State of the Union Line "The Era of Big Government is Over"

Toby recalls this specific line from a previous State of the Union address draft during a tense exchange with Will in his office. He describes the DNC forcing it into the speech over objections from the President, Leo, himself, and the Speaker of the House. Toby deploys the anecdote to warn Will about undisciplined talk undermining the administration's doctrine. No physical copy appears; characters reference it solely through Toby's recounted rewrite battle.

2 appearances

Purpose

Political slogan inserted into presidential address to signal policy shift

Significance

Cautionary example of party-imposed compromise eroding staff convictions, Toby wields it to demand discipline from Will ahead of inauguration and enforce ideological restraint

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S4E15 · Inauguration Part II: Over There

Ball Against the Window / Will's Casual Confession

The referenced State of the Union line ('The era of big government is over') functions as a precedent object: Will invokes it as an anecdotal example of outside pressure and last-minute rewrite battles, which Toby uses to remind Will of the cost of loose messaging.

Before: A remembered textual precedent residing in collective staff memory rather than on a physical page.

After: Used rhetorically in the conversation to justify editorial vigilance; no physical change, but it influences the tone of the exchange.

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S4E15 · Inauguration Part II: Over There

Window into Conviction: Will's Unfiltered Answer

The referenced State of the Union line, "The era of big government is over," serves as an archival example that Toby invokes to warn Will about the consequences of yielding to party pressure; it functions as a rhetorical cautionary talisman.

Before: A past, cited textual example remembered by Toby; not physically present.

After: Remains a rhetorical precedent cited to influence present decisions about the inaugural language.

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