source: NBC

IN THE SHADOW OF TWO GUNMEN part 1
IN THE SHADOW OF TWO GUNMEN part 2
Original Air Date: October 4, 2000

PRESIDENT'S TEAM SCRAMBLES AND CASUALTIES MOUNT AFTER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT IN TWO-HOUR SEASON PREMIERE OF EMMY-WINNING DRAMA -- In the two-hour season premiere of the record Emmy Award-winning drama, all the President's men and women scramble in the chaotic wake of an assassination attempt that leaves some victims fighting for their lives. Meanwhile, as a manhunt continues, the wounded drift in and out of surgery recalling how Bartlet's team came together during the dark months of his longshot primary campaign. Elsewhere, the press department is hounded by the media for details of the shooting while a military crisis looms in Iraq.

THE MIDTERMS
Original Air Date: October 18, 2000

ASSASSINATION GLOOM LOOMS AS WHITE HOUSE CAMPAIGNS DURING UPCOMING CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS -- As one of the President's staff recovers from bullet wounds, the rest of the team pushes on to the "mid-term" congressional elections in November -- but as C.J. deflects press requests on how the assassination attempt has affected the mood in the White House, she knows that nearly everyone bears psychological scars in its aftermath. In particular, Charlie is affected when he learns more about the shooting and reacts coldly both to Bartlet and Zoey (guest star Elizabeth Moss). For his part, Toby surveys the President's newfound popularity in the polls and proposes that the administration pursue a course that would turn up the heat on extremist groups while Sam convinces a friend (guest star Jamie Denton) to run for Congress after the death of a current congressman. Elsewhere, Bartlet is obsessed with an obscure school board election in New Hampshire for purely personal reasons.

IN THIS WHITE HOUSE
Original Air Date: October 25, 2000

PRESIDENT STIRS UP WHITE HOUSE WHEN HE OFFERS JOB TO REPUBLICAN -- When a confident Sam is outmatched by a novice Republican adviser (guest star Emily Procter) on a political point-counterpoint television program, an impressed President Bartlet offers to hire her as assistant White House counsel despite her party affiliation-- a bold move that sends shock waves through the resentful staff. Elsewhere, Toby and Josh attend a deadlocked White House summit between representatives of pharmaceutical companies and the leaders of AIDS-ravaged African nations to discuss the high price and availability of much-needed drugs. However, the President is concerned for the safety of President Nimbala (guest star Zakes Mokae), the eloquent leader of one of the nations, after news spreads about a bloody coup back home in his country.

AND IT'S SURELY TO THEIR CREDIT
Original Air Date: November 1, 2000

EMMY WINNER JOHN LARROQUETTE GUEST-STARS AS FORCEFUL WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL WHO DISLIKES NEW HIRE -- President Bartlet's controversial -- and conservative -- new choice for associate White House counsel (guest star Emily Procter) has rough sledding on her first day when she suffers the wrath of her hostile boss (guest star John Larroquette), gets a chilly reception from her co-workers and is humiliated by two other staffers (guest stars Steven Flynn and Paul Perri). Also, when Josh's insurance company turns down his claim for his recent life-saving medical bills, Sam tries to convince him to sue the people who shot him. In addition, C.J. tries to shame an outspoken general (guest star Tom Bower), who is critical of the President, into meeting with her.

THE LAME DUCK CONGRESS
Original Air Date: November 8, 2000

CAN PRESIDENT RAMROD A TEST-BAN TREATY THROUGH BEFORE NEW SENATE IS SEATED? -- A wily President Bartlet considers the extraordinary option of recalling the Senate from a winter holiday to push through a ratification of a new nuclear test-ban treaty -- despite the lame-duck status of many Senators who will not return in the next session -- while the drunken Ukrainian leader (guest star Eugene Lazarev) thunders through the White House demanding to see the President. Elsewhere: Toby is shocked to hear that even if the Senate returns, the White House might still lack the necessary votes; Sam learns something when he grudgingly works with new Republican assistant counsel Ainsley Hayes (guest star Emily Procter); a stubborn C.J. argues against allowing reporter Danny (guest star Timothy Busfield) private access to the President for a series of exclusive stories; and Donna is on a mission to get the President to back legislation on repetitive stress injuries.

THE PORTLAND TRIP
Original Air Date: November 15, 2000

PRESIDENT IS EN ROUTE TO WEST COAST SPEECH WHILE TENSE CRISIS IN GULF UNFOLDS -- While President Bartlet and some of the staff are en route overnight to Portland for a major education speech, Leo remains behind to monitor a tense situation in the Persian Gulf when a foreign tanker is suspected of smuggling contraband oil and fires on U.S. Navy helicopters sent to investigate. Elsewhere, Josh is on a tight deadline when he debates with an opposing party's congressman (guest star Charlie Lang) -- who happens to be gay -- the merits of a bill brought before the President that would prohibit same-sex marriages. On the plane, Toby tries to re-work Sam's questionable speech on education while Charlie offers a novel idea that would result in more teachers. In addition, secretary Margaret (guest star Nicole Robinson) worries that her boss, Leo, might be tempted to take a drink after he signs his divorce papers.

SHIBBOLETH
Original Air Date: November 22, 2000

PRESIDENT MUST DEAL WITH BOATLOAD OF CHINESE CHRISTIAN IMMIGRANTS ON EVE OF THANKSGIVING -- As Thanksgiving nears, President Bartlet has his own hot-potato issue when a boatload of persecuted Chinese evangelical Christians arrives in California seeking asylum, while a perplexed C.J. must choose between two turkeys for the Presidential pardon ceremony -- with the other destined for the chopping block. While Bartlet's staff argues over sending back the illegal immigrants, Toby wants the President to appoint Leo's controversial sister (guest star Deborah Hedwall) for a minor education post, fully aware that her opposition to school prayer will cause the controversial subject to emerge again. Elsewhere, Toby, Josh and Sam make plans to watch football while Charlie is dispatched by Bartlet to find the precise cutting instrument for Thanksgiving dinner.

GALILEO
Original Air Date: November 29, 2000 PRESIDENT CONTENDS WITH LOST MARS SPACECRAFT AND OTHER STICKY ISSUES -- President Bartlet prepares to address thousands of elementary students nationwide as a NASA space probe descends on Mars, but a host of thorny problems suddenly land on his doorstep, including a fire in a Russian nuclear missile silo and a last-minute loss of communication with the Mars spacecraft. In addition: the Icelandic ambassador is peeved at the President for missing their meeting; Josh is still smarting after being delegated the responsibility of choosing the subject of the next official stamp; a reluctant C.J. is forced to attend a concert where she will encounter some angry applicants whom she rejected as her new press deputy; and an embarrassed Sam is confronted by former date-mate Mallory (guest star Allison Smith) at the concert.

NOEL
Original Air Date: December 20, 2001

A RELUCTANT JOSH IS ORDERED TO CONFRONT HIS TRAUMATIC DEMONS DURING HEIGHT OF CHRISTMAS SEASON -- Christmas draws near as Josh is ordered by Leo to consult with a doctor who specializes in analyzing trauma victims -- but Josh's denial of his occasional emotional outbursts belie the fact that he isn't fully recovered from his life-threatening injuries in the Presidential assassination attempt. What's particularly telling is Josh's identification with a dead fighter pilot who recently took his own life by deliberately crashing his jet -- a man who coincidentally shared his birthday and experienced emotional trauma after being shot down over Bosnia. Elsewhere: the President wants to personally sign all of his Christmas cards -- which total hundreds of thousands; Sam confronts a representative of the Energy Secretary who publicly advocates release of federal oil reserves; C.J. gets personally involved when a foreign White House tourist becomes extremely agitated at the sight of a painting donated by the French government.

THE LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST
Original Air Date: January 10, 2001

WILL BI-PARTISAN POLITICAL BREAKFAST LEAD TO BREAKING BREAD -- OR BREAKING HEADS? -- As a bi-partisan friendship breakfast with members of Congress nears, President Bartlet's staff vigorously debates the merits of including a patient's bill of rights and minimum wage increase among the incendiary topics while C.J. jousts with the new chief of staff of the House Majority leader (guest star Felicity Huffman) over the press conference's agenda and location. Elsewhere: Leo asks Josh to apologize for him to a powerful news columnist after he unintentionally insults her; Sam lobbies C.J. to move the media briefing room away from the White House to free-up much-needed space; and Sam and Josh start a cozy fire in the Mural Room -- unaware that the chimney flue has been welded shut for more than 100 years.

THE DROP-IN
Original Air Date: January 24, 2001

LEO GOES ON OFFENSE TO SELL MISSILE DEFENSE; LORD JOHN MARBURY RETURNS IN STYLE -- Leo tries to convince an unenthusiastic President Bartlet about the merits of an expensive and errant missile defense system while the chief executive ponders the political benefits of chiding hard-core environmentalists over the actions of eco-terrorists when he addresses their convention. Meanwhile, Bartlet endures the formalities of accepting the appointments of a range of foreign ambassadors but he enjoys one in particular -- the presentation of the charming Lord John Marbury (guest star Roger Rees) who returns as Great Britain's new U.S.ambassador. In addition, C.J. treads lightly when she is dispatched to New York to dissuade a comedian, Corey Sykes (guest star Rocky Carroll), who once uttered a well-publicized but offensive joke in the President's presence from performing at the annual Will Rogers dinner.

BARTLET'S THIRD STATE OF THE UNION
Original Air Date: February 7, 2001

MARLEE MATLIN, STOCKARD CHANNING AND TED MCGINLEY GUEST-STAR AS PRESIDENT MAKES STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH -- There's electricity in the air as the President addresses the Congress for his third State of the Union address -- which was intricately composed by Toby -- and while Josh anxiously tracks public response via a phone poll, a crisis looms when five American drug agents are taken hostage by Colombian rebels. As Josh spearheads the sampling efforts, he crosses paths with sassy pollster Joey Lucas (guest star Marlee Matlin) and they renew their sexual chemistry. Elsewhere, Bartlet earns Abbey's (guest star Stockard Channing) ire when his speech omits mention of her passionate issues, including violence against women, while an important cable TV political show host (guest star Ted McGinley) sets up in the White House for a live post-speech analysis.

THE WAR AT HOME
Original Air Date: February 14, 2001

BARTLET ORDERS DARING RAID TO RESCUE U.S. DRUG AGENTS IN COLOMBIA -- After his State of the Union speech, Bartlet boldly greenlights a daring military mission to rescue five federal drug agents taken hostage by Colombian terrorist commandos -- until complications arise -- while Toby is confronted by an angry, liberal Senator (guest star Ed Begley, Jr.) who threatens to launch a third-party run for President. Elsewhere, a frustrated Josh tries to conduct a poll to sample reaction to the speech which he hopes will provide support for a new gun protection law but he wonders why his assistant Donna keeps urging him to ask out an attractive pollster (guest star Marlee Matlin). In addition, C.J. tries to convince the host (guest star Ted McGinley) of a TV political program to include a controversial policeman (guest star Gregalan Williams) as a guest who was the President's invitee at his speech while Abbey (guest star Stockard Channing) is livid with Bartlet for what he said and didn't say in his speech.

ELLIE
Original Air Date: February 21, 2001

MARY KAY PLACE GUEST-STARS AS CONTROVERSIAL SURGEON GENERAL; PRESIDENT CONFRONTS OUTSPOKEN MIDDLE DAUGHTER -- As the President wings back from a Tokyo trade summit, a firestorm of controversy awaits him when Surgeon General Griffith (guest star Mary Kay Place) hints that marijuana should be decriminalized -- but Bartlet is even more incensed over his meek middle daughter Ellie's (guest star Nina Siezmasko) public assurances that her father would never fire Griffith. When he confronts Ellie, the President gets a sobering reality check about their relationship. Elsewhere: Toby floats an idea of putting a controversial Senator on a special commission to study social security reform and encounters resistance to the notion of raising the retirement age; Sam tries to head off the misleading story that the White House refused to screen an incendiary new film promoted by a savvy movie producer.

SOMEBODY'S GOING TO EMERGENCY, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO JAIL
Original Air Date: February 28, 2001

TOBY LENDS AN EAR TO FEISTY PROTESTERS; SAM CONSIDERS PARDON REQUEST FOR COLD WAR SPY -- While a contemptuous Toby is assigned to meet with a noisy, unruly mob protesting the World Trade Organization, Donna asks Sam to consider fronting an executive pardon for the grandfather of her friend (guest star Jolie Jenkins) who was imprisoned for espionage in the 1940s. Elsewhere: President Bartlet fumes when there are complications in his plan to select the bucolic -- and historic -- site for his Presidential library; as part of Bartlet's tradition of setting aside one day for personal petitions to the White House, C.J. must grant an audience to an earnest group of cartographers who want to adopt a new global map that is more respectful of Third World nations; Sam is still smarting over the news of his father's infidelity.

THE STACKHOUSE FILIBUSTER
Original Air Date: March 14, 2001

HOW LONG CAN SENIOR SENATOR DELAY BILL'S PASSAGE WITH DRAMATIC FILIBUSTER? -- The President's staff waits impatiently for an elderly but stubborn Senator (guest star George Coe) to yield the floor as he stages a marathon filibuster hoping to stave off a vote on Bartlet's Family Wellness Act bill while Toby is leery of the Vice President's (guest star Tim Matheson) sudden interest in supporting another bill tightening fuel-emission standards. Elsewhere: C.J. anxiously paws through her memory as she seeks to locate a missing ceramic cat statue given to the President by a Mideastern potentate who expects to see it displayed during his upcoming visit; Josh strains to finish business in time to catch a flight for a weekend visit to the spring-training camp of the New York Mets in Florida.

17 PEOPLE
Original Air Date: April 4, 2001

TOBY GRILLS PRESIDENT OVER SECRET MEDICAL CONDITION DURING TERRORIST ALERT -- After a foreign terrorist is caught at the border with explosives, Bartlet ponders the impact of ordering a heightened security alert for the nation's airports while an exasperated Toby is shocked to learn of the President's secret affliction with multiple sclerosis -- and he details its political and legal ramifications. In other White House corridors, Sam and Josh try to punch up an upcoming presidential speech with snappy one-liners while Josh jousts with Donna over many contentious subjects, including the exact start date of her employment. In addition, Sam and Ainsley (guest star Emily Procter) fuss over the 14th Amendment and equal rights for women.

BAD MOON RISING
Original Air Date: April 25, 2001

BARTLET'S OVERSIGHT ABOUT HIS MEDICAL CONDITION COULD CRUSH HIS PRESIDENCY -- The President's vaunted administration could be brought down by the tiniest oversight as Bartlet secretly summons chief counsel Barash (guest star Oliver Platt) to discuss how his failure to divulge his multiple sclerosis condition could be a criminal violation of full disclosure -- which would give his enemies enough ammo to destroy him. Meanwhile: a fuming Toby orders C.J. to smoke out the insider who leaked vital information on the President's reversal on school vouchers; Sam feels queasy when he learns that an aging oil tanker is leaking onto the coast of Delaware causing an ecological disaster -- and he could be liable since he brokered the deal for the behemoth in his previous shipping firm job while aware of the needed repairs; Josh clashes with a questioning Donna as the U.S. prepares a huge cash loan to prop up the collapsing Mexican economy again.

THE FALL'S GONNA KILL YOU
Original Air Date: May 2, 2001

OLIVER PLATT AND MARLEE MATLIN GUEST-STAR -- Sam is happy to learn of a lowered surplus estimate that will reinforce the administration's case for a revised tax cut and Josh seeks more funds to support the overwhelmed Justice Department in its prosecution of tobacco companies.

18th AND POTOMAC
Original Air Date: May 9, 2001

HAITIAN ARMY ATTACKS EMBASSY; OLIVER PLATT GUEST-STARS -- The newly elected president of Haiti flees for his life and asks for sanctuary in the U.S. embassy -- which would place the compound under army attack. Elsewhere, a frustrated Josh needs more money from a Senate committee to continue the Justice Department's case against Big Tobacco companies but hits a roadblock when he solicits the crucial votes of two Democratic Senators.

TWO CATHEDRALS
Original Air Date: May 16, 2001

CRISIS BREWS IN SEASON FINALE -- The Haitian army besieges the American Embassy there and Bartlet continues his campaign to sufficiently fund the Justice Department's case against Big Tobacco. Additionally, Toby gets a surprising job offer and the President gets some sage advice from an unexpected corner.

TOP