I Need You to Tell Me Now | The West Wing 

This actually all leads up to one of my favorite moments in the show - when the Republican Speaker becomes acting President, and all Josh and Toby and everyone can keep thinking about is how this is going to politically affect them down the road, and eventually Josh is in the bathroom with one of the Speaker’s own guys and brings up how Republicans are probably laughing at their good fortune and laughing at Bartlet for being “weak” and needing to invoke the 25th. And the guy responds that Republicans aren’t mocking or thinking less of Bartlet right now, they’re _in awe_ of him. He uses those exact words, “in awe”, because Bartlet was able to recognize that he was incapable of leading at the moment and so did what the Constitution told him to do. The Republicans were _never_ planning to put a political spin on this whole ordeal and in fact it comes across almost like it genuinely hadn't even occurred to them until Josh brought it up. And to their credit - former Speaker, former acting President Glen Walken _doesn’t_ become the Republican nominee in 2006, despite running for it, which strongly suggests that the Republicans never once tried to capitalize on this to win the Oval Office since otherwise you’d think it’d be a slam-dunk. The West Wing was very much a liberal show for Democrats, but the way the Republicans came across in it with characters like Walken, Vinnick, Hayes, and others made it clear that in this universe the Republicans are good people too, just with a different view on what the country needs. I would give _anything_ to have a Republican Party like what existed in this show.

Leo was exactly what every President needs in a Chief of Staff. Someone to soberly tell him the truth and make it stick, regardless of how the President might feel in the moment. Every President needs a courageous 'no' man. 'Yes' men are a dime a dozen. 'No' men are priceless.

This was foreshadowed in a past season when Zoey was off to college. Jed told her this could happen and it did. One of the best shows ever on TV.

When he looked at her, and she looked at him, and just *knew*, I teared up 🥺 This show really knows how to pull at the heartstrings, and I am here for it.

Stockard Channing is brilliant.

Such acting from Sheen. Just that look... No words.

What I so deeply *love* about TWW is the moral courage the producers and writers and showrunners had to actually make a show this highbrow. This is a show about human principles. About the how truly good people can actually decide to act in the interest of the country, even when it’s against their own best interests.

Martin Sheen and Stockard Channing do such an amazing job in that scene -- no words needed, just a look between them.

The *GREATEST* show in the _History_ of television.

Great story lines with actors that deliver. Sorkin’s writing is superb.

I liked this scene but the next few lines made it even better when he was talking about how even if they were there to help him if he gave the order to attack they had to

The first time I saw this episode, it felt like I was watching a mix of Man on Fire and a special episode of Criminal Minds all over again. It still does.

This was one of the most traumatic and insane things that could happen to an American presidency....and they almost never discussed it again once she was found. A few references to Abby being up in New Hampshire, but they totally memory-holed it. So bizarre.

the love they have for their daugther is something id never experience with my own parents though this is acting. still a touching scene.

The West Wing, This is awesome! I subscribed because I want to see more!

This popped up on my suggestions ~~ I had forgotten what a good dang show it was. Writing, acting ... awesome. So much better than some of the stuff we're watching now. Except for The Good Doctor that has Richard Schiff. I just discovered it and am binging it now. LOL :)

Now try and tell me that Martin Sheen is not one of the finest actors America has ever produced

All those people telling the First Lady she can't go in the press room, she shouldn't make an appeal ... someone should've physically stopped her. Everyone there at least understands why she feels she must make an appeal on the air, but if it's going to undermine attempts to retrieve her daughter, she must be stopped.

They probably got real baby photos of Elisabeth Moss for this scene.

I need a Leo to constantly tell me what the right things to do are. Even when I ignore him in a fit of rage. He’s there to tell me how to fix my fuck up. I need that calm consigliere voice.

Great show. in watching this clip though her character probably thought he dropped the glass from a MS attack.

I purchased a copy of the US Constitution right after this episode because I couldn’t identify the 25th amendment. Little did I know it would become common language in the 2020’s…

This edit should have started with the end of the previous episode when the secret service first informs Leo...

John Spencer was the most perfectly cast actor ever in this particular role!

The same thing happened to Trump. He replied, "I don't know anyone named Eric".

The episode is called "Twenty Five" not "25".

...and indoor plumbing.

Knuchles

Why is some of this running 0.95 speed?

Was this the episode with the killer robots from the future?