History Recap / TheWestWingS06E13KingCorn

* NotSoDifferent: All three of the candidates showcased have about the same position on ethanol: it's overly subsidized and costs more in petroleum products than it ends up saving in the long run. The way the three candidates deal with this underscores their essential character and position, however:
** Russell enthusiastically makes the pledge; he's hypocritical, two-faced and will gladly sell out his principles for power and advantage.
** Santos makes the pledge, but is clearly reluctant; he's reluctant to sell out his convictions, but is clearly pressured into doing so by circumstances.
** Vinick refuses to make the pledge; he sticks to his guns no matter what (and is also old, experienced and in a secure enough position to feel able to do so).

The scene cuts to the hotel hallway, with some great music playing. (“Desire”... I don’t know the artist.) Will says good night to Donna and goes to an ice cream vending machine. The camera tracks the process of the machine retrieving an ice cream bar, and the look on Will’s face.

* NotSoDifferent: All three of the candidates showcased have about the same position on ethanol: it's overly subsidized and costs more in petroleum products than it ends up saving in the long run.

The movie ''KingCorn'' came out two years after this episode aired. It's not really related other than it focuses on corn.

The episode ends with Josh getting his wake-up call again, with his head under the pillow.

"King Corn" follows the same day in three campaigns for president--Russell, Santos, and Vinick--from the point of view of Donna, Josh, and Vinick, respectively. The stories run sequentially in the episode, but thy are basically parallel in time. Each point-of-view character gets a 5:45 a.m. wake up call; they each see the same news broadcast; and each candidate gives a speech at the Corn Growers Expo.

Vinick’s transportation is a couple of SUVs and a minivan. In a cafe Vinick is talking about Bartlet’s trade policies, which are "not working." He’s smart and knows his material, although he’s not always giving the popular answers. Throughout, Vinick, Sheila and Bob discuss the ethanol issue.

Donna leaves and gets on the elevator, but before the door closes, Josh grabs it and gets in, talking on his phone. They see each other and it's a little uncomfortable. They ride up together talking curtly about their campaigns. Josh's guy isn't doing nearly as well as Donna's. They walk down the hall together and it turns out that their rooms are across from each others'. Josh has a problem getting his door open, in a scene almost exactly a repeat of one in [[{{Recap/TheWestWingS01E16TwentyHoursInLA}} 20 Hours In LA]] Donna opens it for him, and he goes into the room. The sexual tension is as clear as possible. Donna goes in to her room. After a moment, Josh goes to her door and stops just short of knocking on it. He goes back to his room, still has trouble opening it, and goes in.

Donna leaves and gets on the elevator, but before the door closes, Josh grabs it and gets in, talking on his phone. They see each other and it's a little uncomfortable. They ride up together talking curtly about their campaigns. Josh's guy isn't doing nearly as well as Donna's. They walk down the hall together and it turns out that their rooms are across from each others'. Josh has a problem getting his door open, in a scene almost exactly a repeat of one in "20 Hours in L.A." Donna opens it for him, and he goes into the room. The sexual tension is as clear as possible. Donna goes in to her room. After a moment, Josh goes to her door and stops just short of knocking on it. He goes back to his room, still has trouble opening it, and goes in.

Donna leaves and gets on the elevator, but before the door closes, Josh grabs it and gets in, talking on his phone. They see each other and it's a little uncomfortable. They ride up together talking curtly about their campaigns. Josh's guy isn't doing nearly as well as Donna's. They walk down the hall together and it turns out that their rooms are across from each others'. Josh has a problem getting his door open, in a scene almost exactly a repeat of an earlier one. Donna opens it for him, and he goes into the room. The sexual tension is as clear as possible. Donna goes in to her room. After a moment, Josh goes to her door and stops just short of knocking on it. He goes back to his room, still has trouble opening it, and goes in.

The staffer also ass for a comment on the Turkey situation and Donna relates what the President said. Another staffer goes on about the Ethanol speech and lists lots of ethanol facts and then lots of corn-based foods. Corn is important, is the message.

Will and Russell are talking on the campaign bus. Russell rehearses some stock lines. They discuss the corn gorowers expo, and then Russell goes to greet some supporters on the bus. He's shown here, as always, to be competent and personable, but not inspired, and a little bit opportunistic. Will watches him work with a disappointed look on his face.

Russell is getting back on his bus. A staffer gives him the names of the people he's about to see, so he can call thembyname and seem more personable. They go over the order of appearance for the corn expo speech, and mention Hoynes and Santos in passing. Russell predicts what Vinick will say (that ethanol is a colossal waste), but Will predicts that Vinick will flip (it turns out later that Russell was right). Russell says the following:

Donna tells Will that they can't put those fringe candidates on the stage with serious people, and describes some of the people she met. Will goes over some news with Russell; he looks concerned and unsure about a situation in Louisiana (a freight train derailed and they had to evacuate the area; it might explode and level a few city blocks). Will also goes over Russell's position on ethanol once again. in the background, we hear Russell being announced, and he runs on stage.

We see Helen Santos bringing breakfast to her children in a hotel room. She walks over to the next room, and there is Santos’s small staff working around one table in a small hotel living room. Matt Santos and Josh are in there (Russell was not in his staff meeting). Santos is directing a lot of the meeting, asking to see a copy of something so he can weigh in on it. They go over the appearances for the day, which include the Coffee-Bean Caucus and the nation’s oldest Dairy Queen. They mention that they’re going to fly somewhere, and the Corn Growers Expo.

Helen asks Matt what he’s going to say about ethanol; Josh answers, “Best thing since soft-serve.” She makes the counter argument. Matt Santos just makes faces. After the expo, Santos’s white staff is going to prep him for a debate on race, which he of course finds ironic. The meeting breaks up over a conversation about the Turkish woman and another counter argument about ethanol.

Santos is traveling in an unlabeled mobile home. He’s going to go hunting with a county operative. They discuss ethanol again; Josh coaches him again. He refers to antagonizing voters in New Hampshire and asks if he wants to go to North Dakota next to tell them that South Dakota has a cooler sounding name--a reference to the first season “big block of cheese” episode where a delegation from North Dakota made a similar argument. Santos talks about the history of farm subsidies. He knows what he’s talking about. Josh coaches more. In the cafe, Santos talks about immigration; Josh is exasperated.

The scene opens on a bed, and we see the pillow. The phone rings and a hand reaches out... Josh removes the pillow from his head and answers his 5:45 a.m. wake-up call. He gets up and follows some of the same routine that Donna did, except he messes most of it up. He walks across the cold bathroom floor and ''then'' puts on gray socks (Donna's were on already), makes coffee but overflows the pot (Donna had it set up and just switched the coffeemaker on). He turns on the news, and sees the exact same news report as Donna did about the Turkish woman.

Vinick’s transportation is a couple of SUVs and a minivan. In a cafe Vinick is talking about Bartlet’s trade policies, which are "not working." He’s smart and knows his material, although he’s not always giving the popular answers. Throughout, they discuss the ethanol issue.

Donna is sleeping and gets a wake-up call. She starts her morning routine with the TV, checks her phone for messages, brushes her teeth (there's a Russell sign in the bathroom for a reminder). The story on the TV is about an execution of a Turkish woman:

The scene opens on a bed, and we see the pillow. The phone rings and a hand reaches out... Josh removes the pillow from his head and answers. He gets up and follows some of the same routine that Donna did, except he messes most of it up. He walks across the cold bathroom floor and ''then'' puts on gray socks (Donna's were on already), makes coffee but overflows the pot (Donna had it set up and just switched the coffeemaker on). He turns on the news, and sees the exact same news report as Donna did about the Turkish woman.

''King Corn'' follows the same day in three campaigns for president--Russell, Santos, and Vinick--from the point of view of Donna, Josh, and Vinick, respectively. The stories run sequentially in the episode, but thy are basically parallel in time.

The title refers to Iowa and the fact that it produces a lot of corn: corn is king. Presidential candidates feel pressured to make promises that they would never otherwise make because Iowa holds the first caucus, and it's important to do well early in the race. The example in this episode was the ethanol pledge.

Santos is introduced and goes on stage. He eyes the teleprompter, pauses for a moment, and takes the ethanol pledge (he’s clearly choking it down, though). Josh is happy about that, but Helen walks away disappointed.

We see Mrs. Santos bringing breakfast to her children in a hotel room. She walks over to the next room, and there is Santos’s small staff working around one table in a small hotel living room. Santos and Josh are in there (Russell was not in his staff meeting). Santos is directing a lot of the meeting, asking to see a copy of something so he can weigh in on it. They go over the appearances for the day, which include the Coffee-Bean Caucus and the nation’s oldest Dairy Queen. They mention that they’re going to fly somewhere, and the Corn Growers Expo.

Mrs. Santos asks Matt what he’s going to say about ethanol; Josh answers, “Best thing since soft-serve.” She makes the counter argument. Matt Santos just makes faces. After the expo, Santos’s white staff is going to prep him for a debate on race, which he of course finds ironic. The meeting breaks up over a conversation about the Turkish woman and another counter argument about ethanol.

Santos is introduced and goes on stage. He eyes the teleprompter, pauses for a moment, and takes the ethanol pledge (he’s clearly choking it down, though). Josh is happy about that, but Mrs. Santos walks away disappointed.

-> ‘’’Santos’’’You’re trying to steer me toward middle-of-the-road positions that will appeal to C-SPAN viewers.

-> ‘’’Josh:’’’ All six of them.

''King Corn'' follows the same day in three campaigns for president--Russell, Santos, and Vinick--from the point of view of Donna, Josh, and Vinick, respectively. The stories run one sequentially in the episode, but thy are basically parallel in time.

''King Corn'' follows the same day in three campaigns for president--Russell, Santos, and Vinick--from the point of view of Donna, Josh, and Vinick, respectively. The stories run one afte the other in the episode, but thy are basically parallel in time.

Donna's next candidate wants to pay the President, the Cabinet, and all members of Congress a salary of one dollar a year. " Yeah, make 'em get a real job." He's outside, carrying a bucket of what might be pig slop, and wearing a big fur hat while they're discussing this. Donna goes over the rest of his platform: ban motrcycle helmets and color televisions, drop out of the United Nations, ablish Medicare, and totally privatize Social Security. "We gotta get the government out of our damn pockets!" Donna asks him if he's sure he's a Democrat.

-> I was in the Senate the last time Vinivk gave his ethanol speech. Whew. Passionate. If it had been a tie, I don't know what I would have done.

A telling statement on a few levels. He doesn't have a conviction about this, and he could have been swayed by a better leader (Vinick). They keep discussing the issue; Russell knows Vinick is right on the issue, but he's still going to make the ethanol pledge.

'''Act I'''

Donna leaves and gets on the elevator, but beofre the door closes, Josh grabs it and gets in, talking on his phone. They see each other and it's a little uncomfortable. They ride up together talking curtly about their campaigns. Josh's guy isn't doing nearly as well as Donna's. They walk down the hall together and t turns out that their rooms are across from each others'. Josh has a problem getting his door open, in a scene almost exactly a repeat of an earlier one. Donna opens it for him, and he goes into the room. The sexual tension is as clear as possible. Donna goes in to her room. After a moment, Josh goes to her door and stops just short of knocking on it. He goes back to his room, still has trouble opening it, and goes in.