We don't have them yet, Mr. President.
All right, let's do a drill.
Mr. President, despite a rise in tension around the globe, you've held up funding for a missile defense shield.
Too much money for too little protection.
Sir, you oppose a voucher system that would offer children a choice of better schools...
That would offer some children a choice of better schools, but I haven't given up the ghost on better schools for everybody, and vouchers drain money from that goal.
Mr. President, this next question is on capital punishment, which you oppose: If your youngest daughter Zoey was raped and murdered, would you not want to see the man responsible put to death?
First of all, it's important to understand the President doesn't make that decision, though he appoints the Supreme Court Justices who do so. What... any... um... All right, I'm not going to say that. I'll just go right to... No, I don't. I think you know that I'm opposed.... [sighs] Let's not do that. I haven't seen any evidence that it's a deterrent, and there are more effective... In my state...
[to Leo] You weren't kidding. [to Bartlet] What's the matter with you? When I left you... I just mentioned your daughter being murdered, and you're giving us an answer that's not only soporific, it's barely human! Yes, you'd want to see him put to death. You'd want it to be cruel and unusual, which is why it's probably a good idea that fathers of murder victims don't have legal rights in these situations. Now, we're going back to school.
[There is a long pause of silence, then they all begin to laugh.]
Let's go-- ten bucks. Crisis of confidence. [to Leo] You did one square foot of real estate.
LeoYes, I did.
Ten bucks for you. [to Toby] And you-- You big bear, come to me. I'm going to kiss you right on the mouth.
Leo
Anything else, sir?
[They walk out of the Oval Office]
[to Sam] Have a safe flight.
I'll see you in San Diego.
[to Toby] Sorry about that. It was the President's idea. He bet us you couldn't stay quiet if he gave a bad answer. What?
Mr. McGarry, Mr. Ziegler, Mr. Lyman, Miss Cregg. It's the Temptations! I love you guys!
Leo
You only think you've heard everything, but you haven't.
Leo
Toby.
James Hoebuck will vote yea ten-thirty if we give him $115,000.
For an RV? What's he want?
Leo
An NIH study on remote prayer.
I like it. There should be a button on my desk I can press and forty-nine people instantly pray for me.
[after shots were fired at the White House] Where's Charlie?
Leo
He's somewhere in the building.
We're holding people where they are right now.
But if he's heard what happened, he's going to be trying to get here...
We've got to hold everybody for a moment so that we can secure...
No, I'm telling you that if Charlie heard there were bullets, he's going to overpower whoever's trying to...
[Charlie bursts through the door]
[pause] Sorry, Mr. President.
[Charlie moves to stand beside him]
It's bulletproof glass in the windows, okay. You want to kill me, you're going to have to do it from inside the building.
[sighs] Thank you, Mr. President.
I need you to tell me now: Do you think she's already dead?
Leo
I absolutely do not.
If they show me a picture of her alive and tell me to aim cruise missiles at Tel Aviv, they're counting on the fact that a father--
Leo
But you wouldn't.
Leo
There are people around you who won't let you.
How about a picture they've got a knife to her throat; get out of Saudi Arabia?
Leo
You shouldn't think of images like that.
All I can think of are images like that...Leo, the people you just named don't have the legal authority to stop me from doing certain things, and some of them would go to jail if they didn't follow my orders. Very quietly, I want you to assemble the Cabinet. I want you to call the Speaker of the House.
They didn't try to cover their tracks?
MCMike Casper
No, sir. They don't care if we know who they are. They don't plan on being alive in a few days.
What do you want to hit, Admiral?
AFAdm. Fitzwallace
Kazir training camps.
MDr. McNally
The Qumaris say those are religious schools.
AFAdm. Fitzwallace
They're terrorist training camps masquerading as religious schools. We traced Kaleel to Zachari Faruk, leader of the camps.
MDr. McNally
Villages, hospitals, a food distribution center.
AFAdm. Fitzwallace
We're suggesting AGM-88 HARMs. We'll hit what we're aiming for.
MDr. McNally
This is a long-term ally in a highly volatile region.
AFAdm. Fitzwallace
Bombing Tripoli stopped Libya.
MDr. McNally
It's more likely to strengthen the resolve of the terrorists and topple a moderate Islamic regime.
Leo
If we bomb the camps, don't the kidnappers murder Zoey Bartlet?
Or it sends a message: kill her or don't, the United States does not negotiate with terrorists.
BSBob Slattery
Our European allies are going to go crazy. They have billions tied up in oil and natural gas pipelines in Qumar.
Screw the Europeans. They've had years to get the Qumaris to get their house in order. What are the chances Zoey Bartlet's still alive?
Hard to say, but I think yes she probably is. They'll want to milk this for all its worth.
Get your people in place, Admiral. We don't go today unless we're provoked. [to Casper] Find her and find her fast. But if Zoey Bartlet turns up dead, I'm going to blow the hell out of something, and God only knows what.
DWDemocrat Woman
Walken can spend his entire presidency channel surfing in the Lincoln Bedroom. You said to the country, Democrats can't handle security.
DMDemocrat Man #1
If you want to save a spotted owl, vote Democratic. If you want your kid saved, sorry, we'll be doing the crossword.
Leo
President Bartlet is protecting kids by ensuring that decisions are made based on relevant intel, not on a distraught father's clouded emotions.
DWDemocrat Woman
If any emotions are clouded, Leo, it's yours. Let's face it, Leo. You've always been too close to Bartlet.
DMDemocrat Man #2
It's your job to buck him up, Leo. To help him make the tough decisions. The presidency isn't a vanity exercise.
Leo
Who's doing electoral math on the back of a napkin in the middle of a national crisis?
DWDemocrat Woman
You single-handedly ended the Imperial Presidency.
DMDemocrat Man #1
You've elevated Walken and the Republicans. You've made them into genuine players on the world stage.
Leo
I didn't elevate them. The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 did. And I'm not prepared to think about politics while we're under terrorist attack. The Republic comes first. That's why Truman wanted the Speaker third in line.
DWDemocrat Woman
Truman wanted the Speaker third in line because he used to drink bourbon with Sam Rayburn.
Leo
The only thing I find extraordinary about that is that a member of the executive branch actually wanted to share a drink with a member of Congressional leadership. [standing up] Thank you for coming by to show your concerns. And I'll be sure to pass them on to President Bartlet.
Leo
So, where are we?
ABAngela Blake
Tomorrow's New York Times CNN poll has his approval rating up to 76%.
Leo
And in ten days?
ABAngela Blake
His numbers are gonna crater. Not level off, crater, like a failed Mars probe. Today it's, "He lost his daughter. What a shame. We're pulling for him." and in two weeks, it'll be, "I don't want a President I have to pull for."
Leo
He did what was constitutionally appropriate. He upheld his oath.
ABAngela Blake
If you want a constitutional debate, you should call the Dean of Columbia Law. Our guy quit when things got tough. Josh must be going nuts.
Leo
He thinks we need to put a poll in the field.
ABAngela Blake
The White House can't be caught putting a poll in the field. [pause] Okay. I'll call you when it's done. We need photos, Bartlet on the phone with world leaders, conferring with military advisors, looking resolute.
Leo
He won't do it.
ABAngela Blake
You've been a good friend to him, Leo, but you have other responsibilities. The people need to believe that when he comes back, he'll be able to govern effectively, even if he can't secure the safety of his own family. They need to know he's willing to sacrifice his own child's life for his country.
Leo
Would you be?
ABAngela Blake
I wasn't stupid enough to run for President.
The West Wing · 913 quotes
