Plain States Ball

Staff cram the debate over its slot in Bartlet's packed itinerary of post-inauguration balls. This venue joins others like a regional showcase in the capital's swirl of galas, where politicians mingle under chandeliers, bands play, and deals whisper amid toasts. Tension from the Capitol scramble foreshadows the ball's mix of triumph and lurking crises, as aides jockey order to hit key crowds before fatigue sets in.