The West Wing
S2E21
· 18th and Potomac

Josh Presses Ritter on Tobacco Funding Amid Haitian Absurdity

Outside a D.C. building, Josh and Senator Ritter briefly marvel at the Haitian crisis's surreal escalation—the president-elect smuggled into the U.S. embassy in a car trunk—eliciting Ritter's weary resignation. Josh swiftly pivots to lobbying for a $30M Justice Department appropriations bill stalled in Ritter's committee to fund the landmark tobacco lawsuit. Ritter reveals the chairman's tobacco donor loyalty, a tight 8-7 against vote crossing party lines (including ideological holdouts Warren and Rossiter), underscoring congressional gridlock and moneyed interests thwarting the administration's justice agenda amid broader crises. Ritter's parting pat signals polite deflection, highlighting Josh's futile outreach in a multi-front political siege.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

Josh and Senator Andy Ritter discuss the Haitian crisis, with Ritter expressing disbelief and resignation over the situation.

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

6
Ritter
primary

Weary resignation tinged with sardonic detachment

Exits D.C. building with Josh, expresses incredulity over Haitian president's trunk smuggling, pivots to reveal tobacco bill's doom via Kalmbach's donor ties, $460K PACs, 8-7 vote loss with Warren/Rossiter holdouts, then pats Josh's shoulder and departs.

Goals in this moment
  • • Realistically apprise Josh of bill's insurmountable obstacles
  • • Preserve working relationship without false promises
Active beliefs
  • • Tobacco money dictates committee loyalty over policy
  • • Ideological holdouts like Warren and Rossiter make passage impossible
Character traits
pragmatic cynical resigned forthright
Follow Ritter's journey
Warren
primary

Principled opposition (inferred from context)

Invoked by Ritter as one of two Democrat holdouts tanking the 8-7 tobacco funding vote, defying party lines and Southern stereotypes through ideological opposition to the lawsuit.

Goals in this moment
  • • Block Justice funding based on case skepticism
  • • Uphold personal convictions against party pressure
Active beliefs
  • • Tobacco suit lacks legal merit
  • • Smokers bear personal responsibility
Character traits
ideological defiant
Follow Warren's journey
Rossiter
primary

Contemptuous skepticism (inferred)

Named alongside Warren by Ritter as key Democrat defector in 8-7 committee vote against tobacco bill, rooted in ideological disdain rather than regional tobacco ties.

Goals in this moment
  • • Prevent funding for what he sees as flawed prosecution
  • • Resist White House arm-twisting
Active beliefs
  • • Case is unwinnable 'legal theater'
  • • Smokers are 'too stupid' for protection
Character traits
ideological unyielding
Follow Rossiter's journey
Kalmbach
primary

Committed allegiance (inferred)

Cited by Ritter as subcommittee chairman refusing to schedule tobacco funding vote, prioritizing tobacco donors who gave $460K in PACs—'dancing with the girl that brung him'—ensuring partisan deadlock.

Goals in this moment
  • • Protect tobacco industry benefactors
  • • Avoid risking 8-7 defeat on record
Active beliefs
  • • Political survival demands donor reciprocity
  • • Bill dies without a vote
Character traits
loyal transactional
Follow Kalmbach's journey
President of Haiti
primary

Desperate survival (inferred from context)

Referential catalyst: Ritter marvels at his smuggling to U.S. embassy in a car trunk amid coup chaos, framing the surreal international absurdity that underscores Josh's domestic lobbying desperation.

Goals in this moment
  • • Reach embassy sanctuary
  • • Evade rebel capture
Active beliefs
  • • U.S. intervention offers sole protection
  • • Coup forces pose immediate mortal threat
Character traits
besieged evasive
Follow President of …'s journey
Josiah Bartlet
primary

referenced as wanting to support the $30M appropriations bill

Goals in this moment
  • • Advance the Justice Department tobacco lawsuit funding
Character traits
protective resolute self-aware principled
Follow Josiah Bartlet's journey

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Washington, D.C. Building Exterior

Daylit exterior concrete steps and facade host Josh and Ritter's impromptu exit and tense lobbying exchange, blending Haitian crisis surrealism with tobacco gridlock revelation—symbolizing D.C.'s exposed political brutalism where informal talks yield harsh realities amid broader White House pressures.

Atmosphere Sun-scorched, stark, and unflinchingly pragmatic, echoing the grind of powerless negotiation.
Function Informal lobbying and reality-check site
Symbolism Exposes congressional stonewalling's cold daylight indifference
Daylight on concrete steps and unyielding building facade Open pavement amplifying parting gestures' finality

Narrative Connections

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Key Dialogue

"ANDY RITTER: "The President of Haiti was taken to the embassy in the trunk of a car?" JOSH: "Yes." RITTER: "I've lived too long.""
"JOSH: "This is a phenomenally important case: it's historic; it has to be won. And we're fighting with paper clips and a slingshot." RITTER: "We were wondering when you guys were going to notice.""