Jordan's Scathing Ultimatum; Leo's Defiant Stand
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Jordan presents examples of trivial congressional resolutions to contrast with the gravity of H. Con-172, attempting to undermine Leo's resistance.
Leo calls Margaret to close the door, signaling his intent to keep this confrontation private and serious.
Jordan continues her strategy, citing another meaningless resolution about George Washington to highlight how censure differs from routine congressional actions.
Leo attempts to assert control, reminding Jordan of his position as White House Chief of Staff and rejecting her framing of the situation.
Jordan delivers her ultimatum, challenging Leo to consider the consequences of his stance on his future as Chief of Staff.
Leo deflects responsibility, claiming the decision isn't his, while Jordan counters that it is, leaving the tension unresolved as she exits.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Aggressively determined, laced with frustrated urgency to pierce Leo's loyalty armor
Jordan relentlessly mocks Congress's absurd resolutions on Austrian-Americans and George Washington to underscore their opinion's destructive power, defies Leo's interruptions with sarcastic quips about national monuments, delivers a brutal ultimatum tying his job to forcing Bartlet's testimony, and exits abruptly for a meeting, dominating the room with unyielding pressure.
- • Force Leo to accept the censure deal by highlighting its political necessity
- • Warn Leo of personal and professional ruin if he blocks testimony avoidance
- • Congressional opinion, even on trivia, wields reputation-destroying power
- • Leo's defiance will inevitably cost him his Chief of Staff position
Calmly professional, attuned to the charged atmosphere
Margaret enters promptly at Leo's signal, responds affirmatively to his query, closes the door behind herself as instructed, and exits the room, facilitating the private escalation of the tense confrontation without further intrusion.
- • Execute Leo's privacy directive without delay
- • Maintain operational flow amid senior staff tension
- • Leo's commands prioritize White House confidentiality protocols
- • Her role as gatekeeper supports protection from external disruptions
Defiant resolve masking underlying tension over loyalty's high stakes
Leo interrupts Jordan by summoning Margaret to close the door for privacy, acknowledges Congress's opinion matters but dismisses its profundity as televised noise, asserts his White House Chief of Staff authority to curb her tone, deflects ultimate decision-making to Bartlet, standing firm against her barrage with controlled interruptions.
- • Protect the privacy of the negotiation and shield his position
- • Deflect responsibility to preserve Bartlet's autonomy in the crisis
- • His role demands insulating the President from external pressures like censure
- • Congressional resolutions lack true weight beyond superficial TV optics
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The White House's institutional backbone manifests in Leo's assertion of Chief of Staff authority, framing the confrontation as a defense of presidential prerogative against congressional overreach, where loyalty to Bartlet overrides external censure deals, underscoring the executive's resolve amid perjury hearings.
Congress looms as the source of political peril through Jordan's mockery of its trivial resolutions honoring Austrian-Americans and George Washington, illustrating how its non-binding opinions—rattled daily on TV—carry reputation-shattering weight, fueling the censure deal's urgency and testing White House loyalty in the MS scandal crucible.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Jordan's negotiation for a one-day window to sway Leo leads directly to her continued attempts to undermine his resistance with examples of trivial resolutions."
"Jordan's negotiation for a one-day window to sway Leo leads directly to her continued attempts to undermine his resistance with examples of trivial resolutions."
Themes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Key Dialogue
"LEO: "This is not your thing. It is my thing and I'm sorry, but I can't allow you to talk like that in here.""
"JORDAN: "I wasn't seeking your permission.""
"LEO: "You need to get... You need to get that I am the White House Chief of Staff.""
"JORDAN: "And how much longer do you think you're going to be able to keep that job if you tell the story they're going to make you tell?! Play the tape through to the end, Leo.""
"LEO: "It's not my decision.""
"JORDAN: "I think it is. In fact, I know it. And you know it, too. I have a meeting.""