Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics
Encyclopedia
"Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics" is the 21st episode of The West Wing
. The title comes from a quote of uncertain origins
, frequently attributed to British
Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli and later popularized in America by author Mark Twain
: "The remark attributed to Disraeli would often apply with justice and force: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."
's association with call girl
Laurie. To avoid controversy, Sam does not attend Laurie's law school graduation, but he later gives her a graduation present and a hug. The hug is captured on film by a newspaper after a friend of Laurie's is paid to set up the photo opportunity, and Sam fears that the picture will be used as part of a dirty political battle. Toby
and C.J. are both furious with Sam. Toby nevertheless defends Sam to the President
, who says that he will instruct the Attorney General to ensure that Laurie is called to the bar if she passes the bar exam.
The President continues his crusade for campaign finance reform
by following up the earlier, very pro-reform appointees to the Federal Election Commission
; his efforts include a complex reassignment of diplomats that involves firing the ambassador to Bulgaria (who is having an affair with the Prime Minister's daughter, and who will get a lucrative corporate job upon his eviction from the State Department) and assigning the current FEC chair and opponent of campaign finance reform to a dream job as ambassador to Micronesia
. Finally, the President meets with a top Republican leader who agrees with the White House on campaign finance reform and nothing else, and they come to an understanding. Charlie
recognizes the ambassador to Bulgaria as a member of a whites-only country club where Charlie once worked, and he relishes telling the ambassador that his government career is over.
Alongside pollster Joey Lucas
, the staff awaits the results of the latest poll on the President's popularity. C.J. is especially anxious for the poll results, after predicting an increase of five points in the President's approval rating despite her colleagues' conservative predictions that the rating will either hold steady or decline slightly. Her faith is not only rewarded but surpassed by the final results: their approval has jumped nine points.
This episode confirms that there have been four Republican
Presidents in the last thirty years previous to April/May 2000 when this episode is set, which is the same as the real world at that point.
won a 2000 Emmy Award
for her performance as C.J. Cregg, based on this episode and the episode "Celestial Navigation".
The West Wing (TV series)
The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006...
. The title comes from a quote of uncertain origins
Lies, damned lies, and statistics
"Lies, damned lies, and statistics" is a phrase describing the persuasive power of numbers, particularly the use of statistics to bolster weak arguments...
, frequently attributed to British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli and later popularized in America by author Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
: "The remark attributed to Disraeli would often apply with justice and force: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."
Plot
The staff anxiously await poll results while potential crises flare, including the possible revelation of SamSam Seaborn
Samuel Norman "Sam" Seaborn is a fictional character portrayed by Rob Lowe on the television serial drama The West Wing. He is best known for being Deputy White House Communications Director in the Josiah Bartlet administration throughout the first four seasons of the series.-Creation and...
's association with call girl
Call girl
A call girl or female escort is a sex worker who is not visible to the general public; nor does she usually work in an institution like a brothel, although she may be employed by an escort agency...
Laurie. To avoid controversy, Sam does not attend Laurie's law school graduation, but he later gives her a graduation present and a hug. The hug is captured on film by a newspaper after a friend of Laurie's is paid to set up the photo opportunity, and Sam fears that the picture will be used as part of a dirty political battle. Toby
Toby Ziegler
Tobias Zachary 'Toby' Ziegler is played by Richard Schiff on the television serial drama The West Wing. For most of the series' duration he is White House Communications Director.-Creation and development:...
and C.J. are both furious with Sam. Toby nevertheless defends Sam to the President
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...
, who says that he will instruct the Attorney General to ensure that Laurie is called to the bar if she passes the bar exam.
The President continues his crusade for campaign finance reform
Campaign finance reform
Campaign finance reform is the common term for the political effort in the United States to change the involvement of money in politics, primarily in political campaigns....
by following up the earlier, very pro-reform appointees to the Federal Election Commission
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
; his efforts include a complex reassignment of diplomats that involves firing the ambassador to Bulgaria (who is having an affair with the Prime Minister's daughter, and who will get a lucrative corporate job upon his eviction from the State Department) and assigning the current FEC chair and opponent of campaign finance reform to a dream job as ambassador to Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia or FSM is an independent, sovereign island nation, made up of four states from west to east: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. It comprises approximately 607 islands with c...
. Finally, the President meets with a top Republican leader who agrees with the White House on campaign finance reform and nothing else, and they come to an understanding. Charlie
Charlie Young
Charles 'Charlie' Young is a fictional character played by Dulé Hill on the television serial drama The West Wing. For the majority of the series, he is the Personal Aide to President Josiah Bartlet.-Creation and development:...
recognizes the ambassador to Bulgaria as a member of a whites-only country club where Charlie once worked, and he relishes telling the ambassador that his government career is over.
Alongside pollster Joey Lucas
Joey Lucas
Josephine "Joey" Lucas, is a fictional character on the television serial drama The West Wing, a California-based pollster and political operative played by Marlee Matlin...
, the staff awaits the results of the latest poll on the President's popularity. C.J. is especially anxious for the poll results, after predicting an increase of five points in the President's approval rating despite her colleagues' conservative predictions that the rating will either hold steady or decline slightly. Her faith is not only rewarded but surpassed by the final results: their approval has jumped nine points.
This episode confirms that there have been four 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...
Presidents in the last thirty years previous to April/May 2000 when this episode is set, which is the same as the real world at that point.
Awards and nominations
Allison JanneyAllison Janney
Allison Brooks Janney is an American actress, best known for her role as C.J. Cregg on the television series The West Wing.- Personal life :...
won a 2000 Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for her performance as C.J. Cregg, based on this episode and the episode "Celestial Navigation".