Josiah Bartlet quotes from The West Wing

Leo

How are you feeling, Sir.

Bartlet

Vexed, riled, irked.

Leo

The Republican Convention.

Bartlet

Ticked, honked, pissed.

Leo

You can't take it personally.

Bartlet

That's what I keep telling myself. But when you start telling yourself that, it's too late: you're already taking it personally.

Bartlet

[about the Democratic convention] We need someone strong enough to organize the damn thing.

Leo

[resignedly] Wonder who we can get?

Bartlet

If it helps, it gives me no pleasure dumping this damn thing on you.

Leo

There's the pleasure of not having to do it yourself.

Bartlet

Which is not inconsiderable.

Vinick

It is with great humility that I accept your nomination for president of the United States. Before I share with you my vision for America, I want to say a few words about the man who I hope is my predecessor, President Josiah Bartlet. He has graced and honored his office, the highest in the land. The most powerful in the world, some would say, myself included. He has served this country steadfastly and laudably, and I say this despite our political and philosophical differences. For in the end, the presidency is more than a simple catalog of policies pursued, crises weathered, battles lost and won. It is a stewardship, a sacred trust, a commitment to sacrifice every fiber of your being, every thought, every moment, every ... every everything, in service to your nation. President Bartlet has done this well and ably, and he deserves nothing less than our humble appreciation and heartfelt gratitude.

Leo

Nice what he said about you.

Bartlet

Yeah. The bastard.

Leo

He just picked up five million Democratic votes.

Vinick

My commitment to strive to be worthy of the example of the great men who have gone before. Presidents walk in giant footsteps. They have magnificent legacies to uphold. I stand here on this day and put my name forth as one who aspires to their example, who will daily make that sacrifice. Who will honor not just the office, but the people that office serves. Their president of these United States of America.

Abbey

[about the Democratic convention] What are they doing?

Eating their young.... It's a free-for-all. I think Aaron Burr's got 20 votes.

Toby

I was hoping we would be able to speak in private.

Bartlet

Your actions have pretty much made that impossible. I haven't had much time to absorb this news, so I'll apologize in advance if I express any half-formed thoughts.But the one thought that hits the hardest is that this was somehow inevitable; that you've always been heading for this sort of crash-and-burn. That self-righteous superiority; not that you were smarter than everyone; that you were purer, morally superior.

Toby

Due respect, sir, I don't think I'm morally superior to everyone.

Bartlet

No, just to me.

Abbey

You're not performing at the ceremony.

I wasn't asked to.

CJ

Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt--

Abbey

No, that's quite all right. He was about to go into his Spencer Tracy routine.

Abbey

So, rumor has it you're going to have a chat with the groom tomorrow morning.

I am.

Abbey

Well, that will be lovely, I'm sure!

What? I did it with Doug!

Abbey

Yeah. I don't recall that as being an unqualified success.

Well, now I've had a run of it.

Abbey

You do know that talking him out of marrying your daughter is not an option.

Yeah. [pause] You really think it's not an option?

Sir, was there something you wanted to discuss?

Bartlet

No, no. I just thought...you know, when you have a daughter, you just like to know...you really want to know whether...ah, hell. Just tell me you decided to marry her before you got her pregnant.

Eleven months, two weeks and three days.

Bartlet

Excuse me?

That's when I decided to marry her: a year ago, on our third date.

Bartlet

What was wrong with the first two?

Bartlet

The first time I met Leo, we argued.

CJ

About what?

Bartlet

Monetary... something, role of the Fed...

CJ

Who won?

Bartlet

I did. I'm sure if you could ask him, he'd say he did. [beat] We almost lost him fifteen years ago, did you know that? Abby and I used to talk about it. I was prepared then. Not today.

Bartlet

The first time I met Leo, we argued.

C.J.

About what?

Bartlet

Monetary... something, role of the Fed...

C.J.

Who won?

Bartlet

I did. I'm sure if you could ask him, he'd say he did. [beat] We almost lost him fifteen years ago, did you know that? Abbey and I used to talk about it. I was prepared then. Not today.

Bartlet

It's odd, really, watching yourself being replaced on national television. Planned obsolescence. Presidents and mid-sized family sedans.

C.J.

Yes, sir. Would you have run again if you could sir?

Bartlet

I think Mrs. Bartlet would have had something to say about that, don't you?

C.J.

Well the electorate can be very persuasive when they want something badly enough.

Bartlet

In the service of two mistresses these last eight years has been my fate. Thank God for the 22nd Amendment, I'm spared that particular conversation with Abbey.

Good morning Mr. President.

Bartlet

Morning.

How are you feeling this morning?

Bartlet

Unemployed.

A lot of that going around the building.

Bartlet

How's your speech?

It's got some good sections, but no "Ask not what your country can do for you..."

Bartlet

Yeah, Kennedy kind of screwed us with that one, didn't he?

Abbey

Jed, what are you thinking about?

Tomorrow.