Character

Democratic National Committee

politically influential pragmatic strategic persuasive

The Democratic National Committee exerts influence over White House messaging during politically challenging times. In Will Bailey's anecdote to Toby Ziegler, DNC members pressured President Bartlet to adopt the line 'The era of big government is over' in his second State of the Union address amid Republican dominance. Toby overrode this by rewriting the section to affirm government's role as an instrument of good that gathers people and leaves no one behind. This episode underscores DNC's pragmatic push for electable rhetoric against the administration's principled stance.

2 appearances

Also known as: DNC

Democratic National …'s Journey

A timeline through the narrative

2 moments

S4E15 · Inauguration Part II: Over There

Window into Conviction: Will's Unfiltered Answer

Portrayed as politically driven and influential in past rhetorical decisions; not emotionally present but consequential.

The Democratic National Committee is invoked in Will's anecdote about the State of the Union as an example of partisan pressure on presidential rhetoric; it functions as precedent and cautionary …

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S4E15 · Inauguration Part II: Over There

Toby Reins In Will's Idealism

Not present; invoked as a source of outside rhetorical pressure on presidential messaging.

Mentioned in Will's anecdote as the political body that pushed a line in a past State of the Union; used to justify Will's behavior and to illustrate past rhetorical battles.

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