The West Wing
S2E9
· Galileo

Bartlet's Limo Rant Against Modern Music

In the presidential limousine en route to a diplomatic concert, an exasperated President Bartlet quizzes Charlie on the Reykjavik Symphony's program, then repeatedly demands a U-turn upon learning it's 'an evening of modern music' featuring Barber, Stravinsky, Schoenberg, and a world premiere by a nervous Icelandic composer rewritten that afternoon. Charlie mildly defends it as 'cool,' but Bartlet dismisses everything post-1860 as sucking or blowing. Charlie's amused smile caps the exchange, delivering comic relief that humanizes Bartlet's curmudgeonly cultural snobbery amid mounting geopolitical and scientific crises, contrasting his visionary optimism with petty stubbornness.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

5

Bartlet, irritated by the prospect of modern music, demands to know what the Reykjavik Symphony is playing and insists on turning the car around.

curiosity to irritation ['limousine interior']

Charlie reads the program details, attempting to defend modern music, while Bartlet dismisses each composer with increasing disdain.

defensiveness to exasperation ['limousine interior']

Bartlet sarcastically interrupts Charlie's reading of the program, mocking the idea of a world premiere and suggesting a rain check.

mockery to resignation ['limousine interior']

Charlie challenges Bartlet's dislike of modern music, leading Bartlet to clarify his distinction between classical and contemporary compositions.

challenge to clarification ['limousine interior']

The scene ends with Charlie smiling at Bartlet's stubbornness, hinting at their mutual understanding despite the disagreement.

tension to amusement ['limousine interior']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
Charlie Young
Presidential Personal Aide
 primary

Amused detachment masking dutiful steadiness

Seated in tuxedo inside the limousine, Charlie clutches and repeatedly reads from the concert program, calmly reciting the modern music lineup including Barber, Stravinsky, Schoenberg, and the Icelandic premiere, mildly defending it as 'cool' before smiling amusedly at Bartlet's tirade.

Goals in this moment
  • • Accurately inform the President of the concert details
  • • Defuse tension with light-hearted defense and humor
Active beliefs
  • • Modern music holds value and is 'cool'
  • • Diplomatic duty outweighs personal musical preferences
Character traits
competent loyal wry unflappable
Follow Charlie Young's journey
Josiah Edward 'Jed' Bartlet (President of the United States)
President of the United States
 primary

exasperated

quizzing Charlie on the Reykjavik Symphony's program while riding in the limousine, repeatedly demanding to turn the car around upon learning it's modern music, dismissing post-1860 compositions by Barber, Stravinsky, Schoenberg, and the Icelandic premiere as sucking or blowing

Goals in this moment
  • • avoid attending the diplomatic concert featuring modern music
  • • express curmudgeonly disdain for post-1860 music to contrast future diplomatic adaptability
Character traits
politically pragmatic jocular policy‑driven paternal commands institutional authority relational — centers staff and family centralizing (commands staff attention and schedules) centralized authority figure strategically vital intelligent politically consequential (actions and associations create immediate risk) protocol-driven calculating principled in public rhetoric vulnerable emotionally forceful institutionally minded performative control of public optics candid principled politically vulnerable (per party strategists and press) strategic witty/jocular under pressure vulnerable-to-proxy-actions collegial poised decisive principled but electorally mindful resolute constitutional protective (paternal focus on family safety) deliberative ruthless burdened decisive when confronted with moral stakes authoritative/managerial paternal/protective regionally grounded politically strategic supportive traditional weary/resolute authoritative public-facing decisive in crisis loyal blunt protective politically consequential measured committed politically shrewd risk‑aware consequential self-aware witty institutional (symbolic center of staff effort) ceremonial
Follow Josiah Edward …'s journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Reykjavik Symphony Concert Program

Charlie actively consults the slim booklet throughout the exchange, reading aloud its contents—an 'evening of modern music' with Barber's Symphony No. 2, Stravinsky's Variations, Schoenberg's Enlightened Night, and a world premiere by a nervous Icelandic composer rewritten that afternoon—directly fueling Bartlet's escalating dismissals and U-turn demands, serving as the narrative catalyst for comic conflict.

Before: Held unopened by Charlie in the limousine
After: Still held by Charlie, now fully referenced
Before: Held unopened by Charlie in the limousine
After: Still held by Charlie, now fully referenced

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Presidential Limousine

The armored limousine's confined leather interior, with blurring night streets outside tinted windows, traps Bartlet and Charlie in an intimate verbal sparring match during transit to the Kennedy Center, amplifying the humor of Bartlet's cultural rebellion and providing a mobile bubble of presidential candor amid diplomatic obligations.

Atmosphere Claustrophobically intimate with escalating comedic tension and wry levity
Function Mobile conversational arena for private presidential venting en route
Symbolism Humanizes isolated command authority, echoing past crises in its rolling confinement
Access Highly secure, limited to President and personal aide only
Tinted windows blurring night streets Leather seats in shadowed confines Tuxedo-clad occupants

Organizations Involved

Institutional presence and influence

1
Reykjavik Symphony Orchestra

The Reykjavik Symphony Orchestra looms as the diplomatic obligation sparking the conflict, its modern program—featuring 90 pieces with anvils, castanets, Barber, Stravinsky, Schoenberg, and a freshly rewritten Icelandic premiere—read from the booklet, forcing Bartlet's reluctant attendance and igniting his snobbish revolt against post-1860 music.

Representation Through its detailed concert program consulted by Charlie
Power Dynamics Exerts soft diplomatic leverage, compelling presidential participation despite personal disdain
Impact Highlights tensions between state duty and individual taste in international relations
Foster U.S.-Icelandic goodwill via high-profile performance Showcase modern repertoire including world premiere Diplomatic protocol mandating attendance Cultural programming as geopolitical courtesy

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

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Key Dialogue

"BARTLET: "Turn the car around.""
"CHARLIE: "Modern music is cool.""
"BARTLET: "Modern music sucks. Anything written after 1860 sucks.""