THE WHITE HOUSE PRO-AM

Descriptions

From TVGuide.com:

Diplomacy figures into how best to advise the First Lady (Stockard Channing) on some actions; hate mail prompts the President to ask his daughter to cancel a date.

From NBC:

The President's (Martin Sheen) and First Lady's (Stockard Channing) staffs feud over rival agendas when her public statements about foreign child-labor abuse inspires a Congresswoman Becky Reeseman (Amy Aquino) to attach an amendment that will surely torpedo a long-delayed international tariff bill favored by the President. What's more, when the revered chairman of the Federal Reserve dies, the President is under pressure to name the former head's top lieutenant as his successor -- the same man who seriously dated the First Lady in college. Away from the White House, Zoey (Elisabeth Moss) clashes with her boyfriend Charlie (Dulé Hill) when she suggests that they not step out together at an upcoming club opening at the request of the Secret Service which is concerned about recent hate letters concerning their interracial relationship. Josh (Bradley Whitford) asks opinionated Toby (Richard Schiff) to mind his manners prior to parleying with important Congressmen.

Credits

Information Links

• Rockefeller Center
• Johns Hopkins
• Chairman of the Federal Reserve
• Hawaii Five-O
• Larry King
• The Bond Market
• Gross Domestic Product
• Secret Service
• Assistant Scretary[ies] of the Treasury (several)
• The House
• Toyota
• Michigan Women's Democratic Caucus is actually the Michigan Democratic Women's Caucus
• Range Rover
• Ways and Means [Committee of The House of Representatives]
• When My Grandmother Was a Child by Leigh [W.] Rutledge (ISBN#: 0525941053)
• The Hardy Boys
• Senate
• Speaker of the House
• The Marines
• "I'm a man of questionable health" - Bartlet - Multiple Sclerosis

Media Quotes

"There's a first-year enthusiasm on this show. The people here really care about it--that's hard to find," - Ken Olin

...

It is 1 p.m. and pouring in unrelenting sheets on the Warner backlot. "West Wing" has moved into a diner to shoot a scene between presidential minder Charlie (played by Dulé Hill) and presidential daughter Zoey (Elizabeth Moss). Sorkin was supposed to have been writing episode 18 for an hour by now, but instead he is here, furiously chewing gum and watching with evident pleasure. He can't resist hearing his dialogue come to life.

The camera's on Charlie, who is listening to Zoey explain why they can't go out Saturday night, how it's too dangerous, there have been death threats. Charlie starts reading from Zoey's college text about race-based restrictions from the past. "Cut!" Olin shouts, and Sorkin leans over, offering a suggestion for Hill. Then he's off: "I'll be back," he says, and heads for the door. "Where you going?" challenges Olin good-naturedly, knowing very well that Sorkin is headed to check on his other baby, "Sports Night," being shot over at the Disney lot. "Just remember what you said," Olin shouts after him--"They're the Miata. We're the Maserati!"

"Art Meets Politics"
By Sharon Waxman
March 8, 2000
Washington Post

Sorkin ... discovered he was seated at the same table with Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan at Saturday's [White House Correspondents' Association] dinner. A few episodes back, Sorkin gave his Federal Reserve chief a heart attack.

"Greenspan," Sorkin said, "was just a little bit put out by that."

"Will the Real President Please Stand Up?"
By Jennifer Frey with Roxanne Roberts and Lloyd Grove
May 1, 2000
Washington Post

"Alan Greenspan was troubled because, about two months ago, I killed the Fed chair with a heart attack and nobody on the show gave a damn that the guy was dead." - Aaron Sorkin

"'West Wing' checks out real thing"
By Globe Staff
May 6, 2000
Boston Globe

Gene Sperling, [former] head of the National Economic Council and Washington's uber-wonk, sought out executive story editor Lawrence O'Donnell to talk about an episode involving the Federal Reserve chairman.

"You Could Call It the Wonk Wing"
By Jay Branegan
May 15, 2000
Time Magazine

"I go to lunch at the gym every day to keep my energy up. And Aaron has always been fascinated. 'How can you do that? You work so hard, how can you go to the gym at lunch'? he'll ask. The next thing I know, I get an episode where Sam's at the gym." - Rob Lowe

"How the West Has Won"
By Robert Schork and Deanna Barnett
April 3, 2001
Soap Opera Weekly

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