Bartlet Dangles for FEC Reform
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Josh reveals FEC vacancies, triggering Bartlet's impulse for reform despite Leo's immediate warnings about political impracticality.
Bartlet overrules Leo and Josh's objections, insisting on 'dangling feet' in campaign finance reform by demanding reform-minded FEC nominees.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Alert and multitasking—ready to translate any internal decision into press posture but not the driving voice in the exchange.
C.J. is present among the staff and participates in the surrounding chatter; she listens and later pivots to another staff problem, remaining professionally alert to the new political opening but not directly intervening in the FEC argument.
- • to anticipate press consequences of any FEC move
- • to protect the President from avoidable embarrassment
- • Media will seize on any appearance of internal discord.
- • Better to shape the narrative proactively than react defensively.
Calmly professional—focused on ensuring the President has what he needs and the schedule proceeds.
Charlie escorts the President and staff through the halls, answers logistical questions about who has the President's remarks, and stands close during the FEC exchange, functioning as a composed aide facilitating movement.
- • to keep the President on schedule and supplied with materials
- • to minimize disruptions so the President can perform in public
- • Orderly logistics reduce political embarrassment.
- • An aide's role is to make the President's choices operationally possible.
Quietly alert—calm on the surface while cataloging implications for communications and speech.
Toby is nearby and exchanges brief courtesies earlier; during the FEC exchange he listens, absorbing the practical political disagreement with professional focus, prepared to translate any decision into disciplined language.
- • to understand how the President's impulse will affect messaging
- • to be ready to craft tight communications depending on the decision
- • Language and framing determine whether a political risk becomes a liability or a principled stand.
- • The staff must contain chaos and translate presidential instincts into actionable messaging.
Neutral and procedural—task-focused and unconcerned with the argument's politics.
Nancy, the ceremonial usher, waits at the auditorium entrance and punctuates the movement toward the stage; her presence marks the transition from private hallway debate to public performance as the policy impulse solidifies.
- • to escort the President and staff smoothly into the auditorium
- • to maintain ceremony and timing for the event
- • Protocol preserves dignity regardless of internal debates.
- • The show must go on.
Cautiously alarmed and defensive—wary of political exposure but professionally resigned and obedient under presidential directive.
Joshua arrives from behind, delivers a rapid situational update including C.V.O. revisions and two F.E.C. resignations, then hears the President's impulse for a symbolic political move and objects on pragmatic grounds before ultimately conceding with a hesitant 'Yes, sir.'
- • to inform the President of immediate political developments
- • to prevent the administration from taking futile or losing political fights
- • to preserve leverage with Senate leadership and avoid needless confrontation
- • The Senate leadership will ultimately fill FEC seats; the White House cannot easily force confirmations.
- • Political capital is scarce and should be spent strategically rather than symbolically.
- • Leo's caution reflects institutional reality and should guide approach.
Somewhat distracted—professionally engaged but peripheral to the FEC argument; carrying a low-level anxiety about logistics and messaging.
Sam physically handed the President his remarks earlier and stands nearby as the F.E.C. news breaks; he listens and watches the political exchange unfold without intervening, present as a policy-minded observer.
- • to ensure the President has his prepared remarks and public messaging intact
- • to follow the chain of command and support staff decisions
- • to remain useful and avoid adding friction
- • Public appearances and messaging are easily derailed by internal political fights.
- • Keeping the President supplied with remarks is essential to maintaining credibility.
Soberly amused—providing a stabilizing, non-political counterpoint to the staff's urgency.
Mrs. Landingham rides the escalator with the President and remains a quietly present domestic anchor; she listens to the conversation peripherally and offers domestic rebukes earlier, embodying steadiness rather than political analysis.
- • to maintain the President's routine and composure
- • to provide practical, grounded counsel when needed
- • Small, human routines matter even amid political crisis.
- • The President needs steady, practical touchstones.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Bartlet's comic invocation of beating Mrs. Landingham senseless 'with a head of cabbage' conjures a mental prop that lightens and humanizes the hallway exchange while also revealing his irritability; the cabbage is purely rhetorical but shifts tone and underscores his restless mood.
A pocket notebook (represented in the scene by Sam slamming his notebook) functions as the tactile evidence of preparation — slammed in frustration when Sam realizes he forgot something, underlining backstage disorder even as the President goes onstage.
Referenced by Josh as the C.V.O.'s impending 'outyear projections' revision — the report functions as a concurrent informational pressure point that compounds the political significance of the F.E.C. vacancies and helps make the morning feel like a cascade of institutional developments.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Second Floor Auditorium is the immediate destination and public stage — Bartlet moves inside to deliver remarks while the staff, just outside, process the political opening; it frames the divide between the theatrical presidency and the backstage policy scrimmage.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Bartlet's decision to 'dangle feet' in campaign finance reform directly leads to Josh announcing the President's nominees for the FEC."
"Bartlet's decision to 'dangle feet' in campaign finance reform directly leads to Josh announcing the President's nominees for the FEC."
"Bartlet's early frustration with his staff carries through to Leo's later confrontation about his self-sabotaging caution."
"Bartlet's early frustration with his staff carries through to Leo's later confrontation about his self-sabotaging caution."
"Bartlet's early frustration with his staff carries through to Leo's later confrontation about his self-sabotaging caution."
"Bartlet's humiliating 'magnificent vista' line symbolizes his disconnect from reality, later resolved by his declaration to speak freely."
"Bartlet's humiliating 'magnificent vista' line symbolizes his disconnect from reality, later resolved by his declaration to speak freely."
"Bartlet's humiliating 'magnificent vista' line symbolizes his disconnect from reality, later resolved by his declaration to speak freely."
Key Dialogue
"JOSH: "The C.V.O.'s gonna revise its outyear projections, two commissioners resigned from the F.E.C. this morning, and the N.G.A. endorsed trigger locks.""
"BARTLET: "Two F.E.C. commissioners resigned?""
"LEO: "Mr. President, you're thinking about changing the nature of democracy.""
"BARTLET: "I'm not saying jump off the boat, Josh. I'm saying dangle our feet.""