The White House Pro-Am
Encyclopedia
"The White House Pro-Am" is the 17th episode of the first season of The West Wing
.
. Meanwhile, Bernard Dahl, the Chairman
of the Federal Reserve
has died. Dahl's deputy Ron Erlich seems the most likely candidate to replace him, but President Bartlet
wants to wait a day before naming him, saying he's not sure. Sam
and Toby
decide that the reason they'll give to the press is respect for Dahl's passing.
Josh
wants Toby to attend a meeting with some members of Congress to court their votes on a trade
bill. Toby is adamantly opposed to attending because, since the bill is likely going to pass, it's unnecessary to get more votes. Later, at the morning press briefing, C.J. fields questions on the naming of the new Fed Chairman, when one reporter says that a source says the First Lady has expressed a preference for Erlich to be the new Chairman, which surprises C.J. Sam later questions the First Lady's Chief of Staff, Lilli, on where the statement came from. She says it wasn't her, and feeling offended by Sam's attitude, exits her office. Meanwhile, Bartlet wants C.J. to find out who leaked his wife's opinion on Erlich.
Zoey Bartlet
enters the Oval Office
and she and the President chat about her classes before he tells her that she's been getting letters expressing displeasure with the fact that she's dating Charlie
, a black man. Due to this, and a white supremacist rally near a club she and Charlie were planning on attending, she can't take Charlie to the club. Zoey reluctantly agrees to this.
Later at a gym, Sam is approached by Congresswoman Becky Reeseman. She informs him she plans on adding an amendment to the trade bill restricting child labor, as a result of the First Lady's broadcast that morning. This upsets Sam because they wanted to get it through Congress with as few riders as possible to get the bill passed, and such an amendment will stop the bill from passing. Nonetheless, the Congresswoman tells him she intends to go through with the amendment.
Zoey and Charlie are eating lunch at a diner when Zoey breaks the news about not being able to go to the club. Charlie is fine with it until he finds out the reason why. Zoey's Secret Service
agent joins in to inform him the club would be too unmanageable to secure, further dismaying Charlie. When Zoey goes to the bathroom, Charlie decides to head back to work without saying goodbye.
Sam decides to speak to Lilli once again, but finds the First Lady in her office instead. Sam tells her that her staff is "prone to amateur mistakes," such as making the First Lady appear as though she only discovered the child labor problem because a boy told her about it. He also asks her to convince Reeseman to not put up the amendment, which, surprisingly, Abbey readily agrees to. Later at a White House function, Abbey tells her that the amendment will kill any chance the trade bill has of passing the Senate
and implies that the amendment was a way of allowing her to contend for a Senate seat. Reeseman reluctantly agrees after being assured the President's staff won't say anything about it.
Abbey then goes to see Bartlet and scolds him for sending his staff to deal with her for him. She admits she was the one who leaked her preference for Erlich, and accuses Bartlet of waiting on announcing his appointment due to her prior relationship with Erlich. Bartlet says it was wrong for her to send him messages through the press. Abbey dismisses his disapproval on the child labor issue, saying, "If it was one of our girls in that factory, you'd send in the Marines," which Bartlet concedes is right. Their tempers cool and they head to the party.
Back at Zoey's dorm, Charlie visits with flowers, a book, popcorn, and videos to apologize for his behavior. Zoey forgives him and invites him in at the close of the episode.
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...
.
Plot
The First Lady begins the day appearing on a morning talk show with a teenage boy discussing the issue of child laborChild labor
Child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour. This practice is considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in many countries...
. Meanwhile, Bernard Dahl, the Chairman
Chairman of the Federal Reserve
The Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is the head of the central banking system of the United States. Known colloquially as "Chairman of the Fed," or in market circles "Fed Chairman" or "Fed Chief"...
of the Federal Reserve
Federal Reserve System
The Federal Reserve System is the central banking system of the United States. It was created on December 23, 1913 with the enactment of the Federal Reserve Act, largely in response to a series of financial panics, particularly a severe panic in 1907...
has died. Dahl's deputy Ron Erlich seems the most likely candidate to replace him, but President 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...
wants to wait a day before naming him, saying he's not sure. Sam
Sam 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...
and 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:...
decide that the reason they'll give to the press is respect for Dahl's passing.
Josh
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...
wants Toby to attend a meeting with some members of Congress to court their votes on a trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
bill. Toby is adamantly opposed to attending because, since the bill is likely going to pass, it's unnecessary to get more votes. Later, at the morning press briefing, C.J. fields questions on the naming of the new Fed Chairman, when one reporter says that a source says the First Lady has expressed a preference for Erlich to be the new Chairman, which surprises C.J. Sam later questions the First Lady's Chief of Staff, Lilli, on where the statement came from. She says it wasn't her, and feeling offended by Sam's attitude, exits her office. Meanwhile, Bartlet wants C.J. to find out who leaked his wife's opinion on Erlich.
Zoey Bartlet
Zoey Bartlet
Zoey Patricia Bartlet is a fictional character played by Elisabeth Moss on the television serial drama The West Wing. Zoey is the youngest of President Josiah Bartlet and Abbey Bartlet's three daughters, and is more prominently featured in the series than either of her sisters.Zoey and...
enters the Oval Office
Oval Office
The Oval Office, located in the West Wing of the White House, is the official office of the President of the United States.The room features three large south-facing windows behind the president's desk, and a fireplace at the north end...
and she and the President chat about her classes before he tells her that she's been getting letters expressing displeasure with the fact that she's dating 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:...
, a black man. Due to this, and a white supremacist rally near a club she and Charlie were planning on attending, she can't take Charlie to the club. Zoey reluctantly agrees to this.
Later at a gym, Sam is approached by Congresswoman Becky Reeseman. She informs him she plans on adding an amendment to the trade bill restricting child labor, as a result of the First Lady's broadcast that morning. This upsets Sam because they wanted to get it through Congress with as few riders as possible to get the bill passed, and such an amendment will stop the bill from passing. Nonetheless, the Congresswoman tells him she intends to go through with the amendment.
Zoey and Charlie are eating lunch at a diner when Zoey breaks the news about not being able to go to the club. Charlie is fine with it until he finds out the reason why. Zoey's Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
agent joins in to inform him the club would be too unmanageable to secure, further dismaying Charlie. When Zoey goes to the bathroom, Charlie decides to head back to work without saying goodbye.
Sam decides to speak to Lilli once again, but finds the First Lady in her office instead. Sam tells her that her staff is "prone to amateur mistakes," such as making the First Lady appear as though she only discovered the child labor problem because a boy told her about it. He also asks her to convince Reeseman to not put up the amendment, which, surprisingly, Abbey readily agrees to. Later at a White House function, Abbey tells her that the amendment will kill any chance the trade bill has of passing the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and implies that the amendment was a way of allowing her to contend for a Senate seat. Reeseman reluctantly agrees after being assured the President's staff won't say anything about it.
Abbey then goes to see Bartlet and scolds him for sending his staff to deal with her for him. She admits she was the one who leaked her preference for Erlich, and accuses Bartlet of waiting on announcing his appointment due to her prior relationship with Erlich. Bartlet says it was wrong for her to send him messages through the press. Abbey dismisses his disapproval on the child labor issue, saying, "If it was one of our girls in that factory, you'd send in the Marines," which Bartlet concedes is right. Their tempers cool and they head to the party.
Back at Zoey's dorm, Charlie visits with flowers, a book, popcorn, and videos to apologize for his behavior. Zoey forgives him and invites him in at the close of the episode.