"NCIS", "Yankee White" - The Beginning Quiz

Answer: type of background check

Yankee White is a designation for a type of personnel background check and investigation conducted by the Department of Defense for select persons.

All parties who in the course of their duties, will be working in close proximity to the President of the United States or Vice President of the United States, are required to successfully complete this extensive background check. Part of the criteria of this investigation involves the verification of U.S. citizenship and loyalty the United States.

A Category One Yankee White clearance is required for over 20 sensitive positions including Presidential Military Aides, the Director and staff of the White House Medical Unit, White House food handlers, chefs, and mess staff, Presidential pilots and flight crews on Air Force One (plane) and Marine One (helicopter), the White House Chief of Staff, and members of the Cabinet.

Answer: Timothy McGee

Agent Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) was featured in a number of season one episodes, but did not appear in this episode.
During season one, McGee was an NCIS agent assigned to the Norfolk Naval Base who was occasionally loaned to Gibbs' team to support investigations. As a junior agent, McGee's task usually involved doing computer research and assisting in the NCIS office.
McGee's first appearance was in the season one episode "Sub Rosa" when he was on temporary loan to Gibbs from the Norfolk NCIS office.

During the final moments of the season two episode "See No Evil", McGee was informed by Gibbs that he had been promoted to the position of full time field agent and would be joining his team.

Sean Murray is the real-life stepson of series creator Donald P. Bellisario. Murray's mother, Vivienne is the fourth wife of Donald Bellisario, and appeared several times during seasons one and two as the mysterious red head driving the silver Mercedes who often picked up or delivered Agent Gibbs to or from crime scenes. Murray's step sister, Troian Bellisario appeared as McGee's younger sister Sarah, in three episodes "Red Cell" (2:20), "Family Secrets" (3:16), and "Twisted Sister" (4:9), while step-brother Michael Bellisario appeared in the recurring role during season three as Charles "Chip" Sterling, Abby's deranged lab assistant.

Answer: aboard a plane in Wichita, KS

The NCIS investigation started on a plane, parked on the tarmac at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport, located in Wichita County, just outside of the city of Wichita, KS.

The crime scene was in the jurisdiction of the Wichita County Coroner, who took charge of the scene. The President of the United States, who was a passenger on the plane, had deplaned before the investigation began.

Answer: Central Intelligence Agency

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) took no part of the investigative or juristictional dispute.

Because the death of the military officer took place aboard the aircraft transporting the President of the United States (Air Force One), the United States Secret Service (USSS) felt the investigation should have been under their control.

As the possible crime took place on an interstate flight crossing state borders, and may have been an attempt of the life of the President, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) felt they should take lead on the investigation as they felt they had superior investigative resources compared to the other agencies.

As the victim of the incident was a naval officer, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) believed they should have primary responsibility for conducting the investigation.

Answer: LEOs

Upon approaching the security officers at the airport in Washington DC, Gibbs (Mark Harmon) identified himself and his team as LEO's. Responding to the quizzed look on the face of the security officers at the metal detector, Agent Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) stated to them that LEOs stood for Law Enforcement Officers.

The security officer inquired as to which agency they were a part of. DiNozzo responded, "NCIS". The security guard, apparently unfamiliar with NCIS ask, "Is that anything like CSI?" DiNozzo answered, without skipping a beat, "Only if you're dyslexic".

Answer: carrying the football

The unfortunate victim, Navy Commander Ray Trapp (Gerald Downey), was assigned to the president as the military aide, carrying the infamous "Football".

The "Football" refers to a black case, which is always carried by a military officer, who accompanies the President of the United States, anytime he is away from the White House.

While the exact content of the "football" is classified, the case is believed to contain a book outlining the options for retaliation in the event of a nuclear attack. The case also contains the classified list of U.S. nuclear launch sites, the procedure to be used for the President to activate the nationwide Emergency Broadcast System, and the current authentication codes required to launch a nuclear attack.

The job of carrying the "Football" is shared jointly by each of the five armed military forces, who rotate the duty.

Answer: Aircraft tail number AF-29,000

At the time of the investigation, the U.S. Air Force plane was designated as AF-29000, which is the tail number of the aircraft.

At the time of the incident, the President was aboard the aircraft and the planes was designated as "Air Force One". The designation follows the President on any Air Force plane he travels on. Once the President left the plane, its designation reverted back to the military call sign or tail number.

The investigation did not start until after the President deplaned.

Factual Note:
The two U.S. Air Force custom built planes that primarily service the president actually go by the designation SAM and not AF as indicated in the episode. Without the president aboard, the designation SAM (Special Air Mission) with the tail number is used. Either plane that carries the president is designated Air Force One for the time that the president is a passenger.

Answer: shipment of soft shell crabs

Through a previous arrangement, Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard (David McCallum) had promised Coroner Elmo Poke (Gary Grubbs) a shipment of soft shell crabs in exchange for a shipment of steaks. At the crime scene, Poke gently reminded Ducky that he had not received his shipment. Ducky assured him that the shipment would arrived by the weekend.

As at the coroner for Wichita County, where Air Force One made the emergency landing, Elmo Poke had primary responsibility for the body at the crime scene.
Obviously at Ducky's request, Poke refused to release the body to anyone until he received a clearance from the Medical Examiner, frustrating both the FBI and the Secret Service.
When Ducky arrived on the scene, the others believed he was Poke's Medical Examiner, a slight deception that allow Ducky and NCIS to leave the scene with the body.

Answer: George W. Bush

The episode centered around a plot to assassinate President George W. Bush.
Comedian and master celebrity impersonator Steve Bridges convincingly played the role of the President.
Bridges was known for his dead-on impressions of numerous celebrities, and three Presidents - Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.

Bridges' portrayal of Bush in the episode was nearly flawless. He successfully captured the appearance, and mannerism and speech patterns of the President which made it almost impossible to distinguish him from the real George W. Bush.

Bridges appeared in over a dozen television series in the role of President Bush.
In what had to be a high point in his career, Bridges appeared on stage, side by side, with President Bush at the 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner.
In the comedy sketch, Bridges played Bush's alter-ego during a press conference, to the delight of the guest.

Steve Bridges passed away in Los Angeles, California on March 2, 2013, at the age of 49.

Answer: Caitlin Todd

At the conclusion of the case, Caitlin (Sasha Alexander) is seen walking in a garage presumingly to her car after resigning from the Secret Service.
Caitlin accepted the responsibility for breaking the Secret Service policy by fraternizing with a co-worker, Major Timothy Kerry (Duane Northcutt) who was a previous military aide aboard Air Force One, and the second homicide victim.

Gibbs catches up to her in the garage, greeting her with "I heard you got fired". Caitlin informed Gibbs that she resigned because it was the "right thing to do".
Gibbs informed her, "If you pull that crap at NCIS, I won't give you a chance to resign". Caitlin ask as Gibbs walks away "is that a job offer?" Without answering, Gibbs is seen getting into the silver Mercedes driven by the mysterious red head woman.

Noteworthy in this episode, during the course of the investigation, Gibbs imparted Caitlin with the first three of his famous rules.
Rule #1: "Never let suspects stay together".
Rule #2: "Always wear gloves to a crime scene".
Rule #3: "Do not believe what you are told, double check".