Hail to the Chief

Hail to the Chief blares as President Bartlet steps from his late-arriving motorcade at Sam McGarry's nighttime Orange County rally. The anthem swells curbside in California, cueing crowd cheers while C.J. and Toby apologize for the delay, Charlie trails close, and Bartlet absorbs Kuhndu crisis updates before walking onstage to embrace Sam publicly.

1 appearances

Purpose

Ceremonial anthem announcing the President's arrival and entrance onstage

Significance

Marks Bartlet's principled endorsement of Sam amid international crisis, shifting rally tension to public solidarity at political cost

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

1 moments

S4E16 · The California 47th

Bartlet's Onstage Solidarity Amid Kuhndu Crisis

Hail to the Chief" plays as the President is announced, functioning as the ceremonial cue that converts backstage friction into public spectacle and signals institutional authority to the crowd.

Before: Silent until the President's presence is announced.

After: Plays briefly as the President appears, contributing to the rally's climax.

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