Major TateSir, we're not prejudiced toward homosexuals.
APAdmiral Percy Fitzwallace
You just don't want to see them serving in the Armed Forces?
Major Tate
No, sir, I don't.
APAdmiral Percy Fitzwallace
'Cause they impose a threat to unit discipline and cohesion.
Major Tate
Yes, sir.
APAdmiral Percy Fitzwallace
That's what I think, too. I also think the military wasn't designed to be an instrument of social change.
Major Tate
Yes, sir.
APAdmiral Percy Fitzwallace
The problem with that is that's what they were saying to me 50 years ago. Blacks shouldn't serve with whites. It would disrupt the unit. You know what? It did disrupt the unit. The unit got over it. The unit changed. I'm an admiral in the United States Navy and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff... Beat that with a stick.
Sam's gonna make some changes.
Tate
Are you going to clear them with me?
Probably not. [to the recorder] Write this. Eleven months ago, a 1,200-pound spacecraft blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Eighteen hours ago...18 hours, do I have that right? It's going to be noon Eastern time.
Eighteen hours ago, it landed on the planet Mars. You, me, and 60,000 of your fellow students across the country, along with astroscientists and engineers from the Jet Propulsion Lab in Southern California, NASA Houston, and right here at the White House are going to be to the first to see what it sees, and to chronicle the extraordinary voyage of an unmanned ship called 'Galileo V.'
[to C.J.] He said it right.
Tate
I did.
You're from NASA Public Affairs?
Tate
Yep.
You mind if I give it a polish?
Tate
Is there a problem?
No, it's great. You mind if I change it?
Tate
I'd prefer if you didn't.
Tate
The Public Affairs has cleared the text. If it's gonna be changed, I'd prefer that the President change it.
See, that's kind of what he pays me to do, so...
Tate
Look, I don't want to step on your toes. You don't want to step on mine. We're both writers.
Yes, I suppose, if you broaden the definition to those who can't spell.
Tate
Excuse me?
...
[reads] "Good morning! I'm speaking to you live from the West Wing of the White House. Today we have a very unique opportunity to take part live in an extremely historic event which..." Whoa, boy...
[waves and smiles] How you doing, Mr. President?
Tate
I did, sir. I'm Scott Tate from NASA Public Affairs.
[gets up and shakes his hand] Scott. "Unique" means "one of a kind." Something can't be very unique, nor can it be extremely historic.
While we're at it, do we have to use the word "live" twice in the first two sentences like we just cracked the technology?
Tate
Look...
We're also broadcasting in living color, right?
Sam's gonna make some changes.
Tate
Are you going to clear them with me?
Probably not. [to the recorder] Write this. Eleven months ago, a 1,200-pound spacecraft blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Eighteen hours ago...18 hours, do I have that right? It's going to be noon Eastern time.
Eighteen hours ago, it landed on the planet Mars. You, me, and 60,000 of your fellow students across the country, along with astroscientists and engineers from the Jet Propulsion Lab in Southern California, NASA Houston, and right here at the White House are going to be to the first to see what it sees, and to chronicle the extraordinary voyage of an unmanned ship called 'Galileo V.'
[to C.J.] He said it right.
The West Wing · 913 quotes
