Let That Be Our Legacy | The West Wing

“You have a strategy for this?”
Season 1 Episode 19: Let Bartlet Be Bartlet
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[@misslegacyatheart]

This was the scene. This was when the West Wing became The West Wing. Everything that happened before was leading up to this and the show truly took off from here.

[@marcnunn-ne3gt]

100%. My favourite episode

[@ClearwaterSubProductions]

Bartlet 2024!

[@robertlange1772]

If only.

[@kirinrex]

@@robertlange1772 My exact words before I clicked "1 reply" and saw your comment. If only ...

[@MarkHyde]

Martin Sheen when asked if he wanted to be President for real - "Why, I've already served two full terms.." ;) lol But, yeah, if only.

[@thomaswinston6671]

You realize he has MS right?

[@MarkHyde]

@@thomaswinston6671 LMAO :P

[@MrPatrickAnonymous]

"We're going to raise the level of public debate in this country"...Leo, let me introduce you to 2024, try not to be too disappointed

[@David-sq9ng]

Two of the strongest actors of all times.

[@shelleyking8450]

"Because a man stands up." THAT is all that matters.

[@kingseleyjameskanditkor7058]

The legendary Let Bartlet be Bartlet speech!

[@seanmcmurphy4744]

Like most people I have no inside information how the president and his staff talk to each other in private, but this argument sounds soooo authentic. Bartlett doesn't want to risk losing reelection, so he has gotten timid. But he doesn't want this to be obvious, or admit it even to himself, so he (nonverbally) gets Leo to do his dirty work. A lot of marriages work similarly. This tacit agreement finally gets discussed only when Leo finds out he is getting blamed.

[@critthought2866]

3:31 That little smile and nod Charlie gives Leo.

[@casey6556]

I saw it posted on another clip of this scene that the way each character phrases their “I serve at the pleasure…” is telling of their character and motivations. I’m not sure that’s entirely true but it’s interesting to think about Josh - “I serve at the pleasure of the President of the United States”: Loyal to the nation/government CJ and Toby - “I serve at the pleasure of the President”: Loyal to the office Sam - “I serve at the pleasure of President Bartlet”: Loyal to the man

[@CaesarSalad19]

I absolutely agree with this analysis, but one thing that is interesting is that Sam leaves Bartlet, then comes back for Santos, suggesting he is more loyal to the office, while CJ only wants to serve Bartlet. Not saying you are wrong in any way, or that the other clip is wrong, maybe their ideologies changed over the years after all, but its interesting to me

[@critthought2866]

@@CaesarSalad19 Sam didn't leave Bartlet - he had made a promise to Will about the campaign he was running, never thinking that he'd end up having to run for that office. Yes, it was a convenient way to let Rob Lowe leave the show, but the character didn't leave because he wanted to or had less loyalty to Bartlet. If anything it's in keeping with that loyalty, given how much importance Bartlet puts on keeping one's word.

[@KingOfTheSeas_]

​@@CaesarSalad19 He didn't return for Santos, he returned for Josh

[@jonemeigh5588]

@@CaesarSalad19CJ just got tired at the end of eight years, wanted a new challenge and wanted a life with Danny…remember she is the only main staffer that made it through the entire 8 years of Bartlet’s time in office. And was Chief of Staff at the most difficult time in Bartlet’s term…when he went on his legacy-building binge and when MS finally started taking its toll

[@AlanSwann]

And CJ and Toby's responses, though using the same words, are quite different: CJ is excited and energized, while ever-Eeyore Toby ("This is my happy face") is wary of the sudden change, so he answers more slowly, and only after Leo prompts him.

[@MarkHyde]

Superb editing with the music undercurrent - this exchange between these two men is amazing.

[@pympton]

What an amazing cast and show. The writing is so good.

[@kingseleyjameskanditkor7058]

Finally a West Wing KZbin channel.

[@robaitken4592]

that Season One fire is still hot!!!

[@AlanSwann]

John Spencer delivering Aaron Sorkin's dialogue to the music of Snuffy Walden. Love it.

[@0darroch]

One of my favourite scenes in the show.

[@thesopranosltp_]

Thank you for starting this channel. Right behind the show we create for, this is my personal second favorite. Finally a place to get high quality clips to enjoy. ⚔️🥃

[@jonv1776]

I serve at the pleasure of the President..

[@haybarnvideo]

Ah, the good old wholesome days that never were. Cue uplifting music.. 🫡🇺🇸😭

[@markkostka6897]

This was truly a seminal moment. Lots of commenters correctly point that out. So what makes me laugh inside is what CJ did after leaving the office. The others seemed to have clear projects to deal with that they couldn't before.Yeahhh now what...

[@blackspider1405]

This was such a great scene.. and a great episode. Sorkin's writing at it's very best.

[@spellsecurity]

We're going to raise the level of public debate and let that be our legacy. Oh well. That didn't really age well :D

[@Rheubie]

There's something so beauiful in the way Bartlet looks to Charlie the final time he says "I wanna speak now."

[@critthought2866]

This is parallel to the press conference in The American President (which Martin Sheen was also in). The line "I was so busy keeping my job, I forgot to do my job. Well, that ends right now." was used in a somewhat different context, but the sentiment is the same.

[@derrickstorm6976]

Direct quote from corporate culture, except for the, "Well, that end right now"

[@bearin29]

Pure gold.

[@mitchellminer9597]

C J smiling is what gets me.

[@richardc6843]

I don’t think really understand, that only is the writing outstanding but the underlying score of music makes the seem really pop! Just listen to the score rise when Leo puts that legal pad on the desk.

[@howardtreesong4860]

If you get elected to that office and you don't speak up and make your voice heard you squander the most important opportunity of your life.

[@WardZimmer]

Too bad in today’s political environment it’s not possible to raise the level of public debate.

[@Brian-os9qj]

A great way to learn the fundamentals on how govt works

[@tomace4898]

Leaders surround themselves with other leaders...

[@LasloPferg-ru2vt]

“Let Bartlett be Bartlett”? I loved this show but I’m sorry, this phrase is straight out of the Reagan presidency. When Ronnie started doing and saying some stuff that his loyal minions in Congress couldn’t quite agree with, they complained that his White House “handlers” should “Let Reagan be Reagan” as they were incapable of thinking I’ll of St. Ronnie of Reagan. Truth was Ronnie was a puppet of business interests and was just cast in the role POTUS.

[@royskuderin2386]

I've said the same thing to everyone for years and no one listens. Reagan started us on a real deficit hole we'll never get out if.

[@Taospark]

Fair but the difference is that Bartlett is a full on economist.

[@Mediaright]

The writers openly admit to stealing from all sorts of political history.

[@Crutchman74]

Not the same.

[@mobiz711]

This whole scene is cringy AF, but I love it!

[@heddalee]

What is Mandy's memo?

[@jamesbassett8470]

If memory serves, Mandy (an ex-girlfriend of Josh) is brought into the White House as a consultant. Prior to getting hired by the White House, she had prepared a memo for the opposition outlining weaknesses and vulnerabilities of the Bartlet administration. The memo gets leaked which gets the Bartlet staff seriously p*ssed off.

[@AlanSwann]

She wrote a memo when she was working for Lloyd Russell, before joining the White House, critical of President Bartlet and his staff. When it got out, it was embarrassing for the West Wing, and mortifying for Mandy, helping pave her one-way journey to Mandyville at the end of the season.

[@Pww642]

It's depressing that they went from this sublime moment to the stupid military satellite plot several seasons later.

[@jimbritt1471]

Y’all hammered trump when he called for this… loyalty!!!

[@Crutchman74]

@jimbritt1471 😅😅😅😂😂😂🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤮🤮🤮

[@amsivertson]

Boy did you read that wrong.

[@lancer525]

@@amsivertson I'm amazed at the total lack of self-awareness they all have. They have to immediately make it about them. Nobody slammed Comrade Pumpkinfuhrer von Shitzispantz for "calling for loyalty" because he didn't do that. He demanded blind obedience. There is a considerable difference. One is the intentional decision to stand for what is right, the other is the willful abandonment of morals and ethics. Watch them begin to attack the messenger now. It's all they have.

[@ThorsHammer1]

There is a difference between loyalty to a LEADER who serves the country, and loyalty to a TRAITOR who serves only himself, when he's not kissing the @ss of his Russian SugarDaddy.