Marbury's Credential Ceremony Sparks Missile Shield Showdown
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Lord Marbury arrives with his entourage, and Bartlet humorously explains the delay, setting a light yet formal tone for the credential presentation.
Bartlet formally accepts Marbury's credentials, then immediately pivots to a heated debate about the missile shield, with Marbury condemning it and Leo advocating for its necessity.
Bartlet concludes the meeting by affirming Marbury's ambassadorship, sealing the formalities with a handshake and a photo op, despite the unresolved tension over the missile shield.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Professionally composed and authoritative
Prompted by Bartlet, executes precise ceremonial introduction of Lord Marbury and presentation of credentials folder from Queen Elizabeth II, facilitating the ritual exchange that precedes explosive policy debate.
- • Orchestrate seamless diplomatic protocol for credential acceptance
- • Bridge formality to enable high-level policy interrogation
- • Ritual precision underpins international alliance stability
- • State Department requests demand unwavering execution
Charmingly combative, blending aristocratic poise with fiery conviction
Enters Oval Office with entourage, exchanges witty banter on protocol delay and State of the Union seating, receives formal credential presentation, launches vehement multi-pronged denunciation of missile shield, shakes hands with Bartlet and Leo post-acceptance, poses for photographers with gracious retorts.
- • Formally establish ambassadorial status through credential ritual
- • Assert Britain's staunch opposition to U.S. missile defense to influence policy discourse
- • Missile shields provoke arms escalation rather than deterrence
- • Diplomatic protocol demands unflinching candor even in ceremonial moments
- • relay message to Charlie that Bartlet is ready
Remote and regal authority
Invoked by Tom during formal credential presentation as the sovereign issuer of Marbury's letter of credence, her royal authority symbolically ratifying the ambassadorial appointment amid ensuing transatlantic tensions.
- • Extend monarchical endorsement of diplomatic representative
- • Crown's prerogative sustains transatlantic diplomatic continuity
frustrated and assertive
enters Oval Office, discusses phone calls with environmental leaders, yells for Nancy, debates missile shield with Leo and Marbury, accepts credentials, shakes hands, and poses for photos
- • probe Marbury's stance on missile shield
- • formally accept Marbury's credentials
mentioned as being summoned by Nancy for Marbury's ceremony
mentioned as recent phone call participant complaining to Bartlet
mentioned as conference call participant from Environmental Defense Fund
mentioned as conference call participant from Sierra Club threatening third-party bid support
mentioned as potential third-party candidate encouraged by environmentalists
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Tom formally tenders the folder to Bartlet on Marbury's behalf during credential ceremony; Bartlet accepts, examines, signs, and affixes seal to the enclosed letter of credence from Queen Elizabeth II, proclaiming Marbury ambassador—narrative pivot from pomp to policy brinkmanship, underscoring alliance fragility post-missile test failure.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Leo's update on the failed missile defense test and his subsequent debate with Marbury both explore the theme of technological ambition versus pragmatic skepticism."
"Leo's update on the failed missile defense test and his subsequent debate with Marbury both explore the theme of technological ambition versus pragmatic skepticism."
"Leo's update on the failed missile defense test and his subsequent debate with Marbury both explore the theme of technological ambition versus pragmatic skepticism."
"Leo's update on the failed missile defense test and his subsequent debate with Marbury both explore the theme of technological ambition versus pragmatic skepticism."
Key Dialogue
"BARTLET: Where are you on the missile shield?"
"MARBURY: Well, I think it's dangerous, illegal... fiscally irresponsible, technologically unsound, and a threat to all people everywhere."
"LEO: I think the world invented a nuclear weapon. I think the world owes it to itself to see if it can't invent something that would make it irrelevant."
"MARBURY: Well, that's the right sentiment, certainly a credible one from a man who's fought in a war. You think you can make it stop? Well, you can't. We build a shield, and somebody will build a better missile."