The first episode to make me cry. A school teacher (Al Fann) has temporarily taken his deceased wife's spot in congress, and is key to budget vote involving census sampling. Toby manipulates the situation, but in an honest way. Leo tells Jed his wife has left him. The President gets Josh to take Charlie out for a beer, which turns into an outing with Zoe, CJ, Mallory, and Sam. Zoe is harassed, and Charlie defends her. Later, Jed makes her cry when she resists being given more secret service protection. He talks about the horrific prospect of her being kidnapped (foreshadowing one of the greatest story arcs of the series). Plus a great poker scene in which Bartlet challenges the room to name the fourteen types of punctuation. And we have a Butterfield in the building! The debut of Michael O'Neill as Secret Service agent Ron Butterfield, who would play in sixteen splendid episodes over seven seasons.
Review of Mr. Willis of Ohio
