I Never Get to Make This Call | The West Wing

[@Matt-kf4iz]

Fitz shows leadership in about 9 different ways in this clip. From having the pilot's personal details memorized, keeping the President calm by making small talk in the oval office, and refusing to take credit for the win, he's doing everything a great leader should do, even (and especially) when dealing with his boss.

[@Chrismarzek]

RIP Mr Amos

[@saintroddy]

Just realized that Leo's so invested in getting the pilot out because he was in the same position as a downed F-105 pilot in Vietnam and had to be rescued from behind PAVN lines.

[@nathanharris4105]

PAVN?

[@larrysmith2638]

​@@nathanharris4105People's Army of Vietnam.

[@larrysmith2638]

Leo, although a progressive Democrat on social and economic issues, was a hawk on military matters. His personal history obviously played a part in that, but he also believed in a strong military as a part of American foreign policy.

[@SolomonSamson747]

Thuds were cool jets. Very stable bombing platforms, very fast, very capable. Over half the F-105s ever produced were blown out of the sky in Southeast Asia.

[@B2Roland]

​@@larrysmith2638complex political identity is something we've lost

[@Sierraomega1991]

"If fitz has to call the pilots family i am invading baghdad "is an under rated line

[@trevornott2488]

Go watch when John Goodman played President Walken. He had some damn fine lines like that one

[@jeffreymeehan3116]

"This one white man's life is worth more to me than the lives of thousands, if not millions, of brown Iraqis." - A *totally* not racist US president.

[@potterpotty01]

Not sure that would be a proportional response.

[@potterpotty01]

Not sure that would be a proportional response.

[@Inverter222]

@@jeffreymeehan3116did you just assume gender and race?

[@glenbateman5960]

"All the same, I'm going to check out that thing with the carpet." Brilliant line.😂

[@daviddownes248]

Regarding the eagle in the carpet question ... it's a special trained eagle ! 😀

[@MarkHewitt1978]

After all these years I still wonder what the answer is.

[@RT22-pb2pp]

Another great scene with fitz is when he offers him the choice of his daughters LOL Also a gesture of appreciation for his well done job. This show rocked

[@timeodaneosetdona]

@@MarkHewitt1978I guess that shows the gravity of the situation. Normally that would be exactly the sort of thing that Bartlett would be interested in. I’d love a “deleted scene” where he gives his staff a gratuitous lecture on the Oval Office’s rug ;)

[@W4DSolutions]

RIP John Amos. Every role, every show, you made them better

[@thenakedsingularity]

He really does! And I didn't even realize that he died until your message.

[@michaeltrollo4382]

Love the idea of a well educated, open but firm minded president

[@jmitchell3530]

We had one. We got one. God Bless the United States of America.

[@RM-dc6zd]

it’s a shame we are going to lose one because the academic fringe has been pushing things the broader culture is not ready for (trans and new gender ideologies), things which cause more problems than they solve (pronoun police, identity politics, cancel/outrage culture, DEI ‘anti racism’, uncontrolled immigration), and active, ideologically-driven censorship in mainstream/social media as well as the academic sphere (mandatory diversity statements, anti-bias response teams). Should’ve stopped while we were ahead; now we are going to lose so much. We have been playing russian roulette with our system, and for who? for what? unstable crybullies which represent a small fraction of the population, with ideas that are less than scientifically informed.

[@mucccvhorob4596]

Yeah no one is asking biden wat to do lol he wud w forget the question while he was trying to finish his ice cream

[@Matisaro]

@@mucccvhorob4596 watch how he eats your cheeto jesus alive in the debate. Can't force him to only use out of context bullshit during a live debate.

[@Matisaro]

Now think further and justify invading a nation killing thousands for one man shot down in that very nation for blocking their ability to fly without their peoples permission. Even our best are villains.

[@mxg75]

Points to Admiral Fitzwallace for being able to answer the President’s questions about the pilot without even looking down at piece of paper.

[@jimrichardson3078]

@mxg75 Working for an intellect means you must always be well researched and fully prepared (or in the process of learning more)

[@tspencer227]

That's how you get four stars on your collar, and get advanced to the chairmanship of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

[@Lorrdd]

It's almost as if, and see if you can suspend disbelief, the meeting of the entire cabinet that was convened for the sole purpose of discussing that pilot was prepared for by the people who attended. Shocking. Absolutely shocking.

[@Lorrdd]

@@tspencer227 not at all. You get there by politicking and ass-kissing. America is in no way a meritocracy, it's a failed Capitalism Constitutional Republic. Money talks first, merit talks last. If the person in charge was the right person, we would never have had the Orange monkey in the States, or Trudunce in Canada.

[@timmilder8313]

Or it was rehearsed for deniability

[@joserafaeldiazmarrero7668]

"Give me your parents' number, I never get to make THIS call..." Meaning the call with the good news.

[@ArmyMP]

I think everyone already figured that out.

[@gemmel3197]

I teared up when he said that line same as I did when I saw this 20 odd years ago.

[@paulsimmons5726]

“I never get to make this call…” That scene warms my heart every time I see it! One of the greatest TV shows ever made!

[@andyknott8148]

"That's a job awfully well done Mr. Chairman". That's what I call a compliment.

[@NevillesGran1]

Ohh Fitz asked “How are you feeling” and followed up when Bartlet was vague because he was in the know about the MS! Never caught that before.

[@georgeniebling6566]

Did Bartlett know Fitz knew?

[@NevillesGran1]

@@georgeniebling6566 yeah, Fitz was in the original short list of people who they told, in his capacity as Commander of the Joint Chiefs.

[@michaelmuldowney8]

Wow - well spotted.

[@jimrichardson3078]

@@georgeniebling6566 At the hospital after Bartlett was shot, Abby listed all that knew to the anesthesiologist before the surgery "tell, don't tell, it's up to you"

[@b-h-t]

:O wow, yep that would make sense... nice detail

[@catfishcave379]

John Amos as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was brilliant casting; typical of the West Wing.

[@krismurphy7711]

Is he available to trade out for the guy that's in there now???

[@Pants4096]

@@krismurphy7711 You have something against Charles Q. Brown Jr.?

[@ktvindicare]

He was an amazing actor. RIP.

[@andrewarbuckle8123]

One clip like this and I could rewatch all 7 seasons in a blink. Love this show.

[@Vares65]

Back when they made quality over quantity. You won't find writing like this anymore.

[@melissaschermerhorn8568]

Came today because John Amos died. He was so brilliant on this show. I liked him on Good Times, but this is where I grew to love him.

[@murrethmedia]

From Wikipedia's article "Seal of the President of the United States." _A popular but erroneous myth is that the seal is changed during times of war, so that the eagle faces the arrows in its left talon. This belief may have arisen because major changes to the seal have coincidentally been made before or after wars - specifically, the 1945 change in the seal, and also the 1916 change in the flag (though not the seal) from the right-facing Great Seal to the left-facing presidential seal.[47]_ _This misconception may also have arisen from a comment made by Winston Churchill, who, regarding Truman's redesign of the seal, joked: "Mr. President, with the greatest respect, I would prefer the American eagle's neck to be on a swivel so that it could face the olive branches or the arrows, as the occasion might demand".[53]_ _The belief is perpetuated by a 2000 episode of The West Wing entitled "What Kind of Day Has It Been?". Character Admiral Fitzwallace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, notes that the presidential seal in the center of the Oval Office carpet contains a shield bearing a bald eagle clutching the olive branch in its right talons and arrows in its left. The eagle's head is turned toward the olive branch. Fitzwallace alleges that in times of war the seal is replaced with one in which the eagle's head is turned toward the arrows.[54]_

[@ered203]

Excellent work, sir. Truly excellent.

[@ElectroDFW]

How do we know it doesn't? There are very few privileged enough to actually ever be in that room, and I doubt they'd let secrets like that spill, out of respect for the office, if not the man.

[@johnnotrealname8168]

@@ElectroDFW It should also be known that the country has not been at War since Harry S. Truman.

[@ArmyMP]

@@ElectroDFW The discussion is about the seal of the United States, not the rug in the Oval Office. Congress wouldn't make a law about the carpet in one room. It's about the seal, wherever it is represented, including on every US Military Officer's formal cap in uniform for example.

[@ichikedai]

​@@johnnotrealname8168, we've been in all of the wars. 😂. Korean War is also still ongoing to this day.

[@TheAngelOfDeath01]

Without question one of the BEST series ever made.

[@ZATennisFan]

I love the subtle piece of acting Martin Sheen does without words when he is told that pilot is safe...

[@crayolasun]

Makes me wonder if that part of the scene was left a surprise to Martin, for a genuine reaction. That said, Martin Sheen is also one hell of an actor regardless!

[@designatedwingman86]

Leos reaction to the "diplomatic option" carries more weight when we later learn he was shot down in Vietnam

[@Summersong2262]

That was exactly my thinking, Leo's usually not that emotional, interesting bit of foreshadowing.

[@DGNYY27]

He also bombed civilians

[@Bazookatone1]

Yes, because even though te character is set up in that scene as the antagonist, he's not actually wrong to suggest it. He's the diplomatic representative, its his job to speak up for that angle.

[@gamlaman]

Interesting when it was diplomacy that got him home.

[@raywellswork]

@@DGNYY27 He bombed Targets of a country that declared war on an ally. Unfortunately Civilians have died in every significant war in history since the Romans.

[@shawnfox2281]

How I wish this was real and not fiction.

[@derrickstorm6976]

Clearly you don't remember season 5

[@grantharriman284]

I'm gonna assume you mean the competent and evenhanded operation of government, not a US pilot getting shot down in enemy territory

[@carlousmagus5387]

Stop voting for the two party corporate right wing duopoly and yeah you will.

[@grantharriman284]

@@carlousmagus5387 If you think that is a realistic option you haven't spent enough time looking at the rules of how this country works. Winner take all elections means that voting third party doesn't actually do anything. Either your vote contributes to the winner, your vote contributes to the failed attempt to defeat them, or you wasted your vote. The system naturally creates and perpetuates a 2 party reality.

[@theshlauf]

@@carlousmagus5387 President Bartlett is a Democrat, not an Independent.

[@Jmatt455]

John Amos & Martin Sheen, both American treasures.

[@glennwatson3313]

They are just actors.

[@vanDaalstad]

Very good actors​@@glennwatson3313

[@robertodeleon-gonzalez9844]

@@glennwatson3313 Not just actors - gifted actors.

[@glennwatson3313]

@@robertodeleon-gonzalez9844 Still just actors, not American treasures.

[@chadkent327]

@@glennwatson3313 do you really place so little value on art and expression?

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

Once upon a time, many decades ago I was John Amos’ bank teller. He was an incredibly humble, friendly, and cool guy. Used to have fun little chats every week he came into the bank.

[@W4DSolutions]

How lucky were you! Thanks for sharing that.

[@CorsetGrace]

I wish we had Presidents with this kind of integrity. Wouldn't care which party. Just give me someone with integrity.

[@vectorm4]

I absolutely agree, CorsetG- I fear your comment will open a flood of partisan opinion.

[@hoganhero5]

Preach

[@ai-aniverse]

Seriously, if only

[@moontreecollective6718]

There were several options, but the masses wouldn’t accept them. Mitt Romney would have been a good one.

[@marshabennett9717]

I couldn't agree more

[@lelandrb]

Fitz's voice has a unique cadence to it, it's very confident and clear

[@gabe2349]

He might be my favorite character. The writing and the actor combine to create just a really excellent portrayal. Awesome stuff.

[@bigmo10]

John Amos. Outstanding performer.

[@snidelywhiplash]

John Amos, a lowkey icon. Badly underappreciated actor.

[@2legit64]

@@snidelywhiplash Truth! Love him as Fitzwallace.

[@sadjaxx]

Rest in Peace John Amos, we miss you.

[@fionam7768]

Loved him in 'Good Times', adored him in this: you will be missed Mr Amos 😢❤❤

[@addman]

In case anyone was wondering, according to Snopes, it is FASE that the seal is changed during wartime. Possibly made us for the show. Although the seal has changed over the years, notably in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson changed the design slightly so that the eagle's head was modified to face the viewer's right, towards the talon holding the arrows. Then, in 1945, President Harry Truman made more changes, including switching the head to the left.

[@charliewion8925]

This is why we love Bartlett

[@LM-nc9ou]

Brilliant little piece of writing: President Bartlet refers to Fitz having to call the pilot’s parents. But he wants to call himself after the pilot is rescued.

[@mizzle006]

The way I teared up when Fitz said Captain Hotchkiss was on the line.

[@johnjones4699]

me too😢

[@Lorrdd]

means you're extremely emotionally weak and need mental help

[@NBT2469]

Look in the mirror, with an unwanted bully comment like that. Grow up.

[@BohabedOne]

I love the look on Fitz face when he says congrats sir.

[@rafezetter8003]

Dr Josiah Bartlett is the best President the USA has never had, or ever will anytime soon. Followed thereafter by Andrew Shepard, another great president the USA never had, but should. Both from the mind of Aaron Sorkin.

[@brandonkruse825]

Forgetting one, David Palmer.

[@FS2K4Pilot]

Jordan Lyman.

[@kenle2]

To be fair, they both have the extremely god-tier advantage of being ... fictional. "Of course truth is stranger than fiction." "Fiction has to make sense."

[@davidgradwell8830]

Also, the nameless president who looks just like Henry Fonda in "Fail-Safe."

[@leftyhitter]

And both Democrats.

[@spornge]

Teh gravitus of Martin Sheen mixed with the writing is just magic, all that bickering at the open and the President did exactly what he should do made it not esoteric , but about a single individual they have a responsibility to.

[@Greeley.d]

I am a conservative but this would be a President that you could respect because he cared about America and he was a true leader.

[@Erin-Thor]

I’m confused, as a Republican you seem to appreciate Democrat values.

[@ethanpan2335]

@@Erin-Thordemocrat values like “let’s get U.S. troops back from hostile territory”. truly, the United States would be better off with the GOP, whose position you apparently take to be “let them rot”.

[@Erin-Thor]

@@ethanpan2335 - Seriously? Republicans fought military promotions for what, 7 or 8 months? They voted to REDUCE the budget and staff for Border Security/patrol by over 20%. Republicans also call military personnel losers, and do not recognize their service or sacrifice for this country. I couldn’t disagree with you more.

[@alertgasper]

@@Erin-Thor and in Afghanistan, our Republican president made a plan with the enemy to reduce troop forces on the ground before pulling them out. Hard to defend a retreat when there's not enough troops to defend the retreat. Or we could discuss the death of 241 Marines because Reagan didn't want them to carry loaded M16's...just before selling TOWs to the mullahs who helped with the planning of the truck bomb. Or the Republicans who exposed a CIA agent.

[@feanedhell]

You sure aren’t gonna find any kind of leadership from the gop

[@markc7440]

The best President that the US never had.

[@chadwickmccarty4944]

It was, & still is, such a great series & this snippet is a prime example of that deserved praise.

[@Guyzilla]

I'm so glad they had an animation of the ejector seat, and a slide with the personal details of the pilot on standby.

[@flankspeed]

That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is a Commander-in-Chief. Ably assisted. 👍

[@rsenior7140]

That, ladies and gentlemen, is a fictional tv show.

[@moretoknowshow1887]

I love Fitz and his eagle question, brought a moment of levity to what could've been a tense situation.

[@MrCCollins1993]

I love this scene. There are so many great and worthy moments to comment on. But I'm going to go for the low and subtle joke that foe once, someome else points out an obscure historical fact and this time it's Bartlet that's bored 😂

[@saoirsevicteoiria2759]

It is a great way to show how much the situation is affecting Bartlett, who is always curious and almost never short with people.

[@garyfrombrooklyn]

This is one of those awesome West Wing moments that made you feel good and could handle whatever came at you on Thursday

[@chadkent327]

I like how in whatever crisis he is dealing with, Bartlett always asks these seemingly irrelevant personal questions about the people involved (how old are theyx where are they from, does their family know, etc). At first I thought it was because Bartlett is in over his head on military matters and is stalling on making a decision.. Now I understand these questions are a way of humanizing the person in question, subtly reminding everyone in the room that they are dealing with people, not numbers on spreadsheets. It’s actually a genius way to recenter everyone’s priorities without calling anyone out.

[@deborahdapo3210]

Love this show, my favorite show of all time. I own them all.

[@llchapman1234]

I just got the whole DVD set as a gift! Love this series and looking forward to watching the whole thing from start to finish.

[@Martin-pb7ts]

Man I loved this TV series. I think it must be the best of all time for me. A group of people all trying their best and leaders that you actually want to follow. Exceptional writing, great acting, brilliant direction and everything else too.

[@Bazookatone1]

SPOOILERS AHEAD: In a later episode, the staff are brainstorming possible running mates for Bartlett in place of Hoynes and one of them is Admiral Fitzwallace. Of course the character was killedin a car bombing while he was on a fact finding trip in Istael, but if they had kept him alive, I genuinely would have liked to have seen a continuation of the West Wing with Vinnick as President and Fitzwallace as some sort of major character, maybe as a recently Democratic represetnative, or even as a Republian Vice President.

[@SamaritanPrime]

A plausible scenario is that Fitzwallace stays in the background for most of the series, but makes the short list for Matthew Santos at the end of the series- replacing Leo when the older man passes away.

[@ryanellis7842]

@@SamaritanPrimethat’s exactly what would have happened. Makes so much sense.

[@SamaritanPrime]

@@ryanellis7842 It would be a bit counterintuitive, given that Santos was also a military man and Fitzwallace once outranked him, but it would make sense. Fitzwallace was a no-fluff kind of guy; he gives Bartlett the info he needs in the clip above succinctly, without too much dressing, and was just an all-around capable and experienced guy. Santos would have been just fine with that guy at his back, plus Vinnick as his Secretary of State offering seasoned diplomatic advice. Santos would have been hitting the ground outright sprinting.

[@johnnotrealname8168]

@@SamaritanPrime It does not matter what rank you were. The military is under civilian control.

[@charissesebastian9504]

Except Vinnick (Alan Alda) didn't win, Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) did

[@pauldonnelly910]

IIRC, one deftness in the drama is that we never quite find out what happens next -- that is, you can just HEAR Martin Sheen in character saying something like "this is Jed Barlett, hold for a voice you know...' or something. It's an echo of the original goofier character who called the Turkey Hotline.

[@grifftech]

God how I miss this show.

[@googoo-gjoob]

The *GREATEST* show in the _history_ of television.

[@Vares65]

I LOVE that Fitz already knew the guy's name, where he was from, and how old he was.

[@giantskunk]

Admiral Fitzwallace was my favorite character on this show.

[@Culinary_Nerds]

When he looks Fitzwallace dead in the eye “get’em back” every instinct in me clinched and said yes sir.

[@derekjones2835]

Cringe. Americans are so overly dramatic.

[@stevenelson3515]

John Amos is an exceptional actor.

[@occamraiser]

I've always thought that this program clearly showed the president that Americans liked to think they had, and never in my lifetime have actually had. The nearest probably being Jimmy Carter or Barak Obama. Wouldn't the world be a wonderful place with Jeb Bartlett at America's helm.

[@WhoDat810]

Obama was a wonderful speaker but in reality his war crimes and drone killings (even killed a US citizen w/o even filing charges) were so inhumane and detrimental to future foreign relations.

[@viking956]

Their "technical advisors" didn't do their homework on this one. An F-117 is strictly an attack aircraft. There is no way on this planet it would ever be assigned a "patrol" mission. The ONLY circumstance it would ever be over Iraqi territory would be to drop two bombs on preassigned targets. Patrol mission? That's the job of the F-15's, F-18's, F-22's, F-35's and F-16's.

[@matthewbaynham6286]

The F-117 is actually a bomber, the "F" is incorrect. It only carries bombs.

[@generalsmite7167]

Not to mention the fact that it is a stealth aircraft and the only one ever shot down was because its bomb bay doors were open and they knew exactly the direction it was flying from and they were lucky

[@matthewbaynham6286]

@@generalsmite7167 wrong it wasn't the bomb bay doors that were the problem. Stealth aircraft can be detected with long wave radar signals however that only gives an approximate position. The F-117 crews were over confident that they were totally invisible, (which is not true), so they kept flying exactly the same routes. Do when the enemy know their approximate position and had knowledge of the usual route these pilots take, they took their shot and were a bit lucky but still they skills and experience were also required.

[@generalsmite7167]

@@matthewbaynham6286 that’s not completely true. The Serbians were unable to detect the craft on long wave twice only on the third time when the bomb doors were open were they able to detect it. It was arrogance because not only did they fly the same route but they did not send out any sead aircraft so the Serbs were able to use their radar more than normal which is why they were able to get the lucky detection

[@gregrtodd]

Mr Sorkin, who is normally such a stickler for detail, almost always gets aircraft details wrong. Go back to Toby's very first scene in the series where he tells the flight attendant about the new L1011 he's in (rolled off the production line 3 months ago) when Lockheed stopped making the Tristar 15 years before the episode. Or Angel Maintenance, where Will Bailey (who is supposed to be in the Air Force reserve), misidentifies an F-15 as an F-16 Falcon.

[@roadbeef]

Don't let Danny convince you to sell the farm!!!! People will come, Jed!!!

[@itsmusicnote8544]

Fitz talking about the carpet is the best part about this scene

[@phildressel8865]

My favorite all time TV show...

[@carl9654]

"He had an ACES II 0-0 ejection seat..." No general is going to waste the president's time mentioning the ejection seat brand. This is either product placement or script writers getting carried away with their research.

[@sbrownproductions]

Thank you! That bugged me too! And Hurlburt Field is in Florida… so I doubt we flew a rescue mission from there… unless they meant the squad was normally based there and they are in Kuwait or somewhere nearby….

[@WarrenSkipper-ho5xl]

When they wrote the Fitzsimmons character out I was emotionally devastated.

[@tyronehenry8183]

JOHN AMOS REST IN HEAVEN🙏🏿

[@jomichealnelson8355]

He wasn't wrong to suggest diplomacy. He gave the President all the options and what a reasonable timeframe would be needed. Even knowing about the bounty it needed to be said and considered.

[@alatona26]

Time for another rewatch!

[@JasondenHollander-qj5hp]

Sorkin’ s obsession with military toys and listing them off in every scene

[@johnnotrealname8168]

He was a hawk actually.

[@capnskiddies]

Ah, he's no Tom Clancy. That man thought he was writing a catalogue

[@ArmyMP]

The fact that you call them "toys" is telling.

[@JasondenHollander-qj5hp]

@@ArmyMP naw lil’ butt hurt can’t handle some commentary on a fictional show.

[@kelj4517]

🙏🏽 Mr. John Amos

[@WobblinGoblin1]

I am a die-hard conservative and don't much care for liberalism, but I know well-written and well acted programming when I see it and this show has few peers in that regard. Also, as an aside, I wouldn't mind this fictional president versus the choices we've had recently. Not that I agree with everything he said or stood for, but when I see him portrayed on this show, he seems like a decent, qualified, and intelligent man. Well spoken, too. Clearly he's unburdened by what has been and is empowered to choose what can be.

[@edtrine8692]

This President has balls!

[@pdeforest]

Martin Sheen for President in 2024.

[@russellmiles2861]

Actually Vinnick is who you need

[@danharris5999]

Rob Lowe was supposed to be the centerpiece, and Sheen was just supposed to appear in a few scenes early on and then become invisible. But Sheen had so much fun in that pilot episode that he asked for more scenes, and next thing you know he's the focal point. No disrespect to Lowe, but that show doesn't get past season 2 without Sheen, in my opinion.

[@Reiman33]

i wish we lived in the west wing universe. "I owe you one" "that's not how it works, Sir" In this universe it totally works that way though.

[@garretthildebrandt428]

When first watching this show, I liked to think of the cabinet members as Round Table figures. Bartlet & Leo are Arthur & Merlin.

[@dennisbrock4838]

Fitz rambling on about the carpet reminds me of all the times that Bartlett tortures his staff with trivial things like talking about the national parks or the only words in the English language that start with "DW.."

[@SamaritanPrime]

Could you imagine being Hotchkiss’ parents right after this scene? “Hello?” “Hi, is this Mrs. Hotchkiss?” “Yes…?” “This is Jed Bartlett, your son’s boss. We got him. He’s on his way home. Got a sprained ankle but is otherwise fine.”

[@darranedmundson1505]

Just watched this clip 4 times in a row.

[@noahbrown6970]

Is that thing about the carpet true, and if it is then how do they do it? Little details like that in regalia and heraldry absolutely fascinate me!

[@danielchilton5400]

Not true. Before 1945 the Eagle always faced towards the arrows. After WWII Truman had the seal changed to always face towards the olive branch. The symbology: we desire peace with all, but we’re ready for war if necessary.

[@RC41591Shadow]

I still want to know how they switch the seal in the carpet!

[@JumpingTuna]

Did Fitz ever get an answer on the carpet thing? Because now I want to know.

[@deansapp4635]

John Amos was so Bad ass in this role

[@jameshunt1444]

I think this was John Amos' best role of his career. Grounded, solid, strong. Completely different persona than McDowell in Coming To America.

[@teddymartinii1979]

Bartlett 2024!

[@anthonybanchero3072]

Interesting detail, a surface combatant named after a state. Closest we have today is an LPD USS NEW YORK, with steel salvaged from the WTC making up it's bow.

[@christianvalentin5344]

I forgot what year this episode first aired, but as of the mid 1990s, the US Navy had a few nuclear powered guided missile cruisers that were named for states.

[@christianvalentin5344]

@poiujnbvcxdswq also the USS California and USS South Carolina. But I don’t remember when they were taken out of service.

[@blissfulearth334]

Yes people would vote for Bartlett because he speaks the truth and he has integrity. Unfortunately that's rare in a real president

[@ArmyMP]

Both Bushes and Biden all had/have integrity.

[@davidweihe6052]

@@ArmyMPWhich is why George W. Bush was erased from TWW history.

[@orlandoskipper589]

The writers killing Fitz off was criminal...I know they needed a dramatic storyline but goddamn it.

[@ukstd1]

Imagine having this level of class in the Oval ? Not for a while, now....

[@rayzbal]

Bartlett was the goat. We could use him nowadays.

[@timofey-sak]

Man, the best political TV show that ever was...

[@kakapo3090]

Bartlett doesn't tell Fitz to go ahead with the mission. He gives him the simple order "Get him back". Fitz knows exactly what the president is saying, and Bartlett knows exactly what Fitz is saying when he replies clearly "Yes sir".

[@sinecurve9999]

"A popular but erroneous myth is that the seal is changed during times of war, so that the eagle faces the arrows in its left talon. This belief may have arisen because major changes to the seal have coincidentally been made before or after wars - specifically, the 1945 change in the seal, and also the 1916 change in the flag (though not the seal) from the right-facing Great Seal to the left-facing presidential seal."

[@develynseether4426]

A democratic president making a very republican decision. This is what leaders need to be about, when it comes down to things like this you dont make decisions based on your parties preferences, you do what has to be done.

[@notsayingmyname1684]

Respectfully what makes military action a “republican decision” as a moderate democrat I know that democratic presidents are not scared to pull the trigger.

[@JosephBloggs-jk5lv]

Bad research on behalf of the writers. The F117 is a fighter bomber. The wrong type of aircraft to undertake this patrol.

[@TKE644]

Did we ever find out about the carpet?

[@stephenbruce1548]

What episode was this? I've watched all and I totally don't remember this scene.

[@nikolatesla5553]

The seal DOES NOT CHANGE during war time. Total myth.

[@rcslyman8929]

Always look to peace, but be prepared for war.

[@matthew1257]

Thank you for writing this so I didn't have to, Buddy.

[@saoirsevicteoiria2759]

It's entirely possible, however, that Fitzwallace might be one of many people who are under this mistaken impression, given that US Congress has not declared war since 1942.

[@ArmyMP]

@@saoirsevicteoiria2759 It was 1941.

[@dw-yl3ln]

Fitz is so giddy here 😅

[@hippiehillape]

Fitz wore that uniform well

[@shaunig6716]

An intelligent, well educated, empathetic man, everything a President should be! It is so scary to think that Trump was even allowed in the situation room, let alone in charge 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@thomasafb]

very well done, a few problems however, a F-117 would not patrol the no-fly, since it could do nothing about it and why would the US need to be informed by NATO of the radar sightings made by a US warship? Speaking or warships, the USS North Dakota is a Virginia-class submarine, which doesn't have an AEGIS system. At the time of the show, the USS North Dakota was yet to be build, however state names were the domain of submarines at the time nevertheless.

[@bacchuslax7967]

I can see these two on a presidential ticket

[@bladactania]

"Get him back." "Yes, Sir." Chef's kiss.

[@jamjardj1974]

Why would a no fly zone be patrolled by an aircraft that is incapable of engaging other aircraft?

[@carycimino7699]

I love this guy

[@dantae88]

Leo was a POW in Vietnam after his plane was shot down.

[@RobDogman]

I love Bartlett, and Fitzwallace.