The West Wing first speech of the President

[@saraha180]

Having him come out to recite the First Commandment in his booming voice was possible the best, most inspired introduction of a character in television history. Bravo.

[@howardtreesong4860]

The extra layer of depth is when you realise the words are spoken by the POTUS, the lord their god, who commands respect and deference. Martin Sheen wasn’t supposed to be the main focus of the show and he commanded it by his superior presence. THAT is acting. He did not play the president, he WAS the president.

[@maninchair6648]

Preach!

[@craigsmith3042]

​@@howardtreesong4860 An extra extra level is that originally the show wasn't going to really have the president be a main character. He was was just meant to be a distant force while the show focused on the backroom staff.

[@howardtreesong4860]

@@craigsmith3042 True.

[@LilJag03]

But doesn’t he get the commandments wrong in reality

[@PatheticJedi]

The way Martin Sheen delivers the line "Find it now" isn't threatening, nor is he yelling. He says it evenly, calmly, but firmly, and everyone in the room understands. It's absolutely fantastic acting.

[@donkeyears4704]

find it now, is bartlett speak for, get the fuck out.

[@chrissegee]

That’s true power speaking

[@zippyzipster46]

No scenes about Jews or Gaza. All written by Sorkin. Just Christian bashing which has always been the left’s favorite beating object. The one religion that doesn’t bite back. Or else the cowards wouldn’t be so bold. Haven’t seen any drawing contests of Muhammad in Hollywood or the media. Such hypocritical liars.

[@FS2K4Pilot]

The funny thing is the lady telling him “I believe we can find the door” like she’s trying to tell him ‘We don’t need you to lead us through the halls of power’, and he’s saying ‘you’ll never see these halls again without me’.

[@zippyzipster46]

@@FS2K4Pilot Imagine finding a preacher who doesn’t know the 10 commandments. Lol. Only Hollywood would invent such fantasy. Never a word about Muslims who have dropped homosexuals out of buildings. Sad brainwashing.

[@nigelft]

"We'll fix this, Leo ..." "See that you do .." ... and that for me is why Leo was a 'Wartime Consigliere' ...

[@Stormkrow280]

Would that make the President “The Godfather”?

[@josecarbajal5028]

@@Stormkrow280 no, that would make him, "The Grandfather"

[@simonburns1799]

Yes, Leo's authority was also established in this episode. Leo's loyalty and instincts were admirable.

[@Brandon210-q4n]

How I interpreted this line: "My name is Martin Sheen, and I just stole this entire damn show."

[@c0nd0rd4myt]

You're not wrong. The show was originally supposed to be primarily about the staff (Leo/CG/Josh and so on) and the president was to appear minimally, if ever. When they focused grouped this pilot episode, people responded VERY strongly to President Bartlet, and so they changed the direction of the show as a result.

[@TherealSBlair]

Think you summed it up rather well.

[@justmebeingme8370]

​@@c0nd0rd4myt yes, ultimately rob lowe left the show because he was suppose to be the lead. I dont think there was hard feelings really, just he signed on to be a lead actor and ended up in an ensemble instead

[@joemckim1183]

@@justmebeingme8370 Martin Sheen was far better to focus the show around. Honestly I never really cared that much for the Sam Seaborn character, so bland and uninterersting. Josh and Toby always outshone him with their storylines.

[@joemckim1183]

@@shrews12001 I thought that Josh, Toby, CJ and even Will were all great in their roles. And to a lesser extent I thought that Debbie, Margaret, Donna and Charlie were all great too.

[@corey4152]

There is something truly hypnotizing about the way Martin Sheen delivers a speech. It has an extraordinary cadence and timbre that forces you to sit up and pay attention and when the end of the speech comes you'll wish there were more words in the english language he could give more breath to.

[@salicemccool9268]

You're so right. It was Bartlet's straight-up telling the dairy farmer "Yeah, I screwed you on that one . . . You got hosed" and the rest of what he then said that got Josh's complete and permanent attention.

[@roadbeef]

very well said, thank you for adding timbre to my lexicon

[@OtherSideOfMorning]

One of the reasons why the opening (and the rest too) of apocalypse now is so mesmerising and bloody well fantastic. Granted that the superb music helps as well..

[@paulbarnett9297]

"Cadence and timbre". You filched that from one of the other clips (Ephesians)!

[@runawayboulder]

He did the narration to the opening of the movie JFK. I could listen to the guy recount US History from start to finish.

[@bluepyramid44]

"Find it now." Unbelievably powerful.

[@YoBen100]

Translation: I'm going to have the last word, not you.

[@jon_warburton]

"I am The Lord, Your God..." Greatest opening line ever.

[@ILuvSmexyShowgirls]

Exactly. YOUR GOD Not mine.

[@Vellzi]

woosh

[@rehanmemon3969]

You've gotta have a pretty big ego if you walk into a room, spouting that as your first dialogue, and have the confidence to back it up

[@kelvinktfong]

He’s god

[@johnceragioli9671]

Kelvin Fong, no he’s not God. What he is, and what I expect in my President, is the smartest person in the room.

[@najhoant]

"CJ, don't mess with grandfathers. We're madmen. We got here before you, and they'll be here when we're gone. We'll break laws, we'll break bones, but you will not mess with the grandchildren."

[@Kole131313]

Killing unborn babies or babies, or humans of any kind...I'm sure the bible said something about that. Hmmmm, I might be wrong in the face of such murderous certainty.

[@Kole131313]

Grandfathers don't exist if you kill unborn babies. FACT

[@nittany272]

Kole131313 does the Bible say anything about overusing the copy/paste function? Seriously I’ve seen you post this comment no less than 6000 times on this thread alone.

[@jedinxf7]

@@Kole131313 what the Bible says about killing "unborn babies" is that when people fight and cause the termination of a pregnancy by striking a pregnant woman, they owe monetary compensation to her husband. it doesn't say anything at all about a woman voluntarily seeking termination of a pregnancy, and certainly doesn't entertain the modern notion of a pregnant woman being an autonomous property owner to whom the compensation could have been paid. it makes for very poor guidance on the topic of a woman's right to choose an abortion in modern America, but if the question one seeks to answer for some reason is "does the Bible consider terminating a pregnancy without killing the mother to be homicide" well, it does answer that. because no homicide has a merely pecuniary penalty in the Bible.

[@Doctor9]

@@Kole131313 The bible also contains instructions on how to try to trigger a miscarriage - i.e. an abortion. You might want to read it more closely.

[@homerjs225]

He also remembers to thank the butler who made his coffee while speechifying. Fantastic writing

[@kelly8348]

The president is absent for the first 40 minutes of the episode and then he gets this introduction. Perfectly executed.

[@nnthayer]

I just now noticed the Secret Service agents grinning at each other in the background. Perfect touch.

[@Tigerman1138]

guar dian never noticed until today! Thanks.

[@donaldkelly65]

I would given a choice walking out, or being dragged out by the secret service

[@KojinMacJorn]

That's because they know what kind of utter asswhopping is coming their way.

[@sarahhardy8649]

.......goes back to check heh heh heh

[@HarrisonHollers]

Denouncing a radical group that also happens to support you, possibly voted for your party? I thought there’s “good people on both sides?” Do not normalize the present insanity. Let Bartlett Be Bartlett! If only Dems used that slogan sometimes...

[@moviegal6000]

What I love most about the show and how the writers showed Bartlett and his religion is that as he once said "it works for me" and he stands by that. I love that he doesn't use his religion to attack anyone and he cannot stand when others do it either. This and the moment when he brings that radio host down a peg are magnificent. And of course Martin Sheen, who is Catholic, embodies this splendidly.

[@GhostHostMemories]

When the president stands, no one sits.

[@pbsfo]

“I’m just gonna take that crab cake”

[@Akihito007]

@@GhostHostMemories Said NO Founding Fathers ever since we didn't install a king. The President is to be a servant of the People, not a lord over them. Plus the character is garbage because his Liberalism fully goes against Christianity but Sorkin makes strawmen instead of actual debates so the Marxists are ALWAYS morally and intellectually superior in the show. It's propaganda masquerading as a drama show.

[@MalakianM2S]

@@Akihito007 Liberalism doesn't go against christianity, it may go against zealotry though. The "when the president stands, no one sits" scene has nothing to do with kingship but with the due respect for the office and the woman's hipocrisy. Bartlet point of view about religion is that is a compass to help him to nagivate his life, but he doesn't expect anybody to live by those rules, because he understands how basic and necessary is the separation of church and state. That very scene, and the letter that inspired it, has nothing to do with christianity per se anyways; no specific creed is mentioned in the scene, and the real person upon who the doctor is based upon is a conversative jew. Keep talking about marxism though, it's really easy to identify trolls when the first thing they do is play identity politics and wave around name tags.

[@Akihito007]

@@MalakianM2S Yes liberalism DOES fully go against Christianity because it's dead set against having God be the ruler of everything and works to place the State above God. Liberalism has been attacking Christianity since the 19th century. And Sorkin IS a practical atheist socialist and a cultural jew, which he uses for minority points. It wasn't the woman who was the hypocrite but the FAKE Liberal president in that the character "claims" to be a Christian but DIRECTLY defended the sexual sin of homosexuality by directly ATTACKING the Law of God by TWISTING Scripture in order to make it seem self-contradictory and itself immoral and outdated. What Sorkin had the character do and say was EVIL by defending sexual depravity and twisting the Bible completely out of context to do it. He should have just said, "the Bible is outdated and stupid and you're a stupid woman for following it" cause that's practically the point the fake president was making. Again even the "selling my daughter into slavery" line was twisting the Bible without any context because it wasn't Southern Democrat slavery but selling yourself into the service of someone for a certain time where you're housed, fed and trained in a trade in exchange for working for said person. There was no social net in the ancient near east and MANY people sold themselves into slavery for protection, employment or have their employer pay off their old debts. But again, anyone who tried to claim the Bible considered homosexual acts with touching a pig's skin as both equally sinful is either an idiot or doesn't understand the differences between the Moral Law and the Ceremonial law, which the dietary law is a part of. Any orthodox jew would have called that out but of course Sorkin just used the scene as a way to bash Conservatives and the Bible by creating a strawman. And nice try gaslighting by mocking those who bring up the evils of Marxism as Leftists are LITERALLY bragging about trying to change America into a Socialist State all over the internet, including Leftist politicians here.

[@DealerCamel]

Man, he just radiates power and charisma from his first moment on-screen. Awesome acting.

[@thephantomeagle2]

+DealerCamel That's why they decided to make the show about President Bartlet and not his staff. the first idea was to look at the staff and the backroom work that goes into the White House. Martin Sheen's amazing acting changed that very quickly.

[@salicemccool9268]

+John Randall Banks So true! The plan was for the President to appear in four episodes per season, IIRC. Sheen's performance, and the public's reaction to it, had them toss that idea out post-haste. It's a blatant crime that he never won an Emmy as Bartlet.

[@adrianschmadrian3550]

Actually, as I understand it, the series was originally going to be focused on Sam. Which is why the series opened with Sam's situation.

[@Ares99999]

Good thing too. Let's be honest, compared to the president, or Toby, or even Josh, Sam quickly became a stagnant character with little to no fun to it.

[@sambosam7826]

Watccch TTThe West Wing online here => twitter.com/7ac4193387b148918/status/824453233552748544

[@maxburka1110]

I’ve seen West Wing more than a few times, but I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of watching Martin Sheen in this role. From the very first moment, he plays the role so perfectly.

[@bluebutterflyofdoom]

Every once in a while I have to watch this scene again. It's therapeutic.

[@judithchristy2571]

I'm with you. I need to watch for therapeutic reasons too.

[@sandrablack5133]

bluebutterflyofdoom I'm just the same

[@linzzyy]

1000%

[@lethethirteen4072]

Same here. And so I'm back to watch it again...

[@GaryM67-71]

Just a large bunch of Satan's people arguing about matters with lies and deception, why do you find it therapeutic?

[@spikeep6141]

"Crap, it IS up to you." That's a Catholic, right there.

[@levalpat]

in my town, a few times I have told people I am a Catholic... and amazingly their response back was " Well.... I am Christian!"... as if a Catholic was not..... a lot of these alleged evangelicals and ultra conservative Christians are sanctimonious bastards. Furthermore, we truly need to make sure we keep a strict separation of church and state.....

[@DanielSanchez-og4ox]

@@levalpat Yes and then our wonderful U.S. Catholic Bishops insist on getting in bed with those people. More G.O.P than God. Heard them condemn the policy of separating innocent children from their mothers at the border?

[@Capcoor]

Johnny Dupont For anyone who doesn’t know, Catholic ARE Christian. And this is from a Protestant.

[@michaelsieger9133]

Johnny Dupont et unam sanctam catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam

[@Thatguy-sb2jo]

@@Capcoor crap. I’m a Catholic and the only people that have consistently ridiculed and criticized me for my faith are “other Christians.” They don’t respect us. They mock me for my St. Christopher pendant, they accuse me of being molested by priests. American Christians aren’t Christ-like in the slightest.

[@LuxLisbon26]

Is anyone else bingeing on West Wing videos to remember the faith they had in the U.S. government?

[@capnskiddies]

How ya feeling now? Better or Worsh?

[@susanmarie6837]

Right here.

[@ZATennisFan]

I binge watch it every year to 18 months.. Its still one of the finest television shows ever made.... At its best it is sheer perfection... An example? The episode where Toby arranges for a homeless veteran with no family to be buried at Arlington.

[@JohnSmith-zw8vp]

When was that? Faith in their US government I mean? Because the Pentagon Papers more than anything blew that apart for good...

[@jimmy2k4o]

The faith lies in the institution not the people populating those.

[@2legit64]

This is the moment when I realized that this show was going to be a hit.

[@ZachsMind]

Ricardo Montalban almost didn't take the reprisal of his role Khan in the motion picture Star Trek II. His character wasn't in it much. He never even gets to be in the same room with his rival. Then he looked at the script again. On almost every other page if he wasn't on the screen, people were talking about him, and the film title itself put Khan at top billing, above the name of any actor. Everyone else was doing the heavy lifting. All Ricardo really had to do was show up. So he took the role, and couldn't help but do more than just show up. His reprisal of Khan is still one of his most memorable performances. I rather imagine when Martin Sheen looked at the first script for West Wing, he had similar thoughts: when the president is not on the screen, everybody's talking about him. Should be an easy gig. He he he..

[@porpus99]

Its hard to believe that Martin Sheen was only supposed to have a very minor role in the West Wing originally. Apparently the original storyline was going to be about the Presidents staff, not the President himself. Thank goodness they fixed that flawed idea.

[@kamwrites]

It was supposed to be primarily Seaborn's pov, but Sheen was too strong in this scene and they revamped the idea. Unfortunately this meant they didn't know what to do with Seaborn, so his character fizzled out.

[@BathrobeKeck]

it works best as an ensemble effort, though at times it seemed like Josh was meant to be the lead.

[@billyemorris]

BathrobeKeck It's funny you should say that, because I heard that Sorkin wanted Brad Whitford to play Sam Seaborn, but Whitford insisted on playing Josh Lyman instead.

[@thephantomeagle2]

porpus99 If I recall correctly it was Martin Sheen himself, and his amazing natural ability to carry a role that made them switch the show. It was unrealistic to base an entire show upon the staff of the P.O.T.U.S. It's eve more insane when you have Martin Sheen as P.O.T.U.S

[@DimetriKhan]

+BathrobeKeck Josh felt like the lead in the last two seasons defiantly. When he was running the Santos campaign.

[@davo57ify]

"I believe we can find the door." Find it NOW." Another great line.

[@gothcat54]

Oh, yeah!

[@briangraham5156]

Aaron Sorkin and the writing team for The West Wing were brilliant. And the stellar cast brought those words to life.

[@jaimehamm8999]

Lawrence O'Donnell of MSNBC co-wrote and produced as well.

[@michaelreidperry3256]

President Bartlett is one of television history’s greatest characters. Sheen plays him superbly.

[@Vamperlis]

"I do think $5 is too high a price to pay for pornography" and Sam's whole speech about the Roosevelt room are the best lines of the series--and they're both in the pilot! What a wonderful way to begin a series. All hail Aaron Sorkin.

[@AZdoberwoman]

And " . . . he came to a sudden arboreal stop." At which point I fell a little bit in love with Leo.

[@christophermcguire7888]

Amen I kneel before Aaron Sorkins how do I put it

[@tails359]

2:28 The moment you realize that not only are you squarely in the crosshairs of the most powerful man on the planet, but that it's -personal-.

[@MIGBMWLOVER]

the lamps of god were truly poor at decision making, you openly attack his grandchild and believe you can have an audience with the guy?

[@benkenobisgirl]

“I believe we can find the door.” “Find it *now*.” When Bartlett pins her with that glare...best scene ever.

[@middyseafort]

" ... but $5 is too high a price to pay for pornography." Great line.

[@22espec]

Well, its free.now

[@scepticsquirrel]

@@22espec Thanks to Al Gore

[@jayazathoth8530]

@Jim Dandy Lol, so Republicans aren't aware that you can get pornography on computers now?

[@jayazathoth8530]

Especially given the "Lambs of God" woman's reaction to it. She assumed Bartlet meant he wanted cheap porn for everyone or was making a vulgar joke (like Trump would, in fact). What I think he actually meant was that considering how simple and cheap pornography is to produce, it shouldn't cost anything like the high prices it does. Porn is a billion dollar industry built on videos that must cost pennies to make, where people make a fortune just by having sex or masturbating in front of a camera.

[@thegreatkingofevilganondor1500]

Damn straight.

[@kevinhagan17]

And this is when Josiah Bartlett became my favorite president

[@thephantomeagle2]

RaShaun Davis Martin Sheen is easily one of the best actors ever and shined his entire run as POTUS.While the show did falter a bit after Sorkin left, Josiah Bartlet kept this show alive and kicking. I don't think there were many bad episode. Shaky ones, yes, and even seasons 5 and 6 weren't as good as the first four but I've rarely ever found a show that I rarely ever found boring or passe. This is easily one of those shows that, while disappointing at times, it had enough great shows for it's entire run, that I stuck through the entire run (On DVD). Thanks to the wonderful personality of Martin and his stand-out performance of Pres. Bartlet this show stayed strong from beginning to end.

[@SchnellTim]

The American President is another good movie for good speeches. Love both of those presidents. Just personally, I wish Obama could do this and "stick it".

[@joshuamcdonald674]

Tim Schnell They DID base Santos on Obama back in 2004.

[@SchnellTim]

John Poverty I wasn't disagreeing with you.

[@theolamp5312]

+Tim Schnell - Hi Tim - And, THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT was also written by Aaron Sorkin. It also co-starred Martin Sheen. I agree, it was an excellent movie with great dialogue. It was also a lot of fun and heartwarming. Although it is very different in plot from the movie DAVE, I felt many of the same kind of feels. Best wishes, Ted

[@gspendlove]

You see something you never took notice of before every time you watch a West Wing episode. This time, it's Al Caldwell's eye-roll when Van Dyke mislabels the Commandment. It tells you everything you need to know about what he thinks of this fool he has to indulge to attain his political goals. A brilliant blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment.

[@dantreadwell7421]

gspendlove I think it's more of a here we go again, this is not what I wanted, nor is it going to help. Least that's what I always felt whenever I watched it.

[@philledwith8307]

You can tell Al Caldwell's the only smart one in the bunch. He's the only one who stops to tell Leo "we'll fix this", because he's the only one who realises what kind of trouble they are in.

[@pizzedahff3127]

The first scene with Jed Bartlett, and he instantly owns the entire show. And it's not so much him, even though he rules, it's what is going on in the background. It's how the Staff, especially Toby and C.J., react that makes this scene. It only takes a few seconds for the Staff to realize that Jeb is about to open up a half-gallon bottle of Whoop Ass (TM). And he doesn't dissapoint.

[@broadstreet21]

To think that this show was meant to leave the president as a background character, focusing more on the white house staff?

[@AndreAFirenze]

The best show ever. plain and simple. the best ever.

[@CokeZIlli]

When that girl was like "I think we can find the door", the look Bartlet gives her: "Find it now" lol such a good pilot.

[@Darnoc5]

I love this scene and have watched it in its entirety probably over 50 times. I have never noticed how the two tall men behind President Bartlett (more than likely secret service agents) share a small smile and look at when the President sounds off with the first commandment. They had all clearly heard the argument devolving as they walked up to the room and I like to imagine the President made some small humorous sarcastic comment to the agents before walking in and they were ready for him to take off upon entering.

[@vonbraun4433]

Whoever wrote this was a genius, almost every major drama the star is the first character. Bartlett is the last we see and he comes in thundering. Coupled by the 1st commandment and everyone standing at attention. A reminder the west wing is only that bc of the president. One of my fav scenes in tv history.

[@jeffguthertz9152]

One of the greatest first appearances of a character ever. He was only supposed to be on the show occsionally and the other characrters were supposed to be the main focus. But he was so good they made him a main character.

[@salicemccool9268]

He had me at "Crap." I mean this seriously. I knew Sorkin's writing style from The American President, and have always loved and admired Sheen as an actor, so thought when I first watched this scene, "Oh, man. I'm not missing a single episode of THIS!"

[@DomJaoII]

I mean, he wrote one of the greatest courthouse scenes in cinema, "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!"

[@salicemccool9268]

+Joshua Unverhau. Of course! I'd forgotten Sorkin wrote that screenplay!

[@Xwidefighter]

I love how bartlet answers the question with “i am the lord, your god...” both secret service agents are just smiling and know shit is about to go down

[@donedwards5301]

I missed that part and re-watched it just now. Such a cool and subtle part. Thanks xwidefighter.

[@marcopolo3494]

Everyone talking about Martin Sheen, but Aaron Sorkin made this show with his impeccable writing.

[@PedroCerqu]

the president was great, but toby's character was just brilliant

[@AZdoberwoman]

When Sorkin heard - he never watched the show once he left - that they'd royally dissed Richard Schiff in the final season, by making Toby the leak, cutting back his appearances, he wrote to him that "Toby is my favorite character I've ever written."

[@Tigerman1138]

Susan Ouimette Richard Schiff later said he felt Toby MUST have been covering for someone, that Toby would never betray the president like that. CJ was my favorite, Toby was right behind her.

[@carrie_lee.]

Toby is my favorite character on this show.

[@sukhmanikaur8899]

@@AZdoberwoman I have binged TWW in its entirety several times. It always irks me how the writers assassinated Toby's character in the final season. All throughout the show, Toby always defended Bartlett. Sure, he disagreed him many times, especially when the MS came to light, but he respected him. I fully support the theory that Toby was covering for his brother.

[@updem]

wish we had a real president Bartlet.

[@BuriedFlame]

As the hoary line goes, "Be the change you want to see."

[@willmpet]

We need someone who can use his wisdom and his intelligence so well!

[@RishiShahSays]

Sadly, he would never get elected.

[@kathyodom5372]

I would very much support a Bartlett/McChord ticket.

[@crucisnh]

@@RishiShahSays He would never get nominated in the Democrat party right how. The crazy lunatics would claim that Jeb Bartlett was a dangerous fascist.

[@ZATennisFan]

In my opinion the finest show ever put on network television anywhere...

[@morganmckenzie1303]

This and the wire

[@ems324]

Now that's a President. :-)

[@halhala2]

All the knowing looks between the staffers and agents give off the impression that they've seen this happen before, many many times, and they're just giddy with anticipation. Spectacular performance and writing.

[@michealwhite1091]

This show was, and still is fantastic. Newsroom is right up there as well.

[@RandallHallKaizenReiki]

I love that look in Mary's eyes when she sees all the political capital she had from Josh's messup evaporate.

[@MIGBMWLOVER]

I think she personally sent the death threat to his grandchild.

[@baardkopperud]

I think this is *the* best introduction of a new character I've ever seen! And seldom have a quote from the Bible been said by someone more appropriate.

[@theolamp5312]

+Baard Ove Kopperud - Martin Sheen is a very religious Catholic. From what I've read, doing the scene in the Cathedral (Two Cathedrals episode) was very traumatic for him. I hope you have seen that episode. It's the best TV I've ever seen.

[@seamus1956]

+Theo Lamp Martin Sheen had originally signed on to do a maximum of four shows per season - The West Wing was originally planned to focus on Leo and the staff. This scene, it's powerful delivery and the enormous public response changed all that. It's interesting to note that even though intended as a recurring, fringe character, Jed Bartlet got Martin Sheen nominated for the Best Leading Actor Emmy 6 of the 7 years the show aired.

[@salicemccool9268]

+Theo Lamp You may very well know this, but Aaron Sorkin has told the story of when they were setting up to shoot that scene, and he saw a priest standing nearby. He went over to "warn" him that Sheen was going to be swearing at God, worried that he might be offended. The grinning priest replied, "I know. It's gonna be great!!"

[@theolamp5312]

+Salice McCool - No, I didn't know that. Thanks for the info. Another great background story for what may be considered the best TV episode of all time. Thanks again, Ted

[@salicemccool9268]

+Theo Lamp One more story re that episode . A friend of mine was one of the extras forming the overflow of reporters in the press room per the huge breaking story. (She's shown in close-up calling, "C.J.! C.J.!" prior to the President's arrival.) She told me that it would have been a long and tedious day, with their often having to stand with their shoes glued to the floor for continuity, except for the fact that Martin Sheen came over several times to talk with them. He had lunch with them, rather than with the cast, as well, telling wonderful anecdotes but also asking many questions about >their< lives, and showing a sincere interest in what they had to say. I've never heard or read a negative comment about the man.

[@kaushikram5095]

After watching the whole episode, I was thinking it's an ok show with good acting.But boy this made me watch the next episode and the whole series followed. I watched the entire series 7 times. Still watching it. The best TV series along with house.

[@Willysmb44]

Annie was never mentioned again on the show...I love how the WH staff was all hat in hand and in damage control mode until Toby decided he wasn't having another minute of it. Then President Bartlett rolls in and sends everyone to school. He very first words on the show was to recite the First Commandment, how amazing is that? By the end, the tables have completely turned and the WH staff has the look in their eyes that the church people had at the start of the episode. "See that you do" just clinches it. I have always loved that scene.

[@imcallingjapan2178]

I believe there was a storyline where they suspected the husband of Bartlett's eldest daughter might be cheating on her with their children's nanny, but apart from that they seemed to have lives unrelated to anything political so they never came up

[@samfarmer9372]

Annie was talked about again when her father mentioned her piercing her eyebrows.

[@chevin0]

i love this so much, it sums him up so well. mild mannered and fun when he can be, but fanatically loyal to his family, his country, and his staff. no better friend to have, no better president to put your faith in to do the right thing, but god help you if he decides to destroy you in any capacity

[@amandalheureux3443]

Dear Jed Bartlet, We really need you.

[@kevincarroll3914]

If Jed Bartlet was real, I swear we would abolish Presidential term limits.

[@pbdye1607]

As nice as it would be to have an erudite progressive who isn't afraid to work with the opposition rather than spurn them (and that's on both parties), I don't believe the best way forward is adopting the Russian model for 'democracy.' For every Bartlet, you'd get at least one Trump. The Democrats haven't managed to follow up a two-plus-term president since FDR>Truman, and I think we can all conclude that was an 'asterisk' situation.

[@kevincarroll3914]

@@pbdye1607 Dude, I was being hyperbolic.

[@kaicreech7336]

@@pbdye1607 If they have to run for re-election every four years, then I don't see the problem.

[@dylanholman3]

Kai Creech it’s so much easier for a sitting president to gain the support for re-election. There’s a reason that there are fewer one term presidents than two term.

[@kaicreech7336]

@@dylanholman3 That makes sense, thank you.

[@Beccue]

Could you imagine a president that was half Martin Sheen and half Kiefer Sutherland. Good god he'd have my vote in a heartbeat

[@ashleyc.6189]

I once heard that, when the show was first conceived, the idea was for it to focus entirely on the WH staff with POTUS appearing on screen only sporadically. But Martin Sheen's performance went over so well with test audiences that the writers decided to make him part of the regular cast.

[@Athanase48067]

Illusive Man, tellin it like it is!

[@swivelmaster]

It's really too bad he was indoctrinated a hundred years later.

[@MIGBMWLOVER]

imagine if the illusive man had bartlet indegrity because he did had charisma

[@MoonshadowCryNoMore]

I like how the Secret Service guys in the background smile at his entrance.

[@theactioneffect]

And that folks is how you serve up a heaping helping of Homestyle Whoopass...

[@orangefox1231]

I'm very Christian. And the president did a great job holding his emotions in. She's 12!

[@willmpet]

And I certainly am not, but I am impressed that he could be such a strong believer and be utterly reasonable. I've had my emotions tweaked as well and I think he is VERY reasonable.

[@blastermasterguy]

Agreed. There's no excuse for doing that to a child.

[@nigelft]

@@blastermasterguy From what I gather, even if she was a President's granddaughter, the Secret Service would almost treat that as atempt on the First Family itself ... Forget the FBI ... the last thing you ever want is the Secret Service knocking on your door ... hell, they'll probably just knock it down, especially as they'll have the FBI, and the local LEO agency en tow, as well ...

[@michaelmurphy5916]

Next to MASH the West Wing is my favorite show. Not only is this a great scene but I love the one where he confronted the radio host about the contradictions in the Bible that turns almost any activity into a death penalty offense. I also love when CJ Graig sings the Jackel.

[@faunaflage]

If I had a nickel for every time I've entered a room saying "I am the Lord, your God..." Really puts a different spin on meetings!

[@ered203]

lol

[@jeffreynocera4017]

I particularly enjoyed the look on the holy guy's face, then, gaze to lambs of god guy, after the doll through the throat comment... Bartlett HAD him..

[@ILuvSmexyShowgirls]

Yeah, it's as if for a brief moment he thought to himself, "Fuck, I'm on the wrong side on this one".

[@borjastick]

This is how this magnificent programme set itself apart from anything else on tv, and probably still is. These beautifully worded scripts that actually said something about today's real world are so much more resonant with me than say Breaking Bad. How about later in this series at the radio presenters evening when he ripped into the Doctor who wouldn't stand up.

[@NewfieLawNerd]

borjastick I never watched a lot of The West Wing but I watch the President ripping into that doctor at least twice a year

[@b.victoradams9346]

Mrs. Landingham! What's next?

[@SciTrekMan]

More crap, Sir!

[@GedUK]

The very scene when everyone realised this was not a show about Sam and Mandy that it was planned to be.

[@SerasXHarkonnen]

What I love most about this scene is the entire episode it was build up that they had to do something to get these people on side but Bartlett comes in and the tone immediately shifts

[@robertshay9235]

This scene locked me into this show, never missed an episode after

[@BuriedFlame]

"You fix this, Leo." "See that you do." Nice parting shot in that exchange.

[@nigelft]

Sorry to be 'That Guy', but it's 'We'll fix this, Leo' ... But Leo's reposit 'See that you do' was both polite, but enough undertones that if he didn't 'fix it', Leo, and perhaps the entire Secret Service, will descend ... and that won't be pretty. Heck, I can imagine Ron Butterfield, the head of President Bartlett's Secret Service detail would also would have liked a few 'words' with the 'Lambs of God'... after all, threatening the life of a sitting President's granddaughter is not regarded as polite ... It also showed from the get-go that Leo was definitely a 'Wartime Consigliere', and, like Tom Hagen, a man not to be trifled with ...

[@thomasmcginnis3783]

To be fair, I think he said, "We'll fix this, Leo".

[@SciTrekMan]

He did say “We’ll fix this Leo”, otherwise, Leo’s response would be nonsensical.

[@simonhadley8829]

Winding up for a rant, still nice enough to thank Mr. Lewis for the coffee.

[@kenbradley1480]

Anytime I get time I ALWAYS come back to this show or Justified, two of the best shows that have ever been on TV

[@patmccarthy1624]

"Your 15 minutes are up, . . . and I AM the President"

[@roybarron5289]

How the hell did I miss this series!! Martin Sheen is genius in this role.

[@mikephillips2952]

Wow what an introduction to the best programme ever. Martin Sheen is simply the best actor to play this role. What an achievement

[@jokerman1964]

"sir, that's not up to me" "crap, it is up to you"

[@Valiordruid]

Jesus Christ. And I thought Martin was impressive as The Illusive Man; he kicks even more ass in this role.

[@MIGBMWLOVER]

indeed!

[@Bergen98]

I liked the first episode a lot actually. Because it set the tone for the whole show - sure President is *very* important (as we see in this scene), but there is a LOT of work that is done without him by countless staffers, advisors, secretaries and etc.

[@philswaim392]

"Find it now" is so chilling coming with the full weight of a president that actually garners respect

[@maragathm]

i am watching all old west wing videos after Trump election, one can dream of such a reality where such a leader could exist. AMEN

[@Karthos1000]

Rock on, Mr. President!

[@BodaciousWench]

You’d think a religious guy would know the first commandment

[@bbofun]

That's the point. He's not actually a religious guy- just a guy who has used religion to gather wealth, fame, and power unto himself.

[@cristosl]

Christianity in America is enthralled to the “prosperity gospel” schlock that passes straight out of the arse of televangelist grifters

[@BlackDiamond2718]

Toby was actually incorrect. First is what bartlet said, third is to not take the lords name in vain, and fifth is honor your mother and father. Something i love about the show is how they tackle so many issues so that you can relate and provide your opinion.

[@SciTrekMan]

Name one religious leader that ever reads the Bible.

[@terrypetersen2970]

@@SciTrekMan oh there's plenty TV Evangelists out there that can quote Leviticus 18-19. Yet not one of them can find Mathew 19:1-11.

[@finnmcool2]

The moment when Miss Hollier Than Thou realizes she has only begun to be insulted is just so very beautiful.

[@doesitmatter1667]

“We’ll fix this Leo.” ‘See that you do.’ Love this line. Al’s line makes it sound like he thinks he and Leo are working together behind the scenes. Leo dispels that thought outright.

[@camandsamandjen]

We need this show and its sentiments in place of every prime time cable news show.

[@robertlembo]

The Presidency used to mean something when this came out, the power of this scene is palpable.

[@heretoannoyu4706]

being a atheist, i just love the fine line Bartlett takes with religion, whats right and whats wrong, religion teachings and common sence

[@dextervanderwinden2280]

I love how we didn't see the president for the entire episode and this is how we first meet him

[@peterformaini7723]

And THAT is how you deal with zealots.

[@flayremoon]

I still to this love the way President Bartlett says, “Yes,” in the blandest, most uninviting way when Van Dyke introduces himself. The president is not impressed nor does he give an ounce of actual attention to that man.

[@dorkmax7073]

Bartlet was the perfect combination of folksy and academic

[@BadWebDiver]

And the show was a brilliant mixture of light and serious.

[@ParagMathurmd]

Back when we could believe that the President was the smartest person in the room.

[@ered203]

When the President says the name, "The Lambs of God", all three of the religious leaders stiffen their backs and act innocent. But when he mentions the doll with the knife, you can see on all of their faces that they indeed do know that sort and that each of them have a few in their own congregations.

[@Maupin001]

His first line might as well have been, "Hi, I'm Martin Sheen and I'll be taking over this show from here."

[@TheNerdForAllSeasons]

"Somebody tell that SoCal pretty boy to find his backseat and stay there for the next 6 years."

[@rkid727]

If Bartlet was real, I'd have voted Democrat.

[@willmpet]

If only...

[@DaveTingwaldd]

I appreciate that you said "if Bartlett was real..." Everyone's like "Bartlett for President" "Bartlett 2020." It's a show people. lol

[@storyarcher8125]

Yeah, not too many deeply religious Democratic candidates out there who have won a Nobel Prize in economics of all things. The funny thing is, even though this show is still relatively recent, the Bartlett White House would be considered far to the right of the current Democrat party and would represent a candidate that would likely get more Republican votes than Democrat. Food for thought on how far left this country has drifted in so short a time.

[@ruthlesshack1279]

@@storyarcher8125 That's total Bullshit. It's trumpturd and the GOP that have gone farther right than they have ever been and you damn'ed well know it. Please get that fucking orange ass racist POS Criminal out of there, once and for all!

[@AReardon14]

@@ruthlesshack1279 ...you just proved his point. A KZbin comment just made you so angry, you swore 3 times (in just 3 sentences), used a dumb made-up nickname that I assume you find clever, and labeled an entire political party as the cause of a problem that you haven't even defined. When he said the country has drifted to the far left very quickly, this is exactly what he's talking about -- speaking in complete absolutes ("racist", "criminal", "once and for all!") and not even acknowledging the existence of a differing viewpoint.

[@jayazathoth8530]

2:29 You see by the priest's reaction he had no idea the "lambs of God" had done that and would never condone it. Meanwhile, the woman clearly knew about it already.

[@nittany272]

Agreed. I always felt the actor played him as a genuine man of God who was corrupted by those around him. The scene with Leo on the Mall and later when he offered to pay for those Chinese refugees’ debts so they wouldn’t become indentured; I wouldn’t call it character development, but it’s definitely a layered performance. Mary on the other hand was thoroughly evil and he knew that which again makes character development a strong term.

[@koppe74]

"I am the Lord Your God" - This is *the* best first introduction to character I think I'll ever seen in a TV-show... and never have those lines from the Bible been read by anybody more fitting.

[@williamkirkland2222]

bartlet for president.

[@christaylor685]

Bartlett for America.

[@salicemccool9268]

I'm writing him in.

[@bigbrogiant4]

Even just Martin Sheen would work for me.

[@jakob252]

Thank you Aaron Sorkin.

[@ajvanmarle]

"I think 5 dollars is too high a price to pay for pornogrpahy" The internet: "Hold that thought!"

[@andrewallen6860]

It was never about beliefs, it was about power.

[@gskulkarni]

The look at 0:48 is friking epic.....!!!!!! Love ya Toby. yu da man....!!!

[@cholman4248]

The VERY BEST intro of the character I have ever seen! And this was just the beginning!

[@clarktooncrossing3975]

Greatest. Fictional. President. EVER!

[@Arnold-l1k]

I am looking at this less than two months from our election in 2024 and it hits you not only in your mind., but also in your heart because it makes you think about what this country has been through recently