Object

Notre Dame Cap

Bartlet snatches the garish Notre Dame cap from Andrews Air Force Base shadows, thrusting it at C.J. amid jet engine thunder—her sleek Max Mara coat crumpling under forced allegiance to his alma mater. She balks, protests fashion sacrilege, yet tugs it on with a reluctant grin, waving awkwardly for the photo op as Bruno and Hess smirk nearby. Perched atop her head later on Air Force One's press deck, it sparks Charlie's relayed taunt of fight-song serenades over South Bend, her exasperation flaring amid briefing banter.

4 appearances

Purpose

Prop for playful punishment, worn by C.J. during photo op and as ongoing joke amid crises.

Significance

Catalyzes Bartlet-C.J. teasing rapport, injecting levity into tanker sanctions tension and late-night flights—humanizes the President as puckish tormentor, fractures high-stakes gravity with college rivalry barbs.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

4 moments

S2E7 · The Portland Trip

Bartlet Mishears Tanker Brief as 'Michigan Sucks' Amid Engine Roar

Wielded by Bartlet as humorous prop for 'punishing' C.J.'s prior Notre Dame jab; reluctantly donned atop her head despite outfit protest, catalyzing reluctant grin, photo op wave, and plea for obscurity—narrative pivot injecting levity into sanctions tension.

Before: Held by or near President, post-rivalry setup

After: Worn awkwardly by C.J. during plane-side photo op

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S2E7 · The Portland Trip

Bartlet's Playful Notre Dame Cap Retribution on C.J.

Bartlet compels C.J. to wear the Notre Dame cap as pointed retribution for her earlier rivalry joke, transforming it from mere prop to emblem of teasing loyalty; she dons it awkwardly over her outfit for the photo op, amplifying comic tension before boarding and symbolizing humanizing respite from crises.

Before: Held/ready by Bartlet near limo

After: Worn sheepishly by C.J. atop head during wave to crowd

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S2E7 · The Portland Trip

Bartlet’s Playful Tanker Update and 'Let’s Hit the Sky!' Departure Rally

Notre Dame cap thrust upon C.J. as playful retribution for prior joke, donned reluctantly over her Max Mara coat despite fashion protests, sparking her grin to officer and sheepish wave in photo op; diffuses crisis tension with rivalry humor, humanizing Bartlet's leadership before liftoff.

Before: Held by Bartlet near limo

After: Worn awkwardly on C.J.'s head during photo op

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S2E7 · The Portland Trip

C.J.'s Notre Dame Briefing Interrupted by Bartlet's Playful Jibe

The Notre Dame cap adorns C.J.'s head as a visible symbol of Bartlet's light-hearted retribution, adjusted by her upon entering the press area; it frames her banter and underscores the prank's climax when Charlie relays the fight song demand, humanizing the administration amid policy dodges.

Before: Worn awkwardly on C.J.'s head as she taps Carol

After: Still perched on C.J.'s head as she exits exasperated

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