History Awesome / TheWestWing

* Josh's finest political hour (other than helping to get first Bartlet and then Santos elected in the first place) is in Season 5's "Shutdown". He's been sidelined because his usual aggressive approach has prompted a right-leaning Democratic congressman to leave the party and become a Republican, and he's widely regarded as a liability. He gets shut out of the budget negotiations, which come to a complete halt when Haffley reneges on a deal and insists that the White House increase existing budget cuts from 1% to 3%, and Bartlet is so infuriated (not by the budget cuts so much as by Haffley's arrogance in going back on the deal just because he knows he can get away with it) that shuts the entire federal government down. Again, Haffley is not worried: he is delighted that people will see just how little things will change when the federal government isn't working. The Bartlet team, which is still recovering from the kidnap of the President's daughter, is flailing. Finally, Leo calls for Abby, who on returning to the White House, asks pointedly "Where's Josh?" Josh is readmitted to the inner circle and whereas everyone else insists that there's nothing they can do but suck up Haffley's demands, Josh asks Bartlet what ''he'' wants to do. Realising that Haffley has had the initiative all along and that all they've done is react to him, Josh then suggests that Bartlet go up to the Hill in person to see Haffley. Everyone thinks it'll make Bartlet look weak, but Bartlet goes for it. On the way, Bartlet sees some sightseers who've come to town and he gets the motorcade to stop so he can say hi. Josh then estimates that it'll take about ten minutes if they walk the rest of the way, so they do. This gives C.J. time to alert the press corps, and by the time Bartlet and his people have arrived at the Capitol they are accompanied by a mob of TV cameras. Haffley is incredulous at such a "stunt", but he and his people make the fatal mistake of not letting Bartlet in until they've agreed what the plan is to be. While they talk, Bartlet sits and waits patiently, in full view of the TV cameras. After a few minutes, Josh quietly advises Bartlet to leave. When Haffley finally comes out to say hello, Bartlet and the TV cameras are already leaving the building.

-->'''President Bartlet''' (casually): Yeah. And I'm gonna win. (LateArrivalSpoiler He does.]])

* Idaho Senator Carrick switching political parties in "A Constituency of One" is portrayed as a potential act of personal pique and causes the administration untold headaches and setbacks, but it's hard to deny that he does it with style. Most notably, he asks Josh, who has been going after Carnick throughout the episode over a military spending debate, to personally tell Bartlett about his decision.

--> '''Carrick''': I don't work for the president or you. I work for the people of Idaho.

'''Toby:''' No, I don't think you did either, sir. I meant that during a night of extreme chaos and fear when we didn't yet know if we'd been the victims of domestic or foreign terrorism, or even an act of war, there was uncertainty as to who was giving the national security orders, and it was because you never signed the letter. So I'm led to wonder, given your condition and it’s lack of predictability why there isn't simply a signed letter sitting in a file someplace. And the answer, of course, is that [chuckles] if there was a-a signed letter sitting in a file someplace, somebody would ask why. The Commander in Chief had just been attacked, he was under a general anesthetic, a fugitive was at large, the manhunt included every federal state and local law enforcement agency. The Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware National Guard units were federalized. The KH-10s showed Republican Guard movement in southern Iraq. And 12 hours earlier an F-117 was shot down in the no-fly, and the Vice President's authority was ''murky at best.'' The National Security Advisor and the Secretary of State didn't know who they were taking their orders from. I wasn't in the Situation Room that night, but I'll bet all the money in my pockets against all the money in your pockets that it was Leo. Who ''no one'' elected! For 90 minutes that night, there was a coup d'état in this country.\\

--> '''Carrick''': I'm not leaving because of you. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero But you made it a whole lot easier]].

!Meta Awesome (spoilers)
* Not only did the showrunners base Matt Santos on UsefulNotes/BarackObama - ''in 2004'' - the real-life Josh (Rahm Emanuel) succeeded the real-life Leo (Leon Panetta) as Chief of Staff, and Santos offered opponent Vinick the position of Secretary of State, as Obama did for opponent UsefulNotes/HillaryRodhamClinton. Keep in mind that the show had its finale in '''2006'''.
** Also, Santos' election opponent Senator Vinick was pretty transparently based on Senator John [=McCain=]. And this was still better than two years before either of them announced they were candidates, or anyone even thought either of them might run in 2008, let alone win their primaries.
** Since then, both Rahm Emanuel and Leon Panetta became more major politicians under Obama (with Rahm Emanuel now being mayor of Chicago, and Leon Panetta switching from the CIA to the Sec. of defense).
* The entirety of "Isaac and Ishmael" is an awesome moment for the writers, just for being one of the few truly great {{Very Special Episode}}s in mainstream television. Just weeks after the 9/11 attacks, Sorkin set out to make a ''West Wing'' episode about the highly controversial subject of Islamic terrorism, and managed to turn out a terse, intelligent, well-acted story that never once feels preachy or overdramatic, and manages to demolish nearly every prevalent myth about terrorism. It's a frank, honest discussion that never pulls its punches, but it manages to be poignant, heartwarming and (in a few places) surprisingly funny. How many {{Very Special Episode}}s can you say that about?
* The last ten minutes of "Commencement" are utterly mesmerizing, with the various subplots all reaching a climax to Massive Attack's "Angel", and leading up to Zoe's kidnapping.
* The fact that the real-life White House has actually {{defictionaliz|ation}}ed [[http://popwatch.ew.com/2015/01/16/the-west-wing-reunion-big-block-of-cheese-day/ Big Block Of Cheese Day]].
* The HBO Max Special to benefit When We All Vote brought back almost all the original actors (Creator/JohnSpencer being notably replaced by Creator/SterlingKBrown) for a special stage performance of ''Hartsfield's Landing''. And when we say 'almost all', we mean ''almost all'', including supporting actors like Anna Deavere Smith as Nancy [=McNally=], Melissa Fitzgerald as Carol (CJ's assistant), Mindy Seeger, Timothy Davis-Reed, and Charles Noland as White House reporters Chris, Mark, and Steve respectively, Thomas Kopache as Assistant Secretary of State Bob Slattery, and Peter J. Smith and William Duffy as [[ThoseTwoGuys Ed and Larry]]. Despite Ainsley Hayes not appearing in the episode, Emily Proctor got a role as the narrator, Creator/ElisabethMoss (Zoey Bartlet) and Creator/MarleeMatlin (Joey Lucas) did segments on voting, and even ''Gail the goldfish'' makes an appearance.
** The septet live performance of the main theme, led by series composer W.G. Snuffy Walden, will send chills down your spine.
** The acting by all the cast members is ''still'' topnotch, and the chemistry between the actors feels almost as if 15 years had not passed between the final season and 2020.
** Creator/SterlingKBrown, despite having the unenviable task of replacing a beloved member in one of the greatest ensembles in television history, managed to not only keep up with the rest of the cast, but make the character his own, as a dignified, imposing, yet deeply compassionate Leo [=McGarry=], compared to the more down-to-earth performance by Creator/JohnSpencer.

-->'''President Bartlet''' (casually): Yeah. And I'm gonna win. ([[YouShouldKnowThisAlready He does.]])

-->'''Special Agent Ron Butterfield:''' We got the President in the car. We got Zoey in the car. And at a hundred and fifty yards and five stories up, the shooters were down nine point two seconds after the first shot was fired.

* The entire episode "The Stackhouse Filibuster". She notices something off about a couple of seconds of B-roll, works out why he's so devoted to the filibuster, and recalls the loophole that lets them help him out, thus resolving the whole episode.

** Oh and now it just rolls on with both Rahm Emanuel and Leon Panetta being more major politicians under Obama (With Rahm Emanuel now being mayor of Chicago, and Leon Panetta switching from the CIA to the Sec. of defense).

* The fact that the real-life White House ''[[http://popwatch.ew.com/2015/01/16/the-west-wing-reunion-big-block-of-cheese-day/ is actually organizing a Big Block Of Cheese Day]]''.

* Idaho Senator Carnick switching political parties in "A Constituency of One" is portrayed as a potential act of personal pique and causes the administration untold headaches and setbacks, but it's hard to deny that he does it with style. Most notably, he asks Josh, who has been going after Carnick throughout the episode over a military spending debate, to personally tell Bartlett about his decision.

--> '''Carnick''': I don't work for the president or you. I work for the people of Idaho.

--> '''Carnick''': I'm not leaving because of you. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero But you made it a whole lot easier]].

(''Assistant hands him the phone'')\\

'''Josh:''' Hi Senator, why don't you take your legislative agenda and shove it up your ass? ''hangs up'''\\

--->'''Bartlet:''' I'm surprised your guys were able to keep Fiderer in her chair, I'd have thought she would have been the first one through the d- [''Debbie bursts in'']] No, here we are.

-->'''Charlie''': "...affirmative action's about a legacy of racial oppression."\\
'''Justice Mulready''': "It's about compromising admissions standards."\\
'''Charlie''': "That's bull- Excuse me. It's about leveling the playing field after 300 years-"\\
'''Justice Mulready''': "See, this is where the liberal argument goes off the rails. You get stuck in the past. Now, you want to come back at me with: Grading is based on past performance, but admission should be based on potential and how a candidate may thrive with this sort of opportunity. And studies show that affirmative action admits have a higher disposition to contribute to society."\\
'''Charlie''': "Hang on, I've got to write this down."

--->'''Charlie''': They're saying I owe the federal government money?\\
'''President Bartlet''': And you don't even need a stamp. Hand it over.\\
'''Charlie''': There's a mistake.\\
'''President Bartlet''': Whatever. Cough it up.

-->'''C.J.''': I changed my clothes because I didn't think it was appropriate to talk about the death of two teenagers while wearing a ball gown, and you knew that. Because you're stupid, but you're ''not'' stupid, you know what I'm saying? Security's going to take your press credentials. You'll call my office every day and I'll decide if you get into the room. I'm taking your spot on Pebble Beach. You can do your stand-ups from Lafayette Park.\\
'''Sherri''': Who the hell...\\
'''C.J.''': One more word out of your mouth and every local station in town but yours gets an exclusive with the President. Hunting season on me is over.\\
'''Sherri''': *purses her lips and stomps away*\\
'''C.J.''': And the chemical abbreviation for table salt is [=NaCl=].

-->'''Hollis''': Well...if you think that's what needs fixing, I'll give you ten billion dollars to fix it.

-->'''Leo''': You think ratcheting up the body count's gonna act as a deterrent?\\
'''President Bartlet''': You're damn right I...\\
'''Leo''': Then you are just as stupid as these guys who think capital punishment is going to be a deterrent for drug kingpins. As if drug kingpins didn't live their day to day lives under the possibility of execution, and their executions are a lot less dainty than ours and tend to take place without the bother and expense of due process. So, my friend, if you want to start using American military strength as ''the arm of the Lord''... you can do that. We're the only superpower left. You can conquer the world, like Charlemagne. But you better be prepared to kill everyone. And you better start with me, because I will raise up an army against you and ''I'' will beat you.

--> '''Sam''': I'm just saying you're probably rocked back from your meeting last week.\\
'''Josh''': A little.\\
'''Sam''': They threatened you ... They made you feel powerless and you're a little off your game. A little gun shy.\\
(Josh's assistant hands him the phone)\\
'''Toby''': Josh, if you need us, we're standing right here.\\
'''Josh''': Hi Senator, why don't you take your legislative agenda and shove it up your ass? ''hangs up'''\\
'''Crowd''' (reacting to the President's speech): ''wild applause''\\
'''Josh''': Turns out I was fine. ''nonchalantly tosses the phone to Donna''

-->'''C.J.''': Do you know about the Secret Service investigating Coles for threatening the president?\\
'''Toby''': [''innocently''] No...\\
'''C.J.''': Maggie Greenwald is quoting you as saying they investigate all threats made against the president, and it's White House policy not to comment.\\
'''Toby''': Yeah...\\
'''C.J.''': [''grinning''] Did you say that?\\
'''Toby''': Yeah. [''as if this has just struck him''] Hey, you don't suppose that's how the story got started? [''Beat''] You know what, C.J., you tell Bert Coles that Toby Ziegler said there's a new sheriff in town.

-->'''Sam''': In 1787, there was a sizable block of delegates who were initially opposed to the Bill of Rights. This is what a member of the Georgia delegation had to say by way of opposition; 'If we list a set of rights, some fools in the future are going to claim that people are entitled only to those rights enumerated and no others.' So the Framers knew...\\
'''Harrison''': Were you just calling me a fool, Mr. Seaborn?\\
'''Sam''': I wasn't calling you a fool, sir. The brand new state of Georgia was.

--> '''Girl''': You know a lot about terrorism?\\
'''Sam''': I dabble.\\
'''Girl''': What are you struck by most?\\
'''Sam''': It's 100% failure rate.\\
'''Girl''': Really?\\
'''Sam''': Not only do terrorists always fail at what they're after, they pretty much always succeed in strengthening whatever it is they're against.\\
'''Boy''': What about the IRA?\\
'''Sam''': Brits are still there. Protestants are still there. Basque extremists have been staging terrorist attacks in Spain for decades with no result. Left Wing Red Brigades from the 60s and 70s, from the Bader-Meinhoff gang in Germany to the Weatherman in the U.S., have tried to overthrow capitalism. [[SarcasmMode You tell me. How's capitalism doing?]]

--> '''President Bartlet''': More than anytime 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. Forty-four people were killed a couple of hours ago at Kenniston State University. Three swimmers from the men's team were killed, and two others are in critical condition, when after having heard the explosion from their practice facility, they ran into the fire to help get people out. [[HeroicSacrifice 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. [[ArcWords 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.

---> '''Bruno Gianelli''': When did you write that last part?\\
'''Sam Seaborn''': [[ButForMeItWasTuesday In the car]].\\
'''Bruno Gianelli''': [[GreenEyedMonster Freak]].

-->'''Cliff Calley''': That's where you're going with this?\\
'''Rep. Darren Gibson''': Yeah.\\
'''Cliff Calley''': Just to embarrass the guy.\\
'''Rep. Darren Gibson''': Just?\\
'''Cliff Calley''': Leo [=McGarry's=] sobriety isn't the subject of these hearings. These hearings are to investigate if any rules, ethical or otherwise, were broken by Jed Bartlet while he was running for President.\\
'''Rep. Darren Gibson''': That's nice, but I live in the actual world, where the object of these hearings is to win.\\
'''Cliff Calley''': No, it's not.\\
'''Rep. Darren Gibson''': It's the object of the majority.\\
'''Cliff Calley''': Not while I'm the majority counsel it's not; this is bush league. This is why good people hate us, this, right here, this thing... And if you proceed with this line of questioning, I will resign this committee and wait in the tall grass for you Congressman, because you are killing the party.

--> '''Toby''': That window's a game-day player.\\
(later)\\
'''Josh''': [Will's] really that invested in this? *shatter*

-->'''Will Bailey''': Chuck Webb is a seven-term Congressman, who as chairman of not one but two Congress subcommittees, has taken money from companies he regulates. He's on the board of the NRA and once challenged another congressman to a fistfight on the floor over an amendment to make stalkers submit to background checks before buying AR-15s, AK-57s, streetsweepers, MAC-10s, MAC-11s. He has joined protests designed to frighten pregnant women.\\
'''Reporter''': What's your point?\\
'''Will Bailey''': There are worse things in the world than no longer being alive.
* Will calling down a rainstorm to help get his now living impaired candidate elected over his [[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi fully armed and operational]] opponent.

-->'''Santos''': Good evening. I'm running for President and if you don't know know who I am, I wouldn't be surprised. I've been shut out of tomorrow night's debate for suggesting that it actually be a debate and this is the only ad I can afford. I got in this to improve a broken school system, to fix entitlement because they're going bankrupt, to expand health coverage because it will save money if fewer people end up in emergency rooms. What I found is that Presidential campaigns aren't about these things. They're about clawing your opponents' eyes out as long as you don't get tagged for it. So how about this: I will never say anything about my opponents or anything about anything without saying it myself, right into the camera. You might not get to hear much of me but when you do, you'll know I stand by it. I'm Matt Santos and you better believe I approve this ad.

-->'''Man''': Did you meet anyone there who isn't worthless?\\
'''Ainsley''': Don't say that.\\
'''Man''': Did you meet anyone there who has any - ?\\
'''Ainsley''': I said don't say that. Say they're smug and superior. Say their approach to public policy makes you want to tear your hair out. Say they like high taxes and spending your money. Say they want to take your guns and open your borders, but don't call them worthless. At least don't do it in front of me. The people that I have met have been extraordinarily qualified. Their intent is good, and their commitment is true. They are righteous, and they are patriots. And ''I'm their lawyer.''

-->'''Sam''': How can you have an objection to something that says-\\
'''Ainsley''': Because it's humiliating! A new amendment we vote on declaring that I am equal under the law to a man? I am mortified to discover there's reason to believe I ''wasn't'' before! I am a citizen of ''this'' country; I am not a special subset in need of your protection. I do not have to have my rights handed down to me by a bunch of old white men. The same Article 14 that protects you protects me, and I went to law school ''just to make sure''. And with that: I'm going back down to the mess, because I thought I may have seen there... a peach.

-->'''President Bartlet''': Where's Charlie?\\
'''Leo''': He's somewhere in the building.\\
'''Ron Butterfield''': We're holding people where they are right now.\\
'''Bartlet''': But if he's heard what happened he's gonna be trying to get here.\\
'''Butterfield''': We've got to hold everyone for a moment so we can secure the -\\
'''Bartlet''': No, I'm telling you that if Charlie heard there were bullets he's gonna overpower whoever's trying to -\\
[Charlie bursts in.]\\
'''Charlie''': Sorry, Mr. President.

-->'''C.J.''': I can take you home now.\\
'''Anthony''': [under his breath] I don't need a babysitter.\\

'''C.J.''': I'm sorry?\\
'''Anthony''': I said I don't need a babysitter, bitch. Are you deaf?\\

'''C.J.''': [timid] Well, I don't think you do need a babysitter, I-\\

'''Anthony''': Yo, what the hell's the matter with you, dog?!\\
'''Charlie''': This is Miss Cregg. She's the White House Press Secretary and senior counselor to the President. And if she wasn't, she would ''still'' be Miss Cregg. I don't mind your not respecting people. I mind your doing it out loud. I mind your doing it in this building. You want to be a punk, fine. But I don't think you've got the size for it. You want to go to juvy, get out, deal and kill cops? Okay, but every time you do a crime, you get caught. So I think you're gonna have to do something else. Nine o'clock on Saturday mornings, I eat breakfast at Cosmo's on Delaware. I come here for an hour, do office work, and then I go to St. Jude's for an hour to play basketball. You can go to juvy, or you can be at Cosmo's, nine o'clock on Saturday morning. It's entirely up to you.\\

-->'''Abbey''': [''smiling nervously''] Oh God. Alana Waterman is about to zatz me on fair pay. Save me, would you?\\
'''Amy''': You want me to?\\
'''Abbey''': Please.\\

'''Alana''': Abbey, you were charming.\\
'''Abbey''': It's good to see you, Alana.\\
'''Alana''': I'm not sure if you saw my op/ed this morning..\\
'''Abbey''': I did!\\
'''Amy''': [''quietly''] Me too.\\
'''Alana''': [''ignoring her''] Well, what I wanted to say was...\\
'''Amy''': [''interrupting''] I thought it was terrific, if that counts for anything.\\
'''Alana''': Thank you. [''to Abbey''] Obviously...\\
'''Amy''': And courageous.\\
'''Alana''': I'm sorry?\\
'''Amy''': I say, I thought it was courageous. Because the leadership wanted fair pay done quietly, so it didn't become necessary for the moderate Republicans to make it a symbol of left-wing overreaching. Not like the President doesn't have enough problems, but you said, "Screw the leadership." And I think that's courageous. Ironically, I have a hunch that the first lady could have been brought on board fair pay if she had been lobbied more, what's the word, more, you know, ''professionally''. Rather than being embarrassed in this morning's newspaper. [''Beat, smirking''] Alana.\\
'''Alana''': [''agonised pause; to Abbey''] Lovely remarks today, Ma'am. That's all I came over to say.\\
'''Abbey''': Thank you.\\

'''Amy''': You said, "Save me."\\
'''Abbey''': I meant...walk me to the other side of the room, or something!\\
'''Amy''': ...Oh.

-->'''CJ''': (in voiceover) If you ever have a free two hours and are so inclined, try standing up without leaning on anything and talking the whole time. You won't make it. I wouldn't make it. Stackhouse wasn't supposed to last 15 minutes. He's 78 years old. He has a head cold. This bill is going to pass. Well, somebody forgot to tell Stackhouse, Dad, cause he just went into hour number eight.\\

'''CJ''': Tonight, I've seen a man with no legs stay standing, Dad, and a guy with no voice keep shouting. And if politics brings out the worst in people, maybe people bring out the best. Because I'm looking at the TV right now, and damn if 28 U.S. senators haven't just walked onto the floor to help.

-->'''Special Agent Ron Butterfield''': We got the President in the car. We got Zoey in the car. And at a hundred and fifty yards and five stories up, the shooters were down nine point two seconds after the first shot was fired.

--> [Some obnoxious dudes are harassing Zoe and insulting Charlie and Sam]\\

* In essence, everything the Secret Service do when they go from being 'those guys in suits in the background of every shot' to, as C.J rightly called them, 'the best trained armed guards in the history of the world.' When they have to handle a situation it gets handled and not even the President himself can gainsay them. As Ron himself pointed out:
-->'''Ron:''' (In the aftermath of the Rosslyn shooting, the President is ordering his driver to drive to the hospital so that the bullet in Ron's hand can be treated) I have to put you inside the White House, Mister President. This is not something we discuss.

-->I don't understand how this president, who I voted for... I don't understand how he can take such a completely weak-ass position on gay rights. Gays in the military, same-sex marriage, gay adoption, boards of education--where the hell is he? I want to know what quality, necessary to being a parent, the president feels my son lacked. I want to know from this president, who has served not one day in uniform--I had two tours in Vietnam--I want to know what quality necessary to being a soldier this president feels my son lacked. Lady, I'm not embarrassed that my son was gay; my government is.

-->Oh yes, he can. Leave here, and don't '''ever''' come back. [beat] It's time for you to write your little book now.

-->[[SuddenlyShouting I am tired]] of working for candidates who make me think I should be embarrassed to believe what I believe, Sam. I'm tired of getting them elected. You all need some therapy because somebody came along and said 'liberal' means [[StrawmanPolitical "soft on crime, soft on drugs, soft on Communism, soft on defense, and we're gonna tax you back to the Stone Age because people shouldn't have to go to work if they don't want to"]]? And instead of saying [[WriterOnBoard "Well excuse me, you right-wing, reactionary, xenophobic, homophobic, anti-education, anti-choice, pro-gun, ''Leave It to Beaver'' trip back to TheFifties,"]] we cowered in the corner and said, [[PunctuatedForEmphasis "Please. Don't. Hurt. Me."]] No more.

--> '''Penn''': Hi! I'm Penn Jillette! This is Teller! \\

'''Penn''': You tell me, Charlie: Did we burn a flag, or did we just vanish it in a patriotic flash of fireworks? \\
'''Charlie''': I don't know. \\
'''Penn''': What's the difference? \\
''' Josh''': There's a big difference politically. \\
'''Penn''': Why? I mean, what if we burned a flag, not in protest, but in celebration of the very freedoms that allow us to burn a flag - the freedoms that everyone who has ever worked in this magnificent building has pledged to preserve and protect? \\

'''Josh''': *To Penn* Did you go to law school? \\
'''Penn''': *Cheerfully* No, clown school!

* His RedemptionInTheRain scene in "Two Cathedrals": in the middle of a powerful thunderstorm, and to the tune of Dire Straits' "Music/BrothersInArms", he decides to hell with his critics: his MS revelation notwithstanding, he's running for reelection. ''Without saying a single word.'' We don't hear what he says in response to the question "will you seek a second term?" until the next season. It's not needed thanks to the [[ChekhovsGun posture he adopts]] just before the camera stops rolling, but the next season's dialogue is a direct translation of the pose:

* First, his entrance line,
-->'''John Van Dyke''': Then what is the first commandment?\\

'''President Bartlet''' (entering): "I am the Lord your God, thou shalt worship no other God before me." (pause) Boy, those were the days!
** He goes on to verbally bitchslap a group of arrogant [[StrawCharacter Religious Right]] pundits, telling them how an extreme Christian group sent his granddaughter a doll with a knife stuck through its throat after she gave an interview discussing her views on abortion:

* His RedemptionInTheRain scene in "Two Cathedrals": in the middle of a powerful thunderstorm, and to the tune of Dire Straits' "Brothers in Arms," he decides to hell with his critics: his MS revelation notwithstanding, he's running for reelection. ''Without saying a single word.'' We don't hear what he says in response to the question "will you seek a second term?" until the next season. It's not needed thanks to the [[ChekhovsGun posture he adopts]] just before the camera stops rolling, but the next season's dialogue is a direct translation of the pose:

--->'''President Bartlet''': First, let's clear up a couple of things. "Unfunded mandate" is two words, not one big word. There are times when we're 50 states. And there are times when we're one country and have national needs. The way I know this, is that Florida didn't fight Germany in World War II or establish civil rights. You think states should do the governing wall-to-wall. That's a perfectly valid opinion. But your state of Florida got $ 12.6 billion in federal money last year, from Nebraskans and Virginians and New Yorkers and Alaskans with their Eskimo poetry. ''Twelve-point-six'', out of a state budget of 50 billion. And I'm supposed to be using this time for a question, so here it is: Can we have it back, please?

* The scene in "Two Cathedrals" when, standing alone in the National Cathedral after [[spoiler: Mrs. Landingham's funeral]], he bitterly condemns ''[[SmiteMeOhMightySmiter God himself]]'' in untranslated, unsubtitled Latin.

* In the episode "In The Room" Bartlet shuts everyone up with six words: "This plane is going to China!" Did we mention he was paralyzed from the neck down when he said it? Followed by a heartbreaking moment of dignity when he [[spoiler: pushes his own wheelchair in to the press briefing]].

* The CMOA for their relationship: After sending Charlie on an exhaustive and nerve-fraying hunt for the just-perfect Thanksgiving carving knife, one that can be passed on for generations from father to son, Charlie asks why if it's such a big deal, Bartlet doesn't already have one. Bartlet then points out that he does... and now he needs a replacement, because he's giving it to Charlie. Charlie doesn't recognize the insignia "PR" on the blade. Bartlet tells him they were made by "a Boston silversmith named Paul Revere," and belonged to Bartlet's great-great-grandfather. Who gave them to his great-grandfather, who gave them to his grandfather, who gave them to his father, who gave them to Bartlet. And one day Charlie will give them to his son. [[spoiler: Not to take away from the moment, but you also see by the end of the show that Bartlet did in fact give it to his son. Son-in-law, but his son]].

* In the season six episode "Third-Day Story", while Josh and Toby are running around like headless chickens screwing up just about everything they turn their hands to, CJ quietly and competently handles everything thrown her way ''and'' saves their hides repeatedly, to boot. No wonder she's the one [[spoiler:promoted to Chief of Staff]]; she's proven she can handle the job already! And in the following episode, "Liftoff", after a few initial jitters, she settles into the role with class, handing the Secretary of Defense Hutchinson his ass when he tries to undermine her and resolving the crisis-of-the-week with ease.

* Santos and Vinick share a CMOA even after the campaign, when President-elect [[spoiler:Santos]] offers [[spoiler:Vinick]] a job as his [[spoiler:Secretary of State]].

* During the MS hearing, when [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG9qAYSzHhU he gives]] a Republican Congressman a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech for [[spoiler: making [[TheAlcoholic Leo]] admit he fell off the wagon during the first Bartlet campaign.]]

* From "20 Hours in America, Part 2". C.J. has been trying to find a new "Big Brother" for a delinquent teenager, Anthony, whose previous mentor was [[spoiler:killed at the end of Season 3]]. She had approached Charlie once before; Charlie had declined because of his busy work schedule. However, he changes his mind during the following scene:

* The last ten minutes of "Commencement" are utterly mesmerizing, with the various subplots all reaching a climax to Massive Attack's "Angel", and leading up to [[spoiler:Zoe's kidnapping.]]

'''President Bartlet''' (entering): "I am the Lord your God, thou shalt worship no other God before me." (pause) "Boy, those were the days!"