The West Wing
Object

George Washington Bible

Bartlet picks this historic Bible, used in George Washington's inauguration, for his own swearing-in oath during a late-night Oval Office chat. Charlie explains its custody under New York Freemasons' strict travel rules blocks retrieval. C.J. and Danny listen as the group grapples with the snag; Bartlet presses on despite the hurdle, underscoring inauguration ritual strains amid looming crises.
11 appearances

Purpose

Ceremonial Bible for presidential inauguration oath

Significance

Exposes logistical barriers tied to tradition, shifting light banter to frustration and forcing staff to seek substitutes like the House Library Bible.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

11 moments
S4E14 · Inauguration Part I
Balls, a Bible, and a Leaked Doctrine

The George Washington Bible is referenced by Bartlet as his preferred choice but unavailable due to the New York Freemasons' custody, creating the urgent scramble that propels Charlie's retrieval and the comic aside about authenticity vs. ritual.

Before: In the custody of the New York Freemasons and unavailable for retrieval.
After: Still unavailable; the President uses the House Library Bible instead.
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S4E14 · Inauguration Part I
Leak in the Lobby: Doctrine, Khundu, and the Missing Bible

Referenced by Bartlet as his preferred ceremonial Bible (the George Washington Bible) which proved unavailable because the New York Freemasons would not release it, catalyzing the search that leads to the House-library substitute.

Before: In the custody of the New York Freemasons and unavailable to the White House.
After: Still unavailable; not used for the oath.
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S4E14 · Inauguration Part I
Found: The Donnie's Motel Bible

The George Washington Bible is invoked as Bartlet's preferred symbolic choice but is unavailable due to custody issues with the New York Freemasons, triggering the scramble that leads to the House-library substitute and framing the ironic undercut of historical ceremony.

Before: Desired by the President but in the custody of the New York Freemasons and thus inaccessible for the inauguration.
After: Remains unavailable; the administration proceeds with an alternative.
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S4E14 · Inauguration Part I
Prompter Politics and the Missing Washington Bible

The George Washington Bible is invoked as a ceremonial object whose custodial constraints intrude on inauguration logistics; its unavailability forces the President to select an alternative (the Bartlet family Bible).

Before: In the custody of the New York Freemasons (off-site), inaccessible on short notice.
After: Remains unavailable; staff accept the constraint and proceed with the Bartlet Bible instead.
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S4E14 · Inauguration Part I
Demanding a Doctrine

The George Washington Bible functions narratively as the unavailable ceremonial ideal: Charlie reports Hollowman's need for notice and the Freemasons' custody, which forces the President to select a personal family Bible instead — a small but telling defeat of pageantry in favor of personal authenticity.

Before: In custody of the New York Freemasons (off‑site in New York), unavailable without days' notice.
After: Remains in Freemasons' custody and unavailable; the President elects to use the Bartlet family Bible instead.
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S4E14 · Inauguration Part I
Courtly Verse and Quiet Alarm

The George Washington Bible is referenced as a desired ceremonial object; Charlie reports Mr. Hollowman requires days' notice to bring it, which forces Bartlet to decide on a backup (the Bartlet family Bible). The Bible functions as a symbol of ritual legitimacy and a logistical headache.

Before: In Freemasons' custody in New York; unavailable without advance notice.
After: Still in Freemasons' custody; decision made not to wait — President will use the Bartlet Bible instead.
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S4E14 · Inauguration Part I
The Oversized Edwards Bible

The George Washington Bible is invoked by President Bartlet as the practical alternative to the too-large Edwards pulpit folio. It functions narratively as the desirable, usable prop Bartlet wants for the oath and as a contrast to ceremonial excess.

Before: Unavailable in the West Wing; known to staff as an ideal but currently in custody elsewhere (New York Freemasons per canon).
After: Requested by the President as the preferable option; remains offstage/unavailable in this scene.
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S4E14 · Inauguration Part I
From Routine Briefing to Khundu's Moral Reckoning

The George Washington Bible is invoked as a coveted inaugural prop that is unavailable; the mention contrasts ritual pageantry with the President's decision to use a personal family Bible instead, underscoring practical priorities over ceremonial prestige.

Before: Incurably unavailable for the inauguration (held by Freemasons in New York), known to staff as the preferred ceremonial relic.
After: Still unavailable; Bartlet declines it and opts for his father's Bible, deprioritizing the relic in favor of personal meaning.
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S4E14 · Inauguration Part I
When Words Become Images: The Khundu Atrocity Revealed

The George Washington Bible is discussed as a ceremonial prop; Bartlet rejects it for the swearing-in, using the exchange to punctuate ordinary inauguration anxieties before the Khundu report reframes priorities.

Before: Held by an outside custodian (Freemasons) and unavailable for immediate use.
After: Remains unavailable; Bartlet decides to use his father's Bible instead, and the missing relic fades beneath the crisis.
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S4E15 · Inauguration Part II: Over There
Bibles, Freemasons and a Warning Across the Bow

The George Washington Bible is the instigating prop: Bartlet's ceremonial choice sparks a comic-but-real logistical problem when Charlie explains the New York Freemasons' transport rules, turning a ritual flourish into a practical annoyance that punctures inauguration levity.

Before: In custodial possession of the New York Freemasons and conceptually selected by Bartlet as the preferred swearing-in Bible.
After: Unmoved physically; still under Freemason custody and flagged as logistically problematic for Sunday transport pending further staff action.
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S4E15 · Inauguration Part II: Over There
Midnight Warning: Leo Flags NSC PDD Vulnerability

The Washington Bible is the comic-ceremonial object around which the scene begins; its travel restrictions create light-hearted procedural banter that sets the tone before the portico warning, and underline how ritual constraints puncture the administration's night.

Before: In the custody of the New York Freemasons and effectively inaccessible by air, creating logistical problems for Sunday inauguration plans.
After: Still under Freemason custody and unresolved—used only to seed the scene's levity before the political warning.
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