OTH: The West Wing- "Ways and Means" / "On the Day Before"

Bring it on.

Season 3, Episode 3

Aired October 24, 2001

Directed by Alex Graves

Story by Eli Attie and Gene Sperling, Teleplay by Aaron Sorkin

Synopsis: Special Prosecutor Clement Rollins is starting his line of work and is preparing subpoenas for the President, his family, and the senior staff, a move that infuriates Oliver Babish, who notes that everyone has been complying fully to the law. Unfortunately, it appears that Rollins is highly respected among both sides of the aisle, so it’ll be tough to make an enemy out of him, despite C.J.’s wishes. Instead, the plan is to embrace the prosecutor in hopes to shake up the Republicans in Congress, which they decide on by having Ainsley Hayes go on Capital Beat to sing his praises. At the same time, Toby is dismayed to discover a meeting regarding the Estate/Death tax has been canceled, which was caused by the House no longer wishing to work with the White House, a fire that needs to be fanned out (unlike the fire occurring at Yellowstone, apparently). One of the members of Bruno Gianelli’s crew suggests that to show his strength, the President should veto the repeal himself, but he’s going to be short to sustain votes if he doesn’t, which is coming from the Black Caucus. Their meeting with Congressman Richardson doesn’t go so well, nor does Sam’s meeting with Victor Campos, a powerful union leader who is able to assure them victory in California if they agree to offering full amnesty for illegal immigrants, which is easier said than done. The episode ends with President Bartlet, who has spent his share of the episode realizing his dependance on the late Mrs. Landingham and holding back on replacing her position, vetoing a bill for the first time in his presidency.

Something else Ainsley does this week- she sets Donna up on a blind date with a former college buddy of hers, Cliff Calley, who works in the Ways and Means department, which Josh is fighting tooth and nail with. While she isn’t impressed with the idea of dating a Republican, she becomes smitten when she meets up with him later, but their date ends abruptly when she learns that Cliff was transferred to Government Oversight, making him even more of a conflict of interest as the trials are on their way.

Honestly, I don’t have a whole lot to say about “Ways and Means”. The episode does its job, making sure the stakes raised from President Bartlet’s confession and reelection plans aren’t forgotten, but that’s kind of it- this is mostly just a means to an end episode.

I tend to think that the more personal stories are what stick out for The West Wing, so Bartlet’s reluctance to replace Mrs. Landingham stands out the most for me. While this shouldn’t be his top concern, this is still Jed saying goodbye to one of his oldest friends and moving on, which is always easier said than done. I appreciate how this is done by humanizing the character, reminding us that the perfect President only appears that way thanks to a crackerjack team, starting with his personal assistant. He can talk to you about any subject, possibly in Latin, but he can’t remember to put the pens his likes in his pocket on his own.

The lingering spirit of Mrs. Landingham is evident in the rest of the episode, as the White House tries to return to normal but are consistently roadblocked. First by the potential Special Prosecutor, the no-nonsense Clement Rollins, played by veteran actor Nicholas Pryor. I don’t think Rollins is particularly vindictive in his time here, but he clearly doesn’t vibe with the Senior Staff, a crime worse than fascism in Sorkinverse- even Babish has warmed up to the crew by this point- and he’s exiled as soon as he starts.

Their attempts to one-up Rollins by presenting his as an ally to the White House go well enough and we get a nice moment at the end of the episode where the staff, with C.J. in the center for some reason as opposed to Leo, celebrating a battle won in a war that promises to go on. It’s a sneaky move, the kind that Sorkin relishes.

You can also feel some of that Dolores touch as the staff try to rally enough votes to ratify an upcoming estate bill, which is appearing moot. Rather than pushing to get the necessary votes, the decision to have the President veto it altogether makes for a new and interesting conundrum, as he’s never exercised a veto before. What will happen next? That’s what the next episode is for, right? And wasn’t a previous veto discussed back on “In This White House”, aka Ainsley’s first episode? (survey says that may have been a pocket veto, which is slightly different)

Oh, and Donna dates someone from the opposing team, which seems like Ainsley’s way to get out of the administration, right? It was her set-up, after all. Donna always remains a delight, although I preferred her earlier filing system than this storyline.

Overall a solid episode, if not especially outstanding.

Season 3, Episode 4

Aired October 31, 2001

Directed by Christopher Misiano

Story by Paul Redford and Nanda Chitre, Teleplay by Aaron Sorkin

Synopsis: It’s the evening of the big State Dinner, a traditionally bipartisan affair that appears to be disrupted as a few House Republicans, enough to override the President’s planned veto, are prepping their switch. Toby and Sam are calling to figure out who’s switching their votes and find an unlikely candidate, Congressman Kimball, who is electing to do so, and they ask him to arrive at the White House pronto. The other votes blocking this override are on planes, but Kimball has access to enough voters that will give the President what he needs, but this all comes with a list of demands, largely related to the farm industry. As Josh meets with Senator Buckland, who is considering challenging the President despite his own health concerns, Toby and Sam come with their own idea rather than working with the hard-to-please Kimball by offering his farming requests to other Republicans and have the goodwill spread to the media. Before their plan goes through, Josh is able to convince Buckland to step down by suggesting that he’s added to the forefront of the list for potential replacements for Labor Secretary, as the current one is planned to resign in six months. This gives the aging and ill Senator a chance to do some more good work before his time is up. Right after, Toby and Sam convince another Congressman to offer his votes to the White House, their plan going well.

It wouldn’t be another day at the White House without some kind of international travesty, and today the President learns of a suicide bombing in Israel, which killed two American brothers traveling. It’s heavily speculated that the brothers were targeted as the Situation Room looks for the culprit. They find a Palestinian terrorist with likely links and convince Palestine’s government to arrest him. Also going on at the White House- Charlie is offered an immunity deal regarding the incoming investigation, which he’s uncomfortable with taking. Similarly, Donna reveals to Josh her recent date’s current job, who he demands that she stops seeing immediately. And C.J. takes it upon herself to deal with an entertainment reporter who made her way into the press room and questioned her outfit for the evening.

Sigh, talking about fictional conflict in Israel feels weirdly prophetic and almost ghoulish, doesn’t it? The crazy thing is that the suicide bombing in question had an eerie coincidence to a real-world bombing at Palestinian Sbarro which happened just as the crew started doing line readings for the episode.

Which is my way of saying that conflict between Israel and Palestine has been escalating for a long time now. While the current reality of what Palestinians face on a daily basis is heart-wrenching, this is nothing new, and it was only a matter of time for a show taking place in even a fictional White House handles the subject.

And how the does show handle this touchy subject? With its usual somewhat ambivalent both-sidesism. You don’t expect an hourlong television drama to accurately represent a conflict that had been occurring for over 50 years, do you? Do note that this isn’t the last we’ll hear of other nations, although this is the only time then-PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat will be mentioned by name, a rarity as the show usually attempts to come up with fictional leaders.

With all that said, “On the Day Before” is a solid episode, one that gives the majority of the cast something noteworthy to do. Even the First Lady, who sat her newly-appointed credited position out, has a brief scene in bed as her husband checks on her. Gotta find some use for your Stockard Channing allowance.

The senior staff crew do much of their standard work, trying to keep the Democratic party, and America as a whole, happy as Bartlet and Leo handle the international affairs. This results in a couple of typically fast-paced storylines, none of which I’d consider favorites but each offering admirable use of the cast.

Josh’s is a favorite, as he tries to convince a governor with declining health to not run against the President in the primaries. Rather than talk him down, Josh offers Governor Buckland the potential to take on a big position that will be vacating soon, which offers him the chance to do some more good after his term limit expires and before he passes while not basically gifting the White House to Republicans. I like when Sorkin allows his quick-witted characters the chance to impress their opponents with warmth and sharp dialogue instead of trying to own every goon who comes into the White House hoping for a piece of the President. It’s a better use of his talents.

C.J. offers my other favorite story, as she handles a weirdly rude and inexperienced journalist who confuses the Press Room for a red carpet. Allison Janney combines a little bit of grace with her usual aggravation and a touch of integrity to prove a necessary point. It’s a formal evening, she has a dress on, big deal.

And that’s it for this week.

Janel Molony picked this and a later season episode to submit to the Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Role, which she’ll lose to another cast member.

Presidential Records:

• “I grew up on a farm.” “You grew up in a condo.” “I grew up near a farm.”

• During the “Isaac and Ishmael” cast opening, Janel Molony talks a new boyfriend for Donna. A blind date followed by a second date doesn’t constitute a “boyfriend” to me, so I’m assuming Cliff will be back. I say as if I don’t already know what’s going to happen.

• Next Week: Bartlet and Hoynes come to a halt, and a submarine going quiet can cause dangerous precedent for the President.