We'll call them Answer A and Answer B.
C.J. Mr. President does this mean you won't be seeking a second term? Answer A is 'You bet. I will absolutely be seeking a second term. I'm looking forward to the campaign. There is great work that is yet to be done.'
'Are you out of your mind? I can't possibly win re-election. I lied about a degenerative illness. I'm the target of a Grand Jury investigation and Congress is about to take me out to lunch. I'd sooner have my family take their clothes off and dance the Tarantella on the Truman Balcony than go through a campaign with this around my neck.' [pause] You think that's too on the nose?
[Bartlet stands alone in the Oval Office, in the middle of a raging storm. The back door suddenly flies open]
God damn it...Mrs. Landingham!
[Mrs. Landingham suddenly walks through the main door of the Oval Office]
I really wish you wouldn't shout, Mr. President.
[Bartlet stares at her for a few seconds]
The door keeps blowing open.
You could have used the intercom to call me, you know.
I know, but I didn't want to-
You didn't want to, or you didn't know how?
It's not that I don't know how. It's just that I haven't learned yet.
[Pause. Mrs. Landingham smiles at him]
BBartlett
I have MS, and I didn't tell anybody.
Yeah. So, you're having a little bit of a day.
BBartlett
You're going to make jokes?
God doesn't make cars crash and you know it. Stop using me as an excuse.
BBartlett
The Party's not going to want me to run.
The Party'll come back. You'll get them back.
BBartlett
I've got a secret for you, Mrs. Landingham, I've never been the most popular man in the Democratic Party.
I've got a secret for you, Mr. President. Your father was a prick who could never get over the fact that he wasn't as smart as his brothers. Are you in a tough spot? Yes. Do I feel sorry for you? I do not. Because there are people way worse off than you.
BBartlett
Give me numbers.
I don't know numbers. You give them to me.
BBartlett
How about a child born this minute has one in five chances of being born into poverty?
How many Americans don't have health insurance?
What's the number one cause of death for black men under 35?
How many Americans are behind bars?
How many Americans are drug addicts?
And one in five kids in poverty?
BBartlett
That's thirteen million American children. 3.5 million kids go to schools that are literally falling apart. We need 127 billion in school construction, and we need it today!
To say nothing of 53 people trapped in an embassy.
You know, if you don't want to run again, I respect that. [stands up] But if you don't run 'cause you think it's gonna be too hard or you think you're gonna lose - well, God, Jed, I don't even want to know you.
SSandy
Mr. President, can you tell us right now if you'll be seeking a second term?
I'm sorry, Sandy, there was a bit of noise there, could you repeat the question?
SSandy
Can you tell us right now if you'll be seeking a second term?
[Bartlet slides his hands off the podium, puts them in his pockets, looks away and smiles]
