Lest We Forgo Trivia Quiz

Answer: Educator

President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet of "The West Wing" was prone to the educator's habit of pontificating. He was a tenured professor with a PhD and a Nobel Prize in Economics, and he spoke four languages. He was married with Abagail (Stockard Channing), with whom he had 3 girls.

His closest friend Leo McGarry (John Spencer) pressed Jed into politics and then served by his side. Jed developed multiple sclerosis (MS), which he hid from nearly everyone. When it came to light he was censured by Congress for failing to reveal his condition. Jed was a brilliant, tough and strongly ethical president. We see him one more time as the show ends, three years past his presidency, at the opening of his library.

Answer: Dated Jed's daughter Zoey

Charlie Young (Karim Dule Hill) was the president's personal aide, or Body Man on "The West Wing" (1999-2006). He was a trustworthy and devoted young person who had yet to develop his character and direction. In season 1 Young started dating the President's daughter Zoey. Television station NBC received real-life racist hate mail about the bi-racial romance, inspiring a TV end-of-season cliffhanger where white supremacists went after Charlie, but instead shot Josh Lyman and winged the president. Jed was a father figure to Charlie, and helped him get into law school, but Young chose a job with the new Administration as Special Aide to the Chief of Staff (Josh). Hill left the show one season early to play Gus in the new show "Psych", but his character Charlie returned for the final episodes of "The West Wing".

Answer: She was a staunch Republican

Ainsley Hayes (Emily Procter) provided a refreshing and astute Republican perspective on 3 seasons of "The West Wing". While initially the Democratic staff took issue with her, she soon she earned her place with them. From her first interview with Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, Ainsley shows her adorable metal. She is called to the White House, where he plans to hire her. She thinks he's going to scold her for jousting with Sam Seaborn on TV:
Ainsley: "I think that it is wrong for a man in your position to summon someone to the White House to reprimand them for voicing opposition. I think that is wrong, and it is inappropriate. It's inappropriate, and I'll tell you what else."
Leo: "It's wrong?"
Ainsley: "Yes."
In the final season, as the Democratic Santos Administration replaces the Bartlet, Hayes seeks a position as White House Counsel.

Answer: Write the President's speeches

On "The West Wing", Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe), a Princeton graduate and proud of it, was recruited to the White House by his friend Josh Lyman. Sam broke his engagement and gave up a law firm partnership in order to go work for Jed Bartlet, who Josh promised was, "the real thing". Seaborn is the Deputy White House Communications Director and sparing partner with Toby Ziegler as they write all of the president's speeches. Seaborn is so patriotic and gifted a mind that the President believes he may someday become president. Seaborn does leave the Bartlet White House to run for Congress, then returns to take the job of Deputy White House Chief of Staff with the new administration, working under his friend Josh.

Answer: Blind to her ambitions and talents

Joshua Lyman (Bradley Whitford) (1999-2006) hired Donnatella Moss (Janel Moloney) as his Senior Assistant, for whom he developed a deep need and affection. When she was wounded overseas he was first by her side, but he otherwise took her for granted. Josh was sharp and savvy when it came to political maneuvering.

He was also hotheaded, rash and overly blunt, he was shot, he had PTSD, and he once caused the shutdown of the government. His troubles with women were frequent. Josh spent the last two seasons in conflicted but effective campaign with a long shot, Congressman Matt Santos, and when Santos won, Josh became the new White House Chief of Staff.

In the series finale, Inauguration day for Santos, Josh and Donna wake up together.

Answer: Physician

First Lady Abagail Anne Bartlet of "The West Wing" (1999-2006) was a Harvard Medical School graduate, played by Stockard Channing, also a Harvard grad. Dr. Bartlet secretly treated the president for his multiple sclerosis (MS). They were married over 3 decades and had three grown kids.

Not unlike Channing's pink lady (Betty Rizzo) in "Grease", Bartlet was a powerful woman. When Jed was shot and rushed into surgery he told Abbey, "Don't scare the doctors". In "Five Votes Down" Jed says, "You don't have to describe her tone to me, Charlie. I've been married to it for 32 years".

As First Lady she helped the poor, children, and women overseas, and was often a sounding board for Jed in his work. Though she made Jed promise he would run for only one term, a promise he broke, she lost her MD license temporarily for her role in hiding his MS.

As the show closes, the Bartlets fly to their home of Manchester, New Hampshire, where Abbey will return to medical practice. She promised Jed she will be by his side if and when the MS takes over his life.

Answer: A homeless man and veteran

Communications Director Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff) of "The West Wing" learns of a homeless veteran who died in a park. Toby goes to great lengths to find his family, and get him a burial with honors. Toby often clashes with his colleagues and the president, because he's a prickly guy with staunch moral beliefs.

When Toby betrays the president by leaking classified information, thus causing a painful investigation of Bartlet and staff, Toby is fired, and could go to prison. This weighs heavily on President Bartlet, who signs a pardon for Toby as his final act in office. Ziegler leaves politics, taking a job teaching at Columbia University in New York. Schiff, who played Toby all 7 seasons, directed some of the episodes in 2004 and 2005.

Answer: Killed in a car accident

Delores Landingham (Kathryn Joosten) was the Executive Assistant to the President season 1 and 2 of "The West Wing". She was killed in a car accident in Season 2. Her character appeared in flashbacks in Seasons 3-4. She never took guff from the president, but was always there for him. Jed was devastated when she died, and refused to acknowledge the loss by replacing her. Finally unable to get along without all she'd done, Deborah Fiderer (Lily Tomlin) became assistant, though she showed up for her interview stoned.

She was a strange lady but a fierce guardian and protector, especially by making schedule and other changes to accommodate the president's MS.

Answer: Press Secretary

C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney) was White House Press Secretary on "The West Wing", seasons 1-6. Cregg was beloved and trusted because of her loyalty, quick thinking, steel backbone and great humor. Staff begged her, "Do the Jackal!", her stylized lip-synch of Ronny Jordan's song; and she once walked the halls singing, "I'm Too Sexy".

She believed in the press and always sought to tell them the truth as closely as security considerations allowed. With Leo's guidance Cregg became Chief of Staff, but when the Bartlets left the White House, she did too, for work in social services.

In flash-forward we see that she marries "The Washington Post" White House correspondent Danny Concannon, with whom she'd had a fascinating (and too sexy) on-and-off again romance.

Answer: Fatal heart attack

The amazing actor John Spencer (1946-2005) died of a heart attack after 6 years on "The West Wing". Creator Aaron Sorkin then wrote in the death of Spencer's character, Leo McGarry, so that he too died of a heart attack. Weirdly, McGarry had a previous attack on the show, from which he recovered. Both Spencer and McGarry were recovering alcoholics. Spencer won an Emmy Award for his role, and real-life Chief's of Staff have praised the authenticity and strength of his character.

After his death Spencer remained on the opening credits, and his character McGarry was referred to as being off set until his death, but of course McGarry was never visible on screen again. Spencer was 58, and is deeply missed.