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The West Wing Season 1

The West Wing Season 1

(1999)
synopsis

Images of the West Wing being "stuck in neutral" and helpless are prevalent in the first season, which starts in the middle of Bartlett's first year of employment. The White House is seen in several episodes (especially "Five Vetoes" and "Mr. Willis of Ohio") searching desperately for a back door to approve a specific piece of legislation. In "Let Battle Be Battle," the sense of helplessness ends when Leo and the President eventually resolve to engage in any combat they deem to be significant, even if they are unsure of their chances of success. The cliffhanger assassination attempt at the season's end is announced over the Secret Service radio.

air date

September. 22,1999

production companies

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Season 1
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The West Wing Season 1 Episode Guide

Pilot

S1 E1 Pilot

Sep. 22,1999

The senior members of the White House staff are summoned to the office early in the morning to handle difficult situations: Hundreds of Cubans are on their way across the Atlantic Ocean in search of freedom; and klutzy President of the United States Josiah Bartlet accidentally sprained his ankle riding a bicycle into a tree.

Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc

S1 E2 Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc

Sep. 29,1999

The Vice President refuses to fall in line with Bartlet. Sam discusses the problem of Laurie with Josh and Toby. Bartlet hires Mandy as his consultant.

A Proportional Response

S1 E3 A Proportional Response

Oct. 06,1999

Still enraged at Morris's death, Bartlet makes a show of deadly force. C.J. is upset about being kept out of the loop about Laurie. Josh hires Bartlet's new personal assistant.

Five Votes Down

S1 E4 Five Votes Down

Oct. 13,1999

Five votes keep a very important gun-control bill from being passed and the staff has 72 hours to track down the errant congressmen. Toby is accused of manipulating the stock market by having a friend testify to Commerce on internet stocks. Leo's wife gets fed up with his long hours.

The Crackpots and These Women

S1 E5 The Crackpots and These Women

Oct. 20,1999

The staffers spend the day ("Big Block of Cheese day") dealing with private organizations, aka the crackpots. Throughout the day, Sam deals with a UFO nut, CJ gets a proposal to build a wolves-only road, Toby and Bartlet clash over everything, and Josh is overwhelmed by guilt regarding his sister's death.

Mr. Willis of Ohio

S1 E6 Mr. Willis of Ohio

Nov. 03,1999

Toby and Mandy push for a commerce bill with a census-counting provision, with three votes as the deciding factor. Sam tutors CJ on the finer points of the census. Josh & Sam take Charlie out for a beer and are joined by Zoey and Mallory.

The State Dinner

S1 E7 The State Dinner

Nov. 10,1999

The president of Indonesia is honored at a state dinner. The staff deals with Hurricane Sarah, a potential teamster strike, and a raid involving children in Idaho while a reporter flirts with CJ.

Enemies

S1 E8 Enemies

Nov. 17,1999

Bartlet and Hoynes argue in front of the Cabinet. CJ fends off Danny's advances when she suspects he's after a big story. Mallory asks Sam out. The staff leaps hurdles to pass a banking bill.

The Short List

S1 E9 The Short List

Nov. 24,1999

Bartlet struggles to name a nominee to the Supreme Court when the perfect nominee turns out to be not so perfect. A congressman attacks the staff, claiming that 1 in 3 use drugs.

In Excelsis Deo

S1 E10 In Excelsis Deo

Dec. 15,1999

Toby tries to arrange a proper funeral for a homeless veteran. Josh and Sam try to set up a preemptive strike against Lillienfield, who is attacking Leo because of his prior drug and alcohol problem. CJ tries to get the staff to revisit the hate crimes issue. Bartlet sneaks out to do some last minute shopping.

Lord John Marbury

S1 E11 Lord John Marbury

Jan. 05,2000

War breaks out between India and Pakistan and Bartlet consults with Lord John Marbury. Toby accuses CJ of being too friendly with the press when she objects to being kept in the dark. The staff realizes that Lillienfield's efforts to bring down Leo are going to get ugly when Josh gets a subpoena.

He Shall, from Time to Time

S1 E12 He Shall, from Time to Time

Jan. 12,2000

Bartlet collapses before his first State of the Union address. Leo publicly admits to his former alcoholism and drug abuse. Things get interesting romantically for both Sam and CJ. Lord John Marbury helps the staff negotiate an agreement between India and Pakistan.

Take out the Trash Day

S1 E13 Take out the Trash Day

Jan. 26,2000

Josh and Sam are able to make a bargain to keep Leo from going through a hearing, at the expense of a new sex education report. Mandy doesn't think a couple should be present at the signing of a new hate crimes bill instigated by the death of their son. Toby contends with some of PBS's detractors.

Take This Sabbath Day

S1 E14 Take This Sabbath Day

Feb. 09,2000

After the Supreme Court refuses to stay the execution of a convicted murderer, Bartlet has forty-eight hours to decide whether or not to commute the sentence. Josh faces off with Joey Lucas about his staff's not backing her candidate as vigorously as she'd like.

Celestial Navigation

S1 E15 Celestial Navigation

Feb. 16,2000

Toby and Sam travel to Connecticut to get Roberto Mendoza released from jail; Josh must run a press briefing when CJ has an emergency root canal.

20 Hours in L. A.

S1 E16 20 Hours in L. A.

Feb. 23,2000

Bartlet and the senior staff fly to California to attend an important fundraiser. Hoynes must decide whether he will support Bartlet's stance or go with his convictions when the Senate is deadlocked on an ethanol tax bill.

The White House Pro-Am

S1 E17 The White House Pro-Am

Mar. 22,2000

Abbey keeps the staff busy with the fallout when she leaks her personal preference for a Federal Reserve Board appointment and discusses child labor on a talk show, prompting a Congresswoman to offer an amendment which could shoot down the entire international tariff bill. Charlie's date with Zoey is cancelled because of threats by a white supremacist group.

Six Meetings Before Lunch

S1 E18 Six Meetings Before Lunch

Apr. 05,2000

Mendoza is confirmed by the Senate; Mandy needs Toby's help to replace a dead panda bear; Sam angers Mallory when she reads a position paper that he wrote supporting school vouchers; Josh meets with Jeff Breckenridge, who is irritating certain Congressmen with his stance on slavery reparations.

Let Bartlet Be Bartlet

S1 E19 Let Bartlet Be Bartlet

Apr. 26,2000

Mandy's old memo about Bartlet administration weaknesses surfaces; Josh tries to get administration nominees appointed to the Federal Elections Committee; Sam works to get a better policy on gays in the military.

Mandatory Minimums

S1 E20 Mandatory Minimums

May. 03,2000

Andrea Wyatt insists that mandatory minimums be added to a new drug policy the staff is developing; C.J. makes a mistake and sets them back.

Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics

S1 E21 Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics

May. 10,2000

Bartlet gets closer to making the FEC campaign finance reform-friendly, but his opponents strike back by making Sam's former dalliance with the call girl public knowledge; CJ waits anxiously for the administration's approval rating.

What Kind of Day Has It Been

S1 E22 What Kind of Day Has It Been

May. 17,2000

The staff deals with the crisis of an American pilot who was shot down in Iraq; Toby's brother is in danger on a space shuttle whose doors won't close; Bartlet and the senior staff walk into trouble as they leave a town meeting.

More Episodes

Cast of The West Wing Season 1

Martin Sheen

President Josiah Bartlet

Allison Janney

C.J. Cregg

Richard Schiff

Toby Ziegler

John Spencer

Leo McGarry

Bradley Whitford

Josh Lyman

Dulé Hill

Charlie Young

Joshua Malina

Will Bailey

Janel Moloney

Donna Moss

Alan Alda

Arnold Vinick

Jimmy Smits

Matthew Santos