie? You wanna play? - Aren't you supposed to be writing? - I am writing.
I don't see paper.
We can sit back and admit with grave sensitivity that life isn't fair.
And the less-advantaged are destined to their lot in life.
The problems of those on the other side of the world should stay there.
Our leaders are cynical and can never be an instrument to change.
But that, my friends, is not worthy of you.
It's not worthy of a president, it's not worthy of a great nation.
It's not worthy of America.
Paper's for wimps.
You wanna play? No.
- I understand if you're scared.
- I'm not.
I'm saying, if you're scared chicken, I understand.
- You got 20 bucks? - Yep.
Put it on the table.
I'll give you the break.
You give me the break, you're not gonna need that stick.
- Charlie.
- Yeah? Can I see you for a second? The president's gonna direct the Attorney General to appoint a special prosecutor.
- Know what that means? - Yeah.
- Okay, so you're gonna need a lawyer.
- Actually, I don't think I need one.
- You do.
- I think I'll be fine.
- Really? - Yeah.
He's gonna ask you everything you've seen and heard since you started working here.
- I can answer that truthfully.
Then a month later, he'll ask the same questions.
If your answers change, they prosecute you for perjury.
- Mr.
Babish - Oliver's fine.
You prepared to describe every conversation you had with the president? Whether he asked you for an aspirin, or if his hands quivered.
You prepared to answer questions about your relationship with his daughter? This is NFL football.
- When is this all gonna happen? - I don't know.
- How can you not know? - Grand jury investigations are secret.
So they can knock on my door one morning? They will knock on your door one morning.
How much? You know, how much do you think? Assuming you did nothing wrong saw nothing wrong and heard nothing wrong about 100,000 dollars.
Nice game.
It was fun to watch.
I'll see you later.
- Charlie? - Yeah.
- The president and the first lady - Toby.
Sorry.
Man, I can't do the job if he's got to send me out of the room every time No, you're right.
You know what, look, it's a typical marriage.
I've been there.
Well, I haven't, but he's the president of the United States.
So my guess is, no, it's probably not a typical marriage.
I'll see you later.
I said to you I said this,"Do you want food?" - Yes.
- You said,"No, I don't want any food.
" - Now you're eating my food.
- You'd think you'd have learned by now.
- You eating the rest of the sandwich? - Are you? - Where is he? - How you doing? - I don't care.
Where is he? - Leo's on the phone.
What's the problem? "Our economy may be stronger.
Yet there are Americans who work longer for less pay and less dignity.
Our crops may feed the world yet there are children whose stomachs ache with the pain of hunger.
" Yes, it's midnight in America.
I'm not sure you can say "stomachs ache with pain.
" - You can, but it's bad.
I ran into Sam.
- And? We'll talk tomorrow.
Is the kitchen still open? - I'm not eating this potato salad.
- I am.
- Bruno.
- I know, I know.
"Let us shine a light on dark places in America"? "Places where all hope has been banished.
Places where our founders' dreams are yet to be redeemed.
" And then let us kill ourselves and move to Pakistan.
Why are people here? - Leo.
- I came to the bar for some privacy.
Leo, I'm reading things that would make the cast of Up With People sit and cry.
We'll work tomorrow.
What are you doing here? - We were - Tomorrow.
I need to talk to you.
The FDA is gonna approve RU-486.
- How do you know? - C.
J.
had a source.
We're not supposed to have that information.
The source was nongovernmental.
Leo, they're doing it on Monday.
- You've confirmed it? - As well as I can.
I've been at it all night.
I'd like to go through back channels to hold them off.
- No.
Then I think we have to consider postponing the speech.
I'm going to see the president in the morning.
Let me talk to him.
- All right.
- All right.
These are hot off the presses.
Early numbers? Yeah.
These are just preliminary, after the first 16 hours.
"How much confidence do you have in the president? Great deal: 21 percent.
Somewhat: 24 percent.
Only a little: 15 percent.
" "Not at all: 38 percent.
" That's 45 percent in the top two boxes.
Better than we thought.
"Do you feel he's physically able to perform his duties?" "Probably not" and"definitely not" at 39 percent.
That number will go down as we educate the public to MS.
Yeah, with 25 percent saying they don't know.
What's the bottom line? For an incumbent to have any chance at all at this point in the calendar he needs 40 percent.
- If the election were today? - Forty-one.
- Forty-one percent would re-elect him.
- Thirty-seven elects a new person.
- Twenty-two don't know.
- He's in the ball game.
- I'll set up meetings for tomorrow.
We'll have the final numbers for this set.
We'll figure out where to go from here.
- Josh? - Yeah.
Listen.
- I was talking to Toby earlier.
- Hey, Ginger.
And I was saying that, actually, he hasn't apologized.
What do you mean? I looked over the transcript.
He hasn't apologized.
Yeah, well, I don't know what to say.
- Yeah.
- Let me ask you something.
The release I wrote about that tobacco appropriation? Yeah.
What would you think about my leaking it to the subcommittee? I wouldn't do it.
I'm doing it.
Okay.
You don't think we're gonna get hung with the apology? Hang on.
Can you talk about the level of force you'll show Bazan? It'll be what's called an Alpha-strike formation fly-over.
It's five F-18 fighters and an E-2 Hawkeye.
- C.
J.
! - Steve.
The injured Marines.
Has the president spoken to their families? He expressed gratitude and concern to the Marines and their families.
- Did they express concern for the president's health? - No.
His health isn't a matter of concern.
The conversation was focused on the Marines and their contribution to our national security.
- C.
J.
! - Mark.
There are reports of the Coast Guard intercepting Haitians off Florida.
They're considered economic refugees and diverted to Guantánamo Bay.
- C.
J.
! - Carl.
Does this mean that the president can't afford to spend his own political capital right now by accepting mass numbers of refugees? - That's not a factor.
- C.
J.
! Do the president's political problems make it more or less likely he'll order an invasion? - That's not a factor.
C.
J.
, would you say that the president's situation makes it harder for him to focus on the situation in Haiti? To be honest, I think he's relieved to be focusing on something that matters.
Obviously, what I meant to say was Excuse me.
Did you just say he was relieved? Obviously, what I mean - Toby.
- I don't believe it.
- You saw it? - I was standing right there.
He's relieved he might have to send troops into battle? He's relieved he might put American lives at risk and kill Haitian civilians because it takes his mind off having lied? - C.
J.
- Just don't say anything for Just don't say anything for Damn it! - Tobacco.
- What about it? Josh wants to send the release.
At the press release? Yes.
It's incendiary.
Josh is feeling burned and he's letting his emotions and, dare I say, ego drive what I think is a delicate situa - Hang on.
Holy hell.
Relieved? The president's relieved to be focusing on Haiti? - Isn't this what we said to be careful of? - What happened? She was asked if his situation makes it harder to focus on Haiti.
- There was a ramp-up, but - What'd she say? "The president's relieved to be focusing on something that matters.
" - Relieved? We can argue that she just misspoke.
She meant to say he realizes he's focusing on something that matters.
- Or he's reiterating - I don't like"something that matters.
" - Like that he lied doesn't matter.
- She misspoke is all we needed.
We go back.
We say she misspoke.
What if he has to invade? If he invades Haiti after what It's gonna look like he ordered a military operation to cover up - She was tired.
She - C.
J.
doesn't misspeak.
If she misspoke, why didn't she clean it up in the briefing room? Come to think of it, why didn't she clean it up? She is tired.
We all are.
Then why don't we go with that, Sam.
Let's go out and say we're all tired.
The president's tired, complications due to MS.
We haven't had much time.
- A week! How much time do you need? - Some have had more time than others.
- Margaret.
- Yes, sir.
- Is he alone? - Yeah.
Come up with something.
Good morning, Mr.
McGarry.
You can go on up.
He's up by the fence.
You live in the middle of nowhere, you know that? Awasiwi odanak.
It's an Abenaki phrase that means: "Beyond the village.
" Good morning, Mr.
President.
You want coffee? - No.
- What's happening? C.
J.
's got it from a nongovernmental source the FDA's gonna announce their approval of RU-486.
- When? - Monday.
Yeah, all right.
Why don't we consider postponing the speech? - Why? - You've got laryngitis.
- No, I mean why? - It'll get wrapped up in the news It'll get wrapped up in one news cycle.
I don't give a Plus, it gives meat to the right.
Lets the press write a process story.
Right out of the gate, the Bartlet campaign is pandering and bumbling and performing abortions in the Rose Garden.
Screw it, and screw anybody who writes that story.
Plus, I have a hunch the first round of subpoenas will be handed down this week.
You have a hunch? Of course the subpoenas will be handed down.
If we announce in two weeks, that's when the first round will be handed down.
Screw it.
It's game time.
Let's go.
This is a nice piece of land.
It'd be better without the floodlights and the metal detectors, but Yeah.
Abbey and the girls getting in this morning? Yeah.
How's everybody doing? Fine.
What about C.
J.
? All right.
Laryngitis? I don't know.
We could just say I have MS.
Yeah.
- Leo.
- Yes, sir.
I'm running for re-election.
And I'm gonna win.
If they take the embassy, how will we know? They're taking the embassy.
- Mrs.
Landingham was driving back here.
- Is she all right? No.
She's dead.
Ten years ago the president was diagnosed with MS.
He concealed it during election, but we're going public with an interview and press conference.
Is the president gonna run for re-election? There's gonna be a press conference tonight.
I'd watch.
Please! I can only answer Has there been discussion of a special prosecutor? Tomorrow the president will direct the Attorney General to appoint a special prosecutor.
Yes.
- I can't see.
Joan? - Can you tell us how that will work? A list of three prosecutors is given to a three-judge panel.
The prosecutors as well as the judges were all appointed by Republican presidents.
- How soon until witnesses are called? - I don't know.
Any idea who will be on the witness list? I can't comment on a witness list that doesn't exist.
I imagine subpoenas will be issued to most senior White House staff including myself.
- C.
J.
! - What about Congress? - I'm sorry? - Will Congress hold hearings? - I'd imagine.
- Which committee will have jurisdiction - I can't comment on what hearings Congress has in mind.
There will be one, but you have to talk to Congress.
Okay.
Here now, the president of the United States.
Front row on your right.
Yes, Sandy.
Mr.
President, can you tell us right now if you'll be seeking a second term? I'm sorry, there was a little bit of noise there.
Can you repeat the question? Yes, sir.
Can you tell us right now if you'll be seeking a second term? Yeah.
And I'm going to win.
C.
J.
C.
J.
C.
J.
Yeah.
- We're here.
- Oh, yeah, thank you.
Thanks.
- Mr.
President.
- Bruno.
- I got a new section that I'd like you to - Give it to Leo.
C.
J.
The speech is written.
They're ironing a few things out.
It's written.
- I'm not talking about the speech.
- What? I got a source that says the FDA's gonna pull the trigger on mifepristone.
- Mifepristone is? - RU-486.
The FDA is an independent agency.
I could get in trouble for knowing this.
No, it's nonproprietary information delivered by a nongovernmental person.
You're fine.
I'll ask one of my 14 lawyers about that.
When are they gonna announce? That's the thing.
They're doing it on Monday.
- Monday? - Right before his speech.
Okay, thanks.
C.
J.
! There are now seven different drafts of the speech.
The president likes none of them.
Toby and Doug can't get together.
Sam and Doug can't get together.
Leo and Bruno can't get together.
- I gotta talk to you - If anyone asks, the speech is done.
That's what I've been saying.
Listen.
Come here.
Paulson got it from a source, the FDA is signing off on RU-486.
- When are they going to announce? - On Monday.
Come on! You didn't take care of this? I told all departments, no news on Monday.
We get the cycle to ourselves.
FDA's an independent agency.
We're kicking off our campaign on the same day - Yeah.
- Perfect.
- I'm sorry, but - I'm also not wild about pictures of him on the plane without his wife.
- I can't generate images of her.
- She's getting in in the morning? - We'll do some pictures.
- I'll call Gail Trent, confirm this thing.
- Maybe we want to postpone.
- Why? I don't know, he's got laryngitis or something.
C.
J.
Anybody asks, the speech is done.
We're putting - Yeah.
What's Toby's problem with me? - What do you mean? He's got a problem with me.
I'd like to understand it.
- I wouldn't worry about it.
- I do worry.
I have a job to do.
He's making it harder.
I don't Connie? The place has a communications center conference room, an operating room, offices and an apartment.
This is a nice ride.
Yes.
If anyone asks, the speech is done, they're putting finishing touches on it.
- Yeah.
- Thank you.
M&M's with the seal of the president.
- C.
J.
, when do we see an advance? - Very soon.
- The speech's done? - Done.
They're ironing a few things out.
Toby and Sam have no problems with Bruno's people? Everybody's getting along great, dotting the I's and crossing the T's.
This thing reads like an Andy Williams special! We're starting over on a white piece of paper! - I'm gonna take my seat now.
Good evening.
From the flight deck, this is Lieutenant Colonel Gantry.
We're closing our cabin doors and we ask that you be seated in preparation for takeoff.
We'll be flying at a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet.
Our flight path will take us over Hartford, Connecticut Greenfield, Massachusetts.
And our flight time to Pease Air Force Base, New Hampshire will be approximately one hour and 10 minutes.
We anticipate a smooth flight.
Can you tell us right now if you'll be seeking a second term? Yeah.
And I'm going to win.
That announcement coming about 15 minutes ago was made on the heels of the president's stunning disclosure - Abbey? - Jed? - Listen.
- You missed it.
It was incredible.
- Look - All over the news.
- Abbey - This crazy man got up in front of millions of people and screwed his wife.
That's funny, because that's sort of what I did.
You can't think this is funny.
- I don't.
- You can't think this is a joke.
I don't.
I swear.
- There are ways of getting out of this.
- Yeah? You buried Dolores Landingham this afternoon.
- You couldn't be expected to make - Are you gonna? Let time go by, a few weeks.
Say you've consulted with your doctors, your family which, amazingly, people would believe.
- And then you say you decided - I'm running again, Abbey.
Yeah? - Look, I have a lot to say.
- You and me both.
Go ahead.
- What? - Say what you have to say.
No.
I have to go down.
They're gonna brief me on an evacuation plan for Haiti.
All right.
You gonna be up later? When? Probably 3 or 4.
Am I usually up at 3 or 4 in the morning? Not usually.
Then let's assume I won't be tonight.
Donna! - Where you been? - Motorcade left without me.
- I drove back with Ed and Larry.
- They couldn't drive faster? Not faster than a presidential motorcade.
Set up a conference call so Cabinet Affairs can brief.
- The subcabinet too? - Yeah, and congressional leaders.
- You ever seen anything like this? - No.
- I'm monumentally pumped.
- Me too.
Set up the calls, would you? - Toby? - Leo's gotta cancel the public schedule.
- Done.
- You're talking to Cabinet Affairs? Donna's setting it up.
Why aren't you smiling? - Because I'm wet.
- I'm wet and I'm smiling.
I'm smiling on the inside.
Ginger? Public Liaison wrote up talking points two hours ago.
- They're no good anymore.
- When will we get new ones? - Public Liaison? Half an hour.
- Fifteen minutes.
Call the network.
Get one of our people on every single broadcast tonight.
Okay, let's try not to do that a lot.
- Why isn't he smiling? - On the inside.
Round up medical experts for morning shows and divvy up columnists.
Nancy? - Need C.
J.
as soon as she's free.
- She'll be down there for hours.
- She's surrounded.
- Get her on the phone.
- And I need Oliver Babish.
- You gonna put him in the briefing room? Send a message we're not worried about the legal side.
What are you all looking at? Good evening, Mr.
President.
What do you guys think the news is gonna lead with tomorrow? Sir? Yeah.
- Haiti? - Yeah.
All right.
Don't worry about Haiti.
Let's do what we have to.
Mike, is that four AV-8s? Yeah.
And four AH-1 s.
- Good evening.
- Good evening, Mr.
President.
Mr.
President, this is Operation Swift Fury.
We deploy a landing ship helicopter assault to evacuate both the Americans and Dessaline.
What's in the LHA? Four CH-53E's with 35 troops for combat support and eight CH-46 helicopters.
- That's for cargo and ammunition? - Yeah.
We also have four Cobras two Hueys for command and control, and four Harriers.
- Where do you launch? - A soccer stadium there.
- Le Stade Alain Toussaint.
- It's a quarter-mile from the embassy.
So these helicopters land on the roof and Take the Americans and Dessaline to the Enterprise.
Code word"Paris" for the operation.
What are the possibilities of civilian casualties? A curfew's been imposed, the Signal Intelligence flights say there aren't civilians within 2 blocks.
- How long do I have? - Paris will be in place in two hours, sir.
- Okay.
Thank you.
- Mr.
President.
- Yeah? Hey, redheaded girl.
Margaret.
Okay.
I need to see him.
He's in his cabin.
You can go back.
Yeah.
- Listen - Bruno - Look - Hang on.
No, I won't hang on.
Who told Doug to write a draft? - This was simply in order - Who told him? - I told him.
- It's got an apology.
Also, it stinks.
Yeah.
Okay, it lacks a certain - Quality? - Yeah.
Doug isn't here to write poetry.
The purpose is to demonstrate that an apology can work.
- He won't apologize.
- Why? It's his official campaign announcement, not Oprah.
- Doing Oprah wouldn't kill him.
- I believe it might.
In four weeks In four weeks, he's made a full disclosure of his health.
He has educated the public about MS.
He has done this every day.
He has done everything Except apologized.
In four weeks, he has saved Haiti for democracy funded the Justice Department's tobacco lawsuit watched the market rebound.
He has done everything, but apologize.
You think he apologizes and his numbers go up? I think you brought me because they haven't yet.
- They have.
- Two points in a month? If he runs for re-election 27 years from now, he's got a fighting chance.
I gotta make calls.
Talk to me about this in town.
Ladies, gentlemen, Lieutenant Colonel Gantry.
We're making our final approach to Pease Air Force Base.
If you'll take your seats and fasten your seat belts.
- Listen.
- You should sit down.
We're landing.
- I talked to Gail Trent.
- And? She confirmed it.
The FDA is going to announce.
- On Monday.
- Yeah.
What were they talking about back there? - Leo and Bruno? - Yeah.
A lack of yeast in our numbers.
"Yeast" is a fun word to say.
I'm sorry I got in your face before.
Our numbers are less than yeasty.
They are.
We need a new poll in the field right now.
- Yes.
I'll tell you why.
- Because the first one was bogus.
Totally.
I'll tell you why.
isn't representative of the country.
Plus, people respond differently to voting out a governor versus a president.
Governors are expendable.
If the country's on track they want to keep the president - In charge, if at all possible.
- Bartlet's always scored - High in trustworthy.
So he has a shield against character attacks? Yes.
Not to mention, the information presented during the interview informed the public MS isn't fatal.
We need to put another poll in the field now.
Thank you all for coming around to the self-evident point I made five minutes ago.
- We gotta put another poll in the field.
- What happened? - My ride left without me.
- Mine too.
I got a ride with Larry and Ed.
Yes.
Didn't you see me jumping up and down, waving my arms in the air? - I thought you were happy.
- Me too.
- You're an idiot.
- Which one of us are you talking to? Listen to me.
He did incredibly well on TV tonight.
- We gotta put another poll in the field.
- We know.
There's a difference between a governor and a president.
won't give you a good sample.
- This is a lot like Dupont Circle.
- We're there already, Joe.
- I was stuck in the rain.
- Put the poll in the field.
The hotel is up on the right.
What's mifepristone? A pill that will abort a pregnancy up to 49 days.
- Mifepristone is RU-486? - Yes.
- And the FDA's approving it? - Yes.
Hallelujah! See, I think you're thinking somehow this pill means more sex for you.
No.
I'm thinking it's a terrific medical advancement for women.
- You didn't think I'd be for it? - Of course you are.
I'm for it.
- Everybody's for it, just not on Monday.
- Why not? It'll get folded into our news cycle when we want it to ourselves.
It gives pro-lifers something to scream about.
It'll look like the campaign screwed up.
The press will write a process story instead of about our issues.
- Isn't this one of our issues? - Not on Monday.
I'm checking in.
Sure, I'll get the bags.
- What do you need? - Absolut martini on the rocks.
- Olives? - Thank you.
- Is it always this crowded? - Only when the circus is in town.
Toby Ziegler, what did you bring me? M&M's from Air Force One, Lois.
Thank you.
Jack Daniel's.
Yes, please.
- Did you? - I read it, yes.
It was to demonstrate that an apology can work.
He's not gonna apologize.
- What about the rest of the speech? - We're starting over.
Toby, if he doesn't apologize on Monday we're going to spend the next Then when he does, it's gonna be because he had to.
There are moments, and when they're missed - I've done this before.
- Like Haiti.
Don't talk about military strategy in a conversation like this.
If the table had been set, he'd been able to invade You wanna speak up? I'm not sure the press corps heard you.
- Toby.
Jack Daniel's.
- Thank you.
You guys friends? Yeah.
- Is he in? - He's waiting for you.
Joey's putting a poll in the field in the morning.
Good.
The first poll was bogus.
- Leo, we've been through this.
- All right.
Well, good.
- Where's the president? - In the residence.
How's the first lady? With everything on our plates we don't need to be marriage counselors now.
No, we should, because you and I would be really good at it.
- Excuse me.
- They're ready? - Here we go.
- Cobra 2, copy.
Cobra 2, what's your position? Raven, Cobra 1 is Charlie.
Raven, Cobra 2 is Charlie.
Copy.
Cobra 1, Cobra 2, you are go for mission status.
We'll hear Ratner from Port-au-Prince completing each operation phase.
- Where are we? - Both Cobras are in position.
Raven, Dragon is Delta.
Copy.
Dragon, you are go for Operation Swift Fury.
- How long does it take? - They'll start in 40 seconds.
They ready the two pairs of Cobras over Bazan's troops to secure the landing.
Then we pick up And haul ass to Paris.
Yeah.
How are you doing? Not bad.
How about you? Not bad.
Wish I could have been at the funeral.
You had your hands full.
I was proud of our boy.
- Yeah.
- How's the first lady doing? - Let's not do that right now.
- Yeah.
This silence makes me crazy.
Come on.
Raven, Dragon has all personnel secured.
Dragon is lifting to Paris.
Copy.
Dragon is lifting to Paris.
Dragon is away.
Raven, Cobra 1 is taking fire.
It's from across It's from inside the building across from the embassy.
Engaging.
I'm hit.
Raven, Cobra 2.
Cobra 1 has taken some fire.
Smoke's coming from the tail.
-He's hit in the cockpit.
-Cobra 1, what is your status? Raven, Cobra 1.
I've got some injuries.
Copy that.
Cobra 1, can you make it back to Paris? Yeah, we're gonna try.
Raven, Cobra 2.
I'm engaged with a squad of HNP troops.
Several light machine guns.
Engaging with 20-millimeter and 2.
75 rockets.
Raven, Cobra 2.
Target neutralized.
Returning to Paris.
Copy that.
All right.
Well, we're in it now.
Our hotel is located just a few miles from the sight of John Goffe's Mill.
"Hunter John, as he was called, was granted the land as a reward for his services to the colony in the French and Indian Wars.
" Let me tell you something, we don't do that enough anymore.
"I seek re-election to the presidency not because of its glories but because of its difficulties.
" Challenges? Challenge is better than difficulties.
Yes.
"Later in life he built the water-powered grist mill with his son Colonel John Goffe and his grandson Major John Goffe.
" The Goffes.
Will"challenges" make us think one of the difficulties is that he's got MS? It makes us think he's up for a challenge.
I agree.
- C.
J.
? - Yeah.
- You wanna play some pool? - I don't know how.
You want to play for money? - Sure.
- What are you doing? I'm drawing inspiration from the strength of the Goffe family.
The descendants of Hunter John have been owners and operators of the Goffe family mill for over two centuries now.
"In 1845 when Theodore 'Ody' Goffe was the proprietor the mill burned to the ground.
" Well, that totally blows.
C.
J.
! The operation was launched from the deck of the USS Enterprise 60 miles off the coast of Haiti.
If you need details about troops and equipment, I refer you to the Pentagon.
- C.
J.
! - Getting back to last night for a second.
The president was briefed on the evacuation after the press conference? - That's right.
- What was his state of mind? His state of mind was he's commander in chief.
Was he prepared to make a life-and-death decision after what he'd been through? He'd been through a TV interview and a press conference.
The president finds you annoying, but not debilitating.
- C.
J.
! - Chris.
The president announced a plot to conceal a life-threatening illness from the people.
- His MS isn't life-threatening.
- So it had no effect on his And there was no plot.
Steve.
-When did he tell you of his condition? -Sorry? -When did he? -A week ago.
-Did the president tell you? -No.
Leo McGarry told me.
-Why didn 't the president tell you? -Because Leo McGarry did.
Describe your relationship with the president.
Just good friends, Katie.
How is she doing? - It's getting away from her a little.
-I'm not answering that.
They're making her the story.
Yeah, listen, I wanted to ask you about something.
The Justice Department needs another 30 million dollars to fund its suit against the tobacco companies.
We want them to have it.
The Appropriation Subcommittee on Commerce, State and Justice handles that money.
They won't bring it to a vote.
- Kalmbach's the chairman? - Yeah.
And now I want to turn the heat up and issue a release.
Incendiary? Yeah.
It calls them well-fed members lining their campaign war chest and being complicit in hundreds of thousands of negligent homicides.
- Nice.
- We didn't send the release out because of the MS announcement and Mrs.
Landingham.
But in a day or two, I want to leak it.
What do you think? Yeah, that's really stupid.
- Why? - Offense makes people play defense.
I'm raising the profile to bring public opinion down on him.
- Play defense with that.
- Congress appropriates the money.
You're not gonna get it by pissing off the appropriators.
Watch me.
Thanks for asking my opinion.
- No sweat.
-I'm not answering that.
You don 't know? It has nothing to do with the president sharing health information with the public.
- Let's get away from it all.
You need to be able to distinguish between the things we're supposed to know and the things we're supposed to know and you don 't.
The Pentagon briefing's scheduled for 3 this afternoon.
I'll keep you posted on the changes.
Leo talked to me, you know.
I said, Leo talked to me.
Yeah? - Yeah.
- About what? Your shot.
Strategically, I felt that was the wise thing to do.
Leo talked to me.
I know what you're thinking about doing.
- Good morning, Mr.
President.
- Good morning, Mr.
President.
We're talking about a display of force? Yes, sir.
Bazan sees what he's up against.
And what is he up against? We can buzz Port-au-Prince with a strike formation.
- Five F-18 fighters.
- It'll get his attention.
Isn't it possible they could shoot at us again? We'll fly an E-2 Hawkeye with a radar dome.
It picks up weapon signals? Yes, sir.
We'd know before they reached Port-au-Prince if they were in danger.
Peter, State's exploring the effectiveness of immediate sanctions? We're exploring it.
But we've been down that road with Haiti before.
With terrible results that hurt the wrong people.
Not to pile it on but we have reports of 12 incidents of cutters intercepting Haitians off the Florida Keys.
If we stretch out the resolution - We'll have a refugee crisis.
- Guantánamo Bay.
All right, let's start here.
Nancy, Peter, get a message to the Canadian prime minister.
We intend to restore Dessaline.
The Canadians should tell Bazan if he doesn't move out, we're willing to move forward with military options.
In the meantime, I'm willing to consider the flyby.
If the flyby doesn't work? Now you're just bugging me.
That's all.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
- Sir? - Yeah.
We should bear in mind that if we end up invading Haiti, there will be a belief That it was politically motivated.
Yeah.
That at the very least we welcomed an opportunity to distract attention from the MS story and to show strength as commander in chief.
Think it's a sign of strength to invade Haiti? - I meant - Missouri could invade Haiti.
- Yes.
- Sanctions aren't gonna work.
You said it.
The Haitian National Police will get rich off the contraband.
Dessaline was democratically elected.
He's been sitting in his office.
He's sitting on the USS Enterprise.
Not to mention they shot at us.
You don't get to do that.
- Sir? - I'm late.
Everybody's tired.
At some point, we're gonna have to check the first lady's temperature.
- Okay, you first.
- Yeah.
On Haiti, tell your people to be careful with public posture not to say or do anything that could taint any options.
Nobody wants to invade.
Nobody wants to contemplate invading till we've exhausted diplomatic options.
Yeah.
Charlie? You wanna play? - Aren't you supposed to be writing? - I am writing.
I don't see paper.
We can sit back and admit with grave sensitivity that life isn't fair.
And the less-advantaged are destined to their lot in life.
The problems of those on the other side of the world should stay there.
Our leaders are cynical and can never be an instrument to change.
But that, my friends, is not worthy of you.
It's not worthy of a president, it's not worthy of a great nation.
It's not worthy of America.
Paper's for wimps.
You wanna play? No.
- I understand if you're scared.
- I'm not.
I'm saying, if you're scared chicken, I understand.
- You got 20 bucks? - Yep.
Put it on the table.
I'll give you the break.
You give me the break, you're not gonna need that stick.
- Charlie.
- Yeah? Can I see you for a second? The president's gonna direct the Attorney General to appoint a special prosecutor.
- Know what that means? - Yeah.
- Okay, so you're gonna need a lawyer.
- Actually, I don't think I need one.
- You do.
- I think I'll be fine.
- Really? - Yeah.
He's gonna ask you everything you've seen and heard since you started working here.
- I can answer that truthfully.
Then a month later, he'll ask the same questions.
If your answers change, they prosecute you for perjury.
- Mr.
Babish - Oliver's fine.
You prepared to describe every conversation you had with the president? Whether he asked you for an aspirin, or if his hands quivered.
You prepared to answer questions about your relationship with his daughter? This is NFL football.
- When is this all gonna happen? - I don't know.
- How can you not know? - Grand jury investigations are secret.
So they can knock on my door one morning? They will knock on your door one morning.
How much? You know, how much do you think? Assuming you did nothing wrong saw nothing wrong and heard nothing wrong about 100,000 dollars.
Nice game.
It was fun to watch.
I'll see you later.
- Charlie? - Yeah.
- The president and the first lady - Toby.
Sorry.
Man, I can't do the job if he's got to send me out of the room every time No, you're right.
You know what, look, it's a typical marriage.
I've been there.
Well, I haven't, but he's the president of the United States.
So my guess is, no, it's probably not a typical marriage.
I'll see you later.
I said to you I said this,"Do you want food?" - Yes.
- You said,"No, I don't want any food.
" - Now you're eating my food.
- You'd think you'd have learned by now.
- You eating the rest of the sandwich? - Are you? - Where is he? - How you doing? - I don't care.
Where is he? - Leo's on the phone.
What's the problem? "Our economy may be stronger.
Yet there are Americans who work longer for less pay and less dignity.
Our crops may feed the world yet there are children whose stomachs ache with the pain of hunger.
" Yes, it's midnight in America.
I'm not sure you can say "stomachs ache with pain.
" - You can, but it's bad.
I ran into Sam.
- And? We'll talk tomorrow.
Is the kitchen still open? - I'm not eating this potato salad.
- I am.
- Bruno.
- I know, I know.
"Let us shine a light on dark places in America"? "Places where all hope has been banished.
Places where our founders' dreams are yet to be redeemed.
" And then let us kill ourselves and move to Pakistan.
Why are people here? - Leo.
- I came to the bar for some privacy.
Leo, I'm reading things that would make the cast of Up With People sit and cry.
We'll work tomorrow.
What are you doing here? - We were - Tomorrow.
I need to talk to you.
The FDA is gonna approve RU-486.
- How do you know? - C.
J.
had a source.
We're not supposed to have that information.
The source was nongovernmental.
Leo, they're doing it on Monday.
- You've confirmed it? - As well as I can.
I've been at it all night.
I'd like to go through back channels to hold them off.
- No.
Then I think we have to consider postponing the speech.
I'm going to see the president in the morning.
Let me talk to him.
- All right.
- All right.
These are hot off the presses.
Early numbers? Yeah.
These are just preliminary, after the first 16 hours.
"How much confidence do you have in the president? Great deal: 21 percent.
Somewhat: 24 percent.
Only a little: 15 percent.
" "Not at all: 38 percent.
" That's 45 percent in the top two boxes.
Better than we thought.
"Do you feel he's physically able to perform his duties?" "Probably not" and"definitely not" at 39 percent.
That number will go down as we educate the public to MS.
Yeah, with 25 percent saying they don't know.
What's the bottom line? For an incumbent to have any chance at all at this point in the calendar he needs 40 percent.
- If the election were today? - Forty-one.
- Forty-one percent would re-elect him.
- Thirty-seven elects a new person.
- Twenty-two don't know.
- He's in the ball game.
- I'll set up meetings for tomorrow.
We'll have the final numbers for this set.
We'll figure out where to go from here.
- Josh? - Yeah.
Listen.
- I was talking to Toby earlier.
- Hey, Ginger.
And I was saying that, actually, he hasn't apologized.
What do you mean? I looked over the transcript.
He hasn't apologized.
Yeah, well, I don't know what to say.
- Yeah.
- Let me ask you something.
The release I wrote about that tobacco appropriation? Yeah.
What would you think about my leaking it to the subcommittee? I wouldn't do it.
I'm doing it.
Okay.
You don't think we're gonna get hung with the apology? Hang on.
Can you talk about the level of force you'll show Bazan? It'll be what's called an Alpha-strike formation fly-over.
It's five F-18 fighters and an E-2 Hawkeye.
- C.
J.
! - Steve.
The injured Marines.
Has the president spoken to their families? He expressed gratitude and concern to the Marines and their families.
- Did they express concern for the president's health? - No.
His health isn't a matter of concern.
The conversation was focused on the Marines and their contribution to our national security.
- C.
J.
! - Mark.
There are reports of the Coast Guard intercepting Haitians off Florida.
They're considered economic refugees and diverted to Guantánamo Bay.
- C.
J.
! - Carl.
Does this mean that the president can't afford to spend his own political capital right now by accepting mass numbers of refugees? - That's not a factor.
- C.
J.
! Do the president's political problems make it more or less likely he'll order an invasion? - That's not a factor.
C.
J.
, would you say that the president's situation makes it harder for him to focus on the situation in Haiti? To be honest, I think he's relieved to be focusing on something that matters.
Obviously, what I meant to say was Excuse me.
Did you just say he was relieved? Obviously, what I mean - Toby.
- I don't believe it.
- You saw it? - I was standing right there.
He's relieved he might have to send troops into battle? He's relieved he might put American lives at risk and kill Haitian civilians because it takes his mind off having lied? - C.
J.
- Just don't say anything for Just don't say anything for Damn it! - Tobacco.
- What about it? Josh wants to send the release.
At the press release? Yes.
It's incendiary.
Josh is feeling burned and he's letting his emotions and, dare I say, ego drive what I think is a delicate situa - Hang on.
Holy hell.
Relieved? The president's relieved to be focusing on Haiti? - Isn't this what we said to be careful of? - What happened? She was asked if his situation makes it harder to focus on Haiti.
- There was a ramp-up, but - What'd she say? "The president's relieved to be focusing on something that matters.
" - Relieved? We can argue that she just misspoke.
She meant to say he realizes he's focusing on something that matters.
- Or he's reiterating - I don't like"something that matters.
" - Like that he lied doesn't matter.
- She misspoke is all we needed.
We go back.
We say she misspoke.
What if he has to invade? If he invades Haiti after what It's gonna look like he ordered a military operation to cover up - She was tired.
She - C.
J.
doesn't misspeak.
If she misspoke, why didn't she clean it up in the briefing room? Come to think of it, why didn't she clean it up? She is tired.
We all are.
Then why don't we go with that, Sam.
Let's go out and say we're all tired.
The president's tired, complications due to MS.
We haven't had much time.
- A week! How much time do you need? - Some have had more time than others.
- Margaret.
- Yes, sir.
- Is he alone? - Yeah.
Come up with something.
Good morning, Mr.
McGarry.
You can go on up.
He's up by the fence.
You live in the middle of nowhere, you know that? Awasiwi odanak.
It's an Abenaki phrase that means: "Beyond the village.
" Good morning, Mr.
President.
You want coffee? - No.
- What's happening? C.
J.
's got it from a nongovernmental source the FDA's gonna announce their approval of RU-486.
- When? - Monday.
Yeah, all right.
Why don't we consider postponing the speech? - Why? - You've got laryngitis.
- No, I mean why? - It'll get wrapped up in the news It'll get wrapped up in one news cycle.
I don't give a Plus, it gives meat to the right.
Lets the press write a process story.
Right out of the gate, the Bartlet campaign is pandering and bumbling and performing abortions in the Rose Garden.
Screw it, and screw anybody who writes that story.
Plus, I have a hunch the first round of subpoenas will be handed down this week.
You have a hunch? Of course the subpoenas will be handed down.
If we announce in two weeks, that's when the first round will be handed down.
Screw it.
It's game time.
Let's go.
This is a nice piece of land.
It'd be better without the floodlights and the metal detectors, but Yeah.
Abbey and the girls getting in this morning? Yeah.
How's everybody doing? Fine.
What about C.
J.
? All right.
Laryngitis? I don't know.
We could just say I have MS.
Yeah.
- Leo.
- Yes, sir.
I'm running for re-election.
And I'm gonna win.