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Surrounding himself with the best and the brightest, the President chooses his staff from the team responsible for putting him in the White House. Leo McGarry, the President's oldest friend - and the man who convinces Bartlet to run - is named chief of staff. One of the most powerful men in his party, Leo presides over the West Wing of the White House with a firm hand and a fatherly tone. With uncanny prescience, Leo puts his faith in Toby Ziegler, the only original staff member to make it through the campaign. Despite six previous failures, Toby's work along with a new team of friends and strangers, helps get Bartlet nominated and elected. Now, as the communications director for the White House, Toby holds an important role of crafting the President's word. Using the power instilled in him as an old family friend, Leo McGarry brings Josh Lyman to the campaign with a simple request to come and hear Jed Bartlet speak. In a VFW hall in Nashua, New Hampshire, the skeptical Josh does come and is amazed to find a candidate to believe in. Convinced that the man should be President, Lyman gets his friend Sam Seaborn to quit his job at a major law firm where he is about to become a partner and join Bartlet's campaign. Gladly serving at the pleasure of President Bartlet, Sam is now the White House deputy communications director and his friend Josh is the deputy chief of staff. Two men from different backgrounds from opposite ends of the country are united not just by friendship but by their devotion to the President. 'Is Jed Bartlet a good man?' is all that C.J. Cregg wants to know before she agrees to work to him. Toby Ziegler's assurance is all she needs to hear. In an age where the news cycle can last mere seconds, C.J. is the press secretary to the most demanding pool of reporters in the world, the White House Press Corps. With a staff of more than 1,100 people, the West Wing overflows with offices and personnel. Although the upper echelon provides the very public face of the White House, a support staff of hundreds regularly carries out the duties of the executive branch of the government. Filling these desks are numerous aides and assistants, like Donna Moss, who started working for Josh Lyman during the nomination campaign and is now 'deputy-deputy chief of staff'. Among her many responsibilities is to make sure that her boss is on time for meetings and fully prepared - which sometimes means making sure that he is dressed. While the White House is very much a public institution, there is one man in particular whose job requires him to be either an imposing figure or totally invisible, often at the same time. Charlie Young, personal aide to the President, truly determines who has access. Among the many tasks laid out before this brilliant young man, he is first and foremost the keeper of the schedule. These people, and a staff of hundreds more, lead America from the most privileged office in the world, from the inside. The West Wing Step inside the Bartlet administration in this richly detailed, perfectly imagined official companion to the first two seasons of television's most sophisticated dramatic series, The West Wing. Created by Aaron Sorkin, The West Wing won nice Emmy® Awards, the Humanitas Prize, The Peabody Award, and three Television Critics Association Awards in its first season alone - and is acclaimed for its superb writing, marvelous portrayals by a stellar cast, and an intelligent, artistic depiction of White House life. Now, the show that has set television's new standard brings you this insider's guide - which not only presents fascinating details into how groundbreaking television is made, but captures the colorful first two years of The West Wing and the nation's capital under the Bartlet administration. The Independent says that 'the efficiency with which it...quickens the pulse, sets the tear-ducts tingling...is awesome. Sometimes watching The West Wing, I feel a burst of pride that I'm American; it takes me a few minutes to remember that I'm not'. Now, experience the excitement and authenticity of The
West Wing as never before, with this unique, in-depth tribute. |
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This is just the most beautiful book! I
have a real thing for the feel and smell of books, kinda like Giles in
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and appreciate the feel of smooth, glossy
paper in my hands as I read. The actual episode guides are a little disappointing;
not much more than a basic synopsis of the show, but it's the quotes and
behind the scenes information that makes this a really great resource.
The more I read the more I love the show, and respect the cast and crew
for their diligence. Totally awesome book so far, and a book I'm
enjoying picking up from time to time and reading to remind me how good
The West Wing is. |
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This was a wonderful book, with some great behind the scenes information, packed with pictures. What it was short on was episode information, and that was a shame as it is billed as an episode guide. In fairness each episode of the first two seasons is summarised neatly and coherently, but it lacks depth and background information. Considering that many of the scripts are based on real procedures it seems remiss that there isn't some coverage of them. Despite that minor flaw, this is a really great book, and a feast for any West Wing fan. The cast comments are fascinating, as are the character profiles. A really lovely gift, and one I'll treasure far longer than Bartlett is in the White House!
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