The West Wing
S2E22
· Two Cathedrals

Party Panic: Democrats Urge Leo to Block Bartlet's Reelection

In Leo's office, panicked House Democrats Bill and Congressman Wade confront Leo over Bartlet's concealed MS diagnosis, warning it will devastate their party's House majority and trap the campaign in scandal. They bluntly plead for Bartlet to abandon reelection to salvage Democratic seats amid policy advantages against Republicans. Leo, stoic and battle-hardened, dismisses their urgency—he's fielded this demand from 35 others in hours—and redirects them to the imminent press conference, underscoring his unwavering loyalty while amplifying tension as a setup for Bartlet's defiant response.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

4

Democrats confront Leo with panic over Bartlet's MS diagnosis, fearing it will doom their House majority.

concern to alarm ["INT. LEO'S OFFICE"]

Congressman Wade bluntly suggests President Bartlet should not seek reelection.

urgency to confrontation ["INT. LEO'S OFFICE"]

Leo reveals this suggestion is not new, highlighting widespread concern among Democrats.

surprise to defiance ["INT. LEO'S OFFICE"]

Leo cryptically advises them to watch the upcoming press conference for answers.

tension to cryptic anticipation ["INT. LEO'S OFFICE"]

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

3
Bill
primary

Anxious disequilibrium grappling with fresh betrayal

Seated in Leo's office, Bill stammers through fresh shock at the MS revelation, amplifying warnings of scandal eclipsing policy wins on taxes, environment, and education, conceding cover-up's poison while agreeing on electoral peril to Democrats.

Goals in this moment
  • • Convince Leo of reelection's doom
  • • Protect Democratic House seats
Active beliefs
  • • MS cover-up dooms party majority
  • • Policy edges worthless against scandal
Character traits
pragmatic anxious conciliatory
Follow Bill's journey
Wade
primary

Panicked urgency laced with reluctant candor

Seated and leading the charge, Congressman Wade details brutal House-wide reelection bloodbath from MS news, bluntly urges President to 'strongly consider not running,' probes Leo on resolve, and invokes Rose Garden confinement as campaign trap.

Goals in this moment
  • • Force presidential withdrawal plea
  • • Secure party survival over loyalty
Active beliefs
  • • Bartlet's run obliterates House seats
  • • Survival math trumps blind fealty
Character traits
direct desperate calculating
Follow Wade's journey
Margaret Hooper
primary

Neutral professionalism amid underlying tension

Margaret knocks sharply and enters Leo's office at the scene's outset, facilitating access for the seated Democrats amid high-stakes confrontation, her presence threading operational efficiency into the unfolding political siege before fading into the background.

Goals in this moment
  • • Usher visitors into meeting
  • • Maintain office protocol during crisis
Active beliefs
  • • Duty persists through chaos
  • • Leo handles political fire alone
Character traits
efficient professional discreet
Follow Margaret Hooper's journey

Organizations Involved

Institutional presence and influence

1
House Democrats

House Democrats manifest through rattled envoys Bill and Congressman Wade, who storm Leo's office to voice faction-wide panic over Bartlet's MS cover-up torpedoing their slim House majority; they forecast seat losses, Rose Garden exile, and scandal trumping policy superiority, demanding reelection abort as 35th such salvo.

Representation Through frontline congressional members Bill and Wade as desperate spokesmen
Power Dynamics Exerting urgent pressure on White House inner circle while vulnerable to presidential decision
Impact Fractures party loyalty, pitting congressional self-preservation against executive ambition amid reelection siege.
Internal Dynamics Unified panic driving 35 similar demands, prioritizing seats over standard-bearer fealty.
Contain MS scandal fallout Preserve razor-thin House majority Direct lobbying of Chief of Staff Invoking collective party survival math

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

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Key Dialogue

"CONGRESSMAN WADE: "Now, Leo, most of us are just hearing the news. And I don't like to be the first one to say it, but I'm gonna. I think the President has got to strongly consider not running for reelection.""
"LEO: "You think you're the first one to say it?""
"LEO: "Harry, Bill, there's going to be a press conference tonight. I'd watch.""