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White House senior staff mount a frantic defense against Republican-led Congressional attempt to override President Bartlet's veto of the estate tax repeal bill, involving whip counts, defector confrontations like Kimball, and a desperate bipartisan de...

White House senior staff mount a frantic defense against Republican-led Congressional attempt to override President Bartlet's veto of the estate tax repeal bill, involving whip counts, defector confrontations like Kimball, and a desperate bipartisan deal with Royce securing seven GOP votes.

13 events in this arc

Events in This Arc

S3E4 · On the Day Before
Kovaleski Delivers Death Tax Override Bill to Nervous Rookie Dolan

In the dimly lit Executive Clerk's office late at night, the stoic Kovaleski, accompanied by a uniformed guard, enters and hands rookie clerk Donald Dolan—a nervous second-week employee working alone—the …

S3E4 · On the Day Before
Toby Launches Desperate Bipartisan Gambit with Royce

Fresh from ejecting Democrat Kimball, Toby urgently calls out for Ginger to connect with Republican Congressman Robert Royce of Pennsylvania, publicly pivoting to a high-risk bipartisan strategy to rally override …

S3E4 · On the Day Before
Leo Sharply Summons Charlie Post-Victory

In the hallway outside the Roosevelt Room, after the House override victory, Leo passes Royce, who briskly confirms 'You're home' amid a questioning glance. Leo then shares a proud smile …

S3E6 · Gone Quiet
C.J. Dances in Triumph Over Rival's 'Why President?' Flop

In her office, with 'I'm Too Sexy' blasting, C.J. banters playfully with Carol, dissecting the song's hyperbolic bravado as a celebration of feeling 'too good.' Carol then reveals the Majority …

S3E6 · Gone Quiet
Bartlet's Raw Confession: 'I Don't Want to Be President'

Charlie announces Josh, who enters the Oval Office amid the submarine crisis discussion. Seeking distraction from Albie's dire warnings, Bartlet insists Josh share urgent campaign updates on responding to the …

S3E11 · 100,000 Airplanes
Toby Probes Sam's Speech Stagnation and Heartbreak; Bartlet Unleashes Cancer Cure Pledge

Toby bursts into Sam's office, masking frustration over the stalled economy section of the State of the Union speech with pie banter, then sharply questions progress and Lisa Sherborne's impending …

S3E11 · 100,000 Airplanes
Toby Scornfully Rejects Cancer Cure Pledge as Sam Defiantly Volunteers

In the Communications Office at night, post-meeting tension erupts as Toby dismisses Bartlet's bold cancer-cure pledge for the State of the Union as a futile, post-censure distraction lacking resources or …

S3E11 · 100,000 Airplanes
Bartlet and Sam Lamentably Shelve the Cancer-Cure Pledge

Two weeks before the State of the Union, Sam delivers his bold draft pledging a federal crusade to cure cancer within a decade to President Bartlet in the Oval Office …

S3E13 · Night Five
Wallace Urgently Alerts C.J. to Bill Price's Congo Disappearance

Immediately after concluding her press briefing on the UN speech delay, Leonard Wallace intercepts C.J. in the Press Room corridor, urgently reporting that reporter Bill Price has missed two deadlines …

S3E13 · Night Five
C.J. Blasts Loboko on Ransom Shakedown as Leo Reinforces Demand

McKennen Loboko, the Congolese attaché, enters Leo's office amid C.J.'s update on reporter Bill Price's distraught wife. C.J. launches a blistering accusation, labeling the abduction a shakedown and demanding ransom …

S3E13 · Night Five
Josh and Donna's Wordless Exchange Amid Crushing Grief

In the shadowed White House hallway at night, after Josh relays reporter Bill Price's ambush death to C.J. and Wallace—who then shatter Janet with the news, her raw cries echoing—Donna …

S3E20 · We Killed Yamamoto
Senior Staff Bails on Ritchie's Optics Trap

In the Roosevelt Room, Toby ignites a strategic huddle, warning that sharing space with rival Ritchie at a high-profile Shakespeare gala elevates the Governor while diminishing Bartlet. Josh frets over …

S3E20 · We Killed Yamamoto
Donna and Toby Reignite Sam's Fire for Ritchie Assault

In Josh's bullpen, Donna relays Harry Conroy's Bismarck wake-up call to a defensive Sam—'get up off the dirt'—echoing his post-scandal funk. Toby clears the room and shares a brutal fable …