Original subtitles

PREVIOUSLY ON THE WEST WING:

INDIA HAS SENT TROOPS INTO THE NEUTRAL ZONE IN KASHMIR.

THIS HAPPENED LAST NIGHT?

NOT READY FOR THE PRESS. COULD HAVE TOLD ME THAT

BEFORE SENDING ME IN THERE.

C.J.? I FLATLY DENIED IT.

I MET WITH SECRET SERVICE AGENTS THIS MORNING.

WHAT DID I DO?

IT'S TIME FOR ME TO TELL YOU

ABOUT SOME LETTERS WE'VE BEEN GETTING.

TWO DEATH THREATS WERE RECEIVED EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

SIR, I'M FAIRLY CONVINCED

WE'RE LOOKING FOR TWO 15-YEAR-OLD BOYS.

President: THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

TWO POLITICIANS ARE HAVING AN ARGUMENT.

ONE OF THEM STANDS UP AND SHOUTS, "YOU'RE LYING."

THE OTHER ONE SAYS, "YES, I AM, BUT HEAR ME OUT."

( audience laughing )

Woman: MR. PRESIDENT

we have time for one more question.

President: I don't think I answered the last one yet.

Suzanne's got me telling jokes.

( audience laughing )

Suzanne, there is an answer to your question

but I don't think you're going to like it.

You ready?

The current crop of 18-25 year olds

is the most politically apathetic generation

IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

IN 1972, HALF OF THAT AGE GROUP VOTED.

IN THE LAST ELECTION, IT WAS 32%.

YOUR GENERATION IS CONSIDERABLY LESS LIKELY

THAN ANY PREVIOUS ONE

TO WRITE OR CALL PUBLIC OFFICIALS

ATTEND RALLIES OR WORK ON POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS.

A MAN ONCE SAID THIS:

"DECISIONS ARE MADE BY THOSE WHO SHOW UP."

SO ARE WE FAILING YOU, OR ARE YOU FAILING US?

IT'S A LITTLE OF BOTH.

( audience laughing )

A guy on my staff showed me a report...

WE'RE MOMENTS AWAY.

I'M GOING TO GET THE DOOR.

...from the Center for Policy Alternatives

that said 61% of your age group agree with the statement

"Politicians and political officials

have failed my generation."

When asked how older generations see you

your top answers are "lazy," "confused" and "unfocused."

IT'S THE CENTER FOR POLICY ALTERNATIVES.

C.J.'LL HAVE COPIES FOR THE BUS RIDE BACK.

When asked how you see yourselves

the top answers were

"ambitious," "determined" and "independent."

UM, I WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THIS, BUT THERE WAS

SOME DEBATE AMONG MY STAFF EARLIER TODAY

AS TO WHETHER OR NOT I SHOULD TAKE OFF MY JACKET.

SOME THOUGHT IT WOULD

fit in nicely with the folksy atmosphere

of a town hall meeting.

Others thought it wouldn't be Presidential.

Can I trust you all to read nothing into it

other than I've been talking for two hours

and it's a little hot under these lights?

( applause )

THANK YOU.

See, all that ambition and determination

doesn't translate into political action, Suzanne.

WHERE'S TOBY?

WHY?

HE'S GOT A PHONE CALL.

FROM WHO?

PETER JOBSON.

GIVE IT TO ME.

That tax burden has crept

further down the income and age ladder

and the benefits are going more and more

to the elderly and the well-to-do.

Totaling all government payments to individuals...

TOBY.

...we now spend nine times as much on the elderly

as we do on a single child.

No wonder this upcoming generation

has turned its back...

JOSH.

on a government that's forgotten them.

Overall entitlement payments...

LEO.

are, or will have crowded out

public investment into infrastructure...

WHAT'S THAT?

IT'S THE SIGNAL.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE SIGNAL

FOR THE OTHER THING.

THAT'S THE SIGNAL FOR THIS THING NOW.

WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?

IT HAPPENED JUST A...

WHO CARES, LEO?

IT'S THE SIGNAL FOR THIS THING NOW.

WE'RE TOTALLY OUT OF THE WOODS?

GO TELL THE PRESIDENT.

Overall, entitlement payments will have crowded out

public investment in infrastructure

and they'll have crowded out public investment in education

to say nothing to the general quality of life.

So college kids today are facing a future

of paying even higher taxes...

FOLLOW ME.

WHY?

...which is why it doesn't come as a galloping shock

today's young people aren't exactly living for tomorrow.

I HAVE A TIP.

YOU DO? YES.

OKAY.

I HAVE A TIP AND I'M GOING

TO GIVE IT TO YOU BEFORE THE OTHERS.

ARE WE BEING WATCHED RIGHT NOW?

NO.

THEN WHY ARE WE TALKING LIKE THIS?

I HAVE NEWS.

WHAT'S THE NEWS?

I WANT YOU TO ACKNOWLEDGE

THAT I'M DOING

SOMETHING NICE FOR YOU.

WHAT IS THE NEWS?

A PEACE PIPE OF SORTS. YES.

AN OFFERING, WHICH IN ONE SENSE...

WHAT'S THE DAMN NEWS?

CALL YOUR SCIENCE EDITOR. WHY?

IT'S ABOUT THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA.

There's another survey, this one by the Generation X

advocacy group Third Millennium.

53% of 18-25 year olds believe the soap opera General Hospital

will outlast Medicare.

( audience laughing )

This from a generation convinced the generation before them

HAS RANSOMED ITS FUTURE.

THAT'S WHY MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, ZOEY, IS ALWAYS MAD AT ME.

( audience laughing )

THIS IS THE PART WHERE ZOEY

TRIES TO CRAWL UNDER HER SEAT TO HIDE.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, SWEETIE.

I'M GOING TO BRING OUT THE BABY PICTURES ANY SECOND NOW.

( audience laughing )

( cheering, chanting )

GINA.

STRAIGHT TO THE CAR.

HE'S NOT WORKING THE ROPE LINE?

THERE'S A SOFTBALL GAME HE WANTS TO WATCH.

THEY SHOW SOFTBALL ON TV?

YEAH.

AND THE PRESIDENT WATCHES IT?

HE LIKES TO UNWIND WATCHING SPORTS ON TV.

SOFTBALL.

WHATEVER'S ON.

GOOD.

( crowd chanting ): BARTLET! BARTLET! BARTLET!

GO, JED! GO, JED! GO, JED!

GO, JED! GO, JED! GO, JED!

GO, JED! GO, JED! GO, JED!

STRANGE AS IT MAY SEEM

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THAT ANYONE...

DID YOU HEAR THAT?

YEAH.

HE USED IT. YEAH.

HE USED THE MATERIAL I TOLD HIM ABOUT.

YEAH.

YOU WERE RIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

IT DOESN'T GO AWAY.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.

HERE WE GO.

HE'S NOT WORKING THE ROPE LINE, MIKE.

STRAIGHT TO THE CAR.

I'VE GOT BOOKBAG.

BABY PICTURES-- HE'S HECKLING ME WITH THEM

AND VISA CARD BILLS.

AND LOOK, NOW HE'S WALKING THE ROPE LINE.

IF THERE WAS EVER A CHANCE HE WAS GOING TO WALK PAST A CROWD OF PEOPLE...

CHARLIE!

I SAW SOMETHING.

BY THE WAY, CHARLIE APOLOGIZED

TO ME-- HE MADE A FULL APOLOGY.

I SAW SOMETHING.

GINA?

Crowd chanting: BARTLET! BARTLET!

BARTLET! BARTLET! BARTLET!

BARTLET! BARTLET! BARTLET!

BARTLET! BARTLET! BARTLET!

[Captioning sponsored by NBC

and WARNER BROS. TELEVISION]

WHAT'S GOING ON?

ONE SECOND, LEO.

THAT WAS THE SA-6, RIGHT?

SURFACE-TO-AIR? THANK YOU.

AL JABER AIR BASE IN KUWAIT

SAYS A NIGHTHAWK DIDN'T COME BACK.

DIDN'T COME BACK FROM WHERE?

A PATROL OF THE NO-FLY WITH THE FIVE AND DIME.

IRAQ.

YEAH.

WE'VE GOT AN F-117 DOWN IN IRAQ.

ALONG WITH A PILOT.

HOW MUCH OF THIS IS CONFIRMED?

NONE OF IT.

HOW MUCH TIME?

I NEED TEN MORE MINUTES.

TEN MINUTES, THEN I'M BRINGING IN THE PRESIDENT.

CONFIRMATION IN TEN MINUTES.

IT SEEMS TO ME IF THE EVENT'S OVER BY 10:00

I CAN BE BACK HERE BY 11:00.

YES, SIR.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?

YOU CAN WATCH THE GIRLS' SOFTBALL GAME.

DID YOU SNICKER WHEN YOU SAID THAT?

NO, SIR.

YES, YOU DID.

MR. PRESIDENT.

THANKS, LOU.

WHEN YOU SAID THAT, YOU SNICKERED.

NO, SIR.

YES, YOU SNICKERED AS IF TO INDICATE

THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY WANTING TO SEE

A GIRLS' SOFTBALL GAME LIVE VIA SATELLITE.

WELL, YOU SEEM PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT, SIR.

THEY'RE READY FOR YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

THANKS, PHIL.

I AM EXCITED ABOUT IT.

AT THE END OF A LONG DAY

YOU SIT BACK, YOU OPEN A BEER

YOU WATCH A SPORTING EVENT.

THAT'S WHAT MEN DO.

THEY WATCH GIRLS' SOFTBALL?

WHEN THAT'S WHAT'S ON, THAT'S WHAT THEY WATCH.

IT'S THAT OR A CRICKET MATCH BETWEEN SCOTLAND AND BERMUDA.

NOW, I AM AN EDUCATED MAN, CHARLIE, BUT WHEN SOMEBODY

TRIES TO EXPLAIN CRICKET TO ME

ALL I WANT TO DO IS HIT HIM IN THE HEAD WITH A TEAPOT.

GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT.

GOOD MORNING, PATTY.

SO IT'S SOFTBALL.

SACRAMENTO STATE VERSUS

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC.

A CLASH OF THE TITANS.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SPOIL MY FUN.

I WOULDN'T WANT TO, SIR.

I'LL GET TO THE END OF THE DAY

SIT BACK, OPEN A BEER...

AND WATCH GIRLS' SOFTBALL.

THAT'S RIGHT.

GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT. GOOD MORNING, SIR.

HEY, STEVE, HEY, MIKEY.

HAVE I GOTTEN ANY OF THE NAMES RIGHT SO FAR?

NO SIR, BUT YOU CAME DAMN CLOSE ON A COUPLE OF 'EM.

GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND IF WE GET RIGHT TO IT.

SURE.

IT'S A TOWN HALL MEETING BROADCAST LIVE ON MSNBC.

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS REHEARSAL

CAROL WILL BE THE MODERATOR.

SHE'LL BE SITTING TO YOUR RIGHT.

YOU'LL HAVE A PITCHER OF WATER AND A DRINKING GLASS.

WHEN I SPEAK, I SHOULD STAND

FACING THE AUDIENCE, RIGHT?

SIR...

YOU KNOW HOW I KNOW THIS?

I'VE DONE IT 200,000-300,000 TIMES.

HEY, SAM. YES, SIR.

WHY DIDN'T COLUMBIA LAND?

I'M SORRY, SIR?

THE SPACE SHUTTLE WAS SUPPOSED TO LAND.

SOMEBODY SAID IT DIDN'T.

WHY DON'T YOU GO ASK TOBY?

WHY WOULD TOBY KNOW?

HIS BROTHER'S ON THAT FLIGHT.

REALLY?

HE'S A PAYLOAD SPECIALIST.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

HE'S UP THERE WITH FOUR

RED-BELLIED JAPANESE NEWTS.

HE WANTS TO SEE HOW A NEWT'S INNER EARS

WHICH ARE REMARKABLY SIMILAR TO HUMANS'

ARE INFLUENCED BY THE ABSENCE OF GRAVITY.

YOU KNOW WHAT HE CALLS THEM, C.J.?

ASTRONEWTS?

100% RIGHT.

GO ASK HIM WHY IT DIDN'T LAND.

YES, SIR.

HERE WE GO.

OKAY, SIR.

MR. PRESIDENT, THE FIRST QUESTION...

SORRY, C.J.?

YOU SAY I HAVE A PITCHER OF WATER AND A DRINKING GLASS

AND THE WATER GETS INTO THE GLASS HOW?

Toby: IT'LL GO SOMETHING LIKE THIS:

"MR. PRESIDENT

"YOUR ADMINISTRATION HAS PURSUED A POLICY OF WHAT?

CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT..."

YES.

"...TOWARD CHINA, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A COMMUNIST COUNTRY

THAT HAS SYSTEMATICALLY... WHAT? IMPRISONED DISSIDENTS?"

YES.

"OKAY, OPPRESSED ITS BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

"AT THE SAME TIME

"YOUR ADMINISTRATION HAS REFUSED TO ENGAGE CUBA.

WHY THE DOUBLE STANDARD?"

INTERESTING QUESTION.

THANKS.

TOBY...

WE NEED AN ANSWER ON CUBA.

WE NEED AN ANSWER ON CUBA

AND WE NEED AN ANSWER ON FARM LOANS.

COLLEGE STUDENTS AREN'T GOING TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT CUBA.

THERE'LL BE FACULTY THERE.

NOT ONLY DID I NOT KNOW

THAT YOU HAD A BROTHER ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE

YEAH. I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD A BROTHER.

I DO. I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD A BROTHER.

DO YOU KNOW WHY THE SPACE SHUTTLE DIDN'T LAND LAST NIGHT?

WHY?

WERE YOU AWARE THE SPACE SHUTTLE

WAS SUPPOSED TO LAND LAST NIGHT AND DIDN'T?

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME, SAM?

IS THERE SOMETHING GOING ON ON THE SHUTTLE?

I'LL FIND OUT.

THANK YOU, AND WRITE ME AN ANSWER ON CUBA.

OKAY.

DONNA, DID YOU GET ME A MEETING

WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT?

I DID, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY.

JOGGING. YES.

WE COULDN'T REALLY, THIS TIME, JUST SIT IN CHAIRS?

HE'S JOGGING AT 2:00.

IT'S THE ONLY TIME HE COULD FIT YOU IN.

OKAY, ORDER ME BOILED CHICKEN AND SOME PASTA.

NOTHING LIKE A MEETING YOU HAVE TO CARB-UP FOR.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AT THE TOWN HALL PREP RIGHT NOW.

YEAH, I'M GOING TO THE PRESSROOM.

THEY STARTED TEN MINUTES AGO.

DONNA?

YEAH?

WHERE'S MY CHAIR?

WE HAVE TO GO.

WHERE'S MY CHAIR?

WHAT CHAIR?

THE CHAIR I SIT IN AT MY DESK.

IT'S AT THE SHOP.

AT THE SHOP?

YOU SAID ONE OF THE WHEELS WAS WOBBLY.

YEAH, YOU CALL A GUY FROM MAINTENANCE.

HE BRINGS A SCREWDRIVER.

WELL, I SENT IT TO THE SHOP.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WAS A SHOP.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH A SHOP AS IT IS...

WHAT?

MY FRIEND, CURTIS.

YEAH. YOUR FRIEND, CURTIS...

...IS FIXING MY CHAIR?

I'M THROWING HIM SOME WORK.

AND HOW MUCH IS CURTIS CHARGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

TO FIX THE WOBBLY WHEEL ON MY CHAIR?

HE SAID HE'D HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE JOB.

AT HIS SHOP?

YEAH. OKAY.

MR. PRESIDENT, THERE ARE MORE THAN 40 MILLION AMERICANS

WHO DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE

AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE CHILDREN.

IN THE FIRST YEAR OF YOUR PRESIDENCY

YOU PROPOSED NO NEW...

President: I PROPOSED...

...COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS.

CAN WE EXPECT REAL ACTION IN THE NEAR FUTURE

OR WILL YOUR ADMINISTRATION

CONTINUE TO NIBBLE AROUND THE EDGES?

I WOULDN'T SAY MY ADMINISTRATION'S

"NIBBLED AROUND THE EDGES."

DON'T REPEAT THE PHRASE, SIR.

THAT'LL BE THE SOUND BITE.

IF WE DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION

THE VERY LEAST WE CAN DO IS ACKNOWLEDGE

THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

I AGREE WITH YOU THAT FAR TOO MANY AMERICANS

DO NOT HAVE ACCESS

TO THE QUALITY AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE THEY DESERVE

AND IT'S INTOLERABLE THAT MOST OF THEM ARE CHILDREN.

YES.

WE CAN, AND WE MUST DO MORE.

MR. PRESIDENT.

HANG ON. NOW CAN I BLAME CONGRESS?

KNOCK YOURSELF OUT.

( chuckles )

MR. PRESIDENT, I NEED YOU IN THE SITUATION ROOM.

Fitzwallace: GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT.

IS THE PILOT STILL ALIVE?

HE HAD AN ACES II ZERO/ZERO EJECTOR SEAT ON BOARD.

NATO COMMAND IN BRUSSELS SAYS THE AEGIS SYSTEM

ON THE NORTH DAKOTA

PICKED UP A TRACKING SIGNAL

ON THE FAO PENINSULA, SOUTH OF BASRA.

HE'S IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

WHO ELSE IS OUT THERE?

THE FOURTH CORPS OF THE IRAQI R.G.

WE PATROL THE AREA.

SOMEBODY'S WITHIN TEN MILES

OF THE PILOT.

OUR GUY IS TEN MILES FROM THE FOURTH CORPS

OF THE IRAQI REPUBLICAN GUARDS?

IT'S A MATTER OF WHO GETS THERE FIRST.

FITZ, YOU GOT A RESCUE SCENARIO?

YEAH. THE 16th SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP

OUT OF HURLBERT FIELD.

THEY USE THE PAVE HAWKS?

AND THE MH-53J.

THESE ARE SPECIALLY EQUIPPED HELICOPTERS.

THEY FLY TREE-TOP ALTITUDE

AT ABOUT 180 KNOTS.

Man: MR. PRESIDENT, CAN I SUGGEST

THAT RATHER THAN JUMPING INTO A MILITARY RESCUE PLAN...

Leo: OH, PLEASE.

A PHONE CALL TO IRAQI AMBASS...

YOU WANT TO CHECK WITH THE EMBASSY?

I'M SAYING, LEO

THAT THREE HOURS SPENT ON DIPLOMATIC SOLUTIONS IS NOT...

I TELL YOU WHAT, PHIL.

HOW ABOUT I DROP YOU AND YOUR $47 MILLION

AMERICAN WARPLANE THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PICKED UP

BY IRAQI RADAR IN THE MIDDLE OF A DESERT.

THEN YOU TELL ME IF WE'VE GOT THREE HOURS

TO FIND A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION BEFORE WE COME GET YOU.

WHAT'S HIS NAME?

I'M SORRY, SIR?

THE PILOT. WHAT'S HIS NAME?

CAPTAIN SCOTT HOTCHKISS.

WHERE'S HE FROM?

RHODE ISLAND.

HOW OLD IS HE?

26.

ROB TOLD ME IN MY INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING LAST WEEK

THAT THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT HAS PUT OUT A BOUNTY--

THE EQUIVALENT OF $14,000 U.S.--

FOR ANY AMERICAN PLANE SHOT DOWN

OR ANY AMERICAN SOLDIER CAPTURED.

NOW, HE WAS JUST PATROLLING THE NO-FLY ZONE, RIGHT?

YES, SIR.

HE HAD NOT ENGAGED.

NO, SIR.

PHIL...

IF IT ENDS UP FITZWALLACE HAS TO CALL THIS KID'S PARENTS

I SWEAR TO GOD, I'M INVADING BAGHDAD.

GET HIM BACK.

YES, SIR.

YEAH?

OH, C.J., THE IRAQIS SHOT DOWN

AN F-117 NIGHTHAWK IN THE SOUTHERN

NO-FLY ZONE.

IS THE PILOT STILL ALIVE?

YEAH, BUT HE'S CAUGHT

BETWEEN A COUPLE OF DIVISIONS OF THE REPUBLICAN GUARD.

IS THERE A PENTAGON...

PENTAGON TEAM'S COMING OVER TO BRIEF YOU.

IS THERE A RESCUE MISSION?

PRESIDENT GAVE THE ORDER ABOUT AN HOUR AGO.

IF THE IRAQIS SHOT DOWN AN F-117

THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO TELL THE WORLD ABOUT IT.

YEAH. THERE'S GOING TO BE FILM

OF A BURNING AIRPLANE ON CNN WITHIN TWO HOURS.

PRESS'LL HAVE THE NEWS BEFORE YOU'RE DONE

WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SITUATION ROOM.

WHICH IS THE PROBLEM

OF CONDUCTING A COVERT RESCUE MISSION

IN THIS AGE OF INSTANT NEWS.

YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M TELLING YOU?

YES, I DO.

'CAUSE THERE WAS A PROBLEM...

LEO, I'M SAYING...

THERE WAS A PROBLEM A FEW MONTHS AGO

WITH INDIA/PAKISTAN.

LEO... YOU WERE UNCOMFORTABLE

YOU WERE UNCOMFORTABLE LYING TO THE PRESS...

I WASN'T LYING TO THE PRESS ON INDIA/PAKISTAN.

I WAS LIED TO BY YOU

WHICH MADE ME LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT.

WELL, I'M NOT LYING TO YOU NOW.

FOUR MH-53J PAVE LOWS

CARRYING 80 GUYS FROM THE 16th SPECIAL OPS

ARE OUT FLYING UNDER RADAR.

WE'RE GOING TO PAY A PRICE

FOR MISLEADING THE PRESS.

I DON'T CARE. I UNDERSTAND.

Josh: LEO?

AN F-117?

YOU SHOULD GO TO YOUR BRIEFING.

YEAH.

AN F-117 IS A STEALTH FIGHTER, RIGHT?

YEAH.

AT SOME POINT, WE'LL TALK ABOUT

HOW THEY SHOT DOWN A STEALTH FIGHTER.

YOU CAN TAKE THAT TO THE BANK.

ANYWAY, I ARRANGED A MEETING WITH HOYNES.

WHEN?

IN AN HOUR. WHERE?

WE'RE JOGGING.

LISTEN TO ME.

DON'T TELL HIM WHY IT'S BAD FOR US.

TELL HIM WHY IT'S BAD FOR HIM.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE MEETING.

COME SEE ME AFTER.

AN F-117? YEAH.

ISN'T THAT A STEALTH FIGHTER? YES.

HOW DID IT GET SEEN?

I'M SURE SOMEONE IS LOOKING INTO THAT.

I WOULD THINK SO. IN ITS DEFENSE

THE STEALTH FIGHTER'S A GENERATION OF TECHNOLOGY

BEHIND THE B-2 SPIRIT BOMBER.

IT'S A STEALTH FIGHTER.

IT SHOULD HAVE STEALTH CAPABILITY, RIGHT?

SURE. 'CAUSE IF IT DOESN'T

WE SHOULD CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE.

HELLO.

HI.

ONE OF THE PAYLOAD BAY DOORS WOULD NOT CLOSE.

I'M SORRY? SPECIFICALLY

THE STARBOARD PAYLOAD BAY DOOR.

SAM, IF YOUR ASS ISN'T OFF MY DESK

AND I MEAN STAT...

THIS IS NOT HIS FIRST SHUTTLE.

IT IS HIS FOURTH SHUTTLE MISSION.

DR. DAVID ZIEGLER

HOLDING POSTGRADUATE DEGREES

IN BOTH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOLOGY.

NOW I KNOW MORE ABOUT YOUR BROTHER THAN YOU

SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD A BROTHER.

A PAYLOAD BAY DOOR WOULDN'T CLOSE?

I TALKED TO THE MISSION COMMANDER AT NASA

A GUY NAMED PETER JOBSON.

HE SAID A POWER DRIVE UNIT

ON THE STARBOARD PAYLOAD BAY DOOR WAS JAMMED.

THEY'RE GOING TO NEED AN E.V.A. TO FIX IT

AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO LAND TILL THE MORNING.

IT'S MORNING EVERY 45 MINUTES ON THE SHUTTLE.

MORNING AT EDWARDS.

IT'S MORNING RIGHT NOW.

THE E.V.A.'s TAKING THEM A LITTLE TIME.

WELL, IT'S A RED-LETTER DAY FOR U.S. AVIATION, ISN'T IT?

PETER JOBSON WAS VERY CALM.

HE SAID IT WAS A MINOR PROBLEM.

ALL RIGHT, GO BACK TO WORK.

C.J. NEEDS THE BRIEFING ROOM.

LET'S MOVE PREP TO THE ROOSEVELT ROOM

WHEN THE PRESIDENT'S FREE.

I DON'T BELIEVE HE'S GOING TO GET ANYTHING ON CUBA

BUT WE'RE WORKING OUT AN ANSWER.

ALSO ON TEACHERS.

OKAY.

SAM, KEEP IN TOUCH

WITH PETER JOBSON

AND LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS IT LANDS, WOULD YOU?

YEAH.

YEAH. TOBY?

CNN'S GOT THE NIGHTHAWK.

THANK YOU.

Josh: THERE WAS A RECKLESS DEREGULATION

OF THE S&L INDUSTRY BY A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS

THAT WAS FLOODED WITH S&L CONTRIBUTIONS

A DISASTER WHICH NEARLY COLLAPSED THE BANKING SYSTEM

AND COST TAXPAYERS $500 BILLION.

Hoynes: WHAT'S YOUR POINT?

WE'RE NO BETTER WITH THE MONEY THAN THEY ARE.

TELL ME ABOUT IT.

THREE-QUARTERS OF ALL SOFT MONEY

GOING INTO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

ISN'T COMING FROM LABOR UNIONS.

IT'S COMING FROM CORPORATIONS.

YES, I KNOW.

OVER A HUNDRED BUSINESSES PAID BOTH PARTIES

AN EXCESS OF $125,000 IN THE LAST ELECTION.

THEY GIVE IT TO BOTH PARTIES.

THAT ISN'T FREE SPEECH OR POLITICAL VALUES, MR. VICE PRESIDENT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'VE DONE IT

BUT WE'VE LEGALIZED BRIBERY.

YEP.

SO, WHAT WE'VE GOT ARE TWO CORPORATE PARTIES--

ONE PRO-LIFE, ONE PRO-CHOICE.

WHEN I SAID "WHAT'S YOUR POINT?"

I MEANT, "WHAT'S YOUR POINT?"

WE'VE NOTICED A SUDDEN INCREASE

IN THE AMOUNT OF RACQUETBALL AND LATE-NIGHT POKER GAMES

WITH DEMOCRATIC OPPONENTS OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.

OH, COME ON, JOSH, THIS IS WASHINGTON, D.C.

YOU CAN'T SWING A DEAD CAT

WITHOUT HITTING A DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT

OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.

CAN WE STOP RUNNING A SECOND?

YEAH.

YOU'RE BACKING THE WRONG HORSE.

YOU READ THE SAME POLLS I DO.

THE PRESIDENT'S GONE UP NINE POINTS IN THREE WEEKS--

51% JOB APPROVAL, BIG DEAL--

BUT HE'S GOING ON NATIONAL TELEVISION TONIGHT.

HE'S GOING TO PICK UP ANOTHER FIVE.

THAT'S 56%-- A 14-POINT BUMP IN A MONTH.

LOOK, JOSH... NOW, THAT'S DAUNTING...

HANG ON.

IF WE BRING THIS AIR FORCE PILOT BACK ALIVE

THAT'S ANOTHER TEN POINTS

AND WE'RE OFF TO THE RACES WITH A JOB APPROVAL RATING

IN THE HIGH 60s.

EVERY DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN IN A TIGHT RACE IS PAYING A BUCK

TO HAVE THEIR PICTURE TAKEN WITH THE PRESIDENT.

YOU'RE LOOKING AROUND THE RACQUETBALL COURTS SAYING

"WHERE DID EVERYBODY GO?"

YOU'VE HAD SOME EXPERIENCE

BATTLING JED BARTLET WHEN HE'S RIGHT

AND YOU'VE HAD SOME EXPERIENCE BATTLING HIM WHEN HE'S POPULAR.

WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU WANT TO TRY IT

WHEN HE'S BOTH AT THE SAME TIME?

YOU KNOW SOMETHING, JOSH?

SOMETIMES I WONDER IF I'D LISTENED TO YOU TWO YEARS AGO

WOULD I BE PRESIDENT RIGHT NOW?

YOU EVER WONDER THAT?

NO, SIR, I KNOW IT FOR SURE.

I'M DONE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SIR.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

A U.S. AIR FORCE F-117A

NIGHTHAWK STEALTH FIGHTER ATTACK AIRCRAFT

FLYING A ROUTINE PATROL

OUT OF AL JABER AIR FORCE BASE IN KUWAIT

WAS SHOT DOWN OVER THE SOUTHERN NO-FLY ZONE IN IRAQ.

AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T KNOW THE CONDITION OF THE PILOT.

WE DO KNOW THE PLANE CARRIES AN ACES II ZERO/ZERO EJECTOR SEAT

AND THAT IT WAS ACTIVATED.

GENERAL RICHMOND AND GENERAL CLANCY

WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT.

Reporters: C.J.!

IS THERE A RESCUE MISSION UNDERWAY?

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SCENARIOS BEING CONTEMPLATED

BUT I WOULDN'T WANT TO SPECULATE.

WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT

AND THE PRESIDENT IS LOOKING FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION.

Reporter: THERE HAVE BEEN NO MILITARY MOVES?

NO.

Reporters: C.J.?

CHRIS.

BUT YOU FIRST HAVE TO LIST YOUR OWN ACCOMPLISHMENTS

OR YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CREDIBILITY.

EXPANDING COVERAGE FOR 5 MILLION MORE POOR CHILDREN.

MAKING HEALTH CARE PORTABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO CHANGE JOBS.

YOU COULD ALSO LIST THE AGENDA FOR THE COMING YEAR.

YOU KNOW WHAT'S HARD ABOUT THIS, C.J.?

SIR?

I'M REHEARSING HERE

WITHOUT THE PITCHER AND THE GLASS

AND IT'S TOTALLY WEIRD FOR ME.

WHAT ABOUT HIM TAKING HIS JACKET OFF?

I LIKE IT. NO.

IT'LL LOOK STAGED.

NOT IF HE DOES IT AT THE RIGHT MOMENT.

THEN THROW IT OVER HIS SHOULDER?

MAYBE.

I'M ALSO NOT WILD ABOUT THAT HANDHELD MIKE.

CAN WE GET HIM WIRED?

NO. WITH THE MIKE, THE STOOL

AND THE JACKET OVER MY SHOULDER

I CAN DO THE TOWN HALL MEETING

THEN DO A COUPLE OF SETS

AT THE COPA.

HEY.

MY MUSICAL DIRECTOR, ZOEY BARTLET.

ARE YOU WORKING?

WE'RE DOWN TO DO I OR DO I NOT TAKE MY JACKET OFF.

WANT TO KNOW WHAT I THINK?

I HONESTLY COULDN'T CARE LESS.

I WANT YOU TO COME WITH US TONIGHT.

I WAS... DAD, ARE YOU SWEATING?

I'M FINE.

YEAH. ARE YOU SURE?

ZOEY... YOU TOOK YOUR PILLS?

FINE. GO AHEAD AND COLLAPSE.

ARE YOU CHANNELING MOM NOW?

DAD...

COME TO VIRGINIA TONIGHT.

I CAN WATCH ON TV.

IT'S NOT LIKE BEING THERE IN PERSON.

YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ME

AND THE CAMERA'S GOING TO GO ON ME

AND MY FACE IS GOING TO TURN RED.

IT'S JUST GOING TO BE AWFUL FOR ME.

BONUS, THEN IT'S SETTLED.

LISTEN, CHARLIE WANTED

TO SAY SOMETHING DURING PREP.

OKAY.

I'M GOING TO GO SEE MOM.

AND YOU'RE COMING TONIGHT?

THANKS. YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE, WE'RE DONE.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

CHARLIE, ZOEY SAID YOU HAD SOMETHING

YOU WANTED TO MENTION.

I'M SORRY, SIR?

THERE'S SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO MENTION?

NO, SIR. YOU SURE?

YES, SIR. THERE WAS JUST... I'M SORRY.

THERE WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING.

OKAY.

MR. PRESIDENT? YEAH?

I WAS THINKING IT MIGHT NOT BE A BAD IDEA

TO HAVE A SIGNAL WORKED OUT.

A SIGNAL FOR WHAT?

GOOD NEWS REGARDING THE PILOT

AND IT COMES WHILE YOU'RE ON TELEVISION.

WHAT KIND OF SIGNAL DID YOU HAVE IN MIND?

SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

JUST VERY SUBTLE, VERY SIMPLE.

WHAT IS THAT?

IT'S A DEPARTURE.

IT'S A SAFE DEPARTURE.

WOULD YOU LIKE A DIFFERENT SIGNAL?

NO, THAT ONE'S GOOD.

SHOULD I SPREAD IT AROUND?

I THINK IT'S GOING TO GET AROUND ALL BY ITSELF

BUT IF YOU WANT TO HELP IT ALONG A LITTLE

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

( knocking )

Leo: HEY, JOSH.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

I JUST TALKED TO HOYNES.

IS HE IN?

YEAH, HE'S ON BOARD.

YOU DID A GOOD JOB.

GOOD.

JOSH... YEAH?

DID YOU HAPPEN TO SAY TO HIM

THAT IF SCOTT HOTCHKISS COMES BACK ALIVE

THERE'LL BE A TEN-POINT BUMP?

I DID.

I GOT TO TELL YOU

IF THE PRESIDENT EVER HEARD ABOUT THAT

HE'D BE OUT OF HIS SKIN.

LEO... DON'T DO THAT.

I WAS JUST... NOT EVEN IN PRIVATE.

THE GUY'S BEEN BLOWN OUT OF THE SKY.

HE COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

FOR SURE HE'S IN AN IRAQI DESERT WITH NO WATER.

HE'S GOT TO KEEP RADIO SILENCE

'CAUSE WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES LOOKING FOR HIM

AND IF THEY GET TO HIM FIRST

AND IF ALL HE GIVES THEM IS NAME, RANK AND SERIAL NUMBER

THEY'RE GOING TO BEAT HIM, JOSH.

THEY'RE GOING TO TORTURE HIM.

THIS IS TO SAY NOTHING OF 80 GUYS IN THE HELICOPTER

WHO ARE GOING TO GET SHOT AT

IF THEY'RE PICKED UP UNDERNEATH THE RADAR.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

I KNOW THE PRESIDENT'S BEEN JOKING AROUND ALL DAY

BUT HE'S BEEN LIVING AND DYING WITH EVERY HOUR OF THIS

AND HE'D BE REALLY OFFENDED IF HE KNEW

YOU WERE DISCUSSING A POLITICAL UPSIDE

AND I GOT TO TELL, JOSH

AS A GUY WHO FLEW PLANES IN THE WAR

I WAS REALLY OFFENDED, TOO.

YES, SIR.

OKAY.

OKAY.

YOU DID GOOD TODAY.

I'M JUST SAYING THERE'S A WAY TO BE A PERSON.

I APOLOGIZE.

YOUR APOLOGY'S ACCEPTED.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

IT LOOKED LIKE YOU WANTED TO HUG ME.

OH, MAN, DID YOU READ THAT WRONG.

OKAY.

OH, HEY, SAM WAS HERE BEFORE.

WE'VE GOT SOME KIND OF SIGNAL?

YEAH, FOR IF WE KNOW SOMETHING DURING THE TOWN HALL.

IT'S GOING TO BE DAYS. MAYBE NOT.

WHAT'S THE SIGNAL?

IT'S THIS HERE.

WHAT IS THAT?

THAT'S THE SIGNAL.

LOOKS LIKE A HIP-HOP GESTURE.

IT'S, UH, A PLANE TAKING OFF.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A PLANE TAKING OFF.

IT MEANS SOMETHING GOOD HAS HAPPENED.

THIS MEANS SOMETHING BAD HAS HAPPENED.

I GOT IT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A CRYPTOGRAPHER...

I SAID I'VE GOT IT.

LEO...

I REALLY DO APOLOGIZE.

THANK YOU.

ZOEY? CAN I TALK TO YOU IN HERE?

YEAH.

I WISH YOU HADN'T DONE THAT.

YOU NEEDED PROMPTING.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU CHICKENED OUT.

I DIDN'T CHICKEN OUT AND I DIDN'T NEED PROMPTING.

IT'S JUST INAPPROPRIATE.

I DON'T HAVE THE SAME RELATIONSHIP

WITH YOUR FATHER THAT YOU HAVE.

I DON'T HAVE THE SAME RELATIONSHIP THAT THE STAFF HAS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S OUT OF LINE

FOR YOU TO PUT YOUR TWO CENTS IN.

I'M SORRY, WE'RE USING YOUR OFFICE...

YOU CAN KEEP FIGHTING IN A SECOND.

I JUST NEED TO FIND SOMETHING.

I ALSO DO NOT THINK IT WAS OUT OF LINE

FOR ME TO HAVE STUCK UP FOR YOU

SINCE YOU WERE CLEARLY CHICKEN.

ZOEY, I WORK IN A BUILDING

WITH THE SMARTEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

( Josh grunts )

DONNA!

HI.

HOW YOU DOING?

WE SHOULD GET SOMETHING TEMPORARY

SO THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

Josh: YEAH.

ANYWAY, I WISH YOU WOULDN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

OKAY, BUT YOU'RE WRONG.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

COME IN.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

LISTEN. SAM...

NO, NO, IT'S NOT...

CATHY'S GETTING PETER JOBSON ON THE PHONE FOR YOU.

HE'S GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS.

SAM?

THERE WAS A SCREWUP WHEN THEY CLOSED THE DOOR.

THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING WHICH IS CALLED A MANUAL WINCH-OP

WHICH MEANS THEY DISCONNECT THE MOTOR FROM THE DOOR

AND SOMEHOW, EITHER AS A RESULT OF THAT

OF SOMETHING COMPLETELY UNRELATED

THE TWO O.M.S. ENGINES ARE FAILING.

O.M.S. ARE THE ORBITAL MANEUVERING SYSTEMS.

DO YOU KNOW IF THEY HAVE PRIMARY R.C.S.?

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TRYING NOW.

TOBY?

IF THIS WERE AT A CERTAIN LEVEL

THEY WOULD'VE CALLED THE PRESIDENT.

YEAH.

SERIOUSLY.

YEAH.

ANYWAY, CATHY'S GETTING PETER JOBSON.

BEFORE, WHEN YOU FIRST ASKED ME

THE REASON I REACTED THE WAY I DID--

I WAS JUST EMBARRASSED, 'CAUSE, HONESTLY, I...

FORGOT HE WAS UP THERE.

THEY HAD SWITCHED HIS MISSION ORDER AROUND A COUPLE OF TIMES

AND I JUST LOST TRACK OF IT.

Cathy: TOBY

PETER JOBSON ON "O"-FIVE.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

MR. PRESIDENT?

YEAH.

ADMIRAL FITZWALLACE PHONED. HE'S ON HIS WAY OVER.

THANK YOU.

WOULD YOU LIKE ANYTHING? NO, THANK YOU.

HEY, WHAT WAS IT THAT ZOEY WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE?

IT WAS NOTHING, SIR.

WHAT WAS IT?

IT WAS, UH... IT WAS JUST

THERE'S BEEN A REPORT THAT'S BEEN SITTING ON YOUR DESK

FOR A FEW WEEKS.

IT HAS?

WELL, MY DESK, REALLY.

AND SO I WAS READING IT

AND IN PREP THIS LAST WEEK, YOU'VE BEEN HAVING DISCUSSIONS

WITH THE SENIOR STAFF ABOUT YOUTH PARTICIPATION

IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

YOU WERE SAYING...

WHAT'S THE REPORT?

IT'S FROM A GROUP CALLED

THE CENTER FOR POLICY ALTERNATIVES

AND THERE'S SOME THINGS IN THERE THAT HIT HOME WITH ME

AND I HAD MENTIONED IT TO ZOEY, AND THAT'S WHY...

MR. PRESIDENT, CHAIRMAN FITZWALLACE.

THANK YOU.

CHARLIE, WHATEVER IT IS

STICK IT IN MY BRIEFCASE FOR ME, WOULD YOU?

YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

MR. PRESIDENT. FITZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY NEWS AT ALL?

ACTUALLY, I THINK I'M GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING

IN JUST A MINUTE.

THEY'LL PUT THE CALL THROUGH HERE.

OKAY.

DO YOU MIND IF I WAIT WITH YOU, SIR?

NO.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

I FEEL FINE.

YEAH?

YEAH, I FEEL FINE.

THE EAGLE ON THE SEAL IN THE CARPET...

IN ONE TALON, HE'S HOLDING ARROWS

AND IN THE OTHER, AN OLIVE BRANCH.

MOST OF THE TIME, THE EAGLE'S FACING THE OLIVE BRANCH

BUT WHEN CONGRESS DECLARES WAR, THE EAGLE FACES THE ARROWS.

HOW DO THEY DO THAT?

DO YOU THINK THEY'VE GOT A SECOND CARPET

SITTING AROUND IN THE BASEMENT SOMEPLACE?

I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE THIS PIECE IN THE MIDDLE CUTS OUT

AND THEY DO IT LIKE A BASKETBALL COURT.

I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW, FITZ.

EXCUSE ME, CHAIRMAN

THAT'S YOUR CALL-- THE BLINKING LIGHT.

THANK YOU.

I'LL STOP BUGGING YOU IN JUST A MINUTE, MR. PRESIDENT.

YEAH.

THANKS.

MR. PRESIDENT

I HAVE CAPTAIN SCOTT HOTCHKISS ON THE PHONE.

HE'S CLEARED IRAQI AIRSPACE

AND HE'S ON HIS WAY TO TEL AVIV.

FITZ...

CONGRATULATIONS, SIR.

THE KID'S ALL RIGHT?

HE'S GOT A SPRAINED ANKLE.

WELL, THAT'S...

THAT'S A JOB AWFULLY WELL DONE, MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

I OWE YOU ONE.

NAH, THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.

ALL THE SAME

I'M GOING TO CHECK OUT THAT THING WITH CARPET.

TALK TO THE PILOT.

SERIOUSLY, I'M GOING TO GET AN ANSWER FOR YOU ON THAT.

CAPTAIN HOTCHKISS, THIS IS PRESIDENT BARTLET.

HOW'S YOUR ANKLE?

GOOD.

UH, BEFORE YOU SAY ANOTHER WORD

GIVE ME YOUR PARENTS' PHONE NUMBER.

I NEVER GET TO MAKE THIS CALL.

RADAR OFFICERS ABOARD THE MINNEAPOLIS

MONITORED CAPTAIN HOTCHKISS

AS HIS PLANE WENT WHAT'S CALLED "FEET DRY"

SOUTH OF THE 33rd PARALLEL.

All: C.J.!

C.J.: KATIE.

DID WE USE SAUDI ARABIAN AIRSPACE, AND IF SO

WAS IT WITH THE SAUDIS' PERMISSION?

WE DID USE SAUDI AIRSPACE.

WE FLEW SECRETLY ON THE WAY IN.

THEY WERE INFORMED OF THE MISSION ON THE WAY OUT.

Man: IS THAT WHEN THE BRITISH WERE TOLD?

THAT'S WHEN THE BRITISH WERE TOLD.

IT'S AFTER 7:00

AND WE HAVE TO RIDE BUSES TO ARLINGTON.

THIS MATERIAL WILL BE COVERED IN MUCH GREATER DETAIL

AT THE PENTAGON BRIEFING WHICH WILL BEGIN 30 MINUTES

AFTER OUR RETURN. THAT'S ALL FOR NOW.

All: C.J.!

EXCUSE ME.

Carol: NICE!

AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU, CAROL.

I REALLY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO SEE SAUDI ARABIA

SPELLED WITH A "Y."

C.J., I AM A MUCH BETTER SPELLER

THAN YOU GIVE ME CREDIT FOR.

YES. ONE "L" IN TEL AVIV?

OKAY.

Danny: C.J.?

IN THE OFFICE.

DANNY, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO HEAR IT.

I DID EXACTLY THE RIGHT THING.

YOUR NOSE IS BENT OUT OF JOINT

AND I DON'T GIVE A DAMN.

YOU TOLD ME POINT-BLANK

YOU WERE WORKING ON A DIPLOMATIC...

YOU LOOKED AT ME...

WHAT'D YOU THINK I WAS GOING TO DO--

GIVE YOU LONGITUDE AND LATITUDE?

DO YOU WANT THE FREQUENCY WE WERE TRANSMITTING ON?

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.

YOU COULD HAVE SAID, "WE'RE NOT RULING ANYTHING IN OR OUT

AND I WON'T LET YOU TAKE ME DOWN THAT PATH"

AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE WITH.

IF BY STANDING UP AND LYING, I MISDIRECTED

THE IRAQI COUNTERINTELLIGENCE FOR EVEN HALF A BEAT

THEN IT WAS ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT-- THAT'S A NO-BRAINER--

AND IF I DIDN'T, THEN IT CERTAINLY WAS WORTH TRYING.

THERE ARE ONLY 50 PEOPLE

WHO CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I LIED THIS MORNING

AND THEY ALL WORK IN THE WHITE HOUSE PRESSROOM.

I'M SLEEPING FINE TONIGHT.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO CALL ON ME.

EVERY HAND SHOT UP.

EVERYBODY WAS GOING TO ASK THE SAME QUESTION.

YOU KNEW WHAT YOUR ANSWER WAS GOING TO BE.

YOU CALLED ON ME.

WELL... YES, I DID.

YOU WOULDN'T HAVE RATHER DONE THAT

TO A JOURNALIST LESS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ADMINISTRATION?

NO, I CHOSE YOU.

I'M NOT STAYING IN THE PENALTY BOX.

I HAVE COVERED THE WHITE HOUSE FOR EIGHT YEARS

WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES

THE WASHINGTON POST

TIME MAGAZINE AND THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

AND I'M TELLING YOU, YOU CAN'T MESS ME AROUND LIKE THIS!

DANNY, I GOT TO TELL YOU THAT WAS-- SERIOUSLY--

THAT WAS A TURN-ON WHEN YOU SAID THAT

THOUGH I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU DECIDED TO BE

YOUR MOST HAUGHTY ON THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

IN THAT SENTENCE.

C.J. THE BUSES ARE LEAVING.

THE BUSES ARE LEAVING.

Leo: GIRLS' SOFTBALL?

WOMEN'S SOFTBALL. IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.

MRS. LANDINGHAM, I'M WATCHING A LIVE SPORTING EVENT

FROM START TO FINISH TONIGHT.

AND WHEN SACRAMENTO STATE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC GET TOGETHER

IT'S USUALLY A BARN BURNER, SIR.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SPOIL MY GOOD TIME FOR ME.

OH, SIR, I THINK WE BOTH KNOW

FROM EXPERIENCE THAT'S NOT TRUE.

YEAH.

YOU NEEDED TO BE IN THE CAR TEN MINUTES AGO.

DO YOU SEE ME WALKING OUT THE DOOR?

NO, I SEE YOU STANDING AND ARGUING

WITH A SENIOR CITIZEN.

I'M LEAVING.

SAM'S GOT SOME NOTES ON CUBA

AND SOME NOTES ON FARM LOANS

I'D LIKE YOU TO LOOK OVER IN THE CAR.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'LL BE AT THE CAR IN JUST A SECOND.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

TOBY?

TOBY?

EXCUSE ME, MR. PRESIDENT.

I'M SORRY.

YOU CAN'T SEE THEM.

THEY'RE OVER AUSTRALIA NOW.

I JUST SPOKE TO THE MISSION COMMANDER.

THEY'RE TRYING FIRING SOMETHING CALLED AN R.C.S.

YEAH, IT'S THE REACTION CONTROL SYSTEM.

IT'S ACTUALLY 40 SEPARATE ENGINES AROUND THE SHUTTLE.

IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, THEY GOT

ABOUT 39 OTHER THINGS THEY CAN TRY.

THERE'S REDUNDANCY AFTER REDUNDANCY

AFTER REDUNDANCY BUILT IN, AND FOR GOOD MEASURE

THEY HAVE ATLANTIS WARMING UP ON THE LAUNCH PAD.

THEY COULD DOCK WITH THE COLUMBIA

IN ABOUT TWO HOURS.

WE CAN DO THAT NOW, TOBY.

THE FIRST THING THE SHUTTLE DOES AFTER IT LEAVES THE ATMOSPHERE

IS OPEN THE CARGO BAY DOORS.

THAT'S WHAT LETS THE HEAT OUT.

ONCE THE DOORS ARE CLOSED, THEY HAVE A PRETTY SHORT WINDOW

TO GET BACK BEFORE IT OVERHEATS.

THEN THEY'LL OPEN THOSE DOORS AGAIN.

HOW?

SAME WAY THEY CLOSED THEM-- WITH A FIVE-DOLLAR WRENCH.

MR. PRESIDENT...

WHEN WE'RE DONE TONIGHT

YOU SHOULD TAKE THE NEXT FLIGHT OUT TO EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE

MEET THE THING WHEN IT LANDS, STOP BEING A HORSE'S ASS

AND TALK TO YOUR BROTHER.

MR. PRESIDENT...

I APPRECIATE YOUR TRYING TO BE A COMFORT

AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE

SOME UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION WITH MY BROTHER

BUT THE THING WAS SUPPOSED TO LAND 19 HOURS AGO.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A PROBLEM.

IT'S SPACE TRAVEL AND I DON'T BELIEVE ANY PROBLEM IS MINOR.

THE SHUTTLE FLIES ITSELF, TOBY.

NO, IT DOESN'T, MR. PRESIDENT.

NO...

IT DOESN'T.

Bartlet: THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT WAS A JOKE ABOUT POLITICIANS.

( audience laughs )

HERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

TWO POLITICIANS ARE HAVING AN ARGUMENT

AND ONE OF THEM STANDS UP AND SHOUTS, "YOU'RE LYING!"

THE OTHER ONE SAYS, "YES, I AM, BUT HEAR ME OUT."

Moderator: MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE QUESTION.

I DON'T THINK I ANSWERED THE LAST ONE.

SUZANNE'S GOT ME TELLING JOKES.

THERE IS AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION

BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE IT.

A MAN ONCE SAID THIS:

"DECISIONS ARE MADE BY THOSE WHO SHOW UP.

SO ARE WE FAILING YOU OR ARE YOU FAILING US?"

IT'S A LITTLE OF BOTH.

THERE'S A GUY ON MY STAFF NAMED CHARLIE YOUNG.

HE SHOWED ME A REPORT

FROM THE CENTER FOR POLICY ALTERNATIVES

THAT SAID 61% OF YOU AGREE WITH THE STATEMENT

"POLITICIANS AND POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE

failed my generation."

When asked how older generations see you

your top answers are "Lazy, confused...

THE CENTER FOR POLICY ALTERNATIVES--

C.J., I'LL HAVE COPIES FOR THE BUS RIDE BACK.

...DETERMINED AND INDEPENDENT.

IF I TAKE MY JACKET OFF, CAN I TRUST YOU ALL

TO READ NOTHING IN TO IT

OTHER THAN I'VE BEEN TALKING FOR TWO HOURS

AND IT'S A LITTLE HOT UNDER THESE LIGHTS?

( audience laughs )

FOLLOW ME.

WHY?

So, overall, entitlement payments...

WHERE'S TOBY? WHY?

HE'S GOT A PHONE CALL.

FROM WHO? PETER JOBSON?

THAT'S FOR ME.

...crowded out public investment in education...

TOBY?

...to say nothing of general quality of life.

College students today are facing a future...

...fewer government benefits.

JOSH.

That's why it doesn't come as a galloping shock to me

today's young people aren't exactly living for tomorrow.

There's another survey--

this one from the Generation X...

Crowd: BARTLET! BARTLET! BARTLET!

Butterfield: GINA?

STRAIGHT TO THE CAR.

HE'S NOT GOING TO WORK THE ROPE LINE?

THERE'S A SOFTBALL GAME HE WANTS TO WATCH.

THEY SHOW SOFTBALL ON TV?

YEAH.

AND THE PRESIDENT WATCHES IT?

THEY'RE TELLING ME THAT WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT AT SEVERAL POINTS

DURING THE EVENING

I WAS REFERRED TO AS BOTH A LIBERAL AND A POPULIST

AND THE FELLOW FOURTH FROM THE BACK CALLED ME A SOCIALIST

WHICH WAS NICE. I HADN'T HEARD THAT FOR A WHILE.

ACTUALLY, I'M AN ECONOMICS PROFESSOR.

MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER'S GREAT-GRANDFATHER WAS

DR. JOSIAH BARTLET, WHO WAS THE NEW HAMPSHIRE DELEGATE

REPRESENTATIVE TO THE SECOND

CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

THE ONE THAT SAT IN SESSION IN THE SUMMER

OF 1776 AND ANNOUNCED TO THE WORLD THAT WE WERE

NO LONGER SUBJECTS OF KING GEORGE III

BUT RATHER A SELF-GOVERNING PEOPLE.

"WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT," THEY SAID.

"THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL."

STRANGE AS IT MAY SEEM

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THAT ANYONE HAD

EVER BOTHERED TO WRITE THAT DOWN.

"DECISIONS ARE MADE BY THOSE WHO SHOW UP."

CLASS DISMISSED.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE. GOD BLESS YOU

AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.

WAY TO GO.

Crowd: BARTLET! BARTLET! BARTLET!

Toscano: HE'S NOT WORKING THE ROPE LINE.

STRAIGHT TO THE CAR.

I'VE GOT BOOKBAG.

Zoey: HE USED IT AND YOU'RE FEELING GOOD

AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO THANK ME.

Charlie: YOU HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT

AND YOU WERE STILL UNBELIEVABLY WRONG.

I ACCEPT YOUR APOLOGY.

TOBY, WALK WITH ME.

YES, SIR.

WHAT DO YOU GOT TO SAY FOR YOURSELF?

ABOUT WHAT?

YES, SIR.

BABY PICTURES HE'S HECKLING ME WITH

VISA CARD BILLS.

NOW HE'S WALKING THE ROPE LINE.

IF THERE WAS EVER A CHANCE

HE WAS GOING TO WALK PAST A CROWD OF PEOPLE...

CHARLIE!

I SAW SOMETHING.

BY THE WAY, CHARLIE APOLOGIZED TO ME.

I SAW SOMETHING.

Crowd: BARTLET! BARTLET!

GUN!

( people screaming )

OH, GOD, WE'VE GOT PEOPLE DOWN!

WHO'S BEEN HIT? WHO'S BEEN HIT?!

[Captioning sponsored by NBC

and WARNER BROS. TELEVISION

Captioned by The Caption Center WGBH Educational Foundation]