Jeff Haffley
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Haffley, played by Steven Culp
, is a recurring fictional character on the American television show The West Wing. A staunch Republican
, Jeff Haffley replaces Glen Allen Walken
as Speaker of the House
early in the fifth season. Haffley's adversarial relationship with Democratic President Josiah Bartlet
mirrors the dynamic between Newt Gingrich
and President Bill Clinton
.
Haffley, together with Representatives Connelly and Mitchell, were dubbed the "Unholy Trinity
" by Bartlet aide Joshua Lyman
, who predicted (or perhaps hoped) that Mitchell, rather than Haffley, would be selected to replace Walken as Speaker. According to Lyman (who claims that Haffley hates him) "even the Republicans think Haffley's a fascist."
Once appointed as Speaker, Haffley wasted no time in confronting the Bartlet Administration, with the first major battleground being the President's nominee to succeed John Hoynes
as Vice President of the United States
. Bartlet's personal choice was his Secretary of State
, Lewis Berryhill. Berryhill, a tremendously popular personality, would have been all but guaranteed the 2006 Democratic nomination for President, and thus Haffley and the Republicans conspired to thwart his candidacy. Haffley presented Bartlet with several candidates who could be confirmed easily, but who were considered unlikely choices to succeed Bartlet. Wanting to avoid a major floor fight (and in light of the fact that even the Democratic leadership considered Berryhill to be nearly dictatorial), Bartlet eventually selected Representative Robert Russell
(D
-CO
).
Victorious, Haffley next confronted the President over the 2004 federal budget
. Bartlet drew a line in the sand, leading to a near-total shutdown of the United States government. At first, Haffley and the Republicans were winning the war for public opinion, with Time magazine
giving him the cover with the caption "The New Boss?" However, Haffley made a key public relations
error by hesitating to meet with Bartlet on Capitol Hill and was forced to negotiate a budget on Bartlet's terms, instead of his last minute demands.
Following the budget confrontation, Haffley's power diminished somewhat, his aggressive tactics being seen by more moderate Republicans as a failed strategy. Still, as the President met resistance from his own party as well as the Republicans, he vocally opposed President Bartlet's eventually successful Israel
i-Palestinian
peace summit as a betrayal of Israel.
Although he did not personally seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2006, he did his best to embarrass the Democrats during the primary
season, several times calling a vote on stem cell research while many Democratic congressmen were out of town and then calling the vote off when they returned. However, this backfired on the Republicans, when Representative Matt Santos
(D
-TX
) staged a successful maneuver to defeat the bill, giving additional publicity to the eventual Democratic nominee. Haffley later introduced an education bill containing elements similar to those of Santos' education plans, which were a key part of his campaign, in order to dare Bartlet to undermine Santos.
Haffley represents the Washington 5th
, which includes the city of Spokane
. The same district has been represented by a Speaker of the House in real life; Tom Foley
, a Democrat, who was Speaker of the House from 1989-1995. Haffley's term as speaker came to an end during the 2006 election, when the Republicans lost the majority in the House of Representatives.
Steven Culp
Steven Bradford Culp is an American film and television actor, best known for his roles as Rex Van de Kamp in the television series Desperate Housewives and CIA Agent Clayton Webb in JAG.-Early life:...
, is a recurring fictional character on the American television show The West Wing. A staunch Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Jeff Haffley replaces Glen Allen Walken
Glen Allen Walken
Glen Allen Walken is a fictional character on The West Wing played by John Goodman....
as Speaker of the House
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
early in the fifth season. Haffley's adversarial relationship with Democratic President Josiah Bartlet
Josiah Bartlet
Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet is a fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the television serial drama The West Wing. He is President of the United States for the entire series until the last episode, when his successor is inaugurated...
mirrors the dynamic between Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
and President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
.
Haffley, together with Representatives Connelly and Mitchell, were dubbed the "Unholy Trinity
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
" by Bartlet aide Joshua Lyman
Josh Lyman
Joshua "Josh" Lyman is a fictional character played by Bradley Whitford on the television drama The West Wing. For the majority of the series, he was White House Deputy Chief of Staff in the Josiah Bartlet administration...
, who predicted (or perhaps hoped) that Mitchell, rather than Haffley, would be selected to replace Walken as Speaker. According to Lyman (who claims that Haffley hates him) "even the Republicans think Haffley's a fascist."
Once appointed as Speaker, Haffley wasted no time in confronting the Bartlet Administration, with the first major battleground being the President's nominee to succeed John Hoynes
John Hoynes
John Hoynes is a fictional character played by Tim Matheson on the American television series The West Wing. Hoynes is Vice President of the United States during the first four seasons of the show....
as Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
. Bartlet's personal choice was his Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
, Lewis Berryhill. Berryhill, a tremendously popular personality, would have been all but guaranteed the 2006 Democratic nomination for President, and thus Haffley and the Republicans conspired to thwart his candidacy. Haffley presented Bartlet with several candidates who could be confirmed easily, but who were considered unlikely choices to succeed Bartlet. Wanting to avoid a major floor fight (and in light of the fact that even the Democratic leadership considered Berryhill to be nearly dictatorial), Bartlet eventually selected Representative Robert Russell
Bob Russell (The West Wing)
Robert 'Bingo Bob' Russell is a fictional character played by Gary Cole on the television serial drama The West Wing.After the resignation of Vice President John Hoynes due to a sex scandal in May 2003, the Bartlet Administration was forced to replace him with another Democrat...
(D
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
-CO
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
).
Victorious, Haffley next confronted the President over the 2004 federal budget
United States budget process
The process of creating the budget for the United States government is known as the budget process. The framework used by Congress to formulate the budget was established by the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, and by other budget...
. Bartlet drew a line in the sand, leading to a near-total shutdown of the United States government. At first, Haffley and the Republicans were winning the war for public opinion, with Time magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
giving him the cover with the caption "The New Boss?" However, Haffley made a key public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
error by hesitating to meet with Bartlet on Capitol Hill and was forced to negotiate a budget on Bartlet's terms, instead of his last minute demands.
Following the budget confrontation, Haffley's power diminished somewhat, his aggressive tactics being seen by more moderate Republicans as a failed strategy. Still, as the President met resistance from his own party as well as the Republicans, he vocally opposed President Bartlet's eventually successful Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i-Palestinian
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
peace summit as a betrayal of Israel.
Although he did not personally seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2006, he did his best to embarrass the Democrats during the primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
season, several times calling a vote on stem cell research while many Democratic congressmen were out of town and then calling the vote off when they returned. However, this backfired on the Republicans, when Representative Matt Santos
Matt Santos
Matthew Vincente "Matt" Santos is a fictional character on the American television show The West Wing, played by Jimmy Smits. His initial appearance is as a Democratic U.S. Representative from Houston, Texas. According to West Wing writer and producer Eli Attie, Santos was based on the then...
(D
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
-TX
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
) staged a successful maneuver to defeat the bill, giving additional publicity to the eventual Democratic nominee. Haffley later introduced an education bill containing elements similar to those of Santos' education plans, which were a key part of his campaign, in order to dare Bartlet to undermine Santos.
Haffley represents the Washington 5th
Washington's 5th congressional district
Washington's 5th congressional district encompasses the Eastern Washington counties of Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, Adams, Whitman, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin. It is centered around Spokane, the state's second largest city.Since 2005, the 5th District...
, which includes the city of Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
. The same district has been represented by a Speaker of the House in real life; Tom Foley
Tom Foley
Thomas Stephen Foley was the 57th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1989 to 1995. He represented Washington's 5th congressional district for 30 years as a Democratic member from 1965 to 1995....
, a Democrat, who was Speaker of the House from 1989-1995. Haffley's term as speaker came to an end during the 2006 election, when the Republicans lost the majority in the House of Representatives.