The West Wing
S2E2
· In the Shadow of Two Gunmen Part 2 Flashback

Josh and Leo's Candid Exchange on Bartlet's Gruff Charm

After Governor Bartlet dismisses the South Carolina pivot strategy and exits abruptly, Josh approaches Leo with wry sarcasm about the candidate's lack of warmth. Leo defends Bartlet, noting he's 'very easy to like' once known, but concedes few reach that point. Josh's resigned 'Okay' seals their quiet bond, humanizing Bartlet's prickly demeanor, underscoring the emotional toll of loyalty, and reinforcing team resilience amid strategic frustrations—a pivotal character beat that deepens interpersonal dynamics and foreshadows their steadfast commitment.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

Josh and Leo share a moment of camaraderie, reflecting on Bartlet's challenging personality.

frustration to humor

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

8
Leo Thomas McGarry (Chief of Staff)
White House Chief of Staff
 primary

Quiet affection tempered by pragmatic realism

Stands firm as Josh approaches, calmly defends Bartlet as 'very easy to like' once known while admitting 'not that many' get there, his steady response anchoring the exchange and reinforcing team cohesion.

Goals in this moment
  • • Reassure Josh of Bartlet's hidden likability
  • • Strengthen interpersonal bonds amid candidate friction
Active beliefs
  • • Bartlet's depth rewards true commitment
  • • Few staffers earn access to his inner warmth
Character traits
calm loyal insightful wryly protective
Follow Leo Thomas …'s journey
C.J. Cregg
White House Press Secretary
 primary

analytical

clicks off the tape and leads post-interview debrief on strategy mistakes

Goals in this moment
  • • identify errors in media appearance
  • • advance campaign strategy discussion
Character traits
assertive decisive witty terse poised wry charismatic tenacious strategic quick-thinking committed dutiful measured pragmatic resilient insightful protective authoritative playful
Follow C.J. Cregg's journey
Josiah Edward 'Jed' Bartlet (President of the United States)
President of the United States
 primary

Irritated resolve masking deeper determination

Abruptly rises from his seat after declaring the meeting 'done' and 'Fantastic,' then walks away decisively, his exit punctuating rejection of the pivot strategy and triggering Josh's private aside with Leo in the emptying room.

Goals in this moment
  • • Shut down unproductive strategy debate
  • • Reassert personal commitment to New Hampshire primary
Active beliefs
  • • New Hampshire victory is essential and achievable
  • • Team's pivot underestimates his resolve and popularity
Character traits
gruff impatient decisive uncompromising
Follow Josiah Edward …'s journey
Sam Seaborn
Deputy Communications Director
 primary

supportive

agrees with Toby and elaborates on post-South Carolina strategy

Goals in this moment
  • • endorse and expand on pivot strategy
Character traits
adaptable politically attuned resourceful sly pragmatic authenticity-seeking improvisational affable fiercely loyal decisive resilient partisan wry principled confident resolute amid grief collegial emotionally perceptive
Follow Sam Seaborn's journey
Toby Ziegler
White House Communications Director
 primary

blunt and strategic

proposes pivoting out of New Hampshire to South Carolina and outlines multi-state strategy

Goals in this moment
  • • convince team to abandon New Hampshire win
  • • sell South Carolina pivot plan
Character traits
pedantic central to Toby's emotional arc decisive defiant loyal tender determined methodical detail-oriented guarded strategic ruthless principled healthy affectionate vulnerable resolute protective irascible sarcastic newborn
Follow Toby Ziegler's journey
TV Reporter
Reporter
 primary

neutral

delivering voice-over report on straw poll results via tape

Goals in this moment
  • • inform about primary poll results
Character traits
skeptical professional direct explosive clamorous relentless factual inquisitive detached attentive precise ravenous opportunistic insistent frazzled frenzied urgent
Follow TV Reporter's journey
John Hoynes
Vice President of the United States
 primary

mentioned repeatedly as leading rival targeted in South Carolina strategy

Character traits
ceremonial pragmatic Party-anointed conflicted institutional Formidable fundraiser resilient tense authoritative symbolically influential public-facing loyal discernibly reserved schedule-driven Ambitious Opportunistic accessible essential
Follow John Hoynes's journey
William Willey
Senator
 primary

mentioned as rival with poor poll performance and potential dropout

Character traits
competitive persistent strategically pragmatic
Follow William Willey's journey

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

2
New Hampshire (Bartlet's home state — early primary political destination)

The Bartlet campaign headquarters in Manchester serves as the intimate backdrop for Bartlet's abrupt exit and the ensuing private Josh-Leo exchange, its confined space amplifying the shift from group strategy tension to personal revelation, embodying the gritty underdog hub where loyalties harden.

Atmosphere Post-meeting hush laced with residual frustration and budding camaraderie
Function Private debrief space after strategy session
Symbolism Crucible forging team resilience in New Hampshire's political frost
Access Core staff only, outsiders excluded
Fading echoes of strategy debate Scattered chairs around central table Dimly lit campaign office clutter
New Hampshire

The Bartlet campaign headquarters in Manchester serves as the intimate backdrop for Bartlet's abrupt exit and the ensuing private Josh-Leo exchange, its confined space amplifying the shift from group strategy tension to personal revelation, embodying the gritty underdog hub where loyalties harden.

Atmosphere Post-meeting hush laced with residual frustration and budding camaraderie
Function Private debrief space after strategy session
Symbolism Crucible forging team resilience in New Hampshire's political frost
Access Core staff only, outsiders excluded
Fading echoes of strategy debate Scattered chairs around central table Dimly lit campaign office clutter

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What this causes 1
Temporal medium

"Bartlet's 'What's next?' in the campaign flashback is mirrored in his repetition of it by Josh's hospital bed, linking past and present resolve."

Josh Awakens: 'What's Next?'
S2E2 · In the Shadow of Two …

Part of Larger Arcs

Campaign strategy power struggle: Team's pragmatic push to pivot from weak New Hampshire primary to South Carolina vs. Bartlet's unyielding commitment to fight there.

Key Dialogue

"JOSH: "Well, I feel bathed in the warm embrace of the candidate.""
"LEO: "He's very easy to like, once you get to know him.""
"JOSH: "How many people get that far?" LEO: "Not that many." JOSH: "Okay.""