The Road To The Matt Santos White House - West Wing (1/2)

[@BadPennyFilms]

I invite those dedicated West Wing fans to please view my all new & improved "Road to the Santos/McGarry White House" video, a remake of this compilation I've wanted to do for a long time. I apologize it's taking you to Vimeo, I fully intended it to be on this channel, but it didn't allow me to upload it. vimeo.com/340111114

[@AndreAFirenze]

I hope you added the clip when Josh told to Matt "You won California Primary". it's wonderful :-)

[@AndreAFirenze]

I'm just watching. a great job really.

[@kevinw712]

@@AndreAFirenze First of all, thank you for finding this new link and giving the new version a chance! I feel bad actually, I let all these months pass by before coming back to check if there was any particular response. I do like that moment as well that you're referencing, I do like it looking at it on its own. However for that particular part of the Santos campaign narrative, I took some inspiration for how to handle the idea from elsewhere in the series itself. That is, remember how during season 4, the way that Sorkin conveyed that Bartlet had secured reelection was that he just blew the doors off the building in the debate episode? (Ritchie even quietly says to him immediately after they finish "You killed me") That so for the episode that featured the actual election day, aside from the funny little subplot of Toby & Josh being angry at Sam for saying out loud they were gonna win, the point is there was no suspense at all in the reporting and tabulation of the votes across the country, Sorkin gave us "the answer" of whether or not Bartlet wound win the election back in the debate episode. Well, I tried to then follow a similar path on the reveal about Santos winning the California primary, which of course was the biggest hurdle in them having good realistic chances at the DNC convention. I left out Josh literally telling Santos to his face that they won, because I used the moment with Governor Tillman as being how he wins the state's primary. That after the private conversation they have in Tillman's car, he's so impressed and confident in Santos that he unofficially/officially gives him his endorsement by telling the media that he gave Santos the "veto pen". The governor giving Santos that total alley-oop sort of moment in a live press conference is what wins him the CA primary.

[@vaisakhans]

Video not available. Can you upload it somewhere else?

[@hartantyo13]

I can't open the link as it's marked untrusted site. Is there any other way I can see it?

[@tylernelson4901]

President of the United States and Senator of the planet Alderaan in the Galactic Senate? This is one powerful man

[@lukethompson2714]

Tyler Nelson he’s bail organa

[@dennismitchell2615]

You forgot that he's also a Pimp on "Sons of Anarchy." With all those together, he has a very impressive resume.

[@joemckim1183]

@@dennismitchell2615 Shame that the Death Star ended his career in politics.

[@mattboesch8907]

He became president in 24 Legacy as well.

[@aidankeaveney2657]

Don’t forget too prosecutor and ADA three years running in Miami

[@joncoish]

What made me really get into the West Wing was the last two seasons, the Santos stuff. I just loved following them on the campaign trail, it was so exciting. Then I watched the rest of the seasons and just fell in love with the show completely. It's one of my absolute favourite shows, almost like an old friend, a warm blanket.

[@PassiveAgressive319]

Agree, fans always praise season 1-3 but I loved the last 2 seasons

[@finsfan86]

I don't know how Peralta and Santiago's dads didnt remember they'd already met. This is a big conversation for them to forget

[@purvajrajan2237]

finsfan86 this is the most astute observation of the week! Made my day. nine-nine is the greatest 🎉

[@spandanav22]

Yeah, and when Jake's grandfather was expected to appear, I had my fingers crossed for Martin Sheen :(

[@AmrRivers]

Not to mention that Peralta's mom and Santiago's dad were together in Sons of Anarchy

[@joemckim1183]

@@AmrRivers Does that mean that Jake Peralta is half brother of Jax Teller?

[@AmrRivers]

@@joemckim1183 lol nah they were never married and he's biologically someone else's kid

[@shawnstrode3825]

Having lived in a military town most of my teenage years you notice things. When Santos stood in front of the President he was at parade rest. Good detail for an active Marine.

[@SamaritanPrime]

Makes sense. As a Marine, Bartlett would be Santos’ ultimate CO. He damn well better show some respect when the CO is the room.

[@keithduvall812]

Yeah, his days of being active ended when he became president elect.

[@flayremoon]

Even all these years later, the speech he gives starting at 5:58 STILL raises every hair on my arms and neck and even my scalp.

[@lizziesiegle1149]

it's just so beautifully organized and spoken...i love the build-up and authenticity and rawness.

[@kevini4295]

Loved this show. 0:52. Look on Matt Santos's face "I'm not talking about Congress". :). His thought: "I just got asked to be the next President by one of the most powerful people in DC." 1:15, Santos returns the favor "You. I'm in if you're in it with me.". :)

[@Dirk-van-den-Berg]

I have memorized the Santos minute in New Hampshire. Anyone with me? The line where Josh tells Leo that Santos is twice the man Russell is on his best day, 10 times, 'and Russell doesn't have that many best days'. That moment Leo realizes that Josh has found his own Bartlet. Love that line.

[@joemaye3527]

It's also the first moment of the show where Josh doesn't defer to Leo's judgment. Staunch disagreement and Josh says: NO. You don't really notice because they are so close and so like minded, but it is such a pivotal moment in Josh's arc.

[@Dirk-van-den-Berg]

When Leo concludes 'I'll tell the president', you realize Josh has won the argument. @@joemaye3527

[@derrickstorm6976]

​@@joemaye3527 I find it kind of sad that Josh got his independence moment only after he left the White House staff, it would have been more impactful if he has disagreed with Leo when he was still a subordinate, and had still turned Leo's head around

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

Yes! The way the studio guys all start to look up and stare. It was like Bartlet in New Hampshire all those years before, answering honestly. Chills.

[@Dirk-van-den-Berg]

@@lizziebkennedy7505 Remember the line from the producer on walking in? 'You have to forgive the staff, they're pretty jaded. They hardly looked up when the first-tier candidates came through.' Afterwards, they all looked in astonishment.

[@SamaritanPrime]

One thing that I have to give Santos credit for: the man knows how to pick the people he wants to work with him. “I’m in- if you’re in with me.” - Santos knows how Josh operates, and he wants that kind of energy on his staff. Later on, Bartlett tells Santos and Vinnick that his exit plan for a brewing conflict in Asia was one of them. Santos decided to make HIS exit plan the both of them by recruiting Vinnick as his Secretary of State.

[@clackmannan]

8:30, the look Helen Santos gives Josh as she walks away, gets me every time. She knew what he was going to do, and she knew he could do it

[@MikelosM]

7:09 That was really a powerful moment. When Santos says "if we expect our leaders to live on some higher moral plane than the rest of us, then we're just asking to be deceived" and it pans to Bartlet, it's showcasing the changing of the guard. Bartlet's presidency was essentially rooted in the belief that the President *should* be above the rest in moral terms, while Santos is rejecting that idea completely.

[@tokyworld]

GOP took that argument to heart.

[@kevinw712]

Ultimately, I think it's a bit more nuanced than that. While yes there's validity in not regarding a preferred presidential candidate as sincerely existing on a moralistic plane above every other citizen, you want even a "questionably dirty" person to just be on the side of the angels, and while not specifically being morally superior, you want them to very much have a SOMETHING that few do have. It's like when Toby's trying to craft the reelection campaign speech at the start of season 3, you need to be clear it's paramount to be truly substantial, otherwise "just anyone could/would do it". While true it's long been an American adage that the presidency can come from anywhere, that's not the same thing as 'anyone could be president', nor should it be.

[@larrysmith2638]

I totally disagree with OP. While Santos came from humble beginnings and a distinctly non-white experience, he most definitely shared Bartlet's passionate desire to improve society, especially for those without access to power. That's why Bartlet finally came in on the side of Santos: he saw Santos as the candidate most likely to continue what Bartlet started.

[@gangster125]

It pans to Bartlet because Santos is talking about Jed basically, a President who described the public about his disease

[@nicknicktracy]

Unquestionably, the best show in TV history Nick Tracy

[@Commandelicious]

The look in his eyes after "I am not talking about Congress". It's such great acting without even really acting.

[@jamesbailey6865]

It's honestly amazing to watch this clip, even though it's just TV, think of the ramifications of what is happening. You have one guy "Josh" that sees something in one person that not only that person doesn't see but knows can be for the greater good. Comes up with a plan and over the course of the episodes things are put in place to make it happen and the course of history is changed for the world because one man traveled to Texas with an idea. Just imagine how our lives go each day and one decision changes so much. It's amazing to just sit back and think about how amazing our lives are and how we touch other lives.

[@jkacvbhijfn]

It’s supposed to be a parallel to Leo travelling to New Hampshire to convince Jed to become president. Unfortunately it only works on TV, reality can’t ever be this beautiful and poetic

[@Dirk-van-den-Berg]

Josh had seen before how good Santos was in the House, and Santos already told him he planned to retire from Congress. So, 1 and 1 made 2 in Josh' mind. 'You are too good at this, you can't just walk away!' Santos: 'Watch me'.

[@botanicalspotlight]

So I just finished season 6 and bursted into tears of joy. This show as been there for me in some of my darkest moments of the last year and I’m so happy for Matt Santos! God I love this show!

[@jimough2441]

In my estimation, this is the best that television has ever offered!

[@kyestevens]

Lol

[@geoffrose9647]

The one moment I wanted to see was that first moment Matt was on the campaign trail: dead of winter, trash dump site, he walks up and introduces himself to a random person, "Hi, I'm Matt Santos, I'm running for president!" *cue opening titles*

[@LennyCole96]

Big difference in the scene where Bartlett is talking to Russell and Santos, Russell says nothing and Santos says "Yes sir" Russell feels entitled to the Presidency just because he's incumbent VP whereas Santos knows he has to earn the privilege

[@nath-wp7xp]

In fairness Russell was thinking about getting the TPS reports.

[@terrygracy8345]

That look Santos gives Bartlett as he’s walking out afterward, the respect and almost awe is obvious. He wants to say something but doesn’t

[@SamaritanPrime]

Also, as Santos is a former Marine, Bartlett is technically his ultimate CO. He better be showing some respect.

[@martysasser315]

​@@SamaritanPrimeoperative word being FORMER. Remember that.

[@MrHikerToYou]

Anyone come back to this from time to time hoping we someday get a real representative like this?

[@terrygracy8345]

All. The. Time

[@rightrightrightuhhuhuhhuh6516]

AOC.

[@jatikalmanigault]

Anybody else wish Matt Santos was running in 2024?

[@Hipnip1son]

I wish several other people were running, BUT of the two candidates there’s only one who is credible: Biden. A vote for Trump is a vote against everything the United States says we stand for.

[@asiawaffles6916]

Honestly Santos or Vinnick would make amazing presidents in our reality

[@donnaharper3995]

or even Alan Alda's Republican. Either one would be good

[@robertz768]

Beto missed taking down Cruise by 80K votes. If he had won the senate seat, he would have run and carried texas. 80K stupid votes.

[@roddaman7545]

SO much. Why can’t we get smart, informed, capable people instead of well-intentions but partially fossilized octogenarians and wanna-be despots, flanked by pull-toy automatons?

[@wilson2455]

Matt Santos' character was based on then Senator Obama. A West Wing writer saw one of Obama's Senate speeches

[@MoviePolitik]

Who knew that he was right that he would run

[@wilson2455]

@@MoviePolitik they just wanted a template to work off, nothing more. The first 'non white' congressman to become the Democratic nominee.

[@withalittlehelpfrom3]

And they based Arnold Vinick on John McCain!! How wild is that? Said writer was Eli Attie, who was Al Gore’s speech writer when he was Vice President and running for president. Dude knows Democratic talent!

[@michaelallan5211]

I think it was more that political analysts from both sides predicted what kinds of candidates would emerge from both parties in the next election. And it just so happened that they were absolutely right in that after the West Wing.

[@jimreily7538]

@@michaelallan5211 That's certainly part of it, but the original comment is absolutely accurate too. Santos was based on a rising Democrat star, then-Illinois State Senator Barack Obama. ("According to David Remnick's biography of Barack Obama, The Bridge, and other news sources, West Wing writer and producer Eli Attie used then-Illinois State Senator Obama as a model for the character.") He was, however, originally slated to lose the election to Vinick. But they changed the ending after John Spencer's death, because they thought two such blows would be two too many.

[@davidbennettracing538]

As much as he went about it badly, Toby was right when he said to Josh that they should have done the Santos campaign together.

[@kevinw712]

funny thing, one of the most spirited arguments Toby ever makes in the show, at least in the later seasons, he couldn't be more wrong. When Josh visits him at the apartment while he's awaiting jail, and Toby notes it's a negative checkmark on Santos that he was ready to leave Congress and only ran after Josh approached him. That was almost the exact same thing that happened with Bartlet in the first place. He'd never had any intention on the WH, not til Leo inspired him with it. Toby talks about how "You want someone who thinks the gods have conspired against him to keep him from attaining this seat that he was born for!" holy shit Toby, that might literally be the worst possible person to have as POTUS.

[@kevinw712]

@Michael Moretti Thank you very much, I always kinda thought so lol Btw, I'm the person who made this video (for reasons I won't bore you with it's more convenient for me to do general YT surfing & commenting under this account name) I don't say that at all because I'm looking for a pat on the back, rather I'd like to get your opinion on something, being a TWW fan who'd bother to leave comments. I originally put this project together back when KZbin had the rule of a video could only be so long, I hated splitting it in two, but had to. But over the last year or so I've been toying with the idea of sort of 'remaking' it, now I could publish it as one contained piece, and that I would add some new stuff into, primarily that takes place in the show before the very first scene in this video. I wanted to give a little more context to Josh having picked Santos in particular to begin with, so there's a pretty a solid 5-6 minutes at least that would be the entirely new beginning to this, and THEN Josh visits him in Texas to urge him to run. well and there might be a little bit more here and there plugged into the later portions, but it was mostly about making a new opening. Would you be especially interested in seeing something like that?

[@kevinw712]

@Joshua Sipple HA! I only just started finally working on it about a week ago, and I'm around halfway thru lol... I scoured thru the entirety of s6 and 7 again to realize what more I wanted, and it looks like my sort of "first draft" may be as much as a solid hour long. I really wanna do it in the way that like if I was tasked with putting together a proper full episode to tell the story. But I'm sure once I get a more objective look at my rough cut I'll wind up cutting down some, have it more in the 45m range. But thank you for replying with the encouragement :)

[@BadPennyFilms]

@Joshua Sipple Even though I've also just now left this new link as a top pinned comment on both this page's video and the page of "part 2", since you were nice enough to reply to my question at all (& I'd like to get as much exposure for this as I can) I'll leave the link for the new version here in this comment as well. vimeo.com/340111114 I really REALLY wanted to have the new longer version here just on KZbin as well, but it was rejected as soon as I tried to upload it. I don't know how so many of these other channels that upload mainly fan edit videos that use huge amounts of TV show and/or movie footage get away with their videos staying up. I'm not saying they shouldn't be, I just wish I could get mine to remain up as well.

[@shaunstegallify]

wouldn't have worked because Toby wouldn't have wanted to have Santos. That episode he had the fight with Josh he said something like if they'd taken on a candidate together. Toby probably wouldn't have wanted to use Santos.

[@gene8172]

Imagine being at home, spending a quiet night with your wife and kids, and a high ranking political operative from The White House drops in totally unexpected and invited, asking you to run for President.

[@kevinw712]

I can't deny as much as I obviously love this show, some of the stuff around this sequence of events never made full sense to me. like I don't get how/why Josh would apparently be so taken aback when Santos shows back up in his office days later and says he wants HIM to run the campaign. just like you say, you've got a major political operative, who had a substantial hand in getting the current president elected and within his administration (even tho the most unrealistic detail of the series is that so many people would remain in that many key WH jobs for that long in reality, but whatever) and he's zeroed in on this one junior congressman so heavily he goes unannounced to his house half a country away to explain A NINE POINT PLAN on how to win. OF COURSE it's an absolute given that Josh would then be the person most expected to run the whole thing. I mean, unless it's a thing where deep down, subconsciously Josh does kinda know that's where this trajectory would naturally go, but he hasn't been able to directly face the inevitable step of leaving the WH, saying that to Bartlet's face.

[@thisfacebelievesyou8862]

The prescience of The West Wing still astounds me, especially the final season. Even Josh funhouse mirrors reality. His character was based on Rahm Emmanuel. A man who worked in a previous Democratic President’s Administration (Clinton) and eventually became the Chief of Staff for the first President of color. Who does that sound like?

[@memoriesofdaysgoneby2348]

I’m from Illinois. I’m from Chicago. Rahm. Unparalleled Solid waste.

[@Zorc620]

Santos' speech to the convention was perfect. I especially liked the way he pronounced "Democratic" at the end. Normally, it's DEMocratic but he pronounced it demoCRATic. By doing that, he makes it so he's not referring to the party and what it implies, but to the fact that their party is based on democracy. Those delegates have votes for selecting the nominee, and it's their choice how they vote.

[@kevinw712]

well, I hear what you're saying and I applaud the idea behind it, but here Santos is merely pronouncing the word correctly. It's the only way there is to pronounce it, so really at the end of the day it's not like he's really making any sort of statement by saying it like that. When it's just the word "democrat", yes it's correct to hit the first syllable the hardest. DEM-o-crat, as in a noun. But when you ad the "ic" to make it an adjective, the correct way is dem-o-CRAT-ic.

[@ReelMeurik]

Leo's chat with Josh, trying to get Santos to be Russell's VP, I felt was wholly wrong. It's not up to Leo to decide who will be the Democratic nominee or his/her running mate. I think for a long time after Sorkin left, they had problems defining the Leo character. Beginning in Season 5, when the President went into a disaster area (and Leo trying to force the President to come back), as well as when the President was trying to negotiate peace in the middle east, Leo tried to force the President to take certain actions. A far cry from the Leo of Season 1, who had to talk Bartlet back down from his "disproportional response" to an attack from the middle east.

[@katesatriani]

I agree- they made Leo for a while into a kind of horrible character who was autocratic not commanding and bossy not tough- also I don't believe that he should ever have gone for Vice President- it wasn't him- he was better behind the scenes ??

[@kevinw712]

Actually, I could fairly easily buy that. And I think what you're sort of getting at with a possible detriment in Leo's character, I feel like that's a reasonably understandable progression. Yes, you could say it's a far cry from Leo of season 1, but that's part of the point. You realize how rare it is in the real world for people to hold these particular jobs for the majority of (nevermind entirety) of a multi-term administration? I think with it being television it's easy to kind of romanticize a bond like that of between Bartlet & Leo, but to quote another favorite fictional character of mine (Indiana Jones) "it's not the years, it's the mileage". Obama had no less than 4 different CoS's in his 8 years, and I promise you none where his "best friend". Leo could afford to be far more idealistic and determined back in year one, but by the time you're referencing, he's just trying to land the plane safely (& fwiw, while I'm still not sure ultimately it was completely realistic and true to character for Bartlet to have pulled the moves he did with the Gaza stuff at the end of s5/start of s6, since he DID do the things he did, I found Leo's uncertainty and opposition to that a very believable response). But anyway, I don't also look at it as Leo "deciding who the nominee is", I honestly don't think he's coming with any degree of hubris about that. He's just trying to read and handle the situation as best he can. Yes it's ironic that part of how Leo got Bartlet to run to begin with was a speech about "I'm sick and tired of having to choose the lesser of two evils", but again, that's a Leo of like 8 years ago by then. I think part of the very point of the story is that because Leo's in the position he's in, he can't see what Josh sees (not yet). I mean I never liked the Bob Russell character (sorta as they'd intended), but I can say with a straight face it wouldn't be some devastating travesty having him be POTUS. But Josh is all in with Santos at this point, and for good reason, he knows without a doubt that Bob Russell gets wiped by Arnold Vinick in an election, probably even if the nuclear accident still happened in that hypothetical version. Santos is not only the best they've got "against Vinick", but Josh is now convinced he's the best, period. But part of the point of the story is that he's the only one to truly be able to make that call. At the risk of sounding morbid, even had Leo not passed when he did (obviously that was tied to real life), there's no way in friggin hell that even if Santos won a 2nd term that Leo still would've been there the whole ride. It's funny though, to go back to the heart of your original statement, what I always took issue with was what CJ says, right before the last day of the convention. When they have the scene of Bartlet asking Leo if he thinks Santo will step aside as per the chat they just had, when CJ goes "Don't you think it's time you picked the successor YOU want, Mr President? Should you really be leaving this up to someone else?" I was immediately like, woah!! I mean I love Jed Bartlet as much as the next guy, but that's not how it works! lol The previous president doesn't get to choose who the next guy is! (besides the fact that it was always clear to not just the audience, but also Josh that Bartlet was pretty much ALWAYS trying to nudge Santos forward as much as possible without making it blatantly obvious he never had any faith in Russell) (FYI- I'm really hoping I didn't just make you groan with an implicit expectation for you to read all.... THAT lol I didn't intend for it to be that long when I started, but I'm the same person who made this video, I can always talk about this show for hours)

[@goreoproductions6955]

Yeah, Leo kind of got lost in season 6. But, and it’s a big but, the democrats needed unity. If they appeared out of control, or unable to get the members of their own party United, then the election was absolutely going to swing for Vinick, and in a big way.

[@frankhumbug]

I could of and would of watched the Matt Santos West Wing for however many series it went on for. The 7th series was kinda sad cos it was always coming to an end. Great tv show.

[@randallbanks1589]

I suspect that the speech where he refused to endorse another candidate was very likely ad-libbed. I suspect that the words on the teleprompter were NOT the ones he used. Amazing talent, too bad we don't have that today. Well done, well spoken, and very heart felt with no practice. I suspect that this speech carried him up and over. Given the way he started, he was probably way behind in most polls. This speech changed their minds and he won because he refused to back down, admitted that he wasn't perfect.

[@MrJamberee]

You are fantasizing about a fantasy tv show? Go take a nap.

[@kevinw712]

well, you mean that it was "ad-libbed" within the universe of the show, right? Not that the actor Jimmy Smits didn't go off the shooting script at that point with his own words? Because yeah, I feel like that's fairly clear, the point is is at that juncture even Josh had pretty much resigned to the notion of Santos stepping aside as per Bartlet & Leo's advice for the good of the party. That he'd made every crafty move during the convention he could think of, and it still didn't score. What Santos says is not just a surprise to the Bartlet family up in their hotel suite, it is to Josh as well (& accordingly the whole audience). It's the very moment where he shows in no uncertain terms the leader that he is, very much inspired by Bartlet but in no way beholden to him. They don't explicitly state this, but I feel like there's a very nice thematic call back to this idea in season 7 during the wedding episode. Reacting to the desire of some DNC heavies to have Josh step aside as fully running the campaign (for by then the general election), Leo tells Santos indeed "Josh has taken you as far as he could have, the rest is up to you".

[@partyguy101ify]

I love The West Wing. I love Matt Santos, but this is another element that hasn't existed in decades: a U.S. Representative running for President and winning. Most people would prefer a Governor or a Senator to run, instead.

[@partyguy101ify]

@sboudreaux27 Right, but being a mayor or a U.S. Representative isn't as impressive to voters as being a Governor or Senator as history has proved.

[@jakirakumahata5701]

As a houston ex-pat, I wish I lived in this alternate dimension where Texas and my old hometown got to lead the country in something other than embarrassments.

[@jaspdx63]

I love the live ad / speech. When you are out of money, all you can afford to do is tell the truth about who you are. Hey, maybe that could work in real life . . . nah.

[@TerranGuy93]

People don't really want honesty. Honesty means hearing things you don't like and the moment they hear that, people vote for the other guy.

[@marcoperez6952]

Santos won the Presidency with this speech.

[@khriss867]

I would like a crossover where Matt Santos is both the president and also allied with the Sons of Anarchy. Maybe he could also help Yoda out if he has time.

[@Transitfan93]

I love the guy who played Matt Santos, he is a great actor, he was amazing on this and amazing on Sons of Anarchy

[@jbreezy101]

Senator organa.

[@sherrybrown7933]

Jimmy smits

[@theolamp5312]

Thanks for posting this. For most of West Wing's run, it was the only show on TV that I felt was a must see. But, by the end, the network kept on moving the time slot. So, I finally gave up, missing most of this season. Now I guess I have to get the DVD. And I'm sure I will enjoy it.

[@SuperHipsterGamer]

+Theo Lamp Or get netflix if you're american.

[@spec10]

sorkin brought west wing to life, and something went missing after he left. but they sure did find that lost mojo again in the end. :)

[@neelkrishna]

Season 5 felt like season 1 of a new show. Introducing a bunch of new characters, new feel to the show. I didn't like it. But halfway through season 6 and all the way through the end of the show, WW was as good as it ever was. Different, but awesome.

[@moviegal6000]

I couldn't agree more. I loved The West Wing but I felt that seasons 5 and 6 were ok but not great but 7 was great. Santos (Jimmy Smits) was exactly what the show needed. I thought it sent it off the show in great style.

[@MrGruffteddybear]

I wish they would have continued the West Wing with the Santos administration. To see the growth of the characters over a 4 or 8 yr term.

[@mlcaron6550]

Santos was a well written character, the candidate we wish we had, the choice we wish we could make in the voting booth. Leo was a fictional choice, a storyline choice. He was a perfect choice for the fictional White House chief of staff. Despite Santos' stirring speech on honesty and vote for the person who 'embodies your dreams' Leo McGarry would have been the nightmare that pulled Santos down. A recovering addict in poor health he was the storyline choice unlikely to have been a real world choice.

[@tedwunderlich2741]

In a way tho, that kind of actually roots in reality more. Seems like most outsider candidates get stuck with a running mate they come to regret later on. A dream pairing on the ticket is quite a rarity

[@swastikausa]

Its ironic that martin sheen really is hispanic.

[@S1LVAW0LF]

Wtf i never wouldve guessed.....learn something new every day.

[@JMUDoc]

@@S1LVAW0LF Ever wondered how "Charlie Sheen"'s brother Emilio Estevez got his name? :)

[@nelsongarcia9894]

@@JMUDoc Charlie's legal name is Carlos Estevez

[@laggedoff]

@@nelsongarcia9894 and Martin's name is "Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez", which he still uses and goes by.

[@billyoneill5445]

After the West Wing series. It ended with Matt Santos in the Oval Office with Chief of Staff Josh Lyman and some of the cabinet members. At that was it. No more West Wing! That sucks.

[@thegrandmaster8062]

We should have Josh be POTUS in a spin-off sequel

[@Heymrk]

Aaron Sorkin recently said he isn't against a reboot, especially in our current political climate.

[@kevinw712]

@@thegrandmaster8062 I adore Josh (constantly splitting whether he or Toby is my favorite character, for different reasons), but I wholeheartedly think he would NOT make a good President. He's politically brilliant, but he's got very little public relatability. His speeches would be a horror show, especially during the campaign. He was always FAR more suited for the Leo role (speaking of which, squaring the logic of why Leo would've chosen CJ as his successor, the best analysis I've ever been able to come up with is that deep down Josh was not the one to stay there and run out the clock in the existing White House, that he'd be the best one to get a running start on who the next generation should be. Obviously that's what happened in the series, but they key being if that's how Leo felt, cause really just on a surface level, I adore CJ with all my heart but her being made the new CoS was kind of absurd)

[@toobasaurus23]

If only this was our reality. I studied law and politics to be Josh Lyman. Unfortunately, I bailed out after two years. Politics, is a ses-pool. It's not how the TV makes it out to be. If you have integrity, honesty, and moral compass... the system spits you out. Fuck it! I have a job in IT that I love and I am really good at.

[@Heymrk]

I am a member of the Democratic Party!

[@nolansaylor7710]

When he asks him to run for president, the first clip, the song in the background is mentioning the herald angel singing to the newborn king... which is fairly appropriate and a nice touch

[@italianviking80]

4:27 Imagine is someone else had said the same thing to Leo about Bartlett.

[@Coco-qz7fn]

2024 still stands the test of what it should be not what it has been made to be today...opposing views not allowed today.

[@michaelvidal1971]

I had a problem reading both Josh and Helen Santos's expressions during the convention speech. It is as if it dawned on them that he might get the nomination and where unsure if they wanted him to. The dynamic between these two is also hard to read.

[@SeaDrive300]

CJ says: "Isn't it time you picked the successor you want, Mr. President? Should you be leaving this decision up to someone else?" How about the American people, CJ? How about we leave it up to them? Democracy, what a silly idea...

[@jeremymuir4332]

What the US wouldn't give for a presidential candidate that advocated that strongly for the electorate's right to choose.

[@chevin0]

Santos, Bartlett, Leo, Toby, Josh. I would be so happy to vote for pretty much any of the core group for president, that wouldn't feel like a vote of survival, it would make me optimistic again.

[@EricDeggans1]

One of the coolest pieces of swag i ever got as a TV critic was a Santos-McGarry campaign button from The West Wing. Still have it in my office…

[@bt10ant]

Let's get Netflix to resurrect the series....

[@AndreAFirenze]

I've a dream: 7th, 8th, 9th (and so on) seasons of The West Wing

[@MrPeterpiper1969]

+AndreA There is a season 7 of the West Wing. I totally agree that a season 8 and 9 would be awesome. I notice a few on here suggested getting Netflix to make them. That would be awesome. Come on guys, sort it. :)

[@SA-5247]

It wouldn't be anything close to this series and we both know that. This was an actual true representation if the majority of Americans. Politically in the middle, with no agenda other than their own well being and hopeful for a future. Today's west wing would be some extreme left-wing protest to Trump, showing some fantasy reality by people out of touch with the average American. Especially if Netflix was involved. It's overplayed already and just weird that these people don't catch a hint that most people are in the middle politically and would royally ruin the extreme left/rights life if they continue to be pushed.

[@cryofpaine]

@@SA-5247 we don't have an extreme left wing. You listen to "extremist" Sanders, and all you'll hear is JFK, FDR, Bartlett, Santos. Hell, he's barely left of Eisenhower, and Ike was a Republican! The problem is that we have let the Republicans drag us so far to the right that instead of a liberal party and a conservative party, we have a moderate-conservative party and a bat-shit-crazy conservative party. And Trump doesn't represent the people any more that Biden or Clinton. He cares only for himself.

[@michaelmuldowney8]

I like to think that after CJ asked Jed to "pick the successor he wanted", he immediately got on the phone to Santos and suggested how he might play his supposed withdrawal speech.

[@chrisfox2211]

The West Wing... The show that makes us pissed we don't live in a tv show

[@omarcopol]

I love this moment(1:30) specially Josh's reaction.

[@thebigh4752]

"See if you can find Joshua" - and then the chief of staff bows his head.

[@ryandiggs951]

They have. All 7 seasons are on Netflix

[@22espec]

It's a shame that you didn't show his speech where he declared that he was running for President, it was very good

[@PassiveAgressive319]

I love how Josh encouraged Santos to run without once thinking he would run the campaign! 😅😅😅😅

[@LordBloodraven]

I think it was a mistake for the writers to not have Josh AND Toby running the Santos for America campaign. Bradley and Richard were the perfect combo. Like Ed and Larry for the big leagues.

[@GameFawx]

That's actually addressed in one of the episodes by Toby. And don't forget, the original script had Vinnic winning in the end. Everything changed when Spencer died.

[@boulaine]

Look at the guys face in 3'27'' ... The "Is he for real?" Expression doesn't get any better.

[@ronjones9447]

Amazing show, it’s interesting to see how the government works/doesn’t work.

[@xavierpibb7414]

8:25 balloons come down and he's not even the nominee yet, lol.

[@Morhek]

Santos talking about "the democratic right of delegates" lands very differently after 2016 and 2020.

[@TheCarablanco]

Thanks for putting this together. I helps to remind me there is still hope. ~ S ~

[@augustocastaneda]

Sam Seaborn for America! Will Bailey for VP...

[@Legba85]

This is what happened to Bobby Simone. He died and was resurrected as a Texan in Congress. I can only wonder what would’ve happened if Andy Sipowitz was part of his staff.

[@patspencer5649]

I wish the heck that our country could be like this. Good people willing to serve, and not absorb power.

[@richardpape5546]

I don't believe we are all broken. That is very wrong wordage. We all have daily struggles and difficulties that we deal with, that are not always out in the open. But we should never be ashamed of those times, and we as a fellow community should always have empathy for those struggles and difficulties our neighbors have. When we do that, we will move forward as a country in ways we can't even imagine.

[@keithray1372]

Mrs. Santos(looking at Josh): Now THAT'S the man I married. Don't change him. Josh: Yes ma'am.

[@CorpeningMedia]

I was always disappointed by the fact that all Josh really did (at least what was shown) was pick Santos. Throughout the "run" he more-often than not was over-ridden by Santos at every turn. Usually because what Josh wanted was shown to be the wrong decision to have made. I appreciate the Santos character, but just feel the series failed to lift Josh to the Leo level he should have gotten there.

[@sojohnny....8824]

Imagine saying "Hi, I'm running for President" during a job interview😂😂😂

[@cryofpaine]

It's too bad our candidates don't treat it like a job interview. Can you imagine having a job interview conducted the way we conduct elections?

[@punknhead23]

Skipped the best part!! When Josh tells Leo that they want him for VP! Oh, boy.

[@emilrobyn4216]

pity they cut the ad-scene short. the way the tv station staff flat out ignores him on his way in but is in awe of him on his way out is all the evidence you need he'll go far.

[@TheAudioman15]

That "you're only asking to be deceived" was a bit of a jab/poke at Jed, wasn't it?

[@aliasunknown7476]

If only politics was this honorable.

[@obi-wanjabronii]

Come from the Liberal speech from Santos. This show seems dope.

[@AndrewNatalePhotography]

Hey nice work on this video..it normally take me weeks to work through this plot on my dvd's..lol...

[@BOLANAREDE321]

I could never feel proud to be affiliated with a political party.

[@SonOfGod3000]

Senator Vinnick: Okay, let’s go win this thing. 😎

[@josephwolosz2522]

This Santos looks more real than George Santos.

[@spacedad1853]

Beautiful. Thanks!

[@JMUDoc]

I loathed Russell - a unengaged, disinterested nobody, elevated to VP _because_ he was an unengaged, disnterested nobody, who got too big for his boots. Russell getting the Dem nomination would have been Christmas for the GOP. That's why they forced him onto Bartlet in the first place.

[@AndreAFirenze]

4'00" one of the best scenes of the show (in a show full of best scenes...)

[@ralphhooker6019]

That speech made me remember Bobby Kennedy.....

[@JoseJimeniz]

PAL version, playing at 25fps rather than the original 24fps, has a slight pitch increase. The 4% higher pitch makes them sound like chipmunks.

[@PassiveAgressive319]

Fun fact Santos was based on a young Senator from Illinois called Barack Obama

[@michaelmuldowney8]

Actually being a Vice President in The West Wing Universe was a poisoned chalice. Hoynes resigned, Russell was dumped from the ticket and Leo died without ever being sworn in.

[@bt10ant]

I'm speaking of new seasons, Season "8" and more. Netflix did it with Arrested Development

[@FinchelFan728]

... not going to lie, I kind of ship Santos and Josh...

[@ardenvida4598]

SAME OMG

[@rehanmemon3969]

Tale of two mistresses. Bartlet and Leo, Santos and Josh.

[@22espec]

Too bad that you jump his speech when he announces his candidature. It was pretty good

[@caitlinlopez7027]

I love this.

[@robertchandler5055]

MAN,THIS IS SO BIDEN,CAN'T YOU JUST SEE HIM UP THERE!!! DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH!!!HAHAHAHA!!! LOL

[@jacobbeard4119]

Didn’t dexter kill that guy

[@willenholly]

The problem with you Josh is that you don’t want to be “The Guy”. You want to be the guy “The Guy“ counts on.

[@christiaanbailey8629]

Where is this type of Candiate in 2023?!

[@karendeaton6483]

It is so so too bad that these stories and values aren't the real thing. Bitterswweet.

[@R4Y2k]

God, I wish - just once - we'd actually have politicians like this and not the absolute clown car we really have.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

That was very nice...