History Heartwarming / TheWestWing

-->'''Josh:''' So...[[{{Trigger}} that's gonna be my reaction whenever I hear music from now on]]?\\

** What makes it heartwarming is that Leo understands that she didn't do what she did to gain favour with anyone, or because she was being judgemental about his addictions, but because she was legitimately frightened by the idea that a man with Leo's history of substance abuse could wield so much power.

-->'''Josh Lyman:''' Yeah, that inspiration thing. Voyager, in case it's ever encountered by extra-terrestrials, is carrying photos of life on Earth, greetings in 55 languages and a collection of music from Gregorian chants to Music/ChuckBerry. Including "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB7C7BgxEWw Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground]]" by '20s bluesman Blind Willie Johnson, whose stepmother blinded him when he was seven by throwing lye in is his eyes after his father had beat her for being with another man. He died, penniless, of pneumonia after sleeping bundled in wet newspapers in the ruins of his house that burned down. But his music just left the solar system.

-->'''Bartlet''': More than any time in recent history, America's destiny is not of our own choosing. We did not seek nor did we provoke an assault on our freedom and our way of life. We did not expect nor did we invite a confrontation with evil. Yet the true measure of a people's strength is how they rise to master that moment when it does arrive. 44 people were killed a couple of hours ago at Kennison State University. Three swimmers from the mens team were killed and two others are in critical condition. When, after having heard the explosion from their practice facility, [[HeroicSacrifice they ran into the fire to help get people out]]. Ran ''into'' the fire. ''The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels tonight.'' They're our students and our teachers and our parents and our friends. The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels, but every time we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we're reminded that that capacity may well be limitless. This is a time for American heroes. We will do what is hard. We will achieve what is great. This is a time for American heroes and we reach for the stars. God bless their memory, God bless you and God bless the United States of America. Thank you.

** This scene is especially heartbreaking/heartwarming when you think of the Boston Bombings, a hauntingly similar scenario. Many of the marathon runners--despite not knowing if there were any more bombs about to go off--immediately turned around and began to help the victims. We will do what is hard and great indeed.

* Kristen Chenoweth (Annabeth) singing "[[{{Wicked}} For Good]]" at John Spencer's private funeral.

* Aaron Sorkin appearing in the crowd during Santos' inauguration.

* ''TheWestWing'' has managed this on many occasions, but for a notable example: when [[spoiler:Jed Bartlet, lying in a hospital bed, call Leo over and kisses him on the cheek]].
** When [[spoiler:Josh is being wheeled into surgery after being shot, and Sam comes running into the group surrounding the gurney and frantically shouts, "Josh, I'm here!"]] Actually, most scenes from both parts of "In The Shadow of Two Gunmen" qualify for this trope, especially the flashbacks.
*** When [[spoiler:Toby found Josh sitting against a wall holding a bullet wound and started calling for help, the rest of the senior staff came running.]]
** The flashback when then-candidate Bartlet and Josh discuss the death of Mr. Lyman. While a ballroom full of people is waiting for Bartlet to give an acceptance speech. Jed goes out of his way for his friends and colleagues so often, that trait itself is a Crowning Moment of Heartwarming.
*** Hell, he even offers to fly back with Josh just so he won't have to ride on the plane alone. Never mind that he just won the nomination, has a room full of supporters waiting for him, and needs to make an acceptance speech.
*** Not only did he offer, but he totally, one hundred percent ''meant'' that offer. You can actually see him starting to rifle through his shirt and pockets, looking for his wallet to go buy the ticket, and is slightly disappointed when Josh reminds him that he's just won the primary. Afterwards, the look of gratitude Josh gives him is a heartwarming moment all of its own, showing exactly when the father/son relationship between the two was defined.
*** In addition, the audience has seen through flashbacks that during the primary season Bartlet was often curt and abrupt with his staff, taking his fears that he wasn't ready and wasn't good enough for the presidency out on them, and Josh was clearly beginning to wonder why exactly he was putting himself through all the grief on Bartlet's behalf. The scene at the airport was likely the first time Josh had seen the fatherly side of Bartlet as well, and while Josh repeatedly insists that Bartlet needs to make his acceptance speech and continue the momentum gathered from winning the Illinois primary, he's clearly deeply moved by Bartlet's concern.

-->'''Josh Lyman:''' Yeah, that inspiration thing. Voyager, in case it's ever encountered by extra-terrestrials, is carrying photos of life on Earth, greetings in 55 languages and a collection of music from Gregorian chants to Music/ChuckBerry. Including "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNj2BXW852g Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground]]" by '20s bluesman Blind Willie Johnson, whose stepmother blinded him when he was seven by throwing lye in is his eyes after his father had beat her for being with another man. He died, penniless, of pneumonia after sleeping bundled in wet newspapers in the ruins of his house that burned down. But his music just left the solar system.

* After junior staffer Karen Larson leaks the story of Leo's drug addiction, Sam figures out it was her, calls her into his office, brutally rips into her and then fires her on the spot. At the end of the episode, she's literally on her way out the door when Leo calls her into ''his'' office. He talks to her honestly about his own addictions and the fact that his father was a drunk; it turns out that so was hers. He refuses to blame anyone else for his addictions, and tells her that he hasn't had a drink or taken a pill in six and a half years. Then this happens:

* After junior staffer Karen Larson leaks the story of Leo's drug addiction, Sam figures out it was her, calls her into his office, brutally rips into her and then fires her on the spot. At the end of the episode, Leo calls her into ''his'' office. He talks to her honestly about his own addictions and the fact that his father was a drunk; it turns out that so was hers. He refuses to blame anyone else for his addictions, and tells her that he hasn't had a drink or taken a pill in six and a half years. Then this happens:

* Leo re-hiring the girl who had leaked the story of his drug addiction to the press.

-->'''Toby''': Toby Ziegler. [Josh catches his eye and indicates he's waiving the bet for this one]...I work at the White House. Do you have a minute to talk - we'd like to buy you a beer.

-->(Beat)
-->'''Bruno:''' Freak.

--->'''Bartlet:''' I'm Jed Bartlett.\\

** Note that at this point, Bartlett just had a very emotional and agonizing few days organizing his first military operation as President, had barely been introduced to Charlie, and had just snapped at Charlie due to crankiness after losing people he liked in a terrorist attack. Within minutes after being calmed down by Leo and being told of Charlie's tragic recent history, he has called up ''the freakin' FBI director'' to learn more about Charlie's situation, despite having to make a press announcement within the next few minutes. Bartlett does this for one total stranger, because he's that nice a guy. The following exchange sums up why he's the President of the United States:

* Aaron Sorkin appearing in the crowd during Santos' inaugeration.

** And after this scene, Toby becomes one of the strongest voices [[spoiler:in favor of Bartlet invoking the 25th Amendment for the duration of Zoe's abduction]], because "I've known my kids for five minutes, and if somebody was hurting them, I'd drop napalm on Yellowstone to get them to stop."

*** Not only did he offer, but he totally, one hundred percent ''meant'' that offer. You can actually see him starting to rifle through his shirt and pockets, looking for his wallet to go buy the ticket, and is slightly disappointed when Josh reminds him that he's just won the primary. Afterwards, the look of gratitude Josh gives him is a heartwarming moment all of its own, showing exactly when the father/son relationship between the two was defined.

* Aaron Sorkin appearing in the crowd during Santos' inaugeration.

* The scene when [[spoiler:Zoe being safely returned from her kidnapping.]] To say nothing of Bartlett [[spoiler:voluntarily handing over the Oval Office to a hard-line Republican until she is returned. And, despite the fears of Bartlet's staff, the hardline Republican and his staff pointedly refusing to take advantage of the situation to push through some favourable legislation.]]

* An out-of-universe example: Kristen Chenoweth (Annabeth) singing "[[{{Wicked}} For Good]]" at John Spencer's private funeral.

* After [[{{CurbStompBattle}} destroying Ritchie in the final Presidential debate, Bartlet shakes his hand and reassures him he'll be back.